7th Day (2012)

directed by:  Jason Koch
writer:  Mark Leake
spfx:  Kaleigh Brown
starring:  Mark S. Sanders, Daisy Gibb, Jenni Wilson, Nicolette le Faye, Jessica Felice, Kyle Watson, Christie Beran, Chaka Balamani, Helenmary Ball, Alex Barone, Josh Davidson, Michael Brecher, Richard Cutting, Jessy Danner, Carl Stevens, Lucas Koch     
format:  NTSC:  Region 1

 (out of 5)



The Movie:  Really liked this one.  Comparisons can go all around I don't care.  Henry:  Portrait of a Serial Killer style if I must choose a comparison.  Unoriginal?  Yeah ok.  No need here this movie is great for fans of extreme cinema and serial killer aka mass murderer movies.  Here we have Allen and his life.  Or "Day in the life" style movie which I love.  The movie basically follows Allen around as works as a dishwasher at the local greasy spoon and then after work when he goes on the hunt.  Allen struggles with his deep admiration for Denise the waitress as well as his addictions of booze and crack cocaine.  Thrown in his need for murder and we have quite the little bloodbath of realism. 

The Acting:  Every actor was on key.  Never once was I pulled out of the movie because of a failure in the acting department.  Mark Sanders was exceptional as our killer/narrator. 

The Gore:  Perfect.  Nothing else needs said.  The fx were stomach churningly real.

The Script:  Loved the way this story was told.  A very unsure of himself murderer named Allen and his dealings with co-workers, neighbors, hookers, drug dealers, etc.  Just as I said, "A day in the life," style filmmaking. 

The Rating:  Sorry it's not a pristine budget of a film and not all need to be obviously as is the case here.  5 Stars I'll be rewatching.

               

My Name is A By Anonymous

aka Alyssa: Portrait of a Teen Killer

Director - Shane Ryan (Amateur Porn Star Killer)

Starring - Katie Marsh (Southland), Demi Baumann (Attack of the Slime People), and Teona Dolnikova (Kansas City Beat)

Release Date - 2012

Genre - Drama/Thriller

Tagline - "Based on the real life teenage "thriller killer" Alyssa Bustamante"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Serial killers fascinate millions of people all over the world.  Some find the crude nature in which they murder to be fascinating while others are intrigued as to why they kill.  When I was in middle school I found a book on serial killers and it really interested me.  The most fascinating of all the killers I found in that book was that of Ed Gein.  I have read several dozen books about this Wisconsin monster and each time it is like discovering him all over again.  Anyway, people murder people all the time.  Most do it for money or revenge but some do it just because they are bored.  Alyssa Bustamante is one of those people who in 2009 kidnapped and killed a 9 year old girl.  In 2012 director and actor Shane Ryan created an experimental film to tell her story.  That film, My Name is A By Anonymous aka Alyssa: Portrait of a Teen Killer, was recently released by my favorite distribution company Wild Eye.  The film was shot for just $300 and was initially released anonymously due to public outcry.  This was later changed and Ryan released it under his name.  The film did not look like my cup of tea but I am a sucker for Wild Eye and anything featuring a real life killer/serial killer so I reached out to them and they were nice enough to hook me up with a review copy.  Thanks Wild Eye!

     The film follows four people; Alyssa (Marsh), her "sidekick" (Baumann), the "performer" (Dolnikova), and the "angst" (Alex Damiano).  Alyssa and her sidekick are friends in the loosest sense of the word.  Alyssa is a bit of a bully that forces her friend to do things.  The two bully other kids younger than them including their brother.  When they are not being bitches to each other and others, they are cutting themselves and other self-harm practices.  We also have the performer who dreams of becoming a famous act only to be shut down by her sexually abusive father.  The fourth character we are given is the Angst who is a bulimic who also has a past of being sexually harassed by her father.  All their paths cross and that leads to the death of Alyssa's neighbor.
     I knew this film would be different when I first laid eyes on the trailer several months back.  The film was shot found footage style which most of you know that I rarely enjoy.  However, this was a different approach to the found footage sub-genre.  The film uses different segments of footage, along with traditional camera work. to tell the story of four different people.  This was a bit of a unique use of found footage.  Sadly, the film jumps between segments very rapidly and this somewhat confuses the viewer.  In fact, the Angst and the Performer's segments could easily be confused as the same person.  The acting in this one is hit and miss.  A majority of the cast does an outstanding job considering how this film was shot but leads Katie Marsh and Demi Baumann have a hard time interacting genuinely with each other which creates several awkward scenes for the viewer to watch.  Their interactions just do not seem natural.  The remainder of the cast, like I stated earlier, did an outstanding job considering how the film was shot.  The story for this one is a loose interpretation of the actual Alyssa Bustamante murder of her 9 year old neighbor.  The film took a dark and bleak incident and made it personal.  Most film that follow an actual killer or serial killer rarely put the viewer in the lives of these living monsters.  This film does a solid job at doing that but waters it down by throwing other characters into the mix.  These characters do serve a purpose at the end of the film but could have easily been written off to make the story more linear and easier to follow.  Finally, the film does not lack any real on screen kills and bloodshed.  Those of you that think this is a blood-filled horror flick will be sadly mistaken.  This film is more of a drama with a dark turn.  Overall, My Name is A By Anonymous is a film that has it's rightful place in the world of cinema but it is not for everyone.  The film tells a real story of a real horrifying event but the way the story was told could have been done a better way that would make the impact of the film more effective.  This film was not for me but it still deserves a watch.

Long Weekend

Director - Colin Eggleston (Innocent Prey)
Starring - John Hargreaves (Sweet Revenge), Briony Behets (Murder, She Wrote), and Mike McEwen (Death Cheaters)
Release Date - 1978
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Their crimes was against nature...and nature found them guilty"
Format - Blu-Ray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

      Horror has so many sub-genres and regions that define them.  One that I tend to really enjoy but rarely venture to is the when nature attacks sub-genre.  Most of these films from the 70s and 80s were cheesy but they were extremely fun, However, most of the ones made in the 90s were horrible and filled with some of the worst CGI ever put on film.  I also like most of the Australian horror films that I have seen in my short life so when  I heard that Synapse was releasing the 1978 Australian when nature attacks flick Long Weekend I had to see it.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send me this solid release on blu.
     The film follows married couple Peter (Hargreaves) and Marcia (Behets) who have a little weekend vacation and head out into the Australian wilderness.  When they first arrive they hear noises of what sounds like someone crying.  Marcia freaks out and wants to go home but Peter refuses to leave.  He spends his time drinking, smoking, shooting his gun and spear gun, and littering.  He lets his presence known and the local wildlife has to pay the consequences.  However, they get sick of Peter and Marcia's shit and start taking matters in their own hands forcing the two to fight for their lives.
     A lot of people, especially horror fans in particular, dislike killer animal films.  That is usually because it is hard to make trained and domesticated animals look terrifying.  That is why modern films rely heavily on visual effects to make the beasts.  Sadly, Long Weekend suffered the same flaws when the film was unable to give the viewer menacing animals.  The acting in this one is another one that is hit or miss.  John Hargreaves delivers one hell of a performance and really made the film enjoyable.  He played a very convincing douche that has no regard for those around him and the environment.  His performance really made the film what it was.  Sadly, Briony Behets almost ruined the film for me.  Her performance is unhinged and she makes almost every scene (which is a lot) almost unwatchable.  Her reactions do not fit the mood of the scene and most of the time she is yelling which makes it hard for the viewer to understand what she is saying.  The film also has one real on screen kill and one that takes place off camera for a whopping total of two deaths.  The only on screen kill takes place is at the end of the film and is very unexpected.  The kill is awesome, however.  Sadly, the other kill that takes place off camera has so much fucking potential and the thought of not seeing it really pisses me off.  We watch horror for kills and when they take place off screen we are robbed of something we really enjoy.  The special effects in this one is limited due to the film only having two kills.  However, they are phenomenal when you consider the dead dugong they fire a few shots into.  It looks fantastic.  Finally, this release from Synapse has several special features including a remastered 1080p transfer.  This release also has commentary from Richard Brennan and Vincent Monton, interview with John Hargreaves, and theatrical trailer.  Overall, the Synapse release of the Long Weekend is another one from the upcoming masters of forgotten horror.  The film is a fun one to watch, it has a great new illustration for the artwork, and some, though not a lot, solid special features.  Check this one out!

The Ghouligans! Super Show

Director - Sean King (The Ghouligans: Mini-Series)
Starring - Pete Bune (Pick a Hostage), Justin Hertz, and Sean King
Release Date - 2008
Genre - Horror/Comedy
Taglines - "Lights! Cameras! Ghouligans!"
Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The horror community is in a bit of a rough spot if you ask me.  Sure, we have several hits pop up here and there but I am sick and tired of shitty Walking Dead rip-off zombie movies, found footage ghost flicks inspired by Paranormal Activity, and torture porn.  Each of those have actually spawned a film or two that was worth watching but for the most part they are really shitty.  However, there is some great horror features and web-series that seem to go unnoticed or receive the lack of attention they truly deserve.  A few months back I came across the web-series The Ghouligans and fucking loved it.  The show was nothing groundbreaking but it did put the fun back into horror.  I reached out to their Facebook page and they were kind enough to send me the mini-series, a DVD of their original shorts, and the Super Show.  After reviewing the first two it is now my time to check out the Super Show.
     The Ghouligans! Super Show is a variety show following the antics of four supernatural creatures named Void, Boris, Wolfgang, and Count Farnham.  The show features skits that are similar to basic cable shows such as late night talk shows and cooking shows all with monstrous twists.




     The average horror fan will be surprised by all the amazing indie horror productions out and about.  The Ghouligans! is one that is fairly new to me but the characters have quickly became one of my favorites in recent years.  The mini-series was phenomenal and one that I have ventured to several times since receiving the DVD.  The shorts, released before the mini-series, was fun but did show the beginning of the characters and their rough sides before they were polished up.  Super Show was the mid-ground for The Ghouligans.  The characters have become more developed by this point and the stories are more based on the characters themselves and their personalities.  The acting in this one is what we have come to expect and enjoy when watching The Ghouligans.  The characters are fun and silly in a horrifying way that reminds the viewer of the innocent ghouls from The Munsters and The Addams Family.  The story for this one is the same we get from the mini-series but with several new segments and parodies.  They are fun but nothing really new or amazing.  Finally, the film does have some great practical effects but no blood or gore.  The point of the show is to take things that go bump in the night and make them tickle your funny bone.  Overall, The Ghouligan! Super Show is a fun filled monstrous romp into variety show television.  The film has some great characters, fun stories, and some amazing practical and visual effects.  Check it out!

My Fair Zombie

Director - Brett Kelly (Kingdom of the Vampire)
Starring - Sacha Gabriel (Spyfall), Lawrence Evenchick (Raiders of the Lost Shark), and Barry Caiger (Final Curtain)
Release Date - 2013
Genre - Horror/Comedy/Musical
Tagline - "The rain in Spain stays mainly in the...brains!"
Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Zombies.  They are everywhere now and they have no signs of slowing down.  Most of the time we get films that follow a generic story that features a rag tag team of survivors battling the undead with automatic rifles set in an apocalyptic setting.  However, not all zombie films follow this stale and boring story.  A few months back Alternative Cinema announced that they would be releasing My Fair Zombie from Camp Motion Pictures.  This is the kind of film that I enjoy.  I love a campy and cheesy film and when you toss that into a zombie flick you can almost bet it will be a fun time.  I reached out to Alternative Cinema for a review copy of this My Fair Lady spoof and they were kind enough to send me a copy.  

     The film follows an older man who places a bet with an elderly gentleman that he can turn a young zombie girl into a respectful lady.  The world is undergoing a small zombie uprising and this presents the perfect scenario for the social experiment.  He collects the young zombie and takes her back to his mansion where his servants clean her up and he tries to teach her to speak proper English and how to act like a civilized lady.  He starts out trying to teach her how to say "The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plains" but she has a hard time not saying brains.  However, things change and he is able to civilize the the young girl but never fully gives her the credit she deserves and continues to treat her like a brain dead zombie.  This frustrates her and she leaves to return to cemetery with others like her and the man chases her to apologize only to become bitten turning the tides.

     Spoofs are usually fun to watch the first time but rarely have replay value because they typically have weak stories or ones that were done better in the original film.  My Fair Zombie is no different.  The film was fun for one viewing but definitely does not have any replay value.  The acting in this one is amazing by the entire cast.  Every character is colorful and the cast really get into their roles to make the character extremely fun.  I could not imagine watching this film with someone else portraying these characters.  The story for this one is obviously a spoof of My Fair Lady with a zombie twist.  The story stays true to the original film and really adds fun to a story that I find dry to begin with.  Sadly, we all know how the original story goes and that makes this one predictable.  Finally, the film does have a few on screen kills but nothing bloody and gut munching that one comes to expect from a modern zombie flick.  That was a huge let down for me.  Overall, My Fair Zombie was a fun spoof of a now classic tale but does not offer up anything original or everlasting.  Check it out because it is worth at least one viewing.  

I'Madman (1989)

I' Madman (1989)

directed by:  Tibor Takács

starring:  Jenny Wright, Clayton Rohner, Randall William Cook, Stephanie Hodge, Michelle Jordan, Vance Valencia  

tagline:  Theirs is not a Storybook Romance

Format:  NTSC:  Region 1 Personal Collection                       

(out of 5)

The Movie:  I fell in love with this movie back in the day.  The whole idea of books coming to life has always intrigued me.  In the Mouth of Madness was like that for me big time and before that was I' Madman.  The movie follows Virginia played by the beautiful Jenny Wright whom I totally had a crush on in the 80's and 90's.  My favorite of her roles being in Near Dark.  At the time I remember this movie getting mixed reviews but I really like the film a lot.  The mad doctor running around slicing people up was very scary to me.  The whole atmosphere of each murder is quite chilling or at least it was for me at the time.

The Acting:  As I already mentioned Jenny Wright is in this and she nails her part.  Randall William Cook who played the mad doctor did do a spectacular job combining his expressions, body movements, and lines and coming out quite sinister.  I was terrified of that Madman in my teenaged years.   The rest of the acting faired not as well as he or she but really couldn't be called terrible.
The Gore:  Yes there is some lovely gore thrown around what with people getting their lips, nose, ears, and hair torn or cut off.  Nice effects too nothing too campy here.

The Script:  I enjoyed it.  The dialogue was a little hokey at times but not enough for me to brand it a bad movie.  Virginia works at a used book store.  She's obsessed with this obscure writer Malcolm Brand and begins to see a character from one of his books.  This character of course is psychotic and murders people specifically for his love whom he believes is Virginia.  Every time Virginia reads the book someone dies, and she can't stop reading.  So glad I finally picked this up on DVD.

The Rating:  Three and a half bloody handprints.  Not the best, not the worst, has a lot of sentimental value for me, and again Jenny Wright ha ha.  Scared me too when I first saw it so the movie did it's job.