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Audrey Rose (1977)
More TV Movie than Horror Film
I had heard about Audrey Rose, but nothing about it. So when I purchased a VHS copy of it at a local used video store, I had no pre-conceived prejudices towards the film; pro or con. But as I started watching the film, I felt a sense of deja vu. Immediately the cinematography and feel of the film reminded of The Exorcist, from start to finish. Minus the graphic violence, head spinning and pea soup.
The acting, with the exception of Anthony Hopkins and Susan Swift as Ivy, was bland and uninspiring. What was supposed to be a horror thriller quickly turned into nothing more than a tear-jerker TV movie of the week.
I have been a fan of director Robert Wise's work for years, many of his films (The Haunting, The Body Snatcher, Curse of the Cat People, The Day The Earth Stood Still, etc) are some of my favorite films. But Audrey Rose was a huge disappointment. I can only recommend this film for Hopkins' performance. But as a horror thriller? It doesn't have a ghost of a chance. Let's hope that it's not reincarnated as a remake.
The Perfect Man (2005)
Haven't I Seen This Before?
It's not a terrible flick, nor is it screaming Oscar. It is what it is, a Hillary Duff movie, Targeted a tweens and fans of her Disney TV show.
Hilary is her usual cute self as the daughter of a beautiful mother, Heather Locklear, who can't find the "Perfect Man". Heather Locklear can't find a man? Please. I really had to go brain dead to accept that and tried. It worked kinda.
Both Duff and Locklear do the best with what they can with the script, and give their usual TV performances in a big budget film.
"The Perfect Man" is as predictable as one would expect. But would have been better if it had been made as a TV movie. I don't expect a big box office returns.
But wait haven't I seen this before? Yes. It was called Mermaids, with Cher.
This is only for fans of Duff and Locklear...and squeaky clean family movies. Somewhere Walt Disney is smiling.
Skeeter (1993)
A Good Old-Fashioned Big Bug Flick
I'm simply amazed at the low rating of this movie. Sure it's not high fare and has some low-end special effects, but "Skeeter" is a well acted and well paced "Big Bug" flick.
First and foremost we have the sexy Tracy Griffith (see her in First Power) as female lead, that is enough for any one to watch. But then we have some of Hollywoods great character actors Charles Napier, Jay Robinson (what a great voice), William Sanderson (remember him as the psycho sniper in the episode called BLOOD of X-files) and lastly Michael J. Pollard.
Sure, director Clark Brandon isn't a horror director, and directed more episodes of The Facts of Life than he cares to confess. But I feel he does a good job here. He knows how to direct good actors and bring out their best. I know the special effects aren't that special by today's standards. But I think they are great considering the obscene over use of CGI in the genre today.
All in all, SKEETER is a good, well paced and expertly acted Big Bug movie and pays decent homage to the old Big Bug flicks of the 50's. If you have a certain affection for the old Big Bug flicks of the 50's as I do, then check this one out.
Castle Freak (1995)
Unsung Modern-day Horror Classic
After reading an article in Fango, then learning that the re-teaming of director Stuart (Re-Animator / The Beyond) Gordon with Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crompton to make CASTLE FREAK, my expectations and hopes were high. Gordon exceeded my dreams by making his best since The Beyond.
CASTLE FREAK has the look and feel of big budget European horror film. Superb acting by all involved, from the lead actors to the locals in a pub. The make-up FX on Jonathan Fuller as Giorgio is remarkable. What a tragic and haunted figure Giorgio is. It's a moviegoers rare experience to feel sympathy and repulsation at the same time for such a character.
Stuart Gordon would match the magic of this film, if not surpass it in some respects years later with Dagon. CASTLE FREAK remains on of my top ten favorite horror movies.
Larva (2005)
Makes ya wonder what's really in your hamburger
Didn't really know what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised. Top-notch acting. Great story. Cool Special FX. A little gore and screaming. Good popcorn flick for Horror and Sci-fi fans.
The following is from Sci-Fi Channel Host, Mo., is a quiet ranching community where everyone knows everyone else, and almost everybody earns their living from a local meat-products packager, Host Tender Meats.
New to town is veterinarian Eli Rudkus (Vincent Ventresca of Sci-Fi's 'Invisible Man'), who makes Host his home after his predecessor retires, leaving a professional vacancy that Eli is happy to fill. However, when Eli is called to the ranch of Jacob Long (William Forsythe of 'Once Upon a Time In America' and Rob Zombie's upcoming 'The Devil's Rejects'), a local cattleman, the young veterinarian's seemingly routine house call exposes a dangerous secret about Host Tender Meats that could annihilate this small town.
Eli's efforts to warn the town are thwarted by Fletcher Odermatt (David Selby known to most as Quentin from "Dark Shadows), the owner of Host Tender Meats. Odermatt is willing to go to any lengths to keep his company's dark secret buried. To that end, he enlists cutthroat attorney Hayley Anderson (Rachel Ward) to smear Eli's reputation.
Before long, though, Eli and Jocob convince Hayley that what started as a small "parasite problem" is now a disaster on the verge of becoming too large to contain. As catastrophe looms, the trio races against time, nature and science to save their town and perhaps the world.
Do I recommend it? Yup, and when it's available on DVD this April, I'm getting it.
Catwoman (2004)
Smells worse than a month old litter box
I'm sorry. I mean I love Halle Berry as a actress. She's well trained and gave a superb performance in Monster's Ball. But Cat Woman...well she should have passed on this one. I don't blame the actors or the FX crew. I blame the screenwriters and Pitof the director for this mess. Maybe now Berry can get on to other things, other roles. And Halle, baby, darling, stay away from horror (Gothica) okay. It's harder than it looks. Just do your romantic films and keep the young men lusting after you. And to PITOF, if that is your real name, Catwoman is a villain, not a sometimes villain, sometimes heroine, but a villain. Read the comics and watch reruns of the TV show Batman with Adam West. She is a villain. Besides Julie Newman was and always will be Catwoman. She was Catwoman more times than anyone. And no one, not even Eartha Kitt could touch the sensuality that oozed from Julie. Even today she's still sexy as ever.