New Foreign Flix: Nymph (2014)

A Film that isn't exactly what it promises, but still turns out to be pretty good.  Today's Film is Nymph, a 2014 Film from a Serbian Director on the rise.  At least, that's what I'm told.  The Director made one Film before this- Zone of the Dead- and I haven't seen it.  This is one of many Films that was given to me on Christmas by my Brother, so he probably knows more about this than I do.  Here's what I know: a group of people go on Vacation and explore a place that nobody in their right mind would.  While there, they are attacked by a man.  However, there is a different threat there as well- one they never expected.  I won't give away too much here, so you'll just have to live with that.  One look at the Tags for the Review will certain give you a hint, at least.  To find out if this is a glimpse of a bright future or a dull one, read on...

In the usual fashion, two people show up somewhere and get killed- one by a man with a grappling hook (that's new!) and one by an unseen person underwater.

The Story proper begins with a quintet going on Vacation out in some Islands.  People on Vacation in a Horror Film- unique!

A mysterious man- Franco Nero!- warns them of the danger on an abandoned Prison nearby, so they are naturally curious.  Yeah, this will end well!

Shockingly, they decide to go to the Prison (I know, right!) and wander around.  They are not alone.

The man from earlier shows up and attacks the group with the hook.  They get separated and scared.

One of the men acts strangely and forces a metal door open.  He seems drawn there and will not be shooed away from this place!

As the group gets whittled down a bit, they find out some dark secrets about the Prison and finds that Nero's Story was not Fiction!  It will be hell to escape from this place just with the man chasing them...

...but there's also someone in the room from earlier.  Who are they?  Why are they in a well?

Well, I won't SPOIL too much.  After all, what is the point in seeing a Film so recent if I do that?  Sorry.  The End.

I'm a big tease, aren't I?  Honestly, I found myself liking the Film better as it went on and was kind of sold by the End.  As such, I don't want to SPOIL it all for you now.  Can you blame me?  First- the Good.  While not amazing, the Acting has a nice, realistic feel to it.  You feel for these people in this situation, cliche as it may be.  It is always neat to see Franco Nero- at least for me.  The Gore Effects are somewhat sparse, but effective.  The Make-Up/CG you see later is also quite good.  I can't show you more...or rather, I wont, but you can just trust me.  The Bad is mostly how cliche the Film feels at first.  It is not dull, but it feels a bit formulaic.  As it goes into the 2nd Act, you think you know all that is coming.  The silent killer is menacing and all, but has obviously been done before.  Thankfully, the Film's late Second Act and Third Act really redeem the thing.  The creature in the well makes its presence known and truly takes over the Film by the End.  If you stick with the Film, it is definitely worth it.  It leaves you wanting and expecting more, so I'm curious to see if there is follow-through.  In summary, a Film that starts out basic, but becomes better by the End.  To be fair, the Film already seems to think that it is great...

Next up, another present that comes from the 1970s.  For all of you who laughed at Reefer Madness, see what can happen to you in the future!  Stay tuned...

Strange Killers: She Creature (2001)

After Halloween, I was inspired to revisit some more underrated Horror Films.  That leads me to today's film; She Creature.  This is an odd one to try and explain, but I'll do my best.  The Film is a Remake of Corman's 1956 Film The She Creature, in which a woman is turned into a Sea Monster.  The thing is this: this is not exactly a Remake either.  This is part of that trend when old movies (many by Corman) were being 're-imagined' for a new audience.  Previous attempts include earlier Reviewed film like Earth vs. The Spider (2001) and Teenage Cavemen (also 2001).  Those were weird and not that good.  Is this better?  The short answer: yes.  The long answer: this Review.  The Story involves a couple (Rufus Sewell and Carla Gugino) get the break of a lifetime and try to make it to America to cash in.  That break is a Mermaid, a great attraction for any Side Show in their Era (the early-19th Century).  The trip doesn't go smoothly, as you might imagine, and all sorts of hell breaks loose.  If you haven't seen this movie yet (like many, I'm sure), let me show you what you've been missing...

After some black-and-white foreshadowing, we meet out heroes.  They run a Side Show and they run it well.  They intrigue one person with their fake Mermaid (Gugino) and he wants to show them something.

Fun Fact: this Role was almost played by Christopher Lee.  Nothing on this guy, but...what could have been!

He has a real Mermaid!

Through some shenanigans, the guy dies of a heart attack and our heroes end up taking the Mermaid.

They keep their cargo secret until it nearly escapes from the Deck.  Needless to say, the Captain is a bit annoyed...but will take their money still.  Good guy.

People on the Crew start to act weird as they spend time with the Mermaid.  Gugino, in particular, gets curious and starts to read the Journal of the Mermaid's previous owner (from the Intro).

She starts to have weird visions and her mood starts to change.  Is she infected?  Can this end well?

So yeah, the Mermaid may have a thing for her.  What could she want from Gugino though?

Eventually, things really go to shit and the Mermaid reveals its true nature/form.  It is less pretty.

The Mermaid is also not alone (although I won't SPOIL exactly how/why) here.

Who is this kid?  Why does she have freaky eyes?  I won't SPOIL that either.

You really should check this one out, so...I'll just stop here.  The End.

A really neat and interesting Film- even if it didn't lead to more things.  I didn't really mention this earlier, but the unofficial Title to the Film is Mermaid Chronicles Part 1: She Creature.  Can you name the other Films in this series?  Trick Question- there are none.  So yeah, I'm not sure where this was supposed to go or why it didn't happen.  Regardless, this Film still works as a one-off, giving you enough of an actual Ending to be satisfying as a solo feature.  Not all of them do that- I'm looking at you Ridley Scott's Robin Hood and Paul W.S. Anderson's Three Musketeers!  The key player here is not ever actually seen on Film: Stan Winston.  His make-up/prosthetic work here is top-notch.  Accepting certain handicaps related to Practical Effects work (like the need for precise camera work), I have no complaints.  There are brief uses of CGI here and I have no problem with it.  They are used when CGI should be- when you can't do it right without it.  The overall presentation here- Set Design, Effects, Writing, Production- is all top-notch here and deserving of more esteem.  The Story is nothing too new, but works quite well.  If you haven't seen this one, you really need to.  It takes two tricky things- a Period Piece and a Horror Film- and makes them work together.  If nothing else, you can at least appreciate their commitment to showing you what old-timey Racism looked like...

Up next, I celebrate Veteran's Day with another tale of military might.  After a 'satirical' explosion of a movie, why not cut the Budget by 95% and see what happens.  Stay tuned...