Tag: Joe Lynch

SUITABLE FLESH (2023)

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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- 

WOLFMAN’S GOT NARDS (2020)

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Directed By: Andre Gower 
Written By: Andre Gower & Henry Derron McComas 
Cinematography & Editor: Henry Derron McComas 

Featuring: Shane Black, Fred Dekker, Andre Gower, Ryan Lambert, Adam Green, Adam F. Goldberg, Seth Green, Chuck Russell, Joe Lynch, Diva Zappa. Zach Galligan, Kristina Klebe, Rebekah McKendry 

This documentary explores the power of cult film told through the lens of The Monster Squad (1987) and the impact it has on fans, cast and crew, and the industry.

This is a documentary about the film THE MONSTER SQUAD. The title comes from one of the more memorable lines of the movie. 

Though this documentary is about a little more than just that. It is about the film community in its own way. How a simple little film that actually bombed in theaters. Not only how to become a cult classic but how it affected the audience who discovered it. Whether when it was first released or later on cable, home video, DVD, or even just recently.

How a film can mean so much and hold so many memories that it becomes personal. Almost part of your DNA even though you weren’t involved. It feels distinct like it was part of your own childhood.

It not only follows the cast of the film. Finding out all the behind-the-scenes stories on the making of the film, but how it affected their careers and how the audience made the film not necessarily just be some job, but actually make it that much more special.

We catch up with the filmmakers and cast. The director of the documentary is also the star of THE MONSTER SQUAD. Andre Gower

We see and meet the fans of the film, go to the screenings, and get to know the audience. How they discovered the movie.

As THE MONSTER SQUAD is one of those movies that each generation seems to discover and pass it down to the next. It might be that the film’s audience is obviously kids and teenagers and it doesn’t talk down to them and for the most part, they are the protagonists. It’s a smart movie that wasn’t there to appeal to all or sell toys and products. It was an adventure with horror though still a rollicking fun movie. That unfortunately is rarely made these days. 

This is also a film that seems to not be talked about except by more film nerds. Even though it could easily be just as talked about as THE GOONIES. Though this film is treated like their dark weird cousin.

This is a movie I once loved as a kid. I even saw it twice in theaters. Though watching it now I can see its appeal and fun ideas. This is why I once loved it and still respect it to a degree, but it doesn’t pack as much of a punch for me. As it once did. As it’s not as magical to me these days but still enjoyable.

This is a documentary that is best to go into knowing or at least having seen the film it’s based on. You won’t get lost if you haven’t but it won’t be as strong and might miss a lot of what is being talked about. Though it is worth a watch to see how a film can bring people together and mean so much to them. While just trying to be entertaining.

Luckily this is not the typical behind-the-scenes documentary just for the fans, but really a love letter and document to the film and its everlasting impact. 

Grade: B-

WRONG TURN 2: DEAD END (2007)

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Directed By: Joe Lynch
Written By: Al Septien & Turi Meyer
Based On Characters Created By: Alan McElroy
Cinematography: Robin Loewan 
Editor: Ed Marx

Cast: Erica Leerhsen, Henry Rollins, Texas Battle, Aleska Palladino, Daniella Alonso, Crystal Lowe, Ken Krizinger, Steve Braun, Kimberly Caldwell

A group of reality show contestants find themselves fighting for survival against a family of hideously deformed inbred cannibals who plan to ruthlessly butcher them all.

This is a straight-to-DVD sequel and just like the original no matter how gruesome the action and violence get you can’t take this film too seriously.

This sequel seems to revel more in everything the first one couldn’t show you. Here you get to see the full mutants a lot and often. You get to see a mutant birth, a mutant baby, and mutant sex. So here it is almost like mutant porn. As there is even a graphic oral sex scene between humans. Which was itself very shocking. In fact, it’s the most shocking thing in this whole movie. Which is one of the main reasons the movie might be unrated.

This film also seems to have fun with killing off people we would normally assume would survive. It also tries to be a satire on reality television. Even the. Had been done to death, especially with HALLOWEEN: RESURRECTION coming out around the same time.

The special effects are disappointing even with this film having a lower budget than the first. You can see the effects looking poor, but they still give it the old college try. Like the little engine that could the film rolls on with an I think I can attitude.

The film offers no performances of note. Other than following movies like SCREAM and having a star die in the opening moments. Who could have easily been a star of the film. To throw you off guard but you kind of expect it. As it allows their haters in the audience a sort of sick death wish and offers a cruel shock to that person’s fans.

This film again is more macabre fun than anything. Especially if you are a fan of horror with its nod to many classic and cult horror films it knows it will never be as good as. That tries to deepen the myth of these mutants and show more of their survival.

The film is obviously an homage to 1980’s horror films and sequels. 

Just like most sequels, it offers more of the same, only more extensive and more often. Sacrificing set-up as you know what is going to or supposed to happen and characters. As no characters ever really return for the sequels even if they survive.

 Grade: C

MAYHEM (2017)

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Directed By: Joe Lynch
Written By: Matias Caruso
Cinematography By: Steve Gainer
Editor: Josh Ethier 


Cast: Steven Yuen, Samara Weaving, Steven Brand, Dallas Roberts, Kerry Fox, Mark Frost, Caroline Chikezie, Annamaria Serda, Nina Senicar 


Mayhem tells the story of a virus that infects a corporate law office on the day attorney Derek Cho is framed by a co-worker and wrongfully fired. The infection is capable of making people act out their wildest impulses. Trapped in the quarantined building, our hero is forced to savagely fight tooth and nail for not only his job but his life.

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POINT BLANK (2019)

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Directed By: Joe Lynch
Written By: Adam Green
Based on characters created By: Fred Cavaye
Cinematography: Juan Miguel Azpiroz 

Cast: Frank Grillo, Anthony Mackie, Marcia Gay Harden, Stuart F. Wilson, Christian Cooke, Teyonah Parris, Boris Micgiver, Markice Moore 

An ER nurse and a career criminal are forced into an unlikely partnership in taking down a ring of corrupt cops threatening the lives of both their families.

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