Warwick Wilson is being the perfect host, offering food and drink, a cheeky little bottle of red wine. The viewer would at first think, as this unfolds, were lead to believe that John is in control, and would take lead in a kidnap. But the red wine was nasty, as John awakes from his drugged out sleep, he realises tables are now turned and he is about to become a victim of Warwick’s murderous escapades.

Tied to a chair we see the guests have arrived, each and everyone quirky, a pigment of Warwick Wilson’s persona. As the clock ticks on, and after numerous attempts for escape, as of which it unfolds with a nice twist. David Hyde Peirce played out as a sociopath brilliantly, it was nice to see a talented actor do so. Clayne Crawford’s performance as bank robber turned victim was also nice to watch, as the twists unfold the sympathy we build with the characters changes, when it gets to the final scene we understand some motives of these characters

This is a good thriller, that contains plenty of twist and turns to keep one captivated, and enthralled to the end. It’s a story driven movie, we learn why John needs to rob a bank, and that it isn’t for selfish reasons, but to help his girlfriend. the movie itself was very stylish set in a big home with modern decor, It also had it element of comedic value which doesn’t go unnoticed.

Primarily here at my Web Blog I like to generally chat about horror themed movies this of which isn’t one. This is a great thriller, which includes some nicely timed twist and turns and a underlying comedic tone which plays more to Warwick and his posse of quirky house guests.

Definitely worth a check.

Izzy (Leslie Andrews) is mental, even in general conversation with Kevin is unpredictable, she can snap and go haywire, which can come as a real shock at some points in the film. After some popular girls treat Izzy bad and some kids bully Kevin a few end up dead and the others end tied up in the barn, being tortured. Torture is (mostly) always gory and this wasn’t a let down, some of the methods Izzy has to inflict pain in some scenes really hit shockingly, and as the movie rolls on the craziness and horror unfold, there’s one scene in the barn which really has stuck in my head, also the ending really wasn’t for its originality but for its boldness.

The performances were a little stiff from Barney (John McGarr) and Kevin (Charlie Trepany), and the plot felt like it had parts missing, Izzy and her older brother were talking about their parents at the beginning of the film, but we never truly learn what happens to them. Izzy herself never allows for us to learn her back story, if I knew her hard upbringing I may nave been able to sympathize with her.

Overall Its worth checking out, it did contain horror appealing brutality, with some real wow factor, but don’t expect to sympathize with the story or be intrigued by a solid plot.

Mister (Nick Damici) I thought was great , the man lost everything, and on his destructive spirals downwards took it upon himself to one last good deed and save some people, it gave him hope that he would make it on his journey and with companion, Martin (Connor Paolo) who evolved as a better vamp hunter which made Mister proud. on the journey They save a Nun (Kelly McGillis) from rape and a pregnant lone survivor Belle (Danielle Harris)

The movie cut down to nitty and gritty, brought out the monsters within vampires, they look like rotting super zombies in a post apocalyptic world, that allowed for some nice horror and cinematography. It was well acted with great performances and what I think is a more natural approach to emotions in this kind of genre. It is definitely refreshing seeing what has been done here. It is worthy of your collection.

I look forward to this, Danielle Harris who was in Halloween 4 & 5 plus the Rob Zombie directed movies. I think she will do a good job as director. It’ll star Christopher Backus, Jennifer Blanc, AJ Bowen, Dana Daurey, Brianne Davis, Kamala Jones, Alyssa Lobit and Chris Meyer, Kane Hodder.
Official website Among Friends Movie

Poster



Trailer

It stars Mickey (Michael Biehn) who was well prepared in the basement in case of such disastrous events, recovering addict Eva (Lauren German) and her other half Sam (Iván González), a Mother and Daughter, Marilyn (Rosanna Arquette) and Wendi (Abbey Thickson), and the untrusting guys Josh and Bobby.

Their rush into the basement was captured in the apocalyptic manner, with the display of people in distress ever present. Now in lockdown are stuck and can’t leave because of nuclear harm to themselves.

It is definitely horror it didn’t skip out on displaying gore or making for cringe worthy moments, or creating some suspense. It did have its element of sci fi for a brief moment, which included an ambush and the taking of Wendi by super soldiers, it had its pleasing visual element.

The script and the dialogue between certain characters, frankly, was either annoying or boring. With no character development, were thrown into watch as they transform into survival mode and watch them become animals.

Directed by Xavier Gens.

The film was stylized nicely and some of the gorier scenes may appeal to horror fans, but I think in general the script is a let down.

Now in her grown up years, Audrey is working. We see Marcus miller track her down and we bear witness to the hell he unleashes consisting of murder and brutality throughout, after finally getting Audrey she receives quite the punishment but we see her will to live persevere. We see the kills and torture, and its done pretty realistic to the very minimalistic sound and visual detail.

This film was overly violent with a lot of blood and gore on display, for some this may not be appealing, although there were a few scene I thought maybe dragged on a bit and made for a harder watch. Regardless, It is this aspect that sells the movie. The script and plot was nothing fantastic, but Matt Farnsworth writer/director has made it affective in enduring suspense and a feeling that you hope Audrey makes it out.

Audrey Miller was played by Diane Foster and Marcus Miller/The Orphan killer by David Backus. It is a good movie that does pay homage to the hey day of horror, to Jason Voorhees and Mike Myers. I think it’d be a shame if Marcus Miller didn’t become a household name for horror fans. It is definitely worthy of making it to your collection.

It did include a pretty cool soundtrack featuring some cool metal bands.

The movie is structured nicely with Mikael Blomkvist dealing with the aftermath of the libel case, and beginning the investigation into Harriet’s disappearance. Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) a great computer hacker is under state legal guardianship due to mental incompetency and is appointed the corrupt lawyer Nils Bjurman (Yorick van Wageningen) who withholds Lisbeth’s money for sexual favours which ultimately turns into rape. Lisbeth Salander the strong female heroine she is makes a pretty confronting revenge against Nils Bjurman a “men who hate women“.

Mikael Blomkvist becomes aware of Lisbeth Salander and her brilliant hacking skills, Lisbeth although reserved from the mainstream enjoys her alternate being is asked by Mikael to help solve Harriet’s dissapearance, although hostile decides to help on her own terms.

The whole film was very stylized and I can see Director David Finchers signature ever present throughout the film. When Lisbeth is roughly tattooing Nils Bjurman stomach with the words “I am a sadistic pig, a pervert, and a rapist” the Cinematography there was kind of Déjà vu for Tyler Durdens “Do not fuck with us” in the toilet. Cinematography throughout the whole film was beautifully shot capturing the swedish winter lanscapes around Henrik Vanger estate, or also capturing some of the more horrifying brutal rawer, darker scenes.

I don’t think it was David Finchers goal to remake the swedish version but to have his own take on the novel, as a big fan of the book I think his version used a lot of well done stylizing and Cinematography but missed 1 or 2 parts from the book which I think sum the story up more so. Regardless of this it is still a great film, it comes recommended.

Trailer.



Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross work on a alternate version of the “Immigrant Song” by Led Zeppelin With Karen O sisnging for the movie intro.

Yankee Pedlar Inn is about to shut down and the 2 remaining employees want to reveal the hotels haunted secrets, so Claire (Sara Paxton) and Luke (Pat Healy) use tools like EVP readers to find evidence of this with hardly any luck. It is through this that their characters develop, we get to see Claire’s quirky side and whether she thinks she sane or losing it and the dark humour shared between both leads.

The Yankee Pedlar Inn in its 100 years is very large and picturesque building, one would almost always a assume on first sighting is haunted. Being the last weekend open, it hardly has any lodgers except for a mother and son, who are oblivious to the fact its haunted, we see claire sharing the house’s actual horror story with the boy and frightening him to the point he leaves with his mother.

Leanne Rease-Jones (Kelly McGillis) once a tv star turned medium who is in town for a conference and decides to stay at the Yankee Pedlar. The story mainly involves Claire and Luke with Leanne Rease-Jones who wants to help claire uncover the haunted secrets. An Old man (George Riddle) wants to spend the last weekend there, but says he has specific ties with the hotel and requests a certain room he once stayed in but it has since been closed down but still insists he has that room. It’s on the return of this guest the mystery starts to unravel.

Ti West the director made good use of creating suspense for a majority of the film, the use of camera angles and suspenseful sound, this made small subtleties and made for scarier scenes later, its unraveling the mystery and watching it unfold throughout is what sets it apart, Instead of just a collection of jump scares.

I enjoyed it, although there is scarier stuff out there, being a fan of Sara Paxton and Ti Wests previous work like “The house of the Devil” I was keen to see it. I’m partial to the haunted house and ghost stories. I like the not knowing and the anticipation it offers.

At school we see Brent and his friend Jamie (Richard Wilson) talking about the dance, the girl Jamie wants to take walks past and he goes after her and asks if her can take her. Brent (Xavier Samuel) is left standing at his locker when Lola (Robin McLeavy) comes to ask if Brent will take her to the dance, he declines with “Sorry Lola, I’m going with Holly” we can see that it rips Lola’s heart in half. Brent still damaged about what happen 6 months ago has turned to smoking, we see him at the top of a cliff smoking and relaxed then suddenly a stranger appears and chloroforms him and takes him away.

From here the film starts, the beginning was a nice set up which allows for the nice ending. Lola who is mending her rejection, gets a bad case of the crazies and with Daddy the kidnapper, she exacts revenge on Brent, by creating her own school dance in her kitchen at home with a mirror ball and Brent remaining tied up.

Brent’s mother Carla (Suzi Dougherty) who is also struggling to cope which shines through in the film perfectly and his girlfriend Holly (Victoria Thaine) who tries to be the best supportive girlfriend she can both realise Brent’s missing and call the police, unaware though, he’s been taken.

The gore and imagery in this film was very well done, without saying to much there were some pretty clever ways in this film to inflict pain with the use of power tools, boiling water, steak knives and hammers. One thing I can appreciate is what Sean Byrne the director did with some of the darker scenes and the gore by creating a suspenseful and an atmospheric visual setting along with the spooky sounds and lighting, which really let the horror unfold. One scene with a drill really was horrifying, exactly what the film set out to do.

Jamie actually made it to the dance with Mia (Jessica McNamee) which made for a sub-plot through out the film. Towards the end of the film there is a nice twist which extends some of the other characters back stories which allows for that nice ending.

Overall I really enjoyed The Loved Ones this is a movie for the horror fans that needs to be at the top of your watchlist.