What Films Have You Seen Recently?

[bizarre_eye@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

Hmm. I have this. Might have to give it a go this month.

Hopefully you'll be able to squeeze it into the (by the sounds of it) already packed Decemberdike schedule!

[trebor8273]

9/10





9.1/10

[Frankie Teardrop]

GOODNIGHT, MOMMY – An Austrian chat show host is recovering from an operation in an isolated villa. Her two sons start to question their mother's identity, then, after their psychosis comes to the boil, go the intimidation/ torture route with her. 'Goodnight Mommy' is a poised and sombre affair that rolls out its slightly hackneyed tale with arty aplomb, a plastic surgery horror which moves a little like Haneke (lazy comparison, but true in some ways). Although at its heart it's a rather subdued film, after a certain point it does give way to more heavy handed tactics that would sit OK in a more 'B' type production, but here feel a little clunky – dream sequences with insects bursting from wounds, an ending that tips towards 'torture-porn', and a slightly lame twist that I could see coming from nearly the beginning. Still, it's all really well put together, the chilly cinematography effortlessly conjuring a tense atmosphere of foreboding at every turn. There's also a sense of social subtext coming through, but maybe I'm over-reading. Well worth seeing, and although I didn't go crazy over it unlike some, I want to watch it again – there's a lot that's unsaid in scenes which are pregnant with meaning, and there's a sense that the aforementioned twist doesn't really explain away this film's mysteries. Weird that it doesn't yet have a UK DVD release, but the curious can check it out through Amazon Prime.

MOTHER'S DAY – I never liked this film, and would mostly turn it off halfway through whenever I tried it in the past. Perhaps it was the Troma association. However. I decided to give it another go the other day and, maybe it was down to the wonders of blu-ray technology who knows, but I thought it was great. Something just clicked. I think I've just seen too many shit films, to the point now where I can finally recognise when something is actually well made and just go with it. Anyway, 'Mothers Day' is a strange one for sure, and it's difficult to fully fathom the signals it's sending out. Is it misogynist? Feminist? Misogynist piss-take? Feminist piss-take? How do we make sense of a movie that ends with a young woman suffocating an old woman with an inflatable plastic boob pillow case? The stuff of endless debate, but there's no denying that 'Mother's Day' is quite brutal in places. It's the little vignettes that make it – the whole mythology about Queenie and the scene with the severed ear, the weird interplay between the troglodyte bothers, that 'freeze frame' classic at the end. Obviously, despite the black comedy (thankfully never too broad), we get that glowering early eighties menace in the air. Classic of the genre? Who knows, but it hits pretty hard and certainly has its fans.

MULHOLLAND DRIVE – Who gets closer to the essence of dream than David Lynch? That goes for any medium, not just film. 'Mulholland Drive', a waking dream of a film if ever there was one, is essential Lynch, and surely stands alongside 'Blue Velvet' and 'Lost Highway' as the pinnacle of his art, not to mention eighties / nineties American cinema full stop. Well, we could argue all night about that one I guess. I won't dwell too long on 'Mulholland Drive' as for one thing you probably all know it pretty well, and for another it's the kind of film you can either write a book on or say nothing at all... 'silencio' indeed! Again, it's the moments and the individual scenes that make the most impact, before floating away into the night... the creepy dude behind the diner... the scene in the club... the baffling ending with those two tiny pensioners. Somehow, it feels like it must all make sense on some level. Genius.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

She Wolf Rising (2016)

Monster packed semi romance between a scream queen and a fan she meets in a store.

Seriously this isn't very good, however it's star Tiffany Shepis is always worth watching. It's not often she gets a lengthy role in a production so i felt it was worth a gamble. Nice to see Debbie Rochon make an appearance as well.

The film tries to be an adequate horror film but the CGI isn't wonderful with the piss poor spraying blood, although the practical effects work quite well. The romantic elements were far more successful probably because it allowed Tiffany the chance to act. Not recommended even though i found it mildly enjoyable.

[trebor8273]

Elf.

Went in not expecting much as not the biggest will Ferrell fan, but really enjoyed it, very funny and hart warming and if it doesn't put you in the Christmas spirt, your name is probably Scrooge! Will now be a regular Christmas time viewing. 9.1/10

[Nosferatu@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by trebor8273

Elf.

Went in not expecting much as not the biggest will Ferrell fan, but really enjoyed it, very funny and hart warming and if it doesn't put you in the Christmas spirt, your name is probably Scrooge!

That would be me then!

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Scalps (1983)

I vaguely remember seeing this in the 80's and quite enjoying it. However here and now in 2016 i can safely say it's ****ing terrible. The film has a creative soundtrack that is both memorable and ever so eerie, setting up this tale of possession by Indian spirits of those who desecrate their burial grounds, rather well.

But for a 75 minute film (plus end credits) it's almost criminal that nothing of note happens until almost the hour mark. We have endless scenes of chatter, camping, archeology, more camping, a lot of driving around but nothing of note. As for the film's title. We have one scalping scene. It's gory but unrealistic with the end result looking more like The Mekon from Dan Dare strips than anything else. In fact the film is so poor one extra features 'horror expert' Justin Kerswell attempting to justify the films existence.

I realize this film was low budget (although it was shot entirely on location so it wasn't that low ) but the presentation is dreadful. 88 Films (who released it) claim this is a 2K scan but it looks no better than a 'Digitally Remastered' film from the likes of Vipco, in other words very soft, incredibly grainy, and occasionally muted colour levels, in fact a poor vhs rip comes to mind. As for the added gore which is from a poor vhs tape, well there isn't much difference. How this is out on blu-ray mystifies me.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

I notice no one is putting up a defence for Scalps.

[Inspector Abberline]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

I notice no one is putting up a defence for Scalps.

cool poster........

[Nosferatu@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

I notice no one is putting up a defence for Scalps.

It's one of many films I have bought and only watched once so, when I have revisited it, I'll try and add my 2 cents.

From memory, I thought it was daft, a bit dull at times, but watchable.