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

MARCH 2006

RATINGS

- PUTRID TRASH

- THAT WHICH DOESN'T KILL YOU...

- EH. NOT TOO BAD. PASSABLE.

- VERY GOOD, IF NOT GREAT.

- INCREDIBLE, POSSIBLY A CLASSIC!

March 2006

Creep(2005)

Now, I don't want to give anything away...but this one was quite a pleasant surprise! Set in the depths of London's Underground and sewer system, this film has a creepy sense of desperation that settles in almost immediately. Franka Potente (Run Lola Run) accidentally falls asleep waiting for the last train of the night, and when she wakes up she finds herself locked into a deserted station. I'll refrain from saying much more, as it'll ruin the surprises. I will say that Potente puts in another great performance, as usual. The DVD is packed with lots of extras, including a 'making of' that made me appreciate the film all the more. Great stuff!

The Dark Hours (2005)
Now, I don't want to give anything away...but this was a tense and engrossing psychological horror flick. I'll say that it borrows a bit from "The Desperate Hours" and "Funny Games" but ups the ante a bit and really goes for the jugular. As with lots of films, the ending is a bit of a disappointment. But, that's just my opinion. Other than that, an almost perfect "home invasion" sort of thriller.

The Barber(2002)

Now, I don't want to give anything away...but Malcolm McDowell is great in this rural whodunnit, as a small town barber who knows many secrets about his clientele. The town of Revelstoke, Alaska is known for it's long, cold winters. In fact, the town is so far north it doesn't even appear on many maps. For a good part of the winter, it's dark outside 24/7. Think of this as an answer to last years "Insomnia", although I think this one is quite a bit better. Part murder/mystery part dark comedy, McDowell put in a great performance in this odd and interesting little gem.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1919)

Now, I don't want to give anything away...but this silent masterpiece from Germany is a stunning treat for the eyes. The sets are incredible, bizarre and surrealistic, and only add to the strange overall feeling of this movie. Also noteworthy is the fact that is purported to be the first horror film. A strange and hypnotic film. An amazing accomplishment for 1919, for sure.

Shallow Ground (2004)

Now, I don't want to give anything away...but this was a low budget flick that packed a punch. The film starts off quick and violent, and I was hooked. Almost anything I might say could give away major plot points, so I'll refrain from saying much more. I watched the 'making of' featurette after the feature, and found out this film was made on a budget of $72,000. Impressive! Much better than many films made with ten times the budget.

House of 9 (2005)

Now, I don't want to give anything away...but this was an interesting film, even if it's not the most original premise. Borrowing heavily from "Saw", "Saw II", and "Cube" this film starts with 9 unsuspecting strangers waking to find that they are locked inside a strange mansion where a disembodied voice over an intercom tells them that only one will survive. Sure, we've seen it before, but this one has a few twists and turns that make the ride somewhat worthwhile. The whole reason I rented this was to see Dennis Hopper play an Irish priest. He actually pulls it off quite well! Not the most inventive film, but overall an entertaining watch.

Anatomy 2 (2003)

Now, I don't want to give anything away...but this one just didn't have the same kick to it as the first one did. It was slow in parts, and even at 90 minutes it just felt like it ran a little long. As medical/horror films go this and the original are still tops in their class, but this sequel seemed a little bit over the top without as much of the tension as the first film. Overall, not horribly bad, but the original was much, much better.

Battle Royale 2 (2003)

Now, I don't want to give anything away...but I had some pretty high hopes for this sequel. Sadly, it just didn't compare. There were moments, such as an impressive opening sequence, but it gets a little too chatty often and it just seemed to drag along for the last half-hour. I certainly wanted to like this film more than I did, but it just didn't hold up to the creative genius of the first film.

Red Eye (2005)

Now, I don't want to give anything away...but, I really wanted to like this one. It was entertaining until about halfway through, but after that it just fell sadly flat on it's face. It was certainly better than "Cursed", but with Wes Craven at the wheel I really expected more. I will say the casting was very good, with Rachel McAdams as the beautiful and intelligent heroine and Cillian Murphy as the charming and suitably creepy villain. But, something just doesn't add up with this film as a whole. Better luck next time Wes.