Where Have All the People Gone (1974)

It was a night. After dealing with so many issues of ineptitude and working on this mechanism for a 1949 alligator toy last night, I was unable to motivate myself into working on any type of listing for the shop. It sucks, as I was making such good progress on everything. I guess I will have to do double tonight. As background noise, I put on the 1974 post-apocalyptic made for television flick Where Have All the People Gone.

Plot/ Earth encounters a massive solar flare that decimates almost all life on Earth. Only people who were underground during the solar event are unharmed while the rest are dead or dying. A band of survivor’s cross country to seek others in a world laid waste.

I must admit, the premise of this story even though it is one that has been used quite a bit intrigues me. Ever since I was a kid and watched Night of the Comet for the first time, the whole idea is fascinating. While this one lacks the excitement and action factors of some of the more modern incarnations, it pulls off the story in a thought-provoking way with solid performances and a heavy and tense atmosphere. As usual, Peter Graves was superb and an outstanding choice for the lead in this more dramatic attempt at an apocalypse scenario. It is hard to believe that this was made for TV as compared to the schlock that populates many of the movies today. Yes, some of it may feel dated and the pacing somewhat slow, but those flaws are easily overshadowed by the content of the film. In the end, this entry is much better than the modern CGI infested films that are more mindless and background noise than quality. Check this one out, it would be worth your time.

Poseidon (2006)

Last night I decided that I wanted to watch something different and move away from the creature features of the past few days. After some searching, I decided on the 2006 action flick Poseidon.

Plot/ On New Year's Eve, the luxury ocean liner Poseidon capsizes after being swamped by a rogue wave. The survivors are left to fight for their lives as they attempt to escape the sinking ship.

As a kid, I remember watching some of the great disaster flicks of the 1970s. Unfortunately, not only has the use of CGI ruined those but also Hollywood seems to have lost the creative flair for those flicks. This film is a perfect example of a disaster flick gone awry with a huge budget. Honestly, there wasn’t much to like with this one and I wish I would have chosen something else instead. While the cast was solid, the performances and characterizations were flat, too safe, and underdeveloped. The CGI was spotty, the decisions with the scripting were uneven, and the overall feel of the movie lacks atmosphere and tension. In the end, this film is one that I could have skipped. Hell, I didn’t even know it was at the box office and thought it was a made for television entry. If that were the case, it may have been more entertaining. Trust me, you should stay far away from this one.

The 5th Kind (2017)

After a few days of streaming, I decided it was time to hit Family Video. Not knowing what would be there, I searched until I found something that caught my eye. That movie was the 2017indie flick The 5th Kind.

Plot/ Three best friends try to get 'internet famous' by filming their own survival show out in the woods. A weekend trip to accomplish this project turns deadly when a mysterious and foreign visitor ends up in their neck of the woods.

It has been a while since I sat down and watched a true piece of no-budget indie cinema, and I am glad that I did that tonight. While I am not going to sit here and say that The 5th Kind is a perfect film, but what was accomplished on the micro-budget was better than some of the bigger budgeted flicks I have watched over the years. Sure, the movie is dialog driven found footage without a tremendous amount of action or effects, but that worked within the confines of the short run time. The performances were uneven and the pace somewhat slowed, but those issues were expected. At least the idea was interesting and you could see what direction this one was moving in. Overall, it left me wanting more (of course, I am also a huge believer in the subject). In the end, are there better movies out there, absolutely; but this one is one that shows more than just potential. With a larger budget and an elongated script, this could be something even better.

Here Alone (2016)

Lately, after finishing After the Static, I have stayed away from the realm of zombies. After spending months writing about them, I needed a break. With that book in the design process (and due out soon), I figured it was time to jump back into the arena (plus, my streak of subpar flicks needed to end). With that in mind, I decided on the 2016 zombie flick Here Alone for my next flick.

Plot/ A young woman struggles to survive on her own in the wake of a mysterious epidemic that has killed much of society and forced her deep into the unforgiving wilderness.

After my streak of subpar movies, I decided to jump back into something that I love: zombie flicks. I love that genre because to me there is potential with them that they can usually offer a viewer something different. This entry may be more of a slow burn drama than an all-out action flick, but it delivered. This was extremely realistic and focused more on the other side of the realm with the characters instead of the blood and gore of the outbreak. The atmosphere works, the cinematography sound, and the performances are solid. Yes, this one does lack the action and gore that many zombie fans prefer, but to me, that is what makes this film work. If the zombie apocalypse did break out, would you really be out there slaying them? Probably not, instead, you would be trying to save yourself by any means possible; and that is what makes this film resonate so well. In the end, if you are for all-out action, this one isn’t for you. But, if you like well thought out and atmospheric entries in the realm of zombies, give this one a chance, you will be surprised.

Alive (1993)

While I spent some time working on finalizing the re-release of Walking Before Dawn after the edits, I decided to take a break from the blog. With some time on hand today, I decided to jump back in with a review of a movie I caught the other day: 1993s Alive.

Plot/ A Uruguayan rugby team stranded in the snow swept Andes are forced to use desperate measures to survive after a plane crash.

I have to admit, watching Alive again so many years after watching it in the theater definitely changed my perspective of it. Honestly, everything that I did not like or thought it lacked seemed to be in place this time around. This is one of the best true story adaptations I have seen and it is a great film to watch. The cast was wonderful with outstanding performances across the board, the cinematography was amazing, the story both bleak and uplifting, and the soundtrack was a perfect vessel to create the chilling tone of the movie. Yes, it did lack some emotion and felt subdued in some parts, but that is nitpicking. In the end, this is a great film and a movie that should weigh on your mind long after watching it. Check it out.   

Green Room (2015)

After sitting through my share of low budget anthologies recently, I figured it was time to change some things up. Last night, following a trip to Family Video, I decided to give 2015s Green Room a chance.

Plot/ A band straying into a secluded part of the Pacific Northwest stumbles onto a horrific act of violence. Because they are the only witnesses, they become the targets of a terrifying gang of skinheads who want to make sure all the evidence is eliminated.

After a couple of uneven entries, this one changed all of my frustrations. An intense thriller, this one definitely falls closer to horror than the thriller genre. The acting is solid throughout, the scripting does a masterful job at creating atmosphere and tension while keeping the movie realistic, and the tone/pace of the film and violence is perfect. While I enjoyed the entire package, some viewers may not like all of the violence and the realism created in this world. To me, that is the only potential downfall of the film. In the end, if you enjoy violent and tension filled movies, this one is definitely for you; check it out!

The Colony (2013)

With my holiday weekend winding down, it would not be complete if I did not watch one post-apocalyptic themed flick. That’s right, I definitely have to treat myself to the cinematic ramblings of the Global Warming alarmists and see how we are going to end up if we do not change our ways… Whatever, Global Warming only exists when you fail to account for ocean water in the formulas, and unfortunately, the Agenda 21 populace never account for it. Oh, my selection for this genre is The Colony.

Plot/ Forced underground by the next ice age, a struggling outpost of survivors must fight to preserve humanity against a threat even more savage than nature.

Post-apocalyptic movies are always a mixed bag. Sometimes they really work, and others, not even close. This one falls somewhere in between. For all of the promise at the start, this one does not hold throughout. It is a shame because there was some tension, atmosphere, effects and story that seemed to work. Yet, the characters, the cliché, the performances and the ending truly bring this one down. In the end, it is not the worst flick of the genre, but it had so much more potential that what hit the screen. If you are a fan of B-grade post apocalypse, give it a shot. However, if you are a passing fan, look elsewhere. 

Eye See You (2002)

With another week in the books, it was time to kick back and watch something dark. Lately, it seems like I have been caught up in the 2010s, with the majority of my viewing selections centered in 2012 or 2013. This time, I went a different direction, with the 2002 flick, Eye See You (AKA D-Tox).

Plot/ A FBI Agent hits rock bottom and is forced into a secluded rehab clinic that specializes in treating law enforcement officials. Soon, he discovers patients are being picked off one-by-one.  

This flick was nothing close to what I expected. Starring Sylvester Stallone, my mind automatically shifted toward some type of action flick. Instead, this is a solid mystery with a dark and heavy atmosphere. While it did have some flaws, uneven editing and possibly too many characters, it was much better than one would expect. In fact, it had a solid mix of graphic violence, suspense, scenery, and a sound storyline that created a decent mystery. In the end, the atmospheric flick delivered a lot more than the majority of Stallone’s non-action flicks and is rather entertaining. Since it is making its rounds on Showtime, give it a shot. 

Another Kind (2011)

Back-to-back documentaries are good for your soul! Truly, they are, as too much of society fails to follow their birthright to ask questions and demand answers. We face a lot of challenges today to items we once viewed as untouchable, with actions and arguments that are unfathomable. We must speak up to these injustices. To take a break from documentaries, I decided on Another Kind from 2011.

Plot/ A group of unprepared weekend hikers go missing while snowshoeing in the Catskill Mountains.

I had never heard of this one when I saw it Family Video and said what the heck. What I found was an interesting low budget indie flick, which valued atmosphere over action. Sure, that works to some effect, but it was not without flaws. The storyline is appealing, yet the scripting leaves giant holes in it. Yes, that can work and add some questions, but there was some unevenness within these that hinted too much to be effective. The acting was solid, and some of the twists added to it as a whole. Unfortunately, the pacing was a bit off, which may have caused the questions to become holes, and the ending may have reached for too much. In the end, this attempt at a surrealistic thriller / horror flick was decent, but it lacks the strong storyline or originality to be anything truly memorable. If you catch it, it will help you pass time on a cold snowy night. 

HELL (2011)

 

 

Last night, I definitely enjoyed Red State, as it is something that I could honestly see happening in this world that is spiraling out of control. While it was somewhat of a realistic real time movie, my selection for tonight could be one outcome of our future, especially if you listen to the fanatic global warning society that is convinced that if you breathe too much, you are killing the ozone. My selection for the evening is the 2011 German entry HELL.

 

 

Plot/ In the not too distant future, people struggle to survive their greatest enemy, the sun.

 

 

This post-apocalyptic flick might be one of Al Gore’s favorites, as the sun has lost its way and has destroyed much of society. This is a crazy idea, right? While the name may bring in a different audience than attended (meaning bright in German), this is actually a decent action / thriller, and one that has a lot to offer as a relatively low budget entry. The acting is good, the scenery amazing and the cinematography is good. More importantly, it never delves into the world of CGI and it works. There are some flaws, as after a tremendous opening, it seems to spiral into some cliché. Other than that, the scripting and storyline work, it just may need a bit more to put it over the top. In the end, if you are looking for blood, guts and gore, you will not like it. This one is a solid thriller and one worth watching, if you enjoy post-apocalyptic action.