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Caged Heat (1974)
BEHAVIORAL CORRECTION...
Director Jonathan Demme's CAGED HEAT is a great example of the Women In Prison movie. All of the prerequisites are here:
#1- Women in snazzy street clothes behind bars!
#2- Multiple, full-on shower scenes!
#3- Cat fights!
#4- Thuggish / hillbilly guards!
#5- A sadistic, insane female Warden (played by the one and only Barbara Steele)!
#6- Gun fights!
#7- Hard core inmates!
#8- Breakouts!
#9- Torture!
Yes, this is a masterwork of its subgenre, and one of the gems in Producer Roger Corman's crown. Erica Gavin plays the woman who gets caught at the beginning, winding up in the pen. It's rough going, especially when she crosses paths with the tough-talking, no-nonsense Maggie (Juanita Brown). Ms. Steele's character isn't in it as much as you might think, but she makes the best of her crackpot role. Also, watch for Rainbeaux Smith as the very lovely Lavelle.
Highly recommended for the true WIP connoisseur...
Acción mutante (1993)
Freak Power...
MUTANT ACTION is a perfectly weird-on-purpose satire, cloaked in a sci-fi veneer. The group of alien terrorists of the title go on a rampage of carnage and destruction, in their quest to send a message to The Beautiful People. After abducting the daughter of an ultra-rich food magnate, the group finds that they have a murderous traitor among them.
Director Alex de la Iglesia's debut feature is a total blast from start to finish. The Mutants are an ecclectic bunch of oddball characters with assorted disabilities, with a megalomaniacal boss (Antonio Resines) calling all the shots. As the movie unfolds, we're taken from Earth into space, and onto another planet. A lot of the madness is reminiscent of Terry Gilliam or early Aussie films in this subgenre.
A highly entertaining romp with a terrific finale... ...
El día de la bestia (1995)
Into The Inferno...
Director Alex de la Iglesia's THE DAY OF THE BEAST is about a Priest / theologian named Father Cura (Alex Angulo), and his mission to contact the Devil. He must meet the Evil One in order to thwart the Apocalypse. To accomplish this, Cura must first become a degenerate sinner. Together with a heavy metal aficionado and a TV psychic (Santiago Segura and Armando De Razza), Cura sets out to save the world.
Let the hellish hilarity commence.
First off, this is a fantastic horror-comedy, with plenty of laughs and gruesome fun. It also has a great plot for a movie of it's subgenre. Father Cura's quest turns into a true odyssey through the nocturnal recesses of Madrid. There honestly isn't a dull moment, as the trio seek out the Devil's lair.
Highly recommended for those looking for something humorous, exhilarating, and very different...
Black Moon (1934)
Sacrifice...
In BLACK MOON, a woman (Dorothy Burgess) is drawn back to the island of San Christopher, due to her obsession with the occult practices of the people there. Her husband sends his secretary (Fay Wray) along, and soon arrives himself.
Mysterious deaths and bizarre occurrences ensue.
This movie has a dark atmosphere of building dread, with some fairly unsettling moments for its era. It fits in really well with other films of its subgenre, like WHITE ZOMBIE or I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE. The use of voodoo is actually frightening, and the use of the creole language helps to make it more authentic.
Fans of Fay Wray should love this, since she's very good in her role...
Possessor (2020)
Recalibration...
Writer / Director Brandon Cronenberg's POSSESSOR is a tense, disturbing horror / sci-fi film. Andrea Riseborough stars as Tasya Vos, an assassin of a completely different sort. After a brutal, gore-drenched opening, we're shown increasingly more of what's going on, and what makes Vos such a unique killer.
Mr. Cronenberg has certainly inherited his father's taste for the original and bizarre. He keeps the atmosphere cold and bleak throughout, with sequences ranging from odd to truly shocking. Ms. Risenborough gives a convincing performance. We definitely see that her profession is taking a heavy toll on her, and that something catastrophic is inevitable.
While the whole movie is a mind-f'er, the ending is a real jaw-dropper. Recommended for those seeking unsettling cinema that is completely out of the ordinary...
The Prodigy (2019)
Heterochromia Iridia...
THE PRODIGY is an effective killer / creepy kid movie, with a nice supernatural twist. Jackson Robert Scott plays young Miles Blume, who just happens to be born at the exact same time as an event that takes place at the beginning. As Miles grows up, his doting mother and father (Taylor Schilling and Peter Mooney) start to notice some odd, even sinister, things about his behavior. When mom seeks outside help, Miles shifts into an even more diabolical mode.
For movies in this subgenre to be successful, the child in question must be, not only dangerous, but believable as a threat. Scott does an admirable job at convincing us of his malevolence. It's a bit more complicated than other such films, making Miles a semi-sympathetic character, caught up in something beyond his control.
A dark, sometimes shocking film, with a perfectly bleak ending...
Geostorm (2017)
Space Debris...
GEOSTORM is another absurd "disaster movie" from one of the most prolific producers / purveyers of such fare, Dean Devlin, who often abets his cohort, Director Roland Emmerich. Directing here, Mr. Devlin fills his movie with plenty of Earthbound and outer space antics.
Apparently, humankind has finally beaten the climate crisis, erecting an enormous, global latticework / megastructure (sort of a meteorological Dyson Sphere) to control the world's weather. Not-So-shockingly, something goes terribly awry, causing the titanic contraption's creator, Jake Lawson (Gerard Butler) to leap into action.
Hilarity and explosions ensue.
Utterly ridiculous from start to finish, it is also quite entertaining, especially whenever someone gets sucked out into space, or a city is hit by a thousand foot tidal wave.
Get out the popcorn and -preferably hard- drinks, and settle into that comfy chair. This is why God invented alcohol...
Atomic Blonde (2017)
Spy Vs. Spy...
ATOMIC BLONDE is 100% Charlize Theron's movie. From start to finish she captivates our attention. As government agent, Lorraine Broughton, Ms. Theron is an explosive, one-woman strike force, engaging in several stylish, highly-memorable martial arts fights and gun battles. The plot is filled with intrigue, double and triple crosses, as well as a few poignant moments.
Sitting through an inquiry, Lorraine tells her story in flashback sequences. All of the action takes place in Cold War-era East and West Berlin. Lorraine is attempting to retreive some vital information, and get it out of the East. Many surprising twists develop along the way.
A fantastic spy thriller with a great finale...
Jaws: The Revenge (1987)
Shark On A Mission...
JAWS: THE REVENGE reintroduces Mrs. Brody (Lorraine Gary), the widow of Sheriff Brody, into the story. In this late sequel, she seems to have some psychic connection with "The Shark". It is stalking her and her sons, one of whom runs into "The Shark" at the very beginning, resulting in tragedy.
So the remaining Brodys head for The Bahamas, in a plane flown by Michael Caine. Wouldn't you know it, "The Shark" needs a vacation too.
Horror ensues.
This is absolutely the weakest of the JAWS movies, with a preposterous plot that turns "The Shark" into an almost supernatural killing machine out to avenge the death(s) of one or more of its relatives. The fact that it hones in on the Brody family is the most insane aspect, adding hilarity to the mix. Otherwise, all we've got is the budding romance between Mrs. Brody and "Hoagie" (Caine).
The action level is extremely low, leaving us to root for "The Shark".
This film also shows a lot more of the poor, rubbery creature than the other entries, allowing us to see it jerk and bobble along through the waves. There was a good reason why Steven Spielberg showed so little of this robo-fish in his classic original. It looks utterly absurd when shown for too long in too much light.
Recommended for your next cheeezy movie soiree. Large amounts of intoxicants are also highly recommended...
The Purge (2013)
Neighborhood Watch...
THE PURGE is a dystopian horror film about the titular event, an annual night of lawless violence and mayhem. On this night anything goes, including murder, with no legal repercussions. It's part of a system brought in by the so-called "New Founding Fathers", who have apparently seized control of the government.
Ethan Hawke plays a husband and father who has gotten quite wealthy selling security systems. On the night of The Purge, he seals himself and his loved ones inside their fortress-like home, complete with metal plates over the windows, and security cameras everywhere. Of course, there are also plenty of guns in the house. The plan is to simply wait out the night.
It doesn't take long for the plan to start unraveling.
One complaint that could be raised about this movie is that all of the action takes place inside the house, with only the occasional glimpse of the horrors going on elsewhere. However, some of what is outside does threaten the family, making things very tense indeed.
This movie raises some deeper issues that must be faced as well. There are questions of class distinctions, and the moral question of what it is that -supposedly- separates us from other animals. This is really brought out toward the middle of the film. There's a healthy dose of black humor to be found here too.
So, while those expecting a mindless bloodbath might be disappointed, those looking for something a bit smarter might enjoy it...
Jaws 2 (1978)
Second Bite...
JAWS 2 has several things going for it. Roy Scheider is brought back as Sheriff Brody, Lorraine Gary returns as his wife, and Murray Hamilton reprises his role as the craven, soulless mayor of Amity Island. Together, they add continuity to the story. Mr. Scheider is every bit as good as he was in the original film.
The real problem lies in the plot, which is rather lackluster compared to the first movie. It's pretty much a by-the-numbers monster movie, with a big shark killing its unwitting human snacks. There's no epic adventure or the comradery between central characters. We know what's going to happen from the very beginning.
Still, it manages to be entertaining and worth seeing, mostly due to Mr. Scheider's involvement.
Not a terrible follow-up, just don't expect a masterpiece...
Die Welle (2008)
White Shirts...
THE WAVE takes a hard look at human nature, conformity, alienation, and the attraction inherent in a sense of belonging. The power of the group is examined, as well as the roots of autocratic movements. It also shows the effects of such movements on certain young minds, with tragic results.
When a teacher (Jurgen Vogel) is assigned a class project, he makes the best of it, though it's not the one he wanted. His assignment is to teach his students about autocracy. At first, it's all good fun, but things soon take a serious turn, as the teens start to find their identity in the group, complete with a uniform dress code, a logo, and a special salute.
This is a German film, so it's not surprising that Nazism is touched on, but in this updated version of authoritarianism, different races and religions are welcome, as long as they accept the rules. This actually makes it even more insidious, because it's harder to spot.
A frank, somewhat bleak film with a strong central message...
Red Dragon (2002)
"I Have No Pity!"...
RED DRAGON is one of those rare sequels that rivals the original film. It's actually a prequel that takes place before the events of THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS or HANNIBAL.
Retired FBI agent, Will Graham (Edward Norton), is drawn back into service when a killer known as "The Tooth Fairy" , aka: Francis Dolarhyde (Ralph Fiennes), begins murdering unsuspecting families in hideous ways. Graham must enlist the help of Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), whom he had caught years earlier, in order to track down this latest fiend.
Mr. Norton is outstanding in his dogged role, doing some exemplary detective work. Harvey Keitel is perfect as Graham's driven boss, and Emily Watson plays Reba McClane, the woman who reveals just how complex Mr. Dolarhyde truly is. Special mention must go to Mr. Fiennes, who gives us a deranged character with psychological depth. Dolarhyde is no slobbering madman. His intelligence, as with Dr. Lecter, makes him all the more terrifying and dangerous.
A classic in its own right...
John Dies at the End (2012)
Speak Directly Into The Bratwurst...
Director Don Coscarelli has a real knack for bizarre, scary movies with a twisted sense of humor, and a heavy dose of surreality. JOHN DIES AT THE END is no exception.
Two slacker-types (Chase Williamson and Rob Mayes) stumble into an arcane underworld of supernatural conspiracies after ingesting a strange new street drug known as "Soy Sauce". Their lives are never the same, now imbued with abilities beyond their comprehension.
Mr Coscarelli has a field day with the subject matter, introducing us to such things as: A monster made of frozen meat; a TV psychic warrior (Clancy Brown); A trans-dimensional alien (Doug Jones) on a mission; and a dog (Bark Lee) that is boosted beyond all known canine capacity.
Highly recommended for lovers of all things absurd and hilarious...
Deliver Us from Evil (2014)
Incantations...
DELIVER US FROM EVIL is that rare horror film that deals with the subject of demon possession in a serious, highly-terrifying manner, and doesn't seem absurd, cheeezy, or preachy.
Police Officer Sarchie (Eric Bana) has a knack for taking calls that turn out to be more than they appear to be. He's seen some grisly cases, including the most vile of offenses. When he and his partner answer a domestic violence call, they have no idea what their about to get themselves into. Nothing is right about this one, and Sarchie soon finds himself up against things that he can neither handle nor explain.
Enter Jesuit Priest, Father Mendoza (Edgar Ramirez), a not-so-typical man of the cloth with a past. Sarchie must join forces with Mendoza if he and his family are to survive.
This movie ranges from unsettling to ominous, then ventures into shocking territory, especially the ferocious final conflict! We definitely get the impression that anything can happen, and that no one is safe. One of the best examples of its subgenre since THE EXORCIST (1973)...
The Messengers (2007)
Hell Farm...
In THE MESSENGERS, a family moves into an old farmhouse to raise sunflowers, after the terrifying opening, where we're shown what happened in the house a few years prior. Mom (Penelope Ann Miller) is hesitant, while dad (Dylan McDermott) is ready to get that first crop planted. Luckily, a wandering man (John Corbett) with a big gun happens along just in time to scare away some pesky crows. Not-too surprisingly, he becomes the farmhand.
Meanwhile, the angst-filled, teen daughter (Kristen Stewart) investigates her new, creepy homestead, and her toddler brother sees what the adults can't see.
This isn't a bad movie, and it's even a bit scary here and there. The adults are oblivious for the most part, leaving Ms. Stewart's character to do the heavy lifting. The one complaint is the use of fast ghosts that climb around on walls and ceilings like cockroaches. This has rarely worked, and usually looks fake. It does nothing to enhance the fear factor, and, as in this movie, it takes the viewer right out of it.
Other than that, it's an enjoyable yarn...
The Bone Collector (1999)
Flashback...
THE BONE COLLECTOR stars Denzel Washington as forensic investigator, Lincoln Rhyme. After a tragic accident leaves him paralyzed from the shoulders down, Rhyme has come to the conclusion that he should simply end his life. Enter rookie cop, Amelia Donaghy (Angelina Jolie), who answers a call, only to stumble upon a bizarre murder scene. When Rhyme is brought in on the case, he finds himself working with Donaghy, and realizing that she has a gift for forensics. Together, they race against the clock to catch the titular madman
Both Mr. Washington and Ms. Jolie are superb in their roles, playing off each other in a natural, believable way. Their growing relationship seems real, and the chemistry is there. The mystery is intriguing, though the movie could have used another 20 minutes or so to flesh things out.
The rest of the cast is also solid, with Ed O'Neill putting in a rare, non-comedic performance as a police detective; Queen Latifah playing Rhyme's kind-but-tough nurse, Thelma; Luis Guzman as Rhyme's assistant, and Michael Rooker as the meddling, overbearing Police Captain.
Made during the 1990s fascination with serial killers, this movie is one of the better examples of the subgenre...
Death Wish (2018)
Becoming The Reaper...
DEATH WISH is an update of the 1974 Charles Bronson original. As such, it's not bad. Bruce Willis plays Paul Kersey, a man who is pushed over the edge after his wife and daughter are brutally attacked by heinous thugs. A non-violent man, and a novice with firearms, Kersey soon learns how to handle a gun. He then sets out on a vigilante rampage throughout downtown Chicago.
As in the first incarnation, Kersey is a sympathetic antihero on a mission, happening upon crimes wherever he goes. This gives him ample opportunity to take out the trash.
Mr. Willis is solid in this later role. He's older, which fits, since he's supposed to be a John Q. Public type character. Vincent D'Onofrio is believable as his middle-aged slacker brother.
Recommended for fans of revenge films...
Armageddon (1998)
Pivotal...
Director Michael Bay's ARMAGEDDON is one of the touchstone films of the 1990s. It's a disaster / apocalyptic movie with an all-star cast, including Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, and Liv Tyler.
True to the title, we are almost immediately plunged into the coming catastrophe when an enormous asteroid is discovered, and it's heading toward our planet. We are introduced to Harry Stamper (Willis) and his team of oil-rig roughnecks. We are also made privy to the desperate plans of NASA and the government / military, represented by Billy Bob Thornton and Kieth David respectively.
It's not long before Stamper and his crew are being trained for a mission to -literally- save the world.
Mr. Bay pulls out all the stops here, giving us some big CGI effects sequences, with NYC, Shanghai, and Paris suffering huge damage. He's obviously learned a lot from the Roland Emmerich playbook!
This is a fully gung ho movie, loaded with courageous acts, sacrifice, and patriotism. Mr. Willis carries much of the film, doing what he does best.
A classic that helped to define its decade...
Under the Skin (2013)
Trawling...
UNDER THE SKIN is probably not for everyone. Rather than overt horror, it belongs more in the disturbing / unsettling category. In this, it definitely succeeds. During an enigmatic opening sequence, we're introduced to a strange woman (Scarlett Johansson), who travels the roads of Scotland in search of men. Only certain men will do, and we soon find out that the woman's needs are anything but ordinary. She is assisted in her venture by a mysterious man on a motorcycle.
Instead of spoon-feeding us through explanatory dialogue, the Director allows the story to unfold naturally, telling its own tale. Ms. Johansson's character is the center of the film, appearing in almost every scene. We watch her undergo a metamorphosis of sorts that accelerates toward the bizarre final act.
The big questions are: "What is she?" and "What is she doing?". We're given several hints, and one in particular, involving one of the victims waking from his trance-like state, is a jaw-dropper!
Recommended for those in the mood for something VERY different...
Turbo Kid (2015)
"This Is My Weapon! This Is My Gnome-Stick!"...
TURBO KID is a retro, post-apocalyptic adventure. Set in a devastated 1997, it's sort of a comedic version of MAD MAX, with bicycles instead of cars, and a teenage scavenger (Munro Chambers) as the antihero known only as The Kid. Once The Kid stumbles upon a particular suit, the movie transitions into near Power Ranger territory. With his sidekick, Apple (Laurence Leboeuf) in trouble, The Kid must battle the nefarious Zeus (Michael Ironside), and his malignant minions.
This results in tremendously gory, ultra-violent, hysterically funny entertainment!
Young Mr. Chambers and Ms. Leboeuf make a great fighting duo, and it's always a treat to see Mr. Ironside in another eeevil role.
A well-realized example of its sub-subgenre...
Rambo (2008)
Drawn Back Into The Fray...
Now living a quiet existence in the wilds of Thailand, John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) just wants to be left alone. When a group of Christian missionaries tries to get him to take them down river to help some desparate villagers, he refuses. It takes quite a while for something to change Rambo's mind. What happens next is a white-knuckle adventure that rivals even the original film.
Mr. Stallone has never been better than he is here. Rambo was already an iconic figure, and he could have just remained in our memories. It's always risky to bring back such a role, especially after several years. Well, the risk certainly paid off. Rambo is a true antihero, forced to step in when ruthless pirates, vicious soldiers and mercenaries enter the picture. Yes, we know the drill, but boy is it exciting to watch!
Highly recommended for established fans of the first three Rambo films, and for action fans in general...
Deathgasm (2015)
Brotherhood Of Steel...
DEATHGASM is a gift for anyone who grew up loving black or death metal, or just heavy metal in general, especially if you were despised for it. The music is fantastic throughout, and never wimps out. Milo Cawthorne is perfect as the new kid in town, Brodie. He meets some fellow outcasts, but it's when he meets Zakk (James Blake) that things really take off. Kimberly Crossman plays Medina, starting out as the cute love interest, and blossoming into a kick-a$$ demon fighter.
This is a hilarious homage to metalheads, as well as a tribute to zombies of the demonically-possessed variety. Fans of Sam Raimi's original EVIL DEAD films, or early Peter Jackson (BAD TASTE, DEAD ALIVE) will be ecstatic over the gallons of spilling, spurting, and spraying blood! Most of the gore is done using practical effects!
Not for the squeamish or those without a functioning funny bone...
The Editor (2014)
"If This Is Living, I Want No Part Of It!"...
In THE EDITOR, we get the intended Bava / Argento vibe right away. The wooden acting and dubbed dialogue; the dayglow color scheme / lighting; the spraying blood; the mysogeny; the late 1970s-80s fashions; etcetera; it's all here. Part homage and all parody, the Directors show a lot of love for the giallo subgenre, while lampooning the hell out of it.
The result is hilarious.
Adam Brooks is the title character, Rey Ciso, a man with a certain disability, caused by his earlier attempt at editing the world's longest film. Now, murders are happening to the leading men in Ciso's latest project, all left with the very same disability. The cops are stumped, with Ciso himself under heavy suspicion.
Death, red herrings, and nudity abound.
Fans of vintage Italian crime cinema should watch this immediately...
The Green Mile (1999)
Walking The Mile...
Obviously, Stephen King is known as a prolific horror author, but his best movie adaptations are drawn from his non-horror offerings. THE GREEN MILE is a superior example of this. Director Frank Darabont sticks close to the source material, allowing King's fantasy story of madness and miracles on death row, to play out as Mr. King intended.
Tom Hanks is dead-on as Paul Edgecomb, a lead guard on the titular Mile. David Morse is Edgecomb's towering coworker, Brutus "Brutal" Howell. Together with their other cohorts, they try to keep the peace, and avoid stressing out those destined to "ride the lightning".
Enter the enormous, convicted murderer, John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan), who towers over everyone, even Brutal. This imposing man is more than he appears to be, and becomes the heart and soul of the movie.
The emotional depth found here is astonishing, especially for a prison film. As in THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, it's less about steel bars and concrete, and far more about the lighter / darker sides of humanity. John Coffey represents the former, seeming to perform miracles, while an inmate known as "Billy The Kid" (Sam Rockwell) and a sadistic guard named Percy (Doug Hutchison) provide the darkness.
Mr. Duncan plays John as a gentle giant with an impossible gift. Edgecomb's interaction with him is life-altering. Don't be fooled, there are as many shocking moments as there are heartwarming ones. However, true to Mr. King's original vision, there's a great deal of poignancy and pathos mixed with the good and wickedness.
A truly great film that has become a classic...