Recent Viewings, Part 2

[Rev. Powell]

"Final Destination: Bloodlines" (2025)
The descendants of a woman who stopped a major disaster in 1969 now find themselves on Death's list. As usual, they try to figure out how to "break the chain" as they get killed off one by one in increasingly elaborate, sadistic ways.
This sixth film in the F.D. series is one of the better installments -- the horrific "premonition" scene that opens the movie is possibly the best in the entire franchise. The special FX are gruesome as ever, and the late Tony Todd makes a poignant final film appearance as the sinister mortician.  Fans of the series won't be disappointed.

It was my first of the series. Opening scene was truly great, I thought rest of the movie was just OK. This one currently has the highest IMDB rating of the entire series (6.8 vs. 6.7 for the original).

[Dr. Whom]

Quatermass II (1957)

Being pleasantly surprised by the Quatermass Xperiment, I of course had to see this one. It is every bit as good as the first one. Granted, it is a pretty standard alien infiltration/mind control plot, but then, it is from 1957, when such things were still relatively new. The story moves along briskly and Val Guest knows how to keep up the suspense. No wonder many elements of it later found their way in Dr. Who. The only quibble is Brian Donleavy, who is excellent as the gruff scientist but quite an unlikely action hero.
Pure B-movie fun.

[Rev. Powell]

BATMAN NINJA (2018): Batman, along with most of his supporting cast, finds himself transported back in time to feudal Japan, where he faces off against aspiring Shogun Joker. Complete nonsense, but the excellent animation illustrating the bonkers premise makes this superior hokum. 3.5/5.

[zombie no.one]

HEART EYES (2025):
A SCREAM-alike serial killer targets couples every year around Valentine's Day. Two bickering business associates end up out together - not, they insist, as a couple! - on the Holiday, get targeted, repeatedly evade or frustrate the killer's efforts, and (I know, I know, you won't believe this part) realize they are Meant To Be.

This Mme.10rda selection initially seemed just as glib and stoopid as ME YOU MADNESS, but eventually demonstrates that it was made w/ some intelligence and heart. Nearly every implausible moment eventually gets explained through some twist or another (not necessarily convincingly, but at least they tried) and I came to begrudgingly respect the fact that HEART EYES spends as much of its running time on character development and romantic comedy as it does on slasher splatter. The affable male lead was also in ADULT BEST FRIENDS and the female lead (who I didn't recognize) is okay if not remarkable. Jordana Brewster and Devon Sawa (also now unrecognizable) co-star as homicide detectives named "Hobbes and Shaw", for no discernible reason  other than to have Brewster act confused and claim she's never heard of any such characters. 

It ain't a must-see and yet, again, I'm bemused by the thought of gore fans watching this and having to slog through long talky "enemies-to-lovers" stretches and romcom fans watching this for the mushy stuff and then getting several extremely bloody and grisly kills.  Fortunately Madame enjoyed both thus the filmmakers clearly knew there was some audience somewhere for this.

3/5

M3GAN (2022):
Watched in preparation to maybe see the sequel at the drive-in, if we have time. It's a busy month, so I'll try to do something I've maybe never successfully done and write a one-paragraph review.  This was much better than I expected it to be. Clips from the film which looked ludicrous in a trailer somehow manage to work in the context of a film that has a lot of humor throughout, as well as some tension and action and some (adequate though not-superlative) character drama. Actually it works very well as an unofficial prequel to this year's COMPANION.    Alternately, it's also very similar in several regards to Wes Craven's DEADLY FRIEND - there's even a mean old Anne Ramsay-ish neighbor - but unlike the excrable DEADLY FRIEND, M3GAN is actually made by people who invested some care and thought and joie de vivre into their product. Amusing!
3.5/5

both of these have been on my 'shall I? shan't I?' mental dvd purchase list when I see them on the shop shelf... moved slightly up the pecking order now. as long as they're not terrible I'm in. (was also put off by the M3GAN trailer tbh)

[zombie no.one]

the short-lived 1990s TV series.

currently half way through this and enjoying it.... made in 94 but almost comes off like a satire of 2025

[FatFreddysCat]

"Superman: The Movie" (1978)
The last son of the doomed planet Krypton arrives on Earth and grows up to become a mild mannered reporter and all powerful hero who faces off against the villainous Lex Luthor (the "greatest criminal mind of our time!")
... I don't know when I'll get around to seeing the new "Superman" movie that's now in theaters, so I decided to revisit the one I grew up on. Christopher Reeve is still THE definitive screen Superman in my book, leading an absolutely stacked cast (Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman, Marlon Brando, etc.).
The special FX were pretty whiz-bang in 1978, but haven't aged very well in some places. Otherwise, this is still a fun ride down memory lane.

[lester1/2jr]

Dong Hai Chuan of the Hundred Boxing (2018) - The dialogue and plot were really lobotomized and the big villain was an American with no nuance so I'm guessing this was a mainland feature. The spare amounts of kung fu were good, done in a style called Pakua which the titular guy is associated with. It's basically counter fighting a la Steven Seagal's aikido but in a generally circular sort of motion. Tubi's print is borrowed from youtube and dubbed in Tamil, of all things. Don't miss it, Sri Lankan bad movies fans.

2.5 /5

[chainsaw midget]

Gator Bait 2:  Cajun Justice


It's a rape and revenge type movie, although there doesn't seem to be a heavy focus on either the rape or the revenge.  In fact, the movie really feels content to just slowly take it's pace.  Lots of beautiful swamp scenery though and better acting than a movie like that probabaly deserves. 

[indianasmith]

FUNHOUSE (2019) Eight former viral celebrities are chosen to participate in a reality show called "Ferkus' FUnhouse," in which they interact and earn points with online viewers.  Every couple of days the contestant with the least points faces an elimination challenge - except, in this case, they are eliminated not from the show, but from life itself!  Of course, they don't know this going in, and are rather shocked when they find out!  This is a mean-spirited but entertaining show, pitting eight rather unlikable young people against each other until the bloody finale, as the FBI frantically tries to locate the "Funhouse" and rescue the contestants.  Maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but I was entertained!  4/5