Scre4m - (2011)

I really can't express how much I had riding on this film. Scream was the birth of the modern age of Horror as far as I am concerned and different from many, I actually liked it. Before then we were actually seeing a lot of the same crappy, grainy, body count films with not much to them. Sure there were stand outs, but it was a dry time for horror. Scream came along and suddenly horror was fun again, while still allowed to be bloody and terrifying. Scream 2 lived up to itself, not surpassing the first one but adding to the mythos of the over all franchise much like Halloween 2 (The originals, not the Zombie abortions) did.

The rules of a trilogy sucking could not have hit the franchise harder with the nonsensical Scream 3 hit and most of us were not only sure the franchise was DOA, but were thankful of not having it run into the ground like so many others. Once Kevin Williamson was no longer behind the pen, the movie wasn't worth making.

When I first heard this one was being done my first questions were if Williamson was back and who of the cast would return after all these years. The reason I saw the film so "early" (for me anything under 3 months after release is "early" since I don't go to theaters!) was I was sure I'd hit a spoiler without intending to and the movie I have waited this long to see would be tainted. So I don't want to scare anyone off, there are no spoilers here. I'm not even going to go into particulars. But I do think this was the perfect storm of a Scream movie and every frame came out exactly how I would have asked.

The "celebrity kill" to start the film off was right up there with Drew Barrymore's. The big reveal and who was doing what was pitch perfect not only for the movies, but for the times we live in. It hit every nail on every head I could have asked for. I also have a lot more respect for Scream's treatment of The final Girl than anything they did in the later Halloween Films.

If you are a fan of the first two films, I honestly do not see how you can't love this one. The key word is 'Meta' and I think they do that VERY well.

Eyecandy is fairly sparse in this film unless you like fully dressed high school boys played by 20 something actors. But I have a Lady Boner for both Neve and Hayden (And Anna Paquin and Kristin Bell!), so there was plenty to keep me watching the screen. Plus, you know, the film was actually GOOD.

Thank you Kevin and Wes for bringing me the film I had hoped you'd make. You can feel free to make 10 more if they are this well done and all of you stay on. =)

Hereafter (2010)

I know it's not a "Horror" film and I have several that NEED to be written up. But this one was actually asked for.
Hopefully Rift's servers will go down or something and I will write up the others. I cannot belive it's been three months since I posted! What the HELL?

Let's get a couple of nit picks out of the way first. Completely in the realm of 'suspension of disbelief' this movie was seriously suffering from Hollywood Parking. The Cooking Class Scenes. Watch for it.

Jay Mohr used to be cute. But I think his face is blending together. Maybe he's getting fat or went under the knife but whatever happened... it looks like he's melting. It was distracting. Thankfully he's not around THAT much and Damon manages to steal the scenes anyway.

I should state that I dislike Damon for the same reason I dislike most people that appear on things like Perez Hilton and the cover of other Celeb-Stalker publications. Once they get "known", it sometimes becomes hard to separate Actor from Character. I've never seen an Angelina Jolie movie where I literally stopped thinking I was seeing HER playing so-and-so. In this film is was actually easy to let Matt Damon go and accept this as the story of George. His vulnerability, his hopelessness, all of it was very real. I have to thank an actor when they do that, they enable the immersion when they do their jobs well.

The other stunner was Bryce Dallas Howard. I guess I have seen her in several movies and never made the connection it was the same woman. She's amazing. From the naive lead of The Village, the mysterious Story in Lady In The Water, Gwen Stacey in Spiderman 3 and Victoria in the Twilight films, this girl is a chameleon. I'd cast her as Harley Quinn, and that's about the highest honor ANY actress could get from me.

I can't say enough about the The McLauren twins, Frankie and George,  who both play twins and alternate roles so they look "even more alike". They are nothing short of heartbreaking. The understanding and resignation of what's happening is conveyed with VERY little dialog on their part. They share one of the strongest moments in the film and it's just amazing to watch.

Thierry Neuvic is absolutely stunning every time he steps on screen. His IMDB resume is huge and not a single good picture of him, so I capped one for you..

There are shots of him in the film (perfect lighting, hair and makeup of course) where he will take your breath away. It's almost a distraction. Thankfully Cecile De France has enough screen presence to stand next him. Her story is the weakest, but none of that has to do with the performances, rather her lackluster 'brush with death' schtick. With the other two stories being so strong and unique, hers just fails to stand up. You still care and it's not that it's boring, it's just not as strong. In this maelstrom of emotions this movie wants to play with, more strength would have made the film devastating.

There is a gut punch or two in the movie. I really didn't expect to react to either situation but damned if Eastwood didn't manage to manipulate me into a corner. I was caught off guard and face melted. Pwned as it were. I have to give him props for doing his job. There is a big set piece SFX shot, but it's done well and managed to pull me in. Another later scene could have been a mess and pushed it over the line, but it was actually so subtle it was terrifying. Michael Bay would have missed that one.

The three stories actually do manage to collide and touch each of the main characters but it never really gets to a point where they stretch believability. Unfortunately it never really has much to say on the subject either. The ending is very vague and ultimately doesn't even answer it's own questions. Ultimately this is a story that is in the journey, not the destination. And that may be it's biggest weakness. When you set yourself up to ask "What happens after we die" you really need to make a stronger statement than.... *shrug*

As a character piece and "watch actors acting" movie, it was top notch all the way around. I just wish the story and message had been stronger and with more of an emotional conclusion. Over all worth seeing but don't expect it to be that heavy.

***Eyecandy**
The man candy here should be fairly obvious. I'll even give it to Damon with a little weight on and the touch of grey in his hair, he starting to look like a man. Thierry up there is like a combination of Kyle Bornheimer and Danny Dyer and the first time we lay eyes on him he is sprawled out on the bed asleep in nothing but boxers. He later gets up and wanders around a bit. Not skin, but still candy. Other than that, the story really gets in the way even though there is no clothing removed after the opener.