| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| randall |
Posted - 05/22/2013 : 20:24:27
It's a popcorn-chewing [and THROWING UP IN THE AIR!] dark-frame spooker which seems to mostly happen in the middle of the night when nobody's up but Ethan Hawke. He's an author trying to write about a vicious serial slaughter, blah blah. The nice touch is that it's recorded on grainy super-8 film, which figures into the plot so I'll stop right there.
Too many shocks based on flashing frames and loud noises among periods of near-silence [tired clich�s that nevertheless work every time], but the underlying story, explicated by an uncredited Vincent D'Onofrio, is creepy and original enough that I have to give it a rental thumbs up. But, as Billy Friedkin says when introducing THE EXORCIST DVD, for best results, turn the lights OFF and the sound UP.
benj, have you seen this one? And did I tell you how enjoyable our little brunch was day before yesterday? |
| 3 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| randall |
Posted - 05/23/2013 : 23:29:53
By the way, all you Brits, I don't mean to brag, but benj inscribed my book, "My favourite reviewer!" So there!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!! |
| randall |
Posted - 05/23/2013 : 23:20:21
It was brekky spilling into brunch...did you notice how the place finally started filling up as we were getting ready to leave after maybe 2 hrs?
You're quite welcome, both for the nosh and the museum passes. As I said, what I *really* want is for me to get back to Blighty, at which point *you're* the host, and for us to find some nice cozy pub and get all the fwfr Londoners together so I can say howdy, mates! [I'm proud to be the first non-Brit to sign benj's copy of the fwfr book!] I don't know when, but this will happen, I swear on St. Smitherns staff! [Made that last bit up.]
Yes and yes on the fright moments in the film. Banging a noise in a long dark silent passage is easy, but this one seemed to *stay there* for a major portion of the story, and before long it became artistry. |
| benj clews |
Posted - 05/23/2013 : 18:54:01
Yep, caught this one at Frightfest last August (it was in my top 5 of the entire festival in fact) and I've since had to watch it again because I enjoyed (if such a thing can be said of a jumpy horror) it that much the first time.
No, it doesn't do anything much new in terms of frights (although I have to praise the inspired lawnmower POV scare- it's truly hypnotic and brilliantly unexpected) but they're so well executed it doesn't matter. (Also, credit due to the sick bastard that thought up the descriptive labels on the family films)
The best recommendation I can possibly give this film is that it gave me at least one head to toe spine-tingle- something which, as a seasoned psychological horror fan, I haven't felt in several years now.
As for our meet up... that was brunch? Damn- I've been mistakenly calling it breakfast! Yes- it great catching up with you too and thanks ever so much for the museum passes. Any chance you can get me free entry to the top of the Chrysler building the next time?  |
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