GHOST IN THE MACHINE (1993)

This has always been one of my fave flicks since I first saw it st a sold out screening on a sunday afternoon as a kid. It was a mid sized theater of course. A serial killer nicknamed the address book killer by the media whose killed just as he picks his next victims courtesy of his job at an electronic store. Karen Allen (Raiders of the lost ark) stars as single mother Terry who gets a gift for her tech whiz boss and has a page of her address book scanned at the store. He dies and his soul is transferred into the net to continue his murder spree but this time with the advantage of anything electronic. The kills are pretty wild and creative and the finale is corny but fun. As a kid I had a huge crush on Terry's ghetto white boy son Josh. Gimme s break I was 13, lol. I revisit this several times a year its goofy bit really fun and energetic with inspired direction from Rachael Talalay ( freddy's dead).

Budget: $12m

Box Office: $5m

THE WIND (1986)

This a strange flick. Filmed in Greece but I'm pretty sure it's Italian horror. Meg Foster (31) with her entrancing eyes stars as a young writer who goes on a retreat in Greece to work on her new thriller novel. Upon arriving she meets the weird misogynistic owner of the property and than the creepy housekeeper who ends up attacking her. She's quite the resilient final girl thwarting him again and again with clever tactics. The a actual wind plays a big part as an ominous force surrounding the house and ripping through the island. The movie is well shot and the central performance is engaging and impressive. The only real problem is the odd pacing jumping from fast to slow. At times it takes you out of the action breaking up its flow. All in all it's just entertaining enough to merit a light reccomend.

3/5

INTO THE GRIZZLY MAZE

INTO THE GRIZZLY MAZE

Ignore the hanus title this movie is one hell of a good time. Like the fashioned animal attack films but on speed. "Grizzly" centers on a sheriff played by hunky Thomas Jane (Hung) and his bad boy brother played by sexy James Marsden (Hairspray) who find themselves in the middle of a situation when a killer grizzly mama bear wants just revenge for her illegally poached Cubs. Piper Perabo (Coyote Ugly) also stars as Jane's deaf wife and Billy Bob Thornton (Sling Blade) as a big game hunter. The kills are fierce and brutal and the bear looks mostly great until the finale which rocks but is CGI'd up. All in all it's a very effective thrill ride that's criminally underseen and should have been released in theaters.

4.25/5

GUNS AKIMBO (2020)

On paper I should absolutely love this movie. My new favorite actress stars in it Samara Weaving of Ready or not along with the oddly charming Daniel Radcliffe of Harry Potter. The trailer showcases anime style violence, a weird video gamish plot and R RATING for extreme violence and gore. But somehow for the first 2/3 it just doesn't gel together. The setup concerns a loser type young man who does alot of hate blogging and ends up pissing off the creators of an online running man type gameshow. He awakes from being assaulted with two guns fused to his hands and the surviving gamer (Weaving) on the hunt for him. The movie is action packed but for the first half it doesn't connect. When it does it becomes a unique ultra violent, cartoonish cinematic experience. Although it's not great there's definitely enough here to merit a light reccomendation.

3.25/5

THE ASSENT (2019)

I bought this movie after having seen
that scary ass trailer and the awesome poster. I wasn't disappointed, well maybe a little. It's the story of a single father played by a sexy Robert Kazinski of Hot Pursuit. Strange things begin happening in the house especially the appearance of a dope ass monster. And than his son begins to transform and can possibly be possessed. It's a familiar story. Its obviously limited budget wise but there's lots of cool touches especially the appreciated and impressive practical effects. There's also a somewhat surprising twist that is quite intriguing. All in all it's a familiar but decent watch that merits a light reccomendation, especially considering it's 4.99 to buy on Amazon streaming now.

3.25/5

ALIEN3 EXTENDED CUT

Alot of people have a problem with this entry especially coming off it's Superior predecessor. But instead of trying to top that film it creates a new experience more in the spirit of the original. The unfortunate Ellen Ripley crash lands on a desolate prison planet, the only survivor after the last films events. There are only a handful of prisoners there with a warden, medical officer and a preacher of sorts. Upon arriving she begins to search for the reason why he crashed and discovers the horrible truth the infamous xenomorph was responsible and has followed her to her location. Once there monstrous extraterrestrial bonds with an ox and than a canine taking a slightly different form. Once again she has to face it down and save as many people as possible. I appreciate the theatrical cut but the extended is where it's all at. For some odd reason they decided to cut all the action out of the film and it makes a huge difference pace wise. The performances from Sigourney Weaver and Charles Dutton are award worthy. To say that powerful is a definite understatement. The story really rounds itself out perfectly. Bringing a respectable end to Ripley's saga. The practical effects are impressive but the cgi doesn't hold up. All in all the movie is a criminally underrated piece of cinema. Directed stylishly by a young David Fincher it's ambitious in its scope and inspired in its execution.

Budget: $50m

Domestic Box Office: $55m

Worldwide Box Office: $160m

4.25/5

DARKNESS FALLS (2003)

I saw this when it originally came out in theaters. I went to a promo screening with friends and I remember them giving us little flashlights. I really enjoyed the movie although it felt very quick and there wasn't much substance to it. I've watched it a few times over the years but revisiting it recently I really appreciated how entertaining it was. Not much time is given to the characters but the leads are likable and Emma Caufield as Caitlyn is quite good and you feel invested in her plight as she tries to save her brother. Centered around a small town goofily named "Darkness Falls" a legend exists about an old woman horribly scarred and wrongfully murdered who used to collect children's teeth and still does. If you see her she comes after you with a vengeance and the only way to survive is to stay in the light. Director Johnathan Liebesman of Texas Chainsaw massacre the beginning gets a lot of milage out of the concept and has fun with it. There's lots of clever and silly gags that work surprisingly well. It's a rocket paced funhouse of a movie packed with thrills and chills. So don't overthink it because the makers certainly didn't. Turn off your brain and have a surprisingly fun time.

Budget: $11m

Domestic Box Office: $33m

Worldwide Box Office: $47m

4.25/5

KING KONG LIVES (1986)

When I first saw this as a kid at 6 y/o I remember liking it. Almost 35 years later I've gone out of my way to get a copy because its been discontinued. So I spent a decent amount. Boy what a mistake because this movie is the pits. Picking up after the events of the not so great 70s version. Kong is given an artificial heart transplant and they've captured a female. When he finally awakes he goes on a little rampage because he senses her. They get together and act all cute while a scientist and an explorer. One of them played by a usually great Linda Hamilton (Terminator) whose just not very good here. And then you know the rest military goes after them, big showdown yada, yada, yada. The effects are okay but look goofy. The movie is dragging and a boring which is surprising considering the amount of action

It's really just quite bad.

Budget: $18m

Box Office: $4.7m

3/10

SCREAM 2

Like Aliens and T2, Scream 2 is one of the only sequels as great as the original. Picking up after the events of the original Sidney is off at college with Randy and some new friends when the murders start up again. Like the original the film is a slasher whodunit as we along the characters try and figure out who it is as it marches towards its thrilling conclusion. Like any great sequel of which there is few it expands the universe and fleshes out the characters even more. There is one emotionally devastating scene concerning Dewey and Gale that may be the best of the series. Craven refreshingly adapts the material bringing new life to the genre. The movie is comedic but also suspenseful, scary and surprising. When the mystery finally unfolds it's not only shocking but so well constructed you can't help but be awed by the complex methodology that went it to it courtesy of its amazing creators master Wes Craven and my idol Kevin Williamson and the strong cast that pull it off. Speaking of performances everything is upped a notch. Neve Campbell is electrifying as Sidney giving her a u pique strength and relatable vulnerability. Courtney Cox really has a journey in this film as Gale and David Arquette is again wonderfully and layered as Dewey. As for the newbies Timothy Olyphant, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laurie Metcalf and Liev Schreiber offer solid support. This entry has a bit more to say about the mechanics of the genre and is even a bit more involved than it's predecessor but the sheer magnetism of the first is never fully met. As it stands it's still one hell of an amazing movie.

Budget: $24m

Domestic Box Office: $101m

Worldwide Box Office: $172m

4.5/5