The Plague of the Zombies (1966)

After receiving a peculiar letter from his one-time student, Sir James Forbes (André Morell) travels to a Cornish village to get the lowdown on what it meant. The last thing he expected was to hear tales of restless dead walking the moors, but in horror films you often get what you least expect.
It's a zombie movie from Hammer that's a little formulaic, with the educated older gent leading the investigation alongside a younger, less experienced aide. It's no Night of the Living Dead (1968), but it's engaging in its own way, with the majority of the cast well-suited to their respective roles.

3 doll-size coffins of 5

Seraphim Falls (2006)

An unceasing Liam Neeson and a small hired posse hunt a lone Pierce Brosnan across a changing terrain. We're not told early on which of the two men has the higher moral ground, or the most lawful position, etc, or if indeed either of them has, but the reasons for why things are happening being drip-fed to the viewer throughout only serves to heighten the realism of the hunt.
Before watching Seraphim Falls, if someone mentioned Brosnan I'd have pictured him as James Bond, Not anymore. Henceforth he'll be as he is herein, bearded, with superb survival skills and a bucketful of courage.
It might sound silly, but much of the film's final act felt to me like it could be happening within Stephen King's The Dark Tower books.

4 curatives out of 5

Infernal Affairs III (2003)

Serving as both a sequel and a prequel (of sorts) to the first film, Part III brings back Tony Leung and Andy Lau to their respective roles, which makes all the difference for a short while. (It jumps around in time quite a bit, but it's simple enough to follow if you're familiar enough with Part I.) But as the story goes on it becomes clear that very little of it is worth learning about; and some parts of it are so contrived as to be just plain bad. Ultimately, the extra info about certain events will no doubt please a percentage of viewers, for me it's an unnecessary and overlong addition to the first film's taught story.

2½ couch sleeps out of 5

Infernal Affairs II (2003)

Prequels are rarely as good as the story they precede. Case in point: the first IA film is a class act, but its prequel (Part II) definitely isn't. The first time I attempted to watch it I turned it off before the halfway mark. The second time, I fell asleep about 50 minutes in. Having since endured everything it has to offer, I feel that it's severely lacking in thrills or charm. There's a notable action scene around that halfway mark, but the rest if it is woefully dull.
The original story's two moles are now played by younger actors, which is an Achilles heel in itself. but the script, covering each man's rise from rookie to their previously/eventual established positions, is largely forgettable.

2 handovers out of 5

W.A.S.P. - Reidolized (2018)

Full title, Reidolized (The Soundtrack to The Crimson Idol), is a sixty-minute 'film' that accompanied W.A.S.P.'s re-recording of their fifth studio album, The Crimson Idol, which was originally released back in 1992.
Directed by Ralph Ziman, the 'film' is the album's songs with occasional v/o narration; i.e parts of The Story of Jonathan (Prologue to the Crimson Idol), included on the 1998 remaster of the 1992 concept album. It's basically an extended music video that got made and shelved back in the day. As such, it's the original track listing, with none of the 'lost' tracks on the re-recording.
If you've not already guessed, it's primarily something for W.A.S.P. fans, and will have very limited appeal outside of that demographic.

2½ industry teeth out of 5

The Reptile (1966)

Harry (Ray Barrett) inherits a cottage in Cornwall, into which he promptly moves. While investigating the cause of his brother's death, he uncovers mysterious happenings that have the townsfolk spooked and silent; it seems they have something to hide. And perhaps they aren't the only ones.
You're not likely to find it on many best of Hammer lists, but overall The Reptile is a decent slice of period horror, with enough intrigue, dramatic moments and dialogues amid the occasional silliness to keep fans happy.
Perhaps best of all was seeing Hammer regular Michael Ripper in such a sizeable role; they ought to have given him more to do in their oeuvre.

2½ swellings out of 5

Rules of Engagement (2000)

From a bloody war in Vietnam, to a bloodbath in the Yemen years later, and finally to a politically dodgy court room in America, Colonel Terry Childers (Samuel L. Jackson) stands up for what he believes in.
A retired Col Lawrence (Tommy Lee Jones) stands with him, although he has doubts about his ability to get the job done favourably.
Leaving aside the supposed flag-waving that some folks accused Dir. William Friedkin of, RoE isn't a bad film, but nor is it a particularly memorable example of the courtroom drama. The dramatic combat scenes fare better, but by the time the final verdict drops it may feel like its overstayed its welcome.

3 sitreps out of 5

The Nanny (1965)

A non-horror from Hammer that's nevertheless chilling in its own way. It starts out a normal 1960s drama, but a sinister edginess soon bleeds in.
It stars Bette Davis as nanny to ten-year-old Joey (William Dix). The boy's father is rarely home, and his mother is an apprehensive wreck, unable to face the challenges that parenting (and daily life) present. It's nanny that keeps the household running. But not everyone feels safe when she's around.
It goes without saying that Bette Davis is great in her role, but her child co-star holds his own alongside her. As does a young Pamela Franklin. It's the rest of the adults that let the side down. But not enough to prevent the film being an underappreciated gem in the British studio's catalogue.

3½ antipathies out of 5

Ghost World (2001)

Based on Daniel Clowes' 1997 comic of the same name, GW explores how best friends Enid and Rebecca cope with their first summer after high-school graduation. Enid, wonderfully characterised by Thora Birch, is the more cynical of the two but also the most interesting. Feeling slightly lost and alienated from her generation, and even her best friend, who seems to be turning into the thing that they both hate, the floundering Enid finds a peculiar kind of solace in time spent with Seymour (Steve Buscemi), a 40+ year-old record collector whose life revolves around rare 78 RPM vinyls.
The pace is like that of a lazy summer, but it works in the film's favour, giving it the feeling of an indie movie that knows how best to express itself.

4 specific skins out of 5

Straight to Hell (1987)

An odd low-budget Western in which four bank robbers attempt to lay low in a remote desert town after a job, but the town isn't what they hoped for.
Dir. Alex Cox's off-kilter approach to film-making is primarily what makes it interesting, because when it comes to acting, besides Sy Richardson and a few notable cameos, talent in such is definitely in short supply.
It features a number of musicians, including Joe Strummer of The Clash, Elvis Costello, and The Pogues. Again, likely not hired for their thespianism, I'm guessing they were friends of Cox. Oh, and Courtney Love is there, too, but the less said about her the better – she's very, very, very annoying.

2½ torn suits out of 5

The Time Machine (1960)

A classic sci-fi based on the renowned H.G. Wells novella (1895) of the same name. The celebrated adaptation's most enduring aspect is perhaps the time-travelling device itself, which may be the most iconic of its kind in the history of cinema, but the film is also a fun adventure with poignant commentary on the destructive nature(s) of mankind through the ages.
Rod Taylor is the daring Victorian time-trotter. Although not a very charismatic character, his scientific drive nevertheless gives him an edge.
The FX are more memorable; the use of time-lapse, composites, miniatures and stop-motion animation really bring the journeying to life.

3½ instruction sirens out of 5