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  • Father’s Day (2011)

    Father’s Day (2011)

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    In 2007, Canadian filmmakers Adam Brooks and Jeremy Gillespie formed the production company Astron-6, named after 1980s video labels. The group later included Matt Kennedy, Conor Sweeney, and Steven Kostanski, each having a unique set of expertise. They shot a series of short films in 2007 before moving on to starting the feature film Manborg in 2008. A send-up of ’80s genre films, the film wasn’t released until 2011 due to the extensive post-production work. Manborg premiered at Fantastic Fest 2011, where it made the Official Selection and was a huge hit with audiences. While Steven Kostanski was finishing up Manborg, the others were making more short films and prepping their next feature film. Their next feature would be an action-horror comedy evocative of old grindhouse films and was distributed by Troma. In October 2011, Astron-6’s Father’s Day premiered at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival.

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    Synopsis

    As a child, Ahab (Adam Brooks) witnessed his father get killed by Chris Fuchman (Mackenzie Murdock), a serial rapist/killer. He’s raised by Father O’Flynn (Kevin Anderson), who trains him to eventually hunt down and exact his revenge on Fuchman. Years later, Ahab kills what he thinks is Fuchman, but it’s actually one of his victims, and he’s arrested. Meanwhile, male prostitute Andrew (Conor Sweeney), aka Twink, sees his father get set on fire by Fuchman. Father John Sullivan (Matthew Kennedy) tries to comfort him, but Twink shoots him down, so he asks O’Flynn for advice. O’Flynn tells John to seek out Ahab, as he’s the only one who can kill Fuchman, but Ahab is reluctant. However, after Ahab’s sister Chelsea (Amy Groening) is kidnapped, Ahab joins John and Twink to hunt down the Fuchman. Will our heroes succeed, and what does Fuchman have planned for Chelsea?

     

    Review

    Father’s Day is a testament to the power of drive and perseverance found in the best of low-budget films. Given the budget was roughly $10,000, it’s impressive the film got made, let alone looking as good as it does. Joe Dante once said that there are two types of movies: color movies and movies that happen to have color. This is definitely a color movie, given the use of colored lighting, which enhances the film’s style and looks fantastic. Combined with the film scratches and subtle shaky cam, the filmmakers went above and beyond to recreate the grindhouse look. The fully synthesized score is evocative of John Carpenter’s best film scores, especially Escape from New York. There are also some intentionally silly effects used, including choppy stop-motion and obvious green screen compositing. Some might be put off by this, but to me, they enhance its charm.

    The cast all do a fantastic job, with Brooks, Sweeney, and Kennedy making for a solid trio of oddball heroes. They’re able to skirt the fine line of taking themselves seriously enough while also acknowledging how absurd the story is. On top of being stunning, Groening shines as Ahab’s estranged sister, as she has some fun back-and-forths with the guys. Though mostly speechless, Murdock makes for a truly revolting and hideous rapist/killer, the perfect hateable and terrifying villain. The practical effects are really good, especially given the small budget, and the filmmakers revel in the gross-out factor. While there are some genuinely disturbing moments, the over-the-top scenes balance things out without clashing with the more serious scenes. Admittedly, it goes maybe too over-the-top in the last third, but given everything else that happens, but what’d you expect? Overall, hardcore genre fans will love Father’s Day, but fathers probably won’t.

     

    Buy Father’s Day from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vqblw6

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  • Se7en (1995)

    Se7en (1995)

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    While trying to make it as a screenwriter, Andrew Kevin Walker was living in New York City and hated it. Through his experiences, he was able to write a screenplay that he sold to New Line Cinema in 1991. Originally, Christmas Vacation director Jeremiah S. Chechik was hired, but he backed out due to disagreements over Walker’s script. Around this time, up-and-coming filmmaker David Fincher was considering leaving the industry after the disastrous production of Alien³. One day, Fincher was accidentally sent the original version of Walker’s script, and he took an interest in the project. Denzel Washington, Sylvester Stallone, Robert Duvall, Gene Hackman, and Christina Applegate were approached to star, but they rejected the offers. Eventually, Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, and Gwyneth Paltrow were cast, Pitt even standing up for Fincher in disagreements with producers. In September of 1995, Fincher’s Se7en was released to an unsuspecting audience.

    [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_circle_counter title=”Rating” number=”95″ bar_bg_color=”#7CDA24″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_circle_counter][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

    Synopsis

    Detective Somerset (Morgan Freeman) is set to retire and is partnered with his replacement Detective Mills (Brad Pitt). Their first investigation is the murder of a morbidly obese man who was force-fed until his stomach burst. Later, they investigate the murder of an attorney who bled to death after cutting a pound of flesh from himself. While discussing the case with their Captain (R. Lee Ermey), Somerset concludes that the murders represent the Seven Deadly Sins. Mills’ wife Tracey (Gwyneth Paltrow) confides in Somerset how she hates the city and is pregnant, but Mills doesn’t know. As more and more murders start happening, Somerset and Mills are tricked into investigating various false leads. Eventually, the killer, known only as John Doe (Kevin Spacey), turns himself in and is willing to confess his crimes. Unbeknownst to Somerset and Mills, Doe has something big planned for them that’ll change their lives forever.

     

    Review

    Se7en is an effectively haunting and, at times, disturbing psychological thriller that leaves you on edge of your seat. Given that he was contemplating leaving the industry after Alien³, it’s great that David Fincher bounced back with this. Here, he got to stretch his creative muscles more and make the type of film he wanted without interference. The film has a very gritty and down-and-dirty style that makes it feel real and emphasizes the grislier scenes. Having much of the film take place in the rain adds to the dark, dreary, and somber tone. The cast is terrific, with Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman making for a solid duo that plays off each other. Pitt excels as a young cop who sees the world in black-and-white, while Freeman shines as an older open-minded detective. Their clashing ideologies make for a great pairing and they have some great back-and-forths.

    While she isn’t given much to do, Gwyneth Paltrow has her moments, particularly her scene with Freeman in a diner. There are also some great appearances from character actors R. Lee Ermey, Richard Roundtree, and John C. McGinley. Each of the murder set-pieces is effectively disturbing and grisly but not so gory that they seem ludicrous. The most memorable set-piece is the sloth victim, which has one of the most effective jump scares ever filmed. While there are plenty of slower scenes, it never feels like filler and it’s held together by the strong cast. There are plenty of twists and turns that keep you guessing but never feel needlessly convoluted like many great thrillers. It all builds to an ending that, while bleak, perfectly fits the overall tone and leaves it to your imagination. Overall, Se7en stands as one of the greatest films of the early to mid-1990s.

     

    Buy Se7en from Amazon: https://amzn.to/2RN4f77.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at no additional cost, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase.

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    Where to watch Se7en (1995)

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  • Mansion of the Doomed (1976)

    Mansion of the Doomed (1976)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]Growing up in Italy, Charles Band aspired to get into the film industry much like his father, Albert Band. He came back to the States in the early 70s with hardly any money and started working various odd jobs. One day, he found an ad that someone in Dallas had acquired several volumes of The New York Times. Encompassing 35 years of the newspaper, he was selling them for $300, so Band took the offer. He decided to sell them to high-end clients for $50 each based on their date of birth. Within a few weeks, Band managed to raise $300,000, so he decided to use it to fund a feature film. Charles hired writer Frank Ray Perilli and director Michael Pataki, having worked with them on Last Foxtrot in Burbank. Originally titled The Eyes of Dr. Chaney, the film was released in 1976 as Mansion of the Doomed.

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    Synopsis

    After his daughter Nancy (Trish Stewart) loses her eyesight in an accident, Dr. Chaney (Richard Basehart) vows to fix it. He decides the optimal solution would be to replace her damaged eyes with new ones, but there’s a problem. According to his assistant Katherine (Gloria Grahame), there’s no way to perform such surgery without damaging the optic nerve. Chaney must extract the entire eyeball from a living donor for the surgery to work and restore Nancy’s eyesight. When Nancy’s fiancée Dr. Bryan (Lance Henriksen), visits, Chaney drugs him and takes his eyes for the surgery. At first, the surgery is a success and Nancy can see, but unfortunately, she loses it soon after. Because of this, Chaney starts kidnapping various people, extracting their eyes, and trying to restore Nancy’s eyesight with similar results. The eyeless victims are locked in the basement, struggling to escape from this Mansion of the Doomed!

     

    Review

    Mansion of the Doomed is a sadly forgotten and underrated grindhouse thriller that deserves to be more well-known. While not exactly a horror classic, this is still a fairly well-constructed and effectively creepy film that’s worth a watch. Though the film was most likely inspired by the 1960 film Eyes Without a Face, it’s still fairly unique. Given that he was mostly known as a character actor, Michael Pataki does a solid job behind the camera. He makes great use of darkness and shadows to give a very foreboding atmosphere, and the film’s fairly well-paced. The cast largely does a solid job, Richard Basehart giving a great performance as a surgeon plagued with guilt. While his methods are wrong, he wants to help his daughter, so you at least understand his perspective. His performance elevates the role from being the stereotypical mad scientist to a more sympathetic yet flawed character.

    Trish Stewart, though not given much to do, is equally sympathetic as the blind daughter wanting her sight back. Gloria Grahame, though clearly washed up after It’s A Wonderful Life, does the best she can with the material. However, the big stand-out is a then-unknown Lance Henriksen, who really shows signs of the great actor he’d become. Speaking of stand-outs, this was one of the first films that special effects legend Stan Winston worked on. While clearly working with a low budget, the make-up used to make people eyeless is pretty impressive. The score by Robert O. Ragland is effectively creepy and perfectly complements the overall tone and style of the film. Admittedly, there are plenty of slow spots, especially scenes with Chaney wandering the streets with droning voiceovers alongside these scenes. Overall, Mansion of the Doomed, while not a classic, is still an underrated gem worth seeking out.

     

    Buy Mansion of the Doomed from

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • Freddy Got Fingered (2001)

    Freddy Got Fingered (2001)

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    In the 1990s, Canadian-born comedian Tom Green was incredibly popular due to his shock humor and lack of shame. Starting in September of 1994, he had his own show called The Tom Green Show, which ran until 1996. Acting as a precursor to Jackass, the show primarily consisted of Green performing all sorts of shocking stunts in public. Also, much like Bam Margera would do with Viva La Bam, Green would torment his parents and embarrass them. The show was picked up by MTV in 1999, where it became insanely popular worldwide, making Tom Green a superstar. With his newfound stardom, Green was offered numerous movie roles and appeared in Road Trip, Charlie’s Angels, and Stealing Harvard. Somehow, he convinced 20th Century Fox executives to let him star in, write, and direct his own feature film. So, on April 20th, 2001, Tom Green’s Freddy Got Fingered was released into theaters.

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    Synopsis

    Gordon Brody (Tom Green) is a 28-year-old unemployed man who dreams of being a professional cartoonist and making daddy proud. Said daddy is his father Jim (Rip Torn), who’s overjoyed to see his grown son move out of the basement. Once in LA, Gordon manages to meet Dave Davidson (Anthony Michael Hall), the head of a major animation studio. Unfortunately, Davidson rejects Gordon’s ideas, calling them “nonsensical”, so he moves back in with his parents, much to Jim’s annoyance. After a skateboarding accident puts his friend Darren (Harland Williams) in the hospital, Gordon meets Betty Menger (Marisa Coughlan). A quadriplegic doctor, Betty also has a passion for rockets, which ties into her oral fixation among other….strange fetishes. As Gordon struggles to make it big, he and his father are at war to ruin each other’s lives. Also, the title refers to a “joke” involving Gordon’s brother Freddy (Eddie Kaye Thomas).

     

    Review

    The late great Roger Ebert once said this movie “doesn’t deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence with barrels”. This refers to the old saying of “bottom of the barrel”, often referring to the absolute worst of the worst. In that regard, I personally think Mr. Ebert wasn’t harsh enough towards Freddy Got Fingered, which is saying something. This is one of those films where you wonder just who greenlit this and who thought this would be funny. Freddy Got Fingered is one of the worst comedies I’ve ever seen, and I thought It’s Pat was the worst. Much like that film, this one has very little plot, a really unlikeable lead, and “jokes” that fall flat. In many ways, this almost feels like a feature-length version of The Tom Green Show, but it doesn’t work. Then again, maybe this wasn’t intended to be a mainstream hit.

    This film tries to take the conventions of many comedies of the 90s and turn them on their heads. It’s the standard “loser tries to prove himself” storyline with the conventional love interest and emphasis on going against authority. However, despite what it tries to do, it fails because Gordon is a mean-spirited, sociopathic, and deranged man-child. It’s sad seeing Rip Torn and Anthony Michael Hall go from The Beastmaster and The Breakfast Club respectively to this. If I can give this film any positives, Marisa Coughlan is somewhat charming as the paraplegic love interest. She at least has a goal that she legitimately works towards as opposed to Gordon lying to get his way. I will say that this was slightly easier to sit through than It’s Pat, but that’s not saying much. Overall, Freddy Got Fingered is just as bad as you’ve heard.

     

    Buy Freddy Got Fingered from Amazon: https://amzn.to/34D5lF5.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at no additional cost, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase.

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    Where to watch Freddy Got Fingered (2001)

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  • Son of Godzilla (1967)

    Son of Godzilla (1967)

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    By this point in the series, the Godzilla series started appealing more kid-friendly than the original. In addition, the budgets were getting smaller and smaller, as evidenced in 1966’s Ebirah, Horror of the Deep. While series helmer Ishiro Honda was off working on King Kong Escapes, Jun Fukuda was hired for the next installment. Toho wanted to introduce a baby Godzilla for this installment to appeal to what they considered the “date crowd”. This would add a father-son dynamic that further humanized the monsters, something Honda had opposed in earlier films. ‘Little Man’ Mancha, a fairly popular dwarf wrestler at the time, was hired to portray the diminutive Minilla. Haruo Nakajima, who normally wore the Godzilla suit, only worked for two scenes due to the size of the costume. In December of 1967, Son of Godzilla was released in Japanese cinemas but wasn’t released in the US.

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    Synopsis

    On the remote island of Sollgel, a team of researchers is conducting experiments on a weather-controlling system for the UN. One day, a nosy reporter named Maki Goro (Akira Kubo) who’s looking for a new story despite the project’s secrecy. While investigating the island, Goro runs into Saeko Matsumiya (Beverly Maeda), a young woman who’s living there with her father. Her father, unfortunately, passed away, but he left notes about creatures living on the island, including giant mantises and spiders. The mantises, called Kamacuras, uncover an egg that hatches, revealing a baby Godzilla that they try to kill. Fortunately for the baby, Godzilla shows up to defend his son from the Kamacuras and a giant spider called Kumonga. While the researchers continue their work, Godzilla teaches his son how to roar and use his atomic breath. The King of Monsters fights the biggest monster of all: being a father.

     

    Review

    Son of Godzilla is considered a very divisive entry in the series, and it’s easy to see why. Your enjoyment of this is going to depend on your tolerance for Minilla or Minya depending on who you ask. Personally, I wasn’t a huge fan of him, but apparently, he’s very popular in Japan, so who knows? For me, whenever he was on screen, it felt like the movie halted to focus on his goofy antics. It’s somewhat jarring going from the series’ darker, more serious origins to the goofier, more kid-friendly direction taken here. Admittedly, it is a nice change of pace to have Godzilla fighting monsters that aren’t just guys in suits. The puppets for the Kamacuras and Kumonga are impressive given the amount of articulation and attention to detail. Then again, it starts taking you out of it when you see the wires operating the puppets.

    Despite my issues with Minilla, the movie itself isn’t terrible, but it’s mostly forgettable and fairly run-of-the-mill. The cast all do a decent job, with appearances from veterans Tadao Takashima, Akira Kubo, Akihiko Hirata, and Yoshio Tsuchiya. The story, while original, is pretty dull and the film takes a while for it to get going. Though Godzilla doesn’t show up until roughly 30 minutes in, the inclusion of the giant mantises offers some monster action. When he does show up, he looks noticeably goofy with his cross-eyes and more humanlike appearance, obviously for the kids. At slightly under 90 minutes long, the film does move at a decent pace, though it tends to drag. As I’ve hinted at in this review, this is one I can only recommend to hardcore Godzilla fans. Overall, Son of Godzilla isn’t the worst, but it’s definitely a step down for the series.

     

    Buy Son of Godzilla from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3wZkyMX.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at no additional cost, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase.

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    Where to watch Son of Godzilla (1967)

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  • Tromeo & Juliet (1996)

    Tromeo & Juliet (1996)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]In the early 90s, Troma founder and president Lloyd Kaufman was working on a Shakespeare adaptation by way of Troma. In early 1992, Kaufman wrote the first draft alongside employees Andy Deemer and Phil Rivo entirely in a Shakespearean language. Unfortunately, this draft was pretty hated by everyone at Troma, so it was scrapped for the time being. In 1995, a newcomer named James Gunn came along and decided to take a crack at the script. He completely rewrote the script, making it much darker and more obscene but still using the Shakespearean verse. Kaufman worked with Gunn to rework the script further, removing the Shakespearean verse and adding more comedic elements. With a budget of roughly $350,000, this wound up being one of the cheapest films in Troma’s history. Though premiering at Cannes in 1996, Tromeo & Juliet wouldn’t see a US release until 1997.

    [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_circle_counter title=”Rating” number=”85″ bar_bg_color=”#7CDA24″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_circle_counter][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

    Synopsis

    For years, the Que and Capulet families have been at war with each other, tearing up Manhattan in the process. While the Que’s son Tromeo (Will Keenan) lives in squalor, the Capulet’s daughter Juliet (Jane Jensen) lives a luxurious life. However, Juliet has to deal with her abusive father Cappy (Maximillian Shaun), and overprotective cousin Tyrone (Patrick Connor). During a costume party, Tromeo and Juliet cross paths and instantly fall in love despite their family rivalry. Unfortunately, Juliet is being forced to marry the young meat millionaire London Arbuckle (Steve Gibbons), but they have a plan. They get secretly married, but unfortunately, Tyrone finds out and tries killing Tromeo, only for Tromeo to kill Tyrone. With Tromeo on the run from the cops, Juliet is forced to marry London instead under threat from her father. Will Tromeo and Juliet be reunited, or will this end the way the play does?

     

    Review

    If you’re expecting Tromeo & Juliet to be a faithful adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic play, you’re going to be disappointed. Without going into spoilers, this film goes in some wildly different directions and is almost an in-name-only adaptation. Purists will probably hate the deviations this takes, but if you’re willing to look past that, you’ll have some fun. Even by Troma standards, this is one of the most wildly outrageous and obscene movies in their catalog. It has a very punk rock quality to it, which fits with the rebellious and anti-mainstream nature of Troma. This is exemplified by the soundtrack, which features the likes of Motorhead, Sublime, Supernova, the Ass Ponys, and more. Speaking of, the late great Lemmy from Motorhead appears in this as the narrator, who adds some eloquence. Still, it can be somewhat hard to understand him through his mumbling and raspy voice.

    In typical Troma fashion, the cast plays this as over-the-top and ridiculous as possible though not in an annoying way. Will Keenan and Jane Jensen shine as the star-crossed lovers torn apart by family and actually have some solid chemistry. Maximillian Shaun makes for a great villain, being both charismatic and so hateable that you want to see him die. Speaking of death, the gore scenes aren’t quite as outrageous as The Toxic Avenger Part III, but they’re still fun. Steve Gibbons is probably the only cast member who teeters on being annoying, acting like an even crazier Jim Carrey. Valentine Miele and Stephen Blackehart make for a fun comedic duo, Debbie Rochon is stunning, and Sean Gunn is funny. At slightly over 90 minutes, the film does drag in places, but it’s never boring largely thanks to the cast. Overall, Tromeo & Juliet would’ve been Shakespeare’s favorite movie…probably.

     

    Buy Tromeo & Juliet from Amazon: https://amzn.to/4fyF3Xf.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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    Where to watch Tromeo & Juliet (1996)

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  • A Quiet Place Part II (2021)

    A Quiet Place Part II (2021)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]On a modest $17 million budget, A Quiet Place grossed over $340 million worldwide and received universal acclaim from critics. Paramount immediately greenlit a sequel following its success, though John Krasinski was initially hesitant about the prospect. He and writers Scott Beck and Bryan Woods considered it more of a “one-off” and weren’t interested in sequels. However, Krasinski started brainstorming ideas after Paramount rejected several more franchise-oriented pitches, and he was allowed to write and direct. The surviving cast from the first film returned, alongside newcomers Cillian Murphy and Djimon Hounsou, who replaced Brian Tyree Henry. With a $61 million budget, the film was shot mostly around Western New York, Hudson Valley, and Upstate New York. The film had its worldwide premiere in March of 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, its release was delayed. Finally, over a year later, A Quiet Place Part II was released to theaters.

    [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_circle_counter title=”Rating” number=”85″ bar_bg_color=”#7CDA24″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_circle_counter][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

    Synopsis

    Following the first film, Evelyn Abbott (Emily Blunt), daughter Regan (Millicent Simmonds), and son Marcus (Noah Jupe) head out. With their home destroyed, they venture out searching for any other survivors that have a community they can settle in. Unfortunately, Marcus gets caught in a bear trap, which attracts several creatures and they make a break for it. They run into Lee’s old friend Emmett (Cillian Murphy), who reluctantly agrees to take them in despite having limited supplies. Marcus picks up a radio signal playing “Beyond the Sea” on loop, giving Regan the idea to find the source. Regan goes off alone to find the source, and Evelyn sends Emmet to find her and bring her back. Meanwhile, Evelyn goes off to find medical supplies while Marcus explores the complex, though he accidentally alerts the creatures. It’s a fight for survival as everyone sets out on their quest.

     

    Review

    A Quiet Place Part II is about on par with the original, which is both good and bad. On the one hand, it retains everything that made the first film great and expands upon it further. On the other hand, it somewhat feels like a repeat of the first one, not really doing anything different. To be fair, what it does differently is that it has more than one storyline as opposed to just one. You have Regan’s story of searching for survivors, and you have Evelyn’s story of trying to keep the family together. Speaking of, having Millicent Simmonds take centerstage was a good move since she was a standout in the first film. Here, she’s given much more to do and gets to show off just how good of an actress she is. Plus, she and Cillian Murphy make for a good pairing.

    Granted, this comes at the expense of giving Emily Blunt less to do, though she still gives a good performance. Honestly, none of the actors are particularly bad, and they each have their moments to shine. Even John Krasinski and Djimon Hounsou shine in their relatively brief appearances, though Honsou’s brief role is somewhat disappointing. Speaking of Krasinski, the opening sequence which takes place before the original gives a nice look at how this happened. While it does go on for a bit longer than expected, it doesn’t overexplain things and keeps the viewer engaged. Like the previous film, Krasinski’s direction is still solid, and he manages to maintain the same level of tension. At slightly over 90 minutes, the film goes by fairly quickly and never feels bogged down by pointless filler. Overall, A Quiet Place Part II is a solidly entertaining companion piece to the original.

     

    Buy A Quiet Place Part II from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3AquDKa.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

     

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    Where to watch A Quiet Place Part II (2021)

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  • Castle Freak (1995)

    Castle Freak (1995)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]As mentioned in previous Full Moon Fridays, Charles Band typically sold a film on a poster and a title. While visiting the Full Moon offices, Stuart Gordon saw a poster with a chained-up Quasimodo-like figure being whipping a woman. Gordon expressed interest in filming, so Band gave him carte blanche if it featured a castle and a freak. Gordon wrote the film alongside his writing partner Dennis Paoli, taking inspiration from the H.P. Lovecraft story “The Outsider”. The film was shot in an Italian castle owned by Charles Band where they shot The Pit and The Pendulum. Gordon cast regulars Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, and Jonathan Fuller, and it would be his first unrated film since Re-Animator. Unfortunately, Full Moon was going through financial problems since their Paramount deal ended in 1994, so the film was delayed. Eventually, Stuart Gordon’s Castle Freak was released direct-to-video in November of 1995.

    [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_circle_counter title=”Rating” number=”85″ bar_bg_color=”#7CDA24″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_circle_counter][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

    Synopsis

    John Reilly (Jeffrey Combs) has just inherited a 12-century castle that was previously owned by a famed Duchess. He moves in with his wife Susan (Barbara Crampton) and blind daughter Rebecca (Jessica Dollarhide), though things have gone bad. Years ago, John was drunk driving and got into an accident that killed their son and blinded Rebecca. Because of this, Susan has not forgiven him and blames him for the death, though she’s still with him. Unbeknownst to the family, the Duchess’ deformed son Giorgio (Jonathan Fuller) has been living in the castle dungeons. He manages to escape from his shackles and roams the castle, eventually finding Rebecca and freaking her out. She tries telling her parents, but Susan doesn’t believe her, though John decides to investigate further and learn more. With tensions between John and Susan rising further, it’s only a matter of time before the Castle Freak strikes.

     

    Review

    For what ended up being his last collaboration with Charles Band, Castle Freak is a superb send-off for Stuart Gordon. Gordon manages to construct a well-directed and very atmospheric modern-day gothic horror film even with a limited budget. It helps that they filmed at a real castle, which adds plenty of production value much like with Subspecies. Admittedly, compared to Gordon’s other films which added some humor, this one is largely humorous and much more serious. Granted, it’s better than The Pit and The Pendulum, where the humor clashed with the more serious elements. Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton give some of their best performances here, both sympathetic and in some way tragic. Relative newcomer Jessica Dollarhide does a solid job as a blind girl whose disability is treated respectfully and honestly. However, Jonathan Fuller steals the show as the title character, giving a very expressive and emotive performance.

    Fuller’s performance is very reminiscent of how Lon Chaney portrayed the various monsters he played, using body and facial expressions. The creature and makeup effects from Optic Nerve are wonderfully gruesome and Giorgio’s design ranks among the best practical monsters. Richard Band’s score is a delightful mix of terror and playfulness that fits right alongside his score for Dolls. At roughly 90 minutes, the film goes by fairly quickly without feeling like it’s rushing or having padding added. In terms of flaws, one problem with the film is that some of the characters act rather irrationally. No one really seems to entertain the thought that something more is going on and just act on instinct. Still, given the tensions going on and how emotional everyone is, it’s fair to expect people wouldn’t be thinking straight. Overall, Castle Freak is a solidly underrated gothic horror film that deserves your attention.

     

    Buy Castle Freak from

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • A Quiet Place (2018)

    A Quiet Place (2018)

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    In early 2016, writers Scott Beck and Bryan Woods started working on a script for a rather unique horror film. Growing up in Iowa, the two watched numerous silent films in college, and they discussed making a silent horror film. Their script caught the attention of actor John Krasinski, who was intrigued by the concept of parents protecting their children. Krasinski signed on to not only star but also rewrite and direct what would be his third film directing credit. Though hesitant at first, his wife and fellow actress Emily Blunt signed on to star alongside her husband. Actress Millicent Simmonds, who is deaf in real life, was hired to lend the film some authenticity for deaf people. With a budget of $17 million, they went to Upstate New York to film this uniquely horrifying production. Finally, in April 2018, A Quiet Place was released to theaters.

    [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_circle_counter title=”Rating” number=”85″ bar_bg_color=”#7CDA24″ _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default”][/et_pb_circle_counter][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]

    Synopsis

    Most of humanity has been wiped out by mysterious creatures that rely on sound to find and kill their victims. We follow the Abbotts – Evelyn (Emily Blunt), husband Lee (John Krasinski), and kids Regan (Millicent Simmonds) and Marcus (Noah Jupe). With Regan being deaf and given the threat around them, the family has had to learn sign language to communicate. Unfortunately, the family is somewhat fractured because Regan feels guilty about the death of her younger brother Beau (Cade Woodward). Also, Lee has been trying to modify Regan’s cochlear implant to restore her hearing but to no avail. Through a series of events, the family is separated and away from the house when Evelyn starts going into labor. With the monsters approaching, the family has to rush together to defend their home while Evelyn gives birth. Will they survive the oncoming onslaught or will they be the next victims?

     

    Review

    A Quiet Place is an impressively well-made horror film considering it’s made by someone not traditionally known for horror. In an era where horror is typically marked by loud shouts and screams, this is a nice change of pace. Even though there’s hardly any dialogue, you’re still drawn in because you’re intrigued to see where it goes. The movie doesn’t feel the need to explain everything that’s happening, but rather letting the audience figure it out. It’s never explained where the creatures came from, how they got here, or why they’re here in the first place. It’s very similar to how Night of the Living Dead doesn’t explain how the zombies came to be. Granted, this movie is nowhere near as good as George Romero’s immortal classic, but it’s still a solid horror thriller. While it’s got plenty of good qualities, there’s plenty of bad qualities, too.

    One good thing is the cast, as everyone goes a phenomenal job, especially given that they have very little dialogue. Special mention has to go to Millicent Simmonds, who’s able to convey a lot through her body language. Krasinski, Blunt, and Jupe also give solid performances, and they all feel believable as a close-knit family. The creature effects are impressive, with plenty of detail put into its head that separates into different plates. At a brisk 90 minutes, the film goes by fairly quickly and doesn’t feel bogged down with pointless filler. That said, there are a few plot contrivances that drag the film down, such as the dumb kid trope. Additionally, it seems the focus was more on putting the characters in danger instead of having them make rational decisions. Overall, A Quiet Place has some confusing and odd moments, but it’s still a fun thrill ride.

     

    Buy A Quiet Place on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3wvmIDJ

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  • Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)

    Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Special Review” subhead=”This review was requested by Discord user SolidLib. If you’d like to join the server, click the button below.” text_orientation=”center” button_one_text=”Discord is Closed” background_overlay_color=”#8300E9″ _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”25px||25px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][/et_pb_fullwidth_header][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]In September of 1966, the sci-fi TV series Star Trek, created by writer and producer Gene Roddenberry, premiered on NBC. Despite initially low ratings and being canceled after three seasons, the show went on to establish a huge cult following. Thanks to the show finding an audience in syndication, its success convinced Paramount to pursue a feature film. Unfortunately, the film saw many delays, from numerous scripts getting rejected to Paramount suggesting a new TV series instead. However, after the release of Star Wars in 1977, Paramount decided to revive the project to capitalize on its success. Robert Wise, the Oscar-winning director of West Side Story and The Sound of Music, was hired to helm the project. The original cast was brought back, and the film had a final budget of around $44 million. After many setbacks, Star Trek: The Motion Picture was released in December of 1979.

    [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_circle_counter title=”Rating” number=”70″ bar_bg_color=”#EDF000″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_circle_counter][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

    Synopsis

    Starfleet has detected a strange alien presence in the form of a giant energy cloud that’s destroyed three Klingon ships. James T. Kirk (William Shatner), who’s been promoted to Admiral, returns to the USS Enterprise to investigate the cloud. He takes command of the ship from Captain Decker (Stephen Collins), who warns him that he doesn’t know the modifications. Unfortunately, Decker’s proven right as the engines fail while going to warp speed and a malfunctioning teleporter kills two officers. Thankfully, Commander Spock (Leonard Nimoy) arrives to help Mr. Scott (James Doohan) get the engines in working order. They intercept the cloud, which abducts the ship’s navigator Ilia (Persis Khambatta) and replaces her with a robot duplicate. The duplicate explains that the presence is known as “V’Ger” and it’s seeking its original creator to fulfill its purpose. Who or what is “V’Ger” and will its purpose be fulfilled?

     

    Review

    This film is often referred to as Star Trek: The Motion-LESS Picture, and it’s easy to see why. It seems that director Robert Wise was trying to make his own 2001: A Space Odyssey but it doesn’t work. There are so many scenes where nothing happens and no dialogue is spoken that go on for way too long. Granted, the visuals are impressive and they clearly spent a lot on them, but it gets very dull very fast. The film runs slightly over two hours, and at least 30 minutes could’ve been trimmed of the slower scenes. When there is dialogue, much of it is exposition dumping and going on and on about stuff that doesn’t matter. For the first Star Trek movie, the plot is pretty uninspired, given the big threat being a giant space cloud. This would’ve been better suited for an episode of the show.

    That being said, there are plenty of good things here, particularly the impressive visuals and Jerry Goldsmith’s fantastic score. It helps that they had some major talent doing the effects, including John Dykstra, who coincidentally worked on Star Wars. The returning cast from the show, particularly Shatner, Nimoy, and DeForest Kelley, slip back to their roles effortlessly. As problematic as he is today, Stephen Collins isn’t too bad, and he has good chemistry with Persis Khambatta. Also, as silly as a giant space cloud is, once you learn what the entity truly is, it is fascinating. Unfortunately, by the time we get there, it’s been so slow-moving and uninteresting that it’s hard to care. Given how fairly recent the cult following was at the time, the fans deserved a better film than this. Overall, Star Trek: The Motion Picture isn’t terrible, but you’re better off watching the sequel instead.

     

    Buy Star Trek: The Motion Picture from Amazon: https://amzn.to/2T2BsvA

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