Movie Monday: The Dead and the Damned

Been a while, but here's a review of a new film:

The Dead and the Damned (2010)

Information from the film company itself:


"It's Dawn of the Dead meets High Noon in the bloody, action-packed film The Dead and the Damned, on DVD July 26 from Inception Media Group.

Hot on the trail of a renegade Apache warrior, gun-slinging bounty hunter Mortimer passes through an 1849 California gold rush town, where local miners direct him into the mountains to track his prey.

While he is gone, the miners unearth a meteor that has landed in their sleepy town. As they crack it open, an explosion releases toxic spores, which quickly infect the entire population, transforming them into bloody-thirsty, mutant zombies.

Following a ferocious battle, Mortimer triumphantly returns to town with his Indian captive in shackles... only to find themselves surrounded by a ravenous horde of the undead. Now the two enemies must band together if they are to escape the horrors of The Dead and the Damned!"

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Okay. First off, I was wary going into this one. So many of these screeners turn out to be... Well, to put it nicely, "not good". I was expecting more of the same.

And, in some ways, that's what I got, but not like I thought. This film is surprisingly well produced. The shots look good and the film appears to be one of the gap movies - as in, not crap, but not theater-worthy, either.

The problem lies in the story itself. It is not as "action-packed" as it claims to be. A lot of the scenes are just dull. And the characters have no depth, even with scenes that bring the bore quotient even higher as the two leads explain their complicated pasts.

Another problem is the main actor, David A. Lockhart. He has the leading-man good looks but his voice and line delivery fall way short of leading-man great. He seems better suited for a period drama than an action movie.

Overall, I wasn't turned off by the film being as bad as I expected. Rather, I was just bored. And when you have a movie about "Cowboys and Zombies" (a title the film is also known as, obviously to cash in on the recent Cowboys and Aliens), boredom is something that should never come up.

The Dead and the Damned is written and directed by Rene Perez.

It stars David A. Lockhart, Rick Mora, Camille Montgomery and Robert Amstler.

Available from Inception Media Group.

Trailer and more info at the official site - The Dead and the Damned.

Heartstopper

Heartstopper (2006)

Directed by: Bob Keen

Written by: Vlady Pildysh and Warren P. Sonoda

Starring: Meredith Henderson; Nathan Stephenson; James Binkley; Michael Cram; Robert Englund; Laura DeCarteret

Plot: Two hospitalized young people discover that things can get even worse when the dilapidated institution is stranded by a severe storm and a maniac stalks the corridors butchering the patients and staff.

I turned this one on the other night, expecting nothing more than a bad, low-budget mish-mash. I was happily surprised.

Not the most epic of films, but also not trying to be, this is a small film that feels contained and almost claustrophobic, much like the characters feel in the hospital.

The story is standard horror fare: an unstoppable killer with supernatural attributes and the normal people falling like toys around him. Yet the acting (including a good guy role played by horror icon Englund), writing and directing rise above the level of the usual low-budget stuff, showing promise for all involved. Too many times, films like this feel slap-dash and rushed, and this one didn't. I felt the time and care put into it. To me, this goes a long way towards forgiving a film its small flaws.

The only real gripe I have is with Binkley, the actor chosen to play the killer Chambers. Physically, he fits the brute killer role perfectly, but acting-wise, I felt like he didn't quite pull it together, too stilted for my taste. But, a minor gripe for a small movie like this.

Definitely recommended for horror/slasher fans.

The Darkness Within

The Darkness Within (2009)

Writer/Director: Dom Portalla

Cast: Jimmy Scanlon, Ken Flott, Michelle Romano, Stephanie Maheu, Sean Pierce, David Erin Wilson

Plot: A young couple move into a new apartment only to find that their neighbor is a peeping Tom. If they don't unlock the secret to this mysterious voyeur soon, they may lose everything, including their minds.

I won this DVD via a giveaway by Geof at the great blog Enter the Man-Cave.
Thanks, Geof!

And I wish I could say I liked the movie, but I just couldn't get into it. There is an interesting story here, somewhere, but the acting from the leads just didn't live up to any potential the story held.

The directing also has a too-amateurish feeling that keeps reminding you this is a low-budget pic. And low-budget doesn't have to automatically mean a sub-par flick, but here it does. In the end, it all just feels like a "rough draft" to me. Yet, I would be interested in future stories written by Portalla, as I feel he just needs time to shine.



Trailer for the film @ YouTube.com

Movie Monday: The Other

The Other (1972)



Cast: Uta Hagen, Diana Muldaur, Chris Udvarnoky, Martin Udvarnoky, Norma Connolly, Victor French, Jenny Sullivan, John Ritter

Director: Robert Mulligan

Writer/Screenplay by: Tom Tryon

Plot: Set in bucolic 1935 Connecticut, this chiller follows identical Perry twins Niles and Holland as a string of tragedies befalls their family. With the Perry clan still reeling from the untimely demise of the boys' father, their mother ends up paralyzed, and a corpulent cousin is impaled on a pitchfork. But Niles soon begins to see a link between Holland and the "accidents."


This film was one I had never seen nor even heard of until recently. It is a dark movie, dealing with the dark side of childhood imagination and despair. Once you understand what is going on, it is hard not to sympathize with all who suffer here.


The children who play the twins are quite good, the boy playing Niles in particular. He comes off as a real boy dealing with situations beyond his ability to understand.


Hagen is also great in the role of the twins' grandmother, dealing with the darkness she thinks she has controlled, and soon realizing she has underestimated the problems of those around her.


Muldaur has a relatively small role as the boys' mother, lost in her own grief and soon trapped within her own body. I have never seen her look more beautiful than she does at the beginning of this film.


Recommended, for fans of thrillers and mysteries.

Movie Monday: April Fool's Day

April Fool's Day (1986)

[Deborah Foreman; Deborah Goodrich; Ken Olandt; Griffin O'Neal; Clayton Rohner; Amy Steel]

Plot: A group of college friends gather together at rich heiress Muffy's island mansion to celebrate their final year of school. They soon discover that each has a hidden secret, but as the secrets are revealed, those people end up dead. But are they r


eally dead, or just part of a very cruel April Fool's joke? The hostess supposedly knows what's going on, but maybe she's not the one orchestrating the deaths.


This is one horror slasher flick I had kept putting off over the years. I loved Amy Steel in Friday the 13th: Part 2, but somehow never ended up watching this film until this year.


It is good, definitely an 80s flick, but not as bad as some of the Friday or Halloween clones out there. That said, there is something missing. I feel like the writer was either lacking in some plot development, or that the director skipped over some scenes that could possibly have helped pull the whole thing into a more cohesive whole. Just felt, at the end, like it could have been so much more.


A fun flick, and definitely recommended for fans of 80s slasher/horror flicks and fans of Amy Steel herself. While she was better as Ginny in F13: Part 2, she is good here as well. How she never became a bigger movie star still puzzles me.

Movie Monday - The House Where Evil Dwells

The House Where Evil Dwells (1982)



[Edward Albert; Susan George; Doug McClure; Amy Barrett]

Plot: A dream home turns into a terrifying nightmare for a young American family in this classic haunted house tale. The Fletchers move into an old Japanese abode unaware that a century earlier, a samurai warrior committed two brutal murders and then killed himself on the premises. As eerie events begin to occur, the Fletchers find themselves pulled into a horrific reenactment.

This was a film I had somehow never heard of until it aired on TCM last month. It was a pretty standard haunted house flick, I suppose, except for the fact that the house was in Japan. And the ghosts, while they do some awful things, also do some silly things or... well, nothing much at all.

I don't know. Maybe it would have been better to see this one when it was new and 'modern' back in '82. And when I was 11.

Movie Monday - Triangle

Triangle (2009)



[Melissa George; Liam Hemsworth; Rachael Carpani; Emma Lung; Michael Dorman; Henry Nixon; Joshua McIvor]

Plot: Murder in the Bermuda Triangle in this gripping high-seas horror. Jess encounters the first of many bad omens when her car kills a seagull near the local harbor. Later, her yacht hits a storm, forcing her and her friends to board a mysterious deserted ship. The clock on the ship has stopped -- and so has any sense of safety. Christopher Smith writes and directs.

I am in a pickle with this one, since I cannot really describe or review much more about this film without spoiling the whole thing!

The acting and directing and writing all come together well here, and it makes for an enjoyable flick. The less you know first time going in, the better. I myself knew a little bit, and it was enough for me to expect what others would have been surprised by.

It is a film that, if you like thrillers and movies that make you think, then you will love. If you don't want anything "out-of-the-box", then you won't enjoy it. I also think calling this a "horror film" is wrong. It is more of a thriller with dark edges than a true "horror" film.

Watched this one thanks to the Horror Squad Movie Club. Check it out!

And I am not going to post the trailer, because I think it gives too much of the plot away. Just rent it and watch it yourself. And if you have Netflix, it is available on Instant View right now!

Movie Monday - Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes (2010)



[Dominic Keating; Gareth David-Lloyd; Ben Syder; William Huw; Elizabeth Arends]

Plot: When a mob of massive monsters invades London, only master sleuth Sherlock Holmes and his associate Dr. Watson can save the city. Watson begins to believe that the creatures exist, but Holmes thinks villain Spring-Heeled Jack is behind the attacks. Now, they must track down the master criminal before his plan for world domination comes to fruition in this action-packed mystery.

First off, this is NOT the film released in theaters and starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law. This is a direct-to-DVD film from Asylum Home Entertainment. I watched this as part of a multi-review led by Jason over at Invasion of the B-Movies.

Okay, with that out of the way, I can tell you that, the characters aside, I don't think you could confuse this film with the other. The acting is okay from some, but the casting for the main role of Sherlock Holmes was way wrong. Syder just doesn't have the confidence or presence to pull of a role of such legendary proportions. This Sherlock sounds immature, unsure and just cannot command a scene with any of his acting partners.

The plot itself is far-fetched, and while I get that it is supposed to be cheesy-fun and not a 'traditional' Holmes story, taken on its own it is still a bit much to swallow. The action scenes are done with a mixture of live and computer action, but never convincingly mixing the two. I can't give much away without revealing too much plot, so I will let it be at that.

However, one scene that particularly annoyed me was set with Watson in a dangerous situation. We know this because of the frequent camera cuts and dramatic music. Except the tension is all for nothing because we know at this point Watson will be fine, since his OLDER SELF OPENS THE MOVIE TO NARRATE THE ENTIRE THING! Gah!

As you can tell, I just didn't like it. Wasn't good, and wasn't bad in a cheesy/guilty-pleasure way either.

Not recommended, unless you are a really committed Sherlock Holmes completist.

Movie Monday - Shanks

Shanks (1974)



[Marcel Marceau; Tsilla Chelton; Philippe Clay; Cindy Eilbacher]

Malcolm Shanks, a lonely deaf mute who lives with his cruel sister and her husband, finds pleasure in making puppets. This skill gets him a job with a professor who is trying to re-animate the dead with electrodes and manipulate them like marionettes. When the professor dies, Shanks decides to use the results of the experiments for revenge.

This is quite the unique film. Long stretches can go by with no dialogue at all, but with a talent like Marceau on screen, these long stretches are just as compelling to watch. The expertise of all the actors makes the physical movements needed for some of the reanimation scenes jarring and unsettling, as they should be.

The plot itself is dark and sad, a peek at a lonely man being taken advantage of by cruel relatives. Soon, the tables are turned in the darkest way imaginable. Truly a different film if ever there was one.

This was William Castle's final directorial picture, and he went out still giving entertaining, intriguing films to the world.

I couldn't find a trailer online, but go to TCM Underground for a clip of the film.

Movie Monday - La ragazza del lago (The Girl by the Lake)

La ragazza del lago (The Girl by the Lake) (2007)



[Toni Servillo; Denis Fasolo; Nello Mascia; Giulia Michelini; Valeria Golino]

Plot: The corpse of a young girl is found beside a lake. The chief detective on the case, beset by his own family troubles, works to understand how such a seemingly happy girl could have been murdered. His investigation takes him all over town and into a sad episode from her past.

This is an Italian film, a multiple award winner in numerous categories. And all accolades are well deserved. The plot is tragic, yet simple. Yet the maze involved in sorting out just what happened is complex.

Throughout most of the tale, we are faced with the sadness and despair life has to offer. But, at the end, we see that life can be hopeful, if you choose to look at it the right way. Anyway, just a great film.

Movie Monday - Darkness Falls

Darkness Falls (2003)

[Chaney Kley; Emma Caulfield; Lee Cormie; Grant Piro; Sullivan Stapleton; Steve Mouzakis]

Plot: When Kyle was a kid, he claimed he woke up from sleep to find the Tooth Fairy about to kill him. From then on, everyone figured him for a loony -- except his childhood sweetheart, Caitlin, and her brother, Michael. When Kyle returns to his hometown, it seems he wasn't so crazy, after all: An undefinable evil has settled in the town of Darkness Falls, and Kyle must save everyone from it.

Yeah, I wanted to like this one. Seemed like it had everything in place to be a great little horror flick.

And I just couldn't get too into it. The acting was weak, but so was the writing, or the actual plot. Just too many moments of shaking my head where I should have been jumping out of my seat. Maybe if it was remade with a tighter script or a better cast. I don't know.

Recommended for die-hard horror fans or completists, but the rest of you can find something better to do with your time.

Movie Monday - The House of the Devil

The House of the Devil (2009)

[Jocelin Donahue; Tom Noonan; Mary Woronov; Greta Gerwig; AJ Bowen; Dee Wallace]

Plot: A cash-strapped college student takes a babysitting job during a full lunar eclipse. She soon discovers that her employers are hiding a wicked, sick and twisted secret. Then she is in for the fight of her life

This is the movie that had horror blogs all a buzz not long ago. I agree that it is a good horror flick, but it might not appeal to the ADD-crowd.

The story starts off quietly, and keeps a slow pace almost until the very end. Don't expect a thrill-a-minute movie here. This one builds slow. And I am okay with that. I liked getting comfortable in the subdued, almost boring life of our lead babysitter.

It takes a wee bit of the suspension of belief to get us, and our heroine, into the situation where all Hell breaks loose. But when the film does kick in, the scares and thrills are good, albeit quick.

Minor plot holes aside, the late 70s/early 80s atmosphere is done well. I actually like the retro, no cell phones, time frame for movies like this. You could really be isolated back then, without all the technology we take for granted these days.



And the lead actress, Jocelin Donahue, does her job very well. She is likable and cute, but has an independent spirit. And, as all 'final girls' need be, she is a fighter. All we want in our horror-movie leading ladies, yes? I see big things in her future.

I guess, with all the build up this film has had, I was just hoping for it to be... more. That said, I can enjoy it for what it is. And I am sure I could go back to this one without those high expectations and enjoy it again. In fact, I look forward to a return trip to this House.

Recommended for horror fans, as well as those just looking for a good, old-fashioned, scary movie.

Movie Monday - Altered

Altered (2006)

[Paul McCarthy-Boyington; Brad William Henke; Michael C. Williams; Adam Kaufman; Catherine Mangan]

Plot: Five high school buddies were abducted by aliens from a farm in Florida -- but only four of them survived. Fifteen years later, the friends -- whose lives have been altered ever since -- return to face their enemy and seek revenge.

I had never heard of this flick, but thanks to the Horror Squad and their new Movie Club, I found a great little movie.

I have to admit, I wasn't expecting more than a half-rate alien movie, but I was pleasantly surprised. The story, while not without its issues, was entertaining. It starts off running, without wasting a lot of time on flashbacks or explanations. They realize the audience is smart enough to figure things out for themselves. I appreciate that.

The alien is creepy, done 'throwback style' (as in costumes and makeup instead of CGI). And other effects are done amazingly well. Kudos for the amount of time and care put into these aspects, they do help the film succeed. Eduardo Sanchez, co-creator of The Blair Witch Project, was at the helm of this film.

Guess, in a nutshell, I am saying I liked it. Definitely recommended for fans of horror or sci-fi, or even just someone looking for a 90-minute thrill ride.

Thanks for this pick to:
Horror Squad Movie Club and their Altered discussion

Movie Monday - Superstition

Superstition (1985)

[James Houghton; Albert Salmi; Lynn Carlin; Larry Pennell; Jacquelyn Hyde; Robert Symonds; Heidi Bohay]

Plot: The Rev. David Thompson discovers that the inviting pond in the backyard of his new home was used to execute an evil witch three centuries ago -- and her spirit still lurks beneath the surface. Vowing to seek her revenge on anyone who ventures near her watery grave, the sorceress begins to hunt down her new neighbors in a bloody horror spree that turns Thompson's dream house into a violent nightmare.

I thought this might be a fun, creepy, 80s horror flick and I wanted to like it. But... it just was such a hodge-podge of bad acting, bad writing and miss opportunities that I couldn't enjoy it. Bleh.

Recommended for completist horror/gore fans, at least.

Movie Monday - Fermat's Room

La habitación de Fermat {aka Fermat's Room} (2007)

Plot: Four mathematicians who do not know each other are invited by a mysterious host on the pretext of resolving a great enigma. The room in which they find themselves turns out to be a shrinking room that will crush them if they do not discover in time what connects them all and why someone might wish to murder them.

This is a suspenseful thriller of a movie that kept me guessing until the end. Sort of a brainiac-thriller, since riddles or 'enigmas' are the keys used to stop the room from shrinking. But the interconnection between the main characters is much more puzzling than these problems, and may very well be their downfall.

Great movie, well acted and directed. It is a Spanish film, with English subtitles. I wonder how long it will be before someone decides it 'needs' to be remade with an American cast? Not needed, in my opinion. Although a spoof-version done with the cast of The Big Bang Theory might be fun!

Recommended for fans of tense thrillers, but you have to be open to reading subtitles and paying attention throughout.

This is a film I stumbled upon thanks to the great About.com: Horror Movies Airing on TV.

Movie Monday - Terror Train

Terror Train (1980)

[Ben Johnson; Jamie Lee Curtis; Hart Bochner; David Copperfield; Derek McKinnon; Sandee Currie; Timothy Webber]

Plot: A fraternity prank goes wrong and lands one student in a mental institution. Four years later, when his frat brothers host a costume party on a train to celebrate their graduation, the student sees this as his opportunity to exact revenge. He sneaks on the train and begins killing the partygoers one at a time, masking himself in the costumes of his victims. Will anyone make it off the train alive?

This is another early 80s slasher pic, one of the films that helped give Jamie Lee Curtis her Scream Queen title for years. Her role here as Alana is much less the shy, innocent than Laurie was in Halloween.

And it isn't a bad film, certainly gets points for originality. The mystery of who is actually doing the killing is pretty well done, even if the reveal is a little ... strange.

Johnson does great in his role as the "sole" adult amongst a train full of partying kids. And the claustrophobic setting is an interesting change from other run-of-the-mill movies.

Recommended for horror/slasher/Curtis fans. It is a film I have watched more than once, so that says a lot, to me at least. Others may not be as thrilled by it all.

The 2008 film Train was originally planned to be a remake of this movie, but the story changed and it became its own film. A real remake of this film is rumored to be in the works.

Movie Monday - Bloody Murder

Bloody Murder (2000)

[Jessica Morris; Peter Guillemette; Patrick Cavanaugh; Crystalle Ford; Michael Stone; Justin Ross Martin; Tracy Pacheco]

Plot: Trevor Moorehouse isn't screaming bloody murder -- he's committing it! A dozen counselors arrive at Camp Placid Pines and receive a warning from a wizened landscaper: There may be a crazy man in the woods. Of course, they pay no attention until they start disappearing one by one! Has the urban legend come to life to wreak havoc on their dwindling numbers?

Ugh. I think I have a winner for worst movie I have seen this year. This is CRAP! The acting is sub-par, on a level with ... Gah, I have nothing to compare it to. The kids on Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers were better.

The story is weak, a very pale take on the "killer at the lake" that doesn't even hold up. It is such a hodge-podge of stuff that the film feels like multiple people did segements and then they just put it together and hoped it would work. It doesn't.

All this could be forgiven... Well, most of it, had the movie been done in a tongue-in-cheek, "let's poke fun at Friday the 13th" style. But it is played straight. It is meant to be a serious, real slasher pic.

GAH! Just sucks. Sucks. SUCKS! Avoid, believe me. Unless you want to know what NOT to put in your horror movie, then by all means, use this as a "Do Not Do" template.

Movie Monday - The House on Sorority Row

The House on Sorority Row (1983)

[Kate McNeil; Eileen Davidson; Janis Ward; Robin Meloy; Harley Jane Kozak; Jodi Draigie; Ellen Dorsher; Lois Kelso Hunt]

Plot: After a confrontation with their housemother, seven sorority sisters plot revenge -- which leads to an accidental death. Despite the girls' efforts to cover up their crime, they find themselves targeted by someone -- or something -- who knows what they did. Directed by Mark Rosman.

I wasn't expecting much out of this early-80s horror flick. I had mentally shrugged it off as one of the low-budget, cheesy flicks that came out with dozens of others in the slasher heyday.

But I was pleasantly surprised. Is it a great film? No, but it isn't all that bad, either. I, for one, have sat through much, MUCH worse.

The plot is simple but intriguing enough to keep your interest and the acting is good enough. The dubbed-over voice of the housemother is a bit weird, but otherwise it is well done. And the mystery of just who is doing the killing is interesting. The eventual reveal is a bit far-fetched, but it was the early 80s.

When all is said and done, it is a good flick for horror or slasher fans, without a doubt. Nothing spectacular, but also nothing crap-tastic.

This film was recently remade as Sorority Row (2009). I haven't seen that flick, but I am curious now. Interesting to see whether it improves on this one or makes it shine even more.

Movie Monday - Holiday Aftermath

Watched a few more holiday flicks.

A Christmas Story (1983)

[Melinda Dillon; Darren McGavin; Peter Billingsley; Ian Petrella; Scott Schwartz]

Plot: Humorist Jean Shepard's nostalgic view of Christmastime in Indiana during the 1940s. Nine-year-old Ralphie desperately wants a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas and wages an all-out campaign to convince his reluctant parents that the toy is safe. Meanwhile, as Ralphie prepares for the big day, his brother has a strange relationship with food, and his dad fights the never-ending furnace battle.

Definitely a classic. We watched it off and on on Christmas Eve/Day via TBS 24-hour marathon. But we put it in again after Christmas to watch from start to finish. Great movie, nostalgic holiday fun.



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A Smoky Mountain Christmas (1986)

[Dolly Parton; Lee Majors; Bo Hopkins; John Ritter; Dan Hedaya; Anita Morris]

Plot: A country/western singer on a trip through the Tennessee mountains to get away from it all runs into a reclusive backwoodsman, a family of orphans -- and a witch. Will it be a Merry Christmas for any of them?

Okay, I will be the first to admit that this is one cheesy, corny, Christmas flick. I mean, look at that cast! The Six-Million Dollar Man AND Dolly Parton! 80s TV magic right there.

If you just leave your cynicism and criticism aside and watch it for the simple pleasure of the movie, then you can have a good time. Christmastime is made for flicks that are a little on the corny side, right? Pull up a comfy chair, grab a glass of (spiked) egg nog and enjoy!



The movie is available to watch in 10 parts on YouTube. Here is part 1.

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Home Alone (1990)

[Macaulay Culkin; Joe Pesci; Daniel Stern; John Heard; Roberts Blossom; Catherine O'Hara]

Plot: Families suck. That's the opinion of 8-year-old Kevin McCallister, whose family unwittingly leaves him behind when they go on vacation. In no time, Kevin makes the most of the situation, watching forbidden flicks and pigging out on junk food. But when a pair of bungling burglars set their sights on Kevin's house, the plucky kid stands ready to defend his territory -- by planting booby traps galore!

Another Christmas classic in our house, we watch it every December. A fun movie, even if you have to suspend disbelief a little bit, it has a heart to it as well. I don't think Culkin was ever better than here.



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Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)

[Macaulay Culkin; Joe Pesci; Daniel Stern; Catherine O'Hara; John Heard; Brenda Fricker]

Plot: Instead of flying to Florida with his folks, Kevin ends up alone in New York, where he gets a hotel room with his dad's credit card -- despite problems from a clerk and meddling bellboy. But when Kevin runs into his old nemeses, he's determined to foil their plans to rob a toy store.

While not as great as the original, and also in need of the suspension of belief, this is a pretty decent sequel. The leads all shine and make the story work. Fun way to spend some time.



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New Year's Evil (1980)

[Roz Kelly; Kip Niven; Chris Wallace; Grant Cramer]

Plot: It's New Year's Eve. You’re working alone at a punk rock station when the phone rings. A voice on the other end tells you that at the stroke of midnight in each time zone, someone will be murdered. So what do you do? Pray that you’re not next.

I have known about this movie for years, but never got around to watching it. The combination of the New Year and the flick streaming for free on FEARNet gave me enough reasons to finally watch.

Bleh. While not the worst movie I have ever seen, it is nothing great either. The acting is definitely direct-to-video fare, and the plot itself is pretty blah. Not really worthy of a second viewing, and for me, that says a lot.



Watch it for free on FEARNet!

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Movie Monday - A Stocking Full of Christmas Films

Lots more holiday viewing this week:

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Holiday Inn (1942)

[Bing Crosby; Fred Astaire; Marjorie Reynolds; Virginia Dale; Walter Abel; Louise Beavers]

Plot: Tired of the bright lights of showbiz, Jim Hardy retires to the countryside to become a farmer. He converts the farm into the Holiday Inn, open only on holidays, then competes against his pal for a singer-dancer's affection.

This was my very first viewing of this classic, and I shouldn't have waited so long. Musicals aren't really my favorite kind of flick, but this one is fun and the songs are great. All are great in their roles, especially Crosby and Astaire. Great combination.

This film was also the first appearance of the perennial Christmas classic song "White Christmas". Great song, great film.



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White Christmas (1954)

[Bing Crosby; Danny Kaye; Rosemary Clooney; Vera-Ellen; Dean Jagger; Mary Wickes]

Plot: Crosby and Kaye play war buddies turned entertainers who fall for a pair of sisters. The boys follow the girls to a resort, which is owned by their former commanding officer, and he's in danger of losing the place. What better reason to stage a show than to keep the resort out of hock?

Another classic I had always missed, this year I made a point of watching it. And I like it, even more so than "Holiday Inn". Crosby and Kaye make a great team, and paired with Clooney and Ellen, they really shine. Music is great throughout, including the title track.

Also love seeing Wickes, she has been a favorite character actress of mine for years. Always fun seeing her in anything, and I probably would have watched this one years ago, had I realized she had a part in it.



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The Munsters' Scary Little Christmas (1996)

[Sam McMurray; Ann Magnuson; Bug Hall; Sandy Baron; Mary Woronov]

Grandpa has accidentally captured Santa Claus and two of his elves, while Lily is trying to win the local neighborhood Christmas home decorating competition, and Marilyn has invited family and friends from the "old country" to stay for Christmas. And Eddie is sad, and nothing seems to cheer him up.

Hoo-boy. Sometimes, I just wonder how movies get made. This flick is just bad. Not funny, at all, ever. The plot is thin, at best. And the actors barely work to bring the Munster family to life. Just not good, at all. Bleh!

Couldn't find a trailer, and you are better off for it.

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A Very Brady Christmas (1988)

[Florence Henderson; Robert Reed; Ann B. Davis; Maureen McCormick; Eve Plumb; Barry Williams; Christopher Knight; Mike Lookinland; Jennifer Runyon]

Plot: The entire Brady family manages to overcome personal obstacles to spend a happy holiday together.

I will be the firs to admit that this movie is schmaltzy. It is a guilty pleasure flick if ever there was one.

That said, I like it. It is goofy, moralistic, cheesy. But it is what the Bradys were always all about and stays true to the family I (and many of us) grew up on. The only major "flaw" I have with it is the fact that the actress who originally played Cindy (Susan Olsen) was unavailable for this reunion, so Cindy is played by the 80s cutie Jennifer Runyon. Having Olsen would have made this movie near-perfect.

I realize some of you may be shaking your heads, but I stand by this flick. It is just a good old holiday visit with some old friends. Recommended.



This is part one, but the whole movie (I believe) is available to watch on YouTube!

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Black Christmas (1974)

[Olivia Hussey; Keir Dullea; Margot Kidder; John Saxon; Marian Waldman; Andrea Martin]

Plot: Terror reigns inside a sorority house a few days before Christmas break as a series of menacing phone calls -- and the discovery of a dead girl's body -- transform yuletide cheer into fear. This 1970s horror gem comes from director Robert Clark, who told a much happier holiday tale with his 1983 classic, A Christmas Story.

This is my favorite holiday-horror flick, it is just so well done and so damn creepy! The killer is SO freaking crazy, we are left scared for the characters and ourselves. And we are left wondering so much more about this madman. Great early 70s stuff.



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It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

[James Stewart; Donna Reed; Lionel Barrymore; Thomas Mitchell; Henry Travers]

Plot: Frank Capra's inverted take on A Christmas Carol stars Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey, a good man who's spent a lifetime giving up on his dreams in order to keep life in his small town humming. When a guardian angel named Clarence finds a despondent George poised to jump off a bridge, he shows George what life would've been like had he never been born.

I don't really need to say much about this one, it is a classic, and deservedly so. The unrealized ambitions of a small town man lead him to believe his life has been meaningless. But he soon comes to see otherwise.

The ending of this flick always gets to me. I know what is coming, I have seen it before. But when you watch the movie from the beginning, by the time you reach that final scene you are just wrapped up in the whole story. Moving, indeed.



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