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.   

Fire in the Sky (1993)

 

 

After a night of debates, where the two candidates did very little to distinguish themselves, it was time to get back into some movies. Lately, I have been in a deep conspiracy theorist mood, as all of the stories coming out of the presidential campaigns draw me into this mental web of intrigue. NDAA or HAARP anyone? I also love to debate and discuss topics, and yes, I have my own opinions. With this conspiracy strain in my mind, I decided to revisit one of the better UFO / Alien Abduction movies I can remember watching, the true story of Travis Walton, Fire in the Sky.

 

 

Plot/ A group of men who were clearing bush for the government arrive back in town, claiming that aliens abducted their friend. Nobody believes them, and despite a lack of motive and no evidence of foul play, their friends' disappearance is treated as murder.

 

 

One of the problems that come with movies based on (or loosely based on) true stories is that the original material does not always transfer onto film the way it transpired in reality. When this happens, it creates a fictional element that sometimes takes away from the film. In this case, yes there are some fictional additions to the historic alien abduction case of Travis Walton; however, while the abduction scene was changed for the film, the integrity of the overall story was not jeopardized. The cast was top notch and the acting solid, the story was and remains interesting, and the cinematography and effects really work. Honestly, other than the liberties taken with the abduction scenes, this is one that provides a great snapshot into this controversial topic. In the end, this flick continues to resonate as a solid Sci-Fi / Mystery / Thriller and one that leaves many unanswered questions floating in the wind. If you have not watched it, check it out!

Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993)

I was doing some reading the other day about a movie and I discovered something that I never remembered seeing. Kane Hodder (the best Jason ever) played Freddy Krueger’s arm in Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday. I really do not remember that (although it has been almost 20-years since I saw this movie). So, what is any horror fan (especially Friday the 13th fan) to do? Go back and watch the flick to see where / when it happens, absolutely… That is exactly what I did with the unrated directors cut of Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday from 1993.

Plot/ The secret of Jason's evil is revealed. It is up to the last remaining descendant of the Voorhees family to stop Jason before he becomes immortal and unstoppable.

It had been years since I had watched this one and really I had very little memory of it. What I found when turning it on again was both graphic and somewhat hilarious. Honestly, I feel that this was misplaced as a Friday the 13th entry, and the director should have created a new character for the lead. If that would have happened, I doubt it would have been panned as much as it has been.  For all of the flaws like poor soundtrack, crazy storyline (biting a heart, really?) and way too many subtle horror references, this one actually has a lot of finer points that are often overlooked. The special effects are graphic (and possibly some of the best in the series), the acting is decent and there is a hint of character background and development. In the end, this one is entertaining in its own way and would have been better if it was a stand-alone or start of its own franchise. Unfortunately, as part of the Friday the 13th franchise, it fails miserably when holding it next to the early entries that started the entries.

Trauma (1993)

  

With Brenda and the girls travelling for the weekend, I had time to sit down and enjoy some of the flicks I have not been able to watch lately. The first one was Horror Master Dario Argento’s 1993 entry Trauma.

Plot/ A young man tries to help a teenage European girl whom escaped from a clinic hospital after witnessing the murder of her parents by a serial killer and they try to find the killer before the killer finds them.

This is definitely one of Argento's less appealing flicks. However, it is one of the better horror films of the 1990s. Yes, it is far from perfect, with a possibly too Americanized feel and some poor acting. However, it does still come across as a stylish and atmospheric giallo complete with interesting camera work and some chic but gory bloodshed created by FX master Tom Savini. In the end, this may not be one of Argento’s best, but it is still above average when you look at the 90s as a whole and worth watching at least once.

Cannibal: the Musical (1993)

After a long week of work, I needed something to help take the edge off, while helping get my mind right for the Steelers vs. Jets AFC Championship Game. What a better was that taking a comical, yet bloody, view of famed cannibal Alfred Packer in 1993s Cannibal: the Musical.

Plot/ Alfred Packer was a mountain guide and sole survivor of a party of pioneers that got lost in the mountains in winter. Accused and convicted of murdering and eating his traveling companions, he was to be executed by hanging.

Loosely based on the true incidents that led to Alfred Packer being the first person ever convicted of cannibalism in the United States, this comical ride is very entertaining. While some of this demented horror/comedy is totally ridiculous, the laughs that come from this intentionally hilarious take on history cannot be explained unless it is experienced first hand. Yes, the sets are poor, the acting is choppy and the film has many flaws, but it is truly forgivable due to the sneaky dialogue, some nice gore and of course, the music, which are well written and performed exceptionally well. If you are a fan of perfectly crafted and obscure “B” Movies this one is for you. It may just motivate you to build a snowman.

Zombie Bloodbath (1993)

After spending some time with the classics, I figured it was time to finally watch part of the Zombie Bloodbath Trilogy that stumbled upon the other day. This low-budget, early 1990s zombie (Zombie Bloodbath Part 1) flick by Todd Sheets seems perfect for the evening!

Plot / A meltdown at a nuclear power plant turns a bunch of folks into lethal shambling flesh-eating zombies who go on a gory rampage.

When I picked this up, I had no expectations. Being a life-long horror fan and lover of the zombie genre, I know that since I had never heard of it, there was not much to expect. Nevertheless, I will say that I totally enjoyed this flick. Yes, it is terrible! Yes, beyond "B" Movie terrible! There is no plot, no character development, no editing, a sub par script, horrid acting and it made little sense. However, while repetitive, the gore was awesome and that dudes mullet rocked! I must say that it has been forever since I laughed all the way through a horror movie; it was THAT bad, bad enough to make the 70-minute run-time seem perfect. With all that said, unless you are a zombie fanatic (and even then) you may want to pass of this movie (although some of it does still make me laugh just thinking about it)!