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Dark Island (2010)
Search and destroy
In actuality Dark Island is a prominent feature of the Saint Lawrence Seaway and is located in the lower Thousand Islands region of New York near the town of Hammond.
Now the science fiction, after losing all contact with its research team on a secluded island, a military corporation hires a group of scientists along with soldiers to find out whats really happening. What is real interesting is when they arrive, the newly assembled team discovers that weapons testing on the island has released a deadly entity that manifests in an animated black cloud. This smoky menace is not planning to stop until it destroys everything it wraps around.
The CGI cloud looked really good with believable movement. The movie does drag a little with no overall jump scares. The cast keeps Dark Island from being a bore-fest featuring Tess Panzer, Eric Raymond Lim, Victoria Floro, Rob O'Brien and Mary Christina Brown.
Reptile (2023)
Detective drama
Invest and it won't let you go. An unflinching New England detective, Tom Nichols (Benicio Del Toro) , does not give up easy and plays close to the vest. Just maybe a tad left of center, Nichols, has put in enough time to the job that he refuses to be anybody's fool.
An exaggerated laid-back real estate mogul Will Grady (Justin Timberlake) is dating one of his agents, Summer Elswick (Matilda Lutz) , who is found murdered. They flip foreclosures on expensive properties under the scrutiny of Grady's mother, Camille (Francis Fisher). Trouble brews there.
More problems arise dealing with murders and drug money involved with Grady's real estate deals that Nichols needs some help proving. He turns to his beautiful wife Judy (Alicia Silverstone) to help analyze the pursuit of his only real suspect.
Rounding out the cast are Eric Bogosian, Ato Essandoh and Domenick Lombardozzi.
The Devil All the Time (2020)
Humanity leaves a stain.
This movie is a riveting realization of Donald Ray Pollock's best-selling novel. Pollock's smoky rasp makes for an omniscient narrator. Expecting something light...not here. The Devil All The Time is unflinching, cruel and pretty damn depressing; but I'm digging it. I guess misery loves company.
The plot spans from WWII to Viet Nam War concerning deaths in backwood towns of southern Ohio and West Virginia. Psychological drama with crime thrills. Willard Russell (Bill Skarsgard) suffering PTSD returns home to marry a waitress (Haley Bennett) and has a son Arvin (Tom Holland). Arvin's adopted sibling (Eliza Scanlen) has an affair with a new preacher (Robert Pattinson). Add to the mix a serial killer couple, Carl (Jason Clarke) and Sandy (Riley Keogh).
The extreme violence occurs off-screen. Some viewers may be shocked or feel like a guilty participant.
The Block Island Sound (2020)
A paranormal mystery
Block Island Sound is a strait in the Open Atlantic, just about 10 miles wide, that separates Block Island from the Mainland Rhode Island coast. Something is wrong in the waters, causing strange behavior of fisherman. Loud violent outbursts cause dead fish to fall from the sky along with dead birds landing on dead fish washing up on the shore. Even a marine biologist tries to get to the bottom of the mystery with no real answers. A strange trailer-dwelling stranger is suspected of causing troubles on the beach as island citizens grow stressful and the mysterious sound in the air may be causing early dementia. Intriguing movie from directors Kevin and Matthew McManus.
Ogre (2008)
Not hard to live forever
This is a joint American-Canadian TV project for the SyFy Channel. In this village it's easy to live forever as long as someone pays the price in blood. Over 250 years ago, the fictional town of Ellensford, Pennsylvania is nearly forgotten as it was devastated by a plague. The village is stuck in a time loop in the early 19th century.
A town leader, Henry Bartlett (John Schneider), makes a pact creating a spell with a huge hungry ogre to save the town. Ellenford becomes immortal except for the yearly sacrifice of a citizen to the man-eating ogre.
Becoming an urban legend, a group of college friends decide to search for the isolated town and end up disturbing the ogre in the woods.
The ogre is not too scary; he's a CGI look-alike of say...Shrek. Obese belly almost dragging the ground and a loud horrible groan. Acting and editing is pretty cringe worthy.
The Hive (2008)
Enhanced human intelligence
This chilling film takes place in rural Wales. A team of scientists are doing genetic research creating a serum that expounds intelligence. One side effect is it turns subjects into blood-starved killers. The team is led by (Tom Wopat), a brilliant scientist that realizes a facility computer system failure.
Ordinary ants, become displaying unheard of behavior and in desperation a controversial Thorax Team is called upon to stop the threat. Ants are crawling fast enough to catch running humans. The creatures can even join together to form solid shapes like large worms. Some believe that ant colonies are now getting powers from alien intervention.
CGI ants are below average, but better than the plot and acting.
Violett (2023)
Creepy and clever
Citizens of the small community of Miles, Australia are in questionable disbelief as strange child disappearances mount up. A very sick, slightly unhinged and deeply depressed mother Sonya (Georgia Eyers), fears some unspeakable evil will soon nab her 11 year old daughter Violett (Valentina Blagojevic).
Sonya, who seems to be in a near-perpetual state of sadness, does find joy only when spending time with Violett. She fears anyone who comes to her door; she fears neighbors and the darkness in shadows, who can possibly be waiting to take her daughter. Her brooding grief and gloominess has her fixated on the young girl.
The film at times does have stylistic color saturation. My favorite scene is the flying of a kite in a yellow meadow. Moody and perplexed the movie pays off big time in the 20 minute or so finale.
Into the Grizzly Maze (2015)
Woodland terror
Animalistic and menacing disorder in the wilds of Alaska. Two estranged brothers, Rowan (James Marsden) and Beckett (Thomas Jane), with a spotty past, try reluctantly to reunite. Rowan found himself locked up for killing a man; while Beckett now in law enforcement are forced to deal with family drama. The brothers try to pay proper respect for their deceased father, who was killed in "The Grizzly Maze".
Dead bodies start mounting up and the foremost suspect is a massive, angry bear that doesn't like illegal hunters invading its territory. Grotesque murders have locals asking a pro-like tracker (Billy Bob Thornton) to end the violence for good. The brothers wanting their own revenge have differences between them and the tracker.
Constant barrage of woodland terror brings tension and anxiety. This fast-paced and furious flick also stars Piper Perabo, Michaela McManus and Scott Glenn.
Immaculate (2024)
Immaculate conception
Michael Mohan directs this thriller that throws a young devout nun, Cecilia (Sydney Sweeney), headfirst with little alarm into the nightmarish underbelly of a secluded convent in scenic Italy.
The young American is trying to make a fresh start totally unaware that anything may be awry as she gives her life to her faith and believes God saved her from nearly drowning as a child.
Cecilia gets used to her new life's routine and gets summoned to talk to the male leadership of the convent. She is told that examinations say that she is pregnant despite being a virgin. It is a miracle bringing dreams, hope and prayers from the community. But sinful dark forces lurk through the convent causing dread and terror and the unthinkable.
Shark in Venice (2008)
Not to be taken seriously
This is a B-movie that went straight to DVD. A plot involving hidden treasure, the mafia and a shark. Right away you shake your head when you realize that a Great White is going to have to swim waters 1000 miles away to get to the watery streets of Venice.
The mafia plans on protecting a buried treasure by putting baby sharks into the canals, that are actually polluted. David Franks (Stephen Baldwin) is our designated hero that is almost ripped in half by a Great White, but manages an early release from the hospital to take on the mafia and some darkly filmed stock footage sharks and even worse CGI sharks.
Also appearing are Vanessa Johansson, Hilda van der Meulen and Bashar Rahal.
Crocodile Swarm (2023)
Forbidden cave...so what!
Fun can come in different forms. A group of friends on just a typical day come up with a somewhat unusual idea of looking around in a forbidden cave. An old deserted mining cave...not completely deserted. Now we have people strolling through a well manicured cave, but a bit stinky with noises in the distance. The group has a preset time agreed upon to leave. This won't really be a factor after they are attacked by a swarm of crocodiles.
Some of the acting is about average for a low budget creature feature. The script hard to be believable. Mannequin bodies and a few rubber crocs and now welcome to ridiculous.
The cast features Lila Lasso, Ella Starbuck, Coco Taylor and Howard J. Davey.
Sewer Gators (2022)
Enthusiasm is just not enough
A very small town in Louisiana has an alligator problem. It is right before the annual Gator Festival and some sort of mutant gator has ended up in the sewer system and its babies are causing a ruckus. So much carnage that the festival is in threat. Of course the town's mayor refuses to even think of calling off the most looked forward to event of the year.
Circumstances leave it up to the local sheriff, an alligator expert and an old hunter to try and these attacks. How can you not take the problem serious when townspeople are attacked by gators coming up the toilet and begin biting them butt first.
Over the top silliness with indications of NO-budget to speak of at all. This one let's your brain go on cruise-control. Rubber gators of various sizes are better than the actors in this amateur project.
The Snake King (2005)
The Fountain of Youth is guarded
Deep in the heart of the Amazon anthropologists discover the remains of a man believed to be 300 years old. This SyFy channel original continues on a second expedition led by Dr. Susan Elters (Jayne Heitmeyer) and guide, Matt Ford (Stephen Baldwin) , as scientists continue through the Amazon jungle. Discovered is an unknown fierce tribe called the Snake People that guards the proverbial fountain of youth. And guarding this secreted location is a giant, multi-headed snake that is devoutly worshiped.
The group of scientists are told they can continue to the fountain of youth only if they return the body of the 300 year old man. When the tribe of Snake People are killed off comes the battle royal with the multi-headed snake.
Z/Rex: The Jurassic Dead (2017)
Evil finds a way
Dr. Borge (Cooper Elliot) is a scientist that is working with a chemical he claims can resurrect the dead, so humanity can live free of the inevitable. As he is demonstrating his chemical to a class of students, he is promptly fired from his college professorship.
A team of commandos and a van full of students are driving through the desert when a meteor strikes and causes all electronics to die. The two groups are afoot and discover a bunker, where Dr. Borge is/has been working on his despicable experiments
There in the shelter of the desert in a mysterious bunker; it takes joint strength and effort to survive an undead T-Rex. Out of place; but not out of mind.
Enuattii (2017)
Legends and myths found to be true
This is a low budget creature feature that was originally titled ENUATTI. Native American legends, a missing researcher, a corrupt corporation...and deadly creatures.
Dr. Walter Grey (Phil Brady) is on the verge of a major discovery concerning an ancient Native American tribe when his funding is totally cut off. Desperate for money he looks to the AESIV Corporation; he gets funding, but at a price he regrets.
When Grey and several of his students and a security detail arrive at a base camp, they find it in a mess of blood, body parts and gore. It is certain Grey has undeniable proof of the ancient tribe; and oh yes...there is nasty looking monsters in the water. Two security teams are having their own war plus the deadly creatures are well fed.
Beyond Loch Ness (2008)
Not your average gentle giant!
A cryptozoologist James Murphy (Brian Krause) arrives in the small community of Ashburn on the shore of Lake Superior. Thirty years earlier he was on a trip to Scotland with his father to search for the fabled Loch Ness monster. After the death of his father, Murphy wants to continue the search.
Gruesome murders have the authorities perplexed trying to find the culprit. Murphy hires the sheriff's (Carrie Genzel) son Josh Riley (Niall Matter) to guide him about the lake in scientific interest (being Nessie) as well as who/what is responsible for biting citizens in half.
Hard to believe that a 40 foot plesiosaur swam 4,000 miles from Scotland to an American Great Lake through a undersea tunnel to breed.
Horror House (2012)
Beyond personal interests
Sometimes you win; sometimes you lose. You should be happy with what you get this time. An anthology of a few stories...a little scary, definitely different. Five strange moments of personal inspection. Monsters are not always meant for nighttime. These are tales from one house full of secrets, lies and even death.
Some scenes if not a little awkward are disturbing. Not a B-movie per-say, but some visuals look a little cheap. Overall, a fun watch and worth your investment. Not totally perfect, but will sustain your interest.
The cast features Lloyd Kaufman, Catharina Christie, Alex Sanborn, Lauren Lakis, Alyssa Hunter, Kerry Finlayson, David Alan Graf and Abbey Anderson.
It Came from the Desert (2017)
Some fun in the summertime
Brothers Brian (Harry Lister Smith) and Lukas (Alex Mills) are headed to the desert to join up with rival hero and heroine motocross riders. They stop by to pick up Brian's crush Lisa (Vanessa Grasse), while Lukas is hurried to get the chance to meet his great idol, the leader of the "Eradicators" (Michael Majalahti).
Hot fun in the desert with bike racing, kegger parties and making out with bikini chicks and the usual annoying sand ants. Before getting enough of the desert, a secret underground lab is discovered inhabited by human-sized ants. A found video message explains of a failed experiment and that the humongous ants need to be kept away from ethanol. Let the real fun begin. Creepy...yes!
Land Shark (2017)
Better than expected
This shark feature is better than the bad rap bestowed on it. A dangerous killer is created at an Oceanic Research lab. The unthinkable has happened; sharks are injected with human DNA and a development director, Lucinda Regis (Sarah French), becomes just one of the targets for those sharp pearly whites.
The successful experiments give sharks the ability to live and motivate on land for possible future military projects. The special effects are just good enough to cause some jump scares, but the acting really suffers.
A test subject escapes and has to be stopped, captured or even killed. This means the fun begins for the viewer. Some scenes are a bit awkward and some even humorous. When we do get to see the Land Shark...big and ugly!
Hydra (2009)
A decent creature feature
Don't let being associated with the SyFy channel give you the idea of a cliched action flick. HYDRA is not the worse; nor is it award-winning...but pretty decent.
Tim Nolan (George Stults) plays a former Marine that is kidnapped with three other people that have been convicted of crimes and taken to a remote deserted island. At the same time, a group of super rich men can afford to spend a small fortune to play a deadly game. The game allows them to hunt down and kill the four convicts forced to participate.
The island is not exactly deserted for it is home to "Hydra", a mutated large three/four headed snake that can rejuvenate like a worm, when a head is removed. And Hydra doesn't care who is for lunch!
The Jester (2023)
Cheap thrills
The Jester (Michael Sheffield) is a malevolent sad imitation of Art the Clown that likes to haunt and terrorize on Halloween night. His costume is real striking, but sometimes his mannerisms can get tiresome and agonizing. He likes to play tricks and often his horrid pranks end up hurting or killing.
A couple of sisters Emma (Lelia Symington) and Jocelyn (Delaney White) reluctantly come together following their father's (Matt Servitto) suicide... caused by the Jester. The sisters are at personal odds due to their different views concerning the memories of their father. But also at hand is finding how to deal with the Halloween menace.
Di di guai wu (2022)
aka Underground Monster
You may say this Chinese flick is a bit trashy. A small remote deprived town has repeatedly dumped toxic waste causing a massive cave filled with trash. A construction team is digging a tunnel and disturbs the trash filled hole habitat of a massive underground monster. The creature actually looks more like a cartoon than being a monster. Although it is hideous looking and at first is questionable about being deadly. It has a huge fat belly and moves by way of numerous octopus-like tentacles. It stinks and is loud. A trash collector finds what turns out to be an egg and the monster comes looking for it.
A tad strange for a Chinese movie. There is some comic relief provided by an eccentric gray-haired professor. It could've been worse.
Mutant Python (2021)
Snake rituals apply
Panic surrounds a small secluded village in northern China. A young couple, Qlan Xluchen (Jiayi Li) and Dong Wen Juan (Ye Sigi), are ready to join on their wedding day when the father of the groom is tragically consumed by a giant python. When the snake corpse is thrown on the wedding altar, the python king swore revenge.
According to legend and north Chinese primitive culture, since the two dynasties were to be joined by matrimony, the ancestors are believed to treat snakes as gods and worshiped. To satisfy the great Snake God responsible for the tragedy, the collective residents are to choose a virgin to be sacrificed. Now the groom-to-be must present the corpse of the mutant python to keep his bride from being sacrificed.
The real excitement is watching the CGI python slide away from its attackers. .
Dinosaur Prison (2023)
Makes no real sense
Cheesy horror. Three ambitious, but naive, women part of an animal rights activists group get up enough nerve to break into a heavily guarded prison. Their plan is to free animals they believe are being experimented on. The women get inside the dimly lit building and realize something is not quite right and start bickering about continuing with their mission, and one decides to split off on her own.
Echos in the dark hallways help the women find out the area is full of caged live dinosaurs in various state of cognition. The stray woman proves to be a snack for a loose creature. The two remaining activists try to convince a sympathetic staff doctor to help them escape when the facility becomes full of roaming dinosaurs.
Ghostwatch (1992)
Didn't do much for me
On Halloween night, 1992, the BBC aired the infamous mockumentary that caused such an uproar pushing the boundaries of British acceptability. The program never made the airwaves again for over twenty-five years. Switchboards were log jammed for hours and viewers were outraged in the days and weeks to follow.
You don't have to believe in ghosts or even accept them. A BBC TV crew is invited to the home of Kim Early (Cherise Wesson), said to be the most haunted house to investigate a malevolent entity causing terror.
The program's host Michael Parkinson is sceptical about a crew spending the night in the house on live TV. A concerned parapsychologist soon realizes that the BBC is about to score a scoop more frightening than they signed up for.
(Many people were unaware that they had been tricked and it was eerie fiction that they were watching.)