Where's Rose (2021)

After watching Aurora in concert last night, I needed something to quiet my mind. After some searching I settled on this one that I thought was going to deal with possession or something darker. What I found was a snoozer in this 2021 thriller Where’s Rose. 

Plot: When a little girl is found after going missing, only her older brother recognizes the evil force that has returned in her place.

OK, I will admit it right off the bat that this one is rough. The acting is uneven, the storyline adequate, the characters are unlikeable and the visuals are nothing special. I understand that this is a lower budgeted film, but honestly it lacks the attempt at creativity to let me give it a pass. The ending attempts to save it, but too much damage was done early on to allow that to happen. In the end, there was no real horror in this one and it was quite blah. I wouldn’t recommend it unless there were no other options. Even then, there is Tik Tok.

Circle (2015)

It's been a busy few weeks as I prepared for Monster Fest 19 this Saturday. Fortunately,  things have been slowing down,  which has allowed me time to watch a bunch of stuff as I did into the heat of Spooky Season. First one I watched was the 2015 Netflix entry is Circle.

Plot: Held captive and faced with their imminent executions, fifty strangers are forced to choose the one person among them who deserves to live.

I had put this one off for a long time.  Now,  i have to ask myself why.  While this one is not perfect,  it is an interesting and strange trip into a weird world of unknown.  Personally,  i found this one very entertaining and worth watching.  Yes,  there is a ton of dialog and some head-scratching moments,  but there is a lot to like.  The storyline works and creates an array of characters that you could love or hate.  The cinematography is pretty good,  and the overall feel is solid.  Unfortunately,  it does lack tension, probably because of the shorter run time,  but it is a great way to open this wonderful time of the year.  This will not be for everyone,  it is one that can easily be streamed and be more than background entertainment. 

The Black Phone (2021)

Wow,  it's been a few weeks since I added anything. I know I said I was going to post more,  and intend to.  But as i continue my recovery recovery from the liver transplant,  I find myself busy with many of the things that I neglected while being on the wait list. Hopefully, I can get into some food of regular routine.  Getting back to it, I present 2021s The Black Phone,

Plot: After being abducted by a child killer and locked in a soundproof basement, a 13-year-old boy starts receiving calls on a disconnected phone from the killer's previous victims.

Thus is one i waited to see instead of going to the theater and i may be regretting that. This one is both emtertaing and enjoyable, but i do think the overall claustrophobic feel would have hit harder on the big screen. Ethan Hawke is amazing and does a magnificent job at embracing the character, but even his performance may have been outdone by his young co-stars, More of a thriller than horror film, this slow burn entry demonstrates what can be done with a solid storyline.  Dark and atmospheric, there are a lot of moments that drag you in and make you want more,  especially as the creepiness seems to rise throughout the film. Yes,  the movie does lack a complete backs story and the pacing does feel choppy at some points, but those are just some very minor, almost nitpicking, flaws.  In the end,  this was definitely one of the fest movies I have watched in some time and a movie that should be watched. Check it out!

Messiah of Evil (1973)

Yesterday, I decided to take a break from most of my electronics after feeling worn out from going to the midnight movie classic, The Rocky Horror Picture Show with a live cast at the NARO. That was the first time I had gone out that late in quite some time and I felt it.  While I did do some sorting,  I spent a good bit of time relaxing.  During that time,  I decided to watch a few movies including this 1973 offering Messiah of Evil.

Plot: A young woman goes to look for her missing father. Her trip takes her to a strange California coastal city ruled by a mysterious cult of the walking dead.

This is one that i am surprised that i hadn't watched previously.  Found on Prime, i live the fact that these older pieces are available to stream.  I so miss the trips to the local video store to find something to watch.  Do 1973, this unique film does feel a touch dated and the over quality does suffer,  but,  don't let the results of the dated elements and v technology deter you from checking this one out. This is definitely one of the more original storyline in the genre,  and one that does still work today.  Unfortunately,  movies today do not embody these unique stories,  and thus,  lack the atmosphere that this is does accomplish with some solid direction and cinematography. Thus is a really good example example of early low budget independent filmaking. Yes,  there are problems throughout the film and it is not close to being a technical masterpiece. But, if you love older horror,  this is one that is worth watching. 

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Saw V (2008)

Last night I took a break from the computer to go watch Jolene in her advanced theater production of The Elevator Family. With that now over, I figured it was time to get back to my trip into the mind of Jigsaw with Saw V from 2008.

Plot/ Following Jigsaw's grisly demise, Mark Hoffman is commended as a hero, but Agent Strahm is suspicious and delves into Hoffman's past. Meanwhile, another group is put through a series of gruesome tests.

It is funny how much things change, as you grow older, and this movie kind of fits in with that ideology. Up until re-watching the Saw franchise last week, I held this entry in higher regard, but now I have a completely different viewpoint. For me, this one lacked the tremendous plot twist and tension that made the other earlier installments memorable, and most of all not having Jigsaw as a true primary character on screen was quite depressing. While the idea was solid and the storyline had potential to deliver something amazing, this was the first time in the series that everything felt rushed. Sure, the effects were decent, the traps intriguing, and there was enough blood, but even those elements could not make up for the lack of the Jigsaw. On top of that, the performances were uneven and the atmosphere was rather flat. In the end, this entry had a chance to build upon the solid foundation that was left by the earlier entries but failed to hit the mark. More of a thriller than true horror film, this one did not deliver and was rather predictable. If you haven’t seen it, you aren’t missing much.

Saw 2 (2005)

After spending last night at the Edgar Allan Poe reenactment, I decided that I wanted some violent horror for my Halloween night. Thinking back over the past month, I couldn’t believe that I had never reviewed half of the Saw franchise and figured that I would start that undertaking by revisiting Saw 2 from 2005.

Plot/ A detective and his team must rescue eight people trapped in a factory by the twisted serial killer known as Jigsaw.

The original Saw was one of the best horror/thrillers I had seen. It was atmospheric, dark, and the storyline was tremendous. Creating a sequel to a movie such as that is almost an impossible task. Yet, now after revisiting Saw 2, it is clear that Darren Lynn Bousman did just that with a tightly woven storyline that differs from the original but captures the essence of the classic perfectly. I remember when this one first came out and the clear differences between the two made it an uneven watch for me. However, today, that feeling is completely different. The change with having multiple players in Jigsaws game was the perfect step for the franchise and added layers to the legend of Jigsaw that would pay many dividends throughout the rest of the series. The cast is tremendous, the performances are solid, the dialog, scripting, and storyline were fantastic (the twists made it even more worthwhile), and the gore, traps, and special effects were amazing. Sure, the pit of needles was blah (and honestly still a letdown) and some of the arguments and decisions made by the participants were annoying, but those are only minor flaws. In the end, I am glad that I decided to revisit this one tonight on Halloween; it was so much better than I remembered and a movie that fans like me could have easily overlooked as it was sandwiched between the two best movies made in the franchise (and possibly the genre). If you haven’t seen it or revisited it in a while, I think you should. This is an outstanding movie and one that is perfect for the Halloween season.

The Invasion (2007)

The other day I went through a few movies before I started binge-watching Salem. The next movie I will review is the 2007 semi-reboot The Invasion.

Plot/ As a Washington psychiatrist unearths the origin of an alien epidemic, she also discovers her son might be the only way it can be stopped.

I had never watched this one and went into the movie not knowing what to expect. While this is not the worst body snatchers retooling, it is far from the best.  While the cast featuring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig are solid and their performances are decent, they really cannot do anything to save this film from spiraling out of control. The character development is non-existent, the film lacks atmosphere, for the most part, the film lacked originality, and there was an overall lack of action and effects. On top of that, the overt addition of political and social ideologies felt out of place and forced. Yes, there were some decent elements and there was some potential out there, but it in no way was able to reach that potential and it feels uninspired. In the end, while there were some decent visuals with the cinematography, the movie does not really ever create tension or give the viewer a reason to keep watching it. If you have not seen it, you aren’t missing anything at all.

IT (2017)

As a horror fan, it is nice to see a buzz created within the genre. Hopefully, this attention leads to Hollywood taking some time and giving horror fans more movies, we can enjoy. With that buzz, I had to actually go see this one in the theater because the daughters have been yapping about it for a week. Last night I broke down and saw the 2017 Stephen King adaptation reboot of IT.

Plot/ In the Town of Derry, the local kids are disappearing one by one, leaving behind bloody remains. In a place known as The Barrens, a group of seven kids are united by their horrifying and strange encounters with an evil clown and their determination to kill IT.

Last night, I finally took the girls to see IT and was actually surprised by the overall experience. While this one was not as scary as I had heard (and would have liked), I thought it was an entertaining movie and one that was perfect for the daughters. The performances were solid and the actors and characters had great chemistry between them, the make-up was outstanding, and the cinematography, use of lighting, and overall visuals were tremendous. Even the scripting was able to create a somewhat darker atmosphere and keep the subtle comedic elements in play throughout. Unfortunately for me, the scares just weren’t there. Maybe it is because I have read the Stephen King classic or maybe because I consume horror movies all the time, but I found it a touch predictable. Plus, I am not a huge fan of CGI and there were some times where that process felt overused. In the end, I did thoroughly enjoy this movie. No, it wasn’t perfect or close to the best King adaptation, but it made for an entertaining evening and again proves why Clown Lives Matter. 

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.

Get Out (2017)

After a couple days away from modern horror movies, I decided that I wanted to finish off May with something newer. After some thought, I decided to watch the 2017 horror flick Get Out.

Plot/ It's time for a young African American to meet with his white girlfriend's parents for a weekend in their secluded estate in the woods, but before long, the friendly and polite ambience will give way to a nightmare.

I had waited to pick this one up at Family Video for a few days. This wasn’t because I didn’t want to see it, it was because I swore in my mind I already had from the synopsis. Ironically, there is something about this flick that I can’t place because even as I watched it, I felt like I had seen it before. While some of the storyline was predictable and cliché (which could leave the impression as I have seen it before), it is an entertaining film that was a perfect blend of mystery, thriller, and comedy. Not only did I connect to the film, I found myself thinking about the potential twists that could pop out. The performances are solid, the cinematography creates a tremendous atmosphere, the pacing works for the genre, and the storyline is definitely thought provoking with some of the social commentary elements woven into it, much in the way of some of the classic horror/sci-fi tales in the past did. In the end, this movie was extremely entertaining and a film that definitely sits outside the typical rehashed horror/thriller cinema coming out of Hollywood today. If you haven't seen it, give it a shot.

Split (2016)

It is nice to be back home after a trip to North Carolina. While it is nice to visit with family, that it a long drive and I often return exhausted and worn out. Plus, I usually miss my typical horror fix. To get back into the swing of things, I went to Family Video and picked up the 2016 thriller Split.

Plot/ Three girls are kidnapped by a man with a diagnosed 23 distinct personalities, they must try to escape before the apparent emergence of a frightful new 24th.

As many already know, movies by M. Night Shyamalan can range from awesome to terrible, and honestly, you never know what you will get. I was relieved that Split fell closer to the good productions. While not a perfect film and it does have a few clichéd moments, the performances within the storyline (especially James McAvoy) make it easy to overlook those. Besides McAvoy, the performances are solid, the story is engaging, and the direction was solid. This one was definitely an atmospheric thriller that was better than I expected. Unfortunately, it was somewhat predictable and the twist ending was not needed. In the end, there was a lot to like about this movie and it appears that Shyamalan has again put together of entertaining thrillers. Hopefully, he keeps up this trend with his next entry.

The Mind's Eye (2015)

While working on the 1800+ words for my project Saturday night, I had a few movies on to help keep me in the mood. The next movie that was on that night was the 2015 entry The Mind’s Eye.

Plot/ Zack Connors and Rachel Meadows were born with incredible psychokinetic capabilities. When word of their supernatural talents gets out, they find themselves the prisoners of Michael Slovak, a deranged doctor intent on harvesting their powers. After a daring escape, they are free from his sinister institution, but the corrupt doctor will stop at nothing to track them down so that he may continue to siphon their gifts for his own use.

I have debated on picking this movie up for some time and finally grabbed in my last trip through Family Video. Growing up through the 1970s/80s, I became a huge fan of low budget horror/sci-fi of that era, and one of the films that were always fun to watch was Scanners from David Cronenberg. When I saw this one, I wondered what it would be and in the end fund something interesting. The characters, cinematography, and performances are all solid and the effects at the end make it even more entertaining. Yes, some of the scripting choices within the storyline are uneven and some of it feels choppy and rushed, but those are but minor flaws. In the end, this one definitely has a low budget 1980s feel and is a movie that is better than a lot of others in the same vein. If you enjoyed the crazy 1980s telekinesis movement, you should definitely enjoy this one. Check it out!

The Levenger Tapes (2013)

After watching House of Manson, I decided that I wanted to go in a different direction with my selection for the evening. After some thought, I settled on the 2013 found footage entry The Levenger Tapes that I found at Family Video.

Plot/ Detectives in a remote town pore through every frame of a troubling tape to find the whereabouts of three missing college students. The chilling footage becomes more and more disturbing when the students come upon the bloody dress of an 8-year-old girl in the secluded wilderness and take it upon themselves to find her.

After watching House of Manson, this one fell short and offered very little (even as a found footage types entry). In fact, this one does very little to build upon the found footage legacy and may be more proof that the subgenre has run its course. The performances of the minimalist cast are uneven at best, the storyline is cliché, vague, and offers very little excitement, and there are so many head scratching moments that it makes it difficult to watch. In the end, this one did nothing for me and was in no way memorable (unless you are a police officer and you reminisce about police work in the 1980s). I totally recommend that you stay away at all cost.

Don't Breathe (2016)

Tonight after catching the end of the Steelers game because of a high school softball game, I decided to kick back and finish review the movies I caught last night at the drive-in. Honestly, this was one of the better double features to play in some time with Blair Witch and Don’t Breathe. Since I did Blair Witch last night when I got home, it is time for arguably one of the best films of the year (in any genre) Don’t Breathe.

Plot/ Hoping to walk away with a massive fortune, a trio of thieves break into the house of a blind man who is not as helpless as he seems.

I had heard a lot of hype about Don’t Breathe and was unsure what to expect from such a simple premise. However, this one was one of the best thriller/suspense films I have seen in some time and does show what can be accomplished by a studio when they support an original idea of horror. This movie has everything that a horror fan should appreciate, featuring a intense atmosphere that builds throughout, solid performances from the minimalistic cast, and a storyline that offers enough complexities to keep the viewer interested. Sure, there are a couple clichéd moments and there may be too many plot twists sprinkled in, but the outstanding characters and powerful visuals easily shroud those flaws. In the end, this movie is one that must be seen to appreciate fully and is another example of what horror can be if studios would embrace original ideas instead of attempting to make a quick buck with a remake or reboot. If you have not seen it, you should definitely watch it (if for nothing else to see the turkey baster).

The Witch (2015)

Now that I am finally settled into my room at the Cabana Bay Resort, it is time to get some blogging in. Yes, I meant to do some over the weekend, but driving from the homestead, to North Carolina, and then to Orlando took more out of me than I expected. Next up for review is a film that I loved, and one of the best of 2015, The Witch.

Plot/ New England, 1630: William and Katherine lead a devout Christian life, homesteading on the edge of an impassible wilderness, with five children. When their newborn son mysteriously vanishes and their crops fail, the family begins to turn on one another.

I love period pieces and believe that The Witch may be one of the best films to come out and embrace the darkness that existed within this time period. While some of the movie is predictable and somewhat cliche, it definitely overcomes those aspects to create a heavy and dark atmospheric film that could be a tremendous representation of the Calvinist movement that sat at the heart of early Americana. The performances are outstanding, the direction and cinematography is spot on, and the storytelling is interesting and thought provoking. Honestly, it made me think a lot about society and the belief system that acted as a foundation for what has become our nation (not to mention the intolerance that seems to be rising up all around us). Yes, there are a few head-scratching moments that can be confusing and the pacing varies in speed, but those are but minor flaws that do not hurt this film in any way. In the end, this one is one of the best horror flicks of 2015 and is a masterful example of what great storytelling can do. Being a period piece, this one will not be for everyone, but it is well worth watching (especially if you remember your prayers)! Definitely, check this one out if you have not.

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

After some truly miserable entries, I needed to find something better. I know, I have brought much of this on myself with my selections, but, I am still due for a winner. In keeping with a more Sci-Fi driven theme to get me back into the swing of things, I have chosen the 2016 surprise sequel 10 Cloverfield Lane as my next entry.

Plot/ After getting in a car accident, a woman is held in a shelter with two men, who claim the outside world is affected by a widespread chemical attack.

I will be honest; I thought that the found footage franchise Cloverfield was gone. That is until I saw the trailer for this one. When I rented it, I had no idea what to expect, as I could not imagine what the premise would have to do with the source storyline. After watching this one, I have to say that everything worked tremendously well and this approach to continuing the storyline was perfect. This one featured some outstanding performances within the minimalist cast, a dark and heavy atmosphere, and one of the better storylines to grace the screen in some time. Everything about this film kept me engaged throughout and made me want to immerse myself within the mythos. In the end, this movie really works and is a must see. John Goodman is amazing and the film is one of the best Sci-Fi entries I have seen in some time.