“Marvel’s “Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D” is an interesting way to immerse viewers in Marvel and, by extension, its Cinematic Universe.” I am watching Marvel’s “Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D,” airing on ABC in the United States, and I like the way that things seem to be proceeding. Marvel, unlike their Distinguished Competition, are embracing the variety – and […]
“First Lesson of Horror Movie 101: If you’re going to kill a bunch of people, viewers need to empathize with their plight. Otherwise, all we’re seeing are some interesting special effects.” A virtually empty school haunted by hooded killers would normally be an idea that I could really sink my teeth into. Yet director Johannes […]
“James Wan’s “Insidious, Chapter 2” is a worthy successor to the original film.” “Insidious 2,” James Wan’s sequel to his 2010 film, is a very effective sequel. Like it also revolves around Josh Lambert (Patrick Wilson) and his family, which continued to be plagued by some very malicious ghosts. This time the star of the […]
““Riddick” rocks, and a R-rating ensures that there are curses and gore aplenty.” Mild spoilers below. A lot of reviews I have read of David Twohy’s “Riddick” take issue with the idea that it resembles the film that introduced the character Richard B. Riddick, “Pitch Black.” Using this logic, John Ford’s “The Man Who Shot […]
If there’s one thing I cannot stand, it’s learned helplessness. Some movies run on the stuff, and it’s frustrating to watch. Unfortunately, it also reminds me of Richard Brandes’ 2006 film, “Penny Dreadful,” part of After Dark’s Horrorfest. Penny Deerborn’s (Rachel Miner) parents died in a car crash, which she witnessed. This caused her to […]
Major spoilers below. Mitchell Altieri and Phil Flores’ (otherwise known as The Butcher Brothers) “The Hamiltons,” while essentially a vampire film, is a post-modern take – vampirism is treated as a disease that you are born with, and can be spread by no other means. It shares more in common with films like “Near Dark” […]
As far as I am aware, it was Lord Dark Helmet who said: “…now you see why evil will always triumph, because good is dumb.” That’s oddly the sentiment that most accurately encompasses my feelings about Michael J. Bassett’s “Solomon Kane.” The movie begins with Kane and his men invading a fortress – who’s defenders look vaguely […]
If you like your thrills laced with a little bit of the red stuff, or just like a movie that goes in directions that you might not expect, see “You’re Next” I went into Adam Wingard’s “You’re Next” expecting little more than some gore and cheap thrills. Imagine my surprise to learn that this film was […]
“Antiviral” is worth seeing, though it’s too cold, distant and clinical to be called enjoyable.” I really want to believe that that “Antiviral” had something to say about the nature of fame, and its costs. But, as the saying goes, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride. The film, the first by Brandon Cronenberg (the […]
Neil Blomkamp’s “Elysium” is somewhat of a novelty these days: A science fiction film that has something not only to say about where we are as a species, but where we are going. Though, before I begin, I need to get something off my chest. Some critics, who actually get paid for their work, have […]
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