my thoughts on.... 'The Woman' (2011)

It's been really hard for me to write reviews lately and I'm not quite sure why. I have had so many movies and films that I've seen recently, that I just can't keep up with them all. Every time I add a new movie to the list, I just get frustrated.... because I know I won't get around to reviewing it right away. But even though I see all these movies, there is a part of me that feels like I don't see enough movies. Odd, right? I currently have a rental queue on Netflix of about 500 movies and an Instant queue of about 500 movies. That's about 1000 individual and unique movies to watch, if you're keeping count. I don't double up on any of them. If they're on Instant, then the come out of the rental queue. What I've always known, is that I'll never, in my lifetime, see them all. In the meantime, while I try, I'll write about as many as I can. And hopefully, you'll check back every once in a while and not just give up on me because I don't update as often as I should or could. That being said, let me tell you about something I just saw two times in one week....

'The Woman'. What can I say about this film? It took me on a roller coaster ride and it has been plaguing me day and night to write something about it. I even watched it a second time, to try and get it out of my system. So often, a movie never pays off. Especially when it's built up beyond belief by good or bad press. There is such a thing as 'too much hype' and I very often will avoid a film until that hype has died down or gone away completely. I hate to be influenced by someone else's judgement. Sadly, 'The Woman' has been the victim of excessive negative press. Unjustly so, in my opinion. However, there is some nuggets of truth to what they have written about this film, but a lot of it is taken out of context or is only based on a partial viewing. At its initial screening, people walked out because they were so horrified. Why, you ask? The most common complaint about this film is that it's misogynistic. This is true. There are some pretty horrific things that happen to 'The Woman' and the other women in the film. What is often left out of that commentary is what happens at the end of 'The Woman'. *SPOILER?* All of the terrible atrocities are responded too.... with swift and final justice. Let's back up for a minute, shall we?

'The Woman' was written by Jack Ketchum and Lucky McKee. It is a sequel to two other books written by Ketchum titled 'Off Season' and 'Offspring'. All three books tell the ongoing story of a clan of cannibals that roam modern day. A tribe out of time, so to speak. There was already one movie made in the series, 'Offspring'. I've seen it and was not impressed. I think it was the biggest reason I avoided 'The Woman' when it was released. Negative press has never stopped me from seeing something, nor has the threat of excessive violence or disturbing images. I take art at face value. Anyway, 'Offspring' was bland at best and didn't do much to expand the horror genre. The book may be something different entirely, but I haven't read it. Therefore, I can't make a comment on it. I don't recommend seeing 'Offspring', other than to see Pollyanna McIntosh's original performance as 'The Woman'. It will also make this sequel make more sense and give her more depth. I've included the trailer here, so you can get an idea about it. Watch it below:

As you can see, it just doesn't do much. It feels like another re-telling of 'The Hills Have Eyes', but in suburbia. I honestly found it quite forgettable.

Now that you have that back story, we can move forward. 'The Woman takes place shortly after the end of 'Offspring'. Her tribe has been pretty much wiped out and she is all that's left. She is injured (see the first film for the reason why), she's in unfamiliar territory and she's being hunted. A man named Chris Cleek is hot on her trail and has "redemption" on his mind. He builds a contraption at his home to contain 'The Woman' and brings his family in to help. At first, they have no idea what he has in mind.... but once he brings 'The Woman' home, they're all in it together. Chris attempts to 'civilize' her, by his own methods. She in turn, bites off one of his fingers and eats it. After this, he basically treats her like a rabid animal who just needs some time, care and discipline to re-enter into the world. That's what he tells his wife and kids. However, from the first time we meet Chris, we realize that he has darker intentions, for himself and his family. At this point, we start think that maybe the film isn't so much about 'The Woman':

But that it's really more about the Cleek family themselves:

That is where the real genius of this film lies. It uses this wild and untamed 'Woman' as a metaphor for this truly dysfunctional family unit. We're lead to believe that she is a monster for her cannibalistic ways, but it's quite the opposite. Don't get me wrong, she's a very bad lady.... but some of the other things going on are far worse. I think that's why this movie hit so many people in the stomach. They didn't know what to expect and perhaps, they saw themselves in the mirror for the first time. No one in this movie is totally innocent, it's all just varying degrees of guilt. But can you really fault the kids and 'The Woman' for being they way they are? They were just raised to be that way. It's almost a form of satire in the way it's presented to the viewer. Who are we supposed to root for? Is there a hero? I think that may be another reason people disliked this film so much. You are given blow after blow to the head and just when it can't get any worse.... it does. Even the teacher, who tries to help, is presented as not being a "good guy". Jack Ketchum is known for his dark and twisted tales and this film was no exception. It's a morality tale of some sort or at least that's how I saw it.

I have a feeling that there are a lot of you that are going to see this film and think I'm insane for my overly analytical take on 'The Woman'. I have a feeling that I'll get some pretty harsh reactions to my feelings on it. That doesn't change the way that I feel about it or what it means to me. Any film that I see twice in the first week I've ever seen it, means that it left an impression. 'The Woman' is one of those films.

Back to the story line.... As Chris and his family continue their mission to save 'The Woman' from herself, things get messier and messier. I don't want to give away everything that happens, but it feels like a ball of yarn that begins to unravel. It keeps going and going, until the center can no longer hold and everything just collapses. That's where the film really goes for the jugular. The final scene starts out simple enough, but builds like a majestic symphony. You know things are going to go from bad to worse, but it's not just going to all explode at once.... the directory, Lucky McKee, wants you to feel every moment of it. I literally was on the edge of my seat for the entire third act of this film. I had no clue exactly what was going to happen, but I didn't want to know. I wanted to take the ride that I'd paid for and relish every minute of it.

When it was over and the dust had cleared, I wondered if anyone else would get it. Would anyone else walk away from that experience feeling as satisfied as I did? I know I'm not the only one that enjoyed this film. But I never know if anyone else I know will feel the same way I do. Honestly, I have the feeling that a lot of you are going to be split on the last 10 minutes of the film. The way that it all ends up is up for debate. Why do the characters do what they do and what happens next? To me, it ended exactly as it should have. But reading others thoughts online, tell a different story. That's something that remains to be seen and only you can make up your mind on that.

Everyone in this film was committed to it, that was obvious. Lucky McKee is best known for his film 'May', but he has done several other things that are noteworthy and I highly recommend you check out his other works. Of course, fans of his, will know that his favorite "muse" to work with is Angela Bettis. She plays Belle Cleek, the wife who does what she's told.... but is just as responsible for the terrible things going on as anyone else. She never speaks up and for that, she's just as guilty as Chris. Pollyanna McIntosh reprises her role as 'The Woman' from 'Offspring' and takes it to new and grittier heights. She seems to have been intent on creating something that would leave an impression on the viewer and would make them want to see more of her. She achieves that goal 100% and gives the performance of a lifetime. It's honestly scary to watch her on screen, which is a far cry from her first attempt at the role. Zach Rand plays Brian Cleek, the protegee of Chris and his middle child. He, perhaps, has the darkest character arc in the film. You always can tell that Chris is not a good guy, but Brian is a bit more vague. Speaking of Chris, he's played excellently by Sean Bridgers. A man you've seen before, but you just can't quite place where. I don't know who did the casting in this film, but he was born to play this role and embodies the character so much that you physically hate him every time he is on the screen. Lauren Ashley Carter plays Peggy Cleek and she is quite possibly the closest thing we have to a heroine. She is not without fault, however. Finally, Shyla Molhusen plays Darlin' Cleek. The youngest of the family, but you can already tell she has a dark side looming. You really have to see them all together as a unit to understand everything I've just typed. They work as a family and are so believable that it makes the story that much more dark and twisted.

All in all, this is a film that deserves a bigger audience and I'm glad that Netflix has taken it upon themselves to make it available OnDemand for all to see. I highly recommend that you add it to your queue and watch it tonight. The only thing I ask is that you check your preconceived notions at the door. Come into this with a fresh mind and with the desire to see something slightly askew. I, obviously, can't say enough good things about it and am quickly becoming the very reviewer that I mentioned at the beginning. The kind that sways you in either a positive or negative way and ends up altering your perception on the film. I don't mean to affect your judgement one way or the other and if I have.... wait to see the film until that has all gone away. This is a 4 out of 5 star film that is already being prepped to be added to my collection of films. I really want to see any special features on the DVD release. I want to find out more about it and why it was made. What inspired Lucky and Jack to collaborate and to bring back 'The Woman'? Why they cast the film the way they did? And why was the music presented the way it was? That is actually something I haven't touched on yet, the soundtrack.

All of the music is done by the indie musician, Sean Spillane. It feels out of place and strange at first, but once you get used to it.... it all makes perfect sense. The tone, the style and the lyrics. I've read several reviews that specifically point out the music as one of the reasons they hated this film. It feels odd at first, like some kind of indie romantic comedy. That just adds another layer to the film that makes it unique and gives it a voice unlike other films. I suppose it's just one more thing you have to see and hear to understand.

I've said enough. I'm done. If you like this film, check out some other Ketchum based films: 'The Girl Next Door', 'The Lost' and 'Offspring'

One final thing, remember "Anophthalmia". You'll understand once you've seen this film.

Here's the trailer, so you can make up your own mind on if you want to see this or not:

One more poster for your viewing pleasure:

my thoughts on.... 'I Spit On Your Grave' (2010)

A while back, I wrote a fairly extensive review (by my standards) on the 1978 film 'I Spit On Your Grave' aka 'Day Of The Woman'. http://amomentarylapsewithjoel.blogspot.com/2010/08/my-thoughts-on-i-spit-on-your-grave-aka.html Meir Zarchi's exploitation epic is nortorious for many reasons and virtually wrecked the career's of a lot of the people involved. Well, somebody thought it would be a good idea to remake it and play with fire. I suppose with the release of the remake of Wes Craven's 'Last House On The Left', that it just seemed like the right time. Both are similar in tone, topic and end results. I've never really been a fan of films involving rape. I respected what the original was trying to do, but I can't say that I enjoyed it. Because of my experience with it, I was very slow to watching the remake. I'm kind of glad I didn't rush into it. After finally seeing it last night, I realized that I really needed to be in the right mind set to experience it. It is hard to watch and extremely graphic. Steven R. Monroe not only set out to remake the original, but to up the ante as well. I think that he also did something the original didn't do.... made it feel less like and exploitation piece and more like a revenge/empowerment piece. This version would have been more aptly subtitled, 'Day Of The Woman'.

The plot follows the original almost to the letter. There are a couple of subtle changes, but I imagine they were approved by Meir Zarchi as he was a producer on this film. The changes don't affect the overall story a lot, but if you've seen the original, it might throw you off a bit. The plot, according to IMDB.com: "Writer Jennifer Hills takes a retreat from the city to a charming cabin in the woods to start on her next book. But Jennifer's presence in the small town attracts the attention of a few morally depraved locals who set out one night to teach this city girl a lesson. They break into her cabin to scare her. However, what starts out as terrifying acts of humiliation and intimidation, quickly and uncontrollably escalates into a night of physical abuse and torturous assault. But before they can kill her, Jennifer sacrifices her broken and beaten body to a raging river that washes her away. As time passes, the men slowly stop searching for her body and try to go back to life as usual. But that isn't about to happen. Against all odds, Jennifer Hills survived her ordeal. Now, with hell bent vengeance, Jennifer's sole purpose is to turn the tables on these animals and to inflict upon them every horrifying and torturous moment they carried out on her." I think that sums it up completely.This film is a revenge story 100%. This is classified as a horror film, but the horror is all too real. There may not be a masked killer or a terrifying ghost, this film boasts monsters that exist and could possibly be people you've already met. One of the things the Mr. Monroe does differently than the original is to add a 5th party to the rape and attempted murder of our lead. I won't tell you who it is, but let's just say that he adds another level to the whole ordeal. It also adds another level of horror to the flim, as this person is possibly the last person you'd expect. It's a nice addition and what that I honestly didn't see coming. Another thing that's different (obviously), but I think better.... is the new leading lady. Camielle Keaton was great in the original, but Sarah Butler takes this character and brings it to a whole different level. She radiates off the screen and exudes so much emotion and eventual strengh. She automatically became a new favorite actress for me. Granted, she's not done much to speak of, that doesn't matter.... she has a bright future ahead of her and if I was making a film, I would hire her in a heartbeat. The setting, the cabin and the bad guys are all very similar to the original. It even feels the same when you watch it. This is a more modern take on the 1978 version, we have cell phones and computers.... but when it comes down to the final revenge, it's all old school. Yet another positive for this film.

The killings that our 'hero' Jennifer Hills carries out in the end are brutal and well deserved by the bad guys. What they did to her and the amount of time they terrorized her, earned them a lengthy stay in hell and she drags them down into that pit very slowly. The original boasted a lengthy rape scene, nearly 45 mins. The remake isn't quite as long, but still extremely graphic and hard to watch. What both films suffered from was bad poster design. Why do we need the rear end of a woman, half naked holding a knife? It just glorifies the wrong aspects of the film. Other than that, I felt this was a solid 4 out of 5 stars. I don't know if it has repeated watching written all over it, however I think it just might. I would never recommend this to a general audience. This film is for hardcore viewers only. This is a film that will stick with you and make you rethink staying alone in a cabin, especially if you're a beautiful woman. Just check your brain at the door during the scene with the crows.... they look a little too fake to me.

After thought: In the 78' version, Jennifer uses her sexuality to lure the rapists into situations of trust. Once they're in her realm, she dispatches her own brand of justice on each one of them. They never tried to kill her in the original version, they just let her go, expecting her too be to ashamed to say anything. Therefore, it makes it easier for her to convice them that she wants to be with them after the fact. In the 10' version, they attempt to murder her, but she escapes. She hides out plotting her revenge for 1 month before returning. She doesn't come to them trying to convince them of anything.... she hunts them down one by one and kills them slowly and painfully. They have no idea that she's even still alive. It seems much more believable to me and a lot less like they were trying to exploit Jennifer in the modern version. It's just a thought I had and something that I felt needed to be pointed out.

If you feel this is a good film, please watch: 'I Spit On Your Grave' (1978), 'The Brave One' and 'Extremeties'

my thoughts on.... 'Red, White & Blue' (2010)

This film is not an easy one to watch.

This film has characters that have not very many redeeming qualities.

This film presents you with a large number of morality questions, with no real answers.

This film ends ambiguously, but it ends amazingly strong.

This is an amazing film, but I feel strange saying that based on the subject matter.

This is one of the best films I've seen in a while, end of story.

This film has been written about and puzzled over in many online blogs and publications. It's been in my queue for quite some time and I've been putting it off, as I was waiting for the right moment to settle in to watch it. Last night was that night. The reason it keeps coming up, is that it's such a unique storyline with characters that seem to have no likable characteristics.... however, they're very watchable characters. These are characters that you have to find a common ground with in order to watch the film. I spent the entire, almost 2 hour run time, puzzling over how everyone ended up in the situation they were in and if they were justified in their actions. To be honest, I'm still asking myself the same questions. I haven't been able to stop thinking about this film since it ended. I can't say it's a recommended watch, perhaps only to those with a strong stomach and an open mind. This is a film that doesn't come along everyday, it can't be.... not based on the storyline. It's so dark and so harsh.

Enough of my babble, on with the storyline....

Plot taken from Wiki: "Erica (Amanda Fuller) spends her nights trawling the bars and beds of Austin. Emotionally withdrawn, her only form of human contact is a series of one-night stands, until she meets the mysterious Nate (Noah Taylor), who claims to have been honorably discharged from Iraq. Despite his air of danger, Nate’s the only man who seems to want for more than sex, and the two form a hesitant bond. But one of Erica’s casual sexual encounters, Franki (Marc Senter) — a young, hot-headed wannabe rock star — is about to return dramatically into her life." And when he does, things go straight to hell for all three people and everyone in their radius. That pretty much sums it up, although there is so much more to it than just what's writte here. It's such a hard film to sum up in a paragraph.For all of the horrible things that happen during the course of this film, there is still an underlying love story (in a way) and true caring and concern for someone else. It's what makes this all that much more of a difficult film to dissect. Case in point, the violence is focused on in the reviews you read.... but in reality, a lot of is it implied. Granted, there is some horrific stuff presented on the screen, but only snippets of it is visual and the rest is left up to your own imagination. That creates a visual far worse than anything Simon Rumley could have created. There is also some confusion on the backstories in the film and the ending. What I have to say to that is that if you're paying attention and going along with what the characters believe and say, then you'll understand everything that happens. However, if you're left feeling unsatisified at the end.... there are plenty of sites attempting to crack the final scenes. I think it was done in such a way that it doesn't treat the audience like idiots. It allows some interpretations, but is pretty concrete.... however subtle it may be.

All in all, I am very close to a 5 star rating, but after my inital viewing, I am going with a very strong 4 out of 5 star rating. This film has a unique voice that screams out to have all of the directors other films added to the queue and watched as soon as possible. I am so happy that I finally took the leap of faith to watch this and that I waited to be in the right mood. This is not your Saturday afternoon pleasure viewing film, this is for the thinking person with an open mind and a bit of a sadistic side. If you have the time and the desire, this is a film that deserves a wide audience and all of the people involved in this put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into it and it shows. Amazing.

There is a great scene early on in the film where Nate is talking to Erica and telling her a story about when he was a kid. He talks about how he used to do horrible things to animals, but when he was given a kitten to take care of, he treated it like his own child and would never hurt it and would protect it to the death. However, it didn't stop him from hurting other animals. This is just an example of the beautiful way that things are forshadowed in the film and you almost have to take everything said and done in the film as more than what it appears. Everything has a meaning a purpose. That's why I love this flim.

If you like this, check out: 'Death Sentence', 'The Brave One' and 'Death Wish'

my thoughts on.... 'Srpski Film aka A Serbian Film'

i've always said that a 'film' is art.... and a 'movie' is just entertainment.... 'Srpski Film aka A Serbian Film' falls into the film category, but a special segment of film.... one where only the films that shock you deep down in your soul, films that raise the bar into a different realm, films that you can't say you 'liked' them or 'loved' them because they're not that kind of film.... they have horrific themes in them that would make you seem like some kind of depraved monster to 'love' them.... however, you have to respect them for their originality or their message, good or bad.... therefore, i can't say that i love or even like 'Srpski Film aka A Serbian Film'.... it made me feel dirty and like i was some kind of sick-o for enjoying it.... i don't even know that i would say that i respect this film.... but i will say that this film is something that i am glad i saw, so that i can express my thoughts about it with open eyes instead of with a bias based on reviews.... and the reviews are mixed.... most of them call this the most shocking film ever made.... the most vile piece of cinema ever produced.... they have a serious love/hate relationship with it and with themselves for even watching it....

'Srpski Film aka A Serbian Film' is 100% original.... i can honestly say that i've never seen anything like it.... there are so many things in this film that i can never unsee.... things that keep popping up in my head and make me feel like a bad person for seeing this film.... the plot revolves around a retired porn star who is lured back into the business to make a film for a slightly strange director.... he's offered an obscene amount of money, but isn't told anything about the plot of the movie he's making.... his wife and son are the most important thing to him and he sees the money as a way to set them all up for the life that he's always wanted for them.... so he signs on the dotted line and agrees to make the movie.... on the first day of shooting, things don't seem right and he instantly begins to rethink his decision.... but he is convinced to go back for another day, as it might just be that it was a one time occurance.... it turns out that this wasn't a one off thing, he finds out that what he's gotten himself into might not be worth the money he's been offered.... from there, things go so far downhill that you can't imagine them getting any worse, but then the bottom falls out and he descends directly into a hell on earth....
i refuse to be a reviewer who devulges all the gory details of a film.... too many words have been written about the shocking things that occur in 'A Serbian Film' the spoilers, however very few talk about the positive aspects.... despite the horrors within this film.... i recommend you go into it blind.... if you do, you will not be the same person after seeing it.... (i want to pause here and just warn the potential viewer that this film is the deep end of the pool.... this is for the hardcore filmgoer only.... this is NOT a film for everyone.... there are only a few people i would even suggest this film to and i highly recommend that you stay away from it, unless you have an open mind and can tolerate extreme situations that i promise will sicken you.).... this is a film that if it was done any differnt then it was, it would just be glorified horror pornography.... something shocking for shocking's sake.... but the quality of acting in this is more than Oscar worthy, it's in a whole other category.... the lead actor is so committed to his role that it physically hurts to see him go through what he goes through.... imgaine the biblical story of Job, on crack with John Wayne Gacy controlling Job's fate.... the cinematography is Steven Spielberg quality.... it's a beautifully shot film with some money behind it.... or so it would seem.... this looks like a big budget film.... the script is extremely original and must have taken someone with deeply rooted issues to write it.... some demons to exercise.... i can't even imagine what prompted this script to even be written.... it follows a very strict 3 act formula where the character has an arc and changes.... in other words, this is a film, not a movie....

if you choose to watch 'A Serbian Film', there are several things you can check off your 'bucket list' that you never even knew were on there.... things you didn't want on there.... i promise that you will be disturbed by the ending of the film.... and once you think it's over and things can't get any worse than they've been during the first 2 acts, the rug is pulled out one final time.... you're left with a last line of dialogue that will punch you in the gut one more time so you will not forget what you've just experienced.... i give this 4 out of 5 stars.... however, i don't think i ever want to see it again.... it's a film that will change your opinion about those who've already seen it.... you will wonder if they were the person you thought they were.... but understand that this is not something i will tell you to go out and watch.... i don't want your opinion of me to change.... however, that's not my decision to make.... it's something only you can decide to watch or not.... you have been warned.

there is no other film out there like this, i promise you.

my thoughts on.... the 'August Underground' trilogy

what can be said about these films that hasn't already been said....? they set the bar for indie gore-fests.... and Fred Vogel set the bar so high that no one has been able to top him.... i've spent years hearing about them and avoiding them like the plague.... i've never been a fan of gore, only in small doses.... ie: i've dabbled in it here and there.... however, as a student of film i feel that in order to be well rounded and able to critique a film, you need to have a firm base.... i mean, you can't honestly have an unbiased opinion if you haven't seen it from all sides.... that's what finally brought me to watch these films.... that and a recent viewing of 'Srpski Film aka A Serbian Film'.... which has been reviewed with the same vile love and seething hatred that the 'August Underground' series has been reviewed.... the only difference is that 'A Serbian Film' has some high production values and some obvious money behind it.... Fred Vogel had none of that when he started making his films.... (i also enjoy watching the same types of films, so that i can get as many examples as possible of a genre under my belt.)....

in case you've never heard of or seen anything about these films, let me give you a short primer.... Fred Vogel is a guru of special F/X and was hired as an instructor at Tom Savini's school right out of college.... but his love was making films.... his love was film in general.... specifically horror.... and it all started with James Whale's 'Frankenstein'.... oh wait, who's Fred Vogel....? he's the star, writer, producer and director.... the all around brainchild behind the 'August Underground' series of films.... now the films themselves are based on the premise that serial killer movies glorify the killing.... but they don't show the reality of it.... how messy it is.... how horrifying it truly is.... it's all just a big show.... remember the scene in 'Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer' where they videotape their crimes and re-watch it later.... that's the catalyst for the design of these films.... because that one scene stands out in that movie as truly terrifying.... it's all too realistic.... and therefore it hits WAY too close to home.... and what Fred Vogel did was to take that concept and expand on it.... to create the ultimate 'snuff' film.... by using videotape to film the 'August Underground' series, it tears down that safety wall between you and the charaters on the screen.... it brings them right into your living room and it's almost like you're watching your own home movies, but with a lot more death.... the films aren't just all about killing, they also show the day to day life of those who kill.... it makes them even more real.... because the're just like you and me.... granted, some of their day to day stuff is a little 'off', but they're still just flesh and blood people.... but once the killing starts, you see the other side of humanity.... the sickest, cruelest parts.... and the original film was so realistic that it was believed to be a true 'snuff' film at one point.... i suppose that's enough information to give you an insight into what to expect....

the basic premise of the stories involves our main character, played by Fred Vogel.... he's never given a name, he's just our lead.... in the original film, the only oher lead character is the man filming the entire thing and he's never seen or named.... in 'Mordum', Fred is joined by a brother and sister duo and our original camera man does not return.... Fred is dating the sister, but the sister and brother have a 'special' relationship.... in 'Penance', Fred and Crusty (the sister from 'Mordum') are the leads and carry us out until the series ends.... all three films are tied together by Fred and a loose storyline.... and by loose, i mean it's like watching home movies.... you can only gain so much information by listening to the dialogue between people.... that's kind of the scary part.... there isn't much of a motive other than the killing is fun and they like to do it a LOT.... regardless of that, you still become attached to the characters and want to see how their lives will play out.... (or at least i did.).... all three films are snippits of these people's lives.... the day to day, the goofing around, the concerts they see, the homes they live in and the people they murder.... and it's all edited in such a way that it honestly feels like a home movie.... a lot of people find that boring.... others find it that much more intriguing because of the fact that it's hard to seperate fact from fiction....
the killings are what got these films the reputation that they have.... and make no bones about it, they live up to every bit of hype you've heard.... the actors in this film pull no punches and give Oscar worthy performances.... if you sat someone down who'd never heard of, seen or cared about these movies and told them they were real, they just might belive you.... now i'm not one for spoilers, so i won't get to in depth in the murder part.... but there's lots of blood, guts, maggots, nails, duct tape, a saw, a hammer, screaming, nudity, filth, humiliation, Christmas presents and (i hate to say it) rape.... this stuff will punch you in the gut and keep coming until you either throw up or keep watching.... this is the deep end of the pool, kids.... if you think you've seen horror because you've watched 'The Exorcist' or Alexandre Aja's remake of 'The Hills Have Eyes', you ain't seen nothing yet.... the funny thing is that Fred doesn't glorify it.... in my opinion he makes it so animalistic and brutal that you can't help but feel dirty for watching it.... but that base instinct in you keeps you in your chair just to see what happens next.... you can't believe what's playing out in front of you.... but then suddenly when you think you can't take anymore, it cuts to something from daily life.... and you can breathe again.... that's part of the genius of these films.... and i hate to use that term in regards to such vile fodder, but it's true.... regardless of the potential backlash and disapproval i may hear from this review, these films stand alone as part of film history.... and i don't mean that they're the stuff of tributes during the Oscar's or something you're proud to have in your DVD collection.... i mean they're like the 'Blair Witch Project' or 'Paranormal Activity' or even 'Open Water'.... they provide something that hasn't been seen or done before.... they're original.... he took a concept and ran as far with it as he could.... and if it wasn't for the brilliant special effects, the charisma of the actor's and the sheer balls to make these films i don't think they'd stand out.... it'd just be another crappy indie movie shot on video and fed to the masses....

i want to end this by saying that these films are NOT for everyone.... hell, they're not for a lot of folks.... but if you've said, "I've seen it all and there's nothing new out there anymore.".... maybe these are for you.... maybe you're like me and you like to expand your horizons and being a lover of film, you want to see it all.... perhaps you're just a freak who wants to see how far the envelope can be pushed before it breaks.... maybe you're just the slightest bit curious about all the ultra-violence.... who knows....? i just felt inclined to say something about this series.... after watching them all in two days, i've dwelt on them ever since.... trying to wrap my head around what i saw.... feeling kind of icky and perverted for enjoying the ride, but at the same time feeling satisfied that i took it.... despite my fear.... you may not feel the same way.... you may hate me or Fred or even yourself for these films.... therefore, go into them with an open mind and a strong stomach.... and don't say i didn't warn you.

i'd give them 4 out of 5 stars.... with 'August Underground' being the strongest, followed by 'Penance' and 'Mordum' being last.... only because it seemed to focus the most on the gore and not the characters....

other movies like these....? 'Srpski Film aka A Serbian Film' perhaps....? these really stand alone as a genre in and of themselves.... "serial killer home movies"

trailer for 'August Underground':


trailer for 'August Underground: Mordum':

August underground's mordum

trailer for 'August Underground: Penance':

my brief thoughts on.... 'Awful Normal'

it's a sad number of children who've been molested.... and an even sadder number of those who've never reported it or were ignored by their parents or guardians.... so many people have gotten away with destroying the lives of others, only to keep doing it and doing it without them ever being brought to justice.... this documentary focuses on a families journey to confront the man who molested the two daughters and was never held accountable for it.... it was instead swept under the rug by a casual attitude towards the issue in the 70's.... one of the women came up with the idea and is the one who set up the whole plan and made the decision that this was the way she was finally going to be able to get on with her life and have some resolution.... granted, it would never make it go away.... but it would release the ghosts of her past....

when the two sisters in the family were in their preteens, the best friend of the family took advanage of his situation of being so trusted and molested each of the girls seperately.... the details are brought to light to the family of this man and are revealed to us the audience.... this is merely the set up for the time when the two sisters and their mom confront the man.... and demand answers....
this is not an easy film to watch.... it's heart wrenching to see what these women have gone through, especially the primary filmaker.... she's by far the most damaged.... and to hear them tell the story of what happened from their own lips as well as the lips of their molester is horrific.... i've know victims of molestation and i'm sure there are more out there who've just not admitted it.... and perhaps this may not be a movie i would recommend that everyone watch.... due to the subject matter.... and may cause some viewers to relive something they don't want to.... or perhaps it will bring some closure to them.... or maybe allow them to have the courage to do the same thing the filmaker did.... therefore, you have been warned....

i gave it 3 out of 5 stars.... although i think it's hard to rate something like this.... it's not about watching something to be entertained.... it's about something so much deeper.... so i just gave it something generic.... it's a well put together documentary and thought provoking.... and that's all i have to say about that.

there is nothing like this i've ever seen.

my thoughts on.... 'I Spit On Your Grave aka Day Of The Woman'

first off, i just have to clarify one stupid point.... the cover of the DVD used here is NOWHERE to be seen in the movie....! it's a stock shot to sell the movie based on a sexy half naked woman.... which actually kind of defeats the purpose of what the director was trying so hard to make the focus of the movie.... the power of a woman bent on revenge.... not how sexy she looks with a knife.... but that's marketing for you.

Roger Ebert and the late Gene Siskel both felt that this was the worst kind of garbage to be ever put on the screen.... and the extra features boast their entire reviews for you to read.... i guess in a way it's kind of a badge of honor.... it also shows a list of the cast, producer and director's filmographies and for most of them, this was the only movie they ever made.... it ruined some careers.... have i peaked your interest yet....? and i haven't even scratched the surface.... this movie also has the dubious honor of having the longest gang rape sequence in movie history.... granted, it's not over 30 minutes of the poor woman being raped over and over again by the 4 evil men.... it's more of a chase, rape, chase, rape situation.... which makes it no less abhorrent.... it actually makes it that much worse in my opinion.... because every time you think that our heroine is safe, the men re-appear and do more horrific things to her.... and Camille Keaton (great grand daughter of of Buster Keaton) makes it so believable that you almost feel like you're watching a snuff film in the making.... the only other rape scene that ever bothered me more was the 9 minute unflinching rape scene in 'Irreversible'.... that one still wins the prize for most disgusting and hard to watch.... (i dare you to watch that film and not feel sick by the end.... it's purposely designed to make you ill.)

now let's take a short break from everything and talk about the plot.... a woman from New York heads out to a cabin on a lake to write her first novel.... the townsfolk all seem extremely nice.... too nice.... and over time they become increasingly more and more involved in her life and she soon realizes that perhaps it's not kindness on their minds.... one day while sunning herself in her canoe, two of the men drag her and the canoe to a remote location where they meet up with the other two men who proceed to chase, taunt, rape and brutalize her.... once it's finally over, they leave her for dead.... but what they didn't realize is that she survived the attack and for the next two weeks begins to plot her revenge.... and boy does she exact an eye for an eye.... okay.... so we've covered some of the major points of this movie, but what we haven't discussed was the director's intentions and why he made the movie in the first place.... Meir Zarchi set out to make a movie about the power of a woman.... he even called it 'Day Of The Woman' because of this.... but the studio felt that it wasn't punchy enough.... they wanted something that would sell tickets, thus 'I Spit On Your Grave'.... and as far as this movie goes.... i have to admit, despite my sickness with the subject matter of rape, i understand the point he was trying to make.... perhaps he didn't go about it in the right way....? who's to say....? ultimately the woman did hold all the power.... and she knew how to weild it.... her biggest weapon being the power of sex itself.... (and some choice weapons, including a gun a knife, some rope and a speedboat).... she used her own body and lure to get the men to trust her so she could in turn destroy them.... why didn't she call the police....? why didn't she just leave after it happened so it didn't possibly happen again....? it seems that she felt like the only real justice had to be carried out by herself and no one else.... this was her way of regaining her power as a woman.... and to prove that no man had control over her or her body....

as a movie, it is 100% 70's low budget horror/thriller.... the production values are fairly low and the film itself doesn't have too difficult of a plot.... however, it was so influencial that it started a wave of rape/revenge movies.... yet another way for Hollywood to cash in on something over the top and that caught the media's eye and pervert it into a cash cow.... it's slow in some places, but never dull.... the acting is above par.... especially Camille Keaton.... i can't say that i hated it.... but i find rape disgusting and very difficult to watch, even if it's just pretend on a movie screen.... so all in all it earned 3 out of 5 stars for me.... however, i knew a lot about it going into it, so i knew what to expect.... that's part of the reason i'd been putting it off for years.... i'd seen some of it's offspring in my youth and just never found them too appealing.... granted, i enjoy a good revenge movie as much as the next guy.... but let's leave the rape out of it.... however, i'll make an exception in the case of this movie and 'Irreversible'.... as it served a purpose and there was an end to the means.... does that make it right or does that make the actions of the women in the film right....? no.... but it gives the power back to those who've lived through something like this and never had the chance to exact their pound of flesh.

if you enjoy this: just throw a rock at a wall of 70's movies and you'll hit two more movies that are very similar to this one.

my brief thoughts on.... 'Antichrist'

Lars Von Trier is the master of creating beautifully tragic scenes and moving visual pieces of art.... only to be matched by David Lynch.... granted, his films are not for everyone.... this one especially.... this one has pushed his boundries to a near breaking point.... but he still walks a fine line.... this is classified as a horror film, but it's more than that.... it has elements of a supernatural horror film.... a stalker/slasher film.... but in a lot of ways, it's just the study of a couple dealing with the tragic loss of a child.... it's just an extreme example of how someone might deal with it.... very extreme.... i don't know that i can put into words what this movie is.... or was.... or even what i saw.... i can't sum it up into a simple string of sentences.... it's like when i saw 'Dancer in the Dark'.... it moved me so deeply.... and it was beyond description.... or 'Dogville'.... such a unique movie with a unique vision that needs to be seen to be understood.... but i digress....

this movie starts with one of the most amazing opening scenes ever filmed.... where the couple is wrapped up in their own lovemaking that they don't notice that the window of their apartment has blown open.... they live about 6 stories up or more and their son is not asleep.... he soon gets out of his crib.... past the baby gate and up on the desk in front of the window.... where he proceeds to slip and fall to his death... unable to deal with her grief, the wife breaksdown.... her husband, a therapist, begins treating her.... which is against everyones better judgement.... soon they decide to face her fears and head to a cabin in the woods where the movie just plummets off the deep end into insanity....it's strange, but in this movie.... there really isn't anyone but the couple and their son.... i can't think of one other person you see throughout the film.... it's really a meditation on their lives.... it's graphic, it's brutal, it's extremely sexual.... it's unlike any movie i've seen in a while.... i still can't say that i've made my mind up about it.... as i only gave it 3 out of 5 stars.... mostly due to the ending being a little vague.... but maybe that was the point....? i really think it deserves far more stars for it's shear creativity and boldness in filmaking.... it's unlike anything you'll see this year.... give it a shot.... but you have been warned, it's not for the weak and it's not for a large segment of the population.... this is a study in film appreciation.

some other Lars Von Trier movies i recommend: 'Dancer in the Dark', 'Dogville' and 'Manderlay'

my thoughts on.... 'House' (2008)

waste of time. do not watch. 1 out of 5 stars.... it's just that simple.

if you even bother trying to watch this movie.... turn it off and watch anything else.

my thoughts on.... 'Stoic'

so my Uwe Boll fest has finally come to a close.... 'Stoic' being the last movie in the collection.... so far the count is 2 crappy movies and 1 great film.... what about 'Stoic' you might be asking....? well, i have to say i didn't hate it.... it's not a better movie than 'Rampage', but it's far above and beyond 'House of the Dead' and 'Seed'.... i honestly sat entranced by the actors performances.... each one of them were well cast and played their roles up to a "T".... the script was well written and supposedly this is based on true events.... which if that's the case, it makes it all that much more disturbing of a movie....

you have 4 prisoners in one cell.... they start out harmlessly enough playing a friendly game of poker for cigarettes.... soon a bet is placed for the winner of the next hand to have to eat an entire tube of toothpaste.... when the player who made the bet loses the hand and won't keep up his end of the bet, things start to spin out of control.... first they force him to eat the toothpaste.... but it just gets progressively worse from there.... as they continue to up the ante to the point where they carry out some of the most horrific acts on the poor man which eventually has some pretty tragic results.... however, i won't say ultimately what happens.... as Netflix OnDemand didn't have the entire movie available to watch.... it just suddenly cuts off right at the climax.... i mean, most of the important stuff has happened and you know the ending, but some closure would have been nice....
Mr. Boll has proven himself to be a 50/50 player in the directing, writing and producing game.... i think the key is for him to stay away from video game movies and stick to other stuff.... because it's where he shines.... i won't say that i'm a fan of his now.... but i have gained a little more respect for him and would watch another one of his movies if the plot intrigued me enough.... i can't believe i'm saying that.... but i will give credit where credit is due and i'm glad i took the time to give him another chance.... and you should too....

this movie gets 3 out of 5 stars.... and may not be something i'll own or need to watch again, but it was worth the time and energy i invested into watching it.... it was above par and Edward Furlong is always good to watch.... that being said.... my Uwe Boll fest has ended and now i can go back to real life.... i hope you've enjoyed this review.... (what an odd way to end this....?!?!)