A spider-phobic doctor’s home is the centre of a killer arachnid invasion. Hugely enjoyable comic horror flick, expertly playing as a family-friendly and icky jump-fest. Lots of fun; a rare example of a lightweight genre move which works with all audiences. Recommended.
Month: September 2017
Frost/Nixon (2008, dir. Ron Howard)
Peter Morgan’s adaptation of his own play about the 1977 David Frost/Richard Nixon TV interviews. A riveting docudrama which plays like a thriller, anchored by two standout performances in the title roles, supported ably by a strong cast. Recommended.
The Bad Batch (2017, dir. Ana Lily Amirpour)
After losing an arm and a leg to cannibals, a young woman patrols a prison-like wasteland. Good-looking and not without striking moments, this is nevertheless a nigh-plotless mooch around potentially-interesting territory. 80 mins of movie packed into two hours.
The Black Room (2017, dir. Rolfe Kanefsky)
A couple move into a house already occupied by an incubus summoned by occultists. Tawdry haunted house flick more interested in softcore satanism than in horror scares. The eagle-eyed will spot Al Jourgensen and (Crazy World of) Arthur Brown among the bit players.
Airplane II: The Sequel (1982, dir. Ken Finkleman)
A mad bomber and a faulty computer threaten the first passenger Space Shuttle flight. Cash-in sequel to the far superior Airplane! with most of the same cast and jokes. A couple of great sight-gags aside, this is a shoddy money-grab.
Happy Hunting (2017, Dir. Joe Dietsch, Louie Gibson)
Well shot, grim and gory redneck thriller. Plenty to like here. Confident direction and some ultra violence with a sense of No Country For Old Men. At times lacks cohesion but held together with strong performances. Might put Bedford Flats off your visiting list! Recommended.
It (2017, Dir. Andy Muschietti)
Faithful and competent horror with Goonies/Stand By Me tropes. Plenty of jumps and bumps, with a slow burning creepy premise somewhat dependent on Coulrophobia. Some good performances though the film gets a tad lumpen here and there. Could have been scarier for me.
The Accountant (2016, dir. Gavin O’Connor)
A forensic accountant with social skills issues is also an assassin, specialising in killing international criminals. Oddball action drama with a weird premise and a lead character with the kind of autism found only in movies. Not terrible, but feels like three different spec scripts combined into one.
Leprechaun (1993, dir. Mark Jones)
An imprisoned leprechaun escapes, determined to kill anyone between and his pot o’gold. Shoddy comedy-horror with precious little of either. Notable only for a determined lead performance from Warwick Davis, and for an early lead for a pre-Friends Jennifer Aniston.
Abbatoir (2016, dir. Darren Lynn Bousman)
After her sister’s murder, a reporter finds someone is buying murder rooms to make their own house. Ingenious and promising premise aside, Abbatoir soon gets bogged down in padded and clumsy storytelling, some daft production design, and a pretty ropey reveal. Disappointing.
255 Review 