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Reviews
The Unseen (2017)
Know what to expect - this is a chilling drama/thriller not a horror
A large part of the negative criticism targeted at 'The Unseen' seems to stem from a problem of perceived expectations. While the poster might make one expect a 'Sixth Sense'-esque ghost story, this is not the case, the director is more interested in exploring the central drama/theme of the grief that stems from the loss of a loved one. However, he incorporates elements of horror, the supernatural and thriller. To properly enjoy the film, one must not expect some lavish thrill ride of endless shocks and gore but rather let the film chill you with its psychological moments and creepy chills.
The film is a character-piece that brings to mind Terence Young's 'Wait Until Dark' (1967) starring Audrey Hepburn which explored a similar story of claustrophobia, blindness and isolation. Part of the film's horror does not stem from the supernatural but rather from the psychological implications of its central plot: a woman who, at certain moments, becomes temporarily blind after the death of her child. The death itself is tragic and the blindness is a terrifying conceit. This is due to the fact that we don't know when this blindness can manifest itself which leads to some pretty tense moments (e.g one moment where the main character 'Gemma' is driving on the motorway and the blindness strikes her). The idea of losing control over one's body and perception taps into a psychological horror that is more unsettling and disturbing than any movie monster.
Furthermore, the film maintains a tone of unease and discomfort that is consistent and reflects Gemma's own fragile mind-set. The Unseen shocks in the way that one might feel when the lights are turned off and it's pitch black. The film delivers on emotional drama, tapping into feelings of depression and the hollow sadness that the characters feel in the aftermath of their grief. It is compelling stuff but enjoy it for what it is not what it appears to be.
The Terminal Man (1974)
Intelligent, Haunting and Gripping
Harry Benson is brilliant scientist who after experiencing a car accident has violent seizures. A group of scientists carry out a special operation that they will believe will cure him of his malady; but like most of these scientists playing God films things never go according to plan. George Segal delivers a brilliant performance as the mentally tortured Benson and also conveys the menace of man on the edge. He really was an underrated actor only getting a few brilliant film roles (King Rat and Quiller Memorandum). The film is brilliantly directed by Mike Hodges who captures a sinister atmosphere and some brilliant cinematography.
It is unclear when the film is set but it seems to be in some strange futuristic time that is sterile and dystopian. It is powerful cautionary tale about the desire to cure everything when scientists play God but the theme is handled in an original way as is the film. A lot of the reviews say that the film is "boring" but in reality if you appreciate a slow but nevertheless gripping and fascinating film, watch this classic science fiction film and you won't be disappointed. In conclusion, a very underrated film.
Django (1966)
Django (the original is the best)
It is widely acknowledged that the man who launched the entire Spaghetti Western genre was Sergio Leone and indeed his films are the best ones ever made in terms of operatic violence and story (The Dollar Trilogy is gripping and Once Upon A Time in the West is an epic and powerful western). So after watching Sergio Leone's films I was eager to watch some more of genre but all I watched were poor Sergio Leones rip-offs with generic characters and recycled plot lines: the clichéd and dull Navajo Joe, idiotic Sabata and unimpressive and underwhelming A Bullet for the General. I thought there wouldn't be any good ones but then a stumbled across Django (1966) which defied all my exceptions, true it reuses all the genre conventions and elements: sadistic bad guys, fallen woman, revenge theme, aggressive violence and a tough seemingly unbeatable hero but Sergio Corbucci creates an original and fresh Western that boasts lots of thrilling action, a fast paced plot, some shocking violence and some nice aspects (a coffin with a machine gun in, making the hero vulnerable and never letting the tension slag). Django (Franco Nero) arrives into desolate and muddy town dragging a coffin with him and ends up in the middle of turf war between the Klu Klux Kan and some Mexican's Bandits.
Corbucci is no Leone but he handles the direction capably, the violence is not operatic but nevertheless fast and gripping, the plot is interesting making using of nice set pieces most notably when Django opens his coffin and a tense ending. The dialogue isn't going to win any prizes but that doesn't get in the way of story that delivers the action goods.
I can't wait to see Corbucci's other classic cult western, The Great Silence (1968). Django may not be a Western classic but is a cult classic and is a highly entertaining ride.
Tales from the Crypt (1972)
5 Delicious Horror Stories only marginally let down by a tacked-on twist ending (review contains spoilers)
Five individuals are led down a large underground crypt to a crypt-keeper who tells them all five stories about what is going to happen to them giving them a warning about their shockingly violent fates as punishment for overt and dubious crimes they will commit in the future. The central premise is great and the five stories that follow it are all extremely strong: following a woman who plans to murder her husband, a man who abandons his family for another woman, two snobbish men who torment an old neighbor, a re-telling of the monkey's paw story and a pretty nasty final story regarding a blind home and its new uncaring manager.
This is one of rare Amicus anthologies in which all the stories are well-written, compelling and quite horrific in general, Amicus did make some other great anthologies (Asylum, Dr Terror's House of Horrors, House that Dripped Blood, and From Beyond the Grave) and two very poor ones (Torture Garden and Vault of Horror); whilst the best ones did have at least one weak story within their anthologies, Tales from the Crypt are all consistently good.
The DVD transfer is really good (full frame anamorphic print-that looks remastered and restored), just a minor gripe would be misleading cover art on back of the DVD and front feature images not actually in the film (like the skull on the front with the eye is not in the film and on the back there is a picture of grotesquely looking Crypt-keeper from the 1980s Tales from the Crypt TV Series not from this 1972 film version); other than that the DVD release is perfect.
There is a real darkness to the five stories as we wonder whether the punishment actually fits their crimes; sometimes what is inflicted on the characters can seem ten times worse than what they actually did-for example in the final story, the consequence of his actions are more sadistic and just much more evil than his crime. I guess that just adds to tone of the horror that pervades the story; like the Monkey's Paw tale which is very sadistic punishment when the crime itself was not sadistic or overtly evil. Its dubious but its still dark and compelling to watch.
The only time the film actually puts a foot wrong is the ending which felt like a tacked-on attempt to add some forced horror to proceedings. They needed a twist horror ending in tone with the original EC Comics but the one they chose was not really scary but felt rather forced in overall context of the stories and the central premise. It would have been fine to stick to what was established in the beginning which would have left the audience and characters with a sense of introspection, fear and dark foreboding leaving the punishment and belief up to the characters themselves rather than contrived plot twist.
Other than that its Amicus's best anthology horror and just absolutely beautiful to look at with sumptuous technicolor cinematography with an incredibly vibrancy and intense colour like a visual painting much like the classic Hammer Horror films of the period. Definitely a film to watch.