It follows (2014)

Summary :

For nineteen-year-old Jay, autumn should be about school, boys and week-ends out at the lake. But after a seemingly innocent sexual encounter, she finds herself plagued by strange visions and the inescapable sense that someone, something, is following her. Faced with this burden, Jay and her friends must find a way to escape the horrors, that seem to be only a few steps behind. 

Genre : Horror
Country : USA

Cast :
Maika Monroe : Jay
Keir Gilchrist : Paul
Jake Weary : Hugh

Director : David Robert Mitchell

My Opinion   

"This thing.
It's going to follow you.
Somebody gave it to me.
And I pass it to you."

Now this was a movie I really was looking forward to. I'm a horror fanatic who's always on the lookout for films in this genre that leave others far behind in terms of originality and atmosphere (such as "He never died", "Goodnight Mommy", "The Babadook" and "Spring" for instance). And many advised me to watch this one. The fact that the hype about this movie was disproportionate, made my expectations go sky-high. And did it meet my expectations? Partially it did and partly it didn't. The fact that I went outside for some fresh air after I had watched it and I looked briefly over my shoulder because of the feeling that I was being watched, means that the atmosphere was quite alright. On the other hand it wasn't really creepy and it felt rather as if I watched a ridiculous educational film about the dangers of sexual intercourse.

The association with sexually transmitted diseases was made quickly. There's only one difference. Here it's not confined to the proliferation of microscopic cells that'll make sure you get such a terrible disease. In "It follows" the deadly sexual disease which spreads from one to another, is presented by slow moving and yet sometimes quite terrifying and sinister-looking individuals. The shape "It" takes is randomly. It ranges from totally unknown persons, to someone in your immediate circle of acquaintances. There's only one thing the infected person should keep in mind. And that's not to get caught by "It". A certain death would be the end result, after which "It" focuses on the previous one in the line of infected victims.

The beginning of the film certainly wasn't disappointing. To be honest, in a sense you could say it was brilliant. A confused teenage girl driving off in panic, ending up somewhere on a beach where she makes one last phone call with her parents to say goodbye. The next image is a molested body. The tone was set and it looked like my expectations would be fulfilled. That's what I thought. Because as the movie progressed, the ominous atmosphere and a feeling of discomfort remained, but really frightening it became nowhere. Even worse. They piled up one stupidity after the other. I thought the final piece was pitifully poor and stupid. And again they couldn't resist to finish in the most clichéd manner. The only one who was able to use his brain cells was Paul (Keir Gilchrist). His solution was as effective as dead simple.

But once again, the overall mood was tremendous. That constant feeling of threat reminded me of the better horror movies of the 80s like "Halloween" or "Friday the 13th". The only difference is that now it's not about a crazy psychopath with a shiny sharp knife, but something supernatural. A kind of insidious disease. The soundtrack with intensive synth music and familiar soundeffects were reminiscent of films made in that period. Even attributes of that time were used here. Although I sometimes had the impression that they mixed up two different eras (a black and white TV and an e-reader). Maybe the characters were fans of a vintage interior design. In terms of originality "It follows" scores very high. But in terms of implementation, the horror content could be somewhat stronger. Maybe they could use this film as an educational film for today's youth.

My rating 6/10
Links : IMDB

Fathers and Daughters (2015)

Summary
A Pulitzer-winning writer grapples with being a widower and father after a mental breakdown, while, 27 years later, his grown daughter struggles to forge connections of her own.

Genre : Drama
Country : USA/Italy

Cast :
Russell Crowe : Jake Davis
Amanda Seyfried : Katie Davis
Kylie Rogers : Young Katie

Director : Gebriele Muccino

My Opinion  

“You're my Potato Chip,
You and nobody else, okay?”

You get an allergic reaction when watching an over-sentimental film? Or are you utterly devastated after seeing an emotional tearjerker? One good advice. Avoid this one because this is the most pathetic movie ever made. Collect all movies with Weltschmerz as a central theme and you can be sure that it's used in "Fathers and daughters". A painful loss. A mental illness. The fight against mental demons. A combat against relatives so you can bring up your daughter. A professional failure first. A grandiose victory afterwards. Scars from a past with all its consequences. And finally one finds the strength to close this painful chapter. It's all in there. Ad nauseam.

 
So be prepared for a hellish ride full of emotions. Personally, I enjoy watching this type of films once and a while. Just to realize that my life isn't so bad right now. But this was a bit overdone at a certain moment. And on top of that, the entire film is additionally divided into two periods in which the whole story takes place. Sadly, by the absence of something crucial in the present, the clou regarding the past is already given away. What really pisses me off is the fact that filmmakers sometimes think the public is stupid. Jake (Russell Crowe) has a brain trauma because of the accident which leads to sudden attacks. But that was clear to me already after the first incident. It wasn't necessary to give several demonstrations of his misfortune. Ditto about the psychological trauma the adult Katie (Amanda Seyfried) suffered from. That was also evident after her first one night stand. Her transformation into a slutty seductress so she can get laid for the umpteenth time by a total stranger, was also unnecessary. 

Russell Crowe miraculously fits perfectly for the role as the suffering father. He has to face a series of setbacks. The loss of his wife, a brain disorder, a series of bad reviews and a sister in law who blames him for the death of her sister and who's willing to do everything in order to adopt his daughter (because he isn't be able to raise her). You would get strokes and nervous breakdowns for less. The most tender and lovely rendition is played by Kylie Rogers as the very young Katie. So charming and angelic that I sometimes would like to adopt her myself. She mastered the whole range of filial emotions effortlessly. And Amanda Seyfried as the adult Katie had some magical moments as she tried to help a young girl named Lucy (Quvenzhané Wallis), also a traumatized young girl. The most loaded part,full of drama, was reserved for Diana Kruger as the embittered sister who tries to keep her anger under control by consuming large amounts of alcohol.

There were a few things that bothered me terribly. Firstly, I thought the sentence "Men ... they can survive without love. But not us women" was rather derogatory towards the male sex. In a split second we were reduced to unfeeling conquerors. This quote on the other hand is cited by Diana Kruger. So it actually fell pretty ridiculous. I still don't understand how come the adult Katie (who has to be over 32 years at that moment) is still in college. And the way the legal jousting between Jake and William (Bruce Greenwood) resolves, is too ridiculous for words. Granted, it was a chuckle moment (resulting in some malicious pleasure and a firm "Yes") but then again it seemed like a simplistic conclusion of generally lengthy legal proceedings. The storyline and ingredients that were used in "Fathers and Daughters" seem to be typed on Jake's typewriter. Also antiques and stale. Ultimately this corny movie has the same characteristics as a bag of crisps. Easy to digest and not very memorable. The only difference is, that after such a bag of chips, sometimes I'm yearning for more.

My rating 4/10
Links : IMDB

10 Cloverfield lane (2016)

Summary :
Soon after leaving her fiancé Michelle is involved in a car accident. She awakens to find herself sharing an underground bunker with Howard and Emmett. Has she been saved from an apocalyptical event as Howard & Emmett tell her or are there other motives for her being held against her will? 

Genre : Mystery/Thriller/Drama
Country : USA

Cast :
John Goodman : Howard
Mary Elizabeth Winstead : Michelle
John Gallagher Jr. : Emmett

Director : Dan Trachtenberg

My Opinion   

"It's amazing, you people..
You wear helmets when you ride your bikes, you have seat-belts,
you have alarm systems to protect your homes.
But what do you do when those alarms go off?”

The biggest mistake the creators of this psychological thriller with a bit of SF made, was to give it the title "10 Cloverfield Lane". Those who expect a sequel to the excellent movie "Cloverfield" (one of the best found footage films for me) will feel they've been cheated on. Those who hope this film has nothing to do with it and assume the chosen title is purely a commercial decision, will ultimately be disappointed. "10 Cloverfield lane" is without doubt the most difficult film to write an opinion about, because revealing too much isn't fair to those who still want to see it. I know now that I'm going to store a battery Molotov cocktails in my basement, because seemingly these are the most ridiculous but also most effective defense weapons against ... uh ... lets just say opponents.

So don't keep your hopes up for some nerve-wracking action or a destructive, huge monster that turns a metropolis into ruins. The whole film takes place in a kind of bomb shelter with limited space. It was patiently designed by Howard (John Goodman) who subsequently also provided all the necessary facilities to survive any doomsday scenario he made-up. Howard is a former Marine and has been preparing himself for the end of the world for years already. And that's what Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is told when she regains consciousness in Howard's bunker. The world is ruined after some apocalyptic attack and the air is contaminated. She's chained to the wall, so she's convinced she's being kidnapped. Howard on the other hand, claims that she had a car accident and he took care of her and thus saved her life. After she hears the same story told by Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.), another survivor who helped building this bunker, she's back at ease.

 

What follows is a psychological thriller full of suspicion and doubt. The limited space ensures for an oppressive feeling. It's better people with claustrophobia avoid this film. Constantly you're wondering if it's true about the attack or not. Or is Howard simply a psychopathic madman who came up with this fake story. Repeatedly you're put on the wrong track. So the plausibility of each option always changes. The most praiseworthy part of this film is the acting of John Goodman. Admittedly I think Goodman is one hell of an actor who gives shape to his character in a natural way. Whether he's an unscrupulous loan shark as in "The Gambler" or plays an eccentric drug dealer as in "Flight". Every time it seems as if Goodman was born for the part. The same is true for this movie. On the one hand Howard seems to be a pleasant chubby man with a somewhat neurotic side which makes him a fatalist. On the other hand there's a veil of secrecy hanging around him and he has a paranoid attitude. It looks as if he has different plans with his guests. In those moments he's terrifying. The growing distrust between the main characters is portrayed in a fantastic way and it's extremely fascinating. 

 
And what was the least commendable in this film? The end. The tension is systematically built up during the first hour and a half, but at one stroke it all disappears and it's replaced by vicarious shame. Not only the ending is filled with nonsensical, idiotic developments, but it feels like they've made this denouement at the last minute out of commercial reasons (something I'm allergic to). Frankly, it looks pitifully poor and the response of Michelle is completely implausible (vague description. I know. But it's necessary since I don't want to reveal anything). Maybe I'm wrong, but I've a sneaking suspicion that the interference of J.J. Abrams caused it. Is that why the film title changed from "The cellar" into "10 Cloverfield lane"? Was there another planned denouement at first? Was it rewritten under the influence of Abrams so that fans of "Cloverfield" could be lured to the cinema? I have no idea. But my rating plummeted in less then no time to the same level Howard's bunker was located. Such a shame. No 10 for this one.

My rating 5/10
Links : IMDB

The dead room (2015)

Summary :
When a terrified family flees a desolate southern New Zealand farmhouse, two cynical scientists and a young psychic are sent to investigate their claims of a haunting. There they encounter a powerful spirit that will protect the house's secrets at all costs.

Genre : Horror
Country : New Zealand

Cast :
Jed Brophy : Liam
Jeffrey Thomas : Scott
Laura Petersen : Holly

Director : Jason Stutter

My Opinion 

“I would love to capture something conclusive..
To prove the existence of the paranormal.
Yeah, well, just be careful what you wish for.”

If it was the intention to show how boring the study of paranormal phenomena is, you can safely say that "The Dead room" is a successful film. You never watched a horror before? Well, this is the right movie to start with then. Nothing happens in it so to speak. And when something happens (exactly at 3 o'clock in the middle of the night) it certainly won't scare you to death. You could call it Horror for dummies. Ghosthunting isn't really a fascinating profession. You can compare it a bit with a birdwatcher. You're sitting on your strategic spot and wait until you can observe something. Waiting is the message. Waiting as in the waiting room of the doctor. Fortunately, the entity that runs amok in this New Zealand cottage, owns a well-functioning watch. So it makes an appearance punctually.

When a family pack their bags and leave because there are unexplained phenomena occurring in their home, three researchers arrive to sort it out in a scientific way on behalf of the insurance company. To be honest, I would be terrified if they would force me to live in this dilapidated hovel. The team of would-be Ghostbusters consists of Scott (Jeffrey Thomas), Liam (Jed Brophy) and Holly (Laura Petersen). Scott is a vexing cynic who wants to explain everything scientifically. When inexplicable facts happen, it's always the wind, according to him. A door opens and chandeliers sway back and forth ... probably a gap in the wall which causes a draft. The house shakes on its foundation ... probably a gust of wind. Furniture moving ... yep that damn wind again. Liam is the tech geek who ecstatically places his motion-detecting cameras and infrared sensors everywhere. However, he's the first one who wants to leave the place as soon as possible. And Corry is a psychic who feels the presence of supernatural abnormalities. It's also handy to have her around since she's a kind of living thermometer.

The horror "Paranormal Activity" was a huge success. You can hardly deny that. Personally, I didn't think it was that big of a deal and therefore I've avoided the successors (I'm not a big fan of commercial exploitation). The most annoying side effect are the countless imitations that make use of this success but lack substance. Most of them simply suck. The same applies to "The Dead Room". The first hour looks reasonable. Even though there's not much going on and you have to be patient and wait just like our three researchers. The only things you can witness in the beginning are the way they install themselves, how they go through room after room in search of ghosts and make small talk. The moment things start to happen, you'll be treated to the well-known phenomena such as moving furniture, slamming doors and swinging chandeliers. The use of such dull phenomena doesn't guarantee a successful paranormal horror however.

The denouement was substandard and downright ridiculous. The mood changed completely and this "Paranormal Activity" clone transformed into a third-rate horror. The denouement came so unexpectedly and took me completely by surprise. It felt as if they made it up at the last moment. All I could mumble was "Damn, that's it?". However, all praises for those three daredevils because although there were some life-threatening and quite frightening situations, they still went to bed hassle free and willingly. As if nothing was going on. Probably they've accepted that it really was the wind that caused it all. Honestly, reality shows shown on television are more frightening to me than this bland movie.

My rating 1/10
Links : IMDB

Tale of tales (2015)

Summary :
From the bitter quest of the Queen of Longtrellis, to two mysterious sisters who provoke the passion of a king, to the King of Highhills obsessed with a giant Flea, these tales are inspired by the fairytales by Giambattista Basile.

Genre : Fantasy
Country : Italy/France/UK

Cast :
Salma Hayek : Queen of Longtrellis
Vincent Cassel : King of Strongcliff
Toby Jones : King of Highhills

Director : Matteo Garrone 

Alternative title : Il racconto dei racconti

My Opinion   

“Here is the husband that you chose for me. Please, forgive me.”

"Tale of Tales" is based on stories of the 17th century author Giambattista Basile from Napoli. Three strange tales are ingeniously interwoven and subsequently they end with a not so impressive conclusion. Each of them are atypical fairy tales. One more insane than the other. You can expect some dark stories with a fairly shocking ending. Three kingdoms, each with their own concerns and problems. The moment I saw the queen of Longtrellis consuming the bloody heart of a sea monster, I knew these weren't exactly stories I would read to my children. Rather, these are fairy tales for adults provided with some rather strange twists.

In well-known fairy tales, events are usually presented more rosy. And almost all of them have a happy ending. In "Tale of Tales" however you'll witness disturbing events with which the ruling nobles are being confronted. And don't expect a happy ending or a pig with a long snout. All in all these are fairy tales with a touch of absurd black humor. No, these tales won't make you happy. However, I must admit I enjoyed it more and more as the film progressed. A series of erotically charged and brutal confrontational scenes drenched with loads of melancholy and sadness. To my surprise this two-hour movie was finished before I realized it.

The same values and tribulations as they occur in children's fairy tales, are presented here. Making an unfulfilled wish come true, providing that something else will be sacrificed. Dazzling neurotic acts that cause painful confrontations. Morbid adoration that stands in the way of making any kind of realistic decision. You can find insanity in every separate story. And this because of an absurd motive that'll lead to an absurd development.

First of all there's the story of the king (John C. Reilly) and queen (Salma Hayek) of Longtrellis who carry out a fairly strange rite because of an unfulfilled desire to have children. Such as digesting the cooked heart of a sea monster. However, it has fatal consequences and the final result (in the form of twin brothers Christian and Jonah Lees) looks rather creepy. Then there's the king of Strongcliff (Vincent Cassel), who's plagued by an insatiable lust and has an unlimited appetite for female nudity. This adoration blinded him so that he ended up courting a lady whose voice sounds sweet, but whose appearance isn't exactly youthful . And finally there's the king of Highhills (Toby Jones) who suddenly exhibits a morbid love for a flea. He starts feeding it secretly and thus puts the future of his only daughter at stake. The latter story had a big wtf feeling and really blew my mind. Absurdity at best.

      

The whole film has a true Renaissance-like appearance and looks perfect. The costumes, the fortresses and the poor villages. It looks authentic and realistic. Brilliant how a medieval era comes to life on the screen. The participating actors I found extremely fascinating. The personification of certain obsessions (as we sometimes encounter even in our modern times) is brilliantly portrayed. Especially Vincent Cassel and Toby Jones score high on the scale of insanity. The most sinister character was the scary looking necromancer (Franco Pistoni). In my view, this was an extremely successful film. But due to the amount of blood and bosoms, it certainly isn't suitable for children's eyes.

My rating 7/10
Links : IMDB

Regression (2015)

Summary :
A young girl is sexually abused by her father. Thus, begins the disturbing tale of a father and daughter torn apart, thrown into the center of a conspiracy that shocks the nation.

Genre : Mystery/Drama
Country : Spain/Canada

Cast :
Ethan Hawke : Bruce Kenner
Emma Watson : Angela Gray
David Thewlis : Kenneth Raines

Director : Alejandro Amenabar

My Opinion 

“She's had a pretty shitty life.
Maybe she just...
wanted to get away from it all.”

I was somewhat excited to see this film. Not because of the reputation of the director Amenabar or the topic. And also not to see if Ethan Hawke manages to uphold his status as meritorious actor. But because I was curious about Emma Watson and whether she was able to shake off the personage Hermione Granger. I haven't seen her at work (besides a meaningless role in "Noah") as a lead actress since Harry Potter and I was wondering how she would cope as a more mature person. Indeed, she's no longer that sweet, innocent girl (according to the tabloids, she plays now preferably with another kind of wand). As in Harry Potter, her character is kind of mysterious. But she didn't quite succeeded in putting the Potter-past behind her, as Daniel Radcliffe did. Granted, she didn't get much playing time to accomplish this.

The story takes place in Minnesota at the time that the U.S. was concerned about the scourge of satanic cults. These followers of Satan held meetings where they abused children, sacrificed animals and exhibited a persistent adoration for anything that was evil. However, afterwards it appeared to be a form of mass hysteria caused by the influence of the media and public opinion. One day the confused John Gray (David Dencik) walks into the office of detective Bruce Kenner (Ethan Hawke) and states that he abused his daughter Angela (Emma Watson). This is the beginning of a sinister investigation with Satanism as a central topic. Although John can't remember anything of the abuse and claims it's impossible, this won't stop him from admitting it anyway. To bring clarity to this all, they ask the assistance of Dr. Raines (David Thewlis), a psychologist who believes in the use of regressive hypnosis. A technique that uses hypnosis to retrieve repressed memories of traumatic events.

In any case, lots of praises for the performance of Ethan Hawke. The way he portrays the figure Bruce Kenner, is simply magnificent. A skeptical man who doesn't give any credence to all the rumors but gradually gets sucked into the spiral of mass psychosis. Watson was far from bad, but ultimately her role was limited to occasionaly playing the hurt and confused daughter. Probably her half-naked appearance will make more of an impression than the rest of her rendition. Which in fact isn't really fair. Her acting isn't really memorable, but still commendable. David Thewlis (another "Harry Potter" actor) has the look of a psychiatrist and also delivers a decent performance.

The only thing missing in "Regression" was purposefulness. As a viewer, I didn't know after a while whether I was watching a satanic horror film (similar to "Rosemary's Baby"), a psychological thriller or a typical crime story. On the one hand it's an indictment against religious mania where the line between faith and superstition fades at a given time. On the other hand it also denounces the used psychiatric methods. I'm sure you can doubt the accuracy of the results of those methods. In terms of atmosphere it's certainly successful. Sinister, dark and at times even disturbing. But it's never really creepy so to speak (despite the sound effects and some scenes). All in all it was a fairly predictable movie that doesn't really surprise. Just as in "The Sisterhood of Night" it's the rumor mill and the mass hysteria which are the main culprits. Not exactly fodder for an entertaining movie.

My rating 5/10
Links : IMDB

7 Minutes (2014)

Summary :
Three friends, Sam, Mike and Owen, are forced by circumstance to commit a brazen robbery. What begins as a simple plan quickly becomes a dangerous game of life and death. As each minute of the robbery unfolds, the stakes are pushed higher and higher.

Genre : Crime
Country : USA

Cast :
Luke Mitchell :Sam
Jason Ritter : Mike
Zane Holtz : Owen

Director : Jay Martin

My Opinion 

“There are two rules that everybody knows.
First, don’t go in with anybody who has more to lose than you.
What is the other rule?
You got cement in your ears.
Don’t get caught.”

Are you a big fan of, or you have a fetishism for an abundance of flashbacks, then "7 Minutes" will be perfect for you. Because, believe me, you just bent over to scratch yourself at an annoying place because there's an irritating itch, and before you know it you swallow another flashback. Or you just grabbed for the half-empty packet of paprika chips .... BANG .... another flashback. This was like a doubles match at Wimbledon with four pepped first-rank players. The flashbacks will fly around your ears (backhandwise). So paying attention is the message. Otherwise you've lost the thread in this tangle of intersecting storylines. Indeed Sir, within 7 minutes!

Sam (Luke Mitchell), Mike (Jason Ritter) and Owen (Zane Holtz) are the three central figures. Three schoolmates who are leading a not so rosy life. Sam was an American football star with a scholarship and the accompanying mandatory cheerleader Kate (Leven Rambin). Their future looked promising, but an ankle injury put spikes in the wheel. The end result is a miserable, poor life with Sam working in a factory and his pregnant wife Kate as a waitress in a restaurant. Mike (Sam's brother) is in the same boat (the American Dream boat that sailed as Mike claims) and he tries to survive by selling weed. Owen's life isn't exactly a success story either. He's the son of Mr. B (Kris Kristofferson) who leads the local mafia. Owen just left prison. He got convicted after colliding with an obese security guard in a not so gentle way. To be honest, those guys aren't the brightest minds in this local town.

 

Yep, they aren't smart. You'll notice that immediatly. When they set up the plan to go into business with a notorious drug dealer, this goes awfully wrong thanks to panicky Owen. An anxiety attack makes him flush XTC tablets, worth $ 62,000, down the toilet of a petrol station. Hence the next stupid idea : robbing Sam and Mike's uncle. This will only take 7 minutes. Voila, and thus the title of the film is also explained. Needless to say that again this is a stupid plan. Who is so stupid to commit a robbery in a town where everybody knows you? And why the hell did they pick someone related to them? It's a plan doomed to fail. Especially when other complications turn up as well. Believe me, the story lines are subtle but also in a complicated way interwoven with eachother. And that makes this seemingly simple bank robbery story unnecessarily complicated.

It reminded me a bit of "Cut Bank". Only the latter was far more cynical and humorous. The three clumsy friends were interpreted in a reasonable manner by the respective actors. But really memorable it wasn't either. Kristofferson's contribution was way too limited to make a judgment, but this kind of character fits him. The only ones that stood out were Kevin Gage, as trigger-happy Tuckey who changed the tone of the film abruptly from average to violent, and Brandon Hardesty as the pathetic, obese Jerome who spontaneously starts crying while looking at himself in the mirror. The bank robbery itself may not look as stupid as the one in "American Heist", but otherwise this film isn't memorable either. "7 Minutes" is an uninspired, ridiculous film that provides momentary entertainment. However, I didn't mind that it took more than seven minutes.

My rating 5/10
Links : IMDB