OCULUS: 2013: Horror: Oculus is easily the best movie of the three that I am reviewing here and I put it first because I wouldn't want you to have to read through one horrendous movie and one decent movie to read about this very intriguing and entertaining movie.
Not THAT Oculus, but man do I want that. OR do I? Can't decide..
I keep getting surprised about how many movies are based on HP Lovecraft's work. This has to be at least the third one and they are all good. I've reviewed two thus far (Re-Animator was one).
Which two movies were based on HP Lovecraft's writings?
This movie has the same producer as the first and best Paranormal Activity and Insidious so there's no wonder this movie was excellent. I hadn't even heard of it and watched it by chance but I was lucky to see it. Challenge your film buddies with this one, I bet they haven't seen it!
If you haven't seen it maybe you shouldn't!
The scares were readily available in this one and since I am currently playing The Evil Within on XBOX 1, I have been having some trouble sleeping, but that's half the fun! That game is awesome by the way if you have the system, definitely buy it!
Scenes from Evil Within
A scene from Oculus
What impressed me about this film was that the director, Mike Flanagan didn't bombard you with grotesque killing or over the top massacre, it was more subtle and made you think. There are many references to mirrors in works of literature so this movie had to tread lightly but carry a big stick. That's a mixed metaphor isn't it walk quietly and carry a big stick? Carry a big stick it did.
FDR and his quiet walk with a big stick. See this blog IS informative!
One of the main's carry a big stick of sorts...
This movie was just stylish, fresh and very original. I have no problems recommending this movie and I was seriously impressed. I am going to watch Flanagan's works with great interest from now on. M Night move over. This guy means business.
Evil scenes like this will stick in your mind! Sweet Dreams!
Oculus bounces back and forth seamlessly with some of the best flashbacks I have seen in a long while. The casting had a huge role in this because if the characters didn't look similar from their childhoods to adulthood it wouldn't make sense. Karen Gillian put on an excellent performance as the leading lady who engineers the whole experiment to document a mirror's supernatural and evil abilities. The foreshadowing was also outstanding and this should be shown in film school as an example of modern day use of this extremely tricky but often overused technique.
Flashbacks made sense since the casting was spot on...
The acting was great and the directing was outstanding. I don't want to give too much away but I loved the scene where she eats the light bulb, wakes up in front of the mirror and when the father talks to "the woman" in his study! Writing this review I want to watch it again. It was really up there in my recent movies. Scary but smart. Suspenseful but sophisticated. 89%
Why do I keep eating Christmas ornaments?
OCULUS'...WATCH IT
CONTRACTED: 2013: Horror: This was an interesting movie because it wasn't a hack and slash movie, nor was it a supernatural, or psychological horror flick. It was more of a service announcement for safe sex and not being promiscuous. Read that again if you need to. This one gets points for originality for sure.
I can't believe you forgot your condom AGAIN!
This was not predictable at all. At least not for me. I should probably have known better from the title, but wow did this movie throw me through a loop. It's not the best movie, but I liked the pacing and the way that the movie evolved was novel.
Don't sulk, at least this was better than Dead End!
Director Eric England does an adequate job on this film and I get the sense that he wasn't trying to win any awards, he just wanted to portray Najarra Townsend, the leading role, in a twisted film. Don't eat right before you see this one. It is completely disgusting at times and doesn't hold back. At times you get the feeling that you aren't watching a movie, just seeing events unfold because there isn't a predictable pace. Oh and there's lesbian sex, so there's that too...
Girls kissing girls...check!
The female role actually kicks ass in this movie and I was happy to see another strong female role in this one. Actress Najarra is pretty, at first, and acts remarkably well, especially during her contracted state..
BECOMES I don't want to give away too much of the movie away either because it is somewhat original. I can assuredly say that I have never seen a movie like this one before. It proceeds in such a way that you start to get really revolted until all hell breaks loose. I use that phrase a lot but it really does in this one. She goes on a rampage after no one finds her attractive anymore..
When the little things in life like a kiss are impossible, it's time to kill!
One of the victims who didn't find her attractive anymore..
I would recommend this movie with some reservations because it is revolting but then again it was entertaining for me. I didn't lose my dinner but I wanted more at the end. I guess that was all that could be done. The makeup was outstanding and it really made the descent into the disease look convincing.
Hands up don't shoot!
The makeup looked awesome. I Actually like this pic a lot! Scary!
It's not too long and I truly wasn't bored once. The only hesitation is that the subject matter is a little out in the left field. They should make all high school kids watch this movie in Sex Ed!
These come out of ...um...somewhere in the main character's body.
This get's a 71%
Officer I promise I wasn't speeding. I swear!
Contracted...watch it and beware..
DEAD END: 2003: Horror: Sometimes you have to see and review a bad horror movie to appreciate a good one. Dead End is a bad horror movie to say the least. Not because it had the worst actors in it, namely Ray Wise from Fire Walk With Me (which is a great film by David Lynch reviewed on this site and a must see) and Lin Shaye who played the landlord in Kingpin. Yes she was that lady..
Just remembering this scene makes me cringe..
Ray Wise on the left levitating in Fire Walk With Me.
Better look at Ray Wise, who plays a sick father in David Lynch's Fire Walk..
Aside from these two elements the movie is pretty lackluster and has a plot that revolves around a family trying to get to Christmas dinner but takes a scenic route instead of the highway. Right away this reminded me of the decent horror movie Candycane because they are tormented by a mysterious car.
Merrily Merrily Merrily we go..life is but a scream..Sorry had to do it.
The Griswold's they are not, but does this shot look familiar?
And then there's Candycane.
I'm assuming this is the only way to portray a family driving in a car, but the similarities are undeniable. Dead End doesn't really scare you in any meaningful way and the premise is remarkably pedestrian. Don't get out of the car unless you want to die. There that sums it up..
Don't get out of the car unless you want the "White Lady" to get you.
The only somewhat interesting part was the role of "The White" lady played by Amber Smith who is very easy on the eyes. Her acting wasn't anything spectacular, she just had to play a spaced out weirdo but it worked and kept me from stopping the movie completely after the first hour...
Amber Smith has something on her mind. Or does she?
This is not a good movie by any means and I don't recommend watching it. I saw it and the ending somewhat redeemed itself but by that time I was completely bored. I must have checked my phone 20 times watching this. The only good part was when Amber bites off the extremely annoying son's lip. That was pretty entertaining 51%
Hey if the show Naked and Afraid can show people's butts why can't I?
Dead End was really a Dead End: Trailer...
No comments:
Post a Comment