Cooties

Cooties
 

Cooties takes the tired and redundant zombies sub-genre and playfully injects it with some fresh life. It tells the story of a zombie outbreak amongst school children during summer classes when the students consume some tainted chicken nuggets. The opening credits show the chicken nugget making process in great detail in a sequence that's even more vomit inducing than any of the blood and guts zombie effects that come later. When the outbreak takes over it's first victim, a little girl in blonde pigtails, the visible disease causes taunting by the other school kids which leads to them being attacked and infected. Not long after that more kids become infected and it's an all out war between the zombie student body and the few surviving faculty. In a clever twist, the adults can't turn into zombies because they have already gone through puberty, hence the term 'cooties'.

This movie is an all out blast and one hell of a good time! It reminded me of those fun horror-comedies of the 1980's that have gathered such a following over the years such as The Return of the Living Dead and Re-Animator. Even the poster of the skeleton hand holding the lollypop is meant to invoke the skeleton hand ringing the doorbell on the poster for House. So yes, this movie seems to know it's history and uses it very effectively and successfully.

The writing, the cast, and the fast pace are all what make Cooties work. The dialogue is very funny, especially several exchanges between Elijah Wood and Rainn Wilson, these two were spot on in their performances here! Elijah Wood is the perfect life-didn't-turn-out-the-he-planned-had-to-move-back-home boyish dreamer as Clint and Rainn Wilson pulls off the past-his-prime-let-himself-go disillusioned small town gym teacher as Wade with tremendous ease. In the middle of these two is Alison Pill in a very charming and sweet and funny role as Lucy, Wade's girlfriend. There is also very strong and funny supporting performances from Jack McBrayer and Leigh Whannel. Great chemistry among everyone and fun, committed, and energetic performances from them all!

The writing allows for some sympathy and consistent, scattered characterization for all three of the characters that really nailed these folks down as real people. One scene in particular that was both relate-able and touching between Wood and Pill had the two connecting over a conversation about the paths their lives took and the current state of their flailing careers. And that happens while there are little zombie children wandering the school looking for them! It's a great balance of writing between the horror of the zombies, the comedic absurdity of the situation, and the characterizations of the people.

Cooties gets off to a fast start and sets up the story well and then it's a roller coaster ride through the child zombies and adult shenanigans as they figure out how to deal with what's happening. There are plenty of laughs and action along the way, lots of child zombie gore, and tons of fun. Seeing Rainn Wilson clothes-line 4^th graders and spout one-liners like Bruce Willis in Die Hard while wearing silver aviators like Sylvester Stallone in Cobra truly is priceless. Go watch Cooties because it's a great freaking time!

Summit

Summit

Summit is a movie that tells a pretty simple story: 5 college friends head off to what is supposed to be a getaway ski trip but end up arriving at the wrong place, an old abandoned farm house in the middle of nowhere. Throughout the review I will leave out a couple key plot points because they could be seen as spoilers. I will just say the group gets stranded at the house for longer than they anticipate.

Other than a well written dialogue filled scene in the very beginning, Summit is a solid character driven horror with relationships between the group explored through conversation and actions and not direct, out of place, awkward sounding exposition. The group of friends is like a group out of Friday the 13^th stopping at Camp Crystal Lake, except it's not as simple as a masked maniac chasing them down and killing them one by one. When they arrive at the abandoned house in the middle of the night and decide to investigate, they come to the conclusion that the GPS must be broken. With nowhere to go and not being sure where they are, the group decides to stay in the old house and try to find something nearby in the morning when it is light outside.

We learn early on that one character is a bit of a practical joker and this character insight helps the tension when the group is walking through the house at night to ensure there is no one in it. The audience expects a boo scare or a joke and although we do get one, it is early on in the scene and a minor moment. After that we expect a fake scream, a door to slam, or a loud bang all in the name of a joke but it never happens. The audience is left with several moments of holding their breath as the group wanders from dark room to dark room with the sounds of their footsteps on the dusty floors and the opening of creaky doors serving as the soundtrack. It's a great moment in the film and a promising performance from the filmmakers for creating such a patiently crafted and tension building sequence.

The picture itself looked great. The night scenes were dark with enough lighting to see the actors and the exterior snow scenes during the day were clear and sharp and not overexposed. While some of the group were exploring the outside surroundings of the abandoned house hoping to find a neighboring house or a road with cars, the endless snow and abundance of dead trees create a disorienting environment and feeling of never-ending sameness in terms of landscape. This highly increased the dreadful feeling of being lost and really added to the 'middle of nowhere' reality of the film.

This is where a greater horror than a masked maniac creeps into the group. Terrifying human elements are at play here as the group struggles to stay together mentally through exhaustion, fear, and no food or water. Their minds (some more than others) start to create situations that may or may not be real. Atmosphere plays a major role, this is a haunted house story without ghosts. The ghosts are the people inhabiting the house and the haunting is in their minds. This confused and clouded state combined with character developments and relationship complications lead to a boil as things spiral out of control and lead to an ending that could not have been seen coming at any point in the film yet was slowly built to from the first few scenes. There's an excellent sense of character and direction in the writing that held my interest the entire duration of the movie.

Summit asks what if? What if a group of people in the modern world got lost and couldn't rely on their modern conveniences like GPS or cell phones to help them? What if it was cold with no food or water? What would happen and how would they survive? Could they survive? I recommend seeing Summit if you are able to and watching this scenario play out in this well paced thriller/horror story that demonstrates the fragility and darkness of the human mind.

Killer Rack

Killer Rack

Killer Rack is a horror-comedy about plastic surgery gone horribly wrong. Or, rather, it's a comedy-horror about boobs, flesh eating boobs, from a plastic surgery gone horribly right according to Dr. Thulu (Debbie Rochon), the mad cap unauthorized plastic surgeon who performed the operation.
Star Jessica Zwolak plays Betty, a hard working, girl-next-door type who feels ignored in her relationship and at her job because she lacks big boobs. Her well endowed co-workers are getting promoted and her loser boyfriend would rather go to the strip club than fool around and have sex with her. So after seeing a questionable breast enhancement commercial, Betty decides to go for a consultation with Dr. Thulu that ultimately leads to the operation and new bigger boobs. Of course she'll soon discover that her new killer rack is just that, 2 flesh eating mammary monsters with an appetite for human flesh!
Before the operation takes place, Killer Rack establishes itself as an off kilter world with a heavy Troma influence with outrageous sight gags, endless sexual and anatomy themed jokes, and an array of over the top and whacky characters. All of this is highlighted by Lloyd Kaufman himself as Dr. Foin and some garbage cans in the film being labeled Tromaville. Kaufman's role is anchored by a hilarious song and dance number featuring a crazy catchy tune exclaiming, "all you need's a pair of airbags..."
Everyone in the cast is very dedicated to the zany and goofy tone of the film and there is a cohesive feel among the actors and performances that reflects strong direction from Lamberson. There is a general sense of a good time had by all on set that successfully translated to the screen and can be felt by the audience.
Lead actress Jessica Zwolak has an easy going, every girl quality. She is sweet and believable and completely charming in an absolutely wonderful and funny performance. Her portrayal of Betty is easily the heart and soul of the film as she is extremely likeable from scene one.
Debbie Rochon as quack Dr. Thulu is at her crazed & comedic best, it's a lot of fun to see her being funny. Rochon always carries that crazy glint in her eye from film to film and this one is no different except this time it's accompanied by laughs instead of screams.
Do all the jokes land successfully? No. But Killer Rack has multiple jokes and gags in every scene and it's shotgun blast approach goes for broke and the audience I saw it with had constant laughter throughout the film.
It is very funny and very confident in what it is: an outrageous and ridiculous screwball tale about boobs that eat people. And I loved it.

Bloodsucking Bastards

Bloodsucking Bastards

Bloodsucking Bastards is not your typical work office comedy, it has a bit of a twist. It starts out feeling like a raunchier version of Office Space but we soon discover that this office isn't just about pushy bosses annoying their reluctant employees. This office comedy features vampire bosses who want to turn the workers into vampires themselves! And with that the ultimate battle for office supremacy begins: the human employees vs. the vampire bosses.

Bloodsucking Bastards is an absolute blast and fun as hell! I found myself laughing out loud several times throughout the film and genuinely having a good time. There are a couple of reasons as to why the film works as well as it does. Number one is the cast, they are all perfect in their roles with Fran Kranz and Joey Kern cracking me up with their spot on delivery and timing. The guys play a group of foul mouthed, childish, and harmless slackers with soaring confidence and believability. Watching them on screen was like witnessing a group of 20-30 something friends on a Friday night at the bar. Bottom line is they were very funny!

In contrast to the rest of the group of guys, Fran Kranz plays the straight laced, somewhat uptight employee gunning for a promotion and Emma Fitzpatrick as the cool girl of the office that everyone seems to have a crush on. Although they play the straight and “mature” characters, they are still very funny with their expressions and dialogue. In addition to the casts comedic abilities they all worked together with a great chemistry that gave the movie a comforting and inviting feel.

The script is the other reason why the film works so well. It's very funny and the characters seem written for these people. The dialogue is fast and snappy and the pacing is quick with no scenes seeming unnecessary. The jokes are funny and several sight gags work extremely well. One gag in particular that had me laughing well into the next scene was when Joey Kern's character explains when he first noticed the vampires in the office. It's brilliantly set up and filmed.

When the vampires come out, the film turns into a mini version of From Dusk Til Dawn with a lot of fighting happening in the small space. The make up for the vampires is decent and it was refreshing to see make up and practical effects being used with no or very unnoticeable CG. Bloodsucking Bastards manages to pull off something very difficult and that is while vampires are dying with stakes through their hearts and the blood is literally painting the walls red, they are able to maintain the comedy through the carnage and it makes for a fantastically fun final act!

On a comedic level, the film is a huge success and it blends in the right amount of horror and enough blood to satisfy genre fans. Kudos to the filmmakers and all involved because Bloodsucking Bastards definitely does not suck.
Bam snap!

Backcountry

Backcountry
 

Backcountry is based on a true story and is written and directed by Adam MacDonald. It tells the story of two campers, Alex (Jeff Roop) and Jenn (Missy Peregrym), and how their relaxing getaway in the woods turns into full on life altering horror when they realize they have gotten lost and are being terrorized by bears. Now it's man vs. nature in harrowing game of survival.

The characters of Alex and Jenn are really the only two people in the movie, save for an unexpected guest early on played by Eric Balfour, so it's very important that we like these people and care about them. If we don't then the movie suffers tremendously because the tension will not be there as we root for them to survive. Luckily the two leads, Roop and Peregrym, portray very likeable people and a very relate-able relationship. They're good looking, but not in a distracting way. They're smart, but not unbelievably so. They goof around, they bicker, fight, apologize, and seemingly enjoy each others company. In other words, they are real people. They could be our friends, our neighbors, or even us. So I liked these people and was invested in them from the beginning. The writing supports the performances by allowing the viewer enough natural feeling exposition to understand their back story and the state and strength of their relationship. Kudos to all involved for making the characters really come through like that, especially Peregrym whose fear comes through in her eyes, her voice, and her whole body with off kilter movements as she is forced to adapt to the situation.

The music and sound work to really enhance what the film wants to say. The score has a backwoods twangy sound mixed with adrenaline filled beats to support the locale and action in the film. To accompany the calmer moments in the film there are soft, almost dreamlike tones that invoke the tranquility of nature, as well as the love between the two leads. Of course, this is a story about people lost in the woods being hunted by bears so the score also provides loud, sudden doom-like shots that drag out like a bad feeling. The sound picks up every leaf crunch, every singing insect, and all animal footfalls perfectly and makes the viewer feel alone in the woods with these people.

And finally the scenes with the bears are downright terrifying. The strength and rage of the bear is shown in a ferocious attack that is full of spit-filled snarls and throaty roars. The bears seem to know their territory so well and display a relentless pursuit that cloaks the woods in a sense of futile doom while the characters scramble to survive. One brilliantly filmed scene has Alex and Jenn sleeping as a bear approaches their tent. The filmmakers were very smart to keep the camera inside the tent and only show the silhouette of the giant bear on the outside as it curiously wanders the perimeter of the tent, pressing it's face against the thin walls and opening it's mouth as it breathes, creating a mold of itself on the flimsy shelter. All of this happens as we see Alex and Jenn in frame sleeping, blissfully unaware of the danger that lurks mere inches from them. It's a fantastic sequence that reminded me of Freddy Krueger pushing through wall above a sleeping Nancy in A Nightmare on Elm Street.

Backcountry is an example of what can happen when man is out of his element and just how quickly life can turn into a living nightmare. It's a solid thriller that kept the tension high as I watched it. I would just suggest that you watch this AFTER your camping trip.

Turbo Kid

Turbo Kid

Turbo Kid is like no other film I've seen all year. It's a throwback to 1980's post apocalyptic action films but it also feels very fresh and vibrant. It follows a young man who lives in the Wasteland and one day finds a suit that gives him superhero like powers (kind of). Now known as Turbo Kid, he sets off to save his new found friend, Apple, and fight a tyrannical maniac.

Turbo Kid is very self aware and knows exactly what it's doing. It walks a fine line and pays homage to the 1980's in a brilliant way that never feels forced or cheesy or too obvious. And yet, it does all of those things. That may sound nonsensical but the secret to this films success is the excellent cast that it has assembled. It's the main focus of my review because if even one character were played differently I don't think the film would have worked as well as it did.

The 1980's was a big decade. Everything was big: the hair, the music, the movies, the money. And Turbo Kid is full of big performances within a big concept. Everything compliments everything here, right down to the big pulse pounding synth score that rides smoothly under the colorful images on the screen.

The casting here is key. Michael Ironside as the main villain is a brilliant choice because the man just exudes that big evil crime boss feel. His natural bad guy glare works overtime here and puts a visual to his bad guy personality. One look at him and you know he's bad news, and all of this with only one eye as the other is covered with a patch. Munro Chambers is perfect as Turbo Kid, he has a slightly boyish face and knows how to utilize it to enhance his lingering innocence as he reads of superheroes in comic books with youthful enthusiasm. He also knows how to express reaction to the dark side of life in the Wasteland and by the end of the movie there is an obvious change in Turbo Kid and Chambers already seems more grown up. Finally we have Laurence Leboeuf as Apple. It didn't take long for her over the top exuberance and constant big smile to win me over. She is exceedingly expressive, energetic and charming and has the most stunning eyes I've ever seen on film. Even Edwin Wright as evil, silent henchman Skeletron makes the best of his character. Besides glaring out of his Quiet Riot like mask, he is very twitchy and quick with his movements and that adds immensely to his madman image.

Perhaps the smartest move the film makes is to keep Turbo Kid himself, surrounded by this big world with big characters, small. He is not a big character with a big personality, he simply has a big destiny. In that way he reminds me of Luke Skywalker.

What makes Turbo Kid ultimately work is it's heart, superb cast, and attention to minor details. The classic 1980's Viewfinder that they look through with wonder, the big plastic spokes on the wheels of Turbo Kids BMX, the Nintendo like sound effects that accompany every bleep and bloop of technology and blast from Turbo Kids glove are very charming and intoxicating. It creates not only a world for these characters but an atmosphere to go with it, an atmosphere that many viewers find nostalgic and comforting yet just far enough away from that it feels like a distant and unrecognizable existence.

This movie believes in what it's doing and what it's going for, and that makes it easy for an audience to get swept up in it and feel the same way. Turbo Kid felt more like an experience than a movie, more like witnessing the lives of these people than watching a story, and to me that's as good as movies get.

The Nightmare

The Nightmare

The Nightmare is the new documentary from Rodney Ascher, the director of Room 237 which delved into Kubrick's The Shining. Much like Room 237, The Nightmare is a documentary that focuses on the human perception of reality as opposed to a factual or scientifically based approach. The subject matter here is sleep paralysis, a topic that is more frightening than your average horror film setup because it is a real condition.
The Nightmare has a pretty simplistic approach to what it wants to say: it films 4 subjects telling of their sleep paralysis condition and reenacts their stories as they tell it. The scenes play out like a Hollywood horror movie as the people explain what happens during sleep paralysis in voice over. The scenes are played up for maximum effect and are executed superbly to create an extremely creepy atmosphere. The people tell of shadow men in their rooms at night, seemingly alien visitors, and demons whispering into their ears. All of this as they lay awake paralyzed and helpless, just waiting for the episode to end. These reenactment scenes are very scary and make great use of sound and music. The music is very eerie and full of tension and the sound is created to stay with you, especially the voices of some of these unwanted nightly visitors. There were a number of times I felt the hair on my arms stand up, that's how effective and chilling these stories are portrayed, with one moment in particular that made me literally jump!
An interesting choice that I thought worked well was that as the movie jumped back and forth from the 4 people and their experiences it separated each segment with a quote from the upcoming segment that wasn't said yet. It gives the viewer a kind of precursor as to what will be addressed or discussed and works as a link among the people and gives the film a nice sense of unity.
The interviews themselves are dimly lit with the camera set back a little ways so the viewer sees the subject lit up and a lot of the darker room in which they sit. As they tell the terror of their sleep paralysis, it is almost as if we expect to see long and lanky shadow men come out of the dark areas that stretch across the room behind them. It's a nice touch that plays on the confusion and terror of sleep paralysis itself by blending awakeness with sleep, reality with dreams, and lightness with the dark.
The Nightmare is a new breed of documentary. It relies on story to tell it's truth. The Nightmare never gives us any scientific research on sleep paralysis or any potential physiological explanation as to why this condition occurs. And perhaps it doesn't need to. The condition is very real and extremely scary to the people that suffer from it and no explanation will comfort them. The viewer is given lore and legends from around the globe that span all time depicting the terror of sleep paralysis and maybe that's comfort enough to the victims of it, knowing they are not alone in their suffering. Then again, they all suffer alone when sleep paralysis hits, and that is absolutely terrifying. Watch this movie and be warned: some of this might seem familiar to some viewers and you'll probably go to sleep a little nervous.