Movie Reviews Archives | Page 38 Of 241

The Bonds Found in the “Spirit in the Blood” Are Far Stronger Than One May Think

When help is needed, perhaps it is best to turn to the Spirit in the Blood rather than relying on those “in the sky” for help.

Elevation Pictures
Coming to select theatres beginning Nov 1

Being a tween can be rough, and for Emerson (Summer H. Howell) to change schools, to go live in a rural community looks problematical if she’s not careful. When the movie is titled Spirit in the Blood and marketing suggests this film may be like Stephen King’s Carrie, I’m ready to see what can happen. That’s because the early moments of this film suggets she has precognitive abilities. As for whether than ca help save her, that’s a question I hope will get answered by the finale.

When not everyone in the small town of St. Belvedere do not take a liking to this new family moving in, I have to wonder what their problem is. Thankfully, attitudes change when the body of a lost child turns up, but is that enough? The idea developed and directed by Carly May Borgstrom suggests there’s a lot going on not only for this young girl, but also the family. However, when the mystery concerning why her parents want to relocate here isn’t fully answered, even I’m curious by the end of act one.

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How Many Hidden Levels of Existance Must There Be in This High Octane Sci-Fi Thriller?

Just how many “levels” exist in the cyberverse depends on who you ask, and who is your maker? Thankfully the theology doesn’t bog this sci fi whodunit down, and you’ll have to wonder too!

Playing nationwide at select theatres in Canada
Please check local listings

Adam Stern, in his debut as a filmmaker, knows just how many Levels of existence there are in this multiverse. Whether that hides in the code or is answered in plain sight, that will depend on how folks will want to interpret the material offered in his movie. He not only penned the screenplay but also directed this rather smart and selective sci-fi thriller about Joe (Peter Mooney) wanting to find out who murdered Ash (Cara Gee), the love of his life, in cold blood. That’s because nothing is truly real. There are faces he recognizes during his investigation, and he doesn’t know why.

In a tale that’s inspired from movies like TRON, Inception, Free Guy and The Matrix (the special effects mostly), what’s presented focuses on an element of spirituality that’s always fascinated me–what if it’s all a simulation? But there’s also another question: who would want to kill this woman? As our hero learns there’s a secret cabal who created a virtual reality that is really indistinguishable from our own, there’s a concern: how can we escape from it? Is what’s imagined in one simulation better than another? The answer is simple: don’t get too emotionally attached.

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When The Film Masters’ Creature with the Blue Hand and Web of the Spider has a Nosferatu Connection with Klaus Kinski….

It’s a dose of Halloween, 60s style! Are krimi films a precursor to the Slasher genre? The Film Masters latest release, Creature with the Blue Hand, offers an answer and gives fans a double dose of Klaus Kinski too!

Creature with the Blue Hand Blu-ray — **Available to purchase on Amazon USA**

The Film Masters know who to love and Creature With the Blue Hand offers fans of 60s cinema a double (or dare I say triple?) dose of Klaus Kinski. His fame peaked in the 60s because of his work in five of Werner Herzog’s most celebrated films. But in recognition of tomorrow, All Hallow’s Eve, hd did wonders in Nosferatu, the Vampire (Amazon purchase link). He played the seminal count in this update, and made this villain all the more terrifying.

In Creature with The Blue Hand, Dave Emerson (Kinski), a suitably deranged murderer, escapes from the asylum and decides that hiding out at his family estate is the best course of action. When his twin, Richard (also Kinski), arrives, there’s a chance to turn his life around. However, he’ll have to dispense with his brother! In this crime drama, the sequence of events that unfolds concerns catching the killer in the act, and that isn’t easy! What I’m seeing is a very dangerous cat-and-mouse game!

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When Pranking is a Ghost Game, How is That Fair to the Victims?

Now available to stream/rent on VOD

The ominous tone that exists in the movie Ghost Game is enough to make me think twice about squatting in a haunted house! That’s never good; and in a film directed by Jill Gevargizian and written by Adam Cesare, perhaps it’s best to hope content creators Laura (Kia Dorsey) and Adrian (Sam Lukowski) get their just deserts! They believe spooking new homeowners is funny, and when their boss, Mr. Wattley (Aidan Hughes) likes the idea to include demonic possession (it’s a ratings winner), that’s a sign for disaster.

The reason is that these podcasters don’t realise the history of the house they’re “infesting” will endanger everyone, themselves included. To pile their shenanigans on top is guaranteed to cause things to go south fast, and when they don’t care about the lives they’re affecting, that’s disheartening. Although the story really pulled me into the drama, this film is one of those rare instances where you’ll either like these protagonists or hate them.

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Will The Real “Lore” Standup? The Struggle When The Title Is No Different Than Other Works.

Not every tale featured in Lore is from some British folk past. Had it been, there’d be more to appreciate from it.

Lore 2023 Movie Poster Spoiler Alert

Not to be confused with other similarly titled films, television series or graphic novels, the latest Lore offers four tales that tell a story over a campfire. Perhaps, if the film had come out in spring-time when the camping season was in full swing, it would have delivered a more chilling message than in October, when people were huddling by the fireplace for warmth.

That’s just my preference. While either season will do for this collection of shorts where four friends meet up with a creepy dude (Richard Brake) to huddle by a fire, I had high expectations. They are on an off-season hike to meet this individual, and pretty soon, he’s setting the mood for the remainder of this film.

Out of the four tales offered, only three of them really hit the mark in defining what British horror is like. One concerns a mysterious demon type thing haunting a building (tentatively titled “Shadows,”) the other is your classical ghost (“The Hidden Woman,”) and the third (“Cross Your Heart”) is with cults. It’s best not to give away all the details, since the last one (“The Keychain Man”) felt like let’s make a slasher film in a movie theatre. I’m not one who enjoys the slasher genre. Continue reading “Will The Real “Lore” Standup? The Struggle When The Title Is No Different Than Other Works.”

Tis Best Not To Go to Eldritch USA to Raise the Dead

When horror, music and comedy get meshed into Eldritch USA, the result is downright hilarious. It’s almost like The Reanimator; and it’s a must watch for the Halloween season!

Available to purchase on Amazon USA and coming to VOD Nov 5, 2024

Not everyone knows that the Rocky Horror Picture Show has a sequel, and although Shock Treatment never saw the same level of success as its predecessor, the updated music left an impression on me. I didn’t think I’d get that love for that until now, while watching Eldritch USA. This work written and directed by Ryan Smith (along with Tyler Foreman) in his debut feature film is just as satirical and well conducted.

Although there’s no song praising those who truly run Denton, that’s because what’s going on in this other city is much worse! Here, it’s more about mysterious cults who know how to raise the dead. When brothers Geoff (Graham Weldin) and Rich Brewer (Andy Phinney) constantly bicker and feud, I thought there might be a Cain and Abel moment.

Eldritch USA Musical Moment

The latter doesn’t like living under the other’s shadow, and although giving him the axe is accidental, the young man also realises he can’t live without the other; just what he does to bring him back to life is needed, but it seems life goes back to normal… or so it seems. What truly makes this musical work is that it genuinely touches on all those bottled up feelings.

When Lovecraft’s works inspired the screenplay, that’s enough to get my attention. And when the movie, Tucker and Dale, may have contributed to the backdrop elements, the fallout is just as crazy. Although there wasn’t a cult involved in that film, what happens here concerns just how badly people, fearing the worst behave, and the coven here seems much more inept than those teens thinking those bumpkins can’t do diddly-squat.

Even after successive watches, the melodies offered will stick, and over time, I sincerely hope Eldritch USA will transform into a full-on stage musical in the coming years.

4½ Stars out of 5

Eldritch USA Movie Trailer