Tall Men (2016)

Last night, I took some time away from the computer to head back to the Prime Stage Theater to watch the stage adaptation of The Perks of Being a Wallflower. What a tremendous production and awesome time. If you are in the Pittsburgh area and they have a show, definitely check it out. Now, it is time to get back to the blog and my next review. The movie I have chosen is the 2016 fantasy/horror entry Tall Men (AKA Customer 152).

Plot/ A challenged man is stalked by tall phantoms in business suits after he purchases a car with a mysterious black credit card.

I will be the first to admit that this was nothing like I thought it would be when I picked it up. What I found was something strange and somewhat atmospheric, with some curious premises built into the underlying storylines. The performances were solid (especially considering the budget), the cinematography interesting, and the overall feel better than I first expected. Yes, this film is not traditional horror and does creep at a slower pace, some of the dialog is uneven, and at over two hours, it may run a tad too long, but it does not totally sink the movie. In the end, this one is definitely not for everyone, and many will not have the patience to sit through it. Personally, I thought that the surrealistic elements did just enough to keep my attention.

The Void (2016)

After taking a week to focus on movies that had a Cryptozoological feel, I decided it was time to dive back into the true horror genre. After searching Family Video, I sat back and decided on the 2016 entry The Void.

Plot/ Shortly after delivering a patient to an understaffed hospital, a police officer experiences strange and violent occurrences seemingly linked to a group of mysterious hooded figures.

It has been awhile since I found a modern horror film take me on a ride similar to the classics that made me a fan of the genre in the 1970s and 1980s. That all changed with The Void. This was one of the best horror films I have watched in some time and honestly, one that I may decide to pick up a copy of. This film has an intriguing storyline that feels like a mixture of classic Clive Barker and H.P. Lovecraft complete with amazing visuals and a dark atmosphere. The effects are solid, the performances decent, the cinematography works, and most importantly, this movie pushed the boundaries of horror filmmaking by creating a film that could crawl under a viewer's skin and create nightmares. Yes, there are some uneven moments with the dialog and scripting, but those moments are forgotten when you focus on the graphic images that grace the screen. In the end, this movie is a must see for a true horror fan, especially those that enjoy the works of Barker and Lovecraft. If that is you, find it, and watch it; you should definitely enjoy it.

Hunting Grounds (2015)

Now that I am settling in after my cold weekend camping trip, I have one last Cryptozoological based movie to finish before moving on to another genre. This one I actually finished last Thursday before the trip, the 2015 Bigfoot themed movie Hunting Grounds (AKA Valley of the Sasquatch).

Plot/ After losing their home following a devastating tragedy, a father and son are forced to move to an old family cabin. Neither reacts well to being thrown into this new world. The son's attempts to relate to his father are complicated when two old friends arrive for a weekend of hunting.

I am usually all for low budget B-movie creature features, especially if the creature is Bigfoot. Unfortunately, this one did not resonate with me in any way. Yes, the setting and cinematography seemed to be above average considering the genre and some of the storyline was interesting, but those elements could not overcome some of the flaws and allow this film to reach its potential. The character development was slow, the effects (especially the Bigfoot creatures) are poor and unbelievable, and while they tried to break some of the clichéd moments, it does not work in a coherent manner. In the end, while this one is not a complete waste of time, it is far from memorable. While it did not really strike a cord with me, I could see how some viewers would enjoy it as a mindless creature feature. If that is what you are looking for as a midnight movie, give it a shot. But, id you are like me and want something more believable, stay away.

The Mothman of Point Pleasant (2017)

Last night, I had the chance to review the Boggy Creek Monster, a documentary based on the legend/movie that left a lasting impression on me and I loved it. Today, I have the opportunity to review a screener for the next documentary from Seth Breedlove and Small Town Monsters, 2017s The Mothman of Point Pleasant.

Plot/ Have you heard of the Mothman, the urban legend that seemed to be a harbinger of doom for the small town of Point Pleasant, WV in the mid-60’s? If not, producer/director Seth Breedlove and Small Town Monsters will explore the history of Point Pleasant and the 13-month period of odd occurrences that left a devastating imprint on this small Appalachian town.

While I am familiar with the Mothman and have done some research into the subject, I will be the first to admit that I do not have the same knowledge and understanding of the topic as I do with cryptids such as Bigfoot or the Jersey Devil. That all changed as I watched this documentary. Following a similar formula to the Boggy Creek Monster, the movie sets out to explore the historic profile of Point Pleasant as well as revisiting the mysterious happenings surrounding the Mothman and the potentially cursed town. This material is tremendous and provides a great background for investigators and viewers to dive into.

With this being the second film I have watched from Small Town Monsters, I can see a consistency with the production values that make their documentaries an easy and entertaining watch. The interviews are well done, the cinematography is outstanding, and the overall feel of the material makes you want to see more. One thing that jumped out was the use of CGI reenactments to marry some of the interviews together; this technique offers a great visual representation that allows the interviews sink in. More importantly with this entry, the material seems to flow in a logical manner and provides some insights and reports that are often overlooked when the story is told; this is impressive considering the short run time (72 minutes). As with every movie, there are some small technical issues with the CGI, but that is clearly budget related and is easily overlooked.

For me, possibly because of my knowledge level on the subject, I found this one much more informative than the Boggy Creek Monster, and a movie that created a timeline that I could use to base my own research into the subject on. In the end, this exploration of the legendary Mothman is one of the best documentaries on the subject I have seen and is an entry that anyone interested in Cryptozoology or urban legends must watch. Check it out when it is released on DVD and streaming platforms on June 2, 2017.

Boggy Creek Monster (2016)

One of the great things about attending events such as the Pennsylvania Bigfoot Camping Adventure is the knowledge you can gain on different facets of the unexplained. At these outings, not only are there great speakers on these different subjects; there are usually some interesting documentaries that can be watched. One such documentary is the 2016 film, Boggy Creek Monster.

Plot/ The third Small Town Monsters film dives into the long history of sightings of the legendary Fouke Monster spotlighted in the classic horror film, the Legend of Boggy Creek. Boggy Creek Monster shows the decades-long search for an unknown creature said to exist in the swamps and forests around the tiny town of Fouke Arkansas.

The Legend of Boggy Creek in many ways started me down the path that I am on today. When I saw that movie as a kid, it not only spawned my love of horror films, it got me interested in the strange creatures that exist in the dark corners of out society. This documentary does a great job at taking a modern look at the incident that inspired that film and the creature that many believe still walks the back wood of Fouke. Written and directed by Seth Breedlove, this documentary offers a unique look at the area, including interviews and updates on some of the people who experienced the ordeal decades ago. While this may not be a perfect documentary, the technical aspects of the film are top-notch. Between the editing, narration, sound, and the visuals, everything is there that a person could ask for. Unfortunately, with a roughly 70-minute run time, the amount of information explored was a touch scattered within the documentary with short interview segments and the history of Fouke and the movie, there was really nothing new or groundbreaking in the film. In the end, this documentary does do a great job at revisiting the cult classic The Legend of Boggy Creek and would be a great introduction documentary into the movie and the legend. I definitely recommend it.

Pennsylvania Bigfoot Camping Adventure - 2017

Today ended my trip to the Pennsylvania Bigfoot Camping Adventure. While the weather was not the greatest, it in no way ruined the amazing conference organized by researcher Eric Altman. Overall, the weekend, despite the cold and rain, was packed full of interesting speakers and some great presentations. Most importantly, all of the proceeds benefitted three great charities: Unity A Journey of Hope, Lucky Paws Animal Rescue, and Fayette Friends of Animals. 

Here are some random shots caught during the weekend.

Chupacabra Territory (2016)

I am always a fan of movies that enter into the cryptozoological realm. With my weekend trip to the Pennsylvania Bigfoot Camping Adventure nearly here, I decided to start getting into the mood with some movies that carried that theme. The first one for the week was the 2016 entry Chupacabra Territory (AKA Lair of the Beast).

Plot/ A group of friends take a trip to the country in search of the elusive Chupacabra.

Found footage movies are a polarizing topic. Personally, I think that they have run their course and are becoming more of a challenge to watch. That thought was definitely backed up by this film, as much of it was incoherent and difficult to sit through. Between the poor scripting, uneven performances, out of place scenes that were just thrown it, and the poor execution, the movie never became entertaining in any way. This is unfortunate, as there is an interesting story hidden inside this abomination and the overall look shows that the materials were in place to make something much better than what hit the screen. In the end, there really is nothing here that would make this film worth watching. In fact, I already regret sitting through it.

Rings (2017)

Now that I have put the finishing touches on the epic poem Salvation, I think I am going to change some gears and work on something for a class I may be instructing at the Phoenix Arts Center. At this point, the idea is in its infancy, but it has only been a couple days since discussing it. If you are interested in the epic Salvation, it should be out soon. As I was finishing edits last night, I decided on something with a more supernatural tone to help keep me focused, 2017s Rings.  

Plot/ A young woman finds herself on the receiving end of a terrifying curse that threatens to take her life in seven days.

When this movie was released I could not bring myself to spending the money to see it in the theater, as I figured that there was no way it could live up to the bar set my the source materials. I am glad that I made that decision and waited until it hit Family Video. While it is not terrible, it in no way resembles anything more than a regurgitated storyline that has run its course. Yes, the cast was solid with some decent performances, as always the storyline and backstory are interesting, and there were some good visual effects that at least made it watchable. Unfortunately, this one lacked the heavy atmosphere that made the first installments what they were. In fact, this was more like a mystery than a horror film and it was never able to fully transition between the two genres with too many predictable moments. In the end, if you are a fan of The Ring franchise, you will likely be just as disappointed as I was. Was this movie terrible? No, but it definitely had the potential to be much better.

10 Days in a Madhouse (2015)

While working on some edits on my 2017 NaPoWriMo epic poem Salvation, I decided to put on a period piece to keep my mind focused and entertained. After some debate, I decided on 2015s 10 Days in a Madhouse.

Plot/ In 1887, at age 23, reporter Nellie Bly, working for Joseph Pulitzer, feigns mental illness to go undercover in notorious Blackwell's Island a woman's insane asylum to expose corruption, abuse, and murder.

I had debated myself about this movie for a few weeks and what I found was both interesting and disappointing at the same time. While the overall story is amazing and one that must be told, the execution was not there to back up the quality contained in the story. This is extremely surprising considering the budget was larger than some of the small budget flicks I watch and the pull everything together in a robust fashion. As a whole, the film felt disjointed and confused about what direction it wanted to take, the scripting was uneven, and the performances were flat and uninspiring. In the end, it is a shame this film did not ever reach its potential. The chance was there to make something that would leave a lasting impression; instead it is another movie that has already basically been forgotten.

Tank 432 (2015)

There are times when I become overwhelmed by all of the stuff that I have going on. This weekend was one of those, as between Art All Night 20 and then my busy day yesterday, I couldn’t find time for any movies until late last night. The movie I chose to end my weekend is the 2015 entry Tank 432 (AKA Belly of the Bulldog).

Plot/ With nowhere else to hide, a group of mercenaries and their two prisoners take cover inside a long-abandoned Bulldog tank. But, while they try to keep the forces outside at bay, the real enemy is already among them, locked inside the Belly of the Bulldog.

When I saw this one at Family Video, I was excited about the premise. Unfortunately, the movie really did not back that up in any way. While I did like some of the atmospheric elements that seemed to pop up from time to time, the pacing felt slow and disconnected from the potential that existed. The performances were nothing special, the scripting was uneven, and there were not any true horror elements. In fact, I found it more of a dark drama than anything else. In the end, I usually like slower paced films, but this one did not move me in any way. I would find something else.

Art All Night 20 - 2017

I have had to take a few days away from the computer, as there have been a ton of different things going on this weekend. Between the NFL Draft and writing, I have finally started watching my first movie of the weekend about five minutes ago. That has not been all that bad, as last night I got to go to Art All Night 20 in Lawrenceville and saw dome awesome art and some awesome bands. If you are in the Pittsburgh area and have never been to Art All Night, you are missing out on a great experience. Here are a few of the pictures from last night. 

Skyquake (2015)

After taking a night yesterday to get caught up in the past few episodes of Riverdale, I decided that it was time to get back at it tonight with something a little different before I get back to my National Poetry Month project Salvation. After some debate, I decided on the 2015 Brain Damage Films entry Skyquake.

Plot/ Since 2012 reports of strange sounds coming from the sky have flooded social media, now Adam, a recluse, struggling with his own demons, believes whatever is causing them has followed him home.

When I picked this one up, the synopsis seemed interesting, as I have heard (and read about) many accounts of this phenomenon. While this movie takes on this subject in a different manner that leaves much of it to the viewers interpretation, something that I love as a writer. The visuals are really well done with solid cinematography and direction; the storyline is intriguing, and the performances are decent. Yes, some of the special effects and audio tracks are uneven and the pace does feel a bit slow, but those issues seem to fit in with this strange tale. In the end, for a lower budgeted film, this one is a thought-provoking journey into something that we really do not understand as a civilization. If you are like me, and are fascinated by the unknown (especially the 4:44-time symbolism), give it a shot, you could do much worse.