tobyhubner Reviews

Horror Hotel: The Movie (2016)

Camp Fun

[7/10 · 17 February 2017]

I saw Horror Hotel the Movie and was relieved it was not wall to wall blood and guts but rather a funny and light ride with lots of comedy. OK so its low budget, but in my humble opinion this type of film has buckets more creativity then industry vehicles like Paranormal Activity. I thought the camp aliens coming to earth to get dates was really funny, so if you like camp check it out and have a great time! What's not to like???????

Let's Ruin It with Babies (2014)

Rollicking Road Trip Really Fun!

[9/10 · 16 February 2016]

Kestrin Pantera the writer/director and ALSO the lead actress is front and center in this quirky indie romantic comedy/road trip and she is really entertaining, kind of twist on Parker Posey so she's got a lot of irony that plays well and plausibly with her real life husband, who's a perfect dead pan foil to her live spark, I just got into these two characters and their hijinks on this rolling RVIP karaoke bus, they should turn it into a mock doc reality series to tell you the truth with all the menagerie of crazy characters they meet, kind of The Office meets...Community? Sorry if I'm reaching with false references but this is an inspired piece of original work by two gutsy indy filmmakers doing it all themselves, its exactly what you want in an indy film...the emotion and originality is all there and has its own power, notwithstanding the budget...why can't you find these type of films on airplanes? Answer..;they're crowded out by studio product but I love watching films on airplanes I admit it and I would have loved to have found this on my recent transatlantic flight...really worth a watch...

Hillbilly Horror Show (2014– )

A lot of fun!!!!

[9/10 · 16 February 2016]

The hosts were hilarious and really set the stage. This reminded me of horror hosts of old maybe like some of the early Roger Corman stuff, when Vincent Price narrated in a spooky and campy fashion. These are not just pasted together ultra low budget pieces but really well done material that looks award winning. The Nest is my favourite, but Doppelgänger and Amused took off in a surprising fashion as well. Hard to find this level of filmmaking quality in Indie horror, the special effects rock/CGI rocks too I continue to be amazed at the special effects being generated by Indie films, I find them more interesting actually then the mega effects that seems to hammer you mercilessly, I prefer not to say simpler effects but more originals less industrial effects, an intimacy to them that gives the horror a scarier a feel,a more intimate feel. I highly recommend!

Rows (2015)

Rows

[9/10 · 12 November 2015]

Rows is really really scary...but don't take my word just watch the trailer, if you can. I swore I'd never watch another cornfield scene after Joe Pesci gets it in Casino, but Rows tops that and somehow made me break my word and sucked me in...the setup is naturally paced and draws you in, and then the house and creepsters and those rows...rows and rows of corn stalks and the crazy stuff starts building...I won't spoil it but if you are a fan of the genre do yourself a favour and see Rows. Production values quite amazing for an Indie film, this could be a $15 million budget and you wouldn't know the difference, very professionally shot I'd say and a booming soundtrack (when needed). I was blown away by Rows and I'm not a huge fan, to tell you the truth, of the genre, maybe it effects me too powerfully, I'm the type that doesn't get to sleep after Texas Chainsaw Massacre etc., so I sample only occasionally, and Rows delivered...

Hanah's Gift (2008)

Great suspense

[9/10 · 12 November 2015]

Hannah's Gift paid off for me, it has the type of gritty realism Blair Witch had, with the "you are there" camera and this hint of reality that makes it all the more creepier. Performances simply outstanding. I got a kick out of this because, I hate to admit it, I've taken an anger management class myself, or course, actually it was after a small incident of road rage that was a court order as part of my settlement. Does anybody I know read this? No. Anyways, the whole anger management course was a huge joke, and to then see a film which turns the whole concept on its head and makes it into a HORROR movie was just a kick, I loved every minute of it and it didn't make me MAD, it just made me scream, then laugh, or squeal, then laugh again then SHOUT out loud with fright, well, that's what you like to do with a horror film right? Grab some popcorn and get angry and then check out this film its a nice piece of genre filmmaking with real authenticity.

Candlestick (2014)

Terrific whodunnit nail biter

[8/10 · 25 October 2015]

I have to admit this is not my favourite genre, I'm a comedy man, but my DAUGHTER, who is all of 12 years old, loves these movies so we watched and had a great time digging into a bowl of popcorn and digging our nails into each other, this movie really delivers on the spooky suspense and takes a familiar genre and plot setting that everyone can relate to and turns it on its head...the filmmaking and particularly the SOUND is fantastic, I don't know how they got such great sound on a low budget but the sound contributes to the creepy suspense and finally drives you to the edge of your seat, without spoiling or giving away anything its highly recommended this film achieves what Hollywood films can only hope to achieve;...real people; real actors ...real suspense.

The Cain Complex (2015)

Buy A Security System

[8/10 · 1 October 2015]

We live in France but have a place in the US in southern Arizona which is cartel territory and gun territory and my biggest fear when we go the US (I'm American) is...home invasion. I've outfitted the property with security cameras and we are entirely fenced in with entry gates and Cox Security but...you never know who is walking around, right? And do those cameras really stop anybody? In France we live in an apartment but in the US...Jees...in a house...there are so many ways to get in...so many windows...so The Cain Complex fed on all my paranoia and insecurity and gun fear with a bunch of hockey mask clad goons invading this guy's house and then a mind twisting blend of action, horror, thriller, altered reality and raw Ultimate type fighting scenes and I was crawling on the floor by the end of this movie...if you like horror if you like thriller (and great production value too a real rawness) then you will find this film entertaining...and riveting...just watch out that those rivets.

Targeting (2014)

Great Noir Thriller

[8/10 · 21 September 2015]

This is a great noir thriller about a female Marine that comes back from Afghanistan and starts to run surveillance on an Afghan immigrant. She uses her skills as a Special Ops agent and she's entirely believable in the role, she has this drawn out melancholy look that blends perfectly with the suspenseful storyline...really enjoyed this and the cast of characters too...beautifully shot and the camera movements are terrific for an independent film. Also liked the locations in southern California, bleak and inhospitable, iconic and desolate I think the film was shot in San Pedro. Justin Ridgeway and Baktoosh Nuri are excellent, particularly enjoyed Baktoosh he's got a great look and star potential.

The Creators (2012)

Terrific film on artists and artistic process

[9/10 · 20 September 2015]

Not knowing much about South Africa, except Paul Theroux's recent book on his march through western Africa and his final destination Johannesburg, and the real problems that remain post apartheid, as well as Looking for Sugarman, I was hungry for more information and feel for the country and this film fills a real gap. There is an intense artistic voice in South Africa and its a huge mix of discordant, wild expression, and The Creators gives you an important behind the scenes and REAL look. My favourite was the rap/electro/alternative black and white duo Sweat.X and they could merit a movie on themselves alone, really great voices and powerful elements for change. Two thumbs up.

Northern Soul (2014)

Great Music Movie

[10/10 · 9 September 2015]

I hadn't even heard of the Northern Soul movement until I made We Are Kings with Rita Graham, who is one of their stars and a former Raelette. Then someone showed me clips of the Northern Soul girl dancing in the streets to the soul music, and of course I became a convert. What a great terrain for movie-making...the best soul songs, the classics, that I grew up with (yes I am from THAT generation). We had a guy in our class in prep school in 1969 that lived in Detroit and he started showing up with Motown records after Christmas vacation...our minds were blown that there was this alternative to the Beatles and the Doors and the Jefferson Airplane, and all new dance moves. So Northern Soul really gets it and I loved the story and the filmmaking was spot on. Highly recommended!

The Eve (I) (2015)

Riveting with real Rivets

[9/10 · 8 September 2015]

I was always going to watch this movie because I spent a hell of a lot of time on Martha's Vineyard, the main location, and if you're not hobnobbing with the Edgartown Yacht club Set or hanging out with the POTUS at this private estate south of the airport, then lets face it, its a pretty damn creepy place and in real life I've experienced a lot of creepiness up there. We used to have a house next to a 200 year old cemetery and the housekeeper next door could be seen wandering the graves at night talking to people...especially around the graves of little kids...so was glad to see The Eve deliver not just a blood fest but a creepy and crafted thriller with a lot of suspense that is adult and NOT just teens so it tackles some real emotion and works its way into your head and delivers! Bravo!