The Lawnmower Man (1992)

 

I am definitely already feeling some seasonal depression as Halloween has come and gone.  While I like to think with my movie choices and writing,  I live that 365 days a year,  there is an emptiness when spooky season ends that seems to last a few months.  Trying to keep my mind from the doldrums, I decided to revisit the 1992 sci-fi entry The Lawnmower Man.

Plot: A simple man is turned into a genius through the application of computer. 

This sci-fi entry may appeared dated with the visual effects of 1992, but that does nothing to bring down the truths lining this story.  Technology is our nemesis and in many ways we have behind slaves to the technology.  To me,  this is more of a drama dealing with moral and ethical problems that lie in many parts of science. In some ways,  much of this was demonstrated during the pandemic as many scientists played on their "so called"superiority in knowledges as a way to manipulate the world. Maybe we would have all benefited from watching this one again during those dark days.  But, enough of that rambling.  The performances were outstanding and the storyline was nuanced and true.  Yes,  the visual effects of the day make it feel out of touch, but they were pretty interesting for the day.  If you haven't watched it,  check it out. 

Candyman (1992)

Today, I started to go back through some classic horror films to brush up before a trivia contest on Sunday. One film that I watched (and one of my favorites) is Candyman from 1992.

Plot: The Candyman, a murderous soul with a hook for a hand, is accidentally summoned to reality by a skeptic grad student researching the monster's myth.

This may be the best horror movie of the 1990s and incredibly, it continues to hold its own even after all these years.  A faithful adaption of Clive Barkers' short story,  this one has a tremendous atmosphere, outstanding performances,  and a worthwhile ending that adds to the overall feel of the movie.  Most importantly,  it has a very creepy storyline that draws you in and keeps you engaged throughout. If you haven't seen this original version, check it out.  It is one of the best and it started a franchise that continues to draw in followers. 

Alien 3 (1992)

I have taken the past few weeks to revisit some horror/sci-fi franchises and complete reviews on them before the end of the year. That started with Phantasm, and now I am putting the Alien franchise to bed as I prepare for the new entry in May. The next review is my least favorite of the series, Alien 3 from 1992.

Plot/ After her last encounter, Ripley crash-lands on Fiorina Fury 161, a maximum-security prison. When a series of strange and deadly events occur shortly after her arrival, Ripley realizes that she brought along an unwelcome visitor.

As I have said, sequels are always a hit or miss proposition. In the case of the Alien franchise, the first sequel Aliens is a masterpiece, a movie that expands the universe in a positive way and allows the story to grow. Unfortunately, Alien 3 does not have the same effect or quality that the first two films offered to the viewers. In this one, the story left to build upon was totally disregarded, and something new and unpolished was placed in its path. The entire storyline feels forced and with that contrived outcome, the atmosphere that made the first two films memorable is gone. Yes, an attempt was made to reach that heavy almost brooding atmosphere from the source material, but it was almost too much and never found the balance of the first films. Sure, the cast is decent and the performances solid, but even that cannot overcome the uneven storyline, contrived plot, and shaky effects. In the end, this is definitely my least favorite entry in the series and a movie that could be skipped. Unless you are a true fan preparing for the fifth installment due in May, stay away!

Army of Darkness (1992)

Tonight as I have been finishing up my Friday article for Steelers 101, I decided to throw something on that I have not watched in some time. Of course, with boxes of DVDs here at the house, I have a ton of choices. In the end, I decided on something with some comedy sprinkled in (that can match the Steelers performances). I decided to watch the 1992 classic Army of Darkness.

Plot/ A man is accidentally transported to 1300 A.D., where he must battle an army of the dead and retrieve the Necronomicon so he can return home.

The Evil Dead franchise is one of my favorites. Thee is so much depth ad variety in play throughout the series that it has a life all its own. In Evil Dead Parts One and Two, the gore is there and the dark comedy is developing, yet with Army of Darkness the series turned a direction that cemented its cult status. This flick is hilarious, with great dialogue, perfect performances and a true classic B-Movie creature feature feel. Sure, there are some cheesy moments, but those definitely seemed intentional to create the campy atmosphere (watch the skeleton armies close if you do not know what I mean). In the end, this is a great movie, which is both disturbing and fun. If you have not seen it, check it out, you will not be disappointed unless you are looking for a gorefest.

Demonic Toys (1992)

Two rooms are totally complete with cleaning and removing the last remnants of the past three years here in New Jersey, and it was time to sit down for a few and cool off. While sitting here, I decided to try and catch up on some of the movies I have watched over the past couple of weeks. This entry, the 1992 Satan needs reborn flick, Demonic Toys.

Plot/ A botched bust on a pair of arms dealers inadvertently leads to the raising of a sixty-six-year-old demon with the power to bring toys to life as his personal minions. The demon is looking for a body to inhabit so he can increase his powers, and it just so happens that one of the police officers is pregnant with the ideal host. As the murderous toys close in on their victims, the officer must not only fight for her life, but for the soul of her unborn child.

To me, this is one of the best and most entertaining low-budget offerings from Charles Band and Full Moon Entertainment. Yes, the acting is uneven, the plot has some holes and there is not much gore, but it is 90 minutes of entertainment that runs from hilarious to violent. The soundtrack works creating a dark and atmospheric mood, and while special effects are not great (although some are interesting), what horror fan could not LOVE the demonic toys, they are awesome! Sure, like all of the flicks from Full Moon, this one is not for everyone. But, fans of cheesy horror should get a kick out of it!  

There's Nothing Out There (1992)

I love the 1980s, the movies, the toys, the slashers. One thing that I have also enjoyed is parodies that often make fun of the flicks of that era. One such film is 1992s There’s Nothing Out There.

Plot/ Seven teens head up to a cabin on the lake for spring break. Mike has studied all horror films on video, and recognizes the signs of foreshadowing of doom. The others dismiss his concerns as the workings of a person that watches too many videos, but there really is something out there, and the teens begin experiencing an attrition problem when they start stumbling into all the clichés found in a typical teen horror film.

I am definitely not to biggest horror/comedy fan, although when done right, they can be very memorable and fun to watch. While I may not have this film etched into my mind, I have to admit that it was pretty fun to watch (especially the naked chicks running around). In all, the acting was solid and the cast suited to script quite well. The plot, while basic, created a decent B-Movie monster flick, complete with slimy monster from another world. True, this was definitely more of a parody than a horror film, but it does have just enough of the element to make it at least worth watching at least once.

Spellcaster (1992)

After some time catching up on business paperwork, I decided to check out Adam Ant in the 1992 scavenger hunt gone bad flick Spellcaster.

Plot/ A group of contestants start to die one-by-one from a mysterious source within the castle. Figuring that evil forces are at work, the remaining members race to stop the assailant from finishing their work.

While far from perfect, this flick was not as bad as it could have been. Yes, the film takes forever to get going, the acting is uneven and the plot never truly gets moving until the movie is almost over. But, it does feature a nice array of interesting special effects and atmosphere when the focus is the castle and surroundings vice the characters. If you are a fan of cheesy “B” horror flicks from the 1990s, check this out, if not, Stay Clear!

The Resurrected (1992)

After spending the day at the New Jersey Zombie Walk and Zombie-Con, I needed something quiet to help me unwind. My choice, the 1992 Lovecraft inspired film, The Resurrected.

Plot / Charles Dexter Ward's wife enlists the help of a private detective to find out what her husband is up to in a remote cabin owned by his family for centuries. The husband is a chemical engineer, and the smells from his experiments (and the delivery of what appear to be human remains at all hours) are beginning to arouse the attention of neighbors and local law enforcement officials. When the detective and wife find a diary of the husband's ancestor from 1771, and reports of gruesome murders in the area begin to surface, they begin to suspect that some very unnatural experiments are being conducted in the old house. Based on an H.P. Lovecraft story.

Like Edgar Allan Poe, revisiting tales by Lovecraft are often difficult, however, this one sort of works. While not chalked full of suspense, there is nice mix of mystery and intrigue. With a combination of storytelling, pacing, decent effects and a tasty amount of blood and gore, this film is actually one of the better entries from the 1990s. While the acting is a bit stiff at times, the atmosphere and the story more than make up for that. True this is not a great film, it is definitely worth watching if you get the chance!

Dolly Dearest (1992)

After a long day of cleaning and suffering though the two NCAA games to figure out which team my West Virginia Mountaineers will face next weekend in the final four, it was time to settle down for the evening. What a better way than to continue what I started last night, watching some killer doll movies. Tonights entry the 1991 film, Dolly Dearest.

Plot/ In Mexico, an archaeologist releases the evil spirit of a devil child from a tomb of an ancient tribe called Sanzia that worshiped Satan on Earth and dies in an accident. Immediately after, an American family with two children arrives to live and reactivate a factory of dolls in a site nearby the archaeological field. Elliot Read invested the savings of his family in this business to manufacture dolls. He finds many dolls left by the previous owners of the factory, and gives one of them, which is possessed by the fiend, to his daughter Jessica Read. The girl changes her behavior, speaks an ancient language and the maid tells to the mother Marilyn Read. Meanwhile, the archaeologist Karl Resnick arrives to investigate the finding of his colleague. However, the demon has been already released, threatening the locals and the Read family.

Set against the beautiful background of Mexico, much of the plot of this movie was involved with an ancient black magic curse associated with a pre-Mayan civilization, a subject that remains tantalizing on many levels. While the movie starts slow, you are rewarded with an outstanding film if you can stand the opening mnutes. Dolly is creepy and at times pretty scary, definitely on par with the much more famous Chucky from Childs Play. The characterization does a great job developing most of the characters, with the huge exception of the mother who seems out of touch despite being extremely paranoid. However, the script is definitely mediocre at best playing on the typical elements in many horror films.

At the end of the day, this is the decent little movie that offered more than I expected. YesI would have enjoyed more blood and gore, but you can't win them all. If you enjoyed Childs Play and Pinocchio's Revenge (last nights blog), you will enjoy this.

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