TrailerWatch – “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” goes deep

Posted on August 2, 2021 by Denise

“I have tasted blood before, and that IS NOT IT.”

Ready for more of that crazy symbiote…and his evil(er?) “offspring”, Carnage? ME TOO. Synopsis!

One year after the events of Venom (2018), investigative journalist Eddie Brock struggles to adjust to life as the host of the alien symbiote Venom, which grants him super-human abilities in order to be a lethal vigilante. Brock attempts to reignite his career by interviewing serial killer Cletus Kasady, who becomes the host of the symbiote Carnage and escapes prison after a failed execution.

Hardy seems to slips effortlessly back into the role of Eddie/Venom, and Harrelson looks absolutely gleeful to be able to channel his inner bad guy.

Plus, it looks like we’re gonna see the Ravenscroft Institute, complete with mutant, Shriek! (Hello, paging X-men?) And let’s face it; if Carnage scares Venom, I can’t wait to see what’s gonna happen.

Venom: Let There Be Carnage hits theaters

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Short Films – “White Girl”

Posted on July 31, 2021 by Denise

Genre – Promising But Dull Horror Shorts
Year Released – 2019
Where I Watched – Shudder
Length – 13 minutes

At the start I figured this would be an A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night rip-off. But it should be so lucky. Girl shows a lot of promise, but like its protagonist, wanders aimlessly until it’s time to get things done. And by then, I’d checked out.

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Freaky Fridays – “Blood Red Sky”!

Posted on July 30, 2021 by Denise
Horror, Cult Movies, Exploitation Cinema, 70s Schlock, and more! Let’s look at something cool!

“A thousand times you have been warned. Now you pay the price for your ignorance.” – oh the irony, you terrorist jerks.

Genre: Hijacking But ZOMG Vampire!
Year Released: 2021
AKA: Transatlantic 473
Pedigree: One of the Big Bad Crew is Lincoln from Prison Break
Where I Watched: Netflix

Synopsis: A groups of white boys play jihadists, hijacking a plane for a little terrorism. But they’d no idea sweet mom Nadja – headed to the States for help with curing a blood borne illness – is a lot more dangerous than anyone could imagine. Don’t mess with a momma bear protecting her cub, y’all. Basic 411.

Fabulous or Frustrating?: 30 Days of Night meets Die Hard in this actiony horror romp. Sky is a lot of fun for action fans, and will give monster addicts and gorehounds a lot to enjoy. The bad guys are truly, gleefully bad, and our monster hero is trying desperately to hold on to her humanity while basic human decency crumbles around her. Add in a kid that never does what he’s told? You’ve got two hours of bloody mayhem, baby.

The story is told as an extended flashback, with the last 20 minutes catching up to “present day”. We get flashbacks to when Nadja got bitten, how she first started to try to deal with her illness, and her growing fear of losing the fight.

Excellent FX; her transformation into full blooded bloodsucker is simple but effective. Eyes turn golden and reflective , new teeth come in, wig comes off, ears go pointy… Extremely effective and best of all, not the pretty vamp that’s become the rage ever since Ed sparkled.

As Nadja, Peri Baumeister is both terror filled and terrifying. She does a lot with routine, cookie cutter dialogue, her face conveying much more than her words. Special shout out to Alexander Scheer as resident psycho Eightball; Scheer seems to delight in chewing the scenery, giving his bad guy a glee that’s chilling and fun to watch.

There’s plenty of the usual action/horror schadenfreude here, with people doing exactly the opposite of what they should be doing to keep themselves and others alive. And Nadja’s little boy Elias gets the gold medal in this regard. Be prepared to shout at your TV screen as these folks try their level best to get infected, or get slaughtered.

I’m surprised Sky isn’t getting more buzz, as it’s just the kind of action packed story that should find a willing audience in the summer movie fun fest. If you’ve got Netflix, give it a look. Pop some popcorn, grab a beverage, sink into the couch, and enjoy the bloody good time.

Freak-O-Meter:  4 out of 5 Freaks

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TrailerWatch – “Dune” drops a second trailer!

Posted on July 22, 2021 by Denise

I’m not even gonna try to be even handed here. I’m a huge fan of the Dune series of books, and I can’t wait to see this film. Synopsis!

A mythic and emotionally charged hero’s journey, “Dune” tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence—a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential—only those who can conquer their fear will survive.

As I’d figured Jason Momoa is great as Duncan Idaho, giving the character a sly wisdom I’m really digging. And Zendaya is perfection as Chani, with director Denis Villeneuve shooting her dream sequences with Timothée Chalamet’s Paul beautifully. Dat cinematography y’all. Y’ALL. Did I mention I can’t wait? Because I can’t wait.

Dune hits theaters and HBOMAX on October 22nd. Bring forth Fall, and the Spice!

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Columbia Screening Pass-palooza – “Old”!

Posted on July 15, 2021 by Denise

When Jaws hit, people stopped going into the water. Ready to get scared off the beach? Because I’ve got passes for the Columbia, MD screening of Old! Synopsis!

This summer, visionary filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan unveils a chilling, mysterious new thriller about a family on a tropical holiday who discover that the secluded beach where they are relaxing for a few hours is somehow causing them to age rapidly … reducing their entire lives into a single day.

I read the comic book series this film is based on, and it’s creepy as hell. So, are you brave enough to hit the beach? Let’s go!

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Nutshell Review: “Black Widow”

Posted on July 9, 2021 by Denise

“Never let them take your heart.”

Widow backtracks the MCU to immediately after The Snap, with Natasha trying to avoid arrest after violating the Sokovia Accords. But when she learns that the training camp that molded her is still active, she decides to destroy it once and for all. There’s fantastic onscreen chemistry between her “family”, terrific cinematography, and so much crazy action the FF franchise seems believable. Damn it’s a fun film to watch, if not a bit Deus Ex What-The-Hell in its “getting the band back together” storyline.

Go to see Natasha’s swan song of violence, and the way Florence Pugh’s Yelena constantly takes Nat down a peg by lampshading the hell out of her. Stay for the sweet meditation on what it means to be family, and the way David Harbour obviously enjoyed every single second he was playing “big poppa” figure Alexi.

#Protip: 3D is entirely unnecessary, as all the action is plenty cool without it. Marvel movie time, so be sure to stay all the way through the end credits for a tidbit that brings things to the MCU “present day”, introduces a new character, and promises more for…a character or two.

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Nutshell Review – “Fear Street: 1994”

Posted on July 5, 2021 by Denise

Come for the cool premise; in 1666 a witch cursed the small town of Shadyside, so mass murder happens on the regular. Stay for the killer – heh – soundtrack and the ample slathering of blood. The Fear Street book series might be for teens, but the gore pulls no punches and earns a solid R rating.

A well done cliffhanger and the intriguing mythology should lure viewers to the next entry in the series, the summer camp-based Fear Street: 1978. But 1994 can stand on its own as a bit of bloody fun…but thanks to excellent performance and a great story, I really want to know how this film’s survivors end up. And I care about them enough to hope they make it through the entire series.

Grade: B

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“Summer of Soul” – essential viewing

Posted on July 2, 2021 by Denise

“It the ultimate black barbecue. And then you start to hear music…”

Story: 1969 was more than Woodstock and Altamont. In Harlem, there was a summer music series. It was filmed, but the footage was packed away. Musician Questlove took that footage and combined it with interviews with musicians, activists, and attendees, and a deep dive into the history of that summer in Harlem.

Genre I’d put it in: Historically Important Documentaries

Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: Based on – and using footage from – the Harlem Music Festival of 1969.

Gotta say: Blown. Away. I am simply blown away by Soul. Questlove gathered up an incredible number of people and interviewed them about that summer. Where they were in their lives, what the festival meant to them, what it meant to black people. Soul shows Harlem’s vibrant, beautiful community, while pointing out the serious issues that was happening in the area and to black people in 1969. This big-picture look at the festival adds a layer of pure beauty to the music.

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The Boss Baby: Family Business

Posted on July 1, 2021 by Denise

“… if there’s one thing I’ve learned, you’re only a kid once.”

Story: The wheel of time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend…. Oh wait. Wrong series. But time has indeed passed for Boss Baby Ted and his older brother Tim. Tim’s a stay-at-home dad loving his life, his successful wife, and his children; Tabitha and baby Tina. Ted is, of course, the CEO of a huge mega-corporation with little time for anyone. But Ted and Tim don’t know that Tina has stepped into the three piece onesie Ted left behind at BabyCorp. They don’t remember anything about those adventures, as a matter of fact. Time to get the time-turner, baby formula edition!

Genre I’d put it in: Sweet Family Friendly Sequels

Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: Second film in the Boss Baby franchise.

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The Forever Purge – too real to enjoy?

Posted on June 30, 2021 by Denise

“Does this translate, pendejo?”

Story: Well’p after the possibility of a happy ending in Election Year, the usual gang of haters and ignoramuses decide that Those People Crossing The Borders require the Founding Fathers of America – and their yearly Purge – to come back. However, once 7am hits and things go back to “normal”? Well, there’s no normal anymore, as groups of heavily armed nutters Make America Bloodsoaked Again.

Genre I’d put it in: Movies Scary Because They’re Too Close To Real Possibilities

Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: The fifth film of the Purge series. Chronologically, these events happen immediately after Purge Election Year.

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