Bigfoot Creek (2011)

I know, it's been a while since I reviewed anything.  That didn't mean,  I haven't been watching anything. In fact,  I've logged quite a few hours watching some stuff over the past few weeks.  Unfortunately,  I just haven't felt like sitting down and taking the time to jot down my thoughts.  That changed this afternoon as I wait for a Cthulhu idol to finish printing.  So,  I settled on the 2011 mockumentary Bigfoot Creek.

Plot: Since the 1970s he has roamed the countryside, watching...and waiting. This all-new docudrama chronicles these true events that occurred throughout the Midwest.

Also known as the Legacy of Boggy Creek, this movie attempted to follow the baseline established by original cryptid classic,  the Legend of Boggy Creek. Unfortunately,  this one did not quote resonate the same way and definitely did not spark the same amount of interest in the subject.  While I do applaud the independent origins and low budget nature of the film,  it was just a tough watch from start to finish.  The effects and costuming were bad, the pacing uneven,  and the overall feel lacked the rustic good natured realism of the source. As a researched myself,  it just took way too much effort to watch this one,  especially on a subject the I love.  In the end,  I understand what was trying to be accomplished with this film and appreciate it, it is just that the execution didn't allow me to enjoy a film that I could have really got behind.  Please,  do yourself a favor and just watch the Legend of Boggy Creek. It is a better flick. 

The Descent (2006)

As the writers and actors style continues,  it has allowed me to drive back into some of the horror movies I have watched,  but failed write about four whatever reason.  Some of this is because when I started the blog,  I hadn't gone back to watch them and others may have been missed because of my work schedule. The first one of those is a gross mistake on my part,  as I reviewed the sequel. That movie is the 2006 entry The Descent. 

Plot: A caving expedition goes horribly wrong, as the explorers become trapped and ultimately pursued by a strange breed of predators.

I remember watching this the first time while deployed near the Horn of Africa, as a horror fan,  it was awesome when something that was not only new,  but so worth watching came up on our lackluster system.  This was one of the more memorable films i watched on the deployment,  and one that i really enjoyed rewatching all this time later. The movie features a tremendous claustraphobic and heavy atmosphere,  that creates a sense of fear and dread throughout. The cinematography is outstanding, the cast does an amazing job, and the script draws the viewer in and really never let's up.  Being deployed,  i have no idea what the reception was,  but this was a highly original movie that was definitely one of the best of that year. In fact, the movie holds up quite well, and was a fun trip back to that time period for me. If you haven't watched it, give it a shot. 

Bog (1979)

I know I haven't posted much lately,  although, that isn't too easy that I haven't been watching stuff or researching strange things.  In fact,  I spent most of last week and this week marathoning Grimm, a show that I believe had a lot of predictive programming elements woven in. Last night,  I went to see Oppenheimer, and while I could review that,  I will hold off because of the strike. That's no problem,  because that gives me a chance to look at some older movies,  such as 1979s Bog.

Plot: Dynamite fishing in a rural swamp revives a prehistoric gill monster that must have the blood of human females in order to survive.

I know Horror Host Mister Lobo says, "they're not bad movies, they're just misunderstood movies" and I can usually agree with that.  Usually you can found some element that makes it worth watching.  That isn't the case with this one,  as it may be one of the worst movies I have ever seen.  Really,  there are no redeeming qualities.  The acting is below average or worse,  the cinematography, effects, and editing are bad (even for low budget films), the storyline is unreal,  and the overall quality of the movie has in no way held up over time.  Incredibly,  there are no signs that any of this was intentionally put together to give it some comedic elements. This movie is just bad. Stay away!

Children of the Corn (2023)

I decided to take a break from my Grimm marathon and watch a few movies yesterday, I started the day with Signs, followed by Ghost Ship, and finishing it off with the 2020 (2023) Children of the Corn.

Plot: The film describes the events leading up to, and including, the massacre of the adults of a small town in Nebraska by their children, after the adults' irresponsibility ruins the crop and the children's future.

Honestly, I don't know what to say about this one, it left me speechless ( and not in a good way). I guess if there was one positive,  although outrageous and completely unbelievable, I did like the ending (as a writer). Unfortunately,  that was about it. The storyline was alright but flat, the performances were lacking, the effects were meh, and there was absolutely no tension. In fact, it was more laughable than horror and added nothing to series.  Stay away!

The Magnetic Monster (1953)

This has been a couple of hot and humid days and unfortunately, it looks like I have to start my grass cutting odyssey all over. Man, that has been rough. But, after going to the Naro Cinema today to watch Jaws, I felt like watching a classic Sci-Fi flick.  So, I settled on the 1953 entry, the Magnetic Monster.

Plot: The Office of Scientific Investigation sends A-Men agents to investigate reports of unusual magnetic activity in various communities.

Having never watched this one before, I found this was one of the better low budget Sci-Fi  flicks of the era. This one featured some decent performances, an interesting (and intelligent) storyline, solid pacing, and a realistic approach to the subject matter. From director Ivan Tors (Science Fiction Theater), this one comes complete with an outstanding ending, making it one that should be seen. Yes,  the film did feel a little dated today, but for something that is pushing 70-years-old, it is well worth watching. CHECK IT OUT!

UFO: The Truth About Flying Saucers (1956)

This weather here in Virginia Beach has been miserable with it feeling more like I live in Florida than Virginia. But,  even with the weather,  it has not been a terrible week. I did get to see both The Empire Strikes Back and Asteroid City at the NARO and catch some other movie.  Something weird did happen on my last selection though,  I chose a 2018 movie called UFO and what strange was a 1956 documentary/movie called UFO: The Truth About Flying Saucers.

Plot: Interviews and documentary footage combine with the fictional story of an air-force pilot who encounters aliens.

Considering the age of this docudrama, this is an amazingly informative movie. Using actual Military documents and footage with a somewhat fictional story to help navigate the material was a great way to put forth the matter-of-fact approach to the material is refreshing.  This is especially true when comparing it to the documentaries that have overtaken every streaming service on the subject matter. As a researcher, it is really interesting that there are still many similarities between the different decades when it comes to the subject matter. In fact, in many ways, it may be a more accurate capsule of the UFO topic. Yes, is does move slowly and doesnt have the flair of the modern UFO documentary, but it is likely more realistic acting as a real news piece unlike the feeling and interpretation driven approach that litters every  documentary today. This one definitely presented the material and presented the material in a way that allows the viewer to make their own decision on what they believe instead of attempting to steer a narrative. This may not be for everyone, but any serious UFO buff should love it. I did and totally recommend it.

The Exorcism of God (2021)

For some reason,  exorcism or religious horror has become somewhat of a staple on my television lately,  Although, that may be changing as I finally picked up a copy of Diablo IV. I am a huge Diablo fan and am excited to venture back into Sanctuary. But, before I start that journey,  I wanted to hit on the latest movie I watched 2021s The Exorcism of God.

Plot: Peter Williams is an American priest in Mexico who's considered a saint by many local parishioners. However, due to a botched exorcism, he carries a dark secret that's eating him alive until he gets an opportunity to face his own demon one last time.

This one was a lot better than I expected it to be when I pulled it up. For a lower budgeted exorcism flick,  this one offered a somewhat original take featuring some dark n and heavy atmosphere, an intriguing storyline,  solid performances,  and some outstanding cinematography. It even threw in some jump scares and surprises, which was a nice change of pace. Unfortunately, the editing was kind of choppy and the effects were somewhat uneven. But, because of the lower budget, those factors are easily overlooked. If you are like me, and love exorcism themed films, then this is one that you should definitely check out.

Consecration (2023)

After spending a large portion of the day doing hardworking yesterday,  I decided that it was time to take a break and catch up on some movie watching.  While searching the different streaming services,  I settled on this 2023 entry,  Consecration.

Plot: After the suspicious death of her brother, a priest, Grace travels to the Mount Saviour Convent in Scotland to find out what really happened. Once there, she uncovers murder, sacrilege and a disturbing truth about her own past.

Not knowing anything about this,  I took the chance because of the religious look.  For some reason,  I have been caught up in that genre for a few days.  This one was definitely better that i would have expected. The cinematography creates a tremendously dark and brooding atmosphere. That matches the heavy themes in the storyline.  This is backed by some outstanding performances and solid production qualities.  This one won't be for everyone though,  especially those looking for a quick jump scare.  There are some pacing elements (especially in the first portion of the film) and there really isn't anything that hasn't been seen before,  but those aspects don't destroy the movie in any way.  Yes,  if isn't perfect,  but if you are looking for an atmospheric film with some intriguing scenery give this one a shot.  

Kecksburg: The Untold Story (2004)

While the news (or hoax) coming out of Las Vegas has been interesting, the recent event that struck a cord with me was the recent meeting of intelligence officials at Wright Patterson airfield in Ohio. This facility has always been interesting to UFO enthusiast and this meeting stirred up even more interested.  For me,  it reminded me of a scene from the documentary Kecksburg: The Untold Story. Growing up near Kecksburg, this story had always fascinated me and this documentary is a great resource for researchers. 

Plot: Many people believe the government is not telling the truth about it's involvement in the retrieval of a crashed UFO in Kecksburg, Pennsylvania in 1965. Was there an object that fell from the sky? Was it man made, or a visitor from another world?

This lower budgeted documentary by researcher Stan Gordon is full of great information coming from eyewitness testimony, reenactments, and of course, research. To the people of Kecksburg, something definitely landed in the woods of Meteor Road (an ironic name), and the government swooped in and shipped up all the debris.  The orange acorn shaped craft (it does look similar to the Nazi Bell) has become the towns calling card,  and it should be.  With the Boehner silence,  no one knows what took place,  but it's clear something did. This documentary does lack the flair and expensive looking quality of many documentaries,  but it packs a punch.  This one is clearly for the viewer that is interested in the story and the facts as portrayed by the witnesses and not for those who are looking for some blockbuster production. If you are like me and are there for the research value,  check it out.

Synchronic (2019)

After a few busy days with the yard and watching social media for updates on the UFO thing in Las Vegas and the real-lide scene from Night of the Comet taking place in New York, I decided to relax and catch up on some movie watching.  The first flick I watched today was the 2019 Sci-Fi film,  Synchronic.

Plot: Two New Orleans paramedics' lives are ripped apart after they encounter a series of horrific deaths linked to a designer drug with bizarre, otherworldly effects.

I had never heard of this one before it popped up on my Amazon page and the premise sounded different so i gave it a shot. What i fiund was an interesting storyline, that while a touch confusing at times, kept me engaged. There was some pretty good cinematography, decent performances, and some intriguing moments. Yes, there were some pacing issues and there were some major plot holes to navigate, but those did not totally ruin the experience for me. Of course, with those elements, i am sure some casual viewers will be totally turned off. In the end, this may not be groundbreaking or a movie that you should knock diwn the door to see, but if the air quality has you secluded, it will definitely be an interesting film to help you pass the time. 

Darkness (2002)

It was another day day outside, but it was not a total loss as I was able to make some good progress in the toy building.  I can actually see my desk again. When I finished that,  I decided to kick back and watch the 2002 entry Darkness.

Plot: A teenage girl moves into a remote country house with her family, only to discover that their gloomy new home has a horrifying past that threatens to destroy the family.

I didn't know what to expect from this one,  but came away rather intrigued.  While,  it did have some of the typical supernatural elements,  it was armor to maintain  a suspenseful tone throughout. The scripting was awesome,  the performances outstanding, and the cinematography and direction created some tremendous atmosphere. Now, Iam sure there will be parts that turn viewers off with the slower pace and the lack of typical horror tropes, but those are only benefits in my eyes. In the end,  this one is an excellent independent film and one that should be watched. 

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. 

The Silence (2019)

While I did take a day yesterday to pay respects to all those that have fallen, I couldn't stay away from a movie in the evening. So, after catching up on The Blacklist, I decided to check out The Silence from 2019. 

Plot: The story of a family struggling to survive in a world terrorized by a deadly primeval species that has evolved for millions of years in the pitch-darkness of a vast underground cave system, hunting only with their acute hearing ability. As the family seeks refuge in a remote haven where they can wait out the invasion, they start to wonder what kind of world will remain when they're ready to emerge.

When i sat down last night i want looking for a blockbuster,  but i hoped for something that was at least exciting. Unfortunately,  this wasn't it.  While this one wasn't terrible, and was watchable,  it had the potential to be a lot more. Featuring a solid cast, decent atmosphere, and a cool soundtrack, this one was littered with missed opportunities. The storyline was uneven,  the creatures themselves packed little punch, and the ending felt a little forced. In the end, this movie was a good time killer on a dreary afternoon, but not much more.