The Drowning (2016)

After spending most of the past couple days putting the finishing touches on a couple book projects, I needed a break from horror and wanted something a little more thought-provoking. After some searching on Netflix, I settled on the 2016 thriller The Drowning.

Plot/ A psychiatrist faces his past, present, and future when he finds himself involved in the treatment of a young man recently released from prison for a murder committed when the boy was just 11 years old.

I was in the mood for a thriller tonight, so I picked this one. Unfortunately, this one did not hit the mark at all. In fact, this cliché riddled mystery/thriller lacks any tension and there is no real atmosphere to speak of. The cast is an interesting mix and the performances and cinematography are solid, but those are the only positive elements that I could find. Between the played-out storyline that has been redone a million times over, the stereotyping littered throughout the characters, and the scripted dialog drowning every conversation with monotony, this one does not deliver in any way. In the end, while I had hoped for a darker mystery/thriller, I actually found a movie that honestly may be in the running for the least memorable film of all time. Yes, it is THAT bad; I am just happy that I did not pay to see it.

Blackway (2015)

I took the night off the blog last night to watch Rogue One (again) and do some writing. Unfortunately, the movie I chose after that one did not do anything for me. That flick was the 2015 thriller Blackway (AKA Go With Me).

Plot/ An ex-logger comes to the aid of a woman who returns to her hometown in the Pacific Northwest and finds herself harassed and stalked by a former cop turned crime lord.

As a fan of Anthony Hopkins, I decided to grab this one when I saw it at Family Video. What I found was somewhat disappointing and extremely predictable. While the performances aren’t bad and there were a few decent moments, the movie as a whole did not hold my attention. The scripting, characterizations, and storyline were not enticing and the cinematography was bland and uninspiring. Really, there is nothing memorable or great about this one. In the end, I could have done without this one, especially as it followed the superior Rogue One in my movie rotation. Yes, there were a few entertaining moments, but there are definitely much better options.

The Hoarder (2015)

After taking a couple days to retrieve the daughters’ from Virginia Beach, it was time to finish the last movie from my most recent trip to Family Video. To close out that grouping, I figured it was time to do the 2015 entry, The Hoarder (AKA Bunker).

Plot/ A young woman enters an underground storage facility, where she soon finds herself trapped and stalked by a killer.

I had passed this one up a few times when at Family Video, and now, I know why. While it is not terrible, it was riddled with clichéd moments that make it rather unoriginal. Yes, it does have an outstanding setting that opens the door to tremendous possibilities; everything is left muddled with the played-out storyline and unlikable characters. The scripting is off, the storyline predictable, the performances uneven, and the gore/effects non-existent; all facets that take away from what potential the movie had. In the end, I have seen worse movies, but that is not to say that this one is good. Tolerable yes, as there were at least a couple of tension filled moments, but other than that, not much!

The Watcher (2000)

After taking a couple days to focus on homework for my new college class, I decided that I needed to get back at it with a few different movies tonight. First up is the 2000 thriller, The Watcher, featuring Keanu Reeves and James Spader.

Plot/ A detective tracking a serial killer gives up all hope of solving the crimes and moves to another city. After he has settled in, the old acquaintance he makes himself known. The serial killer has resurrected and resumes sending him pictures of his next victim.

While I have watched this one a few times, it was a nice change of pace to get back into the swing of things. An older thriller, this movie does have a few Hitchcockian moments that made the predictable moments feel right at home. This one also featured some outstanding pacing, a dark atmosphere, a solid cast, and some of the better performances in a serial killer thriller. Yes, some of it feels a touch dated at this point, but it still delivers an interesting story. In the end, if you have not seen this one, give it a shot, it will definitely help pass some time on a chilly evening.

The Gift (2015)

After spending a few days in past decades, I decided to come back to modern times to find a movie for the evening. Luckily, one such film made it to the DVD player after a trip to Family Video in the 2015 thriller The Gift.

Plot/ A young married couple's lives are thrown into a harrowing tailspin when an acquaintance from the husband's past brings mysterious gifts and a horrifying secret to light after more than 20 years.

The Gift was an odd movie for me to watch and review. While it was a good movie overall, it really did not speak to me as much as I expected. A solid thriller, that definitely seemed to channel a lot of from the past in the way it was presented with a genuine creepiness and tension throughout. It really felt like a modern journey into a classic Hitchcock film. The performances were solid, the scripting worked, and the cinematography and direction was spot on. Unfortunately, while the movie was good and atmosphere awesome, I could not truly connect to the characters and truly felt like an outsider watching it. Of course, that could be due to the fact that the pacing was strange, the runtime was short, and the somewhat expected violence never materialized on screen. Honestly, I am not sure why I felt so disconnected. In the end, this is a decent thriller and movie that I may have to watch again to truly appreciate. If you are searching for an atmospheric thriller, give it a shot!

The Mothman Curse (2014)

I know, I know, I have again been neglecting my world here at The Ringmaster’s Realm. While I hate stepping away, there are often times where it is unavoidable. That has been the case in recent weeks, as seven straight nights of softball mixed with a major college project sucked the life out of me. Lucky for me, softball has slowed and my scriptwriting class is moving smoothly, so I am back at it. Next up for review is the 2014 micro-budget flick The Mothman Curse. 

Plot/ An Ancient Evil Unleashed. A supernatural thriller based on the terrifying legend of The Mothman. Rachel and Katy work together in a large, empty museum.

This micro-budget flick will definitely not be for everyone. In fact, it feels more like something straight from an art house cinema instead of a traditional no-budget horror flick. The storyline is decent, the soundscape is interesting, and the decision to use CCTV cameras as the primary platform works to create something dark, heavy, and unique that definitely builds some atmosphere and tension. Sure, the characters are far from perfect, the incoherent nature can be confusing, and the pacing is not for those looking for a quick scare. In the end, this one will definitely fit into the love or hate category. For me, it had just enough surrealism to make some of it unnerving and enjoyable. Yes, it is a slow burn, but if you enjoy outside the box art house cinema, give it a shot, you could do worse. 

The Babadook (2014)

Yes, it has been a few days since I ventured into the blog, mostly because I have been stuck at either the softball field or doing homework in my Developing New Worlds class. Of course, I am usually enjoying some type of movie though, as I cannot function unless my mind is transported elsewhere. One movie that I watched that made a tremendous impact was the 2014 Australian horror flick, The Babadook.

Plot/ A single mother, plagued by the violent death of her husband, battles with her son's fear of a monster lurking in the house, but soon discovers a sinister presence all around her.

It has been some time since I watched a movie and wanted it to keep going after it ended. That was the case with The Babadook. While the premise is subtle, the overall storyline is tremendous and effectively draws the viewer in and makes them want more. The atmosphere is amazing, the characterizations outstanding, the emotional performances over-the-top yet believable and the stylized images and sound effects work perfectly within the story. This movie is truly that good. Yes, the accents may turn some people off, but if that is the case, you should not be watching a foreign film to begin with. In the end, this is one of the best horror films to come out in some time and is an entertaining trip into an emotional tale of terror. If you have not seen it, find it, and watch it!

Open Windows (2014)

Every once in a while I need to kick back and watch something that is different than my normal selections. Last night I decided to throw one of those into my weekend rotation. While I love straight horror, sometimes a little Crime/Thriller action is needed. Next up for review is the 2014 thriller Open Windows.

Plot/ A jilted fan soon finds himself pulled into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse after he accepts the opportunity to spy on his favorite actress via his laptop.

This movie is perplexing to review. While there were some interesting moments early on, but the final act was a twist that was not truly needed. Couple that with some decent performances, an intriguing storyline, and this was something that was different and thought provoking. Yes, there were some head scratching moments, pacing issues, and some scripting moments (not to mention the ending) that hurt the overall feel. In the end, this was decently entertaining and a movie that will definitely fall into the love/hate category of cinema. If you are looking for something to help pass some time on a slow evening, give it a shot.

The Frozen (2012)

Every once in a while, I want to find something to watch with the daughters and look for something with a lower rating. Speaking of daughters, it is hard to believe that my oldest Genesis turned 17 today. She is an incredible and talented girl and the sky is truly the limit with her. Next up for review during this wintery season is the 2012 flick, The Frozen.

Plot/ After a harrowing snowmobile accident, a young couple is stranded in the woods and must survive while waiting for help to arrive. Events take a turn for the worse after the disappearance of Emma's boyfriend, leaving her on her own not only to battle the elements, but also to elude a mysterious hunter who is tracking her through the forest.

There are times when movies rely on the simplex of mean and provided just enough to keep you watching. In this stripped down ultra low budget flick, the storyline may be simple, but the acting and ideas are solid, and the decision to use the natural soundscape really works to build tension. Yes, it is somewhat predictable, the pacing is a touch slow, and there is really no action, but some of that is expected on a small budget. In the end, this one may not be groundbreaking, but it does feature some entertaining moments and a touch of realism. If you like slower nature based movies, give it a shot.

Schizo (1976)

I have been spending quite a bit of time living in some type of post-apocalyptic world. Whether that was influenced by Jericho, or possibly the abrupt change in the weather, I have no idea why I have been trapped in that arena. Of course, that did change last night as I decided to venture back to my youth and the 1976 mystery / thriller / giallo Schizo.

Plot/ Samantha and Alan are getting married, but William Haskins isn't pleased. He grabs a train south to London and begins shadowing Samantha as she tries to get on with married life. Haskins' attempts to frighten her drive Samantha to desperation, but she's having trouble convincing anyone that she's being stalked. Even her psychiatrist dismisses her concerns as part of her neurosis. As bodies begin turning up, Samantha's story becomes more believable, and her dark secret from the past begins to reveal itself.

When I think of 1970s horror, I usually think exploitation or giallo, as both were responsible for some awesome entries from the decade. This one fits somewhere in the middle. Yes, it has some interesting stuff going on with solid performances, some gruesome kills, and some of the trademark elements from the giallo scene. Unfortunately, there are some pacing issues, the storyline is uneven, and it is actually somewhat predictable. In the end, there was some potential to be better, but it is still an entertaining journey into the world of the 1970s giallo influenced thriller. Is it for everyone? No, but that whole movement in film leaves quite a few behind. If you like giallo, check this one out.