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Inspector Morse: The Day of the Devil (1993)
good for a few laughs
This episode concerns an escapee from a mental hospital who is violent criminal and also a "Satanic fundamentalist." Gee whillikers! The plot has some interesting twists and turns, to be sure, building toward a dramatic resolution which is satisfying on some level. But the content is pure Satanic-panic stuff, very characteristic of its time and highly suspect. (There's much talk here of Lammas Day, when "the devil is paid homage," but in fact Lammas is an old harvest festival. In medieval Britain this was the "Loaf Mass" when people would bring a loaf of bread to church. Not very Satanic, I'm afraid.) The climactic Black Mass ritual in the woods is simply laughable. In the end, it's enjoyable in the way that cheesy low-budget horror films can be enjoyed. Pursue this case at your own risk. For my money, the most interesting scene is a discussion between Morse and a female cop which gets into the value of feminism. A subtle moment but intriguing. Watch for it.
Sorry, Wrong Number (1948)
fun to watch
This film is not quite perfect, but it's pretty damn close. There are just a few stretches, mostly near the beginning, which are slightly tedious. But for the most part, this is engrossing stuff, especially when the flashbacks and stories begin. Eventually a richly textured story emerges. It's not profound, but it is engaging.
This film benefits from that rarest of attributes: the strong ending.
Gross Anatomy (1989)
annoying
Matthew Modine plays a first-year med school student. He's always late for class, and he has a cavalier attitude while all his fellow students are way too serious. The filmmakers must have intended a charming, rebellious character. Unfortunately, he comes off as a smug, annoying smart-ass.
I kept hoping Modine would get his comeuppance, but instead he's made out to be a hero.
There are only two interesting things here: a portrait of the grueling routine of medical school (with a continuing theme of dissecting corpses) and the embarrassing late-80s fashions.
The Believers (1987)
mediocre and racist too
This is yet another movie that portrays African-influenced religions as evil. Since Hollywood never depicts Voodoo, Yoruba or Santeria in any other light, it's hard not to see this as racist.
Even if that doesn't bother you, this film is generally disappointing.
It's not all bad. I like Martin Sheen, and he's fun to watch here as a police psychiatrist and a dad who becomes embroiled in the machinations of a cult in New York City.
However, the love story seems artificial, and there are a number of gaps in the logic of the story. The movie strives for realism but degenerates as the plot unravels. When the mystery of the cult is ultimately revealed, it just doesn't seem believable.
'Java Madness' formerly titled 'Coffee Madness' (1995)
no-budget social satire
This short film is a satire of the infamous anti-drug film, _Reefer Madness_. The premise: Giuseppe, a young innocent, gets hooked on coffee and is driven to madness and murder.
Made on less than a shoestring, this seven-minute tour-de-force was shot on video using one Hi8 camera and one infrared security camera, over the course of one day in Bloomington IN. All of the actors improvised their parts.
It first appeared as a feature in the independently produced television series, ROX.