What Films Have You Seen Recently?

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

What Waits Below (1985)

Robert Powell stars as a mercenary enlisted by an American military unit in South America to help with the installation of a sonar device in an unexplored underground cavern. This British film helmed by former Hammer director Don Sharp is a quietly effective suspense picture as the team of scientists including Richard Johnson and Lisa Blount, and Powell's soldiers, descend into the cave system and then discover they are not alone as they have to battle with albino humanoids in a fight to the death.

Seen as an early precursor to more recent films such as The Descent, What Waits Below, aka Secrets of the Phantom Caverns, comes across as a little slow paced, however taken on it's own terms it's a well made fantasy adventure with bursts of action and one or two nicely orchestrated shocks.

Another dvd from the Hollywood stable. The picture quality isn't just as sharp as the Nico Mastorakis films on the same label but it's very watchable all the same and another budget release that's well worth seeking out.

[gag]

Tried watching filth today the film and not porn or something dirty.
But had few ppl in the house so missed half the dialogue but enjoyed what i saw .

[keirarts]

Sullivans travels

Director Sullivan, played by Joel Mcrae decides he wants to make the 'worthy' adaptation of O'brother where art thou. As he's from a wealthy background and has no experience of poverty he decides to dress up as a tramp and hit the streets (accompanied by the lovely Veronica lake) he discovers the reality is far grimmer than he had imagined, but it may be to late to escape!

Sullivans travels is a genuinely funny and humane film that manages to squeeze in some truley dark moments as well. As per usual with Preston Sturges films the dialogue is fired off at a brisk pace and there are plenty of solid performances to reccomend.

The film itself is still relevant today, what with the growing gap between rich and poor, and the trend with some directors to continually need to deliver 'oscar bait' rather than actually entertain its audience.

The Arrow Blu-ray is loaded with great extras as well and comes highly reccomended.

[Demoncrat]

Rewatched TCM as tribute. Mate jumped at Paul Partain's demise, which I consider a vindication that the film still can shock after 40 years.

RIP.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Blood Sabbath (1972)

A young GI stumbles into a world of witchcraft and water nymphs, where his love for a beautiful girl angers the evil witch queen who heads the coven and demands his soul for their lives.

A hedonistic maelstrom of idle wanderings through leafy glades, bewildering musical cues and lots of gratuitous nudity. Our young GI fresh from Vietnam's killing fields seems intent on throwing his soul away as does any viewer who sits through this to the end of this kaleidoscopic barrage of writhing female flesh in candlelit grotto's with enough thicket on show to thatch the whole of Devon. From my own perspective my brain melted during Dyanne Thorne's rhythmical swaying in her dance of perverse orgasmic thrusting.

A difficult film to recommend as it's fairly light on plot but heavy on psychedelia and campfire fumbling's which ensure the film is never boring. In the end you may wonder who was actually in purgatory - the young soldier or you the viewer.

[SShaw]

The arrival today of the power supply for the blu-ray player I picked up while I was on holiday means that the SShaw household is now Region A enabled.

To celebrate I watched Big Bad Wolves one of my personal favourites from 2013. After a third viewing, I still think this is a near perfect revenge film. Recommended.

Raid 2 to follow once the beers have chilled sufficiently.

[bizarre_eye@Cult Labs]

The Alien Factor (1978)

Don Dohler directs this schlocky B-movie about a spaceship containing an intergalactic zoo which crashes near a small backwoods town. The specimens escape and start roaming through the woodland mutilating the local townsfolk.

The film delights in showing off its prosthetic costumes and corny but strangely enchanting visual effects; certainly relishing in all the absurdity on offer. Whilst the budget and the visuals add to the film's charm, the overall pacing and performances are weak to the extent some of the schlocky fun dissipates. The jarring electro score is certainly a wake-up call, but becomes intrusive and monotonous as the film goes on.

The pace picks up a little in the final 15 minutes and the blunt ending reminds you that things aren't often as they appear and judging someone/something based on looks alone and acting upon base instinct and fear is ever-ingrained within our flawed human psyche.

Ron will be pleased to know that there is even a costume which resembles some variation of an alien gorilla suit.

[Handyman Joe]

Killing Them Softly - I can't remember the last time I was so disappointed in a movie. Context - I loved the directors Jesse James movie, I love Big Tone Aka James Gandolfini, God rest his soul - i teared up watching him, great as ever, I've no problem with Brad Pitt, some other unimpeachable actors - Ray Liotta (now looks like a waxwork of Ray Liotta), the Dad out of Six Feet Under can never remember his name, a fat Johnny Sack. So why is the film so shite? 1. No overriding visual style 2. No script - couldn't quote you one line, indeed couldn't decipher most of them as they were mumbled in a phoney 'underclass' argot 3. No plot 4. Lazy CGI = no visceral impact, I detest pixelated blood 5. cliched soundtrack - Love Letters - will that do? 6. Did I mention no plot? 7. Torturous attempts at topicality via endless news broadcasts in the background. I could go on but what's the point - if this meets your gaze at Poundland, look the other way.

[keirarts]

Originally Posted by Handyman Joe

Killing Them Softly - I can't remember the last time I was so disappointed in a movie. Context - I loved the directors Jesse James movie, I love Big Tone Aka James Gandolfini, God rest his soul - i teared up watching him, great as ever, I've no problem with Brad Pitt, some other unimpeachable actors - Ray Liotta (now looks like a waxwork of Ray Liotta), the Dad out of Six Feet Under can never remember his name, a fat Johnny Sack. So why is the film so shite? 1. No overriding visual style 2. No script - couldn't quote you one line, indeed couldn't decipher most of them as they were mumbled in a phoney 'underclass' argot 3. No plot 4. Lazy CGI = no visceral impact, I detest pixelated blood 5. cliched soundtrack - Love Letters - will that do? 6. Did I mention no plot? 7. Torturous attempts at topicality via endless news broadcasts in the background. I could go on but what's the point - if this meets your gaze at Poundland, look the other way.

Have to disagree, I actually really enjoyed Killing them softly. I thought it offered a nice parralell for the self distructive greed found in organised crime against similar destructive greed within wall street as well as making a scathing attack on Americas bias towards individualism rather than mutual co-operation.

Ah well, I watched PRISONERS, with Hugh Jackman and Jake gyllenhall. Somewhat sedate in its pacing nontheless it offered a compelling tale of anger, grief and suburban evil. Well worth seeking out imo..

Also switched my computer back on to check some e-mails and discovered a nice e-mail from George Barry saying thanks for an Amazon review of Death bed! That made my day

[Buboven]

Tope Hooper's The Funhouse (1981)

Some interesting ideas and premise but Hooper doesn't manage to make them into an engaging film, had to turn it off at the halfway point.

Glad I sold my sealed Arrow release for £20 on Ebay!

4/10.