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MY CALL: This sequel is just plain silly…like, even sillier than part 2…which was even more ludicrous than part 1. It’s stupid and funny and it knows exactly what it is. As long as you understand what you’re about to watch, you’ll probably enjoy this. MORE MOVIES LIKE Leprechaun 3: Leprechaun (1993), Leprechaun 2 (1994) and the loads of sequels taking Warwick Davis from “da hood” to outer space. But whatever you do, don’t watch Leprechaun: Origins (2014)–terrible even for a direct-to-DVD B-movie. The Wishmaster 1-4 (1997-2002) franchise follows a similar pattern of gore and humor, however a dash more dire for the most part.
The writing quality is bottom shelf as always, as we find a double amputee in a Las Vegas pawn shop selling a life size Leprechaun statue so he can “buy gas and get out of town.” Such refined exposition, isn’t it? Our desperate statue pawner warns to leave the ostentatious medallion on the statue, which of course the shop owner removes almost immediately. The punishment for which is apparently that the Leprechaun (Warwick Davis) animates, rambles in rhyming limerick, and bites off his ear and toe before scrambling off with his gold. And naturally, a single coin is left behind.
As laughable as this sounds, take note that in three years the world has witnessed as many Leprechaun movies! So if the we the people disapprove, we’re not exactly voting that opinion with our theater-going dollar. But I, and much of the horror community, continue to delight in this movie series.
With sequels, the stakes tend to get bigger with each subsequent story. Whereas part one had nothing of the sort, Leprechaun 2 (1994) boasted three wishes granted to a Leprechaun’s captor. But now in part 3, one wish per gold shilling is granted–which could mean 100 wishes!!! We now have every reason to hope the Leprechaun wins because I’m simply not comfortable with someone wielding that kind of world-dominating power. Moreover, these wishes are truly granted and not distorted as in Leprechaun 2 (1994), Wishmaster 1-4 (1997-2002) or The Monkey’s Paw (2013).
Director Brian Trenchard-Smith (Night of the Demons 2, Leprechaun 4: In Space) has taken all of the already-shaky-at-best rules of evil Leprechauns and wishes and thrown them out the window. Not only will a gold shilling grant you a wish, but when the coin changes hands each subsequent owner also gets a wish. The only constant seems to be that Leprechauns are nearly immortal.
As our protagonists, Scott (John Gatins; Witchboard 2, Pumpkinhead II) and Tammy are pretty worthless characters. But they offer up some campy comic relief.
After being bitten and exposed to the Leprechaun’s magically toxic blood, Scott seems to be afflicted with Leprechaunthropy–which consists of an insatiable appetite for potatoes and impersonating Tom Cruise from Far and Away (1992) doing his impression of the Leprechaun. Scott’s transformation into a were-Leprechaun is slow and silly, he has a magical duel, and all the while Tammy is dressed in a slutty magician’s assistant costume.
The real highlight for campy horror fans comes when Caroline Williams (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Halloween II) wishes for beauty, then gets monkey pawed with grossly inflated boobs and butt by the Leprechaun–but it’s nothing compared to what happened in Faust (2000).
Again, nothing compared to what happened in Faust (2000). LOL
There’s that, and of course the scene that somehow combined Frankenhooker (1990) and Deadly Friend (1986).
The director of one of these fine films once suggested that each Leprechaun movie was about a different Leprechaun, which is the only sensible notion in the entire series considering that we have seen three Leprechauns meet horrible deaths in three states (South Dakota, California and Nevada) in as many years. But now with the inception of the communicable zombiechaun infection spread through bite, I’m shocked we have not yet seen a Leprechaunado or a Leprechaun Apocalypse.
All in all, this was extremely stupid but (with the right expectations) quite entertaining. Warwick Davis has been unchained and permitted to go as over-the-top as he wishes, and it’s pretty loony.
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MY CALL: A fine possession-themed horror comedy with enough good qualities to interest me in what the director does next. Featuring a great premise but shaky writing, it’s a nice little indie that explores legal consequences and support groups aimed at possession victims. MOVIES LIKE Ava’s Possessions: In terms of style, quality and merits, I’m reminded of the super low-budget Lo (2009)–which is an obscure one, I know, and pretty rough around the edges in terms of filmmaking. More appropriate dark horror comedies include The Voices (2014; darkest), Housebound (2014; pretty dark), He Never Died (2015; pretty dark) and Cooties (2015; light dark). Wanna’ get silly? Other horror comedies include Zombie Strippers (2008), Zombieland (2009), Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever (2009), Piranha 3D (2010), Tucker and Dale vs Evil (2010), Final Destination 5 (2011; not exactly comedy, but occasionally hilarious), Piranha 3DD (2012), The Cabin in the Woods (2012), Smothered (2014), Zombeavers (2014), Ava’s Possessions (2015), What We Do in the Shadows (2015), The Final Girls (2015), Krampus (2015; not exactly comedy, but occasionally hilarious), Love in the Time of Monsters (2015) and Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (2015).
Could this make-up be a nod to Beetlejuice?
Meet Ava (Louisa Krause; The Abandoned, The Babysitters). Ava has just been exorcised and awakens to the harsh reality that often goes completely unaddressed in horror movies on the topic: so what happens now? You were possessed, the spirit has been banished, but you did some things and the real world packs consequences for our actions.
There’s a most welcome dark dryness to the humor in this exorcism/possession satire and these scenes are truly precious when you think about it. Her mother (Deborah Rush; Orange is the New Black, The Box) and father (William Sadler; Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight, Bordello of Blood, episode The Man Who was Death) come visit, make sure she’s eating enough…blame her possession on her use of marijuana. Ava asks if anyone called in sick for her during her weeks long possession. No? Probably out of a job. Want support from your friends? They’re probably afraid of you. And did you try to sleep with your besty’s boyfriend while that demon was inside you?
And then we meet her wonderfully deadpan attorney JJ (Dan Fogler; Hannibal, Hellbenders), who illustrates that yes, she faces a lot of vandalism and assault charges from when she was rampaging the streets with the devil in her. It’s basically jail, or join a group a lot like AA but for possession victims: Spirit Possession Anonymous. Ava must now make amends with those she affected during her possession and take action to see that the spirit does not re-enter her. That’s the purpose of Spirit Possession Anonymous. Besides, even The Last Exorcism (2010) had a sequel–aptly named The Last Exorcism 2 (2013). SMH
Another nice nod to Beetlejuice here.
Written and directed by relative newcomer Jordan Galland (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Undead), this very low budget horror comedy comes with a healthy share of style. The staging and heavy-contrast colored lighting of some scenes smacks of a hybrid between a Broadway horror play and an episode of Tales from the Crypt. And like both, this film was clearly produced on a low budget…but it works just fine. At least for the first 30 minutes…
Yes, that’s right. The first act of this film is good. I liked the opening style, meeting the characters and being introduced to the consequences of possession and the notion of a support group designed for it. The problem was that the story quickly spun into a mystery of sorts that found no sense of synthesis. Sure, I liked seeing John Ventimiglia (The Sopranos, The Iceman), Carol Kane (Scrooged, The Princess Bride) and Alysia Reiner (Orange is the New Black), but their parts were over-filled with over-exposition delivered with uninspired dialogue. This mystery of murder and informant prostitutes started feeling like a bad episode of Silk Stalkings.
This is where I have to say it. Jordan Galland, I like you as a director but I think you need someone else penning your scripts after you dream up your story. You have cool edgy ideas, but after the premise is painted your brush was stricken with acuity-warped palsy. I loved the first 30 minutes and then got lost in the stale convolution of the next 30 minutes. I found some redemption in the end where in a whirlwind of 15 minutes all the convoluted mess was explained in fine detail–but a little late to save the film. Galland’s story is a deep one–too bad it takes 75 minutes before you realize it. Leave some breadcrumbs along the way of the plot next time.
There were enough good qualities here to leave me very interested in seeing what Galland does next. I just hope he’s not writing it alone and that someone gives him more of a budget. He made the budget work for him, but we would have benefited from better (and more frequent) gore or makeup. Overall, it’s a nice little indie!
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John’s Horror Corner: Hush (2016), a credible home invasion movie with a believably tough victim.
MY CALL: Perhaps not original (generally speaking), but an excellent film! Sure, it’s something I’ve seen many times before. But it was done very well by a filmmaker and cast we can respect. Credibly tough victims are hard to find in the slasher subgenre. So you should give this one a chance. MOVIES LIKE Hush: You’re Next (2013), The Strangers (2008), Vacancy (2007) and The Purge (2013).
Living in quiet seclusion, one random evening deaf novelist Maddie (Kate Siegel; Oculus) finds herself stalked by a masked man (John Gallagher Jr.; 10 Cloverfield Lane, Jonah Hex). We don’t know how or why he chose her, or how he stumbled across her home that night. We only know that he wants the worst for–he wants her to want to die.
Directed by Mike Flanagan (Oculus, Absentia, Before I Wake, Ouija 2) and co-written by star Kate Siegel (Oculus, Ouija 2), this seemingly simple plot is delivered with striking execution. In the short time we have with Maddie before her peaceful life would be so traumatized, we quickly grow fond of her. She doesn’t seem like someone living with a handicap, but rather fundamentally a regular person with a regular life who happens to lack the ability to hear.
Moreover, Maddie is far from the helpless final girl fumbling and whimpering about. She is a capable survivor and, as such, our stalker finds that he is in for a challenge.
It took me a while to realize that Kate Siegel was carrying no audible dialogue at all for half the movie. Her performance was shockingly effective despite its taciturn nature and it just goes to show how powerful a good actor’s performance can be in the hands of a smart director…even without a single spoken word. Much to the contrary, our stalker played by John Gallagher carried most of the dialogue after the introductory scenes. He, too, is quite capable and unnerving opposite Siegel’s survivor. It takes two to tango but make no mistake, this is Siegel’s movie!
This film was told through a very practical and realistic lens. Maddie considers the possible outcomes of escape attempts and concludes they just won’t work. Her adversary is bigger and faster than she is, he will eventually get inside, and there is no help nearby. So what does that leave for her?
While more about the cat-and-mouse game at the start, this film has some shocking moments of abrupt brutality–among them was a devastating bone break. And among the many strengths of this film, nothing terribly unrealistic seems to transpire. Which means little opportunity for even the critical movie-goer to roll their eyes.
I very much enjoyed this film. Sure, it’s something I’ve seen (generally speaking) many times before. But it was done very well by a filmmaker and cast we can respect. Credibly tough victims are hard to find in the slasher subgenre. So you should give this one a chance.
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You’re probably wondering where they got this title?
A kid makes a random comment in the movie about a big blue monkey–that’s it.
Presto! Movie title!
MY CALL: This feisty Aliens (1986) rip-off features a giant mutant praying mantis wreaking havoc in a hospital. If that doesn’t tell you everything you need to know, then I don’t know what else will. MOVIES LIKE Blue Monkey: Slugs (1989) and The Nest (1988) will deliver loads of creepy crawly 80s horror fun.
Many thanks to my online horror buddy, Zane, for sharing this bad 80s masterpiece with me. Zane is a true 80s horror aficionado and even took part in making an 80s style horror film: The Barn. So that’s my “thank you” plug for Zane and his movie. On with the review!
Also released as Invasion of the Body Suckers [no clue where that title came from] and Insect [vague, but appropriate], I love that this movie gets straight to business. After being pricked by a strange exotic plant and passing out, an old man is rushed to the hospital only to have a large white worm emerge from his mouth resulting in his death! The worm parasite quickly gets the entire hospital quarantined when numerous patients begin to show strange symptoms after the arrival of this “insect.”
Some playful young patients come across the specimen and unknowingly feed it a “nucleic acid promoter” that augments growth and hormonal activity…so presumably we’ll have a giant mutant bug in no time. Yaaaay!!!!
Director William Fruet (Goosebumps, War of the Worlds) has made his filmmaking intentions obvious as Ranger Rick meets slimy science fiction in this feisty Aliens (1986) rip-off in which we emulate the infection scene (in the greenhouse with the plant), chestburster scene, the queen alien egg-laying scene complete with flashing blue background lighting, kids and monsters in ventilation shafts like Newt, and slimy secretions galore from a giant insectoid creature that grows at an alarming pace.
They even reproduce the scene in which the queen xenomorph is infuriated by lighting her egg chamber and offspring on fire.
Our biological updates about the praying mantis monster are delivered by the local entomologist (Don Lake; Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Short Circuit 2) and non-scientific exposition comes courtesy of the hospital administrator (John Vernon; Killer Klowns from Outer Space, The Uncanny)–both roles being much appreciated by this 80s horror fan.
There’s plenty of goofy rubber monster suit action in this fun 80s creature feature. We see a lot of our monster and like Peter Pan across the Broadway stage it swings from the ceiling. It’s laughably awesome and there are a few scenes of festive gore.
The film ended with a typically campy twist that left a smile on my face. There was even an implication that two intoxicated patients were spared because of their inebriation–much like Grabbers (2012). If you like any bad 80s horror, then you should enjoy this.
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John’s Horror Corner: Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (2015), just loads of awesome raunchy gory fun!
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Just a few questionable images for the office.
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MY CALL: In this gory, raunchy, hilarious coming-of-age zombedy, three teenagers rediscover their friendship and renew the awesome resourcefulness that is being a scout…and using those skills for killing zombies. It’s a great ride! MOVIES LIKE Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse: More appropriate horror comedies include Zombie Strippers (2008), Zombieland (2009), Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever (2009), Piranha 3D (2010), Tucker and Dale vs Evil (2010), Final Destination 5 (2011; not exactly comedy, but occasionally hilarious), Piranha 3DD (2012), The Cabin in the Woods (2012), The Voices (2014), Smothered (2014), Housebound (2014), Zombeavers (2014), Cooties (2015), Ava’s Possessions (2015), What We Do in the Shadows (2015), The Final Girls (2015), Krampus (2015; not exactly comedy, but occasionally hilarious) and Love in the Time of Monsters (2015).
This movie is rambunctiously scored from start to finish. All horror comedies should be so bold as to have Blake Anderson (Workaholics) twerking down the halls to Iggy Azalea’s Black Widow while mopping the floors. Too bad he dies right away, but the scene is long, hilarious and REALLY gory. What more could you want? Follow that up with stock footage of David Koechner (Final Destination 5, Cheap Thrills, Krampus, Piranha 3DD) as an awkward scout leader in a recruiting video and I think director Christopher Landon (writer for Paranormal Activity 2-5) is off to a great start!
We don’t get very far in this movie before the gore properly reveals itself. It’s a sloppy mess of awesome and this infectious bloody zombiism permeates the animal kingdom to deliver a zombie deer with its guts hanging out.
This flick really delivers and doesn’t stop with the gore. The hormonally raging Ben (Tye Sheridan; The Stanford Prison Experiment), straight-laced Carter (Logan Miller; Would You Rather) and boy scout fanatic Auggie (Joey Morgan; Compadres) are three readily likable high school sophomores with a newfound American Pie-like discovery of women. Their love interests: stripper Denise (Sarah Dumont; Don Jon) and classmate Kendall (Halston Sage; Goosebumps). As if copying from Superbad‘s (2007) class notes, Ben has charged Carter with scoring some beer and getting them to the party that will “change their lives.”
After such an amazing opening act, the movie had to lose a little steam ever so briefly in the middle before returning full steam ahead into lunacy. Even at its slowest point it’s a nice experience. As it comes back full-tilt some people might be a bit bothered by the level of physicality of these zombies (i.e., WWE wrestling moves, jumping on trampolines). But it’s a solidly fun and adventurous horror comedy.
These boys’ misadventures lead them to zombie strippers, challenges of their friendship, zombie boobs, a Britney Spears sing-along, a crazy old cat lady zombie, the crazy old cat lady zombie’s crazy cat zombies, elderly zombie penis stretching and dismemberment, and zombie oral sex. As dirty and perverted as this all sounds it could have been much raunchier and grosser. Trust me, it’s probably nothing that will make you uncomfortable if you enjoyed Piranha 3DD (2012).
In this gory coming-of-age zombedy, these three boys rediscover their friendship and renew the awesome resourcefulness that is being a scout…and using those skills for killing zombies! It’s a great ride!
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ANIME: Cyber City Oedo 808 (1990), a mediocre mini-series about cyborgs, psychics and viral vampire criminals.
MY CALL: Booooooring. This is just some hardly serviceable anime action with a cool premise but a so-so story that sees too little development, generally uninteresting characters and uninspired bad guys. Maybe the fault lies in my favoritism to dark fantasy. But I won’t be watching this again or recommending it. I should point out that a lot of Amazon reviewers called this the best Anime Sci-Fi “ever.” So take my opinion with a grain of salt…or the whole shaker. MORE MOVIES LIKE Cyber City Oedo 808: Best bets would probably be Black Magic M-66 (1987) and Dominion Tank Police (1988). And of course check out Vampire Hunter D (1985), Demon City Shinjuku (1988) and Wicked City (1987) for more supernatural fare.
The first thing I noticed about this Anime was the animation quality. While the robots, vehicles and cityscapes were illustrated and animated with stunning acuity, the characters and the action seemed a noticeable step below Wicked City (1987) and Vampire Hunter D (1985), to name a couple.
Far in the future in a world of advanced technology, spaceships and cybernetics, three criminals are offered reductions from their 300-year prison sentences for each cyber-criminal they manage to detain. When we first met Makie (Wicked City) and D (Vampire Hunter D), they had instant appeal and offered backgrounds of intrigue or mystery. At present, we are simply introduced to three prisoners: Sengoku, the androgynous Benten with long white hair and red fingernails, and the very large Gogul with a visor or sorts.
[I purchased this with all three episodes of the mini-series combined together.]
Data 1: Memories of the Past. Our first and brief bad guy has some sort of laser claw replacing one of his forearms. It’s kinda ‘dumb. Moreover, I find that as more action sequences with various robotic foes come to pass, they are generally brief and unexciting.
The most satisfying aspect of this mini-series is the C3PO-like robot Varsus that serves as a parole officer and answer machine generating all manner of obscure odds, identifying strategies and weaknesses, and acting as a talking Suri-Worldwide Web that serves as the butt of Sengoku’s ridicule. Gogul plays tech support as Sengoku works his way through a skyscraper to fight the undead consciousness of a long dead computer engineer who somehow telekinetically controls machinery wiring like electric tentacles. While it looks cool for a hot minute, the final fight is pretty much a letdown.
Data 2: The Decoy Program. This second episode was even less compelling than the first. A few too many plot-points get tangled as Gogul faces off against a psychic cyborg with go-go-Gadget arms.
Shocking similarity to the bad guy from Tokyo Gore Police (2008), huh?
Data 3: Crimson Media. The third episode was Benten’s mission to eliminate a virus-afflicted psychic vampire. This was easily the most interesting of the three parts perhaps, given my taste, because it ventured from the “tech crimes” cyber-police theme and more to the supernatural with a weirder villain.
Overall, I found this mini-series to be largely boring. Whereas Wicked City (1987) and Vampire Hunter D (1985) are buckets of awesome in my eyes, this is just some hardly serviceable anime cartoon with a so-so story, generally uninteresting characters and uninspired bad guys. Maybe the fault lies in part with my favoritism to dark fantasy. I’m not sure. But I am sure that I won’t be watching this again or recommending it.
I should point out that a lot of Amazon reviewers called this the best Anime Sci-Fi “ever.” So take my opinion with a grain of salt…or the whole shaker.
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The MFF podcast is back, and we are talking about Captain America: Civil War and cardigans! Recently, we broke down the best Marvel villains and now we are praising the fantastic Civil War. If you are into random Marvel observations and Daniel Bruhl appreciation, you will consider this pod to be the greatest thing ever.
Sweaters and henleys galore!
As always, we answer random questions, and ponder if Tony Stark prefers looking fabulous over being safe. Sit back, relax and listen to a whole lot of randomness!
You can stream the pod on Blog Talk Radio or download it from Itunes. If you get a chance please rate and review the pod. You are awesome!
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The biggest problem with X-Men: Apocalypse is that it repeats the sins of its predecessors. For every positive, there is a negative, and it creates two totally different tones that never gel. After the fantastic Days of Future Past this film is a massive letdown because it seemed like director Bryan Singer had the X-Men world figured out.
The film opens with an amazing set piece that is equal parts suspenseful, fun and violent. Set in ancient Egypt, Apocalypse (Oscar Issac) is looking to transfer his consciousness into a mutant to further his lifespan. However, a team of incredibly brave Egyptians try to rid themselves of the God-like tyrant via crushing him underneath his pyramid. Their plan works and it is awesome! The scene is very exciting and I wanted a movie about the guys who wanted to kill Apocalypse (we don’t get that movie).
After the exciting intro the movie fast forwards to the 1980s and picks up with Apocalypse being awoken by a cult (who we don’t hear of again). From there, he starts collecting four mutant “horsemen” so he can end the world in a very boring fashion. The problem is you don’t care about any of it because the characters have their personalities sucked out of them. Apocalypse is the stock blue alien who has zero personality, while his horsemen Magneto (Michael Fassbender), Psylocke (Olivia Munn), Storm (Alexandra Shipp) and Angel (Ben Hardy) stand around doing nothing. The standing around reminded me a lot of Jean Grey’s standing around in X-Men: The Last Stand. I hated watching some very good actors doing nothing. I’m pretty certain Olivia Munn would’ve been better off taking the “girlfriend” role in Deadpool because she does nothing but glower in this film.
While Apocalypse and his horsemen are standing around we are reintroduced to Professor Charles Xavier (James McAvoy), Raven/Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence), Hank McCoy/Beast (Nicholas Hoult), Moira Mactaggert (Rose Byrne), Quicksilver (Evan Peters) and Alex Summers/Havok (Lucas Till). All of these characters find themselves reunited because of the new threat, and I enjoyed all of them. I loved that Xavier was finally able to have some fun before he had to deal with the life-sucking Apocalypse. I was really hoping that instead of battling the villain they went to a restaurant and hung out.
We are also introduced to Jean Grey (Sophie Turner), Scott Summers/Cyclops (Tye Sheridan), Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler (Kodi Smit-McPhee) and Jubilee (Lana Condor). I really liked this group, and their best moments involved them going to Return of the Jedi and making a not so subtle dig at X-Men: The Last Stand. I also appreciated seeing how these iconic characters learned on the job as their first big battle pushed them to their limits.
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So, there are 16 characters running around and nine are brand new to the story. Thus, there is not enough time to build any characters or relationships. There are some very fun moments but they are drowned out by the bad guys. Once again, Quicksilver has a brilliant set-piece to use his powers, and I loved Kodi Smit-McPhee’s take on Nightcrawler. I kept hoping we would get some great character moments like in X2 (think Nightcrawler and Mystique), but that never happens.
I was really surprised that director Bryan Singer repeated the past sins of X-Men: The Last Stand (wastes its villains) and X-Men Origins: Wolverine (lame CGI ending). I like him a lot as a director, but I felt like he didn’t know how to blend the two very different aspects. I hope the next X-Men movie learns from this mess and rights its course.
X-Men Apocalypse is a crowded mess that should’ve focused more on the characters and less on an underwritten villain.
What did you think about the movie?
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John’s Horror Corner: He Never Died (2015), Henry Rollins playing a socially awkward immortal and totally owning it!
MY CALL: I struggle to truly call this horror, rather this feels more like a violent drama featuring a supernatural character. It lacks any substantial plot or character development…yet I really enjoyed it! MOVIES LIKE He Never Died: This is one of those modern indie horrors that transcends its genre a bit such that we may throw out a term like “horror hybrid.” To that end, I’d suggest films like Spring (2015), Honeymoon (2014) and A Girl Walks Home Alone (2014)–all of which focus more on the relationships therein than their encapsulating horror themes.
Written and directed by Jason Krawczyk, this snarky little film delivers Henry Rollins (Feast, Bad Boys 2) exactly as he should be–immortal, gruff and unable to feel pain or emotions. Rollins plays Jack, a no nonsense man of few words, simple means, and a solid respect for privacy. He keeps to himself and leaves his simplistically unfestive apartment for little more than church bingo, his favorite diner or to meet a hospital intern (Booboo Stewart; X-Men: Days of Future Past) for an illegal exchange of sorts.
Somehow Jack crosses paths with some screw-up criminals who find out the hard way that Jack is not the man to cross. And when you cross him, his temper is short and consequences are grave. A nice slow throat rip, a dash of cannibalism and a few well-handled punches to the face add a unique flavor to this very dark comedy which presents itself surprisingly like an off-Broadway play in terms of atmosphere and delivery.
Jack is like an occasionally kind sociopath trying to (quite successfully) fend off any vestige of human emotion that may well up inside him while likewise staving back a strange macabre compulsion from a deep and distant, perhaps Biblical past. At one point Jack rather audibly removes a bullet from his head–it was a pleasure!
Nothing Oscar-worthy, but I really enjoyed Rollins’ depiction of Jack–rendered stolid from centuries of monotonous life. He has strong aversions to conversation, he answers questions literally and concisely, and does a good job revealing as little as possible about himself. But I suppose if I had what appear angel wing excision scars, I’d be keeping more than a few secrets myself. That said, his interactions–few as they may be and always forced upon him–are amusingly awkward.
Despite the deliberate lack of a plot that matters or any form of proper character development, this remains a pretty cool movie. Highly recommended to indie horror fans, indie movie fans in general or anyone who likes Henry Rollins for any reason.
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John’s Horror Corner: Honeymoon (2014), Rose Leslie’s romantic, paranoid getaway to a cabin in the woods.
MY CALL: Excellent acting, writing and scenery breathe life into this intensely paranoid indie horror in which matrimonial trust is tested. A must see! MOVIES LIKE Honeymoon: Bite (2015), Spring (2015) and The Hallow (2015) all test relationships with monstrosities. There are other much more similar movies, but to merely identify them would spoil this movie. Although the tagline, IMDB summary and posters are a bit obvious and spoilerish already.
First time writer/director Leigh Janiak does an excellent job introducing us to our recently married main characters Bea (Rose Leslie; Game of Thrones, The Last Witch Hunter) and Paul (Harry Treadaway; Penny Dreadful, Cockneys vs Zombies). They are the normal, sweet, likable and nuanced characters horror fans deserve.
This film is in no rush. We take our time getting to know the newlyweds and, although they do honeymoon in a cabin in the woods, it’s not as secluded and troped up as it sounds. The role of the “harbinger” is understated and there is nothing campy to be found. Janiak is staging a proper horror film for us.
One night Paul finds Bea wandering naked in the woods and afterwards she just isn’t the same. She forgets how to make coffee and French toast, and becomes generally more distant whereas prior to her nude midnight stroll they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Something is clearly wrong and right away Paul knows it. He just doesn’t know what exactly is wrong…or why.
As someone who has been in a few very serious relationships in my time, Bea’s odd behavior was palpably uncomfortable and it really hit home for me. I could only imagine the emotional terror Paul must have felt when Bea suddenly took such a change, and on their honeymoon no less! Their on-screen chemistry is strong, so it’s all the worse when the paranoia sets in.
The effects are not abundant but they accomplish exactly what they need to, being weird and gross and slimy. Just the way I like them! Normally I’m more descriptive about effects, but they’re too integral to the story revelations and I don’t want to spoil it. [At the end of this review, after the movie poster below, there are images depicting the special effects…I suggest you only look if you’ve already seen the movie.]
The acting is excellent, the atmosphere breeds unease, and this is among few movies that have made me nervous for the main characters. What a cool film. You should definitely catch it while it’s on Netflix.
If I had one complaint it would be that the ending is completely unresolved. But it’s cool anyway. I want more films like this! And so does Mark, who also loved this film… Mark’s Review Here.
Movies, Films & Flix 