'DEEP IN THE DARKNESS' will give you the creeps

MILD SPOILERS THROUGHOUT 

Deep in the Darkness is directed by Colin Theys (Remains), and stars Dean Stockwell (Battlestar Galactica 2006-2009), Sean Patrick Thomas (Halloween: Resurrection), Blanche Baker (Sixteen Candles), and Kristen Bush (Blue Bloods). It's a lot creepier than I expected, not since The Woman (2011) have feral humans been so disconcerted to watch. Dr. Michael Cayle (Sean Patrick Thomas) and his pregnant wife Cristine (Kirsten Bush) move from New York to a small town called Ashborough where he picks up his medical practice in the hopes of bringing his family closer. However, their neighbors are mysterious and suspicious to say the very least, and they have a grave secret pertaining to the eerie creatures who live in the woods, which are in Michael and Cristine's back yard.

BLUE RUIN is as violent as it is tragic

MILD SPOILERS THROUGHOUT 

RATED- R
RUN TIME- 90 Mins
WRITER(S)- Jeremy Saulnier
STARRING- Macon Blair, Devin Ratray, and Amy Hargreaves
DIRECTOR- Jeremy Saulnier



Synopsis taken from IMDb
A mysterious outsider's quiet life is turned upside down when he returns to his childhood home to carry out an act of vengeance. Proving himself an amateur assassin, he winds up in a brutal fight to protect is estranged family. 




Seeing as the trailer basically gives nothing away, I didn't know much going into this one except for it's somewhat notorious critical appraise. I knew that it was a revenge thriller, but that's about it. And I refused to read about it online for the sake of running into spoilers. But it seemed like my kind of flick, and with all the good words said about it, I figured there had to be something to it.

Dwight (Macon Blair) is a beach vagrant who breaks into vacant homes during the day to take baths. He also sleeps in his car and eats out of dumpsters. He's a quiet, socially awkward guy, who's beaten up from the past. 20 years ago, his mother and father were murdered, and he's never been the same since. But when he hears that his parent's killer, Wade Cleland, Jr. is getting released from prison, he decides to go back home to exact a terrible vengeance.

One of the things that let me know that I was going to like this piece of cinema is that it's kind of a slow-burner type of thriller. It takes it's time, and when the payoffs come, they aren't what I was expecting. It's not very predictable, and it really takes you on an emotional journey. They don't delve too much into how much Dwight's parents' deaths affected him, but it still gets across to the viewer because of the emotionally gripping performance by Macon Blair. His acting in "Blue Ruin" is genuinely convincing, and I can't help but feel terrible for the guy. Although he's quiet and a loner, with his reasons and purpose, he's easy to get behind and invest some emotion into.
 He's a real character, and that's what resonates the most about the story.

After Dwight changes his appearance by shaving and cutting his hair, his new look doesn't protect him from the Cleland family, who are now seeking him out as well as his closest family member, his sister Sam (Amy Hargreaves). When Dwight realizes that the hunt for his life won't end, he's forced into making final drastic decisions. Again, Dwight being the heartfelt character that he is, isn't a pro at killing or booby trapping, so he fumbles and often shows how vulnerable he is. He's just a man with a plan, and he's trying to execute it. And he doesn't expect it to end well. While I was watching, I think it's safe to say that I assumed the same type of outcome.

Honestly, there's a few scenes that are heart-stopping. I was frozen in my seat, heart pounding several times. Everything is done in a very realistic way, so you know that if something serious goes down, that it's going to stick and have an effect. The characters aren't untouchable, and they aren't safe, and that's what keeps the suspense element ever-present. This film also isn't afraid to show bloodshed, and graphic violence. But it keeps a grounded approach that fits, and doesn't just throw buckets of blood around to overcompensate. This is a combination of "A History of Violence" and "Death Sentence". It's not for the faint of heart, but doesn't go far enough to make any of the vehemence unnecessary.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed watching "Blue Ruin", there's one nitpick that I can't help but be annoyed with, and that's that Wade goes unnoticed far too much. He pulls up and pumps gas with a guy screaming and thumping inside his trunk. Scattered moments like this lessen the realism the movie sets, and reminds me of the latter seasons of "Dexter".

There's an unpleasant plot twist towards the end, and it's a game changer. There's some unexpected deaths, and the film as a whole is incredibly intense. Dwight has a death wish, and only lives for revenge. Even though he's in over his head, he knows the only way out of his situation is to end it himself, and take it into his own hands. Powerfully compelling storytelling. I actually liked this more than I expected, and I can't wait to own it on Blu-ray.

3.5 stars out of 5

OCULUS casts a chilling reflection

RATED- R
RUN TIME- 105 Mins
WRITER(S)- Mike Flanagan and Jeff Howard
STARRING- Karen Gillan, Brenton Thwaites, and Kattee Sackhoff
DIRECTOR- Mike Flanagan



Synopsis taken from IMDb
A woman tries to exonerate her brother, who was convicted of murder, by proving that the crime was committed by a supernatural phenomenon. 




My first impression of "Oculus" was that it's a WWE studios picture, which tend to be hit or miss. I can't say I've been too impressed with their releases. But seeing as how bad-ass  "No One Lives" was, I had some faith stored for this one.

The opening is instantly intense, and throws you into the moment. There's a few cheap jump scares towards the beginning that I'm not a fan of, but it's all in setting the atmosphere of the film and keeping you on edge. There's some good back story between the two lead characters, brother and sister, Tim (Brenton Thwaites) and Kaylie (Karen Gillan) Russell. There's not very much character development, but there's some good on screen chemistry for sure.

After Tim spends 11 years of his life in an institution for murdering his father, he's released only to have his sister bring him to the mirror that put him in the hospital all those years ago. With Kaylie obsessively rigging the house and taking extreme precautions, she swears to end what had been started all those years ago. Although her brother, now brainwashed and psycho babbled to death by doctors doesn't believe in what happened anymore, Kaylie stays on track and swears that she's right, and the mirror is still, and always has been evil. I thought the back and forth between the siblings was interesting, and I like how it weighs out both sides of the story, making you wonder who's really telling the truth.

Over 45 deaths are being blamed on the mysterious mirror in it's four centuries of existence. The first murder dating way back to 1755. And, all of the mirrors victims die in strange, unnatural ways. For example: someone died of dehydration while sitting in a full tub of water, just for owning the mirror. But, all the weird deaths that follow the mirror through the ages still aren't enough to convince Tim that it's all really the mirrors fault. He now has a 'logical' explanation for everything, and insists that his sister needs help like he's received over the last 11 years.

Dogs don't like the mirror either, it "eats them", and plants can't seem to avoid dying when exposed to the mirror. It seems to seduce whoever looks into it, and cause them to do some pretty crazy stuff. It's unbreakable, and you can't make outgoing calls while around the mirror. You may not know who you'll be talking to when you do...

The story flips between two timelines: when they were kids 11 years ago, and now, present day. The whole film you just get small hints that build up to the unveiling of the unsettling truth behind that night many years ago. It plays out so it coincides with what's going on currently, thus the timeline switching is done in a very clever way. Though, I'll admit that for the first half of the movie I found the past events more engaging than the current ones. But, by bouncing back and forth between then and now, the film creates an atmospheric suspense that makes you expect anything to happen at any time. It takes its time setting a pace, which I appreciate.

It all started with buying an old antique mirror for a new home the family just purchased. And from there we see how it all started to unfold. The mirror created a jealousy between Kaylie and Tim's parents, Allen (Rory Cochrane) and Marie (Katee Sackhoff), and we see their relationship/marriage go down quickly following some weird behavior by Allen. After Kaylie sees a woman in her father's office and questions him about it in front of their mother, Marie starts to unwind. After searching Allen's office and looking for evidence of his cheating, she comes face to face with the mirror, his true mistress. And things go from bad to worse as it eventually leads to Tim killing his father and being institutionalized.

The family's tragedy is worse than that depicted in 1979's "The Amityville Horror". It's not lighthearted, it's very serious and demented. Both in the back story and the present time, there's some good quality gore. And it's not overused, and is used very appropriately to the story, which is important to me.

Towards the climax of the film there's a plot twist that is unexpected and has an impact, but it's not profound or long lasting. But, then at the end there's another twist, this one brutal and almost expected. But that one has a lasting impact and is unnerving.

Probably the thing that I like most about "Oculus" is that it really plays around with your head. You don't know what's real and what isn't, just like the characters! Using this tactic, it proves to make the film unpredictable, and that's never a bad thing. The mirror likes to play tricks and make you see and do things, only problem is that you can't tell if it's reality or them being toyed with. So your along for the ride with the characters. There's several parts where I tried to predict what was real and what wasn't, but to no avail. So I'm pretty satisfied with how it turned out.

I tend to like mystery in my movies. I'm a firm believer that everything doesn't have to be explained. And while no explanation is given for the mirror or it's reason for being cursed, I found that to be the reason this movie isn't a home run or a slam dunk. Although the film comes full circle in the end, there's something missing that I can't quite put my finger on, like a missing piece to a puzzle. It just felt kind of hollow. I think that some origin story for the mirror could have helped the movie climax in a stronger way. But by leaving the history of the antique mirror unknown, there's a layer of eeriness, and I think that's the reason for leaving out any description.

In the end, "Oculus" reinvents fear towards mirrors like the urban legend of Bloody Mary once did. And, while I didn't find it very scary, it's a very creepy and suspenseful flick that still gets a grasp on you. Regardless of if you like it or not, no one can deny that it's going to live on for a long, long time because it's about a mirror, and we don't have very many horror films focused around mirrors. So, if only for that reason, you'll be hearing this movie brought up for the next 10 to 15 years, I guarantee.

3.5 stars out of 5

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.

Home Sweet Home Will Chill Your Bones

RATED- UNRATED
RUN TIME- 80 MINS
WRITER(S)- DAVID MORLET 
STARRING- MARTY ADAMS, SHAUN BENSEN AND MEGHAN HEFFERN
DIRECTOR- DAVID MORLET



Synopsis taken from IMDb
A young married couple comes home from a date night to discover that they are imprisoned in their house with a methodical killer inside.




While on my recent tirade of Netflix film, I couldn't decide what to watch, nothing on my queue looked appealing at the time. So, I scrolled through the new releases and found a film from this year called "Home Sweet Home". The cover had me guessing it to be a low quality film, but I figured what the hell, and clicked play.

Right away, I could see that I was wrong about this one. I found myself not wanting to take my eyes off of the screen the entire film. And that's a rare thing. This movie is like "Halloween" meets "The Collector" and had a baby that looked a lot like "The Strangers". It's definitely a creepy film, there's no denying it.

This is another one of those home invasion films that just gets into your bones and makes your skin crawl. There's a few good jumps in it and an even better amount of suspense. I was really on edge watching it. It was like a common slasher film, but it has it's own touch and it stands out. One of those reasons is that the antagonist had a different outfit. Not that we haven't seen it before, but we haven't seen this particular outfit used as a slashers costume before. And his mask is cold and creepy as hell, as well as original!

The movie starts with a good build up. Nothing really happens the whole first half hour, but it's intriguing and never gets boring. When I realized this, I knew I had to give this movie a respectful nod. This film is the opposite of what you're used to seeing. Instead of a movie that makes you afraid to leave your house, this one makes you afraid to go home.

I was invested in how you spend some time with "The Killer". I liked how even though you know nothing about him, he gave off enough to show that he's a normal human being, just completely twisted. Shaun Benson really brought it while playing the role. You can see hints and traces of Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees' (head tilt), but it's not too much or overpowering. There's some well done homages in this film, and I always like it when a film can give another film a wink without stealing from it.

When the lead characters, Sara (Meghan Heffern) and Frank, (Adam Macdonald) realize there's someone in there house and it's too late to do anything. The movie carries on with Sara and Frank enjoying their night, not even knowing that the killer is in their home and has made it impossible for them to leave. You never know when he's going to come around the corner and catch you. The dialog seemed a little forced at points, but for the most part Sara and Frank came off as a real couple.

There is some gore in this film but, it's not a gory film at all. There's not an over abundance of blood, it's only used when necessary, and not overused, so I appreciated that. However, I know I've been singing this films praises, but it's not a perfect film. For one, the twist was very good, and a lot probably won't see it coming, but I did. Even though I liked the twist, having already predicted it hurt the impact it had. And there's some over acting as well. 

I won't go into a rant about it, because it wasn't awful, you can just easily tell these aren't pro actors, but they do a decent job. And the biggest flaw with the film is how the ending dragged out. I didn't care for the slow motion close-ups with opera music blaring. I don't think that part fit into the film well because, the rest of the film isn't like that. It's almost as if they wanted it to suddenly become an artsy horror film, and I didn't like it. The ending is unsettling though, and leaves you shaking your head in disbelief.

Although this film suffers from some cliches and slight predictability, it's actually a good slasher film. There's only a few small things wrong with it, and had they been done better, this film would be a damn near perfect slasher film. It's taken down a peg or two due to flaws, but it's a good and entertaining horror film that's actually scary. If you get the chance to watch any Netflix, add this one to the queue.

The Call Isn't One To Miss

RATED- R

RUNE TIME- 94 MINS

WRITER(S)- RICHARD D'OVIDIO, NICOLE D'OVIDIO AND JON BOKENKAMP

STARRING- HALLE BERRY, ABIGAIL BRESLIN AND MORRIS CHESTNUT

DIRECTOR- BRAD ANDERSON

Synopsis taken from IMDb

When a veteran 911 operator takes a life-altering call from a teenage girl who has just been abducted, she realizes that she must confront a killer from her past in order to save the girl's life.

Being totally truthful, I had less than no expectations going into this film. I had written it off altogether, there are things about it that instantly turned me off about it, like the WWE pictures logo attached to the film. When this film was in theaters I didn't hear a single word about it! I didn't know if it sucked, or if no one went to see it.

However, now that it's out and everyone's been watching it on video, I started to hear things about it. I started to catch breeze of a little rumor that it's actually not a bad film. And like always, curiosity killed the cat, and I decided to give this film a view.

This film has it's flaws, but it is actually not that bad! One of the flaws being that Jordan's (Halle Berry) retirement from  being a 911 operator lasts all of five minutes. I didn't feel any excitement when she started using her communication skills again to save Casey (Abigail Breslin). I know some time had passed since Jordan had been an operator, but they just throw her back into it. So her hiatus isn't really effective.

I wish they would have gone deeper into the killers head, exposing more of his background. The way he was portrayed came off like a good episode of Criminal Minds, but without the back story. Nonetheless, the killer Michael Foster (Michael Eklund) was a crazy cat. Though the character is over acted in several scenes, the suspense never stops rolling. I was actually kind of shocked by how into this movie I was!

For the majority of the film to be taking place over the phone and in the trunk of a car, the crew of this film really rocked it. They turned up the heat and turned this thriller into a real pressure cooker. And while some of the film is obvious and predictable, other things about the film aren't, and it's a pleasant rebound.

I was also shocked that this film wasn't PG-13! There's very little blood shown on screen, so the majority of it's rating comes from the intensity and violence of the film. There's some pretty high-paced violence and action scenes going on in this film. The one thing, that I think is my biggest downfall of the film, is that they do the quick montage shots, like in a "The Fast and the Furious" film. Sometimes what's going on is enough, you don't need to add more action and speed to what's already happening.

The whole first 70-80 minutes of the film I really liked, but I agree with a friend of mine who said that he felt like once Jordan left the call station, the movie spun out of control. I think they had the right idea, but didn't know how to end the film, so it gets a bit drawn out and unbelievable.

Then the ending of the film just comes totally out of left field! Can't say that what happens isn't deserving, but it's a bit uncharacteristic, and I don't feel it meshed well with the film. To me, it is obvious that they put that into the film to get a shock value reaction out of the audience, and maybe it did. But it didn't make the movie any better.

It was cool to not be let down and totally bored by a film that I had no intentions of even seeing, but it's still not worthy of overpraise. It's a good , suspenseful roller coaster ride. It's worth at least a one time watch.

Entrance (2012)

RATED- UNRATED
RUN TIME- 83 MINS
WRITER(S)- KAREN GORHAM, DALLAS RICHARD HALLAM, PATRICK HORVATH AND MICHELLE MARGOLIS
STARRING- KAREN BAIRD, SUZIEY BLOCK AND FARLEY BURGE
DIRECTOR- DALLAS RICHARD HALLAM AND PATRICK HORVATH



Synopsis taken from IMDb
ENTRANCE is about the limits of our perception, how the things lurking in the periphery of our lives can lead to horrific conclusions; about how she fell out of love with the city, but it wouldn't let her go.




A friend recommended this film to me, because I have never heard of it before. It looked a little weird from the start, I wasn't sure it'd be my thing. But this is what I call a slow burning horror film. It takes it's time building up, never ceasing to be creepy. And you're always waiting for the payoff because you know it's coming.

This is a nice, little low-budget indie film. We follow the lead character around and watch her boring life day after day. She has no friends, other than her roommate, because she's new to the city. The realness that's portrayed in the film really builds up that sense of dread and loneliness that the lead character feels. It puts us right in her shoes with her.

Always on edge, she notices everyone around her, weary of them. You can see the fear and nervousness running all through her as she walks the streets of the city. Guys try and talk to her, cars follow her, she's really uncomfortable and out of her element.

Unbeknownst to her, there's noises coming from inside her house every night. She hears them a few times, but is too scared to act. Other times, it occurs while she's sleeping. She and her roommate are being watched by someone. Yet again, this is another one of those creepy home invasion movies. One of the scariest things is to think that you're not safe in your own place of living. 
It's a very unsettling and effective to think your not in control of the place you sleep every night.

Then, one morning she wakes up to find her dog missing. This really effects her because her dog is all she really had. He was her companion, and best friend. Now he's missing and the last time she saw him was in her building, in the next room from her, while she slept. So, she puts up flyers and calls everyone she can to try and get her dog back. Taking her dog was actually a really terrifying thing, to make her completely abandoned in a city she's already afraid of, puts you in that state of panic with her.

The acting is actually really well done, for once I can't really think of any bad, or poor dialog. It all just seemed very genuine, and that's what works for this film. That, and the mystery of what's going to conclude the film.

As the film reared it's end, things really get out of hand and it becomes a serious, nail biting horror film. We discover who is watching her and why. It seems so real, like you're watching it really happen. It's downright creepy, and not one I'd recommend if you're home alone, because things get crazy. This movie will send chills down your spine!

The ending leaves you with that eerie feeling, like you need to take a shower. It's not a happy movie, and it doesn't end very happily. It just sits with you for a while because, people really do act like this and do these things. So to have them done in such a realistic manor is really scary. The last 20 minutes of the film becomes like "The Strangers", and we've all seen how messed up and demented that film is.

If you're able to check this out, I highly suggest you do. It's on Netflix instant right now, that's how I watched it. As I said before, don't watch it alone, and especially alone at night. However, the first bit of the movie tends to be a bit too slow for my liking. So I'm not giving it as high of a rating as it could have gotten. But it's a good little effective movie.

The Purge is a popcorn flick, nothing more.

RATED- R
RUN TIME- 85 MINS
WRITER(S)- JAMES DeMONACO
STARRING- ETHAN HAWKE, LENA HEADEY AND MAX BURKHOLDER
DIRECTOR- JAMES DeMONACO



Synopsis taken from IMDb
A family is held hostage for harboring the target of a murderous syndicate during the Purge, a 12-hour period in which any and all crime is legalized. 




I saw the "Evil Dead" remake back when it was released, and that was the first time I saw a trailer for this film. From the go I noticed two things that made me want to see it: Ethan Hawke is the star, I'm a big fan of his acting. And the other thing being that the concept of this film is original and a really cool idea.

Now the film has been out for a good few weeks, and due to being over worked, I just got around to seeing it Sunday night. I was the only one in the theater, so I was kicked back and ready to enjoy myself. Popcorn and soda in hand. I've heard some negative reviews about this film, but I always tend to have my own opinion and not let others think for me. Part of me couldn't understand what could have gone wrong for it to get such bad reviews, because it looked so good!

From the start, the movie had me locked in. I barely took my eyes off of the screen even to eat my popcorn, I was spilling it everywhere. Good thing no one else was around to see what a pig I was being (laugh). But seriously, the movie kept me watching the whole entire film, so I gotta take my hat off to that. I was thoroughly entertained from beginning to end.

After viewing it, my take on it seems to be that of many others. Only not as harsh. I think the acting was very well done. Everyone did a pretty good job performing. Where the film slacked is that it felt rushed, and thus a lot of details are missing. If the film had been an extra half our or even fifteen minutes longer, I think it would have been better. It's a fantastic, original idea, but it suffers from a bit of bad writing. 

Some of the things that happen don't come off as genuine, so that disconnects you from the characters a bit. Some of the choices they make cause the film to fall under cliches, and that's what takes away from it. With this film, they had the chance to do new things and go new places. And instead, they use a great concept and mix it in with things already done before, and even  a bit predictable.

When the murderers come to the Sandin's house and demand their Purge victim back, they're not being malevolent, they're being patient and understanding. Yet it still comes off creepy as hell. I liked that the Purger's weren't totally cold hearted, and that they were logical instead of radical. Rhys Wakefield plays the leader of the group hunting down their victim. He's evil, but awesome. Although he acts cool and collected, you can see the beast awaiting just under the surface. 

As the film progressed, there were some crazy things that happen that I wasn't expecting. I got a few surprises out of it and a jump or two. And I really liked Ethan Hawke's character. For once there isn't someone who's a complete imbecile as the lead. James Sandin, (Hawke) does what he has to to protect his family. He's a family man first and foremost. It was a relief to watch someone on screen taking the proper action, and not just leaving a knife beside the body of someone you "think" is dead. 

"The Purge" isn't a perfect film. And it doesn't quite meet its potential. But it's a very thrilling and entertaining ride. I'd watch it several more times and maybe grow to even like it more. This isn't a movie that sucks so bad that you'll never want to see it again. I think the main reason it's received bad reviews is because people had their hopes high. I'm a fan of this film, but it's not all it could have been. 

And for all of the haters out there, be ready, because due to this films success, a sequel is already in the works.

THIS FILM GETS 3 REAPER SKULLS OUT OF 5

Berberian Sound Studio will trip you out!

RATED- UNRATED
RUN TIME- 92 MINS
WRITER(S)- PETER STRICKLAND
STARRING- TOBY JONES, SUSANNA CAPPELLARO AND ANTONIO MANCINO
DIRECTOR- PETER STRICKLAND



Synopsis taken from IMDb
A sound engineer's work for an Italian horror studio becomes a terrifying case of life imitating art. 




Going into this film, I heard a lot of good things and nothing really negative. I've heard that it's like an acid trip, and that it's like a Stanley Kubrick film, reminiscent of "The Shining". My suspicions were very high on this one. I love atmospheric horror films, and that slow, dreadful feeling you get when watching them. So I was game from the start and ready to see what this film offered.

After seeing this film two days ago, I'm still mulling it over in my head. I'm still absorbing it, taking it all in. This is a movie I'm going to need to re-watch a few times, to make sure I've gotten it all. It left me with so many questions. It's very vague and confusing. Some don't like this type of horror, but I like any and all kinds. I like the way this movie was made, it's very artsy and classy for a horror film. 

Toby Jones (The Mist) does a great job as the lead in this film. His character Gilderoy is well played and portrayed. The films starts off a little slow, and I wasn't sure what was coming. But as the film built up more and more, we started to see the effect the music compositions are having on Gilderoy. It becomes a game of what's real and what isn't. It's a very effective and unsettling film.

The music and sounds going on in this film give you that annoyed, creepy feeling that comes along with watching the original 1974 "Texas Chainsaw Massacre". People claim that the noises are what makes the classic film so scary, and the same goes for "Berberian Sound Studio". It's a great film for those of us who don't want, or need every little detail explained to us. This is for those of us who like a little mystery in our horror.

"Berberian Sound Studio" is original, well acted, and well written. It's a horror film for the true horror fan. The fans who adore films from the 70's and even 80's. This isn't a torture movie, it isn't a gore movie. It's a pure horror film, that is borderline a psychological thriller. As a matter of fact, some may even genre it as a thriller. But to me, it's definitely a horror film.

As the film concluded, it became more intense and I started to understand it a bit more. Then it added more mystery and left me guessing. As I mentioned before, I'm going to be giving this a second viewing. I just want to let everything sink in a little more. But even after the first viewing, I can tell you that I'm a fan. I just want to make sure that I understand it as best I can. 

Much like "Kill List", I loved the mystery aspect of  the film and not knowing what just happened. A film that makes you think is a well written film, most of the time. I don't give films thumbs up, that's for other critics, but if I did give thumbs up, I would give this film two thumbs raised high. It's great to see another refreshingly original horror film to come out. Horror is doing all sorts of great things right now, if you just look beneath the surface...

THIS FILM GETS 4 REAPER SKULLS OUT OF 5

Girls Against Boys will make you keep it in your pants

RATED- R
RUN TIME- 90 MINS
WRITER(S)- AUSTIN CHICK
STARRING- DANIELLE PANABAKER, NICOLE LaLIBERTE AND LIAM AIKEN
DIRECTOR- AUSTIN CHICK



Synopsis taken from IMDb
After a series of bad experiences with men, Shae teams up with her co-worker, Lu, who has a simple, deadly way of dealing with the opposite sex. 




I wasn't surprised to see Danielle Panabaker in another dark film like this one. She's making quite the name for herself in the horror community. Any girl who aims to be a horror actress is going after my heart. She's been in the "Friday the 13th" remake, "Mr. Brooks", "The Crazies" remake, "Piranha" remake, and now this film. Like the aforementioned "Mr. Brooks", this film is more of a thriller than horror. Though, it still has some horrific elements in it and strong content matter.

Being a man who's never stood for violence against women and kids, I'll admit some of this film was hard to watch in the beginning. Shae (Panabaker) gets dumped by her boyfriend and raped within such a close period of time, there's no wonder she goes off the deep end. Then again, being a man, this film had parts that were hard to watch due to how anti-man they are. The cop scene was probably the worst part for me. Very unsettling..

Funny thing is, this film has hardly no gore in it at all! I think the most gore is in the end, withing five minutes before the credits roll. It is one of those movies that doesn't need to show the blood and guts, it's subject material is enough to hold you in suspense.

When Shae and co-worker, Lu (Nicole LaLiberte), join forces, it instantly gets taken too far. Blinded by rage, Shae doesn't see the wrong she and her new partner in crime are doing. Some of the kills I felt were justified and deserving. Others were too much. It goes from revenge to straight psycho real quick. Shae, blindly follows the murdering streak her psychotic friend is on.

I am half and half on the content of this film. One half likes the fact that this is a woman's revenge movie, much like "I Spit on your Grave", but not as extreme. I'm all for women standing up for themselves and not being taken advantage of, and some of the men do deserve what they get in this film, some even deserve worse! But where my dilemma is, that unlike "I Spit on your Grave", where it's a bunch of small town hicks, who are douchebag pigs and deserve what they get, this film has every man in it's focus. Saying we're all the womanizing imbeciles that are portrayed in this film. I don't like that. It's like saying because you live in a bad area, you're a criminal. 

Towards the end of the film, that vibe changes a bit and it is acknowledged that there are some good men out there. However, the underlying stereotype is still the premises of this film. That bothers me a bit, but I know that there are a lot of women out there who feel used and abused, and I know first hand that men can be monsters. But so can women, and that's what this movie showcases. How is what Shae and Lu do any better than what men have done to them? It isn't. We're all fueled by the same fire. 

"Girls Against Boys" is a nice breath of fresh air, and it isn't a remake. I really liked this movie, and I've already turned some friends on to it. I wasn't sure what to expect going in, but I'm glad I went in anyway. Despite some negative reviews I've read, I'm a fan. I see the point and message of this movie, and hear it loud and clear. 

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

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