This Horror Classics: Volume One set of four Hammer Studios films is a solid selection of some decent flicks from the late 50s to early 70s that any classic horror hound will love. For me, I found these four fun enough especially for the cast including Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing.
Hidden is an effective, if not low key, independent drama thriller with some solid psychological underpinnings and solid performances by Alexander Skarsgård and Andrea Riseborough. It’s not an entirely memorable flick and probably will one day air on SyFy. Unfortunately there’s not much to this release with no features, OK video/audio transfers and not even a scene access menu…
Tales from the Crypt Presents Demon Knights is a fun horror-comedy with some good performances, though none better than Billy Zane who chews the scenery like no other and has a good old time playing the outlandish villain. The movie itself is quite entertaining and features some impressive make-up effects and even the VFX, for its time, isn’t all that bad.
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief is an interesting if not disturbing expose on the well known yet unknown religion focusing on former members, their experiences as well as a detail history of its origins, belief systems and ideas and why, in spite of certain abuses, has a foothold on some members.
“Forensic Files”: The Best of Volumes 1-3 are a fine selection of episodes and for fans, like I am, it is nice to have these finally to watch at home although it seems at any given moment there is a marathon on Headline News. That said, the SRP on this is a tad much but if you can nab it for under $10, it might be worth it.
On some level, even though I didn’t much expectations for Aloft going in, I was somewhat disappointed especially with Jennifer Connelly and Cillian Murphy starring and while both actors were perfectly fine in their respective roles, the screenplay falters and doesn’t quite deliver with an unfocused message, partially about faith I guess, culminating with what could’ve been a powerful climax.
Mark Nocturna as the latest in a long line of independently finananced vampire horror films and frankly, this one just melds in with the rest. The performances are standard, though striking how far Estella Warren has fallen, and the story is fairly forgettable.
Tales from the Crypt Presents Bordello of Blood, despite the chaotic and haphazard production, might not be a very good film beginning with questionable casting and so-so acting, even when considering the genre, yet the outcome is a cheesy and semi-enjoyable flick, the kind worthy of a late Saturday night viewing.
Return to Sender is a mixed bag, wanting to be both a revenge film and drama but doesn’t do either very well. However, the acting isn’t half bad led by Rosamund Pike playing well opposite Shiloh Fernandez.
Chain of Command is the latest of a long string of direct-to-video action flicks with bad acting, terrible dialogue and a poor plot. The only good thing I guess I can say the newcomer, who has no other titles to her credit, Ashleigh Barnett isn’t bad, so that’s something?
“The Big Bang Theory” isn’t my kind of show and Chuck Lorre’s humor doesn’t do much for me, however, the series is quite popular thanks to some geek cred and all. This 2-disc set from Warner is fairly basic with some OK bonus material but solid video/audio transfers.
Director André Téchinké is apparently a well known filmmaker with several similarly themed movies under his belt and his latest, In the Name of My Daughter isn’t very strong though the acting is not bad and there are some nice moments sprinkled throughout that might make it worth a watch.
Results is a quirky if not uneven romantic comedy with a couple fine performances, particularly Kevin Corrigan and Guy Pearce. The writing isn’t the best and by the end I can’t say it’s very memorable either way. The Blu-ray released by Magnolia is basic with slim bonus material and good video/audio transfers.
S.F.W. is certainly an odd ball of a crime-drama with frenetic editing and direction to go along with the story while the performances are mostly good headlined by Stephen Dorff with special mention going to Jake Busey channeling his crazy father. As for the Blu-ray, there’s only a trailer while the video and audio transfers are decent enough.
Mad Dog Time is an odd-ball of a movie, a throwback to the days of the Rat Pac era, it was written and directed by Joey Bishop’s son, and although plenty of the dark humor didn’t quite work, it’s not an altogether terrible flick, though nothing I’d watch again in spite of a respectable cast.