Jigsaw

The games played in these films are played again, some in a new way, in Jigsaw. In general, the film is made the same way we’ve seen it before. The games are simpler and the twist is familiar, the look is only slightly different, more “grainy.” Having said that, I still had fun watching it.

Jigsaw (2017)
R | 1h 32min | Crime, Horror, Mystery | 27 October 2017 (USA)

Bodies are turning up around the city, each having met a uniquely gruesome demise. As the investigation proceeds, evidence points to one suspect: John Kramer, the man known as Jigsaw, who has been dead for ten years.
Directors: Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig
Writers: Pete Goldfinger, Josh Stolberg
Stars: Matt Passmore, Tobin Bell, Callum Keith Rennie

Jigsaw (2017) on IMDb

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The Saw movies are about appreciating life and those who commit terrible acts often don’t. That’s where the gruesome “tests” come in. From Saw I to the latest incarnation, they consist of the same formula. Each includes a twist. This one also has a twist and it plays with time to create a quite unexpected effect. The most memorable test for me was when wires grabbed a man’s leg. I enjoyed that, it was something unique. That’s a very general reference that I don’t see as a spoiler.

Despite being exciting as the others were, this film failed me on a couple of levels. The original Saw was my favorite and it cost only 1 million to make. This one cost 10 million and it looks far poorer than the original. It may be time to retire the series based on this contrived twist and the complacency of the tests. They’re starting to all look the same. It was a great concept to begin with but I fear it may have overstayed its welcome. There is really nothing original in Jigsaw. Can I just say as well, it looked like a CSI tv show not a big screen Saw sequel. It is fun though and I hope fans go to see it. Maybe then we can all agree without argument to each hammer her/his own nail into the coffin of this franchise, finally.

6/10

The Purge: Election Year

It’s easier to believe the Purge when the masks are on. That’s when the magic of the film happens. It’s violence and fun and … yes, election year!

purge-poster

The Purge: Election Year
Cast

Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell, Mykelti Williamson

Directed by

James DeMonaco

Written by

James DeMonaco

Other Info

1h 45min | Action, Horror, Sci-Fi
Rated R

I rate a movie based on what genre it says it is. This makes horror movies tough because the genre is not cut-and-dry like the others. If horror is scares that produce a negative reaction such as fear, shock, sadness, etc. then The Purge: Election Year is more thriller than horror. Because it advertises as horror and produces few scares, it lost a star with me. Having said that though, it’s a pretty good thriller. Frank Grilli is back as Leo Barnes from the second film of the franchise. His son was killed in the Purge and now he has become the special security for a congresswoman running for President, Senator Charlie Roan played by Elizabeth Mitchell. The senator witnessed the brutal execution of her entire family in a Purge and as a result is running for President to use an executive order to end the Purge.

On the inner city front, Mykelti Williamson plays shop owner Joe Dixon who has just lost his Purge insurance along with millions in the city. The companies pulled out at the last minute offering continued coverage but only for impossible sums. The result is that many low to middle income people are vulnerable to the Purge. We saw this in the first two movies as a theme of the wealthy vs middle class. purge2The plot continues to a full on battle to keep the Senator safe. She is the hope of the middle and lower class to end the Purge. I started watching this franchise thinking what it could mean, because it’s not a movie to be taken at face value. Now, after the third installment I find the purpose and message of the film more muddied.As with the first film, I think an important message is to love your neighbor and not shoot his brains out with a shotgun, There are subtle things to take out of it too but few thrillers focus on morality and even less horror films do. It’s action packed and there is some vengeance play that’s fun to watch. This is a well made movie but the masks were under utilized. Finally, it comes up short on scares for a horror movie.

Eden Lake

This will make you never want to go camping again. A horror tale of a happy couple minding their own business and being attacked by hoodlum teens.

Eden Lake (2008)
R | 1h 31min | Horror, Thriller | 12 September 2008 (UK)

Director: James Watkins
Writer: James Watkins
Stars: Kelly Reilly, Michael Fassbender, Tara Ellis

We have a lot of gore and violence here. I recall more than one scene I probably would want my teenage kids to see. Writer/Director James Watkins really bloodies the blade in this suspenseful thriller.

A couple seeks to have a calm and romantic getaway at a camp spot. That is threstened by hoodlum kids who try proactively to ruin their time.

It’s the age-old debate of “kids will be kids.” Is Fassenbender’s character an asshole for trying to get them to leave him alone and shut up? That’s up for a discussion until a given point I think. After that point, all bets are off and it turns to an all out kill or be killed war for turf. These are not innocent kids.

Some of these scenes will forever remain in my visual memory. It is a highly violent and graphic film. Not for the weak of heart or those seeking a sing-song film with a la la ending. I won’t give it away but suffice it to say this film is brutal. I felt it was too much at times although the film is still entertaining. I would have liked to have seen how the gang came to obey the leader to the death. Tat was never really fleshed out (no pun intended).

6/10

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Afflicted

This is a fun handheld camera horror film. It’s a horror and actually a vampire themed one at that. The title and posters misled me. I thought it was a body horror/gore film. While there are elements of that, the vampire concept emerges soon and envelops the film throughout. It is a different way of looking at vampirism for sure.

There are times in this films when it resembles a game screen. It’s a low budget film and the directors make the most of the location they are shooting in. I applaud the stuf they found to film. The bedrooms look like set pieces from architectural digest. They’ve performed quite a feat here and it works well.

1922

This was a nice hour and a half story in the cornfields with a chauvanist and murderous father and his highly impressionable teenage son. It has the signature Americana and horror of Stephen King in the way we are more or less used to.


1922 (2017) on IMDb

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The film starts with a beleaguered looking father/farmer sitting at an antique century desk writing a “letter of confession.” That’s a great intro because we know right away something bad probably went down. We don’t know how bad or minor it was and you get that as the film progresses. Thomas Jane plays the farmer and I think he did an excellent job in this role. I joked with my wife a couple times about how he looked so much like Tom Hardy. That’s a compliment because he’s a great actor. He brings a lot of presence to the role and it’s enjoyable to watch as he descends into his own brand of madness.

His son is in love. The farmer uses this get him to do the unimaginable. The mother is played by an amazing actress, Molly Parker from Deadwood and The Road with Viggo Mortenson. Her part in this is well played even though it is indeed tragic.

I almost fully recommend this film. Netflix does it again! My only criticism would be they save the horror until the very end. I would have like to have seen it woven more throughout. It could have served a dual purpose in explaining to us the plot more as well.

8.5/10

Creep 2

This film came out earlier than I was expecting. I saw Mark Duplass’ tweet on my phone and rushed on home to see it.

I really enjoyed it. You can hear my visceral reaction on my podcast The DRP. For here, I’ll just say that Duplass did it again. The foreboding sense of creepiness in the original is carried on in this one. There is a woman in this one, a video “artist” who has a Youtube show where she answers want ads. Anyone see the connection?

Duplass is chilled out a lot more in this one which makes it even more scary. He offers the woman a videographer job to film his “documentary” as he discusses his life as a serial killer. This really raises the tension. You’ll have to see what happens as I am not here to spoil it for you. We see “peach fuzz” again which is highly cool in my opinion. That was one of the elements of the first one that really shocked.

This film could have just sucked but it doesn’t. It makes the most of “found footage” as a genre and Duplass’ character is highly creepy, more than ever while maintaining the similar horror vibe of the original. I can’t think of how to make it better for what it aims to be.

10/10