ALIEN: COVENANT REVIEW

The crew of a colony ship, bound for a remote planet, discover an uncharted paradise with a threat beyond their imagination, and must attempt a harrowing escape.

Starring: Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup

Directed by: Ridley Scott

Written by: Dan O’Bannon, Ronald Shusett, Jack Paglen, and Michael Green

  Looking back at my “Prometheus” review, it seems I felt there was too much creation talk, and too little alien action. So it’s safe to assume in “Alien: Covenant” a little less talk, and more action would be nice. And how does the movie open…with more odd conversation about creation. Alright, patience is needed, but the aliens are on the way!

  The crew of the Covenant faces some challenges right off the bat, as they lose their captain when a shock wave hits the ship while they are in a sleep state. They must gather themselves under the new captain, Oram (Billy Crudup), and repair the ship. After repairs are made, they receive a strange signal from a nearby planet that might have human origins. Oram is faced with the tough decision to investigate a new planet, or continue to make their way to their original destination. Of course they head to the new planet to investigate, and just when it looks like a great place to settle in, it all goes wrong. 

  One of the most memorable moments in the Alien franchise is the first time an alien comes bursting right out of a crew member. That same event is one of the best things about this movie, as the audience gets to see this happen in fierce and bloody fashion on more than one occasion. The aliens come primed and ready to go on the attack right away. The crew gets stranded on the planet facing down an alien attack before they are rescued by the only remaining crew member of the Prometheus, David (Michael Fassbender).

  This is when the movie takes some time to really get back into creation. David is completely obsessed by it, and tries to convince his robot twin Walter (Michael Fassbender), who serves a similar role on the Covenant, about what he’s learned. David is definitely an odd robot, and being alone on the planet gets him in an experimental mood. There’s a flashback of when David got to the planet, and what happens to the beings that lived there. Now that would have made for a more exciting opening scene than the conversation, but it’s easy to see why they decided to reintroduce David to the audience in the beginning.

  Soon enough the biggest and baddest aliens start hunting the remaining crew members. This leads to some exciting action as the crew fights its way back to the ship with the aliens continuing to come at them. As exciting as it is, there’s also some predictable things going on as well. There’s one thing in particular that they want the audience guessing at, but the audience has to know what’s going on. After the excitement dies down, the movie ends reminding the audience once again that it’s all about creation. 

  “Alien: Covenant” definitely has moments that will remind the audience of the original. It takes the audience back to the aliens ripping their way out of the humans, which is just bloody awesome. There’s also a nice face hugging scene or two, which is always fun. Daniels (Katherine Waterston) is no Ripley, but she holds her own, including going face to face with the alien. And then there are the robots David and Walter, reminding the audience of how Ash seems good at first, but also had plenty of bad intentions in it. Because of its similarities to the original, and having more aliens in it then “Prometheus,” I give this movie 3.5 pools of blood. 

  HorrO

NIGHT KALEIDOSCOPE REVIEW

A cynical psychic investigator who peddles his gift for anyone willing to pay. His abilities depleting, he must take powerful drugs to induce his visions. After a series of brutal murders in the city, a contact in the police comes to him for help tracking down the killers.

Starring: Patrick O'Brien, and Mariel McAllan

Directed by: Grant McPhee

Written by: Megan Gretchen and Chris Purnell

  People are always trying to find something different in horror. Sometimes it’s the story, or other times it’s a character. There’s the way a movie is shot like audiences have seen with found footage. And now comes “Night Kaleidoscope,” believe it or not, a movie shot to make the audience seem as if they are looking through a kaleidoscope.

  Seriously, it won’t take long for the audience to wonder what’s going on with the screen. It’s a little all over the place and blurry at first, but then the audience can settle into the look of the movie. It does use a good mix of colors in some scenes, and other scenes are very dark. To top off the crazy imagery, they add a pretty nice 80’s rock soundtrack.

  Now on to the story which follows an investigator with psychic abilities, who is hired to solve some recent murders. The investigator has visions, which gives the movie another opportunity to dive into the kaleidoscope theme. He soon finds out he’s up against a pair of vampires. While he tries to figure out how to stop the vampires, they continue to feast on people creating some nice and bloody scenes. However, the story is a little hard to follow because the audience can get lost in the kaleidoscope view. Also, there aren’t many scenes with a lot of dialogue.

  Overall, if you’re looking for something different “Night Kaleidoscope” might be for you. The way the movie is shot makes it unique, and gives itself its own style. The style overshadows the story, and might leave some lost. Regardless, I give them credit for trying something different, and give it 2 pools of blood.

  HorrO

Q&A w/ Andre Gower + Ryan Lambert of "The Monster Squad"

On Friday, April 28th, Popcorn Frights hosted a special screening of “The Monster Squad.” After the screening, Marc Ferman from Popcorn Frights held a Skype Q&A with two of the stars of the movie, Andre Gower, and Ryan Lambert. Check out the Q&A below…

INVOKE REVIEW

A young woman unwittingly unleashes an evil spirit in her house. 

Starring: Debbi Jones, Brett DeJager, Joie Bauer, and Shirley Hoesing

Directed by: Carlos Omar De Leon

Written by: Vorasine Vince Phrommany and Carlos Omar De Leon

  After bringing horror fans “Killer Date” and “Kal - The Clown,” Carlos Omar De Leon is back with a new film, “Invoke.” It’s getting late, and a young woman (Debbi Jones) is tired of working on her research as her boyfriend (Brett DeJager) watches a movie. She sends him home and prepares for bed, but not before listening to an audio file she receives from her cousin. The audio tells the story of Eliza Braum, a murderer who vowed to return one day! 

  Too bad for the young woman because that day has come. She doesn’t know it, but she summons the spirit to her house. Once again Carlos does a good job of setting a creepy atmosphere. The house is silent, and the young woman moves right into the dark spots of the house leaving her clueless to what’s lurking about. Eliza makes her presence known in a big way, and the film ends in frighting fashion. With strong performances, a somewhat familiar story, and a creepy spirit, I give “Invoke” 2.5 pools of blood.

  HorrO

PUPPET REVIEW

An infection spreads among a group of friends that turns them into violent killers.

Starring: Tara Cardinal, Leah Ann Cevoli, Ryan Demarest, Matt Jayson, Jeffery Potts, and Berna Roberts

Directed by: Joseph R. Davis & Brian Gerson (DaG)

Written by: Jeffery Potts

  Emery (Tara Cardinal) finally gives in and decides to hang out with her sister, and her sister’s friends. However, they’re not there to just hang out, but also there for Bible study. Emery isn’t into that, and becomes upset when they try to force the religious talk on her. Emmett (Matt Jayson) goes to check on her after she locked herself in a room, and tells her a very personal story just before everything changes.

  In “Puppet,” they do a good job of setting up the Emery’s character, and getting the audience to feel bad for her situation. They also do an equally good job getting the audience to feel bad for Emmett after the story he tells. What’s really great about that scene is just as the audience digests his story chaos breaks out. Blood starts spilling all over the place as true horror takes over. And in the mist of it, the sisters find one more surprising thing to fight over. Will their faith in God be enough to save them? Find out by watching the film I give 2.5 pools of blood to.

  HorrO

*Watch “Puppet” at: http://www.procoproductioncompany.com/pages/Puppet.html