Recent Viewings, Part 2

[Dr. Whom]

Abigail (2024)

A group of criminals kidnap a rich man's daughter. Only, the girl is a vampire and it is all an elaborate trap.

An interesting take on the premise of 'small group is hunted by a monster in a labyrinth-like location.' There are some clever solutions to some of the inherent weaknesses of the genre and it has enough twists and turns (not to mention gore) to keep things entertaining.

[indianasmith]

FOLLOWERS (2024) - A social media influencer and her girlfriends are on a camping trip in the desert when they find themselves hunted by a homicidal maniac.  After two of the girls are injured, the third manages to turn the tables on their pursuer and kill him.
Fast forward 18 months, the four friends reunite after one has just published a documentary about their experience, only to find that the man they killed has his followers, too.  This one wasn't bad, honestly - it was a cool premise that could have done with a LOT more character development and a better ending.  Still, I was entertained. 3/5

[FatFreddysCat]

"Best Worst Movie" (2009)

In the summer of 1989, ten year old child actor Michael Stephenson landed his first lead role in a cheap horror movie called Goblin, later known as Troll 2. He thought the movie was going to make him a star.

...it didn't.

Twenty years later, the now grown Stephenson directed this charming, funny documentary about his Troll 2 experience, inspired by the discovery that his awful little movie has become a cult classic. Together with George Hardy, who played his father in the film (and who is now a small town dentist), he hits the road attending horror conventions and fan screenings of *Troll 2,* hoping to discover why their Z-movie appeals to so many people.

This doc is far more entertaining and more fun to watch than the actual "Troll 2!"

[Trevor]

"Best Worst Movie" (2009)

In the summer of 1989, ten year old child actor Michael Stephenson landed his first lead role in a cheap horror movie called Goblin, later known as Troll 2. He thought the movie was going to make him a star.

...it didn't.

Twenty years later, the now grown Stephenson directed this charming, funny documentary about his Troll 2 experience, inspired by the discovery that his awful little movie has become a cult classic. Together with George Hardy, who played his father in the film (and who is now a small town dentist), he hits the road attending horror conventions and fan screenings of *Troll 2,* hoping to discover why their Z-movie appeals to so many people.

This doc is far more entertaining and more fun to watch than the actual "Troll 2!"

I enjoyed it, the doc I mean 😎🐢

[Rev. Powell]

SANTOSH (2024): A widowed woman takes a job as a "lady constable" to make ends meet and is drawn into a world of corruption as she investigates the rape and murder of a low-caste girl (an "untouchable"). The script expertly weaves its social commentary about Indian prejudice and injustice into an engaging police procedural, so that the stakes always feel personal for Santosh and the film never comes off as preachy. 4/5.

[lester1/2jr]

Hauser's Memory (1970) - This made for TV movie is the kind of thing you had to buy as a grey market 3rd generation dupe before the advent of youtube. It's a little hard to follow, but I did like the concept and also the agitated performance of the star David MacCallum. More "rare" films should be as interesting as this.

A major scientist is set to inject himself with the RNA of a recently deceased donor. Instead, his assistant, fearing the possible loss of the scientist's great intellect to the world, takes it himself. It's a success...at turning the poor guy into a basket case with tons of memories he doesn't understand. He even limps like the dead guy even though his leg is fine.

It feels like it might have been on PBS? I'm not sure, though. It's not nearly as well done as, say, the BBC's version of "The Lathe of Heaven", but it's good if you are in the mood for a WTF sort of experience. Apparently based on something called "Donovan's Brain".

3.75 /5

youtube print is good. was nominated for a Hugo (sci fi) award

[FatFreddysCat]

"The Naked Gun 2-1/2: The Smell of Fear!" (1991)
Bumbling police Lieutenant Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) re-kindles his romance with an old flame (Priscilla Presley) while searching for a kidnapped scientist in this second "Police Squad" adventure. Not as laugh-out-loud funny as the original "Naked Gun," but there's still more than enough corny jokes and silly sight gags to keep most viewers entertained. Side note: good Lord, Priscilla Presley was smokin' hot back then!

[zombie no.one]

GHOST WATCH (1992)

I think I may have been the only schoolkid in the uk who did not see this when it went out, I just remember everyone at school talking about it for weeks afterwards. now has a bluray release

done in the style of a live broadcast investigation / documentary, featuring well known uk tv presenters... it starts to go off the rails and ends in chaos.

pretty well done as far as mockumentary type stuff goes.

nearly everyone who saw it at the time seemed to think it was real, and the BBC was lumbered with complaints afterwards . "how dare the BBC try and make us think ghosts are real!"

[zombie no.one]

Not as laugh-out-loud funny as the original "Naked Gun,"

I actually prefer it tbh. and 33 1/3rd is really good too!

[Trevor]

GHOST WATCH (1992)

I think I may have been the only schoolkid in the uk who did not see this when it went out, I just remember everyone at school talking about it for weeks afterwards. now has a bluray release

done in the style of a live broadcast investigation / documentary, featuring well known uk tv presenters... it starts to go off the rails and ends in chaos.

pretty well done as far as mockumentary type stuff goes.

nearly everyone who saw it at the time seemed to think it was real, and the BBC was lumbered with complaints afterwards . "how dare the BBC try and make us think ghosts are real!"

Very scary indeed. Always reminds me of the TV series THE OMEGA FACTOR 😳😳

[zombie no.one]

Very scary indeed. Always reminds me of the TV series THE OMEGA FACTOR 😳😳

not heard of that before, looks like full episodes are on youtube, will have a check!

[indianasmith]

GLADIATOR II (2024) - I was really filled with trepidation when I heard they were doing this; the original is such a classic film that I was 90% sure the sequel would suck (as they usually do when you have to wait 20 years for them).  But to my surprise, I found this was a well-done, well-written, and brilliantly acted film.  Not quite as good as the first, but miles from being bad.  Of course, it's a Ridley Scott film, so don't expect anything remotely resembling historical accuracy, but you will be entertained!  5/5

[Rev. Powell]

INTERCEPTED (2024): Intercepted recordings of Russian soldiers calling home, juxtaposed with visuals from wartime Ukraine. Artistically put-together first-hand demonstration that war truly is Hell; selects a wide range of calls, some of which echo Russian propaganda and some of which defy it, highlighted (or lowlighted) by truly terrifying confessions of war crimes, which themselves receive a wide variety of receptions from the folks back home. 3.5/5.

[Rev. Powell]

HOW TO COME ALIVE WITH NORMAN MAILER (A CAUTIONARY TALE) (2023): A comprehensive biography of writer Norman Mailer. A fine piece of portraiture which can also inspire viewers to live life fully and think for themselves. It does make me want to seek out some of his crazy hippie-inspired movies (which are supposed to be terribe): in MAIDSTONE, Rip Torn improvises and hits Mailer in the head with a hammer! 3.5/5.

[lester1/2jr]

Soley (1982) - This is the first movie directed by a female director in Iceland https://grapevine.is/icelandic-culture/movies-theatre/2019/04/24/finding-soley-famed-cult-movie-brought-back-into-the-light/. If you're anything like me, that's definitely not enough to get you to watch it, but it's actually okay. It looks like a bunch of extras from that medieval Paul Verhoven movie trying to find their way back to the set. The most memorable thing about it is how there is no lighting to speak of and a fair amount of shooting that takes place at night (and also two pretty cute blondes).

The possibly mythical/ possibly not "people who live in the rocks" or something steal a guy's horses. He's advised to leave it alone, but there wouldn't be much of a movie if he did, so he pursues them across the Icelandic plains. Lots of hanging out in (again) poorly lit taverns and fields ensues. There's even a not awful love scene in some mountain/ cave springs.

They didn't have the original prints so it's refurbished from a copy. For that, it's not bad. The story isn't wildly exciting but it does make sense.

3.5 /5

getting back to my roots with this random obscurity