A few reviews . . (film or TV) — Page 195

The film Mandoliarion and Grougo is a good movie. It takes no risks and quite honestly adds nothing substantial to the universe, and it is at best a fine film. However, it does do three things right: it gave true respect to an obscure character from a tv movie from about a decade ago, it showcases more found family vibes, and it had pretty good visuals. Not necessarily a bad film, but I would say to wait for it to hit streaming and avoid the expense.

Friday The Thirteenth - 1933 - 6/10

The bus accident was a bad one; there were fatalities.
Then the clock rewinds to 24 hours earlier, and we watch backstories.
Bus driver and conductor, a blackmailer, the badger game, coppers after a confidence man.
A stock speculator and his addled wife, another husband surprising his wife on their anniversary.
Most will watch for the schoolteacher and chorus girl Millie.
The often scantily dressed Jessie Matthews, with the most expressive eyes since Clara Bow.

How To Get To Heaven From Belfast - 2026 - 7/10

Aye, and a good ride will get your there, won’t it?
Greta writes three school friends for help.
Yet, by the time they arrive she’s in the casket.
Or is she? Something rings false.
The more questions the trio ask, the more opposition they face, and the more stubborn they become.
Hilarious shaggy dog adventure / road trip, with mysteries and secrets
Irish spoken frequently, consider subtitles.

Irene’s Ghost - 2018 - 6/10

Iain’s mother vanished when he was three (above).
Family lore said she took ill, went into a coma, and died.
No one breathed her name for years.
As an adult, he asked his father – “I don’t remember.”
People in the wedding photos, who are they? – “I don’t remember.”
Eventually, he researched on his own, tracked down old friends, lost relatives.
And learned about his mother, who she had been, and what happened.
Low key, yet fascinating throughout.
English subtitles = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3370113

The Visitor - 1979 - 5/10
AKA - Stridulum

Straight off, why is John Huston in this twaddle?
Because the actor who first agreed to take lead (John Wayne!?!) was too ill.
Anyhoo, forces of light and good have been in eternal conflict with Zatteen.
Who had spawned with countless females, each gestating his seed.
In this case, Barbara, whose daughter Katy already has the power and the malevolence.
A cabal of evil schemes to have Barbara procreate a son – for Katy to conjugate with down the line.
Who can save humanity? An old, arthritic man who smiles and shuffles along?
Incredibly bad, yet so bizarre one watches stupefied.

Curse Of The Yellow Snake - 1963 - 5/10
AKA - Der Fluch der Gelben Schlange

A gang attempts to steal the golden snake, since whoever owns it shall rule the world!
#2 son hightails it to London, spies hot on his heels.
An attractive daughter is offered in marriage, so to access his wealth.
#1 son leads a battalion of Chinese hoodlums, seeking the idol and domination.
Fast-paced Edgar Wallace Krimi smacks of Yellow Peril, outdated by this time.
Lots of plot, subplots, assorted characters, your head will spin.
Nevertheless, empty headed nonsense.
English subtitles = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/1427223

Bone Keeper - 2026 - 5/10

Granddad reckoned there was something down in that cave, and he disappeared.
By and by, his daughter went searching for him … vanished.
Now, Olivia is of a mind to learn what happened, despite almost physical warnings from locals.
Sure, Olivia has friends with her. Five mates and a hitchhiker.
Got that, math majors? Seven meals for that hungry cave!

“Ooh, I just want to reach out. Make contact.”
I knew this would be bad, but I have a weakness for cave movies.
Written, directed, produced, photographed, edited by the same guy.
You’ve been warned. Oh yeah, their clothes stay clean throughout.

Peterloo - 2018 - 7/10

Following victory over Napoleon, the Home Secretary turns his eye northwards.
Manchester, home of noisy reformers and simmering discontent.
Imagine, the rabble wants to have the vote. A say in who represents them.
Spies have already infiltrated, and the army is dispatched.
Not to attack, only to assist the armed Yeomanry should need arise.
Painstaking buildup, featuring many of the key players, along with arguments.
Disturbing to watch, knowing “leaders” consider democracy an aberration.

The Loreley’s Grasp - 1973 - 6/10
AKA - Las Garras de Lorelei

The first girl was murdered on the eve of her wedding.
Next one, a few days later.
The girls boarding school is alarmed, so a hunter is placed as protection.
Soon enough, he sees and follows a strange female near the marsh.

Yes, he knows she is unnatural, something more than human.
Nevertheless, she tempts him. Shall we say, he is distracted.
The boarding school is a wall of flesh, but no nudity.
Gore, blood and entrails, but nothing to disturb the squeamish.
Weird horror outing referencing Wotan and Valhalla and full moon transfigurations.

The Christophers - 2025 - 7/10

Lori accepts the position of assistant to the once-great Julian Sklar.
Actually, it is his estranged children who want to her complete a series of unfinished paintings.
Once he dies, and he is elderly and dying, they intend to cash in.
Old and embittered, Sklar may be, yet he is no fool.
He sees and grasps the game, while he and Lori engage.
Keen edged dialogue, thrust-parry-relax. Will thrill theatre fans.

Once Upon A Time In The West - 1968 - 8/10
AKA - C’era Una Volta il West

Magnificent Western of greed and vengeance, stunningly shot and composed.
Bronson, taking over after another actor declined, excellent as the gunman of few words, few explanations.
The railroad is coming through; land is needed, by any means necessary.
The magnate has a team of cutthroats, led by colder-than-ice Frank.
Tremendous film, operatic in structure and intensity, likely too long for American audiences.
I first saw this in a revival theater in the mid-1970’s, and it was unforgettable.
Realize, going in, the three hour length.

Bride & Prejudice - 2004 - 6/10

Another Austen adaptation, Bollywood style (expect musical numbers).
The unmarried Bakshi sisters are in a dither over the arrival of rich American Will Darcy.
Eldest daughter Lalita immediately takes a dislike to the snobbish newcomer.
Rather than a clash of class, this is more a clash of cultures.
Purists should back off, for the rest, fairly entertaining.
I found “Darcy” miscast, although I appear to be in a minority.

The WitcHunt - 2012 - 5/10

First guy straddles two worlds: drugs and danger, and white collar. Until consequences of Greed.
Next character, blue collar, and the temptations of Lust.
Got it? Yes, the Seven Deadlies.

Wordless, experimental Horror, jammed with blistering editing and abrasive music.
In many ways, this reminds of an art installation. Excessive, at that.
Draining in its way, overtly suggestive without anything explicit.
Still … track this down. Arkansas fans rejoice, filmed in Fort Smith!

The Sadistic Baron von Klaus - 1962 - 5/10
AKA - Le Sadique Baron von Klaus

Every few generations, the village is plagued by the curse upon the von Klaus family.
Mind you, the curse is inflicted upon attractive females of the village.
Despite a Gothic look and atmosphere of menace, the plot meanders.
A few characters look mildly suspicious, yet the whole thing is a muddle.
Early Franco attempt should have been better, a misfire.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3370436

Fatal Crossing - 2023 - 6/10
AKA - Pigerne fra Englandsbåden

Disgraced following a sex scandal, journalist Nora is placed on leave.
She returns to her childhood home, where she is not exactly flavor of the month.
Nora is unpleasant and meddlesome.
To keep occupied, she starts digging into a decades old abduction of two girls.
(Thought: no way police would cooperate of allow the access she has.)
Midway, the narrative pivots, new characters arrive. Trying to juice interest.
Arresting premise, moody Scandinavian Noir, desperately needs an editor.
Striving for tension, scenes are lingered over much too long.

The film Jurassic Park The Lost World is a masterpiece. Full of truly astounding acts of dinosaur on human violence. A grand time!

The Waves Of Madness - 2024 - 6/10

Agent Legrasse is sent coordinates of an imperiled ship, Elders of the Seas.
Uncanny events were reported before communication went silent.
Once onboard the apparently abandoned vessel, Legrasse encounters a lost female.
Part assistant, part companion.
Straight off, from the coordinates, I knew recognized the South Pacific. R’lyeh.
Minuscule budget, creatively managed. Black and white, plenty of fog, sparing effects.
Fans of HPLHS films should enjoy, although dialogue veers into camp at times.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3370430

The film Disclosure Day is a great movie. However it has a problem, one which is prevalent in many of Stephen Spielberg’s movies: it requires a lot of interpretation. That said this movie is a masterpiece and another excellent addition to the annals of cinema history.

Outlaw Gangster VIP - 1968 - 6/10
AKA - Burai Yori Daikanbu

After three years in prison, Goro returns to his yakuza family.
The family is weaker than before, an upstart clan with less honor is carving territory.
Goro is inclined to quietly exit, but there are obligations.
Plus, there is a dewy-eyed female who has attached herself to him.
Overly familiar gangster story benefits from solid performances and expert cinematography.

Urchin - 2025 - 7/10

Mike sleeps rough and scrounges drugs as he can.
After incarceration for robbery, he begins to claw his way back to redemption.
A social worker, a temp residence, employment, coworkers who like him.
In his background vision, however, lurks a siren, playing violin.
The old life, the perfumed existence of nothingness.
Possibly better for those who have been on the streets, been poor, desperate.

Killer Shark - 2021 - 5/10
AKA - 夺命巨鲨

Happy-go-lucky shark has plenty to feel cheerful about.
The Pacific teems with screaming, squealing, tasty humans.
Once it starts chomping, it can’t stop at just one. Or two, or four.
Six affluent (or wannabee affluent) youths crash their yacht and are stranded.
One bleeds heavily, attracting the voracious predator.
Borrows from The Reef, although most know this going in.
Laughably bad subtitles. Meals are whiny beyond belief – root for the shark!

Eraserhead - 1977 - 7/10

I first screened this in 1977 as a midnight flick.
Henry’s love life is the stuff of nightmare.
A girlfriend who swiftly gets pregnant, births a monstrosity, then flees.
His apartment, merely a chamber in Hell.
Again and again, I feel like all of this is internal.
That Henry is either mad, or withdrawn into himself to the point of shutdown.
Mind you, there are dozens of theories / explanations / arguments for this film (horror, experimental, surreal).
Hopelessly funny at times.

Naked Killer - 1992 - 6/10
AKA - Chik Loh Goh Yeung // 赤裸羔羊

Kitty is a punisher, exacting revenge on men who brutalize women.
Where it hurts, between the man‘s legs.
With a cop investigating her, she enmeshes him in her vigilante world.
There is a mentor and partner, later a lesbian duo of assassins.
Easily enough for three films, tossed together like a salad.
Fast-paced Cat III film is prime Hong Kong, more fun should one be addled.

Suspicion - 1941 - 6/10

Lina is swept off her feet by Johnnie, very flashy playboy.
Johnnie is a bon vivant, a friendly rake, and, as Lina learns after an impulsive marriage, penniless.
Cary Grant the beguiling confidence man, whom Hitchcock wisely keeps ambiguous.
A quiet thriller throughout, teasing audiences with preconceptions of Grant during this era.
Joan Fontaine matches him with a brittle performance.
Unsure how bygone snap marriage films are perceived by modern, commitment phobic audiences.

Jason Rising: Friday 13th Fan Film - 2021 - 6/10

Three female convicts murder the guard and flee into the woods.
Into Camp Crystal Lake.
Reason? “No one would be crazy enough to follow us here.”
Except for two federal agents and two local sheriffs.
Effective homage is fairly paced, wisely shot at night, has solid acting.
Wicked in-jokes to other infamous monsters.