Maniac (2013)

** Contains gory video link**

The original 'Maniac released way back in 1980 was one of the few video nasties that was any good, actually it was very good, gory (the shotgun scene is a classic) and very, very creepy. So when a remake was announced eye brows were raised, this was some serious grim subject matter, a psychotic young man troubled by his abusive upbringing, murders women, then scalping them, keeping them as 'trophies'.

Good news came when it was announced that Alexandre Aja (Piranha 3-D, Switchblade Romance, The Hills Have Eyes) would be involved but when Elijah Wood was cast as the killer, well, brave casting was certainly in my mind! (He later went on to make the superb 'Crawl' in 2019)

So, what's the result? Well 'm delighted to report that it's as grim, gory and downright nasty as the original, dark and unrelenting this is horror for the real fan, if you're expecting babes running down alley ways screaming like your average studio horror flick, go else where, hardcore in your face, you'll feel like a shower after this bad boy.

*****

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Going To Pieces (2006)

 As the title suggests this is a documentary chronicling the rise of the so called slasher movie in the 1980's with such films as "Friday 13th", "Halloween", "Prom Night" and the "Nightmare on Elm Street" right up to the "Scream" series of the mid 90's.

The film contains some great slasher moments (Jason's 'death' etc) but the highlight is the vast array of interviews with big names from the genre, there's the usual big guns such as Wes Craven and John Carpenter, the genius that is Tom Savini, but you also get loads of lesser known names thrown in the mix with plenty of interesting anecdotes such as Paul Lynch ("Prom Night") and Fred Walton ("When a Stranger Calls", "April Fool's Day").

If you're a fan of the genre, which I am, then you'll love this highly enjoyable documentary

4.5/5

The Inbetweeners 2 (2014)

Movie adaptations of TV shows are pretty hit and miss, when the first 'Inbetweeners' movie hit the big screen it was a hit, a huge hit not even the producers could predict raking in a staggering $80M+, but was it any good? Well yes, enjoyable, but I never felt it hit the highs (or lows) that the series so frequently reached, but it must be said, seeing the guys again was something I was looking forward too.

This time the guys are in the land of Oz, Jay apparently is living the life over there (girls, girls, and more girls) and invites the rest of the gang over, not thinking they would actually take up the offer, as he actually works as a toilet attendant in a night club. What follows is fairly predictable, fish out of water, knob and poo gags, they fall out, they make up, again very enjoyable and funny, but I still feel it misses a certain something.

'Loveable' characters, crewd, lude and filthy, "Inbetweeners 2" is a fun movie, but still not one I would class as a classic that some would have you believe, and certainly not the comedy of the year (sticks of Lego please!)

*****

Plastic (2014)

A gang of young credit card fraudsters rob the wrong guy, an Eastern European mobster (aren't they always) to clear the 'debt' they plan a multi million dollar diamond heist, as you do!

The movie screams "Oceans 11", "Catch Me If you Can", but turns out more like "Hollyoaks" does "Hustle", the whole cast are a series of fairly unlikeable characters, the sole purpose of any female in the movie is for eye candy, any excuse to visit a strip club is utilized, one which includes a ridiculous scene of our 'heroes' getting one over on the club and it's bouncers, need to get the better of an 18 stone bouncer? easy, push him over and run away!!

Fluffy, soulless, silly, with a ludicrous "Lock, Stock" style gun fight finale, and rather preposterously based on a "true story", not even the ample charms of Emma Rigby can make me recommend this nonsense.

*****

Blended (2014)

Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler have always made a good comedy 'couple' ("The Wedding Singer", "50 First Dates") and here they reunite for the third time again, with director Frank Coraci, so is it any good?

Well yes and no, there's a lot of silliness so prevalent with any Sandler comedy (a Paraglide that goes predictably wrong), a lot of smaltz....buckets of it, but for every misfiring gag there's one just round the corner that hits the funny button (a Monkey 'band' launching into a rendition of 'Careless Whisper' at an opportune moment one of the highlights) and Drew Barrymore is as adorable as ever.

Cheesy as a family pack of Wotsits, a bit of a mess at times, but harmless nonsense.

*****

Chef (2014)

 

Chef Carl Casper (Jon Favearu) quits his job a top restuarant when he refuses to compromise his creativity, unsure what to do he teams up with his ex Wife Inez (Sofia Vergara) and they set up their own business, a food truck, their own mobile restauarant serving food they love..and soon so do the customers and critics.

 

Both starring and directed by Favearu (who also directed the first two 'Iron Man' movies) Chef is an incredibly enjoyable feel good flick from the first frame with a tasty ensemble cast, just look at the poster, Dustin Hoffman, Scarlett Johansson, John Lequizamo, Oliver Platt and Robert Downey Jnr!!

 

A movie that might not have 'much nutrition' but boy, it's even tastier that the food Carl Casper dishes up, and almost as delighful as waitress Scarlett Johansson serving it up!!

 

*****



The Sacrament (2014)

Two journalist's travel to an unknown destination with their cameraman friend to document the commune "Eden Parish" that his missing Sister has been living, soon though they uncover a sinister under belly to the so called utopia.

Directed by Ti West (who directed the excellent "House Of The Devil" and "The Innkeepers") this is yes, yet another, found footage horror movie but one with some pedigree and quality. Hard edged, slowly boiling tension, but compelling through out, this is loosely based on the "Jonestown Massacre" of 1978, a commune led by a sinister leaded ("Father") people brainwashed by his religious fever with  a climax shot on video camera's reminiscent of the panic and terror of  the infamous "Cannibal Holocaust".

A gritty, excellent slice of real life horror.

*****

They Came Together (2014)

Imagine if the people behind say 'Anchorman' and the 'Naked Gun' series made a rom-com, this would be the result. The story is straight forward (well it is a rom-com) recently single  Molly (Amy Poeheler) goes on a blind date with Joel (Paul Rudd) they instantly 'hate' each other, but through thick and thin they eventually fall in love, then break up, hook up with ex's, get engaged.....

Running at just over 80 minutes this movie doesn't over stay it's welcome,  this is a fine, fun, completely off the wall comedy, loads of silly gags, some don't hit the bullseye but you won't have to wait long for another one to be fired at you, charming cast with faces you'll recognize, if not the names (Bill Hader, Ellie Kemper, Ed Helms, Melanie Lynsky, Max Greenfield)) 

Pants title but a charming, dopey and daft fun flick.

*****

The Love Punch (2014)

Where do I begin.

Richard (Pierce Brosnan) and Kate (Emma Thompson) are a recently divorced couple, their future retirement is put in turmoil when Richrads investment company is defrauded and the pension fund syphoned away, they 'reunite' to hatch a plan to get back their money, though this does involve the theft of a multi-million dollar diamond, oh and kidnapping!

I wasn't expecting much, just a 'Hustle' style comedy, good cast I thought, but this is quite appaling and embarrassing for all concerned. The screenplay is excruciating, like something from the bygone age of Brit TV shows that went onto the big screen in the 1970's, Brosnan and Thompson do have good chemistry but the movie is just so implausible you'll be hoping for a face punch,let alone love, by the end of the movie.

*****

The Expendables 3 (2014)

Stallone's back as Mercenary Barney, but so is his nemesis, ex-friend, co-founder of The Expendables, but now multi-millionaire arms dealer Conrad Stonebanks (Mel Gibson) and he's out to kill him...again!

He feels his old team are long in the tooth so employs new blood to hunt down Stonebanks, and so commences 2 hours of wise cracking, head cracking, explosions and gun fights with a thread bare plot that numbs the senses, pop out for 5 minutes to get a drink and you won't wonder what you just missed , oh look, something else got blown up! The movie is star studded as usual (how do the producers manage it for such a mediocre franchise...oh yeah, I forgot $$$) Arnie, Han Solo's Dad, Dolph Lungren, umm Wesley Snipes, though whenever Antonio Banderos was on screen all I could picture was 'Puss In Boots'!!

At times the frantic pace of the movie does become slightly tedious, and dare I say dull, but on the whole it's fairly entertaining nonsense with the brain in neutral.

*****

Captain America:The Winter Soldier (2014)

2011's "Captain America:The First  Avenger" was an enjoyable romp and an above average addition to the (growing) Marvel comic book movie adaptations, so I was hoping for more of the same, and boy do Directors Anthony and Joe Russo deliver!

This is high octane 'boys own' movie making with an intelligent beating heart, post 9/11 cold warHow do we know who the bad guys are?" "If they start shooting at you they're bad!!", a serious bad ass villain Sebastian Stan as The Winter Soldier, a head cracking machine gun toting cross between Brandon Lee's The Crow and Tom Hardy's Bane!
politics for a plot, a fine cast (Samuel L Jackson, Robert Redford, Scarlett Johansson,Chris Evans), massive all guns blazing action set pieces, a dry sense of humour ("

An excellent  old school action packed story with a dark Political underbelly.

*****

The Signal (2014)

Three friends on a road trip through the South West of the US take a detour in the hope of tracking a
computer hacker, something very sinister happens, everything goes dark, when one of them, Nic (Brendan Thwaites) wakes he realizes he is in some US government experimental pound and being questioned about things not of this earth.

The obvious comparisons are an episode of "The Twilight Zone" and "X-Files" or the bigger budget "The Mist", but this has just as much intelligence and emotion. An absorbing screenplay, at time's beautifully poetic, fine performance's from the young cast (the only 'big name' being Laurence Fishburne) with a suitable ambitious, head scratching dénouement.

*****

Behaving Badly (2014)

Socially inept 18 year old virgin Rick Stevens (Nat Wolff) will do anything to win the heart of the girl of his dreams Nina (Selena Gomez) and this entails avoiding her over bearing ex boyfriend, his Mother's horny best friend, strip club owners, psychotic school friends and an Eastern European mob!

Crass, rude, very lewd, the movie is packed with crazy characters, Elizabeth Shue is great value as the nymphomaniac Cougar Pamela Bender, then when you thinks things can't get any wilder, up pops Gary Busey as the Police Chief and Heather Graham as a short skirted, low topped Attorney (woof!)

It's "American Pie" without the subtlety!

*****

Starred Up (2014)

19 year old Eric (Jack  O'Connell) is starred up, temporarily transferred from a Youth Offenders institution to the same adult Prison facilities as his estranged Father, here his explosive violent behavior with both the Prison authorities and fellow dangerous inmates gains him enemies, and pushes his frail relationship with his Father to boiling point

Tough, realistic,brutal and uncompromising, this is a Prison drama as it is, no bells and whistles, no hope for redemption, men who are confined for violent crime and very little sign of conforming to the world outside. Excellent performance from O'Connell as the ticking time bomb that is Eric and also Ben Mendelsohn as his Father, more wizened but equally psychotic.

Bleak, a film that offers no answers, but a fine piece of prison drama.

*****