The Prestige (2006)

As I mentally prepare myself for this weekend of softball, I decided to watch something relaxing and somewhat thought-provoking. After some thought, I decided on the 2006 sci-fi/mystery The Prestige.

Plot/ Two stage magicians engage in competitive one-upmanship in an attempt to create the ultimate stage illusion.

Any movie that features Nikola Tesla is an automatic winner in my book, plus when the amazing David Bowie is playing that genius, it is a home run. That is exactly what The Prestige is, an amazing journey to another time that doubles as a tremendous character study with a dark look at obsession. Complete with an outstanding storyline, an incredible cast with top-notch performances, and spot on direction and cinematography, this movie does not disappoint in any way. Not to mention the sci-fi/steampunk twist added into what was already a great trip into the world of illusion. Yes, it was a touch predictable if you pay attention to the dialog and hints that are sprinkled in, but that does nothing to bring the movie down. In the end, if you have not seen this film, you are really missing out. It is honestly one of Christopher Nolan’s best movies and a darker film that I could watch over and over again. Highly recommended.

Grey Lady (2017)

As I kick back and prepare myself for a trip to Columbus for the softball world series event, I can’t help but try to push my mind elsewhere (although, I may try my hand at another 10-minute play). To keep my mind occupied, I decided to watch the 2017 mystery/thriller Grey Lady.

Plot/ A Boston police officer goes to Nantucket to investigate the murder of his partner, but he finds more than he bargained for.

I was in the mood for a mystery last night when I went to Family Video and I decided on this one. While I am usually a huge fan of slow burn mysteries or thrillers, this one really did nothing for me. Yes, the cinematography was outstanding, some of the performances were solid, and the scripting with the snippets of classic poetry and prose mixed in was a positive surprise, the overall feel just left me feeling like something was missing. The storyline, though interesting, felt underdeveloped, the identities of the murderers was somewhat predictable, and the movie lacked the tension or atmosphere one would expect in this type of mystery/thriller. In the end, I am sure there will be people that disagree with my interpretation of the film, but honestly, I cannot recommend this one at all. If you are really into mystery/thrillers, you can give it a shot, but be warned.

The Blackcoat's Daughter (2015)

One of the movies I caught during my absence into the softball void was one that I have heard many different things about (both good and bad). For me, that just means I have to check it out for myself. That movie was 2015 independent entry The Blackcoat’s Daughter (AKA February).

Plot/ Two girls must battle a mysterious evil force when they are left behind at their boarding school over winter break.

A couple people at Family Video tried to steer me away from this one, luckily, I held my own and rented it. For me, I in no way agreed with the synopsis they gave me, although I can definitely understand them, as this will likely be one of the more polarizing films to come out in some time. More of a psychological thriller than a traditional horror movie, this one will not be for everyone. Armed with a tremendously dark atmosphere, this slow burn builds tension throughout. The scripting is outstanding, the storyline develops in a subdued manner, the performances solid, and the cinematography matches the atmosphere and soundscape perfectly. Of course, there are some flaws with a bare-bones plot and the ending felt a touch uneven, but those are but minor flaws in the grand scheme. In the end, if you are looking for a typical clichéd horror flick this one is not for you. However, if you enjoy atmospheric and dark slow burn thriller that can leave an imprint after you watch it, give this one a shot. It is an outstanding choice.

Population Zero (2016)

After taking a night off because of a miserably long rain delay (and eventual washout) of the games at the USSSA Summer Showdown, I figured it was time to get back at it tonight. My next review was an interesting film, 2016s Population Zero.

Plot/ In 2009 three young men were killed in a remote part of Yellowstone National Park. The only thing more shocking than the crime itself, are the bizarre events that followed.

I had looked at this movie for some time at Family Video and could not figure out exactly what it was. After renting it, I was glad that I did because it was better that what I envisioned. This mockumentary does a great job at staying true to the documentary feel and keeps you guessing on whether all of it is true. The storyline is engaging, the cinematography amazing, and the performances are solid. Yes, the pacing was not perfect as the film was very dialog driven, but that was somewhat expected because of the documentary platform that was being created. In the end, if you are a fan of true mockumentaries that present believable storylines, give this one a shot. It is very entertaining.

The Crater Lake Monster (1977)

Yesterday, I decided to pick up a great collection of low budget gold in the 12 Creature Feature box set. For me, this is a perfect set of movies that fit with the mindless entertainment binge I have been on when not watching Twin Peaks: The Return. The first movie from that set that graced my screen was the 1977 entry The Crater Lake Monster.

Plot/ A meteor that crashed into Oregon's Crater Lake unearths a dinosaur egg. The heat from the meteor causes the egg to hatch, and the emerging dinosaur takes to snacking on the locals.

Before I start this review, if you watch this and expect something phenomenal and/or Oscar caliber, it is time for you to turn away. That is not saying that this is terrible, but it is a no-budget creature feature from the 1970s and it definitely comes with the typical flaws that plague this type of schlockfest. There was a lot to like with some tremendous stop-motion animation considering the budget and the era. Plus the decision to use a Plesiosaurus was awesome considering the connection to some of the Loch Ness Theories that exist. Yes, the performances the film feels dated, were uneven, the lake is definitely not the real Crater Lake, and the storyline is all over the place and incoherent at times, but that just adds to the classic drive-in campiness that came with this eras low budget creature features. In the end, this is a movie that any fan of 1970s stop-motion animation will love. Sure, the schlock factor is high, but if you can suspend reality for a short period of time, you may get a kick out of this sci-fi creature feature.

Bigfoot: The Movie (2015)

As I sit down and try to catch up on some of the flicks I missed reviewing over the past week, I would be out of my mind to forget this one. While it is far from Oscar worthy, it is what it is. This is the local (for me) 2015 creature feature Bigfoot: The Movie.

Plot/ Bigfoot has come to the town of Ellwood City, PA and is causing BIG problems. Now it's up to four town locals, Chuck, Dale, Burl, and Kate to take him down.

When I rented this one at Family Video, I expected a no-budget schlockfest that would harken back to some of the great low-budget, straight to VHS entries, and that is exactly what I got. This Kickstarter-funded entry may not be the best movie, it may be completely unbelievable, and it may lack the big budget effects that many films have, but it is funny. Being from SW PA, I could relate to the characters as I see many of those stereotypical characterizations in real life on a daily basis (believe me, these people are real and this is likely how some would act if a sasquatch was on the loose. The performances are definitely uneven and the there are some head scratching moments, but honestly, this adds to the campy fun that is contained within the storyline. Who knew that a female Bigfoot could become a potential tourist destination? In the end, if you are searching for a serious Bigfoot flick, this one is definitely not for you. However, if you are looking for a creature feature that is more camp than substance, this one is for you; especially if you are from Southwestern Pennsylvania and grew up with some typical yinzers and jagoffs.

The Shadow Effect (2017)

I know that it has been a few days since I sat down to write something up. I have tried, and even watched a couple flicks, but between picking up a daughter in Virginia, a softball tournament, and a holiday party, I have not really been on the computer. To try to get things moving in the right direction, here is my next entry. It is the 2017 action/sci-fi flick The Shadow Effect.

Plot/ A young man's life is turned upside down when his violent dreams begin to blend with reality.

I grabbed this one at Family Video because the synopsis seemed interesting and most importantly different from what I have been watching. Unfortunately, the film did not come across in the manner that would make it easy to watch and intriguing. The performances are good enough, but the scripting and pacing seemed to be lacking. In fact, the movie felt like a strung together combination of popular action and sci-fi films that have recently come out. Overall, the film just felt extremely disjointed. In the end, unless you have nothing else to watch, I would definitely stay away from this one.

A Kind of Murder (2016)

I knew after watching The Autopsy of Jane Doe that it was going to be difficult to follow it with something in the horror genre. With that in mind, I went for something different, the 2016 crime/drama A Kind of Murder (AKA The Blunderer).

Plot/ In 1960s New York, Walter Stackhouse is a successful architect married to the beautiful Clara who leads a seemingly perfect life. But his fascination with an unsolved murder leads him into a spiral of chaos as he is forced to play cat-and-mouse with a clever killer and an overambitious detective, while at the same time lusting after another woman.

This was an impulse rental, as I was in the mood for something a touch different than my usual selections. While there was a lot to like with some great cinematography, a nostalgic feel, and some decent tension early on, there overall feel of the movie was very disjointed and the ending felt extremely rushed. The storyline was definitely interesting and the movie was setting up to be a solid whodunit/thriller, but unfortunately, between some of the uneven performances and the predictable ending, it was never able to reach the potential that it laid the groundwork for. In the end, this one was quite disappointing as it fell short of what could have been. Is it a terrible movie? No, but it is also a movie that will leave you disappointed when it is over.

The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)

After clearing my mind with a mindless Godzilla flick, it was time to get back to some real horror. After a long night of softball (practice and watching a game), my selection for last night was the 2016 entry The Autopsy of Jane Doe.

Plot/ A father and son, both coroners, are pulled into a complex mystery while attempting to identify the body of a young woman, who was apparently harboring dark secrets.

This is a movie I have been looking forward to watching. While I did not know much about the storyline or what to expect, from the few promo clips and artwork I had seen, I thought it could be something that I would enjoy. I was right, as this was one of the best horror films I have seen in some time and it backs up my thoughts that this has been a tremendous year for the genre. There was a lot to like with some creepy and dark atmospheric elements, some outstanding make-up effects with some graphic scenes, solid performances, and a nice mixture of horror and suspense within a thought-out storyline that was quite engaging. Yes, there are a few clichéd jump scares thrown it and the ending could have been a touch better, but those are but minor flaws inside this tremendous film. In the end, if you are a true horror fan, you should definitely enjoy this one. True, some of the autopsy scenes may not be for everyone, but it is well worth watching.

Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001)

After watching Twin Peaks yesterday, I needed something that could help my mind come back to reality, so I decided on this one. Knowing that Godzilla movies are always fun and mindless, what could go wrong with the 2001 entry Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack?

Plot/ Three ancient guardian beasts awaken to protect Japan against Godzilla.

I had seen this on Shudder for some time, but honestly, the length of the titles scared me away. I know that may sound stupid, but it’s true. Now that I have watched it, I can see that I made a huge mistake in waiting. This was one of the darkest and most entertaining Godzilla films I have watched and it made me want to see more. While there are some early CGI issues and such, for the most part, the effects work rather well, creating one of the best monster flicks I have seen. Incredibly, although modernized, the film was able to maintain some of the charms that made the classic Godzilla films so much fun. Less schlock and an entertaining story featuring a dreadful Godzilla out to destroy humanity, this had a lot to like with some solid cinematography, quality dubbing, and a soundtrack that did a perfect job at setting the stage for the action. Yes, some of the creatures did seem off from their original characterizations with the size a ferocity and some of the story felt cliché and predictable, but those were easily overlooked. In the end, if you are a fan of the classic Godzilla flicks and like me, you grew up with them on the Saturday afternoon creature features give this one a shot. This was an entertaining and fun flick that worked perfectly in helping me pass some time in the afternoon.

7 Witches (2017)

Last night, not only did I miss one of the best episodes of Twin Peaks to grace the screen, I was away from the computer and could not keep my posting streak. I did get to see an awesome concert with The Regrettes in a very intimate setting at Mr. Smalls Funhouse so that at least made the evening entertaining. To catch up today, I decided to finish with the 2017 independent entry 7 Witches.

Plot/ As their big day approaches Cate and Cody should be celebrating, they've got their family with them, they've rented an island for the big day, but unbeknownst to them, their wedding falls on the day when a 100-year-old curse comes to fruition. Instead of celebrating, they find themselves fighting for their lives as a coven of witches risen for revenge.

I knew nothing about this one when I picked it up at Family Video, and because of that, I was thoroughly satisfied with what I found. While there were some clichéd moments toward the end of the film and the idea may not have been overly original, it was an entertaining film that came across as a mix of art house cinema and a larger budgeted suspense flick. The characters were interesting, the cinematography was atmospheric and solid, and the pacing was fitting for the short run time. Yes, there are the clichés and the short run time will definitely turn some people away, but those elements are minor flaws in this intriguing flick. In the end, this one has just enough of a horror vibe to be somewhat satisfying. Yes, it is not the most original film out there, but it is better than many entries in the low budget arena. Give it a shot.

Shakma (1990)

Although I planned to watch 7 Witches last night, the remote for the DVD player again seemed to disappear. So, instead, I decided to dive into Shudder for the 1990 creature feature Shakma.

Plot/ An experimental drug that is supposed to reduce aggression has the opposite effect on a baboon that is being experimented on by a group of medical students and their professor. While they are playing a fantasy role-playing game in their research facility, the baboon escapes and begins hunting them down.

Coming off the slasher craze of the 1980s, this creature feature takes on that genre in an amazing way. Yes, it is mindless and full of some awesome baboon induced blood and guts, but it is in no way anything more than a midnight low-budget schlockfest (although, the Dungeons and Dragons LARP is a nice twist). Even with the mild level of gore and a storyline that is rather predictable and cliché (other than the baboon madman), this movie is fun to watch and on par with some of the classic straight-to-video flicks of the era. Yes, the performances are uneven (Roddy McDowell is perfect though), the storyline is unbelievable, and overall the age of the film shines through in the technology, but that in no way makes this movie any less entertaining. In fact, after these decades, the movie is still just as cheesy and laughable as it was the first time I saw it. In the end, if you are searching for some campy fun, full of schlock and cheesiness than give this one a shot. Plus, it is on Shudder, so there is really nothing to lose if you have that service.

Life (2017)

After surviving the crazy storm that hit town last night and spending some time at the mall with the Re-Create fundraising event for the Phoenix Art Center, it was time to relax. Now that I am back awake, it is time to catch up on the next flick from last night, 2017s sci-fi entry Life.

Plot/ A team of scientists aboard the International Space Station discover a rapidly evolving life form, that caused extinction on Mars, and now threatens the crew and all life on Earth.

This is a hard movie for me to review, not because of the subject matter or anything like that, it is because I swear I watched the same film previously only this time there were some minor differences. I know that might sound a bit crazy since it was just released in March 2017, but I felt like I knew every point spot on, except for the ending, which was similar in visuals, but different with where the characters (and creature) end up. Who knows, maybe I saw it in some parallel dimension. I did like a lot about the movie, with some of the great cinematography, awesome special effects, and an interesting storyline that was actually rather believable considering the subject matter. Even the atmosphere was dark and claustrophobic enough to make me want to see more. Yes, the characters were a touch flat, the tension level was lacking, and the performances were uneven with what was taking place inside the story. In the end, I did like this one, although it did feel predictable and at times, somewhat forced. It may not be for everyone, but it can be a fun flick to watch if you aren’t looking for the next Alien film.