What Films Have You Seen Recently?

[Frankie Teardrop]

MS CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST - Great idea for a title, but does this American indie really live up to the two twisted namesakes in its Brundlepod? No, of course it doesn't. But it is mildly diverting and isn't entirely misleading in that it does feature some cannibalism and a woman who shoots people.
SHUTTLE - Watched expecting vaguely entertaining mediocrity. I was right, until it lurched from standard 'trapped in a small space with a bad man' dramatics into cruel 'kidnapped for international shoe fetishist' territory. Genuinely bleak and depressing conclusion - I thought so anyway, mainly because I wasn't expecting it.

[antmumford]

Originally Posted by Frankie Teardrop

SHUTTLE - Watched expecting vaguely entertaining mediocrity. I was right, until it lurched from standard 'trapped in a small space with a bad man' dramatics into cruel 'kidnapped for international shoe fetishist' territory. Genuinely bleak and depressing conclusion - I thought so anyway, mainly because I wasn't expecting it.

I agree, very bleak ending. I actually really liked this too, a lot better than I expected and getting it from Poundland was a bonus. Worth a look, whoever hasnt seen it yet.

[Frankie Teardrop]

Originally Posted by antmumford

I agree, very bleak ending. I actually really liked this too, a lot better than I expected and getting it from Poundland was a bonus. Worth a look, whoever hasnt seen it yet.

Yeah, the swerve into desolation was kind of unexpected. And I felt my stomach sinking when the 'final girl' looked at that photograph at the end... felt like those last few minutes belonged to a different film. But I agree, the whole thing is worth a watch.

[Gojirosan]

I am now intrigued.

[Frankie Teardrop]

Originally Posted by Gojirosan

I am now intrigued.

It's a better than average time filler in many ways, G. Competently made and ratchets up the tension, and throws in a few twisty bits plot wise whilst never being mind blowing... then, during the last half hour, a darker, sleazier mood sets in, leading to the ending already mentioned. It's probably not worth being massively intrigued by, but was better and different to what I'd envisioned.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Frankie Teardrop

SHUTTLE - Watched expecting vaguely entertaining mediocrity. I was right, until it lurched from standard 'trapped in a small space with a bad man' dramatics into cruel 'kidnapped for international shoe fetishist' territory. Genuinely bleak and depressing conclusion - I thought so anyway, mainly because I wasn't expecting it.

Originally Posted by antmumford

I agree, very bleak ending. I actually really liked this too, a lot better than I expected and getting it from Poundland was a bonus. Worth a look, whoever hasnt seen it yet.

Originally Posted by Gojirosan

I am now intrigued.

Don't be its appalling Gojirosan.

Its one of those films where you'll be tearing your hair out.

The captives have, ooh, about 350 chances to overpower their captor played by Tony Curran, and fail to even remotely notice any of them. Thats in the opening half hour.

As for depressing, yup i was certainly depressed after it.

[artisturn]

Chopping Mall (1986)

Watched this via youtube , last time I saw this was on VHS.



Octopussy (1983)

[Slippery Jack]

Straight on till Morning

Wow, didn't expect something this unusual from Hammer - it's like something from the bfi Flipside label (in fact, it reminded me a little of Nightbirds). It's a shame there were a few things that hampered my enjoyment. The obtuse editing I found quite annoying, seemed a bit Nic Roeg-lite, chopping around all over the place. The opening scenes were quite dull, and took a good while for any kind of plot to come into focus. That said, I found the central pairing of Tushingham and Briant really engaging, their creepy relationship made the film. I'm assuming the various Peter Pan references tied in to their naive, child-like manner - it worked for me anyway. Top ending too, with some genuinely disturbing sound design (dog lovers beware!) . . .

[Gojirosan]

Originally Posted by Slippery Jack

Straight on till Morning

Wow, didn't expect something this unusual from Hammer - it's like something from the bfi Flipside label (in fact, it reminded me a little of Nightbirds). It's a shame there were a few things that hampered my enjoyment. The obtuse editing I found quite annoying, seemed a bit Nic Roeg-lite, chopping around all over the place. The opening scenes were quite dull, and took a good while for any kind of plot to come into focus. That said, I found the central pairing of Tushingham and Briant really engaging, their creepy relationship made the film. I'm assuming the various Peter Pan references tied in to their naive, child-like manner - it worked for me anyway. Top ending too, with some genuinely disturbing sound design (dog lovers beware!) . . .

I think I liked it a bit more than you, but I must agree about the over-stylised editing. It doesn't serve the film very well and you get the feeling they were just "trying it on for size" because of other New Wave type films around the time. "Nic Roeg-lite" is an excellent summary of that aspect!

[Susan Foreman]

Pervert

Strange film, to say the least!