Throwback Thursday Review: 'THE MONSTER SQUAD' (1987)

Directed by Night of the Creeps (1986) director, Frank Dekker, and starring Tom Noonan (Heat), Duncan Regehr (Air Bud 3), and Andre Gower (Sweet Deadly Dreams), The Monster Squad is a tale that adults and children alike can enjoy. It's a heartwarming story about a group of children who find themselves in a real life face-off against cinemas most famous monsters to ever grace the big screen.

UNDER THE BED (2012)

RATED- R
RUN TIME- 87 MINS
WRITER(S)- ERIC STOLZE
STARRING- JONNY WESTON, GATTLIN GRIFFITH, AND PETER HOLDEN
DIRECTOR- STEVEN C. MILLER



Synopsis taken from IMDb
Two brothers team up to battle a creature under the bed, in what is being described as a "suburban nightmare" tale. 

This is one of those films that immediately appeals to the inner child in you. Seeing the cover instantly brings back times of when I was scared of what was under my bed. Of course at the time, I didn't have the sense to know it was only some board games and dust bunnies keeping me awake at night. But, I wanted to give this flick a chance, and see if something really scary can be made of this concept, or if it'll just be another flop. With a free rental from redbox, I had nothing to lose.

This comes off as a hybrid between "Feast" (2005) and the 1989 childhood classic, "Little Monsters". Weird combination, I know. But, it works for a brief period. Rather intentional or unintentional, the acting was pretty convincing, and I honestly didn't know if Neal (Jonny Weston) was telling the truth or completely insane with the stories he tells about the monster under the bed. I couldn't help but think that if he isn't crazy, what type of trouble he is going to cause his younger brother, Paulie (Gattlin Griffith)? I chose to believe the acting was intentionally supposed to make you guess as to what's the truth and what isn't, because even though the performances weren't great, they were fitting. And of course, there's stereotypical parents that don't believe them, and leave them to fend for themselves. 

Although the acting wasn't always convincing, the dialogue and the content were portrayed as very realistic and gave a good sense of how a normal family interacts. The interactions built a good foundation between characters and provided the story with a chance to develop.

There's moments that are downright funny (some intentional laughs and others not), and there's moments of genuine jumps. Best of all, there's some really well done gore, that isn't expected! Out of nowhere, we're hit with brutal scenes of devastating deaths.

Unfortunately, all that makes this movie memorable ends up getting forgotten due to so many obvious flaws. There's a few scenes that really puzzled me, because they were such obvious cop-outs that it ruined the overall effect. Something as simple as, if the little brother, Paulie, needs to stand on his older brothers shoulders to get out from under the bed, how the hell does Neal make it out with such ease when just a moment before he had no way out? Things that go unexplained like this ruin the realism and should have been given more thought and time.

In the end, "Under the Bed" is a fun monster flick worth a watch. Even though you won't be completely blown away, there's a couple good scares and some aforementioned gore. Nothing about this motion picture makes it memorable, but it's not the worst movie out right now. It had a lot of potential, and still manages to pull off a few good effects. I think had the story stayed more consistent and grounded, it would have pushed the pace a little better, and avoided some things that are downright ridiculous. 

I won't give away and spoilers, because this is a relatively new movie that most haven't heard of yet. But, it's available now, and Halloween is only a few days away. So, if you're in the mood for something a little strange and a little new, "Under the Bed" just may be for you.

THE RELIC (1997)

RATED- R
RUN TIME- 110 MINS
WRITER(S)- DOUGLAS PRESTON, LINCOLN CHILD, AMY HOLDEN JONES, JOHN RAFFO, RICK JAFFA, AND AMANDA SILVER
STARRING- PENELOPE ANN MILLER, TOM SIZEMORE, AND LINDA HUNT
DIRECTOR- PETER HYAMS



Synopsis taken from IMDb
A homicide detective and an anthropologist try to destroy a South American lizard-like God, who's on a people eating rampage in a Chicago museum.

 
This one goes out to my buddy, Lee. After briefly discussing this flick along with other horror nerds, he requested that I review it. Now, I don't usually do older film reviews unless I've just recently seen them for the first time. However, I've only seen "The Relic" once before, back when it came out on VHS. So, watching it again would be like watching it for the first time. That's my logic, anyway.

Now, one thing that always comes up when ever this film is the topic, is the book by Douglas J. Preston. I've never read it, but apparently it's even better than the movie. And from what I understand, has a lot more depth and more characters. Even when watching the film, I can see areas that I think are going to be touched up on more. Such as Margo and Dr. Greg Lee's rivalry. 

The one thing that I remembered about the film going into it again was how little you see of the Kothoga. Although it works, because less is more, it's a shame there just wasn't some really bright lights on this Chimeric beast if only for a brief period. I like the quality of darkness kept to set the mood, even if it does deprive us of a great visual creature. The late Stan Winston's masterful skill and genius gave birth to yet another one of the best designed movie monsters ever.

Watching this again was like experiencing it for the first time, I had forgotten so much. The heavy footsteps the Kothoga has, and how eerie it's breathing is, sounding like an old man wheezing. The ferocity and viciousness make it a truly terrifying creature.

Now, on with the plot. Very suspenseful, there's many scenes where nothing happens and yet you're on edge. The mystery behind the Kothoga, and where it could be at any and all times adds a strong sense of paranoia whenever a scene is dark. I also like that it takes place in a museum. It's like the last bit of "Jurassic Park" (1993), only more terrifying than fun. Although this film is entertaining, it does suffer from not enough interactions between characters, there's not really any character development.

The acting is surprisingly well done. Tom Sizemore does very good at playing a really likable character. It really is a shame what's become of his career. Anyway, the performances all around are strong, especially Penelope Ann Miller and James Whitmore. I just wish we had more time to see the characters grow, and really get to know them. For this reason, I am very much excited to read the novel. 

The scenes with the Kothoga, are downright scary. It has a seriously intimidating presence, and I genuinely felt scared for the people who got close to it. I knew it wasn't going to end well. This thing pulled the heads off of humans like it was opening a beer! The gore isn't overdone, but used very properly to push the realism.

There's good story development, and a solid little twist at the end. Overall, I think this is a really well done and underrated motion picture. Completely original, and it delivers as a horror movie. What else can you really ask for? Although it's not a perfect film, and needed more room to grow, it's very effective and memorable. But, I think the studio execs should have let this have an extra 20 minutes, at least.

As a matter of fact, after seeing this film again, I've decided to buy a collectible from it for my mancave. The paint job isn't quite right, but I know people who can fix that.

Frankenstein's Army Is A Stroke Of Genius

RATED- R
RUN TIME- 85 MINS
WRITER(S)- CHRIS W. MITCHELL, RICHARD RAAPHORST, MARY SHELLEY AND MIGUEL TEJADA-FLORES
STARRING- KAREL RODEN, JOSHUA SASSE AND ROBERT GWILYM
DIRECTOR- RICHARD RAAPHORST



Synopsis taken from IMDb
Toward the ending of WWII, Russian soldiers pushing into eastern Germany stumble across a secret Nazi lab, one that has unearthed and begun experimenting with the journal of one Dr. Victor Frankenstein. The scientists have used the legendary Frankenstein's work to assemble an army of super-soldiers stitched together from the body parts of their fallen comrades -- a desperate Hitler's last ghastly ploy to escape defeat.




The only thing that made want to see this film more than I already did, is the uproar of positive reviews/write-ups that it's gotten. Offhand I figured it was just going to be visually fun to watch, I didn't expect it to actually be a very good film. However, now I see what all the hype is about!

Instantly, I saw that there wasn't going to be any cheese, just dark humor, so that stepped it up a peg for me. One thing that ruins movies most times than not, is making ridiculous jokes with bad dialog for the sake of achieving a small laugh. Not the case with this one.

The first 20 minutes we get to spend time with the Russian soldiers as they push through eastern Germany, aside from that, there's no buildup. Because it's shot in real time, we're thrown into the situation along with them as they find the secret Nazi lab. I didn't mind the lack of character development, having some is always a golden key, but this movie does fine without it. And I think the reason is, because the viewer is so invested in what's going on with the story, the characters actually are part of the background. The story is at the forefront. This works because it's a very original story, and completely mad!

Of course, I think the best part of the film is when we start to see some real action and interaction between the Russian's and the Nazi soldiers scrapped together from the crazy ideals of Frankenstein's journal. Above how cool and interesting the monsters/soldiers look, the best thing is that it actually manages to get a couple quick scares out of you. It's more creepy than scary, but the fact that this concept can get a reaction out of me like that says something positive. But it's more cool and innovative than anything else.

The Nazi soldiers looked badass! Not only are they creative and inventive, but they're ferocious! Just looking at them and the way they move makes the movie go up a few notches. But to have these monstrosities amidst the chaos is just pure genius. It really gives you a sense of fear and urgency, that drives home the point of how this is, point blank, a solid horror film.

The conclusion ended a bit more abruptly than I had expected, or wanted. I was expecting a bit more of a BANG with the ending, and that just didn't happen. Not to say that the ending isn't good, it's fine. I just would have preferred a more in your face approach to an ending. But in a way, we all have an idea of how this film would end before we go into it, seeing as it takes place during WWII.

Pacific Rim Defines Epic

RATED- PG-13
RUN TIME- 132 MINS
WRITER(S)- TRAVIS BEACHAM AND GUILLERMO DEL TORO
STARRING- CHARLIE HUNNAM, IDRIS ELBA AND RINKO KIKUCHI
DIRECTOR- GUILLERMO DEL TORO



Synopsis taken from IMDb
As a war between humankind and monstrous sea creatures wages on, a former pilot and a trainee are paired up to drive a seemingly obsolete special weapon in a desperate effort to save the world from the apocalypse.  




In a world where the apocalypse has been done what seems like a billion times over, leave it to none other than Guillermo Del Toro to fascinate us with not only something completely original, but truly epic. Earlier this year when the trailer hit, I was extremely excited for this film to land. And now that it has, I'm even more pumped because it was even better than my expectations built it up to be.

Truthfully speaking, this film is just completely amazing. I can't believe how good it is! It's one of those rare films where after you walk out of the theater, the first conversation piece is when you're seeing it again. This is one of those movies that I think everyone on the planet should see at least once in their lives, it should make everyone's bucket list. There wasn't a boring part in the entire film, the whole duration is thrilling and gripping, and it's damned near impossible to take your eyes off of the screen.

If you follow Del Toro as closely and loyally as I do, than you know his creative side, and that his creatures in every film are always unique and different. This film is no different. Despite the amount of Kaiju's shown in the film, they're all brilliantly designed and different. Nothing else considered, just looking at the intricate monsters is enjoyment enough. Not to mention the Jaeger's, which are fantastic as well.

The action scenes are unlike anything you've seen before, they're totally new and mesmerizing. I can't recall another film that's had action sequences of this proportion before, and I know the term gets thrown around a lot, but "Pacific Rim" is absolutely 100% epic. It's consumes and enthralls you from the opening scene until the end. There is nothing that isn't spectacular about this film! And the 3D is gorgeous! This is probably the best film in 3D I've ever seen.

One of the most important things that I have to say about this film, is that they did a very good job of keeping a lot of the film out of the trailers. You may think you know about this film from what commercials you've seen, but it's a whole other motion picture than what you'd expect! I love that. Even though I did like the "Evil Dead" remake, I have to admit that the best parts of that film were spoiled in the trailers. That is not the case with this masterpiece. This may just be Guillermo Del Toro's greatest film to date, it's definitely the most enjoyable.

I also have to mention Charlie Hunnam's performance. Although he can tend to be a little stiff sometimes, he really came out of his shell in this film as Raleigh Becket. I'm truly glad, because I feel that sometimes he can get overlooked as an actor. So it's really satisfying to see him showing off a different side of himself and playing someone completely new! Great job all around on the cast. And Idris Elba is phenomenal as Stacker Pentecost, and he rivals Hunnam.

There is only two small flaws that I found with this film. One of them being a spoiler, so I'm not spilling the beans, though it has nothing to do with a twist or the end of the film. And the other being that I don't feel that the fact that it was the end of the world was stressed enough. It's mentioned a few times, but due to the fact that you don't see any civilians living their lives, and how the Kaiju invasion has impacted them, you don't get a real connection that it's the apocalypse. Nonetheless, this is truly a near-perfect film. It's very, very close, and I haven't given a film this high of a rating in years. 

It may be clichè, but the best word to describe this film is breathtaking. I reckon I'll see this film at least 5 more times when it comes out on Blu-Ray. This is the movie the world needs right now. This is what summer blockbusters are supposed to be. 

Nailbiter (2013)

 

RATED- R

RUN TIME- 82 MINS

WRITER(S)- PATRICK REA AND KENDAL SINN

STARRING- JOICIE APPELL, JOHN D. BARNES AND EMILY BORESOW

DIRECTOR- PATRICK REA

Synopsis taken from IMDb

The Maguire family is forced to take sudden refuge in a seemingly abandoned storm cellar from a deadly tornado.

This is a film by Patrick Rea, a man who's done short films since back in 2002. He's won Fangoria's Blood Drive contest for his company SenoReality Pictures, along with collaborators Ryan Jones and Josh Robison.

This is yet another film that I've danced around for a bit before finally watching. Chipping away at the old stack of unwatched films one bloody step at a time. I was actually really excited to watch this one, because just reading what it was about made me metaphorically crap in my pants! It's a very well and original concept that adds claustrophobia into the mix, adding that real terror to the horror.

It takes roughly no time to pick up the ball and run with it, instantly compelling you to watch in complete silence. The suspense is in fact, nailbiting, pun intended. Hell, being caught in a tornado would scare the hell out of me, let alone all else that happens. This is a film that you can't let out of your sight, because it's a real situation, it's something that could really happen. Then we get to what's in the basement with them.

 

When thinking of this film, my mind shoots to "Jeepers Creepers". It has that same feel for me. There's a lot of mystery as of what exactly is in the basement with them, keeping you guessing and waiting for glances of it. The suspense makes you imagine something horrendous just around the corner.

Upon revealing the creature, and finding out other twists, the movie ended up letting me down. I was disappointed with it once the credits rolled. I was thirsting for more, and I felt I should have got more from it. The mystery of it all bothered me, I wanted some type of explanation.

Then, the movie sat with me for a few days. I started to like it again. I found it to be one of those films that you really have to let soak in and absorb in order to truly get it. There's still a lot to be explained, but it doesn't bother me as much now that I've ran the film through my head a few times. It's a really good creature feature. I'm thinking that as time goes on, I'll come to enjoy it more and more. Just like I did with the aforementioned "Jeepers Creepers". The point is that you're thrown into the mess with the characters, and you're fighting with them to survive.

Ultimately, this film is full of suspense, jumps and scares. It's not as great as I expected it to be, but I've come to really enjoy it! I'm sure this will be one I pull off the shelves every couple of months and rewatch. I'd love to view it with director's commentary, to really take me inside the movie. You always pick up more once you've watched it with commentary. I'm giving this movie a fair rating, because I'm still uncertain of if I'd give it higher, but I certainly wouldn't give it lower.

THIS FILM GETS 3 REAPER SKULLS OUT OF 5

Get ready for murder,mystery and mayhem with "Mummy Cop"

"Mummy Cop is about the adventures of an average everyday detective...who happens to be a mummy. This season of Mummy Cop details the aftermath of crime lord Don Canoli's death, his daughter Lisa Canoli (Kim Graf) has stepped up in his place and has taken over the city's crime empire. Mummy Cop (Antonio Piluso) has to bring Lisa to justice but must also face his superiors such as The Mayor (James Royale), The Chief (Phil Calabro) and District Attorney Dracula (Seth Linehan). With a little help from Franken Fed (Erik Searle) he will make sure justice gets served. Get ready for murder, mystery, mayhem, MUMMY COP!"

I found out about "Mummy Cop" through Twitter and I'm already overly enthused. This is definitely the type of thing I'd watch.

It's spoofing the classic movies while giving a modern take and twist. This is definitely a show you make popcorn for and prepare to laugh. You have to love shows and movies that pay homage to the classics. That's what keeps the classics alive and adds to their immortality. Showing how they still, in this day and age, influence work being done is proof that the classics will forever live on.

"Mummy Cop" is a creative idea as a whole and that works for me. I can't wait to watch it. Independent films/shows are things that are done out of pure love for the genre. So you have to have respect for those that can get it right.

Who doesn't like seeing their favorite classic monsters whenever they can? Especially when it's done in some new light, with new perspective whilst also staying true to it's original core.

This is guaranteed to keep us laughing and entertained. So if you're as into horror humor as me, send a donation to these guys to help this happen. Just watch the trailer and see for yourself. I'll be keeping an eye on this one.



To visit the site and view the trailer click here.
http://www.mummycop.com/

To visit the Facebook page click here
https://www.facebook.com/MummyCopTheSeries

To follow them on Twitter click here
https://twitter.com/MummyCop1

And to make a donation click here
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/mummy-cop-the-series?website_name=mummy-cop

The Frankenstein Theory attempts to sparks new life

RATED- UNRATED
RUN TIME- 87 MINS
WRITER(S)- VLADY PILDYSH AND ANDREW WEINER 
STARRING- KRIS LEMCHE, JOE EGENDER AND TIMOTHY V. MURPHY
DIRECTOR- ANDREW WEINER



Synopsis taken from IMDb
From the filmmaker's of "The Last Exorcism" comes a boldly original vision of horror. What if the most chilling novel of all time was based on a true account of a horrific experiment awry ?




Frankenstein is my favorite Universal classic monster, he's the best. Pure and simple. I read Mary Shelly's Frankenstein novel shortly after being introduced to the movies and I liked it the same. It's one of my favorite books of all time. The fact that "The Frankenstein Theory" breathes new life into the book and movie(s) caught my attention instantly.

Professor John Venkenheim (Kris Lemche) pays a film crew to follow him in his adventures of seeing if his theory is true. His theory is that Mary Shelly's book was only sold as fiction to cover up the truth, and that it all actually happened. John has the letters that are the starting pages of Mary Shelly's Frankenstein as proof that she didn't make the details up when writing the book. The film crew believe John to be crazy but follow him anyway into the arctic circle, where he believes Frankenstein is living.

The movie has a really plot and the creativity are huge positives for this movie. The idea of this film is truly genius. Unfortunately, it doesn't live up to the potential it had. You could say if it had a bigger budget it would have been a better movie, or you could say that if they had a bigger director with more vision like Guillermo del Toro it would have been better. And it would be true. Kudos for the hard effort though.

As the story unwinds and we get a closer and closer idea of if Frankenstein is real, it would have been nice to have had some more suspense going. This film lacks suspense and that would have been a big helper in improving this movie. There's a few tense scenes, but nothing to scare you or rattle your bones. Even though the story proves well and delivers, it doesn't matter when you're missing so many other key elements, like a cast we care about.

"The Frankenstein theory" is just under 90 minutes and for that, I can't say I don't recommend it. But if you're a big Frankenstein fan, don't get your hopes up. It's a bit of a let down. However, one of the things that I did like about the movie that others didn't was the fact that you don't really get to see Frankenstein. But with me, I enjoy what you don't see as much as what you do see. It would have been nice to get up close and see cool make-up but better to not show details if they're not going to be worth the payoff.

THIS FILM GETS 2 1/2 REAPER SKULLS OUT OF 5

Monster Brawl (2011)

*** S  P  O  I  L  E  R  S ***

"It's the fight of the living dead!"

RATED- R

RUN TIME- 89 MINS

WRITER(S)- JESSE T. COOK

STARRING- DAVE FOLEY, ART HINDLE AND ROBERT MAILLET

DIRECTOR- JESSE T. COOK

Synopsis taken from IMDb

Eight classic monsters fight to the death in an explosive wrestling tournament set inside an abandoned and cursed graveyard.

STORY: This was a movie that I've had on my Netflix instant queue for a while now. I've heard some things about this movie and it got me interested enough to give it a shot. The whole movie is shot like a wrestling pay-per view from hell. Cameo's are made by UFC referee Herb Dean and long time wrestling manager Jimmy Hart, who is held in the company of some very attractive ring girls. Jimmy Hart actually favorited a tweet I made right after watching this movie, which I thought was cool.

I liked that it was filmed in a cemetery, although the set was somewhat poorly done and in one of the scenes where Frankenstein is being bashed with tombstones from The Wolfman you can see how apparent it is that the tombstones are foam. The setting of the film wasn't creative but it was fitting. The commentating during this movie will keep you laughing as well and I especially like that there are backstories and promo's for the monsters. The Wolfman comes off the most like a wrestler with some decent microphone skills.

There's some good monsters in here like Lady Vampire and The Mummy. They also have what I guess is their version of the Creature from the Black Lagoon, Swamp Gut, a gassy and nasty slob of a being. Swamp Gut reminds me of what I think Swamp Thing would look like if he stopped working out. However, due to the caliber of the monsters, I found it obvious that it would come down to Frankenstein and The Wolfman. I was rooting for good ol' Frankie to win, and he does, but what an epic fight it is. I'm not certain on if there will be a sequel to this or not, but they definitely leave it open for one when Frankenstein is confronted by a zombified Kevin Nash.

Swamp Gut prepares to face off against the angry Wolfman

ACTING: The acting in this movie is poor and downright cheesy and ridiculous. But that is the type of movie this is, you'll find no Christian Bale in this movie. It isn't about acting, it's the entertainment value you get out of it.



SPECIAL FX/CREATURES: The special effects in this movie suffer a bit with some of the creatures looks and designs. You can tell this wasn't a big budget movie, Frankenstein and The Wolfman looked cool though. I like the intensity Frankenstein had because it matched his severely disfigured face and body. The other creatures weren't very creative in their designs or execution of their designs. I felt like the whole movie was just a means to let Frankenstein rip the Wolfman's head off.



OVERALL: This movie appeals to the manly nature in us men, you women may not like it as much. It taps into our inner child who used to watch wrestling and watch these monster movies and have our minds blown. It combines both things and is pure fun, I don't mean to sound cliche but it's a blast. It's a movie you can watch over and over again. It's a good one to watch with your buddy's while passing the popcorn and drinking beer. This is also a good way to introduce your kids to these monsters, but there is some gore.

THIS FILM GETS 3 REAPER SKULLS OUT OF 5

John Dies at the End (2012)

"Just so you know... they're sorry for anything that's about to happen."

RATED- R 

RUN TIME- 99 MINS

WRITER(S)- DON COSCARELLI AND DAVID WONG

STARRING- CHASE WILLIAMSON, ROB MAYES AND PAUL GIAMATTI

DIRECTOR- DON COSCARELLI

Synopsis taken from IMDb

A new street drug that sends its users across time and dimensions has one drawback: some people return as no longer human. Can two college dropouts save humankind from this silent, otherworldly invasion?



STORY: This is one film that I've been looking forward to for a while now, especially after hearing all the positive feedback it's been getting. People have even been getting tattoos! Don Coscarelli's name being on it was enough to make me give it a shot. For those of you who don't know who he is, he's the guy who brought us Phantasm and Bubba Ho-Tep. This tale starts with Dave (Chase Williamson) beheading a skinhead with an axe. Then poses the question of if an axe that's had it's head and handle replaced is still the same axe.

Dave talks with a reporter, Arnie (Paul Giamatti), about weird and bizarre events. Dave tells Arnie that he and John (Rob Mayes) received a call from Shelly Morris asking for their help, she said she was being harassed by her ex and after coming to her aid, Dave and John came to realize that they're seeing two different visions of her. Then we go back to when all the bizarre stuff started to happen two years ago when John's band was playing and Dave ran into a Jamaican guy who not only could do some fancy tricks, but can tell Dave about his past and future. That night John calls David for help and once Dave arrives he finds John to be having a bad trip off of this black liquid known simply as "Soy Sauce". John starts telling Dave that he's losing touch with reality and has been calling Dave all night. But to his disbelief, while John is with Dave, Dave receives a call from John.

Some time after, Dave accidentally takes the drug. After doing so, he sees that the drug itself is a living thing, moving on it's own. That's when he realizes the severity of this situation and is pulled into the craziness that John talked about. Only now he knows that John isn't crazy, and neither is he. Due to taking the drug, Dave can do some extraordinary things like read minds and know things he shouldn't.

Dave and John come face to face with a lot of ground beef...

ACTING/PERFORMANCES: The acting in this movie was awesome, nothing award worthy, but very well done. There's a hint of sarcasm and smart-ass about the whole movie and I loved it. Very entertaining performances. Paul Giamatti said he was in this movie because it was a chance for him to be in the type of movie he'd watch.



SPECIAL FX/CREATURES: The special effects are cheesy but forgivable, when you see the type of movie it is the FX really fit the feel of the film. They help keep that humorous tone and definitely make you laugh. There's a part where Dave is being attacked by a cop's mustache, absolutely ridiculous but hilarious as well.



OVERALL: This film is a blast and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a very entertaining movie and is one you'll remember for a long time. Don Coscarelli nailed it again, while not as good as Bubba Ho-Tep, John Dies at the End hits a home run.

THIS FILM GETS 3 1/2 REAPER SKULLS OUT OF 5

Men In Black 3 (2012)

"This summer, he'll have to find the answers...in time"

RATED- PG-13

RUN TIME- 106 MINS

WRITER(S)- ETAN COHEN, LOWELL CUNNINGHAM

STARRING- WILL SMITH, TOMMY LEE JONES AND JOSH BROLIN

DIRECTOR- BARRY SONNENFELD

 Synopsis taken from IMDb

Agent J travels in time to M.I.B.'s early days in 1969 to stop an alien from assassinating his friend Agent K and changing history.  

STORY: Boris the Animal (Jemaine Clement), an alien known as a Boglodite, is the last of his kind and in 1969, a younger Agent K (Josh Brolin) arrested him. In doing this, Agent K stopped the alien takeover that Boris was trying to mastermind, and in doing so all the Boglodite's were faced with extinction. Boris is missing and arm that Agent K is also responsible for.

 Now Boris has come up with a new plan to escape imprisonment and go back in time to 1969 and kill Agent K, as well as follow through his maniacal plan to have his kind invade Earth and dodge extinction. Agent J (Will Smith) wakes up and realizes something sketchy is going on when he's the only one who knows who Agent K is, he then finds out that his partner doesn't exist because Boris succeeded in his plan to kill Agent K in 1969. So Agent J must travel back in time and stop Boris and warn his future partner.

However, Agent J finds that convincing his younger partner that his story is true isn't as easy as he was hoping. Agent K is weary of Agent J and suspects him to be up to no good. Agent J must find a way to convince his partner of the truth before time runs out.

Agent K (left) and Agent J (right) find that they make a great team after all

ACTING: The acting in this movie is really well done and humorous. Will Smith is hysterical at several parts and Josh Brolin even has his moments. Josh Brolin steals the show with his acting, he does a perfect job impersonating Tommy Lee Jones. The acting is well done all around.

SPECIAL EFFECTS: The CG and creature effects are on par with today's standard of technology and it's nothing short of what you'd expect from this movie. The creatures are all goofy looking and have quirky personalities, like they always have. They effects are well played.

OVERALL: This film isn't anything more or less than you'd expect from this series. It fits right in with the other 2 films. It's got it's funny and serious moments and overall it's entertaining and fun, but that's as far as it goes. It's not a great film, or one of the best of 2012, it's just a blast to watch and is enjoyable on all fronts.

THIS FILM GETS 3 REAPER SKULLS OUT OF 5

H.P. Lovecraft's The Unnamable (1988)

Now I wasn't really impressed with this movie but it was a fun watch. There were a few good jumps and scares and the creature looked awesome! The suspense of having to wait 'til the end of the film to see the creature killed me but it was worth it. I still think the best H.P. Lovecraft based movie is by far Re-Animator, this film didn't come close but was still entertaining.

Synopsis from IMDb
Back in the 1800's a lady gives birth to a monster. They decide that the baby is too ugly to name, therefore the monster is known as the "Unnamable". The creature brutally slaughters his family, and gets trapped in a vault. Go ahead to 1998, and some college students have heard the story about the unnamable and want to check out the vault...

2 1/2 stars is my verdict. Still worth a watch if you haven't seen it. Check out the trailer.

Basketcase (1982)

This is one of those movies where I've seen one of the sequels before seeing the original. I saw the 3rd one on VHS a few years back and I thought that it was ridiculous but somehow I still found it amusing. I can get why alot of people would like these and why they have a cult following but they just aren't for me.

Pretty much it's about a guy who carries a basket around with his deformed Siamese-twin in it. And they seek vengeance against the doctors who separated them. And the ugly little bastard gets jealous whenever his normal looking brother gets attention from girls or does anything without him.

2 stars for me. Check out the trailer below.

Primal (2010)

This movie was actually enjoyable, the story was compelling,the gore was great,the acting was pretty good and the action scenes were pretty damn awesome. However,there are things in the movie never explained that I would have liked to known. I can understand why the creators would leave out these things to add to the "mystery", but ultimately I think that the "mystery" is what hurt the movie.

The opening started off very decent and the movie went on to show the group of people going camping and eventually how they all start becoming these creatures with really screwed up teeth due to the water. Crazy right? I think that this could have been pulled off and worked if the story and mystery were given a bit more time and details.

I rate this a fair 2 1/2 stars. Check out the trailer below if you're intrigued.