Island Zero (2018)

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday (if you partake in the holiday). It was definitely quiet here,  allowing for some relaxation. Today was busy cleaning,  something that definitely needed done. While I haven't finished,  I have taken an extended break to catch a movie.  My selection was the 2018 entry Island Zero.

Plot: Inhabitants of a fishing island find themselves cut off from the outside world after the ferry suddenly stops coming. When dead bodies turn up along the water's edge, the survivors must find out who, or what, is killing them.

There are times when I randomly pick a movie that I find something that I didn't expect and that was exactly what happened tonight.  I knew nothing about this one and I found it extremely entertaining. I loved the storyline and felt that the potential here made it worth watching.  The performances were solid,  the idea interesting,  the atmosphere was in tune with the story,  and it was a refreshing Creature Feature.  Unfortunately,  there were some flaws that were apparent and will definitely turn some people off. However,  for me,  these are easily overlooked because of the budgetary constraints that I'm sure existed with this indie film.  Yes,  the effects were lacking and there were some choppy moments that didn't allow the movie the reach its true potential,  but even with those, the quality  was much better that a lot of indie horror. In the end,  this is an underrated film and one that is easily streamed.  If you are looking for a Creature Feature,  give it a shot.  

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. 

Magellan (2017)

Our weather has been miserable here in Virginia Beach and it hasn't really shown any signs of letting up. Fortunately, that means I have had time to sort some stuff in the toy shop and watch some movies. The ne t one up here at The Ringmaster's Realm is the 2017 Sci-Fi /Mystery Magellan.

Plot: After NASA picks up a trio of mysterious signals from within our own solar system, astronaut Roger Nelson is dispatched on a multi-year solo mission aboard the Magellan spacecraft to investigate the sources.

This one was a pretty good low-budget film and one that had a interesting (while unbelieve or unrealistic) concept. Having such a low budget definitely limited many of the possible settings and such, but it did not impact the cinematography or overabll feel. Yes, there were some plot holes,  an uneven storyline, a lack of realism within the structure of the mission, and an strange anticlimactic ending,  but again coming from a lower budgeted production, one should expect those. In the end, this one will not appeal to anyone looking for a blockbuster fueled epic, but for those who have some time and enjoy a slower paced scientifically driven film (especially if you can get past the budget constraints), you might enjoy this one. 

Split Second (1992)

It was busy around my shop yesterday with 3 online sales on top of the two packages that I had to send out. Fortunately, I have the time to focus on that on days when that happens. So far today has been quieter, allowing me to start rebuilding the workshop after neglecting it during my transplant hiatus. Once I finished yesterday, I decided to dive into the world of Rutger Hauer with the 1992 flick Split Second.

Plot: In a flooded future London, Detective Harley Stone hunts a serial killer who murdered his partner, and has haunted him ever since. He soon discovers what he is hunting might not be human.

I love Rutger Hauer movies and it is still hard to fathom that he is no longer with us. Onereason that i have always enjoyed his films is that he always seems to enjoy the project he was working on. This movie again shows that side of him. While this is clearly a B-Movie and far from a classic like like Blade Runner, he played his character perfectly. This is a lower budget film that has definitely built a solid cult following with a dark gloomy post-apocalyptic atmosphere, an interesting storyline, and decent scripting. Sure, this one will never boast great effects, truly believable moments, or being a cinematic masterpiece. But, if you enjoy fun, low budget, not bad but misunderstood movies and can appreciate schlocky Sci-Fi, this movie is for you.

 

Block Island Sound (2020)

Yesterday, I spent most of the day focused on the toy store by searching out some new items and listing a few things. While that was productive, it also allowed time for some down moments. In that time, I was able to catch a few flicks. One of those was the 2020 Sci-Fi entry Block Island Sound.

Plot: A fisherman's family encounter horrors and dark truths when an ominous force off the coast of Block Island begins killing wildlife.

This was a movie that I had skipped over many times until yesterday and now I wonder why. This one was a lot more than the short synopsis suggested offering a lot of tense moments and elements of implied horror and good performances that demonstrate how less can be more in a film if it is done right. A slow burn Sci-Fi  mystery, this one features solid scripting, outstanding visuals, and textured and heavy atmosphere that with help from a solid soundscape create a dark and bleak tension throughout. This one definitely is not for everyone, especially those driven by adrenaline and bloodstained scenes. This is one where the slow pacing works exceptionally well and drives an interesting storyline to the finish. If you like slow-burn Sci-Fi  and horror, this is for you. Check it out.