I have noticed several reviews popping up lately for movies on Netflix Instant Play.

I'll bet alot of us have it, or will have it soon.  It is very addicting.

This is (generally) the "bargain bin" stuff -- a lot of which I have never even heard of, making it difficult to decide what to select.

I thought I would make a home for the gems in there -- discoveries you have unearthed and can share with the rest of us.  I will start with two:

Altered:  This is a silly alien flick, with a vague sort of "Evil Dead" vibe at times.  A lot of it is over the top, in a funny way.  The characters do dumb things, but I found them likable just the same.  What really struck me, however, is that the script is pretty much confined to a single location.  That alone makes it worth a look for us.

Tokyo Gore Police:  McClung originally recommended this on a thread somewhere, and I loved it.  So did Ross, my 16-year-old.  This is not a serious film.  It is fire-hoses of blood and insane mutations and even fake ads that are laugh-out-loud funny.  If you are in the mood for a nutty Asian film, it does not get much better than this.

Summer is coming up.  Any more diamonds in the Netflix slush pile?

OK, I can definitely chime in here, as I watch a shitload of movies.

Just to follow up on what Bert mentioned...

Altered - pretty decent to good.  A bigger budget sure would have helped.

Tokyo Gore Police - Couldn't get through the first 15 minutes.  Insanely over the top gore and everything else.  Not my cup of tea.

The Canyon - Actually really liked it for what it was.  Well done, decent acting, pretty intense if you let yourself in.

Wicked Lake - As it is, it's pretty fucking bad, but there's something about it that says it could have been so much better.  I've read that there's a new Director's cut coming out.  It's silly, goofy, and over the top, but damn, those 4 babes are hot...

Necrosis - Pretty decent overall.  Could have/should have been better, but for some reason, I definitely did not hate it.

Red Sands - Again, pretty decent.  Could have been better, but it worked for the most part for me.

Dead of Winter - Actually really liked this one.  I thought the acting was way above the norm for DTV's.  Based on true life events, that have been altered and beefed up for entertainment.  Well put together with a real feel to it.

Big Bad Wolf - Pretty terrible in most ways, but for some reason, I see a much better movie (or maybe script) that is lurking inside.  Don't expect much and you will get some laughs and entertainment.

The Hunt - Zero budget, terrible acting, poorly done, but a decent story in here...buried way deep inside.  Can't recommend it, but it could have been so much better.

Frontiers - Awesome foreign flick!  Loved it in so many ways.  Brutal and well done overall.

The Lost - Although definitely not for everyone, I really appreciated this.  Based on a Jack Ketchum novel, it's a different look into the mind of a madman.  Slow at times, and weird as well, overall, it is gripping...and brutal, and worked for me for sure.  Check it out!

Deadgirl - Not great by any means, but interesting.  Definitely not for everyone again.

Shallow Ground - Again, low budget, but pretty well done overall, and a compelling mystery that worked for me.

Nine Dead - Pretty decent.  A little slow and derivative, but it actually worked for the most part.

The Stefather 2009 - I was actually fairly impressed with this.  Not a bad remake, IMO.

Train - I actually loved this one!  Very, very impressed with it.  Quite shocking and brutal and well done, IMO.  Surprised it wasn't released in the theaters...it could have done something, I think.

Seed - Uwe Boll like you've never seen him before.  Very, very brutal and shocking at times.  A little over the top and lots of problems, but I enjoyed it and will remember it for sure.

While she was Out - Kim Basinger in a Canadian horror DTV.  Far from good in every way, but interesting to see what Kim has been driven to star in.

Grace - Absolutely hated it!  Terrible!  Boring, ugly, stupid, WEAK!  Watch at your own risk!

Walled In - Dull, kind of lame, but OK overall.  I fell asleep but my girlfriend said she liked it better than Memento, believe it or not.

That's a start for you guys and gals!

Black Cadillac - Randy Quaid in a small budget thriller about a group of college students chased by a stranger in a black cadillac.

Hatchet - Brilliant black horror about a killer stalking tourists in the Bayou.

Dead and Breakfast - Not so obscure, but loved this take on zombies. It has a musical number!

Wendigo - movie about the creature/spirit is more thriller than straight out horror. Spooky and pretty well done for a low-budget movie.

I'm sure there are more, but I can't think of any right now.

I was severely underwhelmed by Hatchet, but I've discussed that one to death in other threads.  The acting, setup, sets, everything screamed low, low budget, and from all the positive word of mouth, I was hoping for so much more.

Tried to watch Dead and Breakfast last night.  After about 15 minutes, I said "Fuck this piece of shit".  I literally hated it!  Supposed to be funny, I guess?  Sure wasn't, IMO.

I saw Wendigo awhile back...didn't like it, but definitely didn't hate it either.

I'll give Black Cadillac a shot.

Pia, Cat's Eye is really, really old.  A good movie for sure.  Lots of old decent-good movies available, but I've seen them all.  I always am trying to see everything I haven't seen...mostly fairly new stuff.

Tokyo Gore Police is the greatest movie I wouldn't have known about without Netflix. I watched it around 2 in the morning on a drunken whim and bought it the next day. So much fun and still pretty underground even in the horror community. It's also the second goriest film of all time in terms of sheer gallons. Peter Jackson still holds #1 which seems appropriate as TGP feels like Asia's answer to Dead Alive. I'll second it despite me being the one to recommend it in the first place. This one is for the freaks!

I'll recommend The Machine Girl as people who see it either flock to Tokyo Gore Police afterward or the other way around. The special FX guy is the director of TGP so similarities abound. The Machine Girl does eschew a lot of TGP's pseudo-commentary and in-jokes about Japanese culture though in favor of more intentionally comical gags and Power Rangers-esque action scenes. I preferred TGP but thought The Machine Girl was fun as well. Both are sick and bloody as hell.

There's a ton of excellent Asian films on Instant Play. Takashi Miike and Park Chanwook have quite a few on there. I'd recommend people watch all of them. The Host is on there as well. There's quite a few bad ones as well. A lot of them Japanese gore flicks. But you can always expect them to be bloody and absolutely bizarre.

If anyone likes crazy movies about drugs, Altered States takes the cake. Likewise, if anyone likes offbeat comedies featuring aberrant sexual acts, I'd check out Bobcat Goldthwait's Sleeping Dogs Lie and World's Greatest Dad. Pretty well done films despite how bizarre the plots are.

Thanks, Jeff.  My summer just got more interesting -- horror-wise.

Quoted from James McClung There's a ton of excellent Asian films on Instant Play. Takashi Miike and Park Chanwook have quite a few on there. I'd recommend people watch all of them.

Yeah, James -- reminded me of a couple more.  Jeff, see these if you haven't.

Ichi the Killer: Not obscure (to some of us maybe), but definitely a film to see if you haven't already.  This film is about style, with an unforgettable character anchoring the film.  One of those films that -- even if you end up not liking it much -- you will be glad you saw it once.

Three...Extremes: Three stories from three Asian directors.  Some of it is stomach-churning stuff, and they are all quite different.  The last one may be a bit arty for you, Jeff -- but I suspect the first two will be right up your alley.

Bargain bin? I watched Lost seasons 1-5 on instant watch on my Wii. It has a ton of classic films and a lot of stuff that is on IMDB's top 250 list (dipped into Fargo the other night). If you want to watch something, you're always bound to find something in there you'll like.

Ichi was too long though it was very strange.

The Host South Korean -  A sea monster runs rampant in Seoul's River Han. What's particularly interesting about this movie is that it is an allegory about the American interference in South Korea.

Quoted from George Willson Bargain bin?

Quoted from Grandma Bear What do you mean bargain bin?

Quoted from me (not Pia, but me) This is (generally) the "bargain bin" stuff

I said "generally", guys.  There is some good stuff in there, sure.

But when you go browsing for new horror flicks, it is reminiscent of walking the aisle at Blockbuster and only recognizing a third of the titles on boxes that may look good -- but you just never know.

That's all I am going for here.  "Good-looking" boxes that actually deliver the goods.


[Edit:  And it looks like our friends at The Asylum are at it again -- with "Paranormal Entity" -- a blatant knockoff of "Paranormal Activity".  Make sure not to queue that one up by accident haha.]

Quoted from Dreamscale I was severely underwhelmed by Hatchet, but I've discussed that one to death in other threads.  The acting, setup, sets, everything screamed low, low budget, and from all the positive word of mouth, I was hoping for so much more. Tried to watch Dead and Breakfast last night.  After about 15 minutes, I said "Fuck this piece of shit".  I literally hated it!  Supposed to be funny, I guess?  Sure wasn't, IMO. I saw Wendigo awhile back...didn't like it, but definitely didn't hate it either. I'll give Black Cadillac a shot.

Oh well, different strokes for different folks I guess!! Let me know what you thought of Black Cadillac. Again, I picked these based on budget and premise.

Really hated D&B, eh? Even with David and Ever Carradine???? haha. It's defintely a love it or hate it movie. The script was written over a weekend, if I remember correctly. If you stick with it, there is some major gore in the 2nd/3rd Act.

Try these:

The Cottage. Another low budget British horror movie that swings in a direction that most don't see coming.

Isolation - An Irish low budget horror movie. Nice cinematography and creepy feeling.

I would never queue up Asylum movies on accident. They get queued on purpose. That company is my inspiration. I figure if they can run a movie studio for as long as they have on what they make, I can do it on something better.

I've found a lot of parallels between Netflix Instant Watch, and what's available through my cable's On Demand section.  Here's a mixed bag of stuff.

Bronson - Nicolas Winding Refn's vivid and unflinching biopic delves into the life of Britain's most notorious prisoner, Charlie Bronson (Tom Hardy) -- who's been jailed for nearly 35 years -- and attempts to dissect the real man behind the deranged persona. While Bronson's primary ambition was to be famous, he became a celebrity of sorts as a criminal who seized myriad opportunities to demonstrate extreme and terrorizing savagery.

World's Greatest Dad - After his son (Daryl Sabara) dies in an awkward freak accident, high school poetry teacher Lance (Robin Williams) ghostwrites a suicide note to spare the family embarrassment. But when the note becomes an unexpected hit, Lance sees a chance to resurrect his writing career. In a bid for literary fame, Lance writes his son's journal and passes it off as his own. Writer-director Bob Goldthwait's comedy debuted at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.

Moon - As he nears the end of a lonely three-year stint on the moon base Sarang, astronaut Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) begins to hear and see strange things. It's not long before Sam suspects that his employer -- the conglomerate LUNAR -- has other plans for him. Featuring Kevin Spacey as the voice of a robot, this sci-fi thriller also stars Matt Berry and Kaya Scodelario. The film was an official selection at the Sundance Film Festival.

These next two are geared toward kids, but are still very entertaining.  I can't recommend Up enough.

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs - Inventor Flint Lockwood creates a machine that makes clouds rain food, enabling the down-and-out citizens of Chewandswallow to feed themselves. But when the falling food reaches gargantuan proportions, Flint must scramble to avert disaster. Can he regain control of the machine and put an end to the wild weather before the town is destroyed? Bill Hader and Anna Faris lend their vocal talents to this Golden Globe-nominated animated adventure.

Up - After a lifetime of dreaming of traveling the world, 78-year-old homebody Carl (voiced by Ed Asner) flies away on an unbelievable adventure with Russell, an 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer (Jordan Nagai), unexpectedly in tow. Together, the unlikely pair embarks on a thrilling odyssey full of jungle beasts and rough terrain. Other voices in the Oscar-winning film include the renowned Christopher Plummer and Pixar stalwart John Ratzenberger.

Zombie classic Fido is On Demand...In addition to the original Planet of the Apes, Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, On the Waterfront, Rebel Without a Cause, Stagecoach...Still need Citizen Kane, Casablanca and the 1932 Frankenstien to round out my selection of personal favorites...

In addition, suggest "It might get Loud" with Jimmy Page, The Edge and Jack White...very cool.

No idea what's available but if you get a chance to see ANY Chanwook Park I suggest you don't hesitate for a second.  He's one of the most important filmmakers working today in my opinion.  Especially note his last two, Thirst and I'm A Cyborg (But That's OK).

With the wife and kids out of town for a bit, I have a few additions to what I have been watching on the ol' Netflix Instant Queue:

The Butcher:  Queue this one up, Jeff.  A strong torture-porn where the twist is that the killers and victims have cameras strapped to their heads, and the film is pieced together from that footage.  Korean-made and unflinching -- and once or twice this film digs way deeper than it has a right to, asking some powerful questions of the victims -- and the viewer. 7/10

The Stoning of Soraya M:  This one is movie broccoli -- watch it because it is good for you.  Amazing acting, even with subtitles.  As you watch, you will want to strangle some people in this film.  You cannot believe this stuff really happens, but it is filmed by Iranians in Iran, who I guess would know better than anyone.  This one will turn you into Screenrider -- outraged, and wanting to do something -- but I have no idea what.  Perhaps it is enough to watch and make yourself aware.  Really worth a look, but I cannot give this one a perfect score, as it pissed me off too much.  9/10

Train:  Jeff dug this one, and I can see why.  It is for Hostel fans, and while competently put-together, I found it to be kind of by-the-numbers.  I was also disappointed to see that my beloved Thora Birch is not aging as gracefully as I had hoped, as evidenced here by the fact that she plays a wrestler (wtf?) and never once pops the ol' top. Sigh.  5/10

Rampage:  Haha -- another piece of trash from Uwe Boll -- this one about a guy who dons some Kevlar, arms himself to the teeth, and marches around town shooting people.  I am sure Uwe thinks this is "Falling Down", but it is just cr*p, though fun to watch for fans of Uwe's continued downward spiral. Maybe "fans" is too strong a word, but you know what I mean.  4/10

Surrogates:  A surprise appearance by a big-budget movie.  Bruce Willis is likable as ever.  Matrix-inspired, maybe, but different enough to stand on its own.  Good story, good effects, not bad at all.  7/10

Triangle:  Looks like a standard-issue slasher, but has a great little WTF twist about a third of the way through, and then tells a really good story with only a few holes that you should just ignore.  Liked this a lot more than I expected.  8/10

Amelie: For some reason I have blown off watching this French film for years, but I watched it for the heck of it, and really enjoyed it, despite the very liberal use of voice-over.  This one was acclaimed (at the time) for good reason.  Feel-good stuff without too much sap.  Watch it with a girl and you might get lucky. 8/10

Quoted from bert The Stoning of Soraya M:  This one is movie broccoli -- watch it because it is good for you.  Amazing acting, even with subtitles.  As you watch, you will want to strangle some people in this film.  You cannot believe this stuff really happens, but it is filmed by Iranians in Iran, who I guess would know better than anyone.  This one will turn you into Screenrider -- outraged, and wanting to do something -- but I have no idea what.  Perhaps it is enough to watch and make yourself aware.  Really worth a look, but I cannot give this one a perfect score, as it pissed me off too much.  9/10

>  "I resent that!"                                                                                            

Quoted from bert Amelie: For some reason I have blown off watching this French film for years, but I watched it for the heck of it, and really enjoyed it, despite the very liberal use of voice-over.  This one was acclaimed (at the time) for good reason.  Feel-good stuff without too much sap.  Watch it with a girl and you might get lucky. 8/10

Amelie is great.  A feel-good film is how I'd describe it.  Recommends all round.

I worked in a theatre when Stoning of Soraya M was released, and there never failed to be weeping audience members heading out the doors afterwards.  A film that certainly has the potential to make people question the state of their world -- important viewing.

Good job, Bert!  I was wondering what happened to this thread.

The Butcher is in my que.  We lost power here last week due to the crazy heat, and I just not got Netflix back up and running.

Yeah, I agree with you on Train .  I really like the premise and was surprised how good the movie looked, but it could have been so much better, so easily.  Still surprised how it flew completely under the radar.

Rampage has been in my que for awhile now.  I actually hear decent things about it, so it'll be up soon.

My girlfriend and I watched Surrogates awhile ago.  It was in my que for Blu-Ray, but when it jumped to streaming, we watched it immediately, as we had wanted to see it at the theater awhile back.  It was OK, but again, could have been so much better.  For me, the problem was believability.  There are plot holes you could drive a horse and buggy through, and those are completely plot based, which ruins things for me.  I thought Bruce did a good job though, and Radha Mitchell looked great in that blond wig.

We also watched Triangle a couple months ago.  She said it was pretty decent but it put me to sleep, so I really can't comment other than I was very, very bored with the first 30 minutes.  Do I need to give it another shot?

Here are a few others I've watched...

Black Ops - BORING!  Didn't get all the way through it.

Copycat - Not the Sigorney Weaver flick - TERRIBLE!  Just pathetic!

Wolf Moon - Far from any good, but there's something about it that I liked...or almost liked.  Pretty cheesy though.

Ring Around the Rosie - Had potential, but came off very, very lame!  So dull and boring.  Funny to watch Tom Sizemore in this thing...and even Gina Phillips.  WEAK!!!

Run, Bitch Run! - HaHa...watched this right after I spit on your Grave.  Very much alike but this one's much, much better.  Lots of Kudos have to go out here, but most will hate it.  There is talent on display here for sure.  It's brutal, hilarious, good and bad acting, wild, wild ride!  Total 70's exploitation done a few years ago.

Blood Hook - Pure comedy, and terrible, terrible film.  Hilarious acting, plot, everything.  Just a hoot.  Make sure you're drinking heavily for this one and invite some friends over for a laugh.

The Vanishing is a really well done thriller currently up on Instant Play.

Rampage is one hour of a guy walking around and shooting people.  Not worth your time.

You mean the 93 version with Jeff Bridges and Sandra Bullock?  Saw it at the theater actually and a few times since.  Good flick!  It's a remake from a foreign film though, isn't it?

Quoted from Dreamscale We also watched Triangle a couple months ago.  She said it was pretty decent but it put me to sleep...Do I need to give it another shot?

Well, you've already said that plot holes can interfere with your enjoyment of a film -- and this one has them.  It is a really unique story if you can get past that.

Quoted from Dreamscale Run, Bitch Run!

That movie is for real -- and available?  How did I miss that?  Yeah, that is getting an add.

Quoted from Dreamscale Blood Hook

Boy, does that one look like sh*t!  Not even a real poster for it -- just some picture that looks like some dude drew it in high school.  I will save that one for a rainy day.

Quoted from Heretic A film that certainly has the potential to make people question the state of their world -- important viewing.

Yeah -- that one is a really strong recommend for those who are looking to this thread for something besides trashy horror.  The most affecting film I have seen in quite a while.

You've heard of Run Bitch Run?, Bert?  It has a very big QT vibe going for it...and believe it or not, much of it works.

It's a classic case of taking almost everything too far, though. There are some intense scenes, some shocking scenes, some over the top hilarious scenes, but in the end, I actually thought there was talent here that we just may see somewhere ,more mainstream in the future.

Quoted from Dreamscale You've heard of Run Bitch Run?, Bert?

I saw a trailer a few months back, but thought it was a joke.

I am happy to learn it is for real.

Also, I am reminded now that on Facebook, Shelton mentioned a film called "Black Dynamite" -- that one also shows great promise.

Quoted from bert I saw a trailer a few months back, but thought it was a joke. I am happy to learn it is for real. Also, I am reminded now that on Facebook, Shelton mentioned a film called "Black Dynamite" -- that one also shows great promise.

Black Dynamite was lots of fun.  It's along the same lines of I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, but has a little more of a serious tone to it.

I watched Run, Bitch, Run! a few months back, and ended up being pretty disappointed in it, despite my love for Grindhouse and the films that attempt to duplicate it.

Also, for those familiar with the trailer that won the Grindhouse competition, Hobo with a Shotgun has been filmed as a feature version.  Rutger Hauer stars as the Hobo.

Quoted from Dreamscale You mean the 93 version with Jeff Bridges and Sandra Bullock?  Saw it at the theater actually and a few times since.  Good flick!  It's a remake from a foreign film though, isn't it?

I'm talking about the original.  I'm interested in seeing the remake now, but a little reluctant because I thought this was so nicely done.

Just saw a very good movie today on Netflix streaming.

It's called Restraint.  It's a 2008 Aussie flick.  Great acting all the way around, good story, well shot, good sets...just an all around good flick, IMO.

Check it out, and don't give up on it.

Just found "Tales from the Script" on streaming Netflix.  Is this anything to do with the book, Babz has been pushing?  It sure looks like it.

Haven't watched it yet, but it has great reviews.  I'll check it out...

Not sure if any of you checked today, but they add a bunch of new Watch It Now movies.

A bonus among these were some documentaries with Joseph Campbell. I am sure there are a few on this board who have read his body of work and it you haven't you really should.

The documentaries just listed were:
The Hero's Journey
Explore the life and work of author and mythologist Joseph Campbell with this compelling documentary. Classroom clips and interviews are woven together to present Campbell's theories. Discussing his own life's quest, Campbell explores how life can be explained through a mythic model with each person the hero of his or her life's journey.

Sukhavati
Travel with mythology expert Joseph Campbell as he explores shared iconic imagery that marks the human experience and influences our ability to dream and find our spiritual center. Campbell suggests that all religions share the same path to enlightenment, but it's up to us to make the actual journey.

Mythos I and II
Actress Susan Sarandon hosts this collection of insightful lectures from mythology and religion expert Joseph Campbell, exploring the history, psychological underpinnings and social significance of myths across cultures.

They also added a bunch of classics in this new line up.

Happy viewing...
John

apropos of John's posted documentary ala~ Joseph Campbell, I highly recommend The Man from Earth.  

An impromptu goodbye party for Professor John Oldman becomes a mysterious interrogation after the retiring scholar reveals to his colleagues he is an immortal who has walked the earth for 14,000 years.

Quoted from Don apropos of John's posted documentary ala~ Joseph Campbell, I highly recommend The Man from Earth.   An impromptu goodbye party for Professor John Oldman becomes a mysterious interrogation after the retiring scholar reveals to his colleagues he is an immortal who has walked the earth for 14,000 years.

I saw that a few years ago. Great flick... might watch it again real soon.

The Burrowers was just released to streaming on 9/1.

It's a very impressive Western/creature feature flick.

made for $7 Million, it's a beautifully shot and filmed movie, looking like it cost a Hell of alot more.  Strong performances form everyone, shockingly great FX work, and even a good story to boot.

If you like Westerns and/or creature feature horror, chances are very good you'll be impressed with this DTV release from 2008.

Check it out while its available.  Great flick!

I'm a big fan of The Burrowers.  Great genre mash-up.  Also, if you haven't seen it, the documentary The Cruise is a beautiful doc, and one of the funnier characters on film.  Of course available Watch Instantly.

I liked The Burrowers as well. I am usually down for any movie that mixes genres, especially if one of them is horror.

I know everyone has probably seen Ravenous, but has any one seen a movie called Dead Birds. It may not be the best movie, but it certainly had a creep factor to it that gave me a chill.

Love Ravenous.  I was actually 1 of the 9 or 10 people who showed up in a theater to see it.  Robert Carlyle is awesome in it!  Great flick.

I didn't like Dead Birds. I actually tried to watch it on numerous occasions before finally getting through it, but I was not impressed. I know it gets alot of good word of mouth but it didn't work for me at all.

Man of the Century

I saw it last year via dvd, but just noticed that it's now available via instant watch.  It's something different, and fairly short to boot.

"Ace reporter Johnny Twennies (Gibson Frazier) is stuck in the 1920s -- and blissfully unaware that he's out of place in modern-day Manhattan -- in this rollicking indie comedy that gently pokes fun at black-and-white film classics. His girlfriend is fed up because he hasn't kissed her, his boss wants him canned, and the mob wants him rubbed out because he knows too much. Can Johnny get the scoop and the girl while staying alive?"

Thanks to Bert, I'm bringing this thread back to life.

Just got Netflix again last week and have already seen a bunch of flicks I'll comment on for ya'll.

I'm not going to just throw out recommends, but I'll let you know my thoughts on whatever I watch...good, bad, terrible, or indifferent.

First of all, I'm going to devote this entire post to a flick I saw last week, that rocked my little world, and made me see the light that low budget foreign film making is not only alive but can be so impressive.

The flick I'm talking about is a little survival French horror hybrid called "Vertige".  The US title is "High Lane".  I watched the dubbed version, and it's actually dubbed quite well.

My recommendation is to go into this completely blind, and I'm not going to throw out any spoilers, whatsoever.

The cinematography is amazing!  Seriously, shockingly beautifully shot film.  So many shots and scenes that just rock, and take your breath away.

This is an intense ride in every way.  A group of young 20 somethings go on an extreme mountain hiking day trip, and I was just mesmerized at the cinematography and stunt work.  If you have any vertigo, get ready to be amazed and scared off your arse.  This makes Cliffhanger look like Romper Room.

The acting is not great, by any means.  The dialogue pretty poor, but again, since it's dubbed, maybe something was lost in translation.  The plot itself is nothing to write home about, either.

But the execution is damn solid, and makes for a truly moving experience that I was shocked and impressed with.

Some will get back here and say it's shit.  They'll say, "why the fuck did they have to go there?"  But, in the end, I doubt anyone will say they weren't impressed with what this turned out to be, based on exactly what the film makers decided to make.

Basically, I'm saying, if you view this for what it is, you will be impressed.  For me, it was so good, I saved it and will watch again...and again...and...well, we'll see.

5 Stars!!!!

Enjoy!!!

Quoted from JCShadow I know everyone has probably seen Ravenous...

Love the soundtrack for Ravenous...so wonderfully strange.  The thought of the film always brings a smile to my face.

Cold Prey - Ultra low budget Norwegian Horror movie is God awful.  Terribly dubbed, horrendously acted, with laugh out loud dialogue, almost no plot and story, few redeeming qualities, if any.

Terrible!!!

Grizzly Park - Ultra low budget BS with some of the most cliched and poorly drawn characters I've ever encountered, and that's saying alot.  Terrible acting, other than Ranger Bob, who is hilarious.  No plot, no story, no nothing.

Could be amusing if you're really, REALLY wasted, but otherwise, stay away...far away.

Offspring - Another super low budget crapfest.  Adapted from Jack Ketchum's fairly popular novels, this thing is a mess.  So poorly done it's just comical.  Too bad, cause it should have been so much better.

There a re a few scenes that have some power, but 98% of this thing is just pathetic.

Quoted from Dreamscale Good job, Bert!  I was wondering what happened to this thread. The Butcher is in my que.

Did you ever get around to this one, Jeff?  I was very curious to know what you thought of this Korean import.

Hmmm...no...I don't think I did.  I'll check it out...

Thanks.

Check out High Lane...it ROCKS!!!!!!!

Frayed

OK, here's one that I definitely recommend.  I'm not going to say exactly why I recommend it, but it's a movie that all screenwriters should watch.

It's low budget, and in many ways, plays out like the original Halloween, especially early on.

There are many issues with it.  Acting isn't great.  It's slow in places.  It's dumb in places.  It's cliche in most places.  There are several twists, some done better than others...some that work, some that don't.

If nothing else, the intro scene(s) are very well done, culminating in one of the bloodiest onscreen beatings I can recall, and the FX work on this kill, is downright amazing.

I'm gonna leave it at that, and if anyone chimes in, I'll discuss why I feel it's a good movie to watch for aspiring horror writers.

The Horde - in the foreign films... b-movie zombie flick about some corrupt cops who go into a run down building to get revenge on some thugs who killed one of their own.. and while they're attacking eachother a zombie apocalypse happens... - their building gets attacked... and the cops and criminals have to band together to get out alive

keep in mind its a b movie... the acting is marginal but tons of action and violence.  

you get the feeling if this film had been written by a real writer, had real actors, and a real director.. i could have been pretty good.

Just saw Bronson after much hype. Awesome. Almost exactly the flick the trailer made it out to be. Suddenly Tom Hardy as Bane makes a lot more sense. Props for getting full blown naked and getting the shit kicked out of him. Very hardcore flick.

Also saw Repo Man a little while ago. Who knew Emelio Estevez wasn't such a sissy not to be able to play a punk who "takes cars from dildos who don't pay their bills." Badass flick.

Also finally saw Escape from New York and They Live. <3 Carpenter.

Jeff, I added that French flick you mentioned as well. I watch a movie a day. I'll be watching that one tomorrow. It better not be the wrong one.

James,  1 thing I can guarantee you is that you'll love the cinematography...especially the first 30 minutes.  There are numerous thrills and chills in the climbing and it's pretty amazingly done.

I know what you're going to say about the 2nd half, but we'll see.

I've had Bronson in my que for awhile...I'll check it out.

Tonight is Unstoppable for me...wanted to see it at the theater but didn't make it.  Blu Ray arrived today...

Quoted from Dreamscale Tonight is Unstoppable for me...wanted to see it at the theater but didn't make it.  Blu Ray arrived today...

not bad, not great. entertaining.

i want to see more of this Chris Pine kid.

Quoted from James McClung Suddenly Tom Hardy as Bane makes a lot more sense.

*gasp* dare you question Chris Nolan!?

lol seriously though... i think the dude has proven he knows what hes doing

Quoted from James McClung I added that French flick you mentioned as well.

I have, too.  Though I hate, hate, hate dubbing.  It ruins the entire experience for me nearly 100% of the time.

Was "Tokyo Gore Police" dubbed?  I will bet that is why you did not like it.

Quoted from Dreamscale Tonight is Unstoppable for me...

That is not on Instant Play, Jeff.  Let's try to keep this to the on-line titles.

I notice "The Butcher" is no longer an online title, darn it.  I still give it a strong recommend for you, Jeff (and pretty much only you haha), but make sure you get the Korean one.  There are several films with the same title.

Was just about to post I hate dubbing and then saw bert beat me to it. If anything's guaranteed to ruin a movie for you, it's dubbing. A ridiculous concept if ever there was one. Just read the bloody subtitles!

Quoted from bert Was "Tokyo Gore Police" dubbed?  I will bet that is why you did not like it.

I did like Tokyo Gore Police although perhaps not as much as I did the first time I saw it. In any case, I own the DVD and watch it in Japanese. The dubbing is terrible. Shameful, even compared to other bad dubbing. Enough to turn people off to the whole movie as you've suggested.

OK, Netflix freaks, here's a really impressive one...

Shuttle - I was a little leery about this, based on the setup and first few minutes, but damn, this thing is unrelenting, quite intense at many times, and really delivers a ripping punch to the gut in the last 25 minutes or so.

The acting is pretty damn good from basically everyone, once things get going.  Both female leads do a great job.  And Tony Curran's performance is both powerful and restrained at the same time.

At times, the film has a washed out look, and since it takes place entirely at night, it doesn't look great.  But, this has a $5.5 Million budget, which is literally 50 times more than most "low budget" flicks.  I'm not sure exactly where all the money went, but everything has a very realistic feel to it, even the opening airport scene.  There is definitely attention to detail throughout, and the violence is well choreographed.

Of course, like any movie, this has its faults.  Characters do stupid things, or maybe better put, characters don't do what they should do to survive.  But having said that, let me also say that no character just gives up and dies.  Everyone puts up a great fight, again and again.  It's truly a roller coaster ride and it works.

Biggest kudos goes to the tone of the movie and script.  It's dark, it's gritty, and it's real.  If you go in blind, you're not going to have a clue how it'll play out.  Let's just say, it's not your typical Hollywood ending.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!

Hmmm, this thread doesn't seem to be too popular, but I'll keep trying.

Harpoon: Whale Watching Massacre - This was much better than you'd assume.

First time for me watching a film from Iceland.  Although it has many, many problems, cliches, and downright stupid shit going on, overall, it held my interest and I was somewhat impressed, even.

It's downright nasty in it's depiction of violence.  And there's alot of it...pretty well done even for a low budget flick.

Although the plot is very basic and cliche, it goes places you'd never imagine and there are several turns that completely threw me for a loop or 2.

It's funny, cause there are numerous languages going on here - American, Icelandic, French, and Chinese.  No dubbing.  Everything but the American is subtitled.

Finally, I think I can say that this flick has 1 of the most interestingly bizarre characters I've ever come across.  She steals the show and her actions are way beyond bizarre.  And, she proves to be literally the only survivor, so God bless her. I guess she did what she had to to make it out alive...and RICH!

Not a  terrible way to spend an hour and a half and you can say you've seen an Icelandic picture, as well.

Quoted from Dreamscale OK, Netflix freaks, here's a really impressive one... Shuttle - I was a little leery about this, based on the setup and first few minutes, but damn, this thing is unrelenting, quite intense at many times, and really delivers a ripping punch to the gut in the last 25 minutes or so. The acting is pretty damn good from basically everyone, once things get going.  Both female leads do a great job.  And Tony Curran's performance is both powerful and restrained at the same time. At times, the film has a washed out look, and since it takes place entirely at night, it doesn't look great.  But, this has a $5.5 Million budget, which is literally 50 times more than most "low budget" flicks.  I'm not sure exactly where all the money went, but everything has a very realistic feel to it, even the opening airport scene.  There is definitely attention to detail throughout, and the violence is well choreographed. Of course, like any movie, this has its faults.  Characters do stupid things, or maybe better put, characters don't do what they should do to survive.  But having said that, let me also say that no character just gives up and dies.  Everyone puts up a great fight, again and again.  It's truly a roller coaster ride and it works. Biggest kudos goes to the tone of the movie and script.  It's dark, it's gritty, and it's real.  If you go in blind, you're not going to have a clue how it'll play out.  Let's just say, it's not your typical Hollywood ending. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!

I second this recommendation one of the most underrated horror movies to come out in awhile! The ending stuck with me for quite awhile.

Good to hear, Kev!  I totally agree.

The writer/director, Edward Anderson, wrote the 2007 Michael Caine/Demi Moore flick, Flawless, which had a $20 Million budget.  Not bad, although I haven't seen the movie.

Nice chump change, anyway you look at it.

C'mon, you guys, check this movie out!!!!!!!!

Yall should check out The Kingdom (Ridget).

The only word I can pin it under is: Bizarre.
Made by Lars Von Trier. Nuff said.

It actually isn't as bizarre and not (as) pretentious as his other work.

It's a series, but the amazing thing is it balances, horror, surreal, and comedy brilliantly.

It's in Danish with English subtitles and the the show is something special. It came up a few years before E.R. and is a convincing hospital drama, mixed with a strange ghost story.

But what really shines is the characters and the comedic situations that arise. IT's done on what I think is early digital,( either way it looks cheap) giving it this Office and PArks and Recreation feel (a much darker feel). But it's amazing that it did all this a decade before the states picked up on on this style of television.

If you're trying to check out something different go with the Kingdom. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

And when the show wants to be scary/disturbing it's F***** up!
I'm really surprised the U.S. hasn't tried remaking this show. Though they'd fail miserably trying to recapture the magic that is in THE KINGDOM.

Quoted from Tony Hughes I'm really surprised the U.S. hasn't tried remaking this show. Though they'd fail miserably trying to recapture the magic that is in THE KINGDOM.

They did remake the show. Stephen King of all people was the creator. It was retitled Kingdom Hospital. Not sure if it's any good.

The Kingdom, I actually was disappointed by, surprisingly. It seemed to be focused on the comedy more than anything which I had a hard time getting into. I kept seeing really out there clips supposedly from upcoming shows (one involving Udo Kier as a weird man-baby thing) but said shows never had any of that stuff for some reason.

I'll have to revisit it at some point. I never saw the horror elements of the show developed that far. Honestly though, I think I like von Trier's post-Breaking The Waves films better. Europa was okay and I only liked the last five minutes of Epidemic but nothing out of that early era has really impressed me so far.

Quoted from James McClung I kept seeing really out there clips supposedly from upcoming shows (one involving Udo Kier as a weird man-baby thing) but said shows never had any of that stuff for some reason.

The man-baby is in the final frame of the first Season (the first season is only four episodes). And is in the second season as well. I am currently watching season 2, so he may disappear, and my opinion of the show may change.

Quoted from Dreamscale OK, Netflix freaks, here's a really impressive one... Shuttle - I was a little leery about this, based on the setup and first few minutes, but damn, this thing is unrelenting, quite intense at many times, and really delivers a ripping punch to the gut in the last 25 minutes or so. The acting is pretty damn good from basically everyone, once things get going.  Both female leads do a great job.  And Tony Curran's performance is both powerful and restrained at the same time. At times, the film has a washed out look, and since it takes place entirely at night, it doesn't look great.  But, this has a $5.5 Million budget, which is literally 50 times more than most "low budget" flicks.  I'm not sure exactly where all the money went, but everything has a very realistic feel to it, even the opening airport scene.  There is definitely attention to detail throughout, and the violence is well choreographed. Of course, like any movie, this has its faults.  Characters do stupid things, or maybe better put, characters don't do what they should do to survive.  But having said that, let me also say that no character just gives up and dies.  Everyone puts up a great fight, again and again.  It's truly a roller coaster ride and it works. Biggest kudos goes to the tone of the movie and script.  It's dark, it's gritty, and it's real.  If you go in blind, you're not going to have a clue how it'll play out.  Let's just say, it's not your typical Hollywood ending. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!

I checked this one out tonight, per your recommendation.
It certainly didn't embarrass itself. Decent acting.
One of the better peril in a bottle flicks.
I wonder who pocketed most of that $5 million budget.
I dug the ending, but it was a bit of a slog at 106 minutes.
I've seen a lot worse lately.

E.D.

just watched "The Way of the Gun" on Netflix on demand

bad ass movie. I must have missed that one in the theaters. what a pleasent surprise.

Okay, I took some of the suggestions here.  

SPOILERS

Watched High Lane and, despite the excellent rock climbing cinematography in the first half, it just became a mishmash of backwood cannibal cliches in the second half.  Really, they covered all the bases with the bear traps, the people tied up in the basement and of course the girl just assuming the dude was dead at the end.  Good beginning, but it brought nothing new to the genre at all.

Shuttle was much better, mostly because of its solid premise and superior lead actor.  Caught me by surprise with a couple of the twists.  Writing for the most part was pretty tight, except for the part when she sign languages at the store.  Why give a note to the cashier that says watch the security cam when you can just hand her a note that says "call the damn cops."  And of course, at the end, the dumb girl assumes the bad guy is dead.  These horror movie chicks just never learn!  But overall, I think Tony Curran's performance made shuttle worth it.

Good job watching a few of these, guys.

Yeah, I was really impressed with Shuttle.  The end was a big surprise and it totally worked for me.  I was not at all surprised when the weird guy already on the shuttle turned out to be a baddie...totally saw that coming.

For High Lane, I do agree and even pointed out that the 2nd half of the film is cliche and nothing great, but IMO, the first half is so strong and so well shot, the overall movie experience is very positive.  I usually get comfy when watching a movie at home, but for this one, I was literally sitting up on the edge of a sofa, the climbing was so precarious.  And the suspension bridge scenes?  Damn!!  Very well done.

Blood Creek - Originally released under the title Town Creek

Neither title makes alot of sense, IMO.

Pretty decent little flick here, although most reviews are bad.

Joel Schumacher directed this in 2009.  Can't seem to find much info re: budget or release, but it seems to have only been released in the UK.

Production values are good. FX are good.  Acting is what it is for this kind of flick, but no one embarrasses themselves, IMO.

It's an interesting but convoluted story, but the point is that there definitely is a story and I found it to be a rather unique take on a number of different horror staples and genres.

Of course, it does have a number of flaws you have to overlook, as well as a bunch of cliches.

There is a very well done and unique scene, involving a zombie horse (yes, you read that correctly) that is definitely what I'll remember from this flick.

Not a bad way to spend an hour and a half if you like horror.  Check it out.

Another dive into the bargain bin:

I Saw the Devil:  Nobody does revenge like those boys from Korea.  This is a strong entry that never lags, with good cast, acting, and direction.  Good gore when you get it, and it all has a point to drive the story forward. A satisfactory conclusion that raises questions.  Pretty much top-notch all around, and a solid recommend.  Not dubbed (thank God), so you will need to read subtitles.

Mary and Max:  A weird little claymation thing I had never heard of, but really engaging with a unique look that I enjoyed and top-notch voice work.  This is surprisingly dark.  Not for the kiddies, but a solid recommend if you are in the mood for it.  Surprised how much I dug this one, actually.

High Lane:  Jeff's recommend is pretty solid, and the early climbing scenes are indeed beautiful and harrowing at the same time.  Bold stunt work, or it sure looked that way to me.  The dubbing is not cringe-inducing, but by the second half the dubbing doesn't really matter, as all they are really saying is "Run!" or "Look out!" or stuff like that.  Personally, I did not find the crazy guy at the top of the mountain (c'mon, is that really a spoiler haha) to be all that imposing or formidable, but I did enjoy this film for what it was supposed to be.  A solid recommend.

Vanishing on 7th Street:  I looked this one up because the trailer reminded me quite a bit of one of my own stories.  Don't you hate that?  Anyway, this one is not so much shadows as it is a creeping sort of darkness that sucks people in and leaves their clothes behind in a Rapture sort of way.  It starts off pretty chilling, actually, but then gets kind of repetitive with running to find some light, and what is even more annoying is it starts to bend or invent its own rules about what the darkness can and cannot do, so it just gets sort of confusing, too.  It never answers any questions, which will annoy some viewers.  A half-recommend, as it looks pretty good for its budget, but is ultimately not all that satisfying.

House of 9:  People trapped in a house and the lone survivor gets big money.  Yeah, pretty trite set-up, but I looked because of Dennis Hopper.  I am sure they were excited when they signed him on for this schlock, but he really brings nothing to the role or the film, with bad acting all around.  This film aims for the "psychological horror" target, so not much gore, and they miss the mark anyways, so it is also kind of dull.  Particularly dull were loooong montages where the director thinks he has to use the entire song.  At one point he uses two whole songs, back-to-back, and the songs are not even that good.  Talk about filler.  What was this guy thinking?  There is actually a very cool twist in the last five seconds (if you make it that far), but it is not nearly enough to save this film.  Cannot recommend this blah effort.

More to come as the summer moves along....

Don't have netflix, but see if you can find a film called Trollhunter.

It is, exactly as the name suggests, about people hunting for trolls.

Heard some good things about it.

BTW Bert...is House of 9 the one where they have to kill each other for a bag of cash? I enjoyed that one tbh. Totally on point about the song montage though...felt as though the Director was told the film had to be longer, so they just stuck in a whole take of a song to pass the time. Very weird.

Avoid a film called Fertile Ground. Boring, cliche horror despite good prod. value and acting.

Trollhunter is in my que, although it's not streaming.  I've heard good things about it as well.

I was not impressed with House of 9 at all.  Cliche and filled with really bad acting.

I'll look for Fertile Ground.

Quoted from Dreamscale Trollhunter is in my que, although it's not streaming.  I've heard good things about it as well. I was not impressed with House of 9 at all.  Cliche and filled with really bad acting. I'll look for Fertile Ground.

No, avoid Fertlie Ground. Nothing happens and what does happen eventually you've seen a million times. And when I say nothing happens, I don't mean in an arty, European way, I mean nothing happens at all.

A film called Confessions was good. Has anyone mentioned that?

Exam, Brit flick, not bad.

Reasonable Aussie slaher/creature flick called Primal. Nothing new, but a good DTV.

There's a good Ruskie film called Paradox Soldiers...time travelling, action sci-fi. A bit confusing because it's a sequel and the original never made it out to any of our shores, so you have to work out what's going on as you go along, but it's a good film despite that. Probably be very good if you can somehow track down the original.

Someone Behind You(AKA VOICES in US/UK). Asian Horror. Opinions vary on this, but I liked it.

The Doll Master: Like Puppet Master for Japs...I liked this one.

Loft: Japenese Horror..slow burning, but great IMO.

I could recommend a few Asian Horrors tbh...big fan.

Oh, be interested to hear what people thought of a film called The Signal.

I liked it.

Basically, they had three Directors tell a continuing story with the same characters.

It was a decent attempt at an apocalyptic type scenario, but it's also somethign that interested me from a writing/filmmaking POV because it seems like something we could do on here.

I despised The Signal!!!  Horrible!!!!

I had heard good things but I sure didn't see anything I even remotely liked.

Quoted from Dreamscale I despised The Signal!!!  Horrible!!!! I had heard good things but I sure didn't see anything I even remotely liked.

Little surprised really, I thought it was surprisingly inventive for that kind of thing.

Did you know that it was three Directors doing three different stories wrapped into one?

I wonder if that would have made a difference, because although they make a whole cohesive story, the three stories are very different in tone and theme.

That aside, what do you think of the general idea...three writers/directors creating something?

Yes, I was aware of it.

I don't personally like the idea. I feel it's better to have 1 writer and 1 director, so the story and execution is what that 1 writer,a dn or director saw and wanted to achieve.

Aww, I really liked The Signal!  I thought it was original and neat, and the second story in particular was a blast.

Agreed. Definitely a cut above the norm.

Incidentally currently watching a low budget US horror called The Final.

Worth a watch IMO.

Quoted from Rick ...is House of 9 the one where they have to kill each other for a bag of cash? I enjoyed that one tbh. Totally on point about the song montage though.

Yep, that's the one.  Maybe the guy has a background in music videos?

Quoted from Rick ...see if you can find a film called Trollhunter.

Had never heard of it, but now I find lots of enthusiastic reviews for this one.  And it looks like the type of low-budget fare that ends up on Instant Play, too.  Have queued it up and looking forward to it, so thanks.

Quoted from Grandma Bear Just started watching House Of 9. I'm 10 minutes in and i think I'll end it there.

Did you even read the post?  That is the one I said NOT to watch haha.

And another good recommend that I just remembered:


IP Man: A very well-done martial arts film that actually carries a compelling story with it.  My wife was very skeptical sitting down to this one -- but she actually made it through and said she liked it -- if that tells you anything.  Martial arts films are not for everyone, but if you are in the mood for one, this is amongst the best in recent years, and some reviewers even say the past decade or so.  There is a sequel, but I have not seen it.

Took Rick up on his suggestion for Primal last night.

I have mixed feelings here, but for the most part, my feelings are negative.

So many glaring ridiculous things going on, many downright laughable.  As I say very often, this once again suffers from a really piss poor premise and setup, which kills a very cool and well done intro scene.

This is pretty low budget and it shows quite often, but the big problem is that the film maker, Josh Reed, chose to show his hand over and over, when he wasn't holding a winning hand, in terms of FX or just cheesy stuff like the "primals" fighting, growling, or just staring for long moments.  Also, the finale is loaded with what I'm pretty sure was stop motion photography effects, that looked pretty weak.

But, in the same breath, I'll say that the movie did go places most don't, including the finale which I sure didn't see coming.  It would have been very easy to end this exactly where all the other such movies end, and it's cool this one went a little further "out there".

Could have/should have been much better if they simply would have concocted a better, more believable setup, written the characters and their actions to be more realistic, and cut out the vast majority of the Primals completely onscreen for long moments.  I think anytime you show your creatures over and over...in broad daylight even, you run the risk of losing the scares, especially when you've got an extremely limited budget for effects and even more especially     when your creatures look downright goofy.

Not horrible by any means, but definitely not good, either.

Black Death - 2010

Here's one I've been wanting to see for awhile and was thrilled when I found it streaming.

This is a hybrid 1300's Period/Crusades Piece and horror/witchcraft, starring Sean Bean.

It was released in an extremely limited run, and quite frankly, I don't know why.  I can't find anything about its budget, but I thought everything looked pretty damn good.

It's a dark and very serious look at Europe during the deadly bubonic plague.  I found it to be quite scary at times, just based on thew way it was written and shot.  Great, creepy performances by Carice von Houten and Tim McInnerny as the leaders of the mysterious marsh village.

There are some very cool twists at the end which I sure didn't see coming and for me, made this a very strong and rewarding movie.  It doesn't pull any punches at all, is played for reals all the way through, and delivers a strong message on top of everything else.

Some may find it rather slow, but for me, it's a definite recommend!!!

In case anyone hadn't noticed I Saw the Devil is up. Definitely check this one out. its violent, gritty, and a shitload of fun. it's a korean revenge flick and although its not as revolutionary as some others have thought, its a great way to spend 2 hours.

oh and they took Black Dynamite off instant. color me pissed.

Net Games - 2003

While this is laughably bad in so many ways, looks shockingly cheap with horrendously fake sets, overall, in a very strange way, it kinda works...for what it is.

It stars C Thomas Howell and a few other recognizable faces and names.  The acting is atrocious and laughable throughout, but every now and then, the actors and actresses actually do a great job with a scene or some lines.  I mean, it literally goes from as bad as you can imagine top surprisingly well done.  Must be the script and the fact that most of the "talent" actually does have some talent...or did at 1 time or another.

Cheesy plot, ridiculous leaps of faith, and completely impossible goings on throughout, but enough red herrings to keep things mildly entertaining.  Lots of sex, nudity, and titillation, that, at times, actually works, while at others (and most) it comes off as downright comical.

Since it's from 2003, it comes across as very dated, especially in its theme and core, but the funny thing is, I don't think sex chat sites were brand new then, even...were they?

Anyway, it's interesting to see just how far C Thomas Howell has fallen.  The guy can still act, but it's quite sad here, most of the time.

If you're up for a late night "mystery thriller" with lots of nudity, and unintentional hilarity, give it a shot, and don't give up when you think it's terrible, cause it does get better as it goes along.

Quoted from Dreamscale Took Rick up on his suggestion for Primal last night. I have mixed feelings here, but for the most part, my feelings are negative. So many glaring ridiculous things going on, many downright laughable.  As I say very often, this once again suffers from a really piss poor premise and setup, which kills a very cool and well done intro scene. This is pretty low budget and it shows quite often, but the big problem is that the film maker, Josh Reed, chose to show his hand over and over, when he wasn't holding a winning hand, in terms of FX or just cheesy stuff like the "primals" fighting, growling, or just staring for long moments.  Also, the finale is loaded with what I'm pretty sure was stop motion photography effects, that looked pretty weak. But, in the same breath, I'll say that the movie did go places most don't, including the finale which I sure didn't see coming.  It would have been very easy to end this exactly where all the other such movies end, and it's cool this one went a little further "out there". Could have/should have been much better if they simply would have concocted a better, more believable setup, written the characters and their actions to be more realistic, and cut out the vast majority of the Primals completely onscreen for long moments.  I think anytime you show your creatures over and over...in broad daylight even, you run the risk of losing the scares, especially when you've got an extremely limited budget for effects and even more especially     when your creatures look downright goofy. Not horrible by any means, but definitely not good, either.

Fair comments, I think. It was a mixed bag.

That said, I thought they got 80% of it right. Unfortunately the 20% was pretty noticeable. There's a couple of laughable moments:

EXTREME SPOILERS AHEAD

EXTREME SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

Mel's attacks and the kangaroo in particular and that slug thing at the end slamming into the heroine's vagina!

I enjoyed it though overall...it was almost there for me. Liked the idea of the primals..thought it was a nice twist on the modern 28 days later type scenario.

Think they could have been used a bit better, and a bit more tension built, but for the evident budget I think they did a fair job.

It was well-paced, had some good lines in it as well. Good use of the C word, in particular.

I definitely think it's worth a watch.

  I liked the roo attack!

The Slug thing ramming her "vagina" was pitiful in that she had shorts on...crazy!  Made no sense.  It should have stripped those things off her if they really wanted to go over the top, like they appeared to.

I don't know, Rick...I'm very surprised you enjoyed this, but seem to trash so many better horror movies.  I'm very confused...

Which horror movies have I trashed?

Horror is my favourite genre.

I didn't like your favourite one, Hostel, but I generally like horror.

I think the vagina smash was its failed attempt to get inside her, but because it was a dumb, primal slug it didn't understand the fact she was wearing pants. When it realised it had its tentacles try to take them off..which gave her a chance to escape!

Silly, but makes sense in a way.

I don't know exactly what you've trashed, Rick, but it seems like the vast majority of movies I either bring up or praise...not that that's a bad thing though...

Please don't tell me you liked The Rite...please...

The Rite....fantastic film IMO. Slow burning, but deep with great performances. Particularly from Hopkins who gives his best performance in a long time.

The best exorcism film since the Exorcist.






Nah, I haven't seen it yet.

You had me very scared there for a moment, Rick...

Trolhunters definitely worth a watch.

Both impressive and amusing at times. Outstays its welcome a bit in the middle, but it's realtively easy to forgive that.

Quite a joyful little creation really.

I'll second Bert's recommend for Ip Man.  Just watched it and was quite impressed.  The story is actually based on the man who taught Bruce Lee.  While its not really too interested in historical accuracy, the fight scenes are very cool and the characters are compelling.

Just caught a Korean flick called The Chaser. No, it's not a revenge movie but a pretty damn good thriller with some brutal fight scenes, interesting twists and turns and a surprisingly fast pace. For two hours, it really flew by. Honestly have yet to see a single bad Korean film of any kind.

I think someone mentioned Black Water - 2007, earlier.

Let me be very clear...THIS MOVIE ROCKS!!!!!

What a great surprise to see a little $700,000 Aussie flick totally kick ass.  Not as good as Rogue, but some 35 times cheaper, so major Kudos has to go out.

Performances are all great from the 3 main Protags, especially Maeve Dermody, who I see is Sam Worthington's honey.  Just very convincing, genuine performances all around.

Crock FX are also great, although we really don't see a whole lot of the croc.  But, that's one reason this really worked for me.  I can see where some will say it's slow and dull and not much happens, but it's intense and the setup works, the characters work, and I was fearing for their lives the moment things went bad.

Highly recommended!!!!!!

Some quick takes, browsing back through my instant-viewing history:

Monsters:  There was a lot of hype surrounding this one, and they did accomplish quite a bit with a small budget, but I was mostly underwhelmed.  Good, but not great.

Let the Right One In:  Love this one.  Quiet, but powerful, with lots of different levels to it.  I thought this one was really unique and special and just great. (and I am talking the original here, not the Americanized remake)

Donnie Darko:  Have loved this one for years.  Do yourself a favor and queue this one up if you have not seen it.  Again, very unique.  Nothing else quite like it.

Brick:  Lots of people really like this film, but I could not get past the intentionally stilted dialogue and soon became bored with the whole affair -- though I did watch it to the end and it was OK, I guess.

Thankskilling:  A killer turkey who talks like Triumph the insult comic dog.  I was amused by this one, and you probably already know whether you will like this movie or not.

Tales from the Script:  Just letting you know it is there.  See it.

Grace:  Parts were ridiculous and parts were really creepy.  A great deal of breastfeeding in this movie, and I still have not decided if I like this movie or not, actually, so tough to recommend. An interesting effort, for sure.

Troll 2:  'Nuff said.  See comments for Donnie Darko.
  
Black Christmas:  Grandaddy of slashers from 1974 that predates Halloween by about 4 years.  Not too bad, either, and a must-see for students of the genre.

Frozen:  People stuck on a ski lift leads to gruesome fun.  Pretty good, and further recommended on these boards in particular for its superdy-duper low budget.

Brush with Death:  How could I have forgotten this one??  Totally craptastic horror with very little to recommend it apart from its being penned, at least in part, by our buddy Jordan Wiebe (boy who could fly)!!  I think the director is his brother.  It is rumored to be the lowest-rated horror film on all of Netflx, so everybody see it this weekend and give it 5 stars so their programmers will all wonder WTF.

Jordan wrote Brush with Death, and his bro directed it?  WOW...nice!

The reviews on Netflix say it's God Awful.

I didn't realize Monsters was streaming, so it's in the que now, although I've heard pretty bad things about it.

Quoted from Dreamscale I didn't realize Monsters was streaming, so it's in the que now, although I've heard pretty bad things about it.

I rented Monsters from Blockbuster - I did enjoy it, overall. The most impressive thing was just what they accomplished with a $500,000 budget - to make an FX-laden, on location film for that kind of money is very impressive and hopefully might have made a few of the people in the industry who just blast through tens of millions for no extra benefit think again. You won't be able to see it on Netflix, but the extras on the DVD were fascinating. No script, no permits, only a vague shooting schedule...they just wandered around, shot what they shot and trusted to the edit and the director's CG skills.

And I also thought it was a perfectly good little film. Slightly directionless, but good on atmosphere and the scene just before the end did have a real beauty. A little milestone of sorts.

session 9 is up on instant and i keep debating whether or not i should see it. anyone else check it out?

I've tried to get through Session 9 several times and never made it.  I've always heard good things about it, but I thought it was very dull and always have fallen asleep.

I love Session 9. I've taken a particular fancy to it because I tend not to like films of its kind. It's character rather than plot driven, an extremely slow burn, and more of a psychological thriller than a traditional ghost story. The production value is also a little weak but the location is a real abandoned and allegedly haunted mental hospital and looks creepy for real, not in a synthetic way. Also, although there's little gore in the film, what gore there is is actually pretty sick. The things that happen, I haven't seen shown in any other film (although it's been reference in other films).

If you can get into it, it's a real gem. If you can't, repeated viewings won't help.

I'd recommend it to anyone who liked The Machinist, the director's second film. I thought Session 9 was better, personally.