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George A Romero’s Martin review

Posted in Vampire films with tags , , , , , , , , on March 4, 2013 by Alex Roy

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Martin (1978)

Tagline: A new nightmare from the director of “Night of the Living Dead”

Directed by:
George A. Romero

Produced by:
Richard P. Rubinstein

Run Time:
95 minutes

Released:
July 7, 1978

Review:

George A. Romero has once again departed from the zombie genre with Martin and created a memorable and classic vampire film in the process. This is a very well acted film that relies on basic ingredients to create the tension on-screen.  This is a well crafted horror yarn that is in my opinion a forgotten vampire gem in the genre. Usually horror fans tend to focus more on films like Salem’s Lot, Fright Night, The Lost Boys and Near Dark whenever they think of classic vampire films. George Romero’s Martin seems to always get lost in the fold, and I think it’s a shame because it is a very different film in the genre, and it is also a change of pace for Romero.  This is a great film, and one that is sure to delight genre fans looking for an overlooked vampire film. George Romero has made quite an impact in the genre, but with Martin he has created something different. This is a very entertaining film from start to finish and it certainly delivers from genuine scares.  If you love Romero’s work, you’ll certainly love this one. This is among the best vampire films in the genre and it is definitely a classic. You owe it to yourself to give Martin a viewing, and it ranks up there as one of the most memorable vampire features in the genre. Romero has always done some wonderful work, and he keeps up with that with this different film. As a fan of vampire films, I thoroughly enjoyed Romero’s take on this classic tale, and he crafts a classic in the process. Martin is a well crafted film, and one that horror fans should definitely check out.

Final Rating:
8/10

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Thirst review

Posted in Foreign Horror, Vampire films with tags , , , , , , , on February 19, 2013 by Alex Roy

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Thirst (1979)

Tagline:Surrender to an Unholy, insatiable evil

Directed by:
Rod Hardy

Produced by:
Antony I. Ginnane

Run Time:
93 minutes

Released
September 28, 1979

Review:

Rod Hardy directs this stunning vampire feature that is among the best vampire films of the 1970’s and possibly the genre. Thirst is a film that has a tense, brooding atmosphere with a surrealistic vibe and effectively bone chilling scenes. There a few flaws of course, and at times the plot suffers, but it more than makes up for it with a good cast, an interesting story that offers something quite different from your usual vampire fare. Fans of the genre will most likely enjoy this different take on a classic tale and there are plenty of scares that abound on-screen that are guaranteed to terrify you. This is a truly original yarn that is entertaining from start to finish, and despite some minor flaws, it is a terrific horror film that is a must see for genre fans. Rod Hardy’s direction is great, and he knows to craft a solid, atmospheric vampire film that is engaging from start to finish. What is wonderful with this film is that it pushes the genre into new, unexplored territory and succeeds at creating something quite different and original in the process. Even with its new twist on the genre, there’s still everything you’d expect from a good vampire film. There are plenty of scenes of vampires feeding on the living, and the atmosphere helps to elevate the film in a class by itself. If you love vampire movies, and haven’t seen Thirst yet, I highly recommend that you do. The film offers a different angle on the vampire lore and works well while keeping the traditional vampire trademarks intact. This film is far better than many vampire films that have been released before or since, and if you love traditional vampire tales with a slightly new twist, then give this one a shot, you’ll be glad you did.

Final Rating:
8/10

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Fright Night Part 2 review

Posted in Horror Comedy, Vampire films with tags , , , , , on June 26, 2012 by Alex Roy


Fright Night Part 2 (1988)

Tagline: Do you have ataste for terror?

Directed by
Tommy Lee Wallace

Produced by:
Miguel Tejada-Flores
Herb Jaffe,
Mort Engelberg

Run Time:
104 minutes

Released:
December 8, 1988

Review:

Being a die-hard fan of the original Fright Night, I finally got around to seeing the sequel. I had heard mixed things about, and I was skeptical about seeing it. However, I found the film to be pretty good, but not as good the original. This sequel is a more laid back flick than the first. Watching the first film, you realize that there is a different tone in atmosphere with this one. The film is good, but lacks the elements that made the first one such a classic. The problem with this film is that it essentially follows the same ideas as the first. With that being said, Fright Night Part 2 offers nothing really new or original, but is nonetheless a fun little film. This is one of those sequels that could have been great, but it’s slightly disappointing. This film could have been better if Stephen Geoffreys who played Evil Ed would have returned. The film is slightly more tongue in cheek than the original, and is gorier, which ruins the tone of the film a bit. The original Fright Night wasn’t gory and tended to rely more a dark atmosphere to create its horror. However with this sequel, the filmmakers went for more gore, which for me anyhow cheapened the film a bit. The standouts here are Julie Carmen as Regine Dandrige and Traci Lind as Alex, Charley’s new girlfriend. The script may not be as solid as the first film, but this is still a pretty good vampire film. This could have been a far better sequel as well. The film had some good ideas on-screen, but I think that they could have toned down the gore and make it a bit more atmospheric. The sensual traditional vampire elements were there, and Julie Carmen was definitely perfect in her part. The best way to describe Fright Night Part 2 is as a cheesy, mindless good time. Just don’t go expecting something memorable like the 1985 classic, you’ll be disappointed. However as far as real vampire films are concerned, this is still one of those films that keeps with the traditions. This is a film worth seeing and still fun, just not as fun as the original.

Final Rating:
6/10

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Underworld: Rise of the Lycans review

Posted in Underworld series, Vampire films with tags , , , on May 22, 2012 by Alex Roy

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009)

Tagline: Every war has a beginning

Directed by:
Patrick Tatopoulos

Produced by:
Len Wiseman
Tom Rosenberg
Gary Lucchesi
Skip Williamson

Run Time:
92 minutes

Released:
January 23, 2009

Review:

A surprisingly decent and enjoyable film that is a departure from the previous two entries. I really didn’t enjoy the second film, and I was skeptical about this one. I was surprised it wasn’t a total waste. The film was better, but it also had its fare share of flaws. The film although interesting in its idea, shows that the filmmakers were struggling with the material that they conceived for this prequel. The film tends to try too hard at delivering a competent story. Despite its potential, the film never succeeds entirely at being a great film. The result is a decent popcorn flick that is much better than the second film, but is overdone. I feel they should just have stuck with the basics instead of over complicating the story. The Underworld franchise has always been about mindless action horror, but where most of the films fail is that the filmmakers tend to put far too much content in its story just for the sake of it. This is a decent third film, one that should appeal to fans of the series. I feel though that a lot more effort could have been put into the film’s plot to truly make in engaging. However, this series goes for mindless action first, effective story telling second. But the films have delivered anything truly great story wise either. This prequel is decent for what it is, but leaves a lot to be desired as well. Worth watching if you’re a fan of the first films, but of all the Underworld films that really stands, the original is the best one to watch. Rise of the Lycans is a decent take at a prequel despite its flaws.

Final Rating:
5/10

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Underworld Awkening review

Posted in Underworld series with tags , , , , , , on May 22, 2012 by Alex Roy

Underworld Awakening (2012)

Tagline: Vengeance returns.

Directed by:
Måns Mårlind
Björn Stein

Produced by:
Tom Rosenberg
Gary Lucchesi
Len Wiseman
Richard Wright

Run Time:
88 minutes

Released:
January 20, 2012

Review:

Fourth film in the Underworld series is a mediocre film that combine, action and horror. What starts off to be promising film quickly turns tiresome. Underworld Awakening is a mindless popcorn action horror flick with a minimalistic story. I felt with this entry, the film had a plot that just didn’t deliver. The film had potential, but it just ended up being a mindless actioner. The Underworld series is one of the few action horror films that had a big potential in being something better than what they turned out to be. Rise of the Lycans was a decent flick, and along with the first film brought something unique to the vampire genre. With this fourth film, the filmmakers have clearly run out of ideas. I thought that the idea of Selene having a daughter was interesting, but there just wasn’t any real substance to the idea, it was as if the producers were like ok in this film Selene has a daughter, and we’re going to have Kate Beckinsale kick ass for an hour and twenty minutes. With this film, there’s simply no depth its plot to truly make it engaging. I just hope this will be the final entry in the series because there’s really nothing good going for this series anymore. Rise of the Lycans was flawed, but was a decent action horror film that explored the back story of the feud. With this one it just seemed they made to keep the series going without any merit to do something good and thrilling. The delivers on the action, but lacks an effective plot, which in turn ends up being a shallow emotionless film. There could have been something good here, but the result is a film where the filmmakers didn’t seem to care about the outcome. The end result is a mediocre film with good action, but an underdeveloped plot.

Final Rating:
4/10

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Black Sabbath (I tre volti della paura) review

Posted in Classic Horror, Horror Anthologies, Italian Horror with tags , , , , , , , on October 15, 2011 by Alex Roy

Black Sabbath (1963)

Tagline: …The most gruesome day in the calendar of the Undead!

Directed by:
Mario Bava

Produced by:
Salvatore Billiterri
Paolo Mercuri

Run Time:
92 Minutes

Released:
November 17, 1963

Review:

Mario Bava’s Black Sabbath is a definite horror classic. This horror film is an anthology with three terrific, horrifying stories. Brilliantly directed with a good dose of atmospheric dread for each story, and narrated by legendary horror icon, Boris Karloff; Black Sabbath is an effectively chilling horror anthology and is one of the best horror anthologies that I have seen in quite some time. Black Sabbath has got three stories that will terrify you. Each story is brilliantly acted and leaves you in a state of dread. My personal favorite of the three stories is the third one, “The drop of water”; I thought that was the most chilling of all. A woman is haunted by the vengeful ghost of a dead medium after she steals a sapphire ring from her finger. The moments of that story are chilling and are some of the most terrifying in the horror genre. Mario Bava has made one of the best anthologies with Black Sabbath and this is a must see classic for horror fans. The stories are chilling, and they definitely build up good tension and a feeling of dread in the viewer. This is a terrific horror film and I consider one of the key Italian horror films. This is a well constructed horror film, one that is chilling and memorable. The film is brilliantly acted and directed and the stories are terrifying and original. As far as horror anthologies are concerned, Black Sabbath is by far one of the best that has ever been filmed. If you haven’t seen this classic, then you should head to your local video store and rent it, you’ll be in for one terrifying night of eerie and bone chilling stories.

Final Rating:
9/10

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer review

Posted in Vampire films with tags , , , on October 9, 2011 by Alex Roy

Buffythe Vampire Slayer (1992)

Tagline: Pert. Wholesome. Way Lethal.

Directed by:
Fran Rubel Kuzui

Produced by:
Howard Rosenman

Run Time:
86 Minutes

Released:
July 31, 1992

Review:

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is an average horror comedy that is purely designed to be fun and entertaining. Though flawed, and not perfect, the film manages to be quite amusing. However the film is no where close to the TV series, which was darker, better executed and acted. Not saying that this film is bad, but this film has a lot of room for improvement. There are plenty of comedic moments here and there, and the cast are good, but not great. As far as a horror comedy is concerned, Buffy the Vampire Slayer works well enough to entertain, but leaves a lot to be desired. The film is lots of fun, and manages to be effective at being a good vampire flick; however the film is not as memorable as say, The Lost Boys or Fright Night. For what it is, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a cool, little gem of a film, with nothing that’s ever spectacular. But I will say this; this is definitely not a bad film. The film can easily be seen as a guilty pleasure, as it’s not perfect, but it does manage to be amusing. I thought that Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a good film, nothing exceptionally great. In the end, this is a silly horror comedy that is fun, despite the fact that it’s never anything remarkable. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is an entertaining but flawed film, and it’s not as bad as everyone says it is. If you enjoy a mindless vampire comedy, this is a film to check out.

Final Rating:
6/10

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The Hunger review

Posted in Vampire films with tags , , , on September 24, 2011 by Alex Roy

The Hunger (1983)

Tagline: Nothing human loves forever.

Directed by:
Tony Scott

Produced by:
Richard Shepherd

Run Time:
97 Minutes

Released:
April 29, 1983

Review:

In the 1980′s you had three phenomenal vampire films, Fright Night, The Lost Boys and Near Dark. All of them horror classics, and all of them excellent films. But there’s one vampire film that has been obscured by those superior films, and that’s The Hunger. The popularity of those films have place The Hunger in the shadows, and has made people forget the film. I only first heard of this film by watching the making of Top Gun, and the film was briefly mentioned. This was directors Tony Scott’s first feature film, and it’s an impressive first film, but it’s also nothing too extraordinary. Having watched this, I can understand why the film has not been that well received by critics and audiences. Well, for me I think it’s a good film, but lacks the power of the other vampire films of the 80′s. The film is boring, slow-moving and some will lose interest. The Hunger’s high points are in the acting, not so much in the story, as I found it to be quite ordinary, and the atmosphere. Those are the two aspects of the film that saved this from being a total dud. The Hunger is an impressive film like I said because it shows the very first attempt at directing by Tony Scott, who would later helm some action packed roller coaster rides. I thought it was impressive that he directed such a film, because of his resume of  his later work. I never thought he did anything else other than action films. The Hunger is an average vampire film that has really good acting, and great atmosphere, but at times the story falls a little flat, and you come to realize that there are things that could have been redone, and you realize why this film has gotten the reviews it has and why it’s not among the classic vampire films of the 80′s.

Final Rating:
6/10

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Rise: Bloodhunter review

Posted in Vampire films with tags , , , on September 23, 2011 by Alex Roy

Rise: Bloodhunter (2007)

Directed by:
Sebastian Gutierrez

Produced by:
Nathan Kahane

Run Time:
94 Minutes

Released:
June 1, 2007

Review:

I’ll be quite brief in this review for I feel that this movie fails to provide good scares and a good story. First off, Lucy Liu is plainly a bad actress. She can’t act. This movie still proves that. I’d figured she’d retire after the lame Charlie’s Angels movies. Anyways, getting back to this film, the movie is full of flaws, the dialogue between the characters is completely utter garbage and the plot borrows a lot of from the Blade franchise, which in my opinion was terrible. On a high note on this film, Marilyn Manson makes a cameo as a bartender. Which I found was amusing to see. At least he was better than Lucy Liu, and he had less than 5 minutes on-screen.  I thought the movie was bad and with Lucy Liu attempting the Buffy the vampire slayer routine; it just didn’t work.

Final Rating:
2/10

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Underworld review

Posted in Underworld series, Vampire films with tags , , , , on September 23, 2011 by Alex Roy

Underworld (2003)

Tagline: An immortal battle for supremacy

Directed by:
Len Wiseman

Produced by:
Robert Bernacchi
Gary Lucchesi
Tom Rosenberg

Run Time:
121 Minutes

Released:
September 19, 2003

Review:

Underworld is a different take on the vampire lore. The film surrounds centuries old war between Vampire and Lycans(werewolves) I know it sounds like something outta Twilight, but this film came before that crap series of books and films. Kate Beckinsale plays Selene, a warrior set out to destroy Lycans. When a human named Michael seems to be the target of the Lycans, Selene knows that something that the Lycans are planing something.
The reason that this film succeeds as more than just a stupid attempt at being another Blade clone is the fact that they’ve written a very interesting back story as to why the Vampires and Lycans have waged such a war over the course of a 1000 years. I found the back story to be incredibly entertaining and one of two very strong aspects of the film. The second of course being the gothic overtones of the film. The whole atmosphere of the film was dark and melancholic. Something that helped the film a lot. Underworld is of course flawed but it’s still a very good action horror film. The main thing you got to remember while watching this film is that it tries to be different by expanding the realm of traditional vampire films. The film as a whole works well and the characters are very interesting to boot. One of the best performances here is Michael Sheen as Lucian, Sheen always displays a strong acting ability in whatever movie he plays. In Underworld, he plays the leader of the Lycans and he is simply terrific in the part. Underworld is a breath of fresh air and delivers terrific entertainment even though it’s a flawed film, the film manages to be something interesting enough for its viewer. The concept behind Underworld is a more elaborate story and adds so much to a classic genre of literature and film. An entertaining new breed of action horror, Underworld takes traditional vampire elements with a modern-day twist, and despite it’s flaws, the end results are good enough to satisfy action and horror buff. Skip Underworld: Evolution, though.

Final Rating:
6/10

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