dsntxst Reviews

To kako (2005)

Really not very good

[1/10 · 29 May 2015]

I realise the film makers weren't out to create a masterpiece with 'Evil' and judging by the other reviews there appears to be a market for this film, but I personally could not stomach it.

The film looks awful; the acting is non-existent; the camera work and editing are headache inducing; the make-up, gore effects and set pieces are woeful; the soundtrack and sound editing are terrible; the plot, characterisation and humour are weak; the pacing is all over the place; and the internal logic of the film world is broken constantly. And for a runtime of around 80 minutes, it amazingly seems to drag on interminably.

There are one or two nice shots but that's the only positive I can give.

Again, I know 'Evil' is not intended to be anything more than a quick-and-dirty horror-comedy but I must be well outside the intended audience as it just did not work for me at all.

The Snow White Murder Case (2014)

Interesting mix of murder-mystery, media commentary and... friendship?

[7/10 · 27 May 2015]

When cosmetic company employee Risako Kano contacts friend and TV news cameraman/reporter Yuji Akahoshi about the murder of her attractive co-worker Miki Noriko, he begins to investigate the case himself, documenting his progress both on camera and via his Twitter account. His investigation soon points towards another co-worker - the timid Miki Shirono, who has been missing since the night of the murder. As the story explodes via mass media and online, a trial-by-media ensues and those close to both Noriko and Shirono begin painting their own perspectives on who these women were/are - but is anybody telling the complete truth?

'The Snow White Murder Case' is an interesting mish-mash of murder-mystery and commentary on the obsession with social and mass media. It takes enough from each side of the fence to tell an intriguing and entertaining story, and leave you thinking about the implications of speculation and rumour in a media-obsessed world. Strangely, the film also tails off into a story about the meaning of friendship - which I guess does tie in with the idea of not being swayed by rumour and innuendo.

With numerous characters providing their perspective on the victim/suspect, a bunch of flashbacks (including repeating flashbacks) and a slew of Twitter comments invading the screen, 'The Snow White Murder Case' could have become a bit off a mess both technically and narratively. I admit on my initial screening to having stopped watching after 30 minutes as I was losing interest but I gave it another go and I am glad I did. As the story begins heading along different strands, director Yoshihiro Nakamura does an excellent job of progressing the story without confusing the audience. Several scenes are repeated with subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) changes depending on the character recalling the situation, keeping the audience in-step with the story whilst also providing small hints on where it may be going to keep you hooked. These scenes (and the entire film really) are backed up by solid performances by the cast - a couple of characters do complete 180 degree turns by film's end but it remains believable throughout. I also enjoyed the jazzy, anime-esque soundtrack - off-beat but appropriate.

I was initially a bit underwhelmed with the conclusion of the film (it is kind of just handed to you) but I admit to having an ironic smile at Akahoshi's final scene. On second viewing, I think I appreciated it more: the murder-mystery has enough of a payoff (albeit slightly far-fetched) to be worth the wait and there is a small bite (perhaps a nip?) at the perils of the must-know-everything-now nature of our modern online society. Whilst the feel-good, "everything will be OK" ending is slightly odd, it is not a complete deal-breaker.

In sum, an entertaining film for the most part which strikes a happy balance between murder-mystery and comment on our obsession with mass and social media. I am fast becoming a fan of director Nakamura's work and his ability to jump genres and still tell an entertaining story. If you enjoyed 'The Snow White Murder Case' I highly recommend Nakamura's comedy/drama/action/apocalyptic sci-fi mish-mash 'Fish Story' for a similarly twisty story told from several perspectives.

Until the Light Takes Us (2008)

Only one piece of the puzzle but an interesting one

[7/10 · 4 April 2015]

'Until the Light Takes Us' is an exploration of the 1980s and 90s Norwegian black metal movement largely seen through the eyes of two of its important figures - Gylve 'Fenriz' Nagell, one half of the key duo behind the seminal Darkthrone; and Varg 'Count Grishnackh' Vikernes, the man behind one-man project Burzum.

The documentary is mostly comprised of interviews with Nagell and Vikernes as well as several members of other prominent black metal bands. The film also portrays some fly-on-the-wall moments with Nagell as he recounts the events of the early days of the black metal scene, and includes some archival footage, most notably of the infamous church burnings and the ensuing media frenzy. With no narrator and very few inter-titles, the talking head pieces are largely left to drive the film forward. Whilst the insights from Nagell and Vikernes are interesting, it does tend to make 'Until the Light Takes Us' feel a bit like an incomplete picture of the true goings-on of the time. For those already familiar with the events of the Norwegian black metal scene in the 1980s and 90s, there probably isn't too much more you would learn from this film. However, if you are new to the story, there are some interesting tidbits to be gained - albeit from a limited perspective. Other reviewers have noted the lack of insight into some of the more extreme views of Vikernes - likewise, I feel this would have been an interesting area to explore and was a bit of a missed opportunity from the filmmakers.

From a technical perspective, the film is well pieced together. Much like black metal itself, there is no unnecessary ornamentation (such as crazy edits or 'arty' camera angles/effects) and the story is left pretty much to unfold on its own. A quick note also on the soundtrack - not exactly what I was expecting for a documentary on black metal but an interesting choice and effective for the most part.

In summary, an interesting piece of the story behind one of the more infamous movements in modern music but one that should be taken as only part of the complete picture. Worth a view as a companion piece.

The Raid 2 (2014)

Bigger and louder than 'The Raid'... and a little bit too much so

[7/10 · 18 December 2014]

I love 'The Raid' - it was the hard-hitting kick-in-the-guts the action genre needed. I'm a little less in love with 'The Raid 2' - when it's good, it's very good, but it stalls a little bit too much to be a classic. Still, it is a very entertaining watch for action and martial arts junkies.

The good bits: the fight scenes and action set pieces are majorly ramped up from the first film. More than likely, this is what most of us came to this film for and they do not disappoint. The fight choreography is great, and the sights, sounds and overall feeling of impact during the action is amazing. The camera whirs around at a frenetic pace in places which may be a deal breaker for some, but it suits the action perfectly. There is also some impressive technical shenanigans going on for some of the close quarters stuff. In fact, the film looks brilliant overall: vibrant and stylish in places, gritty and decaying in others but always nice to look at.

The not-so-good bit: for me, the story didn't fit so well within the film. There were just too many strands to the narrative and consequently this killed the pacing for me. I can see what director/writer Gareth Evans was going for but I think there were just too many ideas for one film - it was begging for a shorter, sharper narrative. The police corruption and international underworld crime elements seemed more suited to a Kang Woo-suk, Johnnie To or Martin Scorsese film than here. Having said that, I would be interested to see Evans tackle something in this vein in the future as there is an inkling here that he could handle such a story.

Overall, 'The Raid 2' was a little bit less than what I was hoping for but not to the point of disappointment and I still had a good time. If you enjoyed 'The Raid' you will enjoy 'The Raid 2' - it's bigger and louder than its predecessor which both helps and hinders it as an action film.

The House at the End of Time (2013)

Not what I expected - and all the better for it

[8/10 · 8 November 2014]

For all intents and purposes 'The House at the End of Time' looks to be a typical haunted house film - but it is much, MUCH more than that. IMDb has this tagged as a Drama Horror Mystery Thriller; if I had to use four words to describe 'The House at the End of Time' I would say: this movie has heart.

Dulce is a housewife and mother charged with the murder of her husband Juan José and young son Leopoldo. After thirty years in prison, an elderly Dulce is granted a concession to serve out her sentence at home under police guard. When the local parish priest pays her a visit, Dulce is forced to recount the events of thirty years ago: a mysterious entity within the house tormented her family, resulting in the death of Juan José and the mysterious disappearance of Leopoldo. As the priest uncovers the strange history of the house, Dulce again finds herself in the entity's grip.

Where the film goes from here is an unexpected delight. Whilst it jumps around from thriller to drama to mystery and back again, the film never strays from its core - one of the other reviews noted that it takes you where it wants to take you, which is a very apt description. I will leave this for you to experience but will say that the director really hit the nail on the head when needed: whether creepy, tense, touching, dramatic or humorous, there is a definite sense that each scene has been very lovingly crafted. I particularly enjoyed the sound design and colour palette in this film but these are just a couple of the many nice technical touches throughout that back up an already strong story.

I did have a couple of VERY minor quibbles, most notably some typical horror tropes that have been done to death and some mushy (but sparsely used) CGI effects. However, these are VERY minor hang ups and in no way detract from the film's impact.

In all, a highly recommended film for anyone in the mood for a thriller, drama, mystery and/or horror movie with a little bit of a twist. Just be sure to ditch the expectations beforehand!

Champion (2002)

The story of the 'other man' in the bout that changed the face of boxing

[7/10 · 8 September 2014]

The 1982 lightweight championship bout between Ray Mancini and Kim Deuk-gu is famous for the immense impact it had not only on those directly involved in it but also on the public, the media and the sport of boxing itself. Much was written and discussed in its aftermath with understandably a lot of focus on Mancini. 'Champion' is the story of the man on the other side of the ring - the then relatively unknown Korean fighter Kim Deuk-gu.

'Champion' uses the 1982 bout to bookend the story of Kim, in between documenting his poverty-stricken beginnings, his personal triumphs and tragedies, and his eventual rise from national champion to world title contender. Like most dramas of this ilk, the actual sport is used more as a metaphor to tell a story of human triumph and will in the face of adversity.

Pretty much everything in 'Champion' hits the nail on the head with regards to telling Kim's story: the performances, the cinematography, the fight scenes, even the kitschy 1970s/80s wardrobe all come together with good effect. Kim's life story was already as much inspiring as it was tragic, and thankfully 'Champion' doesn't add unnecessary "ornamentation" to tell it.

A very minor quibble for me was the pacing which seemed to jump around a bit too much. I do appreciate that with a docudrama such as this there are going to be concessions made and again it was only a minor hang-up. Also, as a stand-alone film the ending leaves a bit to be desired. However, if you take 'Champion' as one piece in the overall story of the Mancini-Kim bout, it feels much more effective. I would highly recommend following this up with the excellent documentary 'The Good Son' which takes a retrospective of the event 30 years later.

Overall, an involving human drama and a nice companion piece to the story of the bout that forever changed the face of boxing.

Wither (2012)

OK for what it is

[6/10 · 19 May 2014]

A group of friends head out for a weekend of fun at an abandoned cabin in the woods but unwittingly unleash an ancient evil that begins hunting them one-by-one.

So originality is not a key factor with 'Wither' but then it isn't supposed to be. What 'Wither' is though is an okay little cabin-in-the-woods story that evokes the gritty and primal feel of old school horror flicks of the 70s and 80s - the good and the bad.

The good: (1) There is minimal back story before we get to the "goods"; (2) The cast do an adequate job of looking pretty one minute then terrified the next; (3) There are some pretty neat practical effects throughout; (4) From the setting to the use of film grain, the entire film looks very gritty which helps set the atmosphere; (5) The horror set pieces are entertaining for the most part (and gore fans are well catered to).

The bad: (1) Things happen a bit too conveniently in order to push the film along and there are some breaks in the film's logic that were a bit jarring; (2) Although it's to be expected, there are A LOT of "Why would anyone do that?" moments which are really infuriating; (3) The neat practical effects are counterbalanced by some not-so-neat CG effects; (4) The film starts to drag towards the end and peters out into a bit of a ho-hum conclusion.

'Wither' is no classic but is enjoyable enough if you don't expect too much from it (and we all need films like these once in a while, right?). This is a simple cabin-in-the-woods story: no muss, no fuss. Worth a view.

The White Storm (2013)

Entertaining - if a bit over-the-top - throwback to 80s HK cinema

[7/10 · 6 May 2014]

There is no shortage of Hong Kong films dealing with undercover cops deep in the mire of drug-trafficking gangs. And there also isn't a shortage of these films that focus more on the aspect of brotherhood rather than on the actual task of bringing the drug lords to justice. So what - if anything - makes 'The White Storm' stand out from the pack? To be honest, not a great deal - but that doesn't mean you won't be entertained and have some fun along the way.

In the finest tradition of 80s HK crime cinema, 'The White Storm' drips sentimentality and brotherhood right from the get go: undercover cop Kin-chow (Louis Koo) has been on the inside of a powerful drug-running gang for years and, with a baby on the way, is keen to get out. His fellow team members and childhood friends Ho-tin (Ching Wan Lau) and Tsz-wai (Nick Cheung) know they are close to getting their man and need Kin-chow to stay put. But when the opportunity comes up for the Hong Kong Police to fry an even bigger fish, the three friends find themselves in an explosive situation that will push their loyalties and friendship to the limit.

So a fairly standard plot as far as these things go but the three leads do a good job of wringing the most out of it. Despite some overly melodramatic moments - which seems to come with the territory in these kind of films - each of the leads gets enough of an opportunity to shine as their story arcs are padded out (and speaking of melodrama, a quick mention for the performance of Hoi-Pang Lo as the bad guy. It's as cliché and hammy as anything but somehow appropriate). Whilst the narrative feels a bit over long and gets dangerously close to being overly convoluted, you do feel enough of an attachment for each of the characters to follow them through on their journey. Some tightening up of the script would have paid wonders here.

But the story provides an adequate vehicle for some entertaining action set pieces. It's predominantly guns instead of fisticuffs here and whilst there's nothing that hasn't been seen before, each set piece is choreographed and shot with such gusto that you can't help but sit back and enjoy - even when things get (waaaay) over-the-top. But hey, that's part of the reason we watch these kind of films, right? I usually find Benny Chan's films a bit hit-and-miss because of either some ham-fisted bit of direction, an unnecessary amount of exposition and/or an out-of-place set piece - but here it works as a kind of pastiche of old school HK crime films. Whilst 'The White Storm' doesn't reach the heights of classic 80s HK cinema, there is definitely some fun to be had if you're in the mood for a good old brotherly shoot out.

In the House of Flies (2012)

A gritty, creepy and thoroughly enjoyable indie thriller

[8/10 · 19 March 2014]

Browsing through Mr Henry Rollins' IMDb page I stumbled across this entry and (also being a Deftones fan) thought I should look into it. The premise - although not overly original - seemed interesting enough, and after reading several online reviews I figured it was worth taking a chance on. I am certainly glad I did as 'In the House of Flies' is a brilliant slow-burning thriller that proves there is plenty of life in the indie thriller/horror scene.

The idea of watching two people in a cramped room being tormented over the telephone might not scream "excitement", but the physical limitations of the script and setting are what helps drive this film. The is a no-frills story: two ordinary people are thrust into an extraordinary situation and must deal with it. It's the pieces that come together to tell this story that makes the film so effective.

The performances by the two leads are stunning - you feel every ounce of fear, helplessness, hopelessness, determination, love and exhaustion as much as you see it etch into their faces as the film progresses. You latch onto and go along with these characters despite the fact you actually have very little background on them to start with - certainly a mark of effective and strong performances. A special mention must also be made for the sinister vocal performance of Henry Rollins - this guy is pure evil at the end of a telephone line.

The set design, lighting, sound design and photography help give a gritty and claustrophobic feeling to the film and there is some absolute technical wizardry going on that makes the most of given limitations (physical space, budget) without it ever feeling like cheating. I know nothing about the technical aspects of film-making but I marvelled at some of the shots and set ups that were achieved here. Even the little details (a puff of dirt here and there, insect noises) were very much appreciated.

Such a limited story does have some minor drawbacks. The narrative was a bit "jumpy" and disjointed (eg the mechanics of 'elapsed time' sometimes made it feel like something was missing in between scenes); and the ending will certainly be divisive. I personally like the open-endedness of it but there is a bit of an "OK but what now?" factor which makes it almost impossible for me to recommend it to my (less tolerant) friends. Oh well, their loss...

Overall, if you like your thrillers with a bit of grit and a lot of character - and don't mind a slow-burning story - this will be right up your alley. To me, true (cinematic) horror has never been about stories of demons or zombies or monsters or ghosts but those of the unspeakable things one seemingly normal human can inflict upon another - 'In the House of Flies' certainly fits this bill.

Loner (2008)

Below average horror mystery which is much less clever than it thinks it is

[4/10 · 15 March 2014]

Lively and outgoing high school student Su-na becomes a recluse after the sudden suicide of her best friend. Deep in despair, Su-na then discovers a shocking secret about her family which triggers a series of terrifying events that will change her life forever.

With a premise based on an important and often unspoken about social phenomena (hikikomori), 'Loner' had the potential to be an interesting horror mystery and/or provide some meaningful commentary on the effects of this sometimes tragic disorder. Unfortunately, it simply tries too hard to be clever and makes very little use of the potential story-telling aspects of hikikomori.

The main problem with 'Loner' is the multiple story strands and red herrings which are introduced and emphasised at various points during the film. Whilst this isn't a new phenomena in modern Korean horror, it is handled very clumsily here and causes the narrative to jar throughout. In addition, several overly melodramatic performances take the sting out of any impact the screenplay may have had.

Technically, the film looks and sounds fine but there is nothing here we haven't seen before. The horror set pieces are neither particularly special or memorable either.

If you're a K-Horror fan this is one you can safely pass on. If you are looking to get into the genre there are much better places to start (eg 'A Tale of Two Sisters', 'Memento Mori', 'Possessed', 'The Red Shoes', 'Someone Behind You', 'Epitaph').

Cold Eyes (2013)

A worthy addition to Korea's growing list of exciting crime thrillers

[8/10 · 11 March 2014]

Following on the heels of films such as 'New World', 'Nameless Gangster', 'A Company Man', and 'The Man From Nowhere', 'Cold Eyes' continues the recent run of entertaining crime thrillers coming out of South Korea.

An armed and dangerous gang of criminals have pulled off a near-perfect bank heist, in large part due to the planning of their highly intelligent leader James. The Korean Police Forces crack surveillance unit are tasked with tracking down the gang. Headed up by the reckless but kind-hearted Hwang Sang-jun and with highly-skilled new recruit Ha Yoon-ju on board, the team will need all of their skills to track down the gang before they strike again. But with James possessing an almost unparalleled sense of strategy and unerring attention-to-detail, the team will be hard-pressed to stop him.

'Cold Eyes' has a definite sense of style with its whirring CG effects and energetic set-pieces but this in no way overshadows the overall substance of the film. Told from the perspectives of the three leads - the firm but fair veteran; the determined but untested rookie; and the cold and calculating crim - the film barrels along at a rhythmic pace with some kinetic and exciting action sequences, whilst at the same time keeping you hooked with an intriguing cat-and-mouse storyline and well-developed characters. Good guy or bad guy, there is a definite sense of attachment following each character as they try to outfox their counterpart. Han Hyo-ju in particular does brilliantly as the rookie surveillance officer struggling with her emotions and her sense of professionalism - she has such an expressive face, its mesmerising at times. Fan favourite Jung Woo-sung (notwithstanding the dodgy hair-do) also has a memorable turn as the precise and cold-hearted gang leader.

There is a definite suspension of belief required whilst watching this film but it never gets to the point where it becomes outrageous or over-the-top silly (although it does get close a couple of times).

If you've enjoyed the recent string of crime thrillers from Korea or are just in the mood for an entertaining modern take on the cops-and-robbers story, this is definitely worth your time.

The Man from Earth (2007)

A divisive but thought-provoking sci-fi drama

[7/10 · 5 March 2014]

As with other reviewers I was suckered into seeking out this film by the high praise and intriguing premise. By the end I wasn't sure if I could say I enjoyed it - but it did make me think for a long time afterwards and for that it certainly warrants praise.

Yes, the film wears its low budget on its sleeve with its single setting, questionable set dressing (I know the main character lived in a cabin and was supposed to be moving away but still...) and hideous wardrobe. Yes, the characters are grossly stereotyped and the acting is quite stilted at times. And yes, the vast majority of the film consists of people (even worse, "intellectual" people) sitting in a room talking and the most vigorous piece of action is when the removalists take the furniture away (or when the psychologist goes into cardiac arrest, take your pick).

But damnit... I couldn't help but be drawn into the story that unfolded over the course of the film's runtime. It was preposterous, fantastical, cringe-worthy, wonderful, woeful, thoughtful and clumsy all at the same time. It stuck in my head for a few days afterwards... and (damnit again) it made me think! I can't honestly say I got "enjoyment" from watching this film - but it tickled something in the recesses of my brain that didn't go away. If only more films could be so affecting.

Thoughtful sci-fi should make you reflect on the outrageous situation/s it presents and how this may apply to our modern day lives, for better or worse. Forgive this film its technical limitations and I am certain you will get something similar out of it.

Shield of Straw (2013)

A tense character-driven crime thriller through the lens of Miike

[8/10 · 1 March 2014]

After the murder of his seven year old granddaughter, wealthy financial tycoon Takaoki Ninagawa offers a public reward of ¥1 billion to anyone who kills her murderer: convicted child rapist and murderer Kunihide Kiyomaru. After an attempt is made on his life, Kiyomaru turns himself in to the police and a five-person specialist team is assembled to escort him from Fukuoka to the District Attorney's office in Tokyo within the next 48 hours. But with potentially 125 million people after the reward and the temptation of a massive payout staring them in the face, the team are at long odds to successfully complete their mission.

I watched this not long after seeing two of director Takashi Miike's more recent efforts ('For Love's Sake' and 'Lesson of the Evil'). Like those, 'Shield of Straw' displays a definite mainstream style in comparison to other films in Miike's oeuvre, and here it lends itself quite well to the tense and thought-provoking material: five people are bound by duty to stand between the most reviled man in the nation and potentially millions of people who will do anything to get their hands on him. But those who are expecting a thrill-a-minute action-fest would do well to remember that this is a work of Miike (and of Japan) - character is definitely king.

'Shield of Straw' is very much a character-driven film. The set pieces and exposition push the story along (albeit a bit clumsily at times) but the real drivers are the characters, their motivations (vengeance, hatred, greed, honour, duty) and their subsequent actions after being thrust into an extraordinary set of circumstances. All of these are explored and ably expressed through terrific performances from the cast. Of particular note are the two leads, Takao Osawa as the duty-bound team leader with the unenviable task of protecting the most hated man in the country; and Tatsuya Fujiwara as the killer whose seeming lack of motive makes him all the more chilling (his ambiguous last words are particularly disquieting). Also an honourable mention should be made for the brief but impactful appearance of Tsutomu Yamazaki as the frail billionaire whose wealth means nothing in the face of having lost someone so dear to him.

The film also touches on ubiquitous aspects of Japanese culture (honour and duty above all else, the common greater good taking precedence over the needs of the individual) and raises interesting questions as to whether these are 'right or wrong'.

Overall (and as long as you aren't expecting a mass of explosions and bloody stand-offs every five minutes) 'Shield of Straw' is a terrific and thought-provoking film that will please Miike fans and those who appreciate great character-driven crime thrillers.