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kevinwelland
Reviews
Alien (1979)
Sci fi blockbuster.
This is truly the best sci fi horror of all time,and the film which gave us Sigourney Weaver as the first true Hollywood heroine. The plot is simple. A crew of 7 astronauts is put in peril when an alien being invades their space craft. The moment when the creature bursts out of John Hurts chest is without doubt one of the classic film moments of all time. After that, the crew is slowly wiped out one by one, until we are left with Weaver as the sole survivor. She must do battle with the alien to survive. Ridley Scott does a wonderful job with this one. The set is very claustrophobic, you can almost imagine yourself on board and feel the tension the characters are feeling. Watch out for the scene in which one of the male crew members has to go and look for the ships pet cat. Walking through spooky areas you are waiting for the moment the alien is going to jump out on him, but it only happens when you least expect it. A great film, and one that still holds up today.
Hangmen (1987)
Horrendous.
This has to be one of the most dreadful films I have ever seen. Poor script, wooden acting, and the worst soundtrack of all time. Sadly this film somes up Americas addiction to the gun. The best moments of screenplay come with copious shots of guns being loaded and used. At times I had to laugh. In one scene we see people talking in a car, yet no sound from the car engine. Sandra Bullock was lucky that she appeared in this film early in her career. Otherwise she would have disappeared without trace. The only forgiveness I can give to this film is that it is obviously low budget. But what a waste of that budget. Sorry, but we are all entitled to our own opinion.
The Mad Death (1983)
Unerving.
This is a mini series I have never forgotten. Gave me nightmares. Tells the story of what might happen should a rabies outbreak occur in Britain. An American man is infected with this terrible virus at the start of the first episode. He contracts it from a fox that he picks up whilst out driving. He puts the animal in his garage, and then whilst preparing dinner, he cuts himself with a knife. Then not knowing that the fox is rabid, he strokes the animal with the cut finger. From then on, we are taken through the awful stages of the disease which gives him mad fits of terror, foaming at the mouth and dreadful hallucinations. It gives the viewer a terrifying insight into this terrible disease. From then on though the story in my opinion disintegrates. From starting very believable, it ends undramatically with guys going out into the countryside shooting animals at will. The final victim if I can remember is a sheep dog. Serious stuff. But worth a watch. Gives us an education about the most terrifying virus.