rich-fletch Reviews

Accused (2023)

Good but Frustrating

[6/10 · 4 October 2023]

Spoilers.

The acting is good I think, but some of the writing was poor. No one in the wide world of the media would run with a story of a guy being a terrorist on the say so of an old classmate. Add to that the police not recognising his name and coming straight over it made for a bizarre watch at times.

There were lots of cliches and things you'd seen a million times before as the Muslim / terrorist story was explored once again. It seems like an easy screenplay to make. Just add a bombing, a Muslim or two and then an angry mob on social media.

However, it was tense and well acted plus you were rooting for the lead guy.

Where his parents ended up - who knows. You'd think they'd have been right back home immediately.

Good to see Frances Tomelty is still working.

Hellraiser (2022)

A Dark Movie

[5/10 · 20 July 2023]

Seriously, why do film makers make scary or action scenes so dark that you can't see what's happening?

The movie was ok but when you add the dark picture with too many same looking cgi cenobites and a mostly dislikable cast then you get another lamentable entry in the franchise. It's not a terrible movie at all, but you're never going to beat the 1987 original movie that the author Clive Barker himself directed.

I had to laugh when Riley turned up on her own at the mansion to look around, then suddenly all her mates turn up a couple of minutes later, because let's face it, we need some corpses in the movie soon.

Jacob's Ladder (2019)

Confusing.

[2/10 · 16 July 2023]

A great film often leaves you with more questions than answers, but in a good way.

At least the original set the puzzle up for the viewer from the beginning scene. This just puzzled me from the beginning. This remake is all over the place.

The original 90s movie influenced many horror writers and film makers. There would be no Silent Hill without the Tim Robbins version. I Don't think people will be talking about this remake in years to come. Do yourself a favour and just watch the original. If you're still curious then Watch the original again.

To be fair though, at least they do try and explain what the ladder actually is in this new version.

The Craft: Legacy (2020)

Go Woke etc

[2/10 · 14 July 2022]

After watching the very good original again to set me up for this sequel, I was mildly optimistic that it would be half as good at least.

In the original movie, the classroom jock had a spell cast on him to make him fancy the newcomer witch, but in this one the new writers tried again to have a spell put on the classroom jock, or bully. Once the spell started to work, the result was , that Timmy turned into the most boring, most pathetic woke character imaginable. It all came across as a series of morality lectures from him and the rest of the cast. Trans, misogyny, race, and cis-gender issues quickly were fired off, making this movie completely unwatchable and unbelievable. What did the writers think they were aiming for here? They've alienated pretty much all the older viewers and fans of the original movie, whilst sucking all of the magic out of the formula.

Really poor, with a generic looking cast. Apparently Faruiza Balk makes an appearance, but I fell asleep with 30 mins left so I guess I missed it.

Half Broken Things (2007 TV Movie)

A very memorable TV DRAMA

[9/10 · 23 October 2021]

Once in a while, a tv drama grabs your attention and becomes memorable. This is a tale of desperate people flung together, making the best of their lives under a cloud of a big lie.

Great performances throughout.

The Call (VIII) (2020)

Starts well and doesn't get better.

[6/10 · 27 June 2021]

It started out well enough. Once the call business starts happening it gets a bit cgi. Lots of screaming by Ms Shaye doesn't help. Good performances by the two stalwarts of recent horror though. Just a disappointing second half.

Meant to be an eighties setting but I just didn't feel it to be ringing true.

Run (I) (2020)

It's the best that Netflix have offered us for a while.

[7/10 · 17 June 2021]

As Netflix horrors and thrillers go, this is quite good. When I watched it I couldn't help but think of the movie Misery, but it kept me on the edge of my seat. Sarah Paulson is genuinely creepy once the movie gets going.

Edge of Fear (2018)

Not a bad thriller. Just not great either.

[5/10 · 6 September 2020]

Ignore the one star brigade. This film isn't too bad. Decent enough performances but a bit cliched too. A home invasion that we've seen before in other movies. The twist here is that the main victim isn't dead and uses his nous to get even with his wife's kidnappers.

Hidden in Plain Sight (2019 TV Movie)

Honest review here

[4/10 · 6 June 2020]

Look guys I've seen a lot better than this but I've seen a load worse too. It's a film made for tv. It's pretty formulaic and not worthy of any acting awards but hey it's a TV movie that was not terrible. Sometimes the dialogue is whispered and can be annoying, but give it a go.

All the 1 star reviews are very OTT. I give it 4.

Babs (2017 TV Movie)

A national Treasure deserves a better movie

[3/10 · 4 September 2019]

I won't ramble on but having watched this movie for ten minutes, I said to my wife 'oh no. I hope it doesn't continue like this all the way through!' It did.

Three Barbara Windsor's plus one real Barbara Windsor. Add in a dead mum and dad and a mainly stage based narrative and you get a right Royal mess.

Whoever does the next - obviously deserved - movie about one of the UK's national treasures, then maybe leave out the stage and the constant nattering to the dead parents. Cheers.

Backfire (II) (2017)

Did anyone just notice that or did I dream it

[2/10 · 10 June 2019]

This movie has low budget and low quality written all over it. The acting in some part is ok but the characters are so stereotyped.

But the bit that really got me was a little girl got shot in the face and literally nothing was said about it. NOTHING. No outpouring of grief. No emotion. No crying. Just nothing. I can't believe what i have witnessed. Poor from the writers and poor from anyone who produced this.

Essex Boys Retribution (2013)

Really badly acted.

[2/10 · 9 February 2014]

Having just watched Rise of the Footsoldier, I thought I'd watch this.

Starring thingy, Kyle and Kye somebody, and another guy.

I don't believe that in the real underworld/club land, there would be anyone afraid of these 4 clowns. Like Ever! This film is so tenuously linked to the range rover films it doesn't compare. It's like comparing a Ferrari with a piece of cheese.

I blame the casting department who hired the worst choice actors for this sort of story. It is like hiring Barry from Eastenders to play Vito Corleone. No offence B.

And another thing... Previous reviews have stated 7/8 even 10 stars for this film. I wonder what they gave Goodfellas, shawshank, green mile etc.... 20 out of 10!?