The Invisible Man (2020)


I have not visited a cinema for quite some time now.

Firstly, there was not much offerings I was interested in (Eg. Fantasy Island was trashed by the critic and The Rescue was pulled from the cinema because of the Covid-19)

So, I went to the cinema today and thank goodness I did.

This is an excellent movie.

Director is Leigh Whannell

Writers is also Leigh Whannell (screenplay by), Leigh Whannell also did the screen story by... you see where this is going?

For the uninitiated, Leigh Whannell had been partner in crimes with James Wan since the Saw (2004).

He wrote Insidious and also directed one of them (the third one, if memory serves)

Back to this movie. Whoever is involved with the casting for this movie should also be commended (well I can think of one I would change, and have to add, I would be nitpicking)

Prior to the release of The Mummy (2017), Universal announced their monster unified universe, Dark Universe, trying to give MCU a run for their money. Many a project was announced and many a big names, named and signed to appeared in these high profile projects.

The Mummy (estimated budget of $125,000,000 made only $80,227,895 at the US box-office. Do bare in mind such big budget movies, have big budget marketing fund, usually in the USD100 millions range, you can see what kinda loses it was for Universal) bombed at the box-office (I honest think it was a decent movie, and would have faired much better, if it was NOT called The Mummy). With that, alot of people (including the creator, Alex Kurtzman) thought that the Dark Universe would go out with a whimper...

Well, Universal with Blum House made this, with a budget of USD 7,000,000 (bare in mind, each episode of Mandalorian is costing Disney+ USD 13,000,000...) and at last count, has a cumulative worldwide Gross of $102,226,015.

That is a GREAT return of investment and I hear, that Universal and Blum House is currently talking about a Dracula movie...

I enjoyed this movie immensely.

The amount of information that audience gather, in the first 10 mins of the movie, is equivalent to the storyline of the last Insidious movie. I was wondering why with Leigh Whannell writing the story for Insidious: The Last Key (2018), the story was so.... lean. After watching this, I suspect he was putting more effort into this script compared with that Insidious movie...

As mention, I like the cast. Elisabeth Moss was perfect for Cecilia Kass. She just fit the part, perfectly.

Haunted eyes, a ball of nervous energy, so.... broken.

With such limited budget, the "invisible" parts/effects were very convincing.

The ending...



2020 movies have been underwhelming.

If this indicate what is to come, for the rest of the year, I can only say, bring them on!!

My Two Sen

Enjoy!

Fantasy Island (2020)

When I first heard of this, I was ecstatic.

Then I found out it was by Blumhouse and they were giving it a horror treatment, I was over the moon!!

Then news trickled in that the reviews were poor... and then Covid-19 and then MCO, I missed it at the cinemas...

I had just finished watching this and it is...

**Sigh**

It started off promising. (Anyone watched it at the cinema? How did they show the two brother's bits?? The pool party, Their attraction to the opposite sex (or otherwise...)???

You usual quadrilogy structured movie, each character goes off and have their fantasy...

The middle happened and I went... huh?

And then the horrible third arch...

Over-reached much...

Great idea.

Terrible script.

Most horrible Cast (Why would you hire Michael Pena for this???? It is like hiring Jerry Lewis for Macbeth???? WHY???!!!???)

This movie actually made money.

Budget of 7 million made 35 million...

They should just make more Invisible Man (2020) rather than this...

Remember the Hervé Villechaize (Tattoo) running and excitedly proclaim, "The Plane, The Plane!"

I literally rolled my eyes when

Do they really expect to make a sequel of this... Kaka!?!

My Two Sen

Endless Night (1972)

When you visit Imdb website, you will see that this movie is categorized as Crime, Drama and Horror...

Why would this movie be cataloged as horror, I will never know...

Several note worthy points about this movie.

Based on Agatha Christie's book (Same name)

Hayley Mills stars in this (The actress from the original Parent Trap)

One of the last movie with George Sanders (he also voice Shere Khan the Tiger, Disney's Jungle Book 1967)

This is one of the most unscary horror story I have every witness.

The plot have been duplicated acrossed many other movies and tv episodes

Even in the making of the movie, the emphasis was place on Bernard Herrmann being the composer of this film score, rather than the actual story itself...

This movie is a failed horror movie in my book

My Two sen...

The Changeling (1980)

This is NOT the one with Angelina Jolie...

I have not watched or heard of this before... until I had watched the movie.

One scene reminded be of a snippet of dialogue I remember hearing from my eldest brother about an R rated movie he watched, and then I remembered, oh this was the movie he watched...

This movie is... rare...

It has George C. Scott as the leading man.

It is a Canadian production (see, rare).

Even with a very old school approach to the way the movie was made, it foundation (the story) is actually quite good.

It is about a haunted house.

The reason George C. Scott ended up staying at the house is quite gruesome.

The premised for the house being haunted (infanticide), is even more gruesome. And all because of a subject matter that is very familiar with politicians, good old greed.

I love the house set.

I love the music "composed" by the role played by George C. Scott and it turned out to be the music from the music box.

The ending as a little uneventful, and since Hollywood loves to do remake, I actually would not mind if James Wan or Leigh Whannell redo this and make the ending better.

My Two Sen.

Society (1989)

In ALL fairness, this movie is NOT for everyone

It is OUTRIGHT... WEIRD!!!!!!

Supposedly this movie was finished in 1989 and was never release to the general public until 1992 (rating issue perhaps).

I had never watching it in the 90s (initial release) and had only watched it is the past few days.

Now this movie is 80s to the MAX

The clothing.

The hairstyle.

The... plot line.

The protagonist is William "Bill" Whitney (played by Billy Warlock) has it all.

He is young, good looking, popular in high school (he is running for school president) but Bill has an issue.

He feels... "alienated" from his family.

So he seek consultation from a therapist, who informs him that the feeling is all, in his own perception.

So he goes on with his life until his sister's ex boyfriend who had been stalking his sister, since their break up, played to Billy a recording of his sister and they parents doing... the unmentionable...

Billy investigates and...

And in the end we see... "the shunting".

I am NOT even going to attempt to describe it to you.

Let's just say that once you see it, you cannot possible unsee it...

So, to cap up, the antagonist in this movie... is upper society???

Again, I warn you, this movie is NOT for everyone

You have been warn kiddies. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

My Two Sen

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: May 10 2020, 02:01 PM

You've been warned kiddie.... YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!

....Weirdness... And I have seen pretty weird stuff before this... And have to add, I did not hype this in ANY way...

Ghost Story (1981)

Another 1980s horror movie I had missed during the 80s.

And it turns out it is another R rated one.

What attracted me about this movie is to see what kinda movie Fred Astaire and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. later in their respective career.

The pacing of this movie is a little old school

It is a slow burner. Although this happen, they are almost pedestrian, the viewer does not get engage...

And also and editing is a little confusing at times.

Then third act happened and everything picks up!

Part of the confusion for me is Craig Wasson plays two characters, namely Don / David Wanderley.

One twin died in the beginning and the other twin had to go back to their home town for the funeral. Guess who is the under achieve amongst the two...

This movie also has a very young Alice Krige (Queen Borg anyone) who does not seem to age...

What happened to her is criminal.

So, in conclusion the movie started slow, almost uneventful and have to add, when things unveil, everything clicks into place, and just like that, I like the ending.

My Two Sen.

Cursed Films (2020)

Please goto Curse Films (Andrewtst Write Up)

My thanks to Andrewtst for drawing my attention to this documentary 5 episode series,

Episode 1 - The Exorcist
Episode 2 - The Omen
Episode 3 - Poltergeist
Episode 4 - The Crow
Episode 5 - Twilight Zone: The Movie

I found the quite interesting actually

They actually track down people involved with the movie and interview them and also to discussed is there is an validity to a cursed on that particular movie.

Watch it if you can find it

Cheers

Darkness Falls (2003)

MCO does strange things to people.

I have been spring cleaning and I came across this title in my DVD collection.

And thought to myself, why did I buy this movie?

So I gave it a twirl, and found myself mildly entertained.

Before I talk about the movie let me just talk about



Why am I talking about the tooth fairy

Well the last sentence above, it the basis of the movie.

The antagonist in the movie, is, yup the tooth fairy and you fight it with.... light!

It is obvious that they producers and director did try to make a concerted effort to make the movie good.

No big names are attached to h=this movie.

Some part of it does work, and have to add the end product is just not very memorable.

Also I just found out that that lead actor O.D.ed in 2007. Ironic because in the movie, he is heavily medicated because of his diagnose night terrors...

So, something you can watch when you have nothing else to do.

My Two Sen

The Wretched (2019)

Directors: Brett Pierce, Drew T. Pierce

Stars: John-Paul Howard, Piper Curda, Jamison Jones



This is another direct to V.O.D. movie.

This is a low budget horror movie.

I think the McGuffin they use, is good.

I just don't think the delivery of the movie is... engaging.

Probably did not relate to any of the characters in the movie...

I rate this movie, fair, a 2.5 out of 5.

My Two Sen

Black Christmas (2019)

Director: Sophia Takal

Stars: Imogen Poots, Aleyse Shannon, Lily Donoghue

[QUOTE]

Strike 2

Not having any luck with horror yesterday...

Watched two "Dead on Arrival" (pardon my pun) horror in a row.

There is a movement in Hollywood amidst the Harvey Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein scandal, of removing "toxic masculinity" from American movies, and this is THE product?

I am flabbergasted.

I am all for equality.

The emphasis here is equality

Not one dominating the other.

This is just BAD.

And by Blumhouse nevertheless...

The "cherry" on top is this is a remake, and I have not watched the original.

I may watch it and try to pin point what exactly makes a movie "toxic masculinity".

I give this a 1.5 out of 5

My Two Sen

The Haunting (1999)

Director: Jan de Bont

Stars: Liam Neeson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Owen Wilson, Lili Taylor



I have a hard time getting a good copy of this.

Not everyone would enjoy this.

This is a remake of a 1960 movie (same title).

Also a follow up of Jan de Bont success streak in Hollywood (Speed (1994), Twister (1996))

Right off the bat, the production value of this movie is off the chart.

The haunted house set is amazing!!!!

I do not know what is it about movies from this period, the color is so vivid and beautiful

That's the the irony about the movie, the movie is beautifully shot about this horrible, horrible haunted house...

Granted the director is better know as a director of photography.

Everyone in the movie brought their best, and at the end of the movie... unfortunately, the movie comes acrossed a little... flat.

In the original movie, it forces the viewer to decide if the house is haunted, or things occurs as a series of unfortunate events.

Here there is no doubt that it is haunted.

The director made Speed 2 before this.

And fater this movie, with both movie getting ripped apart by the critics, the director never directed another movie...

My Two Sen.

Two on a Guillotine (1965)

Director: William Conrad
Stars: Connie Stevens, Dean Jones, Cesar Romero

This is a horror movie.

I found two points of interest about this movie

1). This movie is produced by William Conrad Productions. Yes, THAT William Conrad from the TV Series Cannon (1971–1976) and much later Jake and the Fatman (1987–1992)

2) The main lead is Dean Jones (Herbie anyone?)

It is in black and white and is actually nicely remastered by Warner Brothers.

As for the actually story itself, there is nothing original about the movie.

I believe when this movie is made, alot of the hooks have already done by other movies, they were done better (eg was William Conrad trying to be William Castle?).

Another noteworthy thing about this movie, is It is the first movie when Rock and Roll is "featured" (at least by the thinking of Warner Brothers Executive) to make this a must see movie for "teenagers".

A decent "horror" if you have nothing better to watch. It is just that there is nothing surprising to the modern audiences.

My Two Sen

Hmm... May have to give this another try

Remember watching the 1st episode and could not get into it...

Scream (2022)

It is incredible to thinnk that the first scream was release in 1996.

When it was first release it made alot of money.

With a "low budget" and a slew of up and coming young actors the movie made a killing at the box office.

Wes Craven was persuaded to make a second. Which from a production point of view it was a disaster.

The full script was leaked and Wes had to have the script writer at hand to rewrite the script on the fly.

The actors got their rewritten script piece meal

Special paper was used that made sure the script could not be photocopied...

The second did not gainer the critic and the viewing public and have toadd, it still made enough to have part 3 greenlit and made.

The third was much better and still the original just had that little magic that made it special.

Scream 4 (2011) was supposed to spearhead a new trilogy.... and it didnot (not enough box office)

And now, Scream 5....

They managed to get 4(?) actors from the first movie to return.

Focus is NOT on them.

New kids.

New kills.

New blood!

Seriously blood

Blood is everywhere in this movie

The kills are bloody.

Probably the bloodiest of the series.

There are some leap of faith in the storyline.

If you can accept that, you will enjoy the movie.

What amuses me is

If you love the movie series (not the TV series) you will like this.

Script... can be a little clunky at some parts.

Overall it is a good continuation of the movie series.

My Two Sen.

Hopefully Insidious: The Dark Realm will be good

Morbius (2022)

Remember in 1999 while you were watching The Matric and bullet time happened and you went, uhhhhh..... ahhhhhh.....

For some odd reason The Matrix Resurrections (2021) totally forgot waht made the 1999 The Matrix great... Great story and great effects

I thought I would have a terrible time at the movies with this film.

Well, the patrons behind me thought that they have the right to kick and put their legs up on the chairs in front of them, as they please...

Back to the movie... it is decent.

The first two act were actually very well done.

The why and why nots of the lead were well fleshed out.

There are scenes in the trailer that was not used....

The visual effects were a supped up bullet time and they are glorious!

Why the heck did The Matrix Resurrections (2021) forget this, I was never figure out.

Where this movie flatter is the last act...


I mostly enjoyed this.

I could do with people shaking my seat less and not see someone shoe near my head and have to add, that is life, you don't always get what you want.

My Two Sen

P.S. There are two short scene at the end but not the end end (eg after ALL the endcredits... Hope this make sense.

The Exorcism of God (2021)

Is this a good horror?

I would list it under well intended horror with very passionate producer and director. Has elements of greatness and does fall short of achieving that.

This is not your typical American horror.

The producers and directors are south American.

Most of the actors are south Americans with the exception of 2 (that I know of).

The premise is actually interesting.

This movie is an amalgamation of The Exorcist and Constantine and it does fall short.

If you have a craving for horror and have 1 hour plus to kill, give this a go.

My Two Sen