stunospam-ta Reviews

Dracula (2006 TV Movie)

Poor

[4/10 · 29 December 2006]

Being a huge fan of the book and countless other screen adaptations, especially Hammer's fine back catalogue, I looked forward to this with eager anticipation.

Although I found the twists in the plot to be really exciting and a breath of fresh air, I personally found that the hammy acting spoiled it and thought that Mina and Lucy were just plain awful. Not convincing whatsoever.

The creepy Warren gave me some hope as Dracula, although he didn't have presence of character enough to pull it off. I guess not too many actors do! I can only think of Christopher Lee, Bela Lugosi and Gary Oldman who have pulled it off.

David Suchet played a fantastic van Helsing, however and for me, was the star of an otherwise disappointing adaptation.

August Underground's Mordum (2003 Video)

Pathetic

[1/10 · 25 December 2006]

There is no entertainment factor to this. It's just mindless pathetic and sick. Done for shock factor and yeah it gets that. Why watch something that turns your stomach so badly? I don't know, I loaned this from a friend who hadn't had time to watch it. I watched it out of sheer boredom whilst nursing a sense of disgust/hatred/anger/nausea.

OK, people may like those types of films that's up to them.

I like horror films, this isn't a horror film, it's just a brutal. Paedo-necrophilia does not make for good viewing. There are enough social problems going on in this world without rubbish like this polluting the minds of the psychologically vulnerable.

Hostel (2005)

A violent attack on the senses

[7/10 · 28 March 2006]

Having been pleasantly surprised by Eli Roth's Cabin Fever, and falling for the sucker puncher that was Tarantino's involvement, albeit minimal, I eagerly awaited this film.

The film borrows ideas from across the board but is certainly original in it's shock value! Whilst I have seen many, many horror films from the comparatively tame but classic Hammer films to the more extreme films like Takashi Miike's Audition (Miike actually has a brief cameo in Hostel) and the total gross-out films such as Cannibal Holocaust and Zombie Flesh Eaters; Hostel left me feeling extremely uneasy unlike a lot of it's predecessors.

It would be hard not to be lured into the jaws of doom by the absolutely beautiful Natalya & Svetlana, and indeed that's when things begin to go horribly wrong for our 3 young hedonistic travellers.

Jan Vlasak should be applauded for his portrayal of the particularly unnerving, failed surgeon. The reason he didn't make the grade as a surgeon is revealed, much to the terror of young Josh.

The group of infant thieves is a nice touch and added a somewhat morbid comedy factor to Hostel, but not as to the detriment of the overall theme.

Extreme, brutal, stylish and aesthetically grand (well, not for poor Yuki!) but I still can't decide whether I really liked it or I was repulsed by it. Perhaps it was both. Some censorship is avoided I presume, by not mixing the sex with the violence or vice versa. I think that means mission accomplished by Eli Roth & his mate Quentin.

It will be interesting to see whether Hostel 2 can maintain the tension and evolve at all or just sink into awful sequel oblivion.

After Hours (I) (1985)

Scorsese's Unsung Hero

[10/10 · 20 March 2006]

This film is fantastic. One of my top 10 all time greats up there on my personal favourites list with the likes of Jaws, Halloween, Pulp Fiction, Enter The Dragon, Weird Science, The Devil Rides Out, Grease, The Craft, American Werewolf In London & A Clockwork Orange.

Yet it is unlike any of them. This is a dark, amusing, sometimes uncomfortable and paranoid story of a young office worker Paul (Dunne), who finds himself in increasingly bizarre situations as the night goes on. It all starts when he meets a young woman in a café (Arquette) and ends up calling her to procure a cream cheese & plaster-of-Paris bagel paperweight. He ends up as a wanted man by a whole neighbourhood through chance, coincidence and, more often, sheer bad luck.

I can't say enough about this film - it is a truly overlooked gem of the movie world. Griffin Dunne's character, Paul, often reminds me of Patrick Macgoohan's 'No.2' from the exceptional Prisoner series.

I find this film is best watched in the small hours, on your own, in the dark, with a nice bottle of wine. Oh, and I'll take a reign check on the cream cheese bagel.

Stuey :)

The Brides of Dracula (1960)

A great Hammer film even without Christopher Lee

[9/10 · 20 March 2006]

This is a lush, atmospheric film from the Hammer house of horror. Even with the absence of the Count (Dracula is 'dead' unlike his disciples i.e. the Baron Meinster) there is enough going on here to make this a classic.

David Peel is an interesting choice of actor (I believe he went on to quit acting shortly after this and open an antiques shop) but shines as the Baron.

Peter Cushing is once again the hero and, once again, flawless in his acting.

The sets are great and the story brilliant. You must see this film if you enjoy old vampire films.

Stuey :)