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Reviews
The Wrong Tenant (2022)
Surprisingly effective thriller
This is a well-made thriller. Unusual in that two, or maybe even three, stories are presented at once -- without any indication that they are taking place during different time periods. Eventually, the viewer catches on that we are being presented with action that has taken place in the past and action that is taking place in the present. It is not obvious at first -- which is sort of a nice bit of trickery. The narrative never seems "stupid" or contrived -- which is quite an accomplishment. I never had a WTF? Moment. It seems like this may be the first feature film directorial effort for this director. It is impressive.
The acting is very good. Colleen Irene Sands is very good as the psychologist with a hobby of kickboxing. This may be her only film. There are a number of cast and crew members with the last name of Sands, interestingly enough. I can only assume they are related -- but there is little info to go on. Justin Sands plays the bad tenant. He is also a camera operator and assistant editor. There are a few more Sands in the credits. I assume this is an independent film. Made on a shoestring? Well done.
Hallowed Be Thy Name (2020)
Really, Really -- I mean Really! -- Stupid
I actually did watch this to the end. Many will give up before the end -- and that is the right thing to do. This is a terrible movie with so many things wrong about it that it is not worth the time. Don't watch it. That is the best advice I can give.
One simple example of the inanity: The sister of one of the main characters is attacked and murdered in the home. This was the first killing. No police are called, no parents are crying about their dead daughter, the brother is not particularly bothered that his sister was just murdered, nobody in the movie or in the town (or anywhere) is worried about the murder or the dead body, it is just forgotten about in the film.
OK-- so, this is typical of what this film is all about.
The Case of the Black Cat (1936)
Not a fan
The Case of the Black Cat (1936) may have been interesting in 1936 -- but not today. The TV Perry Mason (William Burr) will remain as the standard against which any former or future Perry Masons must be judged. Ricardo Cortez is no Raymond Burr.
As for the film itself: overly complex, convoluted mystery that has way too many characters and is difficult to follow.
Amazingly: Mason simply presents this convoluted story/ explanation to the judge (in court) without presenting any evidence -- and the judge dismisses the case and Mason wins (as always). Kind of a simplistic view of the judicial system -- even for 1936!
The Night Shift (2016)
Amateur night
I saw this movie for free (on a Roku channel). Description made it sound like it might be good. Nope. Very boring. Nothing really happens in this film. Seems like it probably started out as a 5-minute short film project. Should've stayed that way. Acting, cinematography, etc. strictly amateur. Not worth watching.
The Following (2013)
Kind of stupid; Not worth watching
Kevin Bacon is a very good actor and is always worth seeing in films (also in The Bacon Brothers musical group). Why he got involved in this sub-par TV show, I don't know. (Probably thought the scripts would be better.) I was really looking forward to it, having seen the promos. It looked like it would be gripping -- on the order of "24" or "Homeland". But, the script writing is terrible! Or, maybe it's the editing. But, in any case, there are numerous unforgivable plot points that simply make no sense. For this type of drama to "work", the writer/ director has to make the action SOMEWHAT realistic. An absolute FAILURE on that count! For example, Bacon's character is supposed to be THE EXPERT on Joe Carol (the literature professor who became a serial killer when his novel got panned). Bacon's character then wrote a true-crime book about capturing him. Bacon's character knows the killer's former wife, etc. He meets up with the killer's former wife (after years of no communication) to discuss the killer's recent escape from prison. She informs Bacon that her (former) husband's novel was an attempt to complete an unfinished work by Edgar Allen Poe. When it got panned, he... etc. But, certainly, Bacon would have already KNOWN all this!! He was the one who tracked and captured him the first time. He also, literally, "wrote the book" about him. This dialog is supposed to be giving Kevin Bacon new information/insight into the killer's mind. Give me a break! The script is ridiculous.
Then, we find Bacon tracking down the killer (alone). But-- amazingly-- the police and marshals suddenly show up. How did they even know where Bacon had gone? This makes no sense.
The premise of the internet mind-control cult following is another ridiculous aspect that you must accept as feasible to enjoy this show. It is way too far-fetched to allow for a suspension of disbelief. Put it this way: the premise of "The Walking Dead" (which I love) is far more believable.