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Manhunt 2 (2007)
An excellent psychological horror game.
Review for Ps2 version, PAL & NTSC. (18 rated UK, 'M' rated US version; both versions are the same as far as the censorship goes.) Okay, so before I go into my review of Manhunt 2, I'd just like to say I've played the original Manhunt game for the PS2, and I loved it just as much as this one. Manhunt 2 seems to have been plagued by censor boards all over the world, and the media, and what for? NOTHING. The game contains nothing more than what you would expect in a horror film or a movie intended for adults, this game's not for children, as such, it should have been treated as such. Not be censored, and plagued.
The censorship of the game hasn't ruined it in my opinion, I can play it and enjoy the game just as much as the original, in fact, Rockstar's way of censoring it kind of adds to the game in a way if you think about it. You're playing as Daniel Lamb, a disturbed patient and seeing the killing through his eyes and mind. You can still make out what is happening, unless you can't see too well. The filters adds a red tinge in the PS2 version, and flashes of black and white when you perform an execution, the more gruesome the execution, the more red tinge there will be, but it's easy to make out what's going on.
The one thing you might notice is, the change of controls in this game in comparison to the original Manhunt, the controls are WAY different! It took me a while getting used to it. Another thing is, sometimes the directional movements can be a little hard to control, particularly when you get in combat or in a fight. I loved playing through the first level on this game, it's suspenseful, creepy and menacing. The sound effects and music in the game is really good, without it, I wouldn't say the game would be as good. It adds to the whole experience of playing it, I think the sound effects might also have been bumped up during the executions, you can really hear the stabbing effects or someone getting choked when you perform an execution.
Manhunt 2 is an excellent horror psychological gaming experience, which got the reputation and censorship it DID NOT deserve at all. If you're a true Manhunt fan, go out and buy the original PS2 or Wii version of the game. If the filters are that bothering, there is cheats to remove them, look for them. Don't download some BETA version and ruin chances of getting a Manhunt 3.
I hope you'll enjoy playing it as much as I did! Great game 10/10 from me.
Rated 'M' for "blood and gore, strong violence, sexual content and language." Rated '18' in the UK for "very strong bloody and sadistic violence."
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
One of my favourite Horror movies...
And I love it! The Texas Chainsaw Masscare, directed by Tobe Hooper is just amazing. I loved the whole atmosphere of the film and it's eerie grim tone that it has to it. Five teenagers on a normal trip out, when, in a nice sunny day, they run into a hitchhiker and they decide to give him a lift. From the first glance of this guy, anyone could tell, he isn't a normal person and far from it. He has what appears to be, a blood stained type scar on around his right cheek. Anyway, the reason he was on the road is because he was visiting the slaughter house..arrgghh. After a bit of a struggle with the Hitchhiker they throw him out of the truck, but that isn't there only worries. After stopping off at an old house, Kirk and Pam run into another house, thinking they maybe could get fuel for the van. And this is were there evening trip turns into a nightmare.
On entering this old house, Kirk is confronted by a man with a mask, probably made from human skin. Yes, you have just seen Leatherface! Once Kirk don't come back out, Pam enters the house. And we get to see what type of place this is, Decorations includes, Bones, teeth, feathers, and a general feeling of death in the house. The family consists of "The Cook", "Hitchiker" and "Leatherface" oh, and "Grandpa!". "The Cook" has split personality's, most of the time he is in killing mood, but then his patterns change and he feels guilt in what he has done, and shame. He is conflicted in between, whether he should kill or not. And, He is actually my favourite character out of the film, because his madness is purely evident!. After the other teens be's dealt with, this crew of mad people capture Sally. And in the last 20mins or so of the film, we find out what these screw ups are and what have they lived on, over the past years. There diet appears to be, dead body pieces, fingers as sausages and all sorts. And Sally is the invited guest! The "dinner table scene" is the most memorable scene out of the film. This is were we see, "The Cooks" personalty disorder take effect, cuz, one minute he is laughing at the girl suffer and the next he is shouting "No need to torture the poor girl!", and the most infamous line what he utters "Our old Grandpas the best killer there ever was!". You'll probably want to know does she escape? Well, your gonna have to see it. I think this is the definitive horror movie ever, period. Why? It's so atmospheric, chilling, disturbing, thrilling...everything that a horror movie fan could ask for, if not more. In saying that, the film isn't a real gore hounds film, far from it actually.
In fact, there is very little gore at all! And I am being serious, just watch it. And this is the good bit, cuz, when you see it the first time you probably think all sorts happened. But, no, it is the films lack of gore, what made it so good, well, in my opinion anyway. Most of the violence is implied, but it is implied very effectively. And the reason for this is because, Tobe, actually wanted this film to get a 'PG' rating! What was he thinking?!. If your after the best horror out of the 70's, then you have found it! I loved it, and if your an old horror nut (like me), you will too. Enjoy.
PS : Give those remakes a break, this is the only TCM you will need.
10/10. Unrated: Contains strong implied violence and some bloody violence and torture. Recommended for over 18's.
Day of the Woman (1978)
Not the Exploitation that people....
**COMMENT CONTAINS SPOILERS AND A COMMENT OF AN ADULT NATURE**
....Put's it out to be. I Spit on Your Grave is the story of Jennifer Hills, A New York magazine writer who goes to the countryside to complete her novel. On route there we get to see the first glance at the 4, depraved, retarded sick men, at the gas station. These are, Johnny, (Gangleader) Andy, (Goof) Stanley and Matthew...who just happens to be the local's retard of the countryside were she wen't to. The film start is very peaceful and quiet, actually I quite enjoyed the way the film started, it is just so natural and ambient. There is only seems to be Jennifer and her novel, but things do change. These 4 guys start to make it obvious as to there ambitions is. As we find out in the "Night Fishing" scene, what scum they really are. The whole goal of the movie is, supposedly, to get the retard, Matthew "lead". But I think Matthew isn't the worst out of the gang, you have to remember he is a retard, and the other guys did sort of bully him around. So when the guys have had enough of stalking, and fooling around at Jennifers house, they attack her when she is sun bathing in the boat.
Johnny the "redneck" gangleader, tries to get Matthew to rape her first, but since Matthew can't and won't do it, as he seems to have some feelings for Jennifer, Johnny rips of her clothes as if she was a fox trapped in between a bear and a lion. And this is the start of the whole 20 some odd minute gang rape of this poor woman, I really felt sorry for her. After the first rape is finished, Jennifer is up through the woods only to find the guys had already planned the second attack, although we don't see it on screen. Andy then sodomizes her over a rock, this scene in particular is THE nastiest rape scene I have ever seen on a DVD, it is brutal. But don't get me wrong, I don't count this as exploitation, it doesn't show the rape scenes in a erotic fashion or sleazy close up camera angles. All of the sexual violence is brutal and not at all erotic....so much for Rodger Ebert's rubbish..."a film....for sex criminals". But soon after the gang rape is over, our hero Jenni recovers!. And Matthew, the goof, is the first to go, but why? I don't really know, cuz if this guy hadn't have been with the other guys he would have never have raped her.
But he did, so I guess he deserved to die like them. And for our gang leader Johnny, well you know what happens to him (If you don't watch..), he gets what he fully needed!. All in all, I liked I Spit on Your Grave there I said it, and not for the so-called "exploitive bits" but for it's true horror of what a rape would be like, and the victim afterwords. So, if you think you can stomach the first 30 minutes, then buy it! But be warned the rape scenes are hard and brutal. I also love the Joe Bob Briggs commentary on the DVD, it is worth buying just to hear that alone, and of course the film.
This comment applies to the uncut version.
Unrated: Strong sexualised violence and sexualised assault, also contains strong language and Strong nudity. For over 18's only.
Cause for Concern (2002)
Bumfights.....Huh?!?! "KidFights"!....
....Is more like it! Bumfights : A Cause For Concern : Volume 1 is a hash of fights and street people being paid to perform stunts. The two main "stars" in the video is, Rufus and Donny. These two "bums" are often drunk (or on drugs) when performing there bits. The video also has a Happy Campers soundtrack, which, may I say, suits it. Anyway, I didn't know what to think of Bumfights at the start, to be truthful I sort of liked it. But now, I hear the producers have gone to even sicker lows in order to sell there videos. Oh yes, this time it is people even more venerable than homeless people it is the mentally ill. And that's just sick. After hearing that, my view on there videos hasn't been the same, now I don't really care for "Bumfights".
Back to the matter at hand, most of the fights in the video are not between the "bums"(So, Why call it "Bumfights"?), it is pre-recorded fights between, teenagers and young adults, whom, most of either can't fight or there fights are just staged. And yes, Angela Taylor does appear in the video, but not naked, just in a bit of a saucy manner. The "bumhunter" segments are funny at the start, but soon, they tend to get boring. And the same guy who played the "Bumhunter" at the start doesn't play him throughout. Some other guy also plays him, and he is even crappier than Todd at playing him. Other footage in the video includes more fights caught on camera, on the streets. Overall, the hype of Bumfights is overrated. I can't say I was shocked by it, Cause I wasn't. If you really want to see "Bumfights" I'd recommend get a lend of a mates, because simply it isn't worth $20 bucks. The most shocking release of "Bumfights" I have seen is a mondo-Shockumentary, Bumfights Presents: Terrorists, Killers & Middle East Wackos....but we will save that for another time. Overall, 4/10.
Not Rated: Strong Language and Violence. (18+)
Scrapbook (2000)
Brutal....
Scrapbook is a low budget horror, and it is brutal. Emily Haack plays, Clara who is kidnapped by a serial killer Leonard (Tommy Biondo). Hence the films title, Leonard keeps a record of his mutilation and killing in his "Scrapbook". This poor captured woman goes through all sorts with this mad man, he rapes, beats, and tortures her in all sorts of nasty ways. The rape scenes in particular are vile, and a bit to long. Scrapbook most certainly is in the new line of "hardcore horror" it is up their with the likes of, "Nutbag", "August Underground" and "MSP (Murder Set Pieces)". Plus in every respect maybe even more violent than those. But in saying that, the violence is not sugar coated, it's not made look "nice to watch", it's made to look for what it is: Ugly and at sometimes unbearable. This is what, I would bet, a real serial killer would be like to his victims. Scrapbook is most certainly a top notch serial killer flick, 7/10 (And the only reason it did not get a full 10 is because of the vile rape scenes) Unrated: Contains very strong sexual violence and Strong Language. Not for children under 18.
Nutbag (2000)
A Real Insight Into a Killers Mind.
Nutbag is one hell of a slasher flick! "The Killer" is played by Mack Hail, and he is very impressive, it is just like watching a real killer who has recorded his events on a camcorder. This killer, stalks and kills innocent women at random and in a brutal fashion, he chants to himself while in his house, and rampages through it! The music score is excellent and there is piles of gore too, more than enough to keep the gore hound happy. So, you were thinking about getting Henry: Portrait Of a Serial Killer instead?? Bad choice! Nutbag is 10 times better than Henry, overall Henry, in my opinion does not even compare. I mean it! this is the only serial killer flick you'll need!. People often wonder why at the point in the film, why does he rampage through it, in slow motion. Well, I think I know. The killer has a hatred for "wh***s" and his pictures of naked women on his room walls, notice carefully as he runs up and down, he is looking at the pictures! I think this scene is showing has rage and his anger for them. Overall 10/10, I can't say I have seen a more impressive low budget killer flick ever, Nick Palumbo I salute you! NC-17: Graphic Violence, Explicit Sexual Images and Very Strong Language. Over 18's only.
Traces of Death II (1994)
This goes beyond sick....
Having watched both of the Traces of Death, This part is the sickest of the two. If Traces of Death 1 had any appeal, this has lost it. Basically it's a compilation of death scenes mixed in with 'death metal' music, which makes this part even more sickening than the last one. Traces of Death 2 features some of the most nasty real life scenes of death, mutilation, and needless suffering on DVD. It has no context, And I mean none, just the pointless gibberish what the narrator comes out with to add more, if you'd like to call it, 'flavour' to the mayhem. There IS NO appeal to this type of stuff in my opinion, it is humans at their lowest. And as a plus, it goes in the same tradition of Traces of Death1 with it's bad editing (and of course the scenes are 100% real), and what appears to be the old 2 VCR copying setup to get the footage on another tape. Avoid, avoid, avoid!! 1/10.
Paramedics (1997)
Boring & Pointless.
Paramedics is a boring, pointless 'shock-u-mentary'. At least thats what genre I have put it into. It's not really a documentary as such, it has no narration only screen captions (which only gives a brief on what had happened). It starts by a warning on the screen, which again points to my belief that this is mere exploitation, 'Due to the graphic nature, viewer discretion is advised', and the way it is packaged. Following on the warning, its on straight to an accident with a man that has been torn in two by a train, Paramedics are at the scene, and trying to safe the mans life as well as his leg, this scene of Paramedics like many other scenes in it, have great close up shots on the victims injuries. Preceded by a, Car crash scene. Also again another close up on a dead woman's mutilated face, which I found to be a disgrace, that anyone would have to film this in such a way. Plus various close shots throughout. There is nothing really more to say about Paramedics, it's just a collection of accidents and the outcome, with really no narration or anything, it's boring, your just watch 65mins of accident scenes. If the proper narration had of been their, I would say, it might have been somewhat more interesting, if you could put it that way. But in it's current editing and context, Paramedics is a low, pointless, piece of crap. 1/10.
Unrated: Graphic images of real accidents. Over 18's only.
Traces of Death (1993)
Sick & Nasty Junk
This is the most nastiest piece of junk I've ever seen. Forget Faces Of Death, this is all real and very graphic footage of well, let's see, Medical Operations, Accidents, Autopsys, plus pictures of suicides and police photographs. The shockementary is badly edited and is clearly meant to be exploitative and as sick as they, the producers, could get it. It's that badly edited in fact, that it just looks like a 2 VCR editing setup with a MIC attached. The commentator only rarely speaks, and when he does, his comments are gibberish and just to poke fun at the mayhem what unfolds. (During a scene of 'death' pictures) Comments include, " You will witness visions so incredibly graphic that your brain will surely comprehend the ghastly images it will receive!". Although, this footage is supposed to be 100% real, you won't know what the circumstances behind the scenes were, and therefore I found it boring and just vile. At least in Faces of Death, the commentator explains each scene so you know what has happened. Traces Of Death also includes the televised suicide of Bud Dywhite. This scene is replayed in different angles, replayed slowed down, and plainly just played till it would make you sick. If your after a rambling collection of death scenes this is your dream DVD!. However, if your after a serious documentary, then don't bother with this. I see its also banned in the UK, normally I think censorship is abhorrent, but in this case the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) should be given an award instead of the baseball bat!!!!. At this point I'd also like to point out this part does NOT have any death metal music. It's sick, vile, disturbing, and is strictly for adults over 18 what has a open mind, In my opinion, if you want a real shockumentary, Get Bumfights Presents: Terrorists, Killers & Middle East Wackos. Be warned, this is very graphic. I'll give Traces of Death a 3, because of it's pure exploitation!
August Underground (2001)
So realistic and Disturbing
It's so realistic, from the opening we don't see any credits. It's like watching something you found in a bin and would probably hand to the police. 2 killers go on a rampage, its starts with them going into the base meant were they have this girl tied to a seat in her own urine and feces. It's sick and brutal, she is tortured and humiliated in a number of ways (made eat her own feces) - Guinea Pig 1 doesn't compare. Even the editing is messed up in places, but that does'not make this bad, if anything because of the type of film it's meant to look like it makes it more harsh. Anyway, advancing on and the other killer who films this mayhem does'not appear on-screen, only in the background we hear him laugh and his silly nonsense that he comes out with when they are killing or torturing. Eventually they come back to find the girl has died. I forgot to mention also in this basement lies a dead man with his penis cut of. The killers then go on a rampage, killing, racking a shop and killing the owners sadistically, like making this girl sniff a guys butt and vice versa. There antics also includes more torture and pain. This is really sick film and only for adults, I can't say that I've seen a film look so realistic. I've given it 8 just for that.
Unrated: Contains strong humiliation and sexualised torture. Over 18's only.