SIlent Hill: Revelation 3D...2012...94 minutes...rated R...starring Adelaide Clemens, Kit Harrington, Sean Bean, and Carrie Anne-Moss...written and directed by Michael J. Bassett
At the end of the first Silent Hill movie, we're left with a rather odd ending: Rose and Alessa/Sharon have returned back to their home after their fun romp through the strangeness that is the literal ghost town of Silent Hill...or at least their home in the alternate "fog" dimension while the father is stressed out and waiting in our world. Did you ever wonder what happened from there? This sequel follows Alessa, now called Heather Morris, and her return back to the town that gave birth to her.
Mind you, I say that it follows her further journey, as well as her father's. What I *don't* say is that it answers any real questions, but instead brings up bunches of new ones. Fans of the older movie will notice a lot of attempts to make this new offering follow the events of the original, but it only does so in a "sort-of kinda maybe if I squint at it" fashion. Fans of the game series will recognize that the majority of the plot is drawn from the 3rd game in the series.
The problem with this movie is that it doesn't go far enough in either direction...or in any direction. The start of the movie has a wonderfully creepy dream sequence that promises much, and up to a certain point Revelation looks like it's going to be a grisly gem. Sure, there's a big plot hole that has yet to be explained re: how Heather returns to the real world, but surely the movie will explain the method better...or at least the key object better, right? Wrong. In fact, the movie wanders after a certain point, and while there are some interesting scenes that crop up, most of the ghoulies of Silent Hill haven't changed...with one notable exception...and I personally wasn't scared so much as going "Wait...what?" by the end.
The ending itself seemed awfully light compared to the start of the film, and while this is a spoiler, I'll say that the ending of Silent Hill 3 went much darker and creepier than the end of this movie. I believe that to have been a terrible mistake in writing. I really could have used more explanation about many things as well, and I also have this personal complaint: if you get Malcolm McDowell and Carrie Anne-Moss in your movie, dear Gods, use these people! I could have used more of them and less of what I got.
The one complaint I didn't have was in the 3D aspect; it was decently used...and I kept waiting to see myself covered in ash flakes during certain scenes of the movie.
Overall, I'm a big fan of the Silent Hill games as well as of horror movies (obviously) and I was doubly disappointed with this movie. I seriously thought it could have been so much more...and the start of it promised more than the ending delivered. I can't say it was bad...instead it ended up as the worst thing a horror film can be: bland.
My rating: 2.5 carousel "horses" out of 5
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Sinister
Sinister...2012...110 minutes...rated R...starring Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'onofrio, Juliet Ryalnce, and James Ransone...written by C. Robert Cargill and Scott Derrickson...directed by Scott Derrickson
Ellison is a "true crime" writer who has just moved his family into their new home. Ellison has lots of bills piling up, and is understandably concerned about the state of finances. Ellison really needs to write a best selling novel. And Ellison is about to find some research material that will give him more than he or his family ever expected.
Since this movie hasn't even been released yet, I'm going to do my best to be even more conscious about spoiling things. So I will be talking about things in general, and the best way I can sum up this movie is by using my homemade spaghetti as a metaphor. Follow along with me if you can. Really, it won't be that hard.
For our meals, I occasionally do spaghetti. It's a simple meal that my skills can handle, and even do well at making. Every time I do spaghetti, I generally follow one particular recipe that has served quite well. Some days, I hit it right...and we have a tasty meal. Some days, I do everything like I should...but it's just not as good. Maybe it's a tad overdone, or a tad undercooked, or maybe it's something in the air. I'm not exactly sure where things went wrong, but it just wasn't the right combination.
Now, all reviews are at some level subjective writings...so for me, Sinister was my spaghetti on an off night. There's lots of good stuff in this movie...decent writing with some snappy dialogue, great use in creating a suspenseful and creepy mood, and for me the right ratio of on-screen to off-screen violence. The actors are good, if perhaps not inspired, and the pacing keeps up. And yet.
Maybe it was a tad too predictable for me. Maybe there were a couple of cheap thrills too many for my liking. I've got no problem in saying that maybe it's because I'm a picky bastard, and it just didn't hit me right. I'm not saying the movie is bad...it certainly is not. I'm not saying you shouldn't see it...I'd put it at matinee level myself, but again that's me. I -am- saying that I didn't walk out of the movie going "Whoa, man, I'm not sleeping for a week!" Make of this rambling what you will.
My rating: 3.5 "extended endings" out of 5.
Ellison is a "true crime" writer who has just moved his family into their new home. Ellison has lots of bills piling up, and is understandably concerned about the state of finances. Ellison really needs to write a best selling novel. And Ellison is about to find some research material that will give him more than he or his family ever expected.
Since this movie hasn't even been released yet, I'm going to do my best to be even more conscious about spoiling things. So I will be talking about things in general, and the best way I can sum up this movie is by using my homemade spaghetti as a metaphor. Follow along with me if you can. Really, it won't be that hard.
For our meals, I occasionally do spaghetti. It's a simple meal that my skills can handle, and even do well at making. Every time I do spaghetti, I generally follow one particular recipe that has served quite well. Some days, I hit it right...and we have a tasty meal. Some days, I do everything like I should...but it's just not as good. Maybe it's a tad overdone, or a tad undercooked, or maybe it's something in the air. I'm not exactly sure where things went wrong, but it just wasn't the right combination.
Now, all reviews are at some level subjective writings...so for me, Sinister was my spaghetti on an off night. There's lots of good stuff in this movie...decent writing with some snappy dialogue, great use in creating a suspenseful and creepy mood, and for me the right ratio of on-screen to off-screen violence. The actors are good, if perhaps not inspired, and the pacing keeps up. And yet.
Maybe it was a tad too predictable for me. Maybe there were a couple of cheap thrills too many for my liking. I've got no problem in saying that maybe it's because I'm a picky bastard, and it just didn't hit me right. I'm not saying the movie is bad...it certainly is not. I'm not saying you shouldn't see it...I'd put it at matinee level myself, but again that's me. I -am- saying that I didn't walk out of the movie going "Whoa, man, I'm not sleeping for a week!" Make of this rambling what you will.
My rating: 3.5 "extended endings" out of 5.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Insidious
Insidious...2010...103 minutes...PG-13...starring Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, and Ty Simpkins...written by Leigh Whanell...directed by James Wan
The Lambert family has just moved into their house, and are settling in when they start noticing things. Objects moving by themselves, doors opening, the occasional strange sound: these are the activities that plague the young family. That is, until little Dalton goes to explore the attic and takes a tumble...subsequently falling into a mysterious coma. The activities step up quite a bit, and like any sensible family finding themselves bedeviled by supernatural events, our protagonists get the frak out of Dodge. But like the tag line says, it's not the house that's haunted.
Okay, I found this movie to be a refreshing change of pace from a lot of the stuff that's out there these days. If you're looking for a gorefest, or something with lots of gooshiness (yes, that's a word...or at least it is now), you will not be satisfied with Insidious. On the other hand, if you're looking for something high on suspense and low on blood, this movie is just the ticket. I made the mistake of watching this film at night, and the DVD extras that I watched to ramp down the adrenaline were the only things that let me get some sleep that night.
The ending...well, I won't lie...the ending gets a little weird and a touch predictable. I found the overall ride to be well worth my time and money, though. I love James Wan for the simple fact that all the "jumps" in the movie are genuine...no black cats jump out from hidden nooks to make you start. In fact, some of the moments actually caught me off guard, and I'm pretty good at gauging where they'll be and how they'll work. I also loved his take on the seance...it was strange but the look of it kept up the mood he'd been trying to build.
Seriously, see this movie. It may not be perfect but it's damn good, and in this genre I'll take damn good any day of the week.
My rating: 4.5 modified Viewmasters out of 5
The Lambert family has just moved into their house, and are settling in when they start noticing things. Objects moving by themselves, doors opening, the occasional strange sound: these are the activities that plague the young family. That is, until little Dalton goes to explore the attic and takes a tumble...subsequently falling into a mysterious coma. The activities step up quite a bit, and like any sensible family finding themselves bedeviled by supernatural events, our protagonists get the frak out of Dodge. But like the tag line says, it's not the house that's haunted.
Okay, I found this movie to be a refreshing change of pace from a lot of the stuff that's out there these days. If you're looking for a gorefest, or something with lots of gooshiness (yes, that's a word...or at least it is now), you will not be satisfied with Insidious. On the other hand, if you're looking for something high on suspense and low on blood, this movie is just the ticket. I made the mistake of watching this film at night, and the DVD extras that I watched to ramp down the adrenaline were the only things that let me get some sleep that night.
The ending...well, I won't lie...the ending gets a little weird and a touch predictable. I found the overall ride to be well worth my time and money, though. I love James Wan for the simple fact that all the "jumps" in the movie are genuine...no black cats jump out from hidden nooks to make you start. In fact, some of the moments actually caught me off guard, and I'm pretty good at gauging where they'll be and how they'll work. I also loved his take on the seance...it was strange but the look of it kept up the mood he'd been trying to build.
Seriously, see this movie. It may not be perfect but it's damn good, and in this genre I'll take damn good any day of the week.
My rating: 4.5 modified Viewmasters out of 5
Over a year...bad blogger.
Dear lord, where did the time go? My last post was over a year ago. Bad horror blogger, no zombie biscuit.
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