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Reviews
Killer Heat (2024)
Watch if you like gumshoe PI, neo-noir murder mysteries
After selecting this for movie night, my wife told me the IMDB rating of 5.5, so I read a few reviews before watching. We both decided to give it a try even after reading some of the low-star reviews.
Sure, there's a couple of parts that make you wonder about certain actions, but everything is there for a reason. I found it to be a good story with decent twists. Sometimes you just have to go with the story and not think that you can write better material; the story is the story, and that's that.
The acting was really good, especially Shailene Woodley, who really delivers at the end with a very believable reaction (which I won't spoil).
I'm glad we watched it, and both of us film fans can be very critical (I've also written scripts & directed a few of my own ideas, but I put that aside).
Fractured (2019)
Gives you a true cinema mystery experience
I didn't know Brad Anderson was the director until the end credits. We chose to watch those from a short list of 3 films. Good choice, I must say! I gave it a 10 because there is literally nothing wrong with this picture! Watch the whole thing with 'devices' turned off, the lights turned low, and follow every nuance of the story! From the camera work, to the sound design to the acting and the story, this is a true gem.
Stowaway (2021)
A Slow Burner, but Good Space Drama
I thought it was well-acted and even though we could imagine what would be next, there were a couple of twists that make it interesting. A well-written drama arouses fear and pity, and thus achieves a catharsis of such emotion (I borrowed that from Aristotle). This could have been done on a stage for the most part, and I love the simple set and minimal characters. I like that we only hear one-sided conversations when communicating with Earth so we can fill in the blanks and not be spoon-fed all dialogue. Slow, but tense.
The Retreat (2020)
A Good Idea, a Little Confusing, but Not Too Bad
It was an interesting story, with a non-linear narrative, that makes you keep focused on what is happening as it unravels. This story must be interpreted, which is a pro, but the scuttliing forest creatures are shown too much (they are on the movie thumbnail, so this isn't a spoiler). The main forest creature, the Windigo, was the most effective, creepy image in the movie. The music and sound design was very well done, and the acting was pretty good, but the soundtrack saves it, and most of the camera work was spot on. I felt it was a little too long, and maybe needed a bit more clarity without handing us any answers on a silver platter. I could see this done with a bigger budget, because the idea is there, the creepiness is there and overall it was a pretty strong effort. That's my opinion, after watching it this morning on Amazon.
Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel (2021)
You Have to Watch Every Episode to Enjoy it
I think it could have been done with fewer episodes, but then the pacing was really well though through. Good sound design really helps us float through this strange tale, and when things are summed up, it is unexpectedly satisfying.
Inheritance (2020)
Better Now That I Think About It.
Watt do you want, seriously? Well written, well acted and well directed. Sure we all 'saw it coming', but not so much. Original story, period! Worth the watch!!
Another Life (2019)
Better than people say, with some annoying characters, but...give it a try!
NO SPOILERS HERE!!
Strong points - strong, believable lead character. Good writing of main plot, some pretty good FX, good sound (although very dynamic for TV), and some good twists.
Weak points - some annoying characters, some unconvincing characters, some predictable dialogue.
Bottom line - if you want a good sci-fi story, and are more concerned with overall storyline than the the stated weaknesses, and you are willing to go along with the journey, then you might like this. Although not perfect, it was engaging from the start. To compare, we started watching The Vast of Night because of the 6.7 rating, but could not get into it (maybe one day, with more patience for the fast-moving dialogue and utter initial confusion). We looked for something else and saw Another Life, started it and could not get enough, which warranted a bit of a binge-watch.
Seriously, this better than a lot of stuff on Netflix.
The Watcher (2000)
Oh come on! This is no winner. But worth watching for badness.
I really wanted to like this film. I mean James Spader, Keanu Reeves and Marisa Tomei? 3 of my favs, but Keanu was hit or miss in that era (+/- 20 years ago). The slow frame rate motif was just horrible and the 'artistry' did not make he story work better. The normal camera work was really solid, though! I mean, really professional.
Let's see....several predictable movie moments, cliches, and who the heck directed Keanu to dance like that??? WTF?? His character wasn't great, like James Spader's. Marisa was okay. I think it was the Director who botched this. Oh, and the music mish-mash of styles?? Whaaaaat? No sir...I did not like it. I do, however, highly respect Marco Beltrami, but the parts of his score used didn't effectively work with the overall sound design.
Note that we DID watch til the end, simply because we had to see the whole things, and it was a fun night of Mystery Science Theatre 2000 for us, to laugh along with the movie. A good double feature might be The Room, paired with The Watcher.
The Domestics (2018)
This is a great movie!!
There is nothing wrong with this movie. Some may think it borrows from post-apocalyptic films and that may be, but it is an excellent addition to the genre. It is really about relationships. Please give it a try...very gripping and has great twists and turns that will satisfy serious fans of the thriller/horror genre.
The I-Land (2019)
Worth watching? Yes. Great? No. But worth watching for the idea, so, 6/10.
Some dialogue and some acting were off, but then the driving forces like writing and directing may have compromised them...well, I'm not sure, but some characters did say some stuff that didn't seem convincing and there were some 'Oh, of course' moments along the way. And the actors definitely had the ability, so I can't be sure why it wasn't a solid 9/10.
BUT, the story-line is great! I stuck around for all 7 episodes and was willing to look past the obvious shortcomings and I am glad I stuck it out because it deserves more than the 4.4 stars upon the time of this writing!
I saw it as 'Harsh Realm' and 'eXitenz' got 'Lost' in 'The Matrix' with a bit of 'The Cell' sprinkled on top. WORTH WATCHING in my opinion, and again, it deserves more than 4.4/10.
The Righteous Gemstones (2019)
I didn't know what to expect, then, BAM! Instantly hooked!
NO SPOILERS HERE!! Just wanted to say I was expecting less and was so surprised at the 1st episode, I need to watch episode 2....in fact, my wife and I can't wait to see what happens next. The whole production quality, cinematography and sound, as well as the quirky characters that add some dark humour to this original storyline. Love it!!
Prospect (2018)
Hidden Gem Alert! Good, original story here!
I'll keep this short. Good cinematography, good acting, great soundtrack over all, and a convincing story make this a true hidden gem. Futuristic but gritty, yet elegant at times. What more do you want in a story on a screen?
The Basement (2018)
Better than some people say it is!! And this is why...
6.5 stars. The real reason to appreciate this film is to see how someone is able to write and produce a low budget film with a good story and double twist, which I did not find predictable. The only thing I would have liked is better acting for the supporting characters to deliver the side story and twists. Otherwise, I actually thought this was a pretty darned good horror film! Good camera work and good sound as well.
Marley & Me (2008)
If you don't end up with a tear or two, you don't truly understand.
This film is maybe not for people who have had a dog while growing up, but have a dog, or see dogs as an important part of life. Dogs can make us laugh and cry.
The Silence (2019)
Went in cold and was blown away!
I didn't read anything about this movie before watching. To me, it was like watching The Descent/Pitch Black with Hitchcock written all over it, which I welcomed. The reason for the 9 was that a 'predictability factor' happened twice (no spoilers here), probably because I watch and lecture about too many movies.
The acting, cinematography and sound were flawless. A creature feature with a great story and above par acting?? Who knew? I thought it was gripping from start to finish. Period.
Upgrade (2018)
Better than the trailer suggests. Well executed film!
This must have had a limited marketing budget as I remember seeing the ad only once or twice. The story is good, the camera work great, the acting great, the sound great. One point of for making me review the ending 3 times to really grasp, not only the reasons behind the motivations, but the plausibility because of the mental superiority of one of the characters. Maybe I missed a detail, but it is something to think about, and one of the best sci-fi action films I have seen, ever.
Pontypool (2008)
A Thinking Person's Horror Film. Open Your Mind!
Okay, so a Radio DJ and staff are holed up in a radio station while their outside world is tearing itself apart. We hear a lot of what is going on but cannot see most of it, and that is what makes this film brilliant. You have to watch it until the end. This is not a typical way of telling a story, and it is a nice change! I like the fact that I could listen to this just as easily as watch it and still get the same effect.
Acting, sound, camera work are all top notch.
If you want to be freaked out by your imagination, this film is for you. If you want lots of blood and guts, then watch something else.
The Captive (2014)
A Great Film, AND Canadian!
A slow burner, but a good experience. A different kind of mystery film, with great acting/characters. Music sometimes reminded of Bernard Hermann with the dramatic tension, but it still works. Not a fan of the song at the ending credits, but then the movie (film) is over anyway.
Worth watching as it slowly draws you in. Some may argue that the ending is 'oh so joyous and emotional', but as a viewer, I needed and was rooting for that type of ending.
A couple of details I was confused about, so maybe I have to watch the start again to catch them - which is, by the way, a sign of a great film, because is makes for great discussions.
The Dark Backward (1991)
If you want weird, disturbing and full of laughs...sick laughs...
I tend to dig up movies with potential cult status simply because they call out to me from hidden nether-worlds where the keys to get in are often obscured by absurdity. The Dark Backward is one of the weirdest movies I have ever seen and I am simply amazed that somebody could get such talented actors as Judd Nelson, Bill Paxton, Lara Flynn Boyle, Wayne Newton and James Caan involved in such a weird project.
The Sounds
The music is circus-freak-ish and the soundtrack might be considered as counterpoint sometimes, but then it totally keeps us 'in' this slimy, little world of rotten chicken and extra extremities.
The Sights
Oh, geez! Talk about a strange visual trip through a land of garbage, squeezable bacon and an extremely hot girl who dates one of the worst comedians in the world. The camera work, lighting and sets are top notch - surprising, when you consider the subject matter (a bad comedian/garbageman gets a chance at his dream when his friend detects a mysterious growth on his back) and a 'Dr. Scurvy' puts a bandage on it. You have to see this to believe it.
The Summary
I won't give away the plot, but I found IMDB reviews to be totally unfair and generally people miss the point with this film. Films like this deserve to be reviewed in a community that understands them, not by some insomniac who had nothing better to do at 4 am (which is the best time to watch something like this, BTW).
Final Statement - perfect for collectors of cult classics! See it to believe it, it's a true hidden gem.
It's beautiful in it's ugliness - polished images with slime and coffee grounds rubbed in. Totally worth seeing!
Jackie Boy (2015)
Wait for it....wait for it...
I was not expecting this. I just happened to be on a movie channel as this was starting and it sounded interesting by the description. I started watching and got into it because the acting was good and the lead character was flawed yet complex (he's an a-hole with a soft spot, nicely revealed in a scene involving a furry friend). Soundtrack was amazing with the trance-like feel. I did feel that there could have been stronger reason his best friend did what he did, initially, but it was plausible, I guess.
When I read it was Canadian, I was all: "Whaaaat?" Great Canadian Cinema! Nice, disturbing twist! I guess what was not said or shown was more powerful in a sense that the filmmaker maybe wanted the audience to think more and fill in what was not shown on our own.
The lead actors were really believable and I hope to see them in something again. Oh, and the camera work was top-freakin'-notch!
Sicilian Vampire (2015)
I don't know what I just watched. Would have been better as a comedy.
I give it a 4 because of the camera work and some of the acting. I don't think the songs in the background should overlap with the score. The songs sounded like the lead actor singing them (same voice) and the feel wasn't right for the visuals. Wrong songs for the visuals. The 'restaurant' is obviously a conference centre. The 'nightclub' is the same conference centre (the chairs, walls and doors give that away). The pacing is slow (too much talking at the table and why was there a whole song sung by the lead actor in the 'nightclub'?)
Was Eric Roberts phoning in his performance? Why was he even there? Also, if you rip off someone's balls, there would be a lot more blood and a lot more screaming. If you rip off someone's arm and beat them with 'the gooey end', same thing. The heart ripped out? More blood, but the person may not scream so much, so that was okay. And who cooks pasta wearing a fedora?
A rhetorical reversal starts the 'family first' ending monologue, while the slow mood music 'oooos' in the background. So, he gets to have some closure at the end. This could have been better as a comedy.
What the Health (2017)
Food for thought, watch the whole thing twice!
I don't think there is a vegan agenda here, but honest film making. To challenge the status quo is wanting to know what the heck is really going on. If this starts a dialog, then good on the film makers! The least they could do is respond or do an interview with him. We aren't being told the truth and have to do our own research...then we stumble upon films like this and they make us think and make our own decisions. Similar to House of Numbers.