coreyjmesler Reviews

The Hole in the Ground (2019)

First rate

[8/10 · 17 June 2019]

This is an original and scary horror movie with a great tone created by beautiful cinematography and dynamite music. I had no idea where it was going and the denouement, which some here didn't appreciate, I found particularly frightening. The movie allows you to connect some of the dots and I like that kind of smart moviemaking. The lead actress is especially fine and the evil child trope well-handled.

Possum (2018)

Dark and beautiful

[8/10 · 17 June 2019]

Dark, creepy, mysterious and beautifully crafted, with a stand-out performance by Sean Harris (at times he reminded me of Terrence Stamp in The Collector). Some folks will perhaps be turned off by the elliptical storytelling, but I found it compelling from start to finish.

You'll Find Out (1940)

At times unbearable

[3/10 · 7 April 2019]

Not funny. Not spooky. Too much Kai Kaiser and Ish Kabibble (unbearable muggers) and not enough Boris Karloff and Peter Lorre.

Slightly Dangerous (1943)

Pretty good

[7/10 · 20 January 2019]

This is full of silliness, kind of like cutrate Preston Sturges. Yet....there's a comedic energy here, and a pretty witty script, delivered by a delicious group of character actors. Eugene Pallette alone is worth the price of admission. And Lana Turner looks great and is quite adept at light comedy.

Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker (1981)

What?

[2/10 · 20 January 2019]

I don't know what movie y'all are talking about because this is terrible. If it's camp, camp is supposed to be fun. The direction is stodgy. The script is a mess, and uninspired. Everyone in it, including Susan Tyrell, is awful. And can we talk about McNichol? Not only can he not act, he can't dribble. Skip this one.

Fractured (IV) (2016)

Clever

[8/10 · 6 January 2019]

A nice mix of home invasion and the killers on the road style thriller. Small budget British film that gave me a lot more fun than I had anticipated. It's short but just the right length for what it set out to do.

Ouija (II) (2014)

Ana Coto

[5/10 · 27 December 2018]

Holds your interest throughout though it's not on a par with, say, Hell House. The cast is attractive and capable and the effects pretty good. The main reason to watch is Ana Coto, a young actress as full of charm as a peach is full of sweetness. If I had my way she'd be a star.

The Lodgers (2017)

Beautiful gothic horror

[8/10 · 10 December 2018]

I'm not sure why there's so little love for this film here. That the strangeness is never explained? The same could be said of a lot of Poe or M.R.James. The whole design and concept of this film are handled with subtle power. It's not a shocker. It's a haunted and haunting gothic fairy tale. The performances are low key and effective and it doesn't hurt that Charlotte Vega is so lovely. Give this a chance.

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)

Great!

[10/10 · 23 November 2018]

Absolutely delightful from start to finish. Their best film since No Country for Old Men. Sometimes hilarious, sometimes dour, sometimes thought provoking, sometimes dark, but never boring. Great performances, especially Tom Waits, Zoe Kazan, and Stephen Root. And, of course, a highly literate and gorgeous script. Highly recommended.

A Prize of Arms (1962)

Never heard of this

[8/10 · 7 November 2018]

I love a good heist film and this is a good one. Those understated Brits make these quiet (note the lack of music to pump up the action) thrillers look easy. Great script, great acting, clever plot. What is it about crime films that make you root for the bad guys?

Delirium (I) (2018)

Suspense?

[4/10 · 9 October 2018]

When it wasn't boring it was farfetched. They play with the 'what's real, what's in his head' trope to no real purpose. I guess I expected more because the great Patricia Clarkson is in it...but then she also did Sharp Objects, which was terrible. This wasn't a total waste of time but it was close.

The Neanderthal Man (1953)

Cheesy fun

[3/10 · 7 October 2018]

The cheapest sets this side of an Ed Wood film. That cafe! The worst camera work this side of, well, an Ed Wood film. Favorite part of the transformation : only the head and hands change. Favorite piece of dialogue : "He was more animal than man...the spittle running down. .." But, for all that, it's very watchable.

Devour (2005 Video)

What?

[4/10 · 2 October 2018]

First make sense. It's a good rule when writing a poem and it's really a good rule when making a horror movie. This felt like three different films, none of them fully resolved. The leads are attractive but weak actors, especially the lovely Swain. You may not care by the time you get to the 'twist' at the end.

Clown (2014)

Are you afraid of clowns?

[7/10 · 18 September 2018]

Surprisingly excellent with high production values, interesting visuals, a good script, and witty direction. It starts off with humor and gets darker and darker, but it never gets heavy-handed. Maybe Eli Roth should produce instead of direct. This is miles beyond anything of his. It's also better than both versions of It.

Prodigy (2017)

Great premise

[6/10 · 17 September 2018]

Great premise undermined by low budget and awkward direction, at times. All the actors, except the girl's, are pretty stiff. She's marvelous and the reason to watch this. The script is also very good.

All the Devils Are Here (2014)

Horrendous

[1/10 · 20 March 2018]

Truly terrible. Bad acting, bad directing, extremely bad script. I don't understand the high rating here because by the end of it I wanted my 90 minutes back. Absolutely nothing original here. How bad is it? It's even worse than Eli Roth's Cabin Fever

Not Fade Away (2012)

An underrated gem

[8/10 · 26 June 2014]

OK, this isn't 'The Commitments' or 'Georgia' or 'Grace of my Heart' or even 'Backbeat,' but this movie has charm, wit, a nice script, appealing young actors (Jack Huston, John Magara and Bella Heathcote, especially) and the most authentic reproduction of music from the start of the 60s to the end of the 60s that I can remember seeing since, well, 'The Commitments.' From the opening shot of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards contemplating starting a blues rock band to the charming voice over, to the music scenes (every one of which made me tap my toe) to the graceful and surprising, magical ending, this movie had me. And the sex scenes certainly add to the thrill. I love 60s music and it has to be done well for me to sit up and take notice. This film made me sit up and take notice.