Oh, ho ho. I’m back with more reviews. But I promise, these are much better than last weeks dumpster fires. This week, we look at a few of my favorites I have watched this year.
Let’s get into them.
An American Werewolf in London (1981)
Written/Directed by John Landis
Synopsis: Two buddies go backpacking but a slight full moon fated encounter cuts the trip short, not only in time but in bodies. For the survivor, things get a lot more… hairy.
The original “I see dead people” movie. Pure shenanigans from the opening frame to the last one. By far, one of the most hilarious scenes is when Jack and David are in the porn theater. Who does’t love porn playing in the background as David faces his transgressions of the previous night with his old pal.
Campy, nerdy, and hilarious. A definite must watch. 10/10.
Mayhem (2017)
Written by: Matias Caruso
Directed by: Joe Lynch
Imagine Covid (before Covid happened) but you can’t really control your lust, blood or other impulses. Plus, you have just been fired and must quarantine with the same assholes that fired you. But, you have a hot blonde as a sidekick to help you kill your way to the top.
I stumbled upon this one by accident. A happy accident though. I recognized the male main character as the guy who got the barb wire baseball to the face in THE WALKING DEAD and thought, “ah, why not give it a shot?” And I’m glad I did. There was nothing but perfection in this film. From the lighting to the cinematography, characters development (and growth) combined with the plot made this one of the more fun movies I have seen in recent memory.
Possibly a #1 movie for me this year. 10/10.
In a Violent Nature (2024)
Written by Chris Nash
Directed by Chris Nash
Review - 11/10. Next.
Kidding.
Simple synopsis: man comes back for a trinket and people who are in his way die.
It’s that simple. That’s the premise. But it’s so much more than that visually, audibly, and psychologically. We walk with the killer. That’s right, literally watch him walk to the kills. Watch him kill, then start walking again. Some of the kills are lackluster some are insanely violent, so you get both (wood splitter shivers).
Nash knew what he was doing with this. It shows the humdrum moments between kills as life isn’t always fast paced. It forces the audience to slow down their expectations and focus on the mundane life killers we love could go through.
I can’t talk this movie up enough. It may be one of my top ten movies I have ever watched. And trust me, there are some independent heavyweights on my list.
I would walk through life, step by noisy step, with Johnny any day. 11/10.
Oddity (2024)
Written/Directed: Damian McCarthy
Synopsis: A blind mystic and shopkeeper must grieve the death of her twin sister while tracking down an artifact that will allow her to se the truth.
I was thoroughly impressed by this movie. I mean, talk about fear-inducing. It’s not exceptionally gory or filled with jump scares, but it’s slow, methodical with its story and purpose. While being dark, filled with an impending sense of doom the audience must be the blind sister’s eyes and let’s just say, you better be able to hold your breath.
A definite standout. 10/10.