revsnowman Reviews

Rise of the Dead (2007 Video)

Rise of the Deception Would Be a Better Title

[1/10 · 17 November 2007]

I am going to ruin this cruddy little movie for you right off the bat. I rented Rise of the Dead based upon three things. 1. There was a great and gruesome picture of an undead creature on the front of the box. 2. The synopsis promised a zombie movie and I love zombie movies. 3. The film was distributed by Lionsgate and I normally enjoy their films. All that said, this movie's packaging is a bald faced lie!!! The movie is not about zombies but some sad sack young woman's dead baby risen from the dead to possess people. Possession does not equal zombies and the hordes of undead walkers the film's packaging alludes to are never present in the film. Instead the viewer is lead on a dull and ponderous ride through bad film making techniques and really bad sets. The asylum scenes are pretty amusing if you have ever been near a real mental institution. I love how an asylum looks like a cheap motel room in this picture. The only good thing about this movie is that it is short! The trivia for this film says the title was originally Tantrum. That title fits the film and if the synopsis would have equally fit the film I never would have rented this lousy excuse for a horror film. I guess the studio figured that out and used a savvy promotion department to sell on the zombie laurels of other more deserving films. I give an A+ to the cheeky creative type who thought up the advertising and an F- to the director and writers. The lead actress did an OK job with the mediocre fair she was given, so I hope this film's extreme badness doesn't lose her future jobs. Stay away from this totally rotten little film. I love bad movies as much as the next midnight movie film fan, but this one is just too bad to bother with and being lied to still stings my wallet. I actually paid for this one too instead of using a free coupon like I usually do. Ouch, that hurts!

Brothers of the Head (2005)

One of the BEST Rock films ever, and a damn good movie all around!

[10/10 · 29 November 2006]

If you like rock music, popular culture of the 1970's, great story telling, fine acting, and something more interesting and intelligent to look at then High School Musical, watch this movie!!! I loved it. It is fascinating, strange, quirky, and wondrous. The music kicks butt, that is if you have real taste beyond whatever junk plays on modern radio stations. The film reminds me and ranks up there with other great and unique rock films like Velvet Goldmine, 24 Hour Party People and perhaps a little of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. The film might be a mockumentary but who cares when it delivers such tangible characters and inspiring, authentic sounding rock music. I only hope there is a soundtrack available as I want to hear the music again and again. Watch this for your music soul.