swiftriver1984

[swiftriver1984]

Fear Street Part 1: 1994

Prologue :  

As a 90′s kid goosebumps were a huge part of my early life. The secret I have yet in revealing is that I never cared for the television show. This is why I was hesitant with fear street. This is another childhood favorite of mine but would it fall into the same realm as the predecessor? 

Plot :  A circle of teenage friends accidentally encounter the ancient evil responsible for a series of brutal murders that have plagued their town for over 300 years. Welcome to Shadyside.

Review : At the start fear street pays homage toward scream. A Girl is in the mall and a man in a skull outfit with complete skull mask is stalking her. As she runs threw the mall evading her killer we see other’s he has killed.

This is a perfect opening. As there is not much with horror you can really do. It’s has all been done before and the key now is making it entertaining. Making the audience care enough about the character’s even if we see what’s coming we do not want it to happen. The story itself is complicated enough it can last threw the trilogy but not complicated enough it becomes bigger then it set’s itself out to be. Shadyside has a bad case of murder’s that span back over 30+ years. We learn that a witch was cast out, murdered and in true cliché fashion seeks revenger beyond the grave. When one of our characters disturbs her bones the witch goes from just possessing Shadyside residents into a full on revenge hunt 

Leigh Janiak (Director) has clear intentions. Having directed two episode’s of the scream television story she knows were she wants to put the camera, what she wants to capture. The biggest credit i can give to her is when she pays homage the scene is shot in the perfect aspect that showcases what is happening. If you know your horror then you will know when this happens. She has me craving more and it sucks i have to wait a weak.

When it comes down to the cast at times it does feel a bit stranger things. I’m unsure if this was intentional or that’s how much that show has upon my subconscious. A Group of kid’s that honestly I'm not going to spoil. Part of the fun of the show is the cast and there acting together had me laughing and cheering. The actor’s are made to look younger then they are (18+) so when some sexual scenes do come up fear not there all of age. 

In the end I had fun. A lot of fun with this one and urge anyone to check the film out. It’s got blood, scares,good acting and directing

[swiftriver1984]

Bendy And The Ink Machine

Bendy visually appealed to me. I Love the early days of animation and similar to cuphead submerged itself in this aspect. For most the game i was enthralled in the game and having a blast. Chapter three lost me with it’s apparent setup meant to scare it’s audience. What makes this aspect worse is the fact chapter three is the longest chapter in the game. I Don’t want to know I'm being scared as it looses the scare’s effect. The horror aspect mixes cartoon and intriguing visuals with a well rounded cast that did not disappoint me. Now one of the highlight’s i didn’t expect was the score. I Would recommend the game but because of one chapter can’t say it’s a must play.

[swiftriver1984]

Goblin Slayer: Goblin's Crown

Goblin Slayer and his party head up to the snowy mountains in the north after receiving a request from the Sword Maiden. A small village gets attacked, they encounter a mysterious chapel, and something about how these goblins are acting bothers the Goblin Slayer.

Review : An adaption of the 5th light novel from series goblin slayer. One does not need to see the previous series to watch goblin’s crown. It’s self contained for most the film.

Continuing the mature nature of the series we see Goblin Slayer and his crew head up into the mountains after getting a letter from the sword maiden. A Crew that has been sent out on a goblin job has gone missing. When they get there it appears the goblins have gotten smarter. When cleaning out a nest they find the leader from the missing crew still alive and branded. When she wakes up she joins the party on taking down the goblins nest.

Holding it’s mature rating goblin’s crown is more a explanation then expansion. We get to see the party still getting along, we see the goblins have gotten smarter and introduce a new character. The goblin fight scenes are what we have seen before. There entertaining but not enough to tense the audience. This should not make you avoid the movie. It’s a fun film with a lot of character interaction and hilarious stabs at goblin slayer himself. The addition of Noble Fencer is a decent addition that i personally hope we see again. It feels we see her at her worst and be great to see her at her best.

3/5

[swiftriver1984]

Cold Light of Day (1989) Review

Fictionalized account based on the actions of serial killer Dennis Nilsen.

Review : 

Directed by Fhiona-Louise a 21 year old acting student who wrote and directed the feature film. Were taken on a Fictionalized account of serial killer Dennis Nilsen. Who for the film adaption is called Jordan March. Jordan (Bob Flag) preys on the homeless and sick. Eventually killing them and sometimes having sex with there dead corpse before he dismembered them. He would flush certain parts down the toilet and the rest hide underneath the floorboards. What you witness in Cold light of day is anything but sadistic .

I Have personally read a book about Dennis and his killing's. The film may be fiction the interpretation Fhiona really did capture the essence. Alongside Flag who was a classmate of Fhiona they display Jordan as devote of his actions, emotionless at the moment of the killing. Only showing emotion after he killed someone. Sometimes having sex with the corpse before he cleaned up. What would ultimately lead into his arrest was his own stupidity. Flushing body parts lead into the drains getting clogged. Here Jordan is shown killing 4 or 5 men, In Reality Dennis killed 12. There is not plot beyond or between th murder's but the emotions the film stirs. It's not a feel good type film. Knowing the content there are interrogation scenes spliced in giving the viewer a minor break before the next kill. with Fhiona behind the camera and bob flag in the title role they nail the desperation. As for the graphic nature the killings are short. We see the strangulations / drowning then the aftermath but never the dismemberment. We may see Jordan sleeping with a corpse or just once having fun but the film never lingers on these moment's. They are there for clarity and not discomfort. 

I can see many being put off with a film like this. If your like me and into serial killers and crime this is a must see film. Fhiona knows the lore, the stories and crafts a simplified set of event's though disturbing. 

Top Five Reason’s You Should Watch Cold Light of Day

True life crime

Fhiona-Louise Directing

Realistic Tension and Despair

Bob Flag As Jordan

Artistic Vision

[swiftriver1984]

Weird Science (1985)

Plot :  Two high school nerds use a computer program to literally create the perfect woman, but she turns their lives upside down.

Review : Directed by John Hughes () and staring Anthony Michael Hall,  Ilan Mitchell-Smith, Bill Paxton, Kelly LeBrock & Robert Downey Jr. weird science is a teenage comedy. It all starts when two nerds decide they can create a woman threw the power of science.

Hughes has his finger on the pulse when it comes to teenage hormones and being an outcast. The script is often funny with moment’s of heart and romance. Something Hughes I feel has done better then any other director. Match the intellect of the script with actor’s Anthony and Ilan it’s a perfect match. There best friends and what do best friends do? They stick together and so when the idea of creating a woman there is little objection. Kelly as lisa the woman they create is not written as a damsel in distress. She’s instead the reason boundaries get pushed and some hilarious situations arise from these occasions. The rest of the cast is often at the amusement or embarrassment of the duo themselves. Bill Paxton as the jerk of a brother, Downey as a bully it’s all fun and games.

If you looking for a film that makes sense this is not it. If thought logically some of the scrip becomes laughable. This is key as we are never meant to take the film serious.

Top Five Reason’s You Should Watch Weird Science

John Hughes

Kelly LeBrock  

Best Friends

Heartwarming Closure

80′s Nostalgia

[swiftriver1984]

The Mummy / The Mummy Returns

The Mummy (1999) :  At an archaeological dig in the ancient city of Hamunaptra, an American serving in the French Foreign Legion accidentally awakens a mummy who begins to wreak havoc as he searches for the reincarnation of his long-lost love.

The Mummy Returns (2001) :  The mummified body of Imhotep is shipped to a museum in London, where he once again wakes and begins his campaign of rage and terror.

Review : Brendan Fraser in his prime alongside Rachel Weisz &  John Hannah what’s not to like. The two films compliment themselves at the same time never taking things to serious. What happens in the first carries over into the second without the loss of chemistry. Watching them again some effects work, some effects are bad. The heart and laughs still shine threw. If you haven’t seen them then i encourage you to do so.

Top Five Reason’s You Should Watch The Mummy / The Mummy Returns

Brendan Fraser

The script

Funny dialogue

Mummys

Egyptian Mythology

[swiftriver1984]

MAN BITES DOG (1992)

Plot : A film crew follows a ruthless thief and heartless killer as he goes about his daily routine. But complications set in when the film crew lose their objectivity and begin lending a hand.

Review : A Belgian film in the column of films one must see before they die. MBD is different in the depravity, vulgarity all being present but the extent escalates over time. There was one scene in particular i nearly turned off the film.Benoît Poelvoorde was brilliant in the lead. Match him with the brilliant camera work this has the feel of film mixed in with reality. Rémy Belvaux wrote and directed a must see IMO film. Now do i want to see it again? Once was enough.I Can see that with more views and the shock out of the way how important Man Bites Dog is. Dark Humor, Found Footage, Brilliant scripted just not for the faint of heart. If you can stomach it then watch it.

Top Five Reason’s You Should Watch Man Bites Dog

01. Camera Work 02. Realistic Situation's. 03. Tension 04. Benoît Poelvoorde 05. The relation between reality and film

[swiftriver1984]

The Hills Have Eyes (1977)

Plot :  On the way to California, a family has the misfortune to have their car break down in an area closed to the public, and inhabited by violent savages ready to attack

Review :  Wes craven before he became a household name. I Personally prefer Wes cravens earlier films before scream (The Last House on the Left, Hills Have Eyes, The People Under the Stairs) . A Family outing becomes a scene of horror. When viewed from either perspective (Savage / Family) the films as solid as they come. The tensions on point with a realistic story for it’s time. No cell phones, no calling for help it’s do or die.

Top Five Reason’s You Should Watch The Hills Have Eyes

01. Pre scream Wes craven 02. Trailer Scene You won’t forget 03. Tension 04. Savages And Carnage 05. Michael Berryman

Trailer : 

[swiftriver1984]

The Girl in Room 2A (1974)

Plot :  A sadistic killer cult kidnaps and sacrifices beautiful women. A young girl, just paroled from prison, moves into a strange house and appears to be the cult's next victim.

Review :  Forget what you know, this is not that. It’s grizzly only when needed and for the remainder a mystery. Great acting by the lead (Daniela), Decent script and some good tension.

Top Five Reason’s You Should Watch The Girl in Room 2A

01. Daniela Giordano 02. Break In Common Giallo 03. Opening Scene 04. Nudity 05. The Blood On The Floor

Trailer : 

[swiftriver1984]

The Collection (film)

Plot : A man who escapes from the vicious grips of the serial killer known as "The Collector" is then forced to help rescue an innocent girl from the killer's booby-trapped lair.

Review : The collection is more of the collector. Like the previous film it brings nothing new and still entertains. There are traps, there is blood and somewhat of a storyline. I’m a fan of these type of films and I think that’s the deciding factor.

Top Five Reason’s You Should Watch The Collection

01. The Traps 02. Your a fan of the genre ( Action | Horror | Thriller | Traps | Mystery Killer) 03. Enjoyed the previous film  04. Film Nods Toward Horror Cinema Greats 05. Fan of bad dialogue 

Trailer : 

[swiftriver1984]

Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)

Plot :  The epic next chapter in the cinematic Monsterverse pits two of the greatest icons in motion picture history against one another - the fearsome Godzilla and the mighty Kong - with humanity caught in the balance.

Review : It’s been a long wait since the last time Kong and Godzilla fought. I’m happy in admitting that it was worth it. Atomic breath, anger issues and fist go flying in a no hold barrel between two of the biggest monster’s in history

Top Five Reason’s You Should Watch Godzilla vs. Kong

01. Kong & Godzilla Destroying Tokyo 02. Atomic Breath 03. Kaylee Hottle 04. CGI & Stunts 05. WWE Style Move’s

Trailer : 

[swiftriver1984]

Streets of Fire (1984)

Plot : A mercenary is hired to rescue his ex-girlfriend, a singer who has been kidnapped by a motorcycle gang.

Review : Streets of fire may not look like much from the cover. You need to give the film a blind chance. It’s 80′s film nostalgia taking notes from some of cinema’s great films and mixing them all together. What comes out is a entertaining blockbuster that will have you laughing and singing along.

Top Five Reason’s You Should Watch Streets Of Fire

01. Rick Moranis 02. Soundtrack is awesome  03. Younger Willem Dafoe 04. 80′s cheese & Feeling 05. If you like films like (Breakfast Club, The Warriors, Cry Baby) or  John Hughes in general

Trailer :