Movie Review - Reflections

Reflections

2008

Drimtrim Entertainment / FishCorb Films

Great Movies

5.75 / 10

The film that brought Timothy Hutton to my attention was The Dark Half.  It was his skill at playing both writer and psychological killer which kept my attention.  It's because of this performance that I watched this and his performance here, as the detective chasing a serial killer, pretty much carries the film.

This turns out to be a similar premise to the Stephen King story in the fact that there are twins; one is a man struggling to cope with his life and his brother, a psychotic serial killer.  Unfortunately, Hutton is not playing that role. Miguel Angel Silvestre plays the brothers Marco and Roberto.  This is not a spoiler as this isn't a major plot issue, and is revealed in the first section of the movie.  Writers Darby Parker and Jay Beattie should have used this to at least create a little mystery, tension, and suspense, which would have made the film much better.  Though the film really suffers from Silvestre's under-acting and woodenness.  Each time he spoke all I could see was Jean-Claude Van Damme as he sounds exactly like him.  Even JCVD would've added a bit more panache and power; also the fight scene's would have looked more realistic.

This is a "Columbo" style story.  You're told who the killer is early on and then the story centres on the detective's chase and apprehension of the criminal.  I much prefer the "Miss Marple" whodunnit murder mystery as it has the ability to bring the viewer into the story more.

Another issue with the film is the number of secondary cast members there are.  This is detrimental to the film as it draws the story and the viewer away from the heart and vitality of the story.  There's one scene that should have been critical to Timothy Hutton's character, Tom as he comes face to face with the death of his love.  However, due to the story being stuffed to overflowing with superfluous scenes and characters we never get the time to relate fully to this pair's relationship so we don't feel Tom's loss and anger at that scene.

That said, the rest of the cast are pretty good in their portrayals of their characters.  Director Bryan Goeres keeps the tempo of the film to an average pace.  Once again, I think he could have infused a little suspense and tension by fluctuating the pace accordingly.  If it wasn't for Hutton and the hope for a twist in the ending, as my imagination had conjured up a few, I would've hit the off button.

Then, when the twist comes, it's the obvious one.  Boy did I feel let down, not just because the twist was the most obvious but because the story which led to it could have been improved by better showing the progression to the twist.

If you like Timothy Hutton or "Columbo" style movies then you may like this but don't expect too much from it.  Otherwise, I would say, stay away.

Movie Review - Killer Date

Killer Date

AKA:  Swipe

AKA:  Wrong Swipe

2016

Cartel Pictures / MarVista Entertainment / The Cartel

Tugg / Lifetime Television / MarVista Entertainment

6.50 / 10

This is a well thought out tech based mystery thriller.  Anna, played by Anna Hutchison, is a loner with very little social life and no lover.  Her sister Sasha, portrayed by Karissa Lee Staples, repeatedly tells her this isn't good for her, so one night she creates a "Swipe" profile for her.  Swipe is an app that shares your profile with other users with the intention of meeting up.  If you like a certain user you swipe right and if they do the same then when you are in each other's vicinity you both get a message saying they're close.  Unfortunately for Anna, it's an ideal tool for a stalker to strike fear into their prey.

What makes this so good is the realness of the story.  You could quite easily see something like this happening.  Add in numerous swipes and your victim list keeps growing.  How can we be really sure that the profile and the picture you see is for a real person and not a created persona?  Just think Ted Bundy for the Tech-Age.

Writers Sophie Tilson and Shanrah Wakefield do a great job of showing the dangers of this kind of communication and contact.  They bring through a plethora of men, all of which are different, some are sexual predators, some are persistent to the point of bullying, and some are okay.    But which is stalking Anna?  There are twists upon twists as her investigation and the police's starts ruling out suspects.

Director Mathew Leutwyler uses these twists and turns as well as the apps distance notification to create a tense atmosphere.  However, I believe the movie could have been stronger had the pace been more varied and some better camerawork, something other than the straightforward point shoot and pan.

Though Anna Hutchison is the lead and is very good in the role it's Karissa Lee Staples who is the strongest actress in the movie and had a wider range of emotion and skills.  Unfortunately, the lower you get in the cast the worse the acting gets.  It's not a bad thing to do when working on a budget and the worst is only on for a few minutes or seconds, though if you remember them as I did, it only leads to weakening the film.

On the whole, this is a respectable and watchable movie.  If you enjoy mysteries then this will be right up your street.  If you're looking for an intriguing and interesting movie to watch then you might want to consider this one.

Movie Review - The Last House On Dead End Street

The Last House On Dead End Street

AKA:  The Fun House 

1977

Production Concepts Ltd. / Today Productions Inc.

Cinematic Releasing Corporation / DCS Video Screams / Fright Video / Vinigar Syndrome

6.5 / 10

This film isn't as bad as it should be.  Let me explain, the concept is that after serving a sentence in prison for drug related crimes Roger Watkins has had an epiphany.  Kill people for fame and money.  To do this he will make snuff movies with the help of his friends.  Then for it to be told from the miscreant's point of view is a horrifying idea.

However, writer, director, and actor, Terry Hawkins does not turn this into an exploitation film or glorify or condone the horror's portrayed within.  What he gives his viewers is a psychological chiller, which is heavy on the chills.  Hawkins actually makes the audience think and reflect on the nature of the participants of the crimes committed.  I came away feeling mentally cold and more than a little sickened, which is a pretty hard thing to do as I have a strong stomach.  This emotion is a good thing though as I believe it was the aim of the filmmaker.  This is thought-provoking entertainment and not a happy and joyful performance; you should not come away from this movie feeling cheerful.  It should make the audience at least start to wonder how dark the thoughts within mankind are.  How far would one go to make money(?)  Or to be the person they are under their "Normal-World" mask?

The original title when the film was released in 1974 was The Fun House and there are rumours of the BBFC getting it wrong by banning the wrong Funhouse by choosing Tobe Hooper's film of that name from 1981 - see my review here.  When it was rereleased in 1977 to larger audiences somebody had the idea to use Wes Craven's success with The Last House On The Left to rename it to the present title.

I liked the way Hawkins builds up to the story.  The movie starts out slow as he paints the picture of Roger Watkins', his dream, the recruitment of his friends, and the choice of his victims.  Then when the killings start he takes his time to pull all the tension and disgust out of his viewers with some very nasty and graphic images.  The special effects team, as well as the lighting crew and cameramen, do a magnificent job of making all of this feel and appear realistic.  I've seen some pretty nasty horrific special effects, though this is one of the few that has stayed with me.

There's also the concept of what's next(?)  In this film, Hawkins asks the question of the porn business.  When people have become used to and complacent with the normal sex acts and even S&M is becoming run-of-the-mill then what's the next big thing(?)  To some extent, this is still evident today on the internet, so this notion and opinion are still viable today, especially when you get psychopaths posting animal cruelty videos online.

Hawkins is also a pretty good director and though it feels like it's been shot on a handheld 8mm there are some good camera angles and iconic shots which also add strength to the movie.  The use of imagery, particularly the use of Greek masks adds a nice eeriness. Apart from the unrelenting depravity, the only thing which makes this film a little grating is the acting which is below average, though to be fair, most of the actors are students.

Would I recommend this to anyone?  Yes:  To anyone looking to create horrific imagary, either for a horror or a thriller film then watch this movie... this is how it should be done, this is the kind of atmosphere you should be looking to create.  The same can be said of directors who are working on a budget.  If you're a film fan and have a strong constitution and enjoy thought-provoking movies then this could be for you, but don't think you'll be a happy bunny at the end of watching it.

Video Nasty - The Funhouse

The Funhouse

1981

Universal Pictures / Mace Neufeld Productions

Universal Pictures / Arrow Films / MCA/Universal Home Video

6.25 / 10

This film goes to show how stringent the English film board was back in the eighties as this got an X certificate on release and then ended up banned...  and now in its UNCUT version, it rates a 15 certificate.

To be truthful though, after watching - and still viewing - films on the video nasties list I cannot understand why or how this film achieved a banned status.  In Tobe Hooper's other banned film Eaten Alive there are scene's of torture and animal cruelty, whereas in Funhouse there's nothing along these lines.  In fact, this is pretty standard fayre in the slasher mould.  There are rumours of the BBFC getting the certification wrong by choosing the wrong Funhouse to ban.  In 1977 there was a film released called The Last House On Dead End Street, which was nasty enough to make the list, though didn't, and had previously been released in 1972 as The Fun House - see my review here.

You have a deformed man who is unable to find love due to his looks and personality buying sexual favours from the carnival's fortune teller.  Unfortunately, for her, he finishes prematurely and when she demands money for services rendered he gets upset... and she gets dead.  This interlude is viewed by four teenagers who thought it would be fun to hide out in the ghost train.  Of course, one of them makes a noise and draws the attention of the deformed killer who must dispatch them to keep his secret safe.

Though the concept is good its development onto film is strained.  As most of the action takes place in a limited area Tobe Hooper should have tried to develop a tension of claustrophobia as our witnesses find it increasingly difficult to escape the funhouse.  However, the carny ride appears massive and unending - could it be a Gallifreyan Time Machine(?)  For me, there wasn't enough tension or excitement and at times I found my attention drifting.

The actors are above average and cope well with building their characters and making them realistic, though none of them stands out above the others.  It would have been nice to have been introduced to some of the major characters back stories and more personal insights so the viewers could relate to them a little more.  This would make their murders more emotionally stronger and bring the viewer into the story more.

There is one brilliant thing about this film and the writer, Lawrence Block, and the director should have tried to work it into the story more as it would have added more depth, mystery, and paranormal atmospheres if done correctly.  At each of the carnival's rides and shows, there's a barker shouting the attractions merits to entice the people in.  Though the barkers are constantly at their positions and could not be the same person, each one is played by Kevin Conway.  This is a subtle thing that when spotted adds a mysterious element to the story, which is then completely ignored.  It's like somebody had an idea but couldn't come up with a suitable resolution to it.

This is not a bad film, by any means, it's just average; one of those films you'd watch if you'd not seen it before and there was nothing else on.  Worth watching at least once.  Not Tobe Hoopers best film and not his worst.

Nergling - The Video Nasties Scare - The Funhouse

Video Nasty - Eaten Alive

Eaten Alive

AKA: Death Trap

1976

Mars Productions Corporations

M & M / Dark Sky Films / Video Instant Picture Company

7.5 / 10 

I've never been a great fan of Tobe Hooper's (I find him pretty average, though I do like quite a few of the movies he's shot) so I was happily surprised to find this was a treat to watch.  The thing which I was unprepared for was the stylish way that Hooper directed the movie, full of vivid and startling reds and blues.  Not the usual fair for Hooper though it does add an extra element to the atmosphere of the movie, as did the constant twangy country soundtrack about the most depressing things in life.

The story about a Motel owner and his crocodile.  Though, it's never stated you get the feeling that Motel owner Judd may be a veteran whose seen more than his fair share of action and has returned shell-shocked and schizophrenic, as some of his rantings have this impression.  Either way, this man is mentally broken.  When a runaway girl takes a room for the night he get's the idea that she's a hooker who worked at Miss Hattie's place and he doesn't like those types of girls.  She ends up being the entree for the crocodile who will be well fed before the end of the night.

There's not much to the story and it all takes place in or around the motel, what makes this a really watchable film is the characterisations and the actors and actresses who portray them.  In particular, Neville Brand who does a brilliant job with Judd from mannerisms to ticks to different personalities when the voices start speaking to him.  He was the right choice for this role and very strong within it.  Another strong actress is the beautiful Carolyn Jones (of King Creole and The Addams Family fame), though it's really hard to make her out as Miss Hattie.  To be honest, the cast is pretty top-notch and has the likes of a young Robert England, Mel Ferrer, and Stuart Whitman.

However, there is one family that turn up at the motel and the dynamic between the mother and father is damn strange, in fact, the father's personality is downright weird.  This does deter from the power of the film and it's characters, to the point of severing the link of believability with the audience.

Overall though this is a film that I would recommend to everybody who likes a good psychological thriller.  It is definitely one to watch with the curtains drawn and the lights turned off.

Nergling - The Video Nasties Scare - Eaten Alive

Video Nasty - Unhinged

Unhinged

1982

Anavisio Productions

Megastar Films / 88 Films / CBS-Fox Home Video

7 / 10

It's the story which makes this a little gem of a film.  Three college students are on their way to a concert when they take a wrong turn and crash the car due to bad weather.  Luckily for them, a handyman finds them and takes them to a nearby house where he does odd jobs.  The doctor authorises them to stay in the house for a few days to rest, especially since one of them has a suspected concussion.  However, things are not so black and white in the house.  The relationship between Mother and Daughter is strained, due to the Mother's opinion on men.  Is there someone else in the house?  Are they watching the girls?

The writers Reagan Ramsey and Don Gronquist (who also directed) do a great job in building the story slowly creating an uneasiness and unsureness about the house and its occupants.  You're never quite sure what is really going on or who is behind it.  Gronquist does an okay job when he dons his directorial hat, though the pace is a little slow, even in exciting moments, and there are times when more action or drama is required so as not to bore the viewers.  It would have been a little better if Gronquist could have injected a bit more tension and eeriness into the film and the surroundings.

The lead role, Terry Morgan (played by Laural Munson), is a little wooden and sometimes the pauses in her conversations is a little too long so that you think she could be reading off of cards.  The best actress by far is Virginia Settle who portrays the bitter and twisted matriarch, Mrs Penrose; she gives a strong and believable depiction and helps to make this film better.

The other thing which makes this movie one to watch is the twist at the climax, you know roughly what's coming though Ramsey and Gronquist add an extra twist to throw the viewer slightly off the mark.  This is a film worth watching at least once, especially if you like mysteries and thrillers as this ticks the boxes, though you will need to like the slow and less action-packed style.

Nergling - The Video Nasties Scare - Unhinged

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