New Release - Let The Right One In

Let the right one in is a dark, disturbing vision of a troubled adolescent who dreams only of revenge. In an isolated town, snow drifts through the night sky as Oskar stares longingly, cold and alone. A dishevelled truck pulls up outside his window and out steps Eli, the young (or old?) vampire who is about to disrupt his life.

This is not your average vampire film. If carlsberg did vampire films, they would probably make this one, it is an outstanding horror film, with equal doses of drama and romance that serve to make the scares far more chilling as well as adding depth to an enchanting story. While recent vampire films tend to focus on action and gore, Alfredson uses it sparingly and to great effect, clearly aware that on screen violence is much more shocking and powerful when the audience share a connection with the characters.

Vampire fans will instantly recognise the title's reference to vampire lore, the creatures can only enter a house when invited in, and it is pleasing to see a vampire film that breaks away from the genre in terms of storytelling and character development rather than the reinvention of vampire legacy seen in films such as Blade and 30 days of night. Let the right one in has more in common with early horrors such as Nosferatu and Vampyr, creating an unsettling atmosphere and building up suspense as the story develops. The two young actors are stunning as Oskar and Eli, creating very believable characters who are bought together through a shared sense of isolation.

As Oskar gradually realises that Eli is not human, he begins to confront his fears as the town around him is sent into a panic due to a number of deaths in mysterious circumstances. It is the growth of Oskars character that really sets this film aside and the final pay off is an extraordinary scene reminiscent of the bloody prom night in Carrie when a prank goes horribly wrong.

Let the right one in probably won't be given a major release in the UK which is a huge shame, although it is very rare to see a subtitled film in any mainstream cinema. Fortunately, it is released in the UK on the 10th April and will be showing in Stoke film theatre, although dates are yet to be confirmed. Do yourself a big favour and watch this film, you won't be disappointed.

9/10

The trailer for the film is on a previous post - Upcoming horror films, just scroll down the page.

If you liked this film, you will also enjoy these:
Near Dark
Carrie
Mean Creek
The Lost Boys

Awful Films II

Doubt - I cannot believe that rubbish like this gets nominated for Oscars, it's basically Meryl Streep and Phillip Seymour Hoffman arguing for two hours. Meryl thinks that Phillip has touched a young black child. We never find out if he actually has or not and to be honest, i couldn't care less.

Synecdoche, New York - Another awful film starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman, is this the start of a pattern? This is a big confusing mess. I had high hopes as the director has been involved with modern greats such as eternal sunshine and being John Malkovich but this film gets lost up its own arse hole.

They Live - I don't really know why i watched a film where the main character is played by Rowdy Roddy Piper of WWF fame but i did. It was an awful sci-fi action flick but there was one line i really enjoyed; 'i love kickin ass and chewin' bubble gum, and i'm all out of bubble gum.' You tell those bad guys roddy!

The Mist - Frank Darabont and Stephen King collaborations are generally winners, Shawshank redemption and green mile being two of my favourite films. This was a disaster. Loads of big tentacles attacking a mall while a religious nutter causes riots in the supermarket. About as scary as a day out at Llandudno.

The Burrowers - A horror film set in the wild west? Would have been a brilliant idea if it hadn't been done before with ravenous, and also it would have been brilliant to use a creature that didn't resemble a giant crawling turd.

Sleuth - Let's put Laurence olivier and Michael Caine in a house for two and a half hours both playing devious tricks on each other. Erm, no, lets not because that is a daft idea and would make for a really boring film.

Billy Madison - We all have irrational likes and dislikes of certain people, i cannot stand Adam Sandler. He's in this film. To be honest though i think it would be awful even if he wasn't in it. I can gladly say that i didn't choose to watch this either but was forced to sit through it - never again.

Watchmen - Okay, i'm lying, it isn't awful but its just another film that's been overhyped and is a case of style over substance much like Sin City or Constantine. I decided to go and watch it at the IMAX as i had never been before and i must say i'm glad that in this world we have the technology available to watch a larger than life blue penis dancing around a gigantic screen for the best part of three hours. Watchmen is worth a look, just don't head to the cinema expecting too much.

Upcoming films

Bronson

This film is causing quite a stir at the moment with its comparisons to A clockwork orange due to the highly disturbing nature of the violence. Any film that receives a comparison to one of Kubrick's finest films is bound to appeal to most avid film fans! If the trailer is anything to go by, it looks like an English version of Chopper, following the life of a reckless criminal through prison and onwards. I'm also enjoying the presence of Matt King, who is more commonly known as Superhans from Peep Show. This should be well worth a look:



Franklyn

Franklyn was released in the UK on the 27th of Feb but as usual, smaller independent films are never given the chance to shine as most cinemas prefer to play the usual generic Hollywood rubbish such as Marley and me and He's just not that into you. I am really looking forward to watching this but unfortunately its not showing anywhere near Stoke. I love intelligent sci-fi movies, they are few and far between and this trailer incites comparisons to Dark City and V for Vendetta which can only be considered a good thing:



Carriers

28 Days later was an inspired piece of film-making that reinvented the zombie movie and while Carries does come across as a cheap knock-off of Danny Boyle's classic horror in the trailer, the reviews have been very positive so far. Films which deal with post apocalyptic situations are always entertaining and this should be no exception:



Timecrimes

This low budget sci-fi comes across as very similar to the excellent and very under-rated indie flick Primer that was released back in 2004. The fact that its a spanish time travel film may put off a lot of audiences but the subject of time travelling has produced some incredible films such as Twelve monkeys, Donnie Darko and The butterfly effect. Definitely one to watch out for, Timecrimes comes to DVD on May 4th:

Film Review - The Proposition

The Proposition

As a keen music fan i was very intrigued by the proposition of watching a film scripted by Nick Cave. A quick glance down the cast list heightened my expectations with many of the actors/actresses having appeared in some of my favourite films; Guy Pearce - Memento, Emily Watson - Angela's Ashes, Ray Winstone - Sexy Beast and John Hurt - Alien.

Centering around three criminal brothers and the lawman out to end their reign of terror, The proposition is an unsettling thriller set in the Australian outback. In a cruel twist of fate, Charlie Burns, played by Guy Pearce, is told that his younger brother will go free if he takes the life of his older brother. The premise of the story is where the films strength lies, and as the captivating tale unfolds it quickly becomes apparent that the characters lack the necessary depth for the audience to empathise with them. That's not to say that all of the performances are lacklustre, John Hurt is exceptional as an aged bounty hunter, and Ray Winstone puts in a powerful performance as Captain Stanley, however, i was more captivated by the stunning scenery and superb cinematography than most of the acting. As well as the breathtaking visuals, the haunting soundtrack was perfectly suited to the film's gritty edge, showcasing another of Nick Cave's many talents.

Given time, the characters could have been developed into so much more but with the film running at just over 100 minutes, we are not given a chance to fully appreciate the motivation behind their actions. Despite not having mainstream appeal, this film is still very enthralling, and will certainly please film fans who have an appetite for revenge thrillers.

7/10



If you liked this film, you will also enjoy these:

Dead Man
Unforgiven
The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford
The Three Burials Of Melquiades Estrada

Upcoming Films - Horror Special

Let The Right One In

This swedish vampire movie has become a huge success due to word of mouth and will thankfully be released over here this year so everyone will get to see it. It's probably worth checking out before the Hollywood remake, which has already been given the go ahead, tarnishes the story. It is an incredible film and there will be a review shortly, but for now you can take a look at the trailer:



The Descent 2

I loved the descent, although its based more on jumpy scares than psychological horror, which is usually more effective, it was still a very frightening movie. I know a few people who didn't want to be left alone after watching it! Anyway, I'm not too sure about a sequel, most horror sequels are awful but i am intrigued to see where the story is headed:



Repo! The Genetic Opera

Okay, it looks more Rocky horror than Sweeney Todd, but the style of the film really appeals to me. I also love it when fictional rock bands are created for films like in Strange Days, Queen of the Damned and This is Spinal Tap. Judging from the trailer it's likely to be awful, but I'm still going to check it out when its released for curiosities sake if anything.



Trick 'r treat

Despite receiving very positive feedback from a number of film critics, Trick 'r Treat has still not been released. The trailer has been around for nearly a year and i really want to see his movie! There's been some issue with Warner Bros. that needs resolving and i hope it gets sorted soon - if only for another chance to see Anna Paquin on the big screen.

Awful Films

Every couple of weeks i'll give you an update on all the awful films I watch, so that you don't have to. I don't intentionally go out of my way to watch rubbish films but not everything i look forward to watching turns out as great as i first imagined!

Cries and Whispers - This is an abysmal Swedish film about a woman and her sisters struggling to cope with her illness. Most of the film we just see her in bed screaming and moaning in pain and it really put me off my cheese and cucumber sandwiches. Avoid unless you really like Ingmar Bergman's other films.

The Mutant Chronicles - Ron Perlman and John Malkovich starring? Doesn't sound like a bad film at all. I've seen better special effects in Masters of the Universe though, i think the only people who would enjoy this film probably are mutants themselves.

Keith - Keith! What can i say about this? I think the name says it all really, why on earth did i bother to watch a film called Keith? Serves me right.

Gone Baby Gone - I was disappointed when it was given a limited release in the UK due to the story closely resembling the real life events of Maddie Mcann's disappearance. I shouldn't have been though, what a let down. Not completely rubbish but just your average boring drama.

In The Mouth Of Madness - John Carpenter's horror films are mostly awful. The ones that are outstanding are few and far between and this was just daft. The best bit was when Sam Neill was driving along a road and drove past the same cyclist about seven times but each time he got older. Very scary that was John. Cheers for that.

Ghost In The Shell - At the time it was considered groundbreaking, the ideas behind the film might be groundbreaking, it was a major influence behind the matrix after all but the film in general was terrible. I think the only people who will enjoy this film are geeks who enjoy seeing cartoon women naked.

My Name Is Bruce - The Evil Dead and Bubba Ho-tep are two of my favourite films but i couldn't even sit through all of Bruce Campbell's latest effort. Even his huge chin couldn't save this pile of steaming dog turd.

The Big Sleep - Does exactly what it says on the tin, put me to sleep. The only reason I watched it was cause it was in the IMDB top 250 and i think the people who gave it a 10 must have voted on the basis of how good their snooze was while this film was on.

Tenebrae - Very daft italian horror from the 'master of suspense' Dario Argento. I've seen more suspense in an episode of Eastenders when Robbie Jackson's dog Wellard went missing. It was the first Dario Argento film i've seen as well so it will probably be my last.

New Release - Gran Torino

Clint Eastwood is a bit of a legend. His mere presence in a film is usually enough to give film fans an indication that they are about to watch something special. Despite being 78, he is still an incredibly hard working man, directing and acting in a number of classic films over the past few years. Whilst Gran Torino is not one of his best films, it is still well worth a look, especially as it will be his last appearance on the big screen.

In Gran Torino Eastwood plays Walt Kowalski, an intolerant Vietnam veteran who slowly discovers that he has more in common with his Hmong neighbours than his own family. As Walt is clearly a racist, it is the cathartic process by which he comes to terms with this that drives the story and raises it to a level above most revenge dramas. Eastwood's low growling voice and intense stares still have the same potency they possessed when he appeared in A Fistful of Dollars back in the early sixties, and it is this which enables Walt to take control of almost any violent situation he encounters.

There was no doubt that Eastwood's performance would stand out, he is the only household name in a film full of unkown actors who find it difficult to shine. This is a strange choice as some of Clint's finest films; Mystic river and Unforgiven to name a few, were successful due to the brilliant casting of stars such as Morgan Freeman, Sean Penn and Gene Hackman, which could be an indication that Gran Torino was Clint's final attempt to win an Oscar for best actor.

Gran Torino is a highly enjoyable movie, at times funny, often moving and worth watching for Clint's performance alone. The Curious Case of Benjamin button and Slumdog millionaire may have won all the Oscars but this is a far more accomplished film, and i was surprised at the Academy's decision to ignore it in favour of Eastwood's other recent movie Changeling.

8/10



If you liked this film, you will also enjoy these:

Unforgiven
Dead Man's Shoes
Mystic River
A History Of Violence

Forgotten Classics - The Changeling

The Changeling

Not to be mistaken for Clint Eastwood's recent oscar nominated film 'Changeling', which is also quite good, this is a review of the horror film from the 80s which shares a similar name.

I used to be terrified of horror movies when i was younger, i think everyone can remember their first glimpse of a scary film, but gradually as i grew up horror films no longer had the same effect on me. It now takes a hell of a lot for me to be scared by a movie and The changeling took me completely by surprise. I had no idea what to expect, i had just heard that it was a forgotten classic of the genre and it truly is an extremely creepy and unsettling horror. Unlike modern movies that rely on gore and cheap scares to entertain their audiences, the changeling showcases how an emphasis on psychological scares can be far more terrifying for the viewer.

As well as being a disturbing horror, the changeling is a clever mystery film with George C. Scott playing the role of John Russell, a distraught man who has recently lost his wife and only child. Attempting to escape the trauma and leave the past behind him John moves into a new house but in doing so is confronted by a spirit that constantly plagues the house with strange disturbances. I do not want to reveal too much of the plot but it is a very intelligent movie, with a lot to offer for the avid horror fan. This is an exceptional film, genuinely unsettling and thoroughly entertaining throughout. Not many people have heard of the changeling which is a shame, i would rate it as one of the scariest films i have ever seen, not to be missed.

9/10

Here's the trailer, although i tend to find that trailers never age as well as the films they promote. This trailer makes the changeling look as scary as the notebook. Take my word for it though, watch this film alone in the dark and you will probably have to change your underwear afterwards.



If you liked this film, you will also enjoy these:

Don't Look Now
Poltergeist
The Orphanage
The Shining

Upcoming Films

Until i get the time to get some film reviews written here are a few trailers for you to check out.

The first trailer is for an animated film called 9 which is being produced by Tim Burton. It's based on a short that was nominated for an oscar in 2006 which you can see in its entirety on youtube and is well worth checking out. Not only does the trailer look brilliant it features music from one of my favourite bands Coheed and Cambria so i cannot wait to see this film:



The second trailer is for a Korean film; The good, the bad, the weird. It's the latest film from Ji-woon Kim who horror fans will know as the director behind A tale of two sisters. Although this film won't be having a big release in the UK, it is showing in Stoke film theatre so i will soon be able to upload a review and let you know if it is as entertaining as the trailer looks:



Everyone gets excited when there's a new Tarantino film on the way, and the trailer for Inglourious Basterds looks promising. Brad Pitt is a hugely talented actor but i'm also really looking forward to seeing Michael Fassbender on the big screen again after his fantastic performance in Hunger. Anyway, here's the trailer: