my thoughts on.... 'Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever'

i've been the first in line to say that Eli Roth is one of the savior's of the horror genre.... along with a few select others.... he wrote and directed the original 'Cabin Fever'.... this movie has nothing to do with him.... and Ti West who directed it, wanted no association with it once the producers got done with it.... he felt they ruined it.... granted, i have no idea what it would have been like if they never got involved.... but i'm not so sure it would have been that much better....

if you saw the original then you know the basic premise.... a flesh eating virus is killing off people one by one.... and luckily it hasn't spread outside of the small town where it started.... in the sequel, it picks up RIGHT where the last one left off.... and continues the story.... but not for long.... and once the plot of this movie begins, the movie bears little resemblance to the original.... in this case.... the water that is contaminated with the virus has been shipped out.... and the first place it goes is to the local high school.... the rest kind of writes itself.... ie: bloody high school kids, attempts to stop the virus, the government getting involved.... etc.... your typical virus scenario. the first point where this movie fails is that it goes to much for the humorous side of the storyline.... granted the original was satirical and had it's comedy moments.... but it never went all out for the ha ha funny.... this one does.... or seems to.... and it doesn't do it very well.... the virus has no real rhyme or reason and doesn't react the same with everyone, like in the original.... and they go for the gross out factor in a major way in this.... and turn it comical.... whereas the original never took the effects of the disease as being funny.... those parts were always serious....

would i recommend this....? well, if you're a completionist like me.... then you'll want to watch it.... just be warned that it really doesn't hold a candle to the first one.... the only worthwhile thing is the return of Officer Winston.... i would give this a solid 3 out of 5 stars.... but no more than that.... i would love to see the directors cut.... and find out what he was really going for.... because i can't imagine what he could do differently to salvage the script for this.... i mean, the disease at prom....? save your time and watch 'Dance of the Dead' instead.... MUCH better movie about the prom and zombies....

if you enjoy this movie, check out: 'Dance of the Dead', 'Prom Night' and 'Return of the Living Dead' (not really virus movies, but prom themed and i guess you can qualify zombies as a virus based reaction to something nasty.)

my thoughts on.... 'Nine Dead'

ever want to see a movie where a bunch of people are trapped in a room and must fight for their lives to get out while trying to solve a puzzle....? oh wait, you've already seen 6 of those....? well, not this one.

the premise sounded interesting to me.... and i found it available to watch instantly on Netflix.... and later available at Redbox.... and i decided to invest the hour and a half to see what it was all about.... and i hate to say it, but i didn't hate it.... it's not going to win any awards..... it's not all that original.... and it's fairly simple in it's overall excecution.... the basic idea is: 9 people are trapped in a room and must figure what they all have in common or one of them will die every 10 minutes.... ie: 90 minute movie.... the killer is kinda of creepy in his s&m mask and hoodie.... and he's not joking about his threats.... so don't watch the movie and get too attached to anyone, because you never really know who's gonna die next....
the characters are all interesting to watch and the actors do the best with the script that they can.... and i enjoyed learning along with the rest of the characters as to what the hell was going on.... the writers do a good job of building suspense and not letting the cat out of the bag too early.... my only regret or problem with the movie is the ending.... its sloppy and unrealistic.... or maybe that's just me.... the killer isn't super hard to figure out and what happens in the last 10 minutes is so over the top it borders on silly.... either way, i'd recommend watching it on a rainy Saturday night.... it's worth that much....

oh and Melissa Joan Hart is in it.... if that does anything for you.

if you enjoy this movie, check out: the 'Saw' series....plain and simple.

just a friendly reminder....

if you like what you read here.... my old MySpace blog has tons more reviews available for your viewing.... feel free to cruise on over and check them out....!

here's the link, kids.... enjoy....!http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=414317&blogId=507914524

my thoughts on.... 'Sorority Row'

i know what you're thinking right now.... 'Sorority Row' = teen crap.... right....? well, let me stomp on that little bit of thinking right off the bat.... this movie may have all the inner workings of another 'I Know What You Did Last Summer'.... but suprisingly, it goes a step or two beyond that.... it takes frats and sorority's and almost uses them as satire..... not in a ha ha funny kind of a way.... but it never takes itself so seriously that you get scared or grossed out.... it's just a fun, clever, little piece of horror filmaking that stands up with the best of it's kind.... meaning teeny bopper based slasher flicks.... i was really suprised at how much i enjoyed this movie.... it kept me guessing, it had good pacing and the script didn't suck.... the killers weapon of choice was original and it was a morality play all at the same time....! (and Bruce Willis's daughter was in it too....)

basically, sorority chicks go to far.... someone dies.... they try and cover it up.... it comes back to haunt them somehow and the world breaks down.... and it's interesting to me to watch these uptight, rich girls take on a horrific situation and see how they handle it.... granted it ain't Shakespeare.... but it's above average for what it is....
all in all.... a movie worth spending your time on.... it's available at Redbox, but only to rent on Netflix.... the cast is well cast.... the story is not too original, but well carried out.... the movie itself is shot very well and looks pretty.... overall a cut above the rest.... and not at all the piece of garbage i was expecting....

3 out of 5 stars.... go rent it if you have a little extra time and feel like watching pretty people get their just desserts.... and if you've ever wanted to know what REALLY goes on at a sorority party....! (yeah, right.).... you won't regret it.... if you want something smarter and scarier.... this may not be the one for you....

if you enjoy this movie, check out: 'Black Christmas' (2006), 'Club Dredd' and the 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' trilogy

my thoughts on.... ' Triangle'

i had zero expectations and no clue what to expect from this movie..... i just thought it sounded interesting and it got 3 stars.... which is enough for me to invest my time.... plus i love movies where people are trapped in or on places where they can't get out and there's some kind of killer stalking them.... and this was all that and a bag of chips.... not too mention, the fact that it took place on a deserted boat made me more intrigued.... after the AWESOME first 10 minutes of 'Ghost Ship' and the other 80 crappy minutes, i figured this had to be better.... and i was right....

the story isn't so simple.... however, at first it seems just that.... 5 people go out for a cruise on a sailboat.... the sailboat capsizes.... they see a large oceanliner and climb on board.... the weird thing is, nobody is there.... simple, right....? that's when things take an acid trip for the better.... soon they find out that they're being hunted by a killer and that killer turns out to be someone they know.... but without giving away the plot as it will ruin the movie.... it's just bizarre enough to be interesting and just weird enough to make some kind of trippy sense.... i was fixated on the screen through the entire movie wondering how it would end and what was going to happen next....
this movie creates some interesting scenarios and scenes that stick with you well after the movie has ended.... and present some morality questions and put thoughts in your head that really make you wonder.... granted there are some HUGE jumps in logic and a lot of mistakes in the overall storyline, but it really doesn't matter because you're just so engrossed.... and Melissa George sells her role as if she was gunning for an Oscar nod....

the killer was interesting.... the plot was interesting.... the motives and methods were interesting and the overall movie was just a fun movie going experience that i do not regret in the slightest.... my only complaint, if any, was the ending left you with a few big questions.... and kind of left you to decide why the person at the end does what the do.... rather than something else.... either way it all comes full circle and ties up nicely.... i would give it, i think, 4 out of 5 stars.... for effort and execution.... it might honestly just be high 3 stars, but i'm feeling generous.... it's on Netflix OnDemand.... check it out while you can.... you won't regret it....

if you enjoy this movie, check out: 'The Thirteenth Floor', 'Dark City' and the first 10 minutes of 'Ghost Ship'

my thoughts on.... 'Undead or Alive'

more zombedies.... (zombie comedies)..... at least that's what this was trying really hard to be.... let me start off by saying i didn't hate it.... but it wasn't very funny, the zombies weren't normal and the story was mediocre at best.... that all being said.... it's a good way to waste a rainy day or a lazy sunday.... it seemed like the producer, director, etc were trying hard.... but trying doesn't always make for a worthwhile entry into an already oversaturated genre.... i do give them credit for taking a fresh take on the theme by making it a western and having Chris Kattan in a lead role.... both were big risks and both needed more work....

so Geronimo creates the 'White Man's Curse' (zombies) and all hell breaks loose in this small western town when the zombies start to take over.... however, these zombies can talk, think and are hard as hell to kill.... no shot to the head here kids.... it'll take more than that to do them in.... during the course of the outbreak, two "outlaws" team up in an effort to get some money back that was taken from them and then get out of town.... and at this point, i assume, hilarity was to ensue.... it really didn't. there were a couple of laughable moments.... i smiled a time or two.... and i'll give it credit for it's entertainment value, but that's it.... nothing else....
all in all i would rather watch any of the other mediocre zombie movies than to have to sit through this one again.... it's an hour and a half i won't get back.... and if you're smart you'll watch something else too.... 2 out of 5 stars.... mainly the 2 stars are for effort and somewhat comedic elements.... it would take some more traditional zombies and a better script to raise that any higher....

watch at your own risk.... you have been warned.... it's a strictly made for cable rainy day kind of movie.... or maybe if you're laid up sick on the couch and can't reach the remote.... i'm ready to change the channel personally.

if you enjoy this movie at all, check out the much better: 'Zombieland', 'Shaun of the Dead' and 'Dance of the Dead'

my thoughts on.... 'Deadgirl'

the first word that comes to mind for this review is: disturbing.
the second word that comes to mind for this review is: unique.

normally, i wait for the storyline breakdown until later.... but here is the synopsis from http://www.imdb.com/: "Two high school boys discover an imprisoned woman in an abandoned mental asylum who cannot die." sounds interesting, yes....? it's not your mother's zombie film by any sense.... and in some circles, there is questions if this is a zombie movie at all.... or whether or not the deadgirl might be something else.... it's never very clearly defined and it's probably better that way.... it keeps you guessing.... there are a few plot holes, but they're nothing that will spoil your moviegoing experience.....

this particular movie just fell into my lap thanks to Netflix.... i had never heard of it, but it came up as recommended and sat in my instant queue for quite sometime before i had the desire or time to invest in it.... and boy, am i glad i did....
everyone involved in this film seems to take the subject matter very seriously and pulls no punches with the situations you see on screen.... they are things that you've probably never seen before in any other zombie type movie and may not see again right away.... granted it's not a new subjct matter, but usually it just involves the dead.... the dead alive.... at times this movie makes you angry, at times you find yourself sympathizing with the main characters and at times you begin to question your own morality in this situation.... what would you do....? that's what makes this movie so good.... it leaves you thinking and haunts your brain for days afterwards.... granted the ending was a little bit expected.... but it couldn't have ending any other way than it did.... you can't have the good guy be 100% good, right....? that just spoils the fun....

after sitting on this one for quite some time and finally seeing it in all it's glory, i give it 4 out of 5 stars.... hands down.... one of the more unique horror films you'll see of the past 5 years.... and i'm not sure how they came up with the concept, but it grabs a hold of you and won't let go even after the credits roll.... this is one for any zombie or horror-phile to see.... highly recommended.... especially if you like your movies more on the twisted side of things.... you won't be disappointed....

who doesn't want to love a deadgirl....?

if you enjoy this movie, check out: 'Nekromantik', 'Kissed' and 'Return of the Living Dead 3'

my thoughts on.... 'The Stepfather' (2009)

Terry O'Quinn sold the original 'Stepfather'.... LONG before he was ever on 'Lost'.... and that movie holds a small little place in my heart as one of the better slashers of that year.... then i heard they were re-making it.... so i figured i'd give the new one it's day in court.... right....? i mean, i treat all movies equally.... because sometimes you can find that diamond in the rough where you least expect it.... this really wasn't one of those times.... i mean, the cast and crew did it's best.... and i firmly believe that.... right down to the girlfriend of the son running around half naked most of the time.... but when it came down to it.... they never captured the essence of what made the original so great and spawned sequels.... this felt more like a movie of the week on CBS than a major motion picture....

in your typical slasher movie.... you expect a certain amount of bodies to hit the floor and usually some pretty original ways for it to happen.... this really never lived up to those rules.... the kills were low to none and the originality was just not there.... i do give the director credit for trying to keep the level of tension fairly high.... and he succeeded for the most part.... i found myself hanging on the edge of my seat for some of the scenes.... and i think that the actors had a lot to do with it.... they dragged out some quality b-grade actors.... and they took the script they were given and made the best of it....
the idea behind the story.... if you couldn't guess by the poster.... is about a stepfather who marries into a family and then proceeds to kill them after a while because that's what he does.... the big difference between this and the original.... is that Terry O'Quinn did it out of the fact that when things didn't turn out to be the perfect family he wanted, everyone died.... in this version, they just die.... it almost left the main character without a good motive.... supposedly this is loosely based on actual events.... and they even tie 'America's Most Wanted' into the mix.... i don't know how true it all is.... it makes for an interesting premise either way....

okay, the movies over.... i'm feeling like i'm a pretty darn good father.... and i'm rating this 2 out of 5 stars because it just didn't hold a candle to the original.... the ending was lame at best.... the 3rd act was disjointed and confusing.... all of the cliche's of every other horror movie you've ever seen all were kind of played out, but on a lower grade.... it's not something i would recommend for anyone but die hard fans of movies and is desperate for something to fill and hour and a half.... otherwise, stay away.... i watched it so you didn't have to.

you're welcome....

if you enjoy this movie, check out: 'The Stepfather' (1987), 'Disturbia' and 'Mother's Day'