Movie Diary 2019 by pahaK

Even though you weren't crazy about El Topo, I'd still recommend The Holy Mountain from Jodorowsky. I'm shocked by your rating for Alien: Resurrection. To me, it's the nadir of the franchise. Hell, I'd even take the crappy AvP movies over it. Interesting to hear about your country's censorship in regards to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. For my personal taste, that movie is about as good as horror gets, and it's the granddaddy of so many other favorites of mine. Crossing my fingers that it cracks the top ten (if not top five) on the countdown.

Event Horizon seems to be a guilty pleasure for many. I thought it was decent but disappointing. The concept had so much more potential. I'd like to see a better writer/director take a crack at a remake some day. I couldn't even make it through the trailer for Holmes & Watson, so I wasn't surprised by the horrid reception. Now you've got me wondering if maybe it's worth a rental after all. I generally like Ferrell and Reilly as a comedic duo. Disagree with pretty much everything you wrote about The King of Comedy. How do you feel about Scorsese in general?

Looks like we felt the same way about The Passage. I thought the first couple episodes were solid, but I liked the show less and less as it went on. I don't know if it was renewed or not, but I won't be there for a second season regardless. Still curious about the books, however. Like you, I thought the original Pet Sematary was rather poor, but it's possible I'd be more forgiving with a re-watch. Always been surprised that it has so many supporters. Generally agree with your write-up for House of the Devil, although I enjoy the movie more than you. Can't argue that it's stretched pretty thin. I give Altered States the same rating, but I personally liked the ending. You were too kind to Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.

As usual, there's a lot of stuff in here that I've either already got on the watchlist or will be adding to it. I've heard of Mosquito the Rapist but this is my first time reading a review for it. Sounds like something I'd probably like. Too bad that Triple Threat appears to waste so many great ass-kickers. I liked the movie Hanna quite a bit, but I've no interest in watching the show. Never heard of The Coming of Sin, but it looks and sound fascinating. Its alternate title, Violation of the Bitch, makes it sound like essential viewing. I'm not at all a fan of black metal, but I've read articles in the past about some of the crazy, f**ked-up sh*t that occurred in the Norwegian black metal scene, so I'm intrigued about Lords of Chaos.

Always fun to catch up with this thread.

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Insidious (2010) N

A young boy falls into coma and his parents need to save him from supernatural malady.


I really liked The Conjuring and even the sequel is pretty decent. So when I realized that Insidious was also directed by James Wan I put it on my watchlist. In hindsight it would have been better if I'd never learned about its director.

Almost everything that's good in The Conjuring is done badly in Insidious. The family in distress feels shallow, their kids are too young to be proper characters (and on top of that it's like two of them completely disappear from the film around halfway point) and the helping paranormal investigators are introduced poorly and lack character just like the family.

When it comes to actual horror Insidious doesn't fare any better. It uses the same bag of tricks and cliches The Conjuring does but unlike the latter it can't make them work. It's too much about jump scares and "scary" things that would be at home in Marilyn Manson's music video. It fails to build up the tension and shows too much too often. Also I don't like the mythology it's building (while The Conjuring's Judeo-Christian base is always a sound choice for Western films).

So obviously James Wan is capable of directing a bad horror film.

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He's done some great films for sure (Taxi Driver, Goodfellas and Casino are the first that come to mind) so I don't have any grudge against him. He doesn't always pick topics that interest me though and I wouldn't mind little more variance when picking his leading actors. The King of Comedy just didn't connect with me and de Niro was miscast in my opinion.

Yeah, I think it would be right up your alley (or should I say gutter).

Glad you enjoy. Nice to have at least someone leaving comments

That's true, same with The Witch.

[Series Review]
Grisse - Season 1 (2018)

In 19th century Dutch India a small town of Grisse rises against its colonial masters.


A Singaporean historical drama that has some resemblance to series like Deadwood or Black Sails. Unfortunately the execution is flawed in many ways and despite its somewhat interesting subject it's quite a chore to watch.

Writing in Grisse is really bad. It's very formulaic, characters are pure cliche and almost every advancement of the plot feels forced. Then there's the dialogue. First of all I question the choice to film Grisse in English. It just doesn't fit. I don't know if the dialogue is written by native speaker or not but to me it doesn't sound natural at all. Also many actors speak English rather badly and it affects their performance (kinda hard to act when you need to put effort to pronounce the words more or less correctly).

I like the concept of the show and the settings are quite good looking (I somehow doubt the realism though). In many ways Grisse just feels amateurish and childish. With proper writing it could have been good but as it is it's honestly bad. Kalia is pretty woman though.

Don't Look Now (1973) N

After the death of their daughter a couple has gone to Venice. Husband is renovating an old church and wife is just recuperating from the loss. Their son is left in England on a boarding school.


Before I start with the actual review I need to say that there's a decent chance that Don't Look Now is just a film that requires more than one viewing. So despite me being somewhat negative towards it I do reckon that it may actually be better than it seems at the moment. I'll probably give it another try in a year or two.

My main issue with Don't Look Now is its disjointed nature. There doesn't seem to be proper connection between the events. It's like the film only implies lot of things but in the end the connection really isn't there beyond some themes and visual cues. And the ending is just bad (something like Lynch doing a parody of giallo could be).

I like the opening scene at the country house. It sets the mood nicely (the depictions of sadness and grief are the best things in the film) and introduces all the recurring motifs. I love how the Venice looks but the film itself starts slowly to fall apart in there. It's like a build-up that never leads anywhere, there's no external story hidden behind the hints.

From technical point of view there's lots of good in Don't Look Now but after one viewing disappointment is the foremost feeling I have. It just doesn't meet the expectations it builds and the ending by itself drops half a point.

[REC] (2007) N

A reporter and her cameraman from local TV station are with firemen for one night and get trapped inside an apartment building during what seemed like a routine call.


I don't usually like found footage horrors but after this one appeared on our top-100 horror list I decided to give it a go. It feels odd but I have to agree with the common opinion - [REC] is perhaps the best of its kind and genuinely a good horror film.

While there are some inherent flaws in found footage subgenre [REC] doesn't fail where its kind usually does. First of all it does the pacing right; it does its character introductions quickly and takes the viewer in the middle of the action much sooner than these films usually do. I also like how the premise is mundane and the turn to horror is (for the characters) a total surprise. Even the usual shouting and arguing works better here as the people don't have real bonds to begin with.

Storywise [REC] manages to hide its details well and while the revelations in the end are kinda silly they're also unexpected (at least partially in a positive way). There are moments when the camera gets too shaky but for the most part the found footage style works here. Lots of violence happens off focus, out of camera or in the dark but the effects that are shown are rather good. The finale is also quite tense.

Forbidden Games (1952) N

When young Paulette loses her parents (and her dog) in German air strike she wanders all alone into the arms of local peasant family. She and their youngest son Michel become close friends.


I don't even remember how this originally ended up on my watchlist but it's been there for a while. I guess it's not exactly what I expected but nonetheless I liked it and consider it a positive surprise. It's not without its flaws though but the concept behind the film is really sound.

Basically Forbidden Games uses child characters correctly. It gives them proper personalities and makes them interesting instead of using them as mere plot devices. With children it's easier to focus on basic or primary emotions and drives; some level of simplicity and lack of reasoning doesn't render them simpletons but only shows their lack of experience. The friendship between Paulette and Michel feels natural (mostly, more of that later) and gives good basis for naive pondering of death and war.

The one thing that felt little off to me was the age difference between the two children. Apparently they were originally looking for older girl to play Paulette but decided to choose 6-year-old Fossey. I think that the script would work better if they were closer in age because for Michel love seems to be a major motivation and it just doesn't seem real that 10-year-old boy falls for a girl half his age. Other than that I really liked both of the young leads.

I liked the cemetery stuff and how it teetered on the brink of becoming really twisted (I kept thinking that one could turn this into brilliant horror film - Poison for the Fairies is already quite close to this). Michel was perhaps little too naive about death for being a country boy but for pampered little Parisienne like Paulette death could easily have been something new and foreign. Oh, and the final scene is just great

Far from perfection but I enjoyed Forbidden Games quite a bit.

A Dragonfly for Each Corpse (1975) N

Someone is killing prostitutes, drug addicts and other people of questionable morals leaving a dragonfly figure on each corpse. Tough (but not too smart) detective is trying to solve the case.


I haven't seen too many Paul Naschy films (I think this is the third) but A Dragonfly for Each Corpse is by far the worst of them. It's written poorly, it looks bad and acting leaves a lot to be desired as well. It's just terrible giallo wannabe that lacks everything good in its idols.

The mystery solving is so clumsy and even in the end I have no idea why the killer is who it is. Also at least twice someone calls Naschy and says they know who the killer (or a person of interest anyway) is and instead of telling it on the phone they arrange a meeting in an hour so that they can be killed before. Amazing writing.

So unless you're on a mission to see every giallo(ish) film out there or just have major hots for Naschy's muscles skip this one. Terrible movie.

Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) N

A remake of Murnau's classic Dracula rip-off. The old count is still after Lucy but this time he travels to Wismar with his native Transylvanian soil and an army of rats.


It's been a long time since I saw Murnau's Nosferatu and while I remember liking its style it's never been a favorite of mine. Herzog's version is at its best when it replicates scenes from Murnau's version which is not a compliment. The atmosphere isn't there and half of the film looks like an old European TV production (this definitely isn't a compliment).

There's no suspense or horror at all. Dracula is mostly just pathetic and visibly in pain (which could be a good perspective but the script doesn't give much for Kinski to build on). Adjani is good as Lucy but again the script makes her too hysterical (her initial warnings to Jonathan are so easily dismissed when she sees death and doom everywhere). Renfield is brilliant in this version. Ganz's Jonathan doesn't reach the level of other main characters.

I was mostly disappointed by this Nosferatu. There are some good looking scenes, cast is mostly good (especially Kinski) and there are glimpses of dread but they never fully materialize (like the rat infested Wismar which is somewhat ruined by the poor and theatrical production). As a whole it's rather mediocre vampire film.

Which sounds harsh but isn't .

I saw it more as fatigue or even drowsiness from the continual thirst for blood and, if you like, love.

The effect is comparable to the damned in A Christmas Carol who "sought to interfere, for good, in human matters, and had lost the power for ever", especially when Lucy rejects him.

I love Nosferatu the Vampyre because it's like going back in time, and the imagery is superb. The best bit is probably the unmanned ship gliding into the dock, which is almost like an extended 'Kinski spiral' in itself .

On this subject I saw Brad Dourif again recently playing Wormtongue in The Lord of the Rings. Given his appearance in the role and some of his behaviour it could well be that Nosferatu the Vampyre was in his mind (maybe being with Christopher Lee sparked the reference ). The bit that really sticks out to me is when Wormtongue shrinks back, wearily at the realization that the guards failed to confiscate Gandalf's staff.

The Ruthless (2019) N

The Ruthless would be very typical and cliched story of a boy who almost by accident becomes a ruthless gangster but its disjointed nature and terribly broken narrative separates it from the masses. It only show fragments of his career and leaves his personality and rise to power unexplained. It's like a collection of gangster tropes randomly scattered on film with nothing to say.


Well done 70s and 80s imitation doesn't save The Ruthless from being boring and empty. More or less everything potentially interesting is told by the narrator in couple of sentences or quick flashbacks (like the whole kidnapping stuff or stealing the heroin). Just inept storytelling in my opinion.

I don't feel like writing reviews at the moment. It feels too much like a work right now. I'll just copy my comments from the Rate the Last Movie You Saw thread in here unless I really feel like writing more about something (like for HoF movies). This way I can keep the movie count for the year updated at least.

Hagazussa (2017)

An odd German horror (or horroresque at least) film that has some resemblance to The VVitch but is much slower and lacks coherent story. It builds an oppressive atmosphere with images and sound almost forgetting the narrative completely. Maybe I just didn't get it or then there's nothing to really get. Anyways, it's definitely not bad if you're into slow, weird and depressing films.


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The Prodigy (2019)

Bland and unoriginal evil child horror movie. Very similar to Bad Seed remake but with supernatural element to further water down the story. Also technically it looks like a TV movie and has exactly zero interesting or creative shots.


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The Marine 6: Close Quarters (2018)

Wanted to watch some brainless action movie and this one was available for streaming. It qualified for brainless perfectly but it was also really bad. Amazing that series like this has got six films (fortunately I've only watched two or three including this).


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Der Samurai (2014)

A odd German horror fantasy that seems to hint for a twist which never comes (which makes it much weirder actually). A soft and shy police feeds a wolf, then comes the sword wielding transvestite and eventually quite a few bodies. We even get to see an erect penis. It more or less holds together for its short duration.

[quote=pahaK;2007209]I don't feel like writing reviews at the moment. It feels too much like a work right now. I'll just copy my comments from the Rate the Last Movie You Saw thread in here unless I really feel like writing more about something (like for HoF movies). This way I can keep the movie count for the year updated at least.

Hagazussa (2017)

An odd German horror (or horroresque at least) film that has some resemblance to The VVitch but is much slower and lacks coherent story. It builds an oppressive atmosphere with images and sound almost forgetting the narrative completely. Maybe I just didn't get it or then there's nothing to really get. Anyways, it's definitely not bad if you're into slow, weird and depressing films.


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This sounds good, I've added it to my watchlist.

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Too weird to live, and too rare to die.

Monsters (2010) R

Rewatched when trying to find out a good nomination for Sci-Fi HoF. It's good drama (with some romance, I guess) with science fiction background. Good acting, well written characters and it looks amazing for the budget. Rounding my rating up.


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The Head Hunter (2018) N

A micro budget ($30k) fantasy horror that has great settings and costumes and looks absolutely gorgeous. Vast majority of the action happens off-screen and there's only two actors so the budget limitations are impossible to miss. Something like The Witcher meet The Twilight Zone.


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Hotel Artemis (2018) N

Jodie Foster does Nicholas Cage and stars in a ****ty action film that rips off John Wick and million gangster movies. She's decent but can't save this from being bad.

Liquid Sky (1982) R

What could aliens possibly want if not heroin? Or maybe there's something even better available in the drug and sex driven fashion circles of New York.


This is my third viewing of Liquid Sky and despite of some rather large issues it's still very enjoyable film. It's filled with odd characters, totally insane costumes and it makes the world of fashion look as cold and heartless as it's colorful. It's a bit like sci-fi version of The Neon Demon but better.

For the most part writing is good and stylish. The hunger for fame and addiction to drugs drives its characters to cruelty and being jerks. Some, like Margaret, hide their weakness and vulnerability deep inside. Others, like Adrian, have done that so long that the hard exterior rarely breaks even when alone with her lover. There's very little warmth in this movie and even the revenge (of sorts) leaves a bitter taste.

The most notable things in Liquid Sky are its visual style and ridiculously good soundtrack. Costumes and make-ups are totally insane yet still they somehow work. I remember reading somewhere that the budget for the costumes was only few hundered dollars which makes them even more awesome. And the music fits the film almost perfectly; it's simple, amateurish but so much better than it should be.


Acting is both good and bad. First of all Anne Carlisle does really good job in her double role (so good in fact that I didn't know she was also Jimmy until I Googled about the film after my previous viewing). Other than (and partially including) that the acting is as odd as the rest of the film. I still don't know if some of the actors are just bad or are they doing a Lanthimos thing few decades early.

The biggest issue I have with Liquid Sky is the whole sub-plot about the German scientist. I honestly believe the film would be better if they'd edited that off completely. It doesn't match the mood of the rest of the film and it feels like unneeded explanation to ensure that every viewer gets what's going on. He's also the worst actor in the movie and all his scenes are poorly written.

I'm rounding up my rating (in other words I feel that 3.5 is too little but 4 is maybe a bit too much). Without the scientist stuff above I'd most likely give it .5 more.

It's an outstanding film – should be in a hall of fame full stop, sci-fi or otherwise .

Minority Report (2002) R

In 2054 a prototype of pre-emptive police department, PreCrime, is keeping the murder rates in Washington DC at zero. There are plans to go nation-wide but are the three precogs and the whole system really infallible.


I don't know if Minority Report just hasn't aged well or if I've become way more (too?) critical since I saw it the first time but it's lot worse than I remembered. The concept itself is interesting and it should have provided a solid base for Sci-Fi neo-noir but there a huge issues in both technical and stylistic departments.

First of all the writing is extremely lazy and the way main plot is advanced doesn't make any sense. Minority Report clearly wants to toy with an idea of self-fulfilling prophecy but it seems to contradict everything we're told about the precogs. There is no plan to murder when the prevision about Anderton is received (unlike with all the other crimes referenced) and the whole chain of events would never happen without the prevision. Also the way things play out is more like a crime of passion which should show up only minutes before the event anyway.

There are other inconsistencies with the precogs too. They were only supposed to see the murders but still Agatha sees all shorts of irrelevant minor stuff when she helps Anderton to evade the police. The whole going nation-wide plan is weird; the three precogs are sold as unique individuals meaning they should already see crimes nation-wide if the project would be able to expand (yet in the end they live in recluse so that they don't get their annoying previsions).

I also hated the visual style of the film. Terrible over-saturation and lens flare all the time. I'm quite sure that seeing this in theaters would actually hurt my eyes. Settings and technology look inconvenient (transparent monitors, completely manual data processing, etc.) or plain stupid (streets adds speaking to individuals on a crowded street). I can easily forgive this kind of stuff in old movies but in 2002 computers were already part of our lives. And action sequences in general are awful.

On the positive side the acting was quite good (though I didn't like Cruise on this one). Like I said earlier the concept itself is good but the execution lacks in many ways. There are moments every now and then with kinda OK neo-noir feel to them but that never lasts. It's not as bad as the above rant would suggest but at the bottom end of mediocrity still.

Planet of the Vampires (1965)

Bava's old school scifi horror B-movie that's pretty much a mix of Star Trek and The Twilight Zone. It's mostly known for having some similarities to Alien but I think the connection is blown out of proportion. While it has some silly charm to it it's not my kind of scifi (nor Bava).


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What Happened to Monday (2017)

A dystopian scifi about overpopulation and extreme one child policy. While the premise is somewhat relevant and realistic the actual worldbuilding is laughably bad. Noomi Rapace is poor man's Tatiana Maslany. For some reason I still didn't hate it.