Schedule a Date with "The Woman"

2/24/2012

"The Woman" is a sequel to the 2009 movie "Offspring" both of which are based on novels by Jack Ketchum.  Both films are extremely brutal and push the limits of horror.  "The Woman" is played by the talented and extremely dedicated Pollyanna McIntosh who was the leader of a pack of feral human cannibals that roamed the forests of the Northeastern Coast in "Offspring".  She was the only one of her people to survive and a new chapter or her life is about to be written with "The Woman".

We meet the Cleek family who live on a big country farm in a small east coast town.  Chris is a lawyer with a small practice, his wife Bella is played by genre favorite Angela Bettis.  Chris rules his family with strong sense of discipline, while Bella is very meek and unable to fully confront her domineering husband.  While out hunting Chris observes a curious sight.  A dirty feral woman bathing in a river, he is transfixed and hatches a plan. 

Peggy and Brian are their teenage kids who also having another five year old sister who is just referred to as "Darlin'". Peggy is very quiet and withdrawn from her other classmates as something seems to be deeply troubling her.  Brian seems to idolized his douche bag of a father and does what ever is told of him probably as a sort of coping mechanism.  There is always this uneasy sense and anxiety that exist within their house.  Something is going on here but what?  Director Lucky McKee and his crew make great use of sound to really drive home the emotion and intensity of each scene.

Chris takes it upon himself to clean and civilize this Woman no matter the cost.  He captures her and strings her up in the family cellar.  She is a primal vicious beast of a woman, but she is being held captive, so yeah I'd be a little pissed off too.  When Chris's hand gets a little to close she bites off a finger and swallows it only to spit out his wedding band.  Chris brings in the whole family into his obsessive and demeaning little project.  He tortures and humiliates the Woman all under the guise of domesticating her.  It feels like Chris has gotten tired of holding his own family prisoners over the years and now wants a new challenge.  Everybody except Brian are utterly repulsed and against his actions, but feel powerless to do anything about it.  It is quite disturbing to see Brian's transformation into a younger and possibly more destructive version of his dad.   When certain event's finally hit their boiling points and secrets are revealed Peggy literally releases the beast and the Woman has her bloody vengeance.   

The story line bares a resemblance to a previous Jack Ketchum novel turned movie called "The Girl Next Door"  which I have also reviewed.  "The Woman" has been called by some as misogynistic and pure trash as all the women are subjected to extreme psychological and physical torture by the men.  A lot of what has been said seems to reflect the views of the original 1978 film "I Spit on Your Grave" which was really more of a feminist approach.  She takes control of herself and the situation without the help of a man.  Overall "The Woman" will only appeal to a hardcore group of horror fans who seek it out.  Its available on DVD as part of the Bloody Disgusting Selects Series.

THE WOMAN: Movie Trailer. Watch more top selected videos about: Angela Bettis, Lucky McKee

After Dark Horror Fest 4 - "The Final"

2/12/2012

This movie was part of the After Dark Horror Fest series.  Each year they would release "8 films to die for".  Now they just go by the title After Dark Originals. All of the movies are straight to DVD and are usually either really bad or somewhat bearable.  "The Final" caught my eye because it dealt with bullying in high school.  I was never personally bullied but it is just so mean and senseless.  Although it seems to be ingrained in us as people to beat down those who are different.  Last year I reviewed a bunch of movies involving this theme and though this would be a good fit.

"The Final" is a pretty standard story about a revenge fantasy come to life for a bunch of high school outcasts.  The rich kids and the jocks bully the immigrants and the weak.  The cheerleaders and pretty girls berate the other girls.  The way they introduce the bullies is actually kind of funny since it is so over the top and stereotypical.  I have a feeling the filmmakers knew this and are playing it for laughs.  Also making them so unlikable that we really want these kids to suffer in the end.  The outcasts really seem to be just regular kids but they put together an elaborate plan to teach the bullies what it is like to be them. They plan a costume party and invite all the kids they want revenge against and surprise they all show up.  The punch they serve is spiked with something to make them all pass out and when they wake up they are all chained together to face their wrath.

The filmmakers are obviously horror fans themselves and have inserted several homage's to past movies like Audition, Saw, Heathers, Deliverance and more.  The group of outcasts are lead by Dane, and angry and bitter teen who has been pushed to the edge.  The lone girl is actually kind of hot and would have a great future as a dominatrix.  The jocks and popular kids are physically and psychologically tortured by Dane and his followers for most of the movie.  They will not kill them but will maim and disfigure to let people know that they are just as ugly on the outside as they are on the inside.
The movie does tend to fall into many of the teen horror traps and clichés.  All of the students are at least 25 years old and hardly look like high schoolers.  Also their extremely elaborate plan was completed with very little planning, and money didn't seem to be an object.  The small town cops are always completely inept and clueless.  The lone black kid who is every bodies friend doesn't die (I know shocking).  This is a good movie to watch with friends at midnight, since it'll be whole lot better if you've had a few and just looking for a good time. 

"Never Let Me Go" (2010)

2/5/2012
*This Review may contain spoilers, and is gluten free*

Starring three of the best young British actors working today "Never Let Me Go" is a story of doomed love and ponders deep questions about science and life itself. It is based on the best selling book by Kazou Ishiguro, who also wrote "Remains of the Day" which was turned into a movie starring Anthony Hopkins.

Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield and Keira Knightley are three seemingly average kids who grow up together in a boarding school called Hailsham. They are never able to leave the premises and live under the strict rules of Miss Emily and her staff. Something always seems just a bit off and strange about the kids of Hailsham. They wear bracelets that they have to scan in when ever they go back to their dorm rooms. Their bodies are carefully maintained and routinely checked for defects or contaminates. The arts are extremely important and every student needs to submit their work for a chance to be included in Miss Emily's Gallery. When Miss Lucy, a young compassionate teacher, tells her class who they really are and what their life's purpose is she is immediately fired. The students of Hailsham are clones raised only so they can donate they organs. They only live to their early twenties until they are required to start their donations until they "complete".

We follow Kathy (Mulligan), Tommy and Ruth (Knightly) as they grow up and a love triangle develops. Ruth is jealous of Kathy and steals Tommy away from her. As teenagers they are moved to a compound called "The Cottages" a sort of self contained town. Although they do have the opportunity to venture out on occasion they still have to were their bracelets and are heavily accounted for. Feeling lonesome and unwanted Kathy applies to be a "carer", someone who takes care of another clone as they make their donations. She is also able to put off her own donations for a little while. After almost 10 years apart the group finally gets back together and not a moment to soon. Ruth and Tommy have already made two donations and are looking pretty rough. Ruth apologizes for what she has done to her over the years. Kathy and Tommy start bonding and their love is rekindled. Their is a rumor that if two people could prove their love was true that they could defer their donations for a couple of years. It turns out to be nothing but a rumor.

"Never Let Me Go" conjures up many of the deepest questions out there about fate, the existence of the soul, the ethics of cloning and the human spirit. This is all dealt with rather lightly and mainly focuses on the love triangle, and the eventual race for Kathy and Tommy to hold on to their love and lives. If this story was put in the hands of a director like Terrence Malick, we would probably have an instant classic. Although director Mark Romanek, who usually directs music videos, does do a decent job here. The acting is superb as well as the supporting cast. Charlotte Rampling as Miss Emily is perfect. Near the end we learn from her that the purpose of their art was to show Miss Emily that they had a soul. This movie is available on DVD and Blu-ray, but I would also recommend reading the book.

Take a dip in the SWIMMING POOL

1/22/2012

Actress Ludivine Sagnier shined in the previously reviewed "Love Crime", but her breakout role came in the 2003 film "Swimming Pool".  This time she is paired with the impeccable English actress Charlotte Rampling, who's long career has also spiked with this role.  Sagnier's raw sexuality and self confidence sets this film on fire.  Not to mention the much older Rampling who also gives a shockingly brazen performance.

The story revolves around Rampling's character of Sarah Morton a best selling author of crime fiction novels.  Based in London and fighting a loss of inspiration for her new novel her publisher suggests staying at his French villa to relax and recharge.  She accepts and in short time finds the peaceful serenity of the Mediterranean to be as relaxing as it sounds.  Being a writer Sarah prefers to be on her own and welcomes the quiet and sleepy surroundings.  She is very conservative and quite British.  She does call her publisher back in London and asks when he will join her but he keeps brushing her aside.  She visits the local cafe on numerous occasions and chats up the mustached waiter Franck who comes into play later on.

Sarah's peacefulness is shattered with the introduction of Julie (Sagnier), the publishers daughter who arrives to crash for a few weeks.  Julie is young, impulsive and very in touch with her sexuality.  They are exact opposites and are usually at odds with each other, but Sarah also finds her quite intriguing.  Is she jealous? probably.  Does she see a story there? Definitely.  Julie brings home a different guy each night, and the sounds of them gettin' busy awakens something in Sarah.  She snoops around Julie's things and finds a diary, which she starts to spin into literary gold.  She then asks her to dinner to get some more details.  While Julie is skeptical of her kindness she eventually becomes wise to her plan.

Then there's the swimming pool.  When Sarah arrives the pool is covered and unloved.  It is only when Julie arrives that it starts to heat up.  It seems that when the pool comes to life so does Sarah.  Julie spends most of her day lounging around the pool and sometimes wearing a bikini.  When Julie brings Franck home one night they drink, smoke and dance.  After Sarah goes to her room for the night she can't help but watch them as they go for a swim, she interrupt their interlude then goes to bed.  The next morning Franck is gone and their is blood by the pool.  Julie has a sort of breakdown as she thinks she killed him.  She regains her composure and Sarah starts to help her get away with it.

"Swimming Pool" has one of those endings that results in good discussions afterwards. You end up rethinking all of what you have just saw.  Make sure to seek out the unrated version to get the full experience.  The film contains copious amounts of sex and nudity and would be teen boys holy grail, but really its more that just a skin flick.  It's French for cryin' out loud.  The R-rated version is available on Netflix watch instantly.

Get Educated with "Student Services"

1/12/2012

"Student Service" or "Mes Cheres Etudes" is the 2010 film that sheds light on a modern epidemic afflicting thousands and thousands of French college students. Skyrocketing costs of higher education and living expenses have forced many bright young students into selling their bodies to make ends meet. This is the true story of one such girl who wrote a book under the name Laura D.

Directed by Emmanuelle Bercot and starring the mesmerizing and talented Deborah Francois who plays the girl named Laura. Even while living with a roommate/boyfriend and working as a telemarketer Laura is unable to maintain the very basic needs of life. She starts to peruse a French version of Craig's List and finds quite a few guys looking to pay for "companionship". The first guy she meets is Joe an older man who pays her 100 Euros an hour. Laura is obviously shy and nervous and can't believe she has fallen to this level. These scenes are not made out to be sexy as we take Laura's point of view and are as nervous and insecure as she is. Joe seems to be your average guy, but you know he is just as disgusting and revolting as you think he is.

She starts to build up a sort of client base of photographers, fetishists and perverts while the psychological strain starts to take its toll. She leaves her boyfriend and quickly finds a replacement in Benjamin, who is not one of her clients. Laura is betrayed by Joe who goes to far at one of their hotel encounters. While Benjamin is aware of what Laura does its only a matter of time before the jealousy becomes too great. It becomes a sort of bizarre love triangle between the three. Joe's continues to offer her more money for more dangerous work and after another brutal betrayal Laura hits bottom. The ending seems to be a little tacked on, because it happens so fast. She moves to Paris and finds this great job as a waitress and has an almost instant loving family of co workers. She passes all of her exams at school and starts to live her life like nothing happened. A swift happy ending but is it really?

The filmmakers make the sex scenes as unsexy and unsettling as possible, not using any music and drenching it in nervous energy. Deborah Francois really inhabits Laura and holds nothing back as a girl willing to do anything to get what she wants. She also co- stared in the Cannes Film Festival Palm d'Or winning film "L'enfant (The Child)" in 2005. "Student Services" is available to watch on Netflix watch instantly.  The trailer below is really cheesy and does a great diservice to the actual movie.

Zack Snyder's "Sucker Punch"

1/10/2011

"Sucker Punch" is the highly stylized feast for the eyes that is director Zack Snyder's trademark.  Starting after his breakout 2004 remake of "Dawn of the Dead" his movies are massive in scale and budget as well as stretching the boundaries of what CGI can do.  "300", "Watchmen" and "Sucker Punch" are all perfect examples of this.  Normally the gratuitous use of CGI and heavily processed imagery is something I try to avoid at all costs.  But for some reason I can't help it when he comes out with a new film, especially with "Sucker Punch".  Yeah, I'm a sucker and deserve to be punched.

Nothing more than a guilty pleasure and junk food for the brain. "Sucker Punch" stars one of my personal favorite actresses in Emily Browning (The Uninvited, Sleeping Beauty) as Baby Doll a girl who is sent to a Mental Institution by her step father.  Five days before getting a lobotomy, her mind escapes to a sort of fantasy world brothel where she meets a group of other such girls.  She joins Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish) her sister Rocket (Jena Malone), Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens) and Amber (Jamie Chung) who all wish to be free.  The girls need five items in order to escape.  A map, fire (a lighter), a knife, a key, and a mystery object.  The plot is kind of cheesy and stupid, but its really deeper than it looks.  Chockfull of symbolism and alternate meanings that multiple viewings are encouraged.. 

Every time Baby Doll dances we go deeper into another fantastical universe where the girls need to fight to obtain one the five items.  Each world they go into has it own unique theme from Feudal Warriors and The Trenches to Dragons and Distant Planets.  Obviously the heavy fantasy element caters perfectly to Snyder's talents as a visual filmmaker.  He tries for a Matrix level of coolness an makes a decent effort, but its hard to aim for coolness as it often comes off as pandering and cliché.

This movie really is a teenage boys wet dream with hot girls, big guns, crazy action and enough CGI to choke a horse.  I don't know what that says about me but we all need our guilty pleasures.  The blu-ray edition contains an extended cut of the film adding on an additional 17 minutes.  So all of you geeks and dorks out there check it out if you haven't already.

The 2010 French Thriller "Love Crime"

1/9/2011

A brilliantly acted modern French thriller is one way of describing director Alain Corneau's latest film "Love Crime (Crime d'amour)".  Starring Kristin Scott Thomas and Ludivine Sagnier as executive and assistant at a big corporate conglomerate.  Scott Thomas plays the brutally ruthless and manipulative Christine, while Sagnier is Isabelle the young and beautiful assistant. (aka fresh meat).

Christine has Isabelle take her place on a business trip to Cairo along with the attractive Phillipe.  Before long they're having torrid affair, but when Phillipe breaks it off and  Christine takes credit for all of Isabelle's work, the cat and mouse game of revenge begins.  The story and plot are heavily structured and things have to happen as it's written to make everything else happen.  I'm not all that familiar with the French legal system, but there are a few instances when something has to happen for the story to move forward and it doesn't matter how improbable it seems.

When Christine publicly humiliates Isabelle in front of the all of the executives at a party, this is the last straw and Isabelle plans an executes an even more brutal plan.  After another get together at Christine's house, Isabelle dressed in a white overall stabs her to death but leaves clues to implicate herself.  At first viewing this seems kind of odd but  its all apart of her elaborate plan.   The evidence is seemingly overwhelming and Isabelle is sent to prison.  With the help of her sister and friendly co-worker Daniel, Isabelle puts the other half of her plan into motion.  The acting by these two women really pushes this film to more that just your average thriller. 

To put it in Hollywood terms its  "The Devil Wears Prada" meets "The Perfect Murder".  Eventually everything happens as it should and her masterful plan is complete.  The road up the corporate latter is pretty brutal and leaves its share of victims along the way both literally and figuratively.  Who ever wants it more and is willing to sell out their very soul will become that more rich and that more powerful.  "Love Crime" is currently available on Netflix watch instantly.