Movie Review - Afflicted

Afflicted

2013

The Cast

So far, there have been only three "worth-watching" Point-Of-View Movies:  Cloverfield,  The Possession of Michael King, and Chronicle; of which, Cloverfield is the best of the bunch... until now...

When Afflicted started my heart sank and I reached for the remote.  There are way too many awful P.O.V. Movies out in the Horror genre so I was already in conflict with myself... should I turn off or should I give it a chance...

I am most certainly glad I chose to give it a chance.  It's just a shame it took me five years to get to watch it... thank you The Horror Channel for adding another movie to my expanding list of favourites.

I also have to admit I was dubious since it's a vampyre tale.  In recent times, vampires have not been what they should be (with sarcastic thanks to Stephenie Meyer).  However, I have to give a real and heartfelt thanks to both Derek Lee and Clif Prowse, who wrote, directed, and acted in a True up-to-date vampyre tome.  For anybody thinking of doing a vampyre novel or film then check out the Afflicted as this is how it should be done.

What Afflicted does it tell the story of Derek Lee, who wakes up one day doubting his life choices so he chooses to make a big change.  With the help of his best friend Clif, they decide to go on a world tour they had planned in school.  Clif will document the entire journey and post it online.  They promise their followers to visit any place they recommend and to do any dare they challenge.  However, in their first stop, Paris, Clif dares Derek to get laid.  Except, for Derek's lover for the night isn't exactly normal...

From here on in, Clif begins to document Derek and the changes he and his body is going through.

What makes this such a good film is the change in perspectives as Derek transforms.  In the beginning, there's worry as he's sick, unable to keep food down, projectile vomiting, and in pain.  This alters to wonder and awe as he realises his strength has increased; he can run at speed and jump great distances.  There then comes fear and anxiety when he finally realises what he must do to stay alive.  In the end, there's anger and hate as he hunts down the woman responsible for his altered state, looking for a cure.

Another good thing is actually the camera work.  This is the thing I usually dislike the most in P.O.V. Movies.  But Lee and Prowse are masters in this style.  It really takes off in the action sequences, the police chase is spectacular as the viewer is taken on a parkour of the town.  Even the added gunshots are worked brilliantly; adding blood splatter not to just the camera lens but to the floors and walls.  Unlike most films created by this technique, Afflicted looks as though the directors actually worked out every shot to its maximum benefit.  This reminded me a little of Chronicle in the way some of the shots were orchestrated and of Cloverfield in the working of the atmosphere.

Then there's also the little details.  The scene where Derek subjects himself to sunlight is painful.  The bubbling, erupting, and burning skin made me wince.

So the story is good, the direction and pace are heading towards perfection, so what about the acting...  Well, surprisingly both Lee and Prowse are really quite good.  Not fantastic but definitely well above average... and no ham or wood in sight.  Which is a good thing as they are the two main roles and appear in every scene.

So If you like horror flicks you really should consider watching this, if you haven't already.  If you like action flicks then you too should enjoy this Vampyre film.

I give this a Terrific Bloody Bite of 7.75 out of 10.

The Trailer

Movie Review - Some Kind Of Hate

Some Kind Of Hate

2015

The Cast

"Relentless bullying has turned Lincoln's life into a nightmare. But he soon learns the true meaning of terror when he is sent to a remote school for troubled teens and the harassments start all over again. Only this time, someone is watching - a teenage girl named Moira who was driven to suicide by vicious bullying years ago. When Lincoln accidentally summons Moira from the grave, he unleashes a vengeful and unstoppable force on a mission of blood-soaked revenge."  Image Entertainment

At the start of the movie, I wasn't expecting to enjoy myself as it appeared to be another "loner" gets bullied and fights back scenario.  There's also a lot of washed-out colours in the opening sequence where we see Lincoln getting bullied.  I think this would have worked a lot better had Lincoln not been the stereotypical loner-come-nerd - your typical movie bully fodder.  They had a chance to address the whole bullying issue but missed a common truth, anybody can be bullied.  Also, the entire scene would have been more striking if you weren't expecting it; get rid of the diffused colours for normal light.  This would have also added a deeper and more prophetic character later in the film.  In fact, it's the stereotypes that let this film down the most, even though they are well acted by a decent cast.

As I stated above, the director likes to use colour effects to create atmosphere, which on the most part works well, though he doesn't stick to his own formula for the whole film, which gives it a jagged feel at times.  Also, some more imaginative camera shots wouldn't have gone amiss and would have helped in a couple of murder scenes, especially as the murders were carried out in a specific way.

For me, the best selling point of the film is the kills.  Just for the original way they are executed.  The fact that Moira has to cut herself for those slashes to appear on her victims is a magnificent idea... particularly when those cuts cause her pain.  This is a woman willing to suffer in death to give death.  The other good detail of the film is when Lincoln realises what's happening to his bullies and tries to stop Moira... believing she's acting on his wishes...  Though it's the story's climax where writer and director, Adam Egypt Mortimer, and writer, Brian DeLeeuw, make up for not addressing bullying correctly.  The scene where Moira meets her nemesis is well written and acted with feeling by Sierra McCormick.  You can feel Moira's anguish, fear, anger, and hate seeping out of her dead pores.

As for the rest of the cast, they are okay, though are restricted by the writing, in general.  This could have been a stronger and more relevant story had a few things been altered. 

I would have to warn people, though, that the scenes of self-harm are a little hard to watch at times.  So I have to give respect to the director for this.  It shouldn't be an easy thing to view.

If you like vengeful ghost stories this is the film for you... or if you've been bullied it's nice to see the bullies get their comeuppance, even if it's fictional.  For the gore-meisters out there it's worth a watch for the originality of the kills.

I give this a Revengeful Slash-tastic Death of 6.5 out of 10.

The Trailer

Movie Review - Children Of The Corn: Runaway

Children Of The Corn:  Runaway

2018

 The Cast

I've purposefully kept away from this franchise as I wasn't too keen on the original sequels, as they just reeked of profit making.  However, I found this to be a decent follow up on the original.  Though, after reading the reviews on IMDb, I find I may be the minority.  I also have to admit to having a sense of dread when I saw it was directed by Gulager and written by Soisson,  This is because I've recently put myself through the trial of watching the Hellraiser films again.  Though the first four are superior and are a vague continuation... the rest is just money making fodder... and Gulager acts in the latest, "Judgement"... and Soisson wrote "Hellworld".  Luckily my panic was unfounded. 

This is the story of Ruth (Millar) and her son, Aaron (Scott) who are trying to survive in an unfriendly and troubled rural America.  Years before, Ruth had been a member of the cult worshipping "He Who Walks Behind The Rows".  Then when she found herself pregnant she took drastic measures to save not only herself but her unborn son; so she burned the corn and the children living within it.  From then on, she kept to small towns and villages, sleeping in her truck and trying to make enough money to stay alive.  Though free from the horrors of the cult she is nonetheless scarred by them and her actions.  Suffering from a form of schizophrenia she suffers from visions of the murderous children.  These can be brought on at any time by a sight or a sound, especially the sound of locusts.  Then one day she turns up in the small town of Luther and ingratiates her way into a job working for a local mechanic, Carl (Andrews III).  Though there's something wrong in Luther...  There's a little girl skipping through the village leaving a deadly bloody trail behind her.

What I liked about this film was the slowness of the story.  A lot of the reviews on IMDb claim this film to be boring.  Though, I think that the Director Gulager uses this inactivity to build the atmosphere of the town.  This is a place where very little happens and where there's very little to do.  In this township, this has created a kind of quiet loathsomeness.  The customers in the diner like to whine and moan; most eat and sit by themselves.    Even the scenes at the school you notice that the kids don't run about or play happily.  This type of atmosphere can create hatred and bigotry, so it's not too much of a stretch to believe that the only coloured guy in town is despised and disliked.  Then when his true nature shines through you can understand a little about why he's unpopular.  This actually added a deeper underlying story that made the film for me.

The other nice thing is the dream sequences.  This adds a jaggedness and a slight confusion into the normality of things.  Knowing a little about schizophrenia, this is about as close as you're likely to get to some of the visions a sufferer may have, depending on their "phobia".  To be in the real world one second and then something triggers your mind to throw in a false vision the next... I wouldn't want this to happen to me.

These are handled superbly by Gulager.  I really did love the diner massacre, even this is done in ultra slow motion... it's nearly still photography, though not quite.  For a vicious and violent scene, it's beautifully constructed and shot.  Much respect to the Director and the Special Effects guys and gals.  There are also grainy shots of barren wastelands and barbed wire.  I initially hated these as they appeared pointless.  However, by the third one, I realised they were actually helping me to feel bleakness of the mood, as well as the bleakness enshrouding the village.

Then there's the acting which is well above par for a horror movie these days.  It was nice to have a cast who portrayed their characters well.  There are no minor roles in this film.  And I have to give credit to both the Director and the actress Sara Moore for making Pretty Girl a really eerie character... even though she's the most smiley and happiest person on screen.  Very nice transposition.  This, in turn, makes the second climax, which happens while the end credits play even more creepy.

I would recommend this to all horror lovers, especially those with a penchant for quiet and slow boiled horror.  If you like action-packed films then stay away...

I give this Spooky Stroll Behind The Rows a Schizophrenic Delusion of 7 out of 10.

The Trailer