Tag: Texas Battle

RUTHLESS (2023)

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Directed By: Art Camacho

Written By: Art Camacho, James Dean Simington, Javier Reyna and Koji Steven Sakai 

Cinematography: Brandon Ruiz 

Editor: Rylan Rafferty 

Cast: Dermot Mulroney, Jeff Fahey, Mauricio Mendoza, Melissa Diaz, Keisa Elwin, Tonantzin Esparza, Texas Battle, Manu Intiraymi 

A high school coach, whose teenage daughter was murdered, takes matters into his own hands by going after the men who kidnapped his student for their human trafficking operation.

it’s rare to see Dermot Mulroney play a leading role and it’s definitely a rarity for him to play in action hero leading role. At first being a vigilante and then it seems like seeking revenge and to tell you the truth this film feels like it was more written for Steven Seagal, only because Dermot Mulroney‘s character seems to have no sense of humor is always straight to the point and has a hankering for loving to break arms, wrists, rather than just go for the kill which becomes a kind of dark humor flight in this world

The rest of the story is paint by numbers and mostly predictable. It does offer a few little twist towards the end, but for the most part, you know what’s going to happen. This film also has to have a record for most people injured, but not killed in an action film b on-screen. 

This is the type of film that would’ve played on a Friday or Saturday night on HBO as an original action film for them, though it might’ve had a few more stars in the film other than Moroney and Jeff Fahey. Which might be why I have a particular weakness for the film as it’s kind of nostalgic for me at least. 

There are many scenes and this film that are over the top and a bit ridiculous that only add to making this a guilty pleasure. I didn’t say a guilty pleasure but definitely a guilty pleasure as it gets more silly as it seems to go along now Moroney is perfectly cast in the lead role and you just wish the script was there for him a bit more and support in store.

As one wouldn’t mind seeing a sequel to this chest, hopefully a little bit stronger in the writing as this film would’ve been more of a showcase if we had more regular or had as many action heroes from the past nowadays it’s more about actors so they are the new action heroes but they wanna show range and not in that position. They didn’t mind trying to stretch, but they knew what their job was and the roles they were most likely always going to get.

Can’t really say that any action sequences are that memorable they’re believable enough, even though in some you can see the Korea geography, and the waiting for the hit to be thrown and for some that will make it more realistic, and for others, they’ll seem too slow and unstylish as they don’t like to see the seems 

If you’re just looking for something that’s entertaining, it isn’t really gonna make you think and you’re just a really bad Dermot Mulroney fan. This is the movie for you.

Grade: C

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