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Because of Charley (2021)
A stir of emotions
This Drama/Comedy made full use of the premise, with strong wind and rain effects to simulate a hurricane. This unique story is set against the real event of hurricane Charley hitting Florida in 2004. The movie features a talented cast and compelling stock footage of the hurricane's aftermath.
Encounter (2018)
A Genre-Bending Sci-Fi Movie.
Do you believe in Aliens? On a clear night looking up a vast mosaic of stars, it does make you wonder what is out there. At very least, we know a lot of our universe cannot be fully explained. It is a darkened sky and this bold curiosity that kicks off the premise of Encounter.
When an otherworldly object streaks the sky and crashes down to Earth, a group of friends decide to bring it home as a souvenir. Soon it becomes clear that this object will have a physical and emotional impact on any human it comes in contact with. To best describe the tone of Encounter, think Invasion Of The Body Snatchers or a more youthful, edgy version of Cocoon.
From the start, we know the stakes are high. Two FBI agents are tasked with tracking down and securing these foreign objects by any means necessary. It would appear these friends have no idea what danger they have put themselves in with this encounter. In that sense this movie is also a mystery that has flourishes of comedy.
Encounter is a Cronenberg style Sci-Fi Thriller. Without spoiling the story, I can say this movie has impressive practical effects that serves the story and adds production value. The main character is Will, he has reason to believe this alien object has more power then they could ever imagine. Luke Hemsworth (Thor: Ragnarok, Westworld) gives a stand out role as the complex character of Will.
All of the actors in Encounter gave a stellar performance. The cast includes Anna Hutchison (The Cabin In The Woods), Sarah Booth (The Scarehouse, Last Call) and even the well traveled actor Tom Atkins (Lethal Weapon, Maniac Cop). These actors were able to portray the subtle drama and emotion that is unearthed through the narrative of this story. Paul Salamoff, the writer/director of Encounter, crafted a well paced genre bending story.
If you are a fan of smart contained science fiction tales, Encounter is a movie for you. At times it will thrill, sometimes it may surprise, like with a gut punch of an ending you will not see coming. Encounter is now available on Blu-Ray, DVD and streaming on Amazon, I-Tunes and other platforms.
Paradise (2013)
Diablo Cody's first time directing is worth a watch
Leave it to the award winning screenwriter of Juno to write a comedy about a burn victim. Paradise is about Lamb, a highly sheltered young woman who was raised under strict religious values by her family in small town in Montana. A traumatic plane crash leaves most of her body severely burned, she later gets a large settlement of money from suing the plane manufacturer. The movie begins with lamb announcing that she will not give any of her new found riches to the church as originally planned but will go out to Las Vegas and start to enjoy life. When she arrives at sin city Lamb become friends with a female lounge singer, (Octavia Spencer) and an amorous British bartender (Russell Brand). Together they help Lamb check off things from her "Bucket List of Sin" in the city that never sleeps.
I must be clear that I am a Diablo Cody fan, I have been since the beginning when she wrote her novel Candy Girl, about her experiences as a stripper. What makes Paradise unique is that this is the first feature Diablo Cody wrote and directed. I had to check this movie out and watched it keeping that in mind. This movie, Paradise was made on a lower budget then the previous films she wrote. It was shot digitally, not on film but I feel this did not take anything away from the story because it was so funny and well written.
The witty dialogue in this film is what you would expect from Diablo Cody. It is the kind of humor that makes you laugh and then laugh louder when you think about it more. This writer's use of voice over is also a strong element. Cody said that this voice over was an after thought, conceived while they were editing. This narration helped carry us through the story, I am glad they added it. By the time I reached the films ending it was clear that this movie was more than just your run of the mill comedy. Diablo Cody paid attention to every detail, she foreshadows things nicely and it shows.
How well did this accomplished screenwriter do as a director? The movie looked good and showed off a different side of Las Vegas. The camera movement was motivated and supported what was going on in the scene, something first time directors can have trouble with. In a recent KCRW radio interview Diablo Cody said that being a full time mother and a director was too much, that she does not want to direct again. She did a great job. Maybe someday when her kids are older she will changer her mind and take the director's chair again. If Paradise is any indication, her fans will still be there. I know I will.
- Review written by Curt Wiser, writer director of the thriller Cam-Girl (aka Web-Cam).
Just Pull It (2013)
A funny Short that is worth your time.........
This short film does not waste any time, it brings the funny then gets out while the iron is hot. This irreverent dark comedy is naturally simplistic and hilarious at the same time. Most importantly Just Pull It builds to a final big laugh at the end. The progression of the story and timing to sell the humor work perfectly. The acting is believable and not over dramatized. The camera work and direction play up the comedy to great effect. This short shows that sometimes the simplest ideas are the ones worth pursuing. I saw this short as part of the Orlando Film Festival and am glad I did.
- Review written by Curt Wiser, Writer/Director of Web-Cam (AKA Cam-Girl)
Monsters Wanted (2013)
Original and entertaining.
Monsters Wanted covers the subject of the hunted house industry thoroughly. I had no idea it was as big as it was on this independent level. Some aspects of this movie were based on bold decisions to make keeping the best content the top priority. One man's face is blurred out and his voice is distorted. As you watch the movie the reason for this is clear and only adds to the impact of what is going on. Some filmmakers would have cut this person out of the documentary, I am glad they did not.
The most interesting thing that occurred to me was that in many ways the process of gearing up for the haunted attraction and then operating it was similar to film production. This documentary also had high production value. So I recommend that you answer the call for Monsters Wanted.
- Review by Curt Wiser, Writer-Director of Web-Cam (AKA Cam-Girl)
Aftershock (2012)
-- A disaster movie made for horror fans. Well Done.--
I went into this expecting a lower budget film about a group of party goers including Eli Roth, who get trapped inside a nightclub when a massive earthquake hits Chile. To my surprise this was a much bigger form of disaster film. The scope of the movie shows much of "The Real" Chile as the character played by the director Nicolas Lopez tells his American friend simply called "Gringo" played by Roth. The situations and the way the characters responded to these life and death choices are brutally realistic. They use practical effects to show the destruction and carnage once the earthquake hits and the blood effects are well done. It takes a bit of run time before the earthquake happens, but not too long and then the action does not stop.
In the DVD making of the director said he got the idea for this movie because he survived a tragedy like this that struck Chile in 2010. It shows in the careful attention he took to make it feel real.
This review was written by Curt Wiser, Author of the novel "Box Cutter Killer" and Writer-Director of the movie "Cam-Girl" (aka "Web-Cam").
The Purge (2013)
strong concept that delivers thrills.
The Purge is one of those rare movies that did not resemble a big budget studio film in any way, yet it received a wide release in theaters. This movie shows what you can do with an original high concept and a modest budget. It helped that it stars Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey. The Purge is about a family of four who are living in the near future during one day. This just happens to be the one day of the year when any form of crime is made legal and no police or emergency response is available. There are some rules; certain weapons are not allowed and of course government personnel of a high rank cannot be killed or attacked without consequence.
The reason for this annual day of carnage is for the best interest of the nation because it has brought unemployment down to one percent and crime on any other day of the year to record setting lows. This is all a type of therapy, an outlet to vent deep seeded primal urges for those who choose to participate.
So the family shelters themselves in their house with the help of an armored security system that covers all of the doors and windows. Around 20 minutes into the film a B-story kicks in then all hell breaks loose. A clan of young private school students have reason to break into the house. The leader of this group played by Rhys Wakefield is exceptional and is such a believable sociopath you cannot help but be entertained while he was on screen. Everything in this movie is made to feel hyper realistic which makes the situation even more terrifying.
The Purge holds up against any other movie playing in the theaters and was produced for 3 Million and it grossed 76 Million to date. I hope the studios take note of this. It should come as no surprise that The Purge 2 is in development. There is countless places you can go with a strong premise like this. For example, what does the white house do during this day of anarchy? It would be interesting to see The Purge from the point of view from someone who hunts. Maybe they have a valid reason for choosing their prey and the audience could be routing for the hunters. This movie causes us to ask tough questions of ourselves and that is why it is so great in my opinion.
I have to say that in the theater seated one row behind me were two fat women who talked throughout the whole movie. I wanted to stand up and yell at these self centered ignorant people to vent my anger. Instead I moved away from them. But as I did that I thought if the purge existed I might have followed those two out to their car, to find out where they live.
Mud (2012)
"Stand By Me" for the new generation.
I feel that about sums the feature MUD up. Two boys stumble upon a strange man played flawlessly by Matthew McConaughey which leads them into a situation way over there heads. This is at it's heart a coming of age story but with an edge. The boys learn about life in bold and dramatic ways yet the film was never heavy handed or boring.
That is because the characters are well written and both McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon seized the opportunity to bring them to life. Both actors proved their abilities and range as actors. It even for no other reason you should see Mud for the performances by all the actors including Michael Shannon, who's theater background continues to serve him on the big screen as the comic relief in this story.
We can only hope they will take more parts like this so strong independent films can continue to be made and get their day in court.
- Review written by the Writer/Director of Cam-Girl (aka) Web-cam
Iron Man Three (2013)
Iron Man 3 is better than Iron Man 2
On May 3ed Iron Man 3 rocketed into theaters fueled by the smash hit The Avengers, which came out one year earlier on May 4th 2012. From the beginning I had doubts about this third installment because it was not written or directed by Jon Favreau as with Iron Man and Iron Man 2. Iron Man 3 was directed and co-written by Shane Black, famed screenwriter of Lethal Weapon.
Given that, this movie exceeded my expectations. The action and effects were spectacular. The plot was cohesive and they definitely added some new and interesting elements to the Iron Man franchise. Without spoiling anything I will say that Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts gets to be more involved in this third film, she is not relegated to the sidelines. And lets face it guys, we like to see a woman of action. Ever since Alien made it a mainstream archetype, we have been drawn to attractive, strong, independent woman that is not just a girl to be saved. I kept this in mind when I wrote the character of Gessica, the female lead in my movie Cam-Girl (AKA Web-Cam).
Iron Man 3 also had a few surprises along the way, how the characters developed and what the villains weapon really turns out to be. These moments of the movie were refreshing, spontaneous and realistic for the given situations.
The one minor complaint I had was that a few parts of the story were written in a contrived way to reach an end result. This was done to force Tony Stark into his low point and it was also present during the big finale of the film. It turns out a lot went into making that final scene. In a Entertainment Weekly interview Robert Downey Jr. laments that he injured an ankle performing a stunt which caused a six week shut down during production.
This third Iron Man film provided great closure for the character and the storyline. As of now this is the last time Robert Downey Jr. is obligated to suit up as Iron Man. Part of me wishes this is the last Iron Man movie they make because it ended strongly. I'm sure they will make more Iron Man films because of there success. The question remains if it will be Downey Jr. as the character, it would be hard for me to imagine any other actor filling those iron shoes. I recommend Iron Man 3.
Evil Dead (2013)
Delivers hyper realistic horror but no comedy.
No Spoilers are in this review, just honest opinions. Like most people who first heard about this remake I immediately checked out the IMDb to see if Sam Raimi was the Director (He is not) and if Bruce Campbell was going to give new life to the hero "Ash" we all know and love (No Again).
The Director is Fede Alvarez, a first time feature filmmaker from Uruguay who's short film Panic Attack! went viral and caught the attention of Raimi and the other producers. The hero of this version was played by Shiloh Fernandez. This actor is best known from Little Red Riding Hood and Deadgirl, the latter being a very original twist on horror.
In this climate of desperate cash grabs with all these remakes, reboots and spin offs I had every reason to hate this movie going into it but I was surprised. The reason for the group to go to the cabin was totally different from the original and the strongest element of the writing. If you are hoping to see an Evil Dead with the same tone as the original I'm sorry to say it is not there. The over the top gore, the creative camera work and comedic elements are absent on this trip to the cabin. What the remake does deliver on is amazingly strong cinematography and a hyper-realistic take on this story filled with practical gore effects.
According to IMDb Diablo Cody did a pass on the screenplay but it seems like everything from her draft was dismembered from the shooting script. This movie could have used some smart lines and more defined characters. Instead within the first 20 seconds as all the characters meet at the cabin they announce each of their jobs. What someone does for a living is a great incite into character but this was forced into the scene in an unnatural way. Diablo Cody did not get screen credit in the film so there you go.
Fans of the original will be happy to know that the score, the props, the camera blocking and editing will bring you back to the fond memories of Evil Dead 1 and 2. The tree attack scene was great and used reverse motion. Scenes like this and others take place at roughly the same running time as they did in the original film. For the modern horror film goers this new Evil Dead will be artfully shot and top of the line. I recommend this movie but not to people who want the fun independent over the top style of the original. Stay for the clip at the end of the credits, you'll be glad you did.
The Terror Within (1989)
So good it's bad - buy it if you like those kinds of movies
The Terror Within has to be the most egregious and campy Alien rip-off of them all. The film takes place on Earth in an underground facility called the "Mojave Lab." The crew's mission is to exit the lab and explore the Earth's surface searching for survivors in a future where 99 percent of the human population died off from a virus that they now now have a cure for.
In the film's opening two crew members are attached by some vicious mutant creatures they call Gargoyles. But in true low budget fashion we do not see the attack we hear it as the crew members do in a control room. The guy being mulled takes the time to cry out "Jesus Gargoyles." And they are referred to as Gargoyles many times as if to make it abundantly clear they are not Aliens, aka we're not going to get sued.
The following are what The Terror Within and Alien have in common:
They bring in someone from outside that is the host for the Alie- um, I mean Gargoyle to eventually run around and reek havoc inside their compound.
The creature busts out of its host the same way. The instant the thing is seen lunging out of its host they resort to a cut away of our hero "David" played by Andrew Stevens looking on from a observation room and exclaims "Oh my God he's in the air vent." They clearly could not show any of that with the special effects set up they had, so they tell us.
It was no surprise the creature retreated to the air vent. A fair share of the action takes place inside the air vents, just like in the Ridley Scott film.
Two moonshine swigging crew members are modeled off a pair of characters who are friends and comic relief from Alien. This was so clear to the crew that the costume designer on Terror dressed the "Neil" character played by Tommy Hinkley with a Hawaiian shirt almost identical to the one Harry Dean Stanton wore as "Brett" in Alien.
The over all look and tone the film is going for is clearly inspired by it's high budget predecessor. Even some of weapons the crew uses are the same.
The unfortunate thing is the first 34 minutes of The Terror Within is uneventful and does not set up anything that you really need to know in order to understand the film.
George Kennedy, who was "Hal" the leader of the crew and the other actors gave it their all. They did not have much to work with, the character work was just not there in the script.
HOW THEY FELL SHORT:
The Gargoyle is an actor in a full body suit and a bulky head piece that only looked good in extreme close ups or in the shadows. (They were aware of this when they made the trailer for the film.)
The dialogue is too on the nose and with little use.
The "David" character spends the second half of the film armed with a bow and arrow gun, which is never used. The prop was just there, I guess they though he looked good holding it.
The best of all is the flame thrower that "Andre" lugs around with him. This is the least practical flame thrower ever conceived. Instead of strapping the fuel tank to the actor, he wheels it around on a hand truck. A HAND TRUCK, you know those carts we use to move furniture.
During the opening scene Hal ask David, the owner of a dog Butch to "keep him under control." Then right on cue in comes Butch, the most docile and well trained dog on the planet. They kept this exchange despite casting a dog that makes it laughable.
Lastly, the most entertaining sequence in The Terror Within also become the most over the top and ridiculous. There intention was clear, create suspense and have a proper reveal for when the Gargoyle is finally seen. When Andre is attacked by the Gargoyle they assemble a fun series of shots but it ends up making him look like he's standing there for a total of eight seconds waiting to be killed.
David realizes the sound of a dog whistle is the Gargoyles only weakness it debilitates him, so they make a tape of it to play back over the speakers so he can hunt it down. The tape breaks just as the Gargoyle starts attacking him. The next seven minutes he is crippled, crawling around and doing everything except simply sounding the dog whistle he has hanging from his neck the whole time.
In Closing
It's goofs like this that lend to the overall charm of the film. In an attempt to duplicate a space epic like Alien on a budget estimated to be the cost of a new sports car, the film makers of The Terror Within have produced a low rent romp that is SO BAD IT'S GOOD.
Beside the slow start, the film is oddly entertaining. They made a sequel in 1991 so the film must have been profitable.
The Shout Factory DVD packages this film along with Dead Space (1990), another Corman produced Alien coin-up.
There is really only one special feature on the DVD, a Feature Commentary by Fred Gallo the Director of Dead Space. If you are an aspiring filmmaker or enjoy informative and entertaining commentaries, this is a must own.