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  • Peppermint (2018)

    Peppermint (2018)

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    In 2004, Pierre Morel made his directorial debut with the action film District 13, which got some positive attention. However, it was in 2008 when he made probably the biggest movie of his career, the action-thriller Taken. Starring Liam Neeson as a retired CIA agent with a certain set of skills, the movie was a commercial hit. The film helped reinvent Neeson as an action hero, and it spawned two sequels, though without any involvement from Morel. He followed that up with 2010’s From Paris with Love starring John Travolta, then 2015’s The Gunman starring Sean Penn. Unfortunately, unlike Taken, neither film did very well financially and were mostly lambasted by critics. Flash forward to 2018, where Morel returns with a new action thriller starring Jennifer Garner called Peppermint. While not known for action, this is Garner’s first leading action role since 2005’s Elektra, so how does it fare?

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    The film stars Garner as Riley North, a typical middle-age soccer mom not unlike ones you’d find at the supermarket. She lives with her mechanic husband Chris (Jeff Hephner) and daughter Carly (Cailey Fleming). While working, Chris gets an offer to be the getaway driver for a guy trying to ripoff a drug dealer. Chris ends up declining, but the head of the cartel Diego Garcia (Juan Pablo Raba) catches wind and takes action. Garcia kills the friend and sends his guys to kill Chris, finding him, Riley, and Carly at a carnival. Chris and Carly are killed while Riley is left critically injured and taken to a hospital. Once recovered, she identifies the guys responsible, but their attorney tries bribing her and the guys end up going free. Riley ends up disappearing for five years as she hones her skills and systematically taking out the guys responsible.

    On the surface, this movie sounds pretty basic: person’s attacked, they’re left for dead, get back up and get revenge. Before I get into a lot of what drags this movie down, I’ll get into the positives. Right off the bat, the best thing about this is Jennifer Garner, who clearly put tons of work into this. She definitely gives it her all, and she does have some more dramatic moments to show off her acting abilities. When it comes to the action, it’s mindless and excessive, but it gets the job done and can be entertaining. Also, it seems like the filmmakers were trying to show us how mentally unstable a vigilante is. They don’t do much with it, but I can see what they’re trying to do. Also, it’s got some actors in it that I like, such as John Gallagher Jr. and John Ortiz.

    Unfortunately, that’s where my positives with this movie end, as this is a pretty below-average revenge thriller. For starters, it feels like there’s footage missing as there are scenes explained to us that we’re never shown. The characters talk about what Riley’s been doing in the interim five years, but we’re only shown YouTube videos. Also, this movie relies probably too much on social media, especially in scenes where characters say Twitter really likes Riley. On a filmmaking level, the editing is a mess, with tons of shaky cam and choppy quick cuts throughout. There’s also an odd tonal dissonance, like the movie doesn’t know if it wants to be serious or over-the-top. Between the cartoonishly corrupt lawyers and the stereotypically evil cartel members, this should be a fun and ridiculous action film. However, Peppermint is a dreary and derivative film that reminds you of better revenge movies to watch.

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  • Upgrade (2018)

    Upgrade (2018)

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    Leigh Whannell, while not necessarily a household name, is still a major figure in the modern horror genre. Along with co-writer/director James Wan, he’s responsible for creating Saw, and has been involved in each subsequent film. He also wrote, for James Wan, Dead Silence, Insidious, and Insidious: Chapter 2, as well as directing Insidious: Chapter 3. However, once Wan moved onto bigger projects like Furious 7 and The Conjuring, the two went their separate ways. While Whannell was comfortable as a writer/producer/actor, he always wanted to become a director in his own right. Even though he had directed Insidious: Chapter 3, Whannell was more so interested in directing his own film. So, in the summer of 2018, Whannell brought us the high-concept sci-fi film Upgrade. With a relatively low budget and somewhat lesser-known cast, how did Whannell’s first solo outing turn out?

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    Synopsis

    Set in an unspecified future, the movie centers around stay-at-home mechanic Grey (Logan Marshall-Green), who’s not exactly into newer technology. Grey must deliver a car to tech guru Eron Keen (Harrison Gilbertson), and he brings his wife Asha (Melanie Vallejo). While there, Eron introduces them to his latest innovation, an AI chip called STEM that acts as a secondary brain. Later that night, Grey and Asha drive home only for their car to crash and for them to get attacked. Asha gets killed while Grey is shot in the back of the neck, paralyzing him. Now confined to a wheelchair, hope seems lost for Grey until Eron gives him an offer. Eron will install the STEM chip to allow Grey to move so long as Grey keeps it a secret. Reluctantly, Grey agrees, and with his new enhancements, he decides to go after those responsible for his wife’s death.

     

    Review

    I was fortunate to come into this nearly blind aside from hearing about the movie and knowing the general concept. With that in mind, I was really surprised by just how amazing this movie was. First off, the cast of this movie is phenomenal, especially Logan Marshall-Green who completely owns his role. When he ends up a quadriplegic, he does a great job playing a broken-down man who’s lost everything. Once he gets integrated with STEM, he instantly becomes a badass and just tears through guys left and right. Throughout the movie, Grey hears the voice of STEM (Simon Maiden) in his head, which actually works here. It creates a great dynamic where it debates who’s really in control: the man or the machine. The rest of the cast also do a good job, namely Eron Keen and Betty Gabriel.

    The film also has a very stylish look to it, especially its use of color and lighting. It has a very 80s sci-fi look to it, similar to movies like The Terminator and Blade Runner. The music also adds to the style of the film, with a lot of synth beats and high energy beats. The direction from Leigh Whannel is great, and the cinematography is very stylish and inventive in its camera angles. The editing, while quick cut, flows naturally and you’re never left disoriented and confused like other quick-cut action films. If there are any problems, there’s not much time spent developing the relationship between Grey and Asha. Also, once you learn more about what’s going on, there’s a lot of strange and oddly convenient coincidences. Overall, Upgrade is one of the most underrated and inventive movies to come out in 2018.

     

    Buy Upgrade from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Xwgh2R.

    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 Upgrade (2018)

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  • Santa Sangre (1989)

    Santa Sangre (1989)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}” column_structure=”2_3,1_3″][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]Alejandro Jodorowsky is one of the most provocative and creative filmmakers of the last century. While he hasn’t directed many films, his films have been captivating audiences since the early 70s. Jodorwosky first entered filmmaking in 1957 with the short film Les têtes interverties (The Severed Heads). His follow-up film, 1968’s Fando y Lis, was so controversial that it started a riot when it premiered. In spite of this, Jodorowky went on to create what became the first midnight movie, 1970’s El Topo. While somewhat controversial, it did receive critical appraisal and even John Lennon was a huge defender of the film. It was this attention that led to the Beatles’ manager to produce his next film, 1973’s The Holy Mountain. After failing to make an adaptation of Dune and divorcing his wife, it wasn’t until 1989 that Jodoworksky returned. That was when he made his comeback with Santa Sangre.
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    Synopsis

    The film tells the story of a young man named Fenix, who at the start is in a mental hospital. We are then taken back to his childhood, where we see what eventually led to him being locked up. As a child, he was a circus magician working with his father Orgo (Guy Stockwell) and mother Concha (Blanca Guerra). Between his father flirting with a tattooed woman and his mother leading a religious cult, his childhood was fractured. After his mother burns his father, gets her arms chopped off, and his father kills himself, Fenix is taken away. Cut to years later where Fenix escapes the mental hospital to be reunited with his now armless mother. His mother soon takes control of Fenix’s arms as they kill women who Concha sees as a threat. As Fenix’s mind continues to break, we start to wonder what’s real and what’s imaginary.

     

    Review

    Unfortunately, there’s not much else I can say about the movie without getting into spoilers. In addition, there’s so much going on here that it’d take me longer to talk about. That said, this is a visually arresting film where you’ll never know what will happen next. While it certainly has horror tropes (violence, nudity, blood), it’s unlike any horror film made before or since. Jodorowsky’s sons Axel and Adan both play the older and younger versions of Fenix respectively, and both are phenomenal here. Blanca Guerra is also outstanding as Concha, who at times is both sympathetic and yet sinister. The film is a very interesting take on Psycho, especially in the mother-son dynamic and the psychological effects. Also, Guy Stockwell is engaging to watch as Orgo, who acts as a biting comment on Americanism and masculinity. It’s especially apparent when he tattoos a giant eagle across Fenix’s chest.

    Visually, the movie is very stylish, especially in the look of the circus and the streets of Mexico at night. There’s also some great camerawork and well-constructed shots throughout, particularly during the last act. Also noteworthy is how part of the film is also a sweet love story between Fenix and a mute girl. We seem them as kids at the circus, and she eventually reenters his life when they’re older. Between her compassionate love and his mother’s manipulation, it’s interesting to see how these two different women affect his well-being. It works not only as a mother-son dynamic and a love story, but also as a coming-of-age story. While many of these themes are certainly obvious to spot, the film is nonetheless a treat to watch and dissect. With a great visual style, great performances, and a well-crafted story, Santa Sangre is a film that shouldn’t be missed.

     

    Buy Santa Sangre from Amazon: https://amzn.to/4hZV7n5.

    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 Santa Sangre (1989)

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  • Miracle Mile (1989)

    Miracle Mile (1989)

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    As I talked about in my Cherry 2000 review, filmmaker Steve De Jarnatt had a special project in the works. The project had become legendary well before getting made as it had been floating around Hollywood for ten years. The script even made the American Film magazine’s list of the ten best unmade screenplays in 1983. Originally written for Warner Bros, it was dropped because they wanted it bigger and directed by someone else. After managing to buy the script back after years of production limbo, De Jarnatt tried pitching it to other studios. Unfortunately, many balked at the script because of its blend of romance and apocalyptic thriller genres and its bleak ending. Eventually, Hemdale Films picked up the script and gave De Jarnatt a $3.7 million budget to make his dream project. That passion project became the late 80s cult classic, Miracle Mile.

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    Harry Washello (Anthony Edwards) is a trombone player who’s been unlucky in love for 30 years looking for the one. Then one day, he meets Julie Peters (Mare Winningham) and the two instantly fall in love with each other. After spending the afternoon together, they plan to meet later that night after Julie’s shift at a local coffee shop. Unfortunately, Harry accidentally oversleeps due to a power outage and doesn’t make it to the coffee shop until 4am. Harry tries calling to apologize, but only gets an answering machine, and he thinks things with Julie are over. Things turn ominous when Harry picks up a ringing payphone to the sound of a guy panicking with a message. He claims that nuclear war is coming in 70 minutes and nothing can stop it from happening. Initially unsure, Harry realizes it’s true and has to save Julie before nuclear annihilation comes.

    Generally, I’m not the biggest fan of romance films since they’re often sappy and tend to be formulaic. However, Miracle Mile is a very uniquely told romance film, mixing a love story with a nuclear thriller. Just the concept of getting a mysterious warning over the phone really makes you wonder what you would do. It’s a perfect way to establish tension and allow the movie to continually build up overtime. What also makes this film work is the acting, especially between Anthony Edwards and Mare Winningham. While the leads in Cherry 2000 felt like a couple just because, Edwards and Winningham have great chemistry here. They feel like a genuine couple and you really want to see them make it out in the end. In addition, you’ve got great character actors like Kurt Fuller, Brian Thompson, John Agar, Earl Boen, and Robert DoQui.

    Of course, given the circumstances, not everything has a happy ending and things turn pretty bleak. I won’t say what the ending is, suffice it to say that it will hit you in the feels. While tragic, it also reminds you how important it is to keep the people in your lives close. It’s a movie that places its audience in the character’s shoes and makes them wonder what they’d do. Sadly, the movie wasn’t a very huge hit when it came out, and this would be De Jarnatt’s last movie. However, he did go on to have success working on TV shows like The X-Files, ER, and Lizzie McGuire. Luckily, the movie has gone on to have a huge cult following and the people involved talk highly of it. A sweet romance mixed with a cold war thriller, Miracle Mile is an underrated gem not to be missed.

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  • Puppet Master (1989)

    Puppet Master (1989)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_video src=”https://youtu.be/1uzynqgprAI?si=3YxJqqk8GFI0u1uK” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_video][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ global_colors_info=”{}”]After the fall of Empire Pictures, Charles Band relocated to the US to form what would become Full Moon Productions. Prior to this, he had produced the 1987 Stuart Gordon-directed Dolls. Band was fascinated by the concept of killer dolls, so he decided to create a new film with that idea. While coming up with a title, he was reminded of another movie he made at Empire called The Dungeonmaster. He remembered people really liking that title, so he decided to use the word “master” to create Puppet Master. He tasked David Schmoeller, who we worked with on Tourist Trap, Crawlspace, and Catacombs, with directing. Originally intended for a theatrical release, Band decided to release it direct-to-video believing that it would be more successful. Turns out he was right as this one film managed to spawn 10 sequels, a crossover, and a reboot. So how did this franchise get started?

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    Synopsis

    We open on the Bodega Bay Hotel in 1939, where puppeteer Andre Toulon (William Hickey) is working on his puppets. However, two Nazi spies are after him because they want the secret to his puppets. Turns out Toulon has found a way to bring life to the puppets, and the Nazis want this knowledge. Before the Nazis break in, Toulon packs up the puppets, hides them in a wall panel, and kills himself. Cut to several years later where college professor Alex Whitaker (Paul Le Mat) has been having strange visions. Alex is summoned to the Bodega Bay Hotel, along with Dana (Irene Miracle), Frank (Matt Roe), and Carissa (Kathryn O’Reilly). Turns out a former associate of theirs, Neil Gallagher (Jimmie F. Skaggs), has died and has brought them together. As they try to figure out what’s happening, Toulon’s puppets come alive and start killing them off one by one.

     

    Review

    For a low-budget direct-to-video horror film, this film is much better than one would expect. While the story is fairly basic, it’s still engaging and moves at a pretty good pace. Luckily, this movie is only 83 minutes long, so it never overstays its welcome. As for the acting, it’s not really anything special, but everyone still does a decent job. The characters aren’t given much in terms of personality, but you’re never annoyed or bored by them. In terms of stand-outs, Irene Miracle is pretty fun with her sarcastic quips and sassy attitude. Paul Le Mat is alright, but it does somewhat feel like he’s just going through the motions. David Schmoeller’s direction is pretty solid, especially when it comes to the POV shots of the puppets. Plus, the movie has plenty of violence, nudity, and blood to keep you entertained.

    Of course, the real highlights of the movie and the real reason to see it are the puppets. While their screen time is limited to around 10-15 minutes, they’re still the best part. Not only are the puppets well-designed, and each has a unique look, but the stop-motion animation is top-notch. The stop-motion was done by animator David Allen, who had worked with Band before and would continue until his death. Given that Allen was nominated for an Oscar for Young Sherlock Holmes, it’s not a surprise the animation is superb. Allen really helps bring the puppets to life, giving their movements a very uneasy feel and look. While it would have been preferable to have them here more, they still end up stealing the show. Overall, in spite of the puppets’ limited screen-time and a fairly basic story, Puppet Master is still worth a watch.

     

    Buy Puppet Master 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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    Where to watch Puppet Master (1989)

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  • Con Air (1997)

    Con Air (1997)

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    While considered a joke today, in the 90s, Nicolas Cage was one of the biggest actors at the time. He achieved box office success with The Rock and Face/Off, and even won an Oscar for Leaving Las Vegas. At the same time, there was also Jerry Bruckheimer, a major Hollywood producer who rose to fame in the 80s. Alongside fellow producer Don Simpson, the two brought us Flashdance, Beverly Hills Cop, Top Gun, and Bad Boys. However, things went awry when Simpson and Bruckheimer disagreed over the concept of their next film, and the two separated. Unfortunately, Simpson passed away shortly after producing The Rock, and his death had little effect on the next film. Many feel that after Simpson’s death, the subsequent productions of Bruckheimer lost the age they had beforehand. That said, some of that edge from their earlier productions was still visible in 1997’s Con Air.

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    Coming back from the war, Army Ranger Cameron Poe (Nicolas Cage) returns home to his wife Tricia (Monica Potter). She works as a waitress at a bar where she gets hassled by some drunk guys. While defending her, Poe accidentally kills a guy and ends up getting put in prison for involuntary manslaughter. Cut to years later where Poe is granted parole and is free to return to his wife and new daughter. However, in order to get home, he has to board a plane full of convicts called the Jailbird. Things go well until the convicts, led by Cyrus Martinez (John Malcovich), take control of the plane. While FBI Agent Duncan Malloy (Colm Meany) wants to shoot them down, Agent Vince Larkin (John Cusack) thinks otherwise. With few options and little time left, it’s up to Poe to stop the convicts and return home.

    Now, I’m not going to lie, this movie is pretty ridiculous and definitely a product of its time. There are cheesy one-liners, big set-pieces, total disregard for collateral damage, and a silly melodramatic love song that plays throughout. That said, this is still a fun example of how entertaining 90s action films were. While not as over-the-top as usual, Nick Cage is still fun to watch between his flowing mullet and thick accent. John Malcovich is fun as the villain, acting like he’s constantly annoyed and on edge, and has some great one-liners. Another stand-out is Steve Buscemi, who is essentially doing a toned-down version of Anthony Hopkins from Silence of the Lambs. There are also some great appearances from character actors like Danny Trejo, Ving Rhames, and M.C. Gainey. The action sequences are well-shot and the score gets you in the right mood.

    Of course, this movie isn’t without its problems, but then again, no movie is perfect. For a major portion of the film, Monica Potter isn’t really given much to do. She just shows up at the beginning, appears here and there, and comes back at the end. Also, as fun as John Cusack is, there isn’t really much to his character except the rivalry with Colm Meany. Obviously, there’s no point in addressing the flaws with this film since it’s not trying to be high art. This is simply meant to be a big, dumb, fun summer blockbuster, and in that respect, it succeeds. Sure, it’s dated and feels like a product of its time, but it’s still a fun time. Con Air, while over-the-top and ridiculous, still has some fun action sequences and larger-than-life characters to keep you entertained.

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  • Running Scared (2006)

    Running Scared (2006)

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    The 1970s was a decade that was almost dominated by gritty crime thrillers that were hard-hitting and relentless. Some of the seminal ones included Dirty Harry, Death Wish, Taxi Driver, The French Connection, Serpico, and The Godfather. There were plenty of gritty crime movies in the 80s and 90s, but by the 2000s, things had changed. Instead of the hard-R gritty crime and action movies, we were getting watered-down and over-stylized PG-13 thrillers. This change in genre conventions rather upset writer/director Wayne Kramer. Kramer earlier got some attention with 2003’s The Cooler, which was a hit with critics despite underperforming financially. It went on to win and be nominated for various awards, including an Oscar nomination for Alec Baldwin. With this critical reception, Kramer decided to follow it up with a throwback to the gritty crime movies he loved. This led to the vastly underrated 2006 thriller, Running Scared.

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    After a drug bust gone wrong, low level mobster Johnny Gazelle (Paul Walker) is tasked with disposing of a gun. This particular gun, a small snubnosed revolver was used during the drug bust to kill a dirty cop. Johnny stashes the gun in his basement, unaware of his son (Alex Neuberger) and his friend Oleg (Cameron Bright) watching. Oleg ends up stealing the gun and uses it to try and kill his abusive stepfather Anzor Yugorsky (Karel Roden). After hearing the gunshots, Johnny goes to investigate and, upon realizing what gun was used, runs out to find it. It’s a race against time as Oleg is running from the Russian mafia and crooked cop Detective Rydell (Chazz Palminteri). Along the way, Johnny’s wife Teresa (Vera Farmiga) also gets involved as she tries to save Oleg. Things continue spiraling out of control as we go further down the rabbit hole.

    As mentioned before, Kramer wanted this to be more in the style of gritty 70s crime thrillers, and he succeeded. This film perfectly captures the grit and grime of many of those crime thrillers from the past. There’s excessive violence, nudity, swearing, and some pretty dark and disturbing moments throughout that deal with fairly dark themes. In addition, the cast here is phenomenal, particularly Paul Walker, Vera Farmiga, Chazz Palminteri, and Cameron Bright. At the time, Walker was mostly known for The Fast and The Furious movies, and this really shows his range. He’s constantly on edge and full of energy that you can tell he’s dedicated to this role. Vera Farmiga, who was relatively unknown here, is terrific in the film, especially when it becomes about her. Chazz Palminteri is fantastic as always, and Cameron Bright, especially for a child actor, also does a great job.

    If there are any problems I have with the film, the main one is with the structure. While there is a somewhat straightforward narrative, some parts feel like small vignettes that go from one to another. Also, there are some characters who are introduced but then just leave never to be seen again. At times, the movie feels a bit scatterbrained, especially with how the editing is done. Not to say that the editing here is poor, far from it, but it can seem all over the place. Issues aside, I still think this is a terrifically underrated crime thriller that deserves more attention. Especially with Paul Walker’s unfortunate death, this really showcases how much talent he had as an actor. While the movie wasn’t a huge financial hit, it was well-received by critics, and it’s easy to see why. Running Scared is a great hidden gem that’s worth watching.

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  • Raging Bull (1980)

    Raging Bull (1980)

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    Martin Scorsese is without a doubt one of the most celebrated and talented filmmakers of the 20th century and beyond. With such classics as Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, and Casino, Scorsese has always delivered and his films are still beloved today. He’s probably one of the few directors to come out of the New Hollywood Movement with continued success. However, despite his critical acclaim, there were still some dark periods in his career. After making his biggest hit at the time, Taxi Driver, things weren’t looking too great for him. His follow-up film, 1977’s New York New York, was both a critical and commercial failure, which sent him into depression. At the same time, Scorsese had a massive cocaine addition that left him hospitalized and in poor health. Luckily, his friend and fellow collaborator Robert De Niro managed to get him back on his feet with Raging Bull.

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    The film is a somewhat loose biopic of real-life heavyweight boxer Jake LaMotta, here played by Robert De Niro. We follow his life story from his early days as a boxer to his later life as a stand-up comic. We see him in his biggest bouts with heavyweights like Jimmy Reeves, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Tony Janiro. While he’s a champion in the ring, his violent temper destroys his personal life. He leaves his first wife Lenore (Theresa Saldana) for a woman named Vickie (Cathy Moriarty). Once married, Jake on occasion beats her and accuses her of sleeping with other men. At the same time, his brother Joey (Joe Pesci) tries to help, but he’s often pushed aside. Jake starts accusing his brother of having an affair with Vickie, and he even accuses her of sleeping around. Eventually, things go downhill leading to the end of Jake’s boxing career.

    Given when this film came out, it’s easy to make comparisons between this and Rocky. While both are boxing movies that are more so character studies, they are quite different. In Rocky, the main character is flawed and not-too-bright, but he’s good at heart and the movie is very up-lifting. Here, the main character is abusive to his wife, turns away people trying to help him, and things end badly. It’s a very down and dirty film that doesn’t have very many bright spots and shows a real dark side. Even still, Jake LaMotta is a character who, while not the best, is still engaging to watch. Robert De Niro does an excellent job, especially considering how much time and effort he put into his performance. The rest of the cast, particularly Joe Pesci and newcomer Cathy Moriarty, are excellent and work well opposite De Niro.

    Considering how reluctant Scorsese was in making this film, his direction here is phenomenal. With its black-and-white photography, it really makes the boxing matches all the more vicious and visually interesting. It also helps to cement the film in the time period it’s set, giving a somewhat film noir look. While not a huge hit with critics and audiences at the time, it eventually was cemented as a certified classic. Some people might be put off by its grim tone, hard-hitting violence, and its not-so-good lead character. But for others, Raging Bull stands as a perfect example of an exceptional actor-director powerhouse with Scorsese and De Niro.

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  • Happy Death Day (2017)

    Happy Death Day (2017)

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    Have you ever experienced deja vu? You know, that feeling where you feel like you’ve been there before or already experienced something. There are times where we feel like we’re reliving the same events over and over again in an endless loop. Of course, there have been movies about reliving past events multiple times. Probably the most famous is 1993’s Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray. That film dealt with a stubborn and curmudgeonly news reporter who relives the same day over and over again. A similar concept was used over 20 years later for the 2014 sci-fi action film Edge of Tomorrow with Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt. While they were different genres, both movies told a similar tale of someone having to change their ways. Since we had a comedy and sci-fi action film, naturally we would soon get a horror film. In 2017, we got Happy Death Day.

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    After getting drunk last night, college student Theresa “Tree” Gelbman (Jessica Rothe) awakens in a classmate’s dorm. She soon storms out, and we get a glimpse of her world. She ignores her dad’s calls, tosses a cupcake her roommate made, and has an affair with her teacher. That night, Tree ends up getting killed by a masked killer on her way to a party. However, instead of dying, she wakes up as if nothing happened, and soon finds she’s reliving the previous day. While she finds it odd, Tree goes about her day like before, all the while wondering what’s going on. That night, instead of going down the tunnel, she goes to the party, but the killer from before finds her. She wakes up once again reliving the same day, realizing that she’s in a time loop. Now, she has to solve her own murder and prevent further death.

    Without giving too much away, the reveal of the killer’s identity will throw you for a loop. Despite its somewhat unoriginality, the strength of this movie lies in its main cast, especially the lead. Jessica Rothe does a great job playing a character who you still want to follow even before her transformation. The rest of the cast also play their parts well, particularly Israel Broussard, Ruby Modine, and especially Rob Mello. Also, for the kind of movie this is, it’s very well shot with some nice camerawork and tilted angles. Especially in the third act, the camerawork makes this a very visually interesting watch. Admittedly, the biggest fault of the movie is the fact that it’s fairly tame at a PG-13 rating. Not saying that this should’ve been extremely graphic and violent, but the rating makes it feel like an edited-for-TV movie.

    As I mentioned before, many have said that this is the horror version of Groundhog Day. Beyond just the concept of someone stuck in a time loop, both movies also feature characters who start out despicable. As the movie goes on, both characters do learn the error of their ways and work to improve themselves. However, in Groundhog Day, learning a lesson was at the forefront, whereas it’s almost secondary in Happy Death Day. The whole point of this movie is Tree figuring out who her killer is and how to stop them. This movie works as an interesting murder mystery, with Tree listing off possible suspects and trying to evade death. Also, when she starts changing herself, you’re rooting for her, especially how well Jessica Rothe delivers the more emotional scenes. Overall, while hampered by its tame rating and somewhat unoriginality, Happy Death Day is still an enjoyable watch.

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  • The Changeling (1980)

    The Changeling (1980)

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    In the late 60s, playwright Russell Hunter was living in an old mansion located in Chessman Park, Denver, Colorado. The mansion was owned by Henry Treat Rodgers, a wealthy Denver attorney, during the late 1800s. Supposedly, Russell experienced strange phenomena in the house, including faucets turning on by themselves, walls violently shaking, and doors opening themselves. He also claimed he found an old journal detailing the life of a disabled child isolated by his parents. In short, when the boy was gravely ill, the parents secretly buried him once he died. Afterwards, they adopted a boy from an orphanage and essentially trained him to take on the deceased child’s identity. While these claims have largely been debunked, Russell still thought about that story and decided to turn it into a script. That script would eventually be turned into the 1980 haunted house film, The Changeling.

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    Following the deaths of his wife and daughter, composer John Russell (George C. Scott) moves from New York to Seattle. He rents an old victorian home thanks to an agent from the local historical society, Claire Norman (Trish Van Devere). Not long after moving in, Russell starts experiencing strange things in the house. One day, he finds the water taps turned on and hallucinates seeing a young boy’s corpse in a bathtub. Investigating further, he finds a hidden room containing a child’s wheelchair, and he works with Claire to uncover the truth. They soon discover that the child in question is Joseph Carmichael, a crippled child who was killed by his father. As he digs deeper and deeper, Russell uncovers a conspiracy where Carmichael’s father was after his son’s inheritance. It’s all a matter of Russell trying to uncover the mystery and trying to help Joseph’s spirit lay to rest.

    Without a doubt, this is one of the most suspenseful and tense haunted house movies ever made. This movie has a great foreboding atmosphere and a sense of dread all throughout, even before the hauntings start. George C. Scott delivers one of the best performances of his career, which include classics like Dr. Strangelove and Patton. He perfectly captures the feeling of loneliness and comes across as a former shell of a man. When Scott starts his investigation, you get caught up in the mystery and wonder how it all ties in. While many of today’s paranormal movies overuse cheap jump scares, this one relies on building up tension and suspense. Just when things start to slow down, the movie throws some sort of disturbing imagery that will haunt you. Given that this was released the same year as The Shining, 1980 was a great year for haunted house movies.

    The movie has developed a major cult following over the years, and many have singed their praises of this film. In fact, Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese called this one of the scariest movies ever made. Filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro is also a fan, calling the movie ‘a masterpiece’. With those glowing endorsements, how can you say no? This is a movie full of sadness and dread, but it’s also a film about redemption and finding closure. While not as well-known as other haunted house movies, The Changeling is still a masterful work of horror cinema.

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