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Cold Prey 2: Resurrection (Fritt Vilt II) review

Posted in Cold Prey series, Foreign Horror with tags , , , , , , , , on April 7, 2013 by Alex Roy

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Cold Prey II (2008)

Tagline: Marerittet Fortsetter 10.Oktober…

Directed by:
Mats Stenberg

Produced by:
Martin Sundland
Kristian Sinkerud

Run Time:
86 Minutes

Released:
October 10, 2008

Review:

Sequel to Cold Prey is a pretty good follow-up, continuing where the first left off, this entry is a good film, but one that could have been improved upon. The first Cold Prey brought back the best elements of the Slasher film, while adding atmosphere and tension. While maintaining some key elements that made the first film what it was, this follow-up manages to be thrilling and tense, but there could have been a few improvements here and there to make it a better film. The lack of truly original material on-screen is to be expected from this genre of horror. Luckily despite its imperfections, this follow-up to Cold Prey still has plenty of effective bone chilling moments to appeal to the viewer. The film takes a different approach in terms of plot, and it is quite interesting to see where the filmmakers take the story. What separates this follow-up from others is that though it uses the same old formula, the filmmakers at least try to create something new with the material while retaining everything that you’d expect. Despite its weak bits, there are still plenty of tense moments that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Like Hatchet II, Cold Prey II manages to reuse the formula executed from the first film, and add to it, to make it a worthwhile movie to watch. Just when you’d think that the filmmakers have stretched the genre into every possible angle, they came up with this. Not a perfect film, but one that manages to still thrill and entertain you, compared to many other films that just fails due to the fact that Hollywood only is interested in remaking classics. Cold Prey 2 delivers and is a fine follow-up to a modern Slasher classic.

Final Rating:
7/10

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The Survivor review

Posted in Foreign Horror, Supernatural Horror, Survival Horror with tags , , , , , , , , , on February 19, 2013 by Alex Roy

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The Survivor (1981)

Tagline: Pilot Error…Or Supernatural Terror? Only One Man Can Tell!

Directed by:
David Hemmings

Produced by:
William Fayman

Run Time:
100 minutes

Released:
July 9, 1981

Review:

The Survivor is a truly unique horror film that combines elements of supernatural and survival horror into one movie and the result is an interesting concept for a movie that uses an everyday disaster as a basis to start off with the horror. The film wastes no time to dive into the action, and it starts off with the plane crash. Directed with flair by David Hemmings and a cast headed by Robert Powell, The film is a memorable addition to the genre, one that is very well paced and acted, but also at times shows signs of a plot that could have been reworked slightly. Even if it’s slightly unfocused, there’s plenty of good material on-screen to keep you involved from start to finish, and the idea behind the plot is quite intriguing and overcomes the film’s weaknesses.  For a low-budget feature, I am surprised that they were able to pull off something good in the effects department, and of course I’m talking about the plane crash at the start of the film. For the film’s budget, it is very well done and pretty exciting.  There are also many terrifying scenes that build the tension in the viewer and it works very well. What separates Australian horror films from American ones is that they tend to rely a lot on atmosphere to create the terror, and I’ve said that many times before, but it’s true. Aussie films tend to have a certain quality that American films miss, and they are more often than not better as well. With a great cast and a good plot, The Survivor is a well crafted horror film that is definitely worth seeing. If you love supernatural horror tales, then this one is sure to satisfy.

Final Rating:
7/10

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The Abandoned review

Posted in Haunted House Films, Supernatural Horror with tags , , , , , , , , on January 23, 2013 by Alex Roy

The Abandoned (2006)

The Abandoned(2006)

Tagline: Death never runs out of time.

Directed by:
Nacho Cerdà

Produced by:
Carlos Fernández
Julio Fernández

Run time:
94 minutes

Released:
September 11, 2006

Review:

The Abandoned is one of those horror films that had the potential of being so much more than what it turned out to be. As a whole, it is a decent film but it could have been much better. The ideas for a great horror film are there, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired. The Abandoned combines many horror genres into one film and you can clearly see that there was good ideas at work, but the filmmakers clearly couldn’t tie up everything neatly and the film kind of falls apart near the end. However, there are some effective scares at work on-screen, and the cast do a fine job with the so-so material. With a few script rewrites and more thought out idea, the film would have clearly been a memorable addition to the genre. As it stands, this is only worth watching once, and you feel disappointed because this film had some good ingredients to make for a truly chilling movie. Where the film lacks is a compelling, and engaging story. I liked the film despite its flaws, but like I said, it’s not something that I’d personally re-watch again and again. Another problem with the film is that it also relies on previously explored ideas from other films that we’ve seen before and were done better as well. The scares here are good, but there’s just not enough originality with this one to really make it a compelling and enjoyable picture for fans to watch. Go in with an open mind, I thought it was a decent affair, with nothing remarkable about its plot, luckily the film had plenty of atmosphere that was dark, brooding and menacing, which made The Abandoned worth seeing. However, I was left wanting more out of the movie.

Final Rating:
5/10

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The Ward review

Posted in Bad Horror, Psychological Horror, Supernatural Horror with tags , , , , , , , , , on December 24, 2012 by Alex Roy

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The Ward (2010)

Tagline: Only Sanity Can Keep You Alive

Directed by:
John Carpenter

Produced by:
Peter Block
Doug Mankoff
Mike Marcus
Andrew Spaulding

Run Time:
90 minutes

Released:
September 13, 2010

Review:

Horror master John Carpenter has been absent for quite some time. This is his first directorial effort since Ghosts of Mars which was released in 2001. This is a film that had the potential of being a terrific supernatural horror movie. However this happens to be a dull, bland and unimpressive affair. John Carpenter, who is one of most legendary of horror directors, crafts a film that is formulaic and predictable. This had a very promising start, but in the end it fails to really grab your attention and it focuses more on delivering cheap scares and boring, not so well written dialogue. Carpenter has done far better work than this in the supernatural genre and he proved that with 1980’s The Fog. The Ward is a mediocre movie that leaves horror fans wanting more out of their experience. I think John Carpenter can deliver a better film if he really puts his mind to it. This was disappointing affair, and I expected something much better than this. This is just a case of being an undeveloped horror picture that could have been fun and entertaining. However, Carpenter doesn’t deliver and it just doesn’t stand out among his other works. This film makes Ghosts of Mars look great by comparison and if I had to pick one of the worst that John Carpenter has made, it would have to be this one. As a horror film, it is void of effective scares that can leave you on the edge of your seat till the final frame. The Ward, given a rewrite or two could have worked well enough and be a fine return to form of Carpenter’s early days. But I’m still waiting on him to create a more refined picture that will bring back the quality that his fans expect from such a unique talent.

Final Rating:
4/10

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Silent Hill: Revelation review

Posted in Bowels of Hell, Supernatural Horror with tags , , , , , , , , , on December 10, 2012 by Alex Roy

silent_hill_3d_poster

Silent Hill: Revelation 3D (2012)

Tagline:This Halloween get ready for a thrill ride through hell

Directed by:
Michael J. Bassett

Produced by:
Samuel Hadida
Don Carmody

Run Time:
94 minutes

Released:
October 26, 2012

Review:

Sometimes sequels lack the power and interesting qualities of the original. Silent Hill: Revelation is a pretty interesting sequel that is not as bad as what critics have said. With that being said, the film is far from perfect, but is strangely entertaining for what it is. First and foremost, video games make for a hard idea to bring to the screen, and when they do, the result is either hit or miss. However, this sequel to Silent Hill is far better than any Uwe Boll video game adaptation. There are enough supernatural elements at work here to make it a worthwhile horror film that is simply mindless fun. At times, the film feels like a mess, as it goes from a dark, atmosphere with the evils of Silent Hill to the real world. That was done purely make this one connect to the game’s original concept, and it is actually pretty cool. I would say that this is my guilty pleasure of the year 2012. This entry is purely made for fans of the game, and for other horror fans that enjoyed the first movie. Of course the original Silent Hill is far better, but this one does something different that actually works well enough to make for a pure popcorn horror flick to watch on a rainy night. I agree that the film has its flaws, nonetheless it’s an effective little chiller that you either enjoy or not. Quite frankly I find this one to be underrated, and it doesn’t deserve all the negativity it has received. This is a far better horror picture than The House at the End of the Street and Smiley. Silent Hill: Revelation is an average film that has plenty of effective elements, but could have toned down on confusing scenes a bit. The gore was good, and the supernatural elements are what kept me interested. This is a film that should only be seen by fans of the original, and no one else.

Final Rating:
6/10

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Sinister review

Posted in Supernatural Horror with tags , , , , , , , , on November 19, 2012 by Alex Roy

Sinister (2012)

Tagline: Once you see him, nothing can save you.

Directed by:
Scott Derrickson

Produced by:
Jason Blum

Run time:
110 minutes

Released:
October 12, 2012

Review:

One of the most disturbing and scary horror films in recent memory, Sinister is sure to please diehard horror fans. The film is one of the best in the genre this year along with The Cabin in the Woods. If you were disappointed by The House at the End of the Street, Sinister may offer what you were looking for in a terrifying flick. The film is not perfect, and it could have been better, but it relies on tense, brooding atmosphere to elevate the supernatural overtones that director Scott Derrickson tries to convey. I thoroughly recommend this horror yarn to genre fans that are disappointed with most horror films that are currently being released. Ethan Hawke is great here, and the rest of the cast do a fine job as well. This is a stunning film that will chill you to the bone. I enjoyed the fact that it used the found footage angle as a plot device, instead of making it as just another found footage film. With that said, the fact that the main character found a box full of videos with murders on them was pretty cool in the sense that it was part of the plot and wasn’t another run of the mill genre flick, which added so much more to the experience of the film. The film relies on atmosphere to create its horror, and it works well enough throughout to make you sit on the edge of your seat until the final chilling frame. Sinister will be a film that is most likely going to be remembered for years to come because it is among the first newer films that truly terrifies and doesn’t rely on excessive special effects, jump scares and a stupid plot. This picture relies more on a well crafted script, strong characters and the fear of what will happen next to deliver a memorable horrifying experience.

Final Rating:
7/10

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Cry Wolf review

Posted in Bad Horror, Other Slashers with tags , , , , , , on November 7, 2012 by Alex Roy

Cry Wolf (2005)

Tagline: You Lie… You Die!

Directed by:
Jeff Wadlow

Produced by:
Seth Gordon
Beau Bauman

Run time:
90 minutes

Released:
October 14, 2005

Interesting idea that never takes off due to a poor script. The film had a good premise, unfortunately there’s nothing going for the film, and I found myself bored watching this. Acting wise, the actors here are poor and none of them have any screen presence. This is meant to be a Slasher film, and it borrows heavily from the 1980′s hit April Fool’s Day, which was superior. This film lacks any suspenseful moments to really make it a fun and entertaining film that delivers top-notch scares. Mildly amusing in the long run, Cry Wolf could have been a much better film if the script would have been better. This film doesn’t have anything effective in delivering chills and it is a scare free, predictable affair that is a perfect example of a mediocre horror film. This film could have been much better than what kit turned out to be. Unfortunately with sloppy direction, this is an unfocused picture that doesn’t offer anything worthwhile for genre fans. As far as I’m concerned, this is a film that is poorly thought out, one that doesn’t deliver and one that is pretty forgettable. This is a poorly acted film to boot and the director clearly can’t craft a memorable terror experience. Cry Wolf is practically a rehash of previous ideas from other films, and you can clearly see where the cracks in the film lie. Mediocre and it’s a shame because the film had a pretty ingenious idea and it’s a shame that the filmmakers couldn’t craft a more entertaining film in the long run and it ended up being a misfire due to a paper-thin plot and poor execution of the material.

Final Rating:
4/10

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Session 9 review

Posted in Psychological Horror, Supernatural Horror with tags , , , , , , on October 24, 2012 by Alex Roy

Session 9 (2001)

Tagline: Fear is a place.

Directed by:
Brad Anderson

Produced by:
John Sloss
Dorothy Aufiero
David Collins
Michael Williams

Run time:
100 minutes

Released:
August 10, 2001

Review:

Well paced Psychological horror film, Session 9 is one of those horror films that takes time for the plot to unwind, but when it does, the film becomes intense, suspenseful and ultimately creepy. Supernatural elements are also combined to create a unique film. With a great cast, Session 9 is a well crafted horror film that should appeal to every horror fan. I’ve always loved haunted hospital films, and this film certainly delivers great tension and chills. Acting wise, the cast are great in their parts. Session 9 is one of those films that takes time to build up to the great climax and it is a well constructed film that definitely is original, eerie and successfully combines two genres of horror into one film. Director Brad Anderson’s direction keeps you involved and though it may be slow, you just want to find out how this supernatural, psychological horror tale will end. I’m a big fan of haunted asylum films and other similar films. Fragile was such a film, and Session 9 remind me a lot of that film. Anderson definitely knows what makes a solid horror film, and his understanding of the medium is clearly apparent in the finished film. If you’re looking for a well constructed horror yarn with a good cast, then give Session 9 a shot. This film definitely is among the best supernatural horror tales and it has a very good plot to keep you interested from start to finish. Although it has a slow buildup, there are plenty of things happening on-screen to keep you involved right up to the ending.

Final Rating:
7/10

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Baghead review

Posted in Horror Comedy, Slasher Films with tags , , , , , , on October 24, 2012 by Alex Roy

Baghead (2008)

Directed by:
Mark Duplass
Jay Duplass

Produced by:
Mark Duplass
Jay Duplass
John E. Bryant

Run time:
84 minutes

Released:
July 25, 2008

Review:

Decent low-budget horror comedy that is pretty decent. The idea behind this film is pretty interesting, and it is different. Although it is a decent flick, it still has plenty of flaws, and the end result is a film that had so much more potential than what it turned out to be. The dialogue is one of the weaker points of the film, along with a few questionable performances. For the most part, this is a fun film to watch, and it definitely is a refreshing take on comedy horror despite its imperfections. For what it’s worth, the cast do what they can with a sketchy script and the result is an imperfect film that does still manage to deliver a fun, entertaining hour and twenty minutes. The direction is quite good, but is never great and that’s to be expected from a low-budget film. As a whole, if you’re tired of the same old remakes, and want something really original, yet imperfect, give Baghead a shot. This is a decent picture that manages to be quite fun and is a must see for genre fans. At times the film has corny dialogue and laughable scenes, and not in a good way, luckily the directors are able to deliver more with effective interesting ideas that work, which in turn makes up for the film’s mistakes. Baghead is a decent film overall and work well enough to keep you entertained from start to finish, just don’t expect anything great with this one. Worth seeing if you want something quite different that your usual horror comedy.

Final Rating:
5/10

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Smiley review

Posted in Bad Horror, Slasher Films with tags , , , , , , , , on October 6, 2012 by Alex Roy


Smiley (2012)

Tagline: The new face of fear.

Directed by:
Michael Gallagher

Produced by:
Michael Wormser

Run time:
90 minutes

Released:
October 12, 2012

Review:

Absolutely dreadful Slasher film that is derivative, filled with clichés and bad dialogue. The film’s biggest problem is that we’ve seen its concept so many times before. The film rips off the Scream franchise and Candyman films, which were far superior to this trash. This film is one of the worst horror films than I’ve seen since Wes Craven’s My Soul to Take. The problem with this film is that it tries to add an intellectual quality to its formula, unfortunately the script is so poorly written and the acting is so bad that it makes this film a laughable film in a genre that is supposed to scare you. This is a film that is the perfect example of how not to make a horror film. The cast is composed of unknowns, and YouTube stars. Pointless and poorly directed, Smiley uses old ideas that we’ve seen in many other films, and it is a tiring, pointless picture that is sure to disappoint. This is among the year’s worst horror flicks and it has no redeeming qualities whatsoever. This film should never have seen the light of day. All the positive reviews are from people who clearly involved with the making of this train wreck. This film was absolute trash from start to finish, and the filmmakers had no clue on how to create an effective horror film. They just took the best elements of classic horror films, watered it down added some sort of teen humor twist to it. The film insults the intelligence and the horror fan in question. There are far better films out there than this trash. Avoid this film like the plague. This had potential in being a good flick, but everything is wasted on poor productions, poor script and poor directing that overall this isn’t worth your time.

Final Rating:
1/10

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