Antitrust (2001)

2 / 5
Tagline: Truth can be dangerous... Trust can be deadly.
Directed by: Peter Howitt
Written by: Howard Franklin
Actors include: Ryan Phillippe, Rachael Leigh Cook, Claire Forlani
Genre: Thriller
Length: 109 minutes
Banned: Nope
Country: USA

Review:
The ridiculous title should have been enough to keep me at bay but noooo I had to watch this on cable. The story is about a computer programmer genius named Milo who graduates and moves on up quickly when offered a job at NURV (the lead character loosely based upon Bill Gates). The company has been working on project Synapse and they need Milo to help them meet their launch so he agrees and takes the job. Of course from there he learns that the company isn't exactly what he thought and he learns not to trust certain people. It's a bare bones thriller that offers absolutely no thrills, just dull deception.

Availability:  On DVD

Strange Behavior (1981)

3.5 / 5 Aug '09
Tagline: Cuts up parts other movies just dislocate
Directed by: Michael Laughlin
Written by: Bill Condon, Michael Laughlin
Actors include: Michael Murphy, Louise Fletcher, Dan Shor
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi
Length: 105 minutes
Banned: Nope
Country: Australia/USA/New Zealand

Review:
Certainly a creative film with a decent idea, it just had a few problems with budget, staying on topic and so forth. If you've seen Disturbing Behavior this is rather similar (although this came first of course). It's about a couple of good boys from a small town who decide to take part in a research study for money. The thing is the research is dangerous and before long they are out killing with no recollection of what happened. It's got a few bloody moments, but most of it is cutaway and lacking gratuity. This has a sense of humor, and in several ways it feels like a weirdo '80s comedy which is kinda neat. It's just not consistently funny or anything and unfortunately the scares are nowhere to be found. At least it's got a few neat moments and overall the story was pretty interesting. Not a lost classic but rather a hidden treat that should somewhat satisfy!

Availability:  On DVD

Abandon (2002)

1.5 / 5
Tagline: Watch who you leave behind.
Directed by: Stephen Gaghan
Written by: Stephen Gaghan
Actors include: Katie Holmes, Benjamin Bratt, Charlie Hunnam
Genre: Thriller
Length: 99 minutes
Banned: Nope
Country: USA/Australia

Review:
Oy, a co-worker lent me this one saying that it was a pretty good thriller. I can only deduce that she hasn't seen very many thrillers as this was pretty much tripe. The story is about a girl named Catherine (Katie Holmes) who is stressed out about exams and completing her thesis and all of that good stuff. Things go from bad to worse when her old boyfriend shows up after 2 years of being absent. This is the sort of thing that offers no thrills and sadly barely anything happens...I really wanted most of the characters dead. You can see twists a mile away and truly it felt like nobody involved really gave a rat's behind about the film and neither do I.

Availability:  On DVD

Chaos (1999) aka Kaosu

3.5 / 5
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Hideo Nakata
Written by: Hisashi Saito
Actors include: Jun Kunimura, Ken Mitsuishi, Masato Hagiwara
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Crime
Length: 90 minutes
Banned: Nope
Country: Japan

Review:
This was actually rather spooky and atmospheric in many ways, the only real downfall is the slowness. This one is about a couple, a rich man and his wife. She goes outside and is offered some money if she does something to help out a handyman. She doesn't return and the Husband is left with the task of finding her, but things get more complicated when he is contacted by a kidnapper. It's one of those twisty turny stories that is a bit confusing but if you pay attention it makes sense. Definitely different from what one would expect from Hideo Nakata especially since I'd only seen Ringu previously. This is more like a complicated drama/thriller than a horror film, but it's still a pretty neat story.

Availability:  On DVD

The Silent Partner (1978)

 4.5 / 5 Aug '09
Tagline: "The Silent Partner" begins with a crime of sheer genius and builds to a climax of sheer terror!
Directed by: Daryl Duke
Written by: Curtis Hanson, Anders Bodelsen
Actors include: Elliott Gould, Christopher Plummer, Susannah York
Genre: Thriller, Crime
Length: 100 minutes
Banned: Nope
Country: Canada

Review:
So it may borrow a few ideas from other exciting '70s thrillers...who cares! This has got to be one of the best thrillers that Canada has to offer, it's gripping from beginning to end and the cast is fabulous. Elliott Gould plays mild mannered banker Miles Cullen, a man who accidentally finds out in advance about the mall's Santa plot to rob the bank. Instead of giving him all of the money he happens to stash the majority of it away for himself. Christopher Plummer (who I had trouble at first believing he was evil because of his kindness in The Sound of Music) plays evil store Santa who finds out he was ripped off when the radio announces how much he made off with...let's just say he's pissed off about the gyp. From there it's harassing phone calls, fish attacks and spying amongst other fun thriller happenings. I honestly liked all of it's twists and turns and it's actually just a slick thriller that just about anyone should enjoy. An extra bonus was that this was filmed in the Eaton's Center in Toronto in the '70s so the scenery was pretty neat too. Oh and the extreme violence bits were awesome, horror fans should love this too.

Availability:  On DVD

The Boxer's Omen (1983) aka Mo

3.5 / 5 Aug '09
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Chih-Hung Kuei
Written by: Chih-Hung Kuei, On Szeto
Actors include: Somjai Boomsong, Tien-chu Chin, Phillip Ko
Genre: Horror
Length: 105 minutes
Banned: Nope
Country: Hong Kong

Review:
Very surreal, yet extremely cheap and gross out boxing revenge movie. I would be lying if I said I wasn't intrigued by this most of the way through, although I kept hoping for some extra explanations for what was going on. What I made out of this was that a Boxer got in trouble for breaking a Man's back during a competition and therefore wasn't allowed to box anymore. The guy who he injured has a brother who has vowed revenge. Our disgraced Boxer joins the Monkhood and learns some super meditative powers to fight the dark wizard and his creations and the brother. The dark wizard conjures up some magical alligator skulls for yapping, bat bones (made from chicken bones me thinks) that fly about and other bizarre things one wouldn't expect (oh and the vomiting of a live eel ewww). You can tell it's trying really hard to be colorful and surreal, but the cheapness of everything makes it more laughable than "deep". Especially where you get into scenes with a giant red devil character. It's something that really must be seen but it's just a shame it wasn't made a little more professionally because it had potential to be creepy instead of just gross and weird.

Availability:  On DVD

Alone in the Dark (1982)

4 / 5 Aug '09
Tagline: Too frightened to breathe...
Directed by: Jack Sholder
Written by: Jack Sholder, Robert Shaye
Actors include: Jack Palance, Donald Pleasence, Martin Landau
Genre: Horror
Length: 92 minutes
Banned: Finland, Iceland
Country: USA

Review:
I actually think this would have worked really well as Halloween III: Season of the Witch considering it has more in common with the franchise than the actual third sequel. This one is about a group of mental patients (who are seriously disturbed...Jack Palance and Martin Landau were particularly creepy) that seem to believe that their old Doctor was killed by new Doctor Dan Potter (the old doctor was named Harry...so Potter had to track down Harry har har). Anyhow, Dan Potter and his wife and daughter are in trouble when the electricity goes out. You see the mental ward door is controlled by electricity so when they break out guess where they are going! This was actually created with a great sense of humor (chasing the mailman down for his hat for example) and some nice teases of gore. It's just a shame that the nastiest scenes were dream sequences...still this does have some blood in realty too. Just because this is rather erm derivative doesn't mean it isn't a ball of fun all on it's own.

Availability:  On DVD

The Island of Dr. Moreau (1977)

 3 / 5 Aug '09
Tagline: The Doctor is In-SANE!
Directed by: Don Taylor

Written by: H.G. Wells, Al Ramrus

Actors include: Burt Lancaster, Michael York, Nigel Davenport

Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure, Horror, Romance

Length: 99 minutes

Banned: Nope

Country: USA

Review:

This is my first experience with the story (baring the South Park and Simpsons parodies of course), and I must say I was rather disappointed. The first 3/4 of the film is rather dull and I was just begging for something to happen, but at least the last bit was interesting and even cool. First of all we watch a boat capsizing and a man floats aboard a tiny island. We learn of a Scientist named Dr. Moreau (Burt Lancaster) who seems to be conducting experiments on the island. He has some freaky looking assistants and of course a beautiful young assistant named Maria who our shipwrecked fella (Michael York) falls for. Before long though York realizes something strange is going on with these experiments as there are many animals who resemble poorly made-up Ewoks (though that wasn't what they were supposed to look like me thinks). See the Scientist thinks that he can turn animal to man, but of course the lesson is don't play God. It does get exciting once real animals enter the story, but by that time you've had to suffer through a lot of love garbage and a lot of talking. Still not a bad story and I'd try the remake (that I heard was more exciting), just hold on for the end of this one or else you will have entirely wasted your time.

Availability:  On DVD

The Attic (1980)

3 / 5 Aug '09
Tagline: 13 Steps to TERROR!
Directed by: George Edwards
Written by: Tony Crechales, George Edwards
Actors include: Carrie Snodgress, Ray Milland, Ruth Cox
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Horror
Length: 101 minutes
Banned: Nope
Country: USA

Review:
This is an odd tale of erm terror, very psychological and very screwed up but not really "horror" in the typical sense. It's just incredibly depressing to watch and it's a very slow moving film though the ending is worth the sit. Carrie Snodgress is excellent as a poor character that has basically been forced to live at home with her wheelchair bound father. He is extremely cruel to her, but then again most everyone seems to be. She was once engaged but her lover disappeared on their wedding day so she desperately tries to find him even 19 years later. Let's face it, she's a few bricks shy of a load, but you can't help but pity her. Of course things have to come to a head with her father oh and I should mention, she has a pet chimp which is rather surreal. It's a very odd film that will appeal to some, but definitely not for everyone. It's warped at least, that's a good thing right? Oh and I should mention, this has some of the worst music I've ever heard in a movie...ever!

Availability:  On DVD (but OOP) but watch for free here:  http://www.fancast.com/movies/The-Attic/148419/1300321951/The-Attic/videos

Ssssssss (1973) aka SSSSnake

 4.5 / 5 Aug '09
Tagline: Terror is ready to strike!
Directed by: Bernard L. Kowalski
Written by: Hal Dresner, Daniel C. Striepeke
Actors include: Strother Martin, Dirk Benedict, Heather Menzies
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Length: 99 minutes

Banned: Finland
Country: USA

Review:
Surprisingly effective and chilling low budget snake film. I'd been recommended this from a co-worker named Dean and since he'd been right about the last few he recommended we gave this a try. Firstly if you are afraid of snakes (I'm somewhat) this is hard to watch, they use real deadly snakes in this and often. It's the kind of intense feeling one gets from watching the Crocodile Hunter or something watching these poor actors have to act around this horribly poisonous creatures. The story is about a scientist who gets a student to help him in his snake lab. He starts injecting him with a serum to prevent death from snake bites yet of course that wasn't the truth at all! The effects were shockingly good and the story was not only disturbing and creepy but consistently entertaining. I had no idea this would be so good, especially from the title and the fact that nobody else seems to mention this one. Oh and the only bad thing about this was poor Heather Menzies outfits, awful mullet hair and silly glasses, distractingly bad.

Availability:  On DVD

Night Warning (1983) aka Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker aka Momma's Boy aka Nightmare Maker aka The Evil Protege aka Thrilled to Death

4.5 / 5 Aug '09
Tagline: She was lonely. He was all she had. No-one would take him from her - and live...
Directed by: William Asher
Written by: Stephen F. Breimer, Boon Collins
Actors include: Jimmy McNichol, Susan Tyrrell, Bo Svenson
Genre: Horror
Length: 96 minutes
Banned: Iceland
Country: USA

Review:
Fantastic video nasty, I mean this one was pretty much awesome right away as the movie starts out with one of the best car crashes I've ever seen. Then we flash ahead to many years later, the couple who died in the crash had a son and we catch up with his life. He's living with his really odd Aunt who seems to like him an awful lot, she doesn't even want him to leave for college! The kid seems to be going through some struggles, as a star athlete his coach was found out to be a homosexual so everyone is accusing him of being gay...even the cops! Why are the cops involved? Well his psycho aunt "accidentally" killed a television repair man and he somewhat witnessed the accident. This film has a great sense of humor and just when you hope something bad will happen it will...it's so rewarding! Susan Tyrell gives one of the best performances of a looney that I've ever seen...seriously over-the-top awesome in every way. As far as blood and guts go, it's got some but I wouldn't say it's maybe as violent as some of the other video nasties, subject matter however is well a bit shocking. This is great as a movie, only the limp ending makes this a little less fantastic, but this is a must see for sure.

Availability:  Never on DVD as far as I understand

Eaten Alive (1977) aka Death Trap

 3 / 5 Aug '09
Tagline: He's out there and he's got murder on his mind!
Directed by: Tobe Hooper
Written by: Kim Henkel, Alvin L. Fast
Actors include: Neville Brand, Mel Ferrer, Marilyn Burns
Genre: Horror
Length: 91 minutes
Banned: Nope
Country: USA

Review:
I truly expected a heck of a lot more, I mean this is the Tobe Hooper film that follows The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. In fact this one even has Marilyn Burns in it, and an early appearance from Robert Englund. The idea is that a scummy jerk of a hotel owner has a crocodile in the backyard and he feeds it...human flesh! Mr. owner dude seems to enjoy stabbing at people with a pitchfork (in cutaway death style), in fact streams of ketchup are pretty much all you'll get to see aside from the odd flash of a rubber croc. It's extremely low budget though it works for TCM here it only makes this even more dull. See what is awesome about TCM is that it feels real, this feels anything but. The folks who come to stay at this hotel are a whore in a wig, a couple (Burns in a bad wig and weirdo husband) with a kid (who was Alicia in Little House on the Prairie), then later the sister and father of whore in wig. I'm not sure why all the cheap wigs but "why" is a big problem with the entire movie. See when the couple with the small girl show up, they are to use the restroom. While waiting their dog is eaten by a croc, instead of leaving (which is the only response that makes sense) they take a room? That is only one of my many problems with this one. Englund is rather funny as a redneck to likes anal sex, but he's far from enough to save this dull picture. If nothing more it's slightly better than Big Alligator River, but it's no Alligator.

Availability:  On DVD