Splice

Director:: Vincenzo Natali


Rated: R


Dark Castle Entertainment: June 4, 2010


104 minutes

From IMDb: Genetic engineers Clive Nicoli(Adrien Brody) and Elsa Kast (Sarah Polley) hope to achieve fame by successfully splicing together the DNA of different animals to create new hybrid animals for medical use. Dren (Delphine Chaneac).


This was a movie, I always wanted to see in the theatres, however, never made it to see it. So, last night, while flipping through countless satellite channels, I just happened to come across this, starting in ten minutes on the Space channel. I've been a fan of Adrien Brody's work, and when I remembered he was in this, I decided to grab some chips and settle down to watch it. 


The lowdown of the movie, begins with two genetic engineers splicing animal DNA to create new animals, just like the above description says. The action started pretty quick in the beginning with Elsa, having a soft spot for this new hybrid animal. She becomes a surrogate mother for it, trying to teach it, and help it develop. 


When the main action of the movie took off, it was quite good. They run away with Dren, who incidentally got her that name, while playing with scrabble tiles with Elsa, forming the word nerd, and Elsa looking at it backwards. The development of the "animal" is very quick and the once tiny little spliced animal, is now becoming a grown woman. Who has eyes for Clive.


Without too many spoilers, the viewer finds out that not only was animal DNA spliced into Dren, but human DNA as well, which explains her appearance and ability to love and want to be loved.


Close to the end of the movie, the action is much greater, some key characters do get killed and of course, what is a movie like this, without a twist at the end that could possibly hint of a sequel. 


It wasn't filled with gore, however, I did find it had a good storyline, and the acting was quite well. I would recommend watching this, therefore I will give Splice a 4/5.

Bidding you bloody nightmares,

Nyx

[Rec 2]

Director: Jaume Balaguero and Paco Plaza

Rated: R

Magnolia Pictures: July 12, 2011

85 Minutes

From Amazon:
The highly anticipated sequel to one of the scariest films of all time, [REC] 2 picks up 15 minutes from where we left off, taking us back into the quarantined apartment building where a terrifying virus runs rampant. What they find inside lies beyond the scope of medical science - a demonic nightmare more terrifying than they could possibly imagine.

I wasn't exactly the biggest fan of the first [Rec] but I checked out the second one anyways. Partially because I bought it the same time I bought the first one. The second one seems like a better movie although I still don't think it was great. I'd say it wasn't really my type of movie but I love "found footage" films. I'm not sure what it was or why I didn't like them so much, I just didn't. The acting was fairly well done, the story line's mesh together good...I think it just wasn't a Ginger type of movie.

This movie takes place shortly after the end of the first [Rec] but involves a crew of special forces who take a doctor/priest into the quarantined building. The thing that I liked more about [Rec 2] then the first one was that the second had way more explanation. It was almost like they took questions people had about the first one and found a way to answer them in part 2. I'm sure this was a huge plus for all the fans of both [Rec] films.

I think I'm kind of neutral towards this movie. I didn't like it but I didn't hate it either. It had it's moments (even if there was only a few), it had a few creepy parts, and a twist at the end which is always a plus! If you haven't had the chance to check them out yet you might want to. As long as you don't start either movie with high expectations I think you'll find both movies to be quite enjoyable!

My Rating: 3/5
Ginger

Psychic Experiment

Director: Mel House

Rated: R

Lions Gate: December 6, 2011

93 Minutes

From Amazon: A small town is being taken over by corrupted doctors, who take dying patients in the hospital and implant chips in their brains tracking each individuals innermost evil desires. With this powerful knowledge, horrific, unexplainable events start terrorizing the town, leaving many to question the hospital and the doctors' abilities. As the deceit escalates, everyone in town is left running for their lives in terror!

This is another movie that I got for like forty-nine cents at my local Blockbuster when it closed. How I wish I would have kept that forty-nine cents. I realize that there aren't many big name actors is this film; however, I expected more coming from Lions Gate. I'm not really sure where to start with this review but let's break it down.

Actors: There aren't really any notables in this film. The one that stands out the most is Paranormal Activities Katie Featherston and I can assure you that even her performance was subpar. That acting was terrible! And that is putting it mildly. I'm actually contemplating the fact that these "actors" may have been acting this poorly on purpose.

Effects: What? Effects? This movie clearly had a smaller budget than and PA film did and the effects were terrible. To be honest, I think there was only one and it was pretty bad. I should probably admit that I didn't actually watch the movie in its entirety. I was bored about 1 minute in but stuck it out at least halfway. This movie will never again have the privilege of touching my PS3.

Storyline: I'm a little confused by this-as was the person I watched it with. The story seems to jump all over the place. At one point I'm watching a strained parting between 2 people. The next there is a group of activists talking about....something? And then there is this child molester who gets stalked by some of this group....and then there is some weird dolls trying to break out of their packaging at the store? Confused? Me too. The storyline seems to follow no general direction and is completely sporadic.

I don't know what else to say about this movie. The acting was terrible, enough said. The effect were atrocious and the storyline made zero sense. I would highly recommend NOT watching this...Even though it's only $3 on Amazon, not worth it. I won't even post the link to the Amazon thing like normal because I am fully advocating non-buying lol.

My Rating: 1/5
Ginger

The Woman In Black

Director: James Watkins

Rated: PG-13

CBS Films: May 22, 2012

95 Minutes

From Amazon: A young lawyer travels to a remote village to organize a recently deceased client's papers, where he discovers the ghost of a scorned woman set on vengeance.

I really liked 'The Woman In Black' and I think a lot of people don't like it because it stars Daniel Radcliffe. It's hard for an actor to be successful after being a child star and he is no exception. All of his fame comes from years of work in the Harry Potter films. That being said I think he did an amazing job of distinguishing himself as an adult actor and in a completely new genre of film. For a movie that is rated PG-13 I thought that the Woman In Black was awesome!

Like I said earlier, it stars Daniel Radcliffe. He is set out to this house where he has to go through all of this woman's belongings. No one in the town will go there and they throw everything they can at him to keep him away from the house. While at the house a lot of creepy and unexplainable things happen and they just get more and more intense. Back in town things get more heated and fatal! The movie isn't overly scary although it does have it's moments. I think the storyline was very well done and the acting it pretty good too.

I am happy to have 'The Woman In Black' as part of my ever growing collection of horror films. While it may not hold all the normal thrills and chills that most people have come to expect it can still hold it's own. With a good storyline, good acting, a few scares and a great cast I'd have to give 'The Woman In Black' a 5/5 and recommend that everyone see it!

My Rating: 5/5
Ginger

Paranormal Activity (2007)

Director: Oren Peli


86 Minutes, Rated R


Blumhouse Productions: October 16, 2009

From IMDb: After moving into a suburban home, a couple becomes increasingly disturbed by a nightly demonic presence.


My fellow horror writer has previously reviewed this movie.  You can find her review here  Ginger's review.


It's taken me awhile to finally watch this, and finally, I have. To begin, I will be honest and say that usually I'm more attracted to the gore and bloody movies,  yet I found myself attracted to this movie. 


I will admit, I found the beginning to be quite dragging. Like other movies, where you are viewing it through the eyes of the "cameraman", it gives you different angles, that you may not see in regular filmed movies. Being a great fan of both "The Blair Witch Project" and "Quarantine", who also use the 'found video tapes' concept, I was looking forward to some action. 


Throughout the movie, I found the guy quite annoying. From what I gather, she had experienced this sort of "haunting" before, and he didn't believe it. So what does he do, encourage it, call it out, use a Ouija board and taunt it.  Mid way through, I was hoping the entity would come out and get the idiot. 


By the time the action really started kicking in, I must say, I was on the edge of my seat. The funny thing, watching it at night was quite a different experience than watching it the next day with the sun shining through the window. I have been told there are alternate endings, and it seems I just saw the "normal" ending, whatever that is. 


It was frightful in some parts, made me cover my eyes and dread what was going to "show up" on the camera. I do have a new desire to continue watching these in the series though, and I have read recently they are filming a new one for a possible 2013/14 release. 


While it lacks in guts and gore and blood, it makes up for with suspense, frights and the fear that there could be an "unknown" living in our homes. 


For those reasons, I am giving this movie a 4/5.

Bidding you bloody nightmares,

Nyx