What Films Have You Seen Recently?

[bizarre_eye@Cult Labs]

This week's viewings:

Xtro (1983)

Started 2019 off in style with the gloopy slice of extra-terrestrial insanity that is Xtro. I hadn't watched this one in a few years and enjoyed revisiting it. Despite the effects work not being the best the industry had to offer at the time, they have a esoteric charm which has always resonated with me, and makes it stand out from other ET horrors from the '80s.



75/100


Berserk! (1967)

Okay murder mystery / drama with almost giallo-style trappings as the performers of a travelling circus are being killed off one by one. Joan Crawford plays the ringmaster who flips from being morbidly pleased that the killings are drawing in the punters to despairing at all the carnage occurring around her. It's a little silly and suffers from a little too much circus footage being shoe-horned into the running time, but for the most part is luridly entertaining enough to overcome its shortcomings.



62/100


The Killing of A Sacred Deer (2017)

Tense and engrossing psychological thriller about a young boy who tears apart the idyll of a perfect family due to an event from the past coming back to haunt them. Well performed by all involved, and I dodn't want to go into too much detail in respect to the story for fear of spoilers, but if you enjoy thrillers in the vein of Funny Games and Stoker, then I'd recommend checking this one out. My favourite new discovery of the year so far.




84/100


Monkey Shines (1988)

I remember snippets of this one from when I caught it a good few years ago, but my memory was hazy going in. I remember not thinking too much of it at the time but wanted to give it a re-appraisal. Overall, I enjoyed it more than than I thought I would based on aforementioned hazy memories. There are quite a few unlikable characters here, but the majority get their comeuppance via Ella the monkey, who is incidentally the stand-out character by far.



64/100


The Blood Spattered Bride (1972)

Another re-watch, and a euro-chiller I really like. I first caught it on Blue Underground's DVD as the 'b-side' so to speak of Daughters of Darkness, and preferred it to Daughters overall. Mondo Macabro have since given it the luscious HD treatment and it was this I sampled this time around. It is a nice combination of the gothic and the lurid with plenty of shocks, surrealism, intrigue and eroticism that tickles my senses just right. Highly recommended for fans of euro-horror no matter how casual.



74/100


Escape from New York (1981)

Carpenter's sci-fi / post apocalyptic classic. Whilst I've never been a massive fan of this as I know some folks are, it's still an enjoyable ride with a great score, plenty of action and some stand-out performances. Plissken is a great character and is the definitive anti-hero.



73/100

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by J Harker

In your review the other day you mentioned the tagline. 'Best British horror in recent years' or words to that effect. Then you point put that anyone that thought that probably hasn't seen any. I can't say I can think of many particularly good recent British horrors, in all seriousness what would you recommend?

There have been some genuinely excellent British horror films, J.

Nos mentioned one or two which i agree with - The Girl with all the Gifts, The Autopsy of Jane Doe, The Ritual (which you've seen) The Borderlands.

Then there's, off the top of my head

The Awakening (2011),
The Seasoning House (2012)
Inbred (2011)
Howl (2015)
A Lonely Place to Die (2011)
Berberian Sound Studio (2012)
Penetration Angst (2003)
The Dead (2011)
Nina Forever (2015)
Freehold (2017)
Outcast (2009)
Devil's Playground (2009)
The Devil's Business (2010)
Isolation (2005)

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by bizarre_eye@Cult Labs

This week's viewings:


Monkey Shines (1988)

I remember snippets of this one from when I caught it a good few years ago, but my memory was hazy going in. I remember not thinking too much of it at the time but wanted to give it a re-appraisal. Overall, I enjoyed it more than than I thought I would based on aforementioned hazy memories. There are quite a few unlikable characters here, but the majority get their comeuppance via Ella the monkey, who is incidentally the stand-out character by far.



64/100

I saw this for the first time on Friday night. I think i liked it better than you as i'd have given it at least 70/100.

As you say Ella the Capuchin monkey was terrific. Half of the time i really wanted one of my own due to the things it did, so sweet. That gif was a lovely didn't see it coming jump scare as well.

On the whole it reminded me a bit of watered down Link, but it wasn't just as good.

[gag]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

There have been some genuinely excellent British horror films, J.

Nos mentioned one or two which i agree with - The Girl with all the Gifts, The Autopsy of Jane Doe, The Ritual (which you've seen) The Borderlands.

Then there's, off the top of my head

The Awakening (2011),
The Seasoning House (2012)
Inbred (2011)
Howl (2015)
A Lonely Place to Die (2011)
Berberian Sound Studio (2012)
Penetration Angst (2003)
The Dead (2011)
Nina Forever (2015)
Freehold (2017)
Outcast (2009)
Devil's Playground (2009)
The Devil's Business (2010)
Isolation (2005)

I'll also have to give these a try ,Berberian sound studio is really good I enjoyed that in many ways been while since seen it tho.

[nosferatu42]

Originally Posted by gag

I try and go cinema more often , but not much excites me enough these days and sometimes we go for something to do and get us out the house , and just a curious Q? To anyone what was the last decent comedy film wise that you really enjoyed since year 2000
Over past 15 \ 20 yrs I can only say less than a handful I've liked , games night \ American pie reunion , and kick ass yes even tho Nic cage is in it ..

Comedies are very subjective, i tend to like blacker stuff, although i have watched a lot of stuff like Anchorman/Step brothers/School of rock/Tenacious D with my daughter, which i tend to enjoy when i'm watching them but afterwards am never bothered enough to pick them up on dvd etc.
Also some i find really enjoyable if i'm in the right mood like Napoleon Dynamite, but other times can't be arsed.

Here are some since 2000 that i really like.

Shaun of the dead
Hot Fuzz
The worlds end
What we do in the shadows
Black dynamite
In Bruges
Sightseers
Submarine
Scott Pilgrim vs the world

[bizarre_eye@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

I saw this for the first time on Friday night. I think i liked it better than you as i'd have given it at least 70/100.

As you say Ella the Capuchin monkey was terrific. Half of the time i really wanted one of my own due to the things it did, so sweet. That gif was a lovely didn't see it coming jump scare as well.

On the whole it reminded me a bit of watered down Link, but it wasn't just as good.

I look forward to reading your thoughts on this one. I think I was perhaps comparing it to Link a bit too, which is another reason why my rating was a little low.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

There are loads of other British horrors i really like which may be more subjective.

Byzantium
Stonehearst Asylum
Cherry Tree
The Rezort
Soulmate
Wilderness
Mindflesh
Crow
Broken

[bizarre_eye@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by nosferatu42

Comedies are very subjective, i tend to like blacker stuff, although i have watched a lot of stuff like Anchorman/Step brothers/School of rock/Tenacious D with my daughter, which i tend to enjoy when i'm watching them but afterwards am never bothered enough to pick them up on dvd etc.
Also some i find really enjoyable if i'm in the right mood like Napoleon Dynamite, but other times can't be arsed.

Here are some since 2000 that i really like.

Shaun of the dead
Hot Fuzz
The worlds end
What we do in the shadows
Black dynamite
In Bruges
Sightseers
Submarine
Scott Pilgrim vs the world

Yeah, comedy is really subjective. There are some on nos42's that I love (What We Do in the Shadows, Sightseers, Submarine) and others I don't rate much at all (Shaun of the Dead, Black Dynamite, Scott Pilgrim).

For what it's worth, some of my favourite comedies made since 2000 are:

Big Bad Wolves (2013)
Cheap Thrills (2014)
Dogtooth (2009)
Ex Drummer (2007)
Father's Day (2011)
Filth (2014)
Four Lions (2010)
The Last Circus (2010)
The Lobster (2015)
Murder Party (2007)
Reality (2015)
Sightseers (2012)
Submarine (2010)
Super (2011)
Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil (2010)
The Voices (2015)
What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
Wild Tales (2014)
Wrong (2012)
Wrong Cops (2013)

As you may be able to tell, my tastes in 'comedy' tend to sit more towards the dark end of the spectrum.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by bizarre_eye@Cult Labs

Yeah, comedy is really subjective. There are some on nos42's that I love (What We Do in the Shadows, Sightseers, Submarine) and others I don't rate much at all (Shaun of the Dead, Black Dynamite, Scott Pilgrim).

For what it's worth, some of my favourite comedies made since 2000 are:

Big Bad Wolves (2013)
Cheap Thrills (2014)
Dogtooth (2009)
Ex Drummer (2007)
Father's Day (2011)
Filth (2014)
Four Lions (2010)
The Last Circus (2010)
The Lobster (2015)
Murder Party (2007)
Reality (2015)
Sightseers (2012)
Submarine (2010)
Super (2011)
Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil (2010)
The Voices (2015)
What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
Wild Tales (2014)
Wrong (2012)
Wrong Cops (2013)

As you may be able to tell, my tastes in 'comedy' tend to sit more towards the dark end of the spectrum.

You're not f*cking kidding!

Big Bad Wolves and Dogtooth? Did you forget The Life and Death of a Porno Gang?

[bizarre_eye@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

You're not f*cking kidding!

Big Bad Wolves and Dogtooth? Did you forget The Life and Death of a Porno Gang?

I did actually - thanks for the reminder, Dem.