my thoughts on.... 'Satan's Little Helper'

Every year, when Halloween rolls around, there's always a question of what films to watch? Well, I have a new one to add to the mix now.... thanks to Brian. (Thank you!) It's a little film that slid by under the rader, but that Netflix kept trying to get me to watch. Finally, I did. The film is called 'Satan's Little Helper' and it's a diamond in the rough. It's something unique, special and fun. It's the perfect little add on to your regular Halloween viewing. It feels like Halloween, takes place on Halloween and has a lot good going for it. It's written and directed by the cult director, Jeff Lieberman. He's not got a huge cinematic history, but he's got a name that's known for what little he's done. He made a movie about killer earthworms! It stars a little boy who only did one other movie, Alexander Brickel. Granted, he's annoying as hell, but he fits in this role perfectly. It was the part he was born to play. I mean, the whole film is kind of surreal or hyper-realistic and he just adds another level to that. It's not really gory or violent, it's just quirky and odd.

The plot revolves around a little boy named, Douglas who is obsessed with a video game called 'Satan's Little Helper'. His mom, played by Amanda Plummer, thinks this game is an okay past time for her son and encourages him to dress up as the main character of the game for Halloween. He wears the costume non-stop. It basically consists of a Satan costume with a little badge around his neck that says, 'Satan's Little Helper'. The game is kind of like 'Grand Theft Auto', without the car and with Satan and a lot of death. As Douglas is running around the neighborhood, he sees a strange man dressed like Satan. This strange man is killing people in the neighborhood and leaving them out in the front yard like a piece of Halloween decorations. Douglas convinces Satan to let him be his 'helper' and they go off on an adventure. What Douglas doesn't realize, is that Satan is actually killing the people.... he thinks it's all pretend. Eventually, he brings him home to meet his mom and sister. Things slowly start to fall apart, until Douglas realizes the truth and all hell breaks loose. The rest you just have to see.I can't say enough good things about this film. I don't want you to think that this is the best Halloween film ever made, but it's a nice breath of fresh air. I've seen almost every Halloween film made to date and even the ones that aren't specifically for Halloween and they were starting to get stale. I think that's why I ended up liking this one so much.... it's new. (actually, it's from 2004) Everybody needs a little change up now and then. I think if you have an open mind and a little bit of a dark sense of humor, then you'll probably dig this film too. Just ignore the one really bad part, when Doug's dad is being gutted. His intestines look really, really fake. Granted, I have had my hands inside a dead body and pulled the guts out of a man.... these guts weren't even close to realistic. (and I didn't kill anyone.... if you remember, I went to a cadaver lab during my Medical Assistant schooling)

I give 'Satan's Little Helper' a solid 4 out of 5 stars. My only regret is that I didn't wait until Halloween to actually watch it. Watching on that night in particular would have made this that much better. But you don't have to do that, it has the Halloween feel year round. They left this open for a sequel, but if they haven't announced one by now, then I kind of doubt it's going to happen. It's probably better that way.... it would have just weakend this storyline, even with the slightly soft ending. This film is available to rent through Netflix.

If you want other good films to watch on Halloween, check out: 'Trick 'r Treat', 'Creepshow' and 'Sleepy Hollow' (1999)

(I couldn't find a trailer that wasn't in Spanish, so here's a short clip from the film. Don't judge based on this alone. Thanks!)

my thoughts on.... 'Tony' aka 'Tony: London Serial Killer'

To quote Norville 'Shaggy' Rogers, "Like, wow man." That's kind of how I felt when this ended. It was something unique and a bit of a breath of fresh air to see. Peter Ferdinando, who plays 'Tony' is spot on. He creates an extremely akward and stunted man, one that it's almost painful to watch. At the same time, I could almost relate to him no matter how strange he was. There was one scene in particular where he was chatting with his downstairs neighbor and I found myself laughing along and smiling for him since he was too akward to do it on his own. It was a strange reaction to have to a film, but it happened. That to me is a good sign of someone who completely sucks you into the role they're playing. So much that they influence you physically outside of the film. To that, I give this film a lot of credit. This film also has some amazing cinematography. Watch for the scene where Tony is about to go up in the elevator (the screencap in the poster I used above), it's quite stunning and could make an amazing framed picture to hang on the wall. As a matter of fact, the entire film is shot in such a way that it has a nice, gritty, sometimes 70's-ish feel to it.... right down to the credits sequence at the beginning and end of the film. This film is also based on a short film by the director aslo called 'Tony'. All of these things are strangely similar to the pedigre of 'Hobo With A Shotgun'. These two films are not the same as each other, but they are both made outside of the US and have a simliar backstory.

Plot synopsis from http://www.Netflix.com: "Solitary Tony (Peter Ferdinando) lives on the line of society and of sanity: Mostly he's home alone, cultivating a taste for 1980s action flicks, and when social interaction arises, murder is his solution to an awkward moment. Director Gerard Johnson's gruesome character study observes the inscrutable figure as he goes about the business of being maladjusted, misreading the world around him while remaining a mystery even perhaps to himself." There is also a running story about a missing child that we're never quite sure if Tony killed or not. You don't find out for sure until the very end, but it just adds yet another level of tension and strangeness to the film. Tony is a man with issues.

That summary above sums this film up. Tony is a man that hasn't moved on in years. He's lived in his same apartment for "ages" (10 years or more) and nothing hasn't changed in the apartment since then. He still watches VHS tapes only and searches them out. His bread and butter are 80's action films. He talks about them a lot and watches them all the time, he even says at one point that he doesn't even have broadcast television. He also reveals that he only has cassette tapes. He's a sexually conflicted man who seems to not know what he wants. At times he gives the impression that he's heterosexual, he even goes so far as to go to visit a call girl. He also hangs out at a gay bar a lot and yet he turns down the advances of another man. He also seems interested in kinky sex acts and trannys as well.... it is just a big confusing mess. Tony doesn't seem to have a cell phone or any phone. He has a bizarre hair cut and horrible teeth. He is just all around a creepy and strange man. That cannot be expressed enough.

This is billed as a serial killer and the poster even mentions the classic 'Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer'. I can't quite say that this is on par with that film, but I can see the comparison. There isn't really much to speak of in terms of gore or blood. There is one scene of him cutting up internal organs for disposal and the occasional severed leg or foot, but that's about it. There are also not a huge amount of killings, but the ones that are shown on screen are used at the appropriate times to remind you that you're not just watching a weirdo's life, you're watching a serial killer in action. A serial killer that is slightly resembling Kip from 'Napoleon Dynamite'. Regardless of all of the ugliness that is occasionally shown here, there are some really quiet and beautiful moments in this film. One in particular involves Tony waking up asleep in his living room chair. The TV is on with nothing but static on the screen and that's all that's heard. The sun is just coming up and everything is so peaceful. What you saw the night before, was not so nice. Now, before I wrap this whole thing up.... I have to say that the ending was a bit vague and obscure or abrupt. When I was in film school, it was a rookie mistake for first time film makers to end a film in a way that they ended this film. There are rare times when it's okay to do it this way, but I feel like this could have been a much stronger film if they had worked harder on wrapping it up in a more satisfying way. Maybe they just felt like this was the way to end it and more power to them if that's the case. I am not the writer and director, I am just the viewer. Other than that, this was a great film that I'd never heard of if it wasn't for Netflix. You'll have to rent it if you want to see it, but make sure you are prepared for the ending of the film, it may or may not rub you the right way. I gave this a 4 out of 5 star rating for everything but the last 5 minutes.... that was about a 3 or so. I see great potential in the cast and crew of this film, I really hope they continue to make films as I'd love to see what else they have in store. In the meantime, pop a VHS in the videocassette player, hit the tracking button and enjoy.

my very brief thoughts on.... '8213: Gacy House'

When 'The Blair Witch Project' came out, the whole "found fottage" phenomenom was brand new. Now days, it's everywhere. It's an inexpensive way to make your first movie and a lot of people are taking advantage of that. Some have been pretty effective, then there's '8213: Gacy House'. I'm not saying it's ineffective, but it is not as good as some of the others movies like this that i've seen. I do feel like it's kind of in bad taste to use the tragedy of John Wayne Gacy's crimes as a backdrop for this movie. I can't think of any movies that have used the ghost of a real serial killer as the main villan. I remember the whole John Wayne Gacy story. I was alive when it all went down and even celebrated on the night of his death with friends. Because of all that, I have to say I felt this was a little bit in bad taste. Granted, there is a pretty big niche market for movies that are being made about serial killers. There are a few examples of big budget ones, like 'Zodiac' by David Fincher. Then there are countless others that are made on a low budget and for the lowest common reasons. Like 'Dahmer', 'Gacy', 'Bundy', etc. I've seen some of these and for the most part they're exactly what you'd expect. Direct to DVD stuff that is just made to cash in on a famous name. Some of them feature big named b-grade actors and same make the careers of future actors. Case in point: 'Dahmer' starred a young Jeremy Renner. I felt like he was the only worthwhile aspect of that movie. He brought that character to life and now look at him. He's quickly becoming the toast of Hollywood. Anyway, I'm off track. '8213: Gacy House' is less about the real events of his life, but more about the fictional events of his afterlife.

This is the basic breakdown of the plot from both http://www.imdb.com and http://www.Netflix.com: "A group of paranormal investigators enter the abandoned home of pedophile and serial killer John Gacy, hoping to find evidence of paranormal activity. Upon entering the house they set-up cameras throughout the abandoned house while going room to room with hand-held cameras, performing séances and asking for John Gacy to come forward. As the evening progresses it seems the investigators are not prepared for the horror still within the house. Although Gacy's house of horrors has long since been demolished, with another house erected in its place, the tortured spirits of his 33 victims seem to be alive and well." I can say that this is pretty much the exact storyline. 6 people walk into a supposed haunted house of a former serial killer to find out the truth about the hauntings and no one walks out alive. This is the fottage of that night found later. BOO!

Don't get me wrong, I love a lot of these kinds of movies. 'The Blair Witch Project' even made it into my 'Top 50 Films Of All Time' list. There is something eerie about them. I've always been fascinated by ghosts and realized a long time ago that we might not ever have real proof of paranormal activty caught on camera. Therefore, these types of movies are the closest thing to that for me. I felt kind of dirty watching this because of what it was cashing in on, but at the same time I was looking forward to seeing it as it looked like a decent example of the found fottage genre. It reminded me quite a bit of 'Death of a Ghost Hunter' in the feel of the movie. I'm pretty sure it was in the same budget as well. It's OnDemand right now and may or may not be worth your time, but I don't recommend you renting it.

What I liked about this movie was the cast, they were pretty good. I liked the location, it was pretty effective for a ghost story. I liked the cinematography, it was fairly well done for this kind of movie. What I didn't like, was the fact that the house looked damn good for being abandonded for so long. I also didn't like the fact that this isn't the original house (as it was no longer around) but a rebuilt house. The cast still treated it like it was the original house that the crimes occured in. It overall just just felt kind of off. I'm not 100% sure why that is, perhaps it was the ghost in his 'wife beater' shirt and tighty whitey's attacking one of the victims. Who knows? For taking a new spin on an old genre, I gave it 2 out of 5 stars. I may be being generous or perhaps it's something else. Either way, you're watching this movie at your own risk. I am not planning on seeing it again at any point. Perhaps the next movie from these people will be better, perhaps it will be about spending the night in the apartment across from where Jefery Dahmer lived in Michigan! OOOO, scary. I'll stick with my 'Paranormal' Activity' and the like.

my brief thoughts on.... 'Blackout' (2008)

there's a lot of talk right now about the M. Night Shyamalan produced 'Devil' about strangers on an elevator and one of them may be the devil.... before that was made, there was 'Blackout' starring Amber Tamblyn.... this film was about 3 strangers trapped on an elevator that's stuck.... what two of them don't know about the third is that person is a serial killer.... sounds simple enough, right....? what's really impressive about this film is how much drama and action they were able to squeeze out of such a small place.... it's an edge of your seat thriller and despite the fact that you find out who's the killer before the end, doesn't make this any less powerful.... it's a nail biter.... and it proves once again that Amber Tamblyn is a very underrated actress.... she carries this film on her shoulders and does it well.... i only wish that other films would follow this same example.... it just doesn't seem that there's enough thought put into filmmaking these days.... there is a lot of junk being put out just for the sake of getting something out in the theater.... whether it's because of a certain actor they want to cash in on or a certain trend.... even remakes can be original, if done right.... so please, take the time to look beyond the 'new release' wall at the video store or explore Netflix in your spare time.... Google a film you love and look for referrals to other films.... there's a world of films that are waiting for a fresh set of eyes, you just have to be willing to take a risk....

that being said....
i can say, without hesitation, that this was a 4 out of 5 star film.... a little diamond in the rough that needs to be seen by more people.... kind of like another Amber Tamblyn gem, 'Spiral' (which is OnDemand right now).... it's another low budget thriller that needs more people to see it.... not too mention it also stars Joel David Moore and 'Chuck's Zachary Levi.... 'Blackout' proves that simplicity can be just as effective as an intricate plot and a big budget with a big name producer behind it.... it's a solid film with solid direction and solid acting.... and you should probably consider checking this one out soon before it's gone from Netflix's OnDemand section.... i highly recommend it.... and if it means anything, this will someday be a part of the Joel DVD library.... i enjoy films where actors get a chance to act and to tell the story with words, rather than with pictures.... this is absolutely one of those films.... and on that note, i'll be using the stairs.

if you like Amber Tamblyn, also check out: 'The Grudge 2', 'Spiral', and 'The Ring'

my very brief thoughts on.... 'Deranged'

Ed Gein has been written about, puzzled over, studied, and portrayed on film in many different ways.... not always as himself, but aspects of his life and crimes have been mixed in with other characters.... he's generally considered the first serial killer, however he was more of a grave robber than a killer.... he was only ever convicted of killing 2 people.... but the police think it may have been as many as 15.... therefore, he never qualified as a serial killer.... but regardless, that's the way he's remembered is as a murderer either way.... in 1974, they made probably the most accurate movie about the life of Ed Gein.... it's pretty melodramtic and dated, but if you've read the history of Ed Gein you'll see how closely they match up with the reality.... i've actually seen this movie twice.... not intentionally, it just kind of happened.... and the second time i wasn't sure until the very end that i'd already seen it.... i don't know if i liked it any better or worse the second time around, but i did get a little more out of it....

Ed Gein was a mama's boy.... he loved his mother more than anything else.... and when she died, he had an extremely difficult time coping with her death.... instead of moving on, he went and dug up her corpse and kept it in his home.... this wasn't the end of his graverobbing.... eventually he made it a regular thing.... and his home slowly turned into a museum of the macbre.... full of skulls, bones, severed body parts, lamps made of skin, a full skin body suit, and more.... things just get worse and worse with his obsession until he takes it to the next level and kills.... this proves to be a shocking revelation for the people of his small town.... the fact that a mama's boy like Eddie Gein could commit such horrific crimes....
there have been many better movies based on parts of Ed Gein's life and there may be more made at a later date.... i wouldn't be surprised.... but until that happens, this is the best one to date.... (stay away from the Kane Hodder movie 'Ed Gein: The Butcher of Plainfield'.... it's pure and utter shit.).... i gave this movie a 2 out of 5 star rating.... it's not a good movie overall.... it is what it is....Roberts Blossom does an amazing job of bringing Eddie to life.... he creates a living and breathing man out of a subpar script.... his commitment to the role is intense.... sometimes it's so over the top that you want to laugh, but he's such a presence that you can't stop watching and don't end up laughing.... currently it's not available to rent, but you can watch it OnDemand from Netflix.... that's how i saw it.... before you delve into his depraved world, please do some research on him first.... learn all the details and view the crime scene photos.... it brings the whole story to life and you can see how much time and effort was put into this recreation of his life.... no matter how dark and twisted it was.

if you watch this, then also check out these loosely based Ed Gein movies: 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' (1974), 'The Silence of the Lambs', and 'Psycho' (1960)

my brief thoughts on.... 'The Perfect Witness'

over the years, i've grown to enjoy Wes Bentley more and more.... so that's kind of what attracted me to this movie.... granted, i thought the plot sounded interesting.... not entirely new, but interesting.... and with him thrown in the mix i thought it was a no brainer to watch this.... at it's core, this is a pretty dark little movie.... there's not too much redeeming about any of the characters in the movie.... and no one is really innocent.... you'd like to think that our hero is just that.... a hero.... but in reality, he's just as twisted and dark as the villan.... this a fairly smart script and one that falls in the category or a character study.... a movie based around in depth characters with a lot of backstory.... you can almost feel their baggage when they're on the screen.... and it takes good actors to pull off a movie like this.... one that relies so much on being believable as someone realistic, but the truth be told is only someone's imagination....

the story involves Wes's character shooting the murder of a woman at the hands of a notable serial killer.... he uses the tape to bribe the killer into being in a documenary about the killer himself.... one that Wes plans on marketing after the killer is caught or killed only.... meanwhile, he's trying to hide his identity to protect his family and to also stay clean and sober.... as he's a recovering addict.... things slowly spin out of control as the killer begins to get the upper hand in the situation and eventually all bets are off.... Wes is just as much involved in the murders and the killer as the killer himself.... and the more we learn about each character, the further down the rabbit hole we go....
i was really intrigued by this movie overall.... it had its flaws.... some more glaring than others.... but it was well put together and moved at a rapid pace, so as not to lose the audience.... i honestly wasn't sure where it was going and was suprised at some of the turns it took along the way.... it raises a lot of moral questions and puts them point blank in your face.... it's unsettling at times and it rarely lets up on the intensity meter.... i gave it 3 out of 5 stars for effort and execution.... it could have been more than it was, but it was just enough to be worthwhile.... something to see if you've never seen anything quite like this.... plus it gives Wes Bentley a chance to shine again.... now i want to watch 'P2' again....

if you like this, watch: 'Man Bites Dog', 'How To Be A Serial Killer' and just for Wes Bentley as a crazy man 'P2'

my brief thoughts on.... 'The Toolbox Murders' (1978)

i'm not sure if you saw the remake of this movie by Tobe Hooper.... but this movie and that one have no real connection other than the fact that they both involve tools.... that's where the similarities end.... one of the big differences is that this movie is one of those, "Based on an actual events" movies.... whether or not that's true, i didn't research.... but that's what they say.... now if you're coming into this movie expecting murders by someone with a toolbox.... well, you're half right.... for the first 20 -30 mins or so, that's what happens.... but for the remaining hour.... there is no such occurance.... it's all creepy monologues and some twists and turns.... really slow twists and turns.... this is by no means an exciting movie.... it has very little redeeming qualities and is not something i would readily recommend to anyone else.... not that the Tobe Hooper version was any better.... but at least it had Sheri Moon Zombie in it for the opening scene....

as the story goes.... someone is killing the residents of an apartment complex with a toolbox full of tools.... he's killing those who are impure.... women only.... after killing 4 women, the police have no leads and no clues.... all they have is 4 dead women and a 5th that seems to have been kidnapped.... the brother of the girl begins his own search for her as the police aren't being very helpful.... they soon reveal who the killer is and add a twist.... it kind of brings the story to a screeching halt and it sputters to an end with a whimper, not a bang.
i honestly had hoped for something more.... as this is brought up a lot in slasher movie circles.... but sadly, i was let down.... 1 out of 5 stars is all i could muster for it.... this movie just suffers from all of the bad cliche's of the 70's cinema.... and it hasn't aged well at all.... the killer is lame.... the story is confusing and dull.... the fact that it's based on actual events doesn't seem to help either.... it seems like an attempt to be like 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' or something.... uninspired, boring and not worth the hour and a half it takes to watch it.... find something more constructive to do with your time.

if you watch this, go watch something better: 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' (1974), 'The Burning' or a Lifetime original movie

my brief thoughts on.... 'The Prowler'

this is a movie i've been hearing about for a long time.... Joesph Zito directed and Tom Savini did the special effects.... it's considered to be some of the best work Savini has ever done.... and it is pretty impressive.... especially based on when thi was released.... this movie, in some circles, it's considered a classic of the slasher genre.... not too mention it was released in 1980, the beginning of the golden era of the genre.... it was right when they came up with the formula.... you take a person who's wronged in some way.... they have a screw loose.... they find some kind of costume, mask or outfit and they go on a killing spree.... perhaps starting with the trigger of their rage, but then going off the deep end and they continue to kill....

in this movie, the story begins in 1945 with a woman breaking up with a G.I. via a hand written letter.... her name was Rosemary.... on the night of the Graduation Dance, Rosemary and her boyfriend go out to a secluded area where they are promptly killed by a man in an army uniform.... presumebly the ex of Rosemary.... fast forward to 1980.... the first Graduation Dance is being held since that night.... some people are wary of holding it due to what happened the last time.... but it goes forward.... meanwhile the sheriff heads off to a fishing trip, leaving only the deputy on duty for the entire town.... of course, the killer returns and people start to die.... that's as much as i'll reveal....
all in all, not a bad entry in to the genre.... i gave it 3 out of 5 stars for it's overall feel and execution.... (no pun intended).... the ending was a bit questionable.... but the special effects, the main bad guy and the hero and his girl are all likable and the movie is worth it just for those things.... one funny thing about this was the promoting of the actor Lawrence Tierney.... most of you would know him as 'Joe' from 'Reservoir Dogs'.... but as far as his role in this movie....? you see him in a long shot in a window watching the dorms.... and then he grabs a girl as she runs away from the killer.... that's it. hardly a starring role.... anyway.... long story short.... this is worth your time if you like slasher flicks.... it's above average and should be checked off your list at some point.... then make the decision for yourself about it's classic status....

if you dig this, you may also enjoy: 'My Bloody Valentine' (1981), 'Friday the 13th' (1980) and 'Madman'

my brief thoughts on.... 'How To Be A Serial Killer'

this is a hard film to clasify.... part mockumentary, part serial killer movie, part motivational speaker seminar.... but very entertaining.... the lead in the movie is charming nd charasmatic.... his student is kind of a loveable sad sack.... but together they do some pretty nasty things.... this movie felt very familiar, but at the same time foreign.... i found myself glued to the TV for the entire film, wondering where it was all going.... there was just so much going on....

you have a hapless video clerk who meets a friendly man who asks him if he would kill a man in the store who was being an a-hole.... this leads to the man shooting the a-hole in the parking lot and a friendship is formed.... more of a mentor relationship.... here the man is out to teach the clerk how to be a serial killer.... interwoven within the storyline is a motivational lecture on the same topic and interviews with a man talking about serial killers.... it sounds strange on paper, but it works very well as a whole.... i gave this 3 out of 5 stars.... mostly for entertainment value alone.... it was missing a little something that kept it from being a 4 star movie.... but i would still recommend it for fans of the genres mentioned.... and there's not too many movies where you root for the killer.... at least not too many i can think of.

if you like this, check out: 'Behind The Mask: The Rise And Fall Of Leslie Vernon', 'Man Bites Dog' and 'American Psycho'

my thoughts on.... 'The Collector'

what do you get when you have the writers of the last few 'Saw' movies write and direct their own movie....? you get 'The Collector'.... a dark and moody horror movie all about killer who likes to torment his victims, but he always keeps one in the end.... thus making him The Collector.... visually this movie has a lot going for it.... soundtrack wise, the same thing.... the characters are interesting and the plot is fairly original.... the killer is creepy as heck.... there's plenty of blood and gooey stuff for those who like that kind of stuff.... all in all a very nice first outing.... and considering the pedigree of the director, it makes sense.... i came into this with little to no expectations and was pleasently suprised by how enjoyable it was.... in the moviegoing sense.... it kept my interest and i cared about the people involved.....

basically, you quickly learn that our killer likes to leave a little trap for his victims to get their attention.... from there he sets traps all over the entire house so that his vicitms can't escape and so he can also see them suffer while trying to avoid the traps.... granted, it sounds a bit like the 'Saw' movies, but it's not.... the traps are much more simple and more realistic.... the movie starts with our hero working on a house with a whole lot of other people for a family who's just moved in.... our hero has decided that he is going to rob the home, like he's done in the past for a partner he has that moves the product for him.... once the family has supposedly gone out of town, he shows up at the house and breaks in.... soon he realizes that he's not alone.... our killer is also in the house and has taken the family hostage.... and he must decide whether to help them out or make his getaway, if he can....
my biggest drawback to this movie is the fact that the traps would just take way too long to set to be practical.... unless this guy plans on being there for hours on end.... not too mention, once he's caught the husband and wife, they only have the two children that are left to catch.... so the traps remain kind of pointless, unless a third party breaks in and messes things up.... but perhaps that's his game.... in case the cops show up, they'll be disabled....? who knows.... but it makes for an interesting story.... and makes it much more difficult for our hero to do what he has to do.... it's obvious the 'Saw' influence is here, but not overwhelming.... this guy is a bad guy and has no method to his madness.... he just likes to kill....

i gave it 3 out of 5 stars for style and substance.... but it has some pretty big flaws.... i'll be curious where our director goes next.... he has a lot of talent.... and if it's a sequel that's next on his plate, so be it.... but i'd love to see him branch out and show of what he's really capable of.... the movie itself seperated from the storyline and characters is very well done.... all in all a solid effort and worthwhile to watch.... i would recommend it as a diversion or a late night time waster.... check it out....

if you like this see: 'Saw', 'High Tension' and 'P2'

my thoughts on.... 'Sick Girl'

filmakers fascinate me.... as i've been on both sides of the lens, i find the whole process intriguing.... i've been director, cinematographer, screenwriter and actor.... finding a creative story and one that has the certain 'it' factor is rare.... this movie was one of those movies that got under my skin and despite it's shortfalls, it was still something unique.... maybe the story wasn't original in all aspects, but it just didn't matter.... i fell in love right away.... now you may find that disturbing once you see the film.... however, there's just something about it.... before i get on the review.... this movie is not available OnDemand on Netflix, but it's available to download and was one of those strange movies i just stumbled across while messing around on the Netflix site.... (a daily thing i do.).... needless to say, the title is not just a way to get your attention.... it really describes the film and it's star.... Leslie Andrews.... who is hypnotizing to watch....

Izzy and her little brother basically live on their own after their older brother goes off to Iraq.... their friend Benny watches over them as much as he can, but he has a life of his own and isn't always there.... neither of them know what Izzy is really up to.... she has a violent streak a mile wide and has very little pity for anyone and i mean anyone.... the movie opens with Izzy doing something nasty to a nun, doing something nasty to a schoolbus full of kids and then does something nasty to two random boys on the road.... that's just in the first 10 minutes.... it just gets worse from there.... as she continues on her silent rampage across her small town totally unknown to anyone except her victims.... that's all i'm going to say.... the rest just needs to be seen.
this is not a gentle film.... it's not heartwarming or at least not for long.... it's wrong on many different levels but there's some kind of poetry to it.... something i can't quite explain.... i'm sure you'll all think i'm nuts once you see it.... i just couldn't get enough of the film.... and i sent it right back this morning, as i wanted to remember it fondly and watch it again after it has time to settle.... i'd like to even own it, if i can ever find it anywhere.... perhaps on Amazon.... it blends a lot of different genres.... and some people may equate it with torture porn, but that's a genre definition that i don't agree with.... i think it's bogus and in this film it doesn't hold any more true than any other "torture porn" movie.... granted there are horrific things done to all ages of people.... but it has a point.... it just shows how truly disturbed our anti-hero Izzy is.... and she's pretty damn messed up....

after it ended i automatically gave it 4 out of 5 stars.... the only real drawbacks are some of the low production values.... but it's a low budget film.... so i can forgive the drawbacks of a lack of money.... the story is so strong and the characters so interesting that i couldn't take my eyes off of it the whole time.... and i wanted the experience to never end.... from the hard hitting beginning all the way to the gut punching ending.... it grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go.... plain and simple, i loved it.... so if anything i've said catches your interest at all.... go out and rent it asap and let me know what you think.... but you have been warned, it's not for the faint of heart.... 'Sick Girl' is film going experience, not a movie to casually just watch.

my thoughts on.... 'Dead of Winter'

my basic thoughts on this are short and sweet.... it's sloppy, it's got no real point and it's fairly uninteresting.... in other words.... stay away.... you've got a couple that get slipped some LSD and start tripping and thinking that they're being chased by a killer.... then slowly one of them turns into that person, sort of.... and then one person dies and then one other person dies in a chimney and it's over.... or is it....? eh? eh?.... 1 out of 5 stars.... don't waste your time even if you have nothing else to do.... watch something else.... i mean even if you don't have cable, you've always got something on PBS that's more interesting than this....

if you start watching this, turn it off and watch: 'P2', 'Santa's Slay' or 'Silent Night, Deadly Night'

my thoughts on.... 'Bundy'

so Parker Lewis can't lose, eh....? well, this movie proves that to be untrue.... what i mean is that Corin Nemec plays the lead role of Ted Bundy and doesn't do to bad of a job.... he's creepy where he needs to be and charming where he needs to be.... not the best retelling of this story that i've seen.... but it's a decent movie with decent qualities.... this movie is made by the same folks who made 'B.T.K.' (which is also reviewed in this blog....) it's obvious this is a slap dash, direct to video piece of filth that is only made to cash in on the serial killer-philes.... people who are fascinated by serial killers and find their stories interesting.... i'm betting, however, 10 to 1 that there are way better books and online articles about this man than this movie.... i'd put money on it.

Ted Bundy was considered a charming serial killer.... a man who could've had any woman he wanted, but instead turned to a life of crime.... (he's not really portrayed in that way in this movie).... he was known for being a smart guy and they make him out to be more of a child in this movie.... they also take some liberties with his method and his madness.... he has a serious hatred for women and kills them in some fairly brutal ways.... i guess i really shouldn't have expected too much from this.... it just fell in line with my theme for the night of serial killer movies and documentaries.....
if you have a spare bit of time on your hands.... it's interesting to watch Corin's take on the character.... and he's charismatic enough to hold your attention for the full hour and a half.... but this is not the recommended version of this story.... and a simple search online would find better fact based versions of this man's story.... he was a sick individual who got what he deserved in the end.... too bad it wasn't any earlier.... a few more lives could have been saved....

again, 2 out of 5 stars.... not a recommend movie.... it's available OnDemand on Netflix along with B.T.K..... but i'd stay away and see what other Hollywood movies you can find that are fictional or the occasional one that is a true story.... these direct to video titles are basically just serial killer porn that serve no real purpose.... just to clutter up the DVD shelves at the video store.... and to sucker in people who just don't know any better.... i knew what i was getting into, but i was curious anyway.... i guess i'm just funny that way....

if you liked this movie, check out these much better films: 'Hannibal', 'Manhunter' and 'Red Dragon'

my thoughts on.... 'B.T.K.'

this is a movie "inspired by the true story".... this is important to realize before you watch this movie.... it's not a true retelling of what actually happened in the B.T.K. case.... i didn't realize this when i went into it.... i just assumed it was going to be a bit more fact based.... sure they got a couple of things right, but overall it's just a reason to have Kane Hodder (Jason from several Friday the 13th films) go around and kill people.... i was less than impressed by it....

their version has B.T.K. as an overzealous compliance officer.... who tends to take his job a bit to seriously.... he's married with two teenage daughters and sneaks out occasionally to kill some women and sometimes men for no real reason.... we're never really given a motive.... he's an upstanding citizen to the outside world and to his church.... but soon all of that comes crashing down in one big mess....
i think Kane Hodder is an interesting fellow.... and as an actor, he's better than i expected he'd be, since mostof the movies i've seen him in he's behind a mask and doesn't say anything.... he does his best with the story and tries to make it interesting, but it all just falls flat.... there is nothing really special about the movie.... nothing really stands out.... its all just kind of there.... you know....? like they made it and just kind of did it for the hell of it....

2 out of 5 stars for this less than stellar movie.... and not something i would recommend to anyone actually interested in the case.... you're better off reading a true crime book instead.... the only reason i would tell anyone to see this is to see Kane Hodder do more than his usual typecasting.... other than that, junk.

if you like this movie, watch something better: 'Se7en', 'The Silence of the Lambs' and 'Zodiac'

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.... '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'

my thoughts on.... 'The Cottage'

it's rare that i come across a movie that makes me say WTF....? and in a good way.... i have no idea how to review this film.... so i'm going to come at it this way....
don't read anything about it. don't look it up on Netflix other than to add it to your queue. just rent this movie, sit back and enjoy.... it's an hour and a half you won't regret.... and once i hear that some people have seen it and get some reactions from them.... i'll write a full review..... a solid 4 out of 5 stars.... well worth your time an energy.... please go get it now.... a sleeper of a movie that deserves an audience....

if you enjoy this movie, check out: 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' (2003), 'From Dusk Till Dawn' and 'House of a 1000 Corpses'

my thoughts on.... 'The Hills Run Red'

have you ever seen 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'....? or 'Friday The 13th'....? 'The Hills Have Eyes'....? then more than likely you've seen 'The Hills Run Red'.... granted the storyline is a bit different, the killer is different and the ending is different.... but other than that, it's basically the same premise and steals heavily from all of these films.... and from many others.... i sat through the entire thing and was never bored and felt like it was worth my time.... however, i would never accuse the creators of being original....

the first act opens with a whole backstory about a film that's so violent that it's never been seen in full since it was released.... it was only out for a brief time and then all of the prints disappeared.... from there, with the hel of the internet, the legend has grown to outlandish proportions and the cult following is immense.... every horror hound on the planet wants to see the movie and one fan is so obsessed that he talks his friends into following up on a lead he has on the directors daughter.... and also decides to document the entire journey to create a film about the film.... this all leads them to the backwoods.... inbreds.... a masked killer and blood spews.... then the twist.... then the end.... then one more twist and then you can go home and stew about the film and it's higher purpose an meaning.... if there was any.....
overall, the killer is fairly original, the plot twists are dark and unique, but nothing is groundbreaking enough to set this apart from many other copycat films or the groundbreaking originals.... the acting is good....the scenery is beautiful.... the story is interesting enough to carry the whole movie and i honestly sat with my eyes glued to the screen the entire time.... i just kept hoping for something more than it delivered.... and ultimately that's what brings the level and rating of this movie down a notch or two....

my final verdict, check it out.... it's available to rent through Netflix and other fine rental places.... it's worth the price of admission and will please the bored horror-phile.... i don't want to give away the twists and turns.... but let's just say i felt dirty at the end.... 3 out of 5 stars.... and if the director and writer come up with something else that's a bit more original or revamp something that is older that needs a re-do, we may have something worth mentioning....

p.s. stay away from strippers.

if you enjoy this movie, check out: 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' (1974), 'The Hills Have Eyes' (2006) and 'The Hills Have Eyes II' (2007)

my thoughts on.... 'Rest Stop: Don't Look Back'

so you really wanted a sequel to 'Rest Stop', eh....? oh wait, you didn't....? neither did i.... however, damn the people who make the DVD covers for this movie and the original because it makes me want to watch them for some reason....! not to mention i'm a slasher movie guy.... but in this film, you realize that perhaps the killer is more than your standard hack and slash kind of guy.... needless to say, i really didn't care for the first one all that much.... the killer was kind of lame and the people in the Winnebago were the only really creepy part.... overall it was just kind of lame.... but for some godforsaken reason i put myself through another one....

here's the deal.... people in Winnebago kill man in yellow truck. (not to be confused with the man in the yellow hat.).... they rip out his eyes and bury him after mutilating the body.... little did the world know that if you do that, the native american legend of them coming back to haunt the earth will happen.... and he won't rest until you burn his eyes.... sounds pretty cool, right....? nope. guy in the yellow truck kills all the people in the Winnebago and makes them suffer the same fate as him.... so people show up at this rest stop and never leave.... because he comes and takes them back to his big yellow school bus.... i'm not kidding about that.... and in this sequel, the brother of the original guy in the first film comes looking for his younger brother with his girlfriend and another guy.... and the rest writes itself....
the story is predictible.... but not without it's entertainment values.... i did watch the whole thing and was curious the whole time about how it would end.... don't mistake that for any desire to ever watch it again.... because it ain't gonna happen.... the ending is nothing new.... the story is a mess.... the supernatural element and horrible bad guy make this one for the lame movie books.... i dont' recommend it unless you really liked the first one and are just dying to see what happens next.... and i highly doubt you're that guy.

2 out of 5 stars.... plain and simple.... pretty people + violence + low budget sequel = this movie.... there is some nudity, but trust me.... it ain't worth the price of admission.... go rent some of the other movies i've reviewed instead.... and if you want a backwoods, dirty desert killer movie.... rent 'The Hills Have Eyes'.... the remake or the original.... they're both far superior to the 'Rest Stop' duo.... about all that the rest stop is good for is taking a poop on a long trip.... and writing something nasty on the bathroom stall with a sharpie....

oh and it's not just a clever title.... when they say 'Don't Look Back'.... they mean it.... seriously....

if you enjoy this movie, check out: ' Rest Stop', 'The Ruins' and 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning'

my thoughts on.... 'Fritt Vilt aka Cold Prey'

who doesn't like Norwegian horror, right....? oh wait, you haven't seen much or any before....? well, here's your chance....! it seems that lately, some of the best horror has been coming from overseas.... it seems that there is still some art left too it over there.... and even ideas that we've all seen before or unoriginal themes, take on a new life and feel fresh.... this movie is the perfect example of that.... not unlike 'Let The Right One In'.... i mean, it was a vampire movie.... but it was anything but your atypical vampire movie.... and it was artistic and amazing....

some could compare 'Cold Prey' to 'The Shining' and a slew of slasher based movies.... and both would have some truth to them.... however, the commonhood they share only goes so far.... it's artistic and pretty to look at like 'The Shining' and it takes place in a frozen place at a hotel.... however, there's no spiritual aspect to it.... and yes, it has a slasher with a mask and whom is gigantic and menacing.... and yes, you'll probably figure out the end long before it happens.... but the ride is so much fun, it really doesn't matter....

the plot centers around a group of friends out snowboarding on a deserted mountainside.... they figure it's a better idea to do that than to brave the hordes of people at the major ski slopes.... bad idea.... one of the guys breaks his leg and they realize quickly that they're a long way from help.... so noticing a hotel off in the distance, they head over to take refuge.... the hotel is closed and appears to have been closed since the mid 70's.... and they break in so they can keep warm until they can get back to the car and go get help.... little do they know that they're not alone.... and soon they'll find out the hard way....

the pacing and feeling of this movie is wonderful.... it kept me on the edge of my seat for the entire film and i found myself actually caring about the characters.... which is rare in American horror films it seems.... it's more about the kills and the possability of a franchise.... 'Cold Prey' is not original however.... but the source material is presented in such a way that it feels new to you.... i mean, how many time have you seen the masked serial killer slowly killing off the teenagers one by one....? and he keeps killing until one of them steps up and brings the madman down.... maybe i just gave away the story and the ending.... but don't let that stop you from spending the time to watch this movie.... trust me, it's worth it....this movie is currently available through Netflix OnDemand.... and you should take advantage of that while you can.... if you like your horror a bit more artistic and with a little more feeling to it.... but still with that killer edge.... this is the movie for you.... sadly, the version on Netflix is dubbed (which sucks), but if you can deal with that.... it's a good investment.... however, if that's just too much for you to handle.... rent it and watch it in it's original language with subtitles as it should be viewed.... all in all.... 4 out of 5 stars.... for some reason this movie really stuck with me.... even though i knew the entire story and ending by the first 10 minutes of the film, it just didn't matter....

the sequel is out there, but not readily available yet.... and is getting pretty good reviews so far.... and i can't wait to get my hands on it.... once you're done with this, start looking into other foreign horror.... the French have raised the bar along with the Swedish and now this.... i mean, there's still good stuff coming out right here at home, but don't limit yourself.... it'd be a damn shame to miss out on this one and others....

if you enjoy this movie, check out: 'The Shining', 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' and 'Prom Night'