Month: August 2018

Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle (2017, dir. Jake Kasdan)

Four teens are transported into an old video game. Contrived but fun sequel to the 1996 movie, which gets a lot of comedy out of its avatar/body-swap shtick, though the actual story is as linear as the games it spoofs. eXistenZ for kids, almost.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation [AKA The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre] (1994, dir. Kim Henkel)

Four students leave their senior prom and get lost in the woods, happening across the Sawyer clan. Again, there’s interesting stuff among the scream and chase stuff, not least an odd wider story, and some smart production design. Patchy, though.

Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990, dir. Jeff Burr)

A young couple and a survivalist fall foul of the Sawyers. Straightforward back-roads bodycount series entry, with the Sawyer family dynamic again the most interesting aspect. Notable for a young Viggo Mortensen in the cast, plus veteran Ken Foree.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986, dir. Tobe Hooper)

An ambitious DJ and a vengeful sheriff hunt the Sawyer family. Scattershot sequel, foregrounding black comedy, gore effects, and a subversion of Reaganite family values. Gleeful rather than good or scary, it nevertheless has a few startling moments.

The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009, dir. Tony Scott)

A ruthless crew hijacks a New York subway train. Glossy but stirring second remake of the 1970s Walter Matthau/Robert Shaw classic. Inevitably the movie is opened up to the story’s detriment, but this is nevertheless an exciting and well-played flick.

Avalanche (1978, dir. Corey Allen)

An exclusive new ski resort is threatened by the chance of avalanches. Tatty disaster movie from the end of the 70s cycle of the genre; much use of stock footage in the mayhem scenes. Mercifully brief, however, and it’s always good to see Robert Forster.

Jigsaw (2017, dir. The Spierig Brothers)

Ten years after John Kramer’s killings, a new cycle begins. Polished and slightly toned-down series continuation after Saw 3D, with less of a torture porn vibe and more of a mystery/black comedy approach, tho there’s still plenty of gory traps for series fans.

Alien Invasion S.U.M.1 (2017, dir. Christian Pasquariello)

A lone watchtower soldier begins to doubt his solitary 100-day mission. Low-budget but generally well-sustained single-location SF thriller, owing something to films like Moon and The Village.