A woman finds herself under attack from an invisible entity after escaping an abusive relationship. Writer / Director Leigh Whannell hands us a film that is nearly as good as Upgrade
with Elizabeth Moss carrying the entire film with an honestly terrified performance. Her distress at the non-belief she encounters when she tries to tell others and her inability to explain because she knows he's in the room listening in unsettling and palpable. Watching others fall around her when she can do nothing about it creates a supreme level of tension. Great story and ending.
Interceptor [2022]
A Captain must save an ocean based Interceptor Station (used for nuclear attack defense) from being overrun. Everything about this film is ridiculous: the outlandish premise, the cliched tropes, the talking instead of shooting, the physical impossibilities and so many plot holes, it's amazing the characters don't fall into them and disappear. However, the two main's acting wasn't bad, the dialog did have a measure of wit, the action was good and my wife and I are suckers for escapist entertainment, especially with a bad ass female hero. Damn logic, full speed ahead.
Infinity Pool [2023]
Is it live or is it Memorex? This question will be going through your mind throughout most of this exercise in decadence and debauchery but, ultimately, it doesn't matter. An extremely well constructed film with exceptional acting (especially Mia Goth: Wow!), writing and directing and outstanding cinematography that's literally hypnotizing. However, my 'Good' rating is based solely on those elements as, overall, the film really do didn't much for me. It was interesting, entertaining and intriguing but in the end, it didn't feel like it resolved anything.
In Search of Darkness [2019]
A nostalgic, 4 1/2 hour travelogue through the classic (and not so classic) horror movies of the 80's. Broken down into chapters with each featuring a year with sub-chapters between each highlighting various things like sound design, heroes and villains, spec fx, etc. The guest list of talking heads is quite impressive and the whole thing was thoroughly enjoyable. My wife is not a big horror fan and she found it incredibly entertaining ...while peeking between her fingers. Old time goodness for horror veterans of that age and a great primer for those that weren't.
The Impossible [2012]
aka Lo imposible
A biographical, survive-against-the-odds film about a family who were at the Orchid Resort in Thailand when the Boxing Day Tsunami hit. This is a great film for it's type with fantastic acting, especially a teenage Tom Holland who supplied his role with far more depth than you'd expect. I don't normally like survival films and watched this one because of my curiosity over the event. Said event was short and sweet and the rest of the film dragged out the anguish and misery far too much for me but, if you like this type of film, it's one you'll quite likely enjoy.
It [1990]
Originally a 2-part mini-series, it can now be found as a 3-hour movie ...which is how I watched it. Being as I read the novel and seen the
recent films,
I can't help but wonder why they didn't utilize the 3 hours better. They basically stuck to the main story and hit the necessary plot points but left so much out and there was certainly room for it if they tightened things up a bit. Regardless, it was still an enjoyable watch with everyone playing their parts very well, especially Tim Curry as Pennywise. He manages to bring a unique level of creepy to any role he has.
Into the Mirror [2003]
aka Geoul sokeuro
A few employees of a major department store, set to reopen after a fire and dealing with worker compensation issues, turn up dead in mysterious ways. Is it a serial killer or something different? Although presented as a horror movie in the trailer, it focuses far more on the police investigation into the deaths, but with a supernatural element. As such, there's no scares to speak of, the film is rather long winded and the non-surprise ending (at least for me) didn't sit well. It certainly works as a drama, though, and I found it all rather entertaining.
In Darkness [2018]
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Commanding the screen from start to finish, Natalie Dormer portrays a blind pianist who hears the murder of her neighbor but tells the police she didn't hear anything. Does she just want to avoid involvement or is something else going on here. What I thought was going to be an "eliminate the witness" film turned into something completely different and the ending changed everything. Co-written by Natalie, this tense, tightly constructed thriller kept me solidly hooked throughout with great acting and twists and turns that never stop. Outstanding!
An Impossible Project [2020]
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Dr. Florian Kaps bought Polaroid's last factory before they closed around the same time Steve Jobs was announcing the introduction of the iPhone. Why? To save the analog technology. This documentary uses this event to celebrate the fact that humans are analog and becoming a digital world may not be what's best for us. As a nerd who embraces new tech, I grew up in a analog world. When I read books, I read 'books!' I've never used a kindle. This doc highlights these disappearing treasures and the fight to keep them in a very entertaining way. Must see!
I Am a Hero [2015]
aka Ai amu a hiro
A failing manga artist and a schoolgirl find themselves in a fight for survival when a zombie-type virus breaks out. Extremely exciting tour de force of action, mayhem, gore and bloodshed amidst some extremely likable characters with some real emotions. Although overly long, with a protracted climax, it certainly was never dull with exceptional pacing keeping one's attention firmly glued to the screen. They also managed to play it very seriously but without taking themselves seriously giving us a slightly bemused feel to the excessive artistic bloodshed. Super!
The Innocents [1961]
Hired as governess for two children a woman soon realizes they aren't quite normal ...and now she's seeing ghosts. A classic ghost story with the performances the highlight of the film, especially Deborah Kerr at her very best and the two children excelling at creepy. The photography was exceptional with what appeared to be a slight fish-eyed distortion what was barely perceptibly but unsettling. I had issues with the story in that it seemed to involve some pretty big leaps of logic, at times. But, considering it's 60+ years old, it's exquisitely well made and good fun.
The Informer [2019]
A guy, who got an early parole to inform for the FBI, unwittingly gets involved in the killing of an undercover officer. Things go down hill from there. So does the movie, in a way. It's very sluggish with a complicated series of events that's vastly overwhelmed with the drama of it all. The acting is exceptional (except, perhaps, his wife who only appears to have one expression), the writing is good, and it's a well made film. But it is squarely a drama and not a very active one at that. Plus, they left a couple of pretty important story lines dangling. Good, but needs energy.
Insidious [2010]
After moving into a new home, a boy inexplicably falls into a coma-like state and the house appears to be haunted. Writer, Leigh Whannell, and director, James Wan (the duo that created
Saw)
managed to produce another fine spookfest that keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat. Wan would go on to produce the
Conjuring Universe
but this film is better than most of the films I've seen in that franchise. Nicely paced, honestly acted, well written with some genuinely creepy moments and a jump scare that's one of the best ever.
Insidious: Chapter 2 [2013]
When dad went into the death dimension to rescue his son, what came back may not be dad. Thank you for giving us a movie that moves along at a brisk pace with nary a boring moment to be seen. It kicks off suddenly and takes you along on a ride full of paranormal happenings, angry spirits, seances, a dad going all Jack Torrence, and more. And rather than feel like it was just one scene after another designed to scare you, the gags felt appropriately placed within the context of the story so it never felt like pandering. Exceptionally well made spook fest.
It [2017]
The town of Derry is experiencing a rash of missing kids. When one group of kids finds out why, they realize they're the only ones that can stop it. Brilliantly constructed, the kids having to deal with bullies, dysfunctional parents, and, of course, IT, was very real and very human ...it never felt scripted, cliched, or contrived. The movie itself was thrilling, terrifying and relentless; nary a dull moment. Bill Skarsgard's performance of IT is brilliant. Buckle up for the Pennywise ride!
It Chapter Two [2019]
27 years have passed since the kids from
the first film
drove Pennywise underground and they've come back together to battle 'IT' one more time. The brisk pace of the film betrays its 168 min run time making the film seem shorter than expected. The inside joke with Stephen King, the absolutely stupendous nod to
The Thing,
the continual assault of grotesque and horrific nightmare fuel, all come together to make a fitting sequel and ending to the story ...although admittedly a bit anti-climactic. Nevertheless, as one who has read the novel, I loved it!
Insidious: Chapter 3 [2015]
I have great respect for Leigh Whannell
(Saw,
Upgrade)
but, as Primus says, 'They Can't All Be Zingers'. Case in point, this film. Although this prequel was generally good as an origin story for Elise Rainier and her 'Spectral Sightings' ghost chaser team, it had some glaring problems. The 1st half is just jump scares, each with completely unnecessary thunderous noise that forced me to just turn down the volume and read subtitles for fear of ear damage. The 2nd half got interesting but it was wrapped up to quickly making it rather anticlimactic. Ok, but very flawed.
Incubus [1981]
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The small town of Galen is experiencing a host of savage rapes and murders and they may be tied to a young man's dreams. A terribly constructed and directed film with amateurish dialogue ...no wonder why John Cassavetes re-wrote 80% of his lines. Each scene was basically, set actors in place, action, speak several inane statements, look earnest, cut, let's move on, including a slew of completely unnecessary scenes to drag things out. Great riff inducing movie, though ...I was cracking myself up making it marginally entertaining.
Impetigore [2019]
aka Perempuan Tanah Jahanam
An attack by a mysterious stranger prompts a girl to seek out the village of her birth, only to find it's inhabitants live under a terrible curse ...and it may be her fault. Likable characters and an titillating premise had me locked it for quite awhile. But then it proceeded to bore me with a story that was bland and dragged out unnecessarily. The climax and subsequent final scene struck me as silly and contrived ...might be a cultural thing. I see a lot of Asian films but few have such concise and clearly written subtitles as this one. Kudos for that. Mildly interesting.
I, Robot [2004]
In the year 2035, robots are a part of society. A detective, with a huge mistrust of robots, is called to the apparent suicide of a robotic scientist. His investigation may prove his mistrust is not without reason. Very well made and exciting high tech sci fi with great action (the robotic attack in the tunnel is awesome), super likable characters (including a robot named Sonny), a well reasoned story that makes sense and a cat. Very little to fault here and a whole bunch of fun!
The Iceman Tapes [1992-2003]
Richard Kuklinsky is known as quite possibly the most prolific mafia hit man in history with possibly well over 100 murders under his belt. The Iceman Tapes is a YouTube video compilation of the HBO shows -
Conversations with a Killer,
Secrets of a Mafia Hitman,
and
The Iceman and the Psychiatrist.
The first two are mostly historical info with much of it being repetitive. The last part, centering around his psychology, is the prize with one of the most horrific interviews of evil that I've ever seen. This guy is just plain scary.
Insidious 4: The Last Key [2018]
Parapsychologist Dr. Elise Rainer, and her ghost hunting team, are forced to go back to Dr. Rainer's childhood home where it all began. The first half was rather slow paced but interesting enough to not be annoying. Unfortunately, once things finally started getting exciting, there were still scenes that seemed to drag on endlessly, which, as a result, defused much of the tension. Ultimately, I was rather confused with it all. It had a few good scares but overall, it was fairly unremarkable ...and, literally, very dark. Bring a flashlight.
I Think We're Alone Now [2018]
After everyone in the world appears to have simply dropped dead, a librarian takes it upon himself to bury the bodies and clean up the town. When a girl suddenly shows up, his world changes. A very personal and painfully slow character study of a man who wants to be alone and a woman who slowly withdraws him from his shell. Also has a strange and unexplained twist. Acting was excellent but I would have enjoyed this more if their relationship was more interesting and less pathetic. As it is, I couldn't wait for it to get over with.
Identity [2003]
The story revolves around a group of people trapped in a desert motel that start dying off one by one. Both the viewer and the character's in the film come to the same conclusion - this doesn't make any sense. And that's when the twist is revealed. Absolutely brilliant!! Well written with fully fleshed-out characters and exceptional acting. One of my all-time favorite, profoundly twisted films.
Inception [2010]
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A dream within a dream within a dream within a dream. How far down can you go and for how long? Both a thought provoking thrill ride that will warp your brain and an incredible feast for the eyes. Supremely imaginative, it's one of the most elaborately designed, modern day fantasy films of all time.
I, Frankenstein [2014]
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200 years after Frankenstein created him, the creature is caught in the middle of an ancient war between good and evil. If I had walked into a room with this on, I probably would have asked if it was an
Underworld
movie. Same gothic lighting and color palette, gargoyles vs demons instead of vampires vs lycans, Michael, the half-breed, is now Adam, Frankenstein's creation and even Viktor is in it ...except he's now the head demon, Naberius. It was entertaining enough, and the FX were impressive, but absolutely nothing that stands out above all the rest.
I Remember You [2017]
aka Eg man big
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3 people travel to a remote location to renovate a house that has not been lived in for 60 years. Also, a man deals with his missing son. The acting was great, nice, haunting atmosphere, and the story held my interest despite the slow pacing that was making me antsy. The missing child story was great but I had some real problems with the other. When we discover the nature of their relationship, the idea they went willingly into isolation together is ludicrous. I'd be able to forgive that if the payoff was worth it but the whole thing just fell flat.
I Spit on Your Grave [1978]
aka Day of the Woman
A rather vile and disgusting exploitative revenge movie which focuses on a woman being attacked and raped for about 45 minutes and then on her brutal acts of revenge. Even though this film is the inspiration, it's not nearly as imaginative as the
2010 reboot.
Watch that one instead.
In the Mood for Love [2000]
aka Faa yeung nin wa
In 1962 Hong Kong, neighbors begin an eccentric friendship when they discover their spouses are having an affair with each other. I'm not much of one to watch romance / friendship movies but something about this one grabbed my attention. The story of these two very likable people, obviously caring deeply for each other but refusing to be like their adulterous spouses, was quite enjoyable. But it does drag on for far too long with nothing changing and ultimately it just fizzles out. Very stylish photography and her myriad dresses were beautiful.
I Spit on Your Grave [2010]
Reboot of
the '78 film
featuring a woman who exacts her revenge in the most heinous ways on her attackers. Everyone was offended by the original when it came out with many places banning it. That original is quite tame compared to this one and it's certainly not for the faint of heart or easily offended. The assault and rape may go on for 40 mins before she is left for dead but she certainly makes them pay for every minute as her revenge is visceral, brutal and mercilessly unrelenting. This is some shockingly strong stuff. Sarah Butler is fantastic!
I Spit on Your Grave 2 [2013]
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The second film, after
the 2010 reboot,
is actually pretty good ...just very cringing to watch. It has the usual overly extended torture and rape of a girl, this time kidnapped and brought to Bulgaria, and then, thought to be dead, she exacts her revenge in phenomenally disgusting and violent ways. Fun for the whole family. Enjoy!
The Incredible Hulk [2008]
Bruce Banner has been on the run for some time after botching a Super Soldier experiment that caused him to turn into a huge and powerful green monster when he's ticked off. A chase movie that focuses primarily on Bruce's psyche and personal relationships ...as well as the psycho psyche of Emil Blonsky who becomes the Abomination. The exciting action looks plausible and realistic and there's some real honest-to-goodness people here. Far better than the
2003 version
...which was not officially part of the MCU.
Iron Man [2008]
In celebration of "Avengers: Infinity War", my wife and I decided to start watching all the Marvel Cinematic Universe films beginning with the first one. Even before Marvel went full tilt bozo with investing $13 Billion in the MCU, they knew what they were doing. The characterizations are remarkably apropos, the action is top notch (and watchable), the humor hits the spot every time without being forced and the story is far more than just a superhero adventure film. Great fun!
Iron Man 2 [2010]
Iron Man has pretty much managed world peace. Unfortunately, the core of his chest arc reactor is poisoning him and a new adversary known as Whiplash is creating all kinds of havoc. This film didn't quite appeal to me as much as the first one. I think I liked the character dynamics in the first one better. Between Tony Stark being drunk and Justin Hammer being overly obnoxious, I was getting rather irritated at times. The film is still awesome, though. Black Widow makes her first appearance and Mickey Rourke as Whiplash was sheer genius.
Iron Man 3 [2013]
Plagued with anxiety attacks and attempting to recover from the alien invasion depicted in The Avengers, Tony Stark is forced into battle with the Mandarin, a terrorist that has figured out how to make people explode. A nice aspect of this film is that Tony spends a lot more time out of his suit and shows us that he can be quite resourceful, capable, and human without it. Beyond that, it's pretty much what you would expect from an MCU film. Great stuff!
Inferno [2016]
Dan Brown book, Ron Howard directing, Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon in the third film in the franchise. You can't go wrong. However, you may not go as right as the previous movies. This film is basically a "race against time" story with very little puzzle solving and much more bad guy interference. Lacks the complex, character driven, mythological perplexities of the previous efforts. It is fun and exciting, though.
In Order of Disappearance [2014]
aka Kraftidioten
The son of a snow plow operator is killed by drug dealers and everyone believes it's a drug overdose except the father. He goes after his son's killers and leaves a trail of ever increasing bodies and destruction behind him that he never counted on. This is a fabulous film that focuses on the characters (which are a delight) and how utterly complicated things can get. It's not an action film but it moves at a wonderful pace that keeps you somewhat amused and on the edge of your seat at the same time. Excellent, must see!
Into the Blue [2005]
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A diver and some friends go hunting for shipwrecks in the Caribbean after a hurricane. And they find one ...along with a plane full of drugs. Let the fun begin. I wasn't expecting too much at about the midway point but things really picked up before the finale. Good action sequences and a few twists, albeit some expected and Jessica Alba and the late Paul Walker have great chemistry and just plain look good on a screen. The photography was awesome. All in all, I had a lot of fun with this.
I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House [2016]
A extremely neurotic nurse moves into the home of an elderly horror novelist who's fading away ...but not fast enough. I believe I've actually found the slowest movie in existence. A 15 min short story in a 90 min package, the snapshot you see here is one of the most exciting moments in the entire film. That's not a joke! Every single scene and conversation was dragged out beyond reason and common sense. Waiting for this to get over with was sheer torture, I was near weeping. The ending was expected providing no reason to sit through this misery. This was just awful!
I'll Take Your Dead [2018]
A strange film about a man who gets rid of bodies delivered to him by gang members ...and one that happens to still be alive. Excellent character study of a daughter surrounded by death, a man who's clueless when it comes to his daughter and a woman gang banger becoming the driving force towards destruction. Somewhat simple but compelling with excellent acting. Without giving anything away, the movie seemed to unexpectedly change genres which I found jarring ...don't know if that helped or hurt the film. Interesting and above average.
Inside Man [2006]
What appears as a simple bank heist gone wrong turns out to be anything but. Probably my favorite bank heist film other than
Heat,
this complex story (where nothing is what it seems) presents us with a scenario where you can't possibly figure out what they're doing or how they expect to get away, despite their claim they'll just walk out the front door. Once one watches it, watching it a second time is just as much fun to catch the clues. Denzel Washington and Clive Owers are excellent and surrounded by other compelling characters as well. Super stuff!
Inbred [2011]
A pair of case workers take a bunch of young delinquents to a small British hamlet for (I'm guessing) some sort of community service thing. If you like gore, this film has some of the most extreme, messy, over-the-top gore I've seen in some time. I was truly impressed. However, making the protagonists morons only shows the filmmaker's inability to move the story forward in an intelligent way and generates no sympathy for the characters. I was cheering for the inbreds ...they were smarter!!
I Walked with a Zombie [1943]
What I expected was a hocky voodoo zombie movie and what I got was a very mature tragic love story. A plantation owner, in the West Indies, hires a nurse to care for his wife who is basically catatonic. The owner and nurse fall for each other. In fact, she's fallen so hard that she'll do anything to cure his wife as her gift to him ...even drag her off to voodoo rituals. It is somewhat too melodramatic for my tastes but that's to be expected for the time period and, overall, it had me hooked from start to finish. Not bad!
I Am Mother [2019]
After an extinction event, a girl is raised by a robot in a re-population facility. All is going well until another human shows up. This extremely intelligent, mature, well written sci fi deals with its subject matter realistically and poignantly. The viewer is placed squarely in the position of the girl, who in her naivety, constantly tries to separate out the truth among the lies and subterfuge, from both 'mother' and the new human, that simply does not stop, leaving us off balance and unsettled right up to the satisfying and logical climax. Fascinating!
I Trapped the Devil [2019]
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A man and his wife unexpectedly drop in for a visit with his brother on Xmas. Little did they know he's got the devil locked up in the basement. Taking the idea of
The Howling Man
and running with it, I can see why this isn't popular. Put 'devil' in the title and everyone's looking for a demonic fright fest. This ain't that. It's a dark, unsettling, atmospheric, psychological study of paranoia that asks the question, is that really the devil in the basement or has the brother gone full tilt bozo? Fine, understated acting, smart, logical writing, extremely suspenseful. I loved it!
It Follows [2014]
After a sexual encounter, a young woman learns that a malevolent entity will relentlessly pursue her until she has sex with someone else. The film is done in an understated, Stanley Kubrick style, that is slow with rarely any action or violence and the entity just walks. However, this style (along with the incredibly distorted music) makes the film even more dreadful and insidious as you realize that it will never stop and there is no escaping it. Another bonus ...everyone acted like normal, intelligent human beings! A hightly original, landmark horror film.
The In-Laws [1979]
Another classic comedy that's never been remade well, IMO. A dentist unwittingly gets mixed up in an international conspiracy to undermine the world economy by a man who's due to be his in-law when their kids get married. Is the man a criminal, a real CIA agent or just completely insane? The absolutely perfect comedy timing between the exquisitely cast Alan Arkin (the dentist) and Peter Falk (the ???) is hilariously funny. The story is complex with a lot of stuff going on. It works on all levels and one of the best comedies ever.
The Incredibles [2004]
After a superhero family is forced into a suburban lifestyle due to lawsuits, the father is secretly called up for a special mission but things don't quite work out as expected. Everything works very well in this animated film, though. The characters and their interpersonal relationships are genuine and heartfelt, the action is amazing and the scenarios and story line are quite entertaining. I don't recall any laugh-out-load moments but I was thoroughly amused and had a smile on my face throughout. Well done.
I.T. [2016]
A temp, proving his worth as an I.T. specialist, is hired permanently by the owner of the company. The tech then proceeds to integrate himself into all aspects of the owner's life. This is a typical stalker movie with nothing new and no surprises and it ends exactly as you'd expect. Pierce Brosnan did a good job and it had a few intense moments but, overall, it was just casually entertaining, at best.
Island of Terror [1966]
A doctor's research into cancer unwittingly creates turtle-like silicon based creatures that suck bone out of living things. This campy, and rather goofy, offering is played with overacting seriousness by all the people involved - especially Peter Cushing and Edward Judd - which only serves to bestow it with far more charm than the average 60's monster movie. If you enjoy the creature features of old, this is one not to miss.
It Came from the Desert [2017]
Scientists have combined alien DNA, found in a meteorite that struck the desert 67 years ago, with ants and spiders creating very large mutant ant things. Paying homage to
Them!,
a good part of their budget obviously went to the ants and they didn't do to bad a job with them. However, the rest of the budget is totally wasted. They shot for the campish cult style of movie but with abysmal and unimaginative writing and over-stereotypical caricatures, the movie ends up just being silly and ridiculous with no surprises.
In the Shadow of the Moon [2019]
A street cop, assisting in the investigation of a serial killer who uses an exotic weapon, finds himself the central figure in a potential human extinction event. It only took 5 mins into this for me to know I was in for an extreme ride. Exceptionally good entertainment with logical, intelligent characters, smart dialogue and an overall complex but easily understandable story ...which is tough to do in stories involving time travel. Although I found one glaring plot hole in the final confrontation, I'm willing to let it slide in exchange for a truly enjoyable view.
The Intruder [2019]
A young couple buys a home from a man who's lived there his whole life and now, he won't go away. I'll start by saying that Dennis Quaid does really good psycho and he was, by far, the attraction of this film. The film's biggest problem is it's need to progress the storyline by making the lead female character chronically and unrealistically naive ...while everyone else knew this guy was fruit loops, she just kept inviting him in. That got old. Despite this, the writing was good, the acting competent but, with nothing new, it came off as rather mediocre.
In Bruges [2008]
When a hit man accidentally kills a child on a hit, he and his partner have to hide out in Bruges, Belgium. A set up that could have taken 15 minutes took well over an hour and I was bored nearly to sleep. The characters were unlikable and spent an endless amount of time bickering incessantly and doing uninteresting things. By the time something started happening, I no longer cared what happens to anyone. I know this movie gets a lot of praise in some circles. I obviously don't share their sense of humor as all it did was test my patience.
Immortal [2004]
aka Immortel (ad vitam)
The God, Horus, inhabits the body of an escaped prisoner with the intention of impregnating an alien woman now on earth. This rather strange storyline matches the surreal nature of this mixed real action and computer animated film. Although I felt the dialogue really could have shown some improvement (but then, that may be a result of translating it from French), the film was quite fascinating with some awesome eye candy that had sort of an art deco / steampunk look to it. Very cool!
I Still See You [2018]
An experiment gone awry killing thousands. The ghosts of those killed becomes a part of the lives of the living, even though they cannot interact ...or can they? I found this fascinating. The premise is quite unique (I knew nothing about the book). It's slow paced and isn't heavy on freights but the story was complex with quite a few minor twists and turns and had me fully engaged throughout. Once again, if you're going to analyze it to death, you won't like it. Just enjoy the ride, it's a good one.
Ichi the Killer [2001]
aka Koroshiya 1
A timid man, with some substantial killing talents, is manipulated into wiping out an organized gang led by a torturous sociopath. My, what a disappointment. I've heard about this film for years, seen it in top 10 lists all over the place and I liked
the prequel.
But it's basically just an extreme sadomasochistic, misogynistic, gore fest (although quite inventive), interrupted by extended scenes of Ichi being tortured by his fractured psyche, making it silly and sad at the same time ...not to mention being over 2 hours long. Just didn't work that well for me.
In the Fade [2017]
aka Aus dem Nichts
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A woman loses her family to racism and what follows is a deeply personal and painful journey through grief, accusations, ridicule, the German legal system and eventually a sad but logical conclusion that leaves one emotionally drained. I'm not one to normally praise a slow drama like this - as you know, I'm more the psychotronic type of guy - but this film is so well made and the performance of Diane Kruger was so heartfelt, as well as heart rending, that I was totally captured into the story making the ending all the more impactful. Drama at it's finest.
Immortals [2011]
Story of a slave, Theseus, who gains the Eribis Bow and becomes the leader of his people in a war against the cruel and ruthless King Hyperion, who wishes to use the bow to release the Titans. Well planned out and executed story full of colorful characters that are quite easy to like (or hate), awesome warfare, action and spec fx and Mickey Rourke is very impressive playing one of the most evil psychopaths on film. Excellent entertainment and I would suggest seeing it in 3D if you have the opportunity. Very impressive!
Incident in a Ghostland [2018]
aka Ghostland
After inheriting an old country home from her sister, a woman and her two daughters move in only to be immediately attacked by psychotic home invaders. For me, this film did not work on so many levels. First of all, I hated every character in it from the start so my concern about what happens to them is pretty low. The first half was frustrating as it made little sense. Then a profound twist takes place that cleared that up and I thought maybe things will get better. It did but it also angered me. Great production quality, well made firm. Didn't work well for me.
It Comes at Night [2017]
A family has secluded themselves deeply in the forest during a world wide epidemic. They seem to be doing well when a stranger shows up. What follows is a deeply personal exercise in how far one is willing to go to protect their family. Acting all around is fantastic and the scenario is realistic and totally believable. The film is a slow burn with not much action to speak of - in fact, a 30 minute segment in the middle was generating a good 'let's get on with it' response from me - but there's an underlying unease throughout that never let's up. Good drama.
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