VENUS (2022)

Directed By: Jaume Belaguero 

Written By: Jaume Belaguero and Fernando Navarro 

Based on the short story by: H.P. Lovecraft

Cinematography: Pablo Rosso 

Editor: Luis De La Madrid

Cast: Ester Exposito, Ines Fernandez, Angela Cremonte, Maugi Mira, Aten Soria, Maria Jose Sarrate, Sofia Reyes, Federico Aguada 

Horror invades the concrete corridors of a cursed apartment complex on the outskirts of Madrid.

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As usual, this is a film that might be best to go in blind. Does this offer quite a mystery in a surprise?

This film for all of its original elements end up being somewhat predictable. Even as it always keeps you guessing with all the detours it takes on the road forward.

As it does, keep changing genres, yet staying thorough with its story and characters. As it is a Pulpy noir crime story, one minute, a horror film the next, then on the edge of being a thriller, as well as a supernatural tale. Before in the last act being a story of revenge or a director Luc Besson style  action film.

The film starts off slow, though quickly gain speed as mentioned in the third act you think that’s the way the rest of the film will go before morphing into something different and more satisfying. 

especially with the journey that the film has put the characters and the audience through. Not to mention how the film has built up to these moments and characters and even the tone.

It continuously tries to throw you off center though it seems to be somewhat predictable, especially if you’ve seen this type of film before but at least it’s trying.

The film offers this mix you find that they feed quite well off of each other. As it’s based on a short story by H.P. Lovecraft that tells you the places this story will take you.

The problem is that for all that it inspires and tension it makes the audience feel. It never offers up a good enough release. As it builds up you expect something bigger then what it eventually offers. Which is wild but feels a little bit too tidy and minuscule for what it seems to hint at. 

Though being helmed by Jaume Belaguero who works best with the supernatural and thrillers. Sometimes both in small spaces like in his films REC and SLEEP TIGHT. That unfortunately this one doesn’t rise to the occasion as his others have. As this one seems almost like a greatest hits for him or seems to have reached a limit. 

Grade: C+

SUITABLE FLESH (2023)

Directed By: Joe Lynch 

Written By: Dennis Paoli 

Based On The Short Story “The Thing On The Doorstep” By H.P. Lovecraft 

Cinematography: David Matthews 

Editor: Jack N. Gracie 

Cast: Heather Graham, Jonathan Schaech, Barbara Crampton, Bruce Davison, Judah Lewis 

A psychiatrist becomes obsessed with one of her young patients, who she later discovers is linked to an ancient curse.


This film has that 1990s straight-to-video feel. That felt like Russian roulette between what the poster and back art promised and what you actually got. You tried to look on the back of the video for pictures from the film to hedge your bets and guide your decision before you took it home crossed your fingers and hoped for the best.

It feels like setting that error too just going by the cell phones used throughout the film. 

What you get is an erotic thriller that has all the elements and the score of one that works as a horror, or thriller with a sense of humor about itself. That has loads of sex though isn’t particularly sexy even though lead Heather Graham usually is. You can also tell she is having fun in the role and fully letting loose.

As here she is sexy in offers glimpses of nudity, but never quite full, but it is in full control of her own sexuality throughout.

The film is filled with practical effects, and Gore that are impressive, even if the red when it comes to the blood is not quite right. so it feels like a Hammer or Giallo film where the blood never quite feels real, which also helps to make the film feel exactly like it is more of a fantasy rather than any kind of reality

Watching it with its fast paste, nutty and horny humor. It kept reminding me of the television show Chucky maybe as they both seem to be over the top and dark-humored and seem to pack themselves on the back for humor, which some might see as wrong. Who would be the totally wrong audience for this film? This one seems to revel in trouble.

Hate to reference another thing, but this also feels like a tale from the Crypt episode and long luckily, one of the good ones. Not as over-the-top as I was expecting. It still is quite the wild ride.

Throughout the film, there’s obviously a threat that literally will not die but as you watch the film, you’re not necessarily worried you’re kind of rooting for both sides in their own way as you just want this story to keep going into see where it’s gonna go.

Watching the film you do they have saved themselves of trouble by just cutting off the tongue of the villain which would’ve made things a lot more easier I believe but then again, there’d be no fail either and that would be a shame.

This is a film for those who, like to take risks with what they watch never quite knowing what they’re going to get but now it’s going to be something different in a bit down and dirty.

As though the film surroundings always try to look glitzy and high-end at heart is the trashy little film.

Grade: B- 

COLOR OUT OF SPACE (2020)

coloroutofspace

 

Directed By: Richard Stanley
Written By: Richard Stanley & Scarlett Amaris
Based on the Story By: H.P. lovecraft
Cinematography: Steve Annis
Editor: Brett W. Bachman
Original Score: Colin Stetson 


Cast: Nicolas Cage, Joely Richardson, Madeline Arthur, Elliot Knight, Tommy Chong, Branden Mayer, Julian Hilliard, Q’Orianka Kilcher 

A secluded farm is struck by a strange meteorite which has apocalyptic consequences for the family living there and possibly the world.

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