kmerlkey Reviews

Where the Devil Roams (2023)

Poetic Dark Fantasy

[9/10 · 25 November 2023]

After waiting for the film to be available on Demand, I was finally able to watch it last night and I enjoyed it immensely. I have seen KNUCKLE JACK, THE DEEPER YOU DIG, and HELLBENDER. It is the same voice of the Adams Family in those films that you'll find in this one. It opens with a vaudevillian style reading of a poem filmed with a black & white vignette. The poem, read by a tattooed and pierced amputee is the theme and main plot device of the entire film as it deals with loneliness and longing among the outcast, neglected, and broken. It follows a small family Seven (John Adams), Maggie (Toby Poser), and Eve (Zelda Adams), in a Northeast carnival circuit after World War I. At times the setting is hard to maintain and draws attention away from the story (like well maintained and paved rural roads) but the award winning cinematography makes up for it by keeping the mood set in a cold, unforgiving world where people on the fringe of society still want to be loved.

I would recommend this and any Adam's Family film to any movie lover that wanted something unique, original, and full of heart. It took a moment for me to warm up to it, but even being a fan of the filmmakers, but once I did I was reminded why I'm a fan.

Funhouse (2019)

Maintains the status quo

[5/10 · 29 April 2023]

Swedish (in English) version of Squid Games meets Big Brother. It's better than expected, but when it tries to moralize it maintains the status quo. The characters are engaging and the acting is okay ("Headstone", Xihema, and Ula are stand outs) while the villain is truly villainous the lesson in morality of shallow entertainment vs human purpose is what one would expect from the entertainment industry: stick around after a word from our sponsors. 8 D-G list celebrities from around the globe compete for $5mm with the losers getting executed. The games are not particularly inspiring nor are the leads, but the supporting cast carries the film through to the end.

Joint Custody (2023)

Great example of what's available Tubi

[9/10 · 27 April 2023]

Every work of art should be judged based on the artist's intent and as a result I give JOINT CUSTODY a 9/10. It's a microbudget independent film that knows its audience. Bray Films, a family owned production company, gives it a "kitchen sink" approach similar to early Wayans Bros (family) projects. While there seems to be far too many characters to keep track of who is who, the almost anthology style of story telling maintains a solid through-line of relationships within a black community - wives, husbands, fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters - it's about how each and every one bump up against one another and try to get through their day to day life. The writing is solid in that each scene keeps the audience entertained and does an excellent job of leading to the next, but it still become quite confusing as to whose story you're trying to follow.

For Tubi audiences this is perfect. You'll get a little bit of everything with the comedy (the roasts are pure fire) and melodrama (the petty is strong) and uneven acting (not everyone needs to a line in the movie) but the sound is on point, the framing is inspired, and it does leave you wanting to see more.

Strange Nature (2018)

Entertaining Creature Feature

[9/10 · 16 August 2020]

Strange Nature is billed as an eco-thriller, but its strong roots is in your class creature features like Anaconda, The Thing, or Black Sheep.

Kim Sweet, a failed pop star that degraded her hometown, returns to her dad's home with her son Brody and quickly discovers that the neighboring wildlife is mutating as the result of untested chemicals being used on local crops. Meanwhile, one of these mutant beasts has begun attacking and killing some of the locals.

The film features great creature effects by director and effects rockstar Jim Ojala. It also boast some surprising performances by Stephen Tobolowsky, John Hennigan, and Faust Checho.

If you enjoy spending your weekends watching SyFy, Shudder, or classic horror dvd's then give it a view and you won't be disappointed.

Found (III) (2012)

Great Story

[9/10 · 1 April 2014]

I purchased a DVD copy of this film a year ago. The story is captivating. Many reviews discuss the budget and how all the perceived flaws can be forgiven once it is taken into consideration, but there was no budget when the script was written and it's that story that makes FOUND a 9 out of 10. The story begins when Marty Brown discovers his older brother Steve is a serial killer. From there it deals with several themes: fraternal relations, media violence, bullying, coming of age, voyeurism (particularly the young male's view of the female body) and never gives the audience an easy answer. By the story's end the audience is left wondering how anyone could experience such events and not be a little messed up themselves. The bottom line is that, if you get a chance to see this film, take it. It's a great story.