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mogweezer101
Reviews
Lost River (2014)
A fine movie... and then some.
I haven't read all the reviews here, but I'm surprised (staggered even) that nobody has noticed the very obvious homage to Dario Argento (notably the three mothers trilogy) A town cursed by a witch - the spell being broken by the protagonist in the final reel. The inclusion of Barbara Steele is the obvious nod to Italian horror, but also the musical cue that's straight out of Suspiria which plays intermittently.
I'll admit it - for a fair old while I was thinking "Hold on, this is nothing like the plot description that piqued my initial interest." Then the film unfolds, and I'll admit at one point (around two thirds in) I was bewildered as to where the film might go - so much so that I thought it couldn't possibly tie it all up neatly.
But it does.
Go watch Argento at his finest and you have what amounts to a superbly surreal updating of the same themes.
A fine, fine, movie - and obvious labour of love.
Icarus (2010)
Ego trip?
I'm surprised nobody else has pointed this out - but if you remove ALL the shots of Dolph Lundgren you'll be left with a 3 minute film. He's in EVERY damned shot - even when the camera should be on the other person, it lingers on Dolph! Aside from the fact that this film isn't even good in a bad way, it really is just one big ego-trip for Dolph... I mean that guy must really like looking at himself. Not only that - his 'love interest' looks to be barely 18 (and he looks like he's pushing 40 and then some...) I'm genuinely surprised at the positive comments here - This film looks very hurried, badly acted and poorly directed.
La morte risale a ieri sera (1970)
A wonderful movie....
SPOILER WARNING - There is information in this post which may upset you if you have not seen the movie. If this troubles you = Please do not read on..
SPOILERS AHEAD...
I couldn't agree more with the user aboves comments. This is a first rate giallo directed with clinical precision by Duccio Tessari. Raf Vallone's performance as the troubled father is incredibly moving. The plot isn't really typical of a giallo; A retired parent (Vallone) investigates the disappearance of his retarded daughter, last seen at home. As he searches for clues, so do the police, headed by the police commissioner (excellently played by American actor Frank Wolff, in one of his last roles). Both parties follow their own different lines of investigation meeting up in the final reel for the inevitable bloody conclusion.
Aside from innumerable Italo-Westerns, Tessari only directed one other pure giallo 'Una Farfalla con Le Ali Insanguinate' (The Bloodstained Butterfly). Also a fine example of the genre and his talents, but it's nowhere near as well executed as 'La Morte...'. Whilst 'Butterfly' looks great and really does deliver the giallo goods the performances always seemed quite lacking to me. In 'La Morte..' it's the performances that hold it all together, rather than the other way around.
If anyone has the chance to re-release this film (The Death Occurred Last Night) Please do! It was available in Italy on the CHV label during the 80's and 90's, sadly, now it is almost impossible to find in any format. 'The Bloodstained Butterfly' is readily available (in Italian language only) on DVD.