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Evil Dead Rise (2023)
Cronin has a head for Horror
Controversial but I have never really been a fan of the Evil Dead films but I admire the spirit of the first entry. I also admire Lee Cronin's The Hole in the Ground so I was interested to see what he would do with this film.
To start let me say that relocating from a Cabin in the Woods to an Apartment in the City isn't really the huge change or betrayal to the mythos that people made it out to be, they can both be scary isolated places. This is one area where Cronin excels, the man knows horror and it's influence can be seen throughout the movie. He has taken his cues not only from the original Evil Dead movies (fast moving low level crane shot -here by drone rather than bamboo staff -to off kilter camera angles and jerky filming but also from the likes of Rosemary's Baby - The isolation of the Apartment - The Exorcist, The Omen, Alien and Aliens - the cat in the former and the Aunt and Daughter relationship in the case of the second not to mention Carpenter's The Thing and the Stuart Gordon/Brian Yuzna masterpieces of B movie Horror.
The casting was also amazing, they look like they are related and act like pretty much every indie/alternative family I have ever known.
BUT, I had 2 major issues with the movie. Number 1, for a film that apparently was originally meant to be on a streaming channel it was way too dark to watch on an average 32 inch screen and more importantly - it was boring, although this has been my main issue with the Evil Dead films. As I said at the start the OG was impressive as a show reel for what Sam Raimi could do on no budget but, Army of Darkness aside, subsequent movies haven't really advanced this (2 was a bigger budget virtual remake, Alverez's was a Gender swapped remake and this just changed location and made the friends the family instead.
If there are any more to come move the story on, please.
But Cronin is destined for greatness as long as he keeps away from the Major Studios.
Hellraiser (2022)
Awful slasher
***SPOILERS** I'm writing this whilst still watching the movie. To start, this is an awful Hellraiser film at best it's a slasher and not even a good one. I also should say I'm a Barker fan and have met Doug Bradley who is a lovely humble man. Back to the film, it is a long time since I read The Hellbound Heart and I am aware that Hellraiser is not the same story but it was a Clive Barker film re-imagining of the same story, it was dark, grimy, filthy film with S&M overtones along with practical effects. Pinhead had a presence in his expressions and and his vocal delivery, Frank had an urge to taste the forbidden and Kirsty had an innocence. In this film we see 2 drug addicts whose habit only affects them when it is convenient to the plot, Cenobites who are only fully seen after an hour and look like they wandered in from Silent Hill and seem to exist too freely in the real world rather than the underground S&M scene of Barker's youth. Jamie Clayton is receiving praise for the performance but to be honest a Mannequin could have played the role - no movement and the voice is so digitally altered it could have been Kanye! Last years Candyman showed how to update a classic Barker story. We have such sights to show you. Off to watch Judgement again at least it was faithful to the idea of the original and the the brilliant Marvel/Epic comic series.
Sorry for the rant.
The Strange Chores (2019)
Strange Humour
This is an excellent series with a great voice cast, bizarre storylines, weird character design and some brilliant dialogue. Also the only show I have ever seen either for kids or adults with a song about a hand and the fingers - including the 'rude one'. I won't tell you which episode, you'll have to watch it.
The humour is particularly Antipodean so I'm not sure if it it would go down well in the the good old US of A but it transfers well enough to UK - years of Neighbours and Home and Away, not to mention Transportation give countries on the opposite side of the world a related sensibility.
Funny Man (1994)
After the pub
Great movie that I caught on TV after avoiding it for years due to bad reviews. Full disclosure, I'd had a few but his is the kind of film that fits that scenario. From the less than subtle Scooby Doo references to Rhona Cameron's awful American accent it is dreadful. But Sir Christopher Lee, Pauline Black OBE and a northern jester who brutally kills people and breaks the 4th wall years before Ryan Reynolds. What more do you want before bed.
Men (2022)
Genius British horror.
Anyone who has spent time alone in a strange part of the British countryside understands how it can be at the same time beautiful and terrifying and this is captured perfectly in this film. Add to this the symbolic and overt reversal of the traditional gender roles in horror films (the knife as phallus, splitting the membrane of a virgin and later penetrating the older man) as well as the pagan references - you are not likely to see the Green Man in a Christian Church - as well as hints of the contradictions of High and Low Magic and what you have here is a superb piece of film making from a man who understands horror, people and the land of his birth.
Alex, please can we have more of this.
Unforgotten (2015)
The Whisper Mysteries
Love this show even if everyone does speak in hushed voices. Season 4 is the best yet, the handling of Racism/perceived Racism is superb. Always loved Sanjeev Bhaskar he is an icon of British Comedy but he excels himself in this show, his subtle glances when he thinks his boss is close to the edge are enough to earn him a BAFTA. Congrats to all involved for reflecting the way the UK is at the moment.
Truth Seekers (2020)
Intelligent, Heartwarming and funny
This show is pure genius, the first half of the series sets up the 2nd half perfectly. The clues are there if you watch closely enough (much like Sean of the Dead and Worlds End). The show is played dead straight for the most part, the comedy comes through as natural, Malcolm McDowell is a delight. The one thing that bugged me a bit was the distances they travelled until I Googled Hinckley to Portland and found the timing was spot on. This kind of attention to detail is what makes their so good (nice to see Funky Pete's brother getting in on the act)
This show will stand repeated views so grab your bag of Prawn Cocktail Crisps and enjoy.
VHYes (2019)
What is this
If you want to see 80's VHS stuff watch The Goldberg's, even after a lot of booze I had to give up on this piece of doody
Breaking Glass (1980)
Still an amazing film
Watched Hazel O'Connor on a recent Lockdown 80's Festival alongside Toyah, Boomtown Rats, ABC, Tony Hadley, Claire Grogan. This film perfectly documents the transition from Punk to the Post Punk/New Romantic era of British music. Amazing film.
They Reach (2020)
Fun film which bodes well for the future.
I went into this not expecting much and was pleasantly surprised. I am not going to give anything away story-wise.This was obviously a work of love for relatively inexperienced cast and crew and the Director/Co-writer obviously has a love of film - so many subtle references to classics (and some not so subtle - check out the names of the Deputies).
Technically very well made, the lighting was way better than many recent big budget efforts.
If I had one criticism it would be the fact that it doesn't seem to know which audience it is aimed at. It comes across at times like a family movie but throws in the occasional bit of (UK) rated 15 stuff. One film it brings to mind with these tonal shifts is 1987's The Gate (and to be fare I have a fondness for that film) and that was directed by Tibor Takacs who went on to work on the Sabrina the Teenage Witch films. This bodes well for Mr Dall in the future.
The very young cast do a great job, I can see why so many people bring up the Stranger Things comparison, although that only borrows from the 80's itself..
Checked out the review history of some of the harsher critics here and the way they score films speaks for itself.
Good luck to you all for the future.
The Rook (2019)
Awful
From the mispronunciation of the lead's name, to the inaccurate depiction of London Geography, derivative plot elements and dreadful dialogue to the intrusive music and lack of logic (this can not fall into the wrong hands and the code is the same as the alarm).
Truly dreadful.
The Convent (2018)
The Spirit of Hammer Lives.
Real British Horror Film. What I used to watch when I got back from the pub.. No need to say more.
After Life (2019)
Brilliantly Observed Reflection of Modern Britain
Ricky Gervais is a like Marmite, most people love him or hate him. I fall between the two - I like Marmite in gravy and mashed potato. And After Life is pure gravy. His stand up has always been spot on observational and seeing this played out on a comedy show that focuses on things that affect the normal man rather than his previous outings (Boss, Actor, Care Home) shows us Mr Gervais at his best. He is the bloke down the pub. If you don't believe me you can take me for a drink in my local and sit with me in what is known as Miserable ****s corner and you will see how true this is.
Well done sir - I put the razor away when I saw your face.
Lost in Space (2018)
Please become Alan Smithee
Neil Marshall, please stop making this trash, you are a great Director but attaching yourself to rubbish like this sullies your name. You need a lot more time before you can use the it's a job excuse a la Michael Caine, Nic Cage etc. I don't need to comment on the show, everything has already been said.