The Horror Library - The Best in Horror Fiction

Mini Movie Reviews
By R.J. Cavender

'Now, I don't want to give anything away'...
Mini Movie Reviews
by RJ Cavender

OCTOBER 2005

RATINGS

- PUTRID TRASH

- THAT WHICH DOESN'T KILL YOU...

- EH. NOT TOO BAD. PASSABLE.

- VERY GOOD, IF NOT GREAT.

- INCREDIBLE, POSSIBLY A CLASSIC!

Premonition (Yogen) (2004)
Now, I don't want to give anything away, but...this film was a great find and a lot of fun to watch! While it had a bit of that "RINGU" feeling to it (and director Norio Tsuruta did in fact direct one of the films in the series), that's about where the similarities end. I would suggest, if you watch this film, to check out the extra's available on this disk. The CGI they use in this film is so slick and subtle, I doubt you'd even be able to tell where they use it. A chilling and truly effective Japanese horror film. Highly recommended.

M (1931)
Now, I don't want to give anything away, but...this classic "talkie" from director Fritz Lang still plays as hauntingly today as I'm sure it did upon it's release in 1931. Impossible? Not really. The story seems like it could be plucked out of today's headlines, and the acting is quite impressive for a film that has aged nearly 75 years. Peter Lorre puts in a somewhat subdued, but perfectly effective portrayal as Hans Beckert...cinema's first serial killer. Movies this old just aren't supposed to look this good. The restoration and transfer of this film are great, never seen black and white looks so good. A true CLASSIC in every sense of the word.

Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
Now, I don't want to give anything away, but...this movie has just earned it's place in my TOP 20 FILMS OF ALL TIME. What a cool flick! It had the feeling of watching a cartoon directed by Quentin Tarantino, which has been recast and replaced by human actors. That might not make a lot of sense right now, but it will after watching this film. Not a horror movie, but some definite horrific content and as much kung foo fighting as both volumes of KILL BILL. Highly recommended for a night where you want to see something different, fun, and highly charged with stylized violence.

Anatomy (2000)
Now, I don't want to give anything away, but...this movie is so damn cool! I have NO IDEA how I missed this stylish German thriller for this many years. Another one that goes on my TOP 20 FILMS OF ALL TIME. Well, maybe in the HORROR subcategory, but it's for sure on one of my BEST OF lists now. A lot of fun and gory moments in this one, and a strong clever plot that'll keep you involved and engrossed the entire ride. Keep an eye out for the inevitable American remake, that'll probably ruin the whole damn thing!

Dead End (2003)
Now, I don't want to give anything away, but...what a clever and refreshing departure this surreal low budget flick was! Seriously, this has got to be one of the more inventive horror films I've ever seen. It deserves cult classic status, it really does. Done with a small cast, confined locations, and a trippy eye for detail...this one packs as much of a punch for horror as it does for humor. The phrase 'pitch black humor' comes to mind. Another one to go on my TOP 20 FILMS OF ALL TIME, HORROR subcategory. Watch it...you'll love it.

The Ring Two (2005)
Now, I don't want to give anything away, but...believe it or not, I'm giving an American remake higher ratings than the Asian original. That's got to be a first. I thought the plotline was plausible, the acting competent, and the effects stellar. BE SURE to watch the short film RINGS in the extras, I watched it before the feature and it really enhanced the experience for me. Sort of like watching a RING 1 1/2...it filled in some gaps and lead right into the film. Nicely done.

Ringu 2 (1999)
Now, I don't want to give anything away, but...geez, this one sure did drag. I mean, after watching PREMONITION it just seemed so trite and slow. I hear the sequel RINGU: RASEN was preferred by overseas audiences to this one, so I guess I'll have to give RASEN a shot next. This one just seemed to fall a bit flat, not horrible...but nowhere near as chilling as the first.

The Eye 2 (2004)
Now, I don't want to give anything away, but...this sequel didn't live up to the greatness of the first film. I didn't expect it to. As a stand-alone film, it might have worked a little more effectively. More of a psychological drama than the first one, and the tie to the original is rather weak. By far, not the worst Asian horror film I've ever seen...but no where near the best. I still highly recommend the original, if you have yet to see it.

The Stink of Flesh (2004)
Now, I don't want to give anything away, but...I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about this one. On one hand, it is a very different zombie movie than I have seen before. On the other hand, it is a very different zombie movie than I have seen before. Different isn't always better. Sure, the effects were cheap. Most of the acting was pretty weak. But, there are some absolute stand-out's in this film, most notably the character of Matool who is one of the better zombie dispatchers to ever see the screen. But, overall...that does not make this movie a watchable flick. It truly try too hard to be "shocking" and "different" by adding some sexual situations and taboo's that seems clearly out of place. Well, it didn't work. It just came off as a bit pathetic. It's a shame too, as it had a good thing going in parts of this film.

Rise of the Undead (2005)
Now, I don't want to give anything away, but...this is another example of a small no-budget film that had some real potential...but didn't measure up overall. Here's a question: WHY use CGI if you can't afford GOOD CGI? The Answer: YOU DON'T. I think this film would have benefitted from a bit more imagination and a lot less bad effects. There are some moments of real genius, but more moments of sheer stupidity than I can even count. Would make a good example of potential wasted for anyone aspiring to make their own no-budget film.

Just Before Dawn (1981)
Now, I don't want to give anything away, but...I really wanted to like this film. From the reviews I read on Netflix, I expected an early gem that had moments of genius like FRIDAY THE 13th or DEAD AND BURIED. It was nothing of the sort. The most redeeming value to this film is some of the natural backdrops of the Oregon hills. Now, if the background of a film is upstaging the actors...you know there is a problem. Slow, predictable, and amateurish. But, the scenery looked really nice.