Change Your Image
cappytom37
Reviews
The Dead Zone (1983)
Timeless Classic
Talk about a film way ahead of its time. What an amazing cast. Christopher Walken, Brooke Adams, Tom Skerritt, Colleen Dewhurst, Martin Sheen, Nicholas Campbell, and Herbert Lom all deliver.
This was a sad chilling psychological thriller. This also predicted the coming of a demagogue. The backdrop of a snowy ice cold environment is a perfect setting that traps all of the characters and their fate. Christopher Walken is a sympathetic character who really sacrifices it all for the greater good of humanity. At times the film is chilling and scary while at other times it is melancholy and leaves you devastated.
Little Erin Merryweather (2003)
Great Indie, The Final Boy
I love that this film plays with the gender of roles. It's not often that we see a final boy in horror. David Morwick plays this role well. He adds physical comedy and he also has a range of emotions where he cries over the loss of his friends and is scared to death, hiding under a table to escape being the next victim. Morwick went on to win multiple acting awards in different genres in film.
Brandon Johnson is good as his smart aleck best friend, especially since he is known for his TV hosting. Frank Ridley plays the gruff cop that we all love to hate. He has been in such blockbusters as "Don't Look Up". Norwegian film and theater actress, Vigdis Anholt is breathtaking to look at but don't let her looks fool you. She can act. There are times where she gives her male victims a death stare that will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
Kelly Murphy adds a whole layer to the film with her dark, fanciful artwork. Murphy went on to become a highly successful American author and illustrator. Given the original idea of using Little Red Riding Hood as a serial killer, this little film falls into several genres; horror, psychological thriller, and fairy tale. For such a low budget indie, I was completely blown away by the film's original sound track composed by Paul Cristo as well as the cinematography by Michael Pessah which almost adds a European flair to it. This was ahead of its time, especially given the Me Too movement.
Misanthrope (2023)
Great Thriller
Ben Mendelsohn was really great in this as the rough, experienced FBI's chief investigator. As the movie goes on, you learn what makes his character tick and why he would be so jaded about the police force. Ultimately, he pays the ultimate price for trying to do the right thing. He passes the torch to Shailene Woodley, the up-and-coming investigator who is underestimated by everyone.
This film captures the frightening times we are living in confronting gun violence whether it's New Year's Eve or shopping at a mall. The acting all around is great. The film is sort of a throwback to so many classic thrillers.