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Hard Shoulder (2012)
Hard Shoulder (aka "Dead End")2012
Why so many people have criticised this film so negatively Is a mystery to me. OK, so there's no Monsters or Demons, neither Is their any slashing & gore (well, not much!). This film belongs In the psychological & surreal section of the horror genre and so, understandably, may very well be disappointing to the general Horror fan. But we have to apply some deep thinking to fully get to grips with this film - It really Is a well-written script which needs to be deconstructed and considered carefully , In order to fully understand the intricacies of the story.
Considering a budget of just £250,000 (when Tens or Hundreds of Millions are the norm by todays standards), many of the disparaging comments are inconsiderate and unfair - you can only work with the tools you've got and I firmly believe, when all Is considered, that some people haven't given this film the recognition It deserves.
That said, these are only my personal opinions and I know that some people out there will want to slap this silly old sod - but I stand by what I say. Sorry, guys!
BASIC SYNOPSIS :- Mother, Stepfather and their two kids (Boy-and-girl teens) set off on a short trip, presumably In an attempt to settle the differences which have been leading 'Mum and Dad' towards the end of the relationship. Their car veers off the roadway when a bunch of Inbred Travellers ("Carnies") use their van to cause the family car to crash and then kidnap them. The unconscious family awaken to find themselves chained by their arms to the ceiling of an abandoned Diner within a dark, dystopic and dilapidated Fairground.
Both written and directed by the talented Nicholas David Lean, this film Is one which perhaps needs a further viewing to fully get to grips with what's at the centre of the story. But such Is the cryptic nature of films like this.
I won't give out any direct spoilers - as you'll no doubt be aware, they're not called "spoilers" for nothing, and often completely ruin your enjoyment of a film or video! Enjoy, friends!
The Shrine (2010)
The Alternate ending!
This review Is mainly based around the ending and the alternate ending. - there are plenty enough here already, although In my opinion It's a hugely underrated Horror. For me, only the ending spoiled the film. Allowing Marcus to go free would have put the whole village at risk as Police and Media would no doubt have ended up swarming the place and after all, Marcus was partly responsible for all the trouble and deaths; and of course they were ready to kill him (after making him dig his own grave) even before the trouble really got Into full swing. All he did to help was hold Carmen's head steady. I thought It would have been better to have let Marcus live but confine him to the village - he could have taught the villagers English or talked to unwelcome English-speaking visitors to encourage them to leave peacefully. Today, (In 2021), I watched The Shrine again for the first time In years, and happened to check-out If there was a Wikipaedia entry, my goal being to try and discover exactly where It was filmed. Their Is Indeed a Wiki entry for this film and to my surprise It says that their Is an alternative ending; "..... A montage plays with a voiceover from Henryk. Carmen's body is placed with the previous victims, a funeral is held for the villagers who have died, and the belongings of Marcus, Carmen and Sara are dumped. Marcus is made to stay in the village, being given the deceased family's house as his new home. Henryk explains that it not only serves to keep Marcus from revealing the village's secret to the world but also as penance since it was his freeing of Carmen that resulted in the deaths of several of the villagers. Marcus doesn't object, remarking that he would find it difficult to explain why he came back without Carmen and Sara....". Why this ending wasn't used Is anyone's guess, but I hope film fans out there agree that this sounds like a far more Interesting and believable ending. I hope to find a version with this ending or at least the alternate ending on Its own, I really hope It's still In existence.
Identity Theft (2007)
Worth Watching!
Although low-budget and "TV Movie-esque", the story Isn't too bad, despite the wooden acting. Our 'new Identity' guy climbs the ladder of corporate success a little too quickly for my liking and there's one too many hairstyles/facial hair that fail to grow or change over weeks and even months - our former Junkie even manages to finish his 3-year-stretch In Jail still sporting the exact same haircut complete with blonde streak - but we can forgive these small anomalies, all things considered. Besides, the pace of the movie has the viewer suitably engrossed so as not to notice mistakes as much as we might have done otherwise. Definitely worth a watch. (The basic description at the top Is nothing to do with this film. Why IMDB have still not rectified this over the years I can't imagine).
Return of the Living Dead: Rave to the Grave (2005)
Underestimated Fun Horror!
I'm rather puzzled as to why so many reviewers have rated this film a "1"? I can only assume It's people who are looking for realistic gore and terror - or who have simply misunderstood It's premise - because It certainly doesn't deserve so much criticism. If this film Is only worth the lowest-possible score, then how do we rate disasters such as 'Birdemic'?
Following on from the last outing ("Necropolis") which admittedly wasn't very good, this one Isn't played as straight; not quite a comedy, but definitely 'tongue-in-cheek', a point which some reviewers seem to have missed. The general idea - that a group of high-school kids, ignorant of the nature of the Trioxin 'Zombie chemical', discover that tiny amounts cause hallucinogenic and ecstasy-like effects, and decide to sell it in capsule form to their school friends and attendees of a Halloween night "Rave to the Grave".....with (for them, not us) unexpected results!
Like the previous film, this one was produced In Romania with much of the cast and crew also Romanian. There are some humorous stereo-typical characters including a pair of 'traditional' hippies, and best of all, the two Russian agents who work well together and have plenty of humorous lines between them. (Some reviews have criticised the pair, suggesting that the two guys In question are supposed to be U.S. agents but have thick Russian or Romanian accents, but this is a misunderstanding - as we see in the previous film 'Necropolis', the Trioxin barrels were taken from the Chernobyl power station site where they were being stored, so It should be plainly obvious that the agents would be from eastern europe)!
Although certainly aimed at the under thirties, It's worth a watch by any fan of the "return" franchise. Considering It's low-budget and Independent status I feel that we should give credit where credit Is due. I'd suggest cuddling up on the sofa with your loved one, a bottle of wine, and have a chuckle at this unfairly criticized movie.
Funny Games (2007)
Remake or Clone?
Two strange young men turn up at the holiday home of a family-of-three, subjecting them to a night of abject terror as they play their "Funny Games".
As I'm sure most film aficionados out there will agree, remakes of earlier movies can be quite good on occasion - adding to the script or making a few other changes such as digital effects, all of which improve on the previous release. However, 10 years Is a rather short time period to produce a new version (think "War of the Worlds"), particularly when the remake has an almost identical script, scene by scene and In both events and dialogue. This film Is almost identical to It's predecessor, which beggars the question - what was the point?
The only difference between the two films Is simply that the original has German dialogue - and so we non-German speakers have to 'suffer' the inconvenience of subtitles or dubbing!
While this newer version Is pretty good If viewed without knowledge of the original, It lacks the menace and originality of the first. I'd suggest watching the German version prior to this, If only for comparison and evaluation.
In summary, It would surely have been more worthwhile had the script, scenes and/or dialogue been altered, even just a little - after all, If the original was so good as to be copied almost word-for-word, then why an identical remake In the first place?
As an original, I'd have given a rating of seven. But taking everything In to consideration, especially the lack of originality (identical remake) and, In my opinion, the weaker cast, I've given a rating of tfour (although 4.5 would have been my option If available). With regards to my 'weaker cast' comment, I'm not for one moment being disrespectful to the actors as such. However, I feel they were miscast, especially Tim Roth, who just didn't seem to 'fit In' quite like those In the original.
These are only my personal opinions. I respect the opinions of everyone - however much they differ from mine - and I hope this review stimulates debate and encourages the comparison of this film to It's predecessor
Guest House Paradiso (1999)
Full-length 'Bottom'!
Rick Mayall and Ade Edmonson had been a comic pair from the start of their professional careers, starting with their early TV appearances as the "Dangerous Brothers", then appearing together in the two series of "The Young Ones", and continuing with many stage appearances, followed by three series of the BBC comedy Production "Bottom" ( this TV show being 'toned down' regarding 'unsuitable language' as per the usual BBC rules!). This film was simply a Movie version of "Bottom" and aimed at fans of Rick & Ade - this Is what those who were unaware of their previous related comedies misunderstood. As a "Standalone" It may not have appealed to some - but for those who understood the comedy of this pair, It was a great deal of fun!
The Offering (2013)
Excellent Horror Short!
A Father and son arrive at a specific area to leave a yearly offering of a wooden bowl containing a few bird-bones, feathers and a little meat........I first saw "The Offering" as part of a film called "All Hallows Eve 2"(2015), an anthology of related Horror shorts with Halloween as the central connecting story. The lack of background information on this and similar shorts seems to bother some people - but as those who enjoy these powerful little films will appreciate, It's the content that counts - we're left to decide for ourselves how the events came about (and what may come afterwards) and to then muse over what may have led up to these events. We, the viewers, are left to use our own imaginations to 'fill in the blanks', so to speak; that's all part of the genre! And after all, there's not much background to be included in a film lasting just a few minutes. An excellent short, well acted and with superb camera work.
Gurotesuku (2009)
So realistic.....yet so pointless!?
A doctor with sickening and depraved needs kidnaps a teenage couple and forces them to play his depraved game of physical and psychological torment and agony, whilst constantly teasing them with promises of eventual survival and release.
This film will no doubt stimulate debate, particularly In the 'English speaking world', as to what Is acceptable In movies and what Isn't (Japanese cinema Isn't very well represented outside of Japan, so the current and most popular genres of modern Japanese cinema are largely unknown to the outside world). How this film passed the censors Is beyond me, yet 'Grotesque' Is apparently available to buy and rent In most countries.It has very realistic scenes of male and female rape and the most terrible kinds of torture Imaginable. The whole thing has only the three characters and apart from the opening scenes, we never go beyond a couple of rooms throughout the whole movie.If you enjoy extreme physical & psychological torture, then this Is certainly the film for you. Sadly, there's no story to It - we just watch the agony of the two Innocent kids!
Zone of the Dead (2009)
Good low-budget Zombie movie.
Considering the miniscule $1M budget, this Is an entertaining movie which any zombie-flick lover will have to Include In his or her collection, especially as we have Ken Foree In the starring role! Consequently, It's an absolute essential part of our horror-boxes! And let's be fair, Serbia wasn't exactly bursting with cinematic brilliance considering the wars which had befallen them In previous years, so all credit to our European friends for producing a decent zombie gore-fest!
Tell Your Children (1936)
Fantastic!
You MUST see the original "Reefer Madness" before watching this, otherwise the parody aspect would be difficult to understand. This Is an excellent movie, a brilliant parody, superb satire, and although musicals are certainly not my bag, I even enjoy the tunes & dances. Please make sure you watch the original first, otherwise you'll not be able to appreciate the excellence of this gem! Skilled actors, great dancers and laughs by the bucket-load...what more could you want? Have a drink and a smoke before watching(over 21's only of course).
Time Lapse (2014)
A Pseudoscientific bore
So, we have the premise whereby a machine - apparently a camera but looking more like a Pizzeria oven - takes photographs exactly 24-hours Into the future. Now, one would think that, regardless of what the protagonists do, they are destined to end up doing precisely what the future-photo's reveal. That's Inevitable, It's the bread-and-butter of any decent time-twisting tale. But not this one....the whole premise Is seriously flawed! Instead of our 3 main characters Just waiting around In the full knowledge that whatever they do, the result will - must - match the photograph, they Instead have to create the situation to fit the photograph (wear the right clothes, paint the right picture, stand In the correct place and so on) - In other words, far from "predicting the future" they are shaping their thoughts and actions to match what's In the pictures! Utter nonsense! I could handle the fact that almost the entire movie Is filmed In one room, but the stupid Science has me chewing the carpet. I often make allowances for lower budgets, but not this time.
2012 (2009)
The USA saves the world - Again!
Okay, so let me begin by saying that,despite being Scientifically laughable,the special effects are, to be fair,quite Impressive....and that's about It! Once the s**t hits the fan,John Cussacks character manages to stay a constant 3 feet ahead of a crumbling and exploding earth as It seemingly picks on him and follows him around the world. We have the "Independence day"-esque scenario of the "Pilot"....only this time, Instead of an alcoholic crop-sprayer learning to expertly fly a state-of-the-art fighter\Bomber In a few hours (Due, apparently, to the sobering effects of a few cups of coffee),It's a guy (with 3 flying lessons In a Cessna) who manages to expertly,Indeed acrobatically, manoeuvre a twin-engined turbo-prop airplane through collapsing skyscrapers,followed soon after by his co-piloting of one of the worlds largest (Antonov)cargo aircraft! Oh, come on! Strangely, the 2012 end-of-the world Scenario(as apparently predicted by countless civilisations,contemporary Scientists and a nutty guy via his radio station)turns out to be wrong - the Earth and many of It's Inhabitants survive, everything goes back to normal rather like after the Biblical flood, and we're left with a (reasonably) happy ending with lots to look forward to on our partially re-shaped planet Earth. As for the colossal $200 million budget, all I can say Is - where? A gut-wrenchingly ludicrous script (the mobile phone-call from a mountain wilderness gave me Indigestion)but I give It a few points for both the effects and the(unintentional)fun factor.
Chappie (2015)
Short Circuit meets Robocop!
After enjoying the excellent "District 9"(2009),I was hugely disappointed with "Elysium"(2013),so I was pretty much up-In-the-air regarding Neill Blomkamps films prior to seeing this further offering from him. Sadly, there Is nothing here we haven't seen before. Little more than an updated remake of "Short Circuit"(1986) the film nevertheless has It's moments,with plenty of action and explosions(If you like that kind of thing), although the plot Is rather unclear,and It certainly has more than It's share of "silly science". As well as the obvious Short Circuit similarities, the nasty executive with his own agenda makes some scenes seem as If they were lifted directly from the first (and quite brilliant for Its time) "Robocop"(1987), even down to the almost Identical, over-the-top and extra-large Policing unit (called "ED-209" In Robocop), so similar In fact that I was surprised that It didn't end up on It's back, squealing and kicking Its legs In frustration and being unable to get back on Its feet! Indeed, take the aspects of the two aforementioned Movies from the plot and we wouldn't have much left! Explaining things, background story for example, seems low on the list In Blomkamps films, so much so that you're left scratching your head long after the end of his movies. Nevertheless, It's an entertaining film which, like Elysium, would no doubt be favoured more by the younger element, although with a (once again) 15 rating, younger children can't (legally)see It (at least, not at the Cinema)! Perhaps Blomkamp should consider, In future, removing some of the violence and bad language to bring down the age rating. Unoriginal and rather silly, but fun for teens.
Elysium (2013)
Predictable Garbage!
Where the devil a budget of $115 Million went, one can only speculate - what It certainly wasn't spent on Is originality. Should It have been called HALO, after the game, which Is clearly the Inspiration for the ludicrous "Elysium" satellite\Space Station\off-world Earth or whatever you want to call It? (not that we see much detail of It In any case). There's not so much as a mention of how the whole thing works. Then we have the "Exo-skeleton", ripped of almost to the last screw and rivet from "Return of the living dead 3"! Even the "Flying Discs" look suspiciously similar to those on the "Darwin IV" documentary (about robotic rovers scouting an earth-like planet).The Plastic craft In which "Carlyle" meets his doom looked like It had been borrowed from a fairground As for the concept of a surgical operation performed by a filthy Individual,on a filthy Individual,In a filthy room, with an "exo-skeleton" powered by absolutely nothing and surgically attached over the worlds dirtiest T-shirt - by that point I was laughing to the point of almost being sick. It's two days since I watched It and I'm still waiting for something to happen. The less said about the actors the better - but what can you do with a script like that? Jodie Foster In particular was totally miscast, although Sharlto Copely as Kruger showed his range of talent (compare with his character, Wikus van der Merwe,In "District 9"). Okay for the under 12 bracket (who,however, can't "legally" see It, of course) but for Science Fiction aficionados, It's Just another very poor, seen-It-all-before Movie than only those with nerves of steel and a stomach of Iron could watch a second time.
Stalin (1992)
Brilliant & Accurate Historical Drama!
What a pity that this TV movie wasn't Instead a Hollywood production, then perhaps It would have gotten the awards It so richly deserve!. Anyone with knowledge of Stalin and his cohorts will appreciate how well all the main characters are portrayed by the mainly British cast (although the fine American actor Robert Duvall steals the show as Stalin). I always appreciate historical accuracy and while some major events are missed and (perhaps through poor editing) not every situation and relationship between characters Is properly explained, this Is nevertheless a marvellous historical film almost on the scale of an epic - a pity It wasn't longer. It deserved general release and an extra half-hour would have gone a long way toward tidying up the gaps In the story.
Duvall Is Stalin reborn - the mannerisms, the icy coldness behind the smile, his undecipherable expressions - okay, so his Russian accent Is a bit "off" In places, but to criticise his performance just for that would be grossly unfair. The make-up department did a superb job, making him go from late 30's to 74 while actually aged 61. He was a dead-ringer for Stalin despite looking nothing like him In 'real life'!
TV movies are by nature generally "mild", being aimed, generally speaking, for family viewing, normally having no bad language or sex scenes, and Indeed only a little blood (and no gore) Is a breath of fresh air - besides, none of that stuff Is needed here; we don't have to see the terror, we can feel It; we see It In the faces, hear It In the voices - It grows and pervades the whole film. This Is the best TV Movie I have ever seen and Is definitely In my top 20 all-time film list.
Braveheart (1995)
Historical fantasy.
As a dramatic fairy-tale - for those of us who like action movies and rooting for the underdog - Braveheart Is watchable and entertaining. But there It ends. Where a budget of £75M went(compare to the relatively tiny £3M budget of the Infinitely better "Rob Roy")one can only surmise but It certainly wasn't spent on Historical study. The fact that Mel Gibson takes the part of William Wallace(who was a "real" person) gives the clear and Intentional Implication that this Is a true story - It Is not, and If the main character had been "Just some brave Scot" I could stomach It - but real people and real events have been Interwoven with a fantasy with some of the grossest anti-English sentiment I have ever witnessed In a film. The production team couldn't even get the man-skirts correct(The Kilt was Invented four centuries later by Englishman Thomas Rawlinson In Lancashire In 1720)and the "head-In-a-basket", the "princes-boyfriend-thrown-to-his-death" and multiple other scenes are pure fantasy as Is the age of the homosexual prince's French bride (she was aged 9 when married - not that the marriage would ever have been consummated whatever her age!). The clear Indication that all Englishmen were cowardly scumbags while all Scots were thoroughly decent heroes pervades the whole movie and on a personal note I find this offensive and racist as do many of my movie-loving peers. However, I'm happy for those who will no doubt enjoy It - as long as they realise that the only true fact this movie contains Is the names of some of the people.
Rob Roy (1995)
Superb!
Historically accurate In everything from dress to dialogue this excellent film makes Braveheart look even more like the amateurish, pseudo-historical garbage that It Is (not to mention a budget of Just £3 Million compared to the £75 Million of Braveheart). A solid story-line with some excellent dialogue and exceptional acting, along with some beautiful photography,Rob Roy takes us back In time In a way that very few movies can. Although this short period (perhaps a year or two) of Robs life covered In the movie Is very much speculative It's the accuracy of the time and the people and their way of life that deserves special praise. This film has It all - excitement, camaraderie, betrayal, and covers well the many aspects regarding Social status and the problems and hardships caused by the gross inequalities of this period. Rob Roy Is a film that one can Imagine would look very similar had the real events been filmed during the period In which It's set. Massively underrated, a must-see for anyone and everyone with an Interest In British history or great story-telling In general.
Puzzlehead (2005)
Frankensteinesque!
Although Puzzlehead Is,by Its main subject matter,listed as Science Fiction, those who are aficionados of that genre will no doubt be disappointed. Puzzlehead Is one for the philosophers and deep-thinkers rather than fans of the neo-swashbucklers such as Star-wars, similarly the technical detail Is kept to a minimum as the focus Is on the relationship between Robot, creator, and the local shop-girl, who form the complicated "Menage-a-trois" which becomes the main subject of this unique and entertaining film. In the not-too-distant future, In an unspecified city In an unspecified country (not Important facts In a movie such as this),after some kind of(again unspecified)apocalypse, a greatly reduced population Is slowly regaining something resembling a stable society. In this dark and foreboding landscape we find Walter, who has spent several years designing and building Puzzlehead, a robot In his own Image, a facsimile of himself In both looks and - to a certain extent - with the same mindset. However, the difference In personalities begins to reveal Itself as Puzzleheads life-experiences begin to expand his mind and, In particular, when the local shop-girl comes Into their lives. How the relationship between these three characters develops Is the main subject and many Interesting questions are raised and explored. The negative comments about this film are very unfair and are, as previously mentioned, probably a result of disappointed sci-fi fans, which I suppose Is understandable to a certain extent. But this dark and disturbing drama ought to be Judged on Its own merits. No bad language, a couple of sex-scenes more Implied than visual, a little violence but no gore, all this means that thrill-seekers will be left feeling distinctly unsatisfied.....but for the thinkers and philosophers there Is a wealth of questions to ponder. It's one of those films which needs and Indeed deserves a second viewing to thoroughly get to grips with Its many aspects and Is one best enjoyed with curtains closed and phones switched off.
Lesser Prophets (1997)
Different, Interesting and fun.
A little violent In places but without any unnecessary gore and with plenty of tongue-In-cheek humour (some a little more direct)this Is an enjoyable little gem which ought to be given more credit than has been the case. The story centers around three Illegal bookies, their partially-retarded dogsbody Leone, a Hard-working, non-corrupt but easy-going and straight-talking cop called Ziggy (and his gambling-debted brother recently deceased via-suicide) and a bullying stepfather(a semi-pro thief on the verge of heist with life-changing Income) who lives with a mother and her pre-teen son In the same building to the previously-mentioned Leone. The Interaction between these central characters forms the basis of the Movie and the way It all ties up Is very good Indeed. It has a bit of everything and that's what makes this film so enjoyable. Three scenes In particular to watch out for (all hilarious) - the dialogue between the Italian guy sat In his car and the gang-leader he Insults, the hanging of Leone from the dock and the three bookies struggling through the streets In chains had me In stitches! I've watched several times and enjoyed the last as much as the first. A good, underrated Movie that I'm sure you, too, will enjoy.
Inbred (2011)
Enjoyable comic horror.
If you enjoy a gory Horror flick with plenty of wry humour then this Is for you. Set In North Yorkshire, a small group of troubled teenagers who have been In local authority care are taken on a country break by two social workers to a run-down cottage on the outskirts of a village Inhabited by strange, Inbred yokels with a taste for using outside visitors as their sole source of bloodthirsty entertainment. Refreshingly different and with more than a little bloody violence(but with tongues firmly In cheeks)this Is an entertaining film with plenty of laughs mixed In with the horror that the villagers apparently consider a normal part of their everyday lives. A host of weird and wonderful characters are as frightening as they are funny, with Jim - the Landlord of the villages only Pub, the "Dirty Hole" - keeping everyone In check as both a father figure and, It seems, father In the literal sense of at least several of the strange-looking Inhabitants. The (fairly) strong Yorkshire accents may be a little difficult for some to fully understand (Indeed, our American friends may require subtitles, particularly where the "Eeh ba gum" song Is concerned),but the genuine Yorkshire lingo helps to make the film all the more authentic. Do any of the group manage to make It out of the village alive? Which ones will It be? Well, you'll have to watch It to find out. Great fun!
In the Name of Ben Hur (2016)
Wat a disappointment!
There I was, expecting a remake of the original,or thereabouts.Okay so I wasn't expecting the huge Cinematic blockbuster that was the original, but come on! Was this meant to be tongue-In-cheek? No,but It certainly seems that way. My first worries began when I discovered that the filming locations were In Wales. Now, parts of Wales are spectacularly beautiful, but Ben-Hur and the Welsh valleys Just don't gel, It certainly wouldn't have been at the top of my list of "suitable locations", but these are only my opinions of course - each to his or her own, as they say. That said, the 19th century dry-stone walls built by Welsh farmers do seem a little out of place. The running time of 1.5 hours, less than half the length of the original, didn't bode well. The costumes. Too clean and bright and suitable only at a fancy dress party. Cleanliness, obvious make up, strategically-placed "dirt" on faces, trimmed facial-hair and perfectly manicured nails add to what comes across more like an episode of a kids tea-time drama than an epic-remake. Where are the advances In Cinematic skills and technology which allow film-makers to create realism like never before? Erm...absent. As for the acting, mediocre across the board Is quiet a generous statement. For those who've never seen the 1959 epic and view this entirely on Its own merit, perhaps who also have little or no Interest In historical accuracy (and there's nothing wrong In that), or who view the whole and have no concern for the parts which make up that whole, then this Movie may Just entertain you a little, or maybe even more so. Despite my negativity, I do however think that the younger element will like It (and no-doubt find the original rather overstretched and boring) as It does have Its share of action and drama. But for those over 21 I'd have to say "Your time could be much better spent"!
In the Light of the Moon (2000)
True to life and fantastic!
Having read two books and watched a documentary on Ed Gein, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that this Movie sticks to the true story very well Indeed. Steve Railsback Is exceptional In the part of Ed Gein - his looks, his demeanor, everything - he must have worked damn hard to play the character so well. Similarly, all the main people who were concerned with the true events are portrayed very well and even the bar, shops, garage and the Gein farm are represented very true-to-the-facts Indeed.
The majority of the negative comments and low scores for this movie are mainly from disappointed Horror fans who, understandably perhaps, were expecting a gory bloodbath, rather than an almost documentary-like portrayal of Ed and the strange way his mind worked and how that mind led him to commit such atrocious acts. Sadly, as this movie Is inevitably listed as a Horror move rather than the documentary-like portrayal of psychopath Gein that It Is, this Is to be expected. This film really and truly Is factual In every sense of the word, unlike many similar ones which are based very loosely on real events and "spiced up" a great deal.
So, those Horror fans who are looking for blood-and-guts terror will understandably be disappointed. Those looking for a true-to-life portrayal of a real case of twisted, murderous psychology will love and appreciate It. I strongly recommend potential viewers to first familiarize themselves with Ed Gein and his life - you will appreciate this fine Movie all the more.
Buried (2010)
An expensive Burial....
Oh dear! A man (Paul Conroy) Is kidnapped In Iraq and held In a buried Coffin. That's It! Unless the one single actor we actually get to see got a hefty pay-day, or the co-star (the Coffin) was made of some extremely expensive timber, your guess Is as good as mine with regards to where the £3,000,000 budget went! Not so much as a single shot outside of the box - no establishing shots, nothing to show him being kidnapped, his worried family and friends, nothing. Perhaps this Is to make us feel the claustrophobia and helplessness felt by Paul as we go through the best part of two-hours In real time as If we are with him In the box. Despite his finding It Increasingly difficult to breath from the outset, he nevertheless uses his Cigarette lighter as a torch - a Zippo with a huge flame - which, amazingly, doesn't burn-up the little amount of Oxygen there Is In a few seconds as one would expect, neither Is there any smoke or fumes from It despite Zero ventilation. Later, he even has a fire In the coffin, which burns fiercely despite the lack of oxygen, not to mention the build-up of Carbon dioxide/monoxide from all the fire and his desperate and panicky deep-breathing. For once, we have a Cell phone on an American film which - wait for It - not only has a signal but also a half-full(or half-empty!)battery! How he manages to contact so many people with ease despite being 6-foot underground In the Iraqi desert Is another story. Incidentally, the Coffin seems to gradually Increase In size as the film progresses, from his being almost unable to move at the start to being able to almost sit up later on! Just a few outside-of-the-coffin scenes would have enhanced this Movie a great deal. Whatever the background story, one man In a box does not, In my opinion, constitute enough of a story for a three million dollar movie. Well, that's It. It's a film about a man In a box with a seemingly endless supply of air(and presumably a Carbon dioxide scrubber). If I told you whether he lives or dies at the end then It really wouldn't be worth your watching It - not that It's worth watching In the first place. The last minutes of the Movie are the only worthwhile part, so I won't spoil It by saying what happens. If you can stay awake long enough to get that far, that Is. Not worth watching and certainly not worth the scandalous amount of money that It supposedly cost.
Wake Wood (2009)
Different and creepy!
I loved this film. For me, anything based around the Supernatural has to have some believability - and this certainly does. A thirty-ish couple (He a Vet, She a Pharmacist) lose their daughter when a dog savages her to death. A year later, they move to an Isolated village. The woman accidentally witnesses a local tradition known as 'the return' - when a person dies, their remaining life-force can be used to bring back a dead person for 3 days, so long as the person to be brought back has been dead for less than a year. The couple decide to bring back their daughter - unfortunately, they tell what they think Is a white lie, the daughter has been dead for over 13 months but they tell the 'head villager'(Timothy Spall,In excellent form as usual)that she's been dead for less than 12 months......with terrifying results! What makes this film so special Is It's mix of the ancient and modern. Although 'the return' seems at first supernatural, there Is no god or devil or any religious aspect to It at all - Indeed, the fact that a 'corporeal relic' of the one being brought back needs to be used - hair, bone, finger-nails, etc - shows that DNA Is involved here - the strength remaining In the cadaver and It's organs and flesh are transferred to the one being 'awakened'. After 3 days - when the loved-ones of the one brought back have been able to say goodbye properly and come to terms with their loss - the power fades, and It's "back to the trees, lie amongst the roots...". The chant spoken by Tim Spalls character as the 'resurrection' begins Is pretty eerie and makes the whole thing more believable. And that's the point here - for a fantasy\horror to be enjoyable, It must, at least to a certain extent, be believable, and the Wake wood ritual Is the most believable fantasy I've ever come across on film. I loved the whole thing, the subtle blend of the old and the modern and of ancient mystery and Science, not to mention the final and totally unexpected scene..........!!! Why this masterpiece has such a low rating Is beyond me - perhaps most voters are of the younger element and found this to be a little slow for them, or maybe our American friends aren't happy as there are no cars exploding as they fly off cliffs! In any event, It has class, I loved It and I hope you do, too!
Ed Gein: The Butcher of Plainfield (2007)
Ed Gein...NOT!
Oh Dear! Anyone who knows the story of Ed Gein will hate this. It bears hardly any relationship to the Gein murders other than his name. As a run-of-the-mill,low-budget murder\thriller,this Is barely watchable. As the "Ed Gein story", It's laughable. To say It was very loosely based on the Gein case would be pushing It somewhat! Now, the movie Itself. Poor acting - 'Gein' and the Sheriff In particular could do with a few lessons - as for special effects, well there's a brief look at several dummy heads falling out of a bag and not much else! The Sheriffs daughter has a smashed knee that looks quite realistic, until of course the agony seems to subside as she sits on the ground and pulls her knees right up to her chin...not so much as a grimace...It's a miracle! Don't bother watching unless It's to compare to the superb and accurate "Ed Gein"(2000)".