Skyquake (2015)

After taking a night yesterday to get caught up in the past few episodes of Riverdale, I decided that it was time to get back at it tonight with something a little different before I get back to my National Poetry Month project Salvation. After some debate, I decided on the 2015 Brain Damage Films entry Skyquake.

Plot/ Since 2012 reports of strange sounds coming from the sky have flooded social media, now Adam, a recluse, struggling with his own demons, believes whatever is causing them has followed him home.

When I picked this one up, the synopsis seemed interesting, as I have heard (and read about) many accounts of this phenomenon. While this movie takes on this subject in a different manner that leaves much of it to the viewers interpretation, something that I love as a writer. The visuals are really well done with solid cinematography and direction; the storyline is intriguing, and the performances are decent. Yes, some of the special effects and audio tracks are uneven and the pace does feel a bit slow, but those issues seem to fit in with this strange tale. In the end, for a lower budgeted film, this one is a thought-provoking journey into something that we really do not understand as a civilization. If you are like me, and are fascinated by the unknown (especially the 4:44-time symbolism), give it a shot, you could do much worse.

Discopath (2013)

After taking a strange nap yesterday, I was searching for something different to watch. After searching Shudder, I decided to roll the dice with the 2013 entry Discopath (Discopathe).

Plot/ The mid-70's: a timid young New Yorker leads an uneventful life until he is fatefully exposed to the pulsating rhythms of a brand-new genre of music: disco. Unable to control his murderous impulses that stem from a traumatic childhood experience, Duane Lewis transforms into a dangerous serial killer exiled to Montreal.

When I started this one, I had no idea what to expect. Although, from the description on Shudder, I hoped it would at least be entertaining. Guess what? It was much more than that and better than I could have ever imagined. While the storyline is ludicrous, and much of it is over the top, there is a lot to like and it is rather entertaining. Sure, this is move of an exploitation schlockfest with a ton of comedic element sprinkled in, but that is what makes it so fun, as it never takes itself too serious and it allows the film to develop in a lighthearted manner. The performances are uneven, the dialog and language varies scene to scene, and it is littered with disco music (which may turn some people off), but there is enough going on to make this a mindless trip into another time. In the end, this movie is much better than one would expect and it is a movie that really flues under the RADAR being from Canada. If you love schlock and classic mindless exploitation, give it a shot; you will enjoy it.

The Brood (1979)

After a couple days away from the blog, focusing on NFL Draft preps for Steelers 101, I decided to jump back into some classic horror on Friday. Of course, that did come after watching Hannibal (cannot miss that), as it is my favorite show on regular television (The Following a close second). My selection for the evening was the 1979 flick: The Brood.

Plot/ A man tries to uncover an unconventional psychologist's therapy techniques on his institutionalized wife, while a series of brutal attacks committed by a brood of mutant children coincides with the husband's investigation.

David Cronenberg movies are always interesting and this one is quite possibly one of his best. The Sci-Fi / Psychological Horror combo has everything a horror fan needs to be satisfied. The storyline is interesting, soundtrack effective, the cinematography is tremendous, the acting convincing, and the atmosphere creates a dark and heavy realm. Yes, some of the costuming may make it feel dated, but honestly, that is part of the allure of the movie. In the end, this is a classic piece of 1970s horror cinema, and a movie that must be seen. If you have not watched this one, find it, and check it out.

Stake Land (2010)

As the days pass by in 2013, I often wonder if we are in the End Times, if we could be heading for the apocalypse. Think about it, war is everywhere, economies are crashing, and world leaders trade more lies than at any other point in history. It is incredible to think about how bad it is. While I do not believe there will be a zombie outbreak (although the sheeple in the United States do act that way) or a vampire infestation, they do make for some good entertainment elements. With that in mind, I decided to watch the 2010 entry Stake Land.

Plot/ Martin was a normal teenage boy before the country collapsed in an empty pit of economic and political disaster. A vampire epidemic has swept across what is left of the nation's abandoned towns and cities, and it's up to Mister, a death dealing, rogue vampire hunter, to get Martin safely north to Canada, the continent's New Eden.

Movies set post apocalypse are always fun to watch, as every interpretation can create something interesting. That is especially the case with this one, which took on the vampire route and created one of the better flicks in the genre to come along in some time. The acting was solid, the storyline is simple yet dynamic, the cinematography and effects work, and the atmosphere is heavy and dreary. It all came together to create what one would expect in a post-apocalyptic world. Yes, there were some small pacing issues and some of the dialogue was not the greatest, but that is often what comes in lower budgeted flicks. In the end, this was one of the better post-apocalyptic flicks to come around in some time. If you have not seen it, check it out!

American Mary (2012)

Having a long night in the field last night doing some Bigfoot research made for a somewhat lazy day. Of course, the 90-degree temperatures may have played a role in that as well. As my day wore on, I decided it was time to take some time and find something different to watch. In the end, I decided to check out American Mary from the Twisted Twins, the Soska Sisters.

Plot/ The story follows medical student, Mary Mason, as she becomes increasingly broke and disenchanted with the surgical world she once admired. The allure of easy money sends Mary into the world of underground surgeries which ends up leaving more marks on her than her so called 'freakish' clientele.

Going in, I was not quite sure what to expect with this flick, but I am glad I grabbed it. American Mary is an interesting flick that seems to cross through different genres while delivering an entertaining trip. While it is not quite a normal horror flick, there is a lot to like. The acting was solid, the story dark, and the production values and cinematography top notch. Overall, the movie is as advertised. The only flaw is the ending, which is just average in comparison to the rest of the flick. In the end, the Soska Sisters created a flick with non-mainstream appeal and the potential rise to cult status. Check it out!

Argo (2012)

Now that I am fully recovered from horror and blog overload, I decided to get back into the swing of things with a movie that is a big conversation on Oscar Night. Enjoying thrillers, political dramas and history, I decided to breakdown and watch Argo from 2012.

Plot/ A dramatization of the 1980 joint CIA-Canadian secret operation to extract six fugitive American diplomatic personnel out of revolutionary Iran.

Growing up during this era, I remember the nightly news and all the talk about the hostages. Of course, I also remember when news organizations actually covered the news and not just the new reality story or blindly follow a narrative just because it is the talking points presented. Oh well, those were the days. While I know of the historical inaccuracies, this is a great albeit flawed thriller. There was really a lot to like, the storyline, the acting, the cinematography, the realism and tension. It was truly an interesting take on history. Sure, some of the characterization was off and characters flat, but it is the historical inaccuracies that damage the overall grade of the movie. Yes, those facts do not matter for the majority of viewers, who are blind to these facts caught up in their Hollywood trance, but they do matter. Canada played a huge role in this rescue, one that is virtually overlooked. In the end, if you know nothing about history, you will love this flick. Hell, I liked it a lot even with the flaws. Check it out!

What a Strange Week it has Been!!!!!

What a strange week it has been, literally, I never imagined that when I started this week so many crazy and disturbing stories would make the news in North America. I know I have watched and possibly reviewed on here some of the most disturbing flicks out there. In fact, it was just last week where I profiled the true story behind the movie The Afflicted. However, as tragic and disturbing as that story is, it has nothing on the reality of this week. If you missed it, here is a recap of sorts.

  

Saturday, news broke of the strange cannibalistic attack on a man on the MacArther causeway near Miami Beach, FL.  Not only was this a ghastly attack, the entire thing was captured on a security camera, bringing the entire story to world in full color. Of course, this camera also captured the violent end when the police shot the perpetrator multiple times after he would not stop eating the victims face.

If you are not familiar with the story, Haitian born Rudy Eugene attacked a man by chewing and eating 75 percent of his face while he was passed out. The victim survived and is now in the hospital in serious condition after losing or suffering injuries to his eyes, nose, cheeks and mouth.

Why did Eugene do it? No one knows for sure. However, it was originally reported that he was possibly high on the synthetic drug called Bath Salts, although his girlfriend may have other ideas. The woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, went on record stating she believed that Eugene was the victim of a voodoo curse, and the attack had to have supernatural roots. No matter what, this case will be one that not soon forgotten.

 

 

Of course, the week could have ended there with the strange crimes and attacks, but it did not. On Sunday, a report came out about a man in Hackensack, NJ, who allegedly cut out his own intestines and threw them at the police. This bizarre story centers around Wayne Carter, a 43-year old New Jersey man, who barricaded himself into a room in his house and reportedly began to stab himself in the abdomen, neck and legs. The man was in such a place that pepper spray only enraged him and actually prompted him to throw pieces of his flesh and intestines at the police officers that were called to the scene.

Yes, this strange occurrence was not nearly as violent as the attack of the Miami Cannibal, but still, it was one of the strangest stories to be reported in sometime. If I were a true believer, I would definitely start believing that the apocalypse was closer than 203 days away.

Yes, the week could have ended there and it would have been one of the strangest to come about in some time, but no, it did not. Today, the story broke about Luca Rocco Magnotta, and his connection to the body parts discovered in the mail, the disgusting video 1 lunatic 1 ice pick, and the remains of a torso discovered in Montreal.

  

This may be one of the most disturbing bits of reality I have heard in some time as Magnotta, a gay porn star / necrophiliac / cat killer, apparently recorded the murder, dismemberment and anal rape before entering into some cannibalistic acts with the corpse. Utterly one of the most disturbing things I have witnessed if real.

 

Unfortunately, this may not be the first violent act on film by the disturbed individual also known as Eric Clinton Newman or Vladimir Romanov. He has actually been in the crosshairs of animal rights activists as he reportedly; video taped the torture and killing of cats over the past few years, not to mention possibly entering into a relationship notorious sex killer Karla Homolka. Seriously, if this is all true, this one is nuts (and I have not touched his blog that talks about necrophilia).

 

The Canadian authorities have charged Magnotta with the crimes and an international manhunt is underway. In fact, Interpol has become involved as it has been reported that the 29-year old escaped to Paris prior to the discovery of any of the body parts or torso.

 

 

With these three stories in the books, it is easy to wonder, what strange stuff is instore for us as time goes on.