Mother of Tears (2007)

I sat down to find something to watch earlier after deciding to end my Hellraiser marathon and decided to give Tubi a try and I have to say,  I'm hooked.  After searching through their titles,  I decided on the finale of Dario Argento's Three Mothers Trilogy, 2007s Mother of Tears.

Plot: Grisly deaths await Italian citizens after an archaeology student (Asia Argento) accidentally releases a demonic witch from her ancient prison.

Let me start with the typical this one isn't for everyone, especially those looking for an Argento classic or something remotely close to the groundbreaking horror that put him on the map.  This definitely isn't they.  Although,  there are some good elements that can remind you of that era. The stylistic colors,  the soundtrack,  and even some of the pacing definitely have that feel. Even the gore is over the top,  like many of the Italian horror classics. What this one lacks is a solid script and is a bit disjointed with uneven performances.  Of the three movies,  this one is definitely is definitely my least favorite. Is it worth watching? Possibly,  if you are like me and wanted to finish the Trilogy,  it's a must. Other than that,  there are better Argento entries. 

End of Days (1999)

Having watched a wide variety of flick over the past few days, I wanted to get back to something closer to my After the Static project. While that is zombie/outbreak themed, there are some religious/apocalyptic overtones inside the book. With that in mind, I decided to watch the 1999 action/horror flick End of Days.  

Plot/ At the end of the century, Satan visits New York in search of a bride. It's up to an ex-cop who now runs an elite security outfit to stop him.

I remember seeing this when it came out and even after watching it again, I can say that my initial thoughts will still ring true: viewers will either love or hate this film. Really, there is no in between, especially with the religious overtones that are woven throughout the movie. For me, this was an entertaining flick that I still find intriguing. The storyline, while uneven, is interesting, the performances and effects are decent, and the dark cinematography works well with the soundtrack and the theme of the movie. Yes, some of the characterizations could have been darker, some of the scriptings were uneven, and it was highly implausible, but that is what makes movies like this engaging. In the end, this one will be polarizing due to many different factors including actors, religious beliefs, and tone; but, at the end of the day, it is just a fun and mindless good versus evil flick that should be seen.

Iron Sky (2012)

Having finished Jericho, I decided I need something with a lighter mood to close out my weekend and I found just the movie. Yet, it honestly reminded me of the veterans of our past and the sacrifices they made. Of course, with Monday being Veterans Day, it is hard not to think of all those who served our great nation and all of the great people I served with during my career in the Navy. For all veterans new and old, Happy Veterans Day! Oh, what movie did I choose? I decided upon the 2012 action/comedy Iron Sky. 

Plot/ The Nazis set up a secret base on the dark side of the moon in 1945 where they hide out and plan to return to power in 2018.

This is a flick that I have debated about for some time. Now that I have watched it, I can see why there was debate in my head. This cheesy schlock-fest is one of the most unrealistic and strange flicks I have seen in some time. Yet, because it is so cheesy and unrealistic, it creates a fun and entertaining vibe throughout the movie. Honestly, it is one that is so stupid it is funny. Yes, the performances are uneven at best; there is some solid visual effects and decent action. In the end, this is one of the entertaining flicks the will be polarizing, loved and hated. Personally, I could not stop laughing, as it was one of the most ridiculous movies I have seen in some time. Check it out and decide for yourself. 

Halloween (2007)

October has begun, the most wonderful time of the year. Amazingly, the buzz is all about the Pirates and their amazing 2013 campaign. The playoffs are underway and at this point, the Bucs are leading the Reds in the seventh inning by four runs. Let’s Go Bucs! Even with that, Halloween is right around the corner, and what better to start my countdown with Rob Zombie’s Halloween from 2007.

Plot/ After being committed for 17 years, Michael Myers, now a grown man and still very dangerous, escapes from the mental institution (where he was committed as a 10 year old) and he immediately returns to Haddonfield, where he wants to find his baby sister, Laurie. Anyone who crosses his path is in mortal danger.

While I was a fan of the original Halloween classics from my childhood, I will say that I also enjoyed this interpretation. Yes, it is not the John Carpenter classic, but, there is something about this one that hit home. The way the early years of Michael Myers was developed works, and it would have been interesting to follow that path. Sure, this is not an exact replica and I get why some fans may not like it, and that is fine with me. It is what it is, a Rob Zombie flick, and one that is a lot more in touch with some realities than most want to admit. Being a Zombie flick, there is gore and violence, exactly what you would expect. Sure, there are some dialogue issues, and some things are a bit incoherent, but that is what you should expect. In the end, this was one of the better entries in the Halloween franchise and a lot better than I expected.

Evil Eyes (2004)

 

 

After getting home from the company Christmas party last night, I flipped through the movies to see what was on. While I did not expect there to be anything great, I was at least hoping there would be something entertaining. In the end, I decided on Evil Eyes from 2004.

 

 

Plot/ A screenwriter is plagued by nightmares as he writes a script about a family that was slaughtered years before. Soon, the grisly murders he's writing about starts to actually happen.

 

 

When I saw this was from The Asylum, I figured that I was in for another uneven event, and I was right. Fortunately, this one was not the worst of their brand. Sure, there were some positives, as Udo Kier was top notch, and there was a great opening scene, but other than that not much. The atmosphere is non-existent or forced, the characters have no depth, there is nothing original, and the scripting is bad. In the end, it was far from the worst movie from The Asylum, but it is still nowhere close to a good movie.

The Theatre Bizarre (2011)

After taking a week or so off, it was time to get back into the swing of things. Of course, there were some good points to being away from the blog. I got to hang-out with my younger brother and enjoy an awesome show headlined by Flogging Molly. Then, I got to watch one of the daughters score their first goal in soccer as her team prepares for the playoffs next weekend. Not to mention, hanging out and enjoying Mother’s Day with Brenda, my mother and my grandmother... Yet, it was time to get back at it with an interesting flick, one Brenda picked out, The Theatre Bizarre from 2011.

Plot/ Down a seedy city street in her neighborhood, young Enola Penny is obsessed with what appears to be a long abandoned theatre. One night, she sees that the front door is slightly ajar and impulsively decides to sneak inside. Little did she know that in the dark, decrepit auditorium, a show unlike any other would unfold before her eyes.

I am a huge fan of anthologies, especially ones that are a bit strange and non-linear. This flick, much like Little Deaths definitely, walks to its own vision. Yes, there are some issues, which keep it from being one of the best as it lacks some coherent scripting, natural flow, characterization and as usual, some pieces are much better than others are. Fortunately, there is something in each one that delivers some entertainment (some mare warped than most), and in the end keeps it entertaining. Yes, this flick is not for everyone, and people who do not like gore, blood, darkness or madness should stay far away, but if you do, check it out! It is an entertaining way to spend a couple hours.

Headspace (2005)

Yesterday when walking through the video store, I decided to venture into the discount area to see what gems I could find. In all, I came home with a handful of flicks that should make for some fascinating viewing material over the next few days. Of course, I could have watched more had I not worked today, but I guess that is what happens in the civilian sector. Oh well, the first flick that I watched was an interesting endeavor, Headspace from 2005.

Plot/ Long-suppressed memories surface and Alex must face the terrors of his violent past, a vanished older brother, a father who abandoned both his sons, and a mother who was viciously murdered. The visions intensify and he begins to experience intense headaches that ultimately cause him to blackout. However, it is only the beginning of Alex's calamity. Friends and neighbors are disappearing, and people are whispering rumors of a serial killer. Menaced from all sides by the forces of evil, Alex must overcome his past and contain his own deadly urges so he can discover the demons that haunt him.

Sometimes when you look at a movie, you have high hopes and things crash around you, others take that excitement and reward the viewer with more than they expected. That is the feeling I got after watching this one. Complete with a solid cast, this flick was an interesting and intelligent little horror flick. The storyline works well, even with the apparently underdeveloped subplots within the content of the complex story. The main characters are solid, the effects tremendous, the performances decent, and the cinematography is excellent. In fact, most of the movie is top-notch. Yes, there are some flaws with pacing, some moments were predictable and there is some choppiness in the storyline, but those are easily overlooked. In the end, this is no bloodbath, but it is a creative and entertaining creature feature. If you have not seen it, check it out!

Blood For Dracula (1974)

After watching Flesh For Frankenstein, I decided that it would not be a complete week if I did not follow that up with Blood For Dracula AKA Andy Warhol’s Dracula from 1974. To me, Warhol’s influence on society and the art world is often overlooked and these films are great vehicles of that genius.

Plot / Count Dracula know that if he fails to drink a required amount of pure virgin blood, he will not survive. His assistant suggests that the Count and he pick up his coffin and take a road trip to Italy, where families are known to be particularly religious, and therefore should be an excellent place to search for a virgin bride. They do, only to encounter a family with virgins ready for marriage. Unfortunately, the Count discovers one-by-one that the girls are not as pure as they say they are.

Filmed directly after Flesh For Frankenstein, this play on the Bram Stoker classic definitely has its moments. While lacking in the overall gore of the pre-mentioned film, this one has some great moments and is really an artistic period piece with superb setting and costume. Udo Kier as Dracula is excellent in his over the top rendition of the count and the gratuitous sex scenes are always appealing. However, the pacing is a bit slow and uneven at times and some of the acting is way below average. It is what it is, a campy romp into the realm of Dracula, one that is definitely more entertaining thanTwilight ever could be.

Flesh For Frankenstein (1973)

After spending some time with Jack the Ripper, I decided it was time for a bit of an artistic change. With that in mind, it was a no brainer when I found Flesh For Frankenstein AKA Andy Warhol’s Frankenstein from 1973.

Plot / In Serbia, Baron Frankenstein lives with the Baroness and their two children. He dreams of a super-race, returning Serbia to its grand connections to ancient Greece. In his laboratory, assisted by Otto, he builds a desirable female body, but needs a male who will be superbody and superlover. He thinks he has found just the right brain to go with a body he's built, but he's made an error, taking the head of a gay aesthete. Meanwhile, the Baroness has her lusts, and she fastens on Nicholas, a friend of the dead lad. Can the Baron pull off his grand plan? He brings the two zombies together to mate. Meanwhile, Nicholas tries to free his dead friend.

When I stumbled upon this the other day I had to admit that my memories of the film were vague, now that I have seen it again it is clear that I enjoyed it even more this time than I did the last. It is almost like this movie just gets better and better as the years go by with a amazing mixture of gore, humor, horror, sex and subversion. While this retelling of the story may be the most unusual adaptation to hit the big screen, the combination of comedy has it all. There is incest, necrophilia, bloody stitches, stomachs, impalements, severed body parts, rape, nudity and sex. The acting is solid with Udo Kier doing an amazing campy rendition of the Baron. The ending is a bit of a mess, some of the plot may be a bit over the top and the cinematography a bit rough, but those flaws are easily overlooked. Yes, this movie is not for everyone, but then again, neither was Warhol’s work, yet it still stands the test of time! Any horror fan must check this one out!