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corblimey79
Reviews
Red Lines (2002)
Frazer Lee does it again, a very creepy horror short.
Cast your minds back to your school days and I bet there was always one teacher you thought wasn't quite right, one that didn't quite make you feel at ease, Or maybe it was just me but I swear my science teacher was a cross dressing mass murderer at the weekends. Errr yeah, where was I? Oh yeah Red Lines.
Red Lines tells the story of school girl Emily and an after school detention for the terrible crime of running in the corridors. Doug Bradley plays the un-named teacher administering the detention and sets Emily the task of writing lines. Nothing too sinister so far and as the teacher leaves the room Emily gets to work. I must not run, I must not run, I must not run
That's where the first scare hits you. Emily is visited by an apparition that warns her she MUST run. The words appear on the blackboard in blood then the apparition points to the desk drawer and all too soon you realize detention is so much more than just writing lines and our teacher has a dark unhealthy obsession. Emily is in deep trouble.
The terror in this short comes not from what you see on screen but rather from what you know has taken place in the past and what's to come. You don't need to see the teachers actions to shock you, Frazer Lee's story does that brilliantly. Kirsty Levett in her first acting role brilliantly plays the terrified student and once again Doug Bradly's performance is first rate. His mannerisms put the viewer on edge and you know bad things are on the way. The direction from Frazer Lee is beautiful and captures the claustrophobic atmosphere of the class room perfectly. You witness the fear in Emily's eyes as the teacher moves towards her and you sense the evil intentions of the teacher but again it's all down to the story and the performances of the actors that give you the horror factor. It's all down to the imagination of the viewer just what does or doesn't happen. The ground work is there in the brilliant use of short scenes and dialog and the way Frazer builds the tension but it's up to you to put it all together.
This isn't an in-your-face shock horror, it's a psychological horror and a brilliant piece of film making. Like On Edge it's a short film, in this case just over 5 minutes but it works so damn well. It stays with you and leaves you with an uneasy feeling as your mind continues the events you've just witnessed. That's where the horror begins! "Red Lines gave me the total creeps..." (Tobe Hooper, director of Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Poltergeist).
As well as the two films, the disc also contains an interview with Frazer Lee where he tells of his personal love of dentistry and a little inside info on his up-coming full length feature film Urbane starring Doug Bradley. You also have a brilliant interview with Doug himself and a great collection of out-takes and bloopers from both films. Worth the price of the disc alone.
Boo (2005)
Finally a REAL "Horror" movie!!! freaking A!!
At 1st i thought this sounded like any other horror movie these days, teenage kids getting trapped in a scary place, but i had already heard good things so i decided to rent it, 5 days later i still have not returned this movie and i could not recommend it to you enough. What makes it different from any other "horror" movie filled with teenage kids you say? well here are a few things: This is the 1st movie i have seen in a LONG time that actually made me jump more than once. The other thing that stands out after watching this movie was how on edge i felt through out the movie, uneasy if you will and i loved that feeling!! There were so many scenes that creeped me out, you see what they don't see, but the thought of the ghosts being there and them not even knowing it, now that was a nice touch.
The characters in this movie actually chance, it has a "The Thing" feel to it, in the fact that the ghosts take over the humans and the others don't know who is human and who is possessed, which of course leads to Major paranoia and even some bloody deaths.
Thats right folks this movie is also very very gory, not over done, but enough to keep any gore hound happy thats for sure.
There are so many things going on in this movie, you never get bored, your always on the edge of your seat and sometimes your even thrown out of it. But its not confusing at all, its hard to explain the feel of this movie as it is very real, but at the same time very weird, lots of flash back scenes to help you figure out why these ghosts are at war and the special FX are very well done. I would be very comfortable in saying that this was the scariest film i have seen all year and it had everything ( except tits ) that i would except to see in a horror movie, plus MORE. So for those looking for a REAL horror movie, not a movie thats been made for the sake of making money or because they landed a big name to fill the lead role, you HAVE to check out "Boo!" you wont be disappointed and from the reviews i have already read, not to many people have been.
The Devil's Rejects (2005)
Devils Rejects is one hell of a f&%$*n show!
That's right my friends. Rob Zombie just catapulted himself so far up my favorites list I had to add on to the top of the page!!! Last night I was fortunate enough to watch his latest masterpiece The Devil's Rejects and god diggity damn this movie is cool. Now if you didn't like House of 1000 corpses, you sure as hell won't like this one either, so stay away, but if you are like me and loved House... this movie is just for you.
I don't want to take anything away from the story, but the film continues just a little while after the first one ends and starts off with some kicking ass action. The characters are meaner than in the first one, but Devil's rejects is a whole different type of movie than House.... I would consider it a Thelma & Louise meets From Dusk till Dawn on the set of Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, underlined by what I would like to call the most fitting soundtrack of any movie to this date. The action, the humor, the violence and whatever else is featured in this movie is just over the top and Rob Zombie really shows his artsy and creative side with DR. I already pre-ordered the DVD in my local shop just to make sure I get the very first copy that will be available in town and if you haven't seen it, this is one movie YOU HAVE to see on a big screen if you get a chance. Oh and I almost forgot....the ending.....oh lord, the ending.....to quote a line from "From Dusk till Dawn": This is what I call a f&*!@n' show!!! Dan/hmandm.com
The Prophecy: Forsaken (2005)
Tony Todd was awesome, movie......not so much
This fifth film in the Prphecy series picks up the tale of the secret battles between hell,heaven,and earth caught between them. Allison (kahri Wuhrer) now possesses the Lexicon. An ancient text that can reveal when the Antichrist will appear. But renegade angels are on the hunt for the book. Her only hope may be a mysterious assassin named Dylan (Jason Scott Lee) Alright you guys get the gist of the story well here is what I thought personally I lost interest in this series after the second film....So...some of you may disagree with me...I felt this film was a bit slow and boring the acting was decent enough although I thought that Kahri Wuhrer's character could have been better written but the story fell flat in many spots...I thought that they didn't give you enough details to make this film interesting...one minute of back story at the beginning just wasn't enough to delve me into this story.. Although I did find the brief explanation on the different ranking of Angels interesting....Tony Todd delivers an excellent performance as an evil Angel bent on stopping Armagedon so that the Angels can be gods favorites. I give this film a sad 2 buckets of gore for the boring story the only thing that justifies this film is its decent acting
Land of the Dead (2005)
Best Zombie flick this year!
In this new tale a harrowing vision of a modern-day world where the walking dead roam an uninhabited wasteland and the living try to lead "normal" lives behind the walls of a fortified city. A new society has been built by a handful of enterprising, ruthless opportunists, who live in the towers of a skyscraper, high above the hard-scrabble existence on the streets below. But outside the city walls, an army of the dead is evolving. Inside, anarchy is on the rise. With the very survival of the city at stake, a group of hardened mercenaries is called into action to protect the living from an army of the dead.
With The Zombie Film making a full comeback one can only be overjoyed knowing that the father of the modern zombie (George A. Romero) Has done it again. In this the fourth installment in the Night Of the Living Dead series he has again showed us why he is one of the true masters of horror! Mixing slow moving zombies with just enough blood and guts to keep any gore hound happy. All while telling an interesting story that invites any movie fan to stop and watch.
Personally i enjoyed this film on many different levels I got my fill of gore while while being riveted with the story of power and corruption in a world gone wrong. All while adding a new and exciting twist to the average Zombie giving them the ability to actually think and communicate. Altogether I found this film very enjoyable without destroying a a part of the horror genre that has become dearly beloved! With cameo's from some of the best including your favorite Cricket Bat wielding store clerk to the master of gore FX himself and a few others this is most definitely a film that shouldn't be missed! I give it a very Strong 4.5 buckets of gore only taking away 1/2 a bucket for the simple fact that I felt the ending could have been just a bit better! Leaving us empty and wanting more. As for the rest of the film the acting was all top notch and the FX were top of the line without going over that cheesy CGI line. I most definitely suggest this film to anyone looking for a new take from an old master!
Monsturd (2003)
This movie was full of s@#t! I LOVED IT.
First things first, with a title like Monsturd you pretty much know this isn't going to be a serious movie and not the kind of film you'd probably watch with your future in-laws. What you do get however is one kick ass movie made on a budget that has everything horror fans looks for in a film. For me this is what low budget independent movie making is all about. The story is simple, an escaped serial killer Jack Schmitt dies a mysterious death in the city's sewage treatment plant, deep, dark trouble comes to town. A horrifying accident at a nearby genetic research laboratory results in the blood thirsty killer's resurrection and soon, using the county's sewer system as his underground lair, Schmitt exacts his odious revenge on the frightened townsfolk. Thats right folks, Jack Schmitt becomes a walking talking killing lump of s@#t with attitude. How's that for a storyline!.
Don't think however this film is just an excuse for toilet jokes, it isn't. Yes it is a horror comedy and yes there are some funny moments but this film is much more than just 80 minutes of c@#p and s@#t jokes. What the writer/director pairing of Dan West and Rick Popko have created here is a brilliant piece of independent movie making. The acting throughout the film had a great relaxed and natural feeling and it's hard not to enjoy the film for what it is, a good fun movie. It's also thanks to the acting from the cast that some of the less plausible scenes just fit in and work, for example two scientists pouring chemical waste down a sidewalk storm drain in broad daylight in the middle of a residential area or the scene where a small girl describes to the local sheriff's and a police sketch artist the giant turd that killed her father, or my personal favorite where the two local deputies, played by our writer/director duo of Dan West and Rick Popko, find the remains of a sewer worker and spent the next 30 seconds throwing up, just brilliant. Monsturd is the first full length film from 4321 Films but having checked out their site I see there already well into production into their next film RetarDEAD and it's planned for a video release for this winter. RetarDEAD see's the evil Dr Stern, the creator of the s#$t monster return from the sewer to unleash his latest evil scheme on the students of Butte County Institute of Special Education and having just watched the trailer for this next project I'm already looking forward to picking this one up too. I'll wrap this little review up with a couple of lines from the brilliant title song from Monsturd...
I'm here to warn you though it must seem absurd To be aware of a giant Monsturd When the s#$t goes down he may be in your town Don't get caught with your pants down Don't be a fool, don't drop the kids at the pool Oh yeah he's one cool stool
Violent but deadly, you'd better be aware He might just be in your underwear Best hold your breath, no don't breath that noxious vapor Make sure you've got some toilet paper
Dan/hmandm.com
On Edge (1999)
Wow this is a great movie! Frazer Lee is the next Clive Barker
This is Frazer Lee's first feature but you wouldn't know it by viewing it. Filmed in stunning 35mm Panavision widescreen the images on screen are beautifully framed and the lighting while being true to the environment add to the uneasy feeling the film is intended to give its viewers. The story follows Peter Thurlow, played by Charley Doorman as he visits his local dentist in a cure for his toothache. After showing up without an appointment and discovering his regular dentist is away on holiday he accepts the offer of treatment from the new dentist, Doctor Mathews, played by horror icon Doug Bradley. Bad Move! Our patient is shown to an upstairs room and settles in the chair for the work to begin and straight away you get the feeling that Doctor Mathews enjoys his work just a little too much.
The camera angle places the viewer right in the dentistry chair with the good doctor poised above you, there's no escaping the horror here folks so sit back and open wide please. As the film progresses you learn Doctor Mathews isn't your run of the mill orthodontist and favors his own method of treatment but I won't say any more, don't want to give away too much now do I!.
Doug Bradley's performance is excellent and his constantly changing emotions and expressions make the character all that bit more mysterious. Is he there to ease his patient's pain or is he there for his own pleasures? The climax is a true horror moment, mainly thanks to the brilliant special effects work of Bob Keen (Hellraiser, Event Horizon, Dog Soldiers) and it's an image that stays with you long after the credits have packed up and caught the last taxi home.
As someone who's never been a fan of dentists this short film got to me, it made me flinch as the anesthetic needle went in, it made me cringe as the doctor slowly moved towards the camera with the drill and the ending, well lets just say my cold pizza and coffee from earlier nearly made a return visit. I'll admit I'm a sucker for these kind of scares, the terror on screen is all that bit more real when it's a situation or experience I can relate to. On Edge gave me the exact same feeling as the last time I watched Arachnophobia. I hate spiders but I love to watch that film just to feel uneasy and scared, and after all aren't spiders and dentists both incarnations of the devil? Please don't let the short fifteen minute runtime put you off this one, the story is so tight and the production values are so high that it really doesn't need to be any longer. Throw in the brilliant performance from Doug and you have the whole shooting match folks, Real life every day horror at its finest.
"Oh, one last thing. Don't forget to floss"
Drawing Blood (2005)
For a low budget horror flick, it sure does pack a nice punch!
This movie is fantastic!! with the way horror movies have been lately this sure was a nice shock to my system, it seems low budget movies are the way to go if your looking for a good scare! Well this movie has it all guys! Sure the plot is basic " Crazy kid escapes mental hospital, kills a tonne of people in gross, sick and in my opinion very creative ways " but thats what makes this movie work, its simple, the photography is A+, gore FX are great, SPX are nicely done and with a few jumpy moments thrown in, its the perfect recipe for horror if you ask me. Oh yeah not to mention the naked girls! Its set for release in the USA early next year, but i was lucky enough to get a screener, as i run a horror movie website. Be sure to check this out because with all i mentioned above combined with a SUPERB performance by Robert Z'Dar ( Maniac cop & Tango & Cash )you have a sick and very twisted horror movie on your hands!