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Reviews
Doomsday Stories (2023)
REVIEW OF DOOMSDAY STORIES
Phil Herman presents this horror anthology of the end of the world, DOOMSDAY STORIES where he co-produced, is the co-writer and co-director, and he also plays a couple of vital character roles in the film. The total Running time is 2 hours, but it doesn't seem that long, with a massive amount of drama and action happening.
This film comes with trigger warnings, graphic depictions of murder, gore, and rape.
The synopsis says this film is about a survivor in an Apocalyptic world who tells stories leading to the end of the world.
First off, I like the fact that Herman uses the same actors in his films - it makes them seem familiar. The costumes look great. The visual effects are unique and compelling, brilliant use of colour that enhances the look of the film. There are some psychedelic undertones that add something special. Considering this is a lower budget film, the effects are appealing to the overall look, mood and tone. There is some use of meta-cinema happening too. We see several artistic components that add layering and texture - the gore, the shifts in point of view, from 3rd person to 1st person, to a gaming format and a time travelling scene. There are interesting location changes. The narrative and raw emotion from the characters, are well thought out and delivered. The camera angles, cinematography and artfully delivered textures and colours are very intriguing. These are all wonderful aspects that shouldn't be overlooked and should be commended. This is what we have come to expect from Herman and his team. The musical ensemble blends in nicely as it glides from thrash metal to classical pieces, ominously suspenseful instrumentals in places, they set the scenes in a dark and fascinating way. The different settings and location changes, help to keep the stories alive and the momentum flowing. There are scenes of complete devastation as we see images of cities turned into wastelands, total death and destruction, as people try to reconcile their new existence, if they managed to survive. Flashback scenes push the storyline along, making the impact effective. Nice amount of action sequences. The right amount of gore - without coming off overdone. The interludes with Zorack keeps the story compact and well contained. Every story has its own impactful meaning behind them. Very relevant considering we are in the grips of a pandemic.
We are introduced to the plot immediately, with the fall of the economy, food shortages, famine and war. The end of the world occurs in 2020. It's a very relatable story, as we see Revelations in the bible come to pass. The 'meanies' virus wipes out the majority of people on the planet. The story truly kicks off with Zorack, who is the narrator of the story. He has his own sad tale to tell, as well as the stories from the book he found abandoned in the woods. He is a haunted man. One of a few survivors.
The film's structure is that it is broken up into individual stories, recounted by Zorack as he wonders the planet alone. To kill time, he reads from this tragic book, stories about the end of the world. We first come to Rick and his dog Lucy, there is a backstory to this that is emotive and sad - like all the stories, the threads are connected. We get some backstory revealed as Rick's story progresses. He is a miserable man, trying to come to grips with his new reality. He has lost everything. All he has is his dog. When he finally reaches his destination, a horrifying scene takes place. Next story we are with Katrina, (who is played by Debbie D, one of the writers) a woman trying to get her act together as bombs are exploding outside as the city is destroyed. Let's just say, her decision to seek shelter in a bunker with a crazy stranger Alvin; it does not go well. Be warned, there is a rape scene. Alvin's spiel about the end of the world is deplorable. He's a diabolical character. The ending of this story is gory to the max, as it is inferred she will be his next meal. In the desert story, I have to commend the costumes department for the zombie scenes, they are horrendous looking. To a speech from the president of the Administration and project 25, and super soldiers. I like the ominous musical score in this story. We follow a man as he is transformed into a cyborg like soldier. It's weird and wonderful as the point changes into a gaming format. How very interesting and unique. Zorack's story is revealed, before we segway into the last story. We land in 2020 with James Kirk, (ironic name considering) as we time travel through this chapter, it becomes clear that he is an obsessive character, on a mission to save his wife Dana, and to stop the virus before it began. 187 times is played by Joel D. Wynkoop, who is one of the writers and directors. Interesting addition to the storyline, as his tale is told. The threads of all the stories are connected as the virus is explained in detail. But no matter how many times he tries, nothing he does seems to be working. In fact, as he has totally messed up the timeline, the repercussions of his changing things, is having a flow on effect. We go from 2020 to 2050, back to 2020 to 1986. I like this, it has good pacing and carries with it a sense of hopelessness and dread, while James desperately tries to fix everything he has done. There is a lot of jumping around in this story, from 2020 to 2019 to 2023, where the virus is still rife, transitioning into 2019 and back to 2050. However, even with all this happening, I believe the story is well contained and established enough that the storyline is easy to follow. In this scene meta-cinema is used, when we see a shot of the lighting and that the interrogation room has no closed ceilings. I believe this addition is always a fantastic element that only comes from independent films, as big budget Hollywood movies would not get away with it but is exactly what we would expect from an indie film. Then we move onto the Space Time scene, with James's time travelling down a tunnel. Interesting! There are some comical lines that add humour to the story with the police. It's an interesting chapter as we find out more of James's backstory, and he flounders around trying to fix the timeline that has been destroyed due to his careless actions. The drama in this story is developed well. With the Asta device and the travel suit, he is able to move through the years with relative ease. At the end, does he get what he wants? You will have to find out.
Zorack's character is the most intriguing character and story for me in this anthology. This wraparound effect ties the story together superbly. Throughout the film we witness the deterioration of his mind, as he descends into madness. As his story progresses, we learn some of his backstory through flashback scenes. There's a ghastly recollection that expresses a crazy monologue from Zorack, as he tries to contact his sister. In this moment he is drenched in guilt. When we finally come to his story, we are on the day of judgement. We see the virus in full swing, what it does and how it changes people. I like the podcaster's discussion about the world's situation, revealing more of the story with this method. What he has to say is the normal apocalyptic trope, but it works really well in this instance. In Zorack's last scene, where he finds a conveniently placed old school tape recorder, he learns about a rescue station. Here is when the story wraps up, with Zorack walking towards the rescue station. He has a nasty surprise awaiting him.
Overall, the actors played their parts exceptionally well. The plot is thick as we see the scenes and the individual stories unfold. We are taken on a journey through the lives of people trying to survive the post-apocalyptic world. The ending is satisfying, as we are left pondering what will happen to Zorack. The plot twist is great, leaving us with a massive cliffhanger!
I highly recommend this to anyone interested in apocalyptic horror tales, and any filmmakers who want to explore the realm of independent filmmaking.
Evil Lurks (2023)
My review of EVIL LURKS by filmmaker Aaron Hawkins.
This 1 hour and 44-minute supernatural horror film was a trip! It has a crazy hypnotherapist who is helping Kimberly, a troubled and haunted woman, overcome her past traumas. If you want to watch something different, ominous, dark and demonic; then this is the film for you! The characters are terrifying, well thought out, and they play their roles well. We find ourselves invested in the main character Kimberly. She has a daughter Erica, who was conceived after a brutal attack. Said girl is adopted by a family, Shawn and Tiffany. James, who plays an important role in the film, is the lead detective, after Harold the crazy hypnotists is murdered. There are a bunch of twists and turns as this movie progresses. The plot turns really enhance the film. I like the use of colour that helps to set the scene and push the narrative and storyline along, in a really interesting way. There are flashback scenes, visions, people lost in their trance like states. The colour red is a motif throughout the film. It also indicates when someone is in a trance. The sound effects and soundtrack music is top notch, and some of it was composed by Chris Shern, who is also one of the writers and main actors in the film, where he plays Harold. I really enjoyed the music as it overlaps the scenes in a very interesting way. They helped to enhance the scenes. The cinematography is great, as there are very intimate close-up shots, that explore emotion on their faces. There are some great horror scenes. The surrealism of this film is intense and captivating. There is a good amount of tension and suspense splattered throughout the film to keep you guessing what is going to happen. The blood moon is an interesting plot, as we see how this comes to mean something intriguing to the film, adding depth and layering to the storyline and the overall plot. The ending is maddening and not at all what I expected to happen! I really enjoy a good film with a few twists. Leaving us to ponder the outcome and it really shows the deplorable human condition at its very worse.
I would recommend this to any horror arthouse fans, and any filmmakers out there who want to see an exploration into the independent filmmaking sphere. This is a good one to add to the collection of horror movies.
The Censor - A British horror tale of Real politics and social-moral code (2021)
My review of THE CENSOR - a British horror tale of real politics and social-moral code
The storyline and the film begins with a Radio Evening News broadcast, where the reporter is discussing that the National Film Association President Sir Philip Reginald Tangen the 3rd will be investigating newly released 32 films and cartoons for censorship under existing laws, with the possibility they might be banned. The films in question are for young adults and some cartoons. These 32 films, plus an additional 51, have become known as the Video Nasties of the 1980s era. Riots are taking place, especially in East London as youngsters want more freedom and less autocratic government control.
Tangen makes a speech, which is used as a significant theme and thread throughout the film. During this segment we see black and white still shots of Tangen to cement the character into your brain. Said speech, where Tangen promises a better society is contradicted with shots of how society really is; it's not a pretty picture. Political and social moral issues are set in the film as a way to bring social commentary into the horror genre.
This documentary style POV is different, chilling, and ominous. It certainly adds layering and texture to the story arc and the plot.
Electronic sound effects, and religious music, they interplay well together to push the story along. I think we are seeing Guerrilla Metropolitana's brilliance in cinematography and photography, and for this, he should be commended. It is captivating enough to continue being invested in the film, even though some of the visuals are not very palatable. As this style can become somewhat boring, too much telling and not showing, it's the images that tell the story in a unique and compelling way to keep you watching.
This is what horror is to Metropolitana. Images! No matter how truly graphic and extreme they are, is that not what one would expect to see in the realm of extreme gore and horror, mixed with some relatable and relevant social issues? It's not going to be everyone's cup of tea. But if you can appreciate the artform it is delivered by; the unique way colour is used, camera angles, subliminal messaging, symbolic visuals such as statues, phallic artwork expressing something dark, and terrifying - then you should like this exploration of filmmaking.
Pay very close attention, it's another one of Metropolitana's blink and you miss feature films. This filmmaker seems to bleed his pain into every scene. Yes, it's graphic, with a complex storyline, and we see some deep meaning buried in subtext in a fantastic and unusual way. With lovely choir music, credited to KingioRecords, What is This Form/ Great Power, overlapping some of the horrendous scenes, I quite like the way they complement each other in a beautifully creepy way. And this helps in the overall result and effect of the film.
Do politics in horror mix? I think it worked in this instance. Are not the real criminals the ones that lead our countries? We see this played out in the News every day. Is this yet another display of the filmmaker pushing the boundaries? The fact it's unique in the sense the way he merges political and social morals with horror, they play out together in a very interesting way. It seems to me that it's filmmakers like Metropolitana that we need in the horror genre to push the envelope, to take horror in other directions to see if it works.
I get the sense this is another one of this filmmakers' experimental films. There is guerrilla filmmaking the entire way through. He broke into areas where he nearly got arrested, just about froze to death in subzero temperatures. How the heck is that for commitment to his vision!
Politics, the middle-class workers being screwed by the government. References from Assange, Prime Minister Thatcher, and President Bush. A bleeding apple is one of the motifs, that tells a gruesome story of the first sin perhaps, or the middle-class worker being shafted by the government. As we have seen in other movies, religion and sex work well within the horror genre, so why not assemble the movie around social issues and politics?
There is a teenage skateboarder who plays a vital role in the movie, and he represents the middle-class. Then we have the censor, who represents the state. We see more images, with bottles of Viagra, fruit as phallic symbols that push the story and plot along. We see by the end of this film, that both characters are destroyed in vicious and horrific ways. It is revealed through another broadcast at the end giving us more of the storyline, which is a great way to artfully deliver the revelations; I think it worked well in this instance.
I recommend this feature film if you are a fan of Guerrilla Metropolitana's work, a horror gore fan, or any filmmaker wanting to see something unique and interesting in the independent filmmaking genre.
The Baron and the Harpsichord (2021)
Review of THE BARON AND THE HARPSICORD
In the description of the video it says, "This brief yet intense Baroque style horror focuses on the protagonist and his obsession for beaty and visual magnificence...no matter what the cost is!!"
The short feature film runs for 4 minutes. It begins with flashes of images of antique furniture. Then a Baron playing the Harpsicord. There is red pattered carpet and blood dripping onto it. A man is looking through the keyhole watching the Baron. We see the Baron and he is a psychiatric patient. We see that the man who was watching the Baron through the keyhole, is a doctor and he is talking to a life-sized female doll. Cut to the doctor cutting off the Baron's fingers. Then he places them in elaborate style looking boxes. We see him getting out of his scrubs and a newspaper article alludes to there being another victim of the Baroque sadistic psychopath serial killer strikes again. We see the doctor going to his car when he spots another victim. Then we see the doctor take the next victim back to his place. A mix of colours are used in the film, along with the sound of music that is most probably the Harpsicord being played. Cinematography is good. Very short film but so much is said. Great little feature film.
My Special Superhero - a visual subtext of madness and rejection (2021)
My review of MY SPECIAL SUPERHERO
At the beginning this movie is introduced with the quote, "A visual subtext of madness and rejection." The story starts with a woman (Jennifer) sucking on a lollypop, texting on her phone, wearing heart shaped sunglasses and is standing on a street. Then a man paces in front of her. There is another woman putting on her makeup while the man is perving at her. He brings her a bottle of bubbly and they take off together. Then another man approaches and asks Jennifer her out, she rejects him. He says (by captions at the bottom of the screen) that he is making a superhero (hence the title of the film.) Then her boyfriend, Craige comes along and they walk off together. As the boyfriend is opening the door to his flat he is knocked on the head with a stick. We see a bloody wound. Then a gory scene of bloody dismembered body parts. We see the woman back on the street with her lollypop. The man (human anatomy Rufus, he is called) comes back and persists that the lady goes out with him. She finally relents. They walk off together. The scene changes to black and white as we see them entering an apartment building. There is dialogue in this film, which we haven't yet seen in any of Guerilla Metropolitana's films to date. We see the woman discover her boyfriend Craig, in a really gruesome state. He's missing some of his limbs. We see the horrid look on the woman's face. He screams for Jennifer to help him. The man who is called Rufus is terrifying! The woman's screams are visceral and horrifying. Then the sound effects take over the scene, as we hear Jennifer's pitiful crying and in the background we can hear a shaver or a razor. Some buzzing sound. Then we see the shaver and hair. Then we see her dismembered body parts. The ending has a quote saying, "The mother of all monstrosities is rejection."
The artwork in the intro is great. Nice use of the colour spectrums, from colour to black and white. Some meta-cinema is being used I believe; which we now know is one of Guerilla Metropolitana's signature filming techniques. Impressive cinematography. Lots of colour changes and psychedelic undertones. The music and sound effects are a great element to the film and add to the overall tone of the film. A super short feature film. The transition scenes are of a sunny day and puffy white clouds. Good gory horror.
Bits (2021)
BITS my review by Del Gibson
BITS has so many wonderful elements. It's horrifying, with astounding imagery. Using guerilla filming style in a fantastic and intriguing way. In fact, he filmed this over 3 hours in an apartment block without permission! Once again, this master of the macabre has produced a one of a kind 16-minute short feature film, and as this is his first film, I have to commend Metropolitana for the writing, directing, editing, cinematography, photography, sound effects and music. It's a brutal, nasty, horror and gore fest, with a storyline. A woman in a purple dress, fishnet stockings, tiger print high heel shoes, an apartment block, tenants, a creepy receptionist, a staircase, a desk, chair and an old ringer landline telephone. There is a storyline to this that includes a serial killer running amok. Attention to detail is on point. As we are beginning to learn more about this filmmakers MO, we are getting to see that every single detail is purposeful, well thought out and it has a goal and an intention. The music and the sound effects for BITS push the narrative along with precision. They are implemented into the film quite brilliantly, I have to say. It sets the scene, changes the tone of the film only 2 minutes in, and when the sound effects kick in, you know what you are about to watch is going to be wild and insane. Both sound effects and the music play a pivotal role in each scene, in an amazing, gripping and chilling way. It accompanied the actions in the film thoughtfully. It sent shivers down my spine! Great job with that Metropolitana. The cinematography, with its camera angles, still shots and slow movement is outstanding, and interesting. The first person POV shifts to third person POV, excellent transition between the different point of views, as they segway quite remarkably. The close-up shots are compelling and gruesome. It's films like BITS that get me excited for the horrorsphere. So, lets support our independent filmmakers, and keep horror alive. Guerilla Metropolitana has the potential to be a game changer in the realm of the weird, bizarre, dystopian and extreme horror genre.
Dariuss (2023)
My review of DARIUSS
If you think you have watched it all, think again!!! I have just finished watching DARIUSS. This Horror/ Gore/ Erotica fest feature film is not for everyone. Definitely NOT for the faint of heart, weak stomach popcorn horror fans, or highly sensitive persons. NORMIES stay clear at all times!!! In fact, it has the possibility to make your stomach churn with bile. But, if you want to watch something unprecedented to date in the independent filmmaking sphere, this little golden nugget is for you! I had the privilege to view this film just now, and there is so much to unpack about it, I will try my best to give you a review based on my opinion and experience whilst watching this bizarre, psychedelic, mind-twisting tale of a non-conventional mortifying portrayal of a family dealing with grief in ways that will either leave you baffled for hours, sickened, or feeling as if you watched something and you have no idea what the heck just happened! It's about the human psyche and how far can a film take you, until you are left pondering life and all its depravity. It's all levels of pure insanity. The madness takes your breath away. This film pushes boundaries I have not seen in years...and if you are brave enough to give it a go, you will see exactly what I mean. From the introduction, right through to the very bitter end; a rollercoaster of intense emotions grabs a hold of you and doesn't relent AT ALL!!! The intensity level is ramped up to the max and it does not damper down, there are no quiet moods or tones of lightness, it is constant darkness and bone chilling visuals, suspense and tension, imagery, sounds, music, camera shots and photography, and still shots that each tell their own sad and appalling story. There is nothing implemented into this film that doesn't have a purpose or a goal - the attention to detail is sublime. I do wonder if this film is intended for a male audience more so than us females. Whether it's due to the fact I'm a female reviewing this, I don't know, but if I was supposed to feel a certain way about this, for its gross factor and the uncomfortable images, I think I handled it very well considering it is a visceral story about some of the darkest taboos in life. As this will be a relatable story to a lot of people, the ones who understand the complex emotions and torment running through as a major thread, I think people will identify in some way to the agonising twists and turns and the full-on hard-core events that occur in this film. And will appreciate the artform it delivers in abundance. DARIUSS, although it made me squirm, took me out of my comfort zone, gave me a true sense of horror in the world, the shock value being enormous and instrumental - it confirms to me that there are movies and filmmakers out there like Guerrilla Metropolitana, who can remain true to their vision, regardless of how diabolical it can be for others to ingest. The intimate POV in the extreme graphic parts is something I have not come across, since the era of the 80's when anything went. When censorship wasn't as rigorous as it is now. An age when horror produced some of our favourite movies of all time. I have not seen anything to this caliber; it's chilling, the sound effects gruesome, and even without dialogue, (yes you heard that right! There is absolutely no dialogue, but it does not matter in this instance as it is superfluous) with the watcher only having to rely on their senses, total attention is needed to piece the storyline together (if you can!) And there is a storyline in there somewhere, believe me! Characterization is instrumental in this film. The actors and actresses take this seriously, you can tell by the way they act out their scenes. It's the characters that keep you invested in the complexities of this film. They have a purpose to present themselves as tormented and devastated - they do not disappoint. Visually, I am mind blown. Every camera shot and video clip has a purpose and an intention. Attention to detail is thorough, well developed and precise. Once you get through the intense sexual elements, the erotica, the in-your-face body shots (and trust me there are a few!) you can appreciate the film for what it is - a game changer in the world of weird and bizarre horror with a dark demented twist! Giving us a full-on experience into the minds and actions of a family broken in every way possible; physically, mentally, emotionally, and a whole heap of other uncomfortable feelings. This film will not bring you joy and happiness! The cinematography is outstanding! It's one thing I really love to focus on when it comes to movie reviews. This has intimate close-up shots that seem to brand themselves into your brain. There are symbolic elements woven in, animalistic, hypnotic and subliminal messaging, that if you blink you miss! So, pay very close attention the entire way through to after the credits, to see what happens. The way the scenes segway seamlessly together is masterful. Although some of the scenes are brutal, diabolical and unnerving, but we can see that Guerrilla Metropolitana is a master filmmaker. Not only does he deliver a film unmatched and unprecedented for our time; the editing is gripping, inspirational, intimate, and encapsulates the madness this film invokes. The tones ebb from light to dark at the beginning, in a wonderfully crafted way. Subtly we see a shift as the intensity level rises. There is excellent use of color and then the switches to black and white, with psychedelic undertones, is done with skill. The color red is a motif throughout the film. We see it everywhere. It's significant to the theme. The tone changes and morphs into dark, moody and helps to set the scene. Each scene has their own valuable role to play in the storyline, adding layering and texture to the overall plot, quite eloquently. I also get the sense of an experimentation happening, with the lighting, the sound effects, artwork, camera angles, they all make everything visceral and painfully obvious. With the POV you are featuring in the movie and that is definitely a terrifying experience, to say the least! There are elements in this film that push the boundaries on many levels. Horror as we know, is on a spectrum. Generic Hollywood big budget franchises are turning the horror genre into a joke! It's people like Guerrilla Metropolitana who should pave the way for a new type of horror, it's weird, bizarre, terrifying and all in all, it's a game changer for the world of art house cinema and the extreme horror genre! Yes, it's sickening and graphic in places, but it should be remembered for its visual and sound effects, music, cinematography, photography and art, more so than focusing on the sensitivities this film provokes. The music as I mentioned was composed by Guerrilla Metropolitana, and a couple of other people, it plays an integral part to enhance the scenes, and for setting the tone. It's very moody, dark, creepy and beautiful at the same time. The setting for each scene feels and looks authentic and realistic. There are several location changes. It's easy enough to grasp the totality of the scenes as we shift between first person POV, and third person POV. The first person POV gives the viewer a personal and intimate experience. So, be warned, it gets messy! I feel the chaos is well enough contained and vital to the story arc. I was still thinking about the concept, the storyline, the visuals, and what it all meant, well after the film ended. It does that, grips you into a psychedelic conundrum of extreme and graphic horror. Only for those who can hold onto their senses and their stomach acids can get through this film. I commend you if you make it through to the end. As this is an hour long, there is no way I could have gone on very much longer, as the intensity was so overwhelming! I support independent filmmakers taking a risk. I'm all for vision. I want to and expect to see passion coming from the team behind the scenes. The fact this took nearly an entire year to edit, tells me dedication and hard work went into making this what it is - a highly controversial film for our time. In an article I read, where Metropolitana was being interviewed, he mentioned the toll this film took on his mental health. He had three mental breakdowns, and the last one being the most severe. I know a lot about mental health, through my own experiences. I can sense the pain throughout this film that he must have been feeling. I can see he put his heart and soul into this. In reality, the world is no worse off for having films like this in the horror sphere. Although this is the work of fiction, this is actually true horror at its most diabolical, and there are people all over the world who actually live like this on the daily. I highly recommend this to true gore horror fans, and for any filmmaker out there who wants to see something brilliant unfold, something to inspire towards perhaps? As I mentioned above, in the trigger warnings, use your brain, if you think you can handle, good one, if not, look the other way. Ladies out there, this is an acquired taste, so if you are prone to being triggered, PLEASE watch the trailer first, before you decide to deep dive into the abyss. You might walk away from this feeling slightly ill and dirty, or, like I did, come away from it with a sense of hope! Hoping that we have finally found an independent filmmaker to turn the tide when it comes to the horror genre. Will it take someone of this caliber to save the horror genre from dying off completely? Or becoming more CGI and greenscreen, with terrible writers and lazy filmmakers? The story behind this film being made, is that it was rejected by several producers, until SRS Cinema picked it up and ran with it. It was filmed on a shoestring budget of £6,000, or so the story goes. It took two years to film this.