Arrival (2016)

One of the best things about hanging out and relaxing over my birthday weekend is that I got full run of the television and was able to absorb a few different flicks in different genres. One of the first films I picked up at Family Video is the 2016 sci-fi entry Arrival.

Plot/ When twelve mysterious spacecraft appear around the world, linguistics professor Louise Banks is tasked with interpreting the language of the apparent alien visitors.

This movie will definitely be polarizing. More of a drama than sci-fi flick, this story dives into many elements that make it interesting and thought-provoking. While this one is not perfect, there are certain points that will stick with you long after watching it. The cinematography is amazing and captivating, the performances are believable and natural, the atmosphere is tense, but not overwhelming, and the storyline is an intriguing look at how a situation like this would likely occur with the differences between cultures and governments that exist in the world today. Yes, the pacing is a bit slow at times, some of the actions with the alien creatures are odd, and the scripting does have some uneven moments, but those do nothing to take away from the power of the story. In the end, if you are hoping for a flashy, action-packed invasion movie, this one is not for you. However, if you are looking for an alien film carrying a deeper non-linear meaning, you should definitely check this one out.

Abattoir (2016)

If you have read my blog, you would now that Darren Lynn Bousman is one of my favorite directors. Not only is an alumnus of Full Sail University like me, he has also created some of the most visually appealing movies of the past decade. Between his work on the Saw franchise, Repo: The Genetic Opera, and The Devil’s Carnival, there is an artistic flare that is not usually seen in horror. Next up for review is his next movie, 2016s Abattoir, a film that I honestly believe may be his best work.

Plot/ An investigative reporter teams up with a Police officer to solve the mystery of why a seemingly good man murdered her sister's family.

I had been waiting to see this since I first heard about it, and I was not disappointed by what I found. While I can see why this movie could be somewhat polarizing, it is an interesting take on the haunted house/curse genre and is both intelligent and visually appealing. More of a slow burn, as the tension building throughout, I found myself drawn to the main characters and the storyline. The cinematography and visuals are tremendous, the performances are solid, and the atmosphere inside the film is dark and heavy. Yes, I am sure that the scripting will cause some viewers some issue with the way it embraces an almost retro feel with a prose-like style that seems more suited for a vintage film than a modern thriller and the ending is definitely one that is both somewhat predictable and refreshing, but those issues should in no way impact the overall viewing experience of watching this film. In the end, this is one of the most memorable and entertaining films to hit the shelves in some time and left me wanting more. If you have not seen it, you are definitely missing out.

The Calling (2014)

After enjoying a mindless gorefest, I decided that I needed to find something with a little more depth. With that in mind while searching through Family Video, I decided on a serial killer driven religious thriller: 2014s The Calling.

Plot/ Detective Hazel Micallef hasn't had much to worry about in the sleepy town of Fort Dundas until a string of gruesome murders in the surrounding countryside brings her face to face with a serial killer driven by a higher calling.

I picked this one up the other night and was definitely surprised that I had not grabbed it earlier. This serial killer based thriller, was both enlightening and entertaining. Different than most films in this genre, the movie moves along at the proper pace and somewhat builds throughout. The cast is tremendous, the performances are solid, the atmosphere works, and the storyline is deeper and more intellectual than others made in the save vain. Yes, there are some plot holes, but I would like to think they were intentional and the overall film lacked the character development that could have taken this story to another level. However, these flaws are easily overlooked within this underrated thriller. In the end, if you enjoy thought provoking serial killer entries, this one is a great choice. You should definitely check it out if you get the chance.

Truth or Dare (2013)

After taking some time off to work on my book project, it was time to get back at it with a review of a film I grabbed at Family Video. This is a no-budget entry from earlier in the decade: 2013s Truth or Dare.

Plot/ Six college kids find Internet stardom when they make "Truth or Dare" videos with a violent twist. It is all fun and games until their number one fan decides he wants to play by his own rules.

I know that this one is going to be extremely polarizing because it lacks many of the elements that have saturated the horror genre over the past few years. However, this one has everything a viewer would want if the enjoy micro-budgeted gorefests. For me, I love low budget horror and watching what can happen when people who love the genre are involved. The effects are bloody and at times over the top, the idea is interesting, and there are enough psychological aspects inside to draw you in. Of course, some of the performances are uneven and there are some pacing issues, but those aspects are expected when one considers the small budget. In the end, this was a fun movie to watch and kept me entertained on a snowy night. If you love no-budget horror, give this one a shot.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

After checking out The Ring last night, I decided to let Jolene pick the next movie that would be reviewed. Predictably, she chose her favorite movie for our viewing pleasure tonight, 1975s The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Plot/ A newly engaged couple have a breakdown in an isolated area and must pay a call to the bizarre residence of Dr. Frank-N-Furter.

Before I begin, I know that The Rocky Horror Picture Show can’t be given its just due unless you watch one of the midnight shows that make it an amazing journey into the surreal. I love watching it in that setting and can’t wait to go into the next show (hopefully, next week for my birthday). However, this film can be enjoyed at home, if you watch it with and open mind and a sense of humor. We try to watch it at least once every couple of months, and after that atrocity that was remade for television, I had to definitely wash that out of my mind before enjoying another show. As a movie, it is mixed with good and bad, but overall it is extremely entertaining. The minimalist cast is tremendous, the musical aspects are catchy and perfect for the show, and the script is spot on. Yes, the special effects are uneven and the production qualities in some ways are lacking, but that is to be expected in a low budget B-Movie. In the end, I am amazed at the amount of people that have never seen this film either at home or live on a Saturday night. This is one of the first cult classics and a film that should be watched and enjoyed for generations. I just hope no one tries to remake it again; it can’t be done!

The Ring (2002)

After taking a few days off to do some writing on my project, I decided to start the weekend off with a review of one of the classic films from the early 2000s. While I am sure many have watched this one, with a sequel in theaters, it was a nice trip back in time. That flick is the 2002 entry The Ring.

Plot/ A journalist must investigate a mysterious videotape, which seems to cause the death of anyone in a week of viewing it.

There are times when I like to revisit some films in preparation for seeing sequels and such, and that was the case with the Ring. While some call this a remake and others an adaptation of the Japanese film Ringu, it does not matter because it is one of the best horror films of the 2000s. There are a ton of positives with this film, as the writing is tremendous, cinematography/direction is stylistic and creates a great atmosphere, and the cast does a tremendous job bringing the characters to life, as well as bringing the layered storyline out to a creepy and dark place. Yes, there are some smaller flaws with the amount of jump scares added in and some of the pacing felt off, but those do nothing to bring the film down. In the end, this is one of the most memorable films in the genre, and a film that must be seen. If you haven’t seen it, what are you waiting for?

The Witching (2016)

After hitting the 70s yesterday, the winter temperatures decided to return and they are bringing snow with them. While I knew that the warm weather was a tease, it was still nice. Now, with the dreaded wintery mix started outside, it is time to review the next flick on the list: 2016s The Witching.

Plot/ With Halloween only hours away, the members of a popular podcast, The Witching Hour, gather to swap scary stories in the dark. But they bargain for more than just ratings when they venture to the site where the Woodland Valley Witch was brutally murdered.

This one was not what I expected after seeing on the shelf at Family Video. I really expected something more related to the Woodland Valley Witch instead of a grouping of stories in an anthology with the location/witch being the glue to keep things flowing. While there is nothing wrong with a far-reaching anthology, it was just something that I didn’t really expect. As with most anthologies, the short horror films were interesting and kept things moving at a solid pace and there weren’t a ton of disjointed moments. Sure, some of the performances were rough, the run-time felt short, the quality of the different episodes were uneven, and the ending felt extremely rushed and abrupt, but that did not do anything to bring down the overall feel of the film. In the end, this may not be for everyone and it does have some flaws, but it was entertaining enough to keep my mind off the snow falling outside.

Thirst (2015)

Now that I am settled in after spending the day with the family, it is nice to kick back and relax. It is also a perfect time to catch up with the blog. The next movie here set for review is the 2015 flick Thirst.

Plot/ When a group of wayward teens arrive at a desert boot camp, with no communication, and nowhere to run to, they realize their only chance for survival is to fight for their lives.

There are times when I need some mindless horror or sci-fi action and that is exactly what this movie gave me. Yes, this one is flawed and will never be on the red carpet at a major awards show, but it is far from terrible. The storyline was interesting, the film had the right pace, and the casting and effects were on par with the budget. Sure, the characterizations and scripting felt somewhat flat and did not allow the characters to be memorable, there were a ton of clichéd moments, and it was rather predictable. In the end, this movie is what it is, a nice mindless journey with some horror/sci-fi action. If you are looking for a movie to help pass some down time, give this one a shot, you could do much worse.  

APT 3D (2014)

I have taken a couple days away from the blog as I have been dealing with the passing of my Grandmother. While I realize that she lived a long and prosperous life, it is still difficult at times to come to terms with the loss. With her burial tomorrow, I decided to get back at it, do some writing on my book project, and write up one of the movies I watched this weekend. The next movie up for review is the 2014 low budget Sci-Fi flick APT 3D.

Plot/ Strange events affect a couple that has recently moved into their New York City apartment.

This is a movie that I debated on for some time when seeing the box at Family Video. While it is far from perfect, I found the idea somewhat interesting and at very least different than the typical apartment themed films. Yes, this is in no way a true paranormal driven movie, it does attempt to bring those elements out, although they feel lost once the reveal is made about what is transpiring. More of a straight Sci-Fi movie than anything, this one has a storyline that matches the uneven performances from the minimalist cast. It is definitely a story that you have to pay attention to, as the entire package is somewhat confusing (although it does touch on some important aspects of society). The pacing is rough and with a run-time of roughly 79 minutes, it never allows the atmosphere to truly breathe. Sure, there were some moments with some quality production values and for a lower budgeted film, the effects were good enough, but that does nothing to make this film movie above the average category. In the end, I have definitely seen worse low budget films and this one at least kept my attention. Is it perfect or overly memorable? No, but neither is a majority of the movies released on a larger budget.

The Girl on the Train (2016)

Now that I have settled in for the evening after spending some time with my father, it is time to get back to the blog and finish a review on one of the films I have watched this weekend. The next movie up is the 2016 mystery/thriller The Girl on the Train.

Plot/ A divorcee becomes entangled in a missing persons investigation that promises to send shockwaves throughout her life.

Movies based on books are often hit and miss. Luckily, I did not read this one, so I cannot mention how the adaptation went. This mystery/thriller is interesting although it definitely lacked the tension that I had hoped for. The performances really worked within the storyline, the plot was solid, and there were many elements that helped improve the overall feel. Unfortunately, there was too much going on and the pacing/editing was all over. On top of that, the characterization never took hold and it was definitely difficult to relate to any of the characters. In the end, this one was difficult to review as it was hard to stay interested throughout. It was definitely similar to Gone Girl, but it lacked most of the qualities that made that one interesting and memorable.

After (2012)

Yesterday, I was told that the famed rodent Punxsutawney Phil announced six more weeks of winter. Today, I proclaim that Phil is #NotMyGroundhog. To help prepare for this added time, I decided to kick back with a few movies. The first was the 2012 mystery/thriller After.

Plot/ When two bus crash survivors awake to discover that they are the only people left in their small town, they must form an unlikely alliance in a race to unravel the truth behind their isolation. As strange events begin to unfold, they start to question whether the town they know so well is really what it seems.

When I picked this one up at Family Video, it was almost an afterthought. Fortunately, this is better than I expected from the synopsis. I love the mixture of genres and think that the tale, while simple, moved really well. The acting was decent, the scripting interesting, and the atmosphere matched the darkness of the storyline. Yes, there were some weird pacing issues and the love story elements seemed a bit forced at times, but overall it was an entertaining low budget story. In the end, this was a decent movie to curl up and watch on a chilly Pennsylvania night. If like me you want to stay out of the cold, this could help pass the time.

Flight 313: The Conspiracy (2015)

As I continue into February, I decided that I wanted to watch something a lot different from my usual, so I grabbed a straight drama based on a true story. What was that film? It was 2015s Flight 313: The Conspiracy (AKA A Dark Reflection).

Plot/ A journalist digs deep into the world of aviation and discovers some uncomfortable truths. And a conspiracy trail dating back to 1954. But why is no one saying anything?

On the opposite end of the spectrum from SIN, this movie is more of a public service announcement about a real problem and is based on a true story. While not a micro-budgeted film, unions, passenger groups, funded this one and concerned aviation figures in the United Kingdom and featured many volunteers concerned with the issue of Aerotoxic Syndrome. Because of this, the movie is not perfect and does have some minor flaws with pacing, cinematography, and editing, but those were somewhat expected. The performances are solid, the storyline is informative and interesting, and everything works well together. In the end, this one won’t entertain everyone, but is an intriguing film to watch because of the message alone (especially if you fly a lot). If you like drama’s based on true stories, give it a shot.

SIN: Self-Induced Nightmares (2013)

Wow, January has flown by, and now we enter one of my favorite months of the year. To start February off on the right foot, I decided on a nice no-budget indie flick: 2013s SIN: Self-Induced Nightmares.

Plot/ Some of Europe's leading horror filmmakers unite to bring you a collection of shocking tales. All told by a very beautiful yet sinister young female horror writer during a blind date taking place in a London diner.

It has been some time since I sat back and watched a modern no-budget anthology, and I was excited when I saw this one at Family Video. While I knew that there would be flaws, I think that the potential that can exist in true independent projects such as this can tell you more than then the overall technical prowess. The storylines were fun and interesting, there was a solid mix of material, and at a little over 70 minutes, everything was packed together nicely. Yes, some of the effects and performances were uneven, but those are expected in true no-budget indie cinema. In the end, this is one of the better no-budget indie flicks I have seen in some time. If you are like me and appreciate that type of film, you should give this one a shot. Sure, it isn’t perfect, but it could have been much worse.