What Films Have You Seen Recently?

[Justin101]

Haven't updated this thread with my watches for a while so I'm going to cheat today.



Hercules was crap but really entertaining Hana-bi was a first time watch for me and it was almost perfect, a really good drama about a man's life going out of control.

I bought the Nikkatsu Diamond Guys Vol 1 set and all 3 of the films were really entertaining and if you're wondering whether to get it I'd recommend it to fans of crime films although I think all 3 of them have musical interludes!

Last night I watched Vampyros Lesbos for the first time in 20 years and I really enjoyed it for its psychedelia and look even if the plot was pretty thin. It's essentially a 90 minute music video. Jess Franco was fun as a crazed sex killer too Does anyone know what the scorpion is supposed to represent?

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Frankie Teardrop

WISHMASTER 2: EVIL NEVER DIES – I found it mesmerising. Though sadly not enough to inspire me to check out the other sequels, which I'm told are awful.

Oh, you really should Frankie.

I like them if that's anything to go off.

[gag]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

Oh, you really should Frankie.

I like them if that's anything to go off.

No not really.

[Demoncrat]

Deadpool (2016. Tim Miller)
Finally a film about a cape that is the cinematic equivalent of reading a graphic novel. IMO!


Friday The 13th Part 2 (1981. Steve Miner)
Hey! Let's make money.....
Still one of the sillier films I've seen. The padding, er, exposition at the beginning, the awful "set up", "You're doomed!!!" An embryonic Jason sporting a tattie sack.......

I love it. Didn't love the R rated print though.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by gag

No not really.

So what are your thoughts on the Wishmaster sequels?

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Cubbyhouse (2001)

Following a messy divorce, a woman and her three children move back to Australia and purchase a new property. It's not long before her two youngest children become obsessed with an old cubbyhouse out the back as gruesome past events start to relive themselves.

This Australian horror from 2001 harks back to the days of the FX laden late 80's with an approach somewhat like the Evil Dead - all tangling vines which come alive, orifices being entered, blood flowing down the steps and glowing pentagrams on the wall. It also reminds me a little of Lucio Fulci's creature fascination as a kid is enveloped in cockroaches. It's the reminders of bygone times that makes Cubbyhouse a diverting little watch and something of a curio, it also seems quite dated because of this, even with that charming quaintness.

Unfortunately once we get into the story it all becomes a tad routine and indeed ridiculous, - an outhouse possessed by Satan... i mean really! This isn't MTDS's country retreat.

Lacking in gore and any real threat, Cubbyhouse's occasional interesting parts really don't add up to an awful lot.

[keirarts]

Originally Posted by Justin101

It's between this and The Finest Hours for my cinema trip this week, I can't decide between the 2 as they both look equal in their 3/5 estimated review scores from me

Well tripple 9 is probably at that level. It was entertaining enough that I didn't hate it.

[bizarre_eye@Cult Labs]

All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)



A young soldier faces profound disillusionment in the soul-destroying horror of World War I. Together with several other young German soldiers, he experiences the horrors of war, such evil of which he had not conceived of when signing up to fight. They eventually become sad, tormented, and confused of their purpose.

All Quiet on the Western Front does not sugar coat the horrors of war and still manages to pack a punch; even for audiences today. A timeless classic.



79/100

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Nothing Underneath (1985)

In Milan a fashion model is kidnapped and believed murdered by a killer using scissors to mutilate his victims. Over in Yellowstone National Park a ranger has a disturbing vision about his sister and high tails it across the pond to Italy where he enlists the help of Donald Pleasence's detective to help track down his sister.

It's tough for a later giallo to add anything to what had become a well worn genre by this stage. Unfortunately Nothing Underneath falls into that bracket as it is on the whole fairly routine.

Whilst not particularly gory, most kills are off camera, perhaps in the knowledge that every conceivable murder had already been seen by giallo movie goers. Director Carlo Vanzina chooses to portray his murders a little more in the art house direction shall we say. Take the example of the blood dripping into a bath as a good example of what i mean. Although what gore is onscreen is well done and looks very effective. Then of course there's the slo-mo finale...

The film is, i think, Donald Pleasence' only foray into the giallo genre (Correct me if i'm wrong, please) and his presence is a welcome one. His role isn't that different to his trademark Sam Loomis Halloween role, except perhaps a tad more sceptical when it comes to the psychic link between the ranger and his sister, and for the most part he works well with lead actor, Tom Shanley. (who!?)

Nothing Underneath is never going to make you mouth 'wow!' in amazement but it sticks to it's giallo roots well and in time honored traditions features a bevy of beautiful girls, a lot of red herrings and mystery, and of course a little sleaze to tide you over.

[bizarre_eye@Cult Labs]

Nice review, Dem.

Whilst nothing mind-blowing, I quite enjoyed Nothing Underneath and have the DVD pictured in your review. I've always wanted to check out the sequel but haven't gotten around to it as yet.

As for giallo and Pleasence, he also starred in Phantom of Death.