True Nature (2010) A teenager returns home to her family after being missing a year, but as the truth emerges, the family unit unravels. A poor effort as this thriller decides to substitute mystery for a series of weird scenes that are weird for weird's sake, hints at a horror/ supernatural angle for no particular reason, with a solution once explained that is pretty illogical. Indeed, take away some swearing, one nude scene and a bit of gore, this is flat as one of those Channel 5 made for TV thrillers. One plus point is a decent lead performance from unknown Marianne Porter. 4/10
Robert Wise's faithful adaptation of Michael Crichton's celebrated novel is smart and auspensful.With wonderful performances from all involved,especially James Olsen and Arthur Hill.The scene where the two ponder as to why the baby has not succumbed to the deadly extraterrestrial virus is particularly effective.An overlooked classic in my opinion.
Genenitic Engineering turns normal snakehead fish into enormous monsters that hunt people in the bayou.Despite some impressive artwork on the poster,don't be suckered in.Mark Dippe's film is embarrassingly bad,with terrible actors,terrible acting and one dimensional characters you could never care about,this isn't even worth it just for a chuckle.
The Warriors(1979) Directed by Walter Hill, The Warriors are a gang framed for the murder of a main gang leader, who have to make their way across night time New York back to their base, Coney Island. Using a mix of authentic locations and stylised gang costumes and violence, this film imaginatively directed with interesting, sometimes slang dialogue. Decent soundtrack too, you can see how it obtained its cult status. Now I need to watch The Wanderers.... 7/10
An oversized Gila Monster goes on the rampage in a small American town,killing everything in its path.The local police and a gang of hot rod enthusiasts team up to try and defeat the animal.Director Ray Kellogg did his best with a very small budget and simply used a regular Gila monster interacting with scale models of cars and trains to project the threat of the creature.One of many nature's revenge films made in that period.
The Devil's Rejects (2005) Directed and written by Ron Zombie and set in 1970s, a backwards family who've sadistically murdered 60 plus people are pursued by a police sheriff who is warped by revenge as his brother was one of their victims. Pretty violent and grim but still entertainingly directed and boosted by decent performances, William Forsythe as the sheriff especially good. A fine Southern influenced soundtrack too. 6.5/10
An outcast cadet called Stanley Cooper(Clint Howard)finds a way to summon the power of sadistic demons and cast spells on his computer to exact revenge on his tormentors.Its a basically Carrie but with a male protagonist and set at a military installation instead of a high school.Director Eric Watson handles the unoriginal material with a certain flare though and thanks to a strong performance from the late, great R.G Armstrong,the film is pretty enjoyable.
Doubt(2008) Set in 1964, a Catholic school principal played by Meryl Streep questions a Father's (Philip Seymour Hoffman) relationship with a young boy chorister. Dealing with the power of gossip/unfounded accusations and also different strands of the Catholic religion, conservative and progressive. The script is intelligent, and the acting is riveting, not just Streep and Hoffman, but Viola Davis and Amy Adams. When the film concludes it is not neatly wrapped up, leaving many thought provoking questions. 7.5/10
RoboGeisha - and absolute croc of shite everybody should put themselves through, if only to give me the knowledge that I alone had not wasted some of my life on it. -20/10.
