What Films Have You Seen Recently?

[Stephen@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Frankie Teardrop

HUSH – If the 'home invasion' sub-genre hasn't reached saturation point by now, it soon will. Unlike the bloated monarch of all overpopulated film specialisms, the zombie movie, it has to rely on good filmmaking to sustain itself. How else are you going to make a fundamentally fairly bland set-up work if not by investing it with tension and thrills, cinematic commodities far more difficult to manufacture than the simple gross-out? I'm surprised there aren't more lousy home invasion flicks out there, so maybe I'm wrong and perhaps there is just something intrinsically captivating about a household being ravaged by strangers – it's a theme that chimes with our overly suspicious and inward looking times, as politicians and right wing tabloids know only too well. 'Hush' is something of a surprise as it comes from Mark Flanagan, who made 'Absentia' and 'Oculus', two interesting and slightly left field indie horrors. Whereas 'Absentia' in particular was quite original in its off hand strangeness, 'Hush' is in some ways about as by-the-numbers as it gets. Kate Siegel, who co-wrote it, plays a deaf writer who lives in relative isolation out by some woods, with neighbours presumably a few miles down the road. I mention the neighbours because one of them, running for their life, ends up leading a masked, cross-bow wielding killer to her door – so begins the inevitable game of cat and mouse. It's pretty much a checklist of cliches and unlikely moments – but it's great. I haven't seen a film in quite some time which has affected me so much in terms of sheer fist pumping adrenalin. In a way it brings 'Hallowe'en' to mind, not for any thematic or stylistic reason, but simply because it's so linear, pared down and finely honed, and also for the fact that it's relentless. It's certainly no game-changer, but there is not an ounce of flab about it. It sets things up, introduces the lead character, then gets straight into the suspense and just doesn't flag. There are numerous stock-in-trades and 'erm, hang on a minute' moments at work – how could there not be? But the film is so well pitched that clunky sequences like the one where Siegel takes advice from her 'inner voice' about how best to deal with her assailant don't get a chance to stick. A lot of the tension obviously comes from the main character's deafness, and the excruciating conflict between what the viewer knows and what Siegel can't sense is exploited well - in some ways it reminded me of 'Wait Until Dark', although without that film's endless head games. I often judge the merits of a movie by how often I find myself gancing at my watch – in this case, never once. That's really no mean feat for what's essentially a two hander. I suspect more quibbles than I clocked on first viewing would emerge a second time around, and Siegel's enigmatic smile at the end there irked me a little – what was it saying? Anyway, 'Hush' is just a great example of genre filmmaking at its most concentrated. It's really worth watching, and seems to have debuted on Netflix – if you subscribe to the latter, what are you waiting for?

Funnily enough, a friend recommended Hush to me yesterday, so I've just finished watching it. Really enjoyed it too.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by J Harker

Mine should turn up in a day or two. At 59mins i stand a good chance of getting it watched soon. Got Dangerous Voyage coming too, that one sounds intriguing.

Yes. You annoyed me with that one.

I'd dismissed it for some reason, you mentioned it so i re-read about it and it did sound rather good.

[J Harker]

I've not bought half the stuff I'd have liked from the sale. Bad timing as ever.

[Buboven]

Originally Posted by attackosaur

Really dug Killer Joe. Haven't watched it since the cinema, but between that, Bug and The Hunted I reckon Friedkin's been on a bit of a roll. Wouldn't call any of them classics, but they've all got a lot going on. (The knife fights in The Hunted are great.)

Recently seen:

The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes: incredible stuff. Wasn't familiar with Brakhage before and a lot of it goes over my head, but this one was magic.

Pieta: Korean crime thriller(ish). Had heard good things, but wasn't feeling it. Some great little scenarios, but none of it added up to it being particularly engaging. Weakened by a bad ending, too. Heard the director's great, so I'll try another one of his anyway.

Killer Joe certainly has some unforgettable scenes!

[Demoncrat]

Mixed bag again.

Lazer Team (2015, Matt Hullum)
Rag tag bunch of small towners unintentionally interfere with fate. Funnier than Pixels (this is a recommendation? Nooooooooooo.), with which it shareth some DNA. Cheeky Pong bit as well ahaha.

American Ninja (1985, Stan Firstenberg)
Welcome to the wacky world of the Go Go boys, where a GI is put in the glasshouse for fighting insurgents!!?? Dudikoff is about as wooden as you can get without calling Social Services on Gepetto. Can't wait to see the other 2.

The Double (Richard Ayoade, 2013)
Now this I recommend. Yet again, like Ex Machina, something I wish I had watched earlier. Jesse Eisenberg has a crush on a fellow office worker, but is socially awkward. Luckily since this is based on a Doesteovsky story, it is not yr average love story. Visually quite different from Submarine, it does have echoes of Brazil (and Joe Versus The Volcano...underrated film btw). Spiffing cameo from a certain C Morris as well.

The Singer Not The Song (1961, Roy Baker)
Caught this on Spike. Johnny Mills battles bravely with an Oirish accent. Dirk Bogarde is a sneering Mexican bandido. Various Brit stalwarts turn up to do their bit. An odd film by anyone's standards. See also The Spanish Gardener.

The Toxic Avenger (Kaufmann/Herz, 1984)
Gosh, the blu looks rather spiffing. Hard to believe that Ferman savaged this at the time, but not surprising, considering his class bias. Working class stiff turns the tables on the establishment whilst taking no prisoners. Well, that's what I see. Others may just see some silly gore. But they haven't read as much as I have .

Scouts Guide To The Zombie Apocalypse (2015, Chris Landon)
Shaun ripoff. When the camera lingers on a pair of zombie breasts, I wonder to myself "who was this made for?". Not as fun as Zombi 3 (but then, what is?)

[Demoncrat]

Originally Posted by bizarre_eye@Cult Labs

This one hit home like a sledge-hammer fro me. I watched it for the first time last year and it was one of those experiences that just compelled me to jot some random thought and feelings down about what I'd seen. Powerful stuff.



I quite enjoyed Pieta, although I agree with you about the ending to some degree.

I've seen a few Kim Ki-duk films and would certainly recommend Bad Guy and The Isle. Moebius (his follow-up to Pieta) is also pretty good.

I second this emotion.

[J Harker]

Originally Posted by Demoncrat

Mixed bag again.

American Ninja (1985, Stan Firstenberg)
Welcome to the wacky world of the Go Go boys, where a GI is put in the glasshouse for fighting insurgents!!?? Dudikoff is about as wooden as you can get without calling Social Services on Gepetto. Can't wait to see the other 2.

Other 3 you mean? In fact i gather there's a fifth that apparently is practically unwatchable its bad.

[Demoncrat]

Originally Posted by J Harker

Other 3 you mean? In fact i gather there's a fifth that apparently is practically unwatchable its bad.

Oooh, is there more. 80s actioners are a new playing field for me. Remember most of the covers etc, but was all about the Italians back then.

[J Harker]

Originally Posted by Demoncrat

Oooh, is there more. 80s actioners are a new playing field for me. Remember most of the covers etc, but was all about the Italians back then.

A lot of these 80s action b flicks, certainly Dudikoff went past me at the time too. I've yet to pick up American Ninja 3 and 4 but Part 2 is a blast.

[Demoncrat]

Originally Posted by J Harker

A lot of these 80s action b flicks, certainly Dudikoff went past me at the time too. I've yet to pick up American Ninja 3 and 4 but Part 2 is a blast.

Sound then. Ever since I got this PS3, a mate's been round with a heap of stuff. In fact he should be on here, but he "doesn't do forums".

C'est la vie. I'll keep watching them.