One Missed Call

Director: Eric Valette

Rated: PG-13

Warner Home Video: April 22, 2008

87 Minutes

From IMdB:
In this remake of the Japanese horror film "Chakushin Ari" (2003), several people start receiving voice-mails from their future selves -- messages which include the date, time, and some of the details of their deaths.

I'm not sure where to really start with this review. Or if I even have that much to say about the movie. I've been sitting here thinking about what to write and that can't be a good thing. I feel like, when you watch a movie you should either be super pumped about it and have tons to write OR super disappointed. So, I guess I'm feeling kind of...neutral towards 'One Missed Call.'

'One Missed Call' is the American remake of a Japanese movie...called 'One Missed Call.' lol. So, it sucks in comparison. I haven't review the Japanese version yet but I've definitely seen it. I'll have to go out this week and buy it so I can review it. While the acting in the American version is good, they just completely mutilated the remake. I'm not a fan but that's not to say it was a complete waste. It still has some alright parts...there is nothing scary or creepy about it though. Which is disappointing.

Overall, the American version of 'One Missed Call' was ok. I definitely could have picked something better to fill my time. You can see it...or not. It really makes no difference but if there is something better (which there is a lot of) definitely watch it first. Don't go out of your way for this one.

My Rating: 3/5
Ginger

Dead Mary

Director: Robert Wilson

235 Films. Unrated. 103 mins.

20 Feb 2007

From IMDb: For Kim it was supposed to be the perfect reunion and weekend getaway. She and her best friends drive to a remote lakeside cabin to reminisce about their college days. When the group decides to play the ghoulish game "Dead Mary" they mistakenly unleash a vengeful spirit that possesses them one by one.


The summary basically tells the movie. We've all heard the tale of kids in a dark bathroom, saying "Bloody Mary" three times, only to have the evil witch appear in the mirror. Well, this movie, basically takes that urban legend and adds a bit of a twist to it.


The movie starts off a bit slow, a beautiful blonde in a car on the side of a wooded road. A guy shows up with cherry cans filled with gas. Before too long, they are on their way, but you can feel the tension between them. They arrive at a cabin and meet up with their friends who are already there.
The movie then slowly drags on, only to find out that everyone is cheating on everyone and while mixing drugs and booze they end up sitting around a fire reminiscing about old times. Before long, it gets suggested they should play "Dead Mary". The newest member of the group asks what that is. They tell her, and then when the guys start mocking the story, they star taking turns going into the bathroom with a candle. Four of the seven go into the bathroom and call up on the spirit. Soon after, strange noises are going through the cabin. 


The action starts pretty quick after this, but the story just takes a dive. The horror effects are near non-existent. Not much blood or gore. It really is a shame, because I think with a better production team/company they really could have made it a good movie. The rest of the movie involves numerous attempts at trying to kill each other, burning bodies, many many shovel attacks. 


I found myself fast forwarding some parts, just to try to find some "action". It really was a long movie, filled with no substance, no horror and just a disappointment really. 
Sorry to say, but Dead Mary only gets 2/5.

Bidding you bloody nightmares,

Nyx

The Devil Inside

Director: William Brent Bell

Rated R  83 Mins.

January 6, 2012 (Canadian theatres)

From IMDb: In Italy, a woman becomes involved in a series of unauthorized exorcisms during her mission to discover what happened to her mother, who allegedly murdered three people during her own exorcism.

"No Soul Is Safe" is the tagline given for this new movie. I have been a fan of these types of movies ever since seeing The Exorcist when I was 14 years old. Over the years, there have been numerous movies based on the subject of possession and satanism.

What makes this one different? Well, it's filmed in the sense of being a documentary. A lot of "behind the camera" angles make up the majority of the film. I first saw the preview Christmas Eve actually, and knew I had to see this movie. I went last weekend to see it and despite the length of the movie and the near empty theatre, I enjoyed it.

Since this is a movie, still in theatres, I will refrain from giving too many details or key parts in it. I will say, the movie starts off on a high note, suspenseful and even giving you a tiny jump in your seat. My friend who went with me, said she found it very slow at first; however, I found it was paced well for the theme of the movie.

In a nutshell, the main character is on the hunt to locate her mother who was moved to Italy. She is "documenting" everything, so you are behind the camera lens interviewing people and seeing the action unfold. With a few little twists, the main character is then thrown into the full blow action of a real exorcism. The effects are without large amounts of blood, guts and gore and replaced with gruesome, bone cracking positions of the sick.

The movie progresses fairly quick after the exorcism scene. I also found the 83 minutes went fairly quick. Fast forward to the end of the movie, and, you are still left with many answers. I have read reviews stating that the ending upset people, and I witnessed a few guys in my theatre angered by the ending. Before the credits roll, a website address is flashed on the screen, encouraging people to check it out and continue the search for answers.

Overall, I would have to say, it was entertaining. Not the best horror movie out there, but I really don't think that is what the director was going for. It did remind me of movies like Quarantine and The Blair Witch Project (not storyline, but the way the movie was made).

If you are looking for a movie that could open you up to believing that possession could happen, this would be a good choice. I am going to rate this an 4/5.

Bidding you bloody nightmares,

Nyx

Apollo 18

Director: Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego

Rated: PG-13

The Weinstein Company: December 27, 2011

88 Minutes

From Amazon:
Officially, Apollo 17, launched December 7, 1972, was the last manned mission to the moon. But two years later, in December of 1974, two American astronauts were sent on a secret mission to the moon funded by the U.S. Department of Defense. What you are about to see is the actual footage which the astronauts captured on that mission. While NASA denies its authenticity, others say it’s the real reason we’ve never gone back to the moon.

For an 88 minute film, this movie seemed much longer! I don't usually bash on peoples work so I'm going to try not to here but...well, that might be a little too hard not to do. I hated this movie. Hated it. And I knew I would from the moment it started. I'm a big "found footage" movie fan. I'd happily watch Paranormal Activity any day of the week. However 'Apollo 18' I couldn't watch again to save my life! Ok, that's not true but you get the point. I'm warning you now, if you haven't seen it, SPOILERS!

So, this movie is about these three guys that go to the moon on a secret mission. They can't tell their families or anything. So the movie is super boring in the beginning. I actually almost contemplated turning it off 5 minutes in. Anyways, two guys on the moon and some other dude is like...orbiting around it waiting for them. So the two guys on the moon are doing...space things. And then all of a sudden there is a dead Russian....and a Russian ship. So scary......And then, OMG there are killer....rocks? WHAT? lol. Ok? So, it was lame. rocks...yup. These people must have had a HUGE budget...I mean rocks...those are pretty rare right?

Needless to say, this movie sucks. And although I only paid $1.20 for it at Redbox, I'd still like my $1.20 back. In all fairness I jumped at one part....and it wasn't even scary it was just the two guys fooling around and one of them scares the other. Scariest part in the entire film. I'm very interested to hear what other people thought of 'Apollo 18' so if you've seen it, please comment and let me know!

My Rating: 2/5
Ginger

Leprechaun

Director: Mark Jones

Rated: R

Lions Gate: August 25th, 1998

92 Minutes

From IMdB:
An evil, sadistic Leprechaun goes on a killing rampage in search of his beloved pot of gold.

So, I noticed today that on TV there is a Leprechaun movie marathon. I just got done watching the first Leprechaun movie and I'm about to start the second. So I thought it was a prefect time to write reviews for them! I actually forgot how much I love the Leprechaun movies until I started watching them again today haha. I don't know why I don't own them but I clearly need to. Warwick Davis is amazing and has been in a few of my most loved movies!

So Leprechaun is about....a leprechaun. The basic story line is that someone steals his pot of gold and then he goes on a murderous rampage looking to get it back. He has some very inventive ways of killing people, which always makes for a good time. The Leprechaun movies are classics and if you haven't seen them, you should.

The Leprechaun movies are consistent, for the most part. They all have Warwick Davis as the Leprechaun unlike some other movie franchises. The kills are almost always different. The first movie also has Jennifer Aniston in it...which could be a plus or a minus depending on how you look at it. Also, the acting isn't terrible. Which is a definitely a positive haha.

My Rating: 5/5
Ginger

Resident Evil

Director: Paul W. S. Anderson

Rated: R

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment: July 30, 2002

100 Minutes

From IMDb:
A special military unit fights a powerful, out-of-control supercomputer and hundreds of scientists who have mutated into flesh-eating creatures after a laboratory accident.

I decided to write a review for the Resident Evil moviessss because there is a new game coming out this year (which I fully intend on buying) and because I feel like they get a lot of bad reviews and I love them! I know I can't be called a die hard Resident Evil fan or anything but I do love both the games AND the movies. A lot of people want to make comparisons between the games and movies but I try to not look at it that way. I try to look at it as it's own thing, completely separate from the games. Maybe that's what lets me love them so much lol.

I don't really feel the need to write about what 'Resident Evil' is about because if you haven't seen it, then you've been living under a rock! Anyways, lets cover the basics. It's a movie about zombies. Yup. Mingled among these zombies are super genius computers, the infamous Alice (played by Milla Jovovich. I can't pronounce her last name but I have fun trying), and all of the bloodshed and mayhem takes place underground in a secret facility known as 'The Hive.'

I love things that most people hate and, I don't like to admit it but, a lot of people hate the Resident Evil movies. So it should really be no surprise that I love them. The only thing that really prompted this review was the fact that I'm planning on buying the movies on Blu-Ray this week so I thought, I haven't written a review in a long time, so why not? Overall, I loved 'Resident Evil.' What's not to love? Zombies, mutated animals, blood, zombies, Milla Jovovich, did I mention zombies?

My Rating: 5/5
Ginger