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Reviews
The Covenant (2006)
David Decoteau with a "big" budget
I hope somewhere David Decoteau is receiving an under-the-table royalties cheque for this! He deserves it. A surprisingly well made teen occult/ New England Prep school show with a few predictable twists and turns. Less skin than in most of the genre, but what there was was top notch. I agree with the earlier poster who said it was refreshing to see courtship rather than sex in a budding relationship. All the young leads are at least competent, and could go on to bigger careers. Mother, played by veteran Wendy Crewson, was especially on-point. Overall, lots of fun, a few frights, eye candy and at least a coherent mythology and story. Worth a watch. Seven stars.
The Frightening (2002)
Now it's easy to tell the good guys from bad
Another delightfully awful addition to DeCoteau's cheese board. His iconography is maturing; now the bad guys wear black underwear and the hero wears white. Who would have thought of this? Mat Twinning is a stunning new addition to his posse, and the actress who plays his mother does one of the most genuinely creepy/subtle performances I have seen in any movie, A, B, or C grade. I can't help it, these movies are just plain too much fun to not indulge! Someone should have a word with special effects. Red paint is even less convincing than ketchup. As always, suspend your critical faculties, relax, and enjoy.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
He got "IT"
Middle Earth has existed in my mind for thirty-five years. Within ten seconds of the movie's opening, I had slipped totally into that world, with absolutely no "cognitive dissonance." Peter Jackson has achieved what Tolkien would call a true "sub-creation' - a world entirely valid in its own terms. My jaw is still on the floor. I once (1970!) taught a course in the literary antecedents of LOTR, so I can nit-pick with the best of them. But why? As has been said, this film is in a category of its own. I simply have no understanding of the people who didn't like it. The set design and conceptualization were beyond hope. The acting, especially Sirs Ian & Ian, Elijah Wood (to my abject suprise), Cate Blanchet, Viggo Mortensen, and the incredible Sam of Sean Astin, was inspired. You can feel the bonding and duty. Tolkien's gift to humanity has been made manifest for the new century by Peter Jackson. Laus tibi Deo.
Final Stab (2001)
DeCoteau delivers (sort-of) once again
Oh, Come on and relax! Criticizing a DeCoteau film on the merits is like a culinary review of a candy bar. Little merit, lots of good, campy fun. Several DeCoteau regulars enliven the cast. Dialogue (there was dialogue?) was stilted, and pastiche was rampant. Lower skin quotient than Voodoo Academy or Brotherhood I & II. If you enjoy this nihilistic escapism, by all means rent it. If you are looking for Citizin Kane, this ain't the place. DeCoteau is getting up there with my all-time camp favorites such as The Apple, Voyage of he Rock Aliens, and Galaxina. Give him a try!
The Brotherhood (2001)
Good cheesy fun
Typical DeCoteau low budget movie that "Works" on two levels. First, it's a teen vampire flick set in Southern California (as in the Buffy oevure). Second, it's an excuse to have attractive males run around in designer boxer/briefs. It probably works better on level two. However, the humor and bonding between the two main characters actually has some depth, and was a pleasant surprise. For lovers of really good "cheese" - just like DeCoteau's new modern camp masterpiece "Voodoo Academy" (the DVD edition). Relax, suspend your critical faculties, and enjoy!