cdusher Reviews

Vampires: The Turning (2004)

World Premiere

[4/10 · 2 January 2005]

I watched the world premiere of this on the Starz Action channel. They call it Vampires: The Turning. The plot was a little confusing. There is a voice-over in the introduction about an 800 year war, and I didn't quite understand. The movie is about a young couple somewhere in Asia (maybe in China, I don't think the movie specifies). The couple has an argument and Meredith Monroe runs off and is kidnapped by a biker gang of Vampires. The boyfriend finds a group of vampires that don't kill humans, and enters into a battle with the bikers. A human group of slayers somehow get involved, and the final fight sequence takes place during a solar eclipse. This movie is not related to either Vampires or Vampires: Los Muertos. Confusing, but decent action. Four out of 10 stars.

Raging Bull (1980)

Violence at its most powerful

[9/10 · 7 March 2003]

Raging Bull is one of the most graphically violent movies I've ever seen, even for a Scorsese film. The boxing scenes were amazing and intense. De Niro was at his finest in this film as you can see the breakdown and paranoia that Jake La Matta suffered. One of Scorsese's best. 9/10

Rebel Without a Cause (1955)

Every high school student should see this film

[7/10 · 6 March 2003]

Rebel Without a Cause is excellent. Every high school student should see this film. I can see why James Dean became an idol after movies like this Giant. Sal Mineo was excellent in his role of Plato. With the rash of high school shootings over the past 5 years or so hs students can learn a lot from this film. Highly recommended 7/10.

The Imploding Self: A Journey Through the Life of Fergus McLafferty (1995)

Somebody get the tartar sauce

[5/10 · 28 May 2001]

"The Imploding Self: A Journey through the life of Fergus McLafferty" is found on a New Zealand anthology of short films including "Eau de la Vie", "Bitch", "La Vie en Rose","Headlong","Sure to Rise", and "Warm Gun". called Dark Stories: Tales from Beyond the Grave. It's a visually intriguing short film with interesting shots of fish, a birthday party, synchronized swimming, a monkey in a cage, mexicans cooking fish, and Fergus on his deathbed wanting to be a merman. It stars with Fergus as a young child of 11 or 12, who lives with his uncle and overbearing aunt. Then it cuts to 25 years or so later with Fergus cutting himself while shaving. He meets one of the swimmers and falls in love with her. Fergus is obsessed with Fish. They have a child, and she eventually leaves because loves the fish more than her. He communicates with the fish and wears scales. He eventually morphs into a fish and it abruptly ends. Theres some meaning or point to this film, but i think multiple viewings would help bring it out more. I'm not really for sure what the point is. However it was amusing. Rating: 5 of 10

La vie en rose (1994)

What the Heck?

[2/10 · 28 May 2001]

I guess i just don't get it. This was supposed to be artistic. It was some guy with an very unintelligible accent saying a poem about roses. Followed by different visuals involving roses. I don't get it at all. I found it on an anthology called Dark Stories: Tales from Beyond the Grave. Rating: 2 of 10

Eau de la vie (1994)

Mmmmm tasty....

[7/10 · 28 May 2001]

I saw this short film as part of an anthology called Dark Stories: Tales from Beyond the Grave (distributed by Spartan Entertainment). Also included on this tape are "Bitch"(no entry on IMDB), "The Imploding Self", "La Vie en Rose","Headlong","Sure to Rise", and "Warm Gun". The title i believe is French for "smell of life". The movie starts off with 3 upper class New Zealand yuppie types at a restaurant. The unknowing Katherine, for her birthday, picks her "performer" for the evening. She is repulsed by the "performance", and has to be calmed down. I think the film-maker was trying to make a social statement on upper society by showing their disregard for human life.

!!!SPOILERS!!! Some disturbing images of full frontal male nudity, Katherine getting beaten by the restaurant manager. Katherine stabs the manager, and rescues the "performer", who was supposed to be her dinner. After she saves him, she is received with a round of applause

Interesting little short. Rating: 7 of 10

Howling V: The Rebirth (1989)

Not Bad (for a Howling movie)

[4/10 · 27 May 2001]

Howling V is my favorite so far out of all the Howling movies. However, that doesn't mean this is a good film. The acting is pretty bad and the effects are absolutely horrid, but the plot is decent enough to make it tolerable. This one, the original Howling, and Howling IV are the only ones worth watching out of the first 5 flicks. The Howling series is really really bad. Only true horror fanatics would be interested in them at all. The only worse horror series i have encountered is the Children of the Corn series. Howling V is pretty predictible and the characters aren't killed off fast enough, so it moves kind of slowly. The music played after each death is annoying too. Recommended for Horror/Werewolf fans. Rating 4 of 10.

House II: The Second Story (1987)

Boring, Nonsequel Sequel

[3/10 · 27 May 2001]

First of all this movie shouldn't be a sequel to the first House. Just like some of the Amityville movies and Halloween III. Secondly, this movie is very boring. The acting is horrible and silly. The "comedy" isn't even funny. Even Cliff Clavin from Cheers couldn't save this movie. The character of Charlie is annoying. And Jesse/Grams, the 170 year old great-great grandfather is an even bigger hillbilly than Uncle Jesse from Dukes of Hazzard. It was interesting to see some appearences from Kane Hodder, and a very young (and scary looking) Amy Yasbeck. Bill Maher, playing a sleazy (i don't think he's really acting)record label manager, is very annoying. This movie is very choppy and makes no sense. Some scenes look like a bad 60s sci-fi flick. The backstory is totally ridiculous, even for a horror movie. It gets progressively stupider and stupider. Recommended for series completists like myself, otherwise stay away from it. Rating: 3 of 10.

House (1985)

Entertaining, comical 80s horror

[6/10 · 26 May 2001]

The House is an amusing little flick. It's very 80s in style. William Katt does a nice job as a horror writer who goes "crazy" when he moves into his aunt's house and starts to see weird things. The comical relief of George Wendt as the neighbor, and Richard Moll as Katt's Vietnam buddy add hilarity. The scenes with Katt vs. the House aren't necessarily scary, but make me often chuckle. Special effects aren't outstanding by any means, even for the 80s, but it adds to the humor of the film. House is a pretty entertaining film. Recommended if you want a decent horror/comedy laugh. I gave it a 6 of 10.