All out Dysfunktion! (2016)

Summary 
Six odd ball Hollywood types, each with their own dysfunctional personalities live under the roof of the same mansion. They're only common thread is they all have rooms for rent. Dysfunktion is an laugh out loud comedic take on the drama that ensues in a day when that many people live together and have absolutely nothing in common!

Genre : Drama
Country : USA

Cast : 
Angelica Chitwood : Carrie

Melinda Dekay : Clarelle
Arsh Singh : Ranjit

Director : Ryan Lemasters

My opinion

“Jezus Christ, I don’t even need zoom on you girls.”

In terms of comedy, I'm really a bad reference. Admittedly, I am a difficult person when it comes to humor. Maybe it's my special sense of humor. So, the average comedies are rarely entertaining enough for me. It horrified me when I saw that "All out Dysfunktion" was marked with the label "comedy". And honestly, the first 15 minutes I had to grit my teeth. Until I surely discovered some funny moments at a given time and the interactions between the characters had an intriguing effect on me. And no, it's not those two hotties on the bench that made it interesting. At first I was annoyed about some shortcomings. The editing wasn't exactly spectacular in the beginning and I could even hear a muffled giggle in the background (I suppose that was someone from the crew). But as the film progressed, the editing became flawless and smoothly.

The turning point in the movie was when Clarelle (Melinda Dekay) shared an intimate moment with both Tyrell (David Bianchi) and Gator (Dan Sanders-Joyce). It looked like a deep philosophical moment, however it was abruptly interrupted by this hale and hearty old lady. Indeed, a funny moment. This sublime acting moment is the transition from the introductory part to the part which is more chaotic and shows a drug-soaked party.

The whole story takes place in a modern-looking building with a variety of personalities renting a room there. Clarelle, a spirited old lady, who apparently had something to do with varieté in the past, tries to keep everything under control. Because the residents are so different to eachother, conflicts are inevitable. They all seem a little bit peculiar and crazy. Hence the title "Dysfunktion", I suppose. The colorful group consists of Tyrell, a slightly neurotic gayish type who suffers from a severe form of hosophobia. Gator is the misfit with pretty much disgusting habits and he's also the grandson of Clarelle. Ranjit (Arsh Singh) is an Indian pervert who spends his time in front of his computer getting horny while watching Pleasure (Jenn Pinto), another resident he's secretly in love with, on a porn website. Finally, there's Carrie (Angelica Chitwood) who has a serious cocaine problem (Chitwood? Appropriate name) and she's the one who comes up with this bright idea to organize a rave party.

The first part of the film is used to introduce the characters and to clarify their personality. Sometimes it was long-winded and funny moments are fairly scarce. Until there's this entire film crew filming a porn. Time for some hilarious moments. Especially Azeebo (Poncho Hodges), who fails in doing the job, provided some chuckle moments. I was extremely enthusiastic about the contribution of Mike 'Mix Under Thunder' (Yul L. Spencer) as the director. A Spanish-looking chatterbox who looked exactly like Skinner from "Ratatouille." Both in terms of temperament and stature. But I must pay tribute to the excellent acting performance of Melinda Dekay. What a sublime rendition. Both sober and foggy state.

My assumption that this would be yet another comedy, subsequently turned out wrong. After the turning point, they focused more on the dramatic life of the protagonists. A feeling of deep compassion emerged, as details of everyone's personal life were laid bare. The biggest downside of the whole film was the story on its own. Ultimately, this was a fairly simple story without too much sophistication. A crazy group huddles together and an organized party degenerates into some violent situations. That's it in a nutshell. The absurd situations and interactions made it a bit more interesting. There's one thing I'm sure of. I'm sure the record (owned by "The Wolf of Wall Street") in using the F-word, certainly was broken. That number exceeded even the number of people who worked for this film.

My rating 5/10
Links : IMDB

The trust (2016)

Summary 
Waters and Stone are two nobody police officers who work in the evidence room of the Las Vegas Police Department. When Stone discovers an unusually high bail receipt in connection to a drug bust, the two friends set in motion a plan to find the source of the money.

Genre : Crime
Country : USA

Cast : 
Nicolas Cage : Stone

Elijah Wood : Waters
Sky Ferreira : Woman

Director : Alex & Benjamin Brewer

My opinion 

“I think that guy has a friend with deep pockets.”

My first reaction to a movie with Nicolas Cage playing in it, is that of an eternal doubter. Would I bother to see this? Or should I just ignore it, because I've seen a series of Cage failures lately? The only film with Cage that impressed me the last time is "Joe". This was truly a masterful film where Cage proves that he is a class actor. Most of his films that I've seen recently were really substandard. Both as regards the storyline and the acting. Fortunately, "The trust" was acceptable enough. It's not a real winner, but it surely isn't a disappointing monstrosity. It reminded me in some way of "Matchstick men".

It's certainly not a thriller. I'd rather call it a crime story with a touch of morbid, cynical humor. Especially the interaction between the two main characters, Stone (Nicolas Cage) and Waters (Elijah Wood), is highly amusing. Two schmucks serving at a policedepartment where they archive evidence. A job they aren't really thrilled about anymore. Up to the moment Stone sees something suspicious on a bail slip and sees an opportunity to get out of their situation. The beginning does have a slow start. As the film progresses, however, the tempo increases. This combined with a short runtime, makes this film a suitable in betweener. The acting of the two main characters is sublime. Cage as a slightly neurotic and somewhat disturbed person. A character that suits him perfectly and ensures that his overacting isn't noticable. Elijah Wood (another attempt to shake off his "Frodo" past) matches perfectly with the labile Stone. Waters looks like a poor wretch living on the fringes of society. The only thing that wasn't so obvious, were the maniacal and murderous traits of Stone.

At first sight this looks a bit like "Ocean's Eleven". But this time the heist is done by a kind of "Dumb and Dumber" duo. Although the intelligence of the two semi-corrupt police officers is still high enough to succeed in doing the job. A crime which is needed to break with their daily routine and calmly enjoy their retirement on some tropical island. But the moment it starts to look like an ordinary burglars parody, they come up with a few surprising twists. First there's this unknown woman (Sky Ferreira) who throws a spanner in the works. And then there's the mood change of Waters.

"The trust" certainly doesn't belong among Cage's better films, but it surprised nonetheless in a peculiar way. Not that the storyline is extremely original. And the ending is fairly absurd and abruptly. But the performances are interesting and make sure the film rises above mediocrity. And then there's also the unexpected cameo by Jerry Lewis as Stone's father. His presence is only momentary. But all the time I was wondering who that familiar looking aged actor was. His contribution wasn't very important. But nevertheless. His presence in this amusing film was justified.

My rating 6/10
Links : IMDB

Jamie Marks is dead (2014)

Summary 
In a wintry small town, the body of a teenager named Jamie Marks is found by the river. Adam, the star of his cross-country team, becomes fascinated with Jamie, a boy nobody really knew or interacted with, except occasionally to bully him. When Jamie's ghost begins to appear both to Adam and Gracie, the classmate who discovered the body, Adam is caught between two worlds. He has a budding romance with Gracie, but he also feels a deep connection to Jamie, who brings him closer to the world of the undead.

Genre : Drama
Country : USA

Cast : 
Noah Silver : Jamie Marks

Cameron Monaghan : Adam
Morgan Saylor : Gracie

Director : Carter Smith

My opinion

“You know, what happened to Jamie, it was awful, and it was tragic, and it was everything else
that everyone says it is.
But we have a choice, and all of us have a choice, and I made mine.
What did you choose?
Not to see him.”

"Jamie Marks is dead" is a sort of "Sixth Sense" story, combined with a narrative about teenagers and the troubles they experience during their teenage years. That it deals with supernatural apparitions is also a fact. Are you expecting a terrifying horror? Well in that case, this will surely be a major disappointment. Jamie Marks (Noah Silver who looks eerily like Harry Potter) is without a doubt as dead as a doornail. However, his spiritual alter ego has other plans and isn't going to exchange his earthly life with the spiritual easily. Is Jamie seeking for revenge on those who have made his life miserable? Or is his intention to persuade an individual to take that step to eternal life? Sometimes I come across movies I ask myself questions about afterwards. What the hell did I watch? And what was the ultimate meaning? What was it about for God's sake? "Jamie Marks is dead" is such a movie.

Jamie isn't exactly Mister Popularity at school. He's always a laughingstock. A mega scapegoat and doormat of the bullies in school. Nobody had any affinity with him and completely ignored him. Adam (Cameron Monaghan) has witnessed such harassment. He never participated in the bullying, but he never really intervened. Adam isn't exactly popular either, but thanks to his sporting achievements, he never suffered the same fate as Jamie. And then Jamie's body is discovered by Gracie (Morgan Saylor), an extravagant behaving teenage girl who collects stones. Spontaneously a friendship arises between Adam and Gracie, thanks to this unfortunate incident. It soon turns out that they both can see the wandering spirit of Jamie. Despite the warning of Jamie, who refuses to have any contact with this supernatural phenomenon, a kind of connection grows between the two boys.

"Jamie Marks is dead" is a difficult film. Especially if you try to understand the deeper meaning of it all. Is Jamie trying to create a friendship in this form of existence? Visible only to those who cared about him in a way? Because to be honest, everyone is pretty indifferent when it comes to his death in this community. Or is it an incomplete goal he ultimately wants to achieve? Could this goal be succeeding in winning Adam for himself? It's obvious Jamie feels something for him. He admired Adam during his running events. Ultimately, there is an odd sexual tension between the two. The way Jamie ecstatically reacts as Adam whispers a word into his ear or mouth. Or is it the symbolism of how Adam starts to discovers his own sexuality? Is this the reason why being intimate with Gracie isn't working out that well? Because of the appearances of Jamie?

  

"Jamie Marks is dead" is no self-evident movie. It is a bleak and depressing picture. A morbid movie with pretty crazy characters and situations. At first I thought this was a reflection of Adam's mental state. But this can't be, because Gracie can see dead Jamie as well. Not only the bizarre love triangle seems reasonable unworldly. The friendship that develops between Linda (Liv Tyler), Adam's mother, and Lucy (Judy Greer), a wacky woman who caused a road accident while being drunk after which Linda ended up in a wheelchair, isn't normal either. It's all rather incomprehensible (and not only because of the unintelligibly mumbling of Gracie). Most will look at this and say it's a waste of time and utter crap. Maybe I'm an odd guy, but I thought this was all quite intriguing.

My rating 7/10
Links : IMDB

Viral (2016)

Summary 
Emma and her sister Stacey are normal teenagers in a small town, when a mysterious infection begins to spread. With the town quarantined, and their parents stuck on the other side of the barrier, the girls have a blast eating junk food and sneaking out to go to parties. But when the disease starts to infect people they know, the girls, together with their neighbor Evan, barricade themselves into their home.

Genre : Horror/SF
Country : USA

Cast : 
Sofia Black-D'Elia : Emma

Analeigh Tipton : Stacey
Travis Tope : Evan

Director : Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman

My opinion

“There's something going around that's making people sick.
Most are now speculating that it’s parasitic.”

Oh no, again another zombie movie? Or is it the umpteenth film about the end of the world thanks to a fast spreading epidemic? "You know what?" they thought at Blumhouse Production. "Lets just mix together those two worn-out horror genres". The result is "Viral". And I have to admit, the result isn't so bad. It certainly won't compete for the price of best horror. And it won't leave an everlasting impression. But because of the convincing performances and the growing tension, this movie managed to captivate me.

Emma Drakeford (Sofia Black-D'Elia) is a young, shy student who just moved from Berkeley to Shadow Canyon with her father Michael (Michael Kelly) and the rather rebellious sister Stacey (Analeigh Tipton). Apart from the everyday events in this secluded town and the worries that occur at school, there isn't much happening there. The rest of the world, however, isn't doing so well. According to the media, there's an epidemic spreading alarmingly fast. Apparently this isn't something the two Drakeford sisters worry about. Emma struggles with her feelings for Evan (Travis Tope), while Stacey tries to keep her boyfriend CJ (Machine Gun Kelly) under control. However, when their neighbourhood is put under quarantine and they are being attacked by infected fellow students, who want to pass the infection by vomiting blood into someones face, they realize that the situation is getting more threatening.

First of all, a petty side note about the title of this film. You can safely call this a somewhat misplaced and misleading title. Perhaps it's fashionable to use this term, since everything is going "viral" on social networks. But this infection which is wreaking havoc in the US, has nothing to do with viruses or viral infections. It's a parasite. During the media reports this is cited repeatedly. Even Michael Drakeford, biology teacher at Emma's school, talks about it in one of his classes with tasty pictures as  illustration. Are you affraid there'll be sickening images full of wriggling meat maggots? Don't worry because that won't be the case.

And that's really the only disappointing element in "Viral". As a horror, where a parasite threatens to wipe out an entire population and infected slowly turning into blood vomiting absurdities with superhuman powers, it's all quite ordinary portrayed. No bloody scenes. Most of these horrific situations are handled off-screen. Is this a budgetary decision? Or a deliberate decision so the film is more accessible to a wider audience?

The end result is an exciting but also soft horror, with a teenage love and sisterly love as a major central theme. But the performances are really credible, the shootings look exquisite and there was even an interesting story. Sofia Black-D'Elia plays by far the most striking character and her fragility and vulnerability look very natural and believable. Analeigh Tipton is completely the opposite of her sister. Not exactly someone who sticks to the rules. And a real bully towards Emma sometimes. But above all, she turns out to be a loving sister. These successful performances combined with the better camera work, makes this film a must see.

My rating 6/10
Links : IMDB

Urge (2016)

Summary 
A weekend getaway takes a dangerous turn when a mysterious nightclub owner introduces a group of friends to a new designer drug. Stripped of their inhibitions, they start living out their wildest fantasies - but what starts out as a fun night of partying quickly turns deadly, as the island paradise deteriorates into a tropical madhouse.

Genre : Thriller
Country : USA

Cast : 
Pierce Brosnan : The Man

Danny Masterson : Neil
Justin Chatwin : Jason

Director : Aaron Kaufman

My opinion : 

“This weekend's gonna be epic.”

How the hell did the makers of "Urge" convince Pierce Brosnan to join them? Pierce Brosnan, better known as the legendary 007 and his participation in light humorous romantic comedies. And sometimes he even tries to showcase his musical talent, as in "Mamma Mia!" for example. But I've never seen this top gentleman as devilish and evil as here. The acting of Brosnan is also the only positive part in this movie. And also the only thing that fascinated me.

Neil (Danny Masterson) is a young, wealthy entrepreneur, who's used to a life where he gets everything. An arrogant guy whose group of friends probably consists of artificial friendships that live off his amassed fortune. One day he and his so-called friends Vick (Chris Geere), Danny (Nick Thune), Joey (Alexis Knapp) and Denise (Bar Paly) go to an island to enjoy a great weekend together in his ultra- modern villa. This could well be an epic weekend. That's what he promised his secretary and semi-lover Theresa (Ashley Greene). However, there are two surprises awaiting them. The first in the form of Jason (Justin Chatwin), the uninvited would-be artist and enfant terrible, but yet Neil's bosom friend. And the second surprise is the drug "Urge" which is presented to them in the exclusive nightclub Volcano.

 

Clearly it's not a typical night club. There are eyes projected at the wall and randomly they choose someone to grant him exclusive access to the club. Once inside they are welcomed by a kind of Oompa Loompa person. And the audience seems to be under the influence of some chemical drug. The moment Jason meets the charismatic and Delmore Schwartz citing owner, who's known as "The Man", he's offered an exceptional brand new drug. A unique experience will await him and his friends. Provided they only use it once. Too bad for Jason. Seems like it has no effect on him.

It will come as no surprise that this gang of idiots will break the golden rule. The result is complete hysteria with everyone's deepest desires and bizarre fantasies taking an unrestrained form. With all its consequences. An outbreak of violence and sadistic savagery is the result. A kind of "Clockwork Orange" frenzy. And this hysteria takes over the entire island. It seems as if the entire population has consumed a bit to much "Urge" and forgot about that important rule.

Afterwards I was wondering what the ultimate message was behind this story. What was it the creators wanted to show? The decay of our society? The danger of hallucinogens and other chemical mess? Or were they trying to prove that each individual has a dark side? Actually, I expected a kind of sado masochistic story after seeing those ladies with delicious curves and dressed in red latex in the beginning of the movie. Ultimately, "Urge" is like a space cake without space. Or a mushroom that should give you hallucinations, but turns out to be an innocent champignon. Nothing mind-blowing or exciting. Afterwards you'll get a sort of Machiavellian interpretation, but the meaningless and disappointing ending spoiled it somewhat. It would have been sublime if a package of "Urge" was being delivered with this film. Just to keep an open mind, while watching this rather disappointing film.

My rating 2/10
Links : IMDB

The VVitch (2015)

Summary 
New England, 1630. William and Katherine lead a devout Christian life, homesteading on the edge of an impassible wilderness, with five children. When their newborn son mysteriously vanishes and their crops fail, the family begins to turn on one another.

Genre : Drama
Country : USA/UK/Canada

Cast : 
Anya Taylor-Joy : Thomasin

Ralph Ineson : William
Kate Dickie : Katherine

Director : Robert Eggers

My opinion : 

“I am that very witch.
When I sleep my spirit slips away from...my body and dances naked with The Devil. “

Wow, this was the biggest disappointment of the year. After reading some laudable messages and the rather misleading recommendations on certain websites, I thought I was ready for again another original horror that, unlike most in this genre, doesn't have an ad nauseam used subject. In retrospect I really wondered where the horror started in this story. Yes, the language used in that time terrified me. That's for sure. I understood absolutely nothing and I was glad that subtitles were provided. Is it the religious devotion in those days that scares you? I would call it religious insanity. As soon as something happens, those arms go up to the sky and that all-encompassing divinity is called on for help. Or is there really something pernicious in that dark forest, causing this poor farming family to be overwhelmed by adversities?

What if they'd called "The VVitch" a historic drama? Probably my opinion would be slightly milder (and probably I wouldn't have watched it anyway). But calling this horror, is a gross deception for many. In my view this movie shows the misconceptions and misinterpretations that were commonplace at that time. A bad harvest, another setback or an unexplained illness caused those simple and unknowing souls to wail and pray en masse to the almighty. An era in which superstition and fear of the unknown thrived. Is that what this simple peasant family made insane? Such madness, that even the black goat in the family was regarded as the source of all evil? For me it's just a historical, psychological drama. It's as simple as that.

As mentioned earlier, the entire film is drenched in Old English. I can imagine that historians and literaries go all lyrical about it and get overexcited about it (I can see them sitting there already all slobbery). I tried to understand a tiny bit of it. As a result it required my complete attention mostly. I can believe that the mise en scene of the whole, looked accurate and authentic. The householding, the way they dress and the way of living were shown brilliantly and very well cared for. Likewise, the acting and dramatics. Especially the young actors were excellent and gave it a unique character. I can imagine that finding such good, young actors, isn't easy. Their hard work, while seeking a perfect cast, paid of.

Nope guys. This is far from being a horror. Or hearing yet another prayer gives you the chills. I like subtle films in the horror genre. It isn't necessary for me that it's all bloody and gory. But I'm afraid I've missed the subtlety of "The VVitch" somehow. The marketing department of the publisher probably realized suddenly that the label horror sounds sexier and more commercial than the ordinary label drama. Let alone they would even mention it's a historical costume film. Not that this is an insignificant genre, but the target audience is more limited in my opinion. In terms of atmosphere and film technology it's unparalleled. But I'm just allergic to deception on a large scale. A bit like religion itself, isn't it? Lets pray for that for once ...

PS. I've seen the trailer afterwards. Now I understand why filmgoers thought this would be horror.

My rating 3/10
Links : IMDB