Reviews

Being a massive fan of Razorback and other pig movies (and creature features in general) I was very excited to finally get the opportunity to have a look at Boar. The director, Chris Sun's other efforts include the nasty Daddy's Little Girl and the Slasher Charlies Farm. While they were interesting, they had some glaring problems that prevented them from being very good movies, but each movie this director makes, is a massive step in the right direction. So, going into Boar i was expecting a fun time and that is exactly what I got! In fact, I will say its better than I expected. From the great banter amongst iconic Australian actors, to the fantastic looking giant Boar, this is what you want from this type of movie. Add to that the nastiness in the gore (which you exepct from this director) Boar is a great way to spend 90 minutes if you go into it expecting a fun time!

As a die hard fan of Jo Nesbo, expectations for The Snowman were not surprisingly at an all time high. Put on top of the fact its an adaptation of a great book, it also has a great director. A recipe for absolute success, which is the reason why i left the cinema with a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth. Personally, i don't think the movie is as bad as many people are saying, but i believe that you might get a bit more understanding of it, if you have read the book. Which is where the problem lies. You shouldn't have to have read the book, to understand the movie. Thomas Alfredsson manages to create a visually stunning film, packed with disturbing atmosphere and a nastiness to it that really captures the viewer in a downward spiral. Acting performances were passable, although i felt the majority weren't given roles to compliment their abilities. I thought that Michael Fassbender did a decent job as Harry Hole, but that is all that stood out. Unfortunately, the pacing of the film is very disjointed. There are parts missing, which will disorientate the viewer who lacks the knowledge of the missing gaps, filled in by the book. I thought that the movie bit way more off than it could chew, which is the most disappointing aspect of the whole experience. Everything was in place for a great experience, but , although its not terrible, it really failed to deliver on the goods that it promised. Recommended if you come across it on DVD, but die hard fans of Jo Nesbo and Scandinavian Crime Noir in general, will be left unsatisfied. Perhaps an all Norwegian remake, directed by Hans Petter Moland or Mikkel Norgaard (directors of the brilliant Department Q adaptations) is on the cards!

Many people have said that this movie is racist towards white people and so for that reason i went into this experience with a dose of skepticism. After seeing the movie, i will say that while there is racial tension, it was never to the point of labeling any race as racist, but in fact showing the awkward nature of racial tensions and the comedy that can come about from it. Jordan Peele used it in a way that was reminiscent of British humour, which is something i really enjoyed. On top of that, we have some first rate suspense and a strong sense of anticipation. The ending was a bit of a let down, but it didn't derail what was a throwback to classic horror with some humour thrown in there for good measure!

The Eyes of My Mother is definitely a movie that separates itself from the norm. Telling the story of a Young girl who is thrust into a life of hardship and loneliness, The Eyes of My Mother portrays itself in a very unsettling black and White tone. Whether you call it pretentious or not, the cinematography does a great job at getting you into the psyche that the movie wants! Depicting themes of loneliness and love, the movie manages to create a central villain that is more dimensional than most! Combining this with some horrific acts of violence and a moody score, The Eyes of my Mother is a movie that wont be forgotten quickly. The fact that it goes for only just over 70 minutes is its downfall however, as i didn't think it was sufficient time to really make use of the interesting material that it had! That being said, this is still a movie that i would recommend, even if it isn't the masterful experience that i was expecting!

Although horror is definitely a hit and miss genre in Argentinian Cinema, La Muerte Cuenta su Historia has enough memorable quality to warrant it as a memorable experience! With an atmosphere that resembles that of Beetlejuice, fans of Tim Burton will appreciate the quality in the life and charm that the film possesses. Whether its Zombies coming together in order to stop a covenant of witches or a ghostly presence haunting the screen, the movie blends many sub genres of horror with a fine blend of comedic element that elevates the movie past a serious tone and up into a crazy, charming light hearted ride! With competent acting and a script to compliment it, the high end production will allow the viewer to become absorbed into the world that is being built, without noticeable distractions that unfortunately are a common occurrence in Argentine cinema (due to the lack of budget in many cases) Definitely recommended for fans of the Horror Comedy sub genre!

Being a massive fan of Niconar Loreti, I have to say that i was very excited coming into Kryptonita, considering that i loved his other film "Diablo". Being its own version of the Justice League, the movie had the recipe for success, but unfortunately after it comes out of the oven, somehow it just doesn't taste very good. Creativity within a tired story is definitely the films strong point. Taking creative liberties while still being true to its source material, will not have fans insulted, but where it fails is its lack of interest. I have read here on IMDb from one reviewer that Kryptonita is a much more real look at superheroes, and this here, in my opinion, is the problem. With nothing much happening during the run time, I believe the movie poster and trailer are very misleading. Instead of delivering a fast paced, crazy and fun action hero movie, it is more of a character drama with superhero elements in it, which will leave the majority of movie goers feeling short changed! If you want a good movie from Niconar Loreti, try "Diablo" and probably skip this one and go and watch Civil War for a much more entertaining superhero experience!

Daniel de la Vega is quickly becoming not only one of the best horror directors in Argentina, but one of the best in world cinema for the simple fact that he has his own style! Yes his films have some problems, but the creativity he possesses is something to be applauded in a world full of remakes and generic garbage. Being a very self aware director, he plays the audience along on a string. Creating generic moments, giving the viewer a false sense of security and then pulling the rug from under them. He did this in his other movies (Necrofobia and Hermanos de Sangre) and its no different in Ataud Blanco. Strange, disturbing and very fast paced, Ataud Blanco doesn't allow itself to get boring and will constantly have the viewer on edge, because of the directors ability to play with the audience! High end production, along with solid acting, allows the dreaded atmosphere to soak through the screen and strangle the audience right up until its shocking climax! This is definitely a film that wont appeal to the masses, It can be very confusing and vague at times, but if you like your movies that are very strange and violent, then this one is right up your alley!

At last, a movie that understands what it is to be a horror anthology. After coming off a few disappointments in Tales of Halloween and Holidays, I was running out of hope that another anthology could match the great "Trick r Treat". Thankfully Southbound does just that. The thing that makes both of these films work is that they take place in one universe. Five stories that take place on the same highway that interchange between each other, giving the feeling that its one feature film, told from 5 different perspectives. In doing this, the stories don't feel unfinished and have a stronger purpose than that of short stories being unrelated. Add some great gory moments and suspense, Southbound is a horror anthology that all fans of the sub genre, must check out!

After watching the trailer to this little known film, I was coming into the movie with the expectation of a typical run of the mill demonic possession, exorcism film. To my pleasant surprise, it was so much more than that. The movie tells the story of a priest traveling through Argentina in 1821. He stops by his family home and discovers that they have been hit by the yellow fever plague that has gripped the country, and this is where his nightmare begins. The first thing that hits the viewer is the deeply unsettling atmosphere that Gonzalo Calzada has created. With cinematography similar to the likes of Guillermo del Toro and the tone of a Stephen King adaptation, the director has taken the viewer through a nightmarish battle for survival. With religious undertones ringing underneath the surface, it never takes front seat. There are plenty of genres here but Resurrecion never loses that horrifying effect it has through its psychology, then adding some genuine horror towards the end. Definitely a step in the right direction for horror in Argentina, who are already making big inroads in the genre!

Not knowing what to expect coming into this little Argentine exploitation film, I allowed myself to fully immerse myself into the situation faced by these characters and give it every opportunity to impress me, and impress me it did! The fact that the movie is simple really plays into its hands. Niconar Loreti has planned and executed Diablo with a lot of confidence, which ultimately allows the viewer to enjoy themselves without unnecessary plot devices. Funny, entertaining, crude, violent, surreal, are just some words that can be used to sum up this movie about a boxer, down on his luck, who gets unwanted visitors in the suburbs of Buenos Aires. If movies like Hobo with a Shotgun are your thing, then Diablo is essential viewing!

After going into Crimson Peak with a hesitation because of some negative criticisms of the latest installment from Mr del Toro, I came away from it being very pleasantly surprised. This movie is an example of not judging a movie based on what others think. You must see it for yourself and be your own judge. Guillermo del Toro delivers a masterful display in visuals, which is a trademark of his. We are sucked into a dark Gothic world full of betrayal, murder and lust. The story, while not the most in depth, has enough to keep the viewer interested, while being entranced by the fantasy like atmosphere. There are some moments of extreme violence that comes as a shock, but i thought it just illustrated the power of the situation these characters were facing. I think the main problem here is what people expect from "horror". Jump scares, frequent violence, and frequent usage of ghostly figures are what passes, but when a movie comes along with great subtlety, it will be overlooked. This is a great shame because i believe Crimson Peak is a nod to the more classic type of horror! Go and see it for yourself, so you can be your own judge. Who knows, you just might like it as much as i did!

While not free of its problems, To Kill a Man not only delves into the psyche of someone torn up over the prospect of killing a man, but it also is a vent of frustration at the inconsistencies of law enforcement in not only Chile but South America in general. Jorge the main character is portrayed in a very realistic way. He isn't a superhero, he isn't bulletproof, he is simply a family man being thrust into the world of vigilantism by the incompetent law enforcement. Its a sad and bitter tale of revenge! Unfortunately the run time of the film hurts it. Being only 82 minutes, it doesn't allow you the time to really soak into the situation as much, but putting that aside, To Kill a Man is recommended to anyone who likes their films with a strong sense of realism and social commentary!

I think anybody who appreciates cinema will be applauding the director of this movie for giving us something truly unique. For a two hour film to keep someone gripped, without any spoken dialogue or subtitles to guide us, shows the power of the good old fashioned visual storytelling. The movie tells the brutal story of a boy trying to fit in, in a boarding school for the deaf. Graphic sex scenes, brutal violence, and an overwhelming sense of dread, combine to make this a very uncomfortable viewing experience. Unfortunately i felt some scenes were dragged out unnecessarily, which prevented it from being the masterpiece thats said to be. I think cutting it shorter than 2 hours would have greatly benefited it, because there were a few occasions where the specific scene made its point, but hung around longer than its welcome. Not a masterpiece, but certainly an intriguing and unique look into the future of film making!

Judging by the low score and less than impressive discussions on IMDb, i went into Psalm 21 expecting a disaster, but in the end what i got was the complete opposite! Comparing this to the Scandinavian standard, this Swedish horror film doesn't really keep it company, but on its own ,its a generic horror film idea, mixed in with a soul searching look into the destruction that religion can bring. Brilliant cinematography, along with solid performances in the acting department, make Psalm 21 appear to be a well executed movie. Unfortunately, my biggest problem with the movie was the repetitive horror set pieces, which allows the audience time to desensitize themselves to what is happening, due to the frequency of scares. Having said that, thankfully Psalm 21 saves itself by the thought provoking material, underneath the generic surface!

Borgman is a prime example of the difference between Mainstream Hollywood and European Cinema. Movies that don't tie up loose ends and force feed the audience. Movies that pay respect to the intelligence of the viewer. Borgman never really explains anything during the movie which will put a lot of people off, but if you are prepared to look at the minor details, you will appreciate the film for what it is, a deeply psychological look at social classes and many other elements that will get the audience thinking and ultimately form a discussion. With some truly unsettling scenes being complimented by dry humour, Borgman gives off a certain charm that will captivate the viewer right through the two hour running time! Great acting performances along with some surreal images gives Borgman that unique and creative edge, within a world of movies that lack anything new!

Gato Negro tells the story of a young boy growing up in the poor area of Tucuman, Argentina. He is constantly in trouble until one day he decides to run away and try his luck in Buenos Aires. From there, his life takes off and over four decades he rises up the social ladder but along the way he steps on the toes of those around him which gives him a lot of unwanted attention. I didn't know what to expect with Gato Negro, but what i got was a somewhat interesting tale of a mans desire to make it big and letting nothing get in his way. The acting was great and the cinematography was superb. The movie did have its problems, mainly with the pacing and the way the story seems to skip from decade to decade, but the ending was very good, which gave the viewer the message that karma will come back to get you! Overall its definitely a film that i would recommend to those who are fans of world cinema!

Goodnight Mommy took the world by storm after captivating and terrifying audiences with the trailer. Because of this, my expectation levels were very high and while the movie itself didn't reach the heights i thought it would, its still worth the effort due to the superb production levels that the film possesses. This is much more of a suspense movie rather than a straight out horror film, which takes its time to build. If you don't possess a lot of patience, then you will have a hard time getting through this one, due to the very slow buildup. The films predictability hurts it to some degree, but there were parts towards the end that still took me by surprise. All in all, its a very interesting suspense thriller from Austria that i would recommend to anyone who is into the Hitchcock or Michael Haneke style of film!

Memory of the Dead was a movie that i didn't have any expectations for because of the fact i had never heard of it. Argentinian horror is very much hit and miss, and although this movie isn't a hit, its certainly not a miss! I will say the best thing going for it, is its surreal atmosphere! A group of friends get together to celebrate the life of Jorge, the husband of the woman who has invited them all, who passed away suddenly. What the group don't know is that the widow is planning a ritual, that will put their lives at risk for the purpose of bringing Jorge back from the dead! Combining nightmarish situations with a dreamlike atmosphere, Memory of the Dead shows signs of a talented director. The movie gets a bit disjointed and confusing, but with all its shortcomings, it is certainly an intriguing film that comes recommended if you like your horror movies a little bit different!

Wow, i just got back from watching this one at the cinema, here in Argentina and i will say that the hype matches the movie! The movie portrays a dark time in Argentinian history. Just after the dictatorship of Vidella had ceased, the country was rebuilding, however scraps from the dark days were still around, in particular associations that specialised in kidnappings back in the day. Looking to continue their business, they were offered protection from parts of the military, and "El Clan" depicts the story of the Puccio Clan. A family who kidnapped and killed many people in the 80s. Pablo Trapero is a household name amongst Argentinian cinema, so it wasn't a surprise that he chose such a disturbing story, as his other films have taken on similar dark tones. This movie wreaks of quality. From the very haunting imagery, to the authentic 80s soundtrack, to the phenomenal acting from Argentine comedian Guillermo Francella, all of these elements combine with the very disturbed story, to make a movie that catapults Argentine cinema to the front runner in the Latino area! Shocking violence along with the disturbing elements of human behaviour elevates this movie beyond an easy viewing experience, but if you are prepared to delve into a very dark, yet intriguing story, then you will come away from "El Clan" very satisfied!

I didn't know what to expect from Charlies Farm, as this one had a lot of hype and unfortunately hype can be a killer. So i decided to give it every opportunity to impress and went into it with the right expectation. If you are expecting a film that will win an Oscar and break barriers in horror, then look elsewhere. However, if you are a fan of Slashers and iconic slasher villains such as Jason, Michael and Freddy, then this is worth a look. What makes Charlies Farm work is the fantastic villain and extremely brutal kills! What more do you want from a slasher? Isn't that what a slasher is all about? Cannon Fodder at the mercy of a maniac? ... Personally i thought this delivered what it promised, so if you go into it with limited expectations, you will come away from it feeling as though you watched a worthwhile film!

When it comes to extreme films, there aren't many films out there that are more extreme than Hate Crime. This is filled with anti Semitic material from start to finish, as a Jewish family is brutalized by a rampaging trio of Neo Nazi home invaders.

We don't get much character insight at all before the carnage begins, which is the exact problem with the movie. Here we are supposed to sympathize for the characters, which the director succeeds in doing, but only because of the level of violence inflicted upon them, as opposed to generating some characters with any depth in them. Cardboard cutouts who have no name, no personality, just the capability of screaming to let the viewer know that they are in pain and remind everybody of how bad the situation is. Its like the horrible acts of violence that we hear on the news every night. We sympathize with the victims because of the situation, but we forget about it days later, because we didn't know them. That is the best way I can sum up Hate Crime. Yes, the victims are going through some very bad things, but we don't know these people. We don't know their interests. We don't know their names.

Hate Crime will appeal to those who like shocking acts of violence on screen for the sake of being rebellious, but if you want something with depth, then you are better off looking elsewhere!

The Taking of Deborah Logan came with a lot of expectations, considering the amount of hype that had surrounded it! The end result however, was disappointment. To start with, Deborah Logan is a very well made film. The acting is good and it has some very memorable and well executed horror set pieces. The acting from the Deborah Logan character was both sympathetic and chilling. Positives to come from the film is that there is time to connect to the main character, as she goes through her difficulties, making the horrifying moments all the more scarier. However, when you have a generic horror film, you have a predictable film! Knowing when the scares are coming and knowing where the story is going, leaves a lot of the suspense out and you will be left scratching your head thinking ¨I have seen this somewhere before¨. Overall, its a decent movie, but one that is overrated. Going to be adding this one to the collection of found footage horror, but will forget about it in a few days!

Funny, touching and thrilling are just some words to describe this wonderful movie from Norway. This is proof that the Scandinavian region is the front runner in world cinema! If you are familiar with deadpan humour, in particular the works of Bent Hamer, you will appreciate every moment of this! If you aren't familiar with this style, it still has enough depth in it to enjoy it for a character study on its own! For this type of comedy to work, it needed a good script and thankfully the script is absolutely wonderful, which allows the actors, who all do a superb job, to fully explore their characters and portray them on the screen as a larger than life entity. There are moments that will make you laugh and there are moments that will touch you, in the end creating a movie experience that doesn't come around all that often!

Horns is the latest film from Alexandre Aja, the French director responsible for such films as High Tension and the Maniac remake. He also made a very memorable remake of The Hills Have Eyes, which demonstrates that this guy really knows his stuff. Unfortunately along with the good he has also served up some mediocre stuff as well. Although Horns isn't a bad film, it is still well below what this guy is capable of. My problem with Horns lies in the characters! Their interactions with each other never really felt authentic and really took me out of the emotion that the film needed for it to carry. Therefore, as a result of lack of sympathy, the moments where the main character and his love come on screen, i was constantly looking at how much time was left in the movie. Having said this, the movie doesn't come without positives. I thought it was very funny in places and there is a moment of gore, but fans of Alexandre Aja, expecting a blood bath, will be disappointed. Lack of gore wouldn't have been a problem if the story worked on an emotional level, but sadly it didn't. Overall, Horns is very creative, but it lacked the interest it needed to succeed!

When it comes to films that i haven't heard of, Alien Abduction was one of them. Being a found footage horror fan, i was interested to see what this movie had to offer. I am a fan of the Alien sub genre in the horror department and although Skinwalker Ranch (another found footage alien horror film) had its moments i still felt like it missed an opportunity. However, where Skinwalker Ranch fails and Alien Abduction succeeds, is in the tension that the movie manages to create while never really letting go. You can feel the characters panic and you sense a genuine feeling of terror whenever the Aliens are on the screen! It never gets side tracked in any side stories, which gives the feeling of a relentless assault in a very strong fashion that wont allow you to catch your breath. Being a low budget horror film, it was a very impressive looking. The acting was good and the characters, although cardboard cutout, were not so unlikable that you couldn't stand them. Overall, its a simplistic film that has tricks up its sleeve that you have seen before, but its simplicity done very well, therefore managing to create something both fun and scary!