Movie review: Gacy

Based on the true story of John Wayne Gacy, the serial killer who lived life portraying himself as a good citizen, even volunteering as a clown at a local hospital.

Mark Holton (Gacy Jr), Adam Baldwin (Gacy Sr), Tom Waldman (Hal), Charlie Weber (Tom), Edith Jefferson (Mother Gacy), Scott Allen Henry (Young John Gacy).

This movie had potential written all over it. To bad it was only on the surface since the film lacked any depth whatsoever. Of course the plot is well known but where this movie did well was with the details. How the boys were stalked, lured, murdered, then buried. How the problem of decomposition was addressed by Gacy and although noticed by his neighbors, nobody pulled the alarm on him. How disposal of victims personal effects were handled. How Gacy handled suspicion by friends, employees, and police. All of those things were displayed with excellent creativity, detail, and emotion. From a horror flick or serial killer perspective, just lovely. But from a drama or action perspective, the movie lacked depth.

Holton did a good job as Gacy but not a single person in supporting roles brought any kind of emotion or generated any kind of audience connection with their performance. Flat, dull, and lacking are the words that come to mind.

With the plot used and the focus on detail this could have been an incredibly shocking film but due to the lack of acting, it completely fell flat. Unless you are a die-hard serial killer fan looking for tips-and-tricks of the trade, don’t even put this one on your viewing list.

Due to mature concepts, violence, blood and gore, language, drug use, and the disgusting thought that decaying human corpses turn to goo which can be pumped out of a crawlspace with a sump pump. . . Leave this one for older teens and above.

Released: 2003
Reviewed: 3.25.16
Star rating: 2 out of 5
Genre: Horror, Serial Killers, Slashers

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Dolphins: Spy in the Pod

Specially designed seagoing spy cameras track a pod of dolphins revealing amazing insights about dolphin life. Follow along with spy-dolphin, spy-turtle and others, and witness the fastest species of dolphin, mating and social rituals, feeding habits, and more!

Narration: David Tennant

Dolphins: Spy in the Pod takes a unique look at dolphins by joining them as a non-threatening sea creature. This approach allows us to see into the life of a dolphin, how they interact with one another as well as their environment. Though a documentary this series is incredibly entertaining and surprisingly fast moving. And it had spy-turtle! Topping things off is wonderful narration by David Tennant.

Camera work and backgrounds were simply wonderful. The spy creatures used to infiltrate the dolphin pod were amusing and surprisingly good at capturing excellent footage. And the dolphins were much better actors than expected. Sound and soundtrack were nicely done.

Dolphins: Spy in the Pod is a fun and entertaining look into the lives of dolphins. Technical work is very good, and David Tennant narrating only makes it better. If you enjoy nature documentaries or would like to know more about dolphins this is a great choice.

Nothing here to limit audience age.

Released: 2014
Reviewed: 3.25.16
Star rating: 5 out of 5
Genre: Documentary, British TV documentaries, Nature documentaries, TV Shows.

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Re-Kill

Five years ago a virus outbreak wiped out 85% of the world's population, but the Re-Animates (Re-Ans) remain a threat rendering most major cities uninhabitable. Tasked with containing the Re-Ans, militant R-Division hunts down the zombies who they then re-kill.

Bruce Payne (Winston), Scott Adkins (Parker), Daniella Alonso (Matthews), Layke Anderson (Tom), Ian Casselberry (Bones), Roger Cross (Sarge), Owen Davis (B-camera), Dimiter Doichinov (Adams).

Re-Kill is a simulated reality TV show which follows the R-Division as they seek out and re-kill those who have died and then reanimated due to a zombie virus. Uninfected humans are no longer at the top of the food chain being outnumbered by, and ill-equipped to defend against, the Re-Ans. As R-Division struggles to prevent a second outbreak, which appears more and more likely, work continues on an escape plan for humanity.

Acting was a bit rough here. Cross was possibly the most experienced actor in this one and he did fairly well. Sadly, he was seriously underused as well. Payne did reasonably well as did the rest of the cast. I'm loathe to comment on acting here as the film, try as it might, didn't connect us well with the characters nor did presentation or delivery seem to be a focus.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds felt pretty good but with the now overused theme of simulated reality TV, the shaking poor color out of focus scenes were a bit tiresome. At the same time, scenes showing zombie outbreaks did a nice job of impressing upon us the urgency and desperation of encountering a zombie horde. Action scenes were okay but more detail would have been nice. Dialogue was a bit rough, dry at times, and somewhat pointless. Sound and soundtrack were decent.

It may be hard to keep a good zombie down, but it seems to be even more difficult to make a solid zombie flick. While the zombies in Re-Kill are pretty good with a higher rating than some on the scary-scale, the rest of the film just didn't support them well. Die-hard zombie fans may find some entertainment here but probably not much.

With violence, gore, foul language, and some sexuality this should be fine for older teens and above.

Released: 2015
Reviewed: 3.20.16
Star rating: 1 out of 5
Genre: Zombies, Horror, Apocalyptic films, Sci-Fi Horror, Action Horror

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: First Response

When Dermot is shot during a robbery gone bad his brother, Austin, hijacks an ambulance to get him help. While forcing EMT Camilla to perform emergency surgery her partner, Gerry, is commanded to drive the ambulance and elude police.

Dania Ramirez (Camilla), Kristopher Turner (Gerry), Joris Jarsky (Austin), Adam Butcher (Dermot), Graham Abbey (Spencer), Jefferson Brown (Bryan), Mark Slacke (Kyle), Helena Marie (Sarah), Peter Dillon (Detective).

First Response kicks off pretty well with two parallel plot lines that serve to setup the main plot and introduce the characters. Once the ambulance is hijacked the plot lines converge and the film finally finds footing as a crime thriller. The rest of the show is a suspense filled ride with some nice twists and turns. The film even finishes with a nicely done, if expected, twist.

Acting was decent in this one with Ramirez feeling genuine throughout. Turner was okay but felt a bit out of place, or detached, at times. Jarsky brought good intensity and delivered well. Brown and Butcher did nicely with smaller roles, and the rest of the cast felt pretty solid.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were nothing unusual but done well nonetheless. Action scenes were mild for the most part but fit the film well. Dialogue was a big part of this one with a nice contrast between characters that generated momentum while keeping the storyline interesting. Sound and soundtrack were mild but fitting.

As a crime thriller First Response does fairly well. The plot concept is good and technical work is enjoyable. That said, energy in the film felt inconsistent lending itself to solid entertainment punctuated with periods of near boredom. While some may enjoy this one a lot, others may find it too bland for their tastes.

With some foul language, drug use, and violence this should be fine for older teens and above.

Released: 2015
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Thriller, Crime Thriller, Suspense, Crime Suspense, Crime Drama

copyright ©2015 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation

Ethan and team are back and this time they are hunting the Syndicate, an international rogue organization committed to eradicating the IMF. But this time they may have met their match as the Syndicate seems to always be several steps ahead of everyone else.

Tom Cruise (Ethan), Jeremy Renner (Brandt), Simon Pegg (Benji), Rebecca Ferguson (Ilsa), Ving Rhames (Luther), Sean Harris (Lane), Alec Baldwin (Hunley), Simon McBurney (Atlee), Jens Hulten (Janik).

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation launches right into things with Ethan disavowed and striking out against the Syndicate - an international rogue organization focused on the elimination of the IMF. As the plot unfolds we learn Lane, the Syndicate leader, is determined to eliminate Ethan at any cost. While the plot is decent, these films are really about the action, adventure, and excitement. On that front MI: Rogue Nation delivers fairly well blending action, intrigue, and mystery nicely.

Acting was good as usual here. Cruise delivered his usual in a role he knows well and manages pretty well. Renner and his character seemed to change a bit with a less active role and more anger, which he presented nicely. Pegg was fun as usual blending humor and drama well. Ferguson was solid, as was Rhames. Harris made a good nemesis and brought a nice creepy factor to the film. The remainder of the cast was solid and did well.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds are always enjoyable in these films with grand sets, scenery, and well done technical work. Action scenes were nicely done even if a few were over the top and beyond belief. Dialogue was enjoyable with decent depth. Sound and soundtrack were the usual MI fare.

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation is another good entry in the MI franchise, delivering the energy and depth we have come to expect. While the series is enjoyable, one has to wonder how long Cruise can continue to present himself as an action hero. Until he can't, we'll continue to enjoy the MI franchise as fast, fun, and entertaining.

With plenty of violence and some brief mild nudity, this should be fine for teens and above.

Released: 2015
Reviewed: 3.18.16
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: Action & Adventure, Espionage Action, Spy Thrillers, Action Thriller, Adventure

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Salvage Dawgs

The owners of Black Dog Salvage, Robert and Mike, search for hidden treasure inside the houses and other buildings they purchase through auction, or a hired to clear.

Robert Kulp, Mike Whiteside

Basically Robert, Mike, and their crew remove or otherwise disassemble buildings and their components to salvage interesting items for resale or repurposing. While exactly how they acquire the jobs they are working is never made clear, they do seem to get involved with some interesting messes. And there is some interesting demolition and repurposing in the series. Unfortunately, that's about all there is to this series. Much of the series is focused on discussions of how to tear things apart, and tearing things apart. The result is a rather dry series that while intermittently interesting is not quite reliably entertaining.

As a reality series the 'acting' is always questionable. While Robert, Mike, and others in the series do okay, this isn't one to be selected for the quality performances.

Camera work is fairly well done and does a decent job of showing the locations and items being salvaged. Locations were somewhat interesting and obviously natural. Technical work also did a fair job of showing the process involved in demolition and salvage. Dialogue was a bit dry and appears largely unscripted. Sound was decent.

As far as reality shows go, this is one of the less entertaining options in my opinion. If you are honing your salvage skills this series might mean more to you, but if you are looking for polished entertainment this probably isn't the hidden gem you had hoped for.

Nothing here to limit audience age.

Released: 2012
Reviewed: 3.16.16
Star rating: 2 out of 5
Genre: TV shows, Reality TV

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Person of Interest

What to do when you build an AI that identifies people who will be involved in crimes? Hire an ex-CIA assassin to help find them. And when the government decides your work, and the lives you save, are irrelevant? Go rogue.

Michael Emerson (Harold), Jim Caviezel (Reese), Amy Acker (Root), Kevin Chapman (Fusco), Taraji Henson (Carter), Sarah Shahi (Shaw), Enrico Colantoni (Elias), John Nolan (Greer), Robert Burke (Simmons).

Person of Interest is a series predicated on a simple premise; Harold built an AI for the government to use against domestic terror. The AI however predicts all criminal acts so the government classifies all but national threats as irrelevant. Harold teams up with Reese to address these irrelevant crimes and save lives. The result is a series that varies with every episode while nicely maintaining long-term series storylines, growing the characters, and regularly pushing the limits.

Acting here is nicely done with Caviezel doing a surprisingly good job despite persistent mumbling. Emerson grew nicely during the series, delivering well consistently. Acker was fun, sexy, and very entertaining. Chapman did well, as did Henson. Shahi was also a bright spot, despite mumbling, and did exceptionally well in her role. The remainder of the varied supporting cast was quite enjoyable.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds are all well done with a solid, big-budget feel throughout. Action scenes were common in the series and nicely done with an authentic feel and good detail. Dialogue was great with variety and depth that held audience attention nicely. Sound and soundtrack were good.

Person of Interest takes the common concept of electronic surveillance and dives into the details giving us a series with good depth and intensity while keeping a foot grounded in reality. Those who enjoy a good spy thriller or crime action flick should enjoy this one.

With some violence, this should be fine for teens and above.

Released: 2015 (Season 4)
Reviewed: 3.9.16
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: Action, Drama, Mystery, TV Crime, TV Action

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Running Scared (2006)

When he is entrusted with disposing of a gun used to kill corrupt cops Joey hopes it will gain him favor with his crime boss. Instead holding onto the gun turns out to be a comedy of errors compounded as every cop and criminal is also looking for Joey and the gun.

Paul Walker (Joey), Cameron Bright (Oleg), Vera Farmiga (Teresa), Alex Neuberger (Nicky), Chazz Palminteri (Det. Rydell), Johnny Messner (Tommy), Arthur Nascarella (Frankie), John Noble (Ivan).

Running Scared begins well enough, jumping right to the storyline even as character introductions continue. Once the main plot shows up the film settles into a pretty good pace with Joey repeatedly coming close to finding the gun and fixing things. No matter what he does though, it seems like Joey can never quite fix things and they just get worse with every turn. The story finally wraps up with the typical action packed ending and a few twists to prep for a sequel we hope never comes.

Acting was okay here, but probably should have been better considering the cast. Walker gave us his usual with the exception of a strange drawl that just didn't work. Bright was creepily good as always. Farmiga was enjoyable in what, for her, was a more traditional role. And of course Palminteri delivered his usual in a role he was made for.

Camera work was interesting with some odd color choices and an almost CGI feel at times. Sets and backgrounds seemed solid and realistic. Action scenes were numerous, non-stop, and enjoyable throughout. The hockey rink scene was particularly intense. Dialogue was okay but more depth, and possibly a reality check, would have been nice. Sound and soundtrack were okay.

When the running stops, Running Scared turns out to be a decent, entry-level crime action flick. Though it doesn't bring anything new to the genre, the film has a good pace and plenty of action. Even so, it hardly justifies the 2 hour run time.

With plenty of graphic and persistent violence, sexuality, foul language, and drug use save this one for older teens and above.

Released: 2006
Reviewed: 3.9.16
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Action & Adventure, Action Thriller, Crime Action, Crime, Gangsters

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Zipper

Sam is a successful attorney with his career on the fast-track and a wonderful family. Researching escort services as part of a case it doesn't take long before Sam becomes a repeat client with a growing obsession for women that he must hide if he doesn't want his life to change.

Patrick Wilson (Sam), Lena Headey (Jeannie), Ray Winstone (Coaker), Richard Dreyfuss (George), John Cho (EJ), Dianna Agron (Dalia), Christopher McDonald (Peter), Alexandra Breckenridge (Christy).

Zipper begins well as we are introduced to Sam and his life. Once the introductions are complete and we have the big picture, Sam begins interacting with escorts and his decline into an obsession with lust begins. What we see next is the downward spiral of Sam's life as he tries to hold things together. The film finally concludes with what could hardly be called an ending as nothing had changed for Sam.

Acting was okay with Wilson fitting his role well and delivering nicely. Headey was enjoyable with solid emotion and apparent good fit with Wilson. Dreyfuss was interesting though I almost didn't recognize him at first. Winstone, Agron, and the remainder of the supporting cast felt solid, experienced, and delivered nicely.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were good with a realistic and solid feel. The few action scenes were mild but nicely done. Dialogue was nicely done here with good depth and detail that did a nice job of fleshing out the plot and keeping things moving. Sound and soundtrack were good.

Once the clean sheets are back on the bed Zipper is revealed to be a decent drama despite a somewhat persistent lack of energy and a connection to the characters that is never realized. As a result we walked away from this film feeling like nothing much happened.

With extensive nudity and sexuality, foul language, and brief drug use save this one for the oldest teens and above.

Released: 2015
Reviewed: 3.7.16
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Drama, Independent Drama, Thriller, Independent Thriller

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Contracted: Phase II

Contracted: Phase II takes over where the first film ended. With Sam now gone, Riley searches for a cure to the virus that killed her before it can do the same to him and the rest of the world. But hunting down a sexually transmitted zombie virus might be harder than it sounds.

Matt Mercer (Riley), Marianna Palka (Crystal), Morgan Brown (BJ), Anna Lore (Harper), Laurel Vail (Brenda), Peter Cilella (James), Najarra Townsend (Sam), Suzanne Voss (Margie), Charley Koontz (Zain).

In the first film Sam is consumed by the zombie virus so in Contracted: Phase II the storyline follows Riley who apparently caught the virus from Sam before she died. With a few flashbacks to help with context, we follow along as Riley is ravaged by the disease in various ways. At the same time he is trying to find a cure without letting anyone know he has a zombie STD. The result is an extravaganza of gore but not much else.

Acting was okay with Mercer doing reasonably well. Lore was mildly interesting and seemed to work well with Mercer. The remainder of the supporting cast was decent but never felt like they had much energy behind this one.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds left a bit to be desired with quite a lot of darker scenes that were a challenge. Sets and backgrounds were pretty good even if some did feel cheap and easy. Special effects however were pretty good with nice makeup, costuming, and plenty of gruesome gore. Dialogue was frequently bland, as was the soundtrack.

If you are a hardcore horror fan who thrives on gore you will probably enjoy this one. If however you are hoping for a new approach to zombies you may be slightly disappointed as this is more about Riley and the gore than it is about zombies.

With gore, gore, gore, sexuality, mild nudity, foul language, and some drug use, save this one for older teens and above.

Released: 2015
Reviewed: 2.29.16
Star rating: 2 out of 5
Genre: Horror, Zombies, Thrillers, Sci-Fi Horror, Independent Horror

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: The Girl in the Book

Though her boss is a bit of a jerk, Alice is doing well as an editorial assistant at a New York publishing house. But when an older novelist from her past who seduced her as a teen becomes a client, her life and work become much more complicated as Alice must confront a part of her past she believed was over.

Emily VanCamp (Alice), Michael Nyqvist (Milan), Ana Mulvoy-Ten (Young Alice), Talia Balsam (Mom), Ali Ahn (Sadie), Mason Yam (Tyler), Courtney Daniels (Lynn), Jordan Lage (Jack), Michael Cristofer (Dad).

The Girl in the Book is a bit slow to start while character introductions and plot setup take place. As the main plot begins to unfold things get a bit more interesting but there is a fair amount here that isn't explained. Instead the film gives just enough information for us to question things like morality and sexuality without simply accepting them as presented. The result is a somewhat disturbing story that tries to softly engage the subjects of child molestation, manipulation, and promiscuity.

Acting from VanCamp was good with nice delivery of emotion and energy. Nyqvist delivered well, and seemed to work well with VanCamp. Mulvoy-Ten fit her role very well and did quite nicely throughout. The remainder of the supporting cast was solid and enjoyable.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds felt pretty good if somewhat bland but natural at the same time. Dialogue was enjoyable with enough depth for the storyline without feeding us every thought the film was intended to generate. Sound and soundtrack were good.

The Girl in the Book was interesting but not energetic. This is a film that may have intense impact on some and even be triggering, while others may find it a plodding and slow drama that lacks energy. Strong drama fans should enjoy this the most.

With some disturbing sexuality and adult situations, save this one for older mature teens and above.

Released: 2015
Reviewed: 2.28.16
Star rating: 2 out of 5
Genre: Drama, Independent Drama, Independent Movies

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Jurassic World

Some twenty years after Jurassic Park, a new theme park is built on the original site promising even greater attractions. Jurassic World is a hit but like all entertainment, the constant push for more leads to the creation of more dangerous and hard to control attractions.

Chris Pratt (Owen), Bryce Howard (Claire), Irrfan Khan (Masrani), Vincent D'Onofrio (Hoskins), Ty Simpkins (Gray), Nick Robinson (Zach), Jake Johnson (Lowery), Omar Sy (Barry), BD Wong (Dr. Wu), Judy Greer (Karen).

Jurassic Park was a hit, and a disaster, and as usual with time all has been forgotten. Now a new park has been built; Jurassic World. But the push for more exciting attractions leads to the creation of new dinosaurs and Jurassic World soon loses control of their newest nasty creation. With the park located on an island, the horde of tourists at the park struggle to stay alive long enough to escape.

Acting was surprisingly enjoyable in this 4th installment of the franchise. Pratt presented nicely and seemed to work with others well. Howard was pretty good and shows good potential. Khan was a nice fit and delivered well. D'Onofrio delivered his usual in a role that fit him well. The remainder of the supporting cast was solid and enjoyable.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were good with nice detail and depth that fit the film very nicely. CGI was king here though, being heavily used throughout the film and quite well done. Action scenes were pretty intense with good detail and a solid impression. Dialogue was okay though some plot points were not made very well. Sound and soundtrack were good.

Overall this is a decent extension of the franchise. The storyline continues much in the theme of the original which is nice however, the violence and gore in this one was a bit surprising. Some minor parallel plot lines keep things interesting while the action moves the film along at a good pace.

While this may be a good choice for family movie night as the film is entertaining for both adults and younger viewers, carefully consider this one for younger viewers due to the violence and gore. With some mild sexuality along with the violence and gore, this should be fine for older teens and above.

Released: 2015
Reviewed: 2.28.16
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Action Sci-Fi, Action & Adventure

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Elsewhere

When Sarah’s friend Jillian goes missing she realizes there is something wrong in her small town and that young girls seem to disappear frequently. Trying to follow a path of strange clues with the help of her friend Jasper, they struggle to understand what has happened to Jillian.

Anna Kendrick (Sarah), Paul Wesley (Billy), Tania Raymonde (Jillian), Chuck Carter (Jasper), Olivia York (Darla Tod), Jon Gries (Mr. Tod).

This one kicks off with quite a bit of character development that almost lasts too long. There is some excitement thrown in up front and fortunately it is just enough to keep things moving. Once the plot development starts things get much more interesting and the movie becomes quite enjoyable despite the teen thriller type theme. The plot was good but seemed simplistic to me as I had narrowed down the list of suspects to two pretty early on in the film, though it was still quite entertaining.

Acting by Kendrick, Wesley, Carter, York and Gries was much better than expected particularly considering several of them are rather inexperienced. Raymonde was the biggest disappointment with barely credible acting in a role that was completely necessary to the film. Once she was out of things the acting quality improved dramatically.

Sets, background, dialogue and camera work were all nicely done. More so considering this is an independent film with the quality of a studio production. I didn’t expect much from this film and was nicely surprised at the quality of most every element. Nothing earth-shattering to be had but still, a quality well done thriller.

Some sexual content, drug and alcohol use, foul language, and violence so save this one for older teens and above.

Released: 2008
Reviewed: 2.23.16
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller, Crime Thriller, Mystery

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Firestarter 2: Rekindled – 2002

Charlie, the girl with pyrokinetic abilities to light fires with thought, has grown up in hiding resulting from Rainbird’s desire to use her as the ultimate weapon and his views that she is a God. Years later Rainbird has matured into a child psychologist and entrenched himself at a weapons development lab where he has continued his experiments with mind altering drugs and the Lot series of tests. Now with a small army of young boys who have various extreme psychological abilities an unknowing employee of his, Vincent, has located Charlie and Rainbird wants her back!

Marguerite Moreau (Charlie), Malcolm McDowell (Rainbird), Dennis Hopper (Richardson), Danny Nucci (Vincent), Darnell Williams (Gil).

Although this wasn’t exactly billed as a continuation of the Stephen King story and the original film, the expectation is that it would be. It wasn’t however, as this film rewrote some of the original story to support the plot. That would be fine as this was a well done film but it was disappointing that the flashbacks used to outline the original story weren’t clips from the original film but were actually remade. At that point this film ceased to be a sequel.

As a stand-alone film, this is very good. At almost 3 hours, the plot background and character development are wonderful and make for good emotional investment. The plot in this film was well done despite deviance and conflict with the original story. I was disappointed that Gil and Rainbird weren’t as menacing as in either the book or the original film but, I did enjoy the addition of Vincent and more involvement of Richardson. Moreau made a very good Charlie and as a bonus, is very easy on the eyes.

Acting, dialogue, sets and camera work were well done throughout. Special effects weren’t incredible but were consistent with the story and fit the film perfectly.

This was a made for TV series so other than a couple of questionable intimate scenes, this one can be viewed by preens and above. One does not need to see the original to enjoy this film either so put this one about the middle of your Must See list.

Released: 2002
Reviewed: 2.23.16
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: Horror, Supernatural Horror, TV movies, Sci-Fi, Thriller

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Chaos

When a bank robbery goes wrong Lorenz is left holding a bunch of hostages and calls for Det. Conners, a disgraced but notorious ex-cop, to negotiate with him. Capt. Jenkins reluctantly brings him back but teams him up with rookie Det. Dekker. And when the bad guys escape the bank Conners, Dekker and Galloway find themselves chasing Lorenz who seems to be part ghost.

Jason Statham (Det. Conners), Ryan Phillippe (Det. Dekker), Wesley Snipes (Lorenz), Henry Czerny (Capt. Jenkins), Justine Waddell (Det. Galloway).

This was a very enjoyable action, cop, suspense, mystery movie. The movie started off well with good background lending itself to strong character development. The plot got a bit tough to follow at points as it became more and more convoluted but the twist at the end was worth the price of some confusion.

I wasn’t expecting much from Phillippe but he did a good job playing the emotionless cop trying not to get involved in the personal issues. Statham and Snipes did well as always and Waddell was a nice addition to the supporting cast. Czerny did a great job as the semi-corrupt police Captain with a serious attitude problem.

Camera work and stunts were quality throughout, as were sets. Dialogue curves in combination with the overall plot were thought provoking up to the end.

Overall, a very enjoyable action and mystery flick that I wouldn’t mind seeing again.

Take the R rating seriously with lots of violence and foul language and save this one for teens and above.

Released: 2005
Reviewed: 2.23.16
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: Action & Adventure, Action Thriller, Crime Action, Crime Drama

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: When a Stranger Calls

A remake of the 1979 thriller, Jill is babysitting at a house out in the middle of nowhere when she starts getting strange phone calls. Things just get stranger when she police trace the calls as coming from inside the house.

Camilla Belle (Jill Johnson), Katie Cassidy (Tiffany), Tommy Flanagan (Stranger).

Maybe I’ve just seen this story to many times but it doesn’t do much on the scare factor scale anymore. In this version, we don’t even see Stranger until over an hour into the movie. And you never see his face until the very end of the movie. Even the children aren’t seen until well into the film when they are suddenly in danger but, since there has been no character development for them it is hard to feel their fear.

Acting by Belle was mediocre at best. I didn’t feel her communicate the fear or emotion of her character very well. Supporting actors did well but their appearances were so brief there wasn’t time for a connection with any of them. Camera work was well done and the house set was wonderful. Sound and dialogue were nicely done but not exciting at all.

If you truly want a good horror flick you could do much better than this one.

The PG-13 rating is about right with no nudity, little foul language, and surprisingly little blood and guts.

Released: 2006
Reviewed: 2.23.16
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Horror, Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Teen Scream, Suspense

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Prom Night

Donna and her friends are finally at their anxiously awaited Senior Prom. Unfortunately on the same night a teacher previously obsessed with Donna, and serving time in prison, escapes. Determined to live out his obsession, he will make the prom a night to remember for everyone.

Brittany Snow (Donna), Scott Porter (Bobby), Jessica Stroup (Claire), Dana Davis (Lisa), Johnathon Schaech (Richard Fenton), Idris Elba (Detective Winn).

Sadly, the plot of this movie is a thin veil for a run of the mill slasher flick and is barely even needed.

Schaech and Elba were two of the most experienced actors in the film and it showed. Both of them delivered very good performances while the rest of the cast left something to be desired. I actually had a hard time feeling bad as people were killed and was almost cheering as the shrill screaming whiney teens were eliminated. This film truly came across as aimed at the PG-13 crowd and lacked the depth needed for an adult audience in many ways.

Camera work was okay although some of the flash shots were too quick and got repetitive. Special effects weren’t very interesting, nor was sound. Dialogue was Jr. High School at best and again, lacked any depth.

I would say teens and above should be fine with this one. I don’t recall any nudity although there was some language, violence and blood. Adults can skip this one, teens will probably enjoy it.

Released: 2008
Reviewed: 2.23.16
Star rating: 2 out of 5
Genre: Horror, Teen Screams, Slashers and Serial Killers, Mystery

copyright ©2016 Dave Riedel

Movie review: 50 First Dates

Henry is a complete player until he meets Lucy, with whom he immediately falls in love. After a great day they decide to have a date tomorrow but the next day, Lucy has no clue who he is. That is when Henry finds out Lucy was in a car accident and has no short term memory. Her father, Marlin, and brother, Doug, basically reset everything in their lives every day  so that she can live the same day of her life over and over again without trauma.

Adam Sandler (Henry), Drew Barrymore (Lucy Whitmore), Rob Schneider (Ula), Sean Astin (Doug Whitmore), Dan Aykroyd (Dr. Keats), Blake Clark (Marlin Whitmore).

The summary makes this sound like a drama and complete chick flick (which I guess it is), but it is actually a hysterical comedy. I’m not a huge Sandler fan, he is usually just okay with me, but this film was very funny. Henry trying every day to get Lucy’s attention in unusual ways is great. And when he has to make her actually fall in love with him every day it gets even better.

Schneider is absolutely hilarious as a Hawaiian native, surfer, stoner, father, marine lover and Barrymore actually has pretty good chemistry with Sandler. Astin had me rolling with his lisp and ego. The plot did get a bit slow and more romance or drama focused toward the end but overall this was still a very entertaining movie.

As mentioned, acting was great by everyone. Camera work was well done with good sets and very few special effects. Soundtrack was nicely done with good music, and dialogue was well done.

As with most Sandler films, there is a fair amount of sexual innuendo both visual and verbal and some mild foul language. Preens and above should be fine viewing this one.

Released: 2004
Reviewed: 2.23.16
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: Comedy, Romantic Comedy

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