Vultural

Finger Of Guilt - 1956 - 6/10
AKA - The Intimate Stranger

Film producer Reggie is being, well, not blackmailed. More like stalked.
He keeps getting mash notes from dewy-eyed Evelyn, wanting to resume their relationship.
“What relationship? I don’t know you! Or perhaps I’m going mad.”
And perhaps Reggie is going off track. Marriage on the rocks, career in a tailspin.
So he decides to meet his so-called ex-amour.

British potboiler, melodrama, has weak mystery angles, along with occasional Noir lighting.
Much of the film occurs in and around the studio; fun to observe but also a budget cheat.
The narrative feels tired, and a reveal is given prematurely, letting sharp eyes perceive who, if not why.

The Chinese Boxer - 1970 - 7/10
AKA - Long hu Dou // The Hammer Of God // 龙虎斗

A disgraced ex-pupil returns to his master’s school, defeats most students, then is pummeled by the master.
Later, he returns with three karate experts from Japan, and the tables turn.
Students and teachers are slain, the school obliterated. And the village begins to bleed.
Wait. There was one survivor. Who begins to train.
Astounding hard-fisted actioner, a precursor to John Woo’s heroic bloodshed,
Violent, gory, brutal fights, over the top villains, and in its fearless attitude, a whale of fun.
Memorable scenes include painful training, and a stealthy battle in the snowy reeds.

47 Meters Down - 2016 - 6/10
AKA - In The Deep

Loca turista story.
Two sisters get talked into shark dive.
Get lowered into infested waters while safely protected inside a steel cage.
Sounds like fun! What could go wrong?
The trip is cash only, the boat is a rust bucket, the winching mechanism is aged.
The crewmen illegally chum the waters and down our girls go.
Docked a point because one sister is an irritating whine and their reasons for doing this are wrong.
Given a point because the photography is imaginative and the plot plays out in real time.

What language is this in?

Snow White: A Tale Of Terror - 1997 - 6/10

Dark rendering of the classic tale is more Grimm, less Disney.
After the queen dies in an accident, the king remarries one who is the fairest of them all.

Nor does he suspect she was responsible for the death or his wife.
Or that she is a witch, whose looking glass acts as a counselor.
Quite a few twists in this. Snow White is spoiled arrogance.
Lady Claudia, she’s not so bad. At first.
Atmospheric Gothic film is definitely the evil twin to Disney.
Less known, I suspect, because this never got a widespread release.

The Switch, Or How To Alter Your Ego - 1974 - 5/10

Mousy Professor Shirley Jekyll works as chemist in a pharmaceutical lab.
Socially awkward, shy, repressed, but her latest concoction – which she tests on herself – unleashes the predatory vixen within.
Immediately, albeit temporarily, her needs are rampant. Orgies, threesomes, eggplant.
Soft core comedy romp of Jekyll & Hyde offers more skin than laughs.
The plot is trite, look for a young Sonny Landreth.

Kill Command - 2016 - 6/10

Not bad actioner, if cobbled together and derived from familiar templates.
Soldiers are dropped on remote island for another training session against robotic targets.
An engineered human accompanies them, as observer for the defense contractor.
As on previous missions, the robots make mindless sitting targets.
(The combat droids resemble something dad assembled from a Popular Mechanics kit.)
Except this time, the units start to learn from mistakes.
Imagine the Colonial Marines from Aliens assaulting a Skynet secret facility.
No kids - no juvenile comedy - no romance. Yay!
Hardly original, but a no-nonsense “hunter-hunted” genre flick.
Gamers might score this higher.

Barker, David & Pugmire, Wilum - The Revenant Of Rebecca Pascal

An adventurous romp through veiled Arkham.
Richard Pascal inherits the home of his famous Aunt Rebecca, as well as a couple million dollars. (Always keep in touch with those relatives, kids.) He also inherits a persistent coterie of her old admirers. Well, Aunt Rebecca had been a movie star.
Only thing, these devoted fans keep hinting there was more to the grand dame, a darker, possibly sinister side.
Richard, unlike most Horror rubes, is not the curious looky-loo. More power to him, I say. Mind your own business and avoid rumors and gossips. Nevertheless, Richard is troubled by unsettling dreams, charged, highly erotic fantasies involving … sorry, these are too distasteful to write here.
Tidying up, cleaning house and the mental cobwebs, he finds – well – a secret door.
Throughout, a light, tongue in cheek humor pervades. This is not Lovecraft, this is an amusing tall tale.

Flack - 2019 - 7/10

This boasts one of the best misdirection openings I have ever seen.
Robyn, American transplant in London, works as a PR fixer.
Meaning, when clients screw up, she swings into full damage control.
Media manipulation, falsifying, inventing alternate scenarios, my God, you name it.
Because, yes, the clients, celebrities, footballers, artists are privileged, entitled who have a right to trash everyone.
Stories are bitterly funny, dripping with contempt.
When you clean pig swill all day, you get pretty filthy yourself.

Sugarbaby - 1985 - 6/10
AKA - Zuckerbaby

A German fräulein, large sized, socially invisible, works as a mortician.
No matter what a “great personality” she has, she is an outcast. And lonely.
Then, riding the subway, Marianne spies Huber, the driver.
Boom, boom, boom! He’s good looking, he’s rock candy, and she knows she wants him.
Offbeat love story of obsession and fool’s hope.
The late night, neon color scheme enhances the haunted landscape.
Marianne Sägebrecht is wonderful in this bittersweet prayer of desire.

Student Services - 2010 - 6/10
AKA - Mes Chères études

19 year old university student (Déborah François) starts turning tricks to pay rent, buy food, shop for nice clothes.
Narrative charts her progression from desperate Internet search to experienced free lancer.
Fair range of johns, though most are unpleasant.
Couple of warnings -
While this aired on French television, the screen is filled with full frontal nudity.
Not male nudity, though a large male substitute is featured prominently in one sequence.
For viewers who prefer waxed Barbie dolls or prepubescent 10 year olds, Ms François resembles neither.

Melody - 1971 - 6/10

While set in 1970, this could be a decade earlier, or in Victorian times.
Boy meets girl. They hit it off, really hit it off, so much they contemplate marriage.
Not in the future, either. As soon as possible.
Slight roadblock, Melody and Daniel are 11 years old.
This story of innocent romance has an undeniable sweetness to it.
A lesser director would have laced this with sniggering innuendo or sarcasm.
Indeed, this still retains some lingering 60’s optimism.
Lovely soundtrack by the Bee Gees (and one by CSNY).

Eleventh Hour (US) - 2008 - 6/10

Rufus Sewell stars as Jacob Hood, scientist who works for FBI to solve crimes, outbreaks, disasters.
Assigned to protect him is no nonsense female agent. Hey … wait a minute …
Sound familiar? After the UK series was dropped, creator Stephen Gallagher sold it to CBS. In fact, three of the episodes are near word for word remakes.
One might assume this would be a no-brainer. The BBC version was fresher, Stewart the superior actor.
Hold on, though, UK only had four episodes, while the US aired 18.
Despite being a Bruckheimer production, slick visuals do not predominate.
This series remains very much in the mystery thriller genre.
Stories about cloning, genetically modified food, human growth hormone, baby farming, manmade viruses.
Producers either learned from UK failings or the US market wanted a tougher female. Cute notwithstanding, Hood’s protector has no qualms about shooting her gun or kicking the hell out of suspects.
Overall, the UK series is darker, with uncertain resolutions. US episodes end more positively.

Eleventh Hour (UK) - 2006 - 6/10

Four part series stars Patrick Stewart as Ian Hood, celebrated scientist working with Home Office, to solve crimes, outbreaks and other disasters. Assigned to protect his is a female agent from Special Branch.
Stories involve cloning, Plague germs, contamination.
The female agent is shamefully written as a liability, more of a Doctor Who companion, asking questions, barely capable of protecting her charge.
Studios often cast one character as an imbecile to make another appear superior. Feeble writing.
Worth catching for Stewart, who is not too over the top, but if you desire more …

That Thing You Do! - 1996 - 7/10

Rise and exploitation of a one-hit wonder band, circa 1964.
The Wonders, a garage band in Pennsylvania, have a regional hit that attracts a promoter.
They ascend like a Roman candle.
There have been comparisons with The Beatles.
The Wonders replace their drummer, then bassist. Jimmy seems modeled after Lennon.
The TV appearance is an homage to “A Hard Day’s Night” final concert.
To my mind, however, another credit should go to The Knickerbockers.
They had a massive hit, some minor hits, and were house band for “Where The Action Is.”
Plus, Wonders’ Leo is a ringer for Knick’s Buddy Randell.
Writer / director Tom Hanks is old enough to have remembered them.
The original version moves quicker and beams more innocence. The extended version bears a different tone.

Hype! - 1996 - 6/10

Documentary on Grunge. Seattle based, fusion of punk, metal and indie.
Named bands are checked: Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Mudhoney …
Some remarkable music, though the history seems light.
Grunge’s moment burned briefly, its influence proved nil.
The cautionary element is best. How Seattle became a “scene,” how the scene was appropriated by the music industry.
As if that never happened before. British Invasion, San Francisco, Austin.
Know ye, bands are always willing participants when the cash register rings.
Live Forever (2003) is more fun.

Truth - 2015 - 6/10

Well acted, over earnest retelling of TV news story gone awry.
Back when Bush vs Kerry was ongoing, CBS aired a report about Bush’s guard duty.
For those blissfully unaware, Kerry served in Vietnam, Bush enlisted in National Guard.
Before fully vetting the facts, the story goes out.
Redford plays reporter Dan Rather, though the film is about the producer, played by Cate Blanchett.
Underlying theme is of business commercializing news.
Everyone tries hard in overlong, deadly serious fare.
Broccoli film of fading era. News? Most no longer trust it, their prime source is Facebook or Twit.

Beyond Evil - 2021 - 7/10
AKA - Gwimul // 怪物

Took awhile for the hook to set in this K-drama, but this is a brilliantly written mystery.
New inspector, hotshot from Seoul, arrives to small Munju City, home to unsolved serial killings years before.
By chance (ha!), young Joo-Won is partnered with Dong-Shik, suspect #1 from twenty years earlier.
For the older man, his sister had been a victim, which is why he joined the police and maintains a personal hunt.
The younger guy, well, his motives are unspecified. All we know is that he is totally overqualified at Munju.
As with many K-dramas, there is team support to bulwark against secrets, conspiracies, corruption.
And this one is packed with secrets, blackmail, subterfuges, and corkscrew twists.
Sixteen part series constructed as halves, where the first eight episodes conclude and splash into the final eight.
Gripping until the end, then the conclusion falters from an underwritten finale.

Aurora Teagarden: Haunted By Murder - 2022 - 5/10

Holy moly! At last, at last, this string of 18 Hallmark mysteries has ended! (star Candace Bure has departed)
Anyway, Aurora, now married, overhears at the book club that her mom has bought the haunted house.
Flashback to high school, where Aurora and Sally discovered a corpse in said building.
Yes, this reawakens an old mystery.
Nor does it matter who dunnit. Rest assured, the police will not solve this without Aurora and crew’s aid.
To be honest, this is a good one to bow out on, thought still a cookie cutter mystery, sticking like bond-all to predictable formula.
Why are these Hallmark mysteries so popular?
Then again, why are pajama clad superheroes so popular?
Subs = https://subscene.com/subtitles/aurora-teagarden-mysteries-first-season/english/2853264

Legend - 2015 - 6/10

Tom Hardy portrays the brothers Kray, crime lords in 60’s Swinging London, and is the chief reason to view this.
Hardy riveting as certifiable Ronnie, equally effective as more polished Reggie.
Film starts in early 60’s,after the Krays have conquered the East End where they are feared and adored.
Oddly enough, the narrative is told primarily from Reggie’s girlfriend, later wife, Frances.
Consequently, there is little in the way of “gangster” business. Violence is minimal.
More a character study, especially the triangle between Ronnie - Reggie - Frances.
Atmospheric set designs. Nice, unfamiliar soundtrack. Fine acting all around.
Still, the film is sorely lacking in oomph.
Fifteen minutes of Guy Ritchie would have juiced this up.

Final Offer - 2018 - 6/10

Henry, a bottom fishing attorney, rouses from another hangover in the well appointed office.
Where Olivia launches negotiations.
At stake, pretty much the survival of the planet, although Olivia seems willing to cut a small, very small, deal.
SciFi short is more horror than science, more comedy than terror.
Ever attended the morning work conference, half intoxicated?
This is for you.
Subs = https://subscene.com/subtitles/final-offer/english/2850723

Oscar Wilde - 1960 - 6/10

The glory years for the playwright, height of fame masking the whispers.
Robert Morley flawless as Wilde, in panache and moods.
Yes, I know some quibble he is too old. John Neville equally fine as Bosie.
Film fairly straightforward, and seems faithful to everything I have read about the man.
To be honest, it does appear to have had budget restrictions.
A true film about Wilde should have been opulent to the nth degree.
I imagine this was quite the financial risk when this came out, and homosexuality still outlawed.

Secret Agent - 2016 - 6/10

Three part drama of anarchist activity in Victorian London.
Verloc has infiltrated a Russian terror cell.
He is in thrall to his paymasters, the Russian embassy, and he is also in the pocket of a British copper.
Fear of exposure and betrayal leave him in constant dread. Business affairs are complicated, family likewise.
Factions push him into bombing as political statement.
Rather dour adaptation of little known Joseph Conrad novel.
Toby Jones excellent as the shifty, blame-everyone-else Verloc.
Ian Hart dominates, though, as the fanatical bomb-maker, the Professor.

Brossard, Chandler - The Double Dealers

Went into this novel stone cold, finished half aware of events and characters.
Brossard shuffles characters and settings abruptly. The story / stories come across as snapshots of early 1960’s New York, and most of the players are idlers.
Few seem to visibly work. Hawkins is a college professor, Carter is institutionalized.
Harry leads a dual identity as bored husband and lower class thug.
Other characters hide another self behind masks. Hawkins, the professor, with desires or aspirations to mix with the white intellectuals, who aren’t necessarily intellectual.
Margaret, heiress, with transgressive sexual desires and perverse glee in trying to shock her (deceased) grandparents.
Carter’s wife Janine and friend Rand. Outwardly, they want the best for him. Yet so long as Carter is within the asylum, they can freely roll in the sheets.
The pages flick throughout between wandering souls and petty amusements.
A biting satire that reminded me at times of Dawn Powell’s Turn, Magic Wheel.

I particularly recommend the new edition by Corona \ Samizdat.
Lively in-depth introduction by Zachary Tanner, and an afterward by Iris Brossard, talking about her parents, their combative relationship, as well as a few anecdotes, funny, bitter.

Mommie Dearest - 1981 - 6/10

“No wire coat-hangers!”
Based on a then-popular, tell-all book by Joan Crawford’s daughter.
(Published after Crawford’s death.)
Allegedly a biography, this is so over the top, it must be seen to be believed.
Faye Dunaway unforgettable as the furious, over-controlling mother and lover.
The book was a hatchet job, the film a parody.
Points awarded for sheer camp value.