What Films Have You Seen Recently?

[Nostalgic]

Watching phenomena audio commentary, very good but basically covers all the info covered in the documentaries on the first arrow dvd release. Reminds me of the commentary tracks on the universal monsters originals

[Frankie Teardrop]

ANTIBIRTH – Two long-in-the-tooth alternative types find their trashed out lifestyle leaves them in jeopardy when a local dealer tries out a batch of new stuff on them. One of them falls pregnant (the drug in question has something to do with experimental hormones) with pretty surprising results. I really quite liked 'Antibith', a film which mixes indie and horror tropes to concoct a world of derelict substance enthusiasts and freaky body horror. Difficult to sum up, but Harmony Korine directing from a script by Brian Yuzna kind of gets there, in a way. There's some tasty prosthetic moments and imaginative gore, not to mention the odd flurry of psychedelic visuals, but the main draw is the grim demi-monde of drug addiction and desperate partying conjured, which kind of reminded me of 'Street Trash' in that it feels like a closed, curdled world unto itself with little reference to the wider society (there's also of course an ST vibe to the theme of drugs 'n' booze gone wrong). Pretty claustrophobic stuff, but also blackly comedic, and let's not forget that Meg Tilly's in there in a nice role. Plus, any film that shows Chloe Sevigny twisting to Suicide is my kind of movie. Highly recommended.

[Demoncrat]

Originally Posted by Frankie Teardrop

ANTIBIRTH – Two long-in-the-tooth alternative types find their trashed out lifestyle leaves them in jeopardy when a local dealer tries out a batch of new stuff on them. One of them falls pregnant (the drug in question has something to do with experimental hormones) with pretty surprising results. I really quite liked 'Antibith', a film which mixes indie and horror tropes to concoct a world of derelict substance enthusiasts and freaky body horror. Difficult to sum up, but Harmony Korine directing from a script by Brian Yuzna kind of gets there, in a way. There's some tasty prosthetic moments and imaginative gore, not to mention the odd flurry of psychedelic visuals, but the main draw is the grim demi-monde of drug addiction and desperate partying conjured, which kind of reminded me of 'Street Trash' in that it feels like a closed, curdled world unto itself with little reference to the wider society (there's also of course an ST vibe to the theme of drugs 'n' booze gone wrong). Pretty claustrophobic stuff, but also blackly comedic, and let's not forget that Meg Tilly's in there in a nice role. Plus, any film that shows Chloe Sevigny twisting to Suicide is my kind of movie. Highly recommended.

Sold then.


Manhunter (1986, Micheal Mann)
Serial killers. Can't live with them, can't trust them to tell you the truth either. From tiny acorns.....Lecktor is barely on screen here, parroting the novel at least as I remember it, but I still prefer Cox to Hopkins' pantomine dame act. You can see Mann putting his stall out for the films that followed. The luxury of hindsight. Iron Butterfly is still a joy to hear but I would have liked to see Dollarhyde eating the Blake. Does he do this in Red Dragon I wonder?? Hmmm....

[SymbioticFunction]

Originally Posted by Nostalgic

Watching phenomena audio commentary, very good but basically covers all the info covered in the documentaries on the first arrow dvd release. Reminds me of the commentary tracks on the universal monsters originals

I liked that Troy Howarth didn't hold back in his critique of the film. If he doesn't like something, he's not afraid to say so. Probably a bit annoying for hardcore fans of the film. His later analysis of the career of Dario Argento was also interesting - in short, he's not at all impressed by the majority of the 21st century work. Whilst I certainly didn't agree with his analysis, it was very entertaining.

I personally thought that it was an excellent commentary track - informative, engaging and most importantly of all, never boring. btw I didn't know that the close-up shot of pills dropping down throat (which is in Stendhal Syndrome) was originally meant to be shown in Phenomena. I actually briefly talked to Howarth on Facebook and complimented him on his track.

Looking forward to checking out his Stendhal one on the forthcoming BU blu-ray release.

[MrBarlow]

The Cassandra Crossing 1976

At the International Health Organisation in Geneva, three terrorists attempt to blow it up, one is shot, two make their way into a sealed area. While they are being shot one terrorist is fatally wounded while the third is exposed to a bacteria strain. In his escape the terrorist boards a train and exposing the passengers to the contagion.

This film put me off trains for a while, this is part of the 70s disaster movies. Superb performances by Richard Harris, Sophia Loren and Burt Lancaster as Colonel Mackenzie who decides the fate of everyone on the train. 9 out of 10.

[iank]

Ooh, that sounds interesting!

[MrBarlow]

Originally Posted by iank

Ooh, that sounds interesting!

Really good film I recommend it

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by iank

Ooh, that sounds interesting!

It's a bit of an oddity i thought. Good but not as good as you might hope.

[MrBarlow]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

It's a bit of an oddity i thought. Good but not as good as you might hope.

Options vary but it doesn't beat The Towering Inferno

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by MrBarlow

Options vary but it doesn't beat The Towering Inferno

I loved the Towering Inferno since first seeing it as a kid.