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Reviews
The Exorcism (2024)
Rusty, what are you doing?!
Like some other reviewers, I saw the trailer for this movie and thought it had something to do with The Pope's Exorcist (which was, in my opinion, also a terrible movie). Nope. The Exorcist has nothing to do with Crowe's former role or movie. It's a completely different story and one that's just not very good!
Demon possession movies are my 'thing' and I've seen 95% of them. Most are pretty terrible and this was no exception. Standard fare and it's not worth seeing.
But to see such a fabulous actor as Russell Crowe reduced to this banal fare? That's the true travesty of this movie! As my review title says, Rusty, what are you doing?!!
Give this a wide berth. Even Russell Crowe and David Hyde Pierce can't save this one!
Angmareul boatda (2010)
Absolutely Sensational!
This is the first TRUE horror I've seen in a very long time. It's also the best vigilante movie I've ever seen. It's a great premise for a film and it truly lives up to what it promises.
The acting was brilliant, although I know none of the actors. But the two main protagonists gave flawless performances and, in a way, I didn't want the film to end. The hunter was amazing, you could truly feel his pain and loss. And the killer, well, I haven't seen someone play a psychopath as well as that since Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs.
It was incredibly gory, but it wasn't gratuitous in the way that it fitted with the storyline. The torture scenes were absolutely horrifying to me, but that's what you want in a good horror. You want to have the hell scared out of you and this movie definitely does that!
I don't know why English-speaking horror movies get it so wrong - there hasn't been a really descent horror in years from Western movie studios. Asian movies seem to get it right 9 times out of 10. And this one seriously fits the bill in every way!
You won't be disappointed in this if you're a horror fan. And even if you just like a good, hearty drama - you can close your eyes through the bad bits!
The Pope's Exorcist (2023)
Oh, Rusty!
Rusty, Rusty, Rusty! How on earth did you get yourself involved in this travesty?
Ok, maybe I'm being a little over dramatic. This isn't the worst I've seen, but it's standard exorcism fare. And in terms of scary exorcisms, this is a big fail. I've seen scarier things in my bathtub than in this movie! The possessed boy just doesn't give off anything other than "oh wow, another make up and CGI demon, how fascinating" vibes.
But mostly, I'm just sorry a fine actor like Russell Crowe would even think about being in this movie. When you compare this movie to some of his other incredible catalogue of work, it really, REALLY stinks!
I had such high hopes for this movie. All of it amounts to "just another exorcism movie". Sad!
Fractured (2019)
Highly entertaining!
I've just watched this and I'm more than pleasantly surprised by how good it was!
Firstly, Sam Worthington. Who knew the boy could act?? Every single thing I've seen him in previously, his acting had been awful. But this is definitely a tour de force for Sam! He was so believable as the confused husband and I was a little disappointed for him in the end that things didn't turn out as he wanted. Lily Rabe is always good and the little girl was also very accomplished.
It's a nightmarish story, one that sent chills down my spine in some parts. Because it would be SO easy for this to happen, in theory. Being swallowed up by some huge behemoth hospital, filled with people who have a vested interest in sending you crazy. Or do they...?
Great movie, it will entertain you from start to finish and leave you thinking for a while after that.
Wolf Creek 2 (2013)
If a movie does this to me...
...I have little choice in rating it a ten. As an Australian, I know all the lore and legends about tourists heading off the beaten track and getting lost, never to be seen again. It's a weird country and you'd think after more than 50 years, I'd be used to it!
I've been watching and loving horror movies for decades. But I swear I can't watch this movie in the conventional sense - I can't look at it for more than a couple of seconds before turning away again! John Jarrett is so bloody frightening to me and I really can't understand why - he's certainly not the maddest horror character to ever grace a screen! But he scares the bejeezuz out of me and I just can't watch this movie. I've now 'seen' it in my own special way from start to finish, but I can hands down say I will NEVER watch it again!
See? As much as I hated it, I had to rate it a ten for the effect it had on me.
And by the way, Mick, the first rule of travelling the outback isn't "Don't stop". It's NEVER TRAVEL ALONE!
The Twelve (2022)
Not exactly brilliant...
This drama goes on WAY too long, with far too many characters and subplots. Although there is some outstanding acting (Sam Neill as always, Brooke Satchwell a real surprise, and the guy who plays the horrible Jamie), it's not enough to carry this show over the line.
If they had made the characters have far more interesting lives, or at least cut down the number of subplots, they could have done a lot more. Some of the sub stories are quite interesting and you actually do want to find out the end result, but the silly developing romances - young and old - are ridiculous and make the show seem more like a soap opera than a drama!
The worst part about it is how ridiculously woke the whole thing is - it completely wrecks the show for me because I despise having minority causes shoved down my throat. I watch TV as an escape from all the rubbish in the news, from all the causes-of-the-day and from being constantly told what to say and how to think. I don't like having it so blatantly paraded in front of me during an Australian television series - I thought us Aussies were better than that.
I'm only hanging in there for the finale where, I assume, there will be a verdict! Or, better still, a proper wrap up to all of the random plot lines!
American Horror Story (2011)
Mostly sheer brilliance
I've watched all seasons of AHS, most of them multiple times. All of them have their charms, although I'm not a fan of Roanoke - that was a bit too cheesy for me. Hotel is my favourite (Dennis O'Hare as Liz Taylor is perfection), closely followed by Murder House (season 1). The show is innovative, well shot and well written - some of it is creepy as hell! The Asylum season was especially creepy.
The cast is absolutely amazing. I've been introduced to so many new talented actors and actresses through this show. I'm now a massive fan of Evan Peters! And Jessica Lange is just superb, it's so good to see her back on screen. I also loved Mare Winningham's character in Hotel, Miss Evers - delightfully funny and creepy!
My only blight would be Sarah Paulson. From Season 2 onwards, all she does is whine or cry...or both! I've come to instantly hate every character she plays, without even giving them a chance. Sarah is one of those actresses that plays herself, rather than the actual character - the only role she was really suited to was Sally in Hotel, because that character was perpetually crying and whining!
All in all, AHS is a truly brilliant series and I hope they can manage to keep it alive. I'm also really enjoying the new American Horror Stories. Check it out if you're a fan of the bizarre, because AHS has it in spades!
Poseidon (2006)
Special Effects Are Great
As an action movie, Poseidon is awesome! But it has absolutely no heart, which the original had in spades. The characters engender zero sympathy in me and I really don't care who dies (I'm actually watching it at the moment). Unlike the original, where I had great sympathy for almost all the characters and I cried when Shelly Winters died. And when Ernest Borgnine's wife died - that was utterly heartbreaking.
If you're after a 'thrills and spills' movie with awesome special effects, this fits the bill. But don't expect the wonderful characters of The Poseidon Adventure, because you'll be very disappointed.
I'd like to commend one last thing. The accident itself. The wave hitting the ship and then the flipping of the boat was absolutely spectacular!! Gave me the creeps big time, as I've been on a few cruises and could just imagine what the passengers felt like. It was really terrifying!
I rate this a 7 for action and entertainment, but a zero for heart.
Terminator Genisys (2015)
It's mediocre, but...
I just have to say that Arnie's one liners in this movie are verging on brilliant at times. I laughed loudly several times, because it's obvious Arnie knows the movie is pretty tragic and yet, he delivers his deadpan stuff absolutely flawlessly. Give this movie a go, because you'll get a few good belly laughs for sure!
"That's a very immature attitude." Brilliant!
The Haunting of Sharon Tate (2019)
Doesn't deserve the low rating
I understand why some are saying this movie is in bad taste, but I respectfully disagree. Tate and the others died over fifty years ago, a fact that is merely history.
Yes, the murders were senseless, gruesome and violent and the victims suffered terribly. But it is what it is - it happened and nothing can change that. This movie, like "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" is an interesting take on the tragedy. To me, it tried to tell a 'what might have been' story and it did it quite well. Like Tarantino's movie, it was nice to see the bad guys getting their comeuppance. Not that the ending is happy, but it was nice to imagine what could have been.
All in all, it's an interesting movie and the subject matter is handled reasonably sensitively. Oh, and Manson's women are creepy as hell!!
Silent Hours (2021)
A Solid Thriller
I really liked this movie, although I can understand why it wouldn't be to everyone's taste. Particularly the long run time and the fact that it is (or was) once a tv miniseries - that was quite obvious.
I thought the plot was well crafted and you definitely had to stay aware of all the twists and turns, otherwise you'd have no idea what was going on. It's definitely a 'slow burn', which I happen to like in a movie - I know that doesn't always suit Generation "I Want It NOW!"
The lead actor was great! He really suited the character and while 95% of you thinks he's innocent and being set up, the other 5% of me was "hmmm... there's just something not quite right - did he or didn't he?" The rest of the acting was perfectly fine, I always enjoy British TV and movies.
The only thing that drove me insane was the female detective that spent 99% of the film whispering her dialogue, so I was forced to continually increase and decrease the volume. Until the one time she actually shouts unexpectedly in the film and nearly blows my ears out!! Speak up, woman!! I know you're a tremendous actor because I've seen you in a lot of other British and Irish TV, so I have no idea what was going on here.
As for people saying the sex scenes were "pornographic", I don't know what movie you were watching, because I saw nothing of the sort! You saw nothing but boobs and bums, and only for a minute or two. The scenes were also necessary to the plot and establishing the mood.
And lastly, for the woke brigade carrying on about old themes, misogyny and poor treatment of women, IT'S A MOVIE! You, the small minority out there, are the reason why the rest of us can't have nice things. And I say that as a woman.
If you want to spend a lazy couple of hours on a Sunday (or whenever) and still be mindfully engaged, watch Silent Hours and don't take it too seriously. It's a good movie!
Host (2020)
First time I've been scared in ages!
I'm pretty much immune to horror movies, after decades of watching. I'm not into slasher flicks, I love horrors that mess with your head - I find that what you can't see is infinitely more scary than what you can! And this is what I loved about Host - you see only glimpses of whatever the entity is. Yes, it relies on jump scares, but they're good scares!
The characters are very believable and the set up reminds me of my own Zooms with my girlfriends during lockdown! I enjoyed their relationships throughout the movie.
I'm also a lover of found footage movies and I loved both the Unfriended movies, so this was always going to resonate well with me.
I'd highly recommend Host - it's a lot of fun!
USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage (2016)
It's not about the CGI, but the STORY!
This is a story I've been interested in since, like most, I saw Robert Shaw tell it in Jaws. I was thrilled to finally see a film had been made about the Indianapolis and its crew. And as far as I'm concerned, it lived up to the history! Sure, the CGI was pretty bad, but it wasn't about that - it was about the story of these brave men who were hung out to dry by their own government. Yes, all the back stories were probably untrue, but I found the whole film intensely moving. What happened to these men was a tragedy and the cast, director, writers etc. did a wonderful job in making them into real live human beings. I highly recommend the film. And the score was fabulous!
The Curse of La Llorona (2019)
A Solid 7/10
I enjoyed this movie. It had more than enough creep-outs and scares and most of the acting was pretty good. It's a great folk tale and as monsters go, La Llorona is up there in the gross department! I really enjoyed the faith healer and thought his deadpan acting style was brilliant. If you don't expect too much, you'll like this. Not many horror movies stay with me after I watch them, but I could La Llorona in the shadows after this one!
Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (2014)
A good addition to the franchise
After the abomination that was PA4, I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. Sure, it's your standard possession story, but I found it believable and reasonably well acted. The young guys were easy to like and their friendship really came through on-screen. It also had some great scary/eerie moments. All in all, I think the PA franchise has pulled itself back on track with this one. Definitely worth watching!
The Changeling (1980)
Best ghost story EVER!
I first saw this when I was 16. It scared the hell out of me. Just watched it again at age 50 and it was just as scary as the first time! A classic, old style horror that messes with your mind and will stay with you for years. Ten out of ten!
Edit: those of you who are expecting a 'modern' horror, well, you'll probably be disappointed. This movie is all about what you DON'T see, rather than what you do...
Prodigal Son (2019)
Absolute Garbage!
I was so excited by the premise of this show when I saw the ads, but it's diabolical. Don't waste your time!
Cold Creek Manor (2003)
Absolutely awful!
Both Sharon Stone and Dennis Quaid are excellent actors, but this movie does neither of them any favours. It's absolutely ridiculous!
Mara (2018)
It's an interesting concept
I don't think it's as bad as other reviewers seemed to. The concept is interesting, it's well put together. The movie is a little slow, but the Mara character is creepy as hell!
Liar (2017)
Absolutely Awful!
Had great potential, but the story became ever more ridiculous with each episode. It was well acted, with the notable exception of Joanne Froggart - I was fed up with her whining and whinging after episode one!
Give this a wide berth. It's 6 hours of your life better spent elsewhere.
Holding the Man (2015)
Outstanding!
I read the book many years ago, but it has taken me a long time to watch the movie - I loved the book SO much, I didn't want to be disappointed.
I needn't have worried, because the movie is absolutely outstanding! Beautifully acted by the entire cast, poignant, and yes, incredibly sad. I'm still crying 30 mins after finishing it.
It's not an easy movie to watch, but it's so very worth it. Australian cinema at it's finest!