Bill and Ted are threatened from the future: they journey to heaven and hell to save themselves, their princesses, and humanity. Solid sequel with just enough differentiation from before to keep matters fresh. William Sandler is great as a not so-grim Reaper. A belated third movie followed.
Here’s the trailer.
A slacker high-school garage band duo are lent a time machine so the future can be saved by their rock music. Affable time travel comedy with likeable leads, some wit and finesse in the writing, and lightness and clarity of purpose throughout. Two sequels followed.
Here’s the trailer.
A couple explore a Northern California forest, making a documentary about Bigfoot. Straightforward but strong found-footage horror; a Sasquatch Blair Witch Project in all but name. Effective nevertheless, and doesn’t overstay its welcome.
Here’s the trailer:
A seemingly perfect couple’s new life in California is corrupted by a schoolmate of the husband. A superior psychological thriller, with writer-director-star Edgerton capably balancing both genre expectations and fresh ideas. Much to appreciate, and to make Edgerton one to watch.
A revived prehistoric apeman terrorises California. Episodic and absurdist, while directly spoofing 2001, King Kong, Frankenstein and a host of other movies, Schlock has some ramshackle charm and a few strong sequences, plus a well-realised creature at its heart, and a clear love of monster flicks powering it.
One night at a motel on the California/Nevada border, where no-one is who they appear to be. Twisty-turny self-conscious comedy-thriller; lots of fun if you go with it, though the movie’s stately pace may frustrate some.
Almost shot-for-shot remake of the 1960 Hitchcock classic of the same name. An odd thing to attempt, and one which flags up the uniqueness of the original, despite (and maybe because of) a solid cast and respectful treatment of the first movie.
A coastal Californian is attacked without warning by swarms of birds. One of the last truly great Hitchcock movies, full of suspenseful set-pieces, an absence of explanation, and an apocalyptic climax. Recommended.
A quake hits California; an estranged family tries to reunite. Despite hitting every dumb cliche in the disaster movie book, San Andreas is still an entertaining-enough flick, not least because it plays straight with its hackneyed material.
Alternative view here!
A bank-robbing couple on the run stray onto a psycho’s personal amusement park of murder. Grim though effective retro-horror drawing inspiration from the likes of Hills Have Eyes and Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Much blood in the desert dust ensues.
![Schlock [AKA Banana Monster] (1973, dir. John Landis)](https://255review.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/schlock-quad-poster.jpg?w=1200)
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