Come back to me (2014)

Summary 
Sarah and Josh are married suburbanites. After a car accident, Sarah suffers blackouts. As her life spirals she hides a camera in her home and unlocks a horrific secret with far-reaching consequences.

Genre : Horror/Mystery
Country : USA

Cast : 
Katie Walder : Sarah

Nathan Keyes : Dale
Matt Passmore : Josh

Director : Paul Leyden

My opinion

“Why would God give a Christlike gift tot the very Devil  himself …”

"Come back to me" is an indie horror with a fascinating and original basic idea, but the repetitive nature in the middle was a bit to much. The opening scene, where you're witnessing domestic violence with a rather bloody ending, was a masterful move by the creators of this strange film. The change of scenery, from the murder scene in Reno to a sleeping suburb in Las Vegas, was rather abrupt and confusing. But later in the film, you'll know that the seemingly emotionless boy from Reno is the same person who lives in that quiet suburb and lives opposite Josh (Matt Passmore) and Sarah (Katie Walder). His name is Dale (Nathan Keyes). A strange behaving, concluded guy who acts pretty retarded and exhibits a kind of fascination for Sarah at the first encounter.

Josh and Sarah are an attractive, young couple. Josh is croupier in a casino. Sarah studies at an unknown university and works on a thesis about the influence of pornography. Still one specific problem hampers their relationship. Sarah's desire to have children isn't actually fulfilled. In fact, if you look at Josh's reaction, it seems as if he isn't really enthusiastic about it. When Sarah is being hounded by terrifying nightmares, after which she awakens in an entirely different location with sometimes strange injury and not knowing how she ended up there, and she gets blessed with an immaculate conception, everything becomes a bit of a mess. Sarah is convinced there's something fishy going on and she decides to install a camera system in her house. In this way she tries to figure out what's causing these hellish nightmare.

The cover of this film isn't really impressive, so to say. And certainly not frightening. To be honest I wasn't expecting much. A typical horror with stalker elements, I thought to myself. Ultimately, at first sight it seems not to be really special at all. But believe me, the phenomenon Sarah has to deal with, is quite a unique find. Granted, there are more movies with a weird, creepy neighbor or a lovely lady who receives nocturnal visits of unsavory characters. But I've never encountered such a phenomenon, that disturbs Sarah's sleep, in any other horror. The film contains the necessary tension and suspense. Plus there's this supernatural skill added to the story. And those surveillance cameras created an atmosphere which made me think of "Paranormal Activity" immediately. By the way, that's not one of my favorite movies.

Katie Walder is not only pleasing to the eye. She also manages to play a proper role. A vivacious and sexy blonde, whose daily rhythm gets screwed up because of some realistic, nightmarish dreams. The end-result is a hysterical and helpless young lady. It's not Oscar worthy, but it's convincing. Matt Passmore's part is limited and not so overwhelming. But that has more to do with the script than the person. The most memorable interpretation is provided by Nathan Keyes. Without a problem he turns into the strange and creepy Dale. Perhaps all this sounds a bit vague and superficial. But that's because "Come back to me" is such a type of film where it's best you know as little as possible about it. Let me just say that the excellent performances, the creepy and dark atmosphere, the haunting music and surely highly surprising (and in a certain way also most hilarious) end, turned this probably unknown film into an entertaining discovery. Definitely worth to give it a try.

My rating 7/10
Links : IMDB

Crushed (2015)

Summary 
A young woman returns home to her family vineyard after her father dies in an accident on the winery. But when his death is ruled a murder and her mother becomes the prime suspect she must uncover the truth.

Genre : Mystery/Thriller
Country : Australia

Cast : 
Sarah Bishop : Ellia

Les Hill : David
Remy Brand : Zac

Director : Megan Riakos

My opinion

There are already a number of Australian films that made an indelible impression on me. Even such an impression that I've become a little fan of movies originating from this part of the world. Perhaps "Crushed" is the first minor disappointment. Not because it's an ordinary murder mystery with all associated developments and  necessary turns. But simply because there was something missing to make a perfect investigators story. And that's suspense, tension and mystery. It wasn't so to speak exciting and the outcome of the whole story was just predictable. The only surprising part was the quite violent and bloody ending. Actually, I didn't see that one coming.

Ellia (Sarah Bishops) returns to her family after hearing the terrible news of her father's death. Apparently a heavy barrel fell on the head of this vineyard owner in Australia. The result isn't a persistent hangover, but a fatal skull fracture. Ellia left quietly after the death of her twin brother and she has been incommunicado with her family since then. Not surprisingly, the initial contacts appeared to be rather coolly. Not to say hostile. As it turns out that her dad seems to be murdered, her mother Sophie (Roxane Wilson) started to mess around with an uncle (Les Hill) in the Australian bushes and gets arrested because the police finds it suspicious that she wants to sell the family business, Ellia gets caught up in a complicated puzzle.

The first positive side of this film. They don't beat around the bush. Before you know it, you're looking at a murder mystery, a family dynasty shaking on its foundations, an unexplained drama out of the past and an erroneous environmental decision causing trouble for plants on the surrounding lands and hostile neighbours. Indeed, it's alot. And yet it's a matter of logical elimination to find out who did it. In "Crushed" the simple rule of most murder mysteries is maintained. Those who look most suspicious, are usually the ones who ultimately didn't do it. So take a close look at the individuals that surround Ellia and choose the person you'd never expect to be the suspect. Bingo.

Despite the abundance of subjects and the sometimes disappointing acting, there were also some good sides to this film. The used images were excellent from time to time. And the denouement was surprisingly brutal with an unprecedented number of casualties as a result. Most notable and outstanding role was played by Remy Brand as the timid and emotionally hurt brother Zac. The only thing that started to annoy me were the amount of consumed glasses of wine. I realize that there is a link with a vineyard, but at one point I had the feeling that wine was the only beverage they could drink there. Or the climate is causing an insufferable thirst. It wasn't exactly real added value. It's just that I constantly wondered whether she had a drinking problem or not. Are you a fan of a typical detective story, now happening in the land of kangaroos, then it is worth to see it.

 

My rating 5/10
Links : IMDB

Manhattan Night (2016)

Summary 
The story of Porter Wren, a New York City tabloid writer with an appetite for scandal. On the beat he sells murder, tragedy and anything that passes for the truth. At home he is a model family man, devoted to his loving wife. But when a seductive stranger asks him to dig into the unsolved murder of her filmmaker husband Simon, he can't resist.

Genre : Mystery/Thriller
Country : USA

Cast : 
Adrien Brody : Porter Wren

Yvonne Strahovski : Caroline Crowley
Campbell Scott : Simon Crowley

Director : Brian DeCubellis

My opinion

“I'm always running to the place where the bad thing just happened,
arriving just after the danger has passed,
watching from a safe distance,
searching for an angle,
that little wrinkle,
the kick to the heart that makes you want to put down the dollar and pick up the paper.”

After seeing two not so good films with Adrien Brody ("Backtrack" and "American Heist") I noticed that sad look of him on the cover of "Manhattan Night". It might sound weird, but every time I see Brody's facial expression on a cover, at once a sense of gloom and sadness overtakes me. Examine once again the cover from "Backtrack" and that of, lets say, "Wrecked". Every time you see a person filled with melancholy. With those sad puppy eyes and a grim facial expression. He stares at you with a helpless and beseeching look. The man exudes melancholy.

Despite his distinctive physical traits, he reminded me of Jake Gyllenhaal hunting for sensational news in "Nightcrawler". The same profession, the same eagerness and the same melancholy look. The only major difference is that Porter Wren already had his victory moment in the past when a young girl was found after his journalistic work. Hence, he still takes care of a daily column in the New York Daily News. Even though the new owner of this newspaper isn't very enthusiastic about it. At first you might say that Porter is a boring and rational person. But then again, he hasn't taken Caroline Crowley (Yvonne Strahovski) into account. The moment he sees her at a party, he's lost and he becomes entangled in the seductive web of this blond vamp. Caroline's interest in Porter is also of a practical nature. She wants to use Porter's "Sherlock Holmes" skills to investigate the suspicious death of her husband Simon Crowley (Campbell Scott).

You'll experience something similar like "Basic Instinct" with Brody acting as a sort of Poirot who's persistent in solving a case. In addition, he has to deal with a case of extortion, so the whole thing gets even more complicated. A story full of intrigue and erotically charged scenes. Brody's daily column is about other people's misery. It looks like he's becoming the main character in such a column. Although all my attention should be drawn to the stormy affair between Porter and Caroline and the complicated developments gripping Porter, my attention went to the rather extravagant personality of Crowley. A slightly deranged movie producer with some absurd traits. A real weirdo with a weird sense of humor. Such a person who pretends to having commit suicide after swallowing a large number of pills. And then he gets up calmly and says it was just a joke. And a highly attractive, breathtaking erotic blonde falls in love with such an eccentric who looks like a bum? Women are unfathomable and inapprehensible. But the acting of Campbell Scott was beyond dispute extremely brilliant.

All in all not a bad movie. Not bad at all. But not a high flyer either. Turn it into a black and white film and you can place it between other Hollywood classics which are shown on a pay-per-view television-channel. It won't be noticed. You can call this film stylish though. "Manhattan Night" pretends to be a neo-noir film with a mystery build into. But in the end it isn't really mysterious.

My rating 5/10
Links : IMDB

Backtrack (2015)

Summary :
Peter Bower (Adrien Brody) is a tormented soul whose life became an ordeal after the fatal accident of his daughter. With the help of his friend and colleague Duncan Stewart (Sam "Jurassic Park" Neill), he attempts to give meaning to his life back again. However, after a while he becomes aware that his limited number of patients aren't exactly overflowing with a joy for life (literally and figuratively). This leads to a search for the cause of a guilt feeling he developed since his childhood. He returns to his hometown to investigate a tragic accident that happened in the past. And this because of the connection his current patients have with this point in time.

Genre : Mystery/Horror
Country : Australia/UK

Cast :
Adrien Brody : Peter Bower
Sam Neill : Duncan Stewart
George Shevtsov : William Bower

Director : Michael Petroni

My opinion :  

“Pete … I'm here to help you.
I really appreciate it. At least you're still alive to help me.”

Adrien Brody failed in maintaining his level of acting after getting an Oscar for his brilliant part in "The Pianist". His contribution to "King Kong" and "Splice" still was acceptable. But his participation in the (in my opinion) very lousy movie "American Heist" was definitely a low point in his career. Was this promising actor on his way to build some sort Willis-Cage reputation? It looks like it. Especially after I've seen "Backtrack". This psychological thriller isn't a bad movie and cinematically it also looks pretty decent. But you can't really call it impressive. Similar movies have been made frequently. It doesn't take long to make a comparison with "The sixth sense" (a film from the heyday of Bruce Willis). The facial expression Brody used in "American Heist" was partially preserved. So expect a tormented look throughout the whole movie, while the cabinet of this psychologically cracked and grief-stricken psychologist gets visits from some strange patients.

You can hardly call this horror. There's practically not a single scary moment. The atmosphere is quite creepy and there are a few attempts to provide a jump scare, but in the end most of them are rather disappointing. It isn't original by any means and the subject has been widely used in other films already. As in "The Babadook" the main focus is a grieving process and the psychological impact it has on a person's psyche. The biggest problem is cataloging this movie in one particular genre. Is it a psychological thriller? Or a typical ghost story? Or can you label it as an old-fashioned murder mystery? You can expect some skeletons being found in the closet. Both literally and figuratively.

"Backtrack" isn't exactly a film that will leave a great impression. It isn't exactly bad either. And this because of the convincing acting of Brody. It's not high quality cinema, but it's appropriate to entertain yourself during a rainy Sunday. Even though the plot is a tad too predictable. Unfortunately it's also one of those many films you can't remember anything from the other day.

My rating 5/10
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

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