BobbyGuerrieri Reviews

The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia (2013)

Above-Average for a Direct-to-VOD Horror Movie Sequel to an Average Horror Movie

[6/10 · 1 February 2013]

Claiming to be based on a true story, "The Haunting in Connecticut 2" follows a young family who have just moved into a new home in Georgia. Not long after their arrival, the daughter, Heidi (Emily Alyn Lind) begins to see people in and around their home. One ghost who seems to be extremely menacing is Mr. Gordy, who is discovered to be the last inhabitant of the home. The family also learns that their house was once a stop on the Underground Railroad. The station-master who lived there saved the lives of many slaves, but was discovered and killed. As the ghosts become more threatening and begin getting physical, it is only a matter of time before Heidi is hurt, or even killed.

This film can be described in four simple words. Dumb title, good movie. I had extremely low expectations for "Ghosts of Georgia". Direct-to-VOD horror movie sequels are usually pretty bad as it is, but with a first time director, I definitely didn't expect much. Luckily I can say that I was very pleasantly surprised. By no means is this a great movie, but it is certainly enjoyable.

The plot is actually pretty original and very creepy. The most impressive part is the fantastic back-story. I loved the way it used a part of American history to serve as the back-story. The flashback scenes were pretty well-done, but the non-stop camera cuts got old after a while.

The acting is pretty impressive given the type of movie. Abigail Spencer's character is very annoying, but her acting is pretty good. Chad Michael Murray was... well he was Chad Michael Murray. Katee Sackhoff definitely brought a lot to the movie. She was a comic-relief, but was also very serious when needed.

However, the most impressive performance was by Emily Alyn Lind, who played Heidi. Just like Megan Charpentier in "Mama", Lind carries "Ghosts of Georgia". It is important to have a good child actor, especially when they are on screen almost the entire time, and Lind doesn't disappoint. She really effectively conveys how terrified she is, without going over the top.

Director Tom Elkins does a pretty solid directing job, especially for his first film. While the direction is a little rough around the edges, he did a better job than most would. For the most part, Elkins managed to keep a high level of suspense. Unfortunately most of the jump scares were aided by sudden bursts of music. Plus the constant switching from black and white to color at the end got annoying and nauseating very quickly.

Overall, "The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia" was an above-average horror sequel, with many exciting twists and turns. The movie managed to keep my attention the whole time, and I would've watched it for another hour. It's not a great movie, but it's fun, and that's all I care about. I will be looking forward to a sequel, especially if David Coggeshall comes back as the writer.

bobbysmoviereviews.blogspot.com

Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)

A Refreshing Spin on the Rom-Com Genre

[9/10 · 18 November 2012]

"Safety Not Guaranteed" stars Aubrey Plaza as Darius, a young magazine employee who has had a rough life so far. She and two other employees set out to write a story about a man who placed a classified ad that reads, "WANTED: Someone to go back in time with me. This is not a joke. You'll get paid after we get back. Must bring your own weapons. I have only done this once before. Safety not guaranteed." Darius tracks down the man, Kenneth, and becomes his partner. He doesn't know that she works for a magazine. While the two other magazine workers drift away from the story, Darius grows closer to Kenneth and starts to wonder if he isn't crazy after all.

'Safety Not Guaranteed' contains possibly the most likable character of the year, Kenneth played by Mark Duplass. Immediately we are drawn to him. He seems like a person who is extremely kind, but still doesn't have any friends. He is misunderstood. Mark Duplass perfectly conveys all of the emotions that his character is feeling.

Darius, played by Aubrey Plaza, is also a very likable character. By being provided with a little back story of her character, we can begin to understand why she is the way she is. In one touching scene, Darius opens up to Kenneth, telling him something that she hasn't even told her partners on the story. This shows us that she looks at Kenneth as friend and as someone she can trust rather than just the subject of an article.

The other two magazine writers who are "working" on the story, Arnau (Karan Soni) and Jeff (Jake Johnson), are very different people. Arnau is a friendly young man who is very awkward with women. Jeff on the other hand is presented as a jerk who only wants to hook up with his high school sweetheart. The sub-plot of these two characters doesn't distract from the main plot, but rather promotes the main idea that all people are different, and we should accept that. In one scene, Arnau explains to Jeff that "he is not him". It is just as interesting to watch these two characters evolve and in a way come-of-age, as it is to watch the main story of Darius and Kenneth.

The movie is written brilliantly and is full of deep and often humorous dialogue. This is screenwriter Derek Connolly's first full-length feature film, and he has already created such memorable characters and scenes that I am very excited to see what else will come from him.

This is also the first film of director Colin Trevorrow. He seamlessly weaves from sci-fi to comedy to drama almost scene by scene. The movie is also beautifully shot, especially the spectacular finale. "Safety Not Guaranteed" is very similar to another movie that I absolutely loved, "Another Earth". If you enjoyed that, I am 100% positive that you will enjoy this.

"Safety Not Guaranteed" is not your typical romantic comedy and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a feel-good movie that doesn't through feel-good material in your face. I can't think of anything that I didn't like about this movie. It is one of my favorites of 2012 so far.

bobbysmoviereviews.blogspot.com

The Pact (II) (2012)

A Very Well-Done Low Budget Horror Film

[8/10 · 12 November 2012]

Written and directed by Nicholas McCarthy, "The Pact" stars Caity Lotz as Annie, a young woman who returns to her childhood home following the death of her mother. Her sister and cousin have disappeared and it appears that there is some supernatural entity inhabiting the house. As Annie digs deeper, she learns of a serial killer whose last victim may have had some kind of connection to her mother. Annie begins putting the information together, revealing shocking and terrifying secrets.

Sound clichéd? Well believe me, it's not. What starts out as your typical run-of-the-mill haunted house film becomes one of the most intriguing and horrifying horror movies of the year. Not many movies scare me half as badly as "The Pact" did. I can tell you honestly that this film messed with my head and left me fearing my own house.

Caity Lotz does a great acting job, especially since she has such little dialogue. She really gets her feelings across by body movement and facial expressions. Another actress who really stands out is Haley Hudson, who plays Stevie, Annie's friend who just happens to be able to contact the dead. It is her character that scared me the most.

The movie also has some very good cinematography, especially when Annie walking throughout the house. Rather than constantly cut to new angle every time she turns a corner, the camera follows her with one continuous shot, immensely adding to the suspense.

The best part about the movie is that it doesn't assume that the audience is stupid. One of my least favorite things is when all questions are answered by the characters talking to themselves, or even to other characters. In "The Pact" the audience is given the information, and we are required to put it together ourselves. I have seen the movie twice now and certainly picked up on some small things that I missed in my first viewing.

The final plot surprise terrified me and I definitely won't forget it anytime soon. I didn't care for the very end (as in the closing shot), but it didn't ruin the whole movie for me.

Overall, "The Pact" is one of the scariest movies this year and a very well done horror movie. Not many low-budget horror movies are able to maintain the constant level of suspense that "The Pact" did. I highly recommend this to any horror fan. "The Pact" is currently available on Netflix Instant Streaming.

bobbysteenmoviereviews.blogspot.com

Paranormal Activity 4 (2012)

Asks More Questions than it Answers

[3/10 · 30 October 2012]

Taking place a few years after the events of Paranormal Activity 2, the fourth installment in the terrifying horror franchise follows Alex (Katherine Newton) and her family who begin experiencing strange events since the arrival of new neighbors, a young boy, Robbie, and his mother. When Robbie's mother is mysteriously taken to the hospital, Alex's family allows him to stay with them, causing the strange occurrences to escalate.

Let me start out by saying that I am a HUGE fan of the Paranormal Activity series. I loved all three films and embraced the idea of a fourth one. I was very upset when I found out the plot of PA4, as I hoped it would be a direct sequel to PA3, or even follow Ali and Martine from PA2. Unfortunately, we are introduced to an entirely new and not very interesting family.

Of all the new characters, Alex's boyfriend, Ben (Matt Shively), was the most interesting and the most enjoyable to watch. Alex was fine in the beginning, but slowly became more annoying as the film progressed, making me even less interested in her story. She is only enjoyable when she is with Ben, because of the great chemistry they have.

Alex's mother and father are both dull, uninteresting, and annoyingly oblivious to the supernatural occurrences. One of my least favorite things in horror movies is when parents, or anyone for that matter, refuse to accept that something weird is happening. It is an attempt to make us like the character trying to persuade them more, but I just end up liking the character who doesn't believe less. I mean, a giant chandelier falls, almost killing your daughter? Obviously just the wind or a faulty ceiling. And disappearing knives? Happens all the time, no big deal.

Another problem with PA4 is that it asks more questions than it answers. In fact, it doesn't any questions at all. Nothing about witches. Nothing about a deal with a demon. That's why the film should've gone back to Ali. She was suspicious enough about it all before her parents were brutally murdered and her infant brother was kidnapped. There has to be a reason that she wasn't killed off with her family. They must be planning to have her in the series again. Let's just hope it's sooner rather than later.

Similar to the first three, Paranormal Activity 4 is a slow-burner. But instead of keeping our interest throughout, the film drags and becomes 'keep-checking-my-watch' boring. Eventually things begin to pick up, but by that point, it's lost our attention. The first half of a movie is like a first impression, and no matter what, you can't change a first impression.

The addition of the Kinect was very cool and unsettling (not as much as the fan-cam from PA3 though). It also made sense that teenagers were interested in the paranormal activity and wanted to record it, but eventually your like, "That camera can't be helping you run faster."

The final scenes were moderately creepy and I certainly jumped a few times, but they just left us hanging. The end left so many unanswered questions that it'll be hard to answer them all in a fifth installment without overwhelming us with information.

In the end, Paranormal Activity 4 failed to leave an impact as strong as its predecessors. I didn't run straight home and turn on all the lights. The scares didn't pop into my mind during late night trips to the bathroom. PA4 is a huge step back for the series. Even though I'll still go see each and every one in theaters, I can't say I look forward to the sequels.

bobbysmoviereviews.blogspot.com

Trouble with the Curve (2012)

Doesn't Live up to the Expectations

[5/10 · 5 October 2012]

'Trouble with the Curve' starring Clint Eastwood and Amy Adams is about an aging baseball scout, Gus, who is beginning to lose his eyesight. He doesn't want to tell anybody because he loves his job and can't imagine no longer being able to do it. However, Gus' daughter, Mickey, finds out about his eyesight and wants to help him. But Gus left Mickey to live with an aunt and uncle when she was only 6 and they have not a had a good relationship ever since. What was already bound to be a dramatic week is made even more dramatic by former Boston Red Sox pitcher, Johnny (Justin Timberlake), who becomes a love interest of Mickey.

The problem with 'Trouble with the Curve' is that it suffers from identity crisis. It doesn't know if it's supposed to be a romantic movie, a drama, or a comedy. Of course it's possible to combine the three, hence the term 'dramedy' and 'rom-com', but 'Curve' completely separates the three which makes for some horrible pacing. You'll feel as if you're on a roller coaster, and every time you start moving steadily, you come to a sudden stop.

Clint Eastwood's performance was great. I think it helped that he could devote all his time to acting, and not directing as well. Justin Timberlake, even though I didn't think his character should have been in the movie at all, was also very good. Unfortunately, Amy Adams' performance failed to impress me. We know that she can be a great actress, but throughout I movie, it seemed like she was uncomfortable in her role. Her performance in 'The Master', which I have yet to see, must be a very big improvement from 'Curve', since she's getting a lot of Oscar buzz.

I don't know if this was the writer or the actors fault, but everything in the movie was over-dramatized. Especially in one scene (early on, so it's not really a spoiler) where a man puts his hands on Mickey at a bar. Gus, in defense of his daughter, pushes the man off her and threatens him. And Mickey is mad at him for it! First she complains that he was never there for her, and now he is, and she complains about it! It made me feel even less sympathy for Mickey.

Another part of the film that I really didn't like was a scene that takes place a little more than half way through. I won't spoil it, but the scene was very uncomfortable and took most of the fun away from the movie. While it does help explain some things, I'd definitely rather them have explained in a different way, or even just left it unexplained.

The only thing that made me almost forgot all the negatives about 'Curve' were the last 15 minutes. Gus and Mickey had more chemistry, it was dramatic and funny at the same time, and the humor didn't feel out of place. The characters seemed more real and emotional. In most movies, the first few scenes are interesting, and the rest is disappointing. 'Trouble with the Curve' is the exact opposite.

Even though the closing scenes are great, the rest of the movie isn't worth sitting through to get to the end. If you want to be impressed, show up to the theater an hour and 15 minutes late. You won't be disappointed. However, if you're looking for a nice family drama with good laughs and character depth, skip this one for sure.

Sinister (I) (2012)

Best Horror Film in the Last Decade

[10/10 · 29 September 2012]

Ellison, played by Ethan Hawke, is a true crime novelist who is looking to publish a bestseller more than ten years after the release of his hit book, "Kentucky Blood". Ellison moves his family (a wife and two young kids) into a house that was the scene of a grisly crime, leaving a mother, father, and two children dead, and a third child missing. Upon moving in, Ellison finds a box of super 8 films in the attic. On the tapes are the murders of the family who previously lived in his house and four other murders dating back to 1966. The only connection between the murders is a symbol found in all the videos. With his marriage deteriorating and his children's behavior becoming increasingly strange, Ellison is determined to connect the dots and possibly even solve the string of gruesome murders.

I'm sure everyone is familiar with the popular 'scary maze game'. Even if you know what is going to happen, you will most likely be scared in the moments leading up to the 'big scare'. You aren't scared of what is on the screen, but you're scared of what is about to be on the screen. That is the difference between surprise and horror. If the moments leading up to a jump scare are suspenseful, the actual scare is considered 'earned'. Too many horror movies nowadays have unearned jump scares. 'Sinister' is not at all one of those movies. It has it's fair share of jump scares, but after the initial shock, you don't feel at all relieved. The scares stick with you and you will go back to being just as tense as you were before the scare.

Another way 'Sinister' differs from most modern horror movies is that it actually focuses on plot. The film's director Scott Derrickson spends just as much time focusing on plot development as he does on scaring us, much like he did with 'The Exorcism of Emily Rose'. Since the characters are more developed and have more depth, we are able to relate to them much easier. 'Sinister' is more of a drama about family than it is a horror movie.

Ethan Hawke gives one of the best performances I've ever seen in a horror movie. He is great through the entire movie, but especially shines in scenes where he is frustrated. Juliet Rylance who plays his equally as frustrated wife is also great. With great performances from the two leads, it almost doesn't matter how well-acted the characters of their children are, but they are great nonetheless. Michael Hall D'Addario who plays Trevor provides one of the most shocking and terrifying scares I've ever seen (I just wish it wasn't in the trailer. However, if it wasn't, I may have peed).

I was lucky enough to see this movie in advance and attend a Q&A session with the director and writer. In the Q&A, they mentioned how this is a new take on the 'found footage' genre. This time however, instead of an "anonymous source" finding the footage and "editing" it from 36 hours to 80 minutes, the main character is the one who finds the footage. The audience is shown the footage, but not all at once. It is split up perfectly. Every time you hear the projector power up, you will automatically begin looking through the tiny slits between your fingers and you will certainly hold your breath.

'Sinister' is disturbing. 'Sinister' is 'Saw' level disturbing. During some scenes, I was actually trembling. The ending is also extremely messed up and surprising. And messed up. Not to mention messed up. The shocking imagery and twisted murders with certainly stick with you. Luckily you won't have any nightmares about the movie, but that's only because you won't be sleeping at all.

'Sinister' is the scariest horror movie in years and the best overall in the last decade. Horror fans will flock to see this movie and will not be disappointed. It is well-acted, well- written, well-directed, and most importantly, terrifying. If you see only one horror movie the rest of the year, let this be it. It is near-perfect and a step in the right direction for horror movies.

bobbysmoviereviews.blogspot.com

The Possession (I) (2012)

Solid and Scary Horror Flick

[7/10 · 2 September 2012]

The latest addition to horror's scariest sub-genre, exorcism movies, is Ole Bornedal's 'The Possession'. Natasha Calis stars as Em, a young girl who is intrigued by an old box she attains from a yard sale. However, soon after she purchases the box, she begins acting strange and becomes extremely protective of the box. After a string of events, her father (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), comes to the conclusion that she is possessed and an exorcism should be conducted. Kyra Sedgwick stars as Em's concerned mother and Madison Davenport stars as her terrified sister.

Exorcism is a topic that has been used in movies since the very beginning of film. William Friedkin's 'The Exorcist' starring Linda Blair has been used as the cornerstone for most modern- day possession films. While the influence is noticeable in 'The Possession', the filmmakers find a way to add a new and original twist to this terrifying movie.

Natasha Calis' performance, dare I say, was just as good as Linda Blair's performance in the classic that started Hollywood's obsession with exorcism. The transition from a carefree young girl, to a girl hurt by her parent's divorce, and finally to a possessed child was perfect. Even Jeffrey Dean Morgan has said that if it wasn't for Calis' great audition, he wouldn't have done the movie. I might've been even more scared of Em than I was of Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman) in 'Orphan'.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who I know from the earlier seasons of 'Supernatural' was very good as a father conflicted between his children and his job as a basketball coach. When he realizes that his daughter may be possessed and seeks help from a rabbi was when I really started to feel bad for his character. Kyra Sedgwick, even though her role was not as prominent as Morgan's, was great as always.

Another thing that made the movie even more effective was the chilling score, composed by Anton Sanko. Even though some scares were generated by a sudden burst of sound, the creepy music that was constantly playing made the movie 10 times more intense.

The most intense part of the film was easily the yard sale scene. I turned blue from holding my breath so long. Even though you know she is going to buy the box, you will still be secretly praying she doesn't. The overwhelming sense of the evil to come is unbearable.

'The Possession' is so far the scariest movie of the year, and will most likely be the scariest of 2012. Never before have I been to a film where the movie-goers were as anxious to return to the safety of their homes. If you are willing to sacrifice a few nights sleep, then you should definitely see 'The Possession'.

bobbysmoviereviews.blogspot.com