almar-6 Reviews

The Pact (II) (2012)

a new age of horror

[8/10 · 17 September 2012]

There are a number of twists and turns that constantly keep you engaged and wanting to watch on. From experience, some horror films can bore you to sleep with the constant complications - but with The Pact it's done perfectly (without telling you any spoilers!

The use of 21st century technology such as iPhones, online maps etc aren't usually used in horror films but The Pact embraces it and they're subtly entwined into the narrative. It made me think twice about using my Maps app afterwards and shows how the horror genre is evolving.

Everything from the family issues to the household mysteries to the examination of old pictures give The Pact a traditional horror feel but it's the successful implementation of new horror conventions that finally brings the horror genre into the 21st century.

The Pact is a great watch and I truly recommend it to any horror fan and actually to anyone who just wants to watch a good, scary film! There are some nail-biting scenes I somehow forgot to mention!

Call of the Undead (2012)

Move Over Wild Zero!

[8/10 · 22 July 2012]

Calling all zombie fans!

This is a must-have! If you're a fan of films such as BIOZOMBIE, WILD ZERO and JUNK then this is just what you need.

Hell, if you like the gory trashiness of BRAINDEAD and THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD, you're going to love this. Taiwan's first ever zombie film, Zombie 108 proves to be a sleazy and over the top slice of undead fun. It's completely bonkers with some top notch bloody effects for all you gore hounds out there.

Well worth taking a look at.

4/5

Airborne (II) (2013)

Fear Of Flying?

[8/10 · 20 July 2012]

Over the decades, British Cinema has created some of the greatest, scariest and most iconic horror films of all time. From the beast that is Hammer Horror to films such as THE DESCENT, 28 DAYS LATER and SHAUN OF THE DEAD. Well, now here comes another instant classic that horror hounds are going to eat up! Made of an all star cast - most notably Mark 'Luke Skywalker' Hamill - this film blends comedy and horror superbly. Set on board a passenger airplane, things begin to turn freaky when we discover a mysterious cargo crate with the power to re-animate the dead. This film has everything and more! From zombies to foul-mouthed gangsters, a sinister criminal and a psychopathic killer on the loose...all whilst trying to fly an airplane 30,000 feet in the air! It's crazy from start to finish and has everything including the kitchen sink thrown in for good measure.

This is one heck of a fun ride that's impressively cast and directed. With a unique story which constantly keeps you guessing and subverting any predicted path you may have in mind, this is British horror at it's best. I'm sure the team behind this film will become quite a big deal in the very near future.

A must have film!

Pentathlon (1994)

Dolph, Nazis and the Olympics

[8/10 · 20 July 2012]

A fun and very entertaining sports / action film that's truly underrated! Dolph Lundgren - star of a whole bunch of epic actioners from THE EXPENDABLES to RED SCORPION - is on fine performance as this Pentathlon player. Is there nothing this man can't do?! What we have here is a slightly different Lundgren vehicle - it's less about shooting up baddies and more about competing...with Nazis, naturally. Instead what we get is Dolph film in which his character is not only a powerful and strong bad-ass, but sensitive and very funny at time. PENTATHLON is a mighty fine sports film which is perfect for the Olympics fever that's spreading around with the build up to the 2012 event.

Acting along side Dolphy is the brilliant Mr David Soul (from SALEM'S LOT, STARSKY AND HUTCH and the hilariously offensive JERRY SPRINGER: THE OPERA). His performance is equally great, in which he plays a cold, evil Nazi hell bent on winning at any cost. And I mean ANY cost! PENTATHLON is a fantastic film for any and every action and sports fan. The perfect piece of entertainment for the Olympics build-up too. The new Anchor Bay Blu-ray is presented in glorious high-def, this release is the best you'll ever see it!

I Am Bruce Lee (2012 TV Movie)

The Ultimate Bruce Lee Doc!

[10/10 · 13 July 2012]

Here we have it, folks! The Ultimate Bruce Lee documentary! I AM BRUCE LEE celebrates the legend of martial arts cinema like never before. Featuring a whole host of fascinating interviews from Lee's widow, daughter, Dan Inosanto, kick boxing champion Bob Wall, Mickey Rourke, Ed O'Neill, Kobe Bryant and several other important names. Along with some extremely rare footage including interviews, this documentary leads us on a journey through Lee's past to his tragic and untimely death. His undeniable influence can still be seen today and this documentary captures and explores this incredible man to the full. The extras included here are also superb, consisting of several personal home videos and a look at Bruce Lee's phenomenal influence around the globe.

This is, without a shadow of a doubt, the only Bruce Lee documentary you'll ever need to see. The documentary is such an in-depth tribute that even the most knowledgeable of fans will find plenty here to entertain and educate them.

A must have!

The Rise & Fall of a White Collar Hooligan (2012)

A great British crime thriller

[7/10 · 12 July 2012]

I admit it, I'm not exactly the biggest football fan out there. So, when I sat down to watch this film I wasn't expecting it to be my cup of tea, but I couldn't have been more wrong. WHITE COLLAR HOOLIGAN is a brilliant crime thriller that, I thought, was very well made. The directing and acting here are equally excellent and really keeps you hooked to the screen. All the characters are highly believable and you'll no doubt find yourself empathising with them as things just keep getting worse and worse.

I can recommend this movie not just to football fans - the film's obvious audience - but also those, like myself, who enjoy the rush of a great crime thriller. Lots of swearing, violence and drama. Great stuff!

The Shortcut (2009)

Avoid The Shortcut

[7/10 · 12 July 2012]

Despite its modest budget, this film proves to be a very welcome addition to the horror genre. As its title suggests, AVOID THE SHORTCUT avoids being a dull rehash of tired clichés and instead plays with these loved horror conventions to create an exciting and very well made horror film.

If you want to take a break from the constant flurry of torture porn flicks, then take a look at this creepy chiller. A great story, interesting characters and a very twisted villain make this a surprisingly fun and enjoyable movie!

7/10

The Howling: Reborn (2011 Video)

A Much Needed Breath of Fresh Air!

[7/10 · 13 April 2012]

The Howling series has gotten a lot of flack over the years, and rightly so. Following the Joe Dante's original werewolf classic, a whole slurry of sequels were made, none of which even remotely living up to anything half as good as the original - and they were getting progressivly worse. Now after 15+ years since the last sequel a new Howling has come out. When I first heard this news, I did what every horror fan did, rolled their eyes and expected the worst - another sequel! BUT after watching it I actually really really enjoyed it! It takes a whole new approach to the series (so there's no need to have seen any of the previous installments). A mix between SCREAM and THE HOWLING, this is without doubt the second best film in the franchise, just second to the undeniable classic. Whilst it's comparison to TWILIGHT may put some of the more gore-hungry horror fans off, don't let it! Although there are TWILIGHT elements present such as werewolves, romance and a topless guy (the very fetching Landon Liboiron) to satisfy those fans, there's much much more on offer here. From the werewolf-know-it-all a la SCREAM, sexy werewolf women and a fresh new story that really draws you in and keeps you captivated right up to the action-packed ending, it's got lots here to please hardcore horror fans as well as those just getting into horror.

If you like horror films with plenty of teens running around, fearing for their lives like URBAN LEGEND, SCREAM, HALLOWEEN and countless others with a werewolf twist, then I would highly recommend this film! It's surprisingly the best werewolf film of recent years with some rather nice touches. The werewolves look incredible in this and there's plenty of them especially in the second half.

I'd give it a 7/10. A must see for all werewolf fans, HOWLING fans and horror fans (both old and new).

Dawn of the Dragonslayer (2011)

One of the best dragon films around.

[10/10 · 1 February 2012]

A fire-breathing dragon is quite possibly one of the coolest creatures to have stared in film, but despite the beast's awesomeness there are only a handful of Dragon movies that are any good. Thankfully DAWN OF THE DRAGON SLAYER comes to the rescue and really delivers the goods! The films tells the story of Will, a guy setting out to avenge a fire-breathing, flying dragon after killing his father. There's a love story in here too and plenty of human drama to really flesh the film out and give it a lot more substance. This allows the film's plot to be much more heavier and a lot more interesting.

DAWN OF THE DRAGON SLAYER features a rather new and unknown cast and crew, but don't be fooled into thinking that's a bad thing. Far from it! The performances in this film are all top-notch and brilliantly acted. Perhaps the star of the film is Ian Cullen (from Z CARS, F and DOCTOR WHO), but I thought that Richard McWilliams did a fantastic job as the lead alongside Nicola Posener despite it being his first film role. I can see him going far and making a big name for himself if this is anything to go by! The special effects in a film can often make or break a film of this nature, and is the line in which awesomeness and utter crap come together. However, the CGI in DAWN OF THE DRAGONSLAYER is excellent! The dragon's design is brilliantly terrifying and all in all it looks very convincing indeed - definitely a good thing! Overall, this film is easily one of the best Dragon films out there. If you're a fan of such films as THE LORD OF THE RINGS, REIGN OF FIRE or the TV show MERLIN, or just think Dragon's are pretty damn cool, then you will absolutely love this film. I did!

Highly highly recommended!