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Cactus Jack (2022)
Some Unused Potential
I gave it a 5/10 because I think they were at least trying to do something interesting. A lot of the 1 or 2 star reviews on here are pretty clearly from conservatives upset about the film's message and "propaganda." I suppose that's understandable. My issue with the film is not the message, but rather that it just isn't very good. You can only look at the same few shots of a guy talking to a camera for so long before it gets old. The Cactus Jack Show sections are far more interesting. We finally get some vibrant color and the imagery is pretty horrifying and surreal. If more of the film was like that - or if it had a narrative element at all - this could have really been something. I'm hoping that the people who made this film learn some lessons from it, because I think they have real potential.
Uncle Tom's Apartment (2006)
No budget, but lots of heart
It's a shame that, when it comes to zero budget movies, audiences don't try to stretch the zone of their acceptance to include anything besides horror films. This is a kind-hearted, warm, and loving film about familial relationships and the disruptions that life can throw at us.The acting from the little girls and the character Tommy are engaging, and the dialogue, while inconsistent, is often cute and relatable.
Being a micro-budget film, the lighting and sound leave a lot to be desired, and there are quite a few very questionable editing choices, but the fact of the matter is you know that this is a zero budget movie going in, so it makes sense to judge the film based on its merits as a film with these sorts of budget constraints, and makes little sense at all to judge it based on the same criteria with which one would rate a movie with a large budget. Given this films tight budget, it does a good job with its story. I've watched big budget dramas with far, far less heart and warmth than this movie has.
Litost (2017)
Ok, this is epic.
A zero budget, surreal hellscape detailing the mental obstacles the millennial and z generations face in their daily lives. This film is very contained, claustrophobic in its delivery, and raw in presentation. It is recommended as highly relatable content for those aforementioned generarions, and for those who enjoy obscure, micro budget films.
City of the Dream Demons (2014)
A Fun Homage to SOV Horror of the 80s.
When I found out that John Dickie, the director and writer of City of the Dream Demons, is actually just a teenager, I was surprised. It certainly explains the amateur acting and technical aspects of the film, but City of the Dream Demons is just as entertaining as any other Z-grade, Shot-On-Video trashterpiece made by full grown adults - think Gore-met Zombie Chef from Hell. The passion for film making is all there, and the countless homages to old-school VHS culture will be sure to warm the hearts of any old fans.
In terms of the film itself, the plot and concept are very interesting, far from standard slasher fare. However, the execution is choppy at best, and the performances, dialogue, and death scenes are rather awkward. The humor, found throughout the film, is a nice touch, as it shows a certain awareness of what the director is really making here - not a masterpiece, but a fun tribute to a bygone era. That's exactly what this movie is. Fun. If you enjoy bad movies, particularly of the SOV variety, then this one is for you. If you do not, then you probably want to give this one a pass. The effort was good, but the execution was certainly shaky. I look forward to seeing what John Dickie does in the future.