What Films Have You Seen Recently?

[JoshuaKaitlyn]

Originally Posted by trebor8273

Now watching Hugo which I'm really enjoying, wasn't expecting much but it's suppased my expectations. A fantastic movie, with wonderful characters, script, acting and direction

Edit
Finished hugo 10/10

Hugo's a great movie!

[Susan Foreman]

Originally Posted by trebor8273

Back to the future

A classic and a childhood favourite. One of those films I can watch over and over thanks to great script, direction and characters 10/10

Now watching Hugo which I'm really enjoying, wasn't expecting much but it's suppased my expectations. A fantastic movie, with wonderful characters, script, acting and direction

Edit
Finished hugo 10/10

Now watching back to the future 2. Have to say I'm a little disappointed not with the film , disappointed it's 2015 and no sign of Hoverboards or flying cars!

Still got 364 days to go until the end of the year!

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Octaman (1971)

Featuring a man in a rubber suit monster straight out of seventies Doctor Who, Octoman is a lot of fun.

The creature itself isn't badly designed especially in the face department. It's only in the full length shots that it looks ropy. Pleasingly the creature doesn't just whack people with it's rubber appendages to kill them, actually it does, but it also crushes it's victims, and we are treated to some cool bloody deaths, one is quite eye opening in it's goryness.

Very cheaply made with the voices dubbed on after filming, this is classic no-budget movie making.

The dvd from Retromedia is nicely restored and well worth picking up for those who enjoy their creaky monster movies.

[trebor8273]

Back to the future 2

My least favorite of the movies. Still a great film but seems to have lost the sense of fun the other two have. As I said yesterday its 2015 and no sign of Hoverboards or flying cars. But power lacers are supposed to be on the cards for this year. 8/10

Back to the future 3

For me the best of the bunch. Ok the ending with the train is a bit OTT, but it's a hell of a lot of fun and the cast seemed to of had a blast making it. A perfect end to a nearly perfect trilogy. Which ranks up there with Lord of the rings and the original Star Wars trilogy 10/10

Now watching the tommyknockers which I haven't seen in years

[Frankie Teardrop]

Some bits from over the 'festive' period -

NURSE – With Paz De La Huerta as a psychopathic matron with a shadowy past and a harsh attitude against philandering husbands. Cue some splatter and some sleaze, although not all that much – 'Nurse' seems somehow to promise more than it delivers, and the normally tight De La Huerta gives a slightly odd performance. Entertaining though, and it's fair to say it manages to weave a few nicely obnoxious moments into its familiar plotline, including a naked autopsy and a hospital massacre at the end.

END OF THE LINE – A good pre-apocalyptic horror from the director of 'Lady Of The Lake' and 'Slashers', both interesting films which are worth tracking down. 'End Of The Line' features a rabid Christian doomsday cult whose members invade an underground train wielding cool looking crucifix – daggers. The action is for the most part pretty conventional – there's a survivor group, a whole load of religious fanatics, and a lot of running around. But there are some genuine bits of grotesquery here and there, and, although the gore isn't extreme, there's enough to satisfy most palates. Succeeds more than anything in being a serious low budget movie with no pretensions, some interesting ideas and an understanding of graphic horror.

PULSE – The Japanese original. I saw the re-make recently and decided I quite liked it. It's not a patch on this, though. 'Pulse' is a long, slow burning mood piece which is as much about alienation and social anomie as it is about supernatural tech. The tone gets progressively more elegaic and mournful, to the point of feeling oppressive, and really shows up the Hollywood reboot for the ham fisted CGI-fixated fluff it is. The last half of 'Pulse' feels like a slow, inevitable slide into oblivion, its characters fading into blackened stains as their lives empty of vitality and, well, life. Recommended for anyone into depresso shit.

BEASTS – I watched all six episodes of Nigel Kneale's ITV horror series, which are available on a two disc collection from Network. I think Kneale's place in the pantheon of 20th cent fantastic media is undisputed – that said, this bunch may be an acquired taste for some. The reason I say this is, seventies TV might've been an oasis of strangeness and wyrdness on some levels, but the day-to-day stuff was often very flat, static and talky. This is the case here. Now, for me, even this has a certain 'vibe' about it, and imo the majority of 'Beasts' really works, with the reams of dialogue never quite keeping a really foreboding atmosphere at bay. This is particularly true of 'Baby', the series opener, which seethes with claustrophobia and paranoia and manages some great sinister seventies moments - the ending, complete with suckling monster, is pretty freaked out. The closer, 'During Barty's Party', also uses its one-act play format to conjure a desperate atmosphere of impending dread as a middle class couple's life is snuffed out by an unseen horde of rampaging rats in a scenario which I couldn't help but feel was a case of Kneale doing Ballard doing Lovecraft. Conceptually, all the episodes are interesting and original – there are pornographers haunted by the ghosts of dolphins, dried up actors possessed by their own monster costumes, but my favourite episode was the one with Pauline Quirke as a stodgy supermarket checkout operator who appeared to be invoking a manifestation of the store's brand identity, a logo based on a cartoon bear. All really good, but again very much within the tradition of the TV play – so more than worth a shot for anyone who doesn't insist on everything they watch looking like 'Sin City' or something.

SURVEILLANCE – J Lynch's 'comeback' film after the 'Boxing Helena' debacle. I was impressed by 'Chained' recently, so felt I had to check it out. I liked its web of tangled perspectives, and the film does a successful job of keeping the tension cranked up as it rolls along. I have to say, I could see that 'twist' coming miles down the road, and felt slightly miffed that a lot seemed to have been sold on the back of it. The similarly rubbish manouver at the end of 'Chained' wasn't as intrusive. Still, it didn't spoil things for me. 'Surveillance' and 'Chained' are interesting in that they are accomplished films which both look and feel a little, erm, 'Lynchian'. It's not just about the off-beat noirish sensibility - 'Surveillance' in particular oozes that 'dislocated dialogue and socially malcoordinated characters' vibe so prominent in 'Twin Peaks'. It all feels a bit calculated. Good stuff though, and I'm hoping her next one will see her coming into her own a bit more.

OUTCAST – Continuing the recentish trend for social realist Brit-horror, 'Outcast' is an intriguing tale set on a Scottish council estate, where a witch and her son hide out from an underground occult community. Witch's ex, aided by said community, tries to track her down whilst a monster stalks the estate. I really liked its mixture of grimy dourness and overly vivid fantasy – divination by crow guts, cool monster etc. - and thankfully, despite its setting, it doesn't really stray into 'hoodie horror' territory. Slightly unusual, and worth watching.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Frankie Teardrop

BEASTS – I watched all six episodes of Nigel Kneale's ITV horror series, which are available on a two disc collection from Network. I think Kneale's place in the pantheon of 20th cent fantastic media is undisputed – that said, this bunch may be an acquired taste for some. The reason I say this is, seventies TV might've been an oasis of strangeness and wyrdness on some levels, but the day-to-day stuff was often very flat, static and talky.

OUTCAST –

I've just watched the only remaining episode of the 1962 first series of The Plane Makers. Another series from Network. Just as you mention Beasts being very flat, static and talky this episode was the epitome of flat, static and talky. However by the end of the fifty minute duration i'd actually gotten into it and thought it a shame i couldn't see the next episode.

EDIT - After research it turns out i watched the pilot episode. Probably explains why it hooked me by the end.

The dvd is series 2 which stars Patrick Wymark and this episode was an extra feature. The Wymark series look a lot different going off the completely new opening credits and music.

Like you i thought Outcast was very good. One to revisit sometime soon. If i remember rightly i only got it to see Karen Gillan being all sweary.

[Make Them Die Slowly]

SEE NO EVIL 2. I've not seen the first one but if the flash backs in this squeal are anything to go by it looks like a well calculated attempt to ape the childhood abuse themes beloved of 70s and 80s psycho killer films. As it is these are the best scenes in the squeal that limps along like the three legged dog it surely is. Plot wise, the killer from the first film wakes up in the morgue in the middle of a party and kills people. The one stand out scene involves a little necro lust and seems completely out of place with the rest of the film. I confess my mind wondered during my viewing of the film with my main thought being sexual and involving lead actress Danielle Harris and her petiteness, and would it be physically possible to hold her body in one hand and er, pleasure yourself.

JOHNNY BE GOOD. Weird mix of teen comedy, satire on the American college and football scholarship programme and a little soul searching thrown in for good measure. Made in 1988 it features a very young Uma Thurman and Robert Downey Jnr playing his then typical comedy side kick.

SABOTAGE. Big Arnie looking like a tree weathered by a coastal breeze, is the head of a DEA unit who seem like soldiers escaped from some cheap 'Nam film or possibly an equally cheap ALIENS knock off. Anyhow, they get in loads of shit and shoot people. I was really disappointed with this as director David Ayers previous film END OF WATCH, completely captured me from beginning to end. This still has lots going for it but just didn't do it for me.

THE BELIEVERS. Martin Sheen stars in this 80s Yuppie black magic hokum as possibly the worlds worse father and psychologist...nine months after his son witnesses his mother's death, Martin is shacking up with a neighbour, dressing his son in pink hot pants and can't see why the boy is a little upset.
The films main plot involving Santeria is typical Hollywood xenophobia whereby all non whites with different beliefs are "other" and murderous scum to boot, which is a shame as Santeria is a rather fine religion which the film wilfully chooses not to explain.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Make Them Die Slowly

SEE NO EVIL 2. I've not seen the first one but if the flash backs in this squeal are anything to go by it looks like a well calculated attempt to ape the childhood abuse themes beloved of 70s and 80s psycho killer films. As it is these are the best scenes in the squeal that limps along like the three legged dog it surely is. Plot wise, the killer from the first film wakes up in the morgue in the middle of a party and kills people. The one stand out scene involves a little necro lust and seems completely out of place with the rest of the film. I confess my mind wondered during my viewing of the film with my main thought being sexual and involving lead actress Danielle Harris and her petiteness, and would it be physically possible to hold her body in one hand and er, pleasure yourself.


THE BELIEVERS. Martin Sheen stars in this 80s Yuppie black magic hokum as possibly the worlds worse father and psychologist...nine months after his son witnesses his mother's death, Martin is shacking up with a neighbour, dressing his son in pink hot pants and can't see why the boy is a little upset.
The films main plot involving Santeria is typical Hollywood xenophobia whereby all non whites with different beliefs are "other" and murderous scum to boot, which is a shame as Santeria is a rather fine religion which the film wilfully chooses not to explain.

I quite like See No Evil. It's a typical torture porn slasher with a wrestling type hanging out on the top floor of a rundown building who gets his kicks from maiming and murdering a bunch of obnoxious day releasers. A bit like Misfits only Finn gets his ears ripped off and Rudy actually does get split in two.

Is The Believers entertaining or not? I ask this as i bought it back in November and haven't seen it yet.

[Make Them Die Slowly]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

I quite like See No Evil. It's a typical torture porn slasher with a wrestling type hanging out on the top floor of a rundown building who gets his kicks from maiming and murdering a bunch of obnoxious day releasers. A bit like Misfits only Finn gets his ears ripped off and Rudy actually does get split in two.

Is The Believers entertaining or not? I ask this as i bought it back in November and haven't seen it yet.

The Believers, struggles in deciding if it wants to be a horror film or a cop/thriller and fails as either. It has a TV film feel to it even though there is some money behind it. It feels like it wants to be held in the same regard as The Omen but lacks conviction. It is an okay watch but lacks bite or polish to lift it up from it's short comings.

[PaulD]

Originally Posted by Frankie Teardrop

SURVEILLANCE – J Lynch's 'comeback' film after the 'Boxing Helena' debacle. I was impressed by 'Chained' recently, so felt I had to check it out. I liked its web of tangled perspectives, and the film does a successful job of keeping the tension cranked up as it rolls along. I have to say, I could see that 'twist' coming miles down the road, and felt slightly miffed that a lot seemed to have been sold on the back of it. The similarly rubbish manouver at the end of 'Chained' wasn't as intrusive. Still, it didn't spoil things for me. 'Surveillance' and 'Chained' are interesting in that they are accomplished films which both look and feel a little, erm, 'Lynchian'. It's not just about the off-beat noirish sensibility - 'Surveillance' in particular oozes that 'dislocated dialogue and socially malcoordinated characters' vibe so prominent in 'Twin Peaks'. It all feels a bit calculated. Good stuff though, and I'm hoping her next one will see her coming into her own a bit more.

Brilliant use of the Violent Femmes' "Add It Up" in this.