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aob_brctor87
I'm just a hardcore film geek who want's to learn how to write better.
I only rate movies that I enjoyed to various degrees. I don't rate lower than 5 stars.
essentially I just love film and figured I'd give a go at this whole "critic" thing down.
I hope something one day will be here of interest to others enough to read ; )
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Ratings
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Reviews
Get Out (2017)
I mean, I told you not to go in that house. I mean...
For just a brief moment let's put aside everything else and give a round of applause at what could be the longest, and greatest punch-to-a-joke of all time.
The film could be that simple. And that's it's beauty.
It could be about racial tensions but I don't care about any of that (I want your eyes) nor deny its inherent humor (Peele I feel gets this as well)
It could be a simple love story about a somewhat submissive man and his manipulative girlfriend.
The awkwardness of meeting a lovers parents and feeling out of place.
The awkwardness of when someone doesn't know how to treat you like a normal person so they double down so much you want to die inside.
It could be about a family cooperating..oddly..
It could be about how we don't feel comfortable in our own skin. So, we try to live through others lives and cultures-with good intentions even (at first) that become so aggressive- the intentions turn diabolical and we forget who the hell we even are until its to late....
....and your bestie rolls up to tell you "I told you so!"
It could be a lot of things-It is a magnitude of wonderful things.
Bravo Jordan, Hats Off!
American Psycho (2000)
....there is an idea of a Patrick Bateman
One of them was written long ago in the land of the 80s by Bret Easton Ellis (killer novel). The other is Mary Harron's absolute masterpiece adaptation.
It's pointless to compare them. One is MASSIVE. This ones slimmed down and (thankfully) holds back on the truly unnecessary descriptions of sadistic torture..
That seem to exist for the sake of a masturbatory nihilism that generally turns me off to Ellis's other works...
...Ok I actually think the movie is WAY better than the book. It NEVER takes itself serious-nor winks at the camera in that pretentious (looking at you "Funny Games") "breaking the fourth wall" nonsense.
Not here. This is pure satire. But it's hella powerful.
We witness within 90 minutes the absolute deconstruction of a man who believes himself to be a sadistic serial killing rapist "bad ass"
His ego knows no bounds at the beginning and we get to see it deflate under the guise of a brutal horror film- He see's himself running naked down a hallway with a chainsaw like leather face...
...But his secretary (The indie queen Chloë Sevigny) sees the doodlings of a sick- and very insecure man.
In the end Bateman doesn't know who the hell he is. But this zero starting point may just alter his loser to hero status.
I think he can do it : )
"This confession has meant nothing."
Star Wars (1977)
Why not? (Review for all 3 og's..sorta)
In a galaxy that never goes away, this OG stand's strong. From the ASTONISHING attire of Princess Leia to the....astonishing fashion of Princess Leia.
A sort of paver of ways to a better future where women lead- not only their own lives but paving the way in all area's of art.
In Juxtaposition (fun word) to "Darth Vader" and his heavy breathing and tortured soul- we can see a patriarchal (Controversial ; ) design collapsing. Every. Single. Day.
In fact Mr Vader loses any power he may have had the moment we first meet him. Sadly his insecurities and approval seeking ways lead him to nuking an entire planet with a death lazer..ugh..
Not very nice- and you must be punished for this "Lord" !
Thankfully!!!
In "Jedi Returns" he finally surrenders. In his final act of throwing his.. "a bit much" emperor into a static abyss..he displays his ability to listen.
After physical death he joins the collective of the force- and embraces his femininity for the greater good. It's actually a bit beautiful in all it's sillyness.
And.... It's pretty topical with said "Evil Empire" losing the power they never had. Meanwhile the rebels (people) have learned this. The Empire trembles when the people see through the smoke.
I love the ewoks. Not just because others hate them. I think they are cute and deadly and not to be trifled with...grrr
Han Solo is kind of neat. I like his ship and anarchist philosophy. His wookie bestie basshead- who doesn't need to speak to put Solo in his place.
VERDICT TIME!
The Original = Good
Empire Strikes Back = Overrated
Return of the Jedi = The best
The other million of a star war? = I don't care. At all.
TLDR: Princess Leia :) :) :) :)
Psycho (1960)
What can I say?
I used to sort of deny the power of this film (to myself) in my edgy "I hate popular things" phase.
Thank god that has ended and a true joy for the classics emerges. And I suppose it doesn't get more classic than Hitchcocks "Psycho" which is kind of a funny name.
Not because Norman is not insane-he is surely insane. But he isn't "Evil" nor what I would consider a psychopath.
I imagine he grew up an innocent child with an overbearing mother- he perhaps developed Stockholm syndrome- that morphed into a total replacement of himself with his evil mother's identity.
Of course the beautiful thing is that this starts off as an entirely different story that converges into a sort of genre-less category.
The City of The Dead with Christopher Lee is actually similar in this way (and released the same year) but in a more campy way.
I love the "womanizer" with a heart of gold- he may be my favorite "good guy" in the movie-existing in the moral grey area for positive change.
He's also the only one who directly confronts Norman in a monumental display of alpha male control.
Norman loses all composure when confronted with this aggressively nice and determined man whom's lover he murdered.
That's what I can say. He's the Real MVP!
Poor Things (2023)
Bella is eager to learn (some spoilers)
This review is somewhat incomplete and may be redacted upon a second viewing. The only "Problem" here lies not in this mesmerizing work of art- but in this viewers perception.
It's A LOT to take in and around 30 minutes in I had a sneaking suspicion this was a Yorgos Lanthimos film- mainstream style (for him).
If that name doesn't sound familiar then perhaps "The Lobster" or "Dogtooth" titles will ring a bell.
That's to say his films are....hella weird... and the previous ones nearly un-accessible to wider audiences. I presume anyway.
With "Poor Things" he has created an utter masterpiece that has mainstream actors (I have no words for Emma Stone-she is beyond words at this point) and a sort of mainstream plot.
A MASSIVE plot that's impossible to take in at once. I shall now focus on moment's (spoilers) that...let's say "stood out"
The entire suicide opening scene that cuts to black and white for around 1/3rd of the film is delightfully weird as "God" (I'm also speechless on Willem Dafoe) revives an "unruly child" to life.
She isn't particularly thrilled about this and that' s where Lanthimos puts his signature disturbing/shockingness to good use.
Poor frog....: (
She is then "rescued" and married by an insecure control freak played by a never aging Mark Ruffalo (also hella good actor) who wants to show her the world.
I must stop here and address something. This movie is SEXY AS HELL. It has so many sensual scenes and just flat out "squirming in my seat" territory of hyper-psycho sexuality...what was I talking about?
Oh yeah...
It also plays out as hilarious when Ruffalo reacts precisely how man should not. Perhaps how I should not here now in this review..
I guess that's all for now. Another beyond words performance from a beyond words goddess in a beyond words film from a beyond words director....
...now if..um.. you'll excuse me.... lol.
At the Devil's Door (2014)
A nearly speechless and ever increasingly intense subtle horror
Watching this was sort of like a practice in meditation. The film does have dialogue but it doesn't carry the slow burn nature of this film.
This sort of simpleness in story telling adds to a horror genre that's been done a million times. Generally "Something the devil is born" territory.
Unlike the satanic masterpiece Rosemary's Baby, where the constant dialogue is indeed full of clues and smoke screens, here we have the total inverse.
You have to watch the characters expressions and intentions as they simply lay out a much larger and complex story that is held back in an excellent degree.
I only gave this 10 stars because of its IMDB impossible audience lol it's by no means perfect but a very interesting slow burn horror/thriller with nearly zero violence or blood (perhaps the most impressive feat)
The Devils In The Details : )
Lodge 49 (2018)
Too good for TV (very mild spoilers)
That's obviously not true, there are lots of incredible series out there stretching decades. This one (for now) only made it to 2 seasons with, um...a quite epic climax I hope is not the end....
Anyway I think of this show as sort of The Big Lebowski in reverse.
One reason is its set, and filmed in a similar way where characters are full of misinformation and confusion and just diverse as hell. One could say it has the same "wackyness" vibe too it
Then Dud, the main character looks and acts a lot like Jeff Bridges "The Dude"
However he want's to be apart of something since he has essentially lost everything. He strives for meaning not in a meaningless world but a world of overbearing meaning.
He chases riddles and shadows until they actually do become reality. The show is hilarious watching him "Fail Upwards"
My favorite character is Liz who plays Dud's twin sister. They go back and forth in hilarious banter and often tragic dialogue, but always seem to come back to each other through all the chaos that surrounds them.
While those are essentially the main characters I can't leave out the OUT STANDING job every small and large character contributes. Especially the women in this show.
Connie is absoluteness in her hilarious responses to her husband and her lover while sometimes blind folded.
I think a lot of her story actually was cut from the show..but anyway
They (minus perhaps Janet) are generally 500 steps ahead of any of the men who relentlessly question them for meaning when there is none.
The plot is as thick as possible and filled to the brim with hilarious situations and seemingly meaningless details (that come full circle later) symbolism-alchemy- and what it nails most
Duality
This show is "The Duality" a few examples
(mild spoilers)
A man sent to save the lodge from going under somehow succeeds through insane odds only to run to an empty room and exclaim his victory. To no one.
Connie's lover Ernie is one of the wisest characters in the show but when faced with her AND her husband in the same room turns into a child who cant possibly fathom how simple and straight forward the words she speaks really are...
Or are they? This show doesn't preach but shows it's characters inherent weaknesses and power flip flop so fast it asks US how we feel and challenges OUR own duality with no answers..
or in other words: It's constantly subverting the viewers expectations of what "usually" happens in other series.
All Circles Vanish : )
El hoyo (2019)
I love this "Obviously" ; )
Wow this is a weird one! And I mean that with the upmost respect. My eyes were glued to the screen the entire time. It really makes you think and brilliantly shifts seamlessly between moments of terror, humor, absurdity and even beauty!
It is sort of similar to the film Cube (which is also great) but jacked up to 1000 and counting.
The societal overtones (and undertones) are some of the wildest "Make You Thinks" I've ever seen! Involving perhaps the treatment of the lower class by the upper class.
It seems to point out us and our perception of the "administration" could be fundamentally flawed.
It also has some religious themes going on towards the halfway point that surprised me quite a bit, I admit I don't understand much of it but that's ok...that's how you know its the good stuff : )
I turned my brain off for the last 30 minutes or so as it became a so delightfully surreal (even Lynch might bat an eye at this one) roller coaster mixture of brutality and beauty....
As dark and weird as this may be, I found a sort of hopefulness when the credits rolled.
This Review Is Dedicated To Mindy : )
Srpski film (2010)
The greatest buddy film of all time!
Everyone else has covered how you should never admit to watching this film, or dare I say......enjoy it?
So I'll skip the social shaming and moral outrage at a piece of Art from the country of Serbia that you should never, ever watch.
I'd like to present a new angle: This is a buddy film!
In a similar style to The Big Lebowski.
Our Hero Milo in a similar fashion to Jeff Lebowski, is mostly intent with his loving family as The Dude is with Bowling and smoking pot. He's an ex porn star who is lured into doing "something" porn related.
He takes about 5 minutes to throw his entire life away when encountered by an ex "coworker" who introduces him to THE most enthusiastic human on the face of the earth!
Milo meets "The Director" and the buddy film is born!
Their mission? To create the most vile snuff film imaginable where everyone including themselves and the production all die extremely gruesome deaths.
And an Unorthodox birth scene.....
Milo is mostly pumped full of meth and animal sex pills to know whats going on as he murders everything in sight while making love to thugs skulls
(and...other things...)
The director cheers and claps and whoots and hollers until Milo bashes his brains out (as he's still squealing with ecstasy) murders his family and then dies.
I guess there isn't that much in common with the Big Lebowski. But hey, ya gotta have a starting point!
Thank you for reading this horrible review.
There are actually some important life lessons here.
Milo perhaps needs to learn some self control
And the Director NAILS ENTHUSIASM.....Just about some pretty unfortunate things....
Evil Dead (2013)
"Fan Fiction" that works (some spoilers)
This isn't really a remake. It's another story in the same universe as the originals.
This version follows another unfortunate group of youngsters.
Except they aren't there for "fun" no, quite the opposite. Their friend Mia (and in one case, sister) wishes to detox from heroin. Setting a fairly unique sequence of events where Mia is (horrifically) raped by a group of trees (MUCH more disturbing than the original) and possessed.
Yet her behavior, before the possession spreads, could indeed be explained and therefore dismissed as heroin withdrawals. My favorite little addition.
No one has fun in this movie. And while I may be reaching for addiction metaphors don't worry: It's still an utter blood bath and hell of an intense and gruesome horror film.
Once it starts it doesn't stop until the sky literally opens up for an epic "Blood Downpour"
Only reason this isn't a 10 is besides Jane Levy (Who I adore so much) and one other character the acting is terrible.
Luckily it doesn't matter
Final Note: I love the original Evil Dead as much as this one now for different reasons but they do have one thing in common the others do not: The are both deadly serious- no comedy here.
Creepshow: A Creepshow Animated Special: Survivor Type/Twittering from the Circus of the Dead (2020)
Short and Sweet. Great for what it is.
This is great for what it is. 2 short stories by Stephen King and his son Joe Hill.
The first one is about a man stranded on an island. The story is about how he got there, and him reminiscing about his entire life as he literally eats himself to death. I enjoyed this segment and found the final shot to he haunting as hell.
The second one is hilarious. It's told via a teenage girl tweeting the entire time as her family attends "The Circus of The Dead" and takes a hilariously long time to realize that: they are actually zombies and people are actually being murdered.
I found the first one pretty disturbing with graphics you'd find perhaps in a Neil Gaiman graphic novel.
The second one is hilarious. I doubt either are meant to be taken as "total serious" and its just a nicely made short for fans of anything "Creepshow"
Which I happen to be.
I was pleased.
Cuando acecha la maldad (2023)
I found this oddly, and darkly hilarious
Parts of this movie feel like a three stooges episode. With a lot of blood and gore and apocalyptic setting, but still.
Allow me to explain one of many terrible decisions that are made.
Two brothers and a very, very stupid man decide to take a demon possessed bag of pus away from his family and out into the middle of nowhere.
The logic being; If we take this thing far away it can't hurt anyone! Or...us at least..
They make it "far enough" only to realize the demon fell off their truck 100 miles back. Which then becomes "far enough".
Eventually through strings of error/anger/and despair,
far enough becomes the entire world.
And I find that hilarious. The movie is disgusting at times and seems to be written by the devil himself (the ending in particular) and its a very very intense and gruesome horror film. Yet it seems lighthearted. It's truly puzzling (in a good way) how I feel about this.
The demons in this are similar in ways to zombies in those films. The difference is it's MUCH more complicated then shooting them in the head (Which here just releases more demons) to kill them..if they are even able to be killed...
TLDR: this is a fresh take on the apocalyptic genre to say the least. If I had to describe it in one word?
Unique.
Disclosure: I used subtitles as I don't speak Spanish so that probably effected my experience and also...
I don't understand a lot of what was going on.
But I loved it and recommend to horror fans and DAAAAARK comedy fans : )
Watcher (2022)
Maika Monroe is just marvelous in this tense, slow burn.
This was a lot better than I was expecting. As these types of films are not really my thing. However this one takes the "Stalker" genre into a different direction.
A very slow and very tense one with a satisfying conclusion.
I watched this solely because Maika Monroe stars in it. I've loved her in "It Follows" and "The Guest" but she carries almost this entire film on her "paranoid/is she crazy" shoulders.
She's also stunningly beautiful.
Anyway the film follows her as she moves to Romania with her boyfriend, but doesn't speak the language.
This creates a ton of tension and dread not just for her but for the viewer as well (also no subtitles).
We feel just as confused as she does (unless you speak Romanian) at a few group gatherings with her boyfriend and his friends chatting up storms she doesn't understand...yet...
This movie could have gone a million different directions and I wasn't sure what was "actually" happening until the explosive ending.
I don't want to spoil anything else. It would be criminal. I'll close with this is more of a thriller than a horror film but does have some gruesome horror elements/gore in it.
If you have Shudder it's currently on there.
The Woman (2011)
Undderatted, Grueling Terror.
The woman, I believe, is a sequel of sorts. It takes place after the events of an entire novel. So "How" The Woman arrived upon a seemingly normal (anything but) family and captivity, I haven't a clue.
I'm glad as well. This movie wastes no time on a backstory about some "evil woman". Instead it focuses on the family.
The father is a deranged lunatic with a mask of sanity slipping fast. He finds the woman, lusts after her, then proceeds to kidnap her and lock her up. "for her protection".
The wife is battered, she turns a blind eye to her husbands abuse however she is so abused herself it's very grey (as is her outcome)
The son is just like the father. A twisted little monster. They both take turns at torturing/raping the woman.
The Daughter (the one I rooted for) is pregnant and terrified. Especially because the father may be HER father.
Yeah, this movie is pretty freaking dark.
From the themes to the hard-to-watch torture scenes.
This film builds tension and dread from start to finish until it explodes in, a very satisfying, blood bath. A face is devoured off. A body is torn to shreds. Justice is served
by the Woman who was never a monster but a prisoner of a sadistic father and son.
From the same director as May which I think is still his masterpiece. However this is something entirely different. It builds slow but doesn't hold back and goes places that make you turn your head and squirm in disbelief.
This is a "Horror" film defined. I'm leaving out the worst actually. Enjoy!
Donnie Darko (2001)
A time travel film like none other (Theatrical minor spoilers))
I recently watched the theatrical version of this wonderful film again. I used to insist the directors cut was "the" version but now I love them both.
The original, entire story was never entirely put onto screen however the directors cut does explain a bit more. It also changes some pretty extreme things I wont spoil here.
Essentially it makes more sense. But this one is more fun to watch. It leaves out exactly "how" Donnie Darko is able to travel back in time and leaves it up to the viewer to decide how (I think he simply used the book).
I love a film that trusts it's audiences imagination to prevail. This film gets endlessly trippy and fascinating to ponder.
I've loved this since I was a teenager and now I love it even more. A story that grows every time you watch it--yet something still feels out of reach when the credits slam down.
The Dark and the Wicked (2020)
Act 1 and 2 are gold. where is the 3rd?
This could be chalked up to perception. Or perhaps It's because I've seen too many isolation horror films recently that I am burned out and needed "something" anything to "happen" after 2 near perfect acts.
This film is rooted in terror. Terror drives this film all the way into a blank wall. And then it's over.
Zero climax.
Characters required I don't really care about
the acting is great from the 2 leads who carry the film. The eyes in the demon things are creepy. Really this is great just doesn't have an ending and that is somewhat underwhelming. Perhaps a sequel is in store anyway i recommend but...
Terrifier (2016)
A little dissapointed. A little impressed. The other Two Are Better.
I watched this last night, just me and my cat. I was more impressed than he was (snoozing) and more frightened. But also disappointed.
I've now seen all of the Terrifier films in this order:
part 2. The original short by mistake watching All Hallows Eve. And then this one.
Terrifier 2 is the current king imo. It has what this doesn't. A consistently sweet and caring protagonist.
Actually this DOES have one ...just not for very long. I was rooting hard for her. I respect the boldness in the decision that was made.
But after that I was just kind of ready for this to be over and join my cat in the blissful unconscious.
It becomes nothing but impressive gore and chaos. Which is fun but just generic as heck.
I loved the twist even though I saw it coming.
And that opening scene was pure nightmare fuel and nothing (not even the saw) that came after topped that first, diabolical kill scene.
TLDR: This is better than "OK" but pales in comparison to It's sequel and the Tremendous original short. It has some delightful blood and gore in it's own style but it isn't very scary.
The other two scared me nearly to death.
I am VERY excited to see 3 this year, set on Christmas Eve! Hallelujah Jesus : )
L'autre monde (2010)
Pretty, pretty....pretty good!
I found myself doing a Larry David impression when the credits rolled. I liked it but have no plans of watching it again. I don't feel there is anything to gain upon a second viewing.
I can't stand video game movies (where someone gets stuck inside one) but this one is different. The VR game isn't even the focus of the story nor is anyone stuck in it.
Rather it's a tool used for abuse and power.
Power over lives that is. Pushing folks to suicide (which has happened in real life) by talking them into it and such.
This movie has a similar plot to Blue Velvet. It has a naive young man who ditches his loving girlfriend to pursue a dangerous woman, with an even more dangerous boyfriend who abuses her.
It never reaches that films level. Instead it plays it safe, and I don't like safe.
But I do like a good story which this is. Just not a "great" one.
Terrifier (2011)
A tremendous horror/terror short
Possibly the best short I've seen. Certainly the most terrifying. Damien Leone has done two unlikely things.
1. He has created a menacing-terrifying clown that puts all other killer clowns to shame.
2. Created a modern day slasher Icon with Art. The 3rd feature length Terrifier is coming out later this year. Can't wait to see how far he takes Art.
Anyway this short film is about a young woman who, on Halloween night, witnesses a heinous murder. She is then chased relentlessly by Art The Clown. Art is much more supernatural in his debut than part 2 (I've yet to see 1) making it literally impossible to escape him.
There isn't really a plot. But its a hyper blood bath of epic proportions that genuinely mortifies to the core of human suffering.
I'd also add this film more into the "Terror" section of horror films. It's relentless. It doesn't hold back.
Also features an actress I really wanted to escape.
The final image is forever burned into my psyche.
And for that, my nightmares are grateful : )
I give this a 10/10 for being shamelessly what it is and holding no punches. And actually scaring the bejesus out of me!
A Dark Song (2016)
Dark and Beautiful. An Occult Film Like None Other. (minor spoilers)
This wonderful Irish drama/horror film begins like many others. A grieving woman wishes to speak to her child who was murdered. She turns to the dark arts to due so.
She hires a very questionable occultist to perform an even more questionable ritual. Though the true purpose of the ritual is slowly revealed, and altered, brilliantly through revelations that fall upon our two heroes (for 99% of the film there are only 2 actors).
One of the major questions I had (and I imagine others as well) was whether the ritual was even "real" at all or the results of an elaborate hoax designed by a deranged lunatic to con a grieving woman.
Both leads make extremely bad decisions, monstrous even. However the script and incredible acting lends both of them incredible depth.
Neither are one dimensional, and are easy to root for as well as to feel repulsion towards.
The ending I imagine is a make it or break it for some folks. For me it was a make it. To be totally honest I was weeping with joy at this films incredible message about forgiveness.
Sidenote: I suspect the director has at some point smoked dmt : )
Mandrake (2022)
Creepy Atmospheric Horror at it's best (minor spoilers)
I don't care if movies make total sense or have some intricate plot to unwind. It has a plot and makes sense until the end, where I do wish thing's were wrapped up a bit more. My only complaint.
Anyway...
This movie has THE creepiest evil witch I've ever seen.
She isn't one dimensional at all. She's Evil, and that's her primary characteristic, sure. But we also see her tender caring side for her "philosophy" and her companion.
It's easy to even feel empathy for her, despite her heinous actions.
Loved the lead and found myself begging for her to survive when, in the second act, the story goes straight to hell (in a good way) and the terror explodes after master craftsman tension building.
Also found it hilarious and highly original to have a Probation officer who must look after a witch.
I loved this movie. That's all.
Allegoria (2022)
Hilarious and Terrifying
The opening sequence is pure nightmare fuel followed by colorful credits and jarring sounds that instantly hooked me into watching this short-strange film.
I enjoyed it for what it was, a freaky fun ride through loosely connected characters who, for no explanation, manifest their biggest fears into literal monsters.
I'll spoil one scene that falls more into the satirical/hilarious aspect. A beautiful woman and a man who believes himself to be ugly, are having a conversation.
The man is convinced she's disgusted by him, despite her constant flirting and proclaiming the opposite...that he is indeed attractive.
He finally builds up the courage to try and kiss her, only to be rejected as she rudely gets up and leaves. Then In pure black comedy fashion she comes back.....to murder him.
His fear is Rejection
That's honestly my least favorite section, but still enjoyable.
The ending had me laughing myself to death when the "Allegoria" is explained (sort of..not really..who cares) between the two women in the apartment, which is without doubt my favorite section.
TLDR: This is sort of like an anthology, with misses and hits, and experimental storytelling involving extremely terrifying sequences (1st) humor (3rd) and both (Last)
Side note: The director is Rob Zombies younger brother.
The City of the Dead (1960)
Fun and Freaky (some spoilers)
Visually this film does everything right, from the opening scene of an angry mob demanding a "Witch" be burned to the closing shots of crosses and lighting.
The frantic, busy shots during the opening reminded me of something that Romero would make, while the more drawn out scenes felt more like Hitchcock.
In fact, there is a very similar aspect to this film regarding the "halfway" point and total shift in the story and Psycho, which came out the same year.
Some freaky scenes involving ritualistic murder (though the film is not graphic, it is disturbing)
and satanism I found surprising (in a good way) for its time, freakier than Rosemary's Baby even.
All the actors are stellar, especially the always menacing Christopher Lee, though he is barely in it, when he is, he makes his impact.
Beautiful black and white that does not hold back on the fog machines! I can't stress how well this film is shot, especially for it's time.
My only complaint is that the ending was just plain dumb and out of nowhere (unless I missed something) but its definitely worth watching.
The Amusement Park (1975)
Very interesting!!
From what I'm reading, this was made in 1973 for a church/society about elder abuse to then be shelved by that same group (after they watched it) for only.........
45 years!!?
If the above is true, then we (Romero/cinema/horror fans) are lucky to be seeing this movie at all.
It's only about 45 minutes- I'd call it a short...about the scariest thing of all...growing old!
I didn't personally find this film to be all that frightening (minus a few scenes) but surreal, metaphorical and weird with touches of heartbreak.
It's hard to review, but I'll try to explain one particular disaster our poor hero falls into. Bumper cars!!
No really, there is an accident. The police show up and immediately discredit one of the drivers who is very old. Our hero saw the whole thing and tries to step in.
Only to be mocked and called a "blind man reporting" for not wearing his glasses.
The whole movie seems to be about society, and how we treat, neglect, and totally misunderstand not just the elder but anyone who's "different" (which is everyone)
anyway that's all I got. Its great, weird, and short....and again only took 45 years to make it to our streaming services!
The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)
The first two acts are incredible...(very minor spoilers)
This starts out great! It has top notch performances from Brian Cox and Emile Hirsch (Haven't seen him in anything in a while) who play father/son coroners who have dealt with a recent tragedy (of course) and are about to call it a night, until a mysterious and beautiful Jane Doe arrives. And spoiler alert...they don't go home.
There is an opening scene I'm purposely leaving out. It would be a crime to spoil that does involve other people, but minus that were dealing with only 3 (living) people/actors for 99% of the film.
The film quickly falls into an extreme isolation horror story.
While they may be stuck in a morgue, they may as well be in the spaceship from "Alien" (Which this film reminds me of a bit only in atmosphere)
What it does right: Its extremely original in concept
what it does wrong: it ends in an extremely generic and predictable fashion.
One of the themes is sacrifice. Self and of others. However the most important self sacrifice scene that as it stands, is truly heartbreaking and beautiful...only to be followed by a scene that instantly voids said sacrifice.
I recommend it for sure...just don't get excited after the reveal of what is going on (incredible) to how/why its going on (horrible)