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Gods of the Deep (2023)
Wow - This is an independent film? I'm blown away!
When one thinks of independent horror films, what sadly comes to mind most often is shot direct to video disasters with no budget, no talent, and no enjoyment.
Gods of the Deep drives home that independent film can be of the highest quality, despite lacking studio funding or famous faces. Gods of the Deep is simply better than a number of big studio films I've seen of late.
Gods of the Deep is just a damned fine film. Full stop.
Certainly, there are a few places where the smaller budgets shows in effects that would likely have otherwise been done with costly CGI. But CGI isn't a guarantee that something is going to look good or be good... so don't hold that against the film.
The cast are remarkable and turn in powerful and believable performances. You will both love, and hate, some of the characters - and do so for all the right reasons. There are no weak performances here. Everything is spot on.
Writer/Director Charlie Steeds knocks this one out of the park. I was introduced to his work with last year's "Freeze.!", which was good - but felt a bit too long. With Gods of the Deep? The film would hit a beat and I'd immediately think that we'd soon be hitting an end point with no place to go - and then Steeds would take us someplace new. Every time I thought the end was in sight, we'd take another fascinating and creepy detour.
Gods of the Deep doesn't feel to long, instead it left me wanting more, without feeling too short or ending in an overly abrupt manner.
If you are a fan of horror, cosmic horror, or Lovecraftian horror, you want to jump at any chance you get to see this movie.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
Amiddle of the road offering
We saw Quantumania last night and I enjoyed it. I'm unsure why it is getting as much negative feedback as it is. Certainly, it isn't the best of the offerings from the MCU - and I really, REALLY miss Michael Peña's Luis, but honestly? It was a fun popcorn burner.
Were there a few visual effects that seemed a little "off" to me? Certainly. But, overall I found some of the visuals to be absolutely stunning and some of the inhabitants of the Quantum Realm (like that big single-celled predator in the beginning seemed truly inspired. I keep hearing about how the VFX suffered from the lack of skilled VFX artists due to the production of the new Black Panther movie. I just don't see it.
As far as the script goes, like I said, it isn't the best entry in the MCU. But, then again, they aren't all going to be runaway blockbusters. It has already made $450M on a budget of around $200M, enough to be at least considered moderately successful - and is in no way a "flop".
While I get that my tastes aren't everyone's (my wife found the movie a bit to derivative for her tastes), I just am not seeing what so many others apparently are.
I think that Quantumania is a 3 star, middle of the road movie and there is nothing wrong with that.
Great Choice (2017)
Simultaniously both creepy and enigmatic
Done in the style of a taped from air television commercial, this film opens by perfectly capturing the atmosphere of a 90s era Red Lobster commercial. In fact, if one were to stop at the first run, one would never know that wasn't the case.
But then, the commercial loops...
The performances of the cast, already believable in their commercial ready roles, begin to evolve. As one of the commercial's stars becomes aware that they are in a loop, things become gradually darker and confusing.
Don't expect anything to be explained, that would destroy the horror of what is going on. Instead, if you are willing to go for a 10 minute ride down this rabbit hole, you are going to be left chilled and pondering any potential deeper significance between the film's primary segments and that of its ending.
Too often films like this try to expand beyond their realistic scope, explaining things, or continuing beyond their natural conclusion. Not here... You cannot go wrong by watching this. It is a wonderfully done, tight little piece with no wasted energy.
If you get a chance to see this at a festival or the like, do not miss it.
Velma (2023)
Who thought that this was a good idea?
So, here is the thing. The much ballyhooed changing of Velma's ethnicity? It works. It works really well.
That, however, is the end of things that work.
From gratuitous sexuality, to murder, characters hating one another, and a serious lack of anything remotely related to the original materials, this show falls flat. Obviously, the creators thought to make an "edgy" and "adult" cartoon in the franchise. They should've watched Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated and taken some notes. Instead, they took everything that children AND adults love about the Scooby Gang, and pitched them out the window.
Fred is now a "late bloomer" with a small XXXXX.
Daphne is now a nasty, drug dealing cheerleader.
Shaggy is attempting to guilt Velma into dating him. He literally talks about selling something and blackmailing Velma into dating him
Velma...the less said there the better.
Scooby-Doo is utterly absent
Even more annoying is the show's openly mocking other edgy reboots (like Riverdale) while then doing the same thing. The writers literally admit that some tropes are just awful, and then they serve them up to the audience...for what purpose I cannot tell.
The voice cast does the best with what they are given - but one must wonder just how badly some of these people needed the paycheck.
If you have ever watched a Scooby-Doo series or movie and enjoyed it, take a hard pass on this hot mess.
The Bermuda Depths (1978)
This movie still haunts me
It has been 44 years since the movie first aired and in all that time, I've seen this movie a total of four times. I'm not certain what it is about the movie that haunts me the way it does. Claude Carmichael's voice singing "Jenny" is something I'll never let go of.
As movies go, there is a poignancy here. It is such a hard film to classify. Despite having a giant turtle and a sea spirit, it certainly isn't horror or science fiction. Really, until the conclusion, it isn't a thriller either.
Instead, it is a heart-pulling fairy tale about a man's childhood crush, who is much more than he ever could've known. A paranormal twist to what is essentially a love story with a tragic ending.
For all that, I think this movie is absolutely perfect. It isn't an action film that will root you in place, but instead a story with a depth of pathos which will stay with you a lifetime.
Arctic Void (2022)
Breathtaking and Creepy
I wasn't certain what to expect going into this movie. It isn't a horror film in the traditional sense, more of a psychological thriller with a few horror elements. The opening is fun and Rune Temte steals each and every scene he is in.
Once we settle into the main story, the isolation feels real. Without needing a single jump scare, the desolation of the film's location sets up an atmosphere of mystery and dread. Another reviewer compared this to the Twilight Zone and, in fairness, I think this stacks up alongside some of Rod Serling's best.
While I've also seen some people claim that the ending of the film is ambiguous, I found it to be quite clear, chilling, and disturbingly realistic.
Nick Donnelly's music is also worth mentioning. Some of it really sets up expectations counter to what will occur - adding to the impact of those moments, while at other times heightening and really driving home the creep factor.
Is it a perfect film? No. Is it a movie that I'm going to watch again in the future and still greatly enjoy? Yes. Frankly, this is better than many so-called classics. If you have the chance, don't miss Arctic Void.
King Tut Goes to McDonalds (1979)
I was probably too young to see this movie...
This played at the Ann Arbor Film Cooperative at the University of Michigan back in 1979 or 1980. And I was in 5th or 6th grade when I saw this. I don't remember what else played that night - this is the only short film that stuck out in my brain...
What I remember of it is weird...like really weird. The claymation was rough, the figures themselves crude (literally making Mr. Bill look like something by Rodin), and the overall story...strange.
The image that sticks out the most for me is that of a woman rubbing the crotch of someone (I want to say Ronald McDonald) and them developing a visible erection. Yup...that was my takeaway from King Tut Goes to McDonalds. Truly, not enough King Tut and WAY too much of Ronald McDonald's....well... you know..
As far as I know, the movie is lost...there is no registered copyright for it and no images have surfaced either.
If it turns up? It is likely worth a watch. By today's standards its raunchiness is pretty tame, and it certainly is an interesting artifact of the late 70's.
Halloween Kills (2021)
Wasted Potential for teh perfect franchise finale
The original Halloween was a genre-defining film. Despite being low budget it really kicked things into gear, essentially created the slasher genre and, 40 years later, people are still watching it.
It spawned enough sequels to have several time-lines, with each group of sequels ignoring the others - as well as a single, stand-alone film that doesn't deal with Michael Myers.
Halloween has, quite simply put, become iconic.
The decision to make these latest films (Halloween, Halloween Kills, and Halloween Dies) left me with a bit of trepidation but, the first of the new films was really well done and paid wonderful homage to the original. So, I went into Halloween Kills with some seriously high expectations.
For most of the movie, they were exceeded. After 40 years of Halloween being the story of Laurie Strode, it became the story of Tommy Doyle - and that of Haddonfield. This set everything on its head and made for a truly fresh story (something you just don't see in Halloween movies). The story sets up a truly perfect ending for the entire franchise as Tommy Doyle and the people of Haddonfield go into the night to hunt down and kill Michael Myers.
It is truly rare that a series has a perfect ending...and this movie hit that benchmark. Unfortunately, they are making one more movie and so they threw away that phenomenal moment in favor of grabbing more cash.
If you watch Halloween Kills, after reading this, you will know EXACTLY what moment I'm speaking of when it gets there. Do yourself a favor, when that moment comes, just turn off the movie and walk away. It will NEVER get any better, only more cliched.
Boys from County Hell (2020)
A perfect film
Seriously, I could not find a single flaw with this movie. IT was well crafted, the pacing was wonderful as it transitioned from moments of suspense, to humor, and back again. The moments spent between friends feel so entirely genuine as to almost feel voyeuristic.
No time is taken to detail the history between the characters, yet everything is right there and easily read from the context. Those connections, those relationships all feel real...and that is a real accomplishment.
Overall, I'm a fan of Irish horror films for the freshness they bring by being outside the Hollywood machine. But this? This film should be on every horror fans to-watch list.
If you enjoyed Shaun of the Dead you are going to absolutely LOVE Boys from County Hell.
Dr. Strange (1978)
Pretty good for its time.
(1977) Spider-Man
(1977) The Incredible Hulk
(1977) The Incredible Hulk: Death in the Family
(1878) Doctor Strange
(1979) Captain America
(1979) Captain America II: Death Too Soon
This was the "MCU" of the 1970s. As a kid,, I ate these up. Of them, Spider-Man and the Hulk went on to be series, the other entries did not. Spider-Man ran on Wednesday nights, and wasn't particularly good - the Hulk? Well everyone knows about how well THAT series did. In the case of Doctor Strange, it is particularly disappointing that it never jumped to a series, as it really was the next best entry after the Incredible Hulk.
Certainly, this tv movie has its issues, Dr. Strange being inexplicably transformed from a surgeon into a psychiatry resident among them. The effects are, of course, dated and we don't get a classic Dr. Strange villain - but that is the case with all of the other Marvel tv films of the era. What we do get though, is a well costumed, decent portrayal of the titular hero and a throwaway portrayal of his love interest Clea.
If you are a fan of the character of Doctor Strange, this little oddity is worth a watch. If your exposure to the character is limited to the FAR superior film with Benedict Cumberbatch, you will be disappointed. There is no fair way to compare the two. One is a failed pilot and the other a modern cinematic blockbuster. But, if you go into this with realistic expectations, you will find yourself enjoy it.
House of the Wolf Man (2009)
A great Universal Horror pastiche
Setting out to replicate the feel of the old Universal movies is a high bar to set, but House of the Wolf Man hits the marks in a number of places. The look and feel of the movie is fairly accurate, with an addition of some tongue in cheek humor that makes for an entertaining ride. The technical aspects of the movie, the cinematography, makeup, stuntwork, were all astoundingly good. There were so many breathtaking shots that Royce Allen Dudley deserves special mention for his work. I want to see more from this man, he has a real eye for things.
Certainly, the script has problems. There are far too many "surprise" moments that have no real foreshadowing and there are a number of things that the characters seem to take for granted that make little sense without them being explained in exposition, but the overall story is certainly as solid as House of Frankenstein (which I watched directly afterwards for a solid comparison).
In a movie like this, it is the cast that makes or breaks things and here there is a mixed bag. Ron Chaney (grandson of Lon Chaney jr) turned in a performance so horrible that it is obvious he is in this film soley to lend his name. His performance wasn't just bad, it was embarrassingly bad. It should serve as a reminder that having a famed movie star in one's family tree is no guarantee of acting ability. His performance is flat, disjointed, and uses an affectation that makes him sound even more...awful. When he is trying to be menacing, he is bland. When he should be sinister, he is bland. There are no redeeming qualities about his performance. FULL STOP. Thankfully, EVERYONE in the cast (even those with less than stellar performances themselves) are better than he. There are a few notable standouts though...
* Jeremie Loncka puts in a sometimes side-splitting appearance as Conrad Sullivan, a character who stands in for the audience - asking all of the questions that sprang to my mind, and delivering some well timed comedic moments. Of the gathered guests, he rapidly became my favorite.
* Saba Moor-Doucette, as Vadoma, puts in the single *best* performance in the entire movie. Full stop. Not only could the character have stepped from a universal movie (thanks to the makeup efforts of Michelle Chung and the rest of the makeup team), but her performance was gripping, believable, and genuinely creepy. If a movie needs to resort to flat out exposition to fill the holes int he script, this is the person you want doing the explaining. I could watch a dozen more movies with Saba Moor-Doucette in this role.
* The dialog delivery of Rodes Phire, in the femme fatal role of Elmira Cray, was a bit weak. She made up for her dialog shortcomings by, not only vamping her way through every scene, but with her every expression and movement. While she wasn't very convincing when she spoke, she was VERY convincing with every sneer, smirk, and horrified gasp. Her ability to emote, her expressiveness, sold things when her line delivery certainly didn't. While not a top-notch performance, I've seen far worse from people who get paid a LOT more.
* Finally, there was Dustin Fitzsimons in the role of Reed Chapel. The character was written as something more akin to a 50s horror protagonist than one of the 40s but Dustin really sells the role. His eventually demise is terribly written and both the actor and the character deserved far better.
Then, of course, there is the monsters themselves. As mentioned above, the crone Vadoma is jaw-droppingly crafted. The makeup is not only believable, but walks the fine line between horror and revulsion that so many creature makeups fail at. With this to set the tone for the big reveals, things only get better from there. When we finally see the titular wolf man along with Frankenstein's monster? They look to have stepped straight out of the old Aurora monster kits. They look AMAZING! Sadly, much like House of Frankenstein, we get far too little of these creatures as the entire movie is a buildup to this confrontation. Most of the film's characters are immediately thrown away, killed off with very little fanfare, to clear the way to focus on the monster battle. While this is disappointing, the wolf man's actions, bounding across entire rooms, are electrifying.
Like the movies it emulates, House of the Wolf Man is not a perfect movie. It does, however, accomplish what it sets out to do and fans of the classic Universal monsters should be pleasantly surprised by this unofficial entry into the series. Just, seriously, ignore the "acting" of Ron Chaney
Jesus Shows You the Way to the Highway (2019)
What did I just watch? I need to watch it again!
Two years ago I came across a Kickstarter for this film. The campaign described the film as...
"A new Afrofuturist Sci-Fi! A WTF thriller! A final punch against global corruption! An underground James Bond! Far beyond The Matrix!"
The sizzle real looked fun so I jumped in as a backer.
Having just finished watching this film for the third time, let me say, this movie does NOT disappoint. Filmed in Ethiopia, Estonia, and Spain, this movie is a twisting, surreal journey that is experienced more than simply watched. It is not a glossy, overproduced Hollywood creation, it is a dreamlike spy film with an unlikely cast of characters and is just....
Well, you need to experience for yourself. Go in with the understanding that it is unlike anything you are likely to have seen before. Know that this is art-house cinema at its finest. An INDEPENDENT, underground film shot internationally that builds on themes from James Bond and the Matrix to deliver a scathing satire of popular culture. All of this, wrapped up in an entertaining, visually hypnotic, package.
If Oliver Stone and David Lynch were physically merged into a single, tormented mass of psychotropic flesh - this is the movie such a being would create.
Russian Yeti: The Killer Lives (2014)
Another intentionally misleading fake documentary
A load of BS, posing as a documentary, that is really all fake.
Hellier (2019)
Awful...
The production team did a nice job making something out of their footage of a breathless trio staring earnestly into the camera while investigating a hoax.. and deciding that it is real.
The High Crusade (1994)
An absolute delight
In the vein of Yellowbeard, this comedic gem is fantastic. Ignore the book or you will be disappointed. As a stand-alone story? A hit!
Miss Sherlock (2018)
Maybe its a cultural thing?
Just watched "The First Case" as part of our annual Holmes for the Holidays tradition. I had great hopes and high expectations, I was sorely disappointed. While the mystery itself was quite interesting, the portrayal of Sherlock is over the top repugnant. She is often rude, laughs while discussing people being murdered, and flat out threatens Wato-san.
While, in "Sherlock" the series, Holmes refers to himself as a "functioning sociopath" the Sherlock of this program is frighteningly unhinged and seems more likely of committing a murder than of solving one.
The only thing I can think of is that this horrid portrayal is due to cultural differences. The 10-star reviews I'm seeing do not appear to be from native English speakers so maybe there is something on that level that I'm wholly ignorant of. While I freely admit, that may be the case, if you are a Western fan of Holmes, you should probably take a pass on this one.
We're going to give the show another chance but...I no longer have any hopes and my expectations are pretty low.
Ghoul (2018)
Nearly flawless - Classic Style Horror
If you need immediate gratification, this isn't your thing - move on. If you enjoy watching the story unfold as the tension increases to its zenith? Ghoul is for you.
The story is set in a troubling dystopic future that could have easily been the US rather than India. Totalitarianism, sectarian violence, and corruption within the system paint a picture that is not only realistic, but far too plausible (and in some cases, straight from the headlines).
The question of who to sympathize with as the story progresses is a difficult one, as the concept of sin is so central to the ghoul mythology and the story itself. The story is brooding without wallowing in darkness and uses a darker film pallet without being indiscernible. Frankly, a number of Hollywood productions could learn quite a bit from Ghoul.
The characters seem a little one dimensional at first, but close attention reveals small details that open up vast amounts of backstory revealed without clumsy exposition. This is classic horror in the vein of the old Universal films. Expect attention to atmosphere and tension, and a wait before any big reveal. It is all well worth the wait.