tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87173497216942167152024-03-13T14:07:46.169-04:00Full Moon Reviews - Horror, Sci-Fi, Action, B-MoviesFull Moon Reviews is a movie review site, written by an avid film lover with an honest mind and a dirty mouth. I'm not a professional. I don't kiss anyone's ass and I tell it like it is. If you're offended by profanity and sexual innuendos, then click the "x" buttons on the right of your browser. But if you want an in-depth review with sarcastic humor, then you've come to the right place. Enjoy!Fred [The Wolf]http://www.blogger.com/profile/03208803636786210066noreply@blogger.comBlogger1058125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717349721694216715.post-78357266920312536912024-02-12T23:03:00.004-05:002024-02-12T23:22:48.775-05:00Lisa Frankenstein (2024)<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7_wlaha1vvJg7ib-t_MB6C5BROtoy-MuVydsAmdI8TGjbZ3kvg_J5TcsVrCYfq_BiAZUivt7XoOW_UYzjwCb-r6466o2i6tUQI5cH21WvINRMx68hm0K5s0VDrY-L0jFR5e48DrGmY2pXZLEqBqordbUkvcBAbx9ZD0VxOQDHM6VhK6hWyzKObuFCm7y/s755/36%20lisa_frankenstein_ver2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="510" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7_wlaha1vvJg7ib-t_MB6C5BROtoy-MuVydsAmdI8TGjbZ3kvg_J5TcsVrCYfq_BiAZUivt7XoOW_UYzjwCb-r6466o2i6tUQI5cH21WvINRMx68hm0K5s0VDrY-L0jFR5e48DrGmY2pXZLEqBqordbUkvcBAbx9ZD0VxOQDHM6VhK6hWyzKObuFCm7y/w270-h400/36%20lisa_frankenstein_ver2.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>DIRECTED BY</u></b></span></span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-9f22d55b-7fff-d543-b789-ad80bfc617f6"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Zelda Williams</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>STARRING</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Kathryn Newton - Lisa Swallows</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Cole Sprouse - The Creature</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Liza Soberano - Taffy Swallows</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Henry Eikenberry - Michael Trent</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Joe Chrest - Dale Swallows</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Carla Cugino - Janet Swallows</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre -</b> <i>Horror/Romance/Comedy/Supernatural/Zombies</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time -</b> <i>101 Minutes</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>PLOT</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>In 1989, a misunderstood teenager has a high school crush — who just happens to be a handsome corpse! After a set of playfully horrific circumstances bring him back to life, the two embark on a murderous journey to find love, happiness…and a few missing body parts along the way.</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnBi9Vo9kVF5ckx2GOFZVb9KvGqDNk4k4zNcMDu1OWNWxrD-MjF86iQp2d-AzVmLOxLlD-YEwMFv_yHHEJvN01ZqeVDHwrOplgH4-lu_l0gW9EGRloSO3s-79Kc-H38dp5nPuM41vB3NlWfby_3qsTiyUpZkQXne906vylz9umAUrrkdd0QaWY5J3cFug/s780/lisafrankenstein-3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="780" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnBi9Vo9kVF5ckx2GOFZVb9KvGqDNk4k4zNcMDu1OWNWxrD-MjF86iQp2d-AzVmLOxLlD-YEwMFv_yHHEJvN01ZqeVDHwrOplgH4-lu_l0gW9EGRloSO3s-79Kc-H38dp5nPuM41vB3NlWfby_3qsTiyUpZkQXne906vylz9umAUrrkdd0QaWY5J3cFug/s320/lisafrankenstein-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />While I think this film tries a bit too hard to be a cult film in about five to ten years like a <b>HEATHERS</b> or even a <b>JENNIFER’S BODY</b>, 2024’s <b>LISA FRANKENSTEIN</b> still manages to mostly be a fun time despite its uneven tone and lackluster final act that falls apart in every way. While the narrative doesn’t always work and doesn’t really capitalize on the <u>Frankenstein</u> concept all the way, Diablo Cody’s script is what one would expect from it - amusing quips, some memorable off-the-wall dialogue, and a sense of fun even if the comedy doesn’t land like she would want it to. The characters are all quirky and live in their own 1980s universe, making the film watchable despite not getting much out of it besides nostalgia for that time.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was expecting more of a <u>Frankenstein</u> type of story, like 2002’s <b>MAY</b> for example, but a bit more lighthearted. Instead, <b>LISA FRANKENSTEIN</b> is less a horror film but more of a zombie rom-com for teens and young adults. While I think 2013’s <b>WARM BODIES</b> handles this kind of tone better, <b>LISA FRANKENSTEIN</b> does have interesting character arcs and twists [<i>as predictable as they are</i>] that keep it somewhat engaging for its 101-minute runtime. Watching Lisa transform from a mousey and grieving teen to a goth princess who enjoys the power of murder to give her Creature love interest body parts he’s missing since he died centuries prior is a fun time and brings a lot of life to what could have been a one-note narrative. While I wish the film had more tension and some darker moments of making one feel uncomfortable, the rom-com aspect [<i>which could have been stronger</i>] still manages to satisfy due to the chemistry between the two main actors.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Zelda Williams’ direction [<i>her first feature, by the way</i>] is hit-and-miss. When Williams wants to be dynamic and show some visual flair, mainly through fantasy sequences that really add a ton to the story, it makes me interested in what Williams could really do with a better script in her next feature. When things get a bit slower, the film is not as visually impressive but still shot well enough to leave a small impression. The lighting, in particular, is used really well. In particular, the scenes involving a tanning bed in a garage really make great use of neon colors that enhance the 1989 setting. Plus, I thought the use of certain songs - like When In Rome’s “The Promise” and Kathryn Newton’s take on REO Speedwagon’s “Can’t Fight This Feeling” are visualized really well and put a smile on my face. Zelda Williams' first film isn’t a total winner, but it does prove she has a voice and it’ll be interesting to see what she takes on next.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS34PVUbH_TgLvugBkzX38ANKokTQO5O-PoTORslCZUXlAnS9hTSskww3VC6lwxwXPmeBgROKJELQhSLQ0R-5B9AY9RgNAXrrwe_W4mdlmPib3IhtBFZi_-Xae9iFG75MV4ntY2kkJuhzhxUWC2nkFnu6PC5GRetOS9hRLYTnmt5bwaEv5fz4S23CjvC-l/s4500/lisafrankenstein-2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS34PVUbH_TgLvugBkzX38ANKokTQO5O-PoTORslCZUXlAnS9hTSskww3VC6lwxwXPmeBgROKJELQhSLQ0R-5B9AY9RgNAXrrwe_W4mdlmPib3IhtBFZi_-Xae9iFG75MV4ntY2kkJuhzhxUWC2nkFnu6PC5GRetOS9hRLYTnmt5bwaEv5fz4S23CjvC-l/s320/lisafrankenstein-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />What really saves <b>LISA FRANKENSTEIN</b> is the cast. I think this film has Kathryn Newton’s best performance as Lisa Swallows, an awkward teen who just grows more confident with power as the film rolls along. I liked her a lot in <b>FREAKY</b> and thought she was just okay in <b>ANT-MAN & THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA</b>, but Newton really showcases her talent here. She’s always game for anything, using her big eyes and facial expressions to give a lot of depth to a character that could have just been a cliche. I would like to see her do more like this one in the future because she does have some nice comic timing.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cole Sprouse is also very good as the Creature. He has a harder role to pull off since he barely has any lines of dialogue and mainly has to give a physical performance to convey what the character is going through as he’s revived from the dead and starts to have a life again with Lisa. Sprouse and Newton have great chemistry despite the lack of dialogue, making you root for them within this strange and quirky world they live in.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The only other actors of any note are Liza Soberano and Carla Cugino. Soberano plays Lisa’s stepsister Taffy, a popular girl who could have been totally mean to the more introverted and less popular Lisa. Instead, Soberano plays Taffy as a bubbly delight with some great dialogue that fleshes out what should have been a one-note character on script. I think it was smart of Diablo Cody to make the popular girl not be a bitch to someone perceived to be on a lower level on the social chain, instead making Taffy a supportive and funny character you like just as much as Lisa. I think we’ll be seeing Soberano in more films in the future. As for Carla Cugino, she doesn’t really get enough time to really shine like one would expect. But she makes the most of her screen time, hamming it up and reciting some of the quirkiest dialogue I’ve heard in a long time. I could tell Cugino was enjoying the hell out of this role, making me wish she had more to do and had more interactions with Newton, who plays off of her really well as a foil. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>THE FINAL HOWL</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfQjYvzoRN8-yE5Ms5mjMI-Eda-QUYvbmGOHaan7vRxewRdNYRukQdwZPcQKM-xfD3dHqM_3i4BXMarPLGHYLNNr_8bk_xnvFmr1MYi_wJSxAlytiI08uYV66omTlAH-apl8DX9prxJH4ibEZdmWAZvDlHB288zH44zMCzFznXnCLtFoSNU3uVMs12q2D/s3921/lisafrankenstein-1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2205" data-original-width="3921" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfQjYvzoRN8-yE5Ms5mjMI-Eda-QUYvbmGOHaan7vRxewRdNYRukQdwZPcQKM-xfD3dHqM_3i4BXMarPLGHYLNNr_8bk_xnvFmr1MYi_wJSxAlytiI08uYV66omTlAH-apl8DX9prxJH4ibEZdmWAZvDlHB288zH44zMCzFznXnCLtFoSNU3uVMs12q2D/s320/lisafrankenstein-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br />LISA FRANKENSTEIN</b> is an amusing and fun horror rom-com that tries a bit too hard to be a future cult film in the making, sort of in the vein of <b>HEATHERS</b> or even <b>JENNIFER’S BODY</b>. Diablo Cody’s quirky and memorable dialogue elevates a story that slowly loses its way by the time the film hits its third act, thanks to an energetic cast who bring colorful characters to life. The uneven tone doesn’t help, as this movie is more of a zombie rom-com than an actual horror film - not completely succeeding at either one. In her film directorial debut, Zelda Williams shows promise for future projects with some cool visuals at times and a great use of lighting. The cast is what keeps <b>LISA FRANKENSTEIN </b>worth watching, with Kathryn Newton doing her best work as a shy high schooler who transforms into a goth princess once a wish she makes comes true. Her chemistry with Cole Sprouse, who does well with mainly a solid physical performance due to lack of dialogue, is great. Solid supporting performances by a bubbly Liza Soberano and a sassy Carla Cugino add substance to the quirky atmosphere. <b>LISA FRANKENSTEIN</b> didn’t bring me to life or anything, but it’s worth an eventual look if you’re in the mood for a horror rom-com buried in nostalgia.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>SCORE</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ZNWVRggKiC3b9ELUnaA1zK0W47qwTyx9eT4ubd1a1x9ls3hhe32PXVgG1e79e4GGz416uhZlXPa3qQklD7x72hmgxeGGl1PMj6oroa9qrJ_IEVGc0WG3rUm4fHWN_ti523RmheTxkbt3xP0ThiAbaNm4bm9HRaWLUCBIujlEptNE43O4rWVgy8blRlPs/s400/wolfscoretwonhalf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="400" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ZNWVRggKiC3b9ELUnaA1zK0W47qwTyx9eT4ubd1a1x9ls3hhe32PXVgG1e79e4GGz416uhZlXPa3qQklD7x72hmgxeGGl1PMj6oroa9qrJ_IEVGc0WG3rUm4fHWN_ti523RmheTxkbt3xP0ThiAbaNm4bm9HRaWLUCBIujlEptNE43O4rWVgy8blRlPs/s320/wolfscoretwonhalf.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">2.5 Howls Outta 4</b></div></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>(</b><i>6 out of 10</i><b>)</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bvI3F95w8ns?si=2-CY1lS9UBXJ32oQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p></span>Fred [The Wolf]http://www.blogger.com/profile/03208803636786210066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717349721694216715.post-80797773313556555492024-02-04T18:12:00.004-05:002024-02-04T18:13:10.645-05:00Night Swim (2024)<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-6b0b674c-7fff-37ab-6204-ee18badcb56f"><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMvmLld6_3-GHmF32NC8_YtG85386SeMKvlz2HI88XQKOOAU-lFzHg2V_ZE_4Mb09JE3OGGCxMBPiRDROgnLpCPAa_vgW5BOZsbEBy9LvhOYCx0aJrTCP1OnBDXHJw8IKiSzFXWMtwkFAH19MpOvUvvoUS-viCB3TV-Ew8Kg7U8O6em_p3-lxjanK9QK8/s755/006%20night_swim.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="477" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMvmLld6_3-GHmF32NC8_YtG85386SeMKvlz2HI88XQKOOAU-lFzHg2V_ZE_4Mb09JE3OGGCxMBPiRDROgnLpCPAa_vgW5BOZsbEBy9LvhOYCx0aJrTCP1OnBDXHJw8IKiSzFXWMtwkFAH19MpOvUvvoUS-viCB3TV-Ew8Kg7U8O6em_p3-lxjanK9QK8/w253-h400/006%20night_swim.jpg" width="253" /></a></div>DIRECTED BY</u></b></span></div><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Bryce McGuire</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>STARRING</u></b></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Wyatt Russell - Ray Waller</i></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Kerry Condon - Eve Waller</i></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Amelie Hoefele - Izzy Waller</i></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Gavin Warren - Elliot Waller</i></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Jodi Long - Lucy Summers</i></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Nancy Lenehan - Kay</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre -</b> <i>Horror/Supernatural</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time -</b> <i>98 Minutes</i></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>PLOT</u></b></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Forced into early retirement by a degenerative illness, former baseball player Ray Waller moves into a new house with his wife and two children. He hopes that the backyard swimming pool will be fun for the kids and provide physical therapy for himself. However, a dark secret from the home’s past soon unleashes a malevolent force that drags the family into the depths of inescapable terror.</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFmVBGZTDJc80XshV6UqkJkpB3naqbPe5azabGSD12pJJdyOEaglvjHrUpRlOPolVpfB8P_JTJsjhl5nI-KHgcsgJlxiK8uCssQqbzmqciPflZ1dV5Cu37rio-Z7k2i3_J2cGxL0B32eawYMrf3HzzuHjelfoM6wxjZ9xnUNGhvaoce3p6lbA2E-St8-c/s1200/nightswim-1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="1200" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFmVBGZTDJc80XshV6UqkJkpB3naqbPe5azabGSD12pJJdyOEaglvjHrUpRlOPolVpfB8P_JTJsjhl5nI-KHgcsgJlxiK8uCssQqbzmqciPflZ1dV5Cu37rio-Z7k2i3_J2cGxL0B32eawYMrf3HzzuHjelfoM6wxjZ9xnUNGhvaoce3p6lbA2E-St8-c/s320/nightswim-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />The last couple of years started off pretty strong, with 2022’s <b>SCREAM</b> and 2023’s <b>M3GAN</b> pretty much setting the horror genre on a good pace for the rest of those respective years. While the trailers for Blumhouse’s <b>NIGHT SWIM</b> didn’t exactly excite me in any sort of way, I was hoping for a decent enough time that would give me some hope for some killer horror movies for 2024.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It took me a while to pin down my thoughts for <b>NIGHT SWIM</b> because I honestly don’t have anything to really discuss about this bland film that left me more underwhelmed than I was expecting it to. Going in, I was expecting something similar to 1977’s <b>DEATH BED: THE BED THAT EATS</b>. The only difference is that it would be a swimming pool eating and/or killing people in a fun B-movie way. I wasn’t expecting a lamer version of <b>THE AMITYVILLE HORROR</b> with less murder, unearned insanity and a resolution that had people in my theater laughing their heads off. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">To get the good stuff out of the way, I thought the film looked nice with some cool shots here and there. The actors were giving more than what the screenplay deserved honestly, Wyatt Russell and Kerry Condon, in particular, deserve better material but are sympathetic as parents who are struggling for different reasons. The two younger actors (Amelie Hoefele and Gavin Warren) are likable as well. And I think the concept of a supernatural pool that grants one’s desires while demanding a violent sacrifice is super interesting.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">However, the execution is weak and it creates a pretty dull film that contains elements of other horror movies that have executed these elements way better. There’s an investigation of this supernatural pool that doesn’t explore things enough, considering all the sacrifices that inhabit the pool. I guess you need a reason for a prequel or sequels since everything has to be a franchise/universe. The father of the family gets possessed like in <b>THE AMITYVILLE HORROR</b>, but it happens way too late into the film and not much is done with it until the very end. The change is all surface level and we don’t really get much depth, which <b>NIGHT SWIM</b> seriously lacks. And the worst part? It’s not scary or suspenseful at all. In fact, I chuckled when I saw the first CGI figure that appears in the pool to scare one of the characters. I doubt that’s the reaction the filmmakers wanted.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>THE FINAL HOWL</u></b></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEindO9Vghp5UCAhulI59L7_vgt9giaowAzOgf_RshQifZaTjwcHA_t6bnXX2eDPnSR2kH5PKMF93jAuPyzbxy5z5A7cbn-CGW2YpVao99L9DEp6HyJANm2vtIoa7gESPrAI35cQQI_0If38rRtZGCEj7Bf-yQqQxLn2ZE-zRnJNK-E1BNWJQGT-R7H2E4_p/s1200/nightswim-2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="1200" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEindO9Vghp5UCAhulI59L7_vgt9giaowAzOgf_RshQifZaTjwcHA_t6bnXX2eDPnSR2kH5PKMF93jAuPyzbxy5z5A7cbn-CGW2YpVao99L9DEp6HyJANm2vtIoa7gESPrAI35cQQI_0If38rRtZGCEj7Bf-yQqQxLn2ZE-zRnJNK-E1BNWJQGT-R7H2E4_p/s320/nightswim-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br />NIGHT SWIM</b> has a great idea that could have been explored in many interesting ways, but just decides to play it safe and give audiences something they’ve already seen countless of times. I’m sure it worked as a short film and this could have been pretty cool as a miniseries on Peacock to flesh out characters and ideas. But it seriously fell flat for me and I will probably never watch this again. Not worth dipping your feet into, in my opinion.</span></span><p></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>SCORE</b></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdJ510V5zsBk_VjZcAesx75VnwJGu4NCdA55SGwY2w5YIRT0ElakVoLQM0Qcpjkj8qSSimcNJEIhTf0MD4nVT9hVZBwrpWvAHrTjRFn3J2Ig9yqeehDHNKAUSp95-XFhNKJaVeXqYSSgFUUEvYdNcp-8TFJLc7WvDYOBwkIOgBB-DixrZONeIX1K1jF7b/s400/wolfscoreonenhalf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="400" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdJ510V5zsBk_VjZcAesx75VnwJGu4NCdA55SGwY2w5YIRT0ElakVoLQM0Qcpjkj8qSSimcNJEIhTf0MD4nVT9hVZBwrpWvAHrTjRFn3J2Ig9yqeehDHNKAUSp95-XFhNKJaVeXqYSSgFUUEvYdNcp-8TFJLc7WvDYOBwkIOgBB-DixrZONeIX1K1jF7b/s320/wolfscoreonenhalf.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">1.5 Howls Outta 4</b></div></span><p></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>(</b><i>4 out of 10</i><b>)</b></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PhlLO3Nb3sY?si=0rloZ8UOLszc1uN1" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span></div>Fred [The Wolf]http://www.blogger.com/profile/03208803636786210066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717349721694216715.post-19663561225539003612024-01-01T18:50:00.000-05:002024-01-01T18:50:07.475-05:00Lunar Cycle - December 2023<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-272eb1bc-7fff-3117-5cba-7fe904d9885c" style="font-family: trebuchet;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7hKIM8T11caIVxd_Ruebs3GiZMUZWmiQbrWKTjfz_QqAzf1OEy88GxUOO4FsiCremheJ9bIxNJtTaCWaVhyRNI_aRcN-tyHDDOQi06VZScjz5wvbOIq_Ldu4f_GR00Sk2TGcX-iMCkoqTipqnym484v3ucvEvkRLRzyRXUGXmCjgEL-0HvnS1qeHyQ/s616/lunar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="616" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7hKIM8T11caIVxd_Ruebs3GiZMUZWmiQbrWKTjfz_QqAzf1OEy88GxUOO4FsiCremheJ9bIxNJtTaCWaVhyRNI_aRcN-tyHDDOQi06VZScjz5wvbOIq_Ldu4f_GR00Sk2TGcX-iMCkoqTipqnym484v3ucvEvkRLRzyRXUGXmCjgEL-0HvnS1qeHyQ/w400-h98/lunar.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></span></div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span></span><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Since I don’t have as much time to write longer reviews than I used to, I figured I would just post shorter reviews for horror/cult films that I feel deserve your attention.</i></span></span><br /><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWVQ0SuyyiU85S-U7FJLzmb12JnE7HaT5fL2ABmUqx4ORhCZCefcqPSJWFe61YLRaTsZBSiHxZ3o-smDD3Vw6pZOfSo4oCbTwG3vmObFi7zvUtxu1XQLYWpRmB0gmDZ5epy3049tdiX2QLgOiBpGGFnAtypnAEieErB-B5Rrmou-ZEnQlkRR00kG0beVm/s755/418%20godzilla_minus_one.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="539" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWVQ0SuyyiU85S-U7FJLzmb12JnE7HaT5fL2ABmUqx4ORhCZCefcqPSJWFe61YLRaTsZBSiHxZ3o-smDD3Vw6pZOfSo4oCbTwG3vmObFi7zvUtxu1XQLYWpRmB0gmDZ5epy3049tdiX2QLgOiBpGGFnAtypnAEieErB-B5Rrmou-ZEnQlkRR00kG0beVm/s320/418%20godzilla_minus_one.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>Directed By:</b> <i>Takashi Yamazaki</i></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Ryunosuke Kamiki, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Minami Hamabe, Kuranosuke Sasaki, Yuki Yamada, Saki Nakatani </i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-1829901d-7fff-1feb-b4af-28ec150ab675"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Drama/Science Fiction/Action</i></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>125 Minutes</i></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Score:</b> <i>4 Howls Outta 4</i> (<b>10 out of 10</b>)</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>PLOT:</b> <i>In postwar Japan, a new terror rises. Will the devastated people be able to survive… let alone fight back?</i></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuNmxtNVvs6w5GMOtPCvf4nKRYLdX-pNk44F5E5XLuTrhU0PzNT_llVK5BhKNr1HE5aIrxr0HCELaTBBmc4o8OamaItrz0-NMq4nqZ2o9HLWedL3RchT4sjdl2NOIZN_J6Knh-Qc71VyzwtxUWp8KGlNCpHJo0vjdYyaZT9j5hbSHv3RNTF3lHhyphenhyphendQGbV/s640/godzillaminusone.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuNmxtNVvs6w5GMOtPCvf4nKRYLdX-pNk44F5E5XLuTrhU0PzNT_llVK5BhKNr1HE5aIrxr0HCELaTBBmc4o8OamaItrz0-NMq4nqZ2o9HLWedL3RchT4sjdl2NOIZN_J6Knh-Qc71VyzwtxUWp8KGlNCpHJo0vjdYyaZT9j5hbSHv3RNTF3lHhyphenhyphendQGbV/w400-h225/godzillaminusone.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>REVIEW:</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>GODZILLA MINUS ONE</b> may be the surprise film of 2023 for me. I had never planned to watch this new installment of Toho’s iconic monster in theaters, but friends kept mentioning it and decided to watch it on opening night on a whim. While I expected awesome monster action and cities getting destroyed by a giant lizard, I didn’t expect an actual human story that not only is emotional, but made me forget that I was watching a <b>GODZILLA</b> movie at times.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The entire cast, especially Ryunosuke Kamiki as former kamikaze pilot Koichi, is incredible in <b>MINUS ONE</b>. Kamiki, in particular, juggles a lot of emotional beats as a soldier who struggles with deserting his country at the end of World War II. Things get worse when Godzilla shows up and murders a bunch of mechanics on an island Koichi lands on, guilt building when he had a chance to save them all but is too scared to confront the monster face-to-face. We watch Kamiki play Koichi as a man struggling with PTSD - distancing himself from a woman he meets [<i>who also has a child she’s taking care of due to the death of the child’s parents during the war</i>] and feeling like a ghost in a devastated post-war Japan. When Godzilla shows back up and sees the damage the creature causes in front of him multiple times, he knows he has to confront his literal monster even if he has to off himself to do it.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The story is so well-written, well-paced and gives so many character arcs to multiple characters that we actually care about their encounters with Godzilla, hoping they find a way to stop the monster. Godzilla, playing a role closer to his original incarnation from 1954, is a complete villain here, destroying everything in its path and coming across as entirely unstoppable. This is a Godzilla who doesn’t care who or what it is destroying, as long as he gets to unleash its devastation as many times as possible.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Director Takashi Yamazaki takes a $15 million budget and makes <b>MINUS ONE</b> look better than most Hollywood blockbusters have looked in the last few years. And these films have budgets that are ten to fifteen times as much as <b>MINUS ONE</b>. Yamazaki lets the human story simmer and plays it all seriously, letting things build up towards the film’s exciting final act while twists and turns happen when you least expect it. The action sequences are thrilling and look phenomenal for the film’s budget. Godzilla, in particular, looks awesome - especially when he’s building up that atomic heat ray that destroys whatever is in its path. The pacing is so damn good and I loved the homage to <b>JAWS</b> anytime Godzilla swam underneath ships that were searching for it. The use of the original <b>GODZILLA</b> theme also made me giddy and was used at appropriate times. I hear Yamazaki wants to direct a <b>STAR WARS</b> film and I would be down to see what he does with that property with a much larger budget.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Seriously, <b>GODZILLA MINUS ONE</b> is not only one of the best installments in this multi-decade franchise, but it may just be the best installment of them all. It clicks in every way and checks every box that I would ever want in a <b>GODZILLA</b> film. I’m super happy word-of-mouth on social media has helped the film continue its success in America because this movie deserves it. One of the best films of 2023.</span></p><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VvSrHIX5a-0?si=1bTK0NRWrEE9Q_4x" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtVMVTLA55apOb_-qGN50htGCwRLU0HhBS06iFbJVJR0Nf05-MPwIrdDBY9ZJRQYY8uuK9gzaXviWzemIct5tu1rStt3Oua22tRWxKUmBTQL035uHLkQRk55qZjd7KM3gsYM0wOArIS4qHY8at4TntyPYFCyn4cwPGpAzKv_MoMh6jLvDnPFxYN3ODzpe/s755/423%20winniethepooh_blood_and_honey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="534" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtVMVTLA55apOb_-qGN50htGCwRLU0HhBS06iFbJVJR0Nf05-MPwIrdDBY9ZJRQYY8uuK9gzaXviWzemIct5tu1rStt3Oua22tRWxKUmBTQL035uHLkQRk55qZjd7KM3gsYM0wOArIS4qHY8at4TntyPYFCyn4cwPGpAzKv_MoMh6jLvDnPFxYN3ODzpe/s320/423%20winniethepooh_blood_and_honey.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>Directed By:</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Rhys Frake-Waterfield </i></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-bb126aa7-7fff-960c-4269-10584a651b66" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Starring:</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Craig David Dowsett, Chris Cordell, Amber Doig-Thorne, Nikolai Leon, Maria Taylor, Natasha Rose Mills, Danielle Ronald</i></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Genre: </b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Horror/Slasher </i></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Running Time:</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>84 Minutes</i></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Score:</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>0.5 Howls Outta 4</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>2 out of 10</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>PLOT:</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Christopher Robin is headed off to college and he has abandoned his old friends, Pooh and Piglet, which then leads to the duo embracing their inner monsters. </i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHfzvNCBnCeIp8IPIl1UmmddcFts1GI1pTAyfduOJgk2Cn_4hvnjLaO5h7pvxEo_GZyLndsl_QeYk7jdm0KQoyZflGfQOU5BEeVBThSWjqqJy_ENVsBbjpMweKoIz9XLAEtsRD5wWpeO6RbhAyKphrMbPrXxNk1dNb4O4D2xPnjV6zZaEcuBozKOc0ero/s1200/winnie-the-pooh-horror-blood-and-honey.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHfzvNCBnCeIp8IPIl1UmmddcFts1GI1pTAyfduOJgk2Cn_4hvnjLaO5h7pvxEo_GZyLndsl_QeYk7jdm0KQoyZflGfQOU5BEeVBThSWjqqJy_ENVsBbjpMweKoIz9XLAEtsRD5wWpeO6RbhAyKphrMbPrXxNk1dNb4O4D2xPnjV6zZaEcuBozKOc0ero/w400-h225/winnie-the-pooh-horror-blood-and-honey.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>REVIEW:</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So apparently while Disney owns the rights to the Winnie the Pooh characters when it comes to their own franchise within the studio, the original </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>Winnie-the-Pooh</u></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> book from 1926 had its rights go to public domain for the first time in decades. This allowed filmmaker Rhys Frake-Waterfield the opportunity to write, direct, produce and edit a slasher film called </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>WINNIE-THE-POOH: BLOOD & HONEY</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, starring these classic characters to the surprise and anger of many. And I totally understand the fan reaction to this because I’m surprised I watched this in one entire sitting and I’m angry I wasted 80 minutes of my life giving this a shot.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I mean, the concept for this movie is actually quite good. Christopher Robin befriends the Winnie-the-Pooh characters throughout his young life, leading to the characters to be emotionally attached to their human friend. But once he grows old enough for college and decides to leave them for a higher education and pursue his adult life without them, the characters grow bitter and resentful enough to want revenge on Robin and other humans who enter 100 Acre Woods. That sounds like a cool horror movie!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Too bad this only works for the first ten minutes of the movie, leaving 74 minutes of Pooh and Piglet stalking bland and annoying female characters who do the most dumb things I’ve seen characters do in a horror film in a very long time. It almost borders on misogynistic, as Pooh and Piglet have no issues targeting young women for slaughter but aren’t as brutal on the male characters that show up. It doesn’t help that these female characters are way too ignorant or lack any common sense for any audience to care about them in any sort of meaningful way other than to watch classic characters eliminate them. I mean, sure you can talk to hostages for five straight minutes in Pooh’s lair. It would be smarter to free them and have them explain things once you’re safe enough from danger, but what do I know right? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Other than a cool idea, an amusing pre-credits sequence and decent gore sequences, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>WINNIE-THE-POOH: BLOOD & HONEY</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> has nothing else to offer. The direction isn’t all that impressive. The acting is not good. The costumes look alright I guess, but doesn’t save the film from being terrible. I’m sure some will laugh at how stupid and bad this film is [especially if you’re under the influence of certain substances]. But I think most will just be frustrated by the end of this film, wishing death on everyone on screen. This honestly may be the worst film I’ve watched that was released in 2023. I’m actually sad this is getting a sequel because that means I’ll probably have to watch it for a review. And I thought Eeyore had a depressing life. </span></p><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W3E74j_xFtg?si=xqk1iTYcB8bBpwCt" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvp69lO_945cnJlZIfwThZswiip-PmuZwoqKjuAb3exbk7S2QNDFCLWnVIW-Fg_ohz5157Q74Wi5DTpcpIt99zdBzr1_LMyQoRBWP1IqACQg1K5Dnq9v3cEUH9sadiFa7_klQb9MOfl-qyZiWIsDftiGMZlItA7udy2EEwgnT9_UH4i3jZD_Xo5JFf5Hn/s755/444%20its_a_wonderful_knife_ver2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="513" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvp69lO_945cnJlZIfwThZswiip-PmuZwoqKjuAb3exbk7S2QNDFCLWnVIW-Fg_ohz5157Q74Wi5DTpcpIt99zdBzr1_LMyQoRBWP1IqACQg1K5Dnq9v3cEUH9sadiFa7_klQb9MOfl-qyZiWIsDftiGMZlItA7udy2EEwgnT9_UH4i3jZD_Xo5JFf5Hn/s320/444%20its_a_wonderful_knife_ver2.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>Directed By:</b> <i>Tyler MacIntyre </i></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">
</span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Jane Widdop, Joel McHale, Justin Long, Jess McLeod, Katharine Isabelle</i></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">
</span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Genre: </b><i>Horror/Thriller/Comedy/Slasher</i></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">
</span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>87 Minutes</i></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">
</span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Score:</b> <i>2 Howls Outta 4</i> (<b>5 out of 10</b>)</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">
</span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>PLOT:</b> <i>Winnie’s life is less than wonderful one year after saving her town from a psychotic killer on Christmas Eve. When she wishes she was never born, she finds herself magically transported to a nightmarish parallel universe. With the murderous maniac now back, she must team up with a misfit to identify the culprit and get back to her own reality. </i></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0nln9fqIEtZEiOp8EZhytfoI6dLDsjPvMZyNVuQgO3b9FjKq7F8XX5etRnXFtaeVV-p_eIAyqdsGBox9Qe8ZjTUI7JF1lnicJwMjwBxw0prjtUkadLcq_KQW-ckTwVeApkhLh53bN-G12wEHSqRqv7-PfmUNXFqY97XGCVF0DcImvrVS7OjnzDq54_1P/s1430/itsawonderfulknife.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="806" data-original-width="1430" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0nln9fqIEtZEiOp8EZhytfoI6dLDsjPvMZyNVuQgO3b9FjKq7F8XX5etRnXFtaeVV-p_eIAyqdsGBox9Qe8ZjTUI7JF1lnicJwMjwBxw0prjtUkadLcq_KQW-ckTwVeApkhLh53bN-G12wEHSqRqv7-PfmUNXFqY97XGCVF0DcImvrVS7OjnzDq54_1P/w400-h225/itsawonderfulknife.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>REVIEW:</b><br /></span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">A horror take on the 1946 </span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Frank Capra holiday classic </span><b style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE</b><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> [</span><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">with some elements of 1983’s <b>A CHRISTMAS STORY</b> implemented</i><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">], I was expecting a scary version of a familiar story. Considering it was written by a co-writer of 2020’s <b>FREAKY</b> and riding the wave of time-traveling horror films like 2017’s <b>HAPPY DEATH DAY</b> and 2023’s <b>TOTALLY KILLER</b>, it should have been mostly a slam dunk. Unfortunately, <b>IT’S A WONDERFUL KNIFE</b> is just a mediocre slasher film that has a really cool concept but doesn’t bother to execute it to its fullest potential.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">
</span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">The first act is the best part of this film, as it gets into the plot right away and reveals things that will be important once the time changes for the rest of the film. And while seeing a different timeline is cool at times in <b>IT’S A WONDERFUL KNIFE</b>, not enough time is given to really flesh out the major changes that the Final Girl Winnie has to deal with in order to get her back to her original timeline. While relationships are different and the mystery of the killer gets a bit more complex, things just happen because they need to in order for the story to move forward towards its conclusion. There’s no real tension, suspense or drama that’s brought out from these changes, making one wonder why even bother using this concept to begin with. The final act also feels way too convenient and easy for the main characters to achieve that Hollywood ending, which is a shame.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">
</span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">While some shots are cool looking, mainly due to lighting and framing, Tyler MacIntyre and his team didn’t really wow me with their visual presentation. It does what it needs to do to get from Point A to Point B. The actors are probably the highlight here, especially Justin Long as this greedy narcissistic Mayor and Joel McHale playing a serious role that actually works for the most part. It’s also nice to see Katharine Isabelle doing her thing, while Jane Widdop does what she can with the material. I would like to see her in a better project.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">
</span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">I really wanted this to be an annual holiday tradition, but I honestly can’t see myself willingly watching this again unless it was to show friends or for a podcast for whatever reason. While it’s definitely better to just stick with <b>IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE</b>, there’s nothing wrong with more holiday horror. So if you’re curious, check it out. I just hope you don’t wish that you were watching a better film like I did.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yLdAYrG0xo0?si=18BWUJyyZf5QHbbh" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-93dce925-7fff-2715-b74f-da261a402642"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX84NS6pUeTP15HLbEWSZ4J3sOz5qxyEZpvfEauedIuqo882iwJu1C-SaTGUsH-ETssmH4R4Li9iR2DUeCut4rT5Kt5BKNpNmY8ReauwqsJ01OMDe5RMdzwHNhZ1kVEyL3IMPrXA5xVjN4MKZt9PZT1qwcXslkNVtytsIkhoKFD70EHsvA4uqiJQE9ruvC/s755/445%20sacrifice_game.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="510" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX84NS6pUeTP15HLbEWSZ4J3sOz5qxyEZpvfEauedIuqo882iwJu1C-SaTGUsH-ETssmH4R4Li9iR2DUeCut4rT5Kt5BKNpNmY8ReauwqsJ01OMDe5RMdzwHNhZ1kVEyL3IMPrXA5xVjN4MKZt9PZT1qwcXslkNVtytsIkhoKFD70EHsvA4uqiJQE9ruvC/s320/445%20sacrifice_game.jpg" width="216" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>Jenn Wexler</i></span><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Georgia Acken, Mena Massoud, Olivia Scott Welch, Gus Kenworthy, Chloe Levine, Derek Johns, Laurent Pitre, Madison Baines </i></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Genre: </b><i>Horror/Thriller/Supernatural/Demons</i></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Running Time: </b><i>99 Minutes</i></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Score:</b> <i>3 Howls Outta 4</i> (<b>7 out of 10</b>)</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>PLOT:</b> <i>Christmas break, 1971. Samantha and Clara, two students who are staying behind for the holidays at their boarding school, must survive the night after the arrival of uninvited visitors.</i></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-6jGUU3q3Iht9-ejhjvuNdU7eqzXQLK9KuIvSHLeKmK7jE_PWZGMmdfYhraG8O-GMdKPcZZjVjUa6K33Frn4UTOSGGG_i3fgjCcTkjCmcjLyhhRVJA2pGlrTtohkwwEXyYLbdGNdBG7bo1fkX-DEHsq8wPpu4hTF2pmP6pVWegsiM0emcuCEyCRGejcA/s1920/TheSacrificeGame_Still_3__1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-6jGUU3q3Iht9-ejhjvuNdU7eqzXQLK9KuIvSHLeKmK7jE_PWZGMmdfYhraG8O-GMdKPcZZjVjUa6K33Frn4UTOSGGG_i3fgjCcTkjCmcjLyhhRVJA2pGlrTtohkwwEXyYLbdGNdBG7bo1fkX-DEHsq8wPpu4hTF2pmP6pVWegsiM0emcuCEyCRGejcA/w400-h225/TheSacrificeGame_Still_3__1_.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>REVIEW:</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Did any of you watch this year’s <b>THE HOLDOVERS</b> and wish it had a more horror slant involving a group of serial killers murdering people in order to summon a demon during the holidays? Well if you did, <b>THE SACRIFICE GAME</b> is definitely your jam. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I didn’t know what to expect out of this, even though the trailer was intriguing. But a lot of this film worked for me, both visually and narratively. Jenn Wexler was smart in using a 70s vibe, a time where Satanic Panic was at its peak. It added an old school horror feel to <b>THE SACRIFICE GAME</b> that added a bit of atmosphere to film that mainly takes place indoors the entire time. I also thought the horror elements were used sparingly well, with the special effects looking very good. The final act isn’t shy about showing blood and gore, which was a nice change of pace from the more quiet and talky first two acts. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The story is also pretty simple, as a group of people are going from home to home killing people to collect blood in order to summon a demon that’s trapped inside of a boarding school. It plays straightforward for the first half of the film, until the twists begin that make the movie a lot of fun to watch. It’s tough to discuss the last half without spoiling stuff, but I like how misunderstandings and not doing enough research can get some really stupid and greedy people in trouble.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The acting is hit-and-miss, with some actors really hamming it up with some interesting line readings that amused me more than get me invested in their character arcs. Mena Massoud, the live-action star of 2019’s <b>ALADDIN</b>, really twirls that proverbial mustache as the film’s lead villain, chewing up scenery any chance he gets. It works in some instances and it’s really distracting during others. But at least Massoud is having fun. I thought the two younger actresses, Georgia Acken and Madison Baines, were very good - especially Acken since she’s given more to do. Gus Kenworthy doesn’t get a whole lot to do, but he’s a recognizable name that will interest some viewers. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">While the holidays are over, I still recommend this one if you have Shudder. I think it has enough interesting twists and good enough acting to earn a recommendation for anyone looking for a recent Christmas horror flick.</span></p><div><br /></div></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FgUtPsloNxs?si=5vQvszc-HrxMkLwy" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div>Fred [The Wolf]http://www.blogger.com/profile/03208803636786210066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717349721694216715.post-10713747713730110502023-11-23T01:10:00.007-05:002023-11-23T01:11:51.231-05:00Thanksgiving (2023)<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-765a61ef-7fff-37dd-a2d1-602aed279452"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u></u></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQmOInPj4Z6yhr3BneNCn7psUn0eJJsRAcDsh57nFOalGbxhMrsDfLF2xx2QXJbo93kagygqjtFzCz2NkOK-witKixQIvkZQsVpjq7IrisCVezCQB6cl7DO_RFFtqBD0JA87NhLKa3ODyyQ1-d92zON4PfBfPyXggrKhqz3hpiVUieLwmjudLfyciHsmQ/s755/408%20thanksgiving.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="509" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQmOInPj4Z6yhr3BneNCn7psUn0eJJsRAcDsh57nFOalGbxhMrsDfLF2xx2QXJbo93kagygqjtFzCz2NkOK-witKixQIvkZQsVpjq7IrisCVezCQB6cl7DO_RFFtqBD0JA87NhLKa3ODyyQ1-d92zON4PfBfPyXggrKhqz3hpiVUieLwmjudLfyciHsmQ/w270-h400/408%20thanksgiving.jpg" width="270" /></a></u></b></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>DIRECTED BY</u></b></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Eli Roth</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>STARRING</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Patrick Dempsey - Sheriff Eric Newton</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Nell Verlaque - Jessica Wright</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Addison Rae - Gabby</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Jalen Thomas Brooks - Bobby</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Milo Manheim - Ryan</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Rick Hoffman - Thomas Wright</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Gina Gershon - Amanda Collins</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Tomaso Sanelli - Evan</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Gabriel Davenport - Scuba</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Jenna Warren - Yulia</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Karen Cliche - Kathleen</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Ty Olsson - Mitch Collins</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre -</b> <i>Horror/Slasher</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time -</b> <i>106 Minutes</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>PLOT</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>An axe-wielding maniac terrorizes residents of Plymouth, Mass., after a Black Friday riot ends in tragedy. Picking off victims one by one, the seemingly random revenge killings soon become part of a larger, sinister plan.</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZcKwTJUo7CrH-LolxR8R7mYt-Cqd3XoTbC3d-7YI2kuHaKwIDhwnfGSfcHlRQjMgT5zpmEBP2vx72C2aFyewo9D94ziYVbw-yRNWnnfws8rOta9ccKcbsKMvbQLfxMfkKclLhvWYzEQO4JSMSSRlqU7v2FzpMEHp3SPjm09OeYoDGhssJTHK1j7Lylwn/s1200/thanksgivingmovie-1.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1200" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZcKwTJUo7CrH-LolxR8R7mYt-Cqd3XoTbC3d-7YI2kuHaKwIDhwnfGSfcHlRQjMgT5zpmEBP2vx72C2aFyewo9D94ziYVbw-yRNWnnfws8rOta9ccKcbsKMvbQLfxMfkKclLhvWYzEQO4JSMSSRlqU7v2FzpMEHp3SPjm09OeYoDGhssJTHK1j7Lylwn/s320/thanksgivingmovie-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Back in 2007, Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino released a double-feature called <b>GRINDHOUSE</b> - an unfortunate box-office miss but a huge cult classic that showcased Rodriguez’s <b>PLANET TERROR</b> and Tarantino’s <b>DEATH PROOF</b>, as well as fake trailers that ended up being discussion points all their own. Probably the most popular trailer was for Eli Roth’s <b>THANKSGIVING</b>, a homage to old school slashers focused around popular holidays. It gained enough buzz that Roth teased it would become an actual film.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For a while, hope for a <b>THANKSGIVING</b> movie lost traction as Eli Roth was more focused on other projects either as a director, actor or producer. But soon enough, Roth confirmed it was happening and we started getting photos and footage of the production. So after 16 years, <b>THANKSGIVING</b> was finally released in time for the actual holiday. But was it worth the wait or a total disappointment?</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I can happily say that not only is <b>THANKSGIVING</b> worth the wait and a very cool slasher movie, but it’s also one of Eli Roth’s best films - at least his best one since probably <b>CABIN FEVER</b>. <b>THANKSGIVING</b> is a slasher that knows what it is, playing as a old-school whodunit slasher rather than your modern self-aware slasher film like <b>SCREAM</b>. And honestly, that’s actually refreshing in this modern horror scene. I was happy to see archetypal characters hitting those expected tropes, with a nice bit of depth to each of them as well. Add in a mystery to our Killer Pilgrim and we got ourselves a fun, little slasher flick here.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Qdqxm0TPcJGS-NuyTaPbuhhNizsCZST1IanWxYMspYYDnko-j3d9lJXKMICLSjxIEpSoSgO4Z1jCHnLwPqIqmfNre2KtH6SGiEuh_iUVlIsi2CXsUG-AJpUAzWhy6t8VWzSRButfomSNjYlSJiXdthhCb5fSvWKEwgaP4PDCyYfz0TH4wTW_mPWsDmkR/s1268/thanksgivingmovie-2.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="1268" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Qdqxm0TPcJGS-NuyTaPbuhhNizsCZST1IanWxYMspYYDnko-j3d9lJXKMICLSjxIEpSoSgO4Z1jCHnLwPqIqmfNre2KtH6SGiEuh_iUVlIsi2CXsUG-AJpUAzWhy6t8VWzSRButfomSNjYlSJiXdthhCb5fSvWKEwgaP4PDCyYfz0TH4wTW_mPWsDmkR/s320/thanksgivingmovie-2.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />I appreciated the simplicity of the story, as it’s your typical revenge slasher film where the mysterious killer is targeting the protagonists due to being part of a sin, or crime, that the killer feels must be dealt with. In <b>THANKSGIVING</b>, the first ten or fifteen minutes involves a Black Friday event gone really wrong, as frustrated customers rush into a store for a free waffle iron while pushing, attacking, trampling and killing random people inside the store. One of the victims is a close friend of the killer, causing them to want vengeance on a bunch of teenagers who snuck into the store [<i>the Final Girl’s dad owns the establishment</i>].</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Unfortunately, I figured out the killer’s identity right when the inciting incident happened. But the film does play it smart in making a few of the characters red herrings. The Final Girl Jessica has two love interests - one who was injured during the Black Friday incident and disappeared for a while before returning, and another who has money and looks down at some of her friends - both who have motive. The former manager of the store makes it known he wants to take the corporation down, especially since his wife was murdered during Black Friday. We have the owner of the store [<i>Jessica’s dad</i>] and his greedy new wife. We have the Sheriff of the town who was there. We also have an A-hole jock and his more heroic A-hole jock friend. There’s also a new Deputy who doesn’t mind wearing the Pilgrim mask from time to time. The characters have enough depth beyond their archetypes to give each one of them reason to want revenge on what happened. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And the film plays out like an old school slasher should. We have characters acting stupid and doing dumb things that get them into trouble. We have characters who seem villainous who are actually misunderstood. We have characters who seem heroic but are just hiding secrets that relate to the Black Friday fiasco. There are side characters who are just there to increase the body count. And there are some great murder sequences - including someone getting baked inside a giant oven, impaled through the head, sliced in half by a dumpster and even fire. Some of the kills from the original 2007 trailer do make it in, like the Thanksgiving Parade decapitation. The trampoline scene is here, but it’s done differently and not as impactful. And no human turkeys get sexually assaulted, as times have changed since 2007. I do wish the double decapitation bit from the trailer was included though, as that was some of the funniest stuff in the trailer. But this version of <b>THANKSGIVING</b> plays things more seriously, so I can understand why it’s not included.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOJ4xqz_cYF1KmPfbduAikVdquJ_0bfftia_HTScLmlN-j5FQ7UWVMAOwPFz_0y5cybqPjWspWw4R2XO_OusXcDr6SbDTXkXhcvIj9tpwnTnpFHkWiZ5KQ0Nh4Gc0PdvUZM0rsuAAsw6K30z6oyX68-bigp9KIVGDC2UbhxOBFMpNBBQKSg1Dji99ROtV/s1920/thanksgivingmovie-4.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1920" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOJ4xqz_cYF1KmPfbduAikVdquJ_0bfftia_HTScLmlN-j5FQ7UWVMAOwPFz_0y5cybqPjWspWw4R2XO_OusXcDr6SbDTXkXhcvIj9tpwnTnpFHkWiZ5KQ0Nh4Gc0PdvUZM0rsuAAsw6K30z6oyX68-bigp9KIVGDC2UbhxOBFMpNBBQKSg1Dji99ROtV/s320/thanksgivingmovie-4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />To say that <b>THANKSGIVING</b> is Eli Roth’s best looking and most polished film is an understatement. There’s a confidence here, as Roth probably had this film playing in his head for almost two decades, knowing exactly what shots he was gonna do and how he was going to visually play the story out. The gore looks great. The flow is pretty much exceptional. There’s actual tension and suspense. And when humor is used, it’s actually pretty funny. Roth also uses locations well, making them characters of their own. And as you watch, it’s obvious he was inspired by other slasher films. The opening is a take on the opening scene of the original <b>HALLOWEEN</b>. The Thanksgiving Parade is straight out of 1997’s <b>I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER</b>. There’s a Thanksgiving dinner scene that’s obviously a homage to 1981’s <b>HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME</b>. And we have a love angle that seems to be inspired by 1981’s<b> MY BLOODY VALENTINE</b>. Just really cool how Roth incorporated all of this to make a fun throwback slasher.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The cast is good as well. Nell Verlaque is solid as Jessica, the Final Girl who is smart and aware of bad things when they happen. Verlaque is sympathetic and likable. Patrick Dempsey returns to horror as Sheriff Newton, portraying a convincing authority figure who sometimes seems over his head when it comes to the slashings. Jalen Thomas Brooks is good as Bobby, Jessica’s returning ex-boyfriend. While he comes across as reliable and likable, some of Brooks’ actions for his character make you question his true motives. Same goes to Milo Manheim as Ryan, Jessica’s current boyfriend who seems to have a chip on his shoulder, making you wonder what his deal is. Addison Rae, Gabriel Davenport and especially Tomaso Sanelli are good as Jessica’s friends - especially Saneilli, who plays a jock who you wouldn’t mind getting picked off for how he behaves and treats other people. And it’s always cool to see character actors like Rick Hoffman and Gina Gershon in supporting roles.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>THE FINAL HOWL</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhfWcQml8vAYty9WS0grN0skfenPs-g5dkggBh5IP6OQ3Wieg6kT-4fF2UwOISCgCb7KXrCWoK6Ts5CY2JRmzkcj23vDpgssg0WA6kH3nRYGmfTkiw2EhBcqFE9LWk0wvMDSgucraJRHOmQSJ6GvxvX64Do4oqqbrdDTfVpULpJy7AJAy6ETyCtKvw1lp/s1657/thanksgivingmovie-3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1657" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhfWcQml8vAYty9WS0grN0skfenPs-g5dkggBh5IP6OQ3Wieg6kT-4fF2UwOISCgCb7KXrCWoK6Ts5CY2JRmzkcj23vDpgssg0WA6kH3nRYGmfTkiw2EhBcqFE9LWk0wvMDSgucraJRHOmQSJ6GvxvX64Do4oqqbrdDTfVpULpJy7AJAy6ETyCtKvw1lp/s320/thanksgivingmovie-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br />THANKSGIVING</b> is worth the 16-year wait, as it plays by the old school slasher rules and has a good time doing so. With a solid cast and your typical whodunit slasher mystery, the movie ends up being a fun ride due to archetypes that have a bit more depth than expected, wild gore sequences and a strong use of locations and set pieces that build a lot more tension and atmosphere than I was expecting. It’s also nice to see an engaged Eli Roth direct one of his best movies in his filmography, playing homage to many familiar slasher movies while putting his own twist on each one. The film looks good, the pacing is solid and the humor actually works in the movie’s favor. Plus, this John Carver villain has a great look and could be a cult icon if the film becomes more successful to create a franchise out of. <b>THANKSGIVING</b> doesn’t reinvent the slasher wheel and the villain’s identity is pretty easy to figure out, which took away the mystery aspect for me. But overall, I had a lot of fun with a movie I’ve been waiting a long time for and it didn't disappoint for the most part. <b>THANKSGIVING</b> will probably be an annual movie tradition for me every end of November.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>SCORE</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEnz9qEecogmpsvcg83V0_XRDpFZIocA3hkQE40npwBhiVGzxYbY12grtabf_upipThnCkReU-5b2NJtHdgid_h2HQi5-X6HEgISFrThlLMLPtVNDVsmiCTMtV8bMnwvs7PmqudldCu32B3GoZow_a8GjXtP8tjf0JA28zPGLk7eZYwUYvt3AYAYBZzvm/s400/wolfscorethree.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="400" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEnz9qEecogmpsvcg83V0_XRDpFZIocA3hkQE40npwBhiVGzxYbY12grtabf_upipThnCkReU-5b2NJtHdgid_h2HQi5-X6HEgISFrThlLMLPtVNDVsmiCTMtV8bMnwvs7PmqudldCu32B3GoZow_a8GjXtP8tjf0JA28zPGLk7eZYwUYvt3AYAYBZzvm/s320/wolfscorethree.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">3 Howls Outta 4</b></div></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>(</b><i>8 out of 10</i><b>)</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KbU50SdL8zA?si=rw2zkZnkuCC_QJSB" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><br /></span></div>Fred [The Wolf]http://www.blogger.com/profile/03208803636786210066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717349721694216715.post-54387459421830314552023-11-05T18:53:00.005-05:002023-11-05T18:53:59.510-05:00Howls of the Week (10/29/23 - 11/04/23)<div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3uuCww0Ksh_9y1NkGC6g8GwmT1RxnSd1H1hlLjkX63vFVrSv5P450DoFOe5x_cHGe0ttou4RUPD86lVlpknIPKeHyTWPKBI6z8sESNqAwrMiE35pZbcMHnnlePyvppBHIrJFM-hD7jbRWEtJzT8LbtKPG-o_eSiadwZCJrUe78H1Kv3cl7zxnsBKewPzq/s1200/110423.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3uuCww0Ksh_9y1NkGC6g8GwmT1RxnSd1H1hlLjkX63vFVrSv5P450DoFOe5x_cHGe0ttou4RUPD86lVlpknIPKeHyTWPKBI6z8sESNqAwrMiE35pZbcMHnnlePyvppBHIrJFM-hD7jbRWEtJzT8LbtKPG-o_eSiadwZCJrUe78H1Kv3cl7zxnsBKewPzq/w400-h400/110423.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>This will probably be a new feature, similar to the old monthly LUNAR CYCLE I used to do. I figured I would just post quick thoughts on films I've recently seen, while giving bigger/solo spotlights to more popular/important films. Let's see how this goes.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOYhqiFTONvv7FieaULAg5y7_kTmM9gCTHumh2jUBOAo76dzUGzrTIWFN8oLPQlFjBeP84G7YbhMHXWp5A8tZUlDrwWC9BA7ekKLUBCZXur_gKz5RuTvFnb7JHG-cyZcLwQga01qEAcyESE-tXwNzrrZz6sDql2Er61veMiU5oNwR4KLX-fSHUXRgq2Gn/s1050/bloodfordracula-poster.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOYhqiFTONvv7FieaULAg5y7_kTmM9gCTHumh2jUBOAo76dzUGzrTIWFN8oLPQlFjBeP84G7YbhMHXWp5A8tZUlDrwWC9BA7ekKLUBCZXur_gKz5RuTvFnb7JHG-cyZcLwQga01qEAcyESE-tXwNzrrZz6sDql2Er61veMiU5oNwR4KLX-fSHUXRgq2Gn/w266-h400/bloodfordracula-poster.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>BLOOD FOR DRACULA (1974)</u></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>Paul Morrissey</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Udo Kier, Joe Dallesandro, Vittorio de Sica, Maxine McKendry</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Vampires</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>103 Minutes</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Score:</b> <i>3 Howls Outta 4 (</i>8 out of 10<i>)</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Plot:</b> <i>Deathly ill Count Dracula and his slimy underling, Anton, travel to Italy in search of a virgin’s blood. They’re welcomed at the crumbling estate of indebted Marchese Di Fiore, who’s desperate to marry off his daughters to rich suitors. But there, instead of pure women, the count encounters incestuous lesbians with vile blood and Marxist manservant Mario, who’s suspicious of the aristocratic Dracula.</i></span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxUdQCTCGPxK-0xbBwIAnS-3obVSqhqUXTUcji5S_VZaWwpvaZlLl34PrxKhktafxbxNY6AGZenaZWUXG3ChyphenhyphenWZnUOuQWG_aYJIdr_uRs1EsKVF1wosYHpkfzF0xzfhsFAgwMV2DjMTiTLrJLxeTNPJsQhJKlv-nhYcXo0umedP1vbGYMpjoDK75sE3dE/s1080/bloodfordracula-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="1080" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxUdQCTCGPxK-0xbBwIAnS-3obVSqhqUXTUcji5S_VZaWwpvaZlLl34PrxKhktafxbxNY6AGZenaZWUXG3ChyphenhyphenWZnUOuQWG_aYJIdr_uRs1EsKVF1wosYHpkfzF0xzfhsFAgwMV2DjMTiTLrJLxeTNPJsQhJKlv-nhYcXo0umedP1vbGYMpjoDK75sE3dE/w400-h215/bloodfordracula-1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Review:</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Presented by Andy Warhol after the cult success of <b>FLESH FOR FRANKENSTEIN</b>, <b>BLOOD FOR DRACULA</b> is director’s Paul Morrissey’s superior follow up that focuses on Dracula and her servant traveling to Italy searching for virgin blood, as Dracula is severely ill from a lack of pure sustenance. While the acting is not great and the story isn’t the strongest, <b>BLOOD FOR DRACULA</b> is very worthwhile for a few reasons.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">One, Morrissey’s direction is very good, as he uses many camera techniques and shot-scales to enhance the narrative. The cinematography is also well done, as this film is quite beautiful to look at.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Two, the subtext in this film is very strong and shows that a Dracula in a modern world probably wouldn’t survive for too long. There’s commentary on politics, class status [<i>a rich Count is feeding on the poor to make himself richer</i>] and the deterioration of religion when it comes to sex. The fact that this Dracula turns literal green after feeding on non-virgin blood twice within a supposed religious household says it all.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">And three, this has to be one of the sleaziest <b>DRACULA</b> films ever put to screen. Incestuous siblings, a servant who forces himself on women [<i>who ends up being the hero strangely</i>] and disgusting acts like Dracula crawling on the floor to lick up virgin blood after a girl has been sexually assaulted to save her life from the Count. Not to mention, the epic finale that will probably make you lose a few limbs like you’re a Black Knight in a Monty Python sketch.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is a<b> DRACULA</b> story that needs to be watched if you enjoy a memorable vampire flick.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-mxhJzSKV08?si=65cCysXr4t-kqkB2" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxais_XMZ_eHEUQfbsRAjmWII2rvmQ5Z1kJwFIJP3_6KmDXM2ynUUF0xXsyOfYd87AkAxdVYOK9hI9dLGHMcyWXG6C6OmXvk8SNrz88rkwg2O7C3jPepRRYaE95-Yus_K5HmWVvFMhwJMOzcP5jT_eeF6oEN4JN7XyhBIS3qwNLS34_nNkU6-7PfnN4iJN/s1500/vampyres-poster.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1094" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxais_XMZ_eHEUQfbsRAjmWII2rvmQ5Z1kJwFIJP3_6KmDXM2ynUUF0xXsyOfYd87AkAxdVYOK9hI9dLGHMcyWXG6C6OmXvk8SNrz88rkwg2O7C3jPepRRYaE95-Yus_K5HmWVvFMhwJMOzcP5jT_eeF6oEN4JN7XyhBIS3qwNLS34_nNkU6-7PfnN4iJN/w291-h400/vampyres-poster.jpg" width="291" /></a></div>VAMPYRES (1974)</u></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>José Ramón Larraz</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Marianne Morris, Anulka Dziubinska, Murray Brown, Brian Deacon, Sally Faulkner</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Vampires</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>88 Minutes</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Score:</b> <i>2.5 Howls Outta 4 (</i>6 out of 10<i>)</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Plot:</b> <i>A duo of bisexual female vampires prey on passing motorists, whom they seduce and murder in the English countryside. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-OTyv02BQKVhUADqAhxKr4S4vqQtq8w7PyMzxXpZkxAlH33ooX8xo_ZCezM_vrjLZIxl_BnTeWe4Yi_b6eCOpHXBwjuCRupomrU-SjfsvQOSUUImKce3heibxH4BOfoRDUNG1gk8W2VqFutc6Gk51KaEZpLQ_PWfjQW4aoyhAmk6SBE5IdzF4mGAB5Rd/s1920/vampyres-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1028" data-original-width="1920" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-OTyv02BQKVhUADqAhxKr4S4vqQtq8w7PyMzxXpZkxAlH33ooX8xo_ZCezM_vrjLZIxl_BnTeWe4Yi_b6eCOpHXBwjuCRupomrU-SjfsvQOSUUImKce3heibxH4BOfoRDUNG1gk8W2VqFutc6Gk51KaEZpLQ_PWfjQW4aoyhAmk6SBE5IdzF4mGAB5Rd/w400-h214/vampyres-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>Review:</b> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">A story of bisexual vampires luring people at night to satiate their bloodlust, Jose Ramon Larraz’s </span><b style="font-family: verdana;">VAMPYRES</b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> is a visually stunning film that unfortunately doesn’t have much of a story to really invest in. This film is a sleazy slow burn, with the two lead actresses seducing characters and the audiences with their good looks and sexual chemistry with each other. Cinemax would be proud of the sex scenes displayed in this movie. The use of the film’s main setting, a mansion in the countryside, is well done. The forest outside of this mansion almost seems like a character in itself, as these beautiful vampires just lurk around waiting for victims. It’s just too bad there’s not much of a story besides the brutal opening scene and a love triangle of sorts between the two vampires and a male victim one of them is in love with. </span><b style="font-family: verdana;">VAMPYRES</b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> is not a scary film, more focused on titillating the audience. But watching the male lead kiss one of the actresses multiple times was pretty nightmare inducing. Open mouth, flailing tongue and just nasty love making all around. Even beautiful vampires can have a lack of taste, I guess.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SFfqlgnpWHU?si=yStUocThHu2VIlyG" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9WJom9QxQtebHrgYLBbr4RgmMRxZaLs0tY1Gb3ODwv1bZBy6Z4WPki4UWfSeyxOxI6z_0MCVSbQ6H1osdF_gGbBm4h7CyH2IR6QzeOUPjUjcW4zl1Gh0ZNJkqqlwGjDZRuLY-04L1EnKpDXBzh9SmMcfqcp1qqvtic3Kka_IJttyCDLende2-bM6us0y/s811/fascination-poster.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9WJom9QxQtebHrgYLBbr4RgmMRxZaLs0tY1Gb3ODwv1bZBy6Z4WPki4UWfSeyxOxI6z_0MCVSbQ6H1osdF_gGbBm4h7CyH2IR6QzeOUPjUjcW4zl1Gh0ZNJkqqlwGjDZRuLY-04L1EnKpDXBzh9SmMcfqcp1qqvtic3Kka_IJttyCDLende2-bM6us0y/w296-h400/fascination-poster.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>FASCINATION (1979)</u></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>Jean Rollin</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Franca Mai, Jean-Marie Lamaire, Brigitte Lahaie, Fanny Magier</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Vampires</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>80 Minutes</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Score:</b> <i>3 Howls Outta 4 (</i>8 out of 10<i>)</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Plot:</b> <i>A runaway criminal breaks into an eerie chateau, taking its two frightened chambermaids hostage. As night falls, a group of mysterious aristocratic women arrive and the criminal begins to realize the women are hiding a sinister secret.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3exFxMP3DkwyO1KlJTPO5iWOwTh0qz2AJhNhYfKq0k8NPrsAHAyJBxLYbyNrMvnuvgVFgUtBbnysknyVNN2X4YGbxcLVlHxsT903htcl7VpJ53yICJHVzqms0j32Ibn1f3_vkBmWkNbqAwb8yUhcixuO6WPN101irx2EtW9gl-t84abUXEfvVKJBrlxj/s600/fascination-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="600" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3exFxMP3DkwyO1KlJTPO5iWOwTh0qz2AJhNhYfKq0k8NPrsAHAyJBxLYbyNrMvnuvgVFgUtBbnysknyVNN2X4YGbxcLVlHxsT903htcl7VpJ53yICJHVzqms0j32Ibn1f3_vkBmWkNbqAwb8yUhcixuO6WPN101irx2EtW9gl-t84abUXEfvVKJBrlxj/w400-h234/fascination-1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Review:</b> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">My first Jean Rollin film ever, believe it or not, the French-language <b>FASCINATION</b> is a vampire movie that surprised me with how well shot and how well told it was. The plot is super simple, with a thief hiding inside a chateau with two beautiful servants who obviously aren’t as they seem. The film is romantic, melodramatic and has very memorable moments throughout. I think the iconic scene is the scythe sequence, which is full of tension and suspense. It’s also quite stunning to look at. For an 80 minute film, it sets up a lot for the first two acts before crashing into a sinister and bloody final act that feels mostly ironic to what we knew of these characters and their situations before. It’s also interesting how they tried to make the thief into an anti-hero of sorts by the end, even though it doesn’t really feel earned. But love will make you do some strange things, whether it’s returned or not. <b>FASCINATION</b> proves that there’s beauty in horror.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n94OBpvRT0I?si=v0Mo6j2B955ZtgrK" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS0N5Gm-adDBYeAa5pxbsln8WMhnzjip9PpLMfBU_emR11hYuuzeQcY8SLMVXjBKdndjjpV9lAHLYAM0lVqnFjyAhU9athINj5_iLRgofVnCE6V3OuLc9I_yu9FgfMBJPISvX8U35dW0J8nvBi8MdFNY1DNALaB1JRm0XvacUNxG-_MQ5t_y_CHkDLMIdV/s2169/391%20the%20hunger.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2169" data-original-width="1477" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS0N5Gm-adDBYeAa5pxbsln8WMhnzjip9PpLMfBU_emR11hYuuzeQcY8SLMVXjBKdndjjpV9lAHLYAM0lVqnFjyAhU9athINj5_iLRgofVnCE6V3OuLc9I_yu9FgfMBJPISvX8U35dW0J8nvBi8MdFNY1DNALaB1JRm0XvacUNxG-_MQ5t_y_CHkDLMIdV/w273-h400/391%20the%20hunger.jpg" width="273" /></a></div>THE HUNGER (1983)</u></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>Tony Scott </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Catherine Deneuve, David Bowie, Susan Sarandon, Cliff DeYoung, Beth Ehlers, Dan Heyada</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Drama/Vampires</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>97 Minutes</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Score:</b> <i>3 Howls Outta 4 (</i>8 out of 10<i>)</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Plot:</b> <i>Miriam promises her lovers the gift of eternal life, but John, her companion for centuries, suddenly discovers that he is getting old minute by minute, so he looks for Dr. Sarah Roberts, a researcher on the mechanisms of aging, and asks her for help.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVSaS6h8HbBOZE7mm9Xk6pDOGxxcRu3l-SN9sn8lQEGFiFmA7CbyrLV2d22aU_n-yF5vepEyFEOlQoEkRYeg6nsADiWt1O7PYU4Y_ayoUoXwjCjGPEfZzBj_ylPUwd8O6zOkqQYx1FrOAR_MnmJKzYDj6zQjIdW0QHcnLsGQUDoP5HQStdLc6Y3cAEddP/s1600/thehunger-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVSaS6h8HbBOZE7mm9Xk6pDOGxxcRu3l-SN9sn8lQEGFiFmA7CbyrLV2d22aU_n-yF5vepEyFEOlQoEkRYeg6nsADiWt1O7PYU4Y_ayoUoXwjCjGPEfZzBj_ylPUwd8O6zOkqQYx1FrOAR_MnmJKzYDj6zQjIdW0QHcnLsGQUDoP5HQStdLc6Y3cAEddP/w400-h225/thehunger-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Review:</b> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">The late Tony Scott’s directorial debut, this cult classic adapted from a novel didn’t get a lot of love 40 years ago. And while it’s definitely imperfect, it shows Scott’s style that would only improve in his future works like <b>TOP GUN</b> and <b>TRUE ROMANCE</b>. It’s visually sleek, looking atmospheric and moody like those early MTV music videos, with quick editing and juxtapositions to make certain moments pop. While the story could be stronger, I do appreciate the themes addressed in the film. Having the man deal with the effects of aging instead of a woman is an interesting touch, especially when this struggle also seems to be a commentary on the AIDS epidemic that had only just become known two years prior. The performances are very good with Catherine Deneuve being a strong presence as Miriam, who gives her lovers the promise of an eternal life but had all of them age on her quickly for some reason. David Bowie is captivating as Deneuve’s husband, John, getting to play with aging makeup and a pretty messed-up murder sequence. And Susan Sarandon is stunning as the doctor who is studying these aging effects, but gets caught up in Miriam’s web to bad results. Any film that starts out with a Bauhaus performance definitely deserves one’s attention.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g7DzTgy6_Vk?si=5O0VNx6nPL1HGziV" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div></div>Fred [The Wolf]http://www.blogger.com/profile/03208803636786210066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717349721694216715.post-60541975867653374632023-10-30T23:17:00.003-04:002023-11-05T17:42:55.398-05:00Howls of the Week (10/22/23 - 10/28/23)<div style="text-align: left;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKB7D5L9fBaAsWMLUBiP54YX6JLjAVUszVkL1ZaQUpgZDpG6KTkyq_1_yeOtGLvi3hBWpWyHaLC3P8LMoTedcuQ1devxSdTCM_cLXqUiBfQsmLLLyUXD91UfSgByL_Wqo8FIP0rr52PlniIfrQ38LzkXAONJbGumkhdOEARGJG1uTfkASqAwxJU7kJaNz/s1600/102823.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKB7D5L9fBaAsWMLUBiP54YX6JLjAVUszVkL1ZaQUpgZDpG6KTkyq_1_yeOtGLvi3hBWpWyHaLC3P8LMoTedcuQ1devxSdTCM_cLXqUiBfQsmLLLyUXD91UfSgByL_Wqo8FIP0rr52PlniIfrQ38LzkXAONJbGumkhdOEARGJG1uTfkASqAwxJU7kJaNz/w400-h300/102823.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i>This will probably be a new feature, similar to the old monthly LUNAR CYCLE I used to do. I figured I would just post quick thoughts on films I've recently seen, while giving bigger/solo spotlights to more popular/important films. Let's see how this goes.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3YGTDgmsFIq2m-htWBaqlZtNx9MpI5jYZBfU6k8wB38TQV1JQNL9ga12UQhxniIcMDwkNfe4vZSahKfFG2Zo38zCDl2692uHtYZyFYLRfiZ5Xlh3DBPAOPAhAIEE3X5VPB7QwEA29qmtmca5blRGHRMx72xeLc4P49UInSTRjkQZWqDO8c275joaLCj9B/s819/374%20santo%20blue%20demon%20dracula%20wolfman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="819" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3YGTDgmsFIq2m-htWBaqlZtNx9MpI5jYZBfU6k8wB38TQV1JQNL9ga12UQhxniIcMDwkNfe4vZSahKfFG2Zo38zCDl2692uHtYZyFYLRfiZ5Xlh3DBPAOPAhAIEE3X5VPB7QwEA29qmtmca5blRGHRMx72xeLc4P49UInSTRjkQZWqDO8c275joaLCj9B/s320/374%20santo%20blue%20demon%20dracula%20wolfman.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>SANTO AND BLUE DEMON VS. DRACULA AND THE WOLFMAN (1973)</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>Miguel M. Delgado</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Santo, Blue Demon, Aldo Monti, Agustin Martinez Solares, Nubia Marti, Maria Eugenia San Martin, Alfredo Wally Barron, Jorge Mondragon</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Action/Adventure/Vampires/Werewolves</i> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>90 Minutes</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Score:</b> <i>2.5 Howls Outta 4 (6 out of 10)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Plot:</b> <i>After facing defeat at the hands of Cristaldi the magician, Dracula is back to seek revenge and rule the world. With the help of Wolfman and his legion of followers, victory seems eminent. Professor Cristaldi, a descendant of the magician, is warned about Dracula’s plans and calls upon El Santo and Blue Demon in the hopes that they can put the infamous Count and the werewolf down for good.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlJov5l5-WpMZr5fiOknywfc9UZkZ4PJlSScECS3DlRzmoyrMx62-dH1DibaGfdhTiH1u38qS1w8GZUqNueBa6U0bYtZqa8nc_iMTNDK51AqPtdypePi69SEhEAKLVde5rN0UUWrt95PDJKFJ9R0tkRm8b5hVOwsysIx8SUGxcAtpcUkR5kP5LeFqjeVD/s1280/santobluedemondraculawolfman-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlJov5l5-WpMZr5fiOknywfc9UZkZ4PJlSScECS3DlRzmoyrMx62-dH1DibaGfdhTiH1u38qS1w8GZUqNueBa6U0bYtZqa8nc_iMTNDK51AqPtdypePi69SEhEAKLVde5rN0UUWrt95PDJKFJ9R0tkRm8b5hVOwsysIx8SUGxcAtpcUkR5kP5LeFqjeVD/w400-h225/santobluedemondraculawolfman-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Review:</b> Another installment starring the two most famous Lucha Libre wrestlers of their era, <b>SANTO & BLUE DEMON VS. DRACULA & THE WOLFMAN</b> involves a scientist who brings back Dracula and the Wolfman to the living world after being manipulated by a scheming hunchback. Apparently the scientist’s ancestors took care of Dracula centuries before, making him plot revenge on him and his female relatives - one who is dating Santo.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">It’s not as good as <b>SANTO & BLUE DEMON VS. THE MONSTERS</b>, but it’s still a fun time overall. Evil Dracula [<i>played by a returning Aldo Monti</i>] bites some people, hypnotizes other people and even tries to get his revenge on a clueless child who has some of the worst English dubbing ever. The werewolf, beautifully named Rufus Rex, uses his human good looks and “heroics” to manipulate the scientist’s daughter. You get your standard wrestling matches [<i>which are done on a soundstage with no visible crowd for some reason</i>], Santo and Blue Demon fighting off vampires and a group of hairy werewolves over a pit and other silliness to pass the runtime. The film was obviously inspired by the Hammer and/or Paul Naschy films of the era, making this film super colorful and visually polished [<i>this film definitely had a budget</i>]. I think fans of Santo, Blue Demon, or both will get a kick out of this one.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tAPz-eXoG30?si=ISo9_F14gt2GXUfT" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOhtNGbckScOCuaSWCU3F8dJm-561tXoO7Z6BpPl5VX0oQyUzZjH6zVStc61hRynYaw7E8DdNgI4mRDq2QQFt-XT_QbKK90uRaM453c-ibZLciGIvETvzYJT1lg7zRIYmwEQRlfVTx04bQbbfaHngx-u9sEzLzQQTvBr_cc6SRpWCDvLArGD2J5p9Sw6t/s1364/375%20chanoc%20son%20of%20santo%20killer%20vampires.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOhtNGbckScOCuaSWCU3F8dJm-561tXoO7Z6BpPl5VX0oQyUzZjH6zVStc61hRynYaw7E8DdNgI4mRDq2QQFt-XT_QbKK90uRaM453c-ibZLciGIvETvzYJT1lg7zRIYmwEQRlfVTx04bQbbfaHngx-u9sEzLzQQTvBr_cc6SRpWCDvLArGD2J5p9Sw6t/s320/375%20chanoc%20son%20of%20santo%20killer%20vampires.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>CHANOC AND THE SON OF SANTO VS. THE KILLER VAMPIRES (1983)</u></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>Rafael Perez Grovas</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Santo, El Hijo del Santo, Nelson Velazquez, Arturo Cobo, Rubi Re, Marcos Vargas</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Comedy/Action/Vampires</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>85 Minutes</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Score:</b> 0<i>.5 Howls Outta 4 (2 out of 10)</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Plot:</b> <i>Chanoc fights alongside Santo’s son against the Killer Vampires.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2FWNQicCDf25zCZQHGciEMtyTjOehEOLST3mLPZ1DAzNxZt3gQOyOwlrqXbvOHYc81VqkLwj-AGP-OosqGtf6WeJ-08KYHHcWPbOmU2pxUzca9IwgZ9TDZoBwj9WSTUyZAbOIckMC0UHu8ht07PoS-H6QFO5MoCRw0bKNnidYmBnWJJHuf9_uEijPMgM/s3900/chanochijosanto-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2716" data-original-width="3900" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2FWNQicCDf25zCZQHGciEMtyTjOehEOLST3mLPZ1DAzNxZt3gQOyOwlrqXbvOHYc81VqkLwj-AGP-OosqGtf6WeJ-08KYHHcWPbOmU2pxUzca9IwgZ9TDZoBwj9WSTUyZAbOIckMC0UHu8ht07PoS-H6QFO5MoCRw0bKNnidYmBnWJJHuf9_uEijPMgM/w400-h279/chanochijosanto-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Review:</b> Before his retirement a year later, Santo appears one last time in his wrestling persona on film as he passes the torch to his real life son in the opening moments of this movie. You’d think with a younger version of Santo, the action and story would be more exciting and modern for a new generation of people. But in one of the worst films I’ve seen all year, <b>CHANOC & THE SON OF SANTO VS. THE KILLER VAMPIRES</b> is a waste of everyone’s time. That includes the people who were part of this production and for anyone who spent 85 minutes suffering through this thing. If it wasn’t for the fact that this film looks alright and there are some decent musical sequences (!), this would be a total dud. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Not only is it dull for the most part, but we’re stuck with two actors playing these annoying old men who are trying to pass as comic relief. I thought this was a Son of Santo film, but he feels like a supporting character in his own movie. The wrestling scenes feel like a parody of what they once were. The action is repetitive. Random scenes pop up to fill up time because there isn’t much of a story here. And those killer vampires? You maybe get five minutes worth with them and they don’t seem to be real vampires anyway. They’re just a gang dressed as them to scare people. It’s really depressing to see how low this series has fallen. I pretty much hated this movie and would never ever watch this again.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LO1ImVZGRAE?si=MljKzX-s98BUy6Fd" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZP0HN4Ggv5o4Mra5ERNVPFSXVckG9RzhXnRqhGu2yAf1XsZT12HsbyHAuhGw9w_SSkguaq8apg9tCqCgVWZCWl8n0R5Qyk7CI-zjlR_2P5gVkgKy_YNnB3zDinbhUDulUOdGQxdMGkOA0Fctf0jCXP_mI9zappS6OWfBjkSPRM0uz78cWvbX3E-ltGxW/s755/376%20five_nights_at_freddys.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="477" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZP0HN4Ggv5o4Mra5ERNVPFSXVckG9RzhXnRqhGu2yAf1XsZT12HsbyHAuhGw9w_SSkguaq8apg9tCqCgVWZCWl8n0R5Qyk7CI-zjlR_2P5gVkgKy_YNnB3zDinbhUDulUOdGQxdMGkOA0Fctf0jCXP_mI9zappS6OWfBjkSPRM0uz78cWvbX3E-ltGxW/s320/376%20five_nights_at_freddys.jpg" width="202" /></a></div>FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY'S (2023)</u></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>Emma Tammi</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Josh Hutcherson, Piper Rubio, Elizabeth Lail, Matthew Lillard, Mary Stuart Masterson</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Mystery/Supernatural/Ghosts/Robots</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>110 Minutes</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Score:</b> <i>1.5 Howls (4 out of 10)</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Plot:</b> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Recently fired and desperate for work, a troubled young man named Mike agrees to take a position as a night security guard at an abandoned theme restaurant: Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria. But he soon discovers that nothing at Freddy’s is what it seems.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArspR0WWaff9HGDWpSMT0qhNq86QL_e0oQ9sDuamiGknHcu4b1Ps0wZsePr7M7i_5OBB_iAlFVzUuASKnsuewBGImxKWD3ptIbSFYrz65aDC4Gjj9Iq303DXBwPwprbE1qQNNUKdy2RyIejTOOBGB4R5hUOzNwFdROljzTNijXjbAp-7XtmIgs4RGTHF4/s1200/fivenightsatfreddys-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArspR0WWaff9HGDWpSMT0qhNq86QL_e0oQ9sDuamiGknHcu4b1Ps0wZsePr7M7i_5OBB_iAlFVzUuASKnsuewBGImxKWD3ptIbSFYrz65aDC4Gjj9Iq303DXBwPwprbE1qQNNUKdy2RyIejTOOBGB4R5hUOzNwFdROljzTNijXjbAp-7XtmIgs4RGTHF4/w400-h266/fivenightsatfreddys-1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Review:</b> Based on the popular video game, Universal and Blumhouse apparently hit the box-office jackpot with their adaptation that may have brought Josh Hutcherson back to the A-list. If I were a fan of the games or even younger, I probably would have enjoyed this. But it honestly didn’t do much for me overall. I do love the Jim Henson animatronics, cool practical effects and a well-acted cast who are totally game to bring these ideas to life. But I didn’t find the film scary and some of the screenwriting and twists are odd and predictable. Like characters just buy everything that’s going on in the film without an ounce of skepticism, which didn’t allow enough drama to play out. And there’s so much story in this film that it becomes a bit long-in-the-tooth after a while. I’m glad people watched this in theaters and on Peacock for a successful Halloween weekend. But I’d probably just watch <b>WILLY’S WONDERLAND</b>, since that seems to be more of my vibe.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z_T0o5uNrlY?si=P9w79Hus7qcmVw-e" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrgWNkAIA_Dm_c57T4RKdvpSWP6-sEvqtkGqGfebi0SrjEYDtaLYmnA3_oiPRGx5A7x7JSgQsq9woOMQowqq81OswfPilNkc67dnrAnddB0JxzaCYqrvgUDsw1NIE_b-QsmeaIOO4nIJC1ItSqu8xzyMuiVD0HOwIKUXOGyn7BuaNTTtNJ5a1dKhLaa0Hr/s755/377%20no_one_will_save_you.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="510" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrgWNkAIA_Dm_c57T4RKdvpSWP6-sEvqtkGqGfebi0SrjEYDtaLYmnA3_oiPRGx5A7x7JSgQsq9woOMQowqq81OswfPilNkc67dnrAnddB0JxzaCYqrvgUDsw1NIE_b-QsmeaIOO4nIJC1ItSqu8xzyMuiVD0HOwIKUXOGyn7BuaNTTtNJ5a1dKhLaa0Hr/s320/377%20no_one_will_save_you.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>NO ONE WILL SAVE YOU (2023)</u></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>Brian Duffield</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Kaitlyn Dever, Elizabeth Kaluev, Zack Duhame, Lauren L. Murray</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Thriller/Horror/Science Fiction/Aliens</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>97 Minutes</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Score:</b> <i>3 Howls Outta 4 (7 out of 10)</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Plot:</b> <i>A young woman who’s been alienated from her community finds herself in a face-off against a host of extraterrestrial beings who threaten her future while forcing her to deal with her past.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Pbls9EB4JhPwZbJj8vH6wrXgdTNXdgStsRqQIUwG4eRfMKRMuBgaGvvCjIp8leZ05CH3XxXOgLDA560J-TGLezNCE3cz10dvVgPgRXIz_JaXSaexKkXtF4Blgr4OmPh7mHoYNjb8uxmhvmIF4i_xIl6XIbyoG_RTQMs7M0SAXe0bjmdkZ7lpcaOwNZ3t/s1000/noonewillsaveyou-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Pbls9EB4JhPwZbJj8vH6wrXgdTNXdgStsRqQIUwG4eRfMKRMuBgaGvvCjIp8leZ05CH3XxXOgLDA560J-TGLezNCE3cz10dvVgPgRXIz_JaXSaexKkXtF4Blgr4OmPh7mHoYNjb8uxmhvmIF4i_xIl6XIbyoG_RTQMs7M0SAXe0bjmdkZ7lpcaOwNZ3t/w400-h225/noonewillsaveyou-1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Review:</b> I finally caught up with this Hulu exclusive after all the hype it received last month. While I didn’t think it was the greatest film ever, I did enjoy it for the most part. An alien invasion movie is nothing new and this film doesn’t really reinvent the wheel, instead just turning this into a home invasion/<b>INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS</b> redo. But I liked how the film worked well without much dialogue [<i>I believe only five lines are said throughout this movie</i>]. The lack of dialogue is greatly helped by a wonderful performance by <b>BOOKSMART</b> actress Kaitlyn Dever, whose body language and facial expressions tell you everything you need to know. She carried this movie on her back like a champ. Her character arc was also very interesting, especially how her neighborhood hated her for whatever reason, leading to a reveal in the final act that I wasn’t expecting. I also thought the ending could be interpreted in multiple ways depending on who you are, which I think may have divided many people if social media is any indication. But the CGI aliens are interesting looking enough, but nothing that you’ll remember a month from now. And the film is pretty much just one tough woman defending herself against aliens and her own town, which slowly becomes overrun by pod people. I’m not sure if I would watch this again, unless it was for a podcast or something. But I do recommend it if you’re looking for a science fiction film done mostly right.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IcA02w6rm44?si=nLs9fmbQiBhj5DKS" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcS7_FBH3zENv10fdUX0M6MgTa1wvUv6AE3l23FK2Mn1ks6mT9s2gThef30WiyMYx6fyEaNAMS-Y_OBhtOd9eesvzDcJB9xywNgiIJ-oePBtE3gospK3YYxi6cl_RUxgff0LCK_6tOYlBoK5kTO3NGObL6FudeYMTDIKIAebQwzz-0IqKdOW0pgxv8ALm/s4096/378%20out%20there%20halloween%20mega%20tape.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4096" data-original-width="2731" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcS7_FBH3zENv10fdUX0M6MgTa1wvUv6AE3l23FK2Mn1ks6mT9s2gThef30WiyMYx6fyEaNAMS-Y_OBhtOd9eesvzDcJB9xywNgiIJ-oePBtE3gospK3YYxi6cl_RUxgff0LCK_6tOYlBoK5kTO3NGObL6FudeYMTDIKIAebQwzz-0IqKdOW0pgxv8ALm/s320/378%20out%20there%20halloween%20mega%20tape.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>OUT THERE HALLOWEEN MEGA TAPE (2022)</u></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>Chris LaMartina</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Melissa LaMartina, Ted Geoghegan</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Comedy</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>91 Minutes</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Score:</b> <i>3 Howls Outta 4 (8 out of 10)</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Plot:</b> <i>Gorge yourself on candy corn and hunker down for a haunted house party filled with aliens, vamps, and phantom tramps via this hard-to-find flick from an infamous East Coast ’90’s bootleg video operation. Straight from the archives of Trader Tony’s Tape Dungeon, the “Out There Halloween Mega Tape” was assembled from the highest quality source materials available and presented just as it was sold via Trader Tony’s mail order catalog in the 1990’s.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4s2bgbHBtxQlPv-gUye7F6iScAyxCNdvrksnEzE3DoJzV_X4mmKD1i_ewgrfv9lyYLvkqrLxeHgskryR2tzq1QPoecd84xdtScjSIMXB5giFyJISOuw3Ttbum_5Fq-bFSeuoV53kpJmMRdoZM8zRy7I2mH3WQdayLOUNu77cqVo1z5xijDDIcADyHHJR/s262/outtherehalloween-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="262" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4s2bgbHBtxQlPv-gUye7F6iScAyxCNdvrksnEzE3DoJzV_X4mmKD1i_ewgrfv9lyYLvkqrLxeHgskryR2tzq1QPoecd84xdtScjSIMXB5giFyJISOuw3Ttbum_5Fq-bFSeuoV53kpJmMRdoZM8zRy7I2mH3WQdayLOUNu77cqVo1z5xijDDIcADyHHJR/w400-h293/outtherehalloween-1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Review:</b> The sequel to the 2013 cult hit <b>WNUF HALLOWEEN SPECIAL</b>, this sequel is actually a lot of fun and gets all the 90s pop culture references and advertisements fairly perfectly. More comedy than its predecessor, <b>OUT THERE HALLOWEEN MEGA TAPE </b>is mainly focused on daytime talk show host Ivy Sparks.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The first half of the feature revolves around her talk show, where she has several guests - including a wife who is cheating on her husband with a female ghost and a vampire who is forced by a family member into one of those makeovers. The vibe of the show is definitely <b>Ricki Lake</b>, mixed with some <b>Maury</b> and <b>Jerry Springer</b> as well. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The second half is a parody of that FOX paranormal show from the 90s, <b>Sightings</b>, which focuses on an impending alien invasion and a Heaven’s Gate like cult who believe the aliens are coming to take them to their home planet since Earth is wasting away due to climate change and pollution. It makes fun of Heaven’s Gate and their beliefs, while poking light at how the government is hiding the truth about extraterrestrials by disrupting their television special. Ivy Sparks, having been fired from her talk show, is now "Out There’s" co-host and pretty much does her schtick to a bunch of annoyed brainwashed cult members.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The real gem with this sequel is obviously the commercials throughout the mega tape, which capture those memorable ads you watched on television during the 1990s. All of them are really funny and I was impressed with the research and time put into each and every one of them. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Definitely recommended.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9XG3AoSPWF72LlqEGDt1z6DJwjuFWXSRS-L7gmawGj3Cnk1uyyPiaUzULNKizzoZ7Ansr1wtgO-xCD_JJMcaXMhiXMf0BEqqa4Tku12tXK3g_4BGfEjncteox2yR849Z6aC2GdPYIfmz_AT3RxaYuzIM4o6s7_23CKGB6SZtIgj9_7ZsAV8rOuBYolEB/s2117/384%20sorority%20slaughter.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2117" data-original-width="1602" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9XG3AoSPWF72LlqEGDt1z6DJwjuFWXSRS-L7gmawGj3Cnk1uyyPiaUzULNKizzoZ7Ansr1wtgO-xCD_JJMcaXMhiXMf0BEqqa4Tku12tXK3g_4BGfEjncteox2yR849Z6aC2GdPYIfmz_AT3RxaYuzIM4o6s7_23CKGB6SZtIgj9_7ZsAV8rOuBYolEB/s320/384%20sorority%20slaughter.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>SORORITY SLAUGHTER (1994)</u></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>Gary Whitson</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Tina Krause, Dave Castiglione, Debbie D, Deana Enoches, Laura Giglio</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Slasher</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>87 Minutes</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Score:</b> <i>0.5 Howls Outta 4 (2 out of 10)</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Plot:</b> <i>Three sorority girls play a prank on their creepy neighbor, Hugo. He is accidentally shot and killed, but returns to life in order to kill them as human sacrifices in order to grant himself immortality.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobkAwBhRhj1XLUVtCHv6-gD42Bqt_Dhif-N1A6ptFbSkYbaQI1RMpJ4KycLeu1HN1VLSjFy3wHrVnAoCBtZ9p8sZhyphenhyphenxizw-qZbNwhHEDAKOI5VGgqWIzrZf-f7eDRImX03Sk_DZF-036IHSwFojyX0HxUiym8qnsxau_l0mA4tEjMHxRNVTGuPeIcIub2/s1036/sororityslaughter-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1036" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobkAwBhRhj1XLUVtCHv6-gD42Bqt_Dhif-N1A6ptFbSkYbaQI1RMpJ4KycLeu1HN1VLSjFy3wHrVnAoCBtZ9p8sZhyphenhyphenxizw-qZbNwhHEDAKOI5VGgqWIzrZf-f7eDRImX03Sk_DZF-036IHSwFojyX0HxUiym8qnsxau_l0mA4tEjMHxRNVTGuPeIcIub2/w400-h290/sororityslaughter-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Review:</b> The only thing that’ll be slaughtered is your time, as <b>SORORITY SLAUGHTER</b> is the longest 87 minutes of your life. Shot on video, this film contains some of the longest scenes of nothing you’ll ever see. Ever wanted to experience a strangle sequence that lasts about 10 minutes? Have you ever wanted to watch characters wash a car for 15 minutes? You ever wished you could have human sacrifices mixed with random T-shirt contests? What about sex scenes where none of the actors seem into it at all? Then this film is for you! Hell, was there even a sorority in this movie?? There’s even an extended cut and a sequel to this! I usually like Tina Krause but this film is just pure torture. Probably the worst thing I’ve seen all week.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>Fred [The Wolf]http://www.blogger.com/profile/03208803636786210066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717349721694216715.post-64476674154925936452023-10-23T20:06:00.000-04:002023-10-23T20:06:53.969-04:00Howls of the Week (10/15/23 - 10/21/23)<div style="text-align: left;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijTqHyujyAq2RbS0sTrOCkfXFdqRkFkfequHElEvjnaHgOJOUGSz2d6tRrj3bV9fsaYdDZz-RVWH8m8qmBPP5RWu1h_7x6LWfM3eM43csSkD4XB5Kdoy4fOAlPAyXojtFwZ_aQbO8ALu-ChV99hEIPtOq6XLYV8QC1GzlUrIKB57Nsi1WPoncjdWyTyO2/s1080/oct22.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijTqHyujyAq2RbS0sTrOCkfXFdqRkFkfequHElEvjnaHgOJOUGSz2d6tRrj3bV9fsaYdDZz-RVWH8m8qmBPP5RWu1h_7x6LWfM3eM43csSkD4XB5Kdoy4fOAlPAyXojtFwZ_aQbO8ALu-ChV99hEIPtOq6XLYV8QC1GzlUrIKB57Nsi1WPoncjdWyTyO2/w400-h400/oct22.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">This will probably be a new feature, similar to the old monthly LUNAR CYCLE I used to do. I figured I would just post quick thoughts on films I've recently seen, while giving bigger/solo spotlights to more popular/important films. Let's see how this goes.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVxelivcW4UfiqSjs9aoVIztBZqYZavuTEhjSgrEjeMlBGEv8hav9pGvNDzPlFkxeEHjNgIYI1wZIZ3nOJXiL7hGllo-ue3FsXeaj0H9gFEKpLv2Fn9QJXFq4purpRJdLMO6PU4I4Bf7o_d7Lfl1-ANkB7m457SHU-vrI1z9z2I-6po4F_zJdtjy9Sxhp/s1000/360%20santo%20vs%20baron%20brakola.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="728" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVxelivcW4UfiqSjs9aoVIztBZqYZavuTEhjSgrEjeMlBGEv8hav9pGvNDzPlFkxeEHjNgIYI1wZIZ3nOJXiL7hGllo-ue3FsXeaj0H9gFEKpLv2Fn9QJXFq4purpRJdLMO6PU4I4Bf7o_d7Lfl1-ANkB7m457SHU-vrI1z9z2I-6po4F_zJdtjy9Sxhp/s320/360%20santo%20vs%20baron%20brakola.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>BARON BRAKULA (1967)</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>José Díaz Morales</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Santo, Fernando Oses, Mercedes Carreno, Antonio de Hud, Susana Robles</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Action/Vampires</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>77 Minutes</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Score:</b> <i>2 Howls Outta 4</i> <b><i>(6 out of 10)</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Plot:</b> <i>Santo goes up against the vampire Baron Brakola, who has returned to seek vengeance on the descendants of the Knight in the Silver Mask (Santo’s colonial era ancestor).</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGspEu_gL1v5ehZUGeUaQnXa3WKU3BzmShtZig7sLNkGHYbX367Tt61T9BVRZALgxk1l85dTlt9WLc2U2ng9Dhty1W-Q8dTjO_QTzO2fWiPjewlV0Sic3K5_sI3e4SZ-kntRRB486Z3w4M466oU_6pxJyhmJ4YUqLXSmMaj2a3yEOsFWHObT6IFpcRSJcE/s400/brakula1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="400" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGspEu_gL1v5ehZUGeUaQnXa3WKU3BzmShtZig7sLNkGHYbX367Tt61T9BVRZALgxk1l85dTlt9WLc2U2ng9Dhty1W-Q8dTjO_QTzO2fWiPjewlV0Sic3K5_sI3e4SZ-kntRRB486Z3w4M466oU_6pxJyhmJ4YUqLXSmMaj2a3yEOsFWHObT6IFpcRSJcE/w400-h311/brakula1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Review:</b> Santo sure loves fighting vampires, as <b>BARON BRAKOLA</b> is another installment of our favorite Lucha Libre star battling the undead. I actually liked this a bit more than <b>SANTO VS. THE VAMPIRE WOMEN</b>, only because there seemed to be higher production values and an interesting narrative that went back-and-forth between the past and present. I enjoyed the swashbuckling aspect of the past scenes with The Knight In the Silver Mask getting one up on Brakola, causing the vampire to go after Santo [<i>Silver Mask’s descendant</i>] and the female descendant of a past enemy in the present day, which have more action/wrestling scenes of its time. The cheap effects, including a frame cut disappearing act and a rubber bat scratching windows, add a nice charm as well. Brakola is really goofy looking as well, which brings some unintentional comedy. Nothing groundbreaking or a must-see, but Santo fans will eat this up for the film’s short and breezy runtime.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRuEM9YZGv_pmyRxnvZMbyPw8lfSwacn1_xq7bpd4dC9OZeRdX1NdoMLSxoTxOnTRO2jVzpIrwrdr48YhG6cJnpvv1TdhqTC-av3g9IaT3XMKVDs4xRIXTyhiH725kNM-GpF8rusC3HuQ7DgY9QizkxOOokKETR9lJJhLYaaFYTo1czU91Q1l6hrj2y_f/s1500/362%20daughters%20of%20darkness.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRuEM9YZGv_pmyRxnvZMbyPw8lfSwacn1_xq7bpd4dC9OZeRdX1NdoMLSxoTxOnTRO2jVzpIrwrdr48YhG6cJnpvv1TdhqTC-av3g9IaT3XMKVDs4xRIXTyhiH725kNM-GpF8rusC3HuQ7DgY9QizkxOOokKETR9lJJhLYaaFYTo1czU91Q1l6hrj2y_f/s320/362%20daughters%20of%20darkness.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS (1971)</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>Harry Kümel</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Delphine Seyrig, John Karlen, Danielle Quimet, Andrea Rau</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Thriller/Drama/Vampires</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>100 Minutes</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Score:</b> <i>3 Howls Outta 4 <b>(8 out of 10)</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Plot:</b> <i>A newlywed couple are passing through a vacation resort. Their paths cross with a mysterious, strikingly beautiful countess and her aide. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PMN0mwvn3mo7qj0ZhnZcBEhxuBp6-ME67uI6PGe0GStK-HPtbJ5yxmB7WRcSy20dC5tRJ2jt-PmYcAdpW0UtXzJWQQHeH8sgFdWBV3DpuO4hlVWnacJrlnFqpopUBaVNr_b4gXpiwtruZTUUUB9MiZ5M7ATeO209GatvhMWBntA9QjD4rzHGECeyubSN/s870/daughtersofdarkness1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="870" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PMN0mwvn3mo7qj0ZhnZcBEhxuBp6-ME67uI6PGe0GStK-HPtbJ5yxmB7WRcSy20dC5tRJ2jt-PmYcAdpW0UtXzJWQQHeH8sgFdWBV3DpuO4hlVWnacJrlnFqpopUBaVNr_b4gXpiwtruZTUUUB9MiZ5M7ATeO209GatvhMWBntA9QjD4rzHGECeyubSN/w400-h203/daughtersofdarkness1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Review:</b> Any film that starts out with a sex scene is going to instantly grab your attention. Harry Kumel’s <b>DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS</b> is no exception, playing less like a standard vampire film and more like an arthouse psychological thriller that just implies the undead manipulating the situations happening throughout the film. Delphine Seyrig is hypnotizing as Countess Bathory, giving a seductive and classy performance that hides her menace and bloodthirsty intentions. John Karlen as Stefan is also very good as a man who is repressed in many aspects of his life, causing him to be physically and sexually abusive as he gets off on the idea of death. Danielle Ouimet is stunning, but is kind of one-note as Valerie, while Andrea Rau is striking in her presence as Bathory’s familiar, Ilona. The Belgian scenery adds an exotic flair, while Kumel’s use of primary colors throughout [<i>especially the reds and blues</i>] are striking. What could have been a sexploitation type of "Dracula” movie ends up being more interesting and captivating than that, making <b>DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS</b> one to seek out if you like sex and drama in your vampire movies. This film is definitely a vibe.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DYEKxAtcA8M?si=7pu13iGHBOwtoCfi" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhML-VdJrZt_HLsggXmmKPl0VzgorqnMVQoC206xvqkDE8nRH5TCCtRSFUZw56XJFy2yiPu83dTcsIvns00u7UJSJv1RoGZClSMuzI7PE_v9DNeaXp58_nELHWzAiCcfCPX8CC_ch-XcMtkTNVWOFj85jmHOtdT99e_rTF8OOYt0wpDNEvbKRRzWkH_EO-D/s500/363%20daughter%20of%20dracula.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhML-VdJrZt_HLsggXmmKPl0VzgorqnMVQoC206xvqkDE8nRH5TCCtRSFUZw56XJFy2yiPu83dTcsIvns00u7UJSJv1RoGZClSMuzI7PE_v9DNeaXp58_nELHWzAiCcfCPX8CC_ch-XcMtkTNVWOFj85jmHOtdT99e_rTF8OOYt0wpDNEvbKRRzWkH_EO-D/s320/363%20daughter%20of%20dracula.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>DAUGHTER OF DRACULA (1972)</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>Jesus "Jess" Franco</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Carmen Yalzade, Anne Libert, Alberto Dalbes, Howard Vernon, Daniel White, Jesus Franco</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Mystery/Vampires</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>82 Minutes</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Score:</b> <i>1.5 Howls Outta 4 <b>(4 out of 10)</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Plot:</b> <i>Luisa is called to the bed of her dying mother Edith at Karlstein Castle. Before she dies, she tells Luisa that the Karlsteins are a family of vampires and that her ancestor, the original Count Karlstein, lies buried in the crypt. Afterwards, Luisa goes and finds the count’s coffin and discovers that he is undead. As she takes Karine, her cousin as her lover, a police inspector, Ptuschko investigates a series of killings around the town, dismissing the locals who insist these are being caused by vampires.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxnLopEz_YsXFLAjWvhCFkH6FkjjHXdwUXrF7jrnDS_7JKLnWn5qFo6u5_uD12bCb8InXtKhkqWC6n-DPyJFrL_vaNpSQfymVIT4NZCeuX9f64iBkwTjGTDTAG6Q_Y_A5rKFqwoAzbpP9LDcZJZxGieSEH-ub4TKuoa-G5Wryj02epwSe7P1wmqSBEPEW/s1918/daughterofdracula1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="1918" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxnLopEz_YsXFLAjWvhCFkH6FkjjHXdwUXrF7jrnDS_7JKLnWn5qFo6u5_uD12bCb8InXtKhkqWC6n-DPyJFrL_vaNpSQfymVIT4NZCeuX9f64iBkwTjGTDTAG6Q_Y_A5rKFqwoAzbpP9LDcZJZxGieSEH-ub4TKuoa-G5Wryj02epwSe7P1wmqSBEPEW/w400-h176/daughterofdracula1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Review:</b> Anyone who is expecting <b>VAMPYROS LESBOS</b> is going to be severely disappointed, as Jess Franco’s <b>DAUGHTER OF DRACULA</b> is pretty much a confusing snore for much of its runtime. Despite the beautiful women, the sex that occurs between them, and a weird vampire Count who just lays in his coffin and never bothers getting out of it, the film doesn’t really have much more to offer. It wants to be a vampire film, while also trying to be a giallo, as well as going for a sexploitation incest angle between two female cousins lusting for each other - this movie never knows what it wants to be. Great Jess Franco zoom shots though, if you’re into that sort of thing. And the final few minutes are pretty cool, but it’s a chore getting there. Unless you need to see every Jess Franco movie, I wouldn’t rush out to watch this anytime soon.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyse4cyLo4-mVqMcUbSeiEYIouvYA6ZwpLCHcAOl8aI31zR9Ah-PqgzTzE_6ggUmaKZWgIg1jWLhxvaJ3fGq6SZtjNMKXeMchCTyS5fi3Z8uDgxo463aFAVHwGHnBdfgLqbZj77o_dvwXooIOfYcG5FTDD-we5s5h-iUNmIbXaVdcq7i7IBQ-zRKBQIuI2/s1360/366%20santo%20in%20the%20treasure%20of%20dracula.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyse4cyLo4-mVqMcUbSeiEYIouvYA6ZwpLCHcAOl8aI31zR9Ah-PqgzTzE_6ggUmaKZWgIg1jWLhxvaJ3fGq6SZtjNMKXeMchCTyS5fi3Z8uDgxo463aFAVHwGHnBdfgLqbZj77o_dvwXooIOfYcG5FTDD-we5s5h-iUNmIbXaVdcq7i7IBQ-zRKBQIuI2/s320/366%20santo%20in%20the%20treasure%20of%20dracula.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>SANTO IN THE TREASURE OF DRACULA (1969)</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>René Cardona </i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Santo, Aldo Monti, Noelia Noel, Roberto G. Rivera, Carlos Agosti, Alberto Rojas</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Action/Science Fiction/Fantasy/Adventure/Thriller/Vampires</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>81 Minutes</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Score:</b> <i>2.5 Howls Outta 4 <b>(6 out of 10)</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Plot:</b> <i>A woman travels to her past life with the help of Santo’s past life regression machine.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSBGHrgzIyrRdbpZbLiVPjAEP46KhbZvPt5Isjcn5x22U2LGL88oxP20Ezd5zrE3oEYAjxgO-MD6cvcQ_-otA4alviwrdT5SIcFwis96eSeouNRnxqBPkgsxghsAfyvfKN8-eVm7LjvJZX7CPlLw-Ysi15fu9jz3iEaISaAsWlwa8cfZtKgG_ubHaeeiJ/s1024/santointhetreasureofdracula.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSBGHrgzIyrRdbpZbLiVPjAEP46KhbZvPt5Isjcn5x22U2LGL88oxP20Ezd5zrE3oEYAjxgO-MD6cvcQ_-otA4alviwrdT5SIcFwis96eSeouNRnxqBPkgsxghsAfyvfKN8-eVm7LjvJZX7CPlLw-Ysi15fu9jz3iEaISaAsWlwa8cfZtKgG_ubHaeeiJ/w400-h200/santointhetreasureofdracula.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Review:</b> What an odd Santo feature this is. So apparently Santo creates a time machine, in which he sends a female colleague back in time to live the life of an ancestor who Dracula was infatuated with. Not only that, but there’s a goon squad in the present day - led by someone in an executioner’s hood who hates guns - who wants to use the time machine to steal treasure, or something like that. The best part about this film is that this executioner guy and Santo agree on who gets to use the time machine through a wrestling match [<i>but of course</i>]. And then Dracula manages to enter the present day to cause trouble. Typical Santo goofiness but with a pretty chill performance by Dracula actor Aldo Monti, who would appear as other characters in later Santo features. Pretty dumb in an amusing way.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mmnKvqq0uCE?si=s3c519tjXPj3rVy7" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWEVNISw6SJwR4uNDoG0vyazLRk2E-OEuInBIaviIMBGZ_W6QOTEH2wE0U_NUoyXEQhYZHkv6X-NSIP0DcN3A7u5wW3Jj3VM-_CElml0V4UWEVpe_NbRBiPuZHW5of97xLBHGGTQa-gg89OotDc1ELksBPyst13tUoX8kxWkrSQC6ZXsQOitUieT4OZq1/s1404/371%20the%20vengeance%20of%20the%20vampire%20women.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1404" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWEVNISw6SJwR4uNDoG0vyazLRk2E-OEuInBIaviIMBGZ_W6QOTEH2wE0U_NUoyXEQhYZHkv6X-NSIP0DcN3A7u5wW3Jj3VM-_CElml0V4UWEVpe_NbRBiPuZHW5of97xLBHGGTQa-gg89OotDc1ELksBPyst13tUoX8kxWkrSQC6ZXsQOitUieT4OZq1/s320/371%20the%20vengeance%20of%20the%20vampire%20women.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>THE VENGEANCE OF THE VAMPIRE WOMEN (1970)</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>Federico Curiel</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Santo, Norma Lazareno, Gina Romand, Victor Junco, Aldo Monti</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Action/Vampires</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>85 Minutes</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Score:</b> <i>1.5 Howls Outta 4 <b>(4 out of 10)</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Plot:</b> <i>The vampire women of Mexico have awakened to take their revenge on the descendant of the man who destroyed them shortly after they had emigrated to Mexico during the 19th century.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBlo6a9cUg8UsZGrHErqQu0RGrS36bwEOt9n8PcTkEyalOPS2skhKqPzcmgFaCEDZkub3dSi0KCNJnfTJU9vJcTf6FwmZ5WZpp9HnmbSQIZdWem927Q0Qd_MI122EwIoJVAdRU8imENlGgMXY6Xlu4aG4eQkvbT_tHDRLFhwonkO7y4oH4tJj6VQ0iqp6/s1038/thevengeanceofthevampirewomen.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1038" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBlo6a9cUg8UsZGrHErqQu0RGrS36bwEOt9n8PcTkEyalOPS2skhKqPzcmgFaCEDZkub3dSi0KCNJnfTJU9vJcTf6FwmZ5WZpp9HnmbSQIZdWem927Q0Qd_MI122EwIoJVAdRU8imENlGgMXY6Xlu4aG4eQkvbT_tHDRLFhwonkO7y4oH4tJj6VQ0iqp6/w400-h295/thevengeanceofthevampirewomen.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Review:</b> Probably one of my least favorite Santo films I’ve watched this month, <b>THE VENGEANCE OF THE VAMPIRE WOMEN</b> doesn’t really live up to its wonderful title unfortunately. While there are still wrestling scenes and Santo grappling with goons to stop the evil threat that has come upon him and his friends, nothing else is really all that interesting and it feels a bit “same-old, same-old” by this point. Gina Romand is stunning as the evil Countess Mayra, with many close ups of her eyes attempting to mind control men to do her bidding. I just wish the film was more exciting, but it’s kind of slow and meanders towards the finish line. There’s also a mad scientist subplot that doesn’t help either, moving the vampire women angle to a secondary one. I think this could have been a fun Santo flick, but all I see is wasted potential. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ic3vvY653Ly6ttKS6ovJfBh4N7JByFTK9B5DvN3-IUiBNtPnfS1E3fVRCgWHraHz1WdQBX7LforlSmvhqp8c36ia-LCUahM1mpgLWh5iVxWNxDYGvVpifPaE3ipnXSHZhZh-WBpTNr7RW1pegDD8IOa-R4QpdRB5hdwXt151176fsohzLYGECosS2Dcb/s750/372%20female%20vampire.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ic3vvY653Ly6ttKS6ovJfBh4N7JByFTK9B5DvN3-IUiBNtPnfS1E3fVRCgWHraHz1WdQBX7LforlSmvhqp8c36ia-LCUahM1mpgLWh5iVxWNxDYGvVpifPaE3ipnXSHZhZh-WBpTNr7RW1pegDD8IOa-R4QpdRB5hdwXt151176fsohzLYGECosS2Dcb/s320/372%20female%20vampire.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>FEMALE VAMPIRE (1973)</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>Jesus "Jess" Franco</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Lina Romay, Jack Taylor, Alice Arno, Monica Swinn, Jesus Franco, Anna Watican</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Vampires</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>105 Minutes</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Score:</b> <i>3 Howls Outta 4 <b>(7 out of 10)</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Plot:</b> <i>A mute noblewoman’s vampiric heritage compels her to drain the life force from all of her lovers.</i> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eC86bKvUdMGsmEvvf9Ym7oCysVzZcaklB1DUwkqR07ICwo-yCwjASKdtTU4RrUXtRRxEj9v0m8GP7DPIg4MZyb2Sm71DifkvX5w3CF2XVjV1jtwsWT9FlGAkmV4Dwm1Shja1hA_W0o-Pqputq5WXuNsjjg_37R4Ij6pnRwywVd4T0FWDjsGOa8WdLYH3/s590/femalevampire.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="590" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eC86bKvUdMGsmEvvf9Ym7oCysVzZcaklB1DUwkqR07ICwo-yCwjASKdtTU4RrUXtRRxEj9v0m8GP7DPIg4MZyb2Sm71DifkvX5w3CF2XVjV1jtwsWT9FlGAkmV4Dwm1Shja1hA_W0o-Pqputq5WXuNsjjg_37R4Ij6pnRwywVd4T0FWDjsGOa8WdLYH3/w400-h171/femalevampire.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Review: This Jess Franco film was very interesting in several ways. One, it’s more of a softcore adult movie rather than a horror film. If you ever wanted to see both female and male nudity, as well as pretty close to hardcore sex scenes, <b>FEMALE VAMPIRE</b> is definitely for you. Two, it doesn’t have much of a plot, but I thought Franco projected the themes of loneliness quite well. There’s a great sequence in which Irina [<i>played by the beautiful Lina Romay</i>] writhes on a bed against a wooden bedpost. It not only showcases how lonely she is, but it’s also quite clever since impaling herself on a wooden post for pleasure would just end up killing her probably. And three, is this the only vampire movie where people can die because of great oral sex? That’s quite a gift and a curse. I also liked the idea of a man believing he’s Irina’s soulmate, bringing down her walls and giving her hope she could overcome her vampire curse [<i>which unfortunately doesn’t end well</i>]. I think the film gets repetitive at times but it’s worth a look if you’re a Jess Franco fan. I do think this is one of his better works.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aqyLZUyC7rs?si=nC-QO3dZKRAnJMqZ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqYyQVsnnr0C0bvs6RDF3em6jZnGy02vhMW7A1nKcHgRcwjmji0UVkJOHk9_mD12voWl5DdxSO1gKkggDaSSkHZSVUuvDizqQe7Eut0bwV-ZhKVx_NkkXLA6D6-WB6f_xYLwxoDzKI0MefcL5Z9YxOJAEFSQFQeY3_9lqblRlz77zhh80TZpTSMEJ5Ue3/s601/373%20Deafula.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqYyQVsnnr0C0bvs6RDF3em6jZnGy02vhMW7A1nKcHgRcwjmji0UVkJOHk9_mD12voWl5DdxSO1gKkggDaSSkHZSVUuvDizqQe7Eut0bwV-ZhKVx_NkkXLA6D6-WB6f_xYLwxoDzKI0MefcL5Z9YxOJAEFSQFQeY3_9lqblRlz77zhh80TZpTSMEJ5Ue3/s320/373%20Deafula.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>DEAFULA (1975)</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>Peter Wolf</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Starring:</i></b> <i>Peter Wolf, James Randall, Lee Darel, Dudley Hemstreet, Katherine Wilson</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Vampires</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>95 Minutes</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Score:</b> <i>1.5 Howls Outta 4 <b>(4 out of 10)</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Plot:</b> <i>A theology student finds himself turning into a vampire and hunting other students for their blood.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjMYMtDMtaE5QZaARqFXTqpO5T0otLAaabN-gbRfKZUFVOGS8_ImbKBQR3gDLAPyi1Bt0VKc2QaVcUdbd_EW5619DjRVJCVC1GsWjiRn8I0CxY2SqaHyT3wf73qVH2a9Nok64udGfoFhx9he_w4Ij3_KHlVoawPkUN9id-DgQlLYivd-y0163rtB5QsK2/s704/Deafula1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="528" data-original-width="704" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjMYMtDMtaE5QZaARqFXTqpO5T0otLAaabN-gbRfKZUFVOGS8_ImbKBQR3gDLAPyi1Bt0VKc2QaVcUdbd_EW5619DjRVJCVC1GsWjiRn8I0CxY2SqaHyT3wf73qVH2a9Nok64udGfoFhx9he_w4Ij3_KHlVoawPkUN9id-DgQlLYivd-y0163rtB5QsK2/w400-h300/Deafula1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> </i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Review:</b> Considering all the different adaptations and perspectives on the immortal Bram Stoker novel, I shouldn’t have been surprised by a Dracula movie where all the actors are reciting their lines through American Sign Language. I think that’s a pretty cool novelty and an interesting way to see how deaf people interpret the <i><u>Dracula</u></i> story.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Unfortunately, this Peter Wolf directorial and starring feature wouldn’t be worth mentioning if it wasn’t for the ASL aspect. I don’t mind the really low budget or the amateur takes on filmmaking here. But I watched the dubbed version, which probably didn’t help, making you realize how important scene transitions are when it comes to line reading and dialogue. There are moments where I felt Tommy Wiseau took inspiration for <b>THE ROOM</b> because the way characters spoke to each other was really weird. The flashback scenes weren’t edited in a pleasing way. Also, why did Dracula need a huge prosthetic nose? That was very distracting. But I did admire the twist on the vampire story and the use of religion in the final act. But overall, this didn’t do much for me and I would probably never watch this again. But I respect and I’m glad that it exists because even the hearing impaired deserve their own vampire story. So that gets points from me.</span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/scyARkWuRdM?si=OXuX8ZL9ZzBdbjJc" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Fred [The Wolf]http://www.blogger.com/profile/03208803636786210066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717349721694216715.post-23853562147476936442023-10-15T23:57:00.001-04:002023-10-16T00:37:53.282-04:00Howls of the Week (10/8/23 - 10/14/23)<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq83ypnAEX9Nj6wleJM1FF_KYLQuLYFpWU1QyE7BXYksCj3G_eb4t2ccjumvUYhZBAHZ86YsfOyv71A0u4IxOTJey5f3e5rkX12Wdb7ZjY-yI03dEqiPaMtqlIfGfQudp_NJ3ArAhMkAhjnDrAGYT1LP0tcl7oTcBXTM5HOv3GGfd_nLDPcA3IFd9NF6kz/s1200/10_15_23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq83ypnAEX9Nj6wleJM1FF_KYLQuLYFpWU1QyE7BXYksCj3G_eb4t2ccjumvUYhZBAHZ86YsfOyv71A0u4IxOTJey5f3e5rkX12Wdb7ZjY-yI03dEqiPaMtqlIfGfQudp_NJ3ArAhMkAhjnDrAGYT1LP0tcl7oTcBXTM5HOv3GGfd_nLDPcA3IFd9NF6kz/w400-h400/10_15_23.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>This will probably be a new feature, similar to the old monthly LUNAR CYCLE I used to do. I figured I would just post quick thoughts on films I've recently seen, while giving bigger/solo spotlights to more popular/important films. Let's see how this goes.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PPdvK5RdXDg7bBT-bWOV5TbRzNkdtPCwTL4xBKWqJnu9Or1lXBwS3_5e3_M1RltEGRvvONg2CV1mmIFFFXxeJly-k_nboBdwZZy4snFXfGjFtbuQdp2j-TzuQG5TWQT-D1WWxvt8y5n5sIgU4KVBpBLZWiA8af0iV3KxsZnU6m9DcdrJuPDXlEsA5yE6/s755/347%20totally_killer.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="510" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PPdvK5RdXDg7bBT-bWOV5TbRzNkdtPCwTL4xBKWqJnu9Or1lXBwS3_5e3_M1RltEGRvvONg2CV1mmIFFFXxeJly-k_nboBdwZZy4snFXfGjFtbuQdp2j-TzuQG5TWQT-D1WWxvt8y5n5sIgU4KVBpBLZWiA8af0iV3KxsZnU6m9DcdrJuPDXlEsA5yE6/s320/347%20totally_killer.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>TOTALLY KILLER (2023)</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>Nahnatchka Khan</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Starring: </b><i>Kiernan Shipka, Olivia Holt, Julie Bowen, Charlie Gillepsie, Lochlyn Munro, Troy Leigh-Anne Johnson, Kimberly Huie, Randall Park</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Science Fiction/Slasher</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>106 Minutes</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Score:</b> <b><i>3 Howls Outta 4 (7 out of 10)</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Plot:</b> <i>Thirty-five years after the shocking murders of three teens, an infamous killer returns on Halloween night to claim a fourth victim. When 17-year-old Jamie comes face-to-face with the masked maniac, she accidentally time-travels back to 1987. Forced to navigate the unfamiliar culture, Jamie teams up with her teenage mother to take down the psycho once and for all.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGczODJyvT7rssNJ8Xo0Zjbii_XCxf-Oxm3ezR1gveZ-x_zvJCH76KUTYaDx8_CbyDtfFIOb5jRdaGF96zYWO-euINTPVTt71ePXghsIMdjs0cgnDQLMJjokaQvWHhWlBQthb77nuMPG2cTnvSL4rRuFHEMwLNumC7eHqrVi08Xt5yuEOQ3qJfUzi9F69O/s1280/totallykiller-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGczODJyvT7rssNJ8Xo0Zjbii_XCxf-Oxm3ezR1gveZ-x_zvJCH76KUTYaDx8_CbyDtfFIOb5jRdaGF96zYWO-euINTPVTt71ePXghsIMdjs0cgnDQLMJjokaQvWHhWlBQthb77nuMPG2cTnvSL4rRuFHEMwLNumC7eHqrVi08Xt5yuEOQ3qJfUzi9F69O/w400-h268/totallykiller-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Review:</b> If you like <b>FREAKY</b> or <b>HAPPY DEATH DAY</b>, you'll get a kick out of Amazon's <b>TOTALLY KILLER</b>. While it should have used its <b>BACK TO THE FUTURE</b> premise better, I still had fun with it. The 80s needle drops are always welcomed, the characters were colorful and the mystery of the killer kept me guessing [<i>decent twist at the end</i>]. I wish Kiernan Shipka’s character didn't keep mentioning how things in the 80s were problematic like they are in 2023. Saying it once or twice is fine, but every five to ten minutes wasn’t necessary. I also wish the film was a bit funnier. Still, I didn’t feel like I wasted my time.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vNm3VPPKEQI?si=VT-t-xhGNlTL99am" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mGuWmjV5kTTK85faYv_VP9tJwZh7UNxmy5w4b-7XTnYW58YBxssFSF7AmgiEbxPACU5G58FEroFCYEn33TQ352GOK3bEAI63FAMiDIdJLNJ-te4UIH0UnINh7baTQ1PtJQqd76ZsS5K9g20-PXFQyPjRGUxiT6iiSebZw3MzWkt63BL1TpdE3srEM_T5/s755/346%20pet_sematary_bloodlines_ver2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="510" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mGuWmjV5kTTK85faYv_VP9tJwZh7UNxmy5w4b-7XTnYW58YBxssFSF7AmgiEbxPACU5G58FEroFCYEn33TQ352GOK3bEAI63FAMiDIdJLNJ-te4UIH0UnINh7baTQ1PtJQqd76ZsS5K9g20-PXFQyPjRGUxiT6iiSebZw3MzWkt63BL1TpdE3srEM_T5/s320/346%20pet_sematary_bloodlines_ver2.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>PET SEMATARY: BLOODLINES (2023)</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>Lindsey Beer</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Jackson White, Forest Goodluck, Jack Mulhurn, Henry Thomas, Natalie Anne Lynd, Isabella Star LeBlanc, Pam Grier, David Duchovny, Samantha Mathis</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Science Fiction/Fantasy/Zombies</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running:</b> <i>87 Minutes</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Score:</b> <b><i>1 Howl Outta 4 (3 out of 10)</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Plot:</b> <i>In 1969, a young Jud Crandall has dreams of leaving his hometown of Ludlow, Maine behind, but soon discovers sinister secrets buried within and is forced to confront a dark family history that will forever keep him connected to Ludlow.</i> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZdpujoxHq-eKhMYI6mbGDFBplxnMN05n6DrbBcohJzwtQ3cf-8H9smiy_DsXZ_D8LSGH1iDrnTQqqkGDz-D2M5uUqYnuiwrFrGFgYShj4DprSjjg20vYdzgBmnKLHBComMhwEtobtzDeb1pcl9E9YHqqPLl30TnjZ_3-hz7ytL7BqhBzsvsUNtVw4PQt/s500/petsematarybloodlines-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZdpujoxHq-eKhMYI6mbGDFBplxnMN05n6DrbBcohJzwtQ3cf-8H9smiy_DsXZ_D8LSGH1iDrnTQqqkGDz-D2M5uUqYnuiwrFrGFgYShj4DprSjjg20vYdzgBmnKLHBComMhwEtobtzDeb1pcl9E9YHqqPLl30TnjZ_3-hz7ytL7BqhBzsvsUNtVw4PQt/w400-h225/petsematarybloodlines-1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Review:</b> The less said about <b>PET SEMATARY: BLOODLINES</b>, the better. 87 minutes and felt longer than that, as I had to sit through multiple sittings just to get through this. Great actors [<i>Pam Grier, Henry Thomas, Samantha Mathis, David Duchovny</i>] were wasted in their roles. The story dragged towards an unsatisfying resolution. The novel and even the ‘89 version told this story in a more effective way in a much lesser time span. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the 2019 remake, but I thought maybe this prequel could have improved on that. The people behind this forced franchise should realize that sometimes, dead is better. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1IgQpRyfwbE?si=KN_dsmjcires7auB" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvr0yXCl2aH_bjKk7bwKhUm0HPWjAS9ZUYWuLCJx-VlUEQGp_a6wwsxZlE2ERbXKfty7je_1iDB4jGJ21Chi4geu9xRjDvnbCf82Zhh2pA9mvX1dC7_FK4XYZRFoxnGkfBzOyActjzG1Y7pWA2MscduUChRSMGru_dQnDQTYVxYOuZUGvU19DWTVvLy3Bb/s755/354%20she_came_from_the_woods.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="519" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvr0yXCl2aH_bjKk7bwKhUm0HPWjAS9ZUYWuLCJx-VlUEQGp_a6wwsxZlE2ERbXKfty7je_1iDB4jGJ21Chi4geu9xRjDvnbCf82Zhh2pA9mvX1dC7_FK4XYZRFoxnGkfBzOyActjzG1Y7pWA2MscduUChRSMGru_dQnDQTYVxYOuZUGvU19DWTVvLy3Bb/s320/354%20she_came_from_the_woods.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>SHE CAME FROM THE WOODS (2022)</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>Erik Bloomquist </i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Cara Buono, Clare Foley, Spencer List, William Sadler, Michael Park, Tyler Elliot Burke</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Supernatural/Slasher</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>101 Minutes</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Score:</b> <b><i>3 Howls Outta 4 (7 out of 10)</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Plot:</b> <i>In 1987, a group of counselors accidentally unleashes a decades’ old evil on the last night of summer camp.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZks9ulZnqxvN468eClMafHmWSSmGM4tUmhqMF5tK3OXB0QCBMPTsz75I3vKcuHIq30KuUSEwr3gbmJz7l56mgVygnklvWI4rnKGo2uqxjFrHYi_gzLVeQVUgnXRhsky8jPKZhwbN64xdrjXOXJWgSdS3wTepMk6lYmUeEocOsvGgfg11iMi0wUC4-rZO_/s3200/shecamefromthewoods-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="3200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZks9ulZnqxvN468eClMafHmWSSmGM4tUmhqMF5tK3OXB0QCBMPTsz75I3vKcuHIq30KuUSEwr3gbmJz7l56mgVygnklvWI4rnKGo2uqxjFrHYi_gzLVeQVUgnXRhsky8jPKZhwbN64xdrjXOXJWgSdS3wTepMk6lYmUeEocOsvGgfg11iMi0wUC4-rZO_/w400-h225/shecamefromthewoods-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Review:</b> Caught this modern slasher on Tubi before it left the service and I dug it quite a bit. Set in 1987 [<i>besides the modern language and the appearance of an Apple Watch - whoops</i>], this supernatural slasher involves a camp being terrorized by a watch who possesses children and campers after a ritual gone wrong. Good performances [<i>Cara Buono and William Sadler especially</i>], decent gore effects considering its small budget and a lore that’s nicely built but doesn’t end in a real satisfactory way makes this one worth looking for whenever it pops back up on Tubi or another streaming service. Recommended for <b>FRIDAY THE 13TH</b>, <b>THE BURNING</b> and <b>MADMAN</b> fans.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JQSTm1r0_1A?si=42-M1FilPiP2vv3T" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40lq98ecZJ7Nr21_urd5bIuVgeAq71XKqOg3fdsrp59Yse1ThoLC_tiTLraYEAopCQpliGqh9kew5lYumT15kbF4_6IcgDmqyMZSZGakKwkF8dTpJ-NTTU1NvhSLGsqWh4fn8-PIgo5Xm-8skcJZCCOfQZ-oiv-Skrzjyo36_iXhYQI-9QAVtvsF3EtAK/s755/351%20draculas_daughter.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="498" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg40lq98ecZJ7Nr21_urd5bIuVgeAq71XKqOg3fdsrp59Yse1ThoLC_tiTLraYEAopCQpliGqh9kew5lYumT15kbF4_6IcgDmqyMZSZGakKwkF8dTpJ-NTTU1NvhSLGsqWh4fn8-PIgo5Xm-8skcJZCCOfQZ-oiv-Skrzjyo36_iXhYQI-9QAVtvsF3EtAK/s320/351%20draculas_daughter.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>DRACULA'S DAUGHTER (1936)</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>Lambert Hillyer</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Gloria Holden, Otto Kruger, Marguerite Churchill, Irving Pichel, Gilbert Emery, Edward Van Sloan</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Drama/Fantasy/Vampires</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>71 Minutes</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Score:</b> <b><i>3 Howls Outta 4 (7 out of 10)</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Plot:</b> <i>A countess from Transylvania seeks a psychiatrist’s help to cure her vampiric cravings. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntnDfenL74qiIXISbT1Uayn6utf4LmtlFIRfUnDLCquLgPkRo3BydAUvDRfq3UFSWdyN4Q0RaR4a4YVJ4YdXVe8Bu-3h_NRuIV_a2nb6CK4IhgaxZkJAzRRW-xNYHP887qrbdkVSUAzzIjEldyHu768myL5zXpW2GtsmcttlXOKDmBFSmtzWfCFdYS8kG/s1411/draculasdaughter-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1411" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntnDfenL74qiIXISbT1Uayn6utf4LmtlFIRfUnDLCquLgPkRo3BydAUvDRfq3UFSWdyN4Q0RaR4a4YVJ4YdXVe8Bu-3h_NRuIV_a2nb6CK4IhgaxZkJAzRRW-xNYHP887qrbdkVSUAzzIjEldyHu768myL5zXpW2GtsmcttlXOKDmBFSmtzWfCFdYS8kG/w400-h306/draculasdaughter-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Review:</b> The first sequel to the immortal 1931 Universal Studios classic <b>DRACULA</b>, I slightly like this film more due to the filmmaking style. This feels more like a real movie than the stagey <b>DRACULA</b> does. The story with the Countess dealing with not wanting to be like her father, trying to find ways to stop being a vampire, was actually pretty interesting, Plus for a film from this era, having a lesbian angle was quite brave and surprising in a good way. I thought the performances were okay, with only Gloria Holden really standing out as the title character. And learning she hated being in this film because she thought she was above the material, it makes her performance stronger and more legit in my opinion. Plus, the film is short and sweet and doesn’t overstay its welcome.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qa0jV3wsgZs?si=3pNFXh8lersS0T66" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMNQuLkG-ckYOi5i4t5UWd4YvAfBMw617y0Crzk6QqYmaOx8sfOxpmXivEnKVS8noLFXXVycf15X4-uoyMV5xnOPz89di8uSDq0z-1jAzFWtI3g2IyFPps__ELhM7JVQxkJvZ4dPzU8z1BpF9ox7ICAhVW-33YMZRSLEWmnkLrd6LQ65qLsPCEOv7inLH/s1890/353%20blood%20of%20dracula.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1890" data-original-width="1299" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMNQuLkG-ckYOi5i4t5UWd4YvAfBMw617y0Crzk6QqYmaOx8sfOxpmXivEnKVS8noLFXXVycf15X4-uoyMV5xnOPz89di8uSDq0z-1jAzFWtI3g2IyFPps__ELhM7JVQxkJvZ4dPzU8z1BpF9ox7ICAhVW-33YMZRSLEWmnkLrd6LQ65qLsPCEOv7inLH/s320/353%20blood%20of%20dracula.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>BLOOD OF DRACULA (1957)</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>Herbert L. Strock</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Sandra Harrison, Louise Lewis, Gail Ganley, Mary Adams, Malcolm Afterbury, Barbara Wilson, Lynn Alden</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Vampires</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>69 Minutes</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Score:</b> <b><i>2 Howls Outta 4 (5 out of 10)</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Plot:</b> <i>A crazed teacher at a respectable girls’ school draws power from a medallion she has obtained from the Carpathian Mountains, and uses it to experiment telepathically on the school’s newest young pupil.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTMjxhOdXXoJw0f4QnBa7bQTgC8Z5c1JONGXN5Y8eiyYH3gVh5ZpCEaAV5EY0LEZ88sM8YXd-0olohfiqqyB7uQsO5AIAi7h9qlwoiSQVOlw3yya8z49w6YuvSxYRsl6-mC0aNkNm89L2_AP6S4IjvT6e1Z0bQy7U9OYigIOWr8VnVXlYh-FwG1bPU_2b/s600/bloodofdracula-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTMjxhOdXXoJw0f4QnBa7bQTgC8Z5c1JONGXN5Y8eiyYH3gVh5ZpCEaAV5EY0LEZ88sM8YXd-0olohfiqqyB7uQsO5AIAi7h9qlwoiSQVOlw3yya8z49w6YuvSxYRsl6-mC0aNkNm89L2_AP6S4IjvT6e1Z0bQy7U9OYigIOWr8VnVXlYh-FwG1bPU_2b/w400-h214/bloodofdracula-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Review:</b> <span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Pretty much the same template as <b>I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF</b>, this “vampire” movie feels more like a teen drama with supernatural elements in it. Honestly, this film didn’t do a whole lot for me. It sort of meanders towards the finish line, with the main character being hypnotized and controlled by her teacher, for whatever reason, until we see the main reveal in the last moments of the movie. I thought the main character’s relationship with her father and her indifferent stepmother was interesting at the start, but it just felt flatter as the movie rolled on. Not bad, but nothing I would rush out to watch again.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_rm3frPCeRw?si=2DPmEAEIxV0WqukE" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDI2bTOON-QG-jKvy2DVhXhNl8_IsVHlGIqXwAkQtK_ffTHAivfAjqvstYdzAKgwYt3Zzct7BLGgSTkEzNTKmYjiQHEQuuzFzmJ0Yub1LRTqgywnPYuOAUcfTdpoHEyrgzTZYFcqf1zh-NWZH7IP8mBHLFMVI8FyddNSOFgpsOks4E_dQ5ZMamC9igz92V/s755/356%20vampire_lovers.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="497" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDI2bTOON-QG-jKvy2DVhXhNl8_IsVHlGIqXwAkQtK_ffTHAivfAjqvstYdzAKgwYt3Zzct7BLGgSTkEzNTKmYjiQHEQuuzFzmJ0Yub1LRTqgywnPYuOAUcfTdpoHEyrgzTZYFcqf1zh-NWZH7IP8mBHLFMVI8FyddNSOFgpsOks4E_dQ5ZMamC9igz92V/s320/356%20vampire_lovers.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>THE VAMPIRE LOVERS (1970)</u></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>Roy Ward Baker</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Ingrid Pitt, Peter Cushing, George Cole, Kate O'Mara, Ferdy Mayne, Douglas Wilmer, Madeline Smith, Pippa Steel</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Vampires</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>91 Minutes</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Score:</b> <b><i>3 Howls Outta 4 (7 out of 10)</i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Plot:</b> <i>In the heart of Styria the Karnstein Family, even after their mortal deaths, rise from their tombs spreading evil in the countryside in their lust for fresh blood. Baron Hartog whose family are all victims of Karnstein vampirism, opens their graves and drives a stake through their diabolical hearts. One grave he cannot locate is that of the legendary beautiful Mircalla Karnstein. Years of peace follow that grisly night until Mircalla reappears to avenge her family’s decimation and satisfy her desire for blood.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiof2dnk_3KOeIXqiYcqoss1RswZ7YaeV6VcNL11bxjjgX4MPRqt3Y3-4RXOblSO3l6FY1Dp7QQwwIm9g2DwL0iLnIBpGaTYQLxt2CSJUU9snCD-x2hlFn8rr3b7oziup0gS_zFN7QsVUZVTqwhQchSn_wWD-69EJoHYJZK6DjNH3AwCJY8nTWiEM6LJ9cm/s840/thevampirelovers-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="840" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiof2dnk_3KOeIXqiYcqoss1RswZ7YaeV6VcNL11bxjjgX4MPRqt3Y3-4RXOblSO3l6FY1Dp7QQwwIm9g2DwL0iLnIBpGaTYQLxt2CSJUU9snCD-x2hlFn8rr3b7oziup0gS_zFN7QsVUZVTqwhQchSn_wWD-69EJoHYJZK6DjNH3AwCJY8nTWiEM6LJ9cm/w400-h216/thevampirelovers-1.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Review:</b> </span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Part of the Karnstein trilogy, this Hammer production is quite titillating with its lesbian undertones and an Ingrid Pitt performance that commands the spotlight and captivates the audience. Nicely paced, with a Gothic atmosphere and good performances that balance the horror with the melodrama. Probably not one of the best Hammer films out there, or even one I would think of whenever the studio is brought up. Yet, this one is definitely worth watching if you’re into sexy vampires.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XYGk0G9IWfE?si=N3lBjivGzejjNoeI" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1HGQLRt0kYOV7E9iphMpj1ZZXLbiiIY-T845pTkhxZCsP176rqBExnEspiQYWcuOIRnPCcPgjRIgKdiL0vHnPlEJGxLVfnwNqHWj1mvb3ieyCuif8b7oy4Jf-AbMlj7-gTX0yQ5rksMjU5nMtmPXrw6kaGmNQSmwR30ysc4B3BRXa7PlF0mfYfOdVibZ/s669/357%20twins_of_evil.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1HGQLRt0kYOV7E9iphMpj1ZZXLbiiIY-T845pTkhxZCsP176rqBExnEspiQYWcuOIRnPCcPgjRIgKdiL0vHnPlEJGxLVfnwNqHWj1mvb3ieyCuif8b7oy4Jf-AbMlj7-gTX0yQ5rksMjU5nMtmPXrw6kaGmNQSmwR30ysc4B3BRXa7PlF0mfYfOdVibZ/s320/357%20twins_of_evil.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>TWINS OF EVIL (1971)</u></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>John Hough</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Peter Cushing, Dennis Price, Madeleine Collinson, Mary Collinson, Isobel Black, Kathleen Byron, David Warbeck</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Vampires</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>87 Minutes</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Score:</b> <i><b>3 Howls Outta 4 (8 out of 10)</b></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Plot:</b> <i>While dabbling in Satanism, Count Karstein resurrects Mircalla Karnstein who initiates him into vampirism. As a rash of deaths afflicts the village, Gustav the head of Puritan group leads his men to seek out and destroy the pestilence. One of his twin nieces has become inflicted with the witchcraft but Gustav’s zeal and venom has trapped the innocent Maria, threatening her with a tortuous execution, whilst Frieda remains free to continue her orgy of evil.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPb1P9bPeWKz0919skDD7QzrzboXr0SuHkcVOCOOwAnHnJlY07xMQ2JJdQ6xs6BSFshtsgedqvziHmgeltUoJH704pX0khpZ5BjHTSSkv_2cw2vbrtZKiQGmx1LULqshKpLsVPgC4MsgF0LkYfVXStFwL6dSkwjy03WCBOzyQ0yn_OTj_HU3s5W9Tv-2s/s894/twinsofevil-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="894" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPb1P9bPeWKz0919skDD7QzrzboXr0SuHkcVOCOOwAnHnJlY07xMQ2JJdQ6xs6BSFshtsgedqvziHmgeltUoJH704pX0khpZ5BjHTSSkv_2cw2vbrtZKiQGmx1LULqshKpLsVPgC4MsgF0LkYfVXStFwL6dSkwjy03WCBOzyQ0yn_OTj_HU3s5W9Tv-2s/w400-h225/twinsofevil-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Review:</b> The third film of Hammer’s Karnstein’s trilogy, I thought <b>TWINS OF EVIL</b> was a lot more fun to watch than <b>THE VAMPIRE LOVERS</b>. Better action. Better effects. More compelling performances, especially by Peter Cushing, David Warbeck and the Collinson twins. The title is misleading [<i>only one evil twin really</i>] and it isn’t as titillating as <b>THE VAMPIRE LOVERS</b>. But I liked this film quite a lot and would definitely watch this again.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MTjw3Qv9g0U?si=e6pftuMXQ-niSSRr" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHSbp891_y-7sF_b0DsekB8Ngdp8UqUWnUdbTLl8BNYrVfXsZSrjeQSuy6VwYv0Yem8sX-XCYJwvmF83MIJaaj42WgPK9XvUoLIsFpYPHmXWO3lCIF0HLU5RvzZJKWwLxGbOE48LIEh-rUtJJS8E8tPQsPSD2XABMRV9HKrX5-1bU4gyR1tU-H_9eLt6F/s821/359%20santo%20vs%20the%20vampire%20women.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHSbp891_y-7sF_b0DsekB8Ngdp8UqUWnUdbTLl8BNYrVfXsZSrjeQSuy6VwYv0Yem8sX-XCYJwvmF83MIJaaj42WgPK9XvUoLIsFpYPHmXWO3lCIF0HLU5RvzZJKWwLxGbOE48LIEh-rUtJJS8E8tPQsPSD2XABMRV9HKrX5-1bU4gyR1tU-H_9eLt6F/s320/359%20santo%20vs%20the%20vampire%20women.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>SANTO VS. THE VAMPIRE WOMEN (1962)</u></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>Alfonso Corona Blake</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Santo, Lorena Velazquez, Maria Duval, Jaime Fernandez, Augusto Benedico, Ofelia Montesco, Xavier Loja</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Action/Fantasy/Vampires/Werewolves</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>89 Minutes</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Score:</b> <i><b>2 Howls Outta 4 (5 out of 10)</b></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Plot:</b> <i>A professor recruits a professional wrestler to protect his daughter from vampires intent on kidnapping her and marrying her to the devil.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7tK3gqxlbiNOHJ1CYcTConaun9ER2fl2eIW4SQ-u-zLOEv_RUrs8YAbftaq5eLXqt2vMrMLisrtExe2WegfVRp3iA4cnTcY7ix5fNt5t-MmomvGi6qic8TmSHvH7Gr6qtu6DrAKCfuVdVhKcwF76yLpMIGhqdphw0t6TD0E6zPMUeHVaAQ_kwredLQAU/s512/santovampirewomen-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="512" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7tK3gqxlbiNOHJ1CYcTConaun9ER2fl2eIW4SQ-u-zLOEv_RUrs8YAbftaq5eLXqt2vMrMLisrtExe2WegfVRp3iA4cnTcY7ix5fNt5t-MmomvGi6qic8TmSHvH7Gr6qtu6DrAKCfuVdVhKcwF76yLpMIGhqdphw0t6TD0E6zPMUeHVaAQ_kwredLQAU/w400-h225/santovampirewomen-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Review:</b> If you’ve ever watched a horror film starring Lucha Libre star Santo [<i>or Samson in the English dubbing</i>], you know exactly what you’re getting. Silly, campy and just oddball story and action involving a coven of female vampires and their male minions who want to kidnap the daughter of someone who escaped their grasp many years prior. The grandfather hires Santo to protect her, leading to many goofy action scenes, including a wrestling one involving a vampire/werewolf person(?). Considering this was an episode of <b>MST3K</b>, I don’t think the film is that bad that it earned that honor. While pretty dumb, the dubbing is actually funny and the action scenes are amusing. Plus I thought the final act was a lot of fun, especially with Santo driving that sweet convertible. Better than what its reputation would tell you, to be quite honest.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U90BDlWYQnE?si=jboKdV7ur1wVIhN7" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>Fred [The Wolf]http://www.blogger.com/profile/03208803636786210066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717349721694216715.post-16052855646472441902023-10-11T22:47:00.001-04:002023-10-11T22:47:33.574-04:00The Exorcist: Believer (2023)<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-2216703a-7fff-04ae-c3a9-72241b92a64c"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u></u></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQK50vx-61dLDdO4GF_keunev9gb_ZmLWHZGcGzsW6NjmZ6uGj6ohslrhcBDKfHdhmv1ILJwtbt4WdGV8uYSZvseo7JfkT1nWMszmbgWCUMuRs2Jh7wA5BLkbbDu8DSPCIYJlIrneia91SnXWfawaAsXaV-k2mlNKZ5_2RJNSrY2tIxFisv_qngLy7Dl53/s755/345%20exorcist_believer_ver2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="477" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQK50vx-61dLDdO4GF_keunev9gb_ZmLWHZGcGzsW6NjmZ6uGj6ohslrhcBDKfHdhmv1ILJwtbt4WdGV8uYSZvseo7JfkT1nWMszmbgWCUMuRs2Jh7wA5BLkbbDu8DSPCIYJlIrneia91SnXWfawaAsXaV-k2mlNKZ5_2RJNSrY2tIxFisv_qngLy7Dl53/w253-h400/345%20exorcist_believer_ver2.jpg" width="253" /></a></u></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>DIRECTED BY</u></b></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>David Gordon Green</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>STARRING</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Leslie Odom Jr. - Victor Fielding</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Ann Dowd - Ann</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Jennifer Nettles - Miranda</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Norbert Leo Butz - Tony</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Lidya Jewett - Angela Fielding</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Olivia Marcum - Katherine</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Ellen Burstyn - Chris MacNeil</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre -</b> <i>Horror/Supernatural/Possession/Demons</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time -</b> <i>111 Minutes</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>PLOT</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Since the death of his wife 12 years ago, Victor Fielding has raised their daughter, Angela on his own. But when Angela and her friend Katherine disappear in the woods, only to return three days later with no memory of what happened to them, it unleashes a chain of events that will force Victor to confront the nadir of evil and, in his terror and desperation, seek out the only person alive who has witnessed anything like it before: Chris MacNeil.</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosJT27dkZTXYbUQZidD7N897O9J7iovg-JrpJwzzpE0GM-G1Ak51d1mfUOcR5Bvak7TU5ioLvpW0lwmTG-90if2Ak8EsvN_nQ7SnHaAdZ5tUsrEzGjhNuEgv5Qhmn5g0h4_N_554YYRIzlogzEWOaZU4BcEVzm0SLT81u7-aAt6G_dJ9n4zejWrRI0z-Q/s2486/the%20exorcistbeliever-1.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1330" data-original-width="2486" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosJT27dkZTXYbUQZidD7N897O9J7iovg-JrpJwzzpE0GM-G1Ak51d1mfUOcR5Bvak7TU5ioLvpW0lwmTG-90if2Ak8EsvN_nQ7SnHaAdZ5tUsrEzGjhNuEgv5Qhmn5g0h4_N_554YYRIzlogzEWOaZU4BcEVzm0SLT81u7-aAt6G_dJ9n4zejWrRI0z-Q/s320/the%20exorcistbeliever-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Fifty years ago, a William Peter Blatty bestselling novel called <u><i>The Exorcist</i></u> was adapted to movie screens by William Friedkin. <b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2010/04/exorcist-1973.html">THE EXORCIST</a></b> scared the bejesus out of people, it made tons of money and it racked up a bunch of award nominations - making it one of the first horror films to do so. It has maintained its legacy as not only one of the best horror films to ever exist, but a masterpiece of cinema, period. </span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">With every great success, there’s always a follow up. From good continuations to the original story [<i><b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2023/09/the-exorcist-iii-1990.html">THE EXORCIST III</a></b>, the FOX television show</i>] to not-so-good ones [<i><b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2012/09/sequel-september-exorcist-ii-heretic.html">EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC</a></b> and those two prequels I can barely remember</i>], there has always been an attempt to revive this franchise without much success compared to its slasher counterparts. But that didn’t stop Jason Blum and Universal Studios from winning a bidding war and paying an enormous $400 million for the rights.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Seeing the success they had with reviving Michael Myers, Laurie Strode and the <b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2008/05/halloween-1978.html">HALLOWEEN</a></b> franchise with a trilogy that had varying degrees of acclaim, the producers felt that the new <b>HALLOWEEN</b> trilogy director, David Gordon Green, could do the same kind of magic with <b>THE EXORCIST</b>. Already announced as a new trilogy for the franchise, <b>THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER</b> was released for the Halloween season with not a whole lot of anticipation for it. After all, not many people clamored for a new <b>EXORCIST</b>. And after watching a couple of trailers and seeing that they dragged out one of the stars of the first film back, Academy Award Winner Ellen Burstyn, many started to feel less excited and more worried about the original getting tarnished with another subpar sequel. And unfortunately, as far as I’m concerned, there’s not much to believe in when it comes to <b>BELIEVER</b>.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Let’s get the good stuff out of the way. I thought the first half of this movie was actually pretty solid. It obviously sets up the events of the second half of the film, but the first fifty minutes or so are the most compelling and interesting. It focuses on the main characters, mainly the Fielding family - consisting of a single dad who lost his pregnant wife in an earthquake while vacationing in Haiti, and his daughter who survived the impact of the earthquake but resulted in the loss of her mother. We get to see their dynamic and how much Victor, the father, cares for Angela despite being a bit overprotective. She wants to spend more time away from home with her friend Katherine, who is the daughter of very religious parents - the total opposite of Victor, who lost his faith when his wife passed. Angela and Katherine head into the woods to do some sort of seance to contact Angela’s mother, which only sets off an evil chain of events that the families will never recover from. The girls become more demonic as they’re possessed, the parents start blaming each other until they realize they have to work together to solve the issue, and bring in characters old and new to exorcize the demons out of these two teenagers.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_A7gfeI3TaoQJUXx4eAsb04AW8QqvOTzetYA-PMrdZXkmBN7Nl8zxiakMU1s8YYIA3i0k2u7N10VYXTpH7pM1T5SJcqr3gzbfu-vS9vRb8r9e16xnRLD5Ul0na5RAbQgoUgc-ixC7CarYM9LiiH7G0MhEyhLri64zUiajVxZBM7lDs9UhyCqjFb99OGxL/s3098/the%20exorcistbeliever-2.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2065" data-original-width="3098" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_A7gfeI3TaoQJUXx4eAsb04AW8QqvOTzetYA-PMrdZXkmBN7Nl8zxiakMU1s8YYIA3i0k2u7N10VYXTpH7pM1T5SJcqr3gzbfu-vS9vRb8r9e16xnRLD5Ul0na5RAbQgoUgc-ixC7CarYM9LiiH7G0MhEyhLri64zUiajVxZBM7lDs9UhyCqjFb99OGxL/s320/the%20exorcistbeliever-2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />The first half of the film plays out like a true crime, missing persons type of movie. While we know what happened to both Angela and Katherine, we don’t really know how and why. Why were these two girls targeted? Is Pazuzu the demon possessing these girls, or is it another malevolent being? Priests struggled with one person being possessed. What chance do they have with two at once? Especially when the two girls are in sync by the same demon? I was interested because this is a new twist on a familiar story. It allowed the characters to develop into people we can kind of connect with, while wondering how they were going to overcome this when the demon is only willing to let one of the girls to survive over the other, making the parents have to choose both their fates. There’s a good story here and I think if handled better, this could have been a top notch <b>EXORCIST</b> movie.</span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I also felt the performances were really good. In particular, I thought both Leslie Odom Jr. and Lidya Jewett as Victor and Angela Fielding were the best of the lot. Odom Jr. has always been a solid actor and he plays the confused and grieving husband and father well. He has a presence that works well here. Jewett is also very sweet as Angela, which is great because she’s the total opposite once she’s possessed. I also thought the other young actress, Olivia Marcum as Katherine, is also very good. I don’t think she had much of a presence when she was normal, but once she’s possessed, she’s a standout. She reminded me of Linda Blair’s performance in the first film in many ways, which I appreciated. I also thought Ann Dowd was a highlight as Ann, a nurse who was previously a nun-in-training with a sinful past. She’s probably the best supporting actor here, bringing some gravitas and bringing some needed emotion during the last part of the film.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I also thought the cinematography by Michael Simmonds was nice. It did remind me of the three previous <b>HALLOWEEN</b> films, but I thought the movie had some really nice shots. This is probably the best looking <b>EXORCIST</b> movie, even though I’m sure some will feel it looks a bit too polished. But I thought his handling of the visuals established many things well, especially the use of light and shadow at times.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Unfortunately, that is all of the positivity I have for <b>THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER</b>. The biggest sin this film has is that it’s pretty silly once Ellen Burstyn pops in as the returning Chris MacNeil - the mother of the first film’s victim Regan. Folks, here we have the perfect example of how not to use a returning Legacy Character to a franchise. Unlike a Laurie Strode, or the trio of Sydney, Dewey and Gale, or hell, even the return of Sally Hardesty to Netflix’s <b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2022/02/texas-chainsaw-massacre-2022.html">TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE</a></b> reboot from last year, Chris MacNeil has no purpose in this film other than for audiences to remember the first movie. A wonderful actress, Burstyn is given some of the worst dialogue in the film. She also looks quite bored and annoyed to be in this movie, even though she received a big paycheck for returning. And what David Gordon Green and his co-writers did to Chris in <b>BELIEVER</b> really shocked me and upset me. It just felt so unnecessary and pointless, because nothing in this film would change much if this character wasn’t involved. It felt like a disservice to the character, the actress, the creators of the character and the fans who loved the first film and hold it in high regard. It’s nice seeing Burstyn and another returning character [<i>who cameos at the end</i>] again in their famous roles. And unless both characters have a substantial part in the next film or two, what’s the point of using an important character like this? It’s pretty insulting.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmdWsKldmoQwxzC90gIRN_PEpQQBJay8H8AXRLehjTIVfbkHUDXTSAZ5wan5hCuKpeay439t4Ea8NOdC2FJofY_s-Yc5F-VYLbzknW9KHQoFdr_di7myCA-6GXR4hCJFi_HS9Vj4chWgr2SCOyeh7lI4eLTEa6FXTlPzQllnSiF_w8lmYGQj-zXuKb-QT/s3072/the%20exorcistbeliever-4.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1595" data-original-width="3072" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmdWsKldmoQwxzC90gIRN_PEpQQBJay8H8AXRLehjTIVfbkHUDXTSAZ5wan5hCuKpeay439t4Ea8NOdC2FJofY_s-Yc5F-VYLbzknW9KHQoFdr_di7myCA-6GXR4hCJFi_HS9Vj4chWgr2SCOyeh7lI4eLTEa6FXTlPzQllnSiF_w8lmYGQj-zXuKb-QT/s320/the%20exorcistbeliever-4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Then we have the obvious exorcism itself, which felt like a Cliff Notes version of what we saw in the first film. The only difference is that the demon isn’t as foul-mouthed, there are two girls instead of one and there’s a whole bunch of religious folks trying to exorcize the demon rather than just a priest or two. I saw many call this group the “Exorcist Avengers” and they actually feel like that. I thought having people from different faiths to battle one demon was a cool idea, since each faith has a different method or interpretation on possession and dealing with demonic presences. But the film never really goes too deep in differentiating the respective methods, so I was missing some of the conflict and drama of possibly one person feeling their faith was better suited over the other. I guess it was refreshing to see people of different religions coming together rather than arguing about whose God is better, so I shouldn’t complain too much about that.</span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What I can complain about is how rushed the whole exorcist process is in this film. It feels forced in because this is an <b>EXORCIST</b> movie, but unlike the first film, there’s no real tension or drama. Well, that’s not completely true. There is a moment where the demon reveals that only one girl can survive the exorcism, making the respective parents choose which one to save and which one to let go. This is a great plot twist that would have created a ton of drama and tension amongst the characters. Who will they choose? If they do choose, is the demon going to keep its promise? Is there any way to save both? Will the parents do something stupid to insure their respective child survives over the other? Possibilities were there. There’s also a hint of anti-abortion rhetoric if you want to dig deep into that, which I didn’t really notice until I thought about things after the fact. There are a lot of interesting subplots that could have really enhanced the last half of this movie.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Instead, choosing a child lasts about five minutes. There’s no drama or suspense. There’s a bit of a twist but it doesn’t have enough of an impact to make you feel anything. The secret that’s revealed for one of the main characters doesn’t really go anywhere, unless that’s being saved for the next film. It all felt like a missed opportunity because there isn’t enough time given for these plotlines to sink in for the audience. This is like having a quickie when you’re looking for foreplay. Sometimes you want more out of your horror movie, especially if it’s a sequel to one of the best horror films of all time.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I think David Gordon Green needs to step back from directing horror films for a while and maybe just remain as a screenwriter or producer. I don’t think his filmmaking is terrible or anything, but it never feels inspired in <b>BELIEVER</b>. If I didn’t know this was a continuation to <b>THE EXORCIST</b>, the look of the film makes you think you’re still in Haddonfield, making you wait for either Michael or Laurie to pop up. The film is never scary. There are a couple of jump scares, but none of them worked on me or the audience I was with. While Green is good with his setups and first halves of this movies, he tends to do way too much with his second halves and rushes through their conclusions. I also appreciated the nods to the first film, but they feel limp compared to what Friedkin did. I feel if you’re going to make an <b>EXORCIST</b> movie, go all out with it. As much as I think <b>EXORCIST II</b> is a worse film than this one, at least that film is memorable. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>THE FINAL HOWL</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_c-xP905_5-kbTDUl5FzVUs1vu3GzG_gS1y1VSV7Pkiv2WIrAm6HY66sj8iy3D8yDqfly6yGOoCoB64a6AjbGQRkypB0_-c02KyM6hGsV-DJzkmCfBeDgS-je8uYzNNZz_dCEqkFLOlaYtf2H66iI3dkpItZ-jJcrgQ469nqxQ2r9RIGNPNGkPCg_bycV/s1200/the%20exorcistbeliever-3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_c-xP905_5-kbTDUl5FzVUs1vu3GzG_gS1y1VSV7Pkiv2WIrAm6HY66sj8iy3D8yDqfly6yGOoCoB64a6AjbGQRkypB0_-c02KyM6hGsV-DJzkmCfBeDgS-je8uYzNNZz_dCEqkFLOlaYtf2H66iI3dkpItZ-jJcrgQ469nqxQ2r9RIGNPNGkPCg_bycV/s320/the%20exorcistbeliever-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br />THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER</b> pretty much met all of my low expectations, not doing much in adding to the legacy of an iconic horror film from fifty years ago. The film is kind of dull for the most part, as it's not scary nor does it have tension or suspense. The exorcism portion feels like a watered down version of what we’ve seen before [<i>in this franchise and other exorcism movies</i>] despite having more characters involved. There are subplots that pop up in the final half that could have elevated this movie, but are rushed through without leaving much of an impact or excitement for the next installment. David Gordon Green’s direction isn’t all that different from what he did with his <b>HALLOWEEN</b> trilogy, even if the cinematography is quite nice. And the use of Ellen Burstyn - the less said about it, the better.</span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">That being said, the acting is quite good - in particular Leslie Odom Jr, the two possessed girls [<i>Lidya Jewett and Olivia Marcum</i>] and Ann Dowd as a nurse with a past. The first half, which plays out like a true crime/missing persons type of movie, is actually quite compelling as it builds character development and sets up for what’s to come. And as I mentioned, the look of the film is nice.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Other than that, <b>THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER</b> isn’t the best possession movie of 2023. Hell, it’s not even the best film with the word “Exorcist” in the title this year [<i><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2023/04/the-popes-exorcist-2023.html">hey Russell Crowe</a></i>]. I don’t think this is the worst film in the franchise, but at least <b>EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC</b> had balls. Maybe David Gordon Green or whoever could add some for <b>THE EXORCIST: DECEIVER</b> in 2025. The power of Christ doesn’t compel me to be excited for whatever comes next. What a shame.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>SCORE</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqzAErFkkrwbKY9poh8loPTsj3Tc_lxBHDj3KFBl7OQvFBM9lwFw_UGHsc7gByt1cphgQrQN-BqtSvJ-dgMB8Po0pmN7-oCBfujvu4e9f3LaffIN05CMWm9mHLKD2AtIzuk6XH7avFNTApWQgWXZxYrL-bh3s9snBFcF6mph-2yeg3khcRO15yZq2LQx4/s400/wolfscoreonenhalf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="400" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqzAErFkkrwbKY9poh8loPTsj3Tc_lxBHDj3KFBl7OQvFBM9lwFw_UGHsc7gByt1cphgQrQN-BqtSvJ-dgMB8Po0pmN7-oCBfujvu4e9f3LaffIN05CMWm9mHLKD2AtIzuk6XH7avFNTApWQgWXZxYrL-bh3s9snBFcF6mph-2yeg3khcRO15yZq2LQx4/s320/wolfscoreonenhalf.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>1.5 Howls Outta 4</b></div></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>(</b><i>4 out of 10</i><b>)</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rSGeC880CYw?si=oBhxDVGokpj3uBUf" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Fred [The Wolf]http://www.blogger.com/profile/03208803636786210066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717349721694216715.post-78858633599713639812023-10-06T17:40:00.003-04:002023-10-06T17:40:54.738-04:00Saw X (2023)<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-24ff47ca-7fff-4df3-69cb-ea3c4760f8d4"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u></u></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gff8wEapif5vMuScV72qjbJBWPZ5o8oYZGQhbcKNpX289n4MpZWn_Mh3ENgB3rl5hkzpTy964ezvVRH2zQRn7wNAairP6feS7TwBXUaASIOW7YxtYARiXDIx-gsgMhhMxyTBcDn7bp9KGLPnWcjgQEudLCXIYIXl0uL7ymS3lVXta2y5ybteJGAnOVsu/s755/338%20saw_x.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="510" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gff8wEapif5vMuScV72qjbJBWPZ5o8oYZGQhbcKNpX289n4MpZWn_Mh3ENgB3rl5hkzpTy964ezvVRH2zQRn7wNAairP6feS7TwBXUaASIOW7YxtYARiXDIx-gsgMhhMxyTBcDn7bp9KGLPnWcjgQEudLCXIYIXl0uL7ymS3lVXta2y5ybteJGAnOVsu/w270-h400/338%20saw_x.jpg" width="270" /></a></u></b></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>DIRECTED BY</u></b></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Kevin Greutert</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>STARRING</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Tobin Bell - John Kramer/Jigsaw</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Shawnee Smith - Amanda Young</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Synnøve Macody Lund - Cecilia Pederson</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Steven Brand - Parker Smith</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Renata Vaca - Gabriella</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Joshua Okamoto - Diego</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Octavio Hinojosa - Mateo</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre -</b> <i>Horror/Thriller</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time -</b> <i>118 Minutes</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>PLOT</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Between the events of <b>SAW</b> and <b>SAW II</b>, a sick and desperate John Kramer travels to Mexico for a risky and experimental medical procedure in hopes of a miracle cure for his cancer, only to discover the entire operation is a scam to defraud the most vulnerable. Armed with a newfound purpose, the infamous serial killer returns to his work, turning the tables on the con artists in his signature visceral way through devious, deranged, and ingenious traps.</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6CcdOctVFOdnUMJ2UPwd6ASFvKbPE3wJ1wjYe3ARAzp-P7kVvskAshKTPl-IGOz6LF-pZCtEq3wtiP8C-mYPrMSk0QB0ECIcKtM3fAqM6CGQhdPzP46nhoWK5qpS28jyrNNvoyoumJ5gnarEg6GKuZZUR9aFKh-4gIeeTJGxnx_-dGWpUnjf7i02rYgZW/s3000/sawx-1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1688" data-original-width="3000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6CcdOctVFOdnUMJ2UPwd6ASFvKbPE3wJ1wjYe3ARAzp-P7kVvskAshKTPl-IGOz6LF-pZCtEq3wtiP8C-mYPrMSk0QB0ECIcKtM3fAqM6CGQhdPzP46nhoWK5qpS28jyrNNvoyoumJ5gnarEg6GKuZZUR9aFKh-4gIeeTJGxnx_-dGWpUnjf7i02rYgZW/s320/sawx-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />As I had mentioned in my previous review for 2021’s <b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2023/09/spiral-from-book-of-saw-2021.html">SPIRAL: FROM THE BOOK OF SAW</a></b>, the hype train for this year’s <b>SAW X</b> made me eager to watch the newest installment considering the last few were either mid [<b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2017/11/jigsaw-2017.html">JIGSAW</a></b>] or pretty awful [<b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2011/02/saw-final-chapter-saw-3dsaw-vii-2010.html?zx=c5d553f5865e24b6">SAW 3D</a></b>, <b>SPIRAL</b>]. While the trailers made the film look like “been there, done that”, the Rotten Tomatoes score and even the positive word-of-mouth made me curious as to why this film was getting so highly praised when some of my other favorites in the series weren’t really. What’s so special about the tenth installment of a divisive horror franchise that has both critics and fans being so positive on it?</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">While I didn’t feel we actually needed another <b>SAW</b> film, I was anticipating it somewhat for a few reasons. The biggest reason was the returns of both Tobin Bell and Shawnee Smith to the franchise, as <b>SPIRAL</b> proved that a <b>SAW</b> film without Tobin Bell’s presence doesn’t really work in the story’s favor. The film also saw the return of director-editor Kevin Greutert - the man who directed one of the best <b>SAW</b> films [<b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2010/03/saw-vi-2009.html">SAW VI</a></b>] and the worst one in the franchise [<b>SAW 3D</b>]. Also, the film would be a direct sequel of the first <b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2008/05/saw-2004.html">SAW</a></b>, while being a prequel for <b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2008/05/saw-ii-2005.html">SAW II</a></b>, which I found intriguing. But having a film in-between two of the best films in the series upped its potential. I mean, this new film had to be better than the last few, right? What I didn’t expect was how much better it was than the last few. In fact, I think <b>SAW X</b> is the best film since the first film and proves that there is still a lot of life in this series.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I think what makes <b>SAW X</b> a huge success is having Tobin Bell back as John “Jigsaw” Kramer. SAW X belongs to him, as he carries the film successfully to the finish line with a performance that exceeds anything he had done previously in the franchise. Bell is helped by a really good screenplay, for once, that allows him to really dig deep into his character and flesh him out in ways that he wasn’t allowed to before. Honestly, the first act of <b>SAW X</b> plays out as a character study or drama that highlights John Kramer’s struggles with brain cancer, hoping for some kind of cure while, at the same time, he attempts to do the same for others with his “games”. He goes to meetings for those suffering with cancer. He’s heartbroken when doctors tell him that his cancer is terminal and he should be preparing for his last few months of life. And when someone from his meetings tells him of this procedure that could cure him of his cancer with experimental drugs that the FDA won’t approve of, we watch Kramer become hopeful as he’s less focused on “saving others” and more focused on saving himself and living his best life. Unfortunately, this is a <b>SAW</b> movie and we learn that this miracle cure is nothing but a scam to steal thousands of dollars from his account. This only makes Kramer a vengeful man who is here to teach those who gave him false hope a taste of their own medicine.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVoxDEeZslm1v34UF2ir_Dp4P1h1f2N0jTIjJjymiXLKSfpUtxpQWoAI4gKmqAcLgxquhyxaWPF-g5vdyF36uxO-nNMFKY_aA32UwP5AsYo2lqtFjNha0s7UEDqf_ap_WHCkNMBitb0YnjxRGzn71Dt76nGYw33aH9LrdzSmTSBNoVkVElH4vVTQ4pZZY/s1024/sawx-5.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVoxDEeZslm1v34UF2ir_Dp4P1h1f2N0jTIjJjymiXLKSfpUtxpQWoAI4gKmqAcLgxquhyxaWPF-g5vdyF36uxO-nNMFKY_aA32UwP5AsYo2lqtFjNha0s7UEDqf_ap_WHCkNMBitb0YnjxRGzn71Dt76nGYw33aH9LrdzSmTSBNoVkVElH4vVTQ4pZZY/s320/sawx-5.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />While there have been moments in the franchise that have tried to make John Kramer more of a sympathetic figure, especially when it concerned his wife Jill and the lost of their child, <b>SAW X</b> is really the first time where the filmmakers want the audience to be on Jigsaw’s side without any semblance of doubt. Kramer is fleshed out here as a human being who has been wronged by very evil people who used his illness to make themselves a bit richer without caring about conning a dying man. Each one of the participants rightfully deserves to be punished by making a choice, always keeping us on Kramer’s side when he puts them through some gruesome traps. He’s the ultimate anti-hero this time around, making us understand his motives and justification for his actions without questioning them. He’s not just a villain with a bunch of catchphrases, or a specter of the past who appears in flashbacks to move the plot along. Jigsaw is the main character here and <b>SAW X</b> lets us in on the man behind all the mean-spirited games in a well told way. It’s actually pretty refreshing because it lets Tobin Bell finally use his acting chops to create a more compelling character the audience hadn’t been privy to before. He’s incredible here and it’s definitely his best performance within the franchise. </span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I also appreciated the return of Amanda Young, who is without question the best Jigsaw apprentice in the entire franchise. While I still feel Shawnee Smith’s best acting role was in 2006’s <b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2008/10/saw-iii-unrated-directors-cut-2006.html">SAW III</a></b>, where she really got to play with Amanda’s mental state and resentment over how Jigsaw treated her, I do think Smith does get some nice emotional beats in <b>SAW X</b> as well. Amanda is a bit more playful and sarcastic in this film, while maintaining her grief over Kramer’s condition and not wanting to continue his mission without him. Bell and Smith share some nice private moments together and display their usually great chemistry as they just talk as mentor and student, with both actors bringing a lot of gravitas and conviction with their respective characters. We get a deeper understanding of their relationship and how important each one is to the other, like a father wanting to pass on his work to his daughter, who has no idea how to move on without him. Smith also gives Amanda a bit of a conscience that we’ve never seen before, as one of the participants is a former drug addict and Amanda feels a bit conflicted about punishing her. It causes a bit of strife between her and Kramer, which seems to explain their interactions in <b>SAW III</b>, where the two felt at odds at times due to Kramer’s deteriorating condition in that film. I thought both Bell and Smith elevated this film a lot.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The other characters might not get as much depth, but they are given enough of a background story to understand where they come from and their reasons for being a part of this evil scheme. Some are downright cold and don’t care about what they’ve done. Others display more guilt and try to plead with both Kramer and Amanda to give them a second chance to make things right. The actors all play their roles well. But in particular, Synnøve Macody Lund as Dr. Cecilia Pederson and Renata Vaca as drug addict Gabriella are the standouts and really make us either hate their characters or see how desperate they were to the point where we kind of feel bad for them, but not really at the same time. Lund is really fantastic as the film’s main villain, as she evolves her character with her fantastic performance. I’ve never watched a character in this film who deserved to play one of Jigsaw’s games more than Dr. Pederson did.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqI0AWP-nBMeGbhZjtM4t1v-kCQG-taJxMIloPf7ahbsugHHQstaEuYNq2LHjjLPsXb3AbmlZqBZYhTfX95RbpKl07O_AcU1hpoHty4LS0XMRlesnH-VpOVpnRzntn1rbV43GKSrQYesprnWEud00YQPsly-uwBk-YYQ_v6HOZNn0E-R7jSmO3B7dENz5/s1200/sawx-3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1200" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqI0AWP-nBMeGbhZjtM4t1v-kCQG-taJxMIloPf7ahbsugHHQstaEuYNq2LHjjLPsXb3AbmlZqBZYhTfX95RbpKl07O_AcU1hpoHty4LS0XMRlesnH-VpOVpnRzntn1rbV43GKSrQYesprnWEud00YQPsly-uwBk-YYQ_v6HOZNn0E-R7jSmO3B7dENz5/s320/sawx-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />As for the traps, I don’t think they’re the most memorable or fleshiest traps in the franchise. But man, it’s been a long while where I’ve watched a <b>SAW</b> film and actually cringe and felt uncomfortable at times. If you enjoy eyeball violence, limbs getting amputated, self-imposed brain surgery and a see-saw involving drowning, you’ll get a kick out of <b>SAW X</b>. The final act, in particular, is pretty damn great with one trap leading right into the twist trap at the end. I thought it was all really clever and satisfying as a viewer. The audience in the theater I was in pretty much clapped and hollered during the last ten to fifteen minutes. One of the best scripts in the entire series for sure.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Kevin Greutert probably directed his best <b>SAW</b> feature with this movie as well. It has some of the trademarks you’d expect. Flashing images and editing during the traps. Some of the typical <b>SAW</b> filters we’ve been accustomed to. And a showcase of violence that Greutert has no issue displaying for us to see, making us all glad we didn’t piss off Jigsaw. But I gotta say - I thought for a <b>SAW</b> movie, Greutert showed a lot of restraint visually, allowing the story and the actors to be more of a focus than the horror itself. The first half of the film feels more like a drama rather than horror movie, with no distracting editing or annoying flashbacks that distract from the main story. Greutert lets things breathe, allowing Tobin Bell and the other actors to do their thing before leading us into the second, and more traditional, half that we’ve come to expect with a <b>SAW</b> film. The difference in quality between <b>SAW 3D</b> and <b>SAW X</b> is staggering. You’d think each film was from a different director and not the same person. If they ever do another <b>SAW</b> film for whatever reason, I think Greutert needs to stay on because he did a wonderful job on this.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Were there issues? As with every <b>SAW</b> sequel, there are always plot-holes and things that happen that make you question how or why they do. Some of the minor characters could have been more fleshed for their arcs to have a bigger impact. And honestly, seeing both Tobin Bell and Shawnee Smith look much older while playing characters from almost twenty years ago was very jarring at first, but you don’t really notice it much once things start to kick into high gear. Bell, in particular, is playing a character who is dying anyway. So looking older actually works and I think deaging them with CGI would have made things look weird anyway. I did have a major gripe with Shawnee Smith’s wig. That looked really bad and it was a distraction whenever she was on. It was a choice, that’s for sure.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>THE FINAL HOWL</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2Go0zSvEe88jQhglWvaI-pnhjCf-ykrAROm77uBCJMvMtkZtdBTHPRJqX-5MUrtMBsZRflrG3PGrH8JNKqFVmd1kZiqmewkXWnVWCNy7C7b2sh9God9xLE32GDS3DDEK1M0lRbyVtQxHdNYbRqfntOVtako93-Or4q2jutZcK9CR8q2R5WG-fcFHZT3B/s3000/sawx-2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2Go0zSvEe88jQhglWvaI-pnhjCf-ykrAROm77uBCJMvMtkZtdBTHPRJqX-5MUrtMBsZRflrG3PGrH8JNKqFVmd1kZiqmewkXWnVWCNy7C7b2sh9God9xLE32GDS3DDEK1M0lRbyVtQxHdNYbRqfntOVtako93-Or4q2jutZcK9CR8q2R5WG-fcFHZT3B/s320/sawx-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />In one of the biggest movie surprises of the year, <b>SAW X</b> destroyed all expectations I had for it. Tobin Bell carries the film wonderfully from beginning to end, finally allowed to really use his acting chops to flesh out a villain and turn him into a sympathetic anti-hero who is completely justified for his actions. Shawnee Smith also brings the goods, making Amanda more human, while Synnøve Macody Lund is solid as the film’s true villain with her character’s evolution. <b>SAW X</b> also contains an actual narrative that allows characters to have depth, taking time with the situations presented and allowing the audience to invest themselves into the story regardless if they have prior history with the franchise or not. I also appreciated Kevin Greutert redeeming himself from the terrible <b>SAW 3D</b> with a subtle visual presentation that maintains some of the <b>SAW</b> trademarks [<i>flashy editing, that </i><b>SAW</b><i> filter</i>] but proving less is more as he directs more of a drama feel with the film’s first half before going into the typical <b>SAW</b> horror scenario in the second. This felt less like a chapter within a universe and more of an actual movie that’s trying to be its own thing and actually achieve a level of quality this franchise hasn’t seen in quite a while. I was really impressed that a tenth film in a horror franchise could be so damn good, that it pretty much trumps anything that came after the first film. I’m hoping this is the last <b>SAW</b> film, so the series can go out on a high note. But money talks, so…</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>SCORE</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmYcJFUXgvwVawuuH-_HR76C7eD6xigdBom3Ms2joIbGwrHMeRfRgjaYPf-hpmm_GgJcKvutUAd8jM1jum9YuqGBwzzTUo5Lmx-LUFjBqfIo1Tw15qLkTLpcnjVo57-XDEYxC2r0KAIaDrB9ZV_wSWCwSBIEe_dOzlLrzmcYRxptKkm2-mDIBOr1ChyMs/s400/wolfscorethreenhalf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="400" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmYcJFUXgvwVawuuH-_HR76C7eD6xigdBom3Ms2joIbGwrHMeRfRgjaYPf-hpmm_GgJcKvutUAd8jM1jum9YuqGBwzzTUo5Lmx-LUFjBqfIo1Tw15qLkTLpcnjVo57-XDEYxC2r0KAIaDrB9ZV_wSWCwSBIEe_dOzlLrzmcYRxptKkm2-mDIBOr1ChyMs/s320/wolfscorethreenhalf.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></span></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-large;">3.5 Howls Outta 4</b></div></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>(9 out of 10)</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t3PzUo4P21c?si=aclH3Rf58CskvRp1" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div>Fred [The Wolf]http://www.blogger.com/profile/03208803636786210066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717349721694216715.post-947358373186564412023-09-29T18:56:00.001-04:002023-09-29T18:56:27.502-04:00Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021)<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f6871a61-7fff-2d88-deed-faf826b3f833"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u></u></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPxIthxVK76_vo8ZTF06Q0H8A3MYP3Bm_53Rzg0EmzXUCTAKuin3Os-KvBpoNKlicpNl_3eOpGnTx1jG_pp9PQv4tHezD9ZkpwEOBO7ls0VsbiDD9HkMd2QmZZG7Ew_t6gl-OrFz1MOYO2hwZ_rYpAR314TYZ0MUDRKO2KLlaPOCCeNToASZHzd2revOS/s755/332%20spiral_from_the_book_of_saw_ver3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="510" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPxIthxVK76_vo8ZTF06Q0H8A3MYP3Bm_53Rzg0EmzXUCTAKuin3Os-KvBpoNKlicpNl_3eOpGnTx1jG_pp9PQv4tHezD9ZkpwEOBO7ls0VsbiDD9HkMd2QmZZG7Ew_t6gl-OrFz1MOYO2hwZ_rYpAR314TYZ0MUDRKO2KLlaPOCCeNToASZHzd2revOS/s320/332%20spiral_from_the_book_of_saw_ver3.jpg" width="216" /></a></u></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>DIRECTED BY</u></b></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Darren Lynn Bousman</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>STARRING</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Chris Rock - Detective Zeke Banks</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Max Minghella - Detective William Schenk</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Samuel L. Jackson - Marcus Banks</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Marisol Nichols - Captain Angie Garza</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Daniel Petronijevic - Detective Marv “Boz” Bozwick</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre -</b> H<i>orror/Mystery/Thriller/Crime</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time -</b> <i>93 Minutes</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>PLOT</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Working in the shadow of an esteemed police veteran, brash Detective Ezekiel “Zeke” Banks and his rookie partner take charge of a grisly investigation into murders that are eerily reminiscent of the city’s gruesome past. Unwittingly entrapped in a deepening mystery, Zeke finds himself at the center of the killer’s morbid game.</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyHPBRvAiUnAi2hvZzQD4MiyvZdFyXpp89jhfG4lKL7RHhLJij0Pw95brZxj3MJnHJKlnap7NnULLDD1nQskYBgUjTIrDhgaxtIP8l0CppdnL7pQbOdtPnBU9PcfZB6IfV0j0pTvA8TuN-5UGqluGZqqD26GIpPE_kpwtfTG4DQskK-0-hWx3KgHimqktn/s2000/spiral_3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="2000" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyHPBRvAiUnAi2hvZzQD4MiyvZdFyXpp89jhfG4lKL7RHhLJij0Pw95brZxj3MJnHJKlnap7NnULLDD1nQskYBgUjTIrDhgaxtIP8l0CppdnL7pQbOdtPnBU9PcfZB6IfV0j0pTvA8TuN-5UGqluGZqqD26GIpPE_kpwtfTG4DQskK-0-hWx3KgHimqktn/s320/spiral_3.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />With the return of the <b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2008/05/saw-2004.html">SAW</a></b> franchise with <b>SAW X</b> this weekend, I’ve been going back and rewatching the entire franchise from the beginning. If you’ve been following this blog for many years, you know I’m a big fan of the first three films, as well as the surprisingly solid <b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2010/03/saw-vi-2009.html">SAW VI</a></b> [<i>the one dealing with health insurance</i>]. The rest of the installments stem from being a bit above average to just dull or awful, with convoluted storylines and messing with the timeline to repetitive effects. While not many loved it, I thought 2018’s <b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2017/11/jigsaw-2017.html">JIGSAW</a></b> was a step in the right direction after the awful <b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2011/02/saw-final-chapter-saw-3dsaw-vii-2010.html?zx=c5d553f5865e24b6">SAW 3D</a></b>, which wrapped things up in a clumsy, cheap note. But the film didn’t set the box office on fire, so Lionsgate decided to go into a different direction for the series’ ninth installment.</span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">2021’s <b>SPIRAL: FROM THE BOOK OF SAW</b> is the only film in the franchise I hadn’t watched prior to rewatching every single film in the series this month. It’s not like I didn’t have a curiosity about it. After all, getting both Chris Rock <i>and</i> Samuel L. Jackson in a <b>SAW</b> movie will pique anyone’s interest. What amazes me is that <b>SPIRAL</b> was an idea by Rock himself, being a huge <b>SAW</b> fan and wanting to contribute to the franchise by taking things into a different direction while still maintaining elements that make the franchise what it is. Jackson joined because horror wasn’t a genre he was specifically known for and wanted to try things he hadn’t done. Other actors, who were fans of the franchise, won out roles that weren’t meant for them by impressing Lionsgate executives.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">With this much level of care and focus, you’d think <b>SPIRAL</b> would kick off a new era for the <b>SAW</b> series with some self-contained stories not involving John Kramer aka “The Jigsaw Killer”. Making <b>SPIRAL</b> more of a police procedural and mystery with “torture porn” elements included should have brought new life into a franchise that was, let’s be honest, long in the tooth by this point and had pretty much milked itself dry. Unfortunately, <b>SPIRAL</b> had a few things going against it.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>One</i>, it was released in the summer of 2021. Theaters had just started to really open again after COVID-19 had pretty much shut everything down for over a year. People were still too scared to head inside a theater with other people, feeling a movie was not a good reason to get a life-threatening illness - especially when vaccines had just started to roll out for it.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Two</i>, there probably wasn’t much interest in another SAW film at the time. Despite the stunt casting and a new take on a tired story, fans probably figured they could just wait until the film hit streaming and digital. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And <i>three</i>, <b>SPIRAL</b> isn’t that good of a movie. Critics were mixed on it. Fans didn’t really have much positive feedback to provide. And after watching it, <b>SPIRAL</b> is a film that has a ton of potential and interesting ideas, but doesn’t really know what to do with any of them.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After two years of hyping myself to finally sit down and watch <b>SPIRAL</b>, I couldn’t believe how disappointed I felt once the film concluded. There was so much potential here to make the film something special within the franchise. Considering the capable cast, a returning director who helmed two of the best entries in the series, and a good idea to reboot a tired franchise, <b>SPIRAL</b> should have been better than it actually is. While I don’t think it’s the worst entry in the series [<i>it’s super close though</i>], even the worst movie [<b><i>SAW 3D</i></b>] had a goofy, awful charm about it that makes it sort of rewatchable. I don’t think <b>SPIRAL</b> even has that, despite the film being better made.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLk6pASpMKlLzB8_UDjgE4Xs1ob3IiYC6sPY3HbJTlRkjyKufCB618u6Y-vSGOPW0_c1gCUIxhHIdsPmtwFDTij_p1Q4VfmgVrtHcCQagm0MzXqX8Ln0t280sjT0RzV6OFdX7y1Gf4KUs3ah5MzcfO3_Joq71WfdFnLpwSD51QF_FIAJ4AzPadn3v6zaO/s1024/spiral-2.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="1024" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLk6pASpMKlLzB8_UDjgE4Xs1ob3IiYC6sPY3HbJTlRkjyKufCB618u6Y-vSGOPW0_c1gCUIxhHIdsPmtwFDTij_p1Q4VfmgVrtHcCQagm0MzXqX8Ln0t280sjT0RzV6OFdX7y1Gf4KUs3ah5MzcfO3_Joq71WfdFnLpwSD51QF_FIAJ4AzPadn3v6zaO/s320/spiral-2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Let’s get the good stuff out of the way. I appreciate and respect the fact that <b>SPIRAL</b> wants to be its own thing, while taking what was established into a new direction. It’s definitely the right move to make, considering that the main villain has been long dead and all these apprentices that were never revealed until the story finds it convenient just makes the newer installments lesser than the films that came before it. Having a copycat Jigsaw killer with their own puppet, going after corrupt cops for a believable reason that’s revealed in the final act, is a fascinating idea that could have set up several films. You can kind of understand the villain’s motives, which could have been extended into other movies if <b>SPIRAL</b> had done better. While the script itself isn’t great, the narrative idea is interesting and should have elevated the franchise.</span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I also thought the traps, while not as elaborate as previous ones in the <b>SAW</b> series, weren’t too bad. Considering this was a copycat who wanted revenge on crooked police officers, there is less focus on morality and trying to help others appreciate their lives. So these traps were definitely intended to really hurt, or even murder, the victims. I thought the first trap with the tongue was good, especially the gory aftermath. I even liked the glass one near the end. The rest were fine, I guess. The wax one was kind of lame, but the trap that stretched out parts of the body was an interesting concept. These were probably the weakest traps in the entire series, but I like the intent for each one.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I also thought some of the cast were good in their roles. Samuel L. Jackson was probably the best, playing a subtle version of the role he usually plays. He’s not in the film a whole lot, but makes the most of every appearance. And his acting in the film’s final act is pretty good. I also liked <b>Riverdale</b>’s Marisol Nichols as the police captain. She had the right mix of toughness and vulnerability that made her believable. And Max Minghella was good as the rookie detective who unfortunately gets caught up in this whole copycat scenario. He carried himself well for the most part.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As for the rest, what the hell happened here? The screenplay is not good at all, with cringey dialogue and the biggest group of unlikable characters I’ve seen in this series yet. Despite Chris Rock’s Zeke supposedly being the protagonist of the film, he comes across as bitter, overly angry and just a person you would never want to know. I understand bad things have happened to him due to his crooked co-workers, but there’s no sympathy for a man who acts like a jerk to pretty much everyone. Even when he’s given choices to be a better person, he still acts like a prick. If Rock had intended his character to be the main hero of a new trilogy or something, then I’m glad <b>SPIRAL</b> didn’t do well at the box office.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Let’s not even talk about his co-workers, who all hate Zeke for snitching on one of their own. For police officers, they only care about themselves and their brotherhood rather than doing the right thing and helping their lead detective solve the mystery of a new serial killer ruining lives. None of them are likable, always acting or looking shifty as hell. In fact, most of the detectives in this franchise seem like the worst people to know in this universe. None of these characters have any depth either, which makes me not care about any of them. The only likable person is the rookie Schenk, because he genuinely cares about solving this mystery and listens to Zeke to make that happen. It makes him stick out from the rest.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqy484ZNgYhgVY2fRBkRSZzYVD6HkHT4kqGPh6VBSQ3bWOqs-VWB6kmZ-IA2XBvaaPi4UQ0Zgi1eU0CtQUES44pkycOAyUlJ0f8g6dA6-RJ8dVm9PzsuVDc8rAIc3q2Ghs2a8rac79J7iL3c7MxH7pW99P-tSYvJeyDtYR935D2KEPrTkk5JxCzJgD3mh/s1400/spiral-1.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1400" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqy484ZNgYhgVY2fRBkRSZzYVD6HkHT4kqGPh6VBSQ3bWOqs-VWB6kmZ-IA2XBvaaPi4UQ0Zgi1eU0CtQUES44pkycOAyUlJ0f8g6dA6-RJ8dVm9PzsuVDc8rAIc3q2Ghs2a8rac79J7iL3c7MxH7pW99P-tSYvJeyDtYR935D2KEPrTkk5JxCzJgD3mh/s320/spiral-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />It also doesn’t help that you can solve the mystery within the first half hour of the movie. I pretty much called who the new Jigsaw was pretty early on, with only the motive being questioned. For a movie trying to build a mystery and shock its audience with a twist in the final act, it’s very underwhelming when you call it almost at the start. I thought the motivation and reasoning for the copycat was pretty good, but I wish I was more surprised by who it was.</span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I also thought Darren Lynn Bousman’s direction wasn’t all that good either. I’m really surprised since I enjoyed his previous films in the franchise, as well as <b>REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA</b>. But I wasn’t feeling it here. The editing is really weird, especially the ending of the film that pissed me off so much, I actually lowered the original score I was planning on giving this movie. The most action-oriented scenes don’t feel exciting. The traps aren’t shot in a way that would make you cringe or feel a certain way other than pretty bored. There’s like no tension or suspense at all, which is terrible for a mystery-thriller. I thought the gorier stuff was shot well and the quieter moments were stronger than most. But as a complete movie, it felt very off to me. Maybe that was intentional to make it feel separate from the main <b>SAW</b> films while maintaining its position as part of the series. I just found Bousman’s direction bland, which is alarming because I think he’s one of the better directors to work on this franchise. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As for Chris Rock, I really wanted to like him in the main role of Detective Zeke. But I think he tried too hard to be this bad ass cop that it made his performance unintentionally amusing for all the wrong reasons. When he tries to act tough, it doesn’t feel real. It’s like he’s doing a skit on <b>Saturday Night Live</b> or something. His attempts at humor feel really dated. A <b>TWILIGHT</b> joke, really? In 2021? Even when he tries to act afraid, something about it just comes across as phony to me. I do think he has good moments with Marisol Nichols, Samuel L. Jackson and Max Minghella, only because he’s acting natural in those quieter one-on-one scenes. While I appreciate Rock for wanting to be part of a series he loved and his attempt to create something fresh to keep the franchise going for a new generation, I think he was severely miscast in the lead role. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And despite being part of the <b>SAW</b> series, I thought <b>SPIRAL</b> felt pretty tame considering having traps that were more gruesome than the ones in <b>JIGSAW</b>. At least <b>JIGSAW</b> had a constant energy going for it, keeping me engaged the entire time. <b>SPIRAL</b> seems to be figuring out its own identity throughout its runtime, which doesn’t make for a pleasant experience watching it.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>THE FINAL HOWL</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9w9y8HPzxmjonkp1XKkaS_bNR1yAMZIxhgVmI2v2x4KcZryD1_N1Jt_7zfEyxy-IpOvxyigQ2yc_2iHaRLiBpfQYyfEnkZzCyhBdmln-31hSFb4-Jwz9nnvxSAGjmlBcshqz5O8vHvn0u7V0LHasUd_7EvHj7MmBE6W1Isqml4zBxZI5YDpI6jFvjHBe/s1200/spiral-4.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="1200" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9w9y8HPzxmjonkp1XKkaS_bNR1yAMZIxhgVmI2v2x4KcZryD1_N1Jt_7zfEyxy-IpOvxyigQ2yc_2iHaRLiBpfQYyfEnkZzCyhBdmln-31hSFb4-Jwz9nnvxSAGjmlBcshqz5O8vHvn0u7V0LHasUd_7EvHj7MmBE6W1Isqml4zBxZI5YDpI6jFvjHBe/s320/spiral-4.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Despite a capable cast, a director who helmed two of the better installments, and a story idea that could have been the focus of future entries if it had succeeded commercially, <b>SPIRAL: FROM THE BOOK OF SAW</b> just comes across as a massive disappointment. I respect Chris Rock and Lionsgate for wanting to take the series into a new, fresher direction while maintaining what makes the franchise what it is. I appreciate the producers for wanting to build a new mystery that builds on The Jigsaw Killer. While probably the weakest traps in the franchise, I still like most of the concepts and thought the aftermath of each were pretty memorable. And some of the actors [<i>Samuel L. Jackson, Marisol Nichols and Max Minghella</i>] were quite good in their respective roles.</span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But man, <b>SPIRAL</b> has a disappointing mystery you can solve within a half hour of the movie. Ninety-five percent of the characters are so unlikable, including the film’s really frustrating main character, that you don’t care about any of them. Darren Lynn Bousman’s direction isn’t the greatest either. With odd editing, no suspense or tension [<i>this is a thriller, right?</i>], and an ending that made me so angry that it caused me to lower my original score, this is surprisingly not Bousman’s best turn as a filmmaker. And Chris Rock, despite him trying to play things as serious and tough as possible, just doesn’t come across as believable as a detective who is trying to solve a crime without much help from his crooked co-workers. This is one of the biggest miscasts for a lead actor I’ve seen in quite a while.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thankfully the hype and positive reception to <b>SAW X</b> has kept my appreciation for this franchise intact, because <b>SPIRAL</b> almost destroyed that once those end credits rolled. Close to the worst film in the series, as far as I’m concerned. The epitome of wasted potential.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>SCORE</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20N8IXwEKAjHPVFLJk4IlpdCy0ktNkeMh_QKyXNXgVzPFUu1KL0pKXGkzZkC3GTtLadENUn0ZuvUCKh1BRWgn9d3FDaxJiRxezt7p1IvRfGKweVBhlO7Nex-XffYgVmWuNYlGq6XQeZk475xiB7GBICbUI-txGJrMwZ8Ec9JpdBcQgCeqbs7RjJFJvhyb/s400/wolfscoreonenhalf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="400" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20N8IXwEKAjHPVFLJk4IlpdCy0ktNkeMh_QKyXNXgVzPFUu1KL0pKXGkzZkC3GTtLadENUn0ZuvUCKh1BRWgn9d3FDaxJiRxezt7p1IvRfGKweVBhlO7Nex-XffYgVmWuNYlGq6XQeZk475xiB7GBICbUI-txGJrMwZ8Ec9JpdBcQgCeqbs7RjJFJvhyb/s320/wolfscoreonenhalf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>1.5 Howls Outta 4</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>(</b><i>4</i><i> out of 10</i><b>)</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gzy6ORqE9IY?si=hn9BoPpHYHro4Mt4" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></div></div>Fred [The Wolf]http://www.blogger.com/profile/03208803636786210066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717349721694216715.post-82967924243132989712023-09-24T18:27:00.003-04:002023-09-24T18:27:56.769-04:00The Exorcist III (1990)<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e8fb1137-7fff-8648-a1ed-9cfdd6b51b2b"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><u></u></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG44vUsyvg0g6nL9TFSSlGk4Q4hT2-aK5IVTIFI9fPnSl1D6CwcuRZMxykB1kk_In5xK7mwCFmbPH09EyxzMwBZHqUcw3gjo7JBNK-zaGnj8OLnCjTCaRe0g16k580Glxu6BX1_hNU8pRD8wX5mhetcSmBgTNGQZHN0pDn0KrcFzm60xKAMHDeMzs0ICM4/s755/323%20exorcist_iii.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="509" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG44vUsyvg0g6nL9TFSSlGk4Q4hT2-aK5IVTIFI9fPnSl1D6CwcuRZMxykB1kk_In5xK7mwCFmbPH09EyxzMwBZHqUcw3gjo7JBNK-zaGnj8OLnCjTCaRe0g16k580Glxu6BX1_hNU8pRD8wX5mhetcSmBgTNGQZHN0pDn0KrcFzm60xKAMHDeMzs0ICM4/s320/323%20exorcist_iii.jpg" width="216" /></a></u></b></span></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><u>DIRECTED BY</u></b></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i>William Peter Blatty</i></span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>STARRING</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>George C. Scott - Lieutenant William F. Kinderman </i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Ed Flanders - Father Joseph Dyer</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Jason Miller - Patient X / Damien Karras</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Scott Wilson - Dr. Temple</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Brad Dourif - James Venamun / The "Gemini Killer"</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre -</b> <i>Horror/Mystery/Crime/Demons/Possession/Serial Killers</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time -</b> <i>110 Minutes</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>PLOT</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Set fifteen years after the original film, <b>THE EXORCIST III</b> centers around the philosophical Lieutenant William F. Kinderman who is investigating a baffling series of murders around Georgetown that all contain the hallmarks of The Gemini, a deceased serial killer. It eventually leads him to a catatonic patient in a psychiatric hospital who has recently started to speak, claiming he is the The Gemini and detailing the murders, but bears a striking resemblance to Father Damien Karras.</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8n7pYw51go7szZneEHNjMxwDoeE-5uYu46MiefFQqnHrauTn8euj8URs5MdG6IgM5-BipfXGqxVzgbMacmxwiRreaBQnW6NIoDaqgTc6l478KmFVHesbrKjHppq5lTrIn1xm-cHPqTYKq6VIaOwuFgqPICwzQIF9L_PJ27EGDf7bPDa2AvK0ZBmvj8pu/s600/exorcist3-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="600" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8n7pYw51go7szZneEHNjMxwDoeE-5uYu46MiefFQqnHrauTn8euj8URs5MdG6IgM5-BipfXGqxVzgbMacmxwiRreaBQnW6NIoDaqgTc6l478KmFVHesbrKjHppq5lTrIn1xm-cHPqTYKq6VIaOwuFgqPICwzQIF9L_PJ27EGDf7bPDa2AvK0ZBmvj8pu/s320/exorcist3-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />With <b>THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER</b> coming to theaters in a couple of weeks, I’ve been revisiting <b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2010/04/exorcist-1973.html">THE EXORCIST</a></b> franchise to get hyped up for a sequel/reboot that will probably won’t live to even the lowest expectations. The first film from 1973 still holds up exceptionally as a horror classic. <b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2012/09/sequel-september-exorcist-ii-heretic.html">THE HERETIC: EXORCIST II</a></b> from 1977 would be appreciated as some sort of camp and so-bad-it’s-good movie if it wasn’t for the fact that it’s meant to be the sequel to an absolute masterpiece. Talk about a massive disappointment, although there are some out there who appreciate it for the trash that it is.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Despite the horror genre waning in popularity amongst the mainstream during the late 1980s and early 1990s, Hollywood decided it was time to step back into the world of <b>THE EXORCIST</b>. In 1990, <b>THE EXORCIST III</b> was released to some decent success both critically and even financially. Based on William Peter Blatty’s sequel novel <i><b><u>Legion</u></b></i>, Blatty himself decided to adapt his novel into a screenplay. He also decided to direct the film himself to make sure his story was given the respect it deserved and be a truly serious sequel to the original unlike <b>THE HERETIC</b>.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Even in 2023, <b>THE EXORCIST III</b> is still the only other film in the series [<i>besides the first</i>] to be given massive praise for its tone, approach to the narrative, and even the overall production. Despite the studio wanting Blatty’s ending to be more akin to the ending of the original <b>EXORCIST</b> [<i>which he was against, creating the need of a Legion Cut that’s closer to the novel’s conclusion</i>], <b>THE EXORCIST III</b> is still a super solid flick that ought to get more love and attention than it actually does.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">While there is still demonic activity and supernatural occurrences one would expect out of an <b>EXORCIST</b> movie, <b>THE EXORCIST III</b> is more in line with a crime procedural at times - sort of like <b>SE7EN</b>, <b>FALLEN</b> or even <b>COPYCAT</b> would do years later. The main narrative revolves around “The Gemini Killer”, a serial killer who is known to cut certain fingers or drain a victim’s blood as a trademark, along with desecrating religious statues by beheading them, painting them in blackface or adding sexual connotations that would disturb most people. The problem about all this is that it’s believed “The Gemini Killer” had been already found and executed for his crimes. And while at first this new series of murders seem like a copycat, this new killer is doing things the old “Gemini Killer” would do that only the police know about [<i>the real modus operandi and trademarks were kept from the public</i>].</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhW-Mj_mAnVhFaD4sCaYtis_xBPpX_nVTf5ZNNhgM8Auif-h6oI0ZMHH2VorFDeKtnB6eYJCWH1IrKqw20TNYajoU7cQckd3lM3ps6Y_5rRfA-HsyYOMoh65N3P3R2Z1KP_pCgvDLl3p1GUIEegEJGsH685EfTIppUuSP6wwfIOfc7D2JYmrjQSMTs4jl/s980/exorcist3-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="980" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhW-Mj_mAnVhFaD4sCaYtis_xBPpX_nVTf5ZNNhgM8Auif-h6oI0ZMHH2VorFDeKtnB6eYJCWH1IrKqw20TNYajoU7cQckd3lM3ps6Y_5rRfA-HsyYOMoh65N3P3R2Z1KP_pCgvDLl3p1GUIEegEJGsH685EfTIppUuSP6wwfIOfc7D2JYmrjQSMTs4jl/s320/exorcist3-1.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />The detective investigating this is Lieutenant William F. Kinderman, a supporting character from the original <b>EXORCIST</b> who was investigating all the murders and strange activity happening around the McNeil household at the time. Along with his friend Father Dyer, another supporting character from the first film, they’re wondering if this may be the real "Gemini Killer" doing all these heinous things. It gets stranger as all clues lead them to a psychiatric hospital where Father Karras seems to be the main suspect - which shouldn’t be possible since Father Dyer found him dead on those infamous McNeil steps after he took in the demon that had possessed Regan and sacrificed himself by leaping out of a window to his supposed death. So when confronting Father Karras in his hospital room, he sometimes appears as himself and then as someone named James Venamun, who claims to be the real “Gemini Killer”. So what’s going on?</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This mystery really raises the creep factor of <b>THE EXORCIST III</b>, as we’re not sure what we’re really seeing or supposed to believe when it comes to “The Gemini Killer”. There’s obviously a possession going on with the same demon [<i>Pazuzu</i>] who had possessed both Regan and Karras. But is this man really Karras, or is he James Venamun? Is he both? Is he neither? Through Lt. Kinderman, who is a skeptic and doesn’t believe in any of the stories about demon possession and a previous exorcism, his slow belief about the supernatural is a great character arc and gets the audience invested to go along the ride with him as he starts to figure out the truth. The story of the storytelling and mystery is strengthened by personnel and patients at the psychiatric hospital, who all behave in strange ways for whatever reason, making you question if these people are all influenced by this evil or are just quirky as heck and are red herrings to throw off one’s scent. Everyone besides Kinderman and Dyer all seem like they’re hiding something from the Lieutenant, putting to question whether this is all really happening or something this evil presence is doing to confuse the detective along with the audience. Unlike the goofiness and overly ambitious script that plagued <b>THE HERETIC</b>, Blatty treats this whole scenario seriously - something that helped the original <b>EXORCIST</b> to achieve the status it did from all audiences [<i>not just horror audiences</i>]. We care about Kinderman and his investigation because he cares and doesn’t let anything strange or personal stop him from finding out the truth.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">While the theatrical cut and the Legion Cut are similar in many ways, the real differences are how “The Gemini Killer” is presented and the endings themselves. In the Legion Cut, we don’t even get Father Karras at all, with James Venamun being the only real antagonist. This actually cements the narrative as more realistic, as Venamun is just a “normal” man who may know more things about the serial killings than one ought to. Or maybe he’s possessed after all. Or just plain crazy. There’s something supernatural going on in the theatrical version, but the Legion Cut makes you question it a bit more until the end. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wIOkjU_yTEbLbM3U4DIRGMnyznDkYocwfHUW0XbFb9iSRIO0_Huw1Z8bRyemVUlogWnm51QfegUf-EcJlPUqj6dHnXEHSqEfJrpexFhu-1kZjeecyAVB9jhRGM40MTayidd-Pti5ZrbBSo9NUqlauoK83gxkoP-2jS7evjFZNWG579bqUKyWyCnr4JNa/s1600/exorcist3-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wIOkjU_yTEbLbM3U4DIRGMnyznDkYocwfHUW0XbFb9iSRIO0_Huw1Z8bRyemVUlogWnm51QfegUf-EcJlPUqj6dHnXEHSqEfJrpexFhu-1kZjeecyAVB9jhRGM40MTayidd-Pti5ZrbBSo9NUqlauoK83gxkoP-2jS7evjFZNWG579bqUKyWyCnr4JNa/s320/exorcist3-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />As for the endings, The Legion Cut ends pretty abruptly with a single gunshot to wrap things up. The studio had issues with this because nothing in this version played up to the title of the film. In other words, where was the exorcism? So despite Blatty being against it, he took up the challenge to build up a more fantastical ending involving an underused priest, supernatural effects and a battle between good versus evil that connected itself back to <b>THE EXORCIST</b>. I know a lot of people prefer the simpler ending of the Legion Cut, but I feel the theatrical ending kicks things up a few notches and feels more satisfying to me as a whole. Kinderman finally believes in demonic possession, Father Karras gets redeemed a bit, and it truly feels the evil is gone for the time being. I can appreciate a more subtle approach for the original plan, but an <b>EXORCIST</b> movie should have some sort of exorcism in it. Both versions are worth your time, but I feel the theatrical version is a bit more exciting to watch due to the ending.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">William Peter Blatty is a great novelist, but he also makes for a very good director as well. His second and last directorial film [<i>the first being the awesome 1980’s <b>THE NINTH CONFIGURATION</b></i>], Blatty is more subtle in his visual approach than William Friedkin or even John Boorman. Blatty’s style is more comparable to a 90s thriller - slow [<i>but not dull</i>], muted colors, and adding weird things in the background that make you focus on the entire shot rather than what is just happening in the foreground. I mean, there are people crawling on ceilings, morphing into multiple people and even that classic moment involving a nurse and a large pair of shears. And despite his arguments against filming it, I think the theatrical ending is shot pretty well for the most part. Honestly, <b>THE EXORCIST III</b> is more of an actor’s showcase where the characters are more important than the visuals. But Blatty does a good job and manages to direct a sequel that feels more connected to the first one than <b>THE HERETIC</b> ever did.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The cast is very solid. George C. Scott is pretty great as Lt. Kinderman, playing a gruff skeptic who finally starts to believe he’s way over-his-head with a situation he has no idea how to deal with until the end. I love how quiet his performance is at the start of the film, but turns a bit more hammy and over-the-top towards the end. It’s wonderful. Ed Flanders is also great as Father Dyer, bringing in some humor to a serious movie. His chemistry with Scott is awesome and you truly believe these two have been friends for decades. Scott Wilson is solid as Dr. Temple. Jason Miller is very good as the returning Father Karras, struggling with what happened to him at the end of the first film. But Brad Dourif is the main reason to watch <b>THE EXORCIST</b> III, as he steals every scene as “The Gemini Killer” James Venamun. Dourif is just captivating and commanding through his subtle body language, maniacal facial expressions and the strong reciting of his dialogue. He’s given more to say and do in The Legion Cut, being the best part of that version as well. Just a fantastic performance in a great sequel.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>THE FINAL HOWL</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsfK5_HSC3j_yBtVlbaN_Q2Sei3LSo4hofsjAoeYS7Cv8BVA9MC-C08A-bsjLHktUyP4_GYNVN8CoVxypxwBt1Uj_dqmbWCYlJKdO9XmgJtoMApp_cVeF7vFOvxQBPd81_LKf7fzw9HTC7c4fDON3Q8FoE0nMdAeVFAFr6CGh6e2DUDyOQSvo673idRBA/s1920/exorcist3-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsfK5_HSC3j_yBtVlbaN_Q2Sei3LSo4hofsjAoeYS7Cv8BVA9MC-C08A-bsjLHktUyP4_GYNVN8CoVxypxwBt1Uj_dqmbWCYlJKdO9XmgJtoMApp_cVeF7vFOvxQBPd81_LKf7fzw9HTC7c4fDON3Q8FoE0nMdAeVFAFr6CGh6e2DUDyOQSvo673idRBA/s320/exorcist3-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br />THE EXORCIST III</b> is probably one of the more underrated great horror sequels ever made. Subtly strong direction by William Peter Blatty, a captivating mystery mixed with some memorable scares and visuals, and fantastic performances - especially by George C. Scott, Jason Miller and especially Brad Dourif. While it’s not a masterpiece like the 1973 original, this 1990 sequel is definitely a massive improvement over 1977’s <b>THE HERETIC: EXORCIST II</b> in every single way, making this the first real sequel [<i>in my opinion</i>] of the franchise. While I prefer the Theatrical Cut due to its final act, The Legion Cut is no slouch and offers something to those wanting a more grounded resolution. Either way, this is a mandatory viewing for any fan of this franchise.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>SCORE</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4b3ueYn4YdpU5rVUIaIbljU97v-2wSXaPn02EswsnOQUQaClVKXfSO2Pf0GoAUtmBN2Xrlt6LH94dC3RJAbVuZdNSTcHtM-O0KANi-skc1fv8VMo2MQuxA891erH5FXvdFTCh7TlI_snlrvoWJclYo0wls0z82uj1TFyxhZJ31_VEV1LR4eTy5ex8nfBT/s400/wolfscorethreenhalf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="400" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4b3ueYn4YdpU5rVUIaIbljU97v-2wSXaPn02EswsnOQUQaClVKXfSO2Pf0GoAUtmBN2Xrlt6LH94dC3RJAbVuZdNSTcHtM-O0KANi-skc1fv8VMo2MQuxA891erH5FXvdFTCh7TlI_snlrvoWJclYo0wls0z82uj1TFyxhZJ31_VEV1LR4eTy5ex8nfBT/s320/wolfscorethreenhalf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">3.5 Howls Outta 4</b></div></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">(<i>9 out of 10</i>)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BXsj26KH4jk?si=pcHuuHeFL0F86qDF" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></center><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><br /></span></div>Fred [The Wolf]http://www.blogger.com/profile/03208803636786210066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717349721694216715.post-62558637967098103962023-09-14T23:37:00.001-04:002023-09-14T23:38:41.799-04:00DOUBLE FEATURE: The Nun (2018) & The Nun II (2023)<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-d7bd992c-7fff-0cbc-6f42-7ee8eaa5340f"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrt_TZpckBWmixyU-ISPgoVb4sr6cK8myTfG1WEjLaA72RzVSGxN37Yp4gaCuZ3PYGW1iR8bfMYzrVl31dkSQw7AlMgTksRtAMWWlh64yEqbtRC6DJvuGYWGUhz9m8ZIRawhXvkQ7LRSyoHlLayx6Hx0ojNF2YwNSD-1jNCghcj0FYCcquPRXD8SR44RSp/s1800/THENUN1and2poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrt_TZpckBWmixyU-ISPgoVb4sr6cK8myTfG1WEjLaA72RzVSGxN37Yp4gaCuZ3PYGW1iR8bfMYzrVl31dkSQw7AlMgTksRtAMWWlh64yEqbtRC6DJvuGYWGUhz9m8ZIRawhXvkQ7LRSyoHlLayx6Hx0ojNF2YwNSD-1jNCghcj0FYCcquPRXD8SR44RSp/w400-h266/THENUN1and2poster.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>DIRECTED BY</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Corin Hardy</i> (<b>THE NUN</b>)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Michael Chaves</i> (<b>THE NUN II</b>)</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>STARRING</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Taissa Farmiga - Sister Irene</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Jonas Bloquet - Maurice “Frenchie” Theriault</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Bonnie Aarons - The Nun</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Demian Bichir - Father Burke</i> (<b>THE NUN</b>)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Ingrid Bisu - Sister Oana</i> (<b>THE NUN</b>)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Charlotte Hope - Sister Victoria</i> (<b>THE NUN</b>)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Storm Reid - Debra</i> (<b>THE NUN II</b>)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Anna Popplewell - Kate</i> (<b>THE NUN II</b>)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Katelyn Rose Downey - Sophie</i> (<b>THE NUN II</b>)</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre -</b> <i>Horror/Supernatural/Demons/Possession</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time -</b> <i>96 Minutes</i> (<b>THE NUN</b>)/<i>110 Minutes</i> (<b>THE NUN II</b>)</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>PLOT</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>THE NUN -</b> <i>When a young nun at a cloistered abbey in Romania takes her own life, a priest with a haunted past (Demian Bichir) and a novitiate on the threshold of her final vows (Taissa Farmiga) are sent by the Vatican to investigate. Together they uncover the order’s unholy secret. Risking not only their lives but their faith and their very souls, they confront a malevolent force in the form of the same demonic nun (Bonnie Aarons) that first terrorized audiences in <b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2016/06/the-conjuring-2-2016.html">THE CONJURING 2</a></b> as the abbey becomes a horrific battleground between the living and the damned.</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>THE NUN II -</b> <i>Four years after the events at the Abbey of St. Carta, Sister Irene returns once again and comes face to face with the demonic force Valak, the Nun.</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahHRe8BHB5VtgCXjEEG_yrx4PNOIvxCt7Y9X44aVoIgvlugDi1LmAz9P7nepDEju15pS1OnCZcDDz2dXssll2HLvLIAUhtHCYjMEkI28U1JrUnzpB0cBlJK7YJCdmfg5wjvwdk3ADpECr880KFPjhBL_GoFprOaOi9zEnbg6swcmnl5K0MnEt8rNpuBlB/s2048/thenun-1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahHRe8BHB5VtgCXjEEG_yrx4PNOIvxCt7Y9X44aVoIgvlugDi1LmAz9P7nepDEju15pS1OnCZcDDz2dXssll2HLvLIAUhtHCYjMEkI28U1JrUnzpB0cBlJK7YJCdmfg5wjvwdk3ADpECr880KFPjhBL_GoFprOaOi9zEnbg6swcmnl5K0MnEt8rNpuBlB/s320/thenun-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />After taking a much needed break from reviewing since April, I was planning on returning many times for films that were being released theatrically for the past few months. While there were a couple of gems out there [<b>THE BLACKENING</b> and <b>TALK TO ME</b>], the others just left me in a state of “meh”.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>THE BOOGEYMAN</b>? Fine, but not motivating enough to discuss.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>INSIDIOUS: THE RED DOOR</b>? Underwhelming return for the original cast that probably would have lowered my original score if I had written about it.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>THE HAUNTED MANSION</b>? I forgot it even existed and so should you.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER</b>? Hopefully for all our sakes.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But I knew I had to return for something. And with 2023’s spooky season finally here, we got some big projects being released. <b>SAW X</b>? <b>THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER</b>? <b>FIVE NIGHT AT FREDDY’S</b>? There are films many of us will be discussing for the next couple of months.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">However things are starting early with <b>THE NUN II</b>, another spin-off of the popular and successful <b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2013/07/the-conjuring-2013.html">THE CONJURING</a></b> franchise that not many people were all that excited about honestly. Despite watching all three <b>CONJURING</b> flicks [<i>first two are aces, the third one is whatever</i>], I have never sat down and watched any of the spin-offs. No <b>ANNABELLE</b> movies. Not <b>THE NUN</b> flicks. And I never bothered with <b>THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA</b>. But I’m an AMC A-List member and I figured I might as well use my subscription on this. But first, I had to watch the original <b>NUN</b> movie to understand this sequel.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_hgqccQcXaKyYMVxf_6NxagDHS4YeYvN8dQ3YcyLUv_impyUdDA6DkG-hiwanVzkC4sSjeMNVRkNv5Wja9KEUtKQC8nXBGxlmLmTeM7WS3ooZmvgF7FBR1knvX3bvPDNCIV9Wrz3R9nvLYhuLlYRMq1uXf0SgeHljHzN7qKG-0jdYQJZMOodEK9NOgit/s2048/thenun-2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_hgqccQcXaKyYMVxf_6NxagDHS4YeYvN8dQ3YcyLUv_impyUdDA6DkG-hiwanVzkC4sSjeMNVRkNv5Wja9KEUtKQC8nXBGxlmLmTeM7WS3ooZmvgF7FBR1knvX3bvPDNCIV9Wrz3R9nvLYhuLlYRMq1uXf0SgeHljHzN7qKG-0jdYQJZMOodEK9NOgit/s320/thenun-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />And man… 2018’s <b>THE NUN</b> is not a good movie. In fact, it’s so uneventful that I have already forgotten what I watched [<i>besides the flashbacks and call backs in the sequel</i>]. Audiences must have really loved the Nun character in <b>THE CONJURING 2</b>, which is the only explanation I can come up with when it comes to its good box office numbers. But I’m sure some wished they had never bothered after watching it.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The good? <b>THE NUN</b> has a ton of atmosphere and mood that at least tries to give the movie a creepy vibe that the story and direction fail to do. So great Gothic cinematography boosts the first film, along with a solid cast that also elevates proceedings a bit. Bonnie Aarons is a wonderful presence as the evil Nun, while Taissa Farmiga and Demian Bichir do well with what they’re given as the two main protagonists. Jonas Bloquet is also okay, although his attempt as the comic relief doesn’t really work at all and feels forced.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Other than that, <b>THE NUN</b> is a mess of a spin-off. Director Corin Hardy relies too much on jump scares - none of them work, by the way - making the film feel more annoying than scary. And the story is all over the place, to the point where it’s big ambition to do an <b>INDIANA JONES</b> and <b>DA VINCI CODE</b> type of narrative just takes you out of it and makes you not remember much at all once it’s over. Not only do you have an evil Nun, but you also have a demonic ghost child, the blood of Jesus Christ as a MacGuffin, and a young nun with visions that may or may not be doing more harm than good. The film honestly barely kept my interest despite all of this, mainly because none of these plot devices felt truly developed. <b>THE CONJURING</b> films work because they follow the slow burn, less-is-more approach. <b>THE NUN</b> tries too much and feels like an unnecessary cash in as a result.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagim2T0c2n5-EVUZ_BcdYvUli4F5OP6CyEZDLjKl9Rd_D-hFyCXgNA9vGDD7EAlCDlPLTtf676_iCFrLokKIW308W4dOPW69lQ8bi6TQAV_5YCMv33pemweDAl_UXEVdvrNpPQLDtTGea67--onCXyZa7vtx0vZPURpTuwb_83NL3G1q92JacEqaNQDLV/s1280/thenun2-1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagim2T0c2n5-EVUZ_BcdYvUli4F5OP6CyEZDLjKl9Rd_D-hFyCXgNA9vGDD7EAlCDlPLTtf676_iCFrLokKIW308W4dOPW69lQ8bi6TQAV_5YCMv33pemweDAl_UXEVdvrNpPQLDtTGea67--onCXyZa7vtx0vZPURpTuwb_83NL3G1q92JacEqaNQDLV/s320/thenun2-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Because of my lack of feelings for <b>THE NUN</b>, I honestly wasn’t expecting much out of <b>THE NUN II</b>. But surprisingly, this is a sequel that actually manages to be a huge improvement over the first one in almost every single way. Hell, I liked <b>THE NUN II</b> more than some of the other recent films that I wrote about earlier.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The producers of <b>THE NUN</b> must have realized that despite the money they made, the fan and critical response wasn’t great. And despite this sequel being a total cash grab and unnecessary, I have to actually admire everyone involved for fixing some of the issues and actually trying to make a decently watchable film that felt more focused and purposeful for the overall franchise. I’m not saying that <b>THE NUN II</b> is a masterpiece or even <i>good</i>, but I can respect producers who see the error of their ways to create a film even a hater like me could even enjoy for the most part.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkCXkEKuukGP7VI7ZZG2J2M3lpczWZbZ4z9MJBu7nlXG3xzK0JGc51vYwEzc-tiYJdklHtio5UEMOlyKfptwcrN_pCiMzleUmOj8aLteReHXLEi40MwYXGzg1bNIA5pzCAT0z-eoKGde1LDYpUCHWPdWtI_PbqgQDuO977yEMrhDA9Z_yy0ZAlKKycjbo/s3782/thenun2-2.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2248" data-original-width="3782" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkCXkEKuukGP7VI7ZZG2J2M3lpczWZbZ4z9MJBu7nlXG3xzK0JGc51vYwEzc-tiYJdklHtio5UEMOlyKfptwcrN_pCiMzleUmOj8aLteReHXLEi40MwYXGzg1bNIA5pzCAT0z-eoKGde1LDYpUCHWPdWtI_PbqgQDuO977yEMrhDA9Z_yy0ZAlKKycjbo/s320/thenun2-2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />What helps this sequel is that <b>THE NUN II</b> has a tighter, more focused narrative that keeps things as simple as possible, despite it being pretty generic and cliche. There’s an actual course of action from beginning to end that makes sense, allowing characters old and new to develop into actual people we can somewhat care about and/or have a reaction to, despite a larger cast. </span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Unlike the adventure and mystery style of the first film, <b>THE NUN II</b> is a more straightforward good versus evil, exorcism type of movie that we’ve all seen done multiple times before. And while we’ve already had films this year that have done this [<b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2023/04/the-popes-exorcist-2023.html">THE POPE’S EXORCIST</a></b>] and films yet to come [<b>THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER</b>], at least it’s a narrative I can easily understand and get into. Frenchie being possessed by the Nun’s evil gives the movie a reason for Sister Irene to seek him out and reconnect. His possession also justifies why he’s working at a Catholic school and seeking some ancient artifact for his possessor to gain ultimate power. These plot devices allow older characters to grow in a more interesting way that the previous film didn’t allow them to, while giving newer characters a reason to exist - even if most of them are just there to be victims of the evil that’s corrupting the school. Sister Irene’s new friendship and mentorship with nun-in-training Debra is given enough time to develop into something interesting enough that I wouldn’t mind it continuing if there’s another installment. Frenchie’s more serious character is a massive improvement and he becomes a well-written character because of it, especially through his relationships with a woman he previously had feelings for [<i>Irene</i>] and the teacher he falls for [<i>Kate</i>] fleshing him out and giving him a reason to fight against the evil possessing him. We even have a decent mystery and some bullish female characters that will probably elicit some sort of reaction from the audience.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEoaBDxPO65NsdYl-URfp363FFSxEeSOyRS-_4oDQF9XYLMHzyrT5ZrEZkm_g3Hp0WQNqOZgdDD7UP0jmS_MLyyWdJoOGkhxLNcdZcBogbdzexg4DpXX4oxP4LwMDb1pXlm7AGVcyf9lB9OyX6h_yWC3z6sLCrbgEvTJmEXxWk1gUTOmdJu7mnlERLdZpO/s1673/thenun2-4.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1673" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEoaBDxPO65NsdYl-URfp363FFSxEeSOyRS-_4oDQF9XYLMHzyrT5ZrEZkm_g3Hp0WQNqOZgdDD7UP0jmS_MLyyWdJoOGkhxLNcdZcBogbdzexg4DpXX4oxP4LwMDb1pXlm7AGVcyf9lB9OyX6h_yWC3z6sLCrbgEvTJmEXxWk1gUTOmdJu7mnlERLdZpO/s320/thenun2-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />The direction by Michael Chaves, who also directed <b>CONJURING</b> spin-off <b>THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA</b> [<i>which I’ve never bothered with</i>] and <b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2021/06/the-conjuring-devil-made-me-do-it-2021.html">THE CONJURING 3</a></b> [<i>yuck</i>], does a good job with <b>THE NUN II</b>. The film loses a lot of its atmosphere and mood from the first film unfortunately. But the tone and action is done a lot better here. There’s no unnecessary comedy getting in the way. The jump scares are kept to a minimum. The newsstand scene from the trailer is still effective within the context of the film [<i>great scene</i>]. And the film’s final act is pretty strong, especially when we have the Nun stalking people, a ton of explosions and a good looking Devil-Goat thing that terrorizes the school. Chaves doesn’t reinvent the wheel or anything like that, but I thought the film was visually more interesting than the first film.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The actors are also pretty good here again. The returning actors [<i>Farmiga and Blochet</i>] are much stronger in the sequel, due to better writing for their characters and just an overall confidence boost from both of them. Blochet, in particular, is handled much better here than in the first as he’s given more meaty material to chew on. Bonnie Aarons is still wonderful as the evil Nun, maintaining the same level of malevolent presence she had in <b>THE CONJURING 2</b>. The only actor who felt a bit out-of-place is probably Storm Reid as the new nun-in-training Debra. She’s not terrible or anything [<i>actually, she’s good in the role she’s given</i>], but her character is written in such a modern way that her performance doesn’t fit the tone of a 1950s period piece. You get a bit used to it by the film’s end, but it’s definitely jarring for her first few scenes. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>THE FINAL HOWL</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBEsGI_4nUBjEmMXQeh6-iK_eCiWEKewwk0-dS1iksjzDKYCOFicN5Gf3kg6vxbWW518z_apVRW9l52NHrdSUY7R4BrRNbrEVVBlsr-FmmsbX9IJUEjl8kkhsCbyIUlN-KYvM7KR2ftSicTW-OGWWJjqBbUhRhIvDt9H8v4sRpYESr9FHRkrOo1qlDxZu/s720/thenun2-3.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBEsGI_4nUBjEmMXQeh6-iK_eCiWEKewwk0-dS1iksjzDKYCOFicN5Gf3kg6vxbWW518z_apVRW9l52NHrdSUY7R4BrRNbrEVVBlsr-FmmsbX9IJUEjl8kkhsCbyIUlN-KYvM7KR2ftSicTW-OGWWJjqBbUhRhIvDt9H8v4sRpYESr9FHRkrOo1qlDxZu/s320/thenun2-3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Even though I had to sit through the bland and unimpressive <b>THE NUN</b> from 2018 in order to watch the current <b>THE NUN II</b>, I’m kind of glad I did since the sequel is a much better time than the first installment. <b>THE NUN</b> skates by with a great atmosphere and decent performances, but not much else. <b>THE NUN II</b> is an improvement in almost every way. Better performances, more care with the jump scares and a more interesting, if not generic, good versus evil exorcism movie that allows some depth to characters who didn’t have much before.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In fact, I had more fun with <b>THE NUN II</b> than a majority of the big screen horror films I’ve watched this summer, which is surprising since I didn’t care about this sequel at all prior to viewing it. I don’t think any of <b>THE NUN</b> films are must-sees or anything, but it may be worth sitting through the dull first movie in order to get caught up with the much more watchable sequel. With the success of the new installment, we’ll probably see more about this character. But we don’t really need <b>NUN</b> of that, do we?</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>SCORE</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>THE NUN (2018)</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSbYPU8i-CeTt1uPs32vlwgzUISRIfQsVzgyQcN94z1k5-o8k7sYxK3dH36wC8ZSniOY5lwVn3MOz9v6dd0SXgbr5Ub5pzgxVHhR9KyM0cz4WhDrCAW6iOLGGpUpC787q_aq8zJFh93LbClAdC65oMK25OgIH5dk-FiIDWpssUqPm0JA4wy0eRHJc8l8M/s400/wolfscoreonenhalf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="400" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSbYPU8i-CeTt1uPs32vlwgzUISRIfQsVzgyQcN94z1k5-o8k7sYxK3dH36wC8ZSniOY5lwVn3MOz9v6dd0SXgbr5Ub5pzgxVHhR9KyM0cz4WhDrCAW6iOLGGpUpC787q_aq8zJFh93LbClAdC65oMK25OgIH5dk-FiIDWpssUqPm0JA4wy0eRHJc8l8M/s320/wolfscoreonenhalf.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">1.5 Howls Outta 4</b></div></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>(</b>4 out of 10<b>)</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>THE NUN II (2023)</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwKjUQvTPatQkJfyadWZ1NxNr01bBgkmhjOufyMSO6bcrCTWhck-G-Gh9Mg_7GZLzB-AFr4X5k-QChaGd0qq0yQtewua7gP-7QTHsd9Y5wYoO-Ndr7Qy8TMlDhzTuPbyUeK6xpMcv8Cn2qo7TC8pTWiD3jui9rEbVSPZEriWkhYKWV7suO_Oo0Uftv56U/s400/wolfscoretwonhalf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="400" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwKjUQvTPatQkJfyadWZ1NxNr01bBgkmhjOufyMSO6bcrCTWhck-G-Gh9Mg_7GZLzB-AFr4X5k-QChaGd0qq0yQtewua7gP-7QTHsd9Y5wYoO-Ndr7Qy8TMlDhzTuPbyUeK6xpMcv8Cn2qo7TC8pTWiD3jui9rEbVSPZEriWkhYKWV7suO_Oo0Uftv56U/s320/wolfscoretwonhalf.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>2.5 Howls Outta 4</b></div></b></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>(</b>6 out of 10<b>)</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zwAM5UnGd2s?si=NSpY2STG-Qn_VNKE" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QF-oyCwaArU?si=bM31R6Zx_WNx5Pqr" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><br /></div>Fred [The Wolf]http://www.blogger.com/profile/03208803636786210066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717349721694216715.post-75340338453577237682023-04-26T23:16:00.005-04:002023-04-26T23:17:56.268-04:00Evil Dead Rise (2023)<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f84ea942-7fff-ad28-edfa-b3dbdb12a2d7"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u></u></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pwPVNIH3s2sM6e5CfmsjqKllTC-8GVM9OiOltAi3HyCFd35vEBc1SsQqStKwhXw0C06O7tUY16ihGd5LaiM3BkcHWli1USy0H7YgN2M5xoU1kl2DLswKvrGVn3EijlN59LnUUlirQlYO5-zdtCbw9T_ZPwv8wxgZ4Zy3aEuOynDMJxs8vsqNK1_LgA/s755/127%20evil_dead_rise.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="510" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pwPVNIH3s2sM6e5CfmsjqKllTC-8GVM9OiOltAi3HyCFd35vEBc1SsQqStKwhXw0C06O7tUY16ihGd5LaiM3BkcHWli1USy0H7YgN2M5xoU1kl2DLswKvrGVn3EijlN59LnUUlirQlYO5-zdtCbw9T_ZPwv8wxgZ4Zy3aEuOynDMJxs8vsqNK1_LgA/w270-h400/127%20evil_dead_rise.jpg" width="270" /></a></u></b></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>DIRECTED BY</u></b></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Lee Cronin</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>STARRING</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Lily Sullivan - Beth</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Alyssa Sutherland - Ellie</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Morgan Davies - Danny</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Gabrielle Echols - Bridget</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Nell Fisher - Cassie</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Jayden Daniels - Gabriel</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Anna-Maree Thomas - Jessica</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre -</b> <i>Horror/Demons</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time -</b> <i>97 Minutes</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>PLOT</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Two sisters find an ancient book that gives birth to bloodthirsty demons that run amok in a Los Angeles apartment building and thrusts them into a primal battle for survival as they face the most nightmarish version of family imaginable.</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCozmqqveNCRVscn1EDt6NTDNGn5CzRV0-QFACjmiRCAfNl3l2NUzFooXlZyhol4qTrW9fIcnYCGsz4bJQLLs2b4uZNKHHgway8SOhSfK2MeW_SmD-YArLStFJNje7baeQBROdagXtqn70lANwgZRMUZ2Kh2CK_7zM44B78MP43g3LfcnGUchYfHwVdw/s2048/edr-4.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="2048" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCozmqqveNCRVscn1EDt6NTDNGn5CzRV0-QFACjmiRCAfNl3l2NUzFooXlZyhol4qTrW9fIcnYCGsz4bJQLLs2b4uZNKHHgway8SOhSfK2MeW_SmD-YArLStFJNje7baeQBROdagXtqn70lANwgZRMUZ2Kh2CK_7zM44B78MP43g3LfcnGUchYfHwVdw/s320/edr-4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />After ten years since a popular remake that was meant to relaunch a beloved franchise, we finally get a new <b>EVIL DEAD</b> movie in theaters. Ever since 1981, this cult horror franchise has been embraced warmly by the horror community through multiple films, several video games and even a television show that lasted for three seasons. Originally planned to be an HBO Max exclusive for 2022, the new owners of Warner Bros. Discovery decided it was worth releasing the series’ fifth installment, <b>EVIL DEAD RISE</b>, in theaters as a way to gain a profit by seeing how well it would perform at the box office. Considering the film has already made its budget back and just needs a few million to start building a profit for the studio, I say WBD made the right decision here. It’s also a good thing that <b>EVIL DEAD RISE</b> is a pretty good horror flick, despite that this installment may be the weakest of any <b>EVIL DEAD</b> film [<i>and TV show</i>] that has come before it.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">First off, I think having a different location for the Deadites was a great decision. It’s been proven that it can work outside of a woods and cabin setting, like the refreshing take in <b>ARMY OF DARKNESS</b> and even on the <b>Ash vs. Evil Dead</b> television show. Having the demons take over a high rise building in Los Angeles is definitely a step in the right direction if they plan on continuing the franchise [<i>which will obviously happen due to <b>EVIL DEAD RISE</b>’s success</i>]. While I do wish more was done inside of the entire building when it came to the terror, I thought enough of the location was used to create a level of claustrophobia. Having most of the events happen within a single apartment was cool, while the elevator and parking garage moments were effectively used to heighten things a bit.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I also thought the characters were likable enough of the audience to get behind them, even if some of them do stupid things. I wish the characters had a bit more depth, but you get enough information about them to know who they are. Free-spirit Beth is hiding a pregnancy she hasn’t fully dealt with yet. Single mother Ellie who is trying to move on with her life, dealing with the abandonment of an ex-husband and having to raise three children while preparing a quick move out of the building. Bridget seems to be the oldest and environmentally friendly. Danny is a DJ and music lover who sees demonic books and reads them while playing records where the evil words of the </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Naturom Demonto </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">are being read to unleash hell. Cassie is the youngest and seems to enjoy making weapons to protect herself. They’re a dysfunctional family who clearly love each other and get tested when Ellie becomes a Deadite. We also have neighbors who seem to have their own stories, but they’re never really focused on. Neighbor Gabriel seemed to have a thing for Ellie and vice-versa, but that never went anywhere really. I don’t think the film focuses on the relationships enough to feel their familial connection. But separately, the characters are enjoyable to watch on various levels.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I think the only reason why the characters worked better than what the script probably meant was due to the performances. Everyone in the cast did a great job with what they were given. In particular, Lily Sullivan was a strong lead as Beth. Sullivan manages to balance toughness with vulnerability, convincingly playing a woman who will do anything to make sure her and her family survive while trying to figure out how to stop the Deadites from completely taking over the building. Of the younger cast, Nell Fisher probably left the biggest impression as Cassie. Being the youngest main actress, Fisher carried herself very well and probably had the time of her life stabbing people in self-defense and getting drenched in blood. Her character made some real dumb decisions that kind of annoyed me, but Fisher’s likability softened those feelings a bit.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The star of the show though was, undoubtedly, Alyssa Sutherland as Ellie. Sutherland’s solid as a struggling single mother and sister who is trying to move on with her life for the sake of her children. But when she becomes the lead Deadite for the rest of the movie, Sutherland’s performance is borderline creepy and darkly comedic at the same time. She also changes up her body movements, transforming her character from human to this alien being that has no issue causing havoc for her host’s family. I hope to see Sutherland do more projects in the future because she really stepped up and elevated<b> EVIL DEAD RISE</b> for me.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8FhN6g3087uaPONzgj6uJilZabe7dlL1qARjgHx5ClHXQsQTo0dAbO9cP17omQbBhj0dEcOPo5fq9EbiTbhMXBJXC7Exux5SRpozQv-PdK3-w17bQVmsr7RMb2T_gDBBV39H2yl02L7hJ0_slW3tpmOasCniV3dE0dmsLRqgNDW4321Sf60Fa2mwWIA/s2048/edr-1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="2048" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8FhN6g3087uaPONzgj6uJilZabe7dlL1qARjgHx5ClHXQsQTo0dAbO9cP17omQbBhj0dEcOPo5fq9EbiTbhMXBJXC7Exux5SRpozQv-PdK3-w17bQVmsr7RMb2T_gDBBV39H2yl02L7hJ0_slW3tpmOasCniV3dE0dmsLRqgNDW4321Sf60Fa2mwWIA/s320/edr-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />I also enjoyed the homages and easter eggs that the film provided to fans of the franchise and to fans of the genre. We have references to previous <b>EVIL DEAD</b> films, like the mention of swallowing souls, reciting “Dead by Dawn” and even the eyeball gag into someone’s mouth like in <b>EVIL DEAD II</b>. Plus, we get the classic chainsaw making an appearance.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are also tributes for other horror films. The peep hole stuff reminded me of classic Dario Argento, especially 1986’s <b>OPERA</b>. We get blood pouring out of an elevator like 1980’s <b>THE SHINING</b>. And the final boss seems to be inspired by 1982’s <b>THE THING</b>. It’s obvious Lee Cronin is a horror film fan and I felt a lot of these callbacks felt more inspired than fan service.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The gore and effects were also very good. A mix of both practical effects and CGI, they looked pretty impressive considering the movie had a $15 million budget. The Deadites looked great. The blood looked convincing. While the film could have been a bit edgier like the 2013 reboot/remake, some of the violent moments were cringe worthy in the best way. That cheese grater moment in particular - *shivers*.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The direction by Lee Cronin is super solid, as he understood the assignment and managed to connect <b>EVIL DEAD RISE</b> to the rest of the franchise while maintaining its own identity. I thought there was a lot of style in terms of shots and I felt what was used when it came to the building was done really well. I liked that the Raimi sweeping shots for the Deadites were retained and that the gruesome moments weren’t shied away. I think Cronin could have possibly pushed things further and actually made the movie scarier than it actually was. But the film was shot well and Cronin managed to keep the essence of the franchise intact.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are issues with <b>EVIL DEAD RISE</b> though. While I understood the need for the pregnancy angle as a plot device to make Beth more maternal as the film progressed, it doesn’t really add much to the movie by its end. I think the character could have still hit similar beats without it, considering she cared about her sister’s children prior to the Deadites appearing.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZJzvzLdjgMwHE7kuZYWyWxm3V6Gm3IpsMt5is2p38kT8WLETsKH0qi8hnRQHGQJjibZq2PKCoy8wQX-8Q14fjmEh0jhwPDEXo08lQULh7OCaKadeHJsMDqzCUy8QFhh0YuU-zg9DLXTYrgbEjDyu5bTOkmvm5U-l7Ra301h8eGX_5vHl2Ts38FSRAA/s620/edr-3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="620" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZJzvzLdjgMwHE7kuZYWyWxm3V6Gm3IpsMt5is2p38kT8WLETsKH0qi8hnRQHGQJjibZq2PKCoy8wQX-8Q14fjmEh0jhwPDEXo08lQULh7OCaKadeHJsMDqzCUy8QFhh0YuU-zg9DLXTYrgbEjDyu5bTOkmvm5U-l7Ra301h8eGX_5vHl2Ts38FSRAA/s320/edr-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />I also thought some of the characters really did some dumb things that frustrated and annoyed me. I get that it’s a horror trope and that’s how things move forward in these films. But as I get older, the more my eyes roll at some of these characters’ antics. Even at a young age, I was never that naive at the presence of danger.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Despite a cool prologue and some awesome title cards, I thought the last few minutes felt oddly placed within the structure of the film. I get why it’s there as a way to explain what we saw first and how this will probably lead to more installments. But it fell kind of flat for me, especially that jump scare at the end. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And like I mentioned earlier, the film doesn’t really push the envelope enough and feels the tamest and safest of the <b>EVIL DEAD</b> films. I was expecting something more violent and gorier and it just played out like your standard horror flick. What we get is great, but the other <b>EVIL DEAD</b> movies stand out due to the insane amount of blood, Deadite action and energy when it comes to the hero against the Deadites. When the energy does pop off, I feel it’s a bit late getting there and there’s not much time devoted to it. I just feel <b>EVIL DEAD RISE</b> doesn’t take enough chances.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>THE FINAL HOWL</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5af4DZ3Px_CEJd96ah7zjymKl-a0GRnk16rWRtiZmtM0z5kLpSnz_Y2eeQhxFG_Iw9T1Rp_Vxg8pP2VjRETdLB1_YW85bBGODUIxR-zcgOv_ZLhd9ZlmcIgkX3YaG8pUc8Zz5s5FS28RHODcEzZRy8BIVhckNHUjlzqjtiYZBtP-rssL5J3xarWY4A/s850/edr-2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="850" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5af4DZ3Px_CEJd96ah7zjymKl-a0GRnk16rWRtiZmtM0z5kLpSnz_Y2eeQhxFG_Iw9T1Rp_Vxg8pP2VjRETdLB1_YW85bBGODUIxR-zcgOv_ZLhd9ZlmcIgkX3YaG8pUc8Zz5s5FS28RHODcEzZRy8BIVhckNHUjlzqjtiYZBtP-rssL5J3xarWY4A/s320/edr-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />Although it’s my least favorite entry in this franchise, <b>EVIL DEAD RISE</b> is still a solid addition to the <b>EVIL DEAD</b> series. Director Lee Cronin understood the assignment, including things that fans of the franchise would expect or enjoy, while still keeping this installment as its own thing apart from the rest. Having the events started by the </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Naturom Demonto</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> take place inside a high-rise building within an urban environment is a great fresh take for the series, even though I think more could have been done with the location. Same goes for the characters, who while likable, could have used a bit more depth and aren’t as memorable as Ash or Mia before them. But the cast is wonderful, especially Lily Sullivan as heroine Beth and Alyssa Sutherland as one of the more memorable Deadites in the franchise in Ellie. While I wish this installment had pushed the envelope more in some aspects, it’s still a fun movie and a worthy entry in the world of <b>EVIL DEAD</b>. Let’s see where they go with things in the next one, if that box office is any indication.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>SCORE</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBrOqm0aNCAh5Ir1LC-kYPi5kqyB5Ws_ihCV_3nUm3hFbwjefGxOnAJNj8_MTZyfrqV-A47wHwgi9xl3Wq5is-7xe_FbzKeTjAp_p0yRM4KxtmcXSVYZjxsNte2M_RBnR3tkAYco7qYxhd4hdEYnwxpXeyN8_Ri5LLD0zAyOy3tjkNVKT9Kyp4WVbCA/s400/wolfscorethree.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="400" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBrOqm0aNCAh5Ir1LC-kYPi5kqyB5Ws_ihCV_3nUm3hFbwjefGxOnAJNj8_MTZyfrqV-A47wHwgi9xl3Wq5is-7xe_FbzKeTjAp_p0yRM4KxtmcXSVYZjxsNte2M_RBnR3tkAYco7qYxhd4hdEYnwxpXeyN8_Ri5LLD0zAyOy3tjkNVKT9Kyp4WVbCA/s320/wolfscorethree.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">3 Howls Outta 4</b></div></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>(</b>8 out of 10<b>)</b></span></span></p><br /></span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/smTK_AeAPHs" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div>Fred [The Wolf]http://www.blogger.com/profile/03208803636786210066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717349721694216715.post-72908375858031305132023-04-16T18:21:00.000-04:002023-04-16T18:21:06.559-04:00The Pope's Exorcist (2023)<div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmjKLdSRvcKTk11NYVEsfSTDwe_-n9PP1K27IgATy5qxnqoWfUO2CPJDVrJKuyXN6WBhajRS9rxNBDlenjUXMsbE0tgdiXPWkfIVrrxNH49_pPXmK_tOigpgQXduna3NhB_pgQuWgCk8oAnj472qMZrWSdKFSP46dwvs2RZzdW0zaXPyYwq6gpe1qsw/s755/114%20popes_exorcist_ver3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="604" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmjKLdSRvcKTk11NYVEsfSTDwe_-n9PP1K27IgATy5qxnqoWfUO2CPJDVrJKuyXN6WBhajRS9rxNBDlenjUXMsbE0tgdiXPWkfIVrrxNH49_pPXmK_tOigpgQXduna3NhB_pgQuWgCk8oAnj472qMZrWSdKFSP46dwvs2RZzdW0zaXPyYwq6gpe1qsw/w320-h400/114%20popes_exorcist_ver3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>DIRECTED BY</u></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Julius Avery</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>STARRING</u></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Russell Crowe - Father Gabriele Amorth</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Daniel Zovatto - Father Esquibel</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Alex Essoe - Julia</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Franco Nero - The Pope</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Laurel Marsden - Amy</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Peter DeSouza-Feighoney - Henry</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Mystery/Thriller/Possession/Demons</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>103 Minutes</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>PLOT</u></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Based on true stories. Father Gabriele Amorth, Chief Exorcist of the Vatican, investigates a young boy’s terrifying possession and ends up uncovering a centuries-old conspiracy the Vatican has desperately tried to keep hidden.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLYC5s8lRoMfEWRjrlnBLiiB6Pcr37c5naB1Xnile35oCCnvfeuCY8VGfWptt3y07wLhweR3ukxDcnckpjmwQ_1U9hqKHwqQUeqzpAslu1TX-1hU_0rWSrN4FK6878ijWtT6EU017VYjXU31Pu8Zyft9kyxg3DHwYFwKXUoVH8zwrv7ZO7O1kfFpZAg/s1200/thepopesexorcist-1.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1200" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLYC5s8lRoMfEWRjrlnBLiiB6Pcr37c5naB1Xnile35oCCnvfeuCY8VGfWptt3y07wLhweR3ukxDcnckpjmwQ_1U9hqKHwqQUeqzpAslu1TX-1hU_0rWSrN4FK6878ijWtT6EU017VYjXU31Pu8Zyft9kyxg3DHwYFwKXUoVH8zwrv7ZO7O1kfFpZAg/s320/thepopesexorcist-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />If you watched the trailer to <b>THE POPE’S EXORCIST</b> and thought that you’ve seen this film time and time before, you would be correct as this 2023 movie is as generic as they come where it concerns possession films. All the tropes are there - an innocent child getting possessed by a demon, the family taking the possessed victim to doctors to realize it’s not a medical issue, two priests with flaws trying to vanquish this demon to save the child and protect the victim’s family, and even a priest begging the demon to possess them in order to save the child. I swore I’ve seen this movie before. Did Sony really try to upstage David Gordon Green’s <b>THE EXORCIST</b> reboot/sequel before its release this October? Sneaky sneaky, Sony.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Seriously, <b>THE POPE’S EXORCIST</b> could and probably should have gone straight to streaming since it doesn’t really add anything new to this type of horror sub-genre, especially when a more hyped film with a similar theme is coming out later in the year. The only reason it didn’t is because of Oscar winner Russell Crowe, who is the best part of this movie with an entertaining performance as the title character. The actor is clearly having fun playing a priest who gets to face off against demons [<i>both physical and personal</i>], performing all the tropes with a smile on his face and a wink to the audience. He gets to speak multiple languages. He gets to play both good and evil. Crowe could have really coasted with <b>THE POPE’S EXORCIST</b>, but he totally has his heart in the role and he elevates a by-the-numbers horror film into something more watchable than it deserves.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">And even though the film is obviously about good triumphing over evil through faith and love in God, I appreciated that <b>THE POPE’S EXORCIST</b> criticizes some aspects of the Church at certain points. Superiors want to eliminate the process of exorcisms, feeling they’re old hat. But Father Gabriele questions that if they do that, what’s the point of spreading the word of good against evil? Also, the two lead priests have things in their past that affect their progress during the exorcism, giving us a look that even these so-called “saints” struggle and succumb to sin just like the rest of us. It’s refreshing to see a movie that’s focused on religion and faith being this powerful thing to let in some negativity on the Church and some of the people that work for it. So the film gets points for that.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRfk0p07uzVsUmDPIFtqYmB7ZbbSEDvOh6bYe5Adg8sOKxaufe0qq2TQIE_nMrrgD0-a5OeZkEuvI17gfLQzXSbRhaOUbNVfk6oVtoM8Hr5JUgQ-UnzBpM2cJJGplSwlGK3kNv_DUZj7CWoBYLftHo6lBt-2kaPSQFRg1BS4U5kn93pdFJKMt9G7UgQ/s768/thepopesexorcist-2.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="768" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRfk0p07uzVsUmDPIFtqYmB7ZbbSEDvOh6bYe5Adg8sOKxaufe0qq2TQIE_nMrrgD0-a5OeZkEuvI17gfLQzXSbRhaOUbNVfk6oVtoM8Hr5JUgQ-UnzBpM2cJJGplSwlGK3kNv_DUZj7CWoBYLftHo6lBt-2kaPSQFRg1BS4U5kn93pdFJKMt9G7UgQ/s320/thepopesexorcist-2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Unfortunately, since the film is mainly focused on Father Gabriele and Father Esquibel, the story doesn’t allow the audience to really know the family of the possessed child. Other than the fact that the family is dealing with grief over the death of their husband/father and are in Spain to sell inherited property [<i>that just happens to have been part of the Spanish Inquisition</i>], not much is really known about them. Unlike the McNeils in <b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2010/04/exorcist-1973.html">THE EXORCIST</a></b>, The Montellis in <b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2013/09/sequel-september-ii-amityville-ii.html">AMITYVILLE II: THE POSSESSION</a></b>, or even Emily Rose in <b>THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE</b>, the audience has no real attachment to the victims. That takes away tension and suspense because I honestly didn’t care what would happen, while at the same time knowing that good would triumph because that’s what these films tell us. It’s a shame because their performances were pretty good, especially Alex Essoe as the mother and Peter DeSouza-Feighoney as the young possessed boy, Henry. But I’ve seen these similar roles performed better in other films, and that’s due to the script.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The direction by Julius Avery is fine, but nothing memorable. If you’ve seen other possession horror films, you know what you’re getting here. There’s nothing new in terms of style or presentation. Tension and suspense isn’t really there. Jump scares don’t really work, at least not on me. The CGI gets pretty heavy during the final act and that’s actually used quite well for the most part. But to be honest with you, I watched<b> THE POPE’S EXORCIST</b> two days ago and I barely remember anything that stuck out from the visual presentation. Pretty on-the-nose stuff here.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>THE FINAL HOWL</u></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcewQRsVWodyrGGe4qiL14M7b1Xlrlcnqrrm-r0HA0c_LcaX-X4lRC8ynAsgjD1N18-bHZJQa74PKd056RWHXFitq_0pBqTg9eC-Mqa_9pU4oX75ZlYY3kvekBPsK8ebLhfWDrTPhBroT7e5TkV5rQJM6Gysw-NUYnqzwjk6j03WrqO4znTY3YLqFug/s3000/thepopesexorcist-3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1688" data-original-width="3000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcewQRsVWodyrGGe4qiL14M7b1Xlrlcnqrrm-r0HA0c_LcaX-X4lRC8ynAsgjD1N18-bHZJQa74PKd056RWHXFitq_0pBqTg9eC-Mqa_9pU4oX75ZlYY3kvekBPsK8ebLhfWDrTPhBroT7e5TkV5rQJM6Gysw-NUYnqzwjk6j03WrqO4znTY3YLqFug/s320/thepopesexorcist-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />A pretty generic exorcism movie, <b>THE POPE’S EXORCIST</b> only really manages to stand out due to a fun Russell Crowe performance as the title character. While the rest of the cast are decent, Crowe steals the show in every scene he’s in and truly seems to be enjoying himself since he knows what type of movie he’s acting in and embraces it. The film is also elevated by a not-so black and white look at the Church, the flawed priests and the superiors’ stance on exorcisms back in the day that makes one question if they believed evil could possess good people or not. Other than that, every trope you need in an exorcism story is here and you won’t be surprised by the lack of suspense, tension and scares because you know exactly where things are going. Even the visual presentation by Julius Avery is by-the-numbers, despite a good use of CGI in the film’s final act. <b>THE POPE’S EXORCIST</b> is watchable fluff not worth getting possessed over.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>SCORE</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHyXd-ggh6DHNHMLPt_DzwaM3VF6rkseHM6_omJp6nWfaHdlK5XwCVdnACaoOfSVudSe1drPckXBzphRR59w21t797z9Xfht2pxR9mD-dF31dqO_9aa7JVoU7U54C8916oFwsZFH5dFUn33ror8h8wgUH-d6xBIhSDvYbFcap3NWbkOxiABgnERh4AA/s400/wolfscoretwo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="400" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHyXd-ggh6DHNHMLPt_DzwaM3VF6rkseHM6_omJp6nWfaHdlK5XwCVdnACaoOfSVudSe1drPckXBzphRR59w21t797z9Xfht2pxR9mD-dF31dqO_9aa7JVoU7U54C8916oFwsZFH5dFUn33ror8h8wgUH-d6xBIhSDvYbFcap3NWbkOxiABgnERh4AA/s320/wolfscoretwo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>2 Howls Outta 4</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">(<i>6 out of 10</i>)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YJXqvnT_rsk" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Fred [The Wolf]http://www.blogger.com/profile/03208803636786210066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717349721694216715.post-33328831193223206622023-03-14T22:55:00.000-04:002023-03-14T22:55:50.003-04:00Scream VI (2023)<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-aa67a730-7fff-138b-b7f5-5e80d1c8d3de"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u></u></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYLpDzmYU4zYTU4igm6SEXDFdz4yRqVL-g8wZSDzlnVSGNRkzqtYtbkKyvEDJlO-FSIA3R5k4KzSdPUEskiEywOypd6hbNeku6jeMR9OonfxiSqBVCtyvVLDd3vs_UKQpAARVAYML7vQ-qHSNLofvDm8v1X2wPokKmTClMJ_Y08xpDUwjiRFF1Nqc_nA/s755/79%20scream_six_ver4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="484" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYLpDzmYU4zYTU4igm6SEXDFdz4yRqVL-g8wZSDzlnVSGNRkzqtYtbkKyvEDJlO-FSIA3R5k4KzSdPUEskiEywOypd6hbNeku6jeMR9OonfxiSqBVCtyvVLDd3vs_UKQpAARVAYML7vQ-qHSNLofvDm8v1X2wPokKmTClMJ_Y08xpDUwjiRFF1Nqc_nA/w256-h400/79%20scream_six_ver4.jpg" width="256" /></a></u></b></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>DIRECTED BY</u></b></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Matt Bettinelli-Olpin</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Tyler Gillett</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>STARRING</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Melissa Barrera - Sam Carpenter</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Jasmin Savoy Brown - Mindy Meeks-Martin</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Jenna Ortega - Tara Carpenter</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Mason Gooding - Chad Meeks-Martin</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Jack Champion - Ethan Landry</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Liana Liberato - Quinn Bailey</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Dermot Mulroney - Wayne Bailey</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Hayden Panettiere - Kirby Reed</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Courteney Cox - Gale Weathers</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Devyn Nekoda - Anika Kayoko</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Josh Segarra - Danny Brackett</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Thriller/Mystery/Slasher</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>123 Minutes</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>PLOT</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Following the latest Ghostface killings, the four survivors leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter in New York City.</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHNYCVT8Axhv02Xd87L2Xi-7yWDzE1xGbWGpnJ2WT1LAmUtjRPFsvSTTy2OBoUuEXzBS4905CljObmmBII6VyOvAEPzwQkK4hsZ1jZgzJwNds9-vbAXy3n5cyUhD-woQiwXhC1EuttKR-LskxUY2P1fEsae0Fz4wKlQ_eM-hB6cNf1-IOmX8Kw3_73A/s800/ScreamVI-4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="800" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHNYCVT8Axhv02Xd87L2Xi-7yWDzE1xGbWGpnJ2WT1LAmUtjRPFsvSTTy2OBoUuEXzBS4905CljObmmBII6VyOvAEPzwQkK4hsZ1jZgzJwNds9-vbAXy3n5cyUhD-woQiwXhC1EuttKR-LskxUY2P1fEsae0Fz4wKlQ_eM-hB6cNf1-IOmX8Kw3_73A/s320/ScreamVI-4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Despite an eleven-year absence from movie theaters and a lack of Wes Craven [<i>due to his unfortunate passing in 2015</i>], 2022’s <b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2022/01/scream-2022.html">SCREAM</a></b> proved to be a bigger success than expected. Doing much better than 2011’s <b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2011/04/scream-4-aka-scre4m-2011-video-review.html">SCREAM 4</a></b>, the box office gross surprised analysts and proved that Paramount picked up a franchise that was ready to be revived again. Using the idea of re-quels and featuring the main legacy characters of the series to help push new stories along for a newer cast, most audiences enjoyed the return to Woodsboro and wanted more.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As soon as <b>SCREAM</b> (2022) made a quick profit, Paramount wasted no time in greenlighting the next installment. There was a lot of hype for this one for many reasons. One, the characters were leaving Woodsboro for New York City, taking the series into a major metropolitan for the first time in the franchise. Two, there were talks of Ghostface being a much scarier and more violent villain in the big city, upping some stakes. And three, not only would Courteney Cox return as Gale Weathers, but Hayden Panettiere would make her awaited return as Kirby Reed - a character long thought dead but revealed to be very much alive in an Easter Egg in <b>SCREAM</b> (2022).</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">However, the buzz turned from excitement to worry. Due to a disagreement over pay, series’ star Neve Campbell would be bowing out of this installment. Feeling she wasn’t being paid what she was worth [<i>and I have to agree with her kinda</i>], she refused to take part in the sequel. I’m not sure if Sydney Prescott had a big role or Kirby was her replacement, but it became a test to see if the <b>SCREAM</b> franchise could survive without Sydney.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Luckily in my opinion, I think the lack of Sydney actually benefits <b>SCREAM VI</b> since I think it’s the best installment since, at least, <b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2011/04/scream-2-1997.html">SCREAM 2</a></b>. Hell, I think I put it above even that sequel, as this movie was just a blast from beginning to end. While I love the series, I’m not a big fanboy like many of my friends are. How I am with the <b>HALLOWEEN</b> franchise [<i>those <b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2021/11/lunar-cycle-october-2021.html">KILLS</a></b> and <b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2022/10/halloween-ends-2022-spoiler-review.html">ENDS</a></b> debates, how fun were those</i>] is how many are with <b>SCREAM</b> and this installment has been no stranger to a divide amongst fans. Personally, this was the first <b>SCREAM</b> film I had a lot of fun with watching since the first movie back in 1996 and would definitely watch this again whenever I get the chance.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I think what made <b>SCREAM VI</b> a fun experience were better written characters I can finally have an attachment to. Let’s be serious here - besides the original group from the first film, did we really care about a lot of these characters? Sure, some snuck in to win our hearts for a bit before getting killed off by Ghostface. But none I really cared about, including most of the new group from the last film. I think only Tara and Mindy were the ones I really connected with, while the others were just there for me. Even Samantha, who has a great backstory being Billy Loomis’ daughter and her struggle with that, didn’t do a whole lot for me because of how she was presented. Maybe it’s because the film wanted to focus a bit on the legacy characters that Samantha didn’t really get to do her thing until the very end of <b>SCREAM</b> (2022). I liked the new group of characters enough, but not to the point where I was concerned if they survived or not.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYyIRI6r9dVqepmxfNayiX33yH3MtURfqSUvbiFSVa3q2cFUjVW8fM3lKdUK4kcNWuE23W0pNL6KIMtHCoQi12opjLdtUEMe2U2icbuqdwctSgNsyT-a64JKagP4sYokn9V4GG4l-0ogUsZ0bvVAjwpUTyMKQ4VxGlQxC3qotaaFlcOpAOHVpZj9ICA/s3120/screamVI-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="3120" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYyIRI6r9dVqepmxfNayiX33yH3MtURfqSUvbiFSVa3q2cFUjVW8fM3lKdUK4kcNWuE23W0pNL6KIMtHCoQi12opjLdtUEMe2U2icbuqdwctSgNsyT-a64JKagP4sYokn9V4GG4l-0ogUsZ0bvVAjwpUTyMKQ4VxGlQxC3qotaaFlcOpAOHVpZj9ICA/s320/screamVI-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />That changes in <b>SCREAM VI</b>. Without the shadow of Sydney, and even Dewey, the “Core Four” that survived <b>SCREAM</b> (2022) are allowed to breathe and flesh out into characters we can finally care about. Samantha is much more interesting this time around. Not only is she struggling with the trauma of the previous film’s events, but she’s fighting the instinct of becoming her father’s daughter, slowly gaining this thirst for violence and murder. She’s also smothering her sister Tara, who is dealing with her own massive trauma by partying and lashing out at those around her. Tara also manages to flesh out Chad, as they both have feelings for each other, having grown closer since <b>SCREAM</b> (2022). Chad has grown a lot, as he’s the Big Brother and Enforcer of the Core Four and does his best to protect his girls. And Mindy is still awesome, leaning more into Randy Meeks territory while also afraid of being attacked by Ghostface again and doing everything she can to get away from anyone she considers a suspect.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The other characters aren’t as interesting, but some come close. The best one is probably Danny, who is Samantha’s neighbor and boyfriend. He seems like a decent guy, but you’re never really sure in these films. And the return of both Gale and Kirby are pretty great. Gale is dealing with her trauma of losing Dewey by resorting to her old journalistic ways - writing books on the pain of others to make a buck. And Kirby is now an FBI Agent, but seems to be hiding things from the others for some reason. Hmm…</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And Ghostface - man, this is the most terrifying portrayal ever. This version of the horror villain does not play at all. Even though Ghostface has a main target, he or she or they have no qualms hurting and murdering people in the way of their goal. Guns or knives - it doesn’t matter how long as the job is done. It was nice having an intimidating Ghostface for once.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>SCREAM VI</b> is also a movie where I didn’t figure out the mystery completely. I won’t say how many killers this film has, but I didn’t solve the whole puzzle - which was refreshing. I didn’t see the motive coming either, which I thought was a nice connective tissue to the previous movies. I usually figure out all the killers in these <b>SCREAM</b> movies, so having one where I didn’t see the whole picture was actually fun.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The script isn’t perfect though. There are plot holes all over this film, which I didn’t really think about while watching it. But reflecting back on the movie, yeah, it does things that shouldn’t make sense honestly. The final act feels very rushed and clumsy at times, even though it’s still a blast to watch it all go down. And yeah, people get hurt really badly in this movie. But they can get stabbed a thousand times in vital spots on the body, yet still make it out alive for the next film. I get the writers are attached to these characters and are scared to kill some of them off, but there should have been a higher body count by the sixth movie. I mean, this takes place in New York City! How did Woodsboro get a higher kill count?</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhP3SLb2dggylizC-yYIXz9lwxu29PyKTKDgJI-VYJCJn47XC3qOri5_b1FF_536-UG-ZfDPWcZaUajt_cv01UsJOAiIGNfvaDOWc9-sN2PkPHEh1c5r_Hi7LVEhXGQ3nS0H3uHenP55rEytHvcUyBNEa9X1oqa1A-WmGLYOnUZ9hi9GBk2T0ZuD9_Q/s3120/screamVI-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="3120" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhP3SLb2dggylizC-yYIXz9lwxu29PyKTKDgJI-VYJCJn47XC3qOri5_b1FF_536-UG-ZfDPWcZaUajt_cv01UsJOAiIGNfvaDOWc9-sN2PkPHEh1c5r_Hi7LVEhXGQ3nS0H3uHenP55rEytHvcUyBNEa9X1oqa1A-WmGLYOnUZ9hi9GBk2T0ZuD9_Q/s320/screamVI-2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />The direction by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett is very good. While I wish the NYC location was used more than it was, the subway sequence and certain moments inside apartments, where neighbors can see what’s going on, were used very effectively. In fact, the tension was raised big time in <b>SCREAM VI</b>, as a lot of the chase sequences were suspenseful as hell and gave me a bit of anxiety at times. The bodega scene, a sequence involving a ladder between two apartment windows, Gale’s confrontation with Ghostface and the train sequence all had moments where I couldn’t look away because I was so tense. While not overly scary, <b>SCREAM VI</b> is the first film in a while where I felt the filmmakers were trying to unsettle the audience. I also liked the cool twist on the usual opening sequence and just the level of blocking during many of the scenes to create a thrilling experience. For a two-hour movie, <b>SCREAM VI</b> felt much shorter because I was given feelings I hadn’t felt during a <b>SCREAM</b> movie in a long time.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The cast is wonderful as well. The “Core Four” actors are a lot better and more comfortable this time around. Jenna Ortega continues her streak as horror’s “It Girl” with a layered performance as Tara, while Jasmin Savoy Brown still brings the comedy and geekiness as Mindy. Mason Gooding gets more to do as Chad, making his character more likable than in the last film. Melissa Barrera, however, feels like a different actress here than she did in 2022’s <b>SCREAM</b>. Maybe it’s more character development and screen time, or just feeling more comfortable in the role. But I really enjoyed Barrera here and she proved worthy of carrying this franchise as the series’ lead for as long as they’ll have her.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The rest of the cast is solid. I enjoyed Josh Segarra as Sam’s new love interest, Danny. Hayden Panettiere makes a welcome return as Kirby. Panettiere plays the role a bit differently this time around, which I won’t spoil how, but it’s nice seeing her here. Courteney Cox also had some great moments as Gail Weathers, especially since she was able to stand on her own without Neve Campbell or David Arquette taking away some of the spotlight.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><u>THE FINAL HOWL</u></b></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje1Mie1QQxS639SAXB2U5LfqvJJXUYCmNtu2K94bth7o-jv4Th0BuM9q7RxliWg2rhfMHJ78OqU9qIc55mHRN2WkPUFvjYLBgdDX6Sq_xNsZq3RNqXrS3mPJqMhOT7DN5CI8HtgT2hjdM10BVpJDn-OYaFKa1_Kt1-zs0lb8I7sZat5aDzHJwq8okVEg/s780/ScreamVI-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="780" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje1Mie1QQxS639SAXB2U5LfqvJJXUYCmNtu2K94bth7o-jv4Th0BuM9q7RxliWg2rhfMHJ78OqU9qIc55mHRN2WkPUFvjYLBgdDX6Sq_xNsZq3RNqXrS3mPJqMhOT7DN5CI8HtgT2hjdM10BVpJDn-OYaFKa1_Kt1-zs0lb8I7sZat5aDzHJwq8okVEg/s320/ScreamVI-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />Who knew <b>SCREAM VI</b> would be my favorite installment of this slasher franchise in a very long time? Despite the much talked about absence of Neve Campbell, the film actually seems all the better without her presence included. Underdeveloped characters from 2022’s <b>SCREAM</b> actually get arcs that flesh them out in ways that we actually like and root for them. The New York City locale could have been used a bit more, but it’s a great change of scenery from your standard suburban Woodsboro. We have a Ghostface character who takes no prisoners, managing to be brutal and unrelenting to the point where you actually fear him or her (or them). And for a two-hour movie, it felt shorter than some of the other installments. Radio Silence did a great job directing this movie, actually bringing tons of tension and suspense to the point where I actually feared for some of these characters. And the younger cast feel more confident and actually get things to do, especially Melissa Barrera who actually gets to play a lead character that I wouldn’t mind being the center of this newer trilogy. I also thought the returns of Courteney Cox and Hayden Panettiere were fun additions. Despite some plot holes and an annoying tendency to play it too safe with protecting characters - a more brutal Ghostface should have had a higher body count - I think <b>SCREAM VI</b> is the best installment since the first one. Or at least, it’s on par with <b>SCREAM 2</b>, which this film clearly pays a great homage to. Since this movie made a lot of money, we’re clearly getting another one. Hopefully <b>SCREAM VII</b> continues the upward momentum and takes more risks.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>SCORE</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8B8YN3W5FE34iGmKPl-2xg2-p8DRLHAhGxofxpWeoaa2fdf7mryx1cMEzi0xmtNlRTRXNuo_wqj_LJgHQt7JCbEkZJ2bH3Xr9ppIOO5aGIAdea4IlTdgw8xZpZ8Y-1gYQ6_RDjAEgePJ4rX5quJY1QwXikjaHiVICbVAdB1ss6OrIv48GC2gvdy8H3Q/s400/wolfscorethreenhalf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="400" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8B8YN3W5FE34iGmKPl-2xg2-p8DRLHAhGxofxpWeoaa2fdf7mryx1cMEzi0xmtNlRTRXNuo_wqj_LJgHQt7JCbEkZJ2bH3Xr9ppIOO5aGIAdea4IlTdgw8xZpZ8Y-1gYQ6_RDjAEgePJ4rX5quJY1QwXikjaHiVICbVAdB1ss6OrIv48GC2gvdy8H3Q/s320/wolfscorethreenhalf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b style="white-space: pre-wrap;">3.5 Howls Outta 4</b></div></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>(9 out of 10)</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/h74AXqw4Opc" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></center><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div>Fred [The Wolf]http://www.blogger.com/profile/03208803636786210066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717349721694216715.post-1660471808136265452023-02-20T17:54:00.000-05:002023-02-20T17:54:34.512-05:00Escape the Field (2022)<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-63230ad5-7fff-2fd7-ff82-b8ba96d6ff0f"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9kiQYJSxXehVQ9F73Die9Ha4khIPigHvrWunCiaPz5VTWoZ8OTsDdOmiJ9UgliFL04EZkZPDSpU3s7b8ZieIWvizfuZpgyWhAWLRS-nX-KYYzwdPcAUOj2m_5Wktuki5u9NfO4-qGO_CT8pbFNH1KoRjS1versUexh1XaTQ8R47eAQmliggCKwwix6w/s755/53%20escape_the_field.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="510" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9kiQYJSxXehVQ9F73Die9Ha4khIPigHvrWunCiaPz5VTWoZ8OTsDdOmiJ9UgliFL04EZkZPDSpU3s7b8ZieIWvizfuZpgyWhAWLRS-nX-KYYzwdPcAUOj2m_5Wktuki5u9NfO4-qGO_CT8pbFNH1KoRjS1versUexh1XaTQ8R47eAQmliggCKwwix6w/w432-h640/53%20escape_the_field.jpg" width="432" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>DIRECTED BY</u></b></div></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Emerson Moore</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>STARRING</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Jordan Claire Robbins, Theo Rossi, Shane West, Tahirah Sharif, Elena Juatco, Julian Fender</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Thriller/Mystery</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>89 Minutes</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>PLOT</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Six strangers suddenly awaken in a remote, endless cornfield. Stripped of their possessions, they are left with only six items: a gun with a single bullet, matches, a lantern, a knife, a compass, and a flask of water. As mysterious sirens blare in the distance and traps appear at every turn, the group realizes it’s been plunged into a cat-and-mouse game with an unseen evil, and survival depends upon solving a diabolical and deadly puzzle.</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxEHNc6PuePtQLkvAALRxyxMWN4BkooAPrulIGsQJVbdS0v2bLgeAnMJUX1Ib1S4p5GnN_UlXlT8V6xqhf6EGFbSyA72JNREwHrPHthvyrVmrGfV0lVwAoySA5bEzdcVHT_M9Pt-tyrIv4q9qPvq-1mGH2FNcqRr18ONV0UTerchZjLmikNHZ3egJTw/s1200/escapethefield-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="1200" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxEHNc6PuePtQLkvAALRxyxMWN4BkooAPrulIGsQJVbdS0v2bLgeAnMJUX1Ib1S4p5GnN_UlXlT8V6xqhf6EGFbSyA72JNREwHrPHthvyrVmrGfV0lVwAoySA5bEzdcVHT_M9Pt-tyrIv4q9qPvq-1mGH2FNcqRr18ONV0UTerchZjLmikNHZ3egJTw/w400-h166/escapethefield-1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span></div></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you take the premise of <b>CUBE</b> and put it in a large cornfield maze, you get 2022’s <b>ESCAPE THE FIELD</b> - a movie that’s nowhere as entertaining as the film that I mentioned. It’s unfortunate because this movie had my interest for the first two acts with a mystery that had me wondering what was going on in terms of the situation.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Who is behind this sick game?</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">How are these six strangers connected?</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Why do certain characters have certain items on them?</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Why are some of these characters acting shadier than others? Are they part of the game?</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">These questions had me intrigued for much of the film, despite characters not having a ton of depth or interesting aspects to them besides their behavior within the game. Then, the third act happens and just destroys all momentum and interest I had in <b>ESCAPE THE FIELD</b>. Important characters start to get less screen time for whatever reason. There’s a random monster versus monster fight that’s not really established. In fact, why this game was even happening is never explained! The movie never bothers to provide a real answer to what’s going on, making me wonder why I even bothered for 90 minutes. If the game was an experiment, what was the reason? Why six players? Were the monsters survivors of previous games? Like anything would have been nice!</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The screenplay is so bare bones that it makes me sad because other aspects of the film weren’t that bad. The direction by Emerson Moore was pretty decent, considering much of the film took place within a cornfield. I thought the cinematography at times was beautiful and things were shot very well. And the actors - especially Jordan Claire Robbins, Theo Rossi and Shane West - were all believable in their roles, trying to do their best with what they were given [<i>which wasn’t much</i>].</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It’s a shame <b>ESCAPE THE FIELD</b> turned out the way it did, especially since it grabbed me at the beginning and just petered out by the halfway point. When a mystery doesn’t provide the answers you’re looking for, what’s the point? <b>ESCAPE THE FIELD</b> by watching something else more worth your time.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>SCORE</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpKkXNySgGPoU1gU5Sfkj4v96esq8uiWxfd9t0y24nvZ03KKIgJAPKCwd_uQLSKUHPC794KWMzRTounTqWKYPc3AKgpn9u8Yw-M5OaevuSjeozKzgGV2-R_Xg_EN81twwjYQNG3-htn0M4REkfB8aHlfr2BuvEbSj_HHPzjjjF_Ti5jvguRbTneMETQ/s400/wolfscoreonenhalf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="400" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpKkXNySgGPoU1gU5Sfkj4v96esq8uiWxfd9t0y24nvZ03KKIgJAPKCwd_uQLSKUHPC794KWMzRTounTqWKYPc3AKgpn9u8Yw-M5OaevuSjeozKzgGV2-R_Xg_EN81twwjYQNG3-htn0M4REkfB8aHlfr2BuvEbSj_HHPzjjjF_Ti5jvguRbTneMETQ/s320/wolfscoreonenhalf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b style="white-space: pre-wrap;">1.5 Howls Outta 4</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>(4 out of 10)</i></span></div></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D-iZ9sdOm18" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div>Fred [The Wolf]http://www.blogger.com/profile/03208803636786210066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717349721694216715.post-22624099305692394002023-02-06T18:53:00.000-05:002023-02-06T18:53:12.919-05:00Beast (2022)<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-d1bc2290-7fff-2c40-d43e-a0a88b200d97"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u></u></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3BP0yblLzlolenhq9a7zs5TRcGHgo_UnmmV6_25_rVLoOvfmUpgwthJ45OPdm9M_JlGAgHGt7dD6LPKP4YWFuxZSWCntWBgJLSPNvPBBW8lPxPxpl7TfsY_67qBwKrvKdpI5DQopTZSabhvW4OOnm9NbfY2Luz75RnOFXf6IWOComnkBXVgaR5LKNeg/s755/35%20beast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="477" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3BP0yblLzlolenhq9a7zs5TRcGHgo_UnmmV6_25_rVLoOvfmUpgwthJ45OPdm9M_JlGAgHGt7dD6LPKP4YWFuxZSWCntWBgJLSPNvPBBW8lPxPxpl7TfsY_67qBwKrvKdpI5DQopTZSabhvW4OOnm9NbfY2Luz75RnOFXf6IWOComnkBXVgaR5LKNeg/w253-h400/35%20beast.jpg" width="253" /></a></u></b></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>DIRECTED BY</u></b></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Baltasar Kormakur</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>STARRING</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Idris Elba - Dr. Nate Daniels</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Leah Sava Jeffries - Norah Daniels</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Iyana Halley - Meredith Daniels</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Sharlto Copley - Martin Battles</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre -</b> <i>Horror/Thriller/Action/Adventure/Bad Animals</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time -</b> <i>93 Minutes</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>PLOT</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>A recently widowed man and his two teenage daughters travel to a game reserve in South Africa. However, their journey of healing soon turns into a fight for survival when a bloodthirsty lion starts to stalk them.</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So this is my 1200th (!!!) review and I had planned to make it special by discussing some monumental horror film that would kick off the next 100 reviews. But with real life in the way and catching up on films that have been sitting in my queue for months, that plan went up in flames. Instead, I caught up with one of those “sitting-in-queue” films that I had planned on reviewing anyway last year, but I didn’t get to it since I felt the movie was made more for streaming purposes rather than a theatrical experience. And that movie is 2022’s <b>BEAST</b>.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWtNiDrw3qFsUnpdgwL-wlquGgVmjUaeWUO7Jj-wOsD68rRVFl31TzEPW3sjIjaSkU1fcF-bXgup0YO_0ZB4U0ziJK3CiOkeRgVViNUwKowWi8FlaUY192aIw--Loqc5-T0e0xjHcE_n8owLVSj5wyGEVabZPoxya80QwPA-kKVlYRIPqbFB2oVLEbQ/s1024/beast22-4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="1024" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWtNiDrw3qFsUnpdgwL-wlquGgVmjUaeWUO7Jj-wOsD68rRVFl31TzEPW3sjIjaSkU1fcF-bXgup0YO_0ZB4U0ziJK3CiOkeRgVViNUwKowWi8FlaUY192aIw--Loqc5-T0e0xjHcE_n8owLVSj5wyGEVabZPoxya80QwPA-kKVlYRIPqbFB2oVLEbQ/s320/beast22-4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />In all honesty, <b>BEAST</b> isn’t a bad film to kick off the next 100 reviews. After all, I spent many years focusing on animal-run-amok movies during the Summer Season. Man versus beast flicks are my jam, and <b>BEAST</b> is also elevated by the presence of both Idris Elba and Sharlto Copley, two actors I enjoy watching. So I was pretty eager to check out both actors trying to take down an angry lion. And while <b>BEAST</b> doesn’t reinvent the wheel and is fairly predictable in every single beat of the film, it’s still a pretty good time and worthy of its animal-run-amok tropes.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nate Daniels and his family are vacationing in South Africa as a way for Nate to reconnect with his estranged daughters after their mother passes away from cancer. Along with his best friend Martin, the foursome see the sights until they encounter a village littered with corpses due to the attack of an angry lion who lost its pride due to poachers. The lion targets the group and terrorizes them, making Nate fight back for survival for himself and his family.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Like I already mentioned, you’ll get nothing new in a film like <b>BEAST</b>. It’s pretty much your typical fish-out-of-water situation where a dangerous animal is terrorizing a location, while the main character tries to save the other characters from getting mauled by said animal due to their stupid actions. Nate and Martin are constantly on the proactive side of things, tending to people and even hunting down the lion to stop it so it won’t hurt anyone else. Unfortunately, Nate’s daughters have no real urgency and just react in ways that are frustrating to any viewer. When told to stay put inside their car, they’ll still wander off [<i>sometimes even separately</i>] to see what’s going on or to see if they can help, only distracting Nate and Martin. Or in one situation, they’ll use a walkie-talkie to speak with Nate as he’s looking for keys to an abandoned vehicle he could use to escape, not realizing that their voices through the speaker are only alerting the lion to their father’s location. And while one of the daughters is upset at Nate for how he handled his relationship with her mother before she tragically passed away, arguing with him and bringing up a rough past doesn’t help anyone in this kind of situation.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMc19pyO2r2SCHD53OFaH_Wnx-j8DRO0eE3Uvf9bOXOUIwD6ax_-QFIHWSQ56BPVc0DL1JXqx1mpEO9gkry87jUCdZMOdoLrNVDWlvK2703mHgCR1HE7pJqcFjrn880x_8Cx4_6rHHa2MEJQ71vnJr2dmmr1_Hpm8ps70fKlVM-VtLLcj8xcitB2l4Tw/s2560/beast22-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMc19pyO2r2SCHD53OFaH_Wnx-j8DRO0eE3Uvf9bOXOUIwD6ax_-QFIHWSQ56BPVc0DL1JXqx1mpEO9gkry87jUCdZMOdoLrNVDWlvK2703mHgCR1HE7pJqcFjrn880x_8Cx4_6rHHa2MEJQ71vnJr2dmmr1_Hpm8ps70fKlVM-VtLLcj8xcitB2l4Tw/s320/beast22-3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />The daughters can be a bit annoying, but it’s understandable why they’re depicted like this. They’re still angry with their father. They’ve never been in a situation like this. And they’re only doing stupid things because they’re on flight-or-fight mode. Plus, it allows some character development and drama to play out, which will only keep the audience engaged.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nate is also a flawed character, feeling guilt over how he handled his marriage with his late wife, while pushing his daughters away. And while his early attempts to reconnect with them prove to be in vain, as his daughters are pretty cold towards him, he soon earns their respect as he protects them from a man-eating lion. Nate’s heroism makes him a likable character, despite the mistakes he made in the past, which he easily admits to.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Martin is the archetypical local member of the group who knows the location very well and what they’re dealing with. He’s also kind to the local animals, especially the lions in the area who seem friendly with him, which makes him a target of poachers who want to hurt these animals. His anti-poach stance comes into play during the latter half of the movie, creating unnecessary conflict for the survivors as they’re being hunted down by a dangerous lion.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoG0FMowkWDVHulih8QSpKSWD5RShM8CnxW2wbr60zHIL69fYJZ0AXBe9_k7ZsqmSoVDjSrTTlNYGwomJrdj0vSj3rs5Gybd3z4R4bg6QO_QkLdnTJOCtD-MOrvEUkyCXaciMmMwWBSLA7WcQzuw2JMddc4G9vyRDT9psmDDHZ4byAHRuD5pzb5F_Mjg/s768/beast22-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="768" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoG0FMowkWDVHulih8QSpKSWD5RShM8CnxW2wbr60zHIL69fYJZ0AXBe9_k7ZsqmSoVDjSrTTlNYGwomJrdj0vSj3rs5Gybd3z4R4bg6QO_QkLdnTJOCtD-MOrvEUkyCXaciMmMwWBSLA7WcQzuw2JMddc4G9vyRDT9psmDDHZ4byAHRuD5pzb5F_Mjg/s320/beast22-2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />As for the lion itself, it plays out as your typical angry or rabid animal with a single-minded focus on attacking and killing anyone in its way. It’s angry at humans for what happened to its pride, making <b>BEAST</b> a revenge movie for the animal. But the lion is really just a catalyst to bring Nate and his family back together through this terrifying experience they’re sharing together. They’re able to have a common ground against a common enemy, which is what really drives the narrative towards its predictable conclusion.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I think the best part about <b>BEAST</b> is its visual presentation. The direction by Baltasar Kormakur plays up all the animal-run-amok tropes to perfection, building suspense and tension once the animal attacks begin. The quiet moments are done wonderfully, but when the action picks up, it’s definitely thrilling. And shout out to cinematographer Philippe Rousselot for creating a beautiful film. The South African location looks lovely with rich earthy colors [<i>brown, yellow and orange</i>]. And the shots of the lion, whether close up or lurking in the background as it plans its next move, really add to the moments in which the lion appears. I believe the lion was actually CGI for the most part and it’s some of the best CGI I’ve seen done for an animal-run-amok movie like this. It definitely looks believable, allowing one to take what they’re watching more seriously than they probably ought to.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The actors are really good as well. Idris Elba is always reliable and he does well as the lead, Nate Daniels, here. Elba convincingly plays a guilt-ridden father, a selfless hero for his daughters and best friend, and a total badass who stands up to a lion who has no qualms in mauling him. I read a lot of folks joking that Elba only got the job because The Rock probably turned the role down. All I’m gonna say is that Elba probably did this role more justice than The Rock could have dreamed of doing. Leah Sava Jeffries and Iyana Halley are very good as Nate’s daughters, playing scared believably. And Sharlto Copley is always nice to see and he brings a level of authenticity to his role of Martin.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>THE FINAL HOWL</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqV6u9fu97K-yEtXdkXmrS2QdNmGzX81S8H0cukyvX8-JF3wodzJghR4pGzTvhJE0uRCiOjA_91miP36Bt0dlb7cgEVUA612i8V7Naa9mbveOkQra-p_tQ0fq_YqjH-MMgQq0pM4i-uYfx5EOZppjgcp-6hEe6Zn1D5GDNzqRFbuOyFMDdZA27ob6bhw/s3000/beast22-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1686" data-original-width="3000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqV6u9fu97K-yEtXdkXmrS2QdNmGzX81S8H0cukyvX8-JF3wodzJghR4pGzTvhJE0uRCiOjA_91miP36Bt0dlb7cgEVUA612i8V7Naa9mbveOkQra-p_tQ0fq_YqjH-MMgQq0pM4i-uYfx5EOZppjgcp-6hEe6Zn1D5GDNzqRFbuOyFMDdZA27ob6bhw/s320/beast22-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />It doesn’t reinvent the wheel when it comes to animal-run-amok movies, but 2022’s <b>BEAST</b> still manages to be a fun time. The film follows every trope that one would expect from a movie like this. You get a fish-out-of-water situation for the survivors. You get an angry animal whose only intent is to hurt anyone standing in its way. You get characters who panic to the point where they do stupid things that could jeopardize their survival and the survival of others. And you get thrilling action and dramatic beats that bring people closer together due to a traumatic situation. It’s all been done before, but <b>BEAST</b> handles it the right way and doesn’t insult its audience in trying to be something that it isn’t.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The direction by Baltasar Kormakur is strong, slowly building suspense and tension while making the action sequences pretty thrilling when they do happen. And the beautiful cinematography by Philippe Rousselot highlights the great looking South African location, while making the CGI lion look super realistic to the point where I was questioning whether the animal was real or not. And the small cast gives the film credibility, especially Idris Elba in a strong starring role. If you happened to miss this one for whatever reason and you like animals terrorizing people for 90 minutes, then you could do a lot worse than <b>BEAST</b>.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">SCORE</span></b></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOtw96_PMxOfOSvKUvsmWFkXif78eUWem3R9rKWYRg4tboA9Ia298bOfZGPmBvMolm55ayU1hJvycIWeoU2geLAd3nD5hml1O8EFT037as5X66I0bztCc_EDqptT1fFtbEppSM7WNDwSvIj2xC-pfO3041SEa0ci8WaPOx9Y1CNtWztxrMhOIxnU_iQ/s400/wolfscorethree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="400" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOtw96_PMxOfOSvKUvsmWFkXif78eUWem3R9rKWYRg4tboA9Ia298bOfZGPmBvMolm55ayU1hJvycIWeoU2geLAd3nD5hml1O8EFT037as5X66I0bztCc_EDqptT1fFtbEppSM7WNDwSvIj2xC-pfO3041SEa0ci8WaPOx9Y1CNtWztxrMhOIxnU_iQ/s320/wolfscorethree.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3 Howls Outta 4</span></b></div></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">(<i>7 out of 10</i>)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oQMc7Sq36mI" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div></span></div>Fred [The Wolf]http://www.blogger.com/profile/03208803636786210066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717349721694216715.post-88370089761336283032023-01-15T17:48:00.000-05:002023-01-15T17:48:12.009-05:00M3GAN (2023)<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-11dc6c6e-7fff-b50b-f560-54f1c55fc4ac"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u></u></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwDe3MV0zp6SWZEf18aivVpMgeWNXWuIfA3yNaDHwFXqYpNT7NvEdW6hQG0OJ2f6DkYBJboEW9-9JL-a_aKXCervzqMZ-azO2_X8WPKbyLlIcc-m3N-d3ngEmRxc9QgGs7jD3NrHQNiE6yGrgvK2QMS9BIiIqviP-RpbVH2rlbtNaj3I0P4YY4dTFx5Q/s755/013%20m3gan.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="477" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwDe3MV0zp6SWZEf18aivVpMgeWNXWuIfA3yNaDHwFXqYpNT7NvEdW6hQG0OJ2f6DkYBJboEW9-9JL-a_aKXCervzqMZ-azO2_X8WPKbyLlIcc-m3N-d3ngEmRxc9QgGs7jD3NrHQNiE6yGrgvK2QMS9BIiIqviP-RpbVH2rlbtNaj3I0P4YY4dTFx5Q/w253-h400/013%20m3gan.jpg" width="253" /></a></u></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>DIRECTED BY</u></b></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Gerard Johnstone</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>STARRING</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Allison Williams - Gemma</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Violet McGraw - Cady</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Amie Donald - M3GAN</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Jenna Davis - Voice of M3GAN</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Jen Van Epps - Tess</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Brian Jordan Alvarez - Cole</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Ronny Chieng - David Lin</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Lori Dungey - Celia</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Jack Cassidy - Brandon</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre -</b> <i>Horror/Science Fiction/Comedy/Robots/Killer Toys</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time -</b> <i>102 Minutes</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>PLOT</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>A brilliant toy company roboticist uses artificial intelligence to develop M3GAN, a life-like doll programmed to emotionally bond with her newly orphaned niece. But when the doll’s programming works too well, she becomes overprotective of her new friend with terrifying results.</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGCojrYjF-5AEXKYhCrZLyYqG08XTu8nKP1LxoQ-euazA51cJ5_D9eJqHfvtIHIKSYGovCCPE0PW4V3lb6WXG3qjJ11n747c4Y6QwVw0SpZ4MEPkzQdhgWjO65RMeOVinLU5HaZRhsH5QZIwxCVz_Sac8G-nx5rBBxis85aIrjSB_q8_VjAbjj5WMKuw/s1825/m3gan-1.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1002" data-original-width="1825" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGCojrYjF-5AEXKYhCrZLyYqG08XTu8nKP1LxoQ-euazA51cJ5_D9eJqHfvtIHIKSYGovCCPE0PW4V3lb6WXG3qjJ11n747c4Y6QwVw0SpZ4MEPkzQdhgWjO65RMeOVinLU5HaZRhsH5QZIwxCVz_Sac8G-nx5rBBxis85aIrjSB_q8_VjAbjj5WMKuw/s320/m3gan-1.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />In 1963, <b>The Twilight Zone</b> aired an episode called “Living Doll”, introducing the world to Talking Tina - a doll that would be revealed as some sort of sentient evil being. Due to that episode’s massive popularity, the killer doll subgenre of horror has continued to thrive and please audiences until the modern day. Whether it’s voodoo [<i><b>TRILOGY OF TERROR</b>, <b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2008/12/childs-play-1988.html">CHILD’S PLAY</a></b></i>], magic [<i><b>MAGIC</b>, <b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2011/01/b-movie-bungalow-presents-puppetmaster.html">PUPPET MASTER</a></b></i>] or just the advent of technology [<i>2019’s <b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2019/06/childs-play-2019.html">CHILD’S PLAY</a></b> remake</i>], dolls continue to frighten audiences despite many of us own one during our childhood as a security blanket of sorts. </span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Like I mentioned already, technology has really been the element that keeps this subgenre going. It’s not hard to see why. Many of us rely on technological things to keep us up to date with world events, our friends’ and family’s lives, and just to keep us from being bored with the doldrums of modern life. Especially for Gen Z, technology is a lifeline because they don’t know a life before iPhones, tablets, computers and advanced game consoles to keep them occupied. Adding this kind of technology to a doll that’s meant to be more human than robot is always going to return a narrative that won’t be without its hiccups.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">M3GAN, or Model 3 Generative Android, is the killer doll for the Z Generation. It behaves like a human being. It can dance for you. It can sing your favorite TikTok song. It’ll even listen and give you advice to make you a better person. But like with all Artificial Intelligence, it’s only going to want to learn as it evolves itself. And knowledge is power - which can be a bad thing depending on who is gaining it. And because of this, the android becomes more intelligent and clever than the human being who programmed it. And as we’ve seen in other bits of media, chaos and destruction can only follow.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">M3GAN is marketed as the film’s villain. But is she really? After all, she’s just doing what she was created to do. Yes, the doll does some really bad things - mainly murder due to having a serious attachment to the young girl she’s paired with. But if she isn’t programmed to stop learning and to not do bad things that can hurt others, is she really the one to blame? After all, M3GAN doesn’t have a conscience or emotions that would imply sympathy and empathy. Only the humans behind this android have that capacity.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1fV-L9x9a5mkMcdEGRQrb0FjleQLoNXCIS71RV0mcVIkjpNpbpsm956MiSdK-aNaOthrNuAp3MD8QNL6SyNkkL6k0qTJn1xFMrLHen3fff3f2YV6Zgs-mnASuw-ozyAujdituUxEtvT61BdIPQEtUYKMNIUIgZMiV2vuijZsJnfgNfiBMQPvz6WllA/s1200/m3gan-3.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1200" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1fV-L9x9a5mkMcdEGRQrb0FjleQLoNXCIS71RV0mcVIkjpNpbpsm956MiSdK-aNaOthrNuAp3MD8QNL6SyNkkL6k0qTJn1xFMrLHen3fff3f2YV6Zgs-mnASuw-ozyAujdituUxEtvT61BdIPQEtUYKMNIUIgZMiV2vuijZsJnfgNfiBMQPvz6WllA/s320/m3gan-3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />In my opinion, the film’s villain is really Allison Williams’ Gemma. I mean, she’s not doing it intentionally. She’s a career oriented woman who is surrounded by technology that she has created as a means to keep her company and make her financially capable of living a great life. Unfortunately, her sister and her sister’s husband were murdered in a car accident, quickly making her the guardian of her niece Cady. Both characters are out of their element here. Gemma has no idea how to raise anyone, hoping to leave that to M3GAN or any other toy to keep Cady occupied while she lives her own professional life. Cady is still mourning the death of her parents and having to adjust to a new life. She only connects with M3GAN because it’s a toy that gives her the attention she needs, which leads to attachment issues by the third act. </span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Gemma isn’t a greedy or bad intentioned character. But in a way, she’s just as robotic as M3GAN. She’s mourning her own loss and has issues adjusting to change because these are things she can’t control with the push of a button. It’s her lack of wanting to connect with Cady that leads to the birth of M3GAN, which not only becomes a media sensation and a great bonus for her bank account and reputation as a toy maker, but begins the drama that plays throughout the movie. M3GAN doesn’t have a conscience, but Gemma does. It’s her flaws that become M3GAN’s flaws, watching her good intentions go down the drain. But thankfully it’s humanity that gives both Gemma and Cady a fighting chance against this malicious android. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It’s obvious <b>M3GAN</b> is about how parents are using technology to babysit their children in order to continue their individual lives, whether that’s professionally or personally. This isn’t something new. Parents have been doing this for decades, ever since the birth of television. We’ve all spent hours a day distracted by television or video games while our parents went to work or were doing chores around the house. But with phones and tablets, we’re now seeing three and four-year-olds looking like zombies, brainwashed by what they’re doing on these tools. They’re not getting that same human interaction and connection us older generations received, more focused on living in a virtual world rather than reality. While technology is great, children deserve to be raised and supported by their parents and/or family in real life rather than learn everything from what they see online. This will probably do more harm than good for future generations in the long run, but only time will tell.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What I’m really trying to say is that <b>M3GAN</b> has a smart script, thanks to <b>MALIGNANT</b> writer Akela Cooper. She could have really turned this film super hokey and cheesy with the whole killer doll deal. But there’s more to <b>M3GAN</b> than just the horror aspect, which allowed me to connect with it more. Being a fan of both these James Wan produced movies, Akela Cooper is proving to be an interesting player in the horror scene. Look forward to what she has up her sleeve next.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yir-O1dUouvdthCd5BOhhmyzIFmwFb7VjL0Zpr5IpKu3x-rb_Uw0eGg43Nf8qdbeZH_uVM5IcsBZoqZnStmg__BIh3AQYRf4tKk_04eTcrFfC7O7IQskinwzkid0DphgTZH40WUSOm7IXKCsNrCXUljcXus89c0nbwfGW4VRJzkMkPLBkHApUqPO5Q/s960/m3gan-2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yir-O1dUouvdthCd5BOhhmyzIFmwFb7VjL0Zpr5IpKu3x-rb_Uw0eGg43Nf8qdbeZH_uVM5IcsBZoqZnStmg__BIh3AQYRf4tKk_04eTcrFfC7O7IQskinwzkid0DphgTZH40WUSOm7IXKCsNrCXUljcXus89c0nbwfGW4VRJzkMkPLBkHApUqPO5Q/s320/m3gan-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />The direction from Gerald Johnstone is really good, making M3GAN seem legit creepy and menacing as she evolves throughout the film. While the film can be tense and chilling at times, <b>M3GAN</b> feels mostly lighter than that - almost like a comedy at times that pokes fun at advertisements, social media and how society treats others without thinking first. The colors pop and the most slasher film moments are shot super well, with a lot of build and suspense that gets you ready for whatever M3GAN has in its violent programming. And while this version of <b>M3GAN</b> is PG-13 [<i>I hear there’s an R-rated cut floating around</i>], the death scenes still manage to pack quite a punch. For a film that only cost $12 million to make, <b>M3GAN</b> is shot to look way more expensive than that. </span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">All the actors rock in this movie. Allison Williams is really great as Gemma, as you understand her character’s flaws and really feel her varied display of emotions throughout the film when bad things start to go down. Williams is a super underrated actress and I hope she continues to shine brighter in future films. Violet McGraw is also great as Cady, acting beyond her years as a sympathetic young character who just wants to feel normal and loved again after a tragedy. McGraw also gets a lot of emotional beats to play with, all of them convincing and justified for her character. And both Amie Donald and Jenna Davis are fantastic as M3GAN. Donald, a young dancer, really captures an android’s movements down. The dancing is strange. The way M3GAN hunts is uncomfortable to watch. And her lack of moving tends to be scarier a lot of the time. Donald is awesome in the role. And Jenna Davis’ cute voice adds a lot to the character as well. Special mention also goes to the supporting actors - in particular Ronny Chieng as Gemma’s boss David and Lori Dungey as neighbor Celia - who bring a lot to their roles and help flesh out the main characters. Just a really great cast for a fun movie.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>THE FINAL HOWL</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_Cm9VkLVM_IQPvuVdFF6QWoT9JLdiqeX9786TsGbHfyM5W14aLwSD4_o46BzsbZEPWL7WpGf7cTX-CF5K4RPZNzD-jAQcuDbJZGa-DN5RmtKYY-B_dAsVDomOUHL0l3vXQGTFioCmAo5vWJRJtwR6vYVd6zI5P0-zHc_xd9-6rpi21WFY1eucjpwRg/s600/m3gan-4.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="600" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_Cm9VkLVM_IQPvuVdFF6QWoT9JLdiqeX9786TsGbHfyM5W14aLwSD4_o46BzsbZEPWL7WpGf7cTX-CF5K4RPZNzD-jAQcuDbJZGa-DN5RmtKYY-B_dAsVDomOUHL0l3vXQGTFioCmAo5vWJRJtwR6vYVd6zI5P0-zHc_xd9-6rpi21WFY1eucjpwRg/s320/m3gan-4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />I never would have guessed that <b>M3GAN</b> would be as fun as it is, considering I thought the trailers made the movie look pretty cheesy and that January is usually Hollywood’s dumping ground for films they have no faith in. But it’s a really good time with a relevant commentary on technology and how some adults use it to babysit their children to the point it could be damaging in terms of a lack of human interaction. It also plays around with the killer toy tropes extremely well, proving that no matter what decade it is, talking and moving dolls will continue to creep us out. The direction by Gerald Johnstone is strong, maintaining a lighthearted tone even with the film’s horrific moments. The film also looks more expensive than its $12 million budget would have you believe. The cast is super solid as well, with Allison Williams and Violet McGraw as the aunt and niece who are the center of M3GAN’s terror. Amie Donald and Jenna Davis also get a lot of love as M3GAN’s body double and voice respectively. If <b>M3GAN</b> is any indication, 2023 might be a fun year for movies if this is how the year is starting.</span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>SCORE</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJKyRY-nALt7ccJ3C2FkHb7VlZPPvJ4zPvuQfyzxYNowUG-p0lsDcK8bM7TyXIpqVvQxZg7-k76mmANYfS7k6OaF9JL1qsWYOSC4NDr4ajTMA5Ljrro2ly-TITtcqL3zUrmGA1Isd8rLYP54iy44v6qFBP9J-FU1rz5uDwbUC07q79T6xwCQOBN89HWA/s400/wolfscorethree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="400" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJKyRY-nALt7ccJ3C2FkHb7VlZPPvJ4zPvuQfyzxYNowUG-p0lsDcK8bM7TyXIpqVvQxZg7-k76mmANYfS7k6OaF9JL1qsWYOSC4NDr4ajTMA5Ljrro2ly-TITtcqL3zUrmGA1Isd8rLYP54iy44v6qFBP9J-FU1rz5uDwbUC07q79T6xwCQOBN89HWA/s320/wolfscorethree.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b style="white-space: pre-wrap;">3 Howls Outta 4</b></div></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>(8 out of 10)</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OoDHM_A1axc" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></center><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Fred [The Wolf]http://www.blogger.com/profile/03208803636786210066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717349721694216715.post-82275330543244591912023-01-12T23:18:00.003-05:002023-01-12T23:18:19.635-05:00Black Sabbath (1963)<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-836ade4a-7fff-75de-e247-593064445062"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u></u></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_tbRX2ie5MosUeBrzwyuTgvnWMz27SbKrjBdMRsUF2sCOOi6aFJaGeDLV2tBmtw217wPWZD_MyIi1aie4_fVMnfYY8gDhe3Pf2f4BIHJRb1u7aZSn_DlNreuXRnVT-M-EhF8VlIyQ_G_fUUyVeMhoUIwLFSw6taz6An2GS1msMBKs1WgsN6G25_46w/s1520/11%20black%20sabbath.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1520" data-original-width="1006" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_tbRX2ie5MosUeBrzwyuTgvnWMz27SbKrjBdMRsUF2sCOOi6aFJaGeDLV2tBmtw217wPWZD_MyIi1aie4_fVMnfYY8gDhe3Pf2f4BIHJRb1u7aZSn_DlNreuXRnVT-M-EhF8VlIyQ_G_fUUyVeMhoUIwLFSw6taz6An2GS1msMBKs1WgsN6G25_46w/w265-h400/11%20black%20sabbath.jpg" width="265" /></a></u></b></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>DIRECTED BY</u></b></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Mario Bava</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>STARRING</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Boris Karloff - Gorca</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Susy Andersen - Sdenka</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Mark Damon - Count Vladimir D’Urfe</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Michele Mercier - Rosy</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Lidia Alfonsi - Mary</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Jacqueline Pierreux - Helen Chester</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Milly Monti - The Maid</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre -</b> <i>Horror/Supernatural/Anthology</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time -</b> <i>93 Minutes</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>PLOT</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Three short tales of supernatural horror. In “<b>The Telephone</b>,” a woman is plagued by threatening phone calls. In “<b>The Wurdalak</b>,” a family is preyed upon by vampiric monsters. In “<b>The Drop of Water</b>,” a deceased medium wreaks havoc on the living.</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5M8fhjbCGaAw8dJq4kz7RmL4JgH0Kf8_phOTJcjHDyOvXVBkxfvjkSMo39Ks-qs6dGlcuZ4RuQW6nHyc1_f_oUvu_Cq2Bu7eiY7VKSh-zha2fGND48-dFmjHeX8cq1CInGzRGENkHybZz-jEDRsP4IclwprOj_8kaafKCoOtRYzt_kopOqWLY0H6IUg/s900/blacksabbathkarloff2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="900" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5M8fhjbCGaAw8dJq4kz7RmL4JgH0Kf8_phOTJcjHDyOvXVBkxfvjkSMo39Ks-qs6dGlcuZ4RuQW6nHyc1_f_oUvu_Cq2Bu7eiY7VKSh-zha2fGND48-dFmjHeX8cq1CInGzRGENkHybZz-jEDRsP4IclwprOj_8kaafKCoOtRYzt_kopOqWLY0H6IUg/s320/blacksabbathkarloff2.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />I wanted to review something classic for the first review of the year and I figured it’s been a while since I tackled anything from Italian director Mario Bava. It’s also been forever since I’ve done a review for an anthology movie. So why not just do both and review Mario Bava’s 1963 anthology <b>BLACK SABBATH</b>?</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>BLACK SABBATH</b> is known for a few things. It’s the only film where Boris Karloff, best known as Universal Studios’ Frankenstein’s Monster, played a vampire. The title of the film is probably better known as the inspiration for one of the greatest heavy metal bands to have ever existed, as long as a song of the same name. <b>BLACK SABBATH</b> also inspired Quentin Tarantino when it came to the narrative structure of a little known 1994 film called <b>PULP FICTION</b>. Who knew a film that many horror audiences don’t really talk about a whole lot about these days would be so influential in pop culture? The real question is - is <b>BLACK SABBATH</b> any good?</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>BLACK SABBATH</b> is made up of three different horror segments that don’t relate to the other. There’s no real wrap around story besides Boris Karloff acting silly as the film’s host. But each of the stories varies in quality, but all are worth a look.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For this review, I watched the original Italian version [<i>the stories are in a different order in the International dubbed version</i>].</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWeQHLjuhAm9i_l7AnvrDDEQxm5OZ7Qrwu1tPP1g5w3YdEcQ3DEb9sWYeQsfZ-w3C4g1wNP4gQig4oXCyPhM_QbrIWPI8vZeijpWHyT-1zD9BeVMGtJTky-9dLb-8_2PeUn9Fcyf9oAIfBRAyrjQmOBcFyCbTrF3_wU6I3H0GOLuCtlOj8gCPOvtYhpw/s1934/blacksabbath-thetelephone.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="1934" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWeQHLjuhAm9i_l7AnvrDDEQxm5OZ7Qrwu1tPP1g5w3YdEcQ3DEb9sWYeQsfZ-w3C4g1wNP4gQig4oXCyPhM_QbrIWPI8vZeijpWHyT-1zD9BeVMGtJTky-9dLb-8_2PeUn9Fcyf9oAIfBRAyrjQmOBcFyCbTrF3_wU6I3H0GOLuCtlOj8gCPOvtYhpw/w400-h225/blacksabbath-thetelephone.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>"The Telephone"</i></b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Probably the film’s worst segment, "<b><i>The Telephone</i></b>" is still a watchable half hour due to the use of strong tension and suspense throughout. The story is pretty much centered on Rosy, who receives threatening phone calls by who she believes is an ex-lover who is supposedly dead. The segment plays out as a short giallo film that contains twists and turns that make you rethink what’s really going on. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I’m not sure if this is the first horror film that really focused on using a telephone as a scary device to drive a story forward. But I’m sure it influenced other horror films since, like <b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2010/12/original-vs-remake-black-christmasblack.html">BLACK CHRISTMAS</a></b>, <b>WHEN A STRANGER CALLS</b> and <b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2011/03/scream-1996.html">SCREAM</a></b> to name a few. The segment is also set in a single location, making it feel like a stage play that was shot on film. While Bava brings a ton of suspense and tension throughout, especially as the segment gets nearer to the end where things just fall apart for all the characters involved, there’s nothing really dynamic or memorable compared to the other two stories. Characters aren’t really fleshed out and things happen a bit too easily to keep the narrative flowing. The only real interesting aspect was Rosy and her friend Mary implying some sort of lesbian relationship, which was taken out of the International Versions of <b>BLACK SABBATH</b>.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">That being said, the direction does what it needs to do and has the classic tropes of a giallo. And the actors involved do a good job bringing the story to life. But unfortunately, there’s just not enough going on here as a whole to make it stand out from the rest of the segments.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWXjLA1Tck0LOVbfmXgoyZ2Fq9zoHcuBsouD9LUKuZNDktqIKngWfMilUUaxX94t1Uvfh7lfJHhWbBEgEJvRFUHoGj4HqBfP91q8NGDQ1BjOTb7IDNAWCHDNH9F72JS_jUNoknYDoFmgZ_npYuflTJHkDpevKlvgSSYF7Zvjb4D-T_-2009Q34XfEhw/s3840/blacksabbath-thewurdulak.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2038" data-original-width="3840" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWXjLA1Tck0LOVbfmXgoyZ2Fq9zoHcuBsouD9LUKuZNDktqIKngWfMilUUaxX94t1Uvfh7lfJHhWbBEgEJvRFUHoGj4HqBfP91q8NGDQ1BjOTb7IDNAWCHDNH9F72JS_jUNoknYDoFmgZ_npYuflTJHkDpevKlvgSSYF7Zvjb4D-T_-2009Q34XfEhw/w400-h213/blacksabbath-thewurdulak.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>"The Wurdulak"</i></b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">"<b><i>The Wurdulak</i></b>" is an entertaining segment that deals with Slavic vampires that destroy a family from within. It stars Boris Karloff as the patriarch who has been afflicted by this vampiric disease, manipulating and terrorizing his naive family into becoming part of his Wurdulak clan. And despite an Italian dub over his voice, Karloff’s performance carries the story as he looks creepy and sickly in front of his relatives who know he’s a threat but are afraid to do anything about it out of loyalty. His body language and his many close-ups, especially on his yellowish eyes, really carries a level of dread that permeates throughout the segment from start to finish.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The story is memorable due to the fact that it follows a different type of vampire that’s not really used a whole lot on film. While you still have the traditional vampire bite marks on the neck, having to be invited inside a location and the transfer of the disease through feeding on blood, there are different elements at play. There’s an assumption that the curse leaves the body after five days if you don’t feed. Wooden stakes don’t seem necessary to kill a Wurdulak, as any sword or dagger would do - especially if it’s used to decapitate the creature. And the Wurdulak just seems focused on drinking blood without any sort of sexual aspect and hypnotism at play. I think a full feature would have worked for this story, just to understand the differences between a Wurdulak and a common vampire most of us are familiar with.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The only negative aspect happens to be a tacked on love story that plays into the finale of the segment. Vampire stories usually involve romance, but this one comes out of nowhere. Two characters meet and just fall in love with no build at all. I don’t care about this angle or any of the characters, so this subplot didn’t work for me at all.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What does work is that the acting is very good. And Mario Bava’s direction is just wonderful here. It reminds me of a Corman-Poe feature of the 1960s, with incredible cinematography capturing a Gothic landscape that feels like a character all its own. Colors pop and a sense of terror slowly builds, especially when a child is endangered [<i>which creates chaos both visually and storywise</i>]. The use of lighting, shadows and camera angles just create a visually stunning segment. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7GrEb5D5XrAIO0sPIfPldOJyApCTulprdj9eLhJQXBuD1aJJ9n1cSWXHH6Amfd-VkjY0KFmkb7VEnCE9c_d_-BFjeFEJ3Cn-LBfRnBgJ23i0LpLUZ3ft45afMsDMhtN7mpziH65JLGwVg6M44KuWIchej8MclhwFyxC89LeTwbs8gEZWnWv9mXWmHA/s1827/blacksabbath-thedropofwater.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1014" data-original-width="1827" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7GrEb5D5XrAIO0sPIfPldOJyApCTulprdj9eLhJQXBuD1aJJ9n1cSWXHH6Amfd-VkjY0KFmkb7VEnCE9c_d_-BFjeFEJ3Cn-LBfRnBgJ23i0LpLUZ3ft45afMsDMhtN7mpziH65JLGwVg6M44KuWIchej8MclhwFyxC89LeTwbs8gEZWnWv9mXWmHA/w400-h223/blacksabbath-thedropofwater.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>"The Drop of Water"</i></b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The final segment is "<b><i>The Drop of Water</i></b>", a really fun segment that involves a caregiver who steals a ring from a medium who has passed away. Thinking she’s gotten away with her crime, strange things begin happening to her - possibly from beyond the grave. It’s the most supernatural segment of the three, with a use of special effects and visual style that makes it the favorite of the three stories [<i>although I prefer "<b>The Wurdulak</b>"</i>].</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Personally, I feel "<b><i>The Drop of Water</i></b>" is the creepiest of the three stories. That’s mainly due to the sound design, which is strongly used to convey a level of dread and uneasiness throughout the segment. There’s this constant sound of dripping water that’s heard from beginning to end, creating tension and anxiety.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There’s also the beauty of the visuals. The corpse of the medium is pretty frightening, appearing with a creepy smile when you least expect it. There’s also a great use of lighting, with neon colors becoming prominent as the haunting increases. It’s obvious Dario Argento’s color palette was inspired by this portion of the film.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The acting is quite good in the segment as well. But it’s overshadowed by the cool visuals and strong sound design that raises the fear factor. I wish the segment was longer to focus more on the narrative, as it’s a bit too simple. But it’s a nice conclusion to a fun anthology.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>THE FINAL HOWL</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVAF9fLNLaRBZI3vQmJOcfbc0E-2B1OSrsnN1hdJ2W1UjLnM9xwZD25qIwff_RBbdvrZEw4zdkXr6le2py4A_wg0CeIzY4edV5roe8I_LPfb044kwrk2y1CVXwv1kcMhysgpeJbEIBoprP3sN8x79X7PsEVLLRjHMv3rlgOffWP348eY6PbTkDCpxmg/s900/blacksabbathkarloff2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="900" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVAF9fLNLaRBZI3vQmJOcfbc0E-2B1OSrsnN1hdJ2W1UjLnM9xwZD25qIwff_RBbdvrZEw4zdkXr6le2py4A_wg0CeIzY4edV5roe8I_LPfb044kwrk2y1CVXwv1kcMhysgpeJbEIBoprP3sN8x79X7PsEVLLRjHMv3rlgOffWP348eY6PbTkDCpxmg/s320/blacksabbathkarloff2.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />While not the greatest horror anthology out there, Mario Bava’s <b>BLACK SABBATH</b> is a master class of style in terms of its presentation, even if some of the stories presented aren’t as dynamic as the direction and cinematography. The film looks more beautiful and grows more atmospheric with each segment, capturing tension and genuine creepiness as each story plays out. Boris Karloff manages to steal the spotlight any time he appears, although the rest of the actors do fine in their roles.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">None of the segments are terrible, but some are weaker than others. "<b><i>The Telephone</i></b>" has a great concept and carries a lot of giallo tropes, but its one location set up doesn’t allow a ton of style visually. "<b><i>The Wurdulak</i></b>" has a great story about Slavic vampires that manages to be creepy and shows how fallible human beings are, despite a love story that doesn’t really work since it comes out of nowhere. And "<b><i>The Drop of Water</i></b>" has the most stylish and terrifying visuals involving a corpse that enjoys popping up when you least expect it, despite not much of a story due to its shorter runtime. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Still, <b>BLACK SABBATH</b> is a must see for anyone who enjoys horror anthologies that especially feel like those old EC comics from back in the day. I’m sure children of the grave and iron men will get a kick out of this one.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>SCORE</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSLCi-sNVGtCsTFTaqueYoX7Czm6Dhvnh3B3Dx1BjZhoZqngYv5wU9GItsBkqZR6OoKiJgYsVwHfcvZbzp1BzBhf8NwqvHvSxom6KV0W_9zjatOJzwyxjj9g50AFJ6c1m6eXSu8xnD_i3EJneA_a--ODxKkMQ7znJIXVAz_C2O4d2yRJZFvN7QZJwiA/s400/wolfscorethree.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="400" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSLCi-sNVGtCsTFTaqueYoX7Czm6Dhvnh3B3Dx1BjZhoZqngYv5wU9GItsBkqZR6OoKiJgYsVwHfcvZbzp1BzBhf8NwqvHvSxom6KV0W_9zjatOJzwyxjj9g50AFJ6c1m6eXSu8xnD_i3EJneA_a--ODxKkMQ7znJIXVAz_C2O4d2yRJZFvN7QZJwiA/s320/wolfscorethree.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b style="white-space: pre-wrap;">3 Howls Outta 4</b></div></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>(8 out of 10)</b></span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t7MyJMlOpdE" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div>Fred [The Wolf]http://www.blogger.com/profile/03208803636786210066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717349721694216715.post-34318030944986128892023-01-01T14:34:00.001-05:002023-01-01T14:34:14.941-05:00Lunar Cycle - December 2022<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-1bd58d46-7fff-1d1f-a382-4d89a4753585"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i></i></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGh6k7m3eTG5qFpz02s9MNVUPSUTaVWA0vGPGPVvSvw48a_rNe1_p6-sSB_GcIS69vLcy53wdr9hPclCD4ehsZWslEdljsxGXG-_1_90sVo2CZRajcWRnmSPNBhPipeyVMCgyhZ56c0cR9UoA-BjWjPxNMhZBQkRGqAGmd5UnPjfncG260gluqrnDtvw/s616/lunarcycle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="616" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGh6k7m3eTG5qFpz02s9MNVUPSUTaVWA0vGPGPVvSvw48a_rNe1_p6-sSB_GcIS69vLcy53wdr9hPclCD4ehsZWslEdljsxGXG-_1_90sVo2CZRajcWRnmSPNBhPipeyVMCgyhZ56c0cR9UoA-BjWjPxNMhZBQkRGqAGmd5UnPjfncG260gluqrnDtvw/w400-h98/lunarcycle.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></span></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><br /></i></span></span></i></span></span></p><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><br />Since I don’t have as much time to write longer reviews than I used to, I figured I would just post shorter reviews for horror/cult films that I feel deserve your attention.</i></span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet; white-space: pre-wrap;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWsIdSC9pUsiSzAAvNM87E0nfWHtUFROJ9mlVr9jYU8sPmr2kru8sdEme1GZxKzbIC9TKsYPRXKzgcLanllGZ6rVnn7pKNHfmkJ3jfKBsFmK8i2_PDNNqN7lpgIrxte5mQm5Sxs2ZHso-yoYdaqsFH4BlrpAQkHYh2euNrP_5unkRfbTrPdrYMxO5Jw/s2671/fightforyourlife77poster.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2671" data-original-width="1675" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWsIdSC9pUsiSzAAvNM87E0nfWHtUFROJ9mlVr9jYU8sPmr2kru8sdEme1GZxKzbIC9TKsYPRXKzgcLanllGZ6rVnn7pKNHfmkJ3jfKBsFmK8i2_PDNNqN7lpgIrxte5mQm5Sxs2ZHso-yoYdaqsFH4BlrpAQkHYh2euNrP_5unkRfbTrPdrYMxO5Jw/w201-h320/fightforyourlife77poster.jpg" width="201" /></a></b></div><b style="font-family: trebuchet; white-space: pre-wrap;">Directed By:</b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><i style="font-family: trebuchet; white-space: pre-wrap;">Robert A. Endelson</i><p></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Robert Judd, Catherine Peppers, Lela Small, Yvonne Ross, Reggie Rock Bythewood, Ramon Saunders, William Sanderson, Daniel Faraldo, Peter Yoshida</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Drama/Thriller/Crime</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>82 Minutes</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Score - 3 Howls Outta 4</b> (<i>7 out of 10</i>)</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hH0aKfbm8q0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Plot: </b><i>A minister dispenses justice on three convicts who take his family hostage. </i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Review:</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">A blaxploitation version of Wes Craven’s 1972 cult classic <b>THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT</b>, 1977’s <b>FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE</b> is best known as a Section 1 Video Nasty due to its violence and especially due to the offensive language recited by several characters to each other. Never having seen this film before, you have no idea the anger that was brewing inside of me throughout my watch. There were points where I wanted to turn off the movie because some of the things certain characters were saying made me feel like I needed a shower due to how disgusting it was to hear it. Considering our current social climate though, the behavior of the villains is probably more realistic than I want to believe. For that, the film works better than it should.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Besides the racial slurs throughout, <b>FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE</b> plays out like your typical home invasion exploitation movie. Criminals forcibly enter a home, take the residents hostage, and torture and humiliate them until the victims stand up for themselves and get some sort of revenge. The police are also around, looking pretty dumb until the last few minutes of the film where they actually realize that justice has to be served in maybe a not-so-legal sense. Straw Weisman’s screenplay does what it needs to do, meaning making us want to see the antagonists get it in the worst way.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I also appreciated the subtlety of director Robert A. Endelson’s direction. He could have gotten carried away with certain scenes, like a <b>LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT</b> or a<b> I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE</b>. But besides a young boy getting bashed in the head by a rock and a toddler getting a gun pointed at him or her, the rest of the film shows a bit of restraint. There’s a rape scene but it’s more implied than shown. The more offensive scenes involve the antagonists [<i>a white man, a Latino man and an Asian man</i>] degrading the African-American protagonists by forcing them to dance, sing, or speak as if they’re living in the Jim Crow south. A young boy even gets food thrown at him and spit on at certain points in the film. The bits of style [<i>the boy being bludgeoned and a character getting slapped in the face by a Bible multiple time</i>s] create a level of surrealism during a realistic looking film that builds tension while also making you feel angry over how these characters are being treated.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">The cast mostly do a good job. In particular - Robert Judd is good as the preacher head of the household who does whatever the villains want to maintain peace and keep his family safe for as long as possible until certain events lead him to fight back. Lela Small as the grandmother has spunk and some good dialogue. Reggie Rock Bythewood is a good child actor who has moments to shine. And <b>Newhart</b>’s William Sanderson as the evil Jessie Lee is so despicable and cruel that you want nothing but bad things to happen to him. Sanderson is known for being a great supporting character actor over the decades. He’s lucky this movie was released 45 years ago because he would be canceled big time if a movie like this ever came out today.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">1977’s<b> FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE</b> is a film that definitely earned its Video Nasty branding and probably a film I would never watch again. Despite my feelings, I would still recommend it to anyone who wants to see all the Video Nasties and/or looking for a film similar to <b>THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT</b>, <b>I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE</b>, or <b>DEATH WISH</b>. It has solid performances. The direction is good, using the film’s low budget well. And while the colorful language in the screenplay will offend many viewers [<i>the reason why it’s a Video Nasty to begin with</i>], the home invasion story does what it needs to do despite a conclusion that probably should have been stronger than it actually is. The villains [<i>especially William Sanderson’s character of the racist Jessie Lee</i>] deserved more than what they got, if I can be honest with you. And there are definitely scenes that will upset you for various reasons. I know I was triggered during my watch. This is a film that’s not for everyone, nor could ever be made again. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet; white-space: pre-wrap;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLKCmZvhGxBo-OptGivwAocaW21pCxwH4GR9MLZGAAy-Cfdc1uKLZry4fQDkSa98tm69xt1HlLp6eInvCySLEvAKMn-zQXCfJ2N4RCO7jzhJQty_IpYjy5Str7DPXsKd096ByjsO7GWVBqhgS6BaPANTrPDDs47IbH6n1ykYL2Tc-ZTCfLbBpJnfnpg/s1016/treevengeposter.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1016" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLKCmZvhGxBo-OptGivwAocaW21pCxwH4GR9MLZGAAy-Cfdc1uKLZry4fQDkSa98tm69xt1HlLp6eInvCySLEvAKMn-zQXCfJ2N4RCO7jzhJQty_IpYjy5Str7DPXsKd096ByjsO7GWVBqhgS6BaPANTrPDDs47IbH6n1ykYL2Tc-ZTCfLbBpJnfnpg/s320/treevengeposter.jpg" width="252" /></a></b></div><b style="font-family: trebuchet; white-space: pre-wrap;">Directed By: </b><i style="font-family: trebuchet; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jason Eisener</i><p></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Starring: </b><i>Jonathan Torrens, Sarah Dunsworth, Maris Morgan, Jayden Taylor, Mike Cleven</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Genre: </b><i>Horror/Comedy</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>16 Minutes</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Score - 3 Howls Outta 4</b> (<i>8 out of 10</i>)</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RTfpcdK27-0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Plot: </b><i>Treevenge details the experiences and horrifying reality of the lives of Christmas trees. Clearly, for trees, Christmas isn’t the exciting “peace on earth” that is experienced by most. After being hacked down, and shipped away from their homes, they quickly become strung up, screwed into an upright position for all to see, exposed in a humiliation of garish decorations. But this Christmas will be different, this Christmas the trees have had enough, this Christmas the trees will fight back. Treevenge could be a short film about the end of days for Christmas trees, or perhaps, the end of humanity?</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Review:</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Have you ever thought about the plight of Christmas trees during the holiday season after they’ve been forcefully uprooted and decorated against their will to make your homes look festive?</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Of course not because you’re too busy about receiving gifts you’ll return within 48 hours!</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">But writer-director Jason Eisener, who would later direct 2009’s cult hit <b>HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN</b>, did. If <b>TREEVENGE</b> doesn’t make you second guess the angry thoughts those fir trees may have against you that could eventually ruin your holiday, then you deserve a lump of coal in your stocking!</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Seriously though, this 16-minute Christmas horror short film is bonkers and surprisingly a fun time throughout. You won’t get character development or much of a story besides the actual plot idea itself. But <b>TREEVENGE</b> goes all out in making this movie one you’ll never forget anytime soon. It has over-the-top hammy acting. It has subtitles that let us in on what the trees are saying and thinking throughout their struggles. Eisener provides visual energy that just grows towards the insane ending of the movie. And some of the kills are just hilariously wicked. There’s one in particular involving a baby’s head, the bottom of a Christmas tree, and… yikes!</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>TREEVENGE</b> will be an annual holiday horror watch from now on, as it’s the first Christmas film this year that actually got me into the spirit of the holiday. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">SAVE THE TREES!</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet; white-space: pre-wrap;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigrS3dsv8SwnXRsS2b9hUUavQttU9gjlwCPdeVDKvg1cQ72yHyL0GsKMbYIBgPNqrj8YkW3DRR65qLOdAtLz1rp0y_HRN8yY6sbs0_W0t7BWMCi61qRgKQQUUVjZgf1Bv9tyOqJuooZyi5Ho9gN-0O14AHF55TaZY8alHYJe5yAvOyjjfEYodbyXkJ5g/s1481/christmasbloodychristmasposter.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1481" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigrS3dsv8SwnXRsS2b9hUUavQttU9gjlwCPdeVDKvg1cQ72yHyL0GsKMbYIBgPNqrj8YkW3DRR65qLOdAtLz1rp0y_HRN8yY6sbs0_W0t7BWMCi61qRgKQQUUVjZgf1Bv9tyOqJuooZyi5Ho9gN-0O14AHF55TaZY8alHYJe5yAvOyjjfEYodbyXkJ5g/s320/christmasbloodychristmasposter.jpg" width="216" /></a></b></div><b style="font-family: trebuchet; white-space: pre-wrap;">Directed By: </b><i style="font-family: trebuchet; white-space: pre-wrap;">Joe Begos</i><p></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Starring: </b><i>Riley Dandy, Sam Delich, Jonah Ray, Dora Madison, Jeff Daniel Phillips, Abraham Benrubi, Jeremy Gardner</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Genre: </b><i>Horror/Slasher</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>87 Minutes</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Score: 2.5 Howls Outta 4</b> (<i>6 out of 10</i>)</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/z7PqVUWzF48" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Plot: </b><i>It’s Christmas Eve and Tori just wants to get drunk and party, but when a robotic Santa Clause at a nearby toy store goes haywire and begins a rampant killing spree through her small town, she’s forced into a battle for survival.</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Review:</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">If you combine the 1984 films <b>THE TERMINATOR</b> and <b>SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT</b>, you get 2022’s <b>CHRISTMAS BLOODY CHRISTMAS</b> - a slasher film that takes the killer Santa concept and infuses it with 21st century technology. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Director Joe Begos’ best moments are when the killer Santa robot [<i>a former military weapon that’s being recalled from stores due to some dangerous malfunctioning</i>] decides to activate and murder anyone it sees. The violence and gore is the film’s true selling point, as <b>CHRISTMAS BLOODY CHRISTMAS</b> does not hold back on the various ways the victims die. Head stomps, different axe attacks, shotguns making heads explode, human bodies being split open easily - fans of gore will appreciate the awesome practical effects put in by the effects team, which are shot very well by Begos.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Begos also infuses the film with a great Christmas aesthetic. The locale looks cold and wintry, with snow falling and on the ground while holiday decorations light up many of the film’s scenes. Begos loves his neon colors, especially the color red, which gives the movie a foreign feel that I appreciated. And I’m not sure if the film was shot with 16mm film, but it looks great to have that grain on a slasher movie like this.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">The synthwave score and the metal songs that play throughout the film also rock.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">The movie’s downfall is unfortunately it’s screenplay, which probably houses the most times the word “fuck” has been said in the span of 90 minutes onscreen. Surprised that Rob Zombie didn’t write the script, the use of the word was cute for a few minutes until it just annoyed me. In fact, a lot of the dialogue was pretty bad, as all the characters sounded the same to me - loudmouth, angry and horny characters with no real development or depth to make us know who they were besides their obvious archetypes. The only time I really enjoyed the dialogue was when the two main characters were having pop culture debates and conversations because that’s what I do with my friends. Although anyone who thinks <b>FREDDY’S DEAD</b> is the best <b>NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET</b> movie probably deserves to be the target of a killer robot Santa Claus. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">It’s a shame the script was terrible because I thought the cast had nice chemistry that could have been brought out more under better writers. In particular, Riley Dandy and Sam Delich were good as the two leads - especially Dandy who made for a tough, badass Final Girl during the film’s tense and action-filled second half. I thought character actor Abraham Benrubi did a great job as the film’s villainous Santa. Not sure if it was still him under the robotic effects near the end of the film, but he did nice work making the character seem threatening and unstoppable. And it’s always nice to see Jeff Daniel Phillips pop up, especially for a movie where he can say the word “fuck” multiple times. He’s had years of practice perfecting it.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Considering the hype, I was a bit let down by <b>CHRISTMAS BLOODY CHRISTMAS</b>. Lame script aside, I thought the rest of the ingredients were there to make this worth a watch for the holiday season. It has a killer Santa, awesome practical gore, good lead performances, a sweet score and metal music, and great visuals that capture the holiday in the film’s title. I don’t think it’s a movie I’ll watch every year, but it’s better than watching Hallmark. More blood and less attractive people romantically getting together over hot cocoa fills my holiday spirit every time.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet; white-space: pre-wrap;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHH5fpx1VoAuNFT6RSx3MntbiHcgmhX8bY1yROUd4Qga_vIRhUue6qwm0S86s8Iqxt_x0b-boQFNLnKU7W7CbGwD48xGqLg-B7Jc08nVyNmL49TQXz0ZXylZbzT25951zyz5X3FFuWmUxZ8dN00eMihC5gcEMtqv2xyxtMTisznixoi-Hm0Al6_RKKlg/s1500/amityvillechristmasvacation.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHH5fpx1VoAuNFT6RSx3MntbiHcgmhX8bY1yROUd4Qga_vIRhUue6qwm0S86s8Iqxt_x0b-boQFNLnKU7W7CbGwD48xGqLg-B7Jc08nVyNmL49TQXz0ZXylZbzT25951zyz5X3FFuWmUxZ8dN00eMihC5gcEMtqv2xyxtMTisznixoi-Hm0Al6_RKKlg/s320/amityvillechristmasvacation.jpg" width="213" /></a></b></div><b style="font-family: trebuchet; white-space: pre-wrap;">Directed By: </b><i style="font-family: trebuchet; white-space: pre-wrap;">Steve Rudzinski</i><p></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Starring: </b><i>Steve Rudzinski, Aleen Isley, Marci Leigh, Autumn Ivy, Garrett Hunter, Scott Lewis, Bill Murph</i>y</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Genre: </b><i>Horror/Comedy/Romance</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>50 Minutes</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Score - 2.5 Howls Outta 4</b> (<i>6 out of 10</i>)</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wNiBnvt6qjw" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Plot: </b><i>Wally has won a vacation to sunny Amityville! While there he has met a woman: a GHOST woman! Can the spirit of Christmas bring these two opposites together?</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Review: </b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">More of a cash-grab than an actual installment in the <b>AMITYVILLE HORROR</b> series, <b>AMITYVILLE CHRISTMAS VACATION</b> is less a horror movie and more of a romantic comedy involving a clueless and dim-witted police officer and a ghost who end up falling in love. There’s nothing remotely scary about this movie and the events don’t even take place inside the famous house, but next door. The make-up and CGI effects look super cheap and director-star Steve Rudzinski films the whole thing like a quick student film that will be uploaded on YouTube for free for his friends and family to see. Visually and story-wise, there’s nothing all that special and interesting about this film.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">But the cheapness and the over-the-top acting makes <b>AMITYVILLE CHRISTMAS VACATION</b> oddly charming and amusing, especially when the couple falls in love and outside forces want to destroy the relationship before it blossoms even further via scheming landlords, ghost hunters and even a skeleton that’s meant to be the Ghost of Christmas Future. It’s goofy, dumb as rocks, yet way less boring than most of the <b>AMITYVILLE</b> films I’ve seen. Plus, the film is only 50 minutes - how can anyone hate that?</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">While I don’t think <b>AMITYVILLE CHRISTMAS VACATION</b> is a must-see or anything, I would recommend it if you want something short and silly to watch for the holidays that you can shut off your brain to. This is a quick watch for you and your boo to support the fact that even evil spirits need love during the Christmas season.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet; white-space: pre-wrap;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4FDFvKuMvaBnjmEcigGz4XmQ6z57TwN1-VNnuw06IpncsMckcYZR-aHFSmkftyuJ_2NbmgFsMkvsT4GeKgf7ypVFmovvxSWoYfJy2DbxBPs9MDJ_jk-xvm1wxDbor2poONi4W9rnz2i0ktpWwD73BUh5xM2O6hUfhmvrt-8ByFns9LpsKecOSnFmCA/s2048/terrortrain2022poster.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1427" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4FDFvKuMvaBnjmEcigGz4XmQ6z57TwN1-VNnuw06IpncsMckcYZR-aHFSmkftyuJ_2NbmgFsMkvsT4GeKgf7ypVFmovvxSWoYfJy2DbxBPs9MDJ_jk-xvm1wxDbor2poONi4W9rnz2i0ktpWwD73BUh5xM2O6hUfhmvrt-8ByFns9LpsKecOSnFmCA/s320/terrortrain2022poster.jpg" width="223" /></a></b></div><b style="font-family: trebuchet; white-space: pre-wrap;">Directed By:</b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><i style="font-family: trebuchet; white-space: pre-wrap;">Philippe Gagnon</i><p></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Robyn Alomar, Mary Walsh, Nadine Bhabha, Matias Garrido, Corteon Moore, Emma Elle Paterson, Tori Barban, Dakota Jamal Wellman, Tim Rozon</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Genre: </b><i>Horror/Thriller/Slasher</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>90 Minutes</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Score: 2 Howls Outta 4</b> (<i>5 out of 10</i>)</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SgHAg9V5Z-U" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Plot: </b><i>Alana and a group of college seniors board a party train for a Halloween-themed bash, but their fun spirals into fear when a mysterious assailant begins killing the passengers one-by-one.</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Review:</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Back in October, I was surprised to see that Tubi had produced a remake of the 1980 cult slasher <b>TERROR TRAIN</b>. The original 1980 slasher isn’t a top level slasher, but it has memorable moments and a great Jamie Lee Curtis performance. Plus, it had a killer who would disguise himself in unique costumes, as well as a reveal that I didn’t see coming even though it’s in front of you the entire time. And even though I appreciate Tubi, I honestly wasn’t expecting a lot from this <b>TERROR TRAIN</b> remake. But color me surprised - it’s not half bad, even though it’s nothing special either.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Since I had watched the original a couple days before, the new <b>TERROR TRAIN</b> felt like deja vu for the most part. We have the same characters and relationships. We have the same inciting incident, the same beats in how the story plays out, and even the same ways the murders happen in the exact same order. Even a lot of the staging is the same. The only differences are that characters have been racebended, gender bended, a short commentary on a woke society, it takes place on Halloween instead of New Year’s Eve, the visuals look cheaper and the killer costumes aren’t as unique [<i>prefer Groucho Marx over a clown any day</i>]. But the film is still fairly watchable.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">What really sets this new <b>TERROR TRAIN</b> apart is the changed final act, that retains a lot of what happened previously but does it with a nice twist that actually works in the film’s favor. The original ending wouldn’t fly in a 2022 society, considering its characterization of a mentally ill character. The new ending adds a new element to the original’s, playing homage to a more famous slasher film of the 1980s. It brings a less problematic conclusion to the remake while also keeping things a bit more open-ended, which gives the film a reason to exist.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">And while the direction and screenplay is fine but nothing spectacular, the acting helps elevate things a bit. In particular, I enjoyed Robyn Alomar as Alana, Matias Garrido as Doc and <b>Schitt’s Creek</b>’s Tim Rozon as the Magician. While David Copperfield was more creepy in the original, Rozon is a way better actor and gives the Magician some depth that wasn’t in the original film. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I still prefer the original <b>TERROR TRAIN</b> due to its atmosphere and stronger performances. But the remake is worth watching if you’ve never bothered with the original, or if you’re just curious about this update. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Now let’s see about the sequel to this remake…</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet; white-space: pre-wrap;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29s66kiUTyk_YD4BweprXJkp61KGGmBEMhrVggJqJlS5dD27al6nsNTDU33PW8EEijfCjqJXbOPsXZGQdd8tQUSrfmNaOqVQPu3qcQ86OiZvJGjVvePzHcfTaLCx-YwNogO77_S_jbBTiiPg2kQtFn2jXjHHQNNAtR2tGXZhWjuvUR-jcNdE7zXCJ9Q/s583/456%20terror%20train%202.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="408" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29s66kiUTyk_YD4BweprXJkp61KGGmBEMhrVggJqJlS5dD27al6nsNTDU33PW8EEijfCjqJXbOPsXZGQdd8tQUSrfmNaOqVQPu3qcQ86OiZvJGjVvePzHcfTaLCx-YwNogO77_S_jbBTiiPg2kQtFn2jXjHHQNNAtR2tGXZhWjuvUR-jcNdE7zXCJ9Q/s320/456%20terror%20train%202.jpeg" width="224" /></a></b></div><b style="font-family: trebuchet; white-space: pre-wrap;">Directed By: </b><i style="font-family: trebuchet; white-space: pre-wrap;">Philippe Gagnon</i><p></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Robyn Alomar, Nia Roam, Romy Weltman, Tim Rozon, Lisa Truong, Emma Elle Paterson, Dakota Jamal Wellman</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Thriller/Slasher</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>88 Minutes</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Score: 1.5 Howls Outta 4</b> (<i>4 out of 10</i>)</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hROEtAzwGd0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Plot: </b><i>A year has passed since a series of gruesome murders took the lives of multiple college seniors aboard the now infamous Terror Train. The survivors are coerced to go on a New Year’s Eve redemption ride aboard the very same train, where a new kind of evil awaits and the terrified passengers must once again fight to survive the ride.</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Review:</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">So I guess these new <b>TERROR TRAIN</b> films were filmed back-to-back considering how close both films were released from each other. <b>TERROR TRAIN</b> is a decent remake for what it is, made for modern audiences who may not have seen the original cult clasher. While the ending was a bit open-ended, it wasn’t like audiences were clamoring for a sequel. And from watching <b>TERROR TRAIN 2</b>, the film proves that some stories should be left alone.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>TERROR TRAIN 2</b> takes place a year after the events of the first film, this time taking place during the original’s setting - New Year’s Eve on a train. The survivors from the last film have returned, it seems many beats from both versions of <b>TERROR TRAIN</b> are repeated here, along with the same killer costumes and a simple knife for a weapon. Despite a never ending commentary on grief and trauma, an emphasis on social media and live streaming, and an ending that pays homage to a more recent slasher sequel [<i>although nowhere as effective</i>], <b>TERROR TRAIN 2</b> is pretty much the same movie as the first one. It’s only less interesting or exciting, with more annoying characters and weird performances that seem to distract from the story rather than enhance it. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">The real issue is the film’s story, which makes all the characters look dumb. I can understand getting back on a Terror Train to get over the trauma of what happened there previously. But characters are cosplaying as the killer to scare the survivors, or gaslighting them for having panic attacks when weird stuff goes down. Murders are happening and people think it’s a prank or something, with no common sense that what happened before is probably happening again. So strange and annoying, to the point where I didn’t care who survived this ride.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">The direction by Philippe Gagnon is the same as the first, but with less tension and suspense. The kills are ordinary, with stabbings and ax attacks being the focus. There aren’t enough of them though, although there is a lot of CGI blood.. And the film feels a bit rushed, as the final act wraps up fairly quickly and easily without enough time to simmer in it. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">The actors are fine, with the highlights of the last film [<i>Robyn Alomar and Tim Rozon</i>] being the best. Romy Weltman seems to be having a blast playing mean girl influencer Pet, also returning from the first film. Her character is really grating but Weltman does a good job with the role.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I just felt like <b>TERROR TRAIN 2</b> was a film that was spinning its wheels to continue a story that really didn’t need it. While it’s nice to see what happened to the survivors of the first film, the movie doesn’t do a whole lot to make us care. But at least it wasn’t the worst horror film I watched in 2022, so the film has that going for it. I’m hoping this is the last trip on the <b>TERROR TRAIN</b> for a while.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><br /></span></div>Fred [The Wolf]http://www.blogger.com/profile/03208803636786210066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717349721694216715.post-34570890116157536432022-12-01T22:33:00.003-05:002022-12-01T22:33:57.467-05:00Lunar Cycle - November 2022<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-272eb1bc-7fff-3117-5cba-7fe904d9885c" style="font-family: trebuchet;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7hKIM8T11caIVxd_Ruebs3GiZMUZWmiQbrWKTjfz_QqAzf1OEy88GxUOO4FsiCremheJ9bIxNJtTaCWaVhyRNI_aRcN-tyHDDOQi06VZScjz5wvbOIq_Ldu4f_GR00Sk2TGcX-iMCkoqTipqnym484v3ucvEvkRLRzyRXUGXmCjgEL-0HvnS1qeHyQ/s616/lunar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="616" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7hKIM8T11caIVxd_Ruebs3GiZMUZWmiQbrWKTjfz_QqAzf1OEy88GxUOO4FsiCremheJ9bIxNJtTaCWaVhyRNI_aRcN-tyHDDOQi06VZScjz5wvbOIq_Ldu4f_GR00Sk2TGcX-iMCkoqTipqnym484v3ucvEvkRLRzyRXUGXmCjgEL-0HvnS1qeHyQ/w400-h98/lunar.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></span></div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br />Since I don’t have as much time to write longer reviews than I used to, I figured I would just post shorter reviews for horror/cult films that I feel deserve your attention.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8V9X67MJ1eF_6xpTFz7AIkXBq448rigDSsBNBP8p8fwqXJL0z43rYKULQhFm1Lr3Ek69b6W7a9Y7jE3EFzY5QZwasntpG-V2suKZX8uBj9qII-M4mYEK9jGVljx-Em8GATbL2cLsQgVzY-f0Arru0CI7v_WIg-9zKoV-uvLvSKdEspATBQFvc7T6fNA/s2800/nightofthecomet-poster.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2800" data-original-width="1791" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8V9X67MJ1eF_6xpTFz7AIkXBq448rigDSsBNBP8p8fwqXJL0z43rYKULQhFm1Lr3Ek69b6W7a9Y7jE3EFzY5QZwasntpG-V2suKZX8uBj9qII-M4mYEK9jGVljx-Em8GATbL2cLsQgVzY-f0Arru0CI7v_WIg-9zKoV-uvLvSKdEspATBQFvc7T6fNA/s320/nightofthecomet-poster.jpg" width="205" /></a></div>Directed By:</b> <i>Thom Eberhardt</i>
<b>Starring:</b> <i>Catherine Mary Stewart, Kelli Maroney, Robert Baltran, Sharon Farrell, Mary Woronov, Geoffrey Lewis</i>
<b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Science Fiction/Comedy/Zombies</i>
<b>Running Time:</b> <i>95 Minutes</i>
<b>Score:</b> <i>3 Howls Outta 4 (8 out of 10)</i>
<b>Plot:</b>
<i>Two girls from the Valley wake up to find that a passing comet has eradicated their world and left behind a mysterious red-dust and a pack of cannibal mutants. With the help of a friendly truck driver, the girls save the earth from a villainous “think tank,” karate chop their way through flesh-eating zombies, and, of course, find time to go to the mall.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F13mpUTYS3E" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
<b>Review:</b>
Thom Eberhardt’s cult flick <b>NIGHT OF THE COMET</b> is the post-apocalyptic sci-fi horror film for those nostalgic for arcade games, mall shopping and satire on Reaganism and consumerism. Inspired by multiple 50’s B-movies, T<b>HE OMEGA MAN</b> and <b>DAWN OF THE DEAD</b>, this movie takes a dystopian world and infuses it with neon lights, new-wave and pop-rock and a rad vibe due to colorful characters who have a sarcastic view on their new reality. The film is boosted by fun lead performances from Catherine Mary Stewart [<i>Regina</i>] and Kelli Maroney [<i>Samantha</i>], who bring intelligence and toughness [<i>Regina</i>] or clueless, yet bubbly sass to lighten up the mood [<i>Samantha</i>]. It also helps <b>NIGHT OF THE COMET</b> having a good supporting cast as well, including future <b>Star Trek: Voyager</b> star Robert Baltran as love interest Hector and Mary Woronov playing a kind scientist who has to deal with colleagues who want to use any survivors as test subjects for their own survival.
Eberhardt’s direction infuses a lot of mood and atmosphere through great cinematography by Arthur Albert, who captures the desolate isolation of an empty Los Angeles during Christmastime. The set locations, like the radio station and the mall are used really well and place <b>NIGHT OF THE COMET</b> during a certain era. From piles of dust due to curious people staring at a comet, to zombies who want to attack our survivors, Eberhardt shoots everything with a nice pace and a switching of tones that organically takes a serious topic and turns it into something lighthearted that makes the film’s message easier to swallow.
I do wish the film had embraced its horror aspect more, as we barely deal with any zombies throughout much of the film. The film is more of a comedy than a horror movie anyway, but some tension would have been nice. I also think the film’s ending is a bit hokey and cheesy, only there to bring back an Easter egg from the opening moments of the movie. But other than that, <b>NIGHT OF THE COMET</b> is a good time if you’re looking for some light cinema that embraces its cheese.
<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVv7KrkoF9RgW3HHa_ZN-tVm8_URXETCjyPfGRTo0GprTtJByb1biuimFsggD7KpE09zX51DQKjEPXYcgAMF3DHRcocFA5CWno9GSVE5lDffjp9f3rpTBKk6yudeDAA4lsuQIZIeobDw-pLe25gdUs_VYtSnyoFbg1dNFKIaCSB1oy5KvtjjQJ6Id16g/s1500/thecell-poster.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVv7KrkoF9RgW3HHa_ZN-tVm8_URXETCjyPfGRTo0GprTtJByb1biuimFsggD7KpE09zX51DQKjEPXYcgAMF3DHRcocFA5CWno9GSVE5lDffjp9f3rpTBKk6yudeDAA4lsuQIZIeobDw-pLe25gdUs_VYtSnyoFbg1dNFKIaCSB1oy5KvtjjQJ6Id16g/s320/thecell-poster.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>Directed By:</b> <i>Tarsem Singh</i>
<b>Starring:</b> <i>Jennifer Lopez, Vincent D’Onofrio, Vince Vaughn, Catherine Sutherland, Dylan Baker, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Jake Weber, Dean Morris</i>
<b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Science Fiction/Thriller</i>
<b>Running Time:</b> <i>107 Minutes</i>
<b>Score:</b> <i>3 Howls Outta 4 (7 out of 10)</i>
<b>Plot:</b> <i>A psychotherapist journeys inside a comatose serial killer in the hopes of saving his latest victim.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eIpy4p_yMV0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">
<b>Review:</b>
An underrated sci-fi police procedural, 2000’s <b>THE CELL</b> would probably be forgotten about if it weren’t for the strength of the movie’s leads and the impressive visual presentation by director Tarsem Singh and cinematographer Paul Laufer. The visuals, especially, are what make <b>THE CELL</b> stand out from other contemporaries of the time like <b>THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS</b> and <b>SE7EN</b>, resembling more films like 1984’s <b>DREAMSCAPE</b> or <b>A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET</b> flick. Each scene inside any of the leads’ minds looks like a music video, which is not surprising since Singh directed R.E.M.’s “Losing My Religion” [<i>a scene in the film actually resembles one of the set pieces from that very video</i>]. This is the work of a man who has let his imagination run wild, with so many stylish motifs inspired by famous art pieces. There’s fashion happening throughout the movie, with the actors given different looks to play off of. Even so, everything visually seems a bit off, with colors being both bright and muted at the same time, while figures in the background throw you off with strange poses and interesting visual aspects that don’t seem right to the human eye. It’s a stunning looking film with disturbing images, like a serial killer hovering over his victim via hooks through his naked back, or someone getting cut up to the point where their intestines are pulled out and played with. Even in 2022, I’m still impressed by this film’s strong direction.
The cast seems game for all of it. In particular, Vincent D’Onofrio stands out as the film’s villain - getting to haunt our heroes while wearing strange outfits and headpieces, enjoying the moment to play a menacing presence for much of the movie. Even his quieter moments stand out, revealing a real person despite the evil that permeates through him. Jennifer Lopez is much more quiet and sympathetic as our heroine, allowing the looks she displays throughout to speak for her much louder than her dialogue. Vince Vaughn is good as the supporting FBI Agent who shares memorable moments with both lead actors.
The only negative is really the pedestrian and predictable police procedural that plays out, mainly in the film’s final act. There’s nothing really special about it and plays out exactly as one would expect it to. There are no real twists and turns when it comes to the story, and the film never really explains how one can travel into someone’s mind all that elaborately. I guess the film needs this plot to drive the action forward, but it’s honestly the least memorable thing about <b>THE CELL</b>.
Still, <b>THE CELL</b> is a film I feel that should be watched at least once, or revisited if you haven’t seen it in a while. It’s still a visually impressive work of art that shows that originality and creativity can go a long way in a feature film.
<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXWsRHJOWNjRWBALXqkzeFypbrPwS32WgGWem0bNR7_kZeE7NNqEo-C9PN8DAVjplDnJ0rXsvytQAsW-fF2Qh7Sa6M71_sPSzbOAJu3PXhtkg01ikDY9EGmnUmKfs1SQvZpZqrudDFyyPj-AKOCYMJlKwI7RKf_dh3gk8__JPasfXwF1Azm1PyzMGMZw/s755/411%20would_you_rather_ver2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="509" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXWsRHJOWNjRWBALXqkzeFypbrPwS32WgGWem0bNR7_kZeE7NNqEo-C9PN8DAVjplDnJ0rXsvytQAsW-fF2Qh7Sa6M71_sPSzbOAJu3PXhtkg01ikDY9EGmnUmKfs1SQvZpZqrudDFyyPj-AKOCYMJlKwI7RKf_dh3gk8__JPasfXwF1Azm1PyzMGMZw/s320/411%20would_you_rather_ver2.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>Directed By:</b> <i>David Guy Levy</i>
<b>Starring:</b> <i>Brittany Snow, Jeffrey Combs, Jonny Coyne, Lawrence Gilliard Jr., Enver Gjokaj, Sasha Grey, John Heard, Robin Lord Taylor</i>
<b>Genre:</b> <i>Thriller/Horror</i>
<b>Running Time:</b> <i>93 Minutes</i>
<b>Score:</b> <i>3 Howls Outta 4 (7 out of 10)</i>
<b>Plot:</b> <i>Desperate to help her ailing brother, a young woman agrees to compete in a deadly game of “Would You Rather”, hosted by a sadistic aristocrat.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zG2z4ng2ghU" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Review:</b>
I was expecting a lame rip-off of films of the “torture porn” era like <b>SAW</b> or <b>HOSTEL</b>. But <b>WOULD YOU RATHER</b> is surprisingly a tense little thriller with some decent-to-good performances and cringe-worthy moments due to director David Guy Levy letting one’s imagination create something more gruesome than what appears on screen [<i>or lack thereof</i>]. Following <b>SAW</b>’s footsteps in tackling the concept of playing with one’s ethics and morality when it comes to surviving a terrible situation - in this case, with an added incentive of the last person standing with a large sum of money - the film does a pretty good job mixing noble and kindhearted characters with those who take pleasure in hurting others like it’s some sort of sport. While not the most developed screenplay with dynamic characters, the storytelling does enough to give us a glimpse of the different personalities who are part of this devious game and why they choose to make the decisions they make as things get more desperate towards the end.
The games played in <b>WOULD YOU RATHER</b> aren’t really visualized in a gruesome way like the “games” that are presented in the <b>SAW</b> films. But the ideas behind them are pretty twisted. Would you rather electrocute the person next to you, or yourself? Would you rather whip a person’s back until they bleed to death, or stab someone with an ice pick instead? Or maybe you’d like to submerge your head in a barrel of water for two minutes or take your chances with a mystery card? Director David Guy Levy does a nice job building tension and suspense over the character’s choices and their subsequent actions, whether good or bad. Despite not being a stylish movie, Levy allows the script and the actors to be the focal point. Considering the low budget, this is definitely a good move.
The actors play their parts well. The standouts are Brittany Snow as a sympathetic player who is constantly in conflict with her morality due to wanting to save her sick brother and needing the money to pay their bills, Jeffrey Combs as a hammy upper class host who twirls his proverbial mustache any chance he gets, and Robin Lord Taylor as the snobby rich son who got his kicks watching people in need suffer.
<b>WOULD YOU RATHER</b> is a bit of an underrated little horror flick that I wasn’t expecting to enjoy as much as I did. There’s nothing really special about it, but the actors are mostly fine and the tension and suspense created by the screenplay and direction are solid. I was caught up in what I was watching and the ending is a bit of a kick to the nuts. If you got 90 minutes to spare, this is not a bad film to fill that time.
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-26205079-7fff-67f4-fab3-78c4338cdf80"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: trebuchet; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p></span></div>Fred [The Wolf]http://www.blogger.com/profile/03208803636786210066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717349721694216715.post-29838635726281740422022-11-02T23:06:00.000-04:002022-11-02T23:06:39.907-04:00Lunar Cycle - October 2022<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-272eb1bc-7fff-3117-5cba-7fe904d9885c" style="font-family: trebuchet;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7hKIM8T11caIVxd_Ruebs3GiZMUZWmiQbrWKTjfz_QqAzf1OEy88GxUOO4FsiCremheJ9bIxNJtTaCWaVhyRNI_aRcN-tyHDDOQi06VZScjz5wvbOIq_Ldu4f_GR00Sk2TGcX-iMCkoqTipqnym484v3ucvEvkRLRzyRXUGXmCjgEL-0HvnS1qeHyQ/s616/lunar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="616" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7hKIM8T11caIVxd_Ruebs3GiZMUZWmiQbrWKTjfz_QqAzf1OEy88GxUOO4FsiCremheJ9bIxNJtTaCWaVhyRNI_aRcN-tyHDDOQi06VZScjz5wvbOIq_Ldu4f_GR00Sk2TGcX-iMCkoqTipqnym484v3ucvEvkRLRzyRXUGXmCjgEL-0HvnS1qeHyQ/w400-h98/lunar.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></span></div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br />Since I don’t have as much time to write longer reviews than I used to, I figured I would just post shorter reviews for horror/cult films that I feel deserve your attention.</i></span><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e401f323-7fff-d475-9b98-7688f2cbb796"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3BKXRoivDRH78_MesJ6A-ZERk3kUu4JnE-TnCl5MacXU7lAwj8HjupnS6Vrb5yXfMV1BQCvJnT14IG5yo87cBCAMLH1RwT1b2J09k6iXrujDq_OKJZXILIitwv5-fn2Ql40vyqIyaDMbOomPqiSExRjdLTUTUmvvUqURPTi9e90JIQ1xnu-G0S2xcw/s3000/hellraiser2022-poster.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2025" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3BKXRoivDRH78_MesJ6A-ZERk3kUu4JnE-TnCl5MacXU7lAwj8HjupnS6Vrb5yXfMV1BQCvJnT14IG5yo87cBCAMLH1RwT1b2J09k6iXrujDq_OKJZXILIitwv5-fn2Ql40vyqIyaDMbOomPqiSExRjdLTUTUmvvUqURPTi9e90JIQ1xnu-G0S2xcw/w270-h400/hellraiser2022-poster.jpg" width="270" /></a></b></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>HELLRAISER (2022)</b></span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>David Bruckner</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Odessa A’zion, Jamie Clayton, Adam Faison, Drew Starkey, Brandon Flynn, Aoife Hinds, Goran Visnjic</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Genre: </b><i>Horror/Slasher/Demons</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>121 Minutes</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Score:</b> <i>3 Howls Outta 4 (7 out of 10)</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Plot:</b> <i>A young woman struggling with addiction comes into possession of an ancient puzzle box, unaware that its purpose is to summon the Cenobites, a group of sadistic supernatural beings from another dimension.</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oUlgwJNdu2I" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Review:</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><u><i>THINGS I LIKED:</i></u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- The updated Cenobite designs. Instead of the usual leather S&M attire, their suits are nothing but their mutilated skin. It was a welcome change for this reboot.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- Despite having big shoes to fill, Jamie Clayton was excellent as the new Pinhead [or The Priest]. She came across as very menacing and added her own flair and personality to a popular role.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- All the actors were solid - especially Odessa A'zion as the lead [<i>Riley</i>] and Drew Starkey as Trevor [<i>Riley's boyfriend</i>].</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- I didn't mind the slasher elements. Resembling <b>A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET</b> movie at times, I enjoyed the angle of having to sacrifice a certain amount of people to the Lament Configuration to gain some sort of wish/power.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- David Bruckner's direction was good and the cinematography by Eli Born is beautiful and polished. It's nice to see filmmakers caring about making a good <b>HELLRAISER</b> film again.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><i><u>THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:</u></i></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- The film is too tame for a <b>HELLRAISER</b> film. Off-screen deaths? Sex barely a factor? For a movie about demons focused on pleasure and pain, this film was really lacking in that department.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- Good actors but under-written roles for character archetypes I barely cared about. Besides the two leads and the Cenobites, the other characters were just fodder to me. No Kirsty, Julia or Frank to be found here.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Overall:</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">A good reboot that will hopefully play it less safe in the next installment, <b>HELLRAISER</b> (2022) is the best installment since 1988’s <b>HELLBOUND: HELLRAISER II</b>. But that isn’t saying a whole lot. Still, it’s nice that after 30 years, someone actually took the time to make a watchable installment in this troubled franchise.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULYC7D_EywPx4KRnw6nUAmYSwaX2zdzTyg6E59tf0seR0_duQHpPVNmMuJEzpcGMYkO05DHl9ZQXu3E7FVHt5QMDkF1RnCA8TQ2JX-RROtc3tKd6pzg1EY7EPGmd_kjyfaTB_TqkK0eX47QI-7pzSmSS5dXAchdmdjl85ffZlORzDPZDANEI9oVUszw/s1473/terrifier2-poster.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1473" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULYC7D_EywPx4KRnw6nUAmYSwaX2zdzTyg6E59tf0seR0_duQHpPVNmMuJEzpcGMYkO05DHl9ZQXu3E7FVHt5QMDkF1RnCA8TQ2JX-RROtc3tKd6pzg1EY7EPGmd_kjyfaTB_TqkK0eX47QI-7pzSmSS5dXAchdmdjl85ffZlORzDPZDANEI9oVUszw/w271-h400/terrifier2-poster.jpg" width="271" /></a></b></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>TERRIFIER 2 (2022)</b></span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>Damien Leone</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Lauren LaVera, David Howard Thornton, Elliott Fullam, Samantha Scaffidi, Casey Hartnett, Casey Hartnett </i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Slasher</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>138 Minutes</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Score:</b> <i>3 Howls Outta 4 (8 out of 10)</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Plot:</b> <i>After being resurrected by a sinister entity, Art the Clown returns to Miles County where he must hunt down and destroy a teenage girl and her younger brother on Halloween night. As the body count rises, the siblings fight to stay alive while uncovering the true nature of Art’s evil intent.</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d4m9WCxb-J8" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Review:</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><i><u>THINGS I LIKED:</u></i></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- The gore - oh, the gore! If you thought the first <b>TERRIFIER</b> was super gory, this sequel tops it in every way. Decapitations, heads being used as candy bowls, head explosions, mutilated bodies and so on. Just a brutal film in the violence department.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- David Howard Thornton and Lauren LaVera are really solid in their roles of Art the Clown and Final Girl Sienna. Thornton is creepier than ever as the villain, especially as we get to look into his mental state. He’s captivating to watch in every scene he’s in, just with a simple smile. LaVera is a great Final Girl who comes across as smart, sassy and tough. I’d love to see more of her in the future because she definitely has star potential.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- I liked the addition of a lore for Art the Clown. Unlike the first film where there was really nothing to the character, this sequel adds a ton and makes Art super interesting. We get to look into his mind to see what makes him tick, while the protagonists seem to have a strange connection to the clown that adds a creepy layer on to why he appears to be targeting them. I love slashers that have an actual story to chew on.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- Damien Leone’s direction is more confident than it was in the first <b>TERRIFIER</b>. A lot of shots show a ton of style. The brutal murder sequences are choreographed super well. The sets and locations are infused with strange editing and lighting choices that create a bleak mood and atmosphere. And for much of the long runtime, I thought the movie had a nice pace going for it. Leone stepped up his game with this one.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><i><u>THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:</u></i></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- The two-hour-plus run time isn’t necessary for this sequel. No slasher should be over two hours, especially when it loses steam like <b>TERRIFIER 2</b>. There are moments where the film could have ended, and it just felt like it kept going and going until we reached a strange mid-credits sequence that really needs to be explained in the third film. This is a homage to an 80s slasher movie, not <b>THE LORD OF THE RINGS</b>.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- A lot of the acting from the supporting characters was cheesy and a bit over-the-top to take seriously. I’m guessing Leone was going for 80s B-movie acting? I would have been down with that if your lead actress wasn’t performing her role in a serious manner. Some of the reactions to things by some of the performers felt either wooden or just unintentionally comical. It’s fun to watch, but the tone becomes uneven because of it.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- There are some story elements that really needed to be explained. I don’t want to spoil anything, but the film left me with more questions than answers - especially concerning the relationship between Art the Clown and the protagonists. It made the narrative feel unfinished, although this could possibly be explained in the next installment. But honestly, the answers should have been revealed within its own movie.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Overall:</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>TERRIFIER 2</b> is light years better than the 2016 original. There’s actually an interesting story this time around with decent characters you want to root for, the gore is more brutal than ever, solid lead performances and really great direction by Damien Leone. Despite a lack of substance and lingering questions to certain subplots, cheesy acting and a run time that isn’t justified to be over two hours long, <b>TERRIFIER 2</b> is one of the better and more fun horror films of 2022. Considering my indifference to the first film, this was a genuine surprise for the better. I look forward to seeing where this franchise goes next because we need more fun slashers like this one in our lives.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGPtpEeSu8fWBI0_P5VgY9spBGykLywdN9PgS0cacbZIAamBmO2ys0Y2u1g4g9Xoqg7q3dMCAR7ILih2Pv6bAFQqmU1AJcBASAPBF3U6uigYlgrafGfzdeGDxj-ujlSTV40L2hMsEc3xsJp5exgIhkwMx975Xd0A7PDcA94tg1l0VTTxeqDI-QhZZFg/s1482/theythem-poster.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1482" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGPtpEeSu8fWBI0_P5VgY9spBGykLywdN9PgS0cacbZIAamBmO2ys0Y2u1g4g9Xoqg7q3dMCAR7ILih2Pv6bAFQqmU1AJcBASAPBF3U6uigYlgrafGfzdeGDxj-ujlSTV40L2hMsEc3xsJp5exgIhkwMx975Xd0A7PDcA94tg1l0VTTxeqDI-QhZZFg/w270-h400/theythem-poster.jpg" width="270" /></a></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>THEY/THEM (2022)</b></span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>John Logan</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Theo Germaine, Kevin Bacon, Quei Tann, Austin Crute, Monique Kim, Anna Lore, Anna Chlumsky, Carrie Preston, Boone Platt</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Thriller/Slasher</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>101 Minutes</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Score:</b> <i>1 Howl Outta 4 (3 out of 10)</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Plot: </b>Campers at an LGBTQ+ conversion camp endure unsettling psychological techniques while the campsite is stalked by a mysterious killer.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HtQk6sANmKs" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Review:</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><i><u>THINGS I LIKED:</u></i></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- Kevin Bacon and some of the other actors. It’s nice to see Bacon returning to his campsite horror roots, considering his first major horror role was in 1980’s <b>FRIDAY THE 13TH</b>. He always plays a great villain, and he makes the most of his twisted role as a therapist at a gay conversion camp. Other actors, like Theo Germaine and Austin Crute, also make an impression as the teen victims at this camp.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- The picture looks nice. It’s a Blumhouse vehicle, so of course the cinematography is very good. I think more could have been done with the location, but it’s a nicely polished movie.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- <b>THEY/THEM</b> has a great concept. There should be more movies catered to the LGBTQ+ community and the idea of a conversion camp is horrifying on so many levels. There’s no need for a slasher villain when you have poor teens being put through things that are supposed to “make them normal”. The film does touch on some of those things as the counselors get more vicious with their daily exercises. Unfortunately…</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><i><u>THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:</u></i></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- <b>THEY/THEM</b> has a bad execution. For a film with commentary on how terrible gay conversion camps are, the film barely does anything with that idea. We get a scene with shock therapy. We get uncomfortable scenes in a regular therapy session with counselors belittling the campers. But other than that, not much is done because the film is trying to be a slasher movie too. About that…</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- The film is a terrible slasher movie. We get one kill in the opening. And then we have to wait about an hour or so until some slashing goes on. Not only are the murder sequences done off-screen [<i>lame</i>], but the slasher aspect doesn’t help <b>THEY/THEM</b> at all besides giving the film a bit of action and motivation. If you’re not going to bother with any stalking and slashing in your slasher movie, then you’re doing it wrong. Besides, the gay conversion stuff is the real horror and they wasted potential on that as well.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- What was John Logan thinking? While Logan has written some great movies like <b>GLADIATOR</b>, <b>SWEENEY TODD</b> and <b>SKYFALL</b>, his direction leaves a lot to be desired. As an openly gay filmmaker, you would think he would probably be more careful with this type of movie more than most. But Logan plays it too safely and would rather focus on stereotypes and being hateful towards the community rather than providing a thoughtful commentary on the evils of these camps hurting people who have nothing wrong with them. I see that Logan wanted to make his own version of <b>GET OUT</b> here, but the film doesn’t have anything really to say, And when it does, it’s confusing and kind of insulting at times. Even the slasher portion is weak because it’s a whodunit with just one suspect. How does that work?? What a waste of potential.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- That P!nk musical moment. I love P!nk. I enjoy her song “F*cking Perfect”. And I was okay with the young actors singing the first couple of lines of the song as a way to bond. But then they just kept going like it was an episode of <b>Glee</b> - and not a good episode either. This was really cringe. I pretty much checked out at that point.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Overall:</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>THEY/THEM</b> is a film that had so much potential to be something important for the LGBTQ+ horror community with its conversion camp concept, while adding a slasher element to it considering Kevin Bacon was starring in the film. Unfortunately, the commentary is a confusing mess that probably does more harm than good. The film is only really a slasher for the last 15 minutes, with no real tension or suspense leading to the murder sequences. We have random musical moments that almost made me want to stop watching [<i>I hope they paid you well, P!nk</i>]. The best I can say about<b> THEY/THEM</b> is that the film looks nice and most of the acting is fine [<i>especially Kevin Bacon</i>]. Stick with <b>HELLBENT</b> for a good LGBTQ+ slasher and <b>BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER</b> for a great film that involves the perils of conversion therapy. The most clever thing about <b>THEY/THEM</b> is unfortunately its title.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshLxkppcDNwUpWxtg2RRcHAYNVh2S0CsY1weyrT0kvuvI7EwD_NbkGx8UvRG4S6DK8D9XLUbTwvwti4YMbHWI4JWycBnac61CqkVDRBorlPXXWelqcyDR0Bi5DIoUnouZryvZ2ulqq4zKGc1-FrkihuyzIlY0Pb7QEIiB2WkYbyVdeT5nONifso_vnw/s755/366%20black_phone.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="477" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshLxkppcDNwUpWxtg2RRcHAYNVh2S0CsY1weyrT0kvuvI7EwD_NbkGx8UvRG4S6DK8D9XLUbTwvwti4YMbHWI4JWycBnac61CqkVDRBorlPXXWelqcyDR0Bi5DIoUnouZryvZ2ulqq4zKGc1-FrkihuyzIlY0Pb7QEIiB2WkYbyVdeT5nONifso_vnw/w253-h400/366%20black_phone.jpg" width="253" /></a></b></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>THE BLACK PHONE (2021)</b></span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>Scott Derrickson</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Mason Thames, Ethan Hawke, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, E. Roger Mitchell, Troy Rudeseal, James Randsone</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Thriller</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>103 Minutes</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Score:</b> <i>3 Howls Outta 4 (7 out of 10)</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Plot:</b> <i>Finney Shaw, a shy but clever 13-year-old boy, is abducted by a sadistic killer and trapped in a soundproof basement where screaming is of little use. When a disconnected phone on the wall begins to ring, Finney discovers that he can hear the voices of the killer’s previous victims. And they are dead set on making sure that what happened to them doesn’t happen to Finney.</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nQWAVkx8O74" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Review:</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><i><u>THINGS I LIKED:</u></i></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- The lead actors carried this movie. Child actors could be hit-or-miss when it comes to horror films, but Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw were fantastic as two siblings who live in an abusive household and soon have to deal with The Grabber. Thames is convincing as a shy kid who has to learn to fend for himself to get out of a dangerous situation. McGraw is even better as the worried sister who uses her dreams to see what’s going on in order to save her brother and other children who may be targeted. Add Ethan Hawke in a small, yet really creepy role as the Grabber and you got yourself some great acting that will keep you invested from beginning to end.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- Scott Derrickson’s direction was pretty solid throughout. Best known for his work on 2012’s <b>SINISTER</b> and 2016’s <b>DOCTOR STRANGE</b>, his work on <b>THE BLACK PHONE</b> isn’t as strong or as stylish as those two movies. But the 70s aesthetic works throughout and the supernatural elements involving the phone calls and the psychic dreams add a nice level of tension and suspense to this thriller. I thought Derrickson did a good job bringing Joe Hill’s short story to life.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- I thought Joe Hill’s story was adapted quite well. The main characters are fleshed out enough for us to understand them. The situation is brought to life in a tense and creepy way. I liked how the film was less of a horror movie and more of a police procedural at times - as well as a strange coming-of-age story for Finney, who takes the lessons of the Grabber’s previous victims in order to have a fighting chance of surviving. Some might feel the film was too long considering Hill’s story is pretty short and to the point. But I never felt like it dragged a ton and thought the material was handled well. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- I love The Grabber’s creepy mask. If you ever needed a mask to put some fear into people during the Halloween season, that’s definitely a choice. I thought it added some creepy personality to The Grabber when he would be quiet to intimidate Finney.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><i><u>THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:</u></i></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- The film needed a bit more backstory. I felt things happened and none of them were really explained. Why are the phone calls supernatural? Why can Finney and The Grabber hear them? Why is the sister a psychic like her late mother? Why was Finney chosen by the previous victims to be the one to stop The Grabber? How did The Grabber’s brother, who was living with him, not realize what was going on until it was too late? Sometimes it’s better not to know these things, but I feel since this isn’t a movie meant to create a franchise, some of these answers would have been appreciated.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- <b>THE BLACK PHONE</b> isn’t really a scary film. It has some creepy moments here and there, but it’s not a movie that will terrify people. I think it’s because we barely see The Grabber a whole lot and we’re more focused on Finney learning from the children before him how to escape his ordeal. I never really felt Finney’s fear, despite his desperation and frustration over how to get out of this situation. More of that would have added some much needed power to this film.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Overall: </b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">One of the better horror film releases of 2022, <b>THE BLACK PHONE</b> is carried by solid lead performances to create a creepy thriller involving a masked kidnapper and a cunning child who receives help from the afterlife to escape the kidnapper’s clutches. While Ethan Hawke isn’t in the film a whole lot, his presence as The Grabber can put a chill down your spine through his performance and use of a killer mask that will most likely gain a cult following for years to come. But it’s the work of child actors Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw who bring the heart to the film, portraying siblings who are caught in the Grabber’s web from different angles. <b>SINISTER</b>’s Scott Derrickson does a nice job adapting Joe Hill’s short story and capturing a creepy 70s aesthetic, while keeping his style simple to let the story and the performances be the focus. Do I wish the film was scarier? Yes. Do I wish certain plot devices [<i>especially some of the supernatural aspects</i>] were explained and developed better? Absolutely. But for what it is, <b>THE BLACK PHONE</b> is worth making a call for.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PwpCS4yXWxs8Xqxu0z3UxbqY4q6XMzMRrM2oid3-J46JE0hrcDoAKCcRyXvDQGsVzd5e30ltUZZPANcTQtihHPCAc7TIy1wNx95PpeJ4a4LpfrPYfThGM6dTs6X2yMA47gy4KKw0aQPxLy2FmETcZTe1rzJNw08sOmtS8hQ_FH1taiUaZXkjFqIz1w/s755/367%20resurrection.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="510" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PwpCS4yXWxs8Xqxu0z3UxbqY4q6XMzMRrM2oid3-J46JE0hrcDoAKCcRyXvDQGsVzd5e30ltUZZPANcTQtihHPCAc7TIy1wNx95PpeJ4a4LpfrPYfThGM6dTs6X2yMA47gy4KKw0aQPxLy2FmETcZTe1rzJNw08sOmtS8hQ_FH1taiUaZXkjFqIz1w/w270-h400/367%20resurrection.jpg" width="270" /></a></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>RESURRECTION (2022)</b></span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Directed By:</b> <i>Andrew Semans</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Starring:</b> <i>Rebecca Hall, Grace Kaufman, Michael Esper, Angela Wong Carbone, Tim Roth</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Thriller/Horror/Drama</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>103 Minutes</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Score:</b> <i>3 Howls Outta 4 (7 out of 10)</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Plot:</b> <i>A woman’s carefully constructed life is upended when an unwelcome shadow from her past returns, forcing her to confront the monster she’s evaded for two decades.</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n6uIvEpxQ9o" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Review:</b></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><i><u>THINGS I LIKED:</u></i></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- The two lead performances are fantastic. Rebecca Hall is a force of nature as Margaret, a woman who lives a mechanical and routine life until a man from her past destroys that once he returns in her life. Hall portrays a woman so in control of her own life that she slowly peels back those layers to reveal that she never was in control in the first place. Her performance grows more manic as the film moves along and her long monologue in the middle of the film where she reveals her truth is just wonderfully recited. It’s honestly a masterclass of trauma portrayed on screen. On the other hand, Tim Roth’s subtlety as David brings an eeriness to the film, displaying power just with a single look or a soft-spoken voice that rings louder than any yell. These two are wonderful as they play off the other, making them the reason to watch <b>RESURRECTION</b>. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- The depiction of abuse is realistically displayed. From Margaret counseling interns about abusive relationships, to herself losing grip on reality as she spills her secret abusive past, <b>RESURRECTION</b> doesn’t hide how trauma can affect people. David’s presence alone upsets Margaret, telling us how powerful he is as a character without a single word. David doesn’t do anything, making Margaret lose control of herself and do rash things to make sure her control is maintained. This alienates her daughter. This pushes away a married co-worker she’s been having an affair with, who actually cares about her. It makes us wonder whether Margaret is being over-the-top and losing her mind, or if David really is this evil person who has done her tons of emotional harm. And when David gives Margaret simple commands to teach her “kindness”, which Margaret succumbs to out of habit, it shows that even the simplest of things can be abusive. Things reach a really weird and chilling climax, showing us that trauma can always be triggered no matter how much we try to control our lives away from the past.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- I enjoyed Andrew Semans’ simple direction. <b>RESURRECTION</b> is not a stylish film, but it’s a nice looking one with a pace that intensifies as Margaret loses control of herself. The edits get a bit crazier. Shots seem to be repeated to show this never ending cycle Margaret has put herself on. Tim Roth is always shot in a way that displays power. Rebecca Hall’s shot scales tend to get smaller and smaller, letting her blend more into the background before the climax. For the man’s second feature film, it’s some good stuff.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><i><u>THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:</u></i></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- I’m not sure how I feel about the film’s final act. While<b> RESURRECTION</b> does get a bit crazy in terms of what David’s motivations are with Margaret [<i>won’t spoil it here</i>], I felt the conclusion to the film was really jarring compared to everything that came before it. For a movie that was pretty grounded for most of its run time, going the David Lynch/David Cronenberg/Darren Aronofsky route wasn’t something I was expecting. I suspect it didn’t hit me as hard due to not having any past experience with abuse nor the struggle of being a parent. But it just left me confused as to what I was supposed to get out of the very end of the film. Maybe I have to watch it a few times to get a true interpretation on the things that happen in the final moments. I respect the storytelling, but I’m not sure if I connected to it other than feeling weird about it.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Overall: </b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">While the final act jarred me quite a bit, to the point that I’m still trying to figure out what I saw and what it actually means, I felt <b>RESURRECTION</b> was a good psychological thriller that handled the trauma of abuse quite well. Through Andrew Semans’ direction that starts out simple but intensifies as certain characters start to lose control of their situation, we see through his eyes that trauma isn’t something one can control or hide once triggered by an outside force that will quietly help you fester in it and do you harm. The lead performances by Rebecca Hall and Tim Roth are excellent. Going from mechanical and routine to chaotic and frantic, Hall’s portrayal of trauma is a masterclass in acting. Roth’s quiet menace has to also be applauded, as he does a lot with a simple look or soft-spoken dialogue that’s not as quiet as it seems. The Lynch/Cronenberg/Aronofsky type of ending left me a bit odd considering how grounded everything else was prior to it, but maybe it’ll require another watch or two to really feel the effects of its message. That being said, definitely seek this one out on Shudder if you have the time for a slow, psychological burn.</span></span></p><br /></span></div></div>Fred [The Wolf]http://www.blogger.com/profile/03208803636786210066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717349721694216715.post-19882754642717321662022-10-24T00:00:00.002-04:002022-10-24T00:00:34.613-04:00Halloween Ends (2022) [Spoiler Review]<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-df99fa4f-7fff-0fef-5bd4-c2404592b1b0"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><u><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></u></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><u><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNn5IsGXalKkcM9coGWPVwr5OO06przieOuw0pnjwYuGN8ZaS1UqUsr6RkD2wGKNghZ4ouUoBD_hN5H98eD8ZN5K-db7CABIK9EO5IKO4YnGGpRV3PmdCbWU9rUill16z3ZLzxuzFaotAx6i2L3fAIJflRiYO5CgGQewJcrg5Rn5v2XKm4x1k1-GiCA/s3000/halloween%20ends%20-%20poster.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="1895" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNn5IsGXalKkcM9coGWPVwr5OO06przieOuw0pnjwYuGN8ZaS1UqUsr6RkD2wGKNghZ4ouUoBD_hN5H98eD8ZN5K-db7CABIK9EO5IKO4YnGGpRV3PmdCbWU9rUill16z3ZLzxuzFaotAx6i2L3fAIJflRiYO5CgGQewJcrg5Rn5v2XKm4x1k1-GiCA/w253-h400/halloween%20ends%20-%20poster.jpg" width="253" /></a></span></u></b></span></div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><u><span style="font-family: verdana;">DIRECTED BY</span></u></b></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>David Gordon Green</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>STARRING</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Jamie Lee Curtis - Laurie Strode</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Andi Matichak - Allyson Nelson</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>James Jude Courtney - Michael Myers/ The Shape</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Will Patton - Deputy Frank Hawkins</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Rohan Campbell - Corey Cunningham</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Kyle Richards - Lindsey Wallace</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Genre -</b> <i>Horror/Thriller/Drama/Slasher</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Running Time -</b> <i>111 Minutes</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><b><u><br /></u></b></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>PLOT</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Four years after the events of Halloween in 2018, Laurie has decided to liberate herself from fear and rage and embrace life. But when a young man is accused of killing a boy he was babysitting, it ignites a cascade of violence and terror that will force Laurie to finally confront the evil she can’t control, once and for all.</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7d5-lVx4j5GzZ6mKu-xzUU7SmL32RI4EmP92ksIM8sz09-3mjdytNqB5JiB_Q_9w_Vdl0mfF_6aS1AD1uMb_GblpyJGmxpqLwpYnE3zgt44-4agNtYm4flzR6S_jh0-8zopwFh2dsMo5TN-GhCVkTrb1Sf_oiMjoFKVgE0GUKmTn72lcSNa8X3lbm6g/s1000/halloweenends-3.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7d5-lVx4j5GzZ6mKu-xzUU7SmL32RI4EmP92ksIM8sz09-3mjdytNqB5JiB_Q_9w_Vdl0mfF_6aS1AD1uMb_GblpyJGmxpqLwpYnE3zgt44-4agNtYm4flzR6S_jh0-8zopwFh2dsMo5TN-GhCVkTrb1Sf_oiMjoFKVgE0GUKmTn72lcSNa8X3lbm6g/s320/halloweenends-3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Man, if you thought the division over last year’s <b>HALLOWEEN KILLS</b> was bad, it’s nothing compared to the ugly divide for the end of David Gordon Green’s trilogy, <b>HALLOWEEN ENDS</b>. While I’m in the majority of enjoying the 2018 reboot/sequel, I was one of the few who actually preferred <b>KILLS</b> due to its silliness and fun time. I can’t say I was looking all that forward to <b>ENDS</b> though, as big of a <b>HALLOWEEN</b> fanboy that I am. Considering the ridiculous writing of <b>KILLS</b>, it was tough to get hyped up for this movie despite the promise of a final encounter between Michael Myers and Laurie Strode. Still, I went to theaters on opening Friday night with friends to watch this and… well, I may have been the most positive person for this movie. Then seeing all the vitriol and arguments over the quality of the movie on social media, I wanted to step away from reviewing this movie until I had another chance to watch it on Peacock.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Having done so, my opinions on <b>HALLOWEEN ENDS</b> haven't changed much. And I do think it’s the lesser of the three David Gordon Green films, even though it has the most ambition going for it. It’s also not the worst <b>HALLOWEEN</b> film in the franchise, despite what many other fans are saying. This dude also isn’t signing a petition for a redo either. <b>HALLOWEEN ENDS</b> is a film with interesting story elements going for it. They’re just in the wrong movie.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This review will be a spoiler filled one because I can’t share my thoughts without revealing plot elements. So if you haven’t watched the film yet, stop right here. If you have or you don’t care, keep on reading.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So <b>HALLOWEEN ENDS</b>’ issues stem from the fact that the wrong story is being told for the finale of this divisive trilogy. I saw a lot of defenders of this film criticizing those complaining that they would have preferred a simple Michael vs. Laurie finale instead of what we eventually got. I mean, can you blame anyone thinking a movie called <b>HALLOWEEN ENDS</b> would be about an epic conclusion to the Michael Myers and Laurie Strode story that started way back in 1978? In fact, this entire DGG trilogy was pretty much set up and marketed as a way for these two horror icons to have their final confrontation so Jamie Lee Curtis could exit the franchise a lot better than she had in <b>HALLOWEEN: RESURRECTION</b>. The 2018 film and <b>HALLOWEEN KILLS</b> put these two characters at the center of the marketing, making fans anticipate an eventual conclusion that would see this feud finally having an end. Even the trailers for <b>HALLOWEEN ENDS</b> seemed to focus on the one-on-one fight between Michael and Laurie, as well as the posters. If a studio is promoting a trilogy in a certain way, fans are going to expect that. So you can’t really blame them when <b>HALLOWEEN ENDS</b> isn’t that film at all.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>HALLOWEEN ENDS</b> isn’t even about Laurie and Michael, who honestly feel like supporting characters in this movie. The film is centered by a newly created character named Corey Cunningham, who is now Haddonfield’s latest pariah after accidentally murdering a young boy he was babysitting on Halloween 2019. The town looks down on him. Marching band high schoolers bully him any chance they can get. The parents of the murdered child understandably make a scene whenever he’s around. And while his stepfather has given him a job and treats him well, his mother coddles him every chance she can get to the point of it becoming incestuous at times. Corey is a victim in Haddonfield.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9aABcsKg82SZHPH4js2gDk18ZKrTSWQej3sw7KQHYUhITCNjRq4VK1qcH1YpooOJ1zCt9uJ_opJ8WsRXK4YtSwVLsuzjIP5T_aroQ8obojS7iP3vV9ZTZJ3UfQ3wQIhuCbPVEiQR-kimv2WTs4iEaQQhUbvHSLnOu0xfggUCj8KFmxe9XhspN8yevw/s1629/halloweenends-4.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="1629" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9aABcsKg82SZHPH4js2gDk18ZKrTSWQej3sw7KQHYUhITCNjRq4VK1qcH1YpooOJ1zCt9uJ_opJ8WsRXK4YtSwVLsuzjIP5T_aroQ8obojS7iP3vV9ZTZJ3UfQ3wQIhuCbPVEiQR-kimv2WTs4iEaQQhUbvHSLnOu0xfggUCj8KFmxe9XhspN8yevw/s320/halloweenends-4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Laurie sees that and saves Corey from the bullies, knowing what it’s like to be a pariah herself. She introduces Corey to her granddaughter Allyson, who instantly becomes infatuated with him. Due to their respective trauma, they connect and fall for each other. While this goes on, Corey encounters Michael, who has been living in sewers for the past four years. While Michael attacks him, Michael sees something in Corey that makes him change his attack and wants to help him. Corey, seeing something in Michael that reminds him of himself, wants to learn from the killer - to the point that the two start tag teaming on people in Haddonfield out of revenge.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As you can see, nothing about Laurie confronting Michael and vice-versa is anywhere in the above paragraphs. That’s because the film isn’t about that. It’s about a character study for a newly introduced character who, tired of being looked down upon and treated like crap in his hometown, snaps and wants vengeance on those he feels has wronged him. That includes Laurie, who sees “Michael’s eyes” in Corey after he encounters the killer.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />It seems that Michael may have transferred some of his evil - his “Shape” - into Corey, turning Corey more into Michael throughout the film. Also in a similar way that Michael may have transferred his “Shape” into Dr. Sartain in 2018’s movie, as well as doing the same to the entire town of Haddonfield in <b>HALLOWEEN KILLS</b>. Corey is Arnie to Michael’s Christine, which was David Gordon’s Green main influence on this film. There’s also a bit of <b>THE LOST BOYS</b> and <b>ROMEO AND JULIET</b>. But what the film mainly isn’t is a traditional <b>HALLOWEEN</b> movie.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I personally think the Corey Cunningham angle is a really solid one, because it hasn’t really been done much in a <b>HALLOWEEN</b> movie. The closest we’ve gotten were with Jamie Lloyd in <b>HALLOWEEN 4</b> and the remake Laurie Strode during Rob Zombie’s <b>HALLOWEEN II</b> - two characters who shared some sort of psychic connection with Michael Myers to turn them slightly evil and continue his work. Considering that Michael Myers is pretty much an old man in this trilogy, it would make sense for the character to want to continue his evil legacy through younger characters by passing on his evil from one shape to another. Corey is a character that’s well written enough and has motivation that would make it believable that he would continue what Michael had started in Haddonfield. The series could have had their own <b>FRIDAY THE 13TH: A NEW BEGINNING</b> with the Corey character in a possible trilogy on its own, making the town of Haddonfield believe that Michael Myers was still alive and well even if he was considered missing for years. Maybe with some added drama with Allyson finally seeing Corey for who he was and wanting to save him from the same fate, the series could have been revived in a fresher way.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>The Corey idea is great and one I support. It’s just that it shouldn’t be in the final film of a trilogy that is meant to focus on Laurie and Michael meeting one last time.</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Because of Corey being such a prominent character, it gives both Laurie and especially Michael the shaft in their own movie. Unlike <b>HALLOWEEN KILLS</b>, Laurie gets more to do. She’s writing a memoir on her life. She’s now a homemaker in a new house, trying to be a typical grandmother for Allyson [<i>who is now acting out</i>] after the loss of Karen at the hands of Michael. She’s trying to move on with her life and not let the trauma of the last 40 years define her and run her life. Yes, this change in Laurie’s character doesn’t really match what we’ve seen before, considering Laurie was Sarah Connor in the prior two movies. And I do see Laurie’s behavior being written backwards, as the trilogy’s events should have led to Laurie wanting to hunt down Michael and finish him. But trauma and grief do strange things to people and maybe the character wanted to be a good role model for her granddaughter, making up for what she couldn’t do for her own daughter.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Michael, on the other hand, is a shell of himself. Living in a sewer had made him weak and vulnerable, especially after the brutality he suffered at the end of <b>HALLOWEEN KILLS</b>. He lets others bring bodies to him, whether to kill them or possibly eat them [<i>how else did he survive down there for four years</i>]. Corey has to push Michael into teaching him how to kill, which seems to rejuvenate Michael a bit, establishing his transcendence from <b>HALLOWEEN KILLS</b>. This is not the same villain we’ve seen in previous films, as he struggles to get his groove back and isn’t even at his 100 percent against Laurie at the end.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9wfogXX2PdhBSftMpNmOHYruwdGeY3naxbVrcSvyzvprl3izI-1AZFT9AqjLmMRnbzzLMFDtjnQ6JROX9nKrpbhCjgrm-Q1Z5B6kVcbNvwp5gUYXqhxCVmr_fJg0I_IOuxdV_HnvnB4M7RrYU_AqYrSfWsCfIVqfQwqSNL39wUeF1SyNWkKCxN_YTA/s2000/halloweenends-5.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9wfogXX2PdhBSftMpNmOHYruwdGeY3naxbVrcSvyzvprl3izI-1AZFT9AqjLmMRnbzzLMFDtjnQ6JROX9nKrpbhCjgrm-Q1Z5B6kVcbNvwp5gUYXqhxCVmr_fJg0I_IOuxdV_HnvnB4M7RrYU_AqYrSfWsCfIVqfQwqSNL39wUeF1SyNWkKCxN_YTA/s320/halloweenends-5.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />The fight itself should be an epic battle, considering that this is what the trilogy has been leading to this whole time. But with both Laurie and Michael feeling like secondary characters in their own movie to a new character who is introduced here, it doesn’t feel earned for either character. Yes, the battle is pretty cool and both parties get their vicious shots in for a somewhat satisfying ending. But considering <b>HALLOWEEN ENDS</b> is really about Corey struggling with his demons and possibly taking over for The Shape due to Michael’s mentorship, the final confrontation feels forced because that’s the only way for this trilogy to end.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It sucks that many are hating this film because of the Corey character, considering his arc is the strongest in the film. If it were up to me, I would have done the final confrontation at the end of <b>KILLS</b> and made <b>ENDS</b> a standalone <b>HALLOWEEN </b>movie where Haddonfield believes Michael is still alive because random murders are happening again in their town. You could have introduced Corey in either the 2018 or <b>KILLS</b> as a love interest for Allyson and built him up in an organic way. I honestly wouldn’t mind a <b>FRIDAY THE 13TH: A NEW BEGINNING</b> vibe for this series, because Corey is an interesting character and has motivation for his turn to the dark side. That could have been a trilogy on its own, as Laurie and Allyson could have dealt with the fallout that while the human being dies, the evil inside of him doesn’t and can get passed on to other members of the community. It’s something John Carpenter wanted to do with his anthology and with his original concept for <b>HALLOWEEN 4</b>. Unlike back then, I think fans would have been ready for something different in the franchise. But shoehorning too many plot elements in what should be the finale of a trilogy wastes that potential. There’s a good story here somewhere, but for a different movie down the line.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The story also wastes characters like Deputy Frank Hawkins, who seemed to be on a redemption arc after the events of <b>HALLOWEEN KILLS</b>. But he’s barely used in the film and it's mainly to start a romance with Laurie. Lindsay is just a bartender who does tarot readings now. And Sheriff Barker only really appears at the end of the movie. I have no idea what went wrong with the writing here, but something must have changed because it doesn’t feel like the same people who worked on the previous two films here.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What I can be totally positive about is David Gordon Green’s visual presentation. In my opinion, this is his best visual work of the three films he worked on. Some of the murder sequences are pretty damn good, with the opening kill being the best. The junkyard and sewer sets are lit with nice shades of blues and yellows that adds a bit of atmosphere. The junkyard scenes, in particular, reminded me of 1983’s <b>CHRISTINE</b>, with a brutal murder sequence taking place there in the film’s final act. The film had good editing and while the pace could have been better [<i>Michael should have shown up sooner</i>], I understand what DGG was going for here with his attempt at a slow burn. Really nice looking film hampered by an unfocused screenplay.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The cast is very good though. In probably her best performance in the DGG trilogy, Jamie Lee Curtis gets to play with a lot of emotions as an older Laurie Strode who is trying to move past her trauma. She has great comedic moments. She’s charming as she brings back the shyness of her younger self. She’s also very strong in the final act as she reveals many layers to her character. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I also liked Andi Matichak as Allyson, since she’s given the most to do here. Her scenes with Ronan Campbell felt natural and her explosive moments with Jamie Lee Curtis finally made her an interesting character. James Jude Courtney does well as an aging and weak Michael Myers. I don’t think the script does the character justice but Courtney makes it work. Will Patton is charming as Hawkins in the few scenes he’s in, while it’s always nice to see Kyle Richards outside of The Real Housewives franchise.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRtrZgyS2ixWo7GYa6_2RHgVjjbbQssORgA_U1-GwcyrxSZEPEejYOAyxZzO3A0T-Gws8P-HjkneWMIAFk6QopZHS9q0FcNDuHy386QYWzY_HJJEVkcaXDw2zcKQdXFxEmsaWBI_LVILoJntZ9_KjDjwHDPtJiO32wqlYwABfUox6ERQZptEA7XrM9g/s640/halloweenends-2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRtrZgyS2ixWo7GYa6_2RHgVjjbbQssORgA_U1-GwcyrxSZEPEejYOAyxZzO3A0T-Gws8P-HjkneWMIAFk6QopZHS9q0FcNDuHy386QYWzY_HJJEVkcaXDw2zcKQdXFxEmsaWBI_LVILoJntZ9_KjDjwHDPtJiO32wqlYwABfUox6ERQZptEA7XrM9g/s320/halloweenends-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />The real star is Rohan Campbell as Corey Cunningham, a completely new character who gets the biggest spotlight in a film that should have been about Laurie versus Michael. Despite that, Campbell makes Corey a fleshed out character who we can sympathize with despite his actions. He has chemistry with anyone he shares a scene with and would have been awesome in a standalone <b>HALLOWEEN</b> film focused on him outside of the trilogy. Unfortunately he’s getting a lot of hate for something beyond his control. Campbell is a rising star and who knows where his career will go after the reception of <b>HALLOWEEN ENDS</b>. But I really liked his performance and turned, what could have been an unlikable character, into someone I would have liked to have seen more of. </span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And I can’t end this review without mentioning the score by John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter and Daniel Davies. The music is a lot more subtle than anything in the previous films, but it matched the quietness of <b>HALLOWEEN ENDS</b>. I think we can all agree that the music has been the best part of this trilogy.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>THE FINAL HOWL</u></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPo0qzDDuYeTRu8YO8PjHKNxw93Qv32J-stWE1MVzOn8WtaxWNgA4N5p677oQBdw4rRiNq65w8tfkF5xe-pjuvfwD2bSIbPql42RmYSJvAyqyUNVfMbafRLMS5jliPJjIuiIvsBx27AtldcZpQXu81x6sGLp0TzzyNo3G_jCirBo-TQnu4IcnE5CwzPA/s1200/halloweenends-1.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1200" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPo0qzDDuYeTRu8YO8PjHKNxw93Qv32J-stWE1MVzOn8WtaxWNgA4N5p677oQBdw4rRiNq65w8tfkF5xe-pjuvfwD2bSIbPql42RmYSJvAyqyUNVfMbafRLMS5jliPJjIuiIvsBx27AtldcZpQXu81x6sGLp0TzzyNo3G_jCirBo-TQnu4IcnE5CwzPA/s320/halloweenends-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />It took me a while to gather my thoughts on <b>HALLOWEEN ENDS</b>, probably one of the more divisive horror movies I’ve seen on social media in many, many years. Having watched it once in theaters and then on Peacock, it allowed me to finally put into words how I felt about this finale of a trilogy that should have been more epic than it actually is. The performances are very good. The direction creates atmosphere and some nice visuals. The opening scene is the best thing about the film. The promoted confrontation between Laurie Strode and Michael Myers is fine but not as memorable as the one in 1998’s <b>HALLOWEEN: H20</b>. David Gordon Green and three other writers also bring ideas that create a freshness in the series that would be welcomed in a different movie that is not supposed to be the conclusion of a trilogy focused on the main heroine and her villain - two characters who feel like supporting characters to a newly created one who deserves his own movie to shine in. Personally, I would have had the final confrontation at the end of <b>HALLOWEEN KILLS</b> and done the Corey angle after that to bring something new to the <b>HALLOWEEN</b> franchise.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">That being said, <b>HALLOWEEN ENDS</b> isn’t the worst film in this franchise, nor is it close to it. In fact, there’s a lot to like in this movie. My issue is don’t bring something different to a franchise where fans are prepared for something else because it was marketed heavily as such. If David Gordon Green wanted to remake <b>CHRISTINE</b> under the <b>HALLOWEEN</b> banner, he could have saved it until after finishing the Laurie versus Michael story first. That’s all I’m saying. Not a total misfire, but disappointing considering the final battle doesn’t really feel earned since the film’s focus is on someone else. I’m very curious to see where this franchise goes next without the Laurie Strode baggage.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>SCORE</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisf1FbzQdE8gG9hWjizWGULNii24NmBozstEsegwxcCeFwP8CekcG3SEQDP15ROoaM5ZZYDbDK3K1GYgFFWAJfoY0LQT9BctB8aNUck-A8VXMzR6i-LQjvqrlW2qc6EdHqhPHlVgsXiWLHaZqGDdq9r6YAkOafmoVzMRb3Gn8thdMAG7WR9rwuUpY3eQ/s400/wolfscoretwonhalf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="400" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisf1FbzQdE8gG9hWjizWGULNii24NmBozstEsegwxcCeFwP8CekcG3SEQDP15ROoaM5ZZYDbDK3K1GYgFFWAJfoY0LQT9BctB8aNUck-A8VXMzR6i-LQjvqrlW2qc6EdHqhPHlVgsXiWLHaZqGDdq9r6YAkOafmoVzMRb3Gn8thdMAG7WR9rwuUpY3eQ/s320/wolfscoretwonhalf.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>2.5 Howls Outta 4</b></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i>(6 out of 10)</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s0vtbxLa-N8" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span></div>Fred [The Wolf]http://www.blogger.com/profile/03208803636786210066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717349721694216715.post-16801145388244228372022-10-09T23:13:00.003-04:002022-10-09T23:18:50.902-04:00Werewolf By Night (2022)<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-6b927b93-7fff-f68f-5132-303d4427d501"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><u></u></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0UzZPTq26Cvo20PI8fVF1RvxoJ-9_o1xFrN3TV85IEAVMpeZT3wCf7fwbc_712UKSF077yino3Sep6OkZ3TLjEGoegn33-3TPdVcwLpHbssV3nqQC90Ca05Sl5Sg_CWz4WZ1Ok0gOs5KmjdJrv4s1uWin_4dHiBpEin3s0aSrMdxE1quUnPEkCWtVKA/s755/322%20werewolf_by_night.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="510" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0UzZPTq26Cvo20PI8fVF1RvxoJ-9_o1xFrN3TV85IEAVMpeZT3wCf7fwbc_712UKSF077yino3Sep6OkZ3TLjEGoegn33-3TPdVcwLpHbssV3nqQC90Ca05Sl5Sg_CWz4WZ1Ok0gOs5KmjdJrv4s1uWin_4dHiBpEin3s0aSrMdxE1quUnPEkCWtVKA/w270-h400/322%20werewolf_by_night.jpg" width="270" /></a></u></b></span></div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><u>DIRECTED BY</u></b></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Michael Giacchino</i></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><u>STARRING</u></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Gael Garcia Bernal - Jack Russell</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Laura Donnelly - Elsa Bloodstone</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Harriet Sansom Harris - Verussa Bloodstone</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Kirk R. Thatcher - Jovan</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Carey Jones - Ted/Man-Thing</i></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Genre:</b> <i>Horror/Action/Fantasy/Monsters/Creature Feature/Werewolves</i></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Running Time:</b> <i>55 Minutes</i></span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><u>PLOT</u></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>On a dark and somber night, a secret cabal of monster hunters emerge from the shadows and gather at the foreboding Bloodstone Temple following the death of their leader. In a strange and macabre memorial to the leader’s life, the attendees are thrust into a mysterious and deadly competition for a powerful relic—a hunt that will ultimately bring them face to face with a dangerous monster.</i></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJLwdi-8FgC2auB034NTdIUU7NY6y9RVNOQzFzY3s7HgzBDo78Bp9r-BivUUWlsQouR3ESJ4_EPF40a9-7Vk9xZO-qxjHglyqP_auyR-Swyb1eVQcmktLxoOHC9W8WwTRdoF99dQzwGEYKe-PU5CY6zDtSe914XoB1rGNJ6p_PmqolNyZXElIlxy94w/s1200/werewolfbynight-3.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJLwdi-8FgC2auB034NTdIUU7NY6y9RVNOQzFzY3s7HgzBDo78Bp9r-BivUUWlsQouR3ESJ4_EPF40a9-7Vk9xZO-qxjHglyqP_auyR-Swyb1eVQcmktLxoOHC9W8WwTRdoF99dQzwGEYKe-PU5CY6zDtSe914XoB1rGNJ6p_PmqolNyZXElIlxy94w/s320/werewolfbynight-3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been a mixed bag with only a few highpoints compared to the previous three Phases. Thankfully it may be ending on a strong note this year, starting with the Disney+ special, <b>WEREWOLF BY NIGHT</b> - based on a 1972 comic that brought in horror elements to the Marvel Universe.</span><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Composer Michael Giacchino proves that he’s also skilled as a horror director, as he puts the Jack Russell character in a setting that resembles a classic Universal flick from the 1930s and 1940s, complete with black & white filter and film grain that gives an illusion of age. With a narrative that resembles <i><u>The Most Dangerous Game</u></i> that deals with monster hunters trying to kill each other for a magical Bloodstone that can hurt monsters, it allows the audience to get to know the small cast of characters for a short period of time. Most of the supporting characters unfortunately get less screen time than others, but I enjoyed their different approaches to hunting. Thankfully, Jack and Elsa Bloodline are strongly written characters who share some nice chemistry throughout, strengthening the narrative.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Probably the biggest takeaway from <b>WEREWOLF BY NIGHT</b> is Marvel’s allowing more violence and gore in their projects. While I think May’s <b><a href="http://www.fullmoonreviews.net/2022/05/doctor-strange-in-multiverse-of-madness.html">DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS</a></b> was probably more brutal, <b>WEREWOLF BY NIGHT</b> has its share of gore in terms of dismembered limbs, ears being bitten and pulled like Mike Tyson to Evander Holyfield and weapons impaling people. We also have Ted, a.k.a. Man-Thing, disintegrating a scared someone with just a single touch.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmR8icToTkDAfZWCu5Ra1FMjU4_Xd7iZ_Ryu9dT1m9ivPX3uRiGor75KY_OF2ZjSU2K7Yni-EsbhnpjkiDFSTPdonCC7tmDSH_XJY8euHbq1L6oGUZ4TQA-G0d4eavtF2KYZjz3ZvogkCI7ghWV3VMeYqv3MkjrQ3h7hjXXFJ-rmsCaiywiaH1HcTXgQ/s1200/werewolfbynight-2.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmR8icToTkDAfZWCu5Ra1FMjU4_Xd7iZ_Ryu9dT1m9ivPX3uRiGor75KY_OF2ZjSU2K7Yni-EsbhnpjkiDFSTPdonCC7tmDSH_XJY8euHbq1L6oGUZ4TQA-G0d4eavtF2KYZjz3ZvogkCI7ghWV3VMeYqv3MkjrQ3h7hjXXFJ-rmsCaiywiaH1HcTXgQ/s320/werewolfbynight-2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />Giacchino’s direction is confident and great, as the film feels like a classic horror film in its approach. The fight choreography is awesome and the pacing is perfect for a special like this. I love that the only color we see for a long time is the red from the Bloodstone, while the mix of CGI and practical effects works really well - especially when it comes to an awesome looking Man-Thing [<i>or “Ted”</i>] and a cool looking Werewolf By Night. The werewolf isn’t the greatest looking werewolf, but I liked the mix of the Lon Chaney look with a mix of a modern edge. Plus, Giacchino’s musical score is pretty awesome too. </span><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The actors are all solid. Gael Garcia Bernal is definitely a get for any studio and he’s wonderful as Jack Russell, bringing a likability and quiet charisma to his lead role. I definitely want to see more of him and his character going forward. Laura Donnelly was also solid as Elsa Bloodline, bringing a toughness and sassiness to her role. I also enjoyed Harriet Sansom Harris’ snooty and power-hungry role as Verussa Bloodline, Elsa’s stepmother and the leader of this hunt. And special mention to Carey Jones as “Ted”, a.k.a. Man-Thing. I really enjoyed his motion capture work that showed how lovable and innocent this supposed monster really is. He could be the next Groot if done right. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><u>THE FINAL HOWL</u></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBFNdM9o_veCY0BS3NzhsgllNjb3C7hfD4Os7ye9pRtt_mrUdDTuC-Jrw26wEHYwEtgOqPqqnk73wqBChziqpT7OWS39f6jHylx8F-5oghXg9ghGmuV20RHq5f1Tf19N0KwKbap7NB_vwowAArjvcZ9rCPRyMT8a98GpIzfNhorwvjkRL20j6eoG9eQ/s1200/werewolfbynight-1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1200" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBFNdM9o_veCY0BS3NzhsgllNjb3C7hfD4Os7ye9pRtt_mrUdDTuC-Jrw26wEHYwEtgOqPqqnk73wqBChziqpT7OWS39f6jHylx8F-5oghXg9ghGmuV20RHq5f1Tf19N0KwKbap7NB_vwowAArjvcZ9rCPRyMT8a98GpIzfNhorwvjkRL20j6eoG9eQ/s320/werewolfbynight-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />One of the highlights of the mixed bag known as the MCU’s Phase Four, director/composer Michael Giacchino’s <b>WEREWOLF BY NIGHT</b> is a great throwback to the classic horror of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s mixed with modern technology to really stand out in the massive Marvel Cinematic Universe library. The use of black and white [<i>with red being the only color used for much of this television special</i>] with added film grain is a nice touch, while using the common narrative structure of <i><u>The Most Dangerous Game</u></i> with an added creature element allows some bit of depth and a simple character arc that’s more than digestible. The action is well shot, as well as some of the more horror elements that’s gory enough to satisfy genre fans. Due to a great mix of CGI and practical effects, both Werewolf by Night and, in particular, Man-Thing look pretty damn cool. The cast, especially Gael Garcia Bernal and Laura Donnelly, are likable and bring an earnestness to their roles. <b>WEREWOLF BY NIGHT</b> is a nice surprise this Halloween season and I look forward to more of this character in a live-action setting, as well as more horror themed Marvel characters getting their time to shine.</span><p></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>SCORE</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqvtY544W2JRHXJN14DdeV1ww6kx4V2WzjqoZ1M4mxsmSc3_o9hYA9wNxvXn2Kb1FjtD9vAgVQLFMEeWsmIGB-SJqsbD8blpc0Ly_L3FJjDdRz0llUxzAPmisOd3L4rFGIPzNrL4fzUj_ioyUOha1EeD-teDjrwTy20JEQ4MIZ4Xsf5buMjyGylyQGQ/s400/wolfscorethreenhalf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="400" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqvtY544W2JRHXJN14DdeV1ww6kx4V2WzjqoZ1M4mxsmSc3_o9hYA9wNxvXn2Kb1FjtD9vAgVQLFMEeWsmIGB-SJqsbD8blpc0Ly_L3FJjDdRz0llUxzAPmisOd3L4rFGIPzNrL4fzUj_ioyUOha1EeD-teDjrwTy20JEQ4MIZ4Xsf5buMjyGylyQGQ/s320/wolfscorethreenhalf.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>3.5 Howls Outta 4</b></div></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>(9 out of 10)</i></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bLEFqhS5WmI" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></div>Fred [The Wolf]http://www.blogger.com/profile/03208803636786210066noreply@blogger.com0