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Reviews
No Time to Fear (2009)
Annoyingly Bad and Hokey!
While at the time of this submission there is only one other review, I find it sadly surprising that about 16 people have rated this film and given it a 9 out of 10. Think about that people. Some of the greatest films of all time do not get 9 out of 10 on IMDb and this sophomoric, straight to Chiller Channel got this rating! Must be the cast, crew and their families and friends!
I am a huge fan and supporter of Independent film but honesty is honesty and quality is quality and this effort has neither.
I tuned in because of the premise: an evil spirit takes the form of it's prey. That sounded pretty intriguing. How does one defeat that? I found the story to be one of the weakest I have seen in recent wasted evenings with low budget, cheesy, Chiller offerings. This plot line, and surprise ending (which I will not give away and let you feel as robbed and let down as I was,) has been done much better and with different results by thousands of others!
The premise, a depressed, suicidal young man goes camping with his sister and other friends. He finds a statue in the forest and things go down hill from there - for everyone, but especially the viewer!
When you start with a story that seems a patchwork of disconnected pieces poorly stitched together, it takes great, or at least good, actors to pull the venture off. Here we have neither. The strongest effort is turned in by the male lead, James DeBello. He will probably make another film, and I would give it a chance. Not so with the others, especially the female lead, Francesca Cecil. You know the phrase "don't quit your day job"? Well, I hope she has a day job!
Ms Cecil is not only unbelievable, vapid and shallow in her attempt - her voice is annoying and irritating.
While there were many weaknesses in directing and cinematography, even the wardrobe had laughable elements. In the early camping scenes, Ms Cecil's wardrobe looked like she was running to the mall to pick up some more fake eyelashes and mascara.
As the first reviewer noted, why is there a statue in the forest? The reason for this or any other resulting events is never addressed to any seemingly logical conclusion. In fact, the actual "twist" that is the film's conclusion is such a hokey "let's just end this madness" that "unsatisfied" is the kindest description of how one might feel.
There was nothing "nice" about this effort and while I support Independent film makers, I would not encourage this type of shoddy work. If I could find something nice to say about this work, I would be happy to. I gave it 2 stars because it was an Indie effort! Pretty weak praise for a show that barely deserves 2 stars. Save yourself the time and watch something else or, read a book!
Nightmare Honeymoon (1974)
"Nightmare" is definitely a cut above! Sturdy performances and thoughtful story.
The luridly titled Nightmare Honeymoon is a cut above the typical "made for TV" (type of drama. Newlyweds, Jill and David, take a wrong turn and run into sadistic killers, on their way to their honeymoon in New Orleans.
What might have been just another predictable story of action and violence is instead a more interesting exploration into the couple's grappling with the aftermath of their emotions. Dack Rambo, as David, and Rebecca Dianna Smith, as Jill, give insightful performances dealing with the tensions of the need for protection and revenge.
(Possible spoiler follows.)
After surviving being caught and beaten when they accidentally witness a criminal execution, the couple seem barely surprised when the local sheriff seems hardly interested. Their subsequent decision to proceed on to New Orleans, instead of immediately returning to Jill's nearby, next state home and the love and support of her father and large clan family with roots of over 100 years in the area, seems a bit implausible at first. Then, one must remember the film, released in 1973, was during a time when rape victims often feared the shame and humiliation almost as much as the rapists.
In spite of saying they cannot pretend the rape did not happen, they proceed to New Orleans checking into their honeymoon suite. The visual beauty and sumptuousness of the honeymoon suite (David says, "I didn't know there were still places like this.,) can barely be taken in, let alone enjoyed, given the shock of their experience.
Realizing they cannot go forward with their lives, and choosing not to go back to involve her father, the recently returned Vietnam Veteran, David, decides that he is going to find the killers.
Production values are definitely a cut above. The scenes in New Orleans bring nostalgia for the "Grand Lady."
The film is filled with a great cast of well seasoned character actors and the strong experience of the cast is evident. I'm not sure why the credits list the female lead of Rebecca Dianna Smith last, under "other cast"! Especially given her accurate, thoughtful performance.