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Nefarious (2023)
Different level here
Woaaahhh! Just watched this last night and I can say it's on a completely different level than the maybe enjoyable, but mostly disposable, horror flix that pop up on our streaming services.
Story focuses on a slick, 30-something psychiatrist (Jordan Belfi) who goes to a state prison to determine the mental state of an inmate (Sean Patrick Flanery) scheduled for execution that night. At the initial meeting, the inmate immediately introduces himself as a demon. Let's just say that the shrink has his world view challenged.
Flanery is near brilliant as he switches between the bombastic demon, Nefarious, and the groveling, suffering host, who is still inside. The writing is terrific; the film is heavy on dialogue and interiors, so it could almost be a stage play.
Influencer (2022)
Yes!!!
I don't usually review on a whim, but this is a very enjoyable thriller with a twist. It def deserves its 6*+ rating. Having backpacked in Thailand, I "get it" (the "big Buddha" is on Ko Samui; correct me if I'm wrong).
This is set in the 2020's Insta influencer demographic. A lame influencer, Madison, is travelling in Thailand and meets someone who she thinks really knows how to do it. I'll leave it at that.
A couple of things:
1. Ex-Ryan, it felt like a very female centered film. There aren't many main characters, but they are all women.
2. Cassandra Naud's birthmark is real and she's still gorgeous.
Hell House LLC (2015)
worth your time
Nicely done found footage horror. Plot isn't boundary breaking, but writing and direction are tight and it delivers. Group that sets up scare houses for Halloween decides on a location in small town NewYork State that, unbeknownst to them, has a 'history'.
Good: events and set up are quite creepy: everything is in play including inanimate objects. Characters and their interactions are interesting and engaging .
Criticism: The event that's the focus of the film is somewhat muddled and we're not 100% clear exactly what happened, or at least I wasn't, but based on the set up, you can use your imagination.
Le notti del terrore (1981)
Giallo Zombies
Bad. Few redeeming features: I gave it 4 stars instead of 3 for the pretty Italian women, the bit of nudity and the pretty good zombie makeup. Anything else to recommend it? Not much. There's unimaginative gore for the gore hounds, but that's about it.
Writing is terrible--there's basically no plot except...zombies appear!!--and the soundtrack is wild: flying saucer noises when zombies do appear?? And is that Dave Brubeck's jazz classic, Take Five, at the start? Although makeup isn't bad, the zombies are unconvincing and just walk around with their arms extended. The fact that there's no backstory doesn't help. Zombies?? Why?? Strange subplot too about the kid, Michael. But this is a giallo, so strange subplots are to be expected.
Seriously. There are waaaay better zombie movies out there, including Italian ones. Give this one a miss.
Below the Fold (2021)
Where's the love for "Below the Fold"?
Basically, two small town journalists are assigned to write a story about the ten-year anniversary of a young girl's disappearance.
I don't know why this film has 4 stars. It's worth at least 5. Script is OK, but direction and mood are great. Both leads are good. Ending was a little confusing, but that was no big deal. It's definitely worth a watch.
Bad Match (2017)
Deserves 6 stars
IMHO Bad Match deserves 6 stars. To me, a 5-star review indicates a competent, workmanlike product, but Bad Match is better than that. It's a fresh thriller that covers similar ground to Fatal Attraction and cleverly plays with your awareness of that '80's classic. Even if you haven't seen it, you know the plot. There's even a sly reference, something to the effect of "I'm glad I don't have a pet".