The Pit and the Pendulum (2009)

Seven youthful, narcissistic hopefuls enrol in a program that claims to teach each individual how to suppress pain and fear so that they can be even more narcissistic and superior in their chosen field.
It's ironic that ‘acting’ is their chosen field in real life, because there was little evidence of it being put into practice. If the film is representative of what English language exploitation cinema has devolved into then the genre is in very serious trouble. I sincerely hope it's an isolated case and that everyone had a great time making it, to offset the excruciatingly bad time I had while watching it. It’s worse than the worst Amityville movie.

0 escape from the incessant tick-tock out of 5

The Day of the Triffids (1963)

After a fun beginning that resembles a public information film from a bygone era it settles into a formula that's best described as a slightly more sophisticated offspring of 1950s post-atomic films. Action is split between monster-time and scientist-time. The scientist, however, is at least flawed in some way, figuring himself out as he goes along.
It strays from the original John Wyndham novel (1951) often but with a certain level of charm that keeps my disgust at bay each time I watch it. There are even some genuinely effective Triffid POV shots to unsettle the weak.

3 uprooted things out of 5

Dune: Special TV Edition (1988)

A 176 min (PAL) version of Dune!? Holy Reverend Mother’s undies! It’s… it’s… Alan Smithee? It’s 4:3 Pan + Scan and it’s in mono. Bastards!
On the plus side there are alternate edits, angles and footage that was missing from the shorter 137 min theatrical cut. There’s an extended prologue providing a lot more back-story than before via V/O and a series of painted images filmed with a rostrum camera; I have mixed feelings about that part.
The inclusion of an original film poster reproduction is appealing, but hardly enough to entice all but the most obsessive Dune fan. If you identify with that classification then seek it out because the new scenes are fascinating. The 4:3 presentation, however, means it scores badly. If only it had been in 2.35:1.

2½ eyes turned to Arrakis out of 5

The Judge Dredd Collection

Judge Dredd made his début in issue two of Britain's weekly 2000 AD comic, back in 1977. Since then he's become synonymous with the title and it's impossible to think of one existing without the other.

The character has been used in the likes of RPG tabletop gaming, video games, novels and even audio dramas, but to date there's only been two films made, and of those two there's only really one that managed to capture some of what made the character popular in the first place. You'll find them both below, with links to relevant posts on our other Nut sites.

Films:

01. Judge Dredd (1995)

02. Dredd (2012)

See also:
01. Future Shock! The Story of 2000 AD (2014)

02. Judge Dredd books and comics on our sister site, Nut Ink.

03. Judge Anderson books and comics on Nut Ink.

04. Judge Dredd music on our sister site, Nut Suite.

THE SALVATION [2014]

Danish director Kristien Levring's western The Salvation could have been a unique experience considering it's set-up is rarely ever explored in the genre.
Mad Mikkelsen (who seems to be able to play anything well) is a Danish settler who's having a difficult time getting into the groove of the 1870's American frontier.  Sounds pretty interesting so far but within 10 minutes into the film, it forgets all that and turns into a paint-by-numbers western revenge flick.  There's some interesting moments of creativity with the action and camerawork but that's few and far between.  Eva Green's presence is a delight, as her mute character speaks louder than words in this formulaic snoozefest.  With lowered expectations Western enthusiasts might get a bit out of it but should be prepared to forget all about it within the day.

2 "your momma" jokes out of 5

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY - PART 1 [2014]

Director Francis Lawrence returns to The Hunger Games series with Mockingjay - Part 1, the first part of the adaptation of the final book.
With nary a game being played, the film is pretty much just overly drawn out scenes of Katniss Everdeen going from place to place looking horrified at the bleak world around her.  It's few action sequences lack the intensity of the first two films while the dramatic arcs feel padded with pointless filler dialogue, I presume mostly to fill up time to chop the book into two films.  Thankfully it's littered with great performances embedded into this fascinating world that is lessened by it's unfortunate bland execution.

2 lucky cats out of 5

DRACULA UNTOLD [2014]

Director Gary Shore's Dracula Untold is Universal's first step to get on Marvel Comics Universe bandwagon and make up a huge film franchise by gathering up all the classic Universal monsters into one cinematic world.
Twisting around the classic story of Dracula, this film starts with Prince Vlad as a mere human who trades his soul to protect his kingdom from those nasty Turks.  It's by no means a horror film and relishes in being a hokey action flick riddled with plotholes galore.  It has flashes of being quite entertaining but seems to fall flat all too often to make it a worthwhile guilty pleasure.  Visually the film is quite pleasing and Charles Dance is an absolute delight as he chews up any scene he's in.  If you're open to the character of Count Dracula being neutered than you might find it more forgiving than I did.

2 one man armies out of 5

VIRUNGA [2014]

Director Orlando von Einsiedel gives us a heart-wrenching glimpse into the war-torn Congo jungle in one of 2014's most important documentaries, Virunga.

It follows four brave souls who risk their lives protecting the wildlife within the Virunga National Park that's being invaded by a national civil war and Britain's greedy need for it's natural resources.  Beautifully shot, the film showcases the ugliness and grace of the landscapes and it's inhabitants.  Von Einsiedel gives us some of the most suspenseful, gruesome and terrifying footage I've seen, as he comes across the remains of a poacher's heartless work or finds himself smack in the middle of a war zone.  We're introduced to a group of orphaned gorillas that you can't help but fall in love with but also gives the film a bit of dramatic focus and a solitary light within the rest of the unbearably dark subject matter.

5 tingles for a Pringle out of 5

The Tomb of Ligeia (1965)

The last of Corman’s Poe films gives viewers further reason to hate the aristocracy, as if more were needed. Vincent plays a man held in thrall from beyond the grave by a mating of two souls. The horror of it affects his waking hours and makes him more aggressive than we usually see him. Elizabeth Shepherd is his love interest; she’s excellent in a dual role.
It throws in references to other Poe works just for the hell of it, but what really sets it apart is the beautiful, poetic language used and the stunning location work in and around the ruins of a picturesque Norfolk abbey. I’d willingly forgo sleep just to be able to live there.

4 conqueror worms out of 5

The Masque of the Red Death (1964)

Masque isn't just the best of Corman’s Poe adaptations, it’s arguably the best film he ever made, period! Equal credit must go to cinematographer Nicolas Roeg for the stunning array of colour that he helped realise. By bringing hues typically found in the costume department to every facet of the production the two men created a thing of beauty. It’s never lurid; it’s as striking as fresh blood on white lace would've been to an audience used to B+W.
Even the performances are colourful. Vincent saturated his character with a vile substance; he's a Prince of vices in the service of an even greater one.

5 changing rooms out of 5

The Haunted Palace (1963)

It’s billed by the studio as the sixth of Corman’s Poe adaptations, but in truth it’s based on H.P Lovecraft's The Case of Charles Dexter Ward. It’s not completely faithful to the Dexter Ward story, either, but the oppressive, xenophobic, almost squalid atmosphere will be instantly recognisable to fans of the author, and having a more complete mythology to draw from helps Corman keep everything harmonious. The gothic graveyard scene near the beginning is a highlight, with movement, lighting, music and sets perfectly balanced, creating an eerie, potent unreality that's not wholly without faults, but even those are well-played.

4 wrong combinations out of 5

The Raven (1963)

It begins with Vincent reciting the classic poem in a suitably spirited way, but afterwards becomes something very different: it’s a spoof of what Corman had achieved with the Poe works prior to it. It’s 80+ minutes of great men goofing around, playing scenes for laughs but failing to hit the funny-target most of the time. Price and Lorre appear to be enjoying themselves; Karloff not so much; me even less, despite having expectations adjusted after suffering through a previous disappointed viewing many years ago.

1½ stirrings out of 5

Tales of Terror (1962)

Corman’s fourth Poe film is an anthology of three stories about aspects of death, each one introduced by and starring Vincent Price.
The first is based on 'Morella'. Vince is on excellent form and the castle is beautifully shot, but the story feels rushed and is unclear.
The second is a merger of 'The Black Cat' and 'The Cask of Amontillado'. It’s an attempt at introducing comedy into the works. Peter Lorre's performance is excellent, but the sit-com moments really weren't complementary.
Finally, 'The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar' is the real treasure and the only one that's in any way chilling, in part due to Basil Rathbone's intensity.

3 untimely agonies out of 5

The Premature Burial (1962)

Just as dwelling on a problem can make it appear loftier than it actually is, an irrational fear can drive an otherwise sharp mind from being merely perturbed about something into realms of utter madness... Poe-esque madness.
Vincent was tied to contract elsewhere, so the role went to Ray Milland. He brought a very different aspect; he’s more sedate, more subliminally creepy, perhaps, but much less dramatic. The main problem, however, is that the film is too similar to what came before, which lessens its impact. It would be best to leave some time between viewing, but I didn't.
The recurring musical trigger is an obvious nod to Lang; I liked that a lot.
The notion of insanity must've been contagious; whoever was responsible for the dry ice was clearly suffering from some form of it.

3 alternative strategies out of 5

The Pit and the Pendulum (1961)

The second of Corman’s Poe films begins in a similar manner to his first (Usher (1960)), but it added much more original content, again courtesy of Richard Matheson. The changes were offset by upping the mystery and pushing the genre further into the realms of the experimental than its predecessor.
There are times when it lovingly resembles silent era cinema, and the score occasionally feels like it was lifted direct from a sci-fi movie!
As an adaptation it really stretches accepted boundaries, but as a film it’s an unforgettably dramatic experience. And Vince rocks a neck ruff!
I wish I owned movie-candles; a single one is brighter than a 60 watt bulb~.

4 heavy atmospheres out of 5

The Fall of the House of Usher (1960)

aka House of Usher

The first of seven Roger Corman films based on the works of American author Edgar Allan Poe relies heavily on the deep, rich textures of Vincent Price.
The dialogue he’s given only occasionally sounds like it came from Poe’s own mind, but the hinge on madness—the deranged grip of nervous agitation that many of his protagonists find themselves inexorably in—is firmly in place, the crumbling house reflective of the Ushers’ state of mind.
It invents a new character and does away with an original one. The shift to third person robbed it of a potentially weighty V/O, but it’s something that I've come to accept over the years. Also, the paintings that hang in the halls are atypical of the era, but they’re amazing, nonetheless.

3½ peculiarities of temperament out of 5

TOP FIVE [2014]

Comedian Chris Rock pushes himself forward by writing, directing and starring in his own film (with the help of music heavyweights Jay-Z and Kanye West producing).
The romantic/comedy with a sneer Top Five proves itself to be quite witty, entertaining and subtly funny.
It follows the story of a slapstick comedic actor, on his way out of the popularity door, that's attempting to be taken seriously with a less than stellar historic drama.  A character study of stardom, being true to oneself, and racial issues are all supported by extended scenes of cleverly observational dialogue that aren't always laugh out loud funny but constantly gets the brain working.  Rock displays a side of vulnerability and sensitivity that I never really knew he had in him and that makes for a breezy but very likeable film.

3 bear-cops out of 5

YOUNG ONES [2014]

Writer/director Jake Paltrow channels a futuristic John Steinbeck in the slow-burning post-apocalyptic western, Young Ones.
Set in the not-so-distant future, the world has fallen onto hard times with a very short supply of water, the film follows a family struggling to keep their land at the risk of their own lives.  Broken up into three very distinct parts, the story explores themes of violence, deceit, patriachy and survival all which make for great conversation pieces if the characters were just a little more fleshed out.  Paltrow's aesthetics are actually quite pleasing with it's over-baked photography, old-timey film editing and dissolves, with some great character framework and moody music courtesy of Nathan Johnson.
It might not meet the potential it has going for it but it certainly has enough going for it to enjoy as a lover of off-kilter sci-fi cinema.

3 babies for sale out of 5

KAGUYAHIME NO MONOGATARI [2013]

aka
The Tale Of The Princess Kaguya

After an absence of nearly 15 years, director Isao Takahata marks his return with the lengthiest Studio Ghibli film yet, The Tale Of The Princess Kaguya.
Based upon the ancient Japanese folktale, The Tale Of The Bamboo Cutter, the film follows the story of a vibrantly delicate girl who was born from within a glowing bamboo plant, only to lead a life of misery while being showered with grandeur. It's delicately hand drawn with a beautiful simplicity that heightens the sparse, yet warm, watercolor backgrounds and shines on the care put into the sensitive movements of each character.  It's heartbreaking morals revolve around happiness and the search for it, with most of us looking in all the wrong places until it's too late.  Without a doubt it'll attract the already established fans but with it's lengthy running time and occasionally empty storytelling non-fans will be checking their watches more often than they'd prefer.  

3½ uber-growth spurts out of 5

The Doctor Who Collection

It's bigger on the inside.

On Nutshell:
01. Doctor Who and the Daleks (1965)
02. Doctor Who: Daleks' Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D. (1966)
03. K-9 and Company: A Girl's Best Friend (1981)
04. Doctor Who (1996)
05. Doctor Who: The Curse of Fatal Death (1999)
06. An Adventure in Space and Time (2013)

See also:
01. Doctor Who books on our sister site, Nut Ink.
02. The Sarah Jane Adventures TV Series on our sister site, Nut Box
03. Doctor Who: The Infinite Quest (2007) miniseries on Nut Box.
04. Doctor Who: Dreamland (2009) miniseries on Nut Box.

The Fall of the House of Usher (1928)

The first U.S. adaptation of the Usher tale is an excellent glimpse into late 1920s avant-garde silent cinema; an era that embraced expressionistic and experimental forms. It’s a collage of painted perspectives, overlays, angular sets and kaleidoscopic, fractured frames (achieved by shooting through a prism) and with it being B+W there’s an alluring interplay between light and shadow. The resultant dreamlike structure is like madness projected, so not any dream you’d want to sell up shop and go live in.

4 coffin lids out of 5

FOXCATCHER [2014]

Director Bennett Miller really lays down the grim and dreary something fierce in his latest biographical drama, Foxcatcher.
Following the story of multimillionaire whackjob John E. du Pont who obsessively finances an Olympic wrestling team to give him a feeling of some sort of significance, the film leads us down some dark passageways.  Funnyman Steve Carell is shockingly very, very creepy as du Pont, so much that it'll be hard to look at him the same again, but one should take note of some very solid performances from Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo as well.  It's a quiet, and often distantly slow-paced but rewards with afterthoughts and emotions that haunt, bewilder and disturb for days afterwards.  A chilling character study, so exquisitely shot and unravelled, that you don't realize has dug it's nails deep under your skin until the end credits have long past rolling.

4 heavy duty weight loss programs out of 5

Omen IV: The Awakening (1991)

If you adopt a baby from nuns the last thing you expect is for it to be the bloody Antichrist, but that’s what an unsuspecting couple gets in the fourth entry, planned as a new beginning for the franchise. The majority of it is a rehash of the original film, albeit one with some gender roles reversed.
Any power the original aspects could've had is nullified by comedy music. It’s not an exaggeration to say that at times it felt like I was watching a parody.
The planned sequels didn't happen. Instead, they remade the first film again.

1½ black crystals out of 5

HARMONTOWN [2014]

Director Neil Berkeley, who documented the life of oddball artist Wayne White in Beauty Is Embarrassing, focuses his attention on another creative misfit, Community creator Dan Harmon, in Harmontown.
After being fired from his own television series, Harmon took his experimental podcast series on the road to meet his adoring fans, all the while learning many painful things about himself.   The film makes no attempt to candy coat the man's boorishness, alcoholism and constant need to clash with everybody (including himself) but that's the part that makes him all the more interesting and easy to relate.  I went in expecting to dislike Harmon a bit more while still adoring his rapid-fire wit and creativity, instead I came out astonished by the emotional punches it pulled.  Fans of Harmon will most likely get the most out of this film but there's still some characteristics and moments I think everyone could learn from.

3½ human hand grenades out of 5

THE IMITATION GAME [2014]

Director Morten Tyldum, in his English langue debut, does a graceful job at telling the true story of WWII British cryptanalyst/computer scientist Alan Turing's solving of the Enigma code in The Imitation Game.
Benedict Cumberbatch is superb as the socially awkward and arrogant Turing who brilliant as he was, fell victim to his emotions, insecurities and heavy heart.   At the front, the film is a psychological character study smoothed over with the traits of a tragic historical thriller but it surprisingly and thankfully has it's fair share of well-timed laughs that is a breath of fresh air to it's type of film.  It's a harrowing story that's so easy to get invested in, with it's wonderful performances, confident storytelling and brilliantly executed direction all of which never outshine each other and instead compliment the next with refined precision.

4 crossword puzzles out of 5

BOYHOOD [2014]

Filmed over a period of 12 years, director Richard Linklater aimed high with Boyhood and fortunately met all expectations with this engaging journey.
It follows a 6 year old boy (and his family) growing up in a broken home up until the age of 16, all while contemplating existence, love, friendship, fear and all the lessons learned that make up a human being's journey into adulthood.  It focuses on each year for 10-15 minutes each before jumping into the following year but never goes for deep impact, instead gently taps into a naturalism that makes it all the more memorable.  Linklater was wise to use the exact same cast for the full 12 years, allowing us to watch the mother & father (wonderfully played by Patricia Arquette & Ethan Hawke) develop as well, which make for some profoundly heartbreaking & warming scenes as well.  On the outside it might seem a bit aimless at times but when it all comes to a close, you realize not a moment was put to waste or tossed into fill time.  It's simply Linklater's masterpiece that speeds by right before your eyes.

4 solo Beatles out of 5

Pump Up the Volume (1990)

Happy Harry Hard-on is a faceless voice on a pirate radio station speaking directly to the disaffected youth of a small town in Arizona. His listeners connect to what he says because he’s one of them; he goes to the same school and sits in the same classes day after day assimilating the same shit. The adults, feeling their hold threatened, move to hand out sentence.
Slater was excellent in the outsider role back in those days. He could remain calm on the surface but secret into his tones instances of Jack Nicholson violence, which, when you think about it, is a perfect fit for radio anarchy.
See it first when young (if it’s not too late) for maximum appreciation.

3½ jams kicked out of 5

SHOWRUNNERS: THE ART OF RUNNING A TV SHOW [2014]

Director Des Doyle takes us into the frantic world of running an American television show in the documentary, Showrunners.  

It interviews many famous names, including Joss Whedon, J.J. Abrams, Terrence Winter and Ron Moore (all of whom look like they get about 2 hours of sleep a week) but centers itself around a day in the life of Bones runner Hart Hanson.  While it mostly focuses on the accomplishments and war stories of the successful series, I wish it would have shed light on some of the more controversial problems with the showrunners from Community or The Walking Dead and how it effected those series behind-the-scenes.  

It's an interesting watch and a delight to see so many favorites talking about their craft but it simply doesn't have enough time to dive as deep as would have liked it to in it's jam-packed 90 minute running time.

3 controlled plane crashes out of 5

Honeymoon (2014)

Rose Leslie and Harry Treadaway play convincing newlyweds in this Invasion of the Body Snatchers-inspired film. The minimalist nature of the production aids in generating the paranoia which pervades the latter half of the feature. A slow burn in the opening scenes as their healthy and loving relationship is firmly enforced, but once first contact is made the story is entirely compelling as their trusts increasingly degrade. The cryptic ending is one of the few weak moments in Leigh Janiak's impressive directorial debut.

3½ bad hiding places out of 5

Dear Mr. Gacy (2010)

Based off Jason Moss' memoir The Last Victim: A True-Life Journey into the Mind of a Serial Killer, a series of correspondence the 18-year-old college student shared with a handful of incarcerated murderers. The film focuses on his ever-increasingly dangerous encounters with John Wayne Gacy. The main casting couldn't have been better with Jesse Moss (no relation) playing the naive yet ambitious student to William Forsythe's conniving and detestable portrayal of Gacy. Despite a low-budget, it consistently delivers the performances and the atmosphere. It is truly a downward spiral towards the brink.

4 cat-and-mouse games out of 5

Black Roses (1988)

In John Fasano's sophomore feature we find more of the same components from his first film: heavy metal, monster puppetry and poor filmmaking. With a story that plays out like an after school special, the senior residents of Mill Basin are wary of the titular band's stop in their sleepy town and the evil influence they have on their children. And what do you know? All their fears are realized. As yet another vehicle for the music, the uninspired plot suffers. The sfx are uneven as most of the puppetry is corny and cartoonish with only one particularly disturbing creature creation.

1 great scream out of 5

Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000)

GvM contains some of the dumbest use of science that I've ever seen, but if I can accept a giant lizard without question then I guess I can’t say much about crazy human science. The purveyors of the silliness are an anti-Godzilla tactical unit created to combat the towering beast.
The creature scenes are mostly excellent, some are really mind-blowing, but all else is merely functional. More heart was needed to raise it above pure awesome spectacle into the realm of emotionally memorable. Nevertheless, I’d still highly recommend it to fans of the genre.
It’s the same suit that was used in Godzilla 2000 (1999), so the creature looks very, very pissed-off, like it went to the store for beer but they were all out of beer and it trod on a Lego factory on the way home.

It’s the 24th film in the series and the 2nd in the Millennium era (i.e. standalone, alternative sequels to the 1954 original).

3 insect bites out of 5

Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare (1987)

aka The Edge of Hell

Written by the body-building rocker Jon Mikl Thor, this Canadian B-horror follows the fledgling rock group The Tritonz to a rural abode where they can record new material. The house is infested by puppets.. er I mean demons. They only look like finger puppets. Obviously intended as a fun little vehicle for Thor's music, it's terrible on too many levels to mention. Its greatest downfall is the pacing. In typical murder-by-numbers fashion, band members are taken out one by one. This should continue till the inevitable climax, but in a drum solo-like intermission, it continues instead with sex scene filler. Fortunately the rest of the film is saved by an incredible twist in the final climactic scene which turns everything on its head.

2 intercessors out of 5

The Sisters Of Mercy: Shot Rev 2.0 (1992)

A standard collection of music videos from the era before YouTube made the same thing easily attainable to anyone with internet connectivity. They’re very much TSoM in essence. Eldritch is instantly recognisable in his tailored suits and shades, playing hide and seek in foreign-looking places. Patricia Morrison features, adding big hair, allure and mystery.
It omits some of the earlier videos (Body and Soul, Walk Away, No Time To Cry, Black Planet), so points deducted for that. Everything else in included, though, right up to Under the Gun. Temple of Love is the 1992 rerelease with the amazing voice of Ofra Haza, but it’s the edited 7” version.

3½ healing hands out of 5

DAS FINSTERE TAL [2014]

aka

The Dark Valley

Director Andreas Prochaska's The Dark Valley might take place in a remote town hidden in the snowy Austrian Alps but make no mistake, this is a Spaghetti Western film, with distraught horses, six-shooters, bloodied spurs galore and heavy boots walking across the hardwood floors.
Sam Riley plays the obligatory shady stranger who rides into the immoral town one day and is quick to make a number of enemies with the locals which inevitably leads to some violent results.  Through and through, this is one helluva a slowly-paced grim film, without a smile in sight, but somehow it keeps the viewer interested with it's gloomy, yet alluring landscapes, bizarrely hypnotizing music and minimal dialogue, forcing actions to speak louder than words.
Who knew something so bleak could be so much fun?

3 metronomes out of 5

AMERICAN SNIPER [2014]

Director Clint Eastwood's second film of 2014, American Sniper, is easily the more commercially accessible of the two.
The biopic war drama is about NAVY Seal Chris Kyle who made a name for himself, before his death, as the deadliest sniper in American military history.  Eastwood tends to sway heavily to one side of the story and it will play a big part in how you actually feel about the film.  Fortunately Bradley Cooper's leading performance anchors the film into an area that's universally familiar, war hurts everybody.  With it's riveting direction, intense storytelling and complicated psyche, this is unmistakably an Eastwood film, that pushes with the patriotism just a bit too much.

3½ Punishers out of 5

The Silent Hill Collection

Psychologically and morally complex urban explorers who find their way into the titular town are inevitably ferried down one (or both) of two twisted paths. Those seeking truth and atonement occasionally sidestep becoming part of Alessa Gillespie or The Order’s machinations but a few are not so lucky.
The town’s incarnations have manifested themselves in the realms of film and comics in addition to the foundational games and iconic music composed by Akira Yamaoka (and Daniel Licht).

Films:
01. Silent Hill (2006)
02. Silent Hill: Revelation (2012)

Comic Miniseries on our sister site, Nut Ink:
01. Silent Hill — Past Life (2010)
02. Silent Hill Downpour — Anne’s Story (2014)

Video Games on our sister site, Nut Load:
00. Silent Hill Origins (2007)
01. Silent Hill (1999)
02. Silent Hill 2 (2001) + (ALT Vers.)
03. Silent Hill 3 (2003)
04. Silent Hill 4: The Room (2004)
05. Silent Hill Homecoming (2008)
06. Silent Hill Downpour (2012)
07: Silent Hill Shattered Memories (2009) (a reinvisioning of 01)
08. Soundless Mountain II (2008) (a worthy fan-made homage)

OSTs and Compilations of Licensed Songs on our sister site, Nut Suite:
01. Daniel Licht / Silent Hill Downpour (Original Soundtrack) (2012)
02. Various Artists / Silent Hill Downpour: Radio Songs (2012)

Films, TV, and Literature that have influenced the Silent Hill games:

01. Jacob's Ladder (1990) (appropriately vaunted Godfather of the series)

02. 1408 (2007)
03. Blue Velvet (1986)

04. Carrie (1976)

05. The Cell (2000)

06. Con Air (1997)

07. Kindergarten Cop (1990)

08. Lost Highway (1997)
09. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

10. Session 9 (2001)

11. The Shining (1980)
12. The Walking Dead (1936)

13. The Wicker Man (1973)
14. The Wizard of Oz (1939)

15. Twin Peaks: Season 1 (1990) / Season 2 (1990-91) / Fire Walk With Me (1992)

16. The Dune Collection
17. The Tempest (c.1610-11)

Nutted by NEG.

Q: The Winged Serpent (1982)

As someone who dislikes cities, NY isn't a place I’d ever want to visit. In Larry Cohen’s NY there's a giant, flying creature from myth and legend literally picking up amateur actors and dropping body parts in its wake.
There’s also an open-minded cop; a weaselly, opportunist crook; and an Aztec death cult member getting happy with a ritual-killing knife; all of whom somehow have relevance to the randomness. It’s idiotic but it’s easy to get swept up in the nonsense, meaning it’s the good kind of idiotic. Even when there's not much happening the ominous music keeps the tension ticking.
Michael Moriarty gives his all to a B-Movie that thankfully didn't end up lost and forgotten, which is a fate that many cheap monster movies suffer.

3 crunchy, bite-sized heads out of 5

The Philadelphia Story (1940)

A fast-talking, opinionated socialite (Hepburn) is soon to be married, but two tall, suited, skinny spanners (Stewart and Grant) put themselves on the visitors list, effectively clogging up the works with their smugness and charm.
TPS is a classic era romantic comedy based on a play by Phillip Barry. The three stars light up every scene each time they cross paths, testing the tolerances and attractions of each other, inadvertently or otherwise. It starts slow, but once it hits its stride it doesn't ever disappoint. The supporting cast deserve credit, too, from the eldest to the youngest they're all excellent.

5 names for a boat out of 5

Bringing Up Baby (1938)

A pussy-whipped Carey Grant humbles his way through life like a Clark Kent-esque palaeontologist (minus the costumed alter ego) until he meets a headstrong but scatterbrained female in the shape of Hepburn, with her 'baby' of the title not far behind. Hepburn's character displays the more welcome traits of the 'Hawksian woman' archetype and avoids the less likeable ones.
It's a screwball comedy that gets better with each viewing. The chemistry between the pair is believable, and it's fun to see neither of the two stars be too proud or pompous to make public asses of themselves.

4 entanglements out of 5

Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)

A group of friends past their prime and down on their luck attempt to rekindle memories of their youth at a ski resort they once frequented. One has to suspend disbelief when they discover their hot tub is a time machine. It's a blatant no-brains, have-a-blast type of comedy with plenty of raunchy humor and over-the-top performances. And despite a slow start, the film does a nice job of fitting in stories for each of the ensemble cast. Now in the 80s they act to change their pathetic destinies and find a way back to their own timeline. The only real eye sore is the absolutely terrible green screen effects.

3 one-armed Crispin Glovers out of 5

Suffocation (2005)

aka Zhixi

Suffering from visions of his dead wife, Shen Xiao (Ge You) consults a therapist. The film analyzes his guilt from infidelity and feelings of resentment. While many of the scenes are portrayed as truth, it's pretty obvious they're delusions within Shen's mind. Edited in a very non-linear path as a number of concise yet repetitive chapters, the uninteresting plot quickly degenerates. The minimal score and lack of humor leaves the events completely devoid of joy. Despite being marketed as horror, very little suspense is distilled from the few moments that endeavor to frighten. Apparently this was director Zhang Bingjian's attempt to serve both the artistic and commercial but he fails miserably on both ends.

1½ cello cases out of 5

The Intruders (2015)

In this simple home invasion film, Rose (Miranda Cosgrove) on break from college moves into an old house with her workaholic father (Donal Logue). Common horror cliches commence with strange noises with no known cause, ominous dreams of the home's storied past and an unsolved mystery Rose is compelled to solve. While the pace is slow and the scares are tame, the production value is impressive for a straight-to-rent venture. Secrets behind the father and daughter and their current situation make the story a tad more compelling, but overall it's predictable and run-of-the-mill. With so many better options available from the home invasion sub-genre, this one will understandably go unnoticed.

2 extreme homebodies out of 5

New Eden (1994)

There’s very little to recommend about New Eden, but I ought to try because in spite of its blandness I've always kind of liked it.
Admittedly, the prison-planet setting wasn't a new concept in sci-f, nor the use of an off-worlder as a catalyst for self-imposed limitations to be highlighted, but at least the sparse, white sands of the desert work in favour of the low budget. And while the passiveness of Baldwin’s character exudes mostly blankness in place of quiet hopefulness, Lisa Bonet counteracts it. And finally, the music adds strangeness to even the most banal moment.
What's impossible to defend is the awful sensei/pupil training montage. It's shit no matter how you spin it.

1½ ways of living out of 5

Scars of Dracula (1970)

Scars does things a little differently. It has a priest that isn't a dick and it places at the beginning of the film what’s traditionally nearer the ending. The bulk of the rest is taken up by the more familiar hunt for a missing person; yes, the one that went to the castle despite being told not to.
One of the highlights is the semi-tragic character in the vampire’s employ played by a hairy Patrick Troughton. I suspect the Count’s recurrent need to have a weathered manservant at his beck and call and a busty lady in his parlour points to some deep-rooted psychological problems.
The villagers are equally troubled. Burn the STONE castle! Good idea, lads, that always worked in the past.

2½ shocking bats out of 5

Zatoichi in Desperation (1972)

Of the Zatoichi films I’ve watched so far, Desperation, the 24th in the series, was perhaps the least enjoyable. I’d like to be able to say otherwise because it’s directed by Shintarô Katsu himself, but too many shots had the image obscured by scenery and there were too many unnecessary close-ups, which made it hard to follow the action. If you have a full 2.35:1 frame then you should strive to make the best use of it at all times.
He did his best to emphasise the difficult decision making the character has to face up to, but his methodology rubbed me the wrong way. It’s also very bleak with little room for laughter.

2½ wayward winds out of 5

Blade on the Feather (1980)

BotF contains within it complexities and themes that Potter returned to often, but which I can’t mention because their unearthing is a part of the journey.
Donald Pleasence plays a reclusive author who's having a hard time existing in the not-quite-perfect seclusion he’s created for himself, accentuated by the invasive camera angles and sharp editing of time. Tom Conti's character is an intellectual who’s writing a thesis on the author, meaning getting close to him is of paramount importance. But there are secrets on all sides.

4 playing fields out of 5

Rain on the Roof (1980)

Some couples knowingly create opportunities for betrayal to flourish. Rain offers insight into some of the potential reasons behind that kind of self-destructive/cathartic activity. John (Malcolm Stoddard) and Janet (Cheryl Campbell) are one such couple. Into the mix walks an illiterate young guy named Billy (Ewan Stewart). Billy’s emotions become a casualty when placed between a semi-neurotic housewife and her accused husband.
Rain is my personal favourite of the three television plays made in 1980 that were written by Potter. (The others are Blade on the Feather (1980) and Cream in My Coffee (1980).) Both Stewart and Campbell play their parts flawlessly, fully deserving of maximum praise.

5 spaces between the words out of 5

Cream in My Coffee (1980)

If the traditional British ‘summer holiday’ ever really existed outside of postcards and creative nostalgia then by the year 1980 it was long into retirement. But the hotels endure and it’s to one of them that an ageing couple return, having spent time there in 1934. Past and present weave together to paint a bigger picture, and through extrapolation we can write the forty-six summers that fell in-between.
Potter's venomous wit lightens some scenes, but mostly it’s a serious study of the destructive nature of secrets, the ennui that often follows marriage and the promises that love makes to please itself.
Lionel Jeffries is good as the old man who wants to live in the here and now but can’t help referencing the past. Peggy Ashcroft is hand on heart amazing as the sympathetic wife who fears to ruffle feathers.

4 pennies dropped out of 5

The .hack//Collection

The .hack// stories can be layered and engaging multi-part adventures, or simplistic one-shots as plot-driven as a colouring book.  That’s one of the potential consequences of spreading something over many different mediums.  But if you’re a fan then you’re a fan and nothing anyone says will change your mind.  I know that first-hand.  Below are links to all that Nutshell and its sister sites have to offer about the World:

Films and Shorts:
01. .hack//GIFT (2003)
02. .hack//G.U. Returner (2007)
03. .hack//G.U. Trilogy (2008)
04. .hack//Beyond the World (2012)

TV Series and OVAs on our sister site, Nut Box.
01. .hack//Liminality (2003) (OVA)
02. .hack//Legend of the Twilight (2003) (TV Series)
03. .hack//Quantum (2012) (OVA)

See also:
01. .hack//Mangas on our sister site, Nut Ink.
02. .hack//Games on our sister site, Nut Load.