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Friday, February 27, 2015
Saturday, February 21, 2015
WOLFCOP REVIEW
It's not unusual for alcoholic cop Lou Garou to black out and wake up in unfamiliar surroundings, but lately things have taken a strange turn. Crime scenes seem oddly familiar. Lou's senses are heightened, and when the full moon is out, he's a rage-fueled werewolf. WOLFCOP is one cop's quest to become a better man...one transformation at a time!
Starring: Leo Fafard, Amy Matysio, Sarah Lind, Jonathan Cherry, Jesse Moss, Aidan Devine, and Corrine Conley
Written and directed by: Lowell Dean
What do you get when you cross a werewolf and a cop... a pretty good freaking movie! As one might expect, crossing a wolf and a cop must mean this is a comedy-horror with probably more comedy than horror. Well "WolfCop" actually is a really well-balanced movie. The beginning is kind of serious with funny lines sprinkled in as the audience is introduced to Lou (Leo Fafard). Being an alcoholic, the movie opens in one of those moments that many might imagine happens for an alcoholic. The true comedy in the opening moments is learning about LIQUOR DONUTS!!! That's right... LIQUOR DONUTS!
The movie moves forward in some more serious moments introducing some of the other characters, and establishing what's going on in this small town. Then it gets real serious when Lou goes through his first two major transformations into a werewolf. The first one is particularly unique, as it starts from an interesting region of the body. The second one is a little different, and hits more on the pain of what Lou is going through. Both are well done from the acting to the special effects.
Now back to the comedy part. Once Lou embraces the wolf, he also embraces the cop that he isn't in his normal life. WolfCop is all about getting the bad guys. He goes on quite a little adventure with whom the audience might call a sidekick, Willie (Jonathan Cherry). While the time the two spend together is brief, WolfCop and Willie are a hilarious duo, as Willie provides plenty of play-by-play of WolfCop taking out the bad guys. Besides Willie, WolfCop also gets something many superheroes get providing yet another fun moment.
Speaking of superheroes and what they get, they also get the woman! WolfCop even has a special admirer. Soon enough that admirer and him get hot and heavy. Seeing a wolf get intimate certainly creates one of several memorable moments.
As mentioned, the movie gives the audience serious, fun, and even intimate moments. It also has plenty of action, and horror. Besides the transformation scenes, there are many moments of gore, as WolfCop tears through bad guys. The special effects are solid, and create a lot of blood and gore. Of course one or two of those moments might also come with some comedy. The movie ends with a great action scene involving several good fights, and deaths.
What's also impressive about "WolfCop" is how well writer/director Lowell Dean unfolds the story. There's something going on in the town, and it appears to be well hidden until it’s time for the big reveal. However, if the audience wants to have some real fun, watch the movie a second time, and look for the clues to what's happening. Not only does Lowell do a good job, but so does the cast. The acting is solid starting with Leo Fafard, and moving down the line to actors/actresses Jonathan Cherry, Amy Matysio, Sarah Lind, and Aidan Devine.
"WolfCop" is a well-balanced movie that has a little of everything to offer its audience. There are both serious and funny moments mixed in with plenty of horror, and action. There are definitely several memorable moments as well. All of these things come together in a great story supported by some good acting. With that, and the fact that "WolfCop" introduced me to LIQUOR DONUTS, I give it 3.5 pools of blood.
HorrO
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Friday, February 13, 2015
CHATTER REVIEW
While
monitoring Internet traffic for the Department of Homeland Security, Agent
Martin Takagi comes across the intimate video chats of a couple, temporarily
living in different parts of the world, who begin to discover their new home is
haunted.
Starring:
Brady Smith, Sarena Khan, Tohoru Masamune, Laura Niles, and Sadie Ella Solomon
Written
and directed by: Matthew Solomon
Horror fans often complain that they
can't find anything original to watch. Some fans even complain about the parade
of found footage films over the past few years. Well what if I told you that
there is a film that is shot almost entirely through Skype. Yes, that's
right... Skype. Something original, and certainly different! You might have
some concerns about that, but I'm here to tell you not to worry about it.
"Chatter" follows David
(Brady Smith) and Laura (Sarena Khan), who are a couple trying to stay in touch
while being miles apart. David is trying to settle into their new house, while
Laura is away on business. They start off doing the typical things couples
might do on Skype like filling each other in on their daily activities, work,
and even squeeze in some personal romantic time.
Then the fun begins when David starts
hearing what he thinks is a child while trying to sleep. This starts a chain of
strange events that occur over the course of days. The drama builds as he
shares his concerns with Laura, and his best friend. The audience might think
that Skype would limit this story, but it doesn’t. There is plenty of back-story
that is revealed in conversions, and it brings more attention to why they are
being haunted.
Then there’s the added dimension of
Agent Martin Takagi (Tohoru Masamune) watching everything unfold. He plays
almost like another audience member except that he’s really in the film. While
he watches the couple and sees everything that is happening, the audience
watches anxiously to see if he will help the couple as things go from bad to
worse.
As for scares, it’s a little hard to
produce some jump scares because of the limits of the Skype screens. However,
they do an excellent job of creating some creepy scenes. There's always a
chance for a figure to appear in the background, or an object to start moving.
The tension definitely builds to an unexpected, and exciting ending. And just
when the audience thinks it’s all over, stay tuned for a bonus scene after the
ending credits!
A few years ago I had the privilege of
reviewing an excellent short film shot through Skype titled "Anna" by
Matthew Solomon. As good as that was, Matthew topped it with this full feature
version “Chatter.” The audience should have no worries that the movie is shot
primarily through Skype, as that makes the movie watching experience new, and
original. There’s a good story filled with many creepy moments. The built up
tension will have the audience worried about the fate of the couple, and if the
agent will ever come to their aid.
HorrO
Monday, February 9, 2015
WHITE ZOMBIE (2014) REVIEW
Beautiful
socialite Madeline White travels to the Old World to be reunited with her
fiancée, Neil Bellamy, with plans to marry. However, on her voyage to the
island, she meets wealthy plantation owner Gilles Beaumonde who secretly falls
in love with her. Upon her arrival, Neil and Madeline seal their plans to marry
unaware that Beaumonde already has his own intentions for Madeline. Beaumonde
enlists the help of evil voodoo master Severin Devereaux who commands a crew of
zombies with nefarious plans of his own. Although this remake adheres to many
elements of the 1932 classic, it also differs greatly in its fantasy steam punk
approach. This "White Zombie" includes new characters that flesh out
the idea of voodoo as a key element of zombie-lore. In addition to characters
carried over from the original are Baron Samedi (the "loa" or
guardian of cemeteries,) guede (death spirits,) voodoo witches (reminiscent of
those in Shakespeare's "Macbeth") and powerful voodoo priestess Mambo
Brigitte...
Starring:
Scarlet Sheppard, Isaac Eastwood, and Joey Madia
Directed
by: Arthur Leo Collins
Written
by: Susan Sheppard
Without getting into comparisons to the
classic "White Zombie," lets talk about what this version of
"White Zombie" does well. The first thing that stands out, and holds
true throughout is keeping a great setting. It provides a great background for
a story involving voodoo. It's dark, mysterious, and even though this isn't a
jump scare kind of movie, it always has the audience wondering what's lurking
in the background.
To go with the setting is the terrific costume design. The characters look great, and fit time period they create
perfectly. Madeline (Scarlet Sheppard) is stunning, and she shows why she
has three men after her. Beaumonde (Joey Madia) and Devereaux (Eric
Vasbinder) are dressed perfectly to be the sly, and smooth bad guys they are.
Now the most important part...the
story. It starts off trying to get to audience on the couple's side, as they prepare to get married. As the couple prepares, Beaumonde and
Devereaux reveal their own plans for Madeline. What makes this story a little
different is that there's one bad guy trying to out do another bad guy.
Beaumonde thinks Devereaux is working for him, but that’s not the case. On top
of that, there's another character that the audience might think is a bad guy,
but actually turns out to be pretty helpful. It's not as confusing as it
sounds, but keeps the story interesting.
And now for the only real draw back. As
the story unfolds there are certain moments where the actors/actresses need to
drive home the point, and they struggle to do that. They don't do a bad job,
but just need to bring out their characters' emotions a little more. That would
get the audience fully involved with the story, the emotional swings, and
firmly rooting for the couple.
“White Zombie” starts off in a dark
setting that sets a great mood for the rest of the movie. The terrific costume
designs add to that setting, as it puts the audience completely in that world. The
audience gets not one, but two very interesting bad guys, and plenty of
suspense as Madeline’s life hangs in the balance. The only set back for this
movie is the acting, but it’s not enough to detour anyone from seeing it.
HorrO
Saturday, February 7, 2015
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