 |
| So, how have those bee pollen supplements have been working out for you....? |
Howdy, folks,
In a callback to the good ol’ days, it was Kitley’s Krypt and the Chicago Public Library that dictated the majority of this week’s viewings. Army duties and an impromptu Sunday afternoon Share the Scare session (accompanied by Film Deviant wunderkind Bryan Martinez) served up the frights, while CPL impulse checkouts handled civilian duties.
As always feel free to leave your two cents worth – we’ll make sure you get some change back.
Enjoy!
HORROR:
Dream Home (2010) d. Pang, Ho-Cheung (Hong Kong) (2nd viewing)
Awesome Hong Kong body count flick revolves around a young strapped-for-cash lady bent on acquiring a ocean-view apartment, even if it means taking out half of the complex’s residents. This midnight-black comedy/social commentary delivers the goods for slasher fans, in that there are nearly a dozen applause-worthy kill gags. Well executed (pun intended) and worth your time.
Inquisition (1976) d. Naschy, Paul (as Jacinto Molina) (Spain) (2nd viewing)
The Spanish horror star makes his directorial debut with this atmospheric if lugubriously paced shocker about a notorious witch hunter Bernard de Fossey (Naschy) torching and torturing his way through the 16th-century French countryside. Though similar to Witchfinder General, The Devils, and Mark of the Devil in theme (absolute power corrupts absolutely) and onscreen imagery (fetching, oft-nude lasses branded, broken, and burned), the novelty here is that our heroine (Daniela Giordano) that Fossey has his salacious eye on actually does compact with Satan to achieve vengeance against the man who murdered her lover. However, even with this intriguing twist and the requisite beauteous bevy of boobs and blood, it still takes a while for the film to get where it’s going.
Time Lapse (2014) d. King, Bradley (USA) (1st viewing)
***CLICK HERE FOR FULL REVIEW***
KRYPTIC ARMY APRIL MISSION: THE LEGENDARY ROGER CORMAN
Navy vs. the Night Monsters, The (1966) d. Hoey, Michael A. (USA) (1st viewing)
***CLICK HERE FOR FULL REVIEW***
Wasp Woman, The (1995) d. Wynorski, Jim (USA) (1st viewing)
***CLICK HERE FOR FULL REVIEW***
CIVILIAN:
Red Road (2006) d. Arnold, Andrea (UK) (1st viewing)
Terrific Scottish thriller about a woman (Kate Dickie) fixated on the recently released convict (Tony Curran) that murdered her husband and daughter. The fact that she’s employed by an “eye in the sky” offshoot of the police force – monitoring security cameras – only abets her obsession. Creepy and suspenseful, with some seriously strange twists and turns. Winner of the 2006 Cannes Jury Prize.
Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) d. Coen, Joel / Coen, Ethan (USA) (1st viewing)
I can understand why people didn’t warm to this tale of an abrasive folk musician in pre-Dylan 60s Manhattan – the guy’s a bit of an insufferable ass. The performances are all fantastic, especially Oscar Isaac as the titular jerktagonist, but ultimately, it’s a little hard to care.
How to Survive a Plague (2012) d. France, David (USA) (1st viewing)
This Oscar-nominated documentary about America’s foot-dragging policy in (not) dealing with the AIDS crisis during the early '80s is so agonizingly frustrating and heartbreaking that the slight glimmer of triumph shown at the end (testimonials from HIV-positive patients who were written off for dead decades ago) almost comes too late to stave off the helplessness. But the tenacity and spirit displayed by these brave souls is a sight to behold, so take your medicine and watch…and then do what you can.
Lady Whirlwind (aka Deep Thrust) (1972) d. Huang, Feng (Hong Kong) (1st viewing)
***CLICK HERE FOR FULL REVIEW***
Conan the Destroyer (1984) d. Fleischer, Richard (USA) (1st viewing)
Holy Crom. Cheesier by a long shot, this sequel to the 1982 smash that put Arnold Schwarzenegger on the map boasts a cast wildly diverse in presence and talent. Stiff Wilt Chamberlain stands tall, Grace Jones screams and bugs her eyes, Sarah Douglas sneers majestically, Olivia D’Abo pouts prettily, Mako does his Mako thing, and Tracey Walter seems to forget the first word in “comic relief.” Not as much dumb fun as it should have been, but not a complete failure either.
2014 Totals to date: 98 films, 54 1st time views, 50 horror, 7 cinema
No comments:
Post a Comment