What Films Have You Seen Recently?

[J Harker]

Originally Posted by Nosferatu@Cult Labs

I watched it for the Tweet-a-long last week and really enjoyed it, with the external events mirroring that of Adam's transformation.

In terms of influences, Evil Dead, Alien, The Descent, Straw Dogs, The Thing and Halloween appear to be referenced in different ways – visual and aural – in the film, with the whole film a modern version of the Brothers Grimm fairytales. Like you, I didn't find it to be derivative in a bad way, but one which was unapologetic about its inspirations, something Corin Hardy admitted on Twitter, but a genuinely involving and creepy horror film.

Was like the sort of film Neil Marshall started out making. Also forgot to mention the practical fx throughout were outstanding.

[Nosferatu@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by J Harker

Was like the sort of film Neil Marshall started out making. Also forgot to mention the practical fx throughout were outstanding.

The effects were excellent, but I want to watch a second time. Some aspects of the film reminded me of Wake Wood, if only the Irish setting and supernatural aspect of the story.

[J Harker]

Originally Posted by Nosferatu@Cult Labs

The effects were excellent, but I want to watch a second time. Some aspects of the film reminded me of Wake Wood, if only the Irish setting and supernatural aspect of the story.

Is that the one with Timothy Spall? If so thats not a bad film.

[Nosferatu@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by J Harker

Is that the one with Timothy Spall? If so thats not a bad film.

Yeah, Wake Wood with Timothy Spall and Aidan Gillen, directed by David Keating. I enjoyed it very much and bought the American BD for the correct aspect ratio (2.35:1, with the British release in 1.78:1).

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

H.M.S. Defiant (1962)

A rip roaring British Naval adventure. High on budget and even higher on excitement as Alec Guinness' Captain spars with Dirk Bogarde's sadistic First Officer.

Everything you could possibly wish for in seafaring adventure is onscreen. Mutinous crews, moral dilemmas, blazing Naval battles, floggings, fire ships, you name it, it's here. (Well, apart from pirates. Sorry).

Gripping from first to last.

Highly recommended.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Punisher: War Zone (2008)

The excellent Ray Stevenson (Have you seen HBO's series Rome in which Stevenson starred? Superb stuff, gorgeously filmed at Rome's Cinecitta studios) assumes the mantle of The Punisher / Frank Castle and makes it his own.

Punisher: War Zone is thrilling stuff. Ultra violent with a pulse pounding soundtrack and superb villains in Dominic West's Jigsaw and Doug Hutchinson as Loony Bin Jim.

Unrelentingly brutal and bloody with action that never lets up. Punisher: War Zone is a comic book movie for adults.

Highly recommended.

[Justin101]

I went to a screening of Day of the Dead last night, that film really works with an audience! The atmosphere was great with plenty of groans and laughs for the gore gags I hadn't realised that Greg Nicotero sfx wizard behind The Walking Dead zombies essentially got his start on this film working with Savini and also had an acting role as Johnson, the unfortunate soldier who ends up as a head on a plate!!

The trailer reel before the show started included dubious highlights such as Zombi 4: After Death (aka ZFE3) and Wild Zero, an insanely bonkers Japanese zombie epic

[J Harker]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

Punisher: War Zone (2008)

The excellent Ray Stevenson (Have you seen HBO's series Rome in which Stevenson starred? Superb stuff, gorgeously filmed at Rome's Cinecitta studios) assumes the mantle of The Punisher / Frank Castle and makes it his own.

Punisher: War Zone is thrilling stuff. Ultra violent with a pulse pounding soundtrack and superb villains in Dominic West's Jigsaw and Doug Hutchinson as Loony Bin Jim.

Unrelentingly brutal and bloody with action that never lets up. Punisher: War Zone is a comic book movie for adults.

Highly recommended.

Yes! 💀

[J Harker]

The Night Has Eyes, Leslie Arliss, 1942

I saw this a few weeks ago but have been struggling to write anything about it for some reason.
Its a wonderful little British b&w thriller from the 40's that for me is easily as good as anything Universal or Val Lewton was putting out at the time.
Two school teachers Doris and Marion visit the Yorkshire Moors on a hiking trip a year after their friend Evelyn disappeared in the area. Caught in a terrific storm the pair are relived to stumble upon a house, even if there is a somewhat unnerving figure watching them from the doorway.
The resident of this particular old dark house turns out to be a reclusive pianist Stephen Deremid played by a superb James Mason. After reluctantly giving the pair a room for the night he warns them to keep the door locked at all cost.
Next morning the house keepers arrive and the girls discover that Stephen was a veteran of the Spanish civil war and still suffers after some of the horrors he faced.
From here i will say no more suffice to say if you like old b&w films, or old dark house thrillers or in fact movies in general then you should definitely seek this out.
James Mason an actor i have to confess I've not actually much off is simply excellent as haunted recluse Stephen, don't know why but he reminded me of an on form Johnny Depp. Backward i know given its normally modern actors we suggest remind us of a young so-and-so.
The girls are also both interesting characters, well developed with contrasting characters but portraying a realistic friendship. And the setting while nothing new even for the era is again excellent, a spooky old house full of character, helped tremendously by cracking camera work. Networks dvd is brilliant quality particularly in comparison to dodgy fuzzy old prints floating around YouTube. Highly recommended.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Delighted you enjoyed it, J.

Especially with me banging on about it so much.