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Reviews
The Pact (2012)
Lathargic film with unique, but small, storyline
I went into this film truly expecting some good scares, as the front cover depicts quite a haunting image, and a review below the image says "You'll be afraid to turn out the lights." Hardly.
What this film gives instead is quite honestly a trip down supernatural-detective lane. The first 5 minutes of the film are the scariest (with nothing happening) and from there, the film moves into the detective "who dunnit?" scenario, with secrets being found out, and just a bit of violence.
What truly made this a worthy watch for me, however, is the cinematography and lighting stylings. As a professional who works in those fields, I was personally amazed at this aspect, predominantly how almost each and every scene was filmed in a "natural" style; most of the lighting was sourced from naturally occurring windows, sunlight positions, and all that, while the cinematography truly stayed quite perfectly inside the rules and realms of a truly talented cameraman.
The script and acting is slightly a mixed bag. The slightly "real talk" of this film (characters who smoke cigarettes, ride motorcycles, etc etc gives a realness and modernism to the film) however, there's a lot of missed and potential charm. Right at a certain point in the film, it would have been more charming for a certain character to say "Oh well, more ice cream for me.", and anyone who's seen the film will know the scene I'm talking about.
Otherwise, the only downside is the mystery and ending confrontation are incredibly short; a lot more time is wasted with very odd special effects and quite weird scenes. Once the film finds where it wants to go, it seems the storyline becomes quite rushed and misses a lot of potential. Even a quite good character is killed off before he develops any.
All in all, though, this film gets a stamp of approval for being worth the $1 at Redbox, and it is a film that you won't hate. It's simply where it needs to be; this is a slower, well-made B-film that will never catch on, but will be worth the $1 if you have nothing better to do.
Julien Donkey-Boy (1999)
I've only seen clips on youtube...
...but I honestly think that is exactly what Harmony Korine makes his films to be. With his newest film, Trash Humpers, being filmed as part improv/part 'what would happen if a buncha old people seriously filmed their own J@ckA$$ and then left it at Goodwill for someone to find', it really brings even more light to why Korine has his style. I'd explain his style any day as Home Funniest (And Most Autistic) Videos. His films are random clips throw together for the most part, and he wrote a book like that too. It's just a style you have to accept and get over it.
But the magic is really in those clips. Sometimes Korine misses, sometimes he creates a scene that reaches out to you in a special way that is unique to every person watching. I personally love Korine's work because I was born with a mild mental/physical syndrome, I have a billion weird fetishes, I had a very strange mind as I child, I had extremely domineering parents, etc etc. Since Korine grew up an hour from me, he knows the culture in the South very well, and this reflects in all his films. In all, I think I actually connect with his films out of experience, not because I'm looking for something artistic. Korine is just a factor in my life who happened to pop up because of a bunch of extremely strange coincidences, and it's also in that coincidence that I like his work. If someone told me about him before I discovered the magic myself, I'd have been like 'Wtfcat'.
And that's how I'd describe Julien, as well as Gummo and Trash Humpers. Either Korine has, out of fate, woven himself into your life, or he hasn't. He's created films that are supposed to be thrown into 50 cent sale bins so that people can pick up his mess for cheap, watch it, and laugh at it, make fun of it, destroy it afterward, set it on fire, love it, or just whatever they want. He's never made a film to make money, he makes films that are made to look like trash, and then he thinks people actually want to watch it. And well, he happens to be right, no matter what he does, he happens to make clips that make me smile.
So at the end of the day, his Youtube previews are the best (someone else usually edits the Official Previews, as Korine usually does not pick great editors for the final film, and so the previews always cheer me up better). But besides them, it's also fun just to scour around Youtube and see what secret scene I can find from Donkey-boy. My favorite so far is the scene where he's washing the girl's feet, and Herzog pwns (did you know he just directed Bad Cop: Port Call? weird :P).
Idk, I like HK's films, I think anyone who gets complex about him either; a. is fooling themselves, or b. hasn't been through the things he portrays in his films. I do think HK makes these films for autistic people to relate to, rather than giving a normal person a view of their world. At least thats what I think.
The Brave Little Toaster (1987)
One of those great, very imaginative, true to emotion animations
The Brave Little Toaster was no doubt my favorite cartoon film as a kid (around 4 or 5 years old), I probably watched it at least 100 times, mainly with my same age best friend. The entire movie from beginning to end is one of those classic Disney adventures start to stop, and it truly holds true to that time late 80's animation where they weren't afraid to spook kids out a bit, or make people feel sad in a movie, or just draw really imaginative, fluid things. I do compare it to Toy Story, although it reminds me more of Homeward Bound.
The one cool thing, is like Toy Story, is that I would say this movie dives into 'scary' more than most children's films, also like The Rescuers and Once Upon A Forest. No doubt this movie is also a very bright, classic story, but this movie really twists and turns all over the place in such a great way. Even at 20 years old, I still personally love the really random Alice In Wonderland feel to it, the characters really and truly go through so many different feelings, settings, and movie genres that I think it's a great movie that truly introduces kids to many types of films; drama, adventure, family, spooky, etc etc. In a way, it's a movie that I think the boys enjoy a little more than the girls, and since every cartoon aimed at boys today has to do with robots or digimon, I have to say that The Brave Little Toaster was indeed more imaginative and fun to grow up on than asain anime garbage.
The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007)
Beautiful cinematography in select scenes, but leaves you wishing...
The Poughkeepsie Tapes is tragically good, meaning, there is something extremely special about this film delivered in very rare moments. For starters, it's a mockumentary about The Poughkeepsie Killer, a surprisingly intelligent serial killer who tapes everything he does and goes out of his way to make his killings look eerie and downright cinematic.
First off, we're introducted to FBI and Morgue interviews, and it starts showing some clips of the serial killer's recordings, which get on your nerves at first glance not because they aren't creepy, but because the director of this film (this is a mockumentary, after all) applied way too much noise and static to the VHS clips to make it even look realistic. What was the killer supposed to be filming with, a 1901 crank film camera? Beyond this introduction though, you get over the clip's annoying quality, and the movie starts to make your jaw drop. The interviews quickly get boring, but the clips get extreme and downright (and you'll just have to see to believe) beautiful. The cinematography of the killer's tapes is downright awe-inspiring, and brings back a horror style not seen since the days of black and white film. Mardi Gra costumes, monster-esquire body movements...unrealistic horror beauty at it's finest, and the moment this starts happening, I started wishing the whole movie was just the tapes, and not any silly interviews. There are 'hundreds' of these 'tapes', that the police in the film found, and well, this film makes you want to see the rest of them!
Now, that's not to say this film doesn't have it's detective twists, it's neat police work, etc etc, but this film would have been a underground legend if it had been a hour and 30 minutes of just the tapes alone, because there's so few of them in the film, that the beauty of them leaves you wanting to see so much more. One look at the homage the tapes give to the Phantom of the Opera type stylings and you'll no doubtly agree.
Great movie, it really is, and it will leave you in some kind of awe!
The Graves (2009)
HORRIBLE but Bill Mosely steals the show!!
I would recommend this movie because Bill Mosely (Otis - House of 1,000 Corpses/Devil's Rejects) steals the show, he basically performs the same character he took on in Rob Zombie's films, a quick-witted, timeless quote saying killer. He'll leave fans of his awe struck and smiling, he really does a great job...
...but not even he can save this one crap mess of a movie. Now, this movie may have made it if it simply was about a family that owed a ghost town attraction, and killed the visitors. Seems like Bill Mosely stuff, and the two other family members are iconic in their own right. But they all quickly die off, and this movie becomes about a town full of looneys and a soulful preacher controlled by some sort of demon that attracts flies. The acting is pretty horrible, the special effects are extremely fake, the storyline his horribly, horribly written, and most of all, there are production mistakes (you can even see the studio microphone clear as day in one shot...yes, the entire microphone!!!) This movie is just a very bad B-movie, that somehow got the budget to include top name actors like Bill Mosely, Jillian Whoever (Jigsaw's wife), and a couple other mentionables. It's absolutely boring, and like I said, only the time we see Bill is when the movie takes off, and when he dies, it goes down with him!
Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever (2009)
A good cable TV type movie
You know, Eli Roth made something really special out of Cabin Fever 1, it was horrific and scary, and also funny at times, creating really special characters, and the movie itself was a ride that really built up slowly, in a very good way.
Now, with Cabin Fever 2, Eli Roth didn't come back to have any part in it (sad, because you'd have thought he have planned out a series), but surprisingly, it's not that bad. It really starts off mimicking a teen, high school movie, and uses the school as the entire setting. The only returning character is the "Yeah, man!" cop from the first one, and he really is enjoyable as always. The other characters are brand new, though, and while they aren't really special at all, you want to see them live.
Now, the best thing about this movie is it's gross imagery that happens to have nothing to do with the virus. This movie is the type to focus on fat lunchroom ladies with moles, cleft lipped teachers, acne proned school girls putting on makeup, a naked obese girl in a pool. These are the things that really give the movie such a different type of gross humor, and it actually overshines any of the gore or injuries. It overall is a completely different movie than Cabin Fever 1, which really is a shame, there's actually not even any scary or jump out parts in this movie, it's more of a campy comedy! But this movie is worth renting when you're getting drunk with some buddies. It's not too long, and it gets a little random and sloppy at the end, but there's no doubt there'll be another, so I say they might as well bring it on!
The Haunted World of El Superbeasto (2009)
There's a reason this film wasn't a success...
I'll just start by saying I'm a huge fan of Rob Zombie's films, his dream for House of 1,000 Corpses and Devil's Rejects turned out to create two films that hold more icon and fun than you could know what to do with. I really expected him to do the same with animated movie, I sorta expected a trashy cartoon with jokes every 5 seconds, funny or not, just crammed with stuff you'd see in a Zombie cartoon (Family Guy-ish material). Sadly, the jokes truly are far inbetween, and end up not being funny. There's so much room for jokes and genius work that you truly get bored halfway through the movie, although the first half really does make you smile.
Beyond the fact it's missing a lot of jokes, this cartoon really isn't set up well (or extravegantly). The voice casting and character organization seems way off for the most part, there's really no originality to this cartoon...everything seems like such a rip off of so many cartoon get-ups. Turn Adult Swim on and you see everything this film has plus so much more. I'm a constant defender that Corpses was so unique and iconic despite it's Chainsaw Massacre similarities, but I just can't find the same iconic sense in this cartoon. I just don't feel like Zombie hit the spot at all, it felt very 'tried'.
All in all, I feel like it would have been a muchhh better idea if he were to have pitched this idea to adult swim, the cartoon does have characters you want to watch somewhat, and a little time on television would have given the show where it could receive feedback and work out it's kinks. It seems very much like the first episode of some adult swim cartoon that hasn't gotten together its act. =/
House of 1000 Corpses (2003)
One of the best movies of all time, in every single way.
For one, it's outright known that almost nobody fully 'gets' House of 1,000 Corpses. Those who even so much as like it will complain that it's 'too long', 'a Chainsaw Massacre rip-off', and 'too wacky to be scary, too playful to be shocking.' But the person who truly knows that this movie is exactly what Rob Zombie had in mind, will enjoy the film to it's fullest.
What House of 1,000 Corpses is, is a sort of Kill Bill/Grindhouse piece of work. There are many tributes to past film ages and genres, and these tributes often end up being more fun and epic than the originals themselves. And Corpses proves that without a doubt. But the fact is, Zombie just does not stop at 'tribute'. He goes all out with beautifully shocking imagery, extremely love-able villains, fantasy, gore, comedy, and lastly, amazing set design and REAL stunts and effects. Not a single bit of CG in this movie, and very, very detailed and extensive sets and locations.
And while you may think 'ok, so Corpses is a great tribute to crazy underground horror cinema of the late 70's', it's much more. This movie has the soul that many of it's influences did not have. The movie literally seems so inspired, so well-written, so well-acted, and so plain well done, that you even wonder if Zombie knew he was making a tribute. It's almost as if he's completely ignored the direction of modern film, and created something in his own twisted little world, a film that's entirely self-indulgent. If you hate the film, you hate the way his mind works, as this is it, and he's not changing for anyone. Not for the artsy folks who say this his film isn't cinematic, not for the simple-minded who just want to be scared, not for the stuck up who can't fall in love with villains as colorful and iconic as these.
Best thing about it, the film has a great, very emotional sequel, Devil's Rejects, which makes you fall in love with the bad guys even more, if you didn't already wish they were your own family. (and let's face it, this band of freaks care more about each other than any real American Family, just one of the many points Zombie goes out of his way to prove.) This film is a wonderful expansion of the 'crazy tribute' genre of films, so amazing that it truly stands out entirely on its own merits, as 75% of this movie is very, very original, written entirely by Zombie. Yet it also has many influences and borrowed settings and concepts, written in a homage type way. Great film, it really is! (Props to Zombie writing the soundtrack as well!)
The Wicker Man (2006)
I must be seeing something most don't....
I completely do not understand why this movie is universally panned by literally everyone and every website. I liked this movie! I just seen this randomly with some friends, I thought it was going to be scarier, but I ended up loving the weird and creepy tones, it reminded me of that used-to-be show on Disney Channel where that girl would go around to different towns and inspect weird supernatural things, that show that was way too creepy for modern Disney standards. And this movie has the exact same feel, although it's definitely more adult. It keeps you on edge, and it also freaks you out a bit.
I mean, good things about it: Nicholas Cage, good imagery, stuff that's to weird to get, weird twists and turns, and a decent ending. I honestly can't find a 'bad' thing about it, other than the fact it's not my favorite movie. Everyone's saying the acting was lame, I loved the characters! I think the acting was perfect for what the film was trying to portray. It's a weird movie, geez. It's not supposed to be Batman. One of the best movies Cage has been in, and I think this is the type of film he likes to be in. I'd say see it! And it's not like this is the first weird movie I've seen, I'm a huge fan of the weird, horror, supernatural, and whatever else, and I've seen way worse. The Unborn comes to mind there. And I'd watch Wicker Man even a second time! I say it's pretty good!(With all this in mind though, I have not seen the original.)
Gummo (1997)
Good but you're not gonna watch it twice...
With the directorial debut of the guy, Harmony Korine, who wrote Kids, you see a somewhat very distorted, dirty view on a backwoods town effected by a large tornado, and how exactly the community doesn't function exactly right and/or have lost people or things (such as clean running water). Right away, I had a connection with this film because even though it is set in Ohio, it was actually filmed in Nashville, Tennessee, only minutes from where I live. I'm also a indie filmmaker and very artistic and out-there films are right down my alley.
But the end point is...this film is not written very well. What it mainly is, is a bunch of very beautiful, shocking, and rustic scenes randomly thrown at you, most of which were penned not by entirely by Korine, but with the help of some famous french guy Korine actually hired to help the whole thing out. While the scenes do connect with all the neighborhood character's lives, there's no real point or 'conclusion'. No matter how artsy a film may be, or shocking, a film needs to be worth your time, and needs to make you feel more inspired, and while you can definitely be inspired by the directing, scenery, and character images (one reason I do love this film), you simply won't gain any emotion toward any point in this film, as there really just isn't much to it.
I mean how much more than that can you really say? Korine needs to add a little drama to the story line, make it more of a epic tragedy, let someone die, SOMETHING. The point of a art film is to inspire in a different way, not to make it so unemotional that it pisses people off. =/. I mean, even the most random of films out there have made points about society, etc etc but this film just does not make a point other than to shock you with viewing special ed adults and dirty little cussing kids. Beautiful but not emotionally exciting.