Saw IV (2007)

I was rather shocked when I discovered that I had never reviewed the entire Saw franchise, as it is one of my favorite series to watch. Of course, that also gave me an excuse to re-watch them for review purposes. Next up for review is 2007s Saw IV.

Plot/ Despite Jigsaw's death, and in order to save the lives of two of his colleagues, Lieutenant Rigg is forced to take part in a new game, which promises to test him to the limit.

I remember wondering after watching Saw III how the series would continue and went into this one with some trepidation. What I found when watching this one was a layered and complex storyline that took the Jigsaw storyline to a new level and darker depths. As a fan of the series, the twist that the end was perfect, and was something that seemed to almost transport us back to the original ending. The storyline is interesting especially as they dove back into Jigsaw’s history and take you through his journey, the special effects and traps are awesome, and the performances are solid. However, it is the way they overlapped time and stories that really made this one stand out for me. Yes, there are some moments where things seem too coincidental or random and there are a few times, where it almost feels predictable, but those are only minor flaws in the overall production and don’t really impact the quality of the film. In the end, while it did lack some suspense, it made up for that with a quality storyline that is extremely memorable. This is definitely one of my favorites in the series and an entry that must be seen.

The Dead Zone (1983)

After last night, I wanted to watch something that was both older and entertaining. After some searching on my streaming services, I decided on the 1983 thriller The Dead Zone.

Plot/ Johnny Smith wakes from a coma due to a car accident, only to find he has lost five years of his life, and yet gained psychic powers. Foreseeing the future appears to be a gift at first, but ends up causing problems.

This movie often is overlooked when talking about David Cronenberg and his resume. Yet, this one may be one of his best films, albeit one that is nowhere close to being as graphic of some of his other films. Based on the novel by Stephen King, this one is definitely more of a thriller than straight horror film and it sits near the top of the King adaptations. Incredibly, this film holds up rather well considering its age and is a flick that is both atmospheric and enlightening. The performances are solid with Christopher Walken not only embracing his role, but also carrying the sadness of the part perfectly to add to the atmosphere. The entire cast works, the cinematography is outstanding, the soundtrack adds depth to the film, and the storyline is well constructed. Yes, there are some costuming elements that feel dated and the pacing is a touch slow, but for a thriller, neither of those do anything to damage the feel of the movie. In the end, I am not usually a fan of King adaptations, but this is a story that I loved when I read it, I loved the first time I saw the movie, and I still enjoy today. Plus, with it on Prime, it is a great movie to catch for free and feel a sense of dread.

Coma (1978)

After a night with the space family Robinson, I decided to venture back a few decades for my next selection. That movie was the 1978 sci-fi thriller Coma.

Plot/ When a young female doctor notices an unnatural amount of coma's occurring in her hospital she uncovers a horrible conspiracy.

This is one of those movies that stick with you long after you watch it. Filmed in the late 1970s, this one stands tall even after all of these years. The cinematography and direction are amazing creating a dark, heavy, and suspenseful atmosphere, the performances are solid, the scripting based on the source material works, and the storyline may be even more relevant today than it was in the decade that it was released in. Yes, there are some flaws that can be picked up under close inspection of the film and some of the early pacings seems a bit slow, but those are but minor flaws in this sci-fi classic. In the end, if you are in the mood for a solid sci-fi suspense thriller, give this one a shot. This is an outstanding selection for a rainy summers night. That is unless you are poised for a doctors visit in the near future.

After (2012)

Yesterday, I was told that the famed rodent Punxsutawney Phil announced six more weeks of winter. Today, I proclaim that Phil is #NotMyGroundhog. To help prepare for this added time, I decided to kick back with a few movies. The first was the 2012 mystery/thriller After.

Plot/ When two bus crash survivors awake to discover that they are the only people left in their small town, they must form an unlikely alliance in a race to unravel the truth behind their isolation. As strange events begin to unfold, they start to question whether the town they know so well is really what it seems.

When I picked this one up at Family Video, it was almost an afterthought. Fortunately, this is better than I expected from the synopsis. I love the mixture of genres and think that the tale, while simple, moved really well. The acting was decent, the scripting interesting, and the atmosphere matched the darkness of the storyline. Yes, there were some weird pacing issues and the love story elements seemed a bit forced at times, but overall it was an entertaining low budget story. In the end, this was a decent movie to curl up and watch on a chilly Pennsylvania night. If like me you want to stay out of the cold, this could help pass the time.

Curse of the Witching Tree (2015)

This long weekend has not been great for choosing horror movies in the house, although I did watch my fair share. Of course, I have been stuck in a small Ancient Aliens marathon as I continue to do some research for a project, so my mind may be a touch disconnected. Next up for review here at The Ringmaster’s Realm is the 2015 low budget entry Curse of the Witching Tree.

Plot/ An innocent woman, accused of murdering her son and hanged as a witch, curses a tree and the children who play around it. The effects of this act of revenge echo through the years and centuries, and restless spirits haunt the house where the bodies of the cursed children have been buried. A family moves into their new home, and begin to uncover the terrible truth behind The Witching Tree and the murdered children upon which they unknowingly sleep.

After suffering through Poltergeist on Friday, I honestly thought any movie I chose would be better, and I was right. While this movie is far from perfect, it served as the perfect way to wash that out of my mind. The storyline, while unbelievable, was interesting; the atmosphere was dark, and for a low budget flick, it had some moments. Unfortunately, while the backstory was interesting, there were excessively many clichéd and head scratching moments, the acting was uneven at best, and there were really no moments that stirred any type of emotional response (even the attempts at jump scares). In the end, even with a few entertaining moments, this one is not worth diving into. Yes, it may be better than Poltergeist, but that is not saying much at all. Stay away!

At the Devil's Door (2014)

After diving into a classic 1980s slasher last night, I decided it was time to venture into something different this evening after finishing my short story for my college class. My selection for the evening was the 2014 entry At the Devil’s Door.

Plot/ When ambitious young real estate agent Leigh is asked to sell a house with a checkered past, she crosses paths with a disturbed girl whom she learns is the runaway daughter of the couple selling the property. When Leigh tries to intervene and help her, she becomes entangled with a supernatural force that soon pulls Leigh's artist sister Vera into its web - and has sinister plans for both of them.

This is a strange movie to place. Not truly a horror film, but not really a thriller. Actually, it comes across as a touch of a disjointed anthology, which has some intriguing elements that do not blend together in a manner to create something memorable. Sure, the performances, cinematography, and production elements are top notch; items that make this one of the more technically sound flicks of the year. Unfortunately, the disjointed feel of the stories, slow pacing, and the unsatisfying ending truly hurt the overall tone. In the end, this one sits somewhere near the middle of the road with some elements that will draw people in, but enough to turn some off. Not for everyone, this supernatural driven demonic flick will either be loved or hated, with very little middle ground.

Patrick: Evil Awakens (2013)

With my workweek winding down and a weekend full of events at the Pennsylvania Literary Festival (and softball), I decided to kick back and relax once I finished some homework tonight. While relaxing, I threw on a film I picked up at Family Video, the 2013 entry Patrick: Evil Awakens.

Plot/ When a young nurse begins work at an isolated psychiatric ward, she quickly becomes fascinated with Patrick, a brain dead patient who is the subject of a mad scientist's cruel and unusual experiments. What starts as an innocent fascination quickly takes a sinister turn as Patrick begins to use his psychic powers to manipulate her every move, and send her life into a terrifying spiral out of control.

As many know, I am not a huge fan of remakes. However, this updated version of the 1978 film Patrick is worth watching and does a great job at bridging the films together. While there is solid acting, detailed cinematography, and a tremendous score, it is the dark storyline and underlying realism that drives this one home. Because of this storyline, there is a cold and heavy atmosphere created in the film that definitely allows the movie to breathe and grow. Yes, there is not a tremendous difference from the original, the scares were somewhat predictable and there was not an overly suspenseful feel, but those are really non-factors in this film. In the end, this was an entertaining movie and a film that must be watched. More creepy than terrifying, this one is worth renting at least once.