Based on a book called The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist, director Mikael Hafstrom brings The Rite to the silver screen. Ostensibly a horror in the same mould as The Exorcist of The Last Exorcism, The Rite actually acts more as simply a personal drama centred around it's lead character. A moderate box office success it took over $90m from a modest budget of $37m. … [Read more...]
Bride of Frankenstein (1935) review by That Film Guy
Following on from the success of the original Frankenstein, this horror sequel Bride of Frankenstein is one of the most recognisable and parodied horror films of the Golden Era of Cinema. The 1930s is considered one of the great decades of horror films (along with the 1970s) and stars such as Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi were household names for playing archetypal horror … [Read more...]
Tower Block (2012) review by That Film Doctor
With the release of The Raid and Dredd in recent weeks, it seems that there is something about the high rise skyscraper as a setting for tense action films. Ever since The Towering Inferno and then Die Hard, the claustrophobia of a high-rise building as fascinated film makers. … [Read more...]
The Campaign (2012) review by That Film Guy
Perfectly timed just before the United States Presidential elections in 2012, The Campaign is a satirical comedy that follows the campaign of two congressional candidates. Written by Chris Henchy and Shawn Harwell, it is directed by Jay Roach of the Austin Powers and Meet the Parents series. … [Read more...]
Cosmopolis (2012) review by That Film Guy
Director David Cronenberg made a name for himself in the 1980s with a series of films that explored the human body and the lengths at which scientists will go to experiment on them. Films such as Videodrome and The Fly have become cult classics and as his career progressed he slowly moved away from the 'body shock' and to a more psychological impacting series of films. In 2012 … [Read more...]
Looper (2012) review by That Film Guy
Director Rian Johnson began his career with the language-muddling high school film noir Brick, before moving on to the con-man film The Brothers Bloom, yet his third film, arguably his best, is a science fiction time-travel action film called Looper. Creating an original, but familiar location of near-future Earth, Johnson is able to place interesting characters with a complex … [Read more...]
Troll 2 (1990) review by That Film Klown
In the murky pool of the worst films ever made swims a beast that could swallow the entire cast of Jack and Jill and still have room for Michael Bay. This monster, known to the world as Troll 2, redefined the definition of bad “ and by comparison all our lives have been better ever since. The story behind Troll 2 is infinitely more interesting than the nonsensical one it … [Read more...]
House at the End of the Street (2012) review by That Film Gal
Much has been made of the fact that the House at the End of the Street was shot before The Hunger Games catapulted Jennifer Lawrence to the dizzying heights of the A list. Some have even suggested that the lack of previews might in fact point to an embarrassed cast, which would have preferred it if this little forgotten thriller from all the way back in 2010, had been swept … [Read more...]
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988) review by The Filmologist
The inexorable grating of world weary cynicism and the ponderous march of logical progress can erode even the most active imagination. Where once flights of fantasy were; now are empirical marvels, as concept cars and far off nebulas replace myth, fable and Max's Midnight Kitchen as objects of awe and wonderment. With reality granting us this tainted escapism grounded in an oft … [Read more...]
You Only Live Twice (1967) review by That Film Guy
Originally slated to be the final appearance of Sean Connery in the lead role, You Only Live Twice was the fifth James Bond film in the franchise. Featuring one of the largest sets ever created for film, it was a commercial and critical success during its original release taking $111m at the box office from a budget of $10m. You Only Live Twice would be the first film in the … [Read more...]