Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

After watching Cujo last night, I decided that I needed something different before heading off to bed. Lately, I have been struggling with focus while trying to write and have been searching for something to just start that. Finally, while searching my streaming services, I decided on the 2007 horror musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Plot/ In the Victorian London, the barber Benjamin Barker is married to the gorgeous Lucy and they have a lovely child, Johanna. The beauty of Lucy attracts the attention of the corrupt Judge Turpin, who falsely accuses the barber of a crime that he did not commit and abuses Lucy later after gaining custody of her. After fifteen years in exile, Benjamin returns to London under the new identity of Sweeney Todd, seeking revenge against Turpin.

I will admit, I have a soft spot for musicals, especially if they trend in the direction of horror and this one did not disappoint. Being a Tim Burton movie and featuring Johnny Depp, it was hard to be excited, as their stuff has been hit or miss. Fortunately, this one was a hit and it is well worth watching. This one is a pure musical, but it does a great job at mixing the dark comedy and horror elements in a way that makes it extremely entertaining. The cast is amazing (although, I did feel like it should have been a Harry Potter reunion), Burtons’ imagery and cinematic choices were tight and crafted an atmospheric tale, the artistic elements were flawless, and the graphic horror elements, while brutal and gory, came across in almost a subdued way that fit perfect in this dark world. Yes, being a musical may turn some people off, but honestly, that shouldn’t be a factor as this one is much more than your typical musical. In the end, this is a movie that should be seen, and one that I feel does not get the respect that it deserves. It is everything a horror fan should enjoy and if you have not watched it yet, you are missing out.

Black Mass (2015)

I know, I know, it seems like I have been taking quite a few breaks from the blog recently (and I have). Why, not quite sure, but I know that the New Year is almost upon us and I am ready to get back into the swing of things. Since my last post, I got a new television, a 60-inch LG LCD (thanks PIA), and now it is time to get rolling. Next up is the 2015 entry Black Mass.

Plot/ The true story of Whitey Bulger, the brother of a state senator and the most infamous violent criminal in the history of South Boston, who became an FBI informant to take down a Mafia family invading his turf.

When I saw this one, I was interested in what type of performance Johnny Depp would offer. Yes, he is a great actor, but it had been some time since I watched him in something conventional, and this seemed like an awesome story for him. What I found was a tremendous performance that in many ways carried this somewhat flat true crime entry. While the cast and performances were solid, Depp clearly embodied the character. Being a true crime entry, the storyline was predictable and really never rose to a great level (unless you were unfamiliar with the Whitey Bulger case). As is the norm for this genre the pacing is slow, the character development is somewhat off, and because it was based in reality, never truly reaches its overall potential. In the end, this is an entertaining film, but it fails to reach the level of some of the great gangster movies of the past. Yes, it is worth watching, but do not expect something great.

Tusk (2014)

This has been an interesting weekend, as I watched Genesis in a play, attended Steel City Con where I met Linda Blair from The Exorcist, and watched some killer movies. One of the best (and funniest) movies of the weekend was picked by my wife Brenda on Saturday night, the 2014 Kevin Smith entry Tusk! (#WalrusYes) 

Plot/ When podcaster Wallace travels to Canada to interview someone his plans don't go well and winds up meeting a strange man named Howe who has many stories to tell about is past life, during his interview he wakes up the next day finding out Howe isn't the person he thought he was, Howe has plans to surgically and mentally turn him into a walrus.

Let me start by saying that this one is definitely not for everyone. An extremely dark horror / comedy, this one had me laughing throughout, especially the ending, which is absolutely hilarious and in some ways shocking. There was a lot to like within the confines of this demented flick. The performances were solid, most of the storyline is believable (OK except for the Walrus), and there is a fun dynamic taking place (especially with the Johnny Depp parts). Yes, this flick is a touch unpredictable, outlandish, and has some very unrealistic moments, but that did nothing to bring it down. In the end, this movie works on many levels and should be seen with an open mind. Not for everyone, as I am sure that some people will not appreciate the idea of watching a man being transformed into a walrus, but Hell, it was hideously fun once complete! Give it a shot!

Transcendence (2014)

Sci-Fi flicks are always hard to figure out. Sometimes they present storylines that are so far out, there is no way they could be true. Other times, they tackle subject matter that could become reality (or already exists), a fact that can make for an eerie trip into its world. Next up is another Sci-Fi movie, the 2014 A.I. entry Transcendence.

Plot/ A scientist's drive for artificial intelligence, takes on dangerous implications when his consciousness is uploaded into one such program.

I remember seeing the trailer for Transcendence and hoping that it would be awesome. While I missed it in theaters, I was able to finally grab it at Family Video. Unfortunately, it did not live up to what I was hoping for. Sure, the movie was not terrible, as it did have some solid performances, decent cinematography and direction, and an interesting (yet disjointed) storyline. However, the uneven script featuring unrefined story layers draws it down and leads to uneven event pacing throughout, which suffocates the atmosphere. In the end, while this movie is far from great, it also does not rise to the potential that it contained. Yes, it had some entertaining moments, but it is in no way anything memorable.

Sleepy Hollow (1999)

I love classic tales. My favorites are often those stories that transcend generations and visual movie adaptations and the majority of time, come across in a fresh almost modern way. One such movie was on my television this weekend, 1999s Sleepy Hollow.

Plot/ Ichabod Crane is sent to Sleepy Hollow to investigate the decapitations of 3 people with the culprit being the legendary apparition, the Headless Horseman.

It had been a while since I have watched Sleepy Hollow and honestly, it was a lot better than I remembered. This Tim Burton / Johnny Depp collaboration was one of their best. The pacing was on, the horror elements and effects were outstanding, the cast was amazing with both Christopher Walken as the headless horseman and Christina Ricci perfect for their roles, and the gothic atmosphere was captured in an entertaining  manner. Of course, it would not have been possible without the tremendous eye and cinematography of Burton, who created an interesting world within this classic tale. In the end, this is a must see and if you have not seen it, you are missing out. Give it a shot!

From Hell (2001)

In between my continuing journey into the world of the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Mysteries, I decided to venture back into one of the mysteries that has always intrigued me, the case of Jack the Ripper. While there is a lot of material out there, one of the more interesting to watch is From Hell. 

Plot/ In Victorian Era London, a troubled clairvoyant police detective investigates the murders by Jack The Ripper.

This is an interesting vision of what transpired during the famous Jack the Ripper killing spree. There is a lot to like with this flick, as it created a dark and atmospheric tale. Most of the performances were solid, with Johnny Depp taking working wonders in the lead. Unfortunately, Heather Graham did not follow suit. The setting and scenery were outstanding, the storyline interesting and there was a realism that was better than expected. Yes, the pacing was uneven and there were some sub-par performances, but that did little to bring it down. In the end, this unique take on Jack the Ripper is better than I expected and an entertaining journey into one of the most historic events ever known. If you have not seen it, check it out!

The Ninth Gate (1999)

So I did watch a SyFy Channel original creature feature in Killer Mountain, but did not feel it was even review worthy, trust me, there was a lot not to like. Trust me, it was bad! After that, I kicked back and decided to watch one of my favorite flicks from the 1990s, the 1999 thriller The Ninth Gate.

Plot/ A rare book dealer, while seeking out the last two copies of a demon text, gets drawn into a conspiracy with supernatural overtones.

This is definitely one of those films that is so layered, that you pick up new things every time you watch it. There was so much to like about this flick. The acting is solid, the cast starting with Johnny Depp works, the storyline detailed and spot on and the atmosphere is tremendous. Director Roman Polanski created one of his best, and possibly darkest works. Of course, this psychological thriller / mystery is not for everyone, as the story driven work lacks a ton of action and does have some slow moments, but that adds to the atmosphere. In the end, this is an often-overlooked piece of cinema and a brilliant film. Yes, some people will hate it, but if you can handle a detailed and intricate storyline, you should love it as well.  

Dark Shadows (2012)

After continuing on breaking down the Hurricane Sandy – HAARP Connection and focusing an effort on Twitter, with some other Patriots, to pressure the media into covering the travesty that is the Benghazi incident, I needed to take a break from reality. These are some dark days in our history, and one can only stay wrapped inside that abyss so long. To find an escape, I turned to Tim Burton and his adaptation of Dark Shadows.  

Plot/ An imprisoned vampire, Barnabas Collins, is set free and returns to his ancestral home, where his dysfunctional descendants are in need of his protection.

I waited on this one because I really was not excited about the previews. Now that I have finally watched it, I have mixed emotions. I actually found the movie a lot more entertaining than I expected from the trailers. The acting was solid, visuals tremendous and the mood was a lot more serious and there was more of a dark flair than comedy. Unfortunately, the flick seemed disjointed as it was not clear whether it was a serious flick or a comedy. The characterization was lacking and that held the overall feeling of the film somewhat in limbo, as there was excessively much going on. In the end, this was better than I expected, but not great. It was entertaining, but there are a lot of other flicks out there that can be enjoyed.