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Reviews
Faintheart (2008)
Fighting for your wife?
Faintheart is very believable the characters are almost to close for comfort. The life of Richard is boring underpaid and full of self important idiots like his boss, his other life is fulfilling and full of friends unfortunately his wife was being squeezed out by rush to do both. Richards son Martin is being bullied at school because of his fathers hobby changing his loyalty to shame until a girl at school shows interest in him and the hobby. The fight to save his family shakes Richard and causes him to reassess what is most important to him, Cath and his son are worth the fight although the battle is not as straightforward as he'd hoped. The re-enactors are seemingly a collection of what some would call "social misfits" perhaps looking from another angle- individualists not afraid of being separate from the herd, they share common traits in that their jobs are like Richard's dull and low paid their hobby escapism- better than crime. Features Richard Ridings from Eric the Viking as a bin man/wild axe wilding Viking perhaps the last avatar of Thor- shrunken to human form thoughtful yet full of fun. A great film worthy of watching in turns sad and funny.
'Salem's Lot (2004)
Salem's Lot
This adaptation of Salem's Lot Carry's some good and some bad elements, the plot has been changed from the novel in many small ways some enhance the film others do not.
Mark Petrie- Dan Byrd was a quite likable boy smart but has become a big mouth brat and minor bully -something the novel gives as the opposite he defeats the bully. The inclusion of Dud Rogers was good and the dog on the fence grim but needed both missed in the original as was the attack on Mears by his love rival Floyd wearing rubber gloves and raincoat as he's now a vampire, superior technical filming of the Glick boy at Mark's window and Matt Burke's confrontation with Mike Ryerson Vampire. I like the acting of Donald Sutherland and Rutger Hauer very much however I feel the casting of them as Straker and Barlow doesn't work although having Barlow as a human character instead of a blue bald creature is an improvement. The casting of a man only 2 years older than the main character as his teacher stretches imagination -Andre born 1962, Rob Lowe born 1964. The filming of many scenes shows greater ability than the Mason/Soul version however in many you must compare with the original and find better pacing and some better filming. Overall I give this version the same score as the original film because it's a give and take situation. I preferred The original films Sheriff Parkins, Doctor Norton instead of Jimmy, Straker- although he didn't give as good a performance as usual, Ben Mears, Matt Burke, Mike Ryerson,Susan Norton, Mark Petrie and the Glick boys. This version has a better Barlow by default and Rob Lowe was fine but I think David Soul was better cast. Weasel and Eva's affair and their background didn't work for me personally although the novel does. Father Callahan ably played by James Cromwell always a bonus- better casting would have been to exchange James Cromwell as Matt Burke and Andre as Father Callahan, making Callahan a tool instead of defiled victim denies choice on his part and I felt was a mistake. Barlows ending with flashes of old victims might imply a gestalt creature which probably would be a failing. Crockets ending would have been better if they had included Dud's earlier rat shoot from the novel to compare with the crawling vampires at the dump. Ben's ending was pointless. Liked "Paint it Black" finish. Worth watching.
Disturbia (2007)
Disturbia- "I can see you"
Disturbia- teen version of Rear window with a little Burb's and Relentless thrown in. Instead of the plaster cast on the leg to immobilise the watcher we have a teen with a house custody sentence restricted by a leg cuff. Funny fillers such as a burning bag of dog pooh on the doorstep lighten the mood however tension is lacking at that stage only to erupt in violence later a little subtlety would have been nicer.
The teen element of boredom and hormones make the peeping element creepier than the journalists general nosiness. ASBO my rear window!
The huge teen party that always happens when parents go away does happen as usual, the girl is not Grace Kelly she's more the pretty girl next door her character is better developed than Grace's and not so shallow a character-NOT a fashion model so that's a plus. The killer instead of a one off has become a full serial murderer with fully equipped murder room. Rear window had better tension and subtlety but could have done with a little more of the grittiness of this film.
The Call of Cthulhu (2005)
Call of Cthulhu- a good film
This film was made by enthusiasts- the HPL society, its Black & white and silent and has it's own intrinsic charm .
**Please note this is not, repeat not Cthulhu- 2007 which is a totally different film for which bad post sometimes appear on this films board.
The film has not got flashy expensive special effects, it does however have effectively used low budget effects, lighting, prop's and camera angles, the Cthulhu model could not be better produced on the budget available and offers a focus for viewers expectations in the style of "Night of the demon". The acting for dialogue is good and in the silent era of emphasis on expression, the action sequences are somewhat pantomimes but 1930's stage style depend more on story and dialogue than over the top- one hit makes you spin three times through the air before you hit the floor like most modern action films! The film is as it was made to be and is a worthy production. Throw the King Kong budget at it with a top notch Director and a professional acting cast and not just a face! and you may make a better version of Call of Cthulhu until then this one is the best HPL example so far. HPL had his faults but is recognised as the father of modern horror, I've read the Gothic blue books and 21st C horror and HPL is still effective and my favourite. I bought the film not expecting anything much but I was very happy to have watched it and will try other HPL society productions.
A Walking with Dinosaurs Special: The Giant Claw (2002)
It WAS a good series
I really liked the walking with dinosaurs series , excellent narration from KB , loved ballad of big Al, then this one arrived and they seem to be using the formula for several series to come.I think having a real person live in the frame with cgi recreated dinosaurs is a big mistake its seems an attempt to cross the late great Steve Irwin's antics with a Jurassic park type documentary. I kept wishing they were real and might eat him , i think he doesn't come across at all convincing. he's probably a nice guy and very well read but i think this formula awful.The dinosaurs are the star- in other series they do bump into camera or spray "len's" with spit this works in a way that the new one doesn't . sorry.
The Thing (1982)
The best Horror film ever
Most horrors and some thrillers rely on isolation to build the tension -alone , no-one to help . . .to save . . to consult. . to believe -this is a long recognised tool. Carpenter goes for the throat straight away his background music eerie comes up as the camera pans across desolate snow capped mountains the bizarre shooting at a dog from helicopter , the awaiting unknowing Americans at play etc. The comfort of the victims is stripped away by layers , they are alone without immediate help already ,the storm strips any hope of help away then they are denied the support of their comrades when the truth of the situation is understood ....alone amongst friends who may not be what they seem - paranoia even man's best friend cant be trusted. Solid acting from all, well shot ,method acting its cold!.It finishes without hope do they live , die , convert? I read somewhere that "you could never put anything on film more horrible than the imagination could supply- and then they made The Thing" . Its John Carpenters best film his more recent offerings pale shadows -please make something as inspired leave the safe Hollywood clique be dangerous again. I have watched it more than any other film .
The Mephisto Waltz (1971)
a good gentle horror, no need for gore
A good plot similar to HP Lovecraft's "The thing on the doorstep" without the "innsmouth look" of Asenath but with the body swapping of devil worshippers attempting an eternal leapfrog through history using others bodies . Violence is kept to a minimum the required evil for this horror is amply supplied by absentee devil who's decadent servants plot and dissemble to increase their own worth , chilling dreams of the blue wax applying witches are the best moments. Alan Alda's performance was believably naive and overshadowed by a masterful and compelling kurt jurgens dry self absorbed and above the pettiness of his guests . Miss Blisset charming, beautiful ."The Ninth gate" , "The night of the demon" may be better films but would happily keep company on the same shelf.
Night of the Demon (1957)
Most atmospheric horror film ever
I first saw this film when very young ,it's a film I've seen many times since ,it's a film I can't wait to see again. The short comings of the actual demon and special effects do not diminish the atmosphere of this great film . The character acting of the minor roles add depth to the quality especially our suicidal catatonic farmer who I think was in "Porridge" , the magician Karswell very well played -now gentle now grim without physical threat but menacing .The runes were cast in a similar fashion in the delightful Lovecraft orientated "Cast a deadly spell" which is in keeping with the whole feel of Night of the Demon . Dark moody with overtones of insanity sounds very Lovecraft. If it was remade only the Special effects would be improved the casting and shooting would be needing the skill of masters , The ninth gate shows promise maybe Roman Polanski?.
The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)
Thriller with bite.
Overall I liked this film a lot it had good casting , good acting ,good sound track, also well shot, most important it was believable however it does beg the question why the American character Remington had been added -to save the day and show Patterson how to do THE business, possibly the same reason Patterson was changed into an Irish gentleman when if I remember from reading the factual book account a few years ago he was an English Gentleman from I think Hampshire? -Hollywood revisionist history perhaps -does it matter -yes I think it does it reduces the achievement and bravery of Patterson and makes the general public .Minor errors with scenes and sounds filmed in America or South Africa instead of actual site do not over shadow the quality of the film. I recommend this film as well worth watching and re-watching.
Dagon (2001)
Dagon one to watch out for
If you're a horror buff or a Lovecraft buff you will love this one , I find it the nearest in atmosphere and scenario of any the films made from HPL's books to date. The few modern additions are easily ignored and the 1920/30's world could easily be imagined. Moments of dark humour assist the flow such as cos-hing a local with a mobile phone, school time style flushing the hero's head in the toilet The film is obviously a "Shadow of Innsmouth" plot rather than "Dagon" however perhaps the title was thought to be more marketable . Stuart Gordon's projects include of course "Castle Freak" , "From beyond" , "re-animator" and the short "Dreams in the witch house" Another goo-die. If Stuart Gordon could make "At the mountains of madness" , "Dunwich horror" or "Pickman's model" using David Warner , Jeffrey Combs and Bruce Cambell he may surpass this film and I would love to see it . M