It's a Wonderful Knife (2023)

I decided to take a break from Leave the World Behind to watch some holiday horror.  While this isn't anywhere near Halloween, there are some entertaining horror films that take place during this holiday season.  This movie from 2023 fits solidly into that realm,  It's a Wonderful Knife.

Plot: Winnie's life is less than wonderful one year after saving her town from a psychotic killer on Christmas Eve. When she wishes she was never born, she finds herself magically transported to a nightmarish parallel universe. With the murderous maniac now back, she must team up with a misfit to identify the culprit and get back to her own reality.

When I say down to watch this one,  I was actually somewhat excited, the idea of a slasher take on a Christmas classic looked fun.  Unfortunately, the execution didn't meet my initial excitement.  While there are some positive with the cinematography and overall feel,  the scripting was extremely incoherent and the movie suffered from that.  The characters were flat,  the performances were uneven, and overall it felt rather predictable after an interesting start.  Now,  this is far from the worst movie in the genre,  but,  I'm positive that there are many better choices out there.  My recommendation, stay away.

The Discovery (2017)

As the first day of Worlds winds down, I figured it was time to finish writing up one of the last movies I watched before leaving Pennsylvania. That movie was the 2017 drama/mystery The Discovery.  

Plot/ Two years after the afterlife is scientifically proven, a man attempts to help a young woman break away from her dark past.

I watched this the other night with absolutely no idea of what to expect. Unfortunately, while the cast was awesome, the overall story felt played out and uninteresting. That isn’t saying that the premise wasn’t interesting, it just felt uninspired and seemed to waste the solid performances. A perfect set-up for a horror or psychological thriller, the love story aspects added in did nothing to make the film grow on you. The film did have some solid cinematography and a subject matter that mixed well with the performances, but even that could not save it and make it memorable. In the end, there wasn’t any major flaw that brought this one down, but the movie also didn’t have any one spot to make it memorable. If you have no other choice, give it a shot, just do not expect a masterpiece.

The Void (2016)

After taking a week to focus on movies that had a Cryptozoological feel, I decided it was time to dive back into the true horror genre. After searching Family Video, I sat back and decided on the 2016 entry The Void.

Plot/ Shortly after delivering a patient to an understaffed hospital, a police officer experiences strange and violent occurrences seemingly linked to a group of mysterious hooded figures.

It has been awhile since I found a modern horror film take me on a ride similar to the classics that made me a fan of the genre in the 1970s and 1980s. That all changed with The Void. This was one of the best horror films I have watched in some time and honestly, one that I may decide to pick up a copy of. This film has an intriguing storyline that feels like a mixture of classic Clive Barker and H.P. Lovecraft complete with amazing visuals and a dark atmosphere. The effects are solid, the performances decent, the cinematography works, and most importantly, this movie pushed the boundaries of horror filmmaking by creating a film that could crawl under a viewer's skin and create nightmares. Yes, there are some uneven moments with the dialog and scripting, but those moments are forgotten when you focus on the graphic images that grace the screen. In the end, this movie is a must see for a true horror fan, especially those that enjoy the works of Barker and Lovecraft. If that is you, find it, and watch it; you should definitely enjoy it.

ARQ (2016)

Yesterday, I took a night off to deal with a miserable cold; I felt the need to find something different tonight for my evening entertainment. After some searching, I decided on the 2016 NETFLIX Original ARQ.

Plot/ Trapped in a lab and stuck in a time loop, a disoriented couple fends off masked raiders while harboring a new energy source that could save humanity.

ARQ may sound like a clichéd Sci-Fi interpretation of a loop film, but in many ways, it is much more than that. This is a solid, well thought out, and intriguing Sci-Fi thriller that is definitely worth watching. The acting is sound, the storyline has enough twists and turns to keep your attention, the scene progressions are logical, and the overall atmosphere offers some suspense. Yes, it may be a touch confusing to the passive viewer and some of it may seem a bit off, but that does very little to bring this one down. In the end, this may be one of the best time travel flicks to come out in some time, and it is a movie that solidifies NETFLIX as a viable studio in the Sci-Fi community. If you have not seen it, you should!  

Parallels (2015)

I spent last night entranced by the sounds of the Beatles and the visual trip Across the Universe, so I decided that I needed to venture back into some type of horror or sci-fi for the evening. After some debate, I decided on the 2015 sci-fi entry Parallels.

Plot/ this is the story of a small band of people traveling across parallel earths. An estranged brother and sister, Ronan and Beatrix Carver, who are looking for their father, lead the group. What they discover is that their family is shattered across multiple earths. The question is: can they put their family back together again?

Sometimes you watch something, and realize how hard it is to turn a pilot into a series. That fact becomes completely obvious after watching this one. Parallels is an amazing pilot episode and is a series that should be made. As with many pilots, there are many unanswered questions left dangling, but that is exactly what is supposed to happen in this scenario. Yes, it is not perfect, but it is an entertaining sci-fi journey into different worlds and dimensions and a show that would definitely appeal to fans of Sliders or Fringe. In the end, this movie was fun to watch and left me wanted to see more. Here is hoping that comes true and that Parallels is not a pilot left unfinished; some company must make this into the series it was meant to be. If you have not watched it, it is streaming on Netflix, so give it a shot.

The Frame (2014)

After spending some time playing umpire tonight at Nightmares practice, I was in the mood to just chill when I got home. To get my mind right, and possibly make some progress on my Diablo inspired contest entry, I decided on something a little more surrealistic for my next review with the 2014 entry, The Frame.

Plot/ Two strangers find their lives colliding in an impossible way. Alex is a methodical cargo thief working for a dangerous cartel. Sam is a determined paramedic trying to save the world while running from her past.

I had no idea what to expect when I found this one tonight, and what I found was actually a lot better and more surreal than I could have imagined when first turning it on. Yes, it did not have great pacing and was slower than I would have expected from the description, however, it is definitely an original storyline that transcends multiple genres. The cinematography is amazing, the storyline is solid, and the dreamlike atmosphere is tremendous. Yes, some of the performances may be uneven, and some of it may be difficult for everyone to follow/understand, but that dies not hurt this film in any way. In the end, this one may not be for everyone, but it is clearly a movie that should be seen, especially if you are a huge fan of surrealist movies. This one is a must see!

The Matrix (1999)

Hello again, and welcome to 2015. Having taken a few weeks off to enjoy the holiday season, and so some travelling, it is time to jump back into the world here at The Ringmaster’s Realm. 2014 was a great year, and there was a lot that I will miss, but I am sure that this year will be even better. To start the year off with a bang, I decided to venture deep inside a Sci-Fi classic, the 1999 hit The Matrix.

Plot/ A computer hacker learns from mysterious rebels about the true nature of his reality and his role in the war against its controllers.

I ventured back into the Matrix for the first time since I saw it when it came out. When I saw it then, I was amazed at the effects and how impressive every detail was. Now, while the effects are still stunning, the story definitely took on an entirely different meaning with the overall importance of the films message breaking through. Everything in this movie works, with a solid cast combining outstanding performances, over-the-top special effects, a detail driven storyline that continues to grow philosophically deeper the more times you see it, and the atmosphere is tight, which allows the characters to come to life within the fantasy elements of the movie. While the movie does have confusing moments and runs a touch long at 136 minutes, those are but minor flaws inside one of the most impressive Sci-Fi flicks of the era. In the end, if you have not watched this one, you are wrong; go out, find it, and watch it as soon as possible. If you are like me and have not revisited this one in some time, look it up; you may be surprised at what you find inside.

Stargate (1994)

Over the past few days, I have been part of some interesting conversations on Nibiru and hollow earth. While both subjects are fascinating, they are no more fascinating than our own ancient histories, where cultures such as the Egyptians and Mayans create intricate artifacts that have stood the test of time. How did they accomplish that? Who really knows, but Stargate (1994) does venture into one possibility.

Plot/ An interstellar teleportation device, found in Egypt, leads to a planet with humans resembling ancient Egyptians who worship the god Ra.

Stargate is such an amazing story and does provide a science fiction explanation to some of the real life mysteries that haunt our ancient past. While there is an interesting and layered plot, some solid performances and the cinematography and score blend together in a seamless fashion, it is the historic detains of the story that draw me in every time. As a researcher, the potential questions (and answers) it brings to life makes it a must see, Plus, the action and atmosphere are not bad either. Sure, if you are closed minded, it may not appeal to you as it does to me because you must suspend reality to accept the possibilities, but that is part of the realm of science fiction that makes the genre amazing. In the end, this movie may not be for everyone, but if you are open minded and love plot driven science fiction this one is for you. Give it a shot!

Radio Free Albemuth (2014)

While I have never been a huge fan of Science Fiction writings, I could be changing my approach. This next movie comes from the mind of author Philip K. Dick (Blade Runner) and offers a glimpse of the reality we are living in today (even if the sheep want to ignore it). Next up for review is the 2014 film Radio Free Albemuth.

Plot/ Berkeley record store clerk Nick Brady begins to experience strange visions from an entity he calls VALIS that cause him to uproot his family and move to Los Angeles where he becomes a successful music company executive. With the help of best friend, science-fiction writer Philip K. Dick himself and a mysterious woman named Silvia, Nick finds himself drawn into a dangerous political-mystical conspiracy of cosmic proportions. 

Let me start by saying that I have never read this book and cannot tell you how close the adaptation is to what was written. Although, in this case, I may decide to pick it up and read it, as the idea and storyline definitely felt real and reminded me of some of the weirdness we are experiencing in society today. This was an entertaining journey to watch with an intriguing and layered storyline, solid performances, outstanding characterizations, great visuals and a big budget feel. Sure, as a character and story driven movie, it does lack a tremendous amount of action, but that does nothing to bring the film down. In the end, this mixture of political and theological intrigue, conspiracy theories, and historical philosophical and subliminal messages plays out in an educational and entertaining manner, and is a must see for everyone. Check it out!

Videodrome (1983)

With January in the books, it is hard to believe how fast that month went by. Of course, it does help when you are focused on a goal or an agenda. For me, it has been spreading the word about the Constitution and how no one has the right to walk on our greatest document. Unlike some people, I plan to stand against the tyranny and work to keep our liberties in tact. Tonight, I decided to venture back into a simpler part of my life, 1980s, with the David Cronenberg classic Videodrome.

Plot/ A sleazy cable-TV programmer begins to see his life and the future of media spin out of control in a very unusual fashion when he acquires a new kind of programming for his station.

It had been a while since I had enjoyed this Cronenberg classic. This was one of the first surrealistic flicks that I watched as growing up in the 1980s, and I believe it is still one of the best of the genre. By all accounts, this is a great film, and one that has stood up to the test of time quite well. In fact, it may be quite relevant today. I understand that this is not truly about mind control, but, some of the horrors outlined in this flick are almost commonplace today. For some, the layered storyline may be confusing and turn them off, but as a fan of surrealism, this one is right on the money. The cinematography was awesome, the visual effects work, and the performances are solid, especially James Woods and Debbie Harry. More importantly, the storyline is amazing, featuring multi-layered journey into another realm. In the end, this one is definitely not for everyone, especially the close-minded. However, it is a true piece of cinematic history that must be seen. 

1984 (1984)

 

 

As 2012 comes toward an end, it is clear that there is an assault-taking place on open-minded thought and free speech. Everywhere you turn, there is censorship to the highest degree. On top of that, the social networks, computer companies and governments are admitting that the track your every move, manipulate your viewing exposure and read your emails. We are truly in the Big Brother era. With that in mind, I decided to re-watch the classic 1984.

 

 

Plot/ George Orwell's novel of a totalitarian future society in which a man whose daily work is rewriting history tries to rebel by falling in love.

 

 

In looking back at my youth, one of the books that left a lasting impression on me was Orwell’s masterpiece. I not only loved the book, it was the first old-time radio cassettes that I bought. This outline of totalitarian society is a necessary read for everyone and this adaptation is a must see. This movie captured everything in the book in the perfect manner, with a dark, depressing and foreboding atmosphere.  The acting was tremendous, the cinematography amazing, and the scripting was on the mark. If there was a slight flaw, it was that it did not utilize the characterization to its fullest potential, but even that is nitpicking. However, like with the novel, it did capture the message, a significance that every person around the world should take to heart during these dark days of rising tyranny. Just one look at mainstream media in the world today demonstrates exactly what Orwell talked about and what makes this tale one of the most important literary and cinematographic endeavors out there. This is not a conspiracy about Big Brother watching, it is truth. If you have never read this book or watched this film, you must. I can honestly say, if you watch and digest the meaning of this film and apply that knowledge to everything that is happening around the world, your opinion on the direction of society may change. Some people may be turned off by the amount of nudity, but who cares; I highly recommend this for everyone.

 

The Final Countdown (1980)

As I was sitting here tonight wondering what I wanted to watch, I decided to venture into Netflix to see what they had to offer. Last night, I watched 1984, a classic, and a film that I will review on New Years Eve. That book by George Orwell was ahead of its time, and the film, does a great job at portraying the dark nature of a New World Order scenario. My selection for the evening tonight was another interesting flick, and one, that could also be considered before its time.

Plot/ A modern aircraft carrier is thrown back in time to 1941 near Hawaii, just hours before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Films in this particular vein of Sci-Fi and Fantasy are always interesting, and often pose realistic questions about reality, as we know it. Much like the truths behind the mysterious Philadelphia Experiment and subsequent movie, one has to at least think of the weird possibilities that exist in the universe. By all accounts, this is a great film from the era and stands up to time quite well. The acting is above the line, the effects are solid, and the way that actual history was integrated was outstanding. Could it have been better, absolutely, but that can be said about almost any flick out there. In the end, this is a awesome flick and one that, as mentioned, does a great job at exploring the possibilities of a time rift. If you like this genre, you must check out this flick!