Movie Review: The Children

The Children

Rating:  

Directed By: Tom Shankland

Starring: Eva Birthistle, Stephen Campbell Moore, Jeremy Sheffield, Rachel Shelley, Hannah Tointon

Plot Synopsis:

You brought them into the world. They will take you out. A family anticipates a Christmas filled with sledding, laughter and hot cocoa as they head to their vacation home in the secluded backcountry…The holiday cheer takes a fast turn for the worse after a mysterious flu-like virus sweeps through the kids. One by one the children become deadly. Amidst the suspicion, mayhem and murder, the parents fight for survival against their own twisted offspring. (Ghosthouse Underground)

 Review:

When I first heard of the british horror flick, The Children, I wasn’t too fond of seeing it.  As a parent, the thought of killer kids wasn’t something I wanted to subject myself to.  However, I eventually decided to “nut up” and take a peek at this film, and I’m so glad I did.  Tom Shankland lands himself on the horror map with the near-perfect and truly scary “killer kid” flick, The Children.

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Movie Review: Trick ‘r Treat

Trick ‘r Treat

Rating:  

Directed By: Michael Dougherty

Starring: Brian Cox, Anna Paquin, Dylan Baker, Leslie Bibb, Rochelle Aytes, Tahmoh Penikett

Plot Synopsis:

It is said that Halloween is the night when the dead rise to walk among us and other unspeakable things roam free. The rituals of All Hallows Eve were devised to protect us from their evil mischief, and one small town is about to be taught a terrifying lesson that some traditions are best not forgotten.

Nothing is what it seems when a suburban couple learns the dangers of blowing out a Jack-o-Lantern before midnight; four women cross paths with a costumed stalker at a local festival; a group of pranksters goes too far and discovers the horrifying truth buried in a local legend; and a cantankerous old hermit is visited by a strange trick-or-treater with a few bones to pick. Costumes and candy, ghouls and goblins, monsters and mayhem… the tricks and treats of Halloween turn deadly as strange creatures of every variety-human and otherwise-try to survive the scariest night of the year. (Warner Bros. Pictures)

 

Review:

Huzzah! Halloween is closing in and after 3 years of waiting, Trick ‘r Treat has finally been released.  Although, it would have been nice if it had a theatrical release, I’m happy to have it in my Blu Ray player.  This is the definitive Halloween movie, destined to become traditional viewing in my house.

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Movie Review: The Hills Run Red

The Hills Run Red

Rating:  

Directed By: Dave Parker

Starring: Sophie Monk, William Sadler, Tad Hilgenbrink, Janet Montgomery,

Plot Synopsis:

When they hear there’s a complete print of their favorite slasher movie hidden in their hometown’s backwoods, a group of horror movie buffs heads out in search of the celluloid treasure. Once arriving at their destination, they discover that the carnage captured in the movie was completely real, and worse yet, the filmmakers are looking to spill more blood before they’re ready to call “cut.” (Netflix)

Review:

Since 1978′s Halloween, the Slasher flick has been going strong.  I’m actually surprised this sub-genre has continued to thrive.  With The Hills Run Red, New director Dave Parker shows us that there still is some life in this tired genre with a clever script by David J. Schow, John Dombrow and John Carchietta.  We can also welcome an awesome new masked killer to the short list with Babyface.  Yes, a dude who wears a baby mask.  Trust me, it works.

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Movie Review: Red Cliff (Chi bi)

Red Cliff

This review is for John Woo’s original 4 hour vision: Red Cliff parts 1 and 2, NOT the butchered 2 and a half hour Western release.

Rating:  

Directed By: John Woo

Starring: Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Fengyi Zhang, Chen Chang

Plot Synopsis:

After directing stylish action films such as The Killers and Face-Off, director John Woo turns to Chinese history for inspiration with Red Cliff. The Han Dynasty is facing its death in third century China, and the emperor raises a million-man army against two kingdoms that are hopelessly outmatched. This war film stars Tony Leung, reuniting with John Woo since Hard Boiled.

Review:

John Woo can be considered a legend of Asian Cinema.  Unfortunately, his dive into Western Cinema was more of a splat.  After the awesomeness of Hard Target and the success of Face-Off, he delivered clunkers such as Windtalkers, Mission Impossible II, and Paycheck.  People wondered where the magic went.  With Red Cliff, John Woo proves that his magic lies in China.  Red Cliff is John Woo’s most ambitious and visually stunning film to date.

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Movie Review: Grace

Grace

Rating:  

Directed By: Paul Solet

Starring: Jordan Ladd

Plot Synopsis:

Madeline Matheson is eight months pregnant and determined to deliver her unborn child, Grace, naturally. When an accident leaves Grace dead inside her, Madeline insists on carrying the baby’s corpse to term. Weeks later, when Madeline delivers, the baby miraculously returns to life… With an appetite. (Leomax Entertainment)

Review:

With all the derivative and brainless dreck that comes out every year in the Horror Genre, it’s always nice to see a film that operates as a good FILM as well as a good HORROR story.  Paul Solet‘s debut film, Grace is a slow moving, disgusting, horrific, uncomfortable and disturbing film.  It’s also one of the most beautiful films I’ve seen this year.

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Movie Review: The Last Winter

The Last Winter

Rating:  

Directed By: Larry Fessenden

Starring: Ron Perlman, James LeGros, Connie Britton, Zach Gilford

Plot Synopsis:

Ron Perlman stars as Ed Pollack, an oil company employee who arrives in Alaska. He’s eager to take some of the tundra’s oil bounty, but the rising temperatures have an environmental scientist (James LeGros) worried about the irreparable damage they could do to the Alaskan wilderness. Soon things start to go wrong at their camp, and one of their one dies mysteriously. Whether it’s cabin fever, poisonous gas, or supernatural forces, something is threatening the camp and the people who live there. (Rottentomatoes.com)

Review:

The Last Winter is a slow burn, claustrophobic thriller set in the remote Alaskan wilderness.  It’s not a thrill-a-minute story, but one that unfolds in a logical yet unsettling way.  What makes The Last Winter work is not necessarily the effects or scares.  The character development is strong and the film makers rely on our relationship with the characters to build the story’s main tension.  Not many horror movies these days trust their audiences enough and burn through plot to get to the scares.  The Last Winter is a genuinly creepy tale, but is no crap-your-pants frightfest.

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Movie Review: Wolfhound

Wolfhound (Volkodav iz roda Serykh Psov)

Rating:  

Directed By: Nikolai Lebedev

Starring: Aleksandr Bukharov, Oksana Akinshina, Aleksandr Domogarov, Igor Petrenko

Plot Synopsis:

He was condemned to death, but survived to wreak revenge for the murder of his clan. The last member of the clan of the Grey Hounds became a fearless warrior by the name of Wolfhound. After cheating death in the mines, Wolfhound sets out on a journey with his constant companion, the Earthbound Bat. Wolfhound has but one desire – to destroy the Maneater, a merciless warrior who slaughtered the village of the Grey Hounds.

Review:

The 2006 Russian Fantasy film Wolfhound, based on the novel by Maria Semyonova, is a welcomed entry in the Fantasy genre. Not enough of these movies are made, and when they are they are pretty horrible (Dungeons and Dragons).  So, when one comes around and is actually pretty awesome, reading subtitles is the least of my concerns.  Finally released on DVD in 2009, Wolfhound is an awesome ride.  If you love movies like Conan, Beastmaster, Krull and Lord of the Rings, then you’ll adore this little film.

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Movie Review: Inglourious Basterds

Inglourious Basterds

Rating:  

Directed By: Quentin Tarantino

Starring: Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Mélanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz

Plot Synopsis:

Inglourious Basterds begins in German-occupied France, where Shosanna Dreyfus (Mélanie Laurent) witnesses the execution of her family at the hand of Nazi Colonel Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz). Shosanna narrowly escapes and flees to Paris, where she forges a new identity as the owner and operator of a cinema.

Elsewhere in Europe, Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) organizes a group of Jewish soldiers to engage in targeted acts of retribution. Known to their enemy as “The Basterds,” Raine’s squad joins German actress and undercover agent Bridget Von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger) on a mission to take down the leaders of The Third Reich. Fates converge under a cinema marquee, where Shosanna is poised to carry out a revenge plan of her own… [TrailerAddict]

Review:

Quentin Tarantino‘s films are event films.  Because he isn’t a “hired gun” director, Tarantino gets to take his time and make the movies he’s interested in making.  He’s one of the few directors who works this way, and the only current director with his own style (granted his style is a mish mash of influence) and his own stamp on a film.  You know when you’re watching a Quentin Tarantino movie.  With only 5 previous films under his belt, Inglourious Basterds is Tarantino‘s 6th film (if you count the Kill Bill films as one film), his first period film, his first war film, and his finest film since Pulp Fiction.

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Movie Review: District 9

District 9

Rating:  

Directed By: Neill Blomkamp

Starring: Sharlto Copley, Nathalie Boltt, William Allen Young

Plot Synopsis:

N/A.  Go in fresh on this one.

Review:

District 9 is the kick in the pants that this summer needed.  I absolutely loved it.  Finally an event film/special effects extravaganza that is entertaining, stunning to look at, action packed, and thought provoking.  In fact, District 9 makes all the other “Summer Event” movies look like a total joke.

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Movie Review: Transformers – Revenge of the Fallen

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Rating:  

Directed By: Michael Bay

Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, John Turturro, Ramon Rodriguez

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen exists only to fuel Michael Bay‘s U. S. Military and Gigantic Explosion masturbatory fantasies.  It is an exercise in excess gone horribly wrong.  Maybe Michael Bay just wanted to create a Frat Boy Drinking Game movie, “Every time you see an explosion or cleavage, take a drink!” So, maybe he succeeded in what he set out to do.  However, Mr. Bay, I’ve cut you slack numerous times, but I would like my 2 AND A HALF HOURS of my life back.

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