tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40850169631597292432024-03-18T05:48:05.459-04:00 Ryan's Movie ReviewsReviews from a geek who has watched waaaaay too many movies...villainsrulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568435865803772912noreply@blogger.comBlogger837125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085016963159729243.post-31442817347109926922023-10-31T11:10:00.002-04:002023-10-31T11:10:45.029-04:00Terrifier 2 Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-8zh_9yL20mRPE4o-AqiUZxIqeLmd3P1mlxiZD1IaaoVl81krx4f_OM8XExw4Qpp_l2plg2uA_l3RTBfbjK5-D_STTsUOouq0x-O5sEIoUrywjNiT4ocbjfLRXnZbNl3oVg5EYrvZ5xEbRym5XJX4r6dnb-FtjT5OEHiqDjz9dKu6h8Op-VeAcPsMnY/s1000/terrifier%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="673" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-8zh_9yL20mRPE4o-AqiUZxIqeLmd3P1mlxiZD1IaaoVl81krx4f_OM8XExw4Qpp_l2plg2uA_l3RTBfbjK5-D_STTsUOouq0x-O5sEIoUrywjNiT4ocbjfLRXnZbNl3oVg5EYrvZ5xEbRym5XJX4r6dnb-FtjT5OEHiqDjz9dKu6h8Op-VeAcPsMnY/w269-h400/terrifier%202.jpg" width="269" /></a></div><br /><p>Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!</p><p>Plot Summary: Art the clown comes back to life to continue his Halloween killing spree, but finds himself up against a new foe.<br /></p><p>Review: Essentially, this sequel is a massive upgrade from the first "Terrifier." You have more gore, better characters, an actual mythos forming, as well as a general improvement to production value. Probably the biggest fix is providing purpose to the aimlessness of this series. The Art character has been around for going on 15 years now with shorts that were then put into the "All Hallows' Eve" movie. Part 2 is finally taking him beyond a creepy design and into something that may be be closer to an icon. With that said, this entry presents a different set of problems to deal with.</p><p>Starting with what works we can address the direct supernatural elements fleshing out Art and the story. In part 1 Art felt more like a regular human empowered by script contrivances. Here, Art is officially supernatural--resurrected by some kind of demon or whatever. Likewise, this demonic character is implied to be guiding Art to his victims for some greater goal we, as the audience, don't know yet. This notion helps tie together the shenanigans of part 1, and can possibly explain the Art seen within the "All Hallows' Eve" segments.</p><p>Next, we have the significant game-changer of introducing the Sienna character. Played by the gorgeous Lauren LaVera, Sienna serves as this franchise's own Laurie Strode or Sidney Prescott. If anything, Sienna is a little more than meets the eye--she both fits the final girl and the chosen one archetypes. I wasn't expecting much from this character at first, but, by the time that battle angel or valkyrie outfit comes on, Sienna transforms into this sexy badass; this is something sorely missing from the genre these days. Ms. LaVera is way too old to be playing a high school kid, but this was definitely a break-out role for her; I'll be sure to keep an eye out for her future horror endeavors.</p><p>As for the element that most wanted from this movie (and the thing most advertised): the gore. Was it as gross as viewers alleged? No, but I've seen a lot of splatterfest movies. There are many graphic deaths here that might catch casual moviegoers off their guard; admittedly, most victims are completely destroyed by the sadistic Art. As for the gore-hounds, I think this will satiate them and show off impressive practical effects. There is a lot of red in this movie--let's leave it at that.<br /></p><p>With the positives out of the way, let's look at the flaws. First, and foremost, that running time is ludicrous. Part 2 clocks in at almost 2.5 hours! This is a full hour longer than part 1, and, no, there was not that much going on to necessitate that kind of excess. Many scenes could have been cut or shortened to get a tighter edit of the film; however, the pacing is on point for the most part. Now, while I do appreciate the story line that is being built up--what with Sienna's father, the demon taking the form of a dead girl, and explaining the Terrifier as an amusement park haunt--we are left with more questions than answers. Of course, these could be explained in further entries, but, as of right now, it feels like Jar Jar Abrams' infamous mystery box writing which can easily backfire. I'd really hate to see this series go off the rails right after correcting course.<br /></p><p>All things considered, I think this was a great direction to take this franchise. The audience wants carnage candy and part 2 delivers. More than that, the series can move forward with a better focus than it started out with which is saying something. While I'd prefer less filler material bloating the runtime, I was way more engaged this time around with Art the clown's wacky hi-jinks. Let's just hope we see more of sexy Sienna and get some answers with "Terrifier 3" apparently on the immediate horizon.<br /></p><p>Notable Moment: There are many off the wall moments, but it's just so satisfying when Sienna finally kills that sumabitch Art. Who would've thought a magic sword would fit seamlessly into this story?<br /></p><p>Final Rating: 6/10<br /></p>villainsrulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568435865803772912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085016963159729243.post-41236407322408526712023-10-29T07:31:00.002-04:002023-10-29T07:31:32.088-04:00They Live Inside Us Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxKk-5dTIH-fWmbiaZ9ExWGIxfvH9NooYR4dX-o5HfztTNTUOz_yLx1OHy1ayNHwKtUKryXWJueYZNn1dSisQE-lSAzb33GC3YI0gOB5vu3yuhmQ0Z5ajzNAnb9zitNbtG3bjHsZuYIxbHKlJS_CN7C1k59pze1FTKxj-JI84qWODkLribGReZ52uz_A/s1296/they%20live%20inside%20us.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="864" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxKk-5dTIH-fWmbiaZ9ExWGIxfvH9NooYR4dX-o5HfztTNTUOz_yLx1OHy1ayNHwKtUKryXWJueYZNn1dSisQE-lSAzb33GC3YI0gOB5vu3yuhmQ0Z5ajzNAnb9zitNbtG3bjHsZuYIxbHKlJS_CN7C1k59pze1FTKxj-JI84qWODkLribGReZ52uz_A/w266-h400/they%20live%20inside%20us.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><p>Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!</p><p>Plot Summary: A writer looks for inspiration while staying in a, supposedly, haunted house.<br /></p><p>Review: A few things to know upfront: first, "They Live Inside Us" is an expanded version of a segment from a different movie called "The Witching Season." I honestly can't remember if I saw that, but it looks like shit. Second, this is <i>yet another</i> example of using Halloween for incidental, advertising purposes. Realistically, Halloween could have been swapped with National Pizza Day and little would have changed. Third, how the hell am I watching another movie starring the same guy from "10/31 Part III?" What are the odds? <br /></p><p>So what is even happening here? It's strange, this isn't an outright bad film on the surface, however, it's boggled down by a sense of pointlessness, it looks and feels cheap, and, most egregious of all, it's too long and boring. Maybe this worked better as a short, but, in this state, things come off as bargain-bin "Sinister" minus the scares or production value. There is a twist that--sorta, kinda, maybe---redeems the film as whole, but even the delivery of this idea is confusing and left vague as to what is actually happening anyway.</p><p>I can see how this movie would have read better on paper, but the execution simply isn't there. Perhaps the scope was too large for the budget, but the ideas presented could have been simplified in a more meaningful way. For example, the notion that the writer's stories were becoming real, or that he was becoming one of his own stories, could have been shown with aspects bleeding over into reality after each scene. Assuming any of the shite we got was intended to be real in the first place. Overall, I think the user rating online is too low, but I can understand the source of the grievances. This is not a Halloween horror film nor is it even an average horror movie. In some ways a movie so bad that it's infuriating gets more emotion out of me, but this was merely a boring chore I only watched hoping it would be a decent Halloween movie. Alas, I was wrong, and you shouldn't waste your holiday with this level of mediocrity.<br /></p><p>Notable Moment: When the random ghost in the sheet appeared toward the end. Maybe I zoned out when they explained it, but where did that come from? It was actually kind of cool.<br /></p><p>Final Rating: 4/10<br /></p>villainsrulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568435865803772912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085016963159729243.post-46173179143903126472023-10-27T06:03:00.001-04:002023-10-27T06:03:08.769-04:0010/31 Part III Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oKqdS1B8kWEknTrUkvzsRZCrvWG_i9URngt4hdiK4PeVZZvxrh2S9yrpciMIx__WFkoRmlivN4alVBh11fTclJyLmI5WU-3hk5q_gaZFg08lkdUw3M6FwAI1fzlyDn6bq-E8N8-CmQa3x1x1vHXfp6tkCFBYeMrGESBnA4IYyoIgU2Pg9HhSRtSukhs/s1475/10-31%20part%203.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1475" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oKqdS1B8kWEknTrUkvzsRZCrvWG_i9URngt4hdiK4PeVZZvxrh2S9yrpciMIx__WFkoRmlivN4alVBh11fTclJyLmI5WU-3hk5q_gaZFg08lkdUw3M6FwAI1fzlyDn6bq-E8N8-CmQa3x1x1vHXfp6tkCFBYeMrGESBnA4IYyoIgU2Pg9HhSRtSukhs/w325-h400/10-31%20part%203.png" width="325" /></a></div><br /><p>Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!</p><p>Plot Summary: The third entry in this, increasingly, terrible horror anthology series.<br /></p><p>Review: Part 2 was noticeably an improvement over the first entry, yet, here we are, taking a massive step back with part 3. You know, how in the hell does garbage like this have 3 movies already, and we can't get a "Trick 'r Treat 2" after all these years?! That should be a crime. Anyway, expect more of the same garbage-tier storytelling with this entry. I mean, the creators clearly aren't listening to my feedback...sooo...who is even watching this trash besides me?<br /></p><p>Fake Trailers: These aren't as entertaining as the ones in part 2, but, hey, at least we get to see some titties this time! That has to count for something. Nevertheless, the fake trailers might still be the highlight of the movie as a whole.<br /></p><p>Wraparound: Well, we have yet another return from dollar store Elvira. Obviously the idiots making this series haven't learned a thing, because she continues to only appear at the beginning and end of the film. I just can't grasp why she isn't there at the start and end of each segment to add commentary. Like, isn't that the entire purpose of including a host? All she would need is a corny quip or pun to wrap up the god-awful stories.<br /></p><p>House of the Mummy: We start off with the best segment--not that that is saying much--so it's all downhill from here. Some guy is getting divorced and thinks he will earn money by charging people to see his haunted house attraction. While going to an antique store, he finds a mummy decoration that is cursed or whatever. Sure enough, the mummy comes to life and kills the ex-wife and her new boyfriend. By the end, the main guy becomes something like the disciple of the mummy. Eh, it's corny, but felt like an attempt at a "Creepshow" styled story. The character banter was okay for what it was too.<br /></p><p>The Locksmith: Um, I guess the killer in this segment uses a doorknob attachment to kill people...some of them at least? I don't know. This was pretty bad but somehow still the second best segment. A couple moves into a house, a killer lives there, he pops up and kills everyone including the realtor and crew. Wowwee. I was not a fan of discount Rorschach either.<br /></p><p>Old Man Gross: This is, without question, the worst segment. Forget going beyond good and evil, this is beyond stupid and retarded. I think these actors are supposed to be playing high school kids, but they look like they're in their forties. They break into some guy's house where they decide to immediately start fucking...except they claim he might be a psycho killer. Makes sense. Also, I like how all the characters are speaking loud, and no one can hear any of this in other parts of the house. Needless to say, this is one of the dumbest, most painful anthology stories I've endured. I know I've probably written something along those lines a dozen times at this point, but this one really ranks up there for idiocy and horrendous film making. What a piece of shit.<br /></p><p>Hack-in-the-Box: Your guess is as good as mine as to what the fuck was happening in this dumbass story. Way to close out an anthology. Some girls have a demonic jack-in-the-box, and are armed with guns to take down whatever comes out. Of course things do not go as planned with all the girls dying to a pathetic puppet. I don't know what was the point since some of the fake trailers had more depth and explanations than this.<br /></p><p>And there it is--part 3 in a terrible anthology series. Is this some kind of money laundering scheme or tax write-off? Believe it or not, I actually thought this might be at least okay since there was an improvement from part 1 to 2. Boy was I wrong. I guess if you're, like, one of the other 25 people besides me watching this shit then go for it. If you're just a viewer looking for a good movie to watch this Halloween then avoid this entire series like the plague.<br /></p><p>Notable Moment: During the fake trailers when we see the one naked lady. Look, you know it was the only good moment in the whole movie!<br /></p><p>Final Rating: 3.5/10<br /></p>villainsrulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568435865803772912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085016963159729243.post-79509804717045423082023-10-26T18:17:00.000-04:002023-10-26T18:17:06.262-04:00Spirit Halloween Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfE0ExIWCP1myjXUWumoxCj4ZPz9-qWLDSdU4WQNa5jgZdGPX1KgrX9mhZKuoEy9thjcFkZ_YePNpmqcYrugi_zRwijCN6eRE8tfGjN-zk6W3WaxXK3S85aLIeU_1olZ1eScgfwsg4TUJzki0kYNak0vKKa1KVP8M_iSUMtFpFIDUACXF0pxvg8nQMm2A/s581/spirit%20halloween.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="465" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfE0ExIWCP1myjXUWumoxCj4ZPz9-qWLDSdU4WQNa5jgZdGPX1KgrX9mhZKuoEy9thjcFkZ_YePNpmqcYrugi_zRwijCN6eRE8tfGjN-zk6W3WaxXK3S85aLIeU_1olZ1eScgfwsg4TUJzki0kYNak0vKKa1KVP8M_iSUMtFpFIDUACXF0pxvg8nQMm2A/s400/spirit%20halloween.jpg" /></a></div><p>
Disclaimer: Contains spoilers! </p><p>Plot Summary: A group of friends decide to spend their Halloween locked inside the titular, holiday store as zany antics ensue.<br /></p><p>Review: Well...this movie is about as good as you'd expect for a glorified product placement to be. So there's that, right? Realistically, "Spirit Halloween" is a cornball kids movie with G-rated scares and themes. This film feels like a lame attempt at an episode of "Goosebumps" yet lacks the twists or characterizations of that series. With that said, I do think this movie can present adequate family viewing for most ages of kids. However, if you're an adult watching this solo, or with other adults, you are going to be sorely disappointed.</p><p>On the positive side of things, the film is exceptionally short. Despite this, the story was too shallow and still dragged at times; this could have easily been cut down into a 30 minute TV episode. This story tries to be heartfelt, and I guess it could be in the simplest of ways, but there is this lack of seriousness to anything. For example, the movie wants you to feel like the kids are in danger, meanwhile, these same kids are shooting the monsters with wannabe-Nerf guns. C'mon. Beyond this, the acting, special effects, music, etc. are all by the books levels of average; often times, things dip below average, but I kind of expect levels of mediocrity from this sort of movie.<br /></p><p>The main reason why "Spirit Halloween" fails is that it lacks any heart--it has this hollow, AI generated vibe. This isn't to say it's a complete waste of time since it has merit for introducing little kids to horror or something to pop on for early Halloween night. I guess it's that lingering fact that this is merely promotional material for the stores themselves that leaves such a nasty taste in many viewers' mouths. While I do acknowledge that as a massive fault, I could mostly overlook that if it weren't for the sheer blandness to every aspect of the film making. Overall, this is a big pile of meh but at least made relatively competent.<br /></p><p>Notable Moment: When the sister gets possessed. The setup is so painfully stupid with her magically tripping over some bouncy balls.<br /></p><p>Final Rating: 5/10</p>villainsrulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568435865803772912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085016963159729243.post-73106941872704018142023-10-03T07:27:00.001-04:002023-10-27T08:49:35.251-04:00Curse of Crom: The Legend of Halloween Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_g9j_QrDmxBy4BrrGFKeOe_SbUxK2WEgaJuKRxU-I9mNzYKl6N39D52vs9QvVyEXDlV4D-WDqTJQeoK1zd-2IjFbCb1U708MWHp6C_KV-rlUk0ED5E2dq7oRIDFVLR93wgzBO8vBgD-7rUbtcAh7WV1VdSaw0gtNHsBJZ3kn0zmwLJOmy3o6SJ_e1IA/s1500/curse%20of%20crom.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_g9j_QrDmxBy4BrrGFKeOe_SbUxK2WEgaJuKRxU-I9mNzYKl6N39D52vs9QvVyEXDlV4D-WDqTJQeoK1zd-2IjFbCb1U708MWHp6C_KV-rlUk0ED5E2dq7oRIDFVLR93wgzBO8vBgD-7rUbtcAh7WV1VdSaw0gtNHsBJZ3kn0zmwLJOmy3o6SJ_e1IA/w266-h400/curse%20of%20crom.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><p>Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!</p><p>Plot Summary: A girl and her friends must figure out how to stop an evil spirit unleashed each Halloween.<br /></p><p>Review: I think audience's should be aware of what they're getting into with this one. Other than a single profanity and a non-graphic death, this is essentially a PG-rated, family horror movie. More so, "Curse of Crom" feels like a long episode of "Are You Afraid of the Dark" or "Goosebumps;" knowing this aspect should keep viewer's expectations in check. If you're hankering for that "Halloween" alternative this year then this is definitely not it, however, this is certainly worthy material for the kids and parents to watch once trick-or-treating has ended.</p><p>So what are you really getting here? The story blends Celtic mythology with Samhain, the original Halloween. This is probably the best aspect to the film as it addresses the classic beliefs and traditions before the commercialization of the holiday. Beyond that, the characters have a certain, goofy charm to them that keeps things fun; the acting can be a bit hit or miss though. I wouldn't say we reach zany antics level, but you could tell the filmmakers were enjoying themselves while making the movie. Two things that could have been improved were the shoddy effects at times and not nearly enough scares. The bizarre part was they had a respectable Crom costume, so to speak, but there were pointless uses of garbage-tier CGI.<br /></p><p>I'm not saying this is a Halloween classic in the making--since it's heavily flawed with massive contrivances--but I do think this fills a void missing in the current landscape. "Curse of Crom" doesn't take itself too seriously, yet, manages to straddle a thin line between true scares and something kids under 10 could handle. Likewise, this movie touches on subject matter few other films have touched on when concerning the actual holiday and its significance. I've probably reviewed more Halloween-themed movies than anyone else on the internet, so trust me when I say this is the rare Halloween-horror made with both parents and kids in mind.<br /></p><p>Notable Moment: When Harvey is making that abomination of a sandwich. It's contrived, but I also like how he took the sandwich with him and kept eating it when running from Crom.<br /></p><p>Final Rating: 6/10<br /></p>villainsrulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568435865803772912noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085016963159729243.post-17232064803632703862023-06-07T07:39:00.002-04:002023-06-07T07:39:59.221-04:002:22 Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqXVe0rVViQAbPegMAwDQ7tZkW6Oqx81vf02rQmHeJBBM8ylrPsmKdS83Mg9Vdn10QDnbtYYPf4Wv02fTM4Jv4XbP-xs4HhNTqfvsHQyntzQkD4pyKfkjiy7HNmvXGVO680l0wb3Z16EwakDg34tSswrsTKOSCNzFhxaDP-FZRHQsAHcASzWPvjUT/s2560/222%20movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1920" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqXVe0rVViQAbPegMAwDQ7tZkW6Oqx81vf02rQmHeJBBM8ylrPsmKdS83Mg9Vdn10QDnbtYYPf4Wv02fTM4Jv4XbP-xs4HhNTqfvsHQyntzQkD4pyKfkjiy7HNmvXGVO680l0wb3Z16EwakDg34tSswrsTKOSCNzFhxaDP-FZRHQsAHcASzWPvjUT/w300-h400/222%20movie.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!</p><p>Plot Summary: A man begins to see patterns each day, at the same time, that somehow connect to the woman he has fallen in love with and a tragic event.<br /></p><p>Review: Strangely enough, this film is both better than you'd imagine and lacking the substance to make it worthwhile. It's hard to properly articulate what is the problem since the general
premise is intriguing, the actors are good, and the production is of
reasonable quality. "2:22" wants to tell the tale of a cosmic alignment of fate, love, and loss, yet, is shallow somehow, failing to pull the ideas together or make them feel meaningful in the first place. More precisely, I think there are pacing issues with the twists, the villain (so to speak) shows up too late to the game, and the "answers" to why everything is happening are on the flimsy side.</p><p>So what are you getting here? This film is part sci-fi, part romance, and some kind of attempt at addressing destiny on a universal scale. The main guy, Dylan, begins to hallucinate real visions of patterns, as if from a diagram, and patterns of repetitious events; these bizarre patterns happen each day at, you guessed it, 2:22. Just as Dylan experiences this phenomena, he meets Sarah, a conveniently dreamy babe that makes an instant connection with him. Long story short, these two have their fates intertwined along with a third party, Sarah's ex-boyfriend. </p><p>I like the way these events fall into place, however, choosing to make Dylan act like a wacko so early was a poor choice; he should have had a deeper, more developed love with Sarah before trying to convince her of the patterns he sees. Furthermore, I guess you could say the stakes of the film are low considering the wannabe grand scale to the story being told. Why would the literal alignment of the stars connect to these three people dying and somehow, what, being reincarnated? More is being bitten off than can be chewed with this explanation, and it makes less sense the more I think about how little this fits the themes presented.<br /></p><p>All things considered, I did still like this movie for what it was, but it's not something I'd really be interested in watching again. This is the sort of movie very much <i>destined</i> for streaming filler. It's not bad, but not really good either, so you can throw it on, watch it, and forget all about it by the next day. Considering this movie wanted to make a statement, I don't believe the filmmakers intended for that kind of mixed reaction. Nevertheless, I'd still say give it a try if the story line piques your interest.<br /></p><p>Notable Moment: When we see the holographic art piece of New York City and the shooting. This was actually pretty damn cool.<br /></p><p>Final Rating: 5.5/10<br /></p>villainsrulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568435865803772912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085016963159729243.post-55292382106111363102023-06-02T08:18:00.000-04:002023-06-02T08:18:01.936-04:00Let Us In Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvPUCWDdTzhkVJXXTXlVzIy_sIrEZlpHN7VTzLzFQA6gFy_CaZEqU3-0NCMZY8TMvQ4-0tBWzlR-D16P1549h-Q51oShOO2fcMWL96q-Ha6k6MUJv1EiRGDgHj_XbQDU6vbqose5duk3YWeDw66OGEB1TLFC8V_Bx_wKQV4aprnyWmGPIwrfe7Ui7/s3000/let%20us%20in.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2025" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvPUCWDdTzhkVJXXTXlVzIy_sIrEZlpHN7VTzLzFQA6gFy_CaZEqU3-0NCMZY8TMvQ4-0tBWzlR-D16P1549h-Q51oShOO2fcMWL96q-Ha6k6MUJv1EiRGDgHj_XbQDU6vbqose5duk3YWeDw66OGEB1TLFC8V_Bx_wKQV4aprnyWmGPIwrfe7Ui7/w270-h400/let%20us%20in.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br /><p>Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!</p><p>Plot Summary: A town is terrorized by cornball, black-eyed brats and only two kids can stop them.<br /></p><p>Review: Not to be confused with "Let Me In," this is essentially a lame kid-horror movie based on some equally ludicrous internet superstition. Now, while I can see why people are hating this film, I think it has enough charm to at least be watchable if you're the age of the characters or a parent looking for a safe horror to enjoy with the kiddies. You know, something family-friendly where no one even curses and everyone makes it out safe...well except for that one kid they don't save. But screw him, am I right? Outside of that target demographic, I think the only reason why anyone is giving this a view is because Jigsaw himself, Tobin Bell, has a touted role. I have no doubt this was some kind of favor for somebody involved in the production but, if you are tuning in just for him, don't bother.</p><p>What you are actually getting here is PG-rated horror on a low budget to boot; imagine on the level of "Goosebumps" and "Are You Afraid of the Dark" (which I'm failing to review). However, the characters and story are cheesy enough for me to appreciate the effort. The acting can be...uhh, <i>questionable</i>...at times to say the least. On one hand the story wants to be serious--dealing with death, guilt, and grief; yet, in the same breath, one of the main characters says he thinks he "sharted" in what's supposed to be a tense moment. Yeaaah, expect a lot of stupid moments like that. In the end, the kids manage to save the day in the dumbest/easiest of ways, befriend/unite with their bullies, and are thrown a parade by the town...on top of winning a contest and free vacation. Very plausible. Okay, I admit that is so impossibly corny it's good!</p><p>I can overlook--even be amused by--shenanigans of this caliber, but I see why others are giving this low ratings. Of course, this is nowhere near the likes of "The Monster Squad," however, there should be an audience out there for this kind quirky fun. Don't get me wrong, I'm not recommending this movie at all or even saying it's good. In fact, it's quite poorly made and, ultimately, idiotic in presentation...I'm merely saying "Let Us In" serves as an offbeat horror film aimed at 7-12 year olds and succeeds in that regard.<br /></p><p>Notable Moment: When the kids conveniently make contact with an alien that helps them fight the bad guys. <i>Well</i>...NASA and all the world governments better refund the billions in funding wasted over the decades, because two kids were able to make first contact with shoddy equipment in a garage.<br /></p><p>Final Rating: 5/10 <br /></p>villainsrulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568435865803772912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085016963159729243.post-91643557262547596762022-10-31T17:56:00.001-04:002022-12-13T07:01:58.345-05:00Bad Candy Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYGWLPtoh4twuvb6EmEy1I6znawhMn3bWi7DHazVwH8Ml76hfCHyNvF5Pd1ijrQiTT4Jfz_dzd_H3ChKLKhK6vScQgKusYDDc4g89BB6XaL5z8icvxK270EZRQ-ip1w7SEisu8JefvUJV071jyaiJ5bCSL1pKVl_m9dwMdLF18zC4fxTQTNG0fKgW/s273/bad%20candy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="184" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYGWLPtoh4twuvb6EmEy1I6znawhMn3bWi7DHazVwH8Ml76hfCHyNvF5Pd1ijrQiTT4Jfz_dzd_H3ChKLKhK6vScQgKusYDDc4g89BB6XaL5z8icvxK270EZRQ-ip1w7SEisu8JefvUJV071jyaiJ5bCSL1pKVl_m9dwMdLF18zC4fxTQTNG0fKgW/w270-h400/bad%20candy.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br /><p>Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!</p><p>Plot Summary: A radio host presents a series of tales on Halloween night.<br /></p><p>Review: This is like the dollar store version of "Trick 'r Treat," but it's not as bad as some make it out to be. Now, don't get me wrong, this is more low-budget nonsense, yet, there is a level of charm going on and the filmmakers did at least try to make the stories feel interconnected. With that in mind, one of the biggest problems is obviously the quality of these tales. Some are over before you even know they've begun while others drag on far longer than needed. A lack of focus or vision was certainly an issue here so let's take a look at what we have.</p><p>The wraparound segment involves a radio host, named Chilly Billy, and his co-host (I guess), Paul. Of note is that Paul is played by a bored Zach Galligan; realistically he should have been cast as Chilly Billy as a further nod to "Gremlins" since they do joke about what happens to him if he eats after midnight. Anyway, these two are <i>sorta</i> telling the stories we see, but it doesn't entirely add up when watching the movie. So, yes, we do get frequent cuts back to these two which does help with transitions. The conclusion to these two connects to the final segment so I'll stop here for now.<br /></p><p>The first tale is definitely on the dumb side and presented incoherently. The confusion is mostly due to the filmmakers trying to tell this story while still trying to establish the beats of the anthology. What we get, however, is something with a little girl who can bring her drawings to life. She has an evil dad (or stepdad whatever), that kills her dumb drawings when they come to life. So she makes a Kayako-mom or something to kill the guy. That's more or less what happens, but there's way too much going on here. There is this subplot with a clown guy she created that runs rampant in other segments, but this clown is such a wannabe of Sam from "Trick 'r Treat." The girl's friends seemed like they had their own segment that was removed from the final cut or something. Then there is this brat kid running around being a bitch before the clown guy seemingly captures his soul or something. This is presented as if the clown has been doing this for a long time, but wasn't he just created that night by the girl? What the fuck?</p><p>Next up is some pedophile-looking guy putting way, waaaay too much effort into sabotaging candy. This upsets our clown friend who comes to kill pedo-guy. And that's essentially it. Clown man doesn't really toy that much with the guy or anything. I feel like this could have had more tormenting but nope.</p><p>Onto the next one, we get another incoherent entry as it's trying to set up characters for other tales while failing to present this story. The main guy is some drug dealer giving out a ton of freebies--which makes no sense--but then it makes even less sense when you realize everyone treats the guy like shit. I actually started to feel bad for this sad soul especially when he simply tries to take a dookie and gets killed by a masked killer who seemingly stalks this public restroom. Damn, this dude got less respect than Rodney Dangerfield. Seriously, other than establishing other characters, what was the point to this?<br /></p><p>Moving along, we have creepy Abbie, as she is described by past dates, played by Haley Leary. Well, she's dressed up as a nurse, and that's one of my main weaknesses so we are talking some bonus points here. Abbie works as a...morgue attendant(?)...I guess and decides now is the time to get high from the drugs given to her in the last guy's story. This makes her horny and decide to start dry-humping one of the cadavers. Perks of the job, huh? This dead guy seemingly comes to life and chases our nurse friend into the freezer. Here, Abbie starts tripping out hard which is followed by all the corpses coming to life to have their way with her...maybe. The clown pops up just to lock her in, but, by the end of the movie, it looks like all she did was trip out and imagine the whole thing so who knows. Including a sexy nurse is pretty much a guaranteed extra half point for any movie so there's that.</p><p>The next story takes a while to get going since they establish this guy dressed as Dracula driving Uber or whatever beforehand. He picks up this girl dressed as a cop and takes her home. There, the chickadee finds two losers trying to burglarize her house. She has some history with the one guy, and we did see these losers earlier in the film, but for the most part I don't get the point to this. If the one guy is some slimy ex-boyfriend why are they shocked that there's nothing worth stealing in the house? He didn't know? Eventually there are some "Home Alone" level antics of running around followed by the clown guy popping up to kill the burglar. Again, what was the point? Why did the clown intervene, and we also see one of the kids from the first segment as if we are supposed to make some connection. Once more, was something lost along the way? This story in particular felt like Swiss cheese.</p><p>Getting back to guy the dressed as Dracula...this segment is probably where this film's budget went. We've seen these annoying prostitutes throughout the movie and Dracula comes to Uber one them off to meet her pimp. At this destination, Dracula starts to fight everyone with the help of his big friend. We come to find out these guys are some kind of ex-soldiers, along with the bathroom killer from earlier, and they're rounding up a bunch of bad people to sacrifice. Apparently their fourth friend turns into some kind of gargoyle monster, and this is to entertain/feed him. The editing in this segment is pretty bad, but the gargoyle effects were cool. I think if you had ditched the clown and had these guys lurking in the background of all segments, collecting victims, that would have worked significantly better for a final payoff. Notwithstanding the shortcomings, this was one of the more interesting and fun segments.</p><p>The final story is definitely on the lamer side, however, this was where the filmmakers attempted to bring things full circle. Some ghost hunting team visits an old mansion where some kid was burned alive. They try to make this dramatic, but it's as cookie-cutter as it gets. Meanwhile, Chilly Billy learns that the kid that died was because of Paul doing some prank that got out of hand when he was young. The ghost of the kid appears at the station and seemingly burns everything down, killing Paul. Or was it all really the clown? Eh, all things considered, at least this was a more involved wraparound than most anthologies. Oh, and there is a scene after the credits which could be considered really funny or utterly retarded depending on your outlook.<br /></p><p>With significantly more polish, "Bad Candy" might have been a decent, little flick to pop on during the Halloween season. Unfortunately, it is going to be hard to ignore the bouts of shoddy editing, cornball sound effects, and, otherwise, general idiocy running rampant throughout. Still, I can appreciate the effort to tell an interlocking anthology in the vein of "Trick 'r Treat" even though they didn't have the budget or storytelling chops to match that movie.<br /></p><p>Notable Moment: When Chilly Billy jokes about Paul eating before midnight. Somehow this felt like it might have been ad-libbed given the reaction, but, either way, this was the kind of antics that should have been played up.<br /></p><p>Final Rating: 5/10<br /></p>villainsrulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568435865803772912noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085016963159729243.post-73264157771418708762022-10-28T06:29:00.000-04:002022-10-28T06:29:24.957-04:00The Curse of Bridge of Hollow Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3a0RreQBudY9KwBnmDEVZIsCSL_SG_ZzOjyUj4pe2N8UvbXqKZWvniRUzL5nhx35Tjrpz_RHhTNAz9LuaapKiJO4381COx3MsDx8NH5hYQPDX3d0dGD-1U2VXbeumU4YDhs31DE9z5OaE3oIHoqYYvp8hQsshQzq5HfOH00lw7jb474zOxtwpudx/s1481/the%20curse%20of%20bridge%20hollow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1481" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3a0RreQBudY9KwBnmDEVZIsCSL_SG_ZzOjyUj4pe2N8UvbXqKZWvniRUzL5nhx35Tjrpz_RHhTNAz9LuaapKiJO4381COx3MsDx8NH5hYQPDX3d0dGD-1U2VXbeumU4YDhs31DE9z5OaE3oIHoqYYvp8hQsshQzq5HfOH00lw7jb474zOxtwpudx/w270-h400/the%20curse%20of%20bridge%20hollow.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br /><p>Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!</p><p>Plot Summary: Shenanigans ensue after a family inadvertently awakens an evil spirit on Halloween.<br /></p><p>Review: The plot isn't exactly original, what with decorations coming to life, however, this is that right level of Halloween hi-jinks presentable for the whole family; things are scary but not too scary. The tone and comedy elements are what I'd expect for modern audiences despite being on the cornball side, and, of course, Netflix making the dad low-key racist. The film would have benefited from some extra kick--an x-factor of some sort--to put this movie on par with things like "Goosebumps" or "Hocus Pocus," but it can hold its own.</p><p>Where I think "The Curse of Bridge Hollow" will shine is with the wide variety of decorations coming to life to attack the townspeople. I can see some plot elements being a tad edgier than a PG rating, but, the story still plays things relatively safe. I want to say this was designed more with the tween demo and their parents in mind, but it has Disney channel vibes more befitting of a younger demographic. Likewise, some of the references are probably more adult focused like "The Walking Dead" so make of that what you will. I should also mention no one actually dies, but they do talk about the villain trying to send someone to hell in his place.</p><p>At this point there are probably way more low-budget horror movies about Halloween than family ones, but it's good to see filmmakers are still producing content. Overall, the sets and pacing are solid with the town taking center stage. While there is little struggle for the characters to overcome, I did like the way the family dynamics mixed with the main girl's new friends .I don't think this is going to be anyone's favorite or some kind of
classic in the making, but it's a novel change worth at least a viewing.</p><p>Notable Moment: When the neighbor goes full Rick Grimes mode with the shotgun.<br /></p><p>Final Rating: 6/10<br /></p>villainsrulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568435865803772912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085016963159729243.post-17070347154228920582022-10-26T11:58:00.001-04:002022-10-26T11:58:46.983-04:0010/31 Part II Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfsKLSx7f5S65KXR1vPogA4Q8RdRoTZzYbrO6K0c8AWUL1uaa9ZAsVjJH-Ext3iKPg38NrbFpy6p2tAxWzxTfd7015xjXewXsPwiaf50G_l5guPES3BBQV2LCF_v9-XwWZNzHkk-o3RaRb0RuJZ1Pr-BdfDBLd6sOW5vWxh6YHI6YUGBSVsYVk6qHP/s1500/10-31%20part%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfsKLSx7f5S65KXR1vPogA4Q8RdRoTZzYbrO6K0c8AWUL1uaa9ZAsVjJH-Ext3iKPg38NrbFpy6p2tAxWzxTfd7015xjXewXsPwiaf50G_l5guPES3BBQV2LCF_v9-XwWZNzHkk-o3RaRb0RuJZ1Pr-BdfDBLd6sOW5vWxh6YHI6YUGBSVsYVk6qHP/w266-h400/10-31%20part%202.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!</p><p>Plot Summary: A sequel continuing the Halloween-centric anthology series.<br /></p><p>Review: Well, part 1 was painful to sit through, but would you believe part 2 is significantly better? Now, don't get me wrong, this is still low-budget schlock, however, the creators are having more fun with the material. I don't think we get into anything that could be considered good, yet, I think entertainment can be found in this entry.<br /></p><p>Fake Trailers: Realistically, these were the best part of the whole film for me. The first trailer in particular was an admirable nod to '70s/early '80s aesthetics. This was that fun-factor I was looking for from these low-budget movies, and they succeeded.<br /></p><p>Wraparound: They bring back that fake Elvira again even though she's more useless this time than before. I don't understand why the filmmakers did not have her serve as the setup and closing to each segment. This would have helped explain some of the more shenanigan-heavy moments. Oh well, maybe they'll learn by part 3?<br /></p><p>A Samhain Liturgy: As the first story proper this is a bit of a mess. Some girl is babysitting a brat and wants her boyfriend to come over. Then we get a slew of nonsensical plot points ripped from countless movies: the kid has a monster in the basement, the parents are part of a cult, the brat is a wannabe Michael Myers: Rob Zombie edition, the babysitter is actually a chosen one, etc. I mean, I guess the crew tried, right? <br /></p><p>Dead Lift: I want to like this tale, but two things hold it back. One: the audio is fucking shit! Two: it borders on pretentious. The main guy is a fake Uber or Lyft and picks up an alien seemingly. There is a good buildup, but I don't think we have nearly enough time or setup to tackle the themes at play. Rather than this thought-provoking introspection about life that the crew is going for, things come off incoherent and the ending is corny without much resolution. Nonetheless, I do want to acknowledge I appreciate the effort involved in this particular tale compared to the rest.<br /></p><p>Apache Hatchet Massacre II: This was definitely filler material to pad out the run time. In some ways I get the parody-like approach, but it's nowhere near balls to walls like the title would imply. The crazy part is that it's barely longer than some of the fake trailers and nowhere near their level of charm.<br /></p><p>Overkill: Now this was closer to the parody level that the last story was striving to become. We start off with a Jason clone killing a couple before moving on to his next victim. However, discount Jason has competition with another serial killer wanting the glory. While they "argue," a clown appears and some grim reaper-ish guy steals the kill. Eh, I wasn't laughing, but the goofy setup did amuse me.<br /></p><p>Sister Mary: Oh man, this is not how you close out an anthology, baby. This was both pretentious and dumb as fuck. Some porn star-looking nun lives a normal life when not at the convent or something. She meets some dude, they fall in love, she gets pregnant, and loses her mind. She decides the only way to fix things is to kill her guy and take a stairwell abortion. The other nuns will never know what happened. Makes perfect sense...if you're an idiot. So this lets the devil come for her or something. Whatever, dude. The end.<br /></p><p>So, as you can probably tell, this still isn't the kind of movie you're going to write home about. With that said, there was more care to these segments with better effects and presentation. You still have to understand the kind of cornball film you'll get, but it's a leg above part 1. <br /></p><p>Notable Moment: I'm going to say the first trailer, "Treaters," was the highlight of the whole experience for me.<br /></p><p>Final Rating: 4.5/10<br /></p>villainsrulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568435865803772912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085016963159729243.post-60826199465060570722022-10-20T17:33:00.000-04:002022-10-20T17:33:18.236-04:0010/31 Review<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64wNDvvSaV9DsK2zKUNshvEwItCcOXW7Seq6CjH2cj9jP29ny3NkwGdGvZk9naQY7vzfjCYjgM2yvoCdxJkR9zOPV51-kWur55DNfKjuogOTAkjHzZ5sPf_DP4iwFhK6KmwqzdfmpW_YRloFy3_n-Uy971MdRp7BxxHnZXwxr2YcXFgntZAzdNe4q/s900/10-31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64wNDvvSaV9DsK2zKUNshvEwItCcOXW7Seq6CjH2cj9jP29ny3NkwGdGvZk9naQY7vzfjCYjgM2yvoCdxJkR9zOPV51-kWur55DNfKjuogOTAkjHzZ5sPf_DP4iwFhK6KmwqzdfmpW_YRloFy3_n-Uy971MdRp7BxxHnZXwxr2YcXFgntZAzdNe4q/w266-h400/10-31.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!</p><p>Plot Summary: A series of low-budget tales related to Halloween.<br /></p><p>Review: I've covered so many of these low-budget anthologies over the years that I'm starting to wonder why anyone keeps making them. While these particular stories were admittedly on the original side, they're still rough around the edges and, ultimately, lack any kind of substance. My main gripe is that these particular segments drag on far too long to pad out the run time. Also, the acting can be utterly painful at times. So let's check this shit out.<br /></p><p>Wraparound: This hardly qualifies as a wraparound in my book. We get a wannabe Elvira that introduces the movie and then closes things out. There are no interludes or reactions to each individual story so that sucks.<br /></p><p>The Old Hag: I suppose this is the best entry of the five...which isn't saying much. Two guys are trying to make an advertisement for some bed and breakfast. The one guy sees the titular hag lurking about the old mansion until it comes to kill them in their sleep. The caretaker of the mansion apparently can't sleep unless people die? Whatever.<br /></p><p>Trespassers: This was complete nonsense. A couple on their first date visit some haunted farm. There's something about a scarecrow and Farmer John killing his family. But, wait, it's actually vampires or something. The guy comes ready to slay vampires, including his date, but then becomes one himself? I don't know.<br /></p><p>Killing the Dance: This was torture--talk about dicking around. Some chick is going to run away with her girlfriend or something? But she decides to hang around at a roller rink and watch everyone skating in an endless, dizzying circle until the characters themselves are bored. Finally, a killer appears to slash everyone up. Turns out that it's the girl's unhinged mom as the killer. But, wait, there's more! The brother of the main chick has psychic powers and blows up the mom's head. Okay then.<br /></p><p>The Halloween Blizzard of '91: There was potential here to go far outside the box, but, alas, this story is a failure. A rare snow storm on Halloween cancels the festivities for the most part as a family remains indoors. You'd think the family would have a bigger reaction when they still get creepy trick or treaters at the door but nope. Then Santa shows up, because people are starting to like Halloween more than Christmas. Whaaaaat? Whatever these people are smoking pass that shit my way.<br /></p><p>The Samhain Slasher: Closing things out is this cornball "Halloween" ripoff. Totally not Michael Myers is on the loose killing people. We see ghosts or demons just for the hell of it which makes no sense. Eventually fake Michael Myers kills everyone. The end. Wowwee. What a story, Mark.<br /></p><p>I forgive low-budget movies quite often, but this was pretty tough to slog through. Each story simply drags on with bad effects, bad lighting, bad acting, and aimless direction. So many shots are zoomed in considerably to hide the background limitations which makes for a terrible viewing experience. I was honestly surprised I didn't fall asleep, because I was getting bored as hell. I can appreciate the originality to these stories, but that's about the best compliment I can give out. This is an easy pass.<br /></p><p>Notable Moment: When Santa appears out of left field. Hey, why not, right?<br /></p><p>Final Rating: 3.5/10<br /></p>villainsrulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568435865803772912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085016963159729243.post-70257401286786982122022-10-14T05:19:00.001-04:002022-10-14T09:16:25.568-04:00Halloween Ends Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcOmzjBdKB0NIswnQjlpqkx-NwAwdc2I_7S0TBhvfdsf3LRjKZeRxCY_XLSVU3a5wkwynN8dBwKwvByMw-wnN4sqyCbl79aQ07T-fX3MLyiOsNL2smDPkrl5C5COuTCqMsb7lwlvrs5XAQ1af-6HwSZjHTadJJbo6CYwEm8DhXYSdyA4eZb7xXGBYr/s1500/halloween%20ends.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="948" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcOmzjBdKB0NIswnQjlpqkx-NwAwdc2I_7S0TBhvfdsf3LRjKZeRxCY_XLSVU3a5wkwynN8dBwKwvByMw-wnN4sqyCbl79aQ07T-fX3MLyiOsNL2smDPkrl5C5COuTCqMsb7lwlvrs5XAQ1af-6HwSZjHTadJJbo6CYwEm8DhXYSdyA4eZb7xXGBYr/w253-h400/halloween%20ends.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><br /><p>Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!</p><p>Plot Summary: Step aside Rob Zombie, we have a new contender for the worst "Halloween" entry.<br /></p><p>Review: Get Michael off that fucking poster! This is a Twilight-esque, emo bitch romance movie guest starring Michael Myers. I am in complete disbelief by the sheer, unbridled idiocy at hand here. Like, this was a trilogy, right? The same crew worked on these three movies, RIGHT?! So how in the hell could anyone claiming to be a fan think this would serve as a respectable sequel let alone a final entry and, goodness gracious, a final defeat for Michael?! Abso-fucking-lutely nothing works here...on any level. This is an incoherent mess that tries to go in a million different directions and can't decide on anything while simultaneously ignoring everything from the last 2 installments. This isn't even a "you can't please everyone" kind of conclusion--this was made for no one.</p><p>I must focus my fury and somehow explain the endless series of idiotic decisions. Let's start with our boy, Michael. I streamed this hot garbage so I could actually see how long it took for Michael to make an appearance, and it was just about the 41 minute mark. Let that sink in. It takes 41 minutes to even see Michael once! And it's not like Mikey comes out swinging. Oh no. He's a tired old man resting or dying or whatever the hell this stupid story was trying to imply. Unless I'm forgetting something, Michael has a total of 5 scenes in the entire film. His first appearance where he grabs Corey in the sewer from the trailer, when he gets his first kill to "reinvigorate" himself, when he pointlessly kills the one nurse, when he pathetically wrestles with Corey, and the final battle which he didn't even want to participate in! It's almost comically funny. If you thought we'd get some big reveal regarding Mikey or explanations after "Halloween Kills" then forget that shit. Is Michael transcending--becoming the boogeyman? Nope. This movie <i>strongly</i> implies Michael's strength comes from killing people, whether it be mental or actually physical, yet doesn't explain why he would stop killing for 4 years. Why is he hiding in a sewer? How come he is able to lift the nurse in the air with one hand, but then can't even stop Corey from stealing his mask? How did he know Corey would end up at Laurie's house? Why would he spare Corey? They seemingly have a connection as if Mikey is passing on his essence to Corey, however, the filmmakers do not commit to the bit. In fact, they can't commit to anything one way or another which creates this enormous, jumbled mess for a story.</p><p>Speaking of which...this movie has no idea what it wants to be. Corey is a new character, and, essentially, takes over the entire story. He accidentally killed some brat one Halloween and the town has treated him like an outcast ever since. He then bonds with Laurie and Allyson since they're also treated like misfits. The vast majority of the story revolves around Corey and Allyson falling in love over the course of like four days. This is teen girl, CW level shit, dude; this isn't even a damn "Halloween" movie for fuck's sake! While this cornball romance is unfolding, we get forced scenes to establish all the future victims as assholes deserving of getting their comeuppance. Which, I have to mention, "Halloween Ends" has <i>THE,</i> hands down, uncontested weakest/dumbest bullies ever depicted in a motion picture. The icing on the cake is that the few characters left who actually have a connection to Michael barely do anything except interact with this pathetic Allyson/Corey romance. Come to think of it, one character kind of suggests the basis for this film's story: what if Michael and Laurie had been in love. That vomit-inducing, fanfic kind of thinking is basically what we got here. Ahhhh god...why?! This can't be real.</p><p>At one point I was just praying for something not retarded to happen...anything! I thought, maybe Corey will get revenge on people and blame it on Michael only for the big man himself to emerge. Nope. Instead, Corey is seemingly possessed by Michael, having those black eyes Loomis spoke about. Except...he's not and just wants to be with Allyson? I don't know. Corey wants Michael to help him...then he wants to be like Michael...then he wants to be Michael. Uh huh. Can you pick one and just stick with it?! Laurie realizes Michael isn't after her as she was explicitly told in "Kills" but is convinced it is about her again anyway? In fact, why is Laurie narrating this movie? It makes no sense under this context. Would she really become a regular grandma after being nuts for 40 years? Basically, the filmmakers couldn't decide what to do with Laurie or any character for that matter.<br /></p><p>Corey's descent into madness is not handled properly or makes no sense whatsoever if Michael is not supernatural. After meandering about for, roughly, 90 minutes, Corey steals Michael's mask and tries to become him--going on his own killing spree that feels completely unearned. He even tries to kill Laurie who easily defeats the crybaby. Yet, once again, this story fumbles and makes Corey kill himself to make it appear Laurie killed him. The idea is that it will make it look as though Laurie needs Michael in her life...except that has nothing to do with the themes shown thus far. This doesn't matter anyhow since Mikey magically knows where his mask is and comes to get it. This then begins the most disappointing finale I could possibly imagine. Mikey struggles to beat Laurie who manages to pin him down and cut his throat. But he breaks free and strangles Laurie who wants to die...except she doesn't? Once again, I don't fucking know! But, seriously, how can Mikey take this kind of beating and still be a normal human? He then has his wrists slit before the cops show up. At last, in a scene that would have made more sense at the end of "Kills," Michael's body is paraded around town for everyone to see he's truly dead before being thrown into a grinder. What an unearned, unceremonious lame defeat for Michael Myers. Nearly 45 years of the character creeping out generations of audiences only to slowly bleed out in an impromptu fight he didn't even want to engage in! Again, it's almost comically moronic to think about. Like...the guy was literally forced out of hiding at the last minute for his final showdown and no one saw a problem with that dumbass of a setup?!!! The guy was king of the world at the end of "Kills," but there is no transition to how he got to this state of being or why he quit killing that night.<br /></p><p>I've had a bad feeling about this movie from the moment they announced that 4 year time jump as it makes no sense from a narrative standpoint. Two installments in a trilogy take place the same night but then jump in time for the third? Why? Then, my bullshit alarm was going haywire when this movie began with a cornball song the opposite tone any "Halloween" should ever have. Way to set the atmosphere for the garbage to come. Contrast that with "Halloween Kills" and that amazing and effective ambient track, "Logos Kills." I mean--GODDAMN--it's beyond night and day in comparison. In fact, "Ends" is full of normal songs...some completely on the nose that have titles to correspond with dialogue of the characters. Other than the godawful Rob Zombie entries, no other installment has used a traditional soundtrack in place of the "Halloween" themes and tracks. Weirder still is that John Carpenter himself helped to work on the last two soundtracks to create new, fantastic and haunting melodies. Those all go out the window here.</p><p>And when I say they fucked up every facet of film making I mean it. The look and style of "Ends" is too bright. The pacing is too slow except for the scenes with Michael which are rushed over. The actual kills are lame and lack impact. By the way, most deaths are by Corey with Michael killing a, whopping, TWO people (three if you want to count finishing off Corey which I don't). I cannot stress enough the vastness in tone between "Kills" and "Ends." There is no word in the English language that can adequately express the level of disappointment I felt watching this. What more can I say? This was a horrifically bad film that failed miserably as a final entry--serving to waste its own potential and the audience's time--that learned nothing from past mistakes and decided to one-up them. There is simultaneously so much more to say and nothing left to say. Watching all my favorite franchises go down in flames over the last decade has been a sight to behold. I was angry, but now I don't care. <br /></p><p>Notable Moment: When Corey and Allyson are dancing at that party, That was the moment when I realized this was now the new worst "Halloween," and a sinking, depressing feeling sunk over me.<br /></p><p>Final Rating: 3/10<br /></p>villainsrulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568435865803772912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085016963159729243.post-17139075488276018612021-10-31T00:01:00.000-04:002021-10-31T00:01:15.884-04:00Halloween Kills Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiFVtcjV3yXGeHMXoJqmcDKDtLgp0RTc_XywP5PAYGmjqsbtKa15WL6SUZRIxhFqbMmXMC305oLzWF7Gi2AXU49IQrLMf6J77ij_ze426_euyJwPv9ZGWHOvcucmxLELipoJpbsxNNW0/s1200/halloween+12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="758" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiFVtcjV3yXGeHMXoJqmcDKDtLgp0RTc_XywP5PAYGmjqsbtKa15WL6SUZRIxhFqbMmXMC305oLzWF7Gi2AXU49IQrLMf6J77ij_ze426_euyJwPv9ZGWHOvcucmxLELipoJpbsxNNW0/s320/halloween+12.jpg" width="202" /></a></div><br /><p>Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!</p><p>Plot Summary: After surviving his apparent defeat, Michael heads back to his childhood home and kills anyone in his path.<br /></p><p>Review: This was a tough one to rate, and I can see it being one of the most divisive entries in the franchise. There are a lot of plot aspects I love as if the writers tweaked this entry based on my own complaints about the 2018 film. On the other hand, this isn't a proper depiction of Michael, and there were serious pacing issues--reeking of filler to create a trilogy. Strangely enough, the thing that keeps sticking with me days after viewing "Halloween Kills" is the serendipitous continuation of 1978's Halloween night through the flashback sequence; I'll touch more on that later.<br /></p><p>So what works here is the <i>carnage candy</i>! Michael kills more people here than in most of the previous entries combined. If all you want out of your "Halloween" sequel is Michael doing his thing, then, believe me, "Halloween Kills" more than delivers the goods. The inclusion of past survivors did help to bring everything together since the film emphasized this notion of the town uniting to take down Michael. Speaking of which, the big showdown against Michael was satisfying. The criticisms of this scene are unwarranted with people pointing to a lack of guns brought to the knife fight. True, this is a bit contrived but not stupid in context. The town wants to vent on Michael which is why they want to beat and stab him to death rather than just blow him away. Besides, Mikey is shot plenty too.</p><p>Another major criticism I want to address about the uneven storytelling is that you need to understand this isn't a movie about someone trying to survive Michael--this is a movie about Michael trying to get home, overcoming all obstacles he faces, and transforming into the bogeyman. This is an important distinction to make since no other entry has focused on Michael himself. And, as I mentioned in my 2018 review, no other entry besides part 4 (sorta) had the guts to let Michael win...until now. There is no final zinger to hint at Michael living or a possible sequel...it's just Michael winning Thanos-style.<br /></p><p>On the technical side of things, the lighting is excellent with special attention to blacken Michael's eyes as much as possible. In regard to the man himself, this burnt look added a certain layer of menace a lot of past installments screwed up royally. I love these new pieces by John Carpenter even if there was a lot of overlap to the 2018 soundtrack. The cinematography was topnotch especially with the 1978 flashback sequence. Finally, you could feel the amount of heart put into the production and appreciation for the series as a whole from the filmmakers.</p><p>I've heaped plenty of praise so far on "Halloween Kills" which makes it bizarre that I now have to trash it considerably. Let's start with the filler material since that's hardest to ignore. There is simply not enough going on in the story. You've got pointless characters showing up, wasting more time than they need, then dying unceremoniously; for example, the doctor/nurse couple, Big John and Little John, the bratty kids in the silver Shamrock masks (nice touch though), etc. are all wasting time. The old couple Michael kills first could have been fused with the two Johns for a more concise story structure. Then we have the mob of angry citizens at the hospital chasing the mental patient, Laurie meandering about the hospital, and just numerous filler moments as if the filmmakers are trying their hardest to stretch things out into the next installment, "Halloween Ends." These aspects create a sense of wasting the audience's time and are often stupid scenes unto themselves.<br /></p><p>Okay, I'm not sure who's under that mask, but that's not Michael Myers; it might be Jason. Michael has never been the type to charge headfirst at a crowd and start killing. He has always lurked in the shadows when going after his victims and stalks them. Taking things further, we have Michael receiving more damage than he has ever before and shrugging it off. Keep in mind this is also supposed to be Michael in his damn 60s tanking bullets, beatings, stabbings, and getting right back up. And what the fuck--Mikey rolled over and let himself get arrested by the police when surrounded but fights the townspeople?! They could have at least hinted he was hurt after Loomis famously SHOT HIM SIX TIMES. On some level I get the intention of the filmmakers, but this can only be explained away by finally declaring Michael supernatural. Which leads me to my next point...</p><p>Is Michael outright no longer human in this continuity? Here is the problem as I understand it: the filmmakers stripped Mikey of his exploits by removing the sequels from canon. This reduced Michael to a mental patient who killed like 4 people one Halloween 40 years ago. To compensate from that de-powering, Michael's exploits have been exaggerated to the point now that there is no alternative but to make him superhuman--to make him become the bogeyman. Maybe this isn't the full direction they're going in, but it would be a ballsy, final sendoff to the series. Make Mikey the living embodiment of Halloween, and the actual bogeyman, and end it.</p><p>Setting aside the negatives, the final topic I want to discuss is the flashback sequence. This is what I've unknowingly wanted from a "Halloween" sequel all these years! It's common knowledge that Carpenter didn't want to do "Halloween II" and it showed. Instead of rebooting the franchise as they did with the 2018 entry, they should have created a true part 2. There was something magical about seeing Michael in the original costume and in his prime again. Being back in '78, having Loomis back, having that different outlook on Halloween, and just everything--the setting and situation--that is what I've always wanted to see filmmakers recapture; this is something no previous sequel could ever attain. However, this flashback demonstrated you <i>CAN</i> get it all back AND continue where part 1 left off. We don't need Laurie...make a retro sequel where it's '78 still, Michael just fell out of the balcony and the cops are after him with Loomis in tow. I WANT THAT!</p><p>All things considered, my feelings are mixed and my score sways heavily. There are a ton of great things going on here, yet, they're contrasted by an aimless direction and stupid ideas. I find myself as one of the few people who sees this as merely an okay entry, boosted by some of the creative choices. I get why this movie is polarizing, but there are waaaay worse entries. At the same time, I think there are enough positives to rank this above most sequels and, this goes without saying, the horrendous Rob Zombie remakes. "Halloween Kills" is worth a view without a doubt just to see for yourself, however, you should be aware that this is a tonal shift from the series with Michael as the lead character for once, and you might not like this even if you enjoyed the 2018 film.<br /></p><p>Notable Moment: The flashback sequence. Now that's the direction I want to see this franchise go in. Man, I just miss having that dynamic with Loomis again.<br /></p><p>Final Rating: 6/10<br /></p>villainsrulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568435865803772912noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085016963159729243.post-22858384279678357452021-10-20T23:29:00.000-04:002021-10-20T23:29:40.448-04:00Double Feature: The Legend and Curse of Halloween Jack Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEPhP3yZ3xCWIJBr03QmQWLBS2bIl2QBDHCO4WvUEOJkFGfbQ_GUU1oc39buvhmKaIWPVfgdEvSji6p9WsOnHFT2KRxZnnMBA5pbZZjojVhVjHW8WV42XAY47SpoPjXda8K260R0TaVE/s1696/legend+and+curse+of+halloween+jack.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="1696" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEPhP3yZ3xCWIJBr03QmQWLBS2bIl2QBDHCO4WvUEOJkFGfbQ_GUU1oc39buvhmKaIWPVfgdEvSji6p9WsOnHFT2KRxZnnMBA5pbZZjojVhVjHW8WV42XAY47SpoPjXda8K260R0TaVE/s320/legend+and+curse+of+halloween+jack.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!</p><p>Plot Summary: Zany antics ensue after a guy is falsely executed for murders he didn't commit and then returns from the grave for revenge.<br /></p><p>Review: Oh dear. I was going to cover these two movies separately, but they're both waaaay too shitty to deserve that treatment. I might as well knock out the positives right now since they're practically nonexistent. The Jack character looks kinda cool, and it was funny that one character was dressed as Waldo. And that's it, ladies and gentleman; that's all I can say positive. Yippee. As for the numerous faults...where do I even begin? First and foremost, you will notice the horrendous audio and sound effects! Someone dies and it sounds like putting a toothpick in a grape. The acting is shit, the special effects are weak and outright laughable at times, and the story is reminiscent of something my friend's little brother would write when he was 12 (I haven't had to bring that kid up in years!). The entire experience is painful to say the least. As you may have guessed, I was falling asleep, zoning out, and putting on something else every 5 minutes as I slogged my way through the two films. They are mercifully short run times, but that doesn't make it any less excruciating to the senses.<br /></p><p><u><b>The Legend of Halloween Jack</b></u>: Some random teens(?) are killed and Jack is blamed for their deaths. He didn't do it, but everyone is so convinced he's the killer because...I don't know. Well, he's not the killer and returns on Halloween for revenge. Jack is supposed to be focused on specific people in these two movies yet always finds a way to veer off course and kill whoever is around. So is he supposed to be a sympathetic villain or should we root for the people that killed him? Or just hate everyone in the cast and crew as a whole?! I chose that last option. I get that these were low-budget productions, but every single scene is presented with the lowest quality imaginable. I've covered low-budget done right, and this is the other end of that spectrum. Ugh. By the end they blow up Jack or whatever which completes his mission of revenge anyway. They try to end on a "Carrie" ripoff zinger which actually did get me laughing.<br /></p><p><u><b>The Curse of Halloween Jack</b></u>: It's two years later and the dumbest cult in the history of humanity intends to revive Halloween Jack...or did they? They don't seem to know who he is, nor mention him, and the events come off as incidental. Oh well. Now Jack is back to find his long lost daughter. Oh goodness gracious. I love how they introduce this one-eyed Willy guy, or whoever he was, to give us a ton of exposition and to serve as a fake tough guy. The same technical flaws exist between both movies so if you tortured yourself with part 1 then you essentially experienced part 2 as well. At the end they blow up Jack again after stabbing him with a magic dagger. Yes, it's as retarded as you'd imagine.<br /></p><p>I'd love to say one of these movies was better than the other, but they're both consistently shitacular. Watching these horrific films was not fun. Are they anywhere near the worst movies I've covered? No, of course not; I mean, have you seen the movies I've reviewed over the years?! BUT these two are pretty damn insufferable in their own right. If you're looking for a sleep aid this Halloween, for whatever reason, this will certainly help in that regard. Otherwise, avoid this trash like the plague since they're not even in the so-bad-it's-good category.<br /></p><p>Notable Moment: There are countless stupid moments, however, the worst has to be during part 1 when Jack kills the partygoers. The camera is at the angle of the legs of the characters, and this was meant to showcase a panic of running from Jack. But, because there are literally like 6 extras for the scene, it looks like something out of "Scooby-Doo" with everyone spinning in fucking circles like morons. This scene perfectly demonstrates the sheer incompetence during these productions.<br /></p><p>Final Rating: 3/10 (for both)<br /></p>villainsrulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568435865803772912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085016963159729243.post-72316160118032973672021-10-13T21:09:00.001-04:002021-10-13T21:09:39.843-04:00Hubie Halloween Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijW6MYdRzuBdpJLpfB2kEPBm7kIGZhVulx9o2FsdiNP1hOewNyQmApszTyZgpOktpBosUfY1u8NnQHqYIQjtMFHbK0F87ZrkSTSI7FKnh8wrbJ8ZlaT6Gpgc27YMBQzzRI7XjHyyBAqqQ/s1350/hubie+halloween.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijW6MYdRzuBdpJLpfB2kEPBm7kIGZhVulx9o2FsdiNP1hOewNyQmApszTyZgpOktpBosUfY1u8NnQHqYIQjtMFHbK0F87ZrkSTSI7FKnh8wrbJ8ZlaT6Gpgc27YMBQzzRI7XjHyyBAqqQ/s320/hubie+halloween.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><p>Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!</p><p>Plot Summary: The town idiot/scaredy-cat must save Halloween when there appears to be a serial killer on the loose.<br /></p><p>Review: I don't know if this movie was made on a dare or was an old script collecting dust for decades. Adam Sandler, writer and star, has gone through phases of film making that coincide with his aging process. Meaning, as he was younger he made goofy, immature humor, then transitioned to parenting, and now is at family man stage. Well, for better or worse, "Hubie Halloween" is some kind of throwback to his "Billy Madison" and "The Waterboy" days. So if you're a bigger fan of his current style then this will probably disappoint; however, if you're more interested in his earlier comedy style then this will be right up your alley.</p><p>On the positive side of things, the Halloween setting is nailed considerably well. They use Salem as a backdrop which is probably the mecca of modern Halloween. All kinds of zany antics are afoot as the characters run amok across town, and we are shown a myriad of trick-or-treating, cool costumes, haunted houses, candy, etc. You have your usual parade of Sandler pals, celebrity cameos, and outright shenanigans like a thermos that can transform into essentially any plot contrivance needed. For me, Sandler movies are a hit or miss, but I think this film succeeded in depicting a moronic do-gooder saving Halloween. The final twist as to who is "killing" everyone was amusing as well.</p><p>As for the downside of things...it's your typical, cornball Sandler humor. If you can't stand his brand of comedy you will probably see this as painfully stupid. I mean, I knew what to expect, and there were still numerous times I was rolling my eyes. The ending especially is super cheesy to the point of ludicrous. Also, we never understand why Hubie is obsessed with Halloween or is it all holidays--are we to expect a Hubie Christmas down the line? </p><p>Overall, if you're familiar with Sandler's films you can probably already decide whether it's for you or not from the onset. Now, to its credit, "Hubie Halloween" is wholesome and family-friendly for the most part which may be worth it for those that might typically shy away. Luckily, I could appreciate the goofball, Halloween fun that was intended. This isn't going to be a Halloween staple for me or anything, but it's nice to have more Halloween-themed possibilities outside of horror.<br /></p><p>Notable Moment: Not necessarily a single scene, but I liked when Hubie's mom had on the various, raunchy innuendo shirts that she didn't even understand.<br /></p><p>Final Rating: 6/10<br /></p>villainsrulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568435865803772912noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085016963159729243.post-59124063521740441762021-10-03T07:57:00.001-04:002021-10-03T07:57:53.662-04:00Black Pumpkin Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxT-oHloPjzVaafp_IZCmhA9hgRjyujTN0Z3uSaaZJMl7GTpXKPOnuTu44EcXrAwlUo817ASfkqpiKrSPl2VFljCRRA6CV7mIKAHtMAUIvKufp-qkf4RZ9ITiCM3poD8PffLjhoKgb4M/s747/black+pumpkin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="747" data-original-width="560" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxT-oHloPjzVaafp_IZCmhA9hgRjyujTN0Z3uSaaZJMl7GTpXKPOnuTu44EcXrAwlUo817ASfkqpiKrSPl2VFljCRRA6CV7mIKAHtMAUIvKufp-qkf4RZ9ITiCM3poD8PffLjhoKgb4M/s320/black+pumpkin.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!</p><p>Plot Summary: Two kids accidentally awaken the vengeful spirit of a little boy who kills people on Halloween.<br /></p><p>Review: "Black Pumpkin" is about as dumb and cornball as you'd expect, yet, there was a quirky charm that made it tolerable and fun at times. I've covered a ton of low-budget horror movies that include Halloween plot lines to get a few extra viewers. I'd classify this film among that crowd with the caveat that they tried to incorporate the holiday into the mix better. Other than the obvious, glaring flaws that any casual viewer is going to notice within the first few minutes, my main gripe with the material is the asinine nature of the story. We don't get any context or understanding about why this ghost is on the loose. There is supposedly--and let me stress <b><i>supposedly</i></b>--another movie called "Bloody Bobby" that provides the context for "Black Pumpkin," but good writing should supplement that material. Oh well.</p><p>The good: I'd dare say there was a degree of heart put into this film. There's just something about the goofy characters and situations that amused me--there was an added layer of care taken to the story if that makes sense. I don't expect others to see this subjective level of charm, but this is what kept me invested. Other than that, the older sister was hot...and there was a kid named Pork Chop. Umm...that might be it for the good.</p><p>The bad: Some of these are just a given like questionable acting, weak special effects, and a moronic ending. In fairness, I've seen significantly worse from other movies of this same caliber. Now, what was legitimately stupid was the antagonist himself, Blood Bobby. Ignoring the lack of context I mentioned, Bloody Bobby is a non-threat! They even show the character is 4'3 (130cm) on his missing poster. He's just a little kid for fuck's sake--kick him into orbit. Oh, sure, the filmmakers could have highlighted his supernatural abilities, but, instead, he seems to need real-world weapons to kill his victims. I mean, he was incapacitated by the little sister at one point. I would definitely nominate Bloody Bobby as one of the weakest and least intimidating villains of all time.</p><p>All things considered, I can't really recommend "Black Pumpkin" unless you're just dying for some cheesy fun. This movie certainly doesn't take itself seriously which helps make it bearable. Unfortunately, the positives are few and far between with a slew of negatives in every possible field whether it be production, sound, acting, etc. I've probably reviewed like 50+ movies that take place on Halloween at this point. Just throw all their titles in a hat and pick one at this point.<br /></p><p>Notable Moment: Not a single scene but it was definitely within the tasteful shenanigans category that the filmmakers kept finding ways for the older sister to be running around in her undies even in front of Pork Chop.<br /></p><p>Final Rating: 4/10<br /></p>villainsrulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568435865803772912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085016963159729243.post-37274990361069368652021-09-09T16:36:00.003-04:002021-09-09T16:36:48.688-04:00The Night House Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYW1bPDcPZnzo36c1TEJQaJylG4Km-aIFKfgQUc_UAuBqeb5ae-0eoBV42xoNra-3ZG3_W-KyYCbcNBVA69nC_YIgj67ZsybpnmdLMxbeyR71u02IyeAciaCzKQ9Y9eK4KIUA8OpxM63k/s1600/the+night+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYW1bPDcPZnzo36c1TEJQaJylG4Km-aIFKfgQUc_UAuBqeb5ae-0eoBV42xoNra-3ZG3_W-KyYCbcNBVA69nC_YIgj67ZsybpnmdLMxbeyR71u02IyeAciaCzKQ9Y9eK4KIUA8OpxM63k/s320/the+night+house.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p>Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!</p><p>Plot Summary: After her husband commits suicide, a woman experiences supernatural events connected to the husband's hidden life.<br /></p><p>Review: "The Night House" has great tension and buildup, but, ultimately, the final reveal and explanation is nonsensical and stupid. I wouldn't go quite as far as to call it wasted potential since it's really only the ending that falters. Unfortunately, endings like this are deal-breakers for me since my time has been wasted for like the millionth time. I mean, for fuck's sake the main chick discovers she's up against...the "Nothing?" Uh, should Falcor be swooping in? This ain't "The NeverEnding Story" here.</p><p>On the positive side of things, Rebecca Hall plays the lead, Beth, with utmost conviction; she felt believable in her grief and general mannerisms. Keeping the cast small helped to put the emphasis on Beth all the more as we see her grieve and try to figure out what her shady husband was up to. Speaking of which...the mystery that shrouds the husband is intriguing and engages the audience. He was building an exact duplicate of the family home in the middle of the woods except including creepy totems around. Hmmmm. I loved the red moon inclusion and this idea of two worlds or seeing something when in the right state of mind. More so, there are plenty of good ideas strewn about that leave you guessing where this story is heading. Complementing this aspect is the general tension that is created by the filmmakers. Gotta give credit where credit is due.</p><p>Where things go off the rails is when we finally discover the truth of what is happening. I'm like expecting some next level "Hellraiser" shit with the husband creating a gateway to hell or another dimension. Instead, he's a serial killer with a heart of gold that is tricking some kind of supernatural force to prevent it from killing Beth...called the Nothing. Wait, what?! Soooo...Beth almost died and met this supernatural being that for some reason didn't just take her at the edge of death but is trying to go "Final Destination" on her ass later? Why? And the only way to stop this is to build a replica house and kill chicks that look like Beth to trick the Nothing? AND somehow the husband was also prodded to do this on behalf of the Nothing...yet...this did trick the Nothing? Whaaaat? What the fuck am I even hearing? Let's just say this made sense for a second--why was Beth seeing the ghosts of the previous victims or whatever those girls running around were? What was the husband doing while constructing the house to keep this being at bay? If the husband was hearing whispers in his ear right after meeting Beth, would he really have stayed with her and lived a normal life or would he go crazy and ditch Beth since he knew she was haunted? Argh. Needless to say, there are numerous holes in this reveal and it's lame regardless. In fact, had this really been some kind of "Hellraiser" reboot it might have actually worked wonders with the replica house being it's own version of the Lament Configuration.</p><p>All things considered, I do still think "The Night House" is worth a view but expectations should to be tempered. The acting is good and the mystery is serviceable, however, where the story takes you isn't exactly the best. Although, I'm sure there will be those that find this reveal scary or might like this direction regardless.<br /></p><p>Notable Moment: When Beth is bound by the "Nothing" and the red light is over head. This is great imagery and use of cinematography.<br /></p><p>Final Rating: 5.5/10<br /></p>villainsrulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568435865803772912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085016963159729243.post-87199326791127352792021-06-13T18:44:00.000-04:002021-06-13T18:44:32.596-04:00The Tunnel 3D (Korean 2014) Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3GBSAY4dVJtX2X-0wuZG-foHzK0LPdaWHcMwRgqYgrjEoGaSQ133pfCV3wBiXximi8GmYWnXUBTN5oqhkZVM0xwbB5c8FjYZXVhNpwbcPGrO4PrdmVCFzS1lux2hBOF7CQsqS-8cSQI/s2048/the+tunnel+3d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1430" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3GBSAY4dVJtX2X-0wuZG-foHzK0LPdaWHcMwRgqYgrjEoGaSQ133pfCV3wBiXximi8GmYWnXUBTN5oqhkZVM0xwbB5c8FjYZXVhNpwbcPGrO4PrdmVCFzS1lux2hBOF7CQsqS-8cSQI/s320/the+tunnel+3d.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!</p><p>Plot Summary: Shenanigans of the highest order ensue after a writer throws dozens of scripts in a blender and, shockingly, shit comes out.<br /></p><p>Review: This is easily among the top 5 (maybe top 3) worst K-horror movies I have ever forced myself to endure. Besides being an incoherent mess from start to finish, every single scene is excruciatingly boring to the point that I watched this in 1-5 minute bursts. This was painful to say the least. The acting is bad, the effects are weak, the lighting is humorously bright for a movie taking place in a mine, the final twist is idiotic, and the only redeeming qualities are a bare-bones understanding of film making from the crew.</p><p>So what the fuck is this shit? Honestly, it's tough to even say. We get a seemingly haunted mine in the opening sequence, then we get a rave(?), "I Know What You Did Last Summer" action, a transition into "My Bloody Valentine," followed by everything being the most ludicrous revenge scheme imaginable. What?! I have discussed script-in-a-blender phenomenon for years, but this might have become <i>THE</i> quintessential example from here on out. There are so many clashing ideas at play that it's hard to even comprehend the idiocy at hand.</p><p>First, we get some miners trapped from a cave-in that are, seemingly, killed by ghosts. In modern day, we get the main chick meeting up with some old friends as they prepare to go to a party/rave in what's left of this mine. There is some creepy guy who is a wannabe Crazy Ralph of sorts. There is a pointless subplot about the daughter of the mine's owner trying to seduce one of the mine workers. The main chick is seeing the ghost of a little girl which will make no sense by the end. Crazy Ralph tries to crash the party and bleeds black blood for whatever reason. Next we are treated to a cheating subplot within the group of friends which also amounts to nothing. Eventually Crazy Ralph decides to start a fight, they kill him, and decide they will dump his body in the mine and swear to never discuss this event...except instead of waiting until next summer we wait all of 2 minutes for the killings to begin. Next thing you know there is a guy roaming the mine wearing a miner outfit. BUT the characters are seeing ghosts, and is Crazy Ralph actually dead?! Find out in the next exciting paragraph!<br /></p><p>Slowly all of the characters die through zany antics...except not really since the main chick is actually the killer. Wait, WHAT?! Get ready for this bullshit. One of the trapped miners was the main chick's dad and she wants revenge on the owner of the mine's son. Why him? And the friends are just there for filler? Except she only killed two of them and the others died to hallucination-related accidents from a lack of oxygen in the mine. So what about Crazy Ralph? I don't know. What about the miner outfit guy? He's the worker that was being seduced (yeah, no shit), and he's also the main chick's old best friend she doesn't remember. What about the ghost girl? Another hallucination...except the main chick saw her before they were in the mine. What about the ghosts at the beginning? Uhhhhh...more hallucinations? What about all the other bullshit like cheating and the owner's daughter? Pointless. What about the black blood? Nope. Well, what's the damn point?! Main chick just wants revenge against people unrelated to the event that killed her dad. And, even though she has no memories of the past, she somehow schemed this plot subconsciously? And everything came together perfectly even though she had no other means of luring the group into the mine if Crazy Ralph didn't come along. And then she time travels at the end and magically survives another cave-in or really did become a ghost herself?! For the love of fuck, what is this movie?!</p><p>To put it succinctly: I hate this movie. This was torture from beginning to end. The story gives me a migraine trying to rationalize it. The minimum of effort was put into this production and the 3-D gimmick is hardly used. To call this film a colossal failure is a massive understatement; it's actually put me in a bad mood for the day. The filmmakers couldn't even deliver a so bad it's good experience--this is pure trash with no joy or entertainment value.<br /></p><p>Notable Moment: I'd love to say the pool scene, but even okay-looking chicks in bikinis can't raise the rating on this abomination.<br /></p><p>Final Rating: 3/10<br /></p>villainsrulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568435865803772912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085016963159729243.post-43253377513528763762021-05-25T05:19:00.000-04:002021-05-25T05:19:32.850-04:00The Bridge Curse Review<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7klBp8FBwbbax5kLQHDjVfe-gFfCS1dTp5m79yfiMaUgNbwGOCdNJKDtjpCXkmFQ2D8nKgfx070UM7Cqhu5WeJyJmhTQ5njS41B5OEbQmGtajdndP2KpilebXr9Axugq0QE0PN-DjYI/s1771/the+bridge+curse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1771" data-original-width="1240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7klBp8FBwbbax5kLQHDjVfe-gFfCS1dTp5m79yfiMaUgNbwGOCdNJKDtjpCXkmFQ2D8nKgfx070UM7Cqhu5WeJyJmhTQ5njS41B5OEbQmGtajdndP2KpilebXr9Axugq0QE0PN-DjYI/s320/the+bridge+curse.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!</p><p>Plot Summary: Zany antics ensue after college kids test to see if a local ghost story is true.<br /></p><p>Review: This is by the numbers Asian horror. I'm not saying it's bad necessarily, however, there is virtually nothing of merit worth mentioning here. Oh, sure, there is a twist that you could never possibly predict, but that's more on the stupid and deceptive side rather than creative. The main issues are the drawn-out pacing and underdeveloped premise. To the film's credit, the action kicks off right away and starts killing off the kids quickly. Unfortunately, the story feels like it's coming to a wrap around the 45 minute mark with way more shenanigans left in the tank. The material simply doesn't have enough oomph to carry a full-length experience.</p><p>So what exactly is the bridge curse? Every leap year, if you count up some stairwell near a bridge then a bonus step will appear and a ghost girl will appear behind you or whatever the hell was happening here. Honestly, it's so damn contrived and impossible to stumble upon naturally that only people testing the urban legend would ever fall victim to this curse. Which begs the question, how the hell did anyone ever know about this in the first place?! Yeah, we get your standard, long-haired ghost girl, and she looks decent in all fairness. There are two origin stories for the ghost with both sounding sketchy by the characters as if to imply the truth was never completely revealed; I mean, it's not like any of the characters have any connection to the ghost whatsoever. Although maybe they were going to have a connection? The framing device of the story revolves around a journalist making a documentary of the events so maybe she would discover the truth about the ghost? The ending of this film not only sequel-baits but is so bold as to include a mid and post-credit scene. This ain't a Marvel movie here.</p><p>The big twist of this movie felt so cheap. Oh, the characters that you thought were all interacting together were actually two different groups from different time periods dying to the curse. DUN DUN DUN!!! What's the point? So that we can reveal the camera guy of the documentary crew is actually one of the kids possessed-ish by the ghost? Weak. It turns out the ghost will let someone live if they arrange for more victims every 4 years. Look, "February 29" already tackled this better and throwing in "The Wishing Stairs" to the mix doesn't add anything.</p><p>On some level, this movie could have worked if the story was tweaked. As it stands, you get a 30 minute TV show episode stretched paper thin across 90 minutes. Everything with the twist and documentary crew is aimless and used as padding. I would have more to say if this movie were actually plain bad, but, in some ways, it's worse being this bland. There is still casual fun to have from this flick--it just felt as though the creators weren't trying and half-assed the entire thing.<br /></p><p>Notable Moment: When the ghost appears in the makeup room, or whatever it was, with the wigs. This is a prime example of what I'm discussing. You have this cool set piece that is squandered outright. This could have been a scary segment, but, instead, nothing creative or cool happens.<br /></p><p>Final Rating: 5/10<br /></p>villainsrulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568435865803772912noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085016963159729243.post-87612144888125028942020-10-27T18:41:00.000-04:002020-10-27T18:41:10.001-04:00Ramblings of Ryan Volume 10: Nemesis<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_FpWpL6NCbU-urPpny2LQxM4LlCKXYmijAOlNefu91CVehwn8eKGV9Bk76YSL988QtSqCGBejcjJ3V3vUDTr_go8HbCp_-QbQfc5ZmT7jDUJ2_8vFvcapE9opfmL2Actncnwv5bdNiE/s2048/ayaotd+big.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1575" data-original-width="2048" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_FpWpL6NCbU-urPpny2LQxM4LlCKXYmijAOlNefu91CVehwn8eKGV9Bk76YSL988QtSqCGBejcjJ3V3vUDTr_go8HbCp_-QbQfc5ZmT7jDUJ2_8vFvcapE9opfmL2Actncnwv5bdNiE/w400-h308/ayaotd+big.png" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span> </span>For years now I've been reviewing every horror movie that had a Halloween-centric plot; I even covered a bunch of kids movies. Well, I have finally scraped the bottom of barrel so hard that I've come out the other end. Yeah, there is still trash out there with ratings on IMDB already below a 3/10, but I don't know if I have the willpower left to review that level of shit. Besides, is there anyone else who has so thoroughly reviewed the movies around this holiday? I am tempted to give it its own section of the blog, because there are that many of these movies trying to make a cheap buck by slapping a jack-o'-lantern on the cover. In the meantime, I will be covering any old horror movie in October from here on out while adding a few of those barrel scrapings to the mix. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm open to it, but the well has pretty much run dry.</p><p>Instead, this year I've focused on adding a new section, and third blog, for the TV show, "Are You Afraid of the Dark." I've wanted to add something new for a while since covering movies has been slow. I love this show, and it's being resurrected, so now is the perfect time to get it out there. I'm still working on reviews for season 1, but if you want to check it out click this link or the tab above: <a href="https://thevagrantrises3.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">https://thevagrantrises3.blogspot.com/</a></p><p>As for the movies, the reviews come out so slow now, because, realistically, they just suck anymore and I'm running out of ways to say that. I have discussed this before, but the entertainment industry as a whole has sputtered into oblivion. Overloaded with shills, every aspect of the industry has become political, borderline (and often open) propaganda with only a message and no creativity or a sense of timeless storytelling. Connected to this is a collective stagnation of ideas where everything is a sequel, reboot, remake, based on a book, etc. It's tiring. Furthermore, it gets annoying reading the shill reviews and promotions claiming any criticism of this garbage is done by "vocal trolls" and then the real crybaby-bitch complaints are labeled as "fans" hate ___. Uh huh. I don't want to go heavy into this topic since that's not what my blog is about at all. Just want to put it out there to explain my decreased activity over the last couple years. On the bright side, those who love to read the reviews where I'm angry and raging at a movie will love this material!<br /></p>villainsrulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568435865803772912noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085016963159729243.post-15495122268473088332020-10-05T00:02:00.001-04:002020-10-05T00:02:59.619-04:00Hell House LLC III: Lake of Fire Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju39A1QAkK7uJDFLBLqx8dxUwp87J6XbUtCMBTr7waELaR7GrzdKX0dkn2FFOpC6dkvLzu_jYqmIngLuOtQWOncxsT9pPIyJqoQsJAAA_u9VjeFhlSe4NxEHqTs31MAv-n28YRzgvA-5w/s1286/hell+house+3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1286" data-original-width="863" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju39A1QAkK7uJDFLBLqx8dxUwp87J6XbUtCMBTr7waELaR7GrzdKX0dkn2FFOpC6dkvLzu_jYqmIngLuOtQWOncxsT9pPIyJqoQsJAAA_u9VjeFhlSe4NxEHqTs31MAv-n28YRzgvA-5w/s320/hell+house+3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!</p><p>Plot Summary: Ten years after the events of the first film, the Abaddon Hotel has been reopened once again, but will it be for the last time?<br /></p><p>Review: I commend the effort to create a trilogy, but, this is, without a doubt, the worst entry of the three. The general premise is nonsensical with a final reveal that is cornball and felt like something from the Hallmark channel. It's also bizarre that a lot of the groundwork for this entry is laid during part 2, yet, somehow the story still fails to connect. It's not all bad though--let's put that out there. There are still some decent scares to be enjoyed and a few interesting ideas scattered about.</p><p>This time around, the hotel is reopened by a rich guy who wants to have some kind of performance art shown. This rich guy, Russell, is mentioned in part 2, but his involvement doesn't feel connected in the way that part 2 explained. There was this implication that the evil forces in the house were manipulating events for decades trying to open up some gateway to hell. While that does still happen, rather than Russell helping this happen or setting it into motion, he is miraculously an angel that closes the gate and destroys the hotel once and for all. Yeah, I know, roll your eyes with that. The execution of these ideas, and how it's depicted in the movie, is not good to say the least. I mean, what was the point of involving these specific people or this moronic performance art? Couldn't Russell have feasibly just swooped in with his angel powers and closed the gate? To make matters worse, the original cast is shown to have their spirits freed from the house--sorta--but what about all the other characters mentioned throughout the series and in part 2? I guess they're fucked.</p><p>Don't get me wrong, the concept of linking all three movies and trying to tie them together was fine. You do have that sense of anticipation to keep you guessing what will happen next as well. The characters were somewhat colorful even if on the annoying side at times. Truly, there is an okay movie under the flaws, but this is going to come off as a mediocre movie overall that is worsened because it's (as Randy would say) the concluding chapter of a trilogy. So, if you enjoyed parts 1 and 2 you may want to check this out for closure, however, I think most fans will be disappointed with this ending.<br /></p><p>Notable Moment: When the one actress is dared to go into the basement and runs across our good old clown buddy.<br /></p><p>Final Rating: 5/10<br /></p>villainsrulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568435865803772912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085016963159729243.post-88389598446287320042020-10-04T06:39:00.001-04:002020-10-04T06:40:22.975-04:00Hell House LLC II: The Abaddon Hotel Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWqkab-u3ZDKMqesPSkBjDlgN5Ohf7nTzX10Zr6xhu7t6d3E8pgcO4ADokAlSM758IcUWti155NwWI7nUhEyXvueFor2vo5v7GZYyL2Q7lXpV-C6ZvTE_4sRKDwEj0AsXtcxEGm3M0yk/s1308/hell+house+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1308" data-original-width="872" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWqkab-u3ZDKMqesPSkBjDlgN5Ohf7nTzX10Zr6xhu7t6d3E8pgcO4ADokAlSM758IcUWti155NwWI7nUhEyXvueFor2vo5v7GZYyL2Q7lXpV-C6ZvTE_4sRKDwEj0AsXtcxEGm3M0yk/s320/hell+house+2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!</p><p>Plot Summary: Years after the original events, an investigative team attempts to break into the hotel and uncover evidence of the truth.<br /></p><p>Review: I'm probably in the minority here, but I liked this movie as much as the first. I wasn't expecting much from this entry, yet, it was able to surprise me with the direction the filmmaker took. The idea was to craft a trilogy of films by filling in more backstory on the previous installment while setting up part 3 in the process. The scares were just as good as part 1--better even in some instances--and the material is spiced up a bit. Of course, there are more of those inherent flaws by still making this found-footage, but where part 2 falters most is with a lame twist ending that doesn't work for beans.</p><p>This time around, nearly a decade has passed since the unexplained events of the first movie unfolded. The documentary that we, as the audience, watched became a phenomenon inspiring amateur ghost hunters and internet jackasses to flock to the hotel; these people subsequently go missing despite ghostly footage being found. The heart of the story is that the guy that assembled the documentary is on a talk show discussing the hotel and the implications of an actual haunting. The other guests on the show are an alleged psychic and some guy that supposedly works for the town government of Abaddon. An outside crew of investigative journalists have inside information and want to recruit the main guy to help them bust into the hotel and uncover the truth; the psychic guy tags along for good measure. Big shock...they become trapped in the hotel as the evil spirits pick them off one by one. Much of this is handled quite well thankfully. Our clown friends make a return, but the scares are a little different this time around. There are still remnants of the haunt attraction since nothing was really cleaned up after part 1. This helped make the films seem more intertwined especially when trying to add more information to part 1's story.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNawYdD-UBOROX2HjySmCqQ0sO-O5tsuLUWqQNNIaMLMR7Gz2yjAigDpUor1HAzTOOK0gWHh4NaFDbIReQekAEefVRWnXqCWGpfSofBT9Hv2dWmRzGAsbXr6W5uDAT8I2X6KjBdgjv8E/s1280/hell+house+2+ghost.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNawYdD-UBOROX2HjySmCqQ0sO-O5tsuLUWqQNNIaMLMR7Gz2yjAigDpUor1HAzTOOK0gWHh4NaFDbIReQekAEefVRWnXqCWGpfSofBT9Hv2dWmRzGAsbXr6W5uDAT8I2X6KjBdgjv8E/w640-h360/hell+house+2+ghost.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">I was a big fan of this creepy background ghost.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Upfront, you need to understand there will be many of the same low-budget flaws of part 1 so you will either tolerate them or not. What can sour an experience I believe is this ending where we find out the original owner of the hotel is like this mastermind ghost that was posing on the talk show with the main guy. This is unfathomably stupid. It's like...if he can do all of that then what can't he do?! Then there was this idea that people have been summoned to the house for decades which was a huge plot tangent left unexplored. Finally, the ambiguity on the blonde chick or the main guy living didn't make sense nor was it explained. If the main guy lived, why don't we see him again? If the blonde girl was let out instead then why do we see her as yet another apparition posing as alive? And don't think part 3 fills in these answers.</p><p style="text-align: left;">So if the ending is dumb why would I rate it as high as part 1? I think there were instances of better ideas and camerawork. Likewise, I thought the pacing and flow of events was better with less meandering. This makes it where part 1 is a better story and satisfying ending whereas part 2 is a better production overall but hindered by a weak ending. At the end of the day, neither film is going to blow you away, but I don't think fans give this entry enough credit for what it has to offer.<br /></p><p>Notable Moment: When Melissa pops up randomly only to immediately transform into some kind of demon. Her makeup was kind of bland, but, I don't know, I liked the voice change and how casual it was. Plus, she's cute as hell.<br /></p><p>Final Rating: 6/10<br /></p>villainsrulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568435865803772912noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085016963159729243.post-66623341430792517522020-10-02T17:01:00.000-04:002020-10-02T17:01:47.316-04:00Hell House LLC Review<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9Woja84qS11rhn4Ewgx645wgoYyE5frqHhIphuSs_fwbbC3Ayq5gagh2dSZ924-q9fxZTSB51l9P0ENpjyt-mH2sWeH-7pis1D4skurbyN4qgjWsLkDZLi_esV6owgy66KUAp2Tq_-w/s2048/hell+house+llc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1370" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9Woja84qS11rhn4Ewgx645wgoYyE5frqHhIphuSs_fwbbC3Ayq5gagh2dSZ924-q9fxZTSB51l9P0ENpjyt-mH2sWeH-7pis1D4skurbyN4qgjWsLkDZLi_esV6owgy66KUAp2Tq_-w/s320/hell+house+llc.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!</p><p>Plot Summary: The bodies pile up when a Halloween attraction is built inside an actual haunted hotel.<br /></p><p>Review: Hmm, should this fully count as a Halloween movie? Technically it doesn't take place on Halloween, however, the attraction itself was meant to be for Halloween so it's close enough. As for the sequels...they're getting lumped in regardless. Now, what exactly is a "Hell House LLC?" It's found-footage style which is immediately going to lose a sizable chunk of any audience. Despite the tired and cheap formula to found-footage, this is how you do it right. The pacing felt right with a healthy dose of scares to keep you going before the big finale. Sure, there are instances of questionable acting and moments where people wouldn't realistically keep a camera rolling, but there's a fun movie here if you're willing to give it a try.</p><p>A little background on the story's structure will help paint the picture. A group of, I guess, friends and coworkers have worked on multiple Halloween haunts and decide to setup shop at an abandoned hotel called the Abaddon. They film everything that goes on with the production, because they want to use the footage to spot flaws in their setup along with having visual references for future attraction they build. That might be an acceptable reason to film, but they kind of take that to unrealistic proportions you just have to accept from a movie. As for the Abaddon Hotel, of course it is given a sketchy background to explain away the creepy happenings that the main cast experiences.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7WKrrNYjth8jHV6utq98YuuIEewDQcCxMyefYkjNxSxKZ_EJdT3UdSyaX2TpdtonuspHm4e0OPjzHUL2zghCgnhyphenhyphen5-1XD6QOZmPLERamBlKOltuZXLsq2LN2EXaS9e7_m33JVH_0IxY/s720/hell+house+clown.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="720" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7WKrrNYjth8jHV6utq98YuuIEewDQcCxMyefYkjNxSxKZ_EJdT3UdSyaX2TpdtonuspHm4e0OPjzHUL2zghCgnhyphenhyphen5-1XD6QOZmPLERamBlKOltuZXLsq2LN2EXaS9e7_m33JVH_0IxY/w640-h357/hell+house+clown.png" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">This clown guy especially loves moving on his own.<br /></div><p></p><p>What makes this movie interesting and, at times, truly scary is the complete utilization of the Halloween haunt concept. The attraction the characters set up is cool with numerous creepy props at every turn. When characters are roaming around the hotel, you are left scanning the entire screen trying to see what is prop and what is moving on its own. This keeps you on edge at all times as a viewer and can be intense when the characters are moving fast; I might even go as far as to say there was a sense of dread. As you would easily guess, many unsettling things happen to the characters since the hotel turns out to be haunted after all. By the end, when they finally open the haunt up to the public is when things really amp up; the film certainly delivers the goods you were hoping to see.</p><p>While "Hell House LLC" does much correctly, it does still fall into the trappings of found-footage. It's not just filming things no one would, it's this idea that you already know what will happen since we are shown the aftermath of the events at the film's start. I get that this is to build tension since you want to know how it happened, but it sucks to know who will die and who won't right away. There is an attempt to throw a curveball to the viewer with a final twist, but that still doesn't alter the expectations you feel while watching. The fate of the characters should have been kept vague until the reveal of each one dying with less focus on the how and more emphasis on the anticipation toward the climax. I mean, there are other flaws you can nitpick, but this was low-budget and I can overlook certain weaknesses.<br /></p><div><p>All things considered, "Hell House LLC" has been flying under the radar for a lot of people. This is a great low-budget flick that definitely feels creepier when watching around Halloween time. The clever usage of the background props along with the legit scares enhances what would be an otherwise cookie-cutter experience. You do need to understand this is found-footage and has the inherent flaws that accompany that subgenre when handled poorly. This film does take most things with stride, but you do still see many common missteps these types are know for. Nevertheless, this is a recommend that you should check out this year.<br /></p><p>Notable Moment: When Paul has a shadowy figure behind him while he's laying in bed. This is probably the first scare, and I like that we never really figure out who or what that was.<br /></p><p>Final Rating: 6/10<br /></p></div>villainsrulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568435865803772912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085016963159729243.post-49880940251457598752020-07-20T03:01:00.001-04:002020-07-20T03:01:17.572-04:00Truth or Dare (2017) Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8x8OJ67jjGeUTQ7t32gWIhg8v_-m9aG4r63Rm5YgMaX9WqiQcX_HeYzv7jHt8eVBkeaPTjB456F7HbPOpgHq3b8E_sZ6nc73oGEZmRGiCcuzL2aaQE7U6syHvcH20AsgH9oV-e_Pn2CQ/s1600/truth+or+dare+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8x8OJ67jjGeUTQ7t32gWIhg8v_-m9aG4r63Rm5YgMaX9WqiQcX_HeYzv7jHt8eVBkeaPTjB456F7HbPOpgHq3b8E_sZ6nc73oGEZmRGiCcuzL2aaQE7U6syHvcH20AsgH9oV-e_Pn2CQ/s320/truth+or+dare+2017.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!<br />
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Plot Summary: A group of friends are pulled into a supernatural game of truth or dare.<br />
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Review: Should this count as a Halloween movie? The characters say it's Halloween, but there is neither sight nor sound of even the faintest hint that it's Halloween. I'm going to have to say no, this doesn't count. Anyway, this story is strikingly similar to another truth or dare horror movie I've covered so don't think I'm losing my mind with this review. In fact, there are many horror movies with the same title or employ this same kind of premise. In this instance, we get a by-the-numbers killer game plot that was almost passable until an unforgivable ending just had to ruin the entire experience. Thanks for that by the way.<br />
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You might easily guess what's going on here. A group of friends are staying at an alleged haunted house where a prior group claimed to have played a deadly game of truth or dare. Sure enough, this group of characters becomes entangled in the same supernatural game. If you fail to answer a truth, or fail at a dare, you die. As such, the truths become harder to admit and the dares become increasingly dangerous. This is all standard fare most audiences would expect. To this film's credit, the scenarios concocted were kind of original and creative. I was also surprised by the order characters died since the story shifts focus a bit as it progresses.<br />
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Sadly, whatever good faith the movie was amassing gets shit on by an ending that comes out of nowhere with zero resolution. You never find out what is causing this deadly game of truth or dare which was especially annoying since it appeared there was a female spirit controlling it. But that's hardly the issue when the movie is too busy showing us the last two characters trying to finish the final dare when they crash into a tree and fade to black. Wait...whaaaat? Yeah, the movie has the audacity to make the characters not even finish the game or show what happened. Hell, the movie didn't even have the budget to show the car crash...we only get the stock sound effect. Fuck! If all the characters died, and the game won, that would feel cheap but at least it's a conclusion. This, on the other hand, was no ending. Why do filmmakers even do this shit?<br />
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Realistically, if "Truth or Dare" had a better ending--or an ending--I would have upped the rating a bit into the decent category. Instead, this is mediocre all the way. The story can be fun at times, but that wasting of valuable time is something I must always acknowledge. Shit endings make so many movies unwatchable, and, despite the average rating, I can't recommend this. It's a shame too, because there were good ideas that were readily squandered.<br />
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Notable Moment: When the one guy gets blown away trying to rob the bank. Whoa...don't mess with granny.<br />
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Final Rating: 5/10villainsrulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568435865803772912noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4085016963159729243.post-39702854296354317212020-07-20T02:17:00.001-04:002020-07-20T02:17:30.423-04:00Mercy Black Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEg1ZbkB55oeCjdv2hUfqeG-a2YnL3Iq6hpfCLoIeBYMoDNKWWRZCVsCv-BUfsLfDDhvTHyngcJOYkQ5Ng7M2a1-aASsdPDQCpkFJDPHDnLhRzah-djVPpepQ1G2WgzjWLlfEqrfO46D4/s1600/mercy+black.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEg1ZbkB55oeCjdv2hUfqeG-a2YnL3Iq6hpfCLoIeBYMoDNKWWRZCVsCv-BUfsLfDDhvTHyngcJOYkQ5Ng7M2a1-aASsdPDQCpkFJDPHDnLhRzah-djVPpepQ1G2WgzjWLlfEqrfO46D4/s320/mercy+black.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!<br />
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Plot Summary: After being released from a mental institution, a woman must come to terms with her childhood crime and the potential supernatural force she awakened.<br />
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Review: Part ripoff of the Slender Man mythos--and huge exploitation of the real life Slender Man stabbing case--this film deserves a lot of the hate it's getting. With that said, this was surprisingly entertaining with all things considered. In fact, it's significantly better than the retarded Slender Man movie that came out a few years ago. My main complaint with the film really is that it's completely derivative in every conceivable way. But what happens when an imitation actually surpasses what it's ripping off? Well, you get "Mercy Black."<br />
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I will say this...the blinder you go into this movie the better it will feel. So a little backstory: As a little girl, Marina, and her best friend, appear to kill a third friend in order to summon this supernatural being called Mercy Black. After 15 years in a mental institution, Marina is released and tries to live a normal life. Her memories are fuzzy and a portion of the mystery is figuring out what actually happened all those years ago. On the peripheral, Marina's nephew is convinced Mercy Black is real and appears to be following in his aunt's footsteps. For the majority of the film you can't be sure if Mercy Black is real or whether someone is trying to get revenge on Marina. I think this direction was presented incredibly well with plenty of red herrings. Likewise, the film delivers on the twists with a satisfying payoff.<br />
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The story does try to make Marina more innocent than she should be--essentially absolving her of her crimes--but the way the character is depicted works; a big part of this is due to the actress, Daniella Pineda. I did think the film was going in the direction that Marina was the mastermind behind it all, but the filmmakers opted for a different direction which was appreciated. Where the film falters most is in the lack of substance. Is this a movie about psychological recovery or a whodunnit or a supernatural horror? It's hard to adequately explain it...but the events lack a kind of fluidity between scenes. Furthermore, there was a severe lack of inner turmoil. These characters are experiencing bizarre events, murder, and so much more yet are not reacting believably. Marina especially should have had more moments of psychological breaks, and the sister should have suspected Marina was behind it all or at least considered this angle.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZNPFYvd5ECOhg0HZR31AZXjUtQ5SXU83yDPCXYQsxoSx_NH7rB71Hr4rgbaXOaLuJGwzqrOo60snbVVaNGnsOykcSmjgDUx4actkEKjN7-y_cC5vtksvvEzBZgV2cSklBuYW7tBwd8I/s1600/daniella+pineda+mercy+black.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="906" height="403" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZNPFYvd5ECOhg0HZR31AZXjUtQ5SXU83yDPCXYQsxoSx_NH7rB71Hr4rgbaXOaLuJGwzqrOo60snbVVaNGnsOykcSmjgDUx4actkEKjN7-y_cC5vtksvvEzBZgV2cSklBuYW7tBwd8I/s640/daniella+pineda+mercy+black.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Ms. Pineda is definitely a cutey, and I love that hair style.</div>
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Overall, I don't think "Mercy Black" fully deserves the critical trouncing it has received. Oh, sure, it's unoriginal, but this is what the Slender Man movie should have actually been. Is it in bad taste to trivialize the real stabbing case? Maybe, but many crime shows and movies borrow from real events so I can't hold it against this movie. I'm not saying this is going to knock your socks off, but I think many audiences will be pleasantly surprised by "Mercy Black" and its twists and turns. In effect, this movie is better than it has any right to be.<br />
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Notable Moment: When the son is trying to kill his friend. There was just something so disturbing about this scene to me.<br />
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Final Rating: 6/10villainsrulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07568435865803772912noreply@blogger.com0