kevin_robbins

I recently watched the French film 🇫🇷 Les Diaboliques (1955) on MAX. The story follows an abusive man who runs a boys' boarding school and is murdered by his wife and mistress. At first, it seems like the perfect crime-until strange occurrences suggest a haunting presence, all while an inspector begins sniffing around for the truth.

This film is directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot (Inferno) and stars Simone Signoret (The Crucible), Véra Clouzot (The Wages of Fear), Paul Meurisse (Army of Shadows), and Noël Roquevert (Moulin Rouge).

Les Diaboliques is a classic slow burn, carefully executed with a brilliantly crafted storyline, authentic characters, and circumstances that feel chillingly real. The boarding school setting adds an extra layer of mystery, and the stark contrast between the two leading women creates a sense of unpredictability-you're never quite sure how it will play out. By the time the ending arrives, the payoff is both shocking and captivating. I couldn't stop smiling as the final scene unfolded. The whole experience feels very reminiscent of Hitchcock's work from this era.

In conclusion, Les Diaboliques is a masterclass in suspense-methodical, atmospheric, and capped with a payoff that makes the journey worth it. I'd score it a solid 8/10.

My daughter and I recently watched X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) on MAX. The storyline follows an ancient mutant with centuries of knowledge and powers who was entombed by the Egyptians before he could take over the world. In the 1980s, shortly after Xavier forms his first mutant school, the ancient mutant is unearthed and returns-recruiting followers to help him achieve world domination. It's up to Xavier and a new generation of mutants to stop him.

The film is directed by Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects) and stars James McAvoy (Split), Michael Fassbender (Prometheus), Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games), Oscar Isaac (Ex Machina), Evan Peters (Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story), and Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max: Fury Road).

This was much better than I remembered. Yes, the CGI can be excessive at times, but the storyline and villain are so strong, ruthless, and unpredictable that they keep you invested. Apocalypse is a great antagonist, and there are excellent portrayals of both the heroes and villains. Quicksilver steals every scene he's in, and the school explosion sequence ranks among the best in the entire franchise. The Wolverine cameo is also fantastic.

The film makes great use of its powers, with clever execution from the cage fight opening to the larger-than-life finale. I also loved the twists, with some legacy heroes portrayed as villains and vice versa-it added depth and intrigue.

In conclusion, X-Men: Apocalypse is an underrated entry in the superhero genre, with a compelling villain and a strong depiction of its characters. I'd score it a solid 7.5/10.

I recently watched the Italian film 🇮🇹 The Other Hell (1981) on YouTube. The story follows a priest assigned to investigate strange events at a convent. When he uncovers a murder, the nuns try to dismiss him and blame it on the Devil-but the priest suspects there's something much darker at work.

This picture is directed by Bruno Mattei (Hell of the Living Dead) and stars Franca Stoppi (Beyond the Darkness), Carlo De Mejo (Women's Prison Massacre), Franco Garofalo (The Arena), and Alba Maiolini (The Flower of the Deadly Sting).

It's one of those movies that's completely saved by a fantastic conclusion. The settings are well chosen, the costumes solid, and the first half almost feels more like a cop drama than a horror film. There's some sharp dialogue, but the horror is limited until later on-the autopsy scenes work well, the dog bite is entertaining, but the strangling sequence fell flat for me. Then comes the big reveal, which almost plays like an Italian zombie film. From the coffin scene onward, I was hooked. The film really stuck the landing.

In conclusion, The Other Hell is a bit of a slow burn that won't be for everyone, but the ending makes the journey worthwhile. I'd give it a 7/10.