400 Days (2015)

Four wannabe astronauts spend 400 days underground to simulate deep space travel. It's an intriguing idea with cabin fever written all over it. Due to a quaint budget, the production design is understandably low-tech. If I'm completely honest, I would call it a poor-man's Solaris, Event Horizon or even Cube. But only in plot comparison, as the performances are less than memorable. An interesting connection arises between DC alumnus Brandon Routh and Caity Lotz, Dane Cook plays the cliche instigator while Ben Feldman, haunted by his past, squirms in a corner. A Twilight Zone-esque twist in the final act adds some much needed flavor, but unfortunately the climax plays with expectations that can't be resolved. 

2 Miss Februarys out of 5

The Machine (2013)

When the words ‘British’ and ‘science fiction’ are placed next to each other in a sentence I get excited. It's not for stupid patriotic reasons; it's because Brit sci-fi films tend to have lower budgets than their US counterparts, forcing a situation where substance takes precedence over style (i.e. less CGI). The Machine comes so close to being a superb example of that - so very close.
The story, about a struggling A.I. and a scientist driven by past failures and drowning in guilt for something that he'd no means to prevent, doesn't break any new ground thematically, but it stays evenly on the correct path.
The overall excellence, including a first-rate performance from Caity Lotz, is tainted by the addition of artificial lens flare in almost every scene. It’s like smearing luminous shit on a classy painting. If it was re-released without the offending post-production flare I’d recommend it and repurchase it.

3½ new orders out of 5

THE PACT [2012]

Nicholas McCarthy's ghost story The Pact starts out overly rushed and littered with some questionable performances.  I was ready to write it off.

Then suddenly at the 30 minute mark it took a turn into the scary and fully absorbed me into this strange sunny California world.  It staged several frightening scenes in the stark daylight which normally is difficult to make effective but they pull it off with flying colors leading me to scream like a little girl in one moment.  It never really falls into the clichéd scares, silly twists or tries to be too smart for it's own good.  A simple scary little film that manages to rise above it's multiple plot holes.  

2½ holes in the wall out of 5