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

DECEMBER 2005

RATINGS

- PUTRID TRASH

- THAT WHICH DOESN'T KILL YOU...

- EH. NOT TOO BAD. PASSABLE.

- VERY GOOD, IF NOT GREAT.

- INCREDIBLE, POSSIBLY A CLASSIC!

The Killing (1956)
Now, I don't want to give anything away, but...this early noir-heist film by Stanley Kubrick really hit the spot. Some movies just make you love black-and-white movies all over again. Try to count the amount of 'noir staples' you'll find in this film. Some incredible film. The transfer to DVD is really sharp and the sound and soundtrack are perfect. Hold up better after 50 years than most films would after 10. Classic.

11:14 (2005)
Now, I don't want to give anything away, but...talk about a cool film! Most anything I might say could give away plot points to this film, so I'm going to refrain from saying much more. But, some great performances put in by Hilary Swank, Colin Hanks, and Henry Thomas. A true indy treat with some great suspenseful moments.

American Gothic: The Complete Series (6-Disc Series) (1995)
Now, I don't want to give anything away, but...I just rented the first disc of this series from ten years ago and I'm hooked all over again. This series is a creepy rural mystery that really keeps you guessing over the entire duration of the series. Gary Cole ("Office Space") puts in a great performance as Sheriff Lucas Buck, a role few other actors could convey so perfectly and subtly. But, the star of the show by far is a pre-"Sling Blade" Lucas Black as the haunted Caleb Temple. A truly creepy series. Even though it only lasted one season, this Sam Raimi produced series still held me mesmerized from the first moment. One of the Top 10 creepiest shows ever on television, in my opinion.

Saw II (2005)
Now, I don't want to give anything away, but...does any sequel really live up to the original? This one almost did in some uncertain way. Almost anything I might say could give away the plot, so I'll just leave it at that. Do you see some inventive killings, sure. Does it recapture the feeling of the first film, not really. Totally worthwhile, but I could survive without a third installment.

House of Wax (2005)
Now, I don't want to give anything away, but...I actually enjoyed this one MUCH more than I ever would have expected too. Hell, even Paris Hilton didn't mess it up. I mean, they DID kill her off rather early...which was a pretty decent idea indeed. But, this film just has some elements I didn't expect to see and it had an odd sense of timing that threw off my expectations. Just know that this film has absolutely NOTHING to do with the Vincent Price original. But, that's for the best...as I'm sure film makers today would just screw up the story mercilessly. All in all, a pretty decent film with some fun special effects. I even watched the extras to see how some of the effects with wax were achieved.

Mind Hunters (2004)
Now, I don't want to give anything away, but...I REALLY wanted to like this one. I mean, Val Kilmer, Christian Slater and LL Cool J...what's not to like? And overall, it was a pretty watchable serial-killer-whodunnit kinda movie. But, the major downfall...the special effects were almost laughably bad in some parts. It's amazing how some bad quality CGI work can really rip you from the moment in a movie. Overall some interesting kill scenes, but not enough meat on these bones to be considered anything more than a small holiday from reason and logic in a film.

Land of the Dead (2005)
Now, I don't want to give anything away, but...if this is the movie that George A Romero intended to make, then I applaud him. In some ways, I think this film is the best and the worst of the series. It certainly looks better and has a bigger budget and a few big name stars. On the flip side, it seems to follow the basic progression of events but also expands upon some of the basic ideas in way some might find disappointing. Sort of like the reaction some have to the whole 'crazed/running' zombie evolution of movies like "28 Days Later". Sometimes new elements aren't needed in a genre. Romero introduces a new element that didn't necessarily work for me. Does that mean this film is awful? Absolutely not. It just didn't work for me on the level that I'd hoped it would.

Madman (1981)
Now, I don't want to give anything away, but...this one just didn't make the grade. It might have been passable back in '81, but just barely. But, on the upside, some of the clothes and hair circa 1981 is utterly hilarious Not the worst slasher film ever made, but awfully close. Some interesting kills, but that's really not reason alone to watch a film. Could easily be turned into a drinking game, if nothing else.

Reality Kills (2002)
Now, I don't want to give anything away, but...this movie loses it about half-way through. It was decent fun until then, but the movie just seemed to drag from the midpoint on. Most of the acting was pretty solid for being as low budget as it was, but the acting that is bad...is really bad. You could do worse than this film, but you'd have to put in some effort.

The Devil's Rejects (2005) Now, I don't want to give anything away, but...I really was hoping I'd finally figure out what it was about the "House of 1000 Corpses" that I didn't like after watching this film. And I did. Neither this film or the first are scary in any way whatsoever. Sure, they are gory, exploitative, and crude. But, they just lack that special something that would even make them...charming in a sick way like the original "Texas Chainsaw Massacre". Maybe someday Mr. Zombie will produce a movie worthy of his audience. I like his music a great deal, but his films I could totally use without. Another lesson in hype over substance.