Missing 411 (2016)

I remember first hearing about the theoy of people going missing in National Parks on Coast to Coast AM some time ago. It was fascinating and eerie. Having spent many days and nights in the field, this story resonated with me. For the longest time though, I stayed away run the video series, they is until this year.  Next up is the original Missing 411

Plot: Based on the books series written by David Paulides Missing 411 chronicles the unsolved yet eerily similar disappearances of five children in the wilds of North America accross multiple decades. A real-life horror story for those involved, the film examines each case from multiple perspectives in an attempt to shed light on the unsettling topic. Les Stroud of Survivorman and Obama-appointed, former Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar are both interviewed for their insight into the topic, as are the families who have fallen victim to tragedy.

The initial installment of this series may also be my least favorite.  While the cinematography and storyline is outstanding,  the selected stories all have plausable explanations available.  These are nowhere near as mysterious as the entries in subsequent installments. The majority of interviewees are in no way captivating, and over little in the way of moving the story forward. Even the editing is a bit choppy, jumping between multiple stories and adding some unneeded confusion.  In the end,  this one is good,  but not as entertaining as the others in the series. It does do a great job at bringing the subject into the mainstream and that may be the most important thing to come out of it.  This is a subject that is mysterious and also potentially dangerous for all of us.  You should check it out.  

Brave New Jersey (2016)

As I said yesterday,  it was a lazy weekend.  Although,  I did get some stuff done around the shop,  making it somewhat productive. I also took a break between binging The Hardy Boys Nancy Drew Mysteries and starting Kolchak: The Night Stalker to watch a few movies. Last night, being in the mood for some comedy,I decided on 2016s Brave New Jersey.

Plot: A comedy about a small New Jersey town on the night of Orson Welles' legendary 1938 "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast, which led millions of listeners to believe the U.S. was being invaded by Martians

The real story of the war of the Worlds incident in 1938 is one thati am sure everyone has heard of. I still wonder how I would have reacted had I experienced it live. This one is a great comedic take on what it may have been like in a small Jersey town when it happened. The storyline is lighthearted and fun, but it is also a touch uneven with some strange changes in characterizations sprinkled throughout. The overall look, performances, and production elements make this one easy to watch, but the scripted changes in the characters' and movies' tone does detract from the completed film. This one won't be fore everyone, but it is an interesting take on what might have transpired that fateful night in an isolated community.

Salem - Season Three (2016)

With this being eight days into NaNoWriMo, I am spending time breaking down my own characters in my book. While my project is supernatural in nature, it is not a straight supernatural entry. With that in mind, I decided to binge watch the final season of Salem over the past couple days.

Plot/ The witches’ plan to remake the New World by bringing the Devil to earth and making Salem his capital, but the Devil is a liar, and instead of a New World free from murderous Puritan hypocrisy, his own plan will bring nothing but death and slavery with the ultimate aim of leading humanity to destroy itself. And there’s only one person on earth who can beat the devil — the very witch that birthed him, his mother, Mary Sibley — the only problem is she’s dead. Or is she?

In some ways, I am upset that I finished watching Salem and really think that I may have to break down and purchase it. In many ways, Season Three takes the series to an entirely different arena featuring an insane storyline the delved in many different and darker directions. In fact, the writers seemed to embrace ever taboo that was thought of and decided to bring them to life on the screen. In many ways, this season came across as a modern, almost more action-packed version of something that would have been perfected by Argento or Bava during their artistic peak. The cinematography, performances, practical special effects, and storyline are amazing, and the character development is brought to life perfectly by the cast (Marilyn Manson was crazy) and honestly, it was a shame to see the series end. Yes, there are still some dialog issues that felt out of place and too modern for the period and there were a few disjointed moments that felt out of place, but those issues are extremely minor and did not impact the overall feel of the series in any way. In the end, this was a series that left the air too soon and one that should be seen (especially now that it is available on the different streaming services). If you have finished Stranger Things and are in the mood for a darker more adult period piece, give this series a shot. You may be like me and become a huge fan.

Found Footage 3D (2016)

After spending so much time lost in the classics, I figured it was time to return to the present for my next review. That film is the 2016 entry Found Footage 3D that I found on Shudder.

Plot/ A group of filmmakers sets out to make the first 3D found footage horror movie, but find themselves IN a found footage horror movie when the evil entity from their film escapes into their behind-the-scenes footage.

This is one that I had never heard of and knew nothing about going into it. Unfortunately, I wish that I had an idea of what was in store. I have to admit that I enjoyed it more than most found footage films, although it does (in an attempted non-serious way) fall into many of the same traps that plague the subgenre. The storyline and premise are interesting (albeit almost predictable), as the attempt to spoof the found footage genre is somewhat original. The characterizations, dialog, and some of the gore does make it a better watch than most. Unfortunately, the satire only goes so far before the movie falls into the same issues that they are making fun. While I am sure that was intentional, it could have subtly gone that route instead of falling headfirst back into them. Couple that with some uneven pacing and the unnecessary use of 3D and you have a movie that never quite reaches its full potential. In the end, the idea and set-up were there with this one; it just misses the mark and falls into the jumbled subgenre with many other found footage entries that suffer from the same flaws. Sure, it isn’t terrible, but it could have been something that was a much more memorable experience.

Let Me Make You a Martyr (2016)

Last night after finishing my Evil Dead 2 review, I decided to dive back into Shudder to see if I could find something interesting. After some thought, I decided on the 2016 crime drama Let Me Make You a Martyr.

Plot/ Adopted siblings hatch a plot to kill their abusive father, a local crime boss who won't go down easily.

This movie was not at all what I expected when I started watching it and honestly, it was a lot more than I ever imagined that it would be. This was an extremely thought provoking film with a detailed and layered storyline that was both entertaining and intelligent. The scripting was outstanding, as the non-linear approached worked extremely well in creating an atmosphere, the performances were solid with Marilyn Manson leading the way with an extremely memorable performance, and the cinematography and production elements were spot on. Sure, the non-linear storyline and drug use will turn some people off as will the slower pacing, but in this case, it should be viewed as the perfect platform for this story to be told in the proper manner. In the end, this is a movie that should definitely be seen. Yes, it isn’t really a traditional horror movie, but it does have elements that should make any viewer cringe. If you haven’t done so already, find it and give it a shot.

Alien Arrival (2016)

Yesterday was much longer than I had expected, as Jolene’s softball friendly lasted a lot longer than I had expected and I was beaten down. I did find time to watch some television last night and I decided on the 2016 sci-fi entry Alien Arrival (AKA Arrowhead).

Plot/ A prisoner of war is offered a chance at freedom if he completes a dangerous rescue mission. His ship crash-lands on a desert moon, leaving him stranded. While struggling to survive, he discovers a deadly secret.

I was looking for something different when I picked this last night and that is exactly what this was. While it is nowhere near a perfect film, it does show that filmmakers can create something interesting no matter what the budget is. The cinematography and scenery were outstanding and the performances were solid especially considering the smaller budget used in this production. Yes, the scripting felt too detailed and there was may have been too much fluff written in, the pacing was uneven, and there were many inconsistencies littered throughout the movie that was extremely noticeable if you pay close attention to it. In the end, this was a solid debut entry and a movie that is much better than I expected when I selected it. Is it a perfect movie? No, not by any means; however, it is better than some of the films that show up on the sci-fi channel from time to time.

The Drowning (2016)

After spending most of the past couple days putting the finishing touches on a couple book projects, I needed a break from horror and wanted something a little more thought-provoking. After some searching on Netflix, I settled on the 2016 thriller The Drowning.

Plot/ A psychiatrist faces his past, present, and future when he finds himself involved in the treatment of a young man recently released from prison for a murder committed when the boy was just 11 years old.

I was in the mood for a thriller tonight, so I picked this one. Unfortunately, this one did not hit the mark at all. In fact, this cliché riddled mystery/thriller lacks any tension and there is no real atmosphere to speak of. The cast is an interesting mix and the performances and cinematography are solid, but those are the only positive elements that I could find. Between the played-out storyline that has been redone a million times over, the stereotyping littered throughout the characters, and the scripted dialog drowning every conversation with monotony, this one does not deliver in any way. In the end, while I had hoped for a darker mystery/thriller, I actually found a movie that honestly may be in the running for the least memorable film of all time. Yes, it is THAT bad; I am just happy that I did not pay to see it.

The Boy (2016)

With two of the daughters out at sleepovers last night, I let Jo pick a movie for our viewing pleasure. While at first, I hesitated, I eventually gave in and watched the 2016 mystery/thriller The Boy.

Plot/ An American nanny is shocked that her new English family's boy is actually a life-sized doll. After she violates a list of strict rules, disturbing events make her believe that the doll is really alive.

I had stayed away from this one for a while, but my daughter finally convinced me to rent it last night and I am glad that I did. While the beginning was somewhat predictable (exactly what I feared), those moments quickly faded and this one became something more than I expected. The performances were solid, the characters were actually developed, the cinematography was good, and the storyline actually allowed for some atmosphere to build throughout. Yes, I did predict the twist ending, but it was hidden well with only subtle hints dropped into the plot. Sure, there could have been more blood and gore, but for what this movie is, it worked really well. In the end, this was a solid movie to watch with the kids and would be a great addition to any type of Halloween party for kids. Maybe it isn’t intense enough for diehard horror fans, but sometimes even we need a break. Check it out.

Anomaly (2016)

I know I again took a break from the blog and that really isn’t something I should do. Unfortunately, I had to take some time away to deal with some things. Those are taken care of now and it is time to move toward my next review. After some thought, I decided on the 2016 mystery/thriller Anomaly.

Plot/ The terrifying story of a family that experienced the biggest demonic possession after moving into a house plagued by malicious spirits.

I rented this one at Family Video because the case and synopsis looked interesting. Unfortunately, those may be the highlights of this one. I have to say that I was extremely disappointed in the movie. While it seemed like there was some potential, it came nowhere close to meeting that level. Come to think of it, there were really no elements that made this one either memorable or worth watching. The performances, the script, the costuming, and the cinematography all ranged from mediocre to terrible. Plus, the predictability factor was so bad; I could almost narrate the story from the start. In the end, this one was bad and is really not worth watching. It is definitely a film that I suffered through, so you don’t have to. Stay away; stay far away.

The Blessed Ones (2016)

Last night I made it through a couple of movies, but unfortunately, neither did anything more than help me pass time. The first one of those was the 2016 flick The Blessed Ones (AKA Polaris and The Divine Ones).

Plot/ The Blessed Ones shadows a tightly knit cult hiding in a remote desert enclave as they prepare for the impending apocalypse. Two dissenters try to escape through the vast desert wasteland as the cult embarks on a mass suicide pact.

When I read the synopsis of this one at Family Video, I was drawn in. Disturbed cults and serial killers are always great subjects to watch or write about. This low budget indie flick was an interesting film with a storyline that I thought explored many of the darker facets that exist within a cult. The problem is that the budget in no way helped bring what could have been an extremely entertaining and possibly surreal movie to life. Yes, there are some positive moments with solid cinematography and interesting concepts, but overall, the film felt disjointed, the scripting and performances uneven, and the pace felt predictable and forced, unfortunately, these flaws also left the film somewhat unmemorable and left me wanting more. In the end, while I loved the concept, it never really reached its potential. Yes, it has a few moments, but not enough to make it worth watching. Stay away.

Wait Till Helen Comes (2016)

After Shin Godzilla and Phoenix Forgotten, I wanted to change direction. At first, I did some sports writing for one of the sites I manage, but that was not anything that really helped pass the time until Twin Peaks: The Return. That is when I decided on the next flick, 2016s Wait Till Helen Comes (AKA Little Girl’s Secret).

Plot/ When a reconstructed family moves to a converted church in the country, 14-year-old Molly must save her troubled stepsister from a dangerous relationship with the desperate ghost of a young girl.

I grabbed this one to have something to watch with the girls and it definitely served that purpose. However, for me, even with the creepy look of the house and the decent cinematography, this one did not move the needle. Sure, the performances were not bad and the storyline was believable, but that did not save it from being anything more than background entertainment. There was nothing new in this one, as the story was predictable (although I could have read this in my youth), it lacked atmosphere and tension, and there was nothing in this that made it in any way memorable. In fact, I may have already forgotten some of it. In the end, this one is a decent flick to watch with the kids if they are searching for a ghost story, but nothing more. Unless you are in that position, stay away.

Shin Godzilla (2016)

As I was relaxing last night doing some last minute paperwork for Prestige tryouts today, I thought about working on a second review. Instead, I waited for today to review one of the best monster movies I have seen, 2016s Shin Godzilla (AKA Godzilla Resurgence).

Plot/ An unknown accident occurs in Tokyo Bay's Aqua Line, which causes an emergency cabinet to assemble. All of the sudden, a giant creature immediately appears, destroying town after town with its landing reaching the capital.

The last few modern creature features I have watched have been pretty good and I hoped that Shin Godzilla would be the same. This was especially the case after hearing that Toho was behind the film and taking the famed creature back to its roots. What I found was both enlightening and entertaining with a darkness that seems to create something deeper than most of the stylized Godzilla flicks from my youth. The storyline is intriguing with an interesting look at the flaws in the way the Japanese Government is set up. I have to wonder if this is somehow a message about the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that destroyed the Fukushima nuclear plant. Even after the initial scenes with the monster, Godzilla morphs into something amazing and more devastating than one would expect, the performances are solid, and the soundtrack works really well. Yes, the character development is lacking, there are some head scratching moments, and the audio dubbing is not the best, but those flaws were somewhat expected. In the end, this was one of the best monster movies I have seen in some time, and I could only hope that this is the creature that ends up facing King Kong. Sure, it is not quite the typical Godzilla flick, but it is well worth watching.

Beyond the Gates (2016)

After taking a break from some movies last night, I decided to kick into high gear tonight. Right now, I am in the middle of Phoenix Forgotten (which is interesting). Earlier, I sat back and watched the 2016 throwback Beyond the Gates.

Plot/ Two estranged brothers reunite at their missing father's video store and find a VCR board game dubbed 'Beyond The Gates' that holds a connection to their father's disappearance.

When I sat down t watch this one, I had no idea what to expect, but with this movie being a throwback of sorts to my youth, I was excited. What I found was indeed a low budget homage to early 1980s horror, although it did not inspire me as much as some of those films did back then. While this one is not terrible, it does have its flaws including poorly paced dialog, a slow building story that is overly tedious, uneven performances, and some flat characters. Yes, there were some fun elements; the effects (considering the budget) were interesting and the idea had potential. Unfortunately, those positive moments did not offset the execution problems. In the end, this one could have been much better and even more entertaining. Is it terrible? No, but it will likely be met with a polarizing response and disappoint many hardcore horror fans.

Population Zero (2016)

After taking a night off because of a miserably long rain delay (and eventual washout) of the games at the USSSA Summer Showdown, I figured it was time to get back at it tonight. My next review was an interesting film, 2016s Population Zero.

Plot/ In 2009 three young men were killed in a remote part of Yellowstone National Park. The only thing more shocking than the crime itself, are the bizarre events that followed.

I had looked at this movie for some time at Family Video and could not figure out exactly what it was. After renting it, I was glad that I did because it was better that what I envisioned. This mockumentary does a great job at staying true to the documentary feel and keeps you guessing on whether all of it is true. The storyline is engaging, the cinematography amazing, and the performances are solid. Yes, the pacing was not perfect as the film was very dialog driven, but that was somewhat expected because of the documentary platform that was being created. In the end, if you are a fan of true mockumentaries that present believable storylines, give this one a shot. It is very entertaining.