Movie Review - Escaping Dad

Escaping Dad

AKA:  Amber Alert

2017

The Cast

This is the story of an abused wife, Erin (Mabrey) on the run from her violent husband, Darren (Wiles).  As soon as he realises what's happening, she's picked up the children, Amy (Van Dien) and Charlie (Walken), and has hit the road on the way to the safety of her friend.  Being the DA, Darren pulls a few strings and tells a few lies and has an Amber Alert put on his runaway family.

To be truthful, there's not much new in this story.  However, it's well scripted and structured which helps to keep it interesting.  There is a slight twist to the tale, though it feels like it's an add-on to make things more engaging.  For me, this second story arc wasn't required as the story itself is fine.  Along with the directing and acting you have a decent and above average TV Thriller.

The only thing in the story that's a little weak is Erin's steadfastness at not telling her daughter the truth.  I can understand not letting her young son in on the awfulness of life and marriage but Amy is in her late teens and should be able to handle it.  However, I did like that Amy still stuck by her mother, even though she hadn't been told the facts and constantly moaned about going home.

Even though Kohn doesn't add anything new to the direction of the movie, he still brings across a tension, which appears to creep through the film.  It's always there, though at times it becomes more evident.  He also uses light to subtly create atmosphere.  For example, he adds lens flare and haze to make the day look brighter while the runaways are driving.  While in the car there's the air of unease, especially on Erin's face.

In fact, Sunny Mabrey is brilliant in the portrayal of Erin.  In most of her scenes, she has that air of nervousness.  You can believe she's constantly worrying about what could happen... what will Darren do next to find her?  How far will he go?  Jason Wiles is good at adding menace to the film as Darren.  He's a strong single-minded man who wants everything his way and will do anything to make that happen, and Wiles gets this across in every scene.  Even the supporting cast get into their characterisations, there's a trucker who appears a little creepy and untrustworthy; his name is Trucker Pete and David Ury portrays this well, though he's only on screen a few seconds.

This is one of those TV Thrillers I'd watch again.  It was enjoyable and passed an hour and a half so I didn't have to go out in the snow.  So if it's a bad day or a lazy Sunday, then this film is a good way to spend your time.

I give this a runaway 6 out of 10.

The Trailer

Movie Review - Jigsaw

Jigsaw

2017

The Cast

Friday Night Is Fright Night so I was happy to see that two of the better fright films have new Chapters to their stories.  Therefore, I was looking forward to watching both this movie and the new Horror chapter to Jeepers Creepers...  How wrong I was.

Since they ended the SAW series on a high there was expectations for this movie to be good.  The trailer was brilliant and atmospheric.  I wanted to see this film, as I've always loved the concept I just thought most of the stories needed handling better, both story and film-wise.  Though, as most cases prove nowadays, the trailer was much better than the movie.

I know it's a SAW film by a different name so there's gonna be gore... which there was but nowhere near that of the other movies.  The things which let the film and story down was the direction and the writing.  There were plot holes big enough to pilot an armada of cruise liners through.  The main one being the detective work... there wasn't any.  For some unfathomable reason, both cops on the case decided that the coroner, Logan (Passmore) and his assistant, Eleanor (Anderson), were the main suspects.  I could understand Eleanor, a little, as she posted to a website based on John Kramer (Bell) and his killings.  However, they totally ignored everybody else on the site.  Ludacris.  As for the cops themselves, it wasn't a case of good cop and bad cop but rather a bad cop and poser cop.  At least Cle Bennett (Detective Keith Hunt) looked good in this movie - not for his acting skills, but for his dress sense - and boy can he pose like a supermodel!

Then there's the whole timeline thing.  SAW has tried this scenario before and made a complete hash of it... and has once again.  Though it's not as confusing as it's predecessor, there are still many oversights.

All this is a shame as they finally had the chance to make a decent movie from a good premise.  At least they had a good cast.  On the whole, the acting is above par and all the actors give the best performances they can - I can't fault them at all.  It would have been nice to have more emotion, which the writers chose not to pursue even though they had a great character to do it with and a good actress to pull it off.  I'm talking about Anna (Vandervoort).  On the surface, her backstory is that of a woman who has lost her child to an accident.  This opens up a myriad of possible emotional scenes.  Then when the twist in her story is revealed it gives a chance for a different depiction.  This would make the character relatable to the viewers; bringing them into the story a tad more.  The same can be said for most of the characters, though you only need to expand on the main ones.

As for the gruesome special effects, they've been toned down for this film, which isn't a bad thing as they were starting to get too graphic (never thought I'd say that... but when you see a face get ripped off by a car tyre... well).  However, there could, and should, have been more of the human claret flowing, especially in the leg scene.

This really could and should have been a better film.  A statement that can nearly be said for the all the films in the series... so this suffers as the majority of the SAW films did.  Therefore, I'd only recommend this to followers of the series.  As for newbies, then I'd recommend watching the originals over this, at least, for a while, there's a feeling of freshness about them.

I give this insipid three-wheeler reboot a 5 out of 10.

The Trailer

Movie Review - A Life Of Deception

A Life Of Deception

AKA:  Washed Away

2017

 The Cast 

Here we have the well-worn story of a dead husband and the wife who won't believe he's dead.  While out on a vacation celebrating their anniversary Parker (Sirow) is supposedly killed in a whitewater canoeing accident.  However, during a visit to San Francisco a few months later his wife, Gabrielle (Vaugier), swears she see's him in a busy market.  But of course, he disappears before she can get to him.  This and a few other strange events prompt her to start her own investigation into his death.  The twists are well woven into the story though they're nothing new and you can figure them out quite quickly.  That though is pretty much the only issue I had with the story.

Emmanuelle Vaugier gives another solid performance as a wife thrown into a broiling situation.  She handles the many emotions the story calls for in her stride.  Doubt over their marriage, fear over her missing husband, sadness at the wake, the awareness that something isn't right, understanding at the outcome.  I know why this actress gets hired.  Shame it's the rest of the cast which lets the acting down.  Cameron Bancroft as Detective Asher is so blank and emotionless, somebody should take his pulse to make sure he's still alive.  At times the same can be said about Kristen Harris' portrayal of Genna, though she does have a few scene's where she comes alive.  The trouble is you just don't care for her.  When she comes to Gabrielle with the story of being beaten up by her drunken husband, she just doesn't sell it enough.  Had this character come across better then the film would have been stronger for it.  I thought it might have been the writing or direction that was the cause of the characters problems, but then Adam Hurtig comes along as Travis.  Travis is irascible, greaving, angry, and blames his sister in law for his brother's death.  Most of the time this can be seen in his demeanour and on his face.  Hurtig is an actor to watch.

As for the direction, Jeff Beasley does a good job and tries to add different camera shots to show mood.  There's a scene after Parker's death where Gabrielle is laying on her bed thinking, mourning, and remembering him.  Beasley tries to show her feelings at this time by a series of steady near still shots as she shifts about the bed.  Five seconds of her laid on her back, head on pillows.  Five seconds of her laid on her front, head towards the foot of the bed.  Five seconds of her sat on the edge at the foot of the bed.  Though this didn't work for me, I have to appreciate that he tried to add something different to keep the story and film interesting to the viewers.  His whitewater shot at the beginning was very good, though not really tied to the film... unless it's Gabrielle's accident we learn about later.

I enjoyed this film and would recommend it to all armchair detectives, whodunnit pundits, and mystery and thriller fans everywhere for at least one viewing.  It doesn't even have to be raining outside.  Though I would say it's a lazy day film... so a good one to watch in bed on a Sunday morning or after a pleasant and filling Sunday dinner.

I give this disappearing husband a 5.75 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 - Hands Of The Ripper

Hands Of The Ripper

1971

The Cast

This film has got me wanting to read the story that spurned it.  I've always liked the psychological idea of hereditary madness and this is a pretty good example of that... but with a possible twist.

Jack the Ripper is being chased down so he runs to the safety of his mistress' house.  Still caught up in the killing fugue, he attacks and kills his mistress in front of their young child.  Years later the child has become a young woman, Anna (Rees) and is helping an old woman to run a medium scam, pretending to be the dead family members and friends of the clients she entertains with her seances.  It's at one of these meetings that her path crosses with Dysart (Godfrey)... a pervert who buys her virginity from Mrs Golding (Bryan).  However, things take a nasty turn when he tries to force himself on her and Mrs Golding comes to her rescue.  Mrs Golding is killed, but who is the murderer?

The thing I liked most about this story is its darkness.  Not only do you have a psychotic killer, but a doctor who is willing to overlook the murders so he can view and record the killer's moods.  He's even willing to team up with a miscreant to get his results.

There's nothing bad about this movie at all.  It could have been stronger had the director opted to add a darkness to the atmosphere.  For me, it was a little light, especially when considering all the bleaker subject matters.  Though there are some really good shots in the film.  The ending in the whispering gallery at Saint Paul's is very well done.  As is the "Oh My God!!!  That's gonna leave a mark," moment when Dr Pritchard (Porter) pulls the sword from his side.  The moment when the bloody sword hangs from the doorknob, swaying and banging, will stay with me for a while.  Very iconic and well thought out.

Another thing that may have strengthened the film is the hinted at possession of Anna by her father Jack The Ripper.  If this had become a story arc on its own then it would have opened up a few more possibilities for twists and turns.  It would have turned it into a full horror film by doing so.

However, this is a good psychological thriller based on The Ripper mythos.  I would recommend this to everyone.

I give this a Ripperriffic 6.5 out of 10.

The Trailer

Movie Review - Presumed Dead

Presumed Dead

2006 

 The Cast

After the death of her police officer husband Detective Mary Ann Cooper - "Coop" - (Fenn) is reluctant to take leave and throws herself into her work, much to the distress of her young daughter.  On the night of her husband's death, he was called out to a domestic disturbance at a local writer's home.  Sharing his thoughts about the man and the situation with Coop, she is left with the impression that the writer is not to be trusted.  So when she hears about a possible murder at the house she rushes to the crime scene and inserts herself into the case.  This is where the twists and turns begin.

This is a very clever mystery tale.  However, there are times when it feels as though the writer, Lindsay James (Keith Shaw) struggles with some of the plot twists and their culmination.  Which is a shame as it adds a sloppiness to the project.  Though the courtroom scene is very well structured as you get to see how a writers mind can rework the facts to meet a different scenario.  Loved this section of the story.  Then you get the ending which feels rushed and spoils the mood and aura of the film.

The director, George Mendeluk, is adept at creating atmosphere, though a little more tension at times wouldn't have gone amiss.  Also, a change of pace would have been good.  There are a couple of scenes that would have improved from a different approach, especially the two in the woods.

I liked Fenn as the cop on a mission, she did well in portraying her.  Fenn has had a lot of hits and misses in her career, this one is a hit.  The rest of the cast also do a good job with their characterisations.  Though, I wouldn't have chosen Regehr to play the writer, Seth Harmon.  This character calls for a cool and cocky air to him, Regehr gets nowhere near to these traits.  Then when he starts to break, Regehr struggles with pulling off this psychological side.  Though, this could be what the director envisioned and asked for.  However, I cannot help but think how much better the film would have been with a stronger bad guy.

This is a movie I'd recommend all mystery and thriller fans and whodunnit pundits to watch, at least once.  Once the plot twists have been exposed then the power of the film has been expunged.

I give this a writer's block of 5.75 out of 10.

The Trailer

Movie Review - The Wrong Nanny

The Wrong Nanny

2017

The Cast

This is a clever little tale which has a pretty good twist to the main plot, though even a couch-potato will be able to work it out quite early on.  It's just a shame everything else about the movie isn't up to that standard.

Please be aware that you will need to watch an awful opening sequence.  This is both badly acted and scripted.  However, it's not shot too badly.  But once you're past this and into the story proper then things do lift... a little.

The main bother I had with the story was the whole "Fund Raising" arc.  No matter how much I didn't try to think it out, I still couldn't relate to the fact that, mother of two, Stella (Hartley) would even consider hanging around with the self-gratifying Meredith (Williamson) and her kowtowing minions.  Let alone, try to impress her.  This entire scenario was filled with such stereotypical fodder that it muddled the main storyline; this should have been a better arc.

Secondly, the acting was all over the place.  This could be due to the out of sequence shooting of the scenes, because Freya Tingley (Blake), would be dire in one scene and then pretty decent in the next.  It really does disjoint the film to have this kind of acting difference.  The rest of the cast was pretty average, though Brody Hutzler (Tanner) and Bree Williamson (Meredith) do add a bit of solidness with their portrayal of their characters.    Though, I think the trouble with Lindsay Hartley's character is due to the writing and direction, rather than her acting.  There were quite a few things that weren't completely believable with Stella.

Though the story is strong in its synopsis, it does let itself down on some of the narration and stereotypical characters.  There's also the obvious antagonising scenes where we get to see Blake's real character and motivation.  The number of times that their friend's daughter, Julianna (Green) told Stella that she was like a mother to her was near vomit inducing.  Some of these scenes appeared forced and there were too many.

This film would have been so much better with these issues sorted out.  But even though there were a few annoyances it still is a good film, not great.

For the most part, the direction and pace are standard and steady, not adding anything new to the film.  The acting levels out at average.  And the story is better and stronger for the character of Blake and her background.

If there's a rainstorm or blizzard blazing outside then spending an afternoon with this flick wouldn't be too bad.

I give this bad nanny an average 5.5 out of 10.

The Trailer