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brucemcdonald07
Reviews
Street Trash (1987)
Lady I ain't sure you ain't got a dick!
I really enjoyed this film and I'm so glad I saw a random reference on the internet and tracked it down! As a lot of reviewers have said, this is a comedy of the blackest sense and is very much in the same vein as Peter Jacksons 'Brain Dead' (or 'Dead Alive' as its also known). The gore is incessant and splattertastic. Both unbelievable and shocking at the same time. Make no mistake there are some grim sights here, encompassing gang rape, necrophilia, dismemberment and murder. And thats without even referring to the surprisingly effective 'melting' scenes for which the film is notorious. There are some great cameos from James Lorinz(Frankenhooker) and Tony Darrow (who also has an excellent and surreal closing scene)which help to inject some humour. Street Trash is also loaded with excellent dialogue and brilliant one liners. I really enjoy grimy films like this one that invoke a real sense of the lousy underbelly of big cities, a fertile setting for horror. All in all a great film and well worth tracking down if you can!
Maniac Cop (1988)
An excellent 80s 'horror' film
I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised with 'Maniac cop'. Having seen the posters and video years and years ago and heard it mentioned numerous time, I finally got around to, ahem, 'acquiring' it for myself. First off the setting and pace of the film are spot on and fit perfectly into the horror genre so prevalent in the late 80s. This film is really a blend of cop and horror genres and scores well on both counts. There is ample gore and some genuinely chilling scenes which are well backed up by sturdy performances from genre favourites Bruce Campbell, Tom Atkins and even 'Shaft' himself - Richard Roundtree. I recognised many of the other actors from other 80s films like the sleazy mayor, crippled policewoman and others and this all helps the film along. Make no mistake about it, this film still packs a punch, despite the somewhat jokey killings and the air of invulnerability of the eponymous 'Maniac' is reminiscent of 'Manhunter' and especially 'The Hitcher'. If you love 80s trash films then this is a real treat.
7 out of 10 - very enjoyable.
Janghwa, Hongryeon (2003)
A multi-layered masterpiece
This is a truly special film and one that succeeds on several levels. Make no mistake though, to fully appreciate this gem will take considerable effort and concentration on the part of the viewer and the 'all your questions answered' threads on the message boards of this site help a great deal.
I think this film is best classified as a psychological horror, although it has more than a few truly terrifying moments, certainly enough to keep a horror fan satisfied. There is one moment in particular towards the start of the film that scared me more than any other film since I stayed up late to watch John Carpenters 'The Thing' in an empty house when I was about 13! The minimal score really helps here and as other members have commented the total lack of music during the scares is a refreshing and nerve jangling change.
I will refrain from mentioning the plot in any significant capacity as there really is too much to say. I would certainly recommend watching this film a number of times to get the best out of it though - there is just so much to take in and savour.
I highly recommend this film as it absolutely blows any modern 'horror' film that I have seen out of the water. Fascinating and chilling in equal measure, definitely one of the best films I have seen in a long time. 9/10 (and thats being harsh)
Phantasm II (1988)
When you die - you come to us!
The second instalment of the Phantasm franchise does away with the dreamlike, ephemeral quality of the original and replaces it with a far more simple and linear narrative. However, in keeping with the tradition of Alien and Terminator, this sequel is packed with action and makes for one of the quintessential 80s action/horror films.
I agree that this film has its cheesy moments and some dubious scenes but these add to the slightly jokey feel of the film that allows the director to take a few liberties, a la Evil Dead II. The original Michael is replaced with James LeGros who does a better job in my opinion and Reggie Bannister is along for the ride once more, replete with a bag full of one liners (and a quad shotgun).
Plot wise, this is much more of a road movie, interspersed with high action and all kinds of classic 80s scenes. There is enough gore to satisfy and a scene where a one armed guy meets his end is particularly memorable. The usual Phantasm twists and strangeness are not abandoned all together and the ending is particularly satisfying.
All in all, whilst I appreciate and adore the original, I actually prefer watching this one. My vote 8 out of 10, an 80s classic.
Phantasm (1979)
A fantastically original horror film
This really is one of the most original horror films out there, possessing a great story some truly memorable characters and a dreamlike, ethereal feel to it that really draws you in.
First of, the setting of a mausoleum/funeral parlour adds a lot to the chilling feel of this film, with shoes squeaking on marble floors adding to the tension. Secondly, the haunting synthesiser score adds a good deal to the tension in much the same way that John Carpenters excellent scores did to his works. On top of all this, Reggie Bannister (as himself) is one of the great 'anti-heros' in modern horror - up there with Bruce Campbell in the 'Evil Dead' films. As for 'The Tall man', the eponymous villain of the film well, what can be said that hasn't been said before? A classic horror film villain with many a trick up his sleeve.
When I first watched this film I did not pick up on the subtle (and downright confusing) ending and therefore came away with the strong feeling that I had missed something, a feeling which somewhat spoiled the enjoyment of the film. Thanks to a repeat viewing and a bit of scrutiny of the message boards on this site I feel that I now understand the 'dream' part of the ending and must conclude that this really is a rare gem of a film, entertaining enough for cheap scare fans, gory enough for gore hounds and intriguing enough for those who like deeper meanings in their films. In short a classic of the horror genre in its own right - highly recommended.
Session 9 (2001)
An excellent study of brooding fear
I finally got around to watching this film last night as I thought it fairly appropriate to watch a psychological horror on Halloween. All in all i was fairly impressed and consider it to be a worthy, thought provoking if flawed effort.
The fantastic setting of an abandoned mental institute and the excellent cinematography and score combine to create a wonderful feeling of creeping dread that builds successfully in the first two thirds of the film. The cast is also pretty decent, especially the somewhat troubled Scottish lead who's name escapes me. i have to say I wasn't all that impressed with David Carusos performance. These elements combine to form a true psychological horror that is a credit to the name. Many parts of the abandoned asylum reminded me strongly of Konamis Silent Hill series which were a particular favourite of mine. I think the only truly unsatisfactory part of this film has to be the ending and the subsequent weak denouement. All of the carefully constructed tension and dread is dissipated by a relatively low key ending that somewhat punctures many of the truly terrifying images and theories swirling in the viewers mind. That said, this film does merit further viewings and is thought provoking on a scarcely seen level in modern horror, and for that it must be saluted, if only with a somewhat harsh 6 out of 10!