RobinRF87 Reviews

The Real Blair Witch (2003)

Interesting Documentary About The Depravity of Those Who Seek Fame At Any Cost

[7/10 · 24 August 2022]

Thanks to a full copy being available for the first time in almost 20 years, I can finally shed mystery about this lost Documentary TV Special focusing on real life horrific events committed by those looking to make a "name for themselves" in one of the most vile ways imaginable.

Narrated by actor Sean Pertwee, this special showcases a group of men looking to torture, humiliate, and "kill" a young woman - and film it all for their 15 minutes of fame.

I won't focus on any other specifics besides it taking place in Flint, Michigan & that maybe all is not as it seems. The outcome of those involved isn't disclosed & nothing exists online to establish fact from fiction.

All said, it was a well produced special & glad it was finally found so others can see the special.

Charismata (2017)

One of the worst

[1/10 · 20 August 2018]

I appreciate the attempt at making an occult based detective story but this is poorly executed. It has great cinematography but the story is lacking, makes little sense overall, and if I had paid to see this, I'd have surely been buggered. There are parts of scenes where there is 5-8 seconds of just silence between characters, as if they kept waiting for someone to yell "Cut!". Overall, if the story had been a little more polished, a more fluid dynamic between the actors on screen, and more exposition, it could have made a thrilling movie. However, it comes off very very amateurish and slow.

Porto (2016)

Brilliant in its simplicity.

[8/10 · 17 March 2018]

After hearing of one of my favorite actor's, Anton Yelchin, passing - I was devastated. I wanted to watch what he had left to be seen beyond his death, film wise.

This was the final movie he filmed before his passing & was just now able to view it, after waiting almost two years.

It is a simple glimpse into a single night, shared between two lovers. It gives a view from each perspective, both before and after their passionate night, and shows how a single night can leave a lingering effect on the heart and soul. Some loves are meant to last and some, like theirs, never gets to live beyond a night. There are no special effects, CGI, or drawn out plot points, which is why this movie communicates more in its hour and ten minute (not including credits) than the standard Hollywood fare.

Created on actual film stock vs. the standard digital format, it gives it a more timeless feel and gives it more warmth. Not to say this is a warm movie - it is heartbreakingly beautiful in its tone and content.

As a fan of Richard Linklater, it reminded me very much of Before Sunrise, but without near as much dialogue. It is also works well as a final goodbye from a tremendously talented actor, who was taken from the world way to soon.

Come and Find Me (2016)

Spoiler Free Opinion and my First Review

[10/10 · 11 November 2016]

When it comes to movies, I try to steer clear of anything romantic or too heavy on action. You wont find me watching movies like The Notebook nor will I begin to navigate the repertoire that is Steven Seagal's Straight-to-Video library. I like movies that I can tell had thought put into their script, had characters with some to a lot of depth, and a run-time that didn't drag on.

Now that my "disclaimer" is there, I will say this movie touched on what I tend to enjoy most in movies - mystery, leads with chemistry, and believable characters. One of the characters in the movie, I won't say which, borders on the element of believable but still kept my interest.

The story is about David and his search to find his missing girlfriend Claire. What begins as a run of the mill girl-gone-missing story, turns into a thrilling mystery pretty quickly and David soon begins a deeper journey into finding out just what happened to the love of his life. There is plenty of action to keep most guys interested, whereas the relationship (expressed in flashbacks, mostly) to keep any girl interested. It keeps an even pace of action/flashbacks to unfold a journey of one man's quest for the truth.

It raises questions of "What causes a woman, without any problems or fights, to disappear without a single trace (initially). How well do we really know the person we share a bed with every night?" I've rated plenty of movies before, but again, my first review so I hope I captured a spoiler free look. I would've gladly paid to have seen it in theaters (as someone who makes 2 trips a week to the local theater).