Movie Review - Killer Obsession

Killer Obsession

AKA:  Crossfire

2016

The Cast

When National Guard soldier Samantha Harrison (McKee) returns to her hometown after a tour in Iraq, which has left her with a pending "Friendly Fire" charge, she finds "Normal" life is harder than serving in a war-zone.  Graydon (Rozon) is the sole survivor of the team Samantha supposedly gunned down and he's looking for both justice and revenge.  Unable to remember the night in question, Samantha has to rely on the testimonies of her squad; Billy (Koensgen), Bobby (Thebaud), and Jimmy (Lund)...  However, after both Billy and Bobby take their own lives it becomes evident to Samantha there's something darker going on and she sets out to solve the mystery.

This is a very well thought out mystery with strong believable characters that are portrayed respectfully by the actors and actresses.  McKee makes a good lead role and is so subtle in her portrayal, never going overboard on the emotional side, to make Samantha very believable.  I could relate to her outburst of anxiety when she tries to seek law advice.  She just cannot fill in the forms.  You can see all the raw emotion on her face.  Then after she takes flight, back in her car, you can see the relief flood over her along with the sadness and anger at not having been able to complete a simple task.  This is pretty much spot on, as a sufferer of depression and anxiety, I can relate.  Lund too is great in his portrayal.  His character also has as many different flaws that he brings across to the audience in a believable way.  The only thing I would have liked would have been a little more structure and drive to Rozon's character, Graydon.  This could have been used to create a little more unease and suspense, especially revolving around the inevitable twist.  This, however, could have been down to writing or direction, rather than acting.  I must also pay respect too to Thebaud's character, Bobby, who injects the idea of a conspiracy theory into the storyline.  He does this so well, you can see that he's worried about his and his families life.  There are no small parts in this film.

The story, on the whole, is good and flows well.  It does have a few slight flaws.  If you're a fan of mysteries then you'll have solved this one pretty quickly as it's not a great twist.  As I said before, it could have been made better.  The other is the constant bombardment of "getting councilling".  Don't get me wrong, I believe therapy can be a good thing but it's pushed too much within the run of the movie.

The direction is well above standard for a TV Movie and helps to keep the audience's attention, as well as creating atmosphere.  Though I do believe there was a chance missed to make Graydon appear more ominous and driven.  I particularly liked the use of colourisation.  Muddy browns for a melancholy moment and greys for sad and depressing scenes.  Even the flashbacks to the combat looked realistic, even though they weren't on a large scale, which I think actually helped their power.

If you like a war drama with an interweaving mystery to solve this is the film to watch.  I really enjoyed the film and would be happy to watch it again at some time...

I give this a cold and calculated 6.75 out of 10.

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Movie Review - The Girl In The Picture

The Girl In The Picture

1957

The Cast

Four years ago, a robbery went wrong resulting in a policeman being murdered and the killers escaped.  However, a photograph turns up on news reporter Jon Deering's (Houston) desk.  It shows the getaway car and a woman looking into it.  Believing this woman holds the key to the case, Deering sets off to find her... unfortunately, in his investigations, he tips off the robbers, who then start a search, though be it more deadly, for the girl in the picture... Pat Dryden (Crawford)

I do like this as a premise for a story, however, I don't think all the possibilities were utilised well.  This could have been a cat and mouse stalking game, what with the police, the reporter, and the bad guys tracking her down.  However, the police don't get involved too much and the murderers are hanging on the reporter's coattails.  This has the effect of making it less suspense-filled than it could have been?

The story and the acting are enough to make this an enjoyable one watch flick, though I would warn about the soundtrack.  It's your basic standard full orchestration, but when you get to the climax the director decides to use the music to jar your nerves... and turns the volume up.  This mixed with the old-fashioned police bells and sirens is enough to drive you mad.  As for the direction, it's okay, there's nothing innovative in the camera work and the pace stays pretty steady throughout.  Changing these would have helped to create a better atmosphere and tenseness to draw the viewer in.

The acting is pretty good and both Houston and Crawford do well in their roles.  That said, there are moments when it gets a little melodramatic and the acting begins to feel a little hammy.  Though these are few and have little effect on the film or story.

The one thing I did like about the story was the lack of a love interest.  In most films, this is a must, even when it's not required and sometimes it even feels awkward.  But there's nothing between Dryden and Deering, they are merely an eyewitness and a reporter. It was a refreshing change not to have the fawning doting of screen romance.

Though it's not the best thriller of its time it's still worth a checkout.

I give this a Reluctant Eyewitness a Suspicious 5.5 out of 10.

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Movie Review - The Long Memory

The Long Memory

1953

The Cast

The one thing Phillip Davidson (Mills) does wrong is fall in love.  On the night he decides to ask Fay's (Sellars) father for her hand he's in the middle of conducting some illicit business; that of smuggling a criminal out of England.  Mobster, Boyd (Chandos), who is funding the criminal's escape takes umbrage at the disrespect the criminal shows him.  Lashing out with a poker he strikes and kills him.  Davidson tries to stop Boyd's rampage and in the fight the boat catches fire.  The lifeboatmen pick up Davidson after he jumps off the boat, aflame.  Unfortunately, the survivors change their story so they won't be jailed for trafficking.  They all confirm there was no criminal onboard and that it was Davidson who struck and killed Boyd.  Davidson is jailed for twelve years.  Upon his release, he sets out for revenge on those who took those years away from him.

What stands out the most is the atmospheric and beautifully shot camera work.  Director, Hamer works well with black and white film.  The sequence where the freed Davidson steps off the train and is followed by a plain-clothed policeman is one of the most atmospheric I've seen.  It's brilliant.  Hamer sets the pace slow and this adds to the feeling of despair and loneliness, which oozes off the screen.  There's a bleakness that starts at this point and permeates most of the picture.  He is also very good at using the locations to add to the atmosphere...  The lone hotel, near derelict, on a sandy beach road... the wooden slatted cafe for the seamen and fishermen... the three beached barges slowly rotting.  He's also very adept at the iconic shot, such as a couple of shots of London Bridge.  And, especially the sequence where Davidson finally gets to Pewsey (Slater).  The entire thing is exquisitely structured and choreographed, though, it's the scene where Pewsey looks through the letterbox to see Davidson waiting in a doorway that holds the most power.  I never thought of Mills' as a tough guy or a hard man but when I watched this scene I thought, now that's somebody I wouldn't mess with.  Perfect acting with perfect direction makes a perfect scene.

Though Mills' is an outstanding actor, which he proves here, there are a few times when it gets just too melodramatic, in a soap opera way.  Luckily enough, this only becomes overpowering towards the latter part of the movie.  It does detract from the film's power, though I can forgive that because there are so many better acting sets within the film.

All the actors are good within their roles and there's even an eccentric hermit, Jackson, to keep it interesting.  One strange character is alright, because they are out there, and Michael Martin Harvey does a fantastic portrayal.  He doesn't go overboard and this makes the man more real to the viewer.  Even the lesser characters are full and rounded.  Take Mrs Pewsey (Hird), even though her husband has run off with a trollop, she still goes round to the trollop's house to warn him of Davidson's return.  While she's there, she takes care of him because he always gets a chest cold at this time of year.  Well thought out, written, acted and directed.  These little things only add interest to the viewer, add realism and strength to both the story and the film.

Then there's the story.  Though it's a revenge tale there's an added depth to even that.  When Davidson finally meets his first love, Fay, after his release he realises his perspective and feelings have altered.  This is a sobering, sad, and profound realisation.

I have to admit this has now made it onto my expanding favourite flicks list and I would recommend this to all thriller fans, revenge freaks, crime story lovers and drama aficionados everywhere.  Also, if you're a budding filmmaker, you could do worse than checking this out.

I give this Bleak Midwinter a Revengeful 7.5 out of 10.

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Movie Review - Deadly Attraction

Deadly Attraction

2017

The Cast

Everything about this film screams averageness.  From the story:  A woman abused by her first husband vows never to be a target again for any man.  After fighting back and killing her abuser Ruby Asher (Hartley) finds herself on the road of greed.  Lying to herself that she's doing this not just for herself but for her daughter, Amanda (Deveaux), as well, she starts to drain all the men in her life of their money.  Though as time goes on, she finds she has to go further to get what she's owed by these undeserving men... so she results to taking their lives as well as their money.  However, her latest victim leaves most of his fortune to his daughter, Teresa (Wilson), so now she will have to pay for taking the Black Widows hard-earned dues.  The hardest thing to swallow is that Amanda doesn't know the truth about her mother... though the new Step-Daughter cottons on about one second after hearing her daddy's dead.

This is your basic Black Widow tale with a slight twist.  Though, it's not a big enough twist to take the story or film out of its mediocrity.

To the acting: which on the whole, isn't anything special.  I like Gary Chalk, who briefly appears in this film... and it's so quick that his skills have little effect on the proceedings.  I first saw Sebastian Spence in Ceder Cove and thought he was brilliant with his character in that.  Even in other films and series, he's been a decent actor and I have enjoyed his performance.  Here he starts off well and even has a little in common with his Ceder Cove character...  however when he changes character, I found him a little flat in emotion and personality.  Even Hartley fluctuates in her portrayal of Ruby.  Though I have to say, when she's in tough and devious mode she's at her best.  She doesn't appear concerning enough when she's playing at doting wife and mother.  So it's unbelievable that neither her husbands and daughter don't know her plans... or at least question her noticeable mood swings.  The two that stood out to me was Jim Shield as rancher husband, Daniel Nash, and step-daughter Teresa Landon played well by Brittany Wilson.

Once again, as is the case with many a TV Movie the direction is pretty basic and standard for a thriller.  More tension and atmosphere would be welcome, as would a change of pace, and a few nice camera shots.  Come on guy's, let's show some artistic film-making temperament once in a while.  When the story is average at least try to keep the audience interested with the directing.

This is a one watch movie... preferable when all other entertainment is exhausted and it's bad weather outside or you're laid up ill.

I give this Black Widow Tale an average bite of 5 out of 10.

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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.

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Movie Review - A Colder Kind Of Death

A Colder Kind Of Death

2001

The Cast

There are a lot of pokers in the fire in this story of political corruption, which makes for an interesting film.

Six years ago, Peter Kilbourn was murdered by the side of the road.  Finally, the case is reopened when an alibi recants his statement and admits that the main suspect in the case had committed the crime.  Kevin Tarpley is arrested.  All throughout the interrogation he apologises but never revokes his innocence in the murder.  However, when he is being transferred Tarpley is shot and killed by a sniper, making Joanne Kilbourn (Crewson) suspect ulterior motives, so she sets about tracking down Tarpley's murder in the hopes of resolving her husband's.  This is the beginning of a complicated, though well structured and nicely interwoven, story where everyone could be a suspect and possible murderer.

For the most part, Turner does an okay job with the direction.  Opting for a standard style so as to let the story speak for itself.  It would have been nice to have a few interesting camera pans instead of the usual kind.  The pace is steady as well.  Once again this is okay for this type of story, but a few peaks of tension wouldn't have gone amiss.

All of the actors and actresses did well in their portrayals of their characters, though a couple did stand out for me.  Kari Matchett makes a really good bad girl - I'd love to see her in more tough girl roles.  Robin Dunne, who would've been put to good use in a few more scenes, had a presence and his slightly comedic character helped to lift the mood of the film and stop it feeling stale.  When these two were on screen the film skipped up a notch.  That said, none of the other actors and actresses was anywhere near bad; even the smaller parts were interesting.  I particularly liked the Hair Dresser and the School Principal.

However, it is the story that carries the film and as such makes the reveal hard to solve.  This is why, I would recommend this to all Mystery & Thriller Lovers, Armchair Detectives, and Whodunnit Pundits.  This is a political conspiracy I challenge you to solve.

I give this an unpolitically correct 6 out of 10.

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Movie Review - Killer Assistant

Killer Assistant

2016

The Cast

Love is eternal.

Suzanna Austin (Zucker) is a successful magazine editor.  Used to working by herself, her boss, Janet McAlper (Baron) assigns her an assistant, David (Eaton), after noticing how stressed she's been getting.  David appears too good to be true and as time progresses Suzanne begins to believe he's got an ulterior motive...

I really liked this story for its characterisations.  Tilson and Wakefield have created a well structured and ingenious tome.  Suzanne is a strong career-minded woman, who can be relied upon to get the magazine out... but not to be a great mother or wife, as she spends most of her time at work.  Then when David's character enters the story we get to see how the stress of her work and family life help her to become suspicious and paranoid.  This starts off small but builds up fast, to the point she's worrying about her own sanity.  Add the element of her family getting to know David and actually trusting him, into the mix, and this keeps the story interesting... at times, actually engrossing.

The good thing is, both the lead actor and actress are great in their performances and bring their characters to life; giving the film and story strength.

Though Boyle does add a couple of nice shots the filming is pretty standard, which is okay when you have a good cast and an even better storyline.  However, it would have only strengthened the movie to make it more engaging for the audience.  Thank God, he's better at manipulating the pace.  Boyle is good at building the tension and atmosphere from a simmer to a full boil.  This starts right at the beginning with the "Years Earlier" scene up to the climax.  He also throws in a couple of peaks along the way, giving the audience a rollercoaster ride.

I'd recommend this to all Mystery Lovers and Armchair Detectives worldwide.

I give this mysterious soul-mate a 6 out of 10.

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