Review - Husk (2011 - Dir. Brett Simmons)

Another one from After Dark Films. Like Prowl, it looks like this was made for a small budget. Not necessarily a bad thing. The director of photography does a good job of making a cornfield look suitably appealing. The leaves are used to frame the actors and depth of field is used well to create... well, depth. One of the problems with Husk is that it is too beautifully shot. Horror films need a bit of grain and grime to create an unnerving atmosphere. The dirt in this looks too clinical. This seems to be an issue will all new horrors on Blu-ray.


So, here we have another killer scarecrow film (see Dark Night of the Scarecrow for more bird scaring action). Five teenager types break down, due to some suicidal crows, and have to walk through a cornfield to a creepy house for help. So far, so standard issue.


Husk does some things well. The characters, for once, are not too irritating. You don't immediately want them all to die. Another plus point is that the characters don't get killed in the order that you would expect. The design of the big bad scarecrow is suitably creepy. You know that he is going to slowly turn his head to face the camera and he doesn't disappoint. There are some low-key funny moments, my favourite being when they are looking for their lost friend:
Scott: "Johnny's gone."
Chris: "What? Do you mean you found him?"
Scott: "Yeah, he was upstairs in the sewing room."
Chris: "What the funk is he doing in there?"
Scott: "Sewing."


What are the problems then? It's just not scary. Most of the jumps are of the loud noise variety. If I want to be scared by loud noises I could go and stand next to Brian Blessed. There is one good jump in there but I won't spoil it for you. I was quite bored at times during the film. There is a limit to how much 'running around in cornfields' I can stand. The ending's a bit of a duffer too.

You've got to give After Dark Films credit for bringing new horror to the screen, but I can't help feeling they would be better pooling resources for one good film rather than two below average ones. I would think twice before watching another. Don't believe the front cover either; it's not 'filled with grisly gore'.
4/10
evlkeith



If you like this you could also try:
Prowl, Dark Night of the Scarecrow, The Pack.

Review - K-PAX (2001 - Dir. Iain Softley)

A colleague once used to repeat his theory, that in terms of film; "You can't beat a bit of Spacey," and in the case of K-PAX, he just might have a point. Kevin Spacey plays the lead role of Prot, in Softley's slow burning, science fiction tale, based on the K-PAX novels by Gene Brewer. The crux of proceedings is whether we believe that psychiatric patient Prot is an alien from the planet K-PAX or just a delusional psychiatric patient of human origin, with one or two twists and turns along the way.

It all sounds a little on the dull side, but it's the slow progression of events and the gradual way we get to know the characters that actually makes the film so enjoyable. Spacey is excellent in playing the role on a knife edge between believable alien and hopeless delusional and Jeff Bridges provides his usual gruff performance but actually appears to develop as the story evolves. Barring a slightly suspect bluebird, there are no special effects, space ships or CGI aliens, but the film maintains an otherworldly atmosphere through the script alone, which can only be a good thing.

Whether you're into sc-fi, mystery or human drama there should be something in K-PAX for you to enjoy and appreciate. It's got to be one of the most underrated science fiction films of this century and the 'Spacey factor' takes it to a whole new level. It's not quite a 10/10 but it's close, so it is possible to 'beat a bit of Spacey' but only just.
9.5/10
Doccortex
 


If you like this you could also try:
The Life of David Gale, Starman, Contact.

Review - Shooting the Past (1999 - Dir. Stephen Poliakoff)

Now, I know this isn't strictly a film. Well, okay, it's not a film at all. It's a slice of television drama from the late 90s, written and directed by Stephen Poliakoff. This was the first thing I'd seen by him and I watched it almost by accident. I was hooked from the very first minutes and ended up watching all three parts. It is very filmic at times and through the delights of this new fangled DVD technology, you can watch it too.


Shooting the Past centres on a sprawling photo collection, managed by Marilyn Truman (Lindsay Duncan), that is about to be closed and either split up or destroyed. Along with Oswald Bates (Timothy Spall) and some other English eccentrics, Marilyn tries to save the collection from Christopher Anderson (Liam Cunningham) and his American Business School.


As with Poliakoff's other work, it doesn't go exactly as you would think. Nothing is ever that simple in his dramas. The characters are complex and you can see why actors like working with him. There is a distinct style to the dialogue; once you get into it you can recognise a Poliakoff drama from a mile off. All of the cast are spot on, but as always, Timothy Spall shines; funny and touching in equal measures. The music by Adrian Johnston also adds to the Poliakoff style and this is probably Johnston's best work.

It has a much slower pace than most dramas. Intentionally so. You are drawn in gradually and by the time a World War II story is told though a series of photographs, I would be surprised if anyone could stop watching. Liam Cunningham's character says exactly what you are thinking: that you know what is coming next. You don't. It is a very moving story and effectively told through mostly still images. This use of photos to tell stories also carries through into his later work, Perfect Strangers. 


The only downsides are the second part where not as much happens, but even that is being picky, and there's something else, that you might not notice. If you don't, all well and good; I'm not going to spoil it for you. If you do notice the other problem, you will be slightly taken out of the story. I was still gripped, though. Well worth having a look at, and if you like it, he's done loads of other good stuff too.
9/10
evlkeith



If you like this you could also try: 
Glorious 39, Perfect Strangers, Joe's Palace, Friends and Crocodiles.

Review - Weird Science ( 1985 - Dir. John Hughes)

One of my favourite films from my teen years, but how does it hold up today? Fortunately, I was surprised at how much it still makes me laugh. 


It is the perfect teenage boy fantasy, "Let's make a girl on the computer", which Gary (Anthony Michael Hall) and Wyatt (Ilan Mitchell-Smith) actually manage to pull off with 1985 computer technology. Not bad nipper. The lady in question turns out to look suspiciously like Kelly LeBrock.


It is a very quotable film: 'Stop hitting people with your Rex Harrison Hat' (Lisa), 'How 'bout a nice greasy pork sandwich served in a dirty ashtray' (Chet), 'Well, my nuts are halfway up my ass, but other than that, I'm perfect' (Gary in a Cartman voice) and on and on it goes.


Out of the actors in the film some have gone on to greater things: Robert Downey Jr (Iron Man), The legendary Bill Paxton (Aliens, Titanic) and Anthony Michael Hall (The Dark Knight, The Dead Zone TV Series). But what happened to Ilan Mitchell-Smith? I've never seen him again in anything, but after a bit of research it seems he has managed to get himself some work. And not just in McDonalds. He was supposedly in The Chocolate War (1988) and Superboy (1988 TV series). Mmm, very prestigious. Still can't help liking him in Weird Science though. He needs to make a comeback.


Looking back at the film now, there is some serious 80s cheese involved, especially at the end. Also, the fashions on show seriously date it. It is a fairly gentle comedy that doesn't exactly push the taste boundaries. Probably the riskiest scene is when Gary's mum finds out what he gets up to in the toilet. And it's not doing his hair as he claims. But with the quality dialogue and so many funny supporting characters: Wyatt's grandparents, an appearance by Michael Berryman (The Hills Have Eyes) and Gary's dad in particular, the problems pale into insignificance. I'll actually leave you with a Gary's dad quote: 'Who is this Gary character?'
8/10
evlkeith



If you like this you could also try:
The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Wargames.

Review - Sword of the Stranger (2007 - Dir. Masahiro Andô)

One of the things that I love about anime is the anime sky. A gorgeous unreal blue with fluffy white clouds, they make you nostalgic for childhood summers that only exist in your memories. Forget all that in this anime. 

When films are made normally the cinematographer will film in the 'Golden Hour'. Sword of the Stranger looks like it has been filmed on a bleak, overcast autumn day. As an anime, they've got full control of the lighting, so it feels a strange choice to shoot in grey-o-vision. But it does make for a different viewing experience and some of the views are beautiful.

There are loads of characters; although it boils down to a young boy, his dog, a stranger with no-name, a Japanese contingent and a nutter master swordsman working with the Chinese. I said there are a lot of characters. At times, it can all get a tad complicated, but stick with it and you are rewarded with some cracking fights.

Ah, the fight scenes. All flashing blades, blurred figures, cool poses and lens flare on swords. Oh, and blood. Plenty of blood. And limbs being further away from a person's body than they would ideally like. The fights bring life and colour to the film, contrasting with the overall look. The drab palette  ends up becoming a positive feature.

Definitely more Kurosawa than Miyazaki and if you're in the mood for a period Japanese anime that has at least two really cool characters, then you're in for a treat. Oh. Almost forgot. Tobimaru the dog is great. 

7/10

evlkeith

If you like this you could also try:
Seven Samurai, Jin-Roh, Ninja Scroll, Hero, House of Flying Daggers.

Intermission: Dinner Party Tips

People often come up to me in the street and say, 'Evlkeith, I'm in line for a promotion and my boss is coming over with a few other important guests for a big swanky meal. What hors d'oeuvres should I serve to make the best impression?'

An interesting question indeed. You have two options. Vol au vents would be a good choice, but you don't want to appear too desperate, so give them a miss. Easily the best idea is the beautiful combination of savoury cheese, sweet pineapple and tangy silverskin pickled onions, all served on a cheeky little cocktail stick to enable easy handling. 

Don't fall into the trap of using Garners pickled onions (definitely the best on their own, a food crime against delicate palates if used with this combination of flavours). Similarly, stick with bog standard cheddar and tinned pineapple for the perfect taste sensation. For a classy presentation tip, cut an orange in half, wrap it in tin foil and stick your cocktail sticks into that. How can any boss resist that?

Many people have followed this advice and now have the job of their dreams. And a big hot tub filled with ladies/gentlemen.

evlkeith