Category: Uncategorized

HALLOWEEN: H20 – 20 YEARS LATER (1998)

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Directed By: Steve Miner 
Written By: Robert Zappia & Matt Greenberg 
Story By: Robert Zappia 
Based on Characters Created By: John Carpenter & Debra Hill
Cinematograpy By: Daryn Okada 
Editor: Patrick Lussier 

Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Josh Harnett, Michelle Williams, Jodi Lyn O’keefe, Adam Arkin, LL Cool J, Adam Hann Byrd, Janet Leigh, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Branden Williams

On Halloween in 1963, Michael Myers murdered his sister, Judith. In 1978, he broke out to kill his other sister, Laurie Strode. He killed all of her friends, but she escaped. A few years later, she faked her death so he couldn’t find her. But now, in 1998, Michael has returned and found all the papers he needs to find her. He tracks her down to a private school where she has gone under a new name with her son, John. And now, Laurie must do what she should have done a long time ago and finally decided to hunt down the evil one last time. 

The film tries to write a check that it can’t cash. The film seems to try to say this is the Halloween sequel you have been waiting for. We even get Jamie Lee Curtis coming back to reprise her historic role. IT is worth it to see her again. They even brought in the hot screenwriter at the time of SCREAM to write it. Unfortunately, it oddly feels watered down or weak considering what the original 2 films were. 

This feels more like a homage that is more teen-friendly. I like the fact that it plays more on scares though only with one victim do we see the chase and the slaughter as most scenes are the chases or surprise appearance then we go to another scene and the discovery of the butchered body. The film does keep the promise of the series with a stark opening. It matched SCREAM with the killing of a star in the opening. The studio sold this film to the audience who never read the fine print. It is directed by Steve Miner director of films such as FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 2 & 3-. No great horror opuses. 

The film was started as and idea by Jamie Lee Curtis who wanted to return to the role and work with director John Carpenter again. Carpenter declined but Curtis was still interested in doing the film. Originally the film was supposed to be in continuity with parts 4 -6. Scenes were filmed that acknowledged it until it was better to be a continuation of the original film and its sequel. Kevin Williamson the star screenwriter at the time of Scream and Scream 2 wrote a very detailed treatment that the screenwriters followed the details of closely. It was rumored he actually completed a draft of the screenplay in close collaboration with Jamie lee Curtis. That included a detective role that was to be played by Charles S. Dutton who filmed some scenes but were ultimately cut out of the film. 

Janet Leigh makes a return to the silver screen for the first time in 18 years. I’m sure it helped to convince her to return to the screen having her daughter star in the film. This was the first Halloween movie to not involve Dr. Loomis What follows throughout this movie is a sanitized version of a horror movie. With violence only when the film is in danger of getting boring. 

This is like a starter horror film for the squeamish. It has plenty of winks and nods to the audience. Jokes without being an intentional comedy or actually funny. The film has plenty of false scares and the relentless Michael Myers pursuit hiding in the shadows. He even displays a bit of carnage. but the film seems more pinpointed. Not really for teenagers, but preteens with some objectionable material. This is also one of the movies that unleashed Josh Hartnett onto an unsuspecting public. 

I saw this film in a movie theater on opening night and the woman who was sitting next to me had never seen a horror film before and screamed at even the little stuff. That was scarier than anything in the film. The only reason this movie works is Jamie Lee Curtis’s realistic performance. 

 I have read the original script and treatment for this film. It could have been worse and Mrs. Curtis decided to do this film supposedly to help end the series. She filmed the ending here and another end which ended up being the beginning of the next film of the series. I believe she just wanted out once and for all. Either way Her killing of him, or him killing her. It’s a shame at the end of an iconic female character.

I like that at times the film tries to go more psychologically by having Curtis’s character have visions of him that she doesn’t know if they are from her drinking or just hallucinating from the time of year around Halloween which she seems to still constantly have. 

They set the location at a school but have everyone go away on a trip so that there are only a few people around left to be slaughtered. Instead of a grand blood bath. The confrontation scene between the two is pretty big and monumental as a fan of the films. Too bad the film falters and doesn’t support it. 

The film seems like a studio tried to mix everything that was successful in the films at that point and put it into this film. Even if it had no reason to be there just mash it up. Of course, they advertised this as the final film. They lied. 

So it feels like an insult even though we all suspected it. In this series of movies we all know that they are more supernatural than anything else with this maniacal killer who can’t die, but then to supposedly kill the character off so easily in the end and make us believe it is insulting as is the sequel which takes twists and turns when all along the series has seemed to be focused on Michael Myers going after and killing his family members and murdering anyone who gets in his way.

Though no answer is given to what happens after he achieves the goal or why. It is assumed he will be at peace. I just wonder then will he kill himself or go after distant relatives. Does he do investigations like a detective though his appearance will be sure to scare those in places where he can get paperwork and he has no interview technique to get testimonies. Does he have like a spidey sense to know where all his relatives are.

GRADE: C

MOON (2009)

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Directed & Story By: Duncan Jones 
Written By: Nathan Parker 
Cinematography By: Gary Shaw 
Editor: Nicolas Gaster 

 Cast: Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey, Benedict Wong, Kaya Scodalario

Astronaut Sam Bell has a quintessentially personal encounter toward the end of his three-year stint on the Moon, where he, working alongside his computer, GERTY, sends back to Earth parcels of a resource that has helped diminish our planet’s power problems.

Amazing for a Directorial Debut

This movie is all about subtlety, which is nice for a change. Not an action spectacle with a cast of hundreds. Instead, here there is a subdued mood that manages to amaze and shock at times while grappling at bigger issues.

This is science fiction that just happens to deal with science and technology. Whereas the film’s main emphasis is on character and mood. It also deals with the nature of identity.

Since we are dealing with a man on a mission. Mining on the moon as his mission is to spend 3 years Alone solitary except for a robotic companion. The film sets the deck early with the robot who has a sad monotone voice of Kevin Spacey. For people who are familiar with 2001: A SPACE ODESSEY. Might suspect where the story is going. It wants us To suspect him. So that we are expecting a HAL type of situation. Though that might just be a red herring

I went into this film virtually blind, so I didn’t entirely know what to expect. So the things that happen took me by surprise. Though if you see the trailer they kind of spoil it.

The film is a mind-bender. Not in a thriller way or continuous twists way, but in a more cerebral way. It asks you to imagine what if you were in the same situation.

For as much praise as I can give to director Duncan Jones. An equal amount must be given to actor Sam Rockwell too. This film is a virtual one-man show and Mr. Rockwell carries it well. He is always captivating never boring. The same can be said about the film.

The film makes several references to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A SPACE ODESSEY. GERTY looks and sounds similar to HAL 9000. They also have a similar dot: HAL’s is red and GERTY’s is blue. This film choreographs scenes in space to classical music, just as Stanley Kubrick did.

The reason i didn’t rate this film higher. I do feel this film is a modern classic. Though You have To be in the right mood to really enjoy and appreciate it.

This is definitely a film that is better seen on the big screen, unfortunately, I saw it on the small screen also at times it sucks being a film fanatic because you read high praise for the film and your friends go to see it and you expect so much from it and if it falls short of your expectations. It feels like a failure.

While this film is far from one. It wasn’t what I expected, but if you are a true film fan you will love it. The four harvesters are nicknamed Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – corresponding with the first four books of the New Testament in the Bible. Screenwriter Nathan Parker said that he just needed four names; no particular symbolism was intended.

It is certainly better and more influential than 80% of what else is actually out there. The film has a simple premise and very few sets. Most of the effects are actually models, but it’s ideas and scope are huge.

This is the type of film-making that has been missing from Sci-Fi really since the 70’s Duncan Jones is a major talent and I can’t wait to see his future films (he is also David bowie’s son)

Sam Rockwell gives a star-making performance as usual. I have been predicting greatness from Him. Since GALAXY QUEST and he has never let me down. Why he is not a star? I have no idea.

I like that this is the type of film you can go to blind and while you spend the movie trying to figure out what would happen next. You are having fun while watching the film and your thoughts luckily are not distracting you and you are willing to follow the film wherever it may lead. 

Grade: B+

YUMMY (2020)

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Cast: Maaike Neuville, Bart Hollanders, Clara Cleymens, Annick Christaens, Eric Gordon

Yummy is an orgy of blood, violence and fun in which a young couple travel to a shabby Eastern European hospital for plastic surgery. The young woman wants a breast reduction. Her mother comes along for yet another face-lift. Wandering through an abandoned ward the boyfriend stumbles upon a young woman, gagged and strapped to an operating table; she is the result of an experimental rejuvenation treatment. He frees her, but does not realize he just caused the outbreak of a virus that will change doctors, patients and his mother-in-law into bloodthirsty zombies.

It’s a fun little horror film that has gore galore.

The film is more explosive with blood and guts, but isn’t an exploitation movie. Though it has the freewheeling sport of one. Where almost at any moment anything goes. As that is the unpredictable nature of the film. 

Though the film stays excessively violent it is also silly and nothing you haven’t really seen before. As the humor stays more on the juvenile side.

The film has good scares and starts it’s action pretty quickly and is over before you even realize time has passed. It stays that consistently entertaining. Even though after a while it just feels like an onslaught of violence. 

This is essentially a zombie movie that takes place in a plastic surgery clinic with a European flavor. That deals with infections and diseases that are timely for our current crisis and might not a little too close to home for some. 

What up’s the ante a bit is that while the initial survivors are getting picked off one by one. half of the characters are pretty much untrustworthy so while trying to survive some are not above sacrificing others and sabotaging some. So that they can either get away or to make sure if they survive nothing can happen. So there are quite a few double-crosses throughout.

One of the main male characters has to gain back his masculinity. Like every time he tries to show it something goes wrong or he is thwarted in his attempts to. He proves to be a klutz to the very end.

The film is creative but doesn’t offer too much most fans of the genre haven’t already seen. Though it does offer plenty of nudity including The penis scene is a standout of humor and bad taste. Which also seems to show the audience that no one passes out from immense pain. 

The film even has a Ryan Gosling lookalike seeming hero. Who takes a wrong turn at each juncture to be a hero.

Though The film ends up offering as many laughs as it does scares. The film has a very nihilistic ending that takes all the fun out of what came before or showering in a meaner tone. Asking to survive are we willing to forsake all others or condone them just for a bit more time of survival?

GRADE: B

LAKE BODOM (2016)

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Directed by: Taneli Mustonen

Written by: Taneli Mustonen & Aleski Hyvarinen

Cinematography: Mheiajn Brooks, Daniel Lindholm, Callie Mcgregor & Dakota Saliwi Editor: Alexis Raij

Cast: Nelly-Hirst-Gee, Mimosa Williamo, Mikael Gabriel, Santeri Helinheimo mantyu 

Every camper’s worst nightmare came true at Lake Bodom in 1960 when four teenagers were stabbed to death while sleeping in their tent.

This is one of those movies that is ok, but there is so much potential for greatness that it possesses except for a few missteps that totally bold it back.

This is a Familiar horror film based on a true story of murders that happened in Finland. Only in the film the location is the same and it doesn’t say this is what happened back then, but the story is modern-day set and might have some ties to that case.

What works here is that the film keeps offering new twists that reshape the material. Some of these twists might feel a little familiar from other films, but it is still used wisely here. In fact, one wishes there were a few more.

The beginning of the film Feels typical and a little dull. Though luckily as the film goes along certain relationships between the characters are explained and how Their pasts intermingle. This more happens as an explanation for certain actions and acts. Though the actions seem like overkill. As does some of the logic of the characters but as this is a horror film. It seems like it is needed to move one element to the other.

The film is 60 percent perfect except for the beginning and the end. The end works in that it becomes a different type of film that foils any plans but then the film becomes the type of film you expected from the beginning which then makes it feel basic and erases all the exciting elements that came before it.

Which also leads to a more ambiguous ending. That the film doesn’t necessarily feel like it deserves or has earned. So that you have a film that tries to show a depth it doesn’t possess. Which is supposed to be similar to the teenage characters within it?

The film will be familiar to those who have seen HIGH TENSION or ALL THE BOYS LOVE  MANDY LANE. Which might be a spoiler itself, but at least here the enjoyment of the film doesn’t hinge on those surprises. Nor does it make you question the plausibility of what has been presented.

The violence isn’t particularly inspired. Nor is the film very gratuitous in it’s action or content.

The film isn’t a total waste. It just falls short of what it could have been. As it is pretty much a slasher with interesting twists and character histories. 

Grade: B-

THE BATTERY (2012)

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Written & Directed By: Jeremy Gardenr 

Cinematography By: Christian Stella 

Editor: Michael Katzman & Alicia Stella 

Cast: Jeremy Gardner, Adam Cronheim, Niels Bolle, Alana O’Brein, Larry Fessenden

Two former baseball players, Ben and Mickey, cut an aimless path across a desolate New England. They stick to the back roads and forests to steer clear of the shambling corpses that patrol the once bustling cities and towns. In order to survive, they must overcome the stark differences in each other’s personalities. Ben embraces an increasingly feral, lawless, and nomadic lifestyle while Mickey is unable to accept the harsh realities of the new world and longs for the creature comforts he once took for granted. A bed, a girl, and a safe place to live. When the men intercept a radio transmission from a seemingly thriving, protected community, Mickey will stop at nothing to find it, even though it is made perfectly clear that he is not welcome.

More of an odd couple in a zombie landscape. Watching how the two characters survive, the situations they find themselves in while trying to find food and safe shelter along the way. Not real direction to a location.

The film also shows the forming of the relationship of friendship between the lead characters whose personalities constantly clash.

The film is darkly humorous at times and stark. It casts a spell on you with charm and depending on how you feel about the characters. Is probably how you will feel about the film.

The film feels like THE WALKING DEAD only focusing on two characters and leaves a lot of questions unanswered. More like a character study mixed in a zombie apocalypse film. Even though the zombie market is over-saturated on all kinds of the media market. It’s nice To see other views and stories to tell. It’s up to you to decide if they are worth watching and pursuing.

Its limited budget makes the lesser amenities on display give the film a realistic pallor and impresses with what is achieved with so little funding. Creating a vision and world. Director Jeremy Gardner raised the $6,000 budget for this movie by asking ten different friends for six hundred dollars each.

I really enjoyed this film. Even with it’s more modest kind of hipster touches that dips into Mumblecore a bit, but quickly redeems itself with its own identity and creating a cult character worth rooting for.

There are really only two characters though there are lots of scenes that have no dialogue though provide a catchy fun soundtrack of score that sets the scenes and mood.

Composer Ryan Winford used such unconventional instruments as a toaster and a beer bottle for the score.

What the film does effectively creates a world that you want to see more of, but cleverly does it on such a small scale it keeps you off guard to the rules and boundaries of it.

The film keeps managing to surprise as it’s tone turns from light comical to surprisingly dark with unexpected problems and resolutions. That feels more realistic than fantasy. Since it leaves you slightly off base.

Is it is only a coincidence that the four main characters are unintentionally named after famous mice. Ben (from Willard), Mickey, Jerry (from Tom & Jerry), Annie (from the Annie Mouse books)?

The film also leaves you with questions and ends with a kind of mystery that leaves it open for more or with a quaint ending that leaves more to explore and a knowledge that people still Inhabit it.

It leaves room for either a sequel or to further explore the world it is set in.

Grade: B-

THE LODGE (2020)

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Directed By: Veronika Franz & Severin Fiala Written by: Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala & Sergio Casci  Cinematography: Thimios Bakatakis  Editor: Michael Palm

Cast: Riley Keough, Alicia Silverstone, Jaeden Martell, Lia Mchugh, Richard Armitage 

A soon-to-be stepmom is snowed in with her fiancé’s two children at a remote holiday village. Just as relations begin to thaw between the trio, some strange and frightening events take place.

The film’s Style is what becomes more memorable. As it seems set by the directors. The style and story feel similar to their first feature GOODBYE MOMMY. As this also is a slow burn thriller that seems to have an adult and two children secluded in close quarters with one another and seemingly needing each other to survive.

While one is up for a good slow burn in a thriller especially if it has a worthy pay off. This film comes off as dull. As it has many twists and turns that are shocking but also once we get to the end. You wonder why and the reasoning for the twists and turns make no sense and depends on the audience’s suspension of disbelief or the old adage kids will be kids. 

Though when dealing with a character who survived a horrific incident even before we are introduced to them. First of all, you wonder why the father would bring someone they were dating and knew had mental problems around their children who are already traumatized but then also leave them with her alone.

Sort of like the opening scene where we see the familiar face of Alicia Silverstone dripping ehr kids off to their father who tells her he wants to go through with the divorce and she just immediately locks herself in a room and Killa herself with little to no explanation. We in the audience are just left to assume she has problems with such an extreme act 

This film tries to be THE OTHERS only in reverse it feels. 

The film isn’t bad as Riley Keough again. Gives a shattering good performance. The rest fit eh cast do what they are supposed to do and the direction is on point but the script needs a bit of work. 

As the script seems made to fit the direction more than the story here. As it feels more conceptualized then lived in. This leaves the audience wanting more or at least to show the worm in supporting the film’s plot points. As the film comes off too vague then just ends.

Where as by the end. One can’t help what they enjoy or are entertained but here it feels like this film’s praise is more for style over substance. Even if in the end if for all the ingredients that work. It comes off as a letdown. 

Grade: C

ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES (1993)

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Directed By: Barry Sonnenfeld 
Written By: Paul Rudnick 
Characters Created By: Charles Addams 
Cinematography By: Donald Peterman 
Editor: Jim Miller & Arthur Schmidt 
Music By: Marc Shaiman 

Cast: Raul Julia, Anjelica Huston, Christina Ricci, Christopher Lloyd, Joan Cusack, David Krumholtz, Carol Kane, Jimmy Workman, Christine Baranski, Peter MacNicol, Mercedes McNab, Sam McMurray, Dana Ivey, Nathan Lane, Harriet Sansom Harris, Charles Busch, Peter Graves, Cynthia Nixon, David Hyde Pierce, Monet Mazur

On any day of the week, you could expect a newborn baby to be nurtured and loved by his older sister. Except, of course, if it’s Wednesday. Pubert is the latest addition to the Addams family and, to prevent sibling rivalry escalating to fratricide, Wednesday and Pugsley are shipped off to summer camp and a nanny is hired. Debby Jellinsky is great with wrinkling baldies, which makes her the perfect nanny for Pubert and the unlikely wife of Uncle Fester. The question is…”Is she grave-digging or gold-digging?”

This is an underrated film. One of the rare sequels that excel over it’s original. Though here they seem to have more room to explore the world that the characters live in, but also the culture clashes.

The first film seemed to try to be more loyal to the fans of the television show. While trying to set a tone. Here the film is allowed to have its own personality, the actors also seemed more relaxed, laid back, and energetic. making the characters their own and not so much an imitation. Everyone seems to have found their groove.

Directed with flair and an intricate style that is assured.

The cast is superb. This I believe was the great Raul Julia’s final good role definitely better than M. Bison in the film STREET FIGHTER.

Christina Ricci deserved a best-supporting actress nomination for her work here. She steals the film. She makes Wednesday three dimensional, sadistic and quite witty.

This is also the first time I remember a Peter MacNicol performance and the prey time I remember seeing Christine Baranski as an actress.

The Addams family always struck me as strange of course the ultimate goths, by what were they? At least with THE MUNSTERS, you knew who or what they were supposed to be even though they came off as normal just happen to be monsters in appearance. With the Addams other than a cousin, it and thing and maybe lurch the butler, who appeared to be a zombie. The others appeared normal just macabre. I mean if you had I guess Fester was a mad scientist, Grandma was a witch Morticia dressed like a vampire, but could also be seen as a witch who just never cast spells. But Gomez was always a question mark. All you knew about him was that he was wealthy and energetic. More like a game show host mixed with a use car salesman and mortician.

because of films like these being so successful, it had the trend of films being made of old television shows and cartoons. This worked as it garnered a new generation of fans. While not being so far removed in years from the shows Initial popularity that there was still a sizable audience for it. Mistakes films like SPEED RACER made (while that film also had more of a cult following)

This film is a clever mixture of dark comedy, surrealism, slapstick, and satire. This is one of the films that made me realize why I truly embraced dark humor.

The only problem I have ever had with the first two Addams Family films is that the theme song for the updates was always tied into whatever pop star was popular at the time tieing in their hit songs style to fit the theme. Hence for this film whoop the Addams family there it is by tag team. Who’s hot the previous year was whoop there it is. This seemed to be common for tent pole franchise movies at the time. I still have frightening memories of the music video from hammer and the original movie theme the Addams family. Done in a more upbeat dancing style of music.

Michael Jackson was signed on to write and perform a song for the film’s soundtrack and to promote it with a video. Although he was able to finish the song, contractual difficulties coupled with the child molestation allegations made against Jackson resulted in the song being dropped from the soundtrack, and the video was never filmed. The song, “Is It Scary,” was later included on Jackson’s 1997 ‘Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix’ album and was also used in his short film Ghosts.

This film does everything right by bringing the Addams out more and exposing them to the public in daily life. Mixing with regular everyday citizens. Making it more of a culture clash comedy. That reaches it’s highlights at the Wednesday and Pugsley being forced to summer camp. (A genius idea) That ends with a classic comic set-piece celebrating thanksgiving.

Adding more than just makeup to the character, Morticia Addams is always lit separately from everyone else in a scene. Her lighting always consists of one beam of light across her eyes that gradually fades outward to add to her grim look.

The film reaches more comedy apex with the scenes involving Joan Cusack as a nanny out to seduce Fester. She is her regular brilliant comedic self as the homicidal gold digger.

When Fester announces his engagement, Morticia makes an overt reference to the ring worn by Debbie being the same one in which Fester’s grandmother was buried. Debbie slyly whips out a shovel, adding a literal component to her character’s “golddigger” status.

Carol Kane, who plays Grandmama, is almost a year younger than Anjelica Huston, who plays her daughter, Morticia Addams.

The reborn baby Pubert doesn’t work but needs to be there for Cusack’s character to enter the picture.

Some of the jokes are more of the moment and seem to make a stab more pop culture at the time. That brings a nostalgic feeling for those who remember the times. Though might be lost on others.

I can’t help but love this film and I really think it is a dark comedy the family can enjoy and have fun with. I remember seeing this film twice I. Theaters and even knowing all that would happen. This film still made me enjoy it as much as the first time.

Grade: B+

KISS OF THE DAMNED (2013)

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Written & Directed By: Xan Cassavettes
Cinematography By: Tobias Datum
Editor: Taylor Gianotas & John F. Lyons

Cast: Josephine De La Baume, Milo Ventimiglia, Roxane Mesquida, Michael Rappaport, Anna Mouglalis, Riley Keough, Jonathan Caouette

The vampire Djuna resists the advances of Paolo, but soon gives in to their passion. When her trouble-making sister unexpectedly comes to visit, Djuna’s love is threatened, and the whole vampire community becomes endangered.

I went into this film semi-blind as all I knew was it was about a vampire. Which has been a bunch of films lately. Though I decided to give this own a try just because of the title really. I can admit I wasn’t disappointed and more impressed than anything.

The film has everything going for it. Except the story and script could have been stronger.

I will say this is one of the sexiest vampire films I have seen in a while. In fact one of the sexiest films I have seen recently. This is what I felt the Tony Scott film THE HUNGER should have been.

The way teenage girls lust over the TWILIGHT books and movies is how I felt watching the film.

It has a look, mood, and atmosphere. It’s editing is perfect and characters that all feel right. The cast is sexy, but it only approaches its greatness. It seems on the right path then stalls and goes elsewhere. When it could have been a classic.

It’s not as flashy as most modern vampire films seem to be. Which seem to involve more action, romanticism, violence, scares, and chills.

This film has some of those qualities but is more subtle. Finding it more of a homage to the films the main character watches. Classic Gothic horror films and European 70’s sexy films. Breaking boundaries of what is expected, but being more atmospheric. Lending itself to romanticism and maintenance of the relationships.

Updating the vampire legend and setting new rules for it. While exploring their place in modern society. Like a less campy TRUE BLOOD in a major city and not so many characters.

It’s a love story at heart with European flair and shows what talent can do and what is possible on a limited budget.

Josephine De La Baume is a revelation and truly makes you feel sorry for her tortured existence before having you fall in love with her as she is a romantic at heart who is lonely.

Roxane Mesquida is pitch-perfect as her sister. The temptress a perennial bad influence. As she gets everything started on a bad road. Initially, her being in the cast of this film is what helped me to watch the film in the first place.

Despite the film’s shortcomings. It still feels like something special and much credit is due to writer-director Xan Cassavettes.

I Believe this film seduced me, while I was looking

 Grade: B

THE BABYSITTER: KILLER QUEEN (2020)

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Directed By: McG
Written by: Dan Laguna, McG, Brad Morris & Jimmy Warden
Based on characters created by: Brian Duffield
Cinematography: Scott Henriksen 
Editor: Martin Bernfield

Cast: Judah Lewis, Jenna Ortega, Emily Alyn Lind, Bella Thorne, Andrew Bachelor, Robbie Amell, Hana Mae Lee, Ken Marino, Chris Wylde, Leslie Bibb, Samara Weaving, 

Two years after Cole survived a satanic blood cult, he’s living another nightmare: high school. And the demons from his past? Still making his life hell.

I was wasn’t expecting this but there was a part of me that was expecting this movie. Now while I enjoyed the first film in this franchise a lot more than expected. I didn’t know if it really had legs for more sequels.

This film is just as fun as the first film but a lot dumber than the first film. This film seems to know what type of film it is and goes full tilt with its own distractions and humor. No matter how stupid or illogical it could be.

If you are a fan of these types of films and want to have a good time and be entertained then this film is for you. As it seems to continue In Director McG’s wheelhouse of horror and sci-fi films for Netflix that have teenagers or preteens at the center of everything. Though this film and the first babysitter film feel more money he works or inspired by director Joseph Kahn(DETENTION)(BODIED) who has more of visual flair and quicker cuts when it comes to editing.

As this film seems to be missing a certain element. Maybe the dynamic of having Samara weaving on screen more made the film a little more believable and watchable if even just for her charisma in the role.

Here it is almost a repeat of the first film only at a different and bigger location and a twist in the story that seems there to make room for a new character and leading lady for the main character. Though we have the same characters returning from the dead to try to sacrifice the main character for a blood ritual that will make them Immortal.

This is an interesting premise, but as they return they are just as easy to kill as in the first film. So again they are dispatched in a similar manner only here more gruesome and grotesque.

The new main villain is just as close as the babysitter was int he first film and the film tries to also sex her up more in tight and revealing clothes which is the first amongst other clues in the film before the big reveal that they have become evil. What is interesting is that at least they kept the new leading lady Jenna Ortega cute but dressed normally and sarcastic but a hard ass. So she is the opposite of the villain though has the dirtier look.

We see How the original crew was recruited which offers a distraction. Visually but seems like they were recruited in the 1980s more even as the film and the last one was more modern. This just seems out there as a stylistic choice but then also disrupts the continuity of what we know from the original film, but then again this isn’t the type of film to take seriously.

Though most of the cast from the original returns. It is actually nice to see them and their characters. As they remain hilarious and it is nice to catch up with them and learn a little more about them and their pasts.

The film never takes itself seriously and doesn’t expect the audience to either. As the film constantly shows or uses inspiration from the past or other movies to power scenes and the soundtrack. 

This movie feels lien CRANK 2 where it takes all that was from the first film And cranks it up as more for a spectacle that while not going to make any cinematic elitist lists is a fun time and a proper guilty pleasure. That you wish was just a bit better though that might take away the charm. 

The film tries but doesn’t come close because it seems to kind of pander to what it believes the audience wants more of rather than have more of a clear plan and structure. 

So it becomes kind of what it is parodying. Where you can tell when someone is trying to be something or someone that they aren’t to try and impress and while it’s entertaining at first it becomes sad and obvious quickly. Whereas if maybe it was itself from the get-go the audience would come and get to k ow it and appreciate it for it’s sincerity and truths. Though if you are a fan of splatter and gore in your horror. You have come to the right place.

Samara weaving does return for this film in more of an extended cameo. The film needed more of her. As whenever she comes on screen she seems so smooth and takes over her scenes. That when she is gone it only exposes how hard others are trying to just be as good and memorable.

It seems like in most teen horror films I see Bella Thorne always has a death scene. It would be nice to see her survive in a horror film. As here yet again she seems typecast.

The title seems to imply there is a queen when in fact it just seems to have that title as either claiming Samara Weaving’s character is a queen of the kill or tied into the and Queen’s recent popularity or trying to imply that this film is full of campiness. While the film is full of humor, sarcasm, and cynicism. Nothing is truly campy in this film 

Grade: C

ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE (2014)

~ jbg ~ Leave a comment

Written & Directed By: Jim Jarmusch 
Cinematography By: Yorick Le Saux 
Editor: Affonso Goncalves 

Cast: Tilda Swinton, Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska, Jeffrey Wright, Anton Yelchin, John Hurt

A depressed musician reunites with his lover, though their romance – which has already endured several centuries – is disrupted by the arrival of an uncontrollable younger sister.

As with most Jim Jarmusch films. Though it seems singular. The film is very open especially when it comes to mood. It’s subtle, but on-screen in each film are ideas. Not grand blockbuster dreams, but a working intellectual imagination. You watch and soak in the rich surroundings cascading all over you so that you never want to leave as they feel like nourishment that you have been deprived of for way too long. Making decadence look full and grand. Finding beauty in a certain run-down ruin.

Setting up a universe full of history, interests, and obsessions. Strangely the film feels timeless and luminous. Philosophical as always, two survivors surveying the world. Seeing the changes and not sure if they necessarily still belong, but keep going. Fueled by the memories of each other’s company.

This might be the most romantic film I have seen in a while. A visual poet. The film feels like it has a texture of rich ambiance like chocolate. But admirable this is the first of his recent films drawn to more than usual. It’s not as penetrating as I hoped it would be. Not as wild, nor luckily not as subdued as I feared also.

Tom Hiddleston proves as an actor he is more than Loki and his likable performance was more than a fluke. This is a relief as I believe Michael Fassbender was in talks to play the role.

The film feels personal like a thinly disguised opinion piece as all humans are referred to as zombies mindless and unenlightened. Vampires as geniuses are seen as tortured, punished and persecuted though they’re obsessive, artistic students of time and the world and work for the better. As they study and have a singular nature. Don’t worry as much about impressing and fitting in. The eternal outsider.

There was some action in the film at first. But when Jarmusch was asked to add more he instead removed all of it.

One of the attractions of the film is Tilda Swinton’s voluminous hair. It seems a valentine to her. Maybe a thinly disguised one. As she has collaborated with Jarmusch before, Here she finally gets a leading role in his film and is the stronger character of the two leads. More of the take charge and sees to wear the pants, more the caretaker. Whereas Adam you can tell cares and loves but seems self-destructive, Selfish, and indulgent. Though he seems to be a poet only with music and has plenty of fans who worship him and will be remembered as eternal as his art lives on. Though he wants to personally be left alone and disappear.

The word “vampire” is never used throughout the film.

Saving the world as an antique from itself. As time passes vampires seem to just witness the evolution as time passes and there is no real end. As when you talk to them they can only tell you what they miss from before. The vampire’s point of view seems to go back to the original. Back to the original beings with its characters named Adam and Eve.

In the first draft, Eve was 2000 years old and the druid of a matriarchal Celtic tribe. Adam was 5-600 years old. Jarmusch decided that Adam and Eve would be aware of each other’s true age so he argued they have no reason to state it in the film.

The film makes you wish you could stay a bystander be a witness in their world. Framed with luminous handpicked classic tunes that carry the film’s flow making it move through the air like a vapor.

Although Jim Jarmusch wanted to shoot this movie on film and has a general distaste for digital cinematography, he had to use the Arri Alexa for budgetary reasons. He managed to work with low lighting and specific lenses in order to come up with a look he found acceptable enough to work for him

One of the books that Eve packs for her trip to Detroit is a catalog of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s work. Jeffrey Wright played the title character of the movie BASQUIAT.

Mia Wasikowska brings a youthful energy tad eve’s bratty younger sister. Who acts an feels like an adopted undisciplined child to the couple more than anything else. She also seems to represent the more youthful, young easily bored constantly in motion. Modern-day sensibility versus old school classic.

It seems with vampire films as of late to include a younger dangerous wild sibling (KISS OF THE DAMNED, BYZANTIUM ) just to ad complications or an adversary. An old soul companion it feels like this film will become a cult film. Found on the shelf of college-aged film aficionados and hipsters looking to spout enlightenment and feel deeply.

The film feels like a white stripes/Jack White album. Soulful, romantic, powerful, classic abstract yet rambunctious. Hypnotic watching it the film is like being under a spell.

The camera is not sticking around. The camera can be still and roaming at the same time as we journey through the Decadent graveyard of Detroit, taking place at night. See their obscure beliefs being themselves without others to obscure it. As they roam like two enlightened functioning junkies.

Though the film mostly stays interior. The film manages to be worldly and international. As like the leads, this film feels like it’s a collector picking up artifacts along the way to represent memories.

The film performs like a muse stunning in it’s beauty and fills you with an almost obsessive passion that you can’t describe. Yet gives you a feeling that will always make you remember as it makes it’s an impression, Though always feeling natural like it belongs.

We all have to go on for our own survival in the end. so we save ourselves as the old living off of the youth to stay alive. If you are a fan of Jarmusch’s Films this is a definite must-see. It might even work as an introduction to his films for those who have managed to miss his previous films. Either way, it’s a nice addition to his library and your home library. As for once though a love story, it also shows a sense of history and revels in ideas.

 Grade: B+