New(er) Flix: A Quiet Place (2018)

 A bit of luck (and being in Sarasota) landed me a Blu-Ray/DVD Set of this Film.

Let's see if it was worth the $3 and all of the hype...

An unseen threat has attacked humanity (so we're told via newspapers) and it is not clear how many survived.

One Family- led by Director/Star John Krasinski- is trying to make do...but they have to stay quiet.

When something goes horribly wrong, it takes a toll on the family.

After nearly a year, they still must live in relative silence.

As they try to deal with the trauma that they won't (and can't) speak of, life must go on.

Of course, now amount of lush scenery will help when a monster shows up at the slightest loud noise.

Can they keep it down forever?
Will the creatures catch them slipping?

Is this a Film about a Family dealing with Survivor's Guilt that was sold as a Monster Movie?

To find out, check out the Film now.

A good Film, but one that will not cater to everyone.  The Film is all about slow build of tension and then sudden bursts of excitement and terror.  

If that's not your thing, this Film won't change your mind.

If it is your thing, you're in luck.  The Film is good at setting up some simple Characters and a simple situation for them to be in peril.  The whole 'no sound' thing could be a gimmick in the wrong hands.

In Place, it serves to accentuate the danger of the creatures as only they seem to be making and reacting to sound.  The fact that so much of the Film's dialog is in ASL is neat too.

The Film is not exactly 'fun,' but it is well-made, intense and has some nice twists and turns.  I do wonder if it was made by someone other than Krasinski if it would have been received the same way.  He does a really good job here, but does he outdo a more experienced Horror Director here?  Are he and Jordan Peele the new faces of Horror?

Eh...we'll see.  For instance, I still haven't seen Part 2, so I'm on the fence.  For now, just take solace in the fact that it is STILL not safe to be in a Corn Field ever...

Horror Fans that somehow 'slept' on this one- like me- should at least give it a look.  As a stand-alone Horror Film, it was quite good.  I remain skeptical about how much we should expand/explain it all though...

Streaming Standard: The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)

 A fun bit of Streaming to celebrate the Holidays is just what we need.

Since I don't want to pay to watch *another* Christmas Story Sequel, I chose...

Following the events of the last several Films, things aren't great in Outer Space for most people.

Specifically, they aren't great for Starlord, who gained and lost a Father and lost Gamora.

Drax and Mantis decide to cheer him up.

Their plan- get Kevin Bacon, who Starlord (who was a teen during Bacon's peak popularity) idolized around them for years.

Time to blend in.

Things go awry- as you'd guess- but they manage to bring Christmas to Knowhere for the first time.

Look at that face.

Speaking of faces, that one.

What went wrong?  
Can it be fixed?

To find out, stream this one now.

A fun, heartfelt adventure.  For fans of the Marvel Characters, you get a nice little sampler of what is to come with the third and final (at least for Gunn) Film in the Series.  For fans of Holiday Specials, you get everything you'd expect as well.

The Drax/Mantis pair really shines here.  Gunn says that this is Mantis' proper debut and I can see that.  She was a good part of the second Film, but did have to get squeezed in between alot of content.  Drax continues his funny side, but also isn't quite as much self-parody as he was in GotG 2.

One curious little change is that Groot seems to be presented by a man in a suit, as opposed to being fully CGI.  I'm honestly not opposed to it, but don't expect that necessarily to carry over to the 3rd Film.

The Story is fun and light for the most part, but does have nice emotional moments to set things up.  It gets nice and happy without getting too sappy.  If you're a Guardians fan, you should see it regardless of how it 'sets up Volume 3.'

While you're at it, go tell your friends.

As an unabashed Marvel Fan, I had a blast with this one.  Even if you're not a fan, it is a fun, heartfelt tale with Christmas spirit.

Shudder Sunday: Prisoners of the Ghostland (2021)

 Another Nicolas Cage Movie?
You spoil me, Shudder.

This is a Post-Apocalyptic, Neo-Western Samurai Film.  Enjoy...

A Prisoner- Cage- is suited up (literally) with a mission to rescue The Governor (Bill Mosely) of Samurai Town's Daughter.

If he acts up, the suit will blow him up.  Why him?

Well, some time ago, him and his partner robbed a Bank and many people died.

That sounds fair then.

The trip involves going into the titular Ghostland, which is a bad, bad idea.

He runs afoul of some really weird- even for this post-apocalyptic land- people, but...did he find his target?

The problem- she doesn't seem to remember who she is.

The traumatic events and landscape have done a number on her psychologically.

With time (and the bombs on his body) ticking away, can a crazy Cage make sense of the Ghostland?

Even if he can make it back, will it be a happy homecoming?  After all, Tak Sakaguchi is there with a katana and he's not happy.

To find out, stream the Film now.

A weird, weird Film.  When even Nic Cage describes how strange the Film is, you're on the right track.

Prisoners is, as you saw in my Intro, a hard to describe Film.  Is it a hard to enjoy Film?  No.

For me, it was an enjoyable bit of insanity involving Samurai, a man with a bomb suit, the Clock Tower from Back to the Future and radioactive Ghosts.

What's not to love?

To be fair, the Film is a bit long and takes a bit of time to explain what all happened.  Does it make sense?  Kind of.  Sort of.

This is the kind of cray that you're either going to love or hate.  Just know that if you hate it, these folks won't be happy.

A crazy Film that is big on style and excess.  While you can argue that it is a bit overlong, it is still an enjoyable car crash.

'70s Class: The Sentinel (1977)

 Satan was really big in the '70s.  Hmm...that might look weird without context?

This is 1977's The Sentinel.  It is a Horror Film about a woman living in an Apartment Building with a secret surrounded by strange people.  No, it is not Rosemary's Baby.  I could see how you might think that though.

Our Heroine wants to live alone- despite having a boyfriend who is Chris Sarandon- and find a place that is too good to be true.  At first, it seems great when Burgess Meredith is your Neighbor.  Well, in 1978, it would.  If he's your Neighbor NOW, you may need to seek some help.

This Michael Winner Film is chock full of past, present and future Stars of its day.  I'll try to cover them all, but I might miss one.

Is it as good as more famous brethren like Baby or The Omen?  To find out, read on...

Our Heroine is a Model, which we see in a Montage of her posing for pictures, being shown on Magazine Covers and the like.

Right away, we see a familiar face as a Photographer- Jeff Goldblum.

It's actually a step up for Jeff as he was one of the Rapists in Winner's Death Wish!

After her Father's death, she attends the service and remembers some traumatic experiences.

In a clever bit, she sees 'herself' go by in a Flashback of when she saw her Dad in some sort of sex party, freaked out and tried to kill herself.

A woman- Ava Gardner- shows her a lovely place that she marks down the price of instantly, which should be a red flag.

Like the Realtor in The Amityville Horror, she was giving you a hint...

She starts to get affected at work by what is going on, having fainting spells and just generally not being well.

This even affects her at a Commercial Shoot run by...Jerry Orbach?!?

'70s Doctors, as usual, are no help.

Amongst her strange neighbors there is a blind Priest- John Carradine-, a pair of strange Sister- one of whom is Beverly D'angelo in her first Role- and a quirky old man- Burgess Meredith.

There's an accidental Batman connection here as we also get Eli Wallach in the Film later aka the 3rd Mr. Freeze from the Show.

She keeps seeing weird things with her neighbors, including a black & white dream where she attends a Birthday party, but everyone is freaky.  D'angelo appears nude here, since, again, first Role and all.

She later wanders upstairs and is attacked by a Zombie that looks like her dead Dad, running outside.

After she recovers, she tells this to Gardner, who reveals that the Apartments are actually empty and she has no Neighbors!

The Police eventually investigate what is going on when a body matching the description of her attack on 'Dad' is found.

The Detective- Wallach- suspects that the Boyfriend is at fault, since he has 2 dead ladies in his past.

And yes, that is Christopher Walken, who mostly just stands in the background and has like lines.
At least he wasn't dubbed like Goldblum was!

A long, strange finale ensues.

Sarandon finds out that his lady has been chosen to be The Sentinel (roll credits) of a Gate to Hell, which the Apartment covers.  He tries to kill Carradine...

...but he's killed off-camera and now he's damned like the other Residents.  They were/are actually the spirits of killers that are also damned.

We know they are evil since they are all humans with various deformities.  Sigh.

Another Priest- Jose Ferrer- and Carradine show up to save the day, scaring away the evil spirits and Meredith.

In the aftermath, she's the new Guardian, but she's good...since she didn't kill herself like the spirits wanted.

Look, it's a muddy finale.

We get a 'they will try again' ending a la The Wicker Man ('04) and The Devil's Advocate to close us out.

A good Film, but it will definitely be an acquired taste.  '70s Films are often talked about as 'slow burns.'  If this one was burning any slower, it would still be unused in the matchbox!

The Plot moves at a very deliberate pace, with some weird stuff happening early on and then not much for a while.  If a woman being uncomfortable and confused qualifies as 'Horror,' then this is the scariest Film of all time!

That's not to say that it is bad, which I didn't.  It is well-made, even if there was apparently A LOT of drama Behind the Scenes.  Basically, Winner didn't get along with too many people, annoying the Writer of the Book (and Co-Writer of the Screenplay) and making Chris Sarandon so unhappy that he considered quitting Acting altogether.  You almost ruined Fright Night, Michael Winner!

So, if you're into a slower, more just generally-odd Horror Film, this is a good one.  It has an amazing Cast both for at the time- with Legends like Wallach, Meredith and Gardner- and looking back at it- Walken, Goldblum, D'angelo, etc.

In fact, it has so many random Stars in it that I can't pick just one Cameo for my Stinger.  You'll see why.

Do I pick between a young Tom Berenger
or an uncredited Richard Dreyfuss?

Next up, another Film from the seemingly-bottomless pile.  Will I clear out the Horror Films that I never got around to during October next?  Stay tuned...

Immediate Response: Glass Onion (A Knives Out Mystery) (2022)

 As much as I didn't care for Rian Johnson doing Star Wars, his Mystery Films are actually good.
Well, the first one was, anyhow.

Will the second one continue the tradition?

To find out...

The Good

* The Film is stylish, with a great locale and a varied Cast who each have their own look/style.  Everybody is unique here.

* The mystery itself is, like in the previous Film, handled in a different way then 'Guy Shows Up to Solve Crime.'  I wonder how many different wrinkles/variations there are to do.

* Monae has a great performance here in a role that is more complicated than it appears.  Craig is also quite nice here as well, playing a strong Lead and Supporting Lead when it is appropriate.

* Without giving SPOILERS, the Climax has the usual twists and turns that you'd expect.

* The Film has some random-seeming Cameos, most of which are fun. 
That said...

The Bad

* Ethan Hawke shows up and randomly vanishes from the Film after that.  Weird, no.

* Aw, the last appearances of Angela Lansbury and Stephen Sondheim.  Death is not Rian Johnson's fault, of course, but still...aw.

* The Film uses the 'Here's what we didn't show you' trick for basically the Third Act which, while fun, is a bit of a cheat.  

To be fair, the clues are there- just not the key context.

So, in summary, let Johnson keep making these as long as A-C List Stars are willing and a Plot is good.

 Seriously though, no more Star Wars.

Five (Sometimes Obscure) Films to be Thankful For

 Thanksgiving is all about giving thanks.
That and Turkey.
And...Stuffing.
And that weird canned Cranberry Sauce.

How about we give Thanks for Movies that don't get enough praise for what they did?
Let's do that now...

1) Blood and Black Lace (1964)- Creating Slasher Films

Mario Bava's 1964 Classic a Murder Mystery involving Fashion Models being killed by a masked man.  You get stylish stabbing and a general vibe that would inspire a number of Giallo Films.
Those, in turn, would inspire Films like Halloween and...well, you get the rest.

2) The Shadow Strikes (1937)- The First Superhero Film

Marvel and DC are fighting over who can make the most money.  Well, they owe it all to this Film.

Okay, that's probably not true, but it was the first Film in the Genre, so...you're welcome.

3) Nosferatu (1922)- The First Vampire Film

This isn't exactly the most obscure one, but its historical importance is key.
It is the first Vampire Film, beating Vampyr in 1923 and the official adaptation in 1931.

It is also the first 'Mockbuster,' inspiring such Asylum Classics as Atlantic Rim and Snakes on a Train.

4) Westworld (1973)- The first full CGI Shots

While people will usually go right to Young Sherlock Holmes for this, as it features the first fully CGI Character.

That said, you have to learn to walk before you can run and the fully-CGI shots of Brenner's perspective in the Film are very important.

5) The House of the Devil (1896)- The First Horror Film

Melies was a groundbreaker in many ways and Edison stole his glory (and profits)..

Before your Grandparents (or possibly even Great Grandparents) were born, however, he was making this (short) Horror Film before Cinema was truly an Art Form.

There are many, many more Films to highlight and be thankful for.  

Watch yours today.

Tubi Tuesday: Destroyer (1988)

 With a Holiday coming on the usual day for this, I might as well move it back for you.

If I go a week without a random Streaming Film, I'll probably die, like some sort of clumsy Shark metaphor.

Over a Decade after I featured the VHS Box, let's check out...

A Prisoner- Football Player turned Actor Lyle Alzado- is set for his execution, but the power surges and he doesn't die.

In the chaos, an (offscreen) riot breaks out and everyone thinks he's dead.

...except for this lady (Deborah Foreman) who's having bad dreams about the Film's Inciting Incident.

Why?

Well, alongside her Boyfriend here, with hair that totally doesn't date this Film, she...

...is in a Movie being shot in the same Prison about 2 years later.  Sure- that's how that works.

It's a Women in Prison Film Directed by...Anthony Perkins.  I thought I'd seen every Film he ever Directed!

A big problem, however, is that Alzado is still alive- somehow- and starts killing people off...eventually.

You actually don't see him again for like 30+ minutes and then he won't ever get off-camera after that.

Can our Final Girl and Guy survive the shoot? 
To find out, stream this now.

A decent attempt at schlock that mostly works.  The Film is really a few very different parts.  It's not exactly the most cohesive thing you'll ever see.

You get- Drama While Shooting a Film.
               People Picked off by the Heavy

               Random Weird Stuff with a Guard

               The Endless Final Confrontation

Pacing-wise, the Film is very odd.  They, as noted, kill off people one at a time once their part of the Story is over...until suddenly Alzado kills off a bunch of people...off-camera.  We see the aftermath, yes, but wasn't there a better way to pace and show this?

For their part, most of the Actors do their jobs well.  Perkins- in his small Role- plays an exasperated man who thinks he's too good for this.  Was that Acting at this point?  Foreman does a good job as our Final Girl...when the Film decides that she can defend herself.  Those moments do land big, thankfully.  Alzado is a pretty-enjoyable heavy when he finally gets to cut loose.  He tries to go for a Freddy Kreuger thing, but mostly just alternates between sarcastic laughing and being mad.

Destroyer is...fine, I guess.  If you know what to expect from one of these '80s Horror Films, you can enjoy it.  It is oddly-paced- with a 20+ minute finale- but still enjoyable.  

Now, Anthony, I need you to really sell your disinterest... 

Fans of these kinds of Film will enjoy it.  The extra gimmick of Alzado as the Killer helps, but can only elevate things so much.

Shudder Sunday: Blood Vessel (2020)

 A choice had to be made- which Blood Film to do (first)?

Would it be Blood Quantum (as in the smallest amount of blood)?
Would it be Blood Vessel (the one with 2 meanings)?

I went with the pun and the promise of a Creature Feature.
Did I pick correctly?  Let's see...

In 1945, a Lifeboat full of random Survivors- conveniently they are all from different Countries...but speak English fluently- is adrift at Sea.

They find a Nazi Ship to seek shelter on.

As they explore the Ship, they find some dead bodies and what looks like a clear attempt to make it so that nobody can leave?

What is going on?

They eventually find a missing, but seemingly-somewhat-feral girl.

If she's so innocent, why does the guy they find on board try to shoot her?!?

I'm trying really hard not to SPOIL anything on this one.

As such, I'll just end with a tease about what secrets lie deeper in the Ship.

I really want to say more...but I won't.  

To find out, stream the Film now.

An enjoyable Film for sure.  The Film doesn't exactly break the mold.  It gives you an historical version of a fairly-common Film Plot.

For instance, I've seen Ghost Ship and Death Ship, not to mention Below & Triangle.  In fact, it arguably gives you a slightly-tweaked version of a tale that still- to my knowledge- has yet to be adapted.  If you know the Film, I think you know what I mean.

The Film gives you some pretty basic Characters, but does give many of them some added depth.  One of them is chopped up before they even get on the Ship, so he obviously doesn't.  It's almost a shame that some of them get their stories ended when they do.

Without SPOILing what it is, the secret of the ship is great.  You can probably guess it- and Shudder's art will reveal it- but the execution is top notch.  Some don't look the design of the creatures, but I dug it.  It's a version of them that they we get far less than the more romantic (and cheaper) take.  Big plus.

Ultimately, the Film delivers what you'd hope for, with some twists along the way.  While its nothing major and unique, Vessel is a good time.  Now is it red out or is it just me?

If you're in the mood for a Thriller that is more of what you like, check it out.  It doesn't have too many unique aspects, but it is fun all the same.