Movie Review - The Lesson

The Lesson

2015

The Cast

I was really looking forward to this tale of revenge and learning as the premise sounded entertaining.  A teacher, Mr Gale (Hands), who is ridiculed daily by his students, decides to take matters into his own hands and to elevate their learning curves by some extreme teaching methods.

You do get what you expect; there are some nasty scenes of violence and abuse.  The scene where Mr Gale nails the hand of his student, Fin (Bendall), to the desk looks realistic.  It's the realism which could have made this movie something special.

I've known families like Fin's and his brother's, Jake (Cox), where the brothers don't get on... to the point of arguing, fighting, and forsaking.  I've also known the senseless bullies of Fin and Joel's (Coltart) order.  Though I do hope that the scene in the schoolroom isn't that realistic - if it is, I pity the teachers and can understand the twenty-six-grand to study to teach the government are offering.

The trouble starts when you get to the tortuous indoctrination.  Through all of the bleakness, we are then subjected to a gayfull and lunatic lesson.  This departs from reality and enters the demented.  Which, in itself wouldn't be a bad thing had Mr Gale been suffering from a mental break.  However, this doesn't appear to be the case.  Then when you throw in Fin's delusion it was enough to wrench me away from the film, thinking, what the hell(?).  From here the story and character of Mr Gale become preposterous and unbelievable.  I felt that both the writer and the director, Ruth Platt, were trying too hard to get their point across, making the story appear pompous and pretentious.

It's from here on in that the film falls apart.

The really ludicrous thing is the scene where Jake's Girlfriend, Tanja (Gavanski), is accosted and forced to join in the lesson.  She's worried that Fin's not come home, though his brother doesn't give a damn, so she sets out to find him.  She wanders the town aimlessly and just by coincidence comes across Mr Gale.  This is absurd because the abduction takes place outside.  How did Mr Gale know she was there, let alone that she had an interest in one of his captives.

Then there's the timeline which is totally cockeyed by the end of the film.  So what started out as an okay film drops into a quagmire of below average revenge torture fodder.

If you like your revenge stories and can empathise with teachers then this may be worth a watch, though it could have been much better and even could have made a statement.  Though I would say you'd be better off with the Hostel or Saw franchises.

I give this Over-Inflated Study Session A Haughty 5 out of 10. 

The Trailer

Movie Review - The Collection

The Collection

2012

The Cast

Though this is the sequel to "The Collector" and ties in well with the ending of the first film, it actually has very little to do with the original.  For starters, you have to forget the premise of the first as well as The Collectors modus operandi.  Like the original, these films work well if you don't think... at all.  Once you do you'll start spotting the massive gaping flaws in the story.  So in this chapter, The Collector has upped his game and has gone after a club full of young adults.  From which one survives.  Luckily for her, she has a loving and rich father who will do anything to get her back... so he sends in his own band of mercenaries to get her out... okay, everybody, let's march into the blood-spattered decrepit hotel and chant at the top of your voices, "Let's Go Die, Let's Go Die".  And so the carnage continues.

The thing which made the previous film so good is the same thing that makes this... the tension and suspense.  Dunstan is a maestro at manipulating the pace and atmosphere to get you on the edge of your seat.  Every time a trap is sprung you wonder how nasty it'll be... answer... very nasty.  That's the second thing keeping the audiences attention, the kills and the action.  There is a tonne of gore, enough to keep Hershall Lewis smiling in heaven, and plenty enough for the gorehounds.

Stewart is much better as Arkin in this film.  It would appear that being the collector's plaything has added an extra depth or two to him.  His motivation to escape is evident in every scene he's in.  Lee Tergesen does a passable job as the hired killer Lucello.  However, the rest of his merry men are ten-a-penny redshirts... proper cannon fodder.  So, it would appear that the writers decided not to fill out their characters too much.  Then there was Fitzpatrick as Elena, who was okay while she didn't say anything.  However, when she did speak she spoke with wooden tongue.

The special effects were awesome, the re-breaking of Arkin's arm and the escape attempt is quite nearly sickening.  The sewn together body parts is eerie and disturbing.  And the traps are gruesome and deadly.  Hopefully, all of this should be enough to satisfy, who needs a story, right(?)

The story really could have made this into a better and stronger film.  In the original, all you had to do was forget that it takes time to jerry-rig a house with all the traps, the collector used - forgivable, for entertainment's sake.

The character of the collector breaks into a house and leaves a present for the homeowners.  A trunk, inside of which is a tortured person from his previous escapade.  This "Present" is for shock value to throw the prey into confusion and fear.  Then he sets about torturing and killing everyone, but one, in the house... nobody lives.

This is even mentioned on a TV News Broadcast in the sequel.  There's been a spree of home invasions with this MO.  Even though it's the police being interviewed in the broadcast there appears to be no manhunt for The Collector.  No Task Force.  No FBI.  Then there's a party at a secret location... not too secret as TC's had time to set up a really nasty combine harvester trap, which is rigged to the trunk, hidden away in one of the rooms of the derelict house.  Boy, he was really hoping that somebody would be curious enough to go looking through a condemned building, so they'd set the trap off.

Then when we get to his hotel it just gets worse.  Not only does this killer torture and murder homeowners but he must also be picking up people off the street judging by the number of dismembered cadavers laying around...  Not only that, but he now has "The Collection" roaming around the place too.  People too scared to try and escape.  Most of which are high on drugs.  TC must be cooking the stuff or he really is one sick rich dude.  However, the strange thing is the traps in this place... a place that's his so he has all the time in the world to construct the best traps ever,  but are really weak-assed.  One of them is a hallway of plywood with nails knocked through them.  They don't even move together.  Another is a hallway full of bear traps.  Which you can easily get through by just walking to the side of them.  Damn this place really needed Kevin McCallister's touch.

Then there's the stitched together body parts.  Looks, like TC's been watching The Human Centipede, what a sicko...  This absolutely breaks with his persona.  There is no way that he would do this.  And then to arrange them in some kind of fluid inside glass canisters... believability is out the window.

Had the writers chosen, not to go down this path but to remain on the original and begin to explain TC's psychosis and background a little then it would have only helped to define the character better.  The strongest films give their audience an inkling into the psychopath and his thinking.  You know what's eating Norman, what's driving Michael, why Freddy is so evil, and even Jason gets a backstory and motivation.  These add to the power of their characters and hopefully the films.

If you're a gorehound then this film is definitely for you.  If you don't like blood then I'd recommend you stay away.

I give this a blood-soaked and gore-stained 6 out of 10.

The Trailer

Movie Review - Midnight Fear

Midnight Fear

1991

The Cast

I really enjoyed this dark and brooding psychological whodunnit.  A woman is murdered in a most unpleasant way.  She has her foot severed at the ankle.  She is then skinned alive.  When she is finally dead the killer decides now would be the best time for some sex...  Yuck!  On the scene of the crime is Detective Hanley (Carradine) who, having seen more than his fair share of depravity, chooses alcohol as his work partner of choice.  Meanwhile, across on the other side of the town, a couple of men have turned up at a farm looking for a telephone as their car has broken down.  At the stables, they find Jenny, who is house and horse sitting for her friend while she and her brother go on spring break.  There's something not quite right about these brothers, Paul (Wasson) and John (Fletcher)...

It's at this point that the story starts to get good and twisty.  The trouble is that the writers and director go a little heavy-handedly about dropping hints as to the twists in the story.  I have to admit this was the only off-putting thing in the film for me.  Apart from these little bits, the story is strong and well structured.  But the best thing about it is the ending, which is brilliant, and probably one of the truest endings on film - as well as the most ironic.

The acting is above average and I found all the characters to be realistic and believable... except for one scene towards the climax of the film.  This had John and Jenny playing out a scene.  It's Jenny's behaviour, at this point that really angered me.  The character that we've seen, up to this point, wouldn't do, act, or say the things she does in this scene.   I know that's vague but I don't want to spoil the film for anyone.  And besides, this is only a slight annoyance and shouldn't stop anyone from watching this film.  But when you get to this scene and you'll know and be ready for it.  I think this flick also shows how underrated David Carradine was as an actor.  He really does get the alcoholic detective fighting the monkey on his back down pat.  It's not Oscar material, but it is good.

And I have to give respect to Bill Crain who was great at using light to create atmosphere and tension... some of it is pretty striking while others are quite subtle.  Take the climax around the pool, very artistic.  I also loved how he ceased all sound when you were looking out of John's eyes as he was a deaf-mute.  This added a different perspective, even if it was just a few seconds at a time.  There are some really nice camera shots too.  The climax in the bedroom is especially beautiful and sad, as well as being beautifully lit.

Though this isn't the greatest film ever made it does have a lot going for it.  It's one film that I wouldn't mind watching again... maybe, even a few times.  I would say to all psychological thriller lovers, murder mystery fans, armchair detectives, and whodunnit pundits give this one a go - it's worth it.

I give this a skinned and bloody 6.75 out of 10.

The Trailer

Movie Review - Fatal Trust

Fatal Trust

2006

The Cast

This film actually surprised me by how good it was.  Now I'm not saying it's brilliant, I'm not!  Though for a daytime TV movie this is good fare.

Kate (Johnson) and her son have suffered the violent loss of a lover and father so she decides it's time to leave the city and head home, where her sister, Jessica (Alt), runs a diner.  As she's pulling into town, she passes an accident where a woman has died of a heart attack while driving.  As time passes, Kate begins to learn that this isn't the first heart attack in the small town.  Could her new boss, Dr Lucas (Haydn-Jones), be behind the deaths in some way(?)   So she sets out to find out the truth.

Here is the first thing I think could have been better.  It would have been a stronger storyline had we not been shown the killer at quite an early stage in the film.  Had the writer and director decided to make this into a whodunnit with lots of twists and red herrings this would have been a brilliant movie.  It wouldn't have been that difficult to do as the person who's playing the killer is so normal it would have been difficult to guess.

The other thing would be her relationship with her son.  There's just too little here.  At times, you even forget she's a mother.  Who know's there may be some of these scene's laying on the cutting room floor.  I just think it would have strengthened her character and added a few heartwarming and tearful scenes.  This, in turn, could have branched off a story arch where they, as a family, developed more - especially the climax, which was over a little too fast.  With an added threat to her son, the director could have ramped up the tension so the audience was on the edge of their seats.

Those are my only quirks as the film is well directed and acted throughout.  There is one scene which is especially great.  After killing an elderly resident, the killer sits back while sipping tea.  It's the exhale of their deep breath, the look of calm satisfaction, and the shudder of utter bliss, which gave me the shivers right down to the bone.

If you love your thrillers without the mystery element then I'd recommend this film to you.  It's an engrossing and entertaining way to waste an hour or two.

I give this a watchable 7 out of 10

The Trailer

Movie Review - The Perfect Stalker

The Perfect Stalker

2016

The Cast

  

In this film, we have the story of a woman supposedly suffering from HPD - Histrionic Personality Disorder.  And the opening sequence, except for the psychiatrist scene, sets the rest of the film up brilliantly.  The trouble with the psychiatrist scene is that it all feels too staged.  It's quickly edited and after only one session the shrink knows what's going to happen - she appears more a fortune teller than a doctor.  It's the way this is delivered and shot that made me cringe inside.  It all feels like it's only been added to the film to make everything black and white for the viewer.  Give your audience credit, they probably could have figured out the storyline without this horrid scene.

However, that said the rest of the film bears no resemblance to this scene.  The director, Curtis Crawford is pretty adept at using lighting, camera work, and location to set the scenes with atmosphere and tension.  Though a couple of scenes could have been a little longer to build the tension a little more.  It's a shame that he lets the pace slow down a little near the climax when it should be climbing to its zenith.

The acting is above average and I have to say that there is a brilliant scene where Grace (Savre) cuddles up with her man, Robert (Brown), and the look on her face is just so creepy and chilling - awesome scene, nice and powerful.  This is one of those movies where the actors really do believe that there are no small parts, for they all give their best, which adds to the power and believability of the story.

As for the story, it's been done before and though there's nothing really new it's still a strong tale.  Yes, it might have been nice to see a little more about Grace's background.  Not that she may have been through some trauma which has lead her down this path, but of her relationship with her husband as it's evident at the start of the movie he really loves her.  A little bit more background leading up to her condition and his death would have made the story stronger.  If the writers could have added a few lesser used scenarios and twists this again could have made it stronger.

However, this is a watchable and enjoyable thriller which I would recommend to lovers of this genre and to those who haven't watched this style of film before.  If there also happens to be little on to watch when it's raining or snowing outside, this isn't a bad one for a duvet day.

I give this an enjoyable average 5.5 out of 10.

The Trailer

Movie Review - Bound To Vengeance

Bound To Vengeance

2015

Production Companies:  Dark Factory Entertainment & Itaca Films

This is a strange film because even though it's good and it takes a different look at the kidnapping genre, it just doesn't quite work.  What the writers give the audience is a journey through the dark side of human trafficking.  When Eve's captor comes back to the basement room she's being held in a few days has passed.  As he apologises for his late arrival Eve grabs a brick she's worked free and beats the man bloody.  While he fights consciousness, she undoes the lock to her chain and chains her captor.  She quickly runs through the house and out the front door...  She finds she's stranded in the middle of a desert, with no other house in sight.  There are no keys in the van parked outside.  The phone isn't working.  And as she searches the house for food and clothes she finds Polaroids of other girls.  When she confronts her captor and threatens to kill him he tells her that she will be killing them too.  This then sets the pair on a road trip to free the Polaroid girls.

This opening sequence has some interesting camera shots, for instance, there's the scene where she's pulling the telephone cord trying to find the receiver.  It's not until the phone falls onto the floor that you realise the camera is on the phone.  There are also a few interesting camera angles which help to create a disturbing and disjointed atmosphere.  However, not all of the shots work, but it is nice to see a director trying to do something different.   There's also a lot of shaky camera work when it isn't even needed.  Most directors use quick cuts along with the shaky camera to build excitement.  However, in the scene where Eve has beaten Phil to a bloody mess and he hasn't got the strength to move, Cravioto incorporates this technique... and it doesn't work.  It would have been better to slow it down.  Have Eve search for the key.  Show Phil coming too.  Eve still searching.  Phil groggy with blood running down his face.  Eve pulls the keys from his pocket as he reaches out to grab her hand.  Eve shakes his grasp of easily and locks his leg into the chains.  But hey, that's just me.

However, not everything goes to plan as the pair go from one girl to another.  The inventive thing the writers have done here is to have the story unfold along the way.  I will say this, there are some twisted and people along the way.  It's also here that some of the elements and characters don't appear or feel realistic.

I think the reason this film doesn't work is that the director and writers were trying too hard to do something new and original and you can tell.  A lot of these little things distract the audience from the movie and the story.  This isn't good as you want to keep the audience involved and entertained.

As for the acting, both of the major actors are excellent in their portrayal of their characters.  Though I do prefer Tyson's coolness in the face of adversity bad guy.  He plays Eve just right to stop her from killing him.  There maybe a chance to escape and rectify this problem.  It's this matter-of-factness which gives the character a chilling feel.  The rest of the cast also do a great job though the first girl Eve tries to rescue does appear to be your standard stupid screaming slasher chic... though thinking about it this could have been satire... especially in the way she's dispatched.

If you like films like I Spit On Your Grave then you may enjoy this film.  It is worth at least one viewing if you're a revenge fan and the story is different enough to carry you through all the niggling little flaws and issues.

Movie Review - 31

31

2016

Bow And Arrow Entertainment / PalmStar Media / Protagonist Pictures / Spectacle Entertainment Group / Spookshow International / Windy Hill Pictures

Fathom Events / Saban Films / Vertigo Releasing / Lionsgate Home Entertainment

5 / 10

If it hadn't been for The House Of A 1000 Corpses, The Devil's Rejects, and The Haunted World Of El Superbeasto then I would not have watched this movie, especially after what Rob Zombie did to the Halloween movies.  Unfortunately, this is not as good as his earlier works.

This is just another load of people who are captured, tortured, and killed for pleasure.  What Zombie adds to the story is a triumvirate of puppet masters - Father Murder (Malcolm McDowell), Sister Serpent (Jane Carr), and Sister Dragon (Judy Geeson) - who run The Murderworld where they run a torturous gauntlet of games.  The triumvirate gives their prisoners twelve hours to survive the trials they have arranged for them.  Each trial is to survive the psychopaths they send in dressed as clowns.

However, most of this doesn't work.  My heart started to sink when the group of carnies are talking about the rides and attractions that they run, though their RV isn't towing anything and there's no lorry travelling with them.  Then you learn they're travelling with a fair, yet again there are no other vehicles.  It's these little things which annoy, and there are quite a few throughout the film.  For such an unoriginal story ironing out ALL the kinks would have made it stronger.

As for the direction, it's pretty standard stuff though Zombie does try to add a little art to the affair by working in vivid colours.  This isn't fully utilised due to the average camera work.  There's also an alarming lack of suspense and tension, which a film of this type really requires.  That said there are a couple of nice scenes with Richard Brake, who plays Doom-Head, where the close ups are so sharp and crisp.  This brilliantly captures his Brake's magnificent rendition of his psychopath character.  To be honest, it's Brake that steals this film.  This actor should be used more often, he has some serious skills. 

As for the rest of the cast, they are okay, none of them particularly stands out.  I would've liked more details in both the story and characterisations of the triumvirate as this was a missed opportunity to add a spooky and eerie element.  Also the other clowns - heads - aren't anywhere nearly as disturbing or sinister as Brake's Doom-Head.  The brothers Schizo and Psych-Head, played by David Ury and Lew Temple, are your routine slashers, complete with chainsaws.  Though it's Sick-Head which lets the film down.  This is not due to Pancho Moler playing the part, on the contrary, his acting is pretty solid. It's down to Zombie dressing him as a Hitleresque character - complete with swastikas and moustache.  I'm sorry but I think if anybody was confronted by him they would probably die laughing.

Then there's the name of the movie... 31.  This actually references Halloween and is another missed chance to tie the games into Samhain or another "Dark" holiday, which would have made the story stronger.

This is an average film which has a few small drawbacks and a couple of benefits that levels the film to average, once again.  If you're a Rob Zombie fan then you may like this.  If it's cold and wet outside you could turn off the lights and settle back with this slasher flick, it's worth at least one viewing.

Video Nasty - Delirium

Delirium

AKA: Psycho Puppet

1979

Delirium Associates / Odyssey / Worldwide

Odyssey Pictures / Viz Movies / Viz Video

4 / 10

There's not much to recommend about this Video Nasty except for the storyline, the premise of which should have resulted in a much better movie, and the acting, though they are wasted in this travesty.

This is the story of a secret society sick with the depravity on the streets of their neighbourhood so they hire a Vietnam Veteran to help clean up their streets... the trouble is he's suffering from shell-shock and starts to any and everyone.

This in itself could have given the audience a bloodfest to remember.  However, the director, Peter Maris, opts for a slow pace.  Which might have worked well to build tension if there had been a torture scene, which there isn't (another missed opportunity), but hinders the film since it's used throughout its runtime.  The slowness of the film is made up of boring and pointless scenes that, though, well acted (compared to everything else), are badly directed.  There needed to be more action sequences especially concerning the Vet's breakdown.

There're too many flashbacks to Vietnam.  The director is so lazy he just cut in loads of stock footage; this adds to the lackadaisical feel of the direction and hinders the film and frustrates the viewer.

I would only recommend this to anyone who is watching the video nasty list to see why some of the listed films were banned (this one was banned because they thought some people may be prone to copy the actions of the Vet).  However, be prepared to keep hitting the rewind button every time you wake up because this film has the power to induce sleep.

Nergling - The Video Nasties Scare - Delirium

Video Nasty - Madhouse

Madhouse

AKA:  There Was A Little Girl

1981

Overseas FilmGroup

Megastar Films / Dark Sky Films / Film 2000

3.25 / 10

This film is crying out for a remake and with today's special effects it could really make this as special as it should be.  Though it's the story that writer and director Ovidio G Assonitis along with writers Stephen Blakely, Roberto Gandus, and Peter Shepherd crafted which needs better representation than this film was given, surprisingly enough from Assonitis, who's direction especially at the end turns this into a nearly unwatchable farce instead of a horrific psychological thriller.

This is the tale of twin sisters, Julia who is played by Trish Everly (The Good Sister) and Mary Sullivan played by Allison Biggers (The Bad Sister).  During their childhood, it was Mary who was the dominant sibling and tormented, teased, and tortured Julia whenever she could.  This behaviour sent Mary to the psychiatric hospital where Julia chose to forget about her.  After developing a severe skin disease Mary asks to see her twin and Julia grudgingly agrees, after some cajoling from their Uncle, Father James.  The meeting goes as expected with Mary getting angry and attacking her sister while cursing her that she'll make her sorry.  After she escapes the institution she and her faithful pet Doberman start to invite Julia's friends to their birthday party... by killing them.

When the climax arrives and everything is revealed you will need to hold onto your sanity and accept the unbelievable in the incredulity of a twist which was only manufactured to shock.  Though for spoiler reason's, I cannot say what this is, you won't and cannot miss it.  If this twist had been written and filmed better than it would have made an otherwise okay and average movie better... and not worse, as it did.

The acting is pretty standard and average until you get to the finale then you enter the lunatic and stupid, which I will put down to Assonitis' direction.  Though I think Dennis Robertson as Father James should have won an Oscar for the "Most-Over-The-Top Acting Role In A Movie...  EVER!"  It is really gleefully bad.

Assonitis also has trouble with pacing the film and this gives the work a disjointed feeling.

However, the evil Doberman is the best thing in the film and some of the attack scenes are even better as they used a real dog as well as a prop set of jaws (which can look a little awful).

I would only recommend this film to lovers of bad B-Movies but be warned you do need to stay to the finale to see the best scene.

Nergling - The Video Nasties Scare - Madhouse

Movie Review - No Surrender

No Surrender

2011

Incendo Productions / Incendo 2010-03 Production

Incendo Media

6.5 / 10

Though this is a TV movie, so no big budget to play with, the writers Michael Ades and Scott Abramovitch along with the Director Tristan Dubois give the audience a multi-layered tale of stalking and twisted vengeance.

The premise of the story is pretty basic; Amelia Davis (Mena Suvari) starts a blog after being the victim of spousal abuse and builds a fanbase and following of other similar sufferers of abuse, and tries to help them find a way to leave their violent relationships.  However, she is attacked one night and the possible perpetrators are numerous.   Could it be her ex, who she helped imprison, though is now out on parole; could it be her new boyfriend who may not be as clean cut as he makes out; or could it be a stalker fan.  Once the story gets going the twists start coming thick and fast and each is as believable as the other.  It had me guessing right up to the end when it suddenly became painfully obvious who it was... and that the ending even has a twist in its tale.

Dubois does an exceptional job with the pace of the movie, slowing it down for the more dramatic scenes and screeching it up to maximum to build excitement.  This is a well-crafted piece.

The acting is above average, though the best character is Carlo Rossi who is brilliantly portrayed by Joseph Mesiano.  He gets the gets the swarthy, suave, sexy, smooth, smug, and smarmy personality just right as you are never too sure about him and his motives.

It's all of this which kept me entertained and away from the stop and delete buttons when it came on the telly.  To be truthful, I really enjoyed this film and couldn't find much wrong with it at all.  So if you like mystery movies this is one to watch.  Though, it's not one you would watch over and over again because once it's been solved there's not much else to bring you back to the film.  I would watch it again, should I ever forget the outcome...

Story - Flash Fiction - Night Of The Trumps!

By Stephen A Abell

Copyright: 4th May 2017

Number Of Words: 300

"Why do cars always break down on a deserted back road?"  She asked dejectedly slamming the passenger door.

"Because they know what scares you, Barbara!"  Kevin's impeccable "Night of the Living Dead" imitation warbled as he peered from behind the bonnet.

"I always hated that name and you tease me with it!"

"But you're a star, Barbara!"

"Oh, Brewster... you're so coooool!"

"Touche!" He smiled, "fucked if I know what's wrong, I'm a doctor Jim, not a mechanic!  You got reception?"

"No.  You?"

"Nah.  Looks like we're walking."

"Great, so are we lookin' for a house with an inverted cross painted in blood on it?"

"Only if we can get help there?"

"Which way?"

"I don't know!  Didn't see a house back there, doesn't mean there wasn't one."

"God, you're no help!  Flip the coin?"

"Yeah, why not(?)"

Barbara pulled a coin from her pocket and called it while it tumbled through the air, "Heads - left"

"To the right then," she announced moving away from the car.

"Let's go die!  Let's go die!"  They chanted as they marched.

Ten minutes later they spotted glints of moonlight reflecting off glass.  Windows.  A house.

"Coin," Kevin commanded, "heads - we knock."

The coin flipped.

"Let's go knock."

Barbara was surprised when lights flickered on after a couple of loud knocks.

"Who the hell is it?"  The voice boomed angrily.

"Sorry, our car broke down.  Do you have a phone we can use to call help?"

"I... er..." Came the slow hesitant response, "yes, just wait a..."

Kevin's foot slammed hard on the door cracking the wood securing the lock.  "Good we'll use it after we're finished."

The last thing the family saw were the sneering faces of two Donald Trump masks and the shimmering blades of the oh-so-sharp knives they carried.

Afterword:

Once again this is for the WdC (writing.com) contest Daily Flash Fiction Challenge.  The prompt this time was - Coin; Road; Slow.

I've been thinking about this opening for a while, to use within the context of another story, though it worked well for what I wanted here.  Sometimes I love to pay homage to other Horror films, books, etc...

So you can obviously spot the Night of the Living Dead reference.  The next is the closing line from the original Fright Night "Oh, Brewster... you're so coooool!"

Of course, there's a Star Trek Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy quip in there to bring a smile to your faces.

Then there are two lines I poached from a brilliant comedian who had me and my friend John pissing ourselves with laughter with his skit on horror movies (shame I cannot remember his name and cannot find the set on youtube - it was brilliant).  He would start by setting the scene of most horror films a group of teens break down in the middle of the night on a deserted road.  The decide to split up into pairs (boy - girl of course) to look for help.  Unfortunately for the guy in the wheelchair, there's always an odd number of people so he has to set off by himself.  As he wheels away into the dark night you can hear him chant, "Let's go die!:  Let's go die!"  Then one of the couples come across a house with an inverted cross painted in blood on it... of course, they decide it's a great place to ask for help.  "Let's go die!:  Let's go die!"  Inside they're attacked by a monster.  The man is killed in a grisly manner while the girl runs into the kitchen and grabs a frying pan.  At which point the unknown comedian goes into a frenzy describing the battle only to end with the monster screaming, "Oh NO!  She's got Teflon...  RUN AWAY!  RUN AWAY!

If anyone out there knows where I can find a copy of this stand-up routine I'd be grateful.  We originally saw it on Just For Laughs - The Montreal Comedy Festival.  One of the funniest things I've seen and the memory of it still makes me smile.

As for the story, when I reached the ending the idea of the attackers wearing Donald Trump masks just tickled the right dark humour bone and I knew it had to be in the story.  The title exploded with vehemence in my brain and along with the creation of the story's cover picture I was giggling like a madman.  Hope you enjoyed it too.

Movie Review - PreVenge

PreVenge

2016

Gennaker / Western Edge Pictures : Front Row Filmed Entertainment / Shudder

7.25 / 10

Isn't Alice Lowe a POWERHOUSE - Go Girl.  Writer, Director and lead in this Psychological thriller, with a spattering of black comedy throughout, about a psychopath's love for her unborn psychotic child.  Sounds brilliant(?)  Well it is... sort of.

This is one of those movies you really do have to stay with.  I very nearly turned off about five minutes in.  You have a scene where Ruth, Alice Lowe, is in a pet store asking the owner about buying a reptile or spider for her eight-year-old son; the more dangerous the better.  I wondered what I'd let myself in for as the banter was banal and atrociously unrealistic.  It was when she dispatched the owner that I began to wonder about her motives.

Unfortunately, the banality and atrocious discourse continued and it wasn't until Ruth puts DJ Dann's mother to bed that I began to warm to the film; it's a touching and humorous scene with melancholy overtones.  It's her first big venture so some leeway can be given, especially when from that pivotal moment in the movie the direction and acting got so much better.

Lowe does a great job of a being an expectant mother and is pretty good at being creepy and threatening, not something you'd expect of a mum-to-be.

Kayvan Novak is brilliant as Tom the climbing instructor.  He's an actor who has a wide range of talents including vocal as he's done a lot of voice-overs.  In SunTrap (TV Series) and Cuban Fury he shows he's adapt to comedy, here he shows that seriousness is easily in his wheelhouse too,  Hope we see more of him.

As the story progresses the audience is imparted to Ruth's and her unborn's reason for their killing spree.

There is some really outstanding mood setting sequences that either get the audience to think, like the very beginning where she's sat alone in the rain; or to feel uneasy as with Ruth's walk entrance to the Halloween party.  Alice Lowe is a Writer, Director, and Actress to watch for in the future.

If the opening sequences were better I would've scored it more.  I would recommend this to all lovers of black humour and psychological thrillers.  You just have to get through the opening fifteen to twenty minutes - it's well worth the slog.  Though if your other half is pregnant... maybe you shouldn't... we don't want her getting any ideas...

Video Nasty - The Ghastly Ones

The Ghastly Ones

(1968)

ASA Productions : Scorpio Video / Something Weird Video

5.25 / 10

Now, this is the type of wonderfully bad B-Movie I like - It's glorious.  Even the poster is superb in its ambiguity.  Because what you get in this motion picture is a pretty decent whodunit with plenty of red herrings to keep the audience guessing.

Don't get me wrong, this is a bad movie.  Shaky camera work, terrible direction, the acting ranges from poor to average, and the special effects at times are laughable.  But in some strange way, this only adds to its likeability.

I should have hated it but just couldn't, because everybody who took part in the movie really did their best.  Neil Flanagan who played Lawyer Dobbs is obviously much younger than his portrayed character, though this didn't stop him from doing his best with the part, even though the makeup people only covered his face in white talcum powder and put a raggedy old scarf over his head, to make him ancient.

What little budget they had for the film was spent on the few 1800's dresses.  However, when they get frisky, especially Vicky (played pretty decently by Anne Linden), then they take to wearing see-through nylon teddy's.

The most endearing thing about the film is the feeling the actors being real-life friends who had an idea to make a movie.

This isn't the best but it does have heart.  At least worth a viewing for all the lovers of bad movies.  Who knows, maybe it will find a place in your heart.

Nergling - The Video Nasties Scare - The Ghastly Ones

Video Nasty - Absurd

Absurd

(1981)

Filmirage / Metaxa Corporaton : Medusa Pictures / Wizard Video

4.25 / 10

This is the Italian interpretation of John Carpenter's Halloween.  Though, writer George Eastman (who also star's as Mikos Stenopolis) gives the killer a different backstory.  It's this back story which places this film into the thriller genre rather than horror,  Mikos had taken part in some drug trials which a priest was overwatching.  These drugs gave Mikos' blood an ability to coagulate at a rapid rate.  This makes him nearly invincible.  Unfortunately, the drugs also drove him insane.

Mikos stumbles into town and when anybody crosses his path they are compensated with a grisly death.

There's not much else to the story and that's what makes the title of the movie so perfect.  This is an absurd story and film.

There's also very little to love about the movie.  The acting is average.  Sadly the worst actors are the two leads.  Annie Belle as Emily is okay for most of the picture but there are sometimes when she's wooden and stiff.  Her best parts are when she's strapped up in traction.  This isn't all her fault, her character isn't very well written.  In fact, all of the characters seem to be run-of-the-mill and a little dull.

Even though George Eastman wrote the story he decided to give the villain, whom he portrayed, no words.  Which may have been a good thing.  Though Eastman didn't have to worry about fluffing his lines he didn't add much to the character but size... the man is huge.  There were some scenes that could have added to the character.  Even the great non-talkers, Michael Myers and Jason Vorhees, appear evil and psychologically broken; this comes down to how the actor carried himself, he let his body act.  For example, one great scene from Halloween is when Michael lifts a teenager up and then pins him to a wall with a carving knife:  As the man hangs there Michael watches silently, then cocks his head to one side; this little action speaks volumes.  There's nothing like this in Absurd.

The special effects are passable though not great.  This can also be said for Joe D'Amato direction.  Even the music by Carlo Maria Cordio is similar in style to Carpenter's electronic soundtrack.  For the majority of the movie this music is annoying, though surprisingly, it works really well with the end chase scene.

The climax of the movie is pretty decent and does give the audience an iconic shot, which sends a shiver down the spine and they will remember.

This isn't a classic movie and nowhere near to becoming a cult.  If you like Halloween and Friday 13th then you could give this a look-see, it's worth at least one viewing.

Nergling - The Video Nasties Scare - Absurd

Video Nasty - Night Warning

Night Warning

(1982)

S2D Associates / Royal American Pictures : HBO Video / Thorn EMI Video

7.25 / 10

This is a truly bad film though it had a hypnotic effect on me...  I just couldn't stop watching.  This is an awesome film in its alarming subject matter.  As a youngster, Billy Lynch is left with his Aunty Cheryl as his parents take a trip into the city.  There's an accident and Billy's parents are killed so for the next fourteen years his Aunt takes care of him and brings him up.  Then one day his Aunt kills a handyman who she claims tried to rape her.  Billy affirms her story, though Detective Joe Carlson doesn't believe them.  It's in the course of his investigation that things begin to unravel for Billy and Aunt Cheryl.

There are plenty of twists and turns in the story which keeps the viewer entertained and interested.  Though it's the earnestness of the acting from Bo Svenson's portrayal of the over-the-top testosteroned bullish boor of a man in Detective Carlson that makes this unintentionally humorous and enthralling.  I have known people who are homophobic, to the point of brutishness, but this character could be the archetype.

Then there's the wonderful Susan Tyrell who's maniacal and lunatic portrayal of Aunty Cheryl is skin-crawlingly bizarre and creepy.

As the film progressed and grew more florid I was surprised to see Julia Duffy and, one of my favourite actors, Bill Paxton appear.  Julia Duffy does a good job as Billy's love interest Julia and is one of the main characters that aren't too unnatural.  One of the strongest and realistic characters in the movie is that of the homosexual Coach Tom Landers.  When viewed in respect to the homophobic actions of Carlson I thought we'd get to see more of Landers.  It is actually a shame that we don't

This film is bad enough, weird enough, crazy enough, and strangely entertaining enough to be a cult film.  If you have time to spare and like a film to fascinate and delight then this is one worth a watch.  I loved it...

Nergling - The Video Nasties Scare - The Evil Protoge

Video Nasty - Night School

Night School

(1981)

Lorimar Film Entertainment / Paramount Pictures / Resource Films : 20th Century Fox / Paramount Pictures / Warner Home Video

5.5 / 10

If you like slasher films then this one may take your fancy - it has an added bonus of having a decent mystery interwoven into it.

However, this movie suffers from what I call "The Fugitive" syndrome.  I was looking forward to the film due to loving the series, however, in the first section, they introduce a character at a party.  It's at this point I thought "He" did it... and he had.  It's best, in a mystery, to not flag the villain in such an obvious way and that's what happens here, though they do try to muddy the water to confuse the audience.

The other stumbling block is that there's no real tension.  The director, Ken Hughes, goes for the thrill route, which isn't a bad thing as it gives the audience the adrenalin rush, it could have been better had there been a build up to the rush.

This starts in the first sequence when a teacher's aid is tormented by a helmeted attacker.  This is done by having the aid spun around on a round-a-bout while her assailant brandishes a knife, making stabs each time she passes.

In the morning, the aid is found decapitated in the school playground and the police investigation gets underway.  There are plenty of suspects ranging from the lascivious male lecturer at the "women's only" night school, Vincent Millett (played by Drew Snyder) to the Dean of the school, Helene Griffin (played by Annette Miller), who is aware of Millett's extracurricular activities; however, she's more annoyed that he's getting more "bed" action than she is.

For the most part, the acting is of a high calibre, though it's Rachel Ward as Elenor who lets the film down.  This is the main drawback of the film.  Since she's one of the main characters her wooden acting, that makes her character two-dimensional and unbelievable, really hampers the flow and feel of the film.

If you didn't figure out The Fugitive then you might like this film as the mystery is pretty well handled and the twist at the end is a brilliantly thought out one, which follows matters mentioned in the film.  If the Ruth Avergon story were in book form I'd be hunting it down right now as the story is the thing which makes this film.

Nergling - The Video Nasties Scare - Night School