(HORROR) Aerobicide aka Killer Workout - 1986 ***

 

For a horror film that takes the mickey out of itself so much I was rather surprised with how much I enjoyed it. To quote another reviewer, it really is 'mindless fun.' Also fantastic 80s soundtrack to keep everyone pumped up. A couple of years ago, a woman named Valerie dies after being trapped and burning inside a tanning booth. Fast forward to the present day and her sister Rhonda owns a local gym where some lunatic is bumping off the regulars. If you cut out the aerobics classes and close ups of breasts and arses the film would be half the length, but even so, I was still amused, and most importantly entertained.

Some lunatic is bumping off

The Secret Bride - 1934 ***

 

Stanwyck plays the daughter of a prominent Governor who becomes embroiled in a financial scandal. Because of this, she and her new husband Robert who is the Attorney General decide to keep their recent marriage a secret, fearing it might be seen as biased if her husband tries to defend her father. Added to which, she must try to uncover the truth behind the bribe that her father supposedly accepted before it's too late. Interesting movie, and good actors but personally one of Stanwyck's weaker productions.

Turn the Key Softly - 1953 ****

 

Rather hidden gem in my opinion. 'Turn the Key Softly' follows three women from completely different backgrounds on their first day being released from jail. Monica, a well-educated woman from a good background was led into a life as a burglar by her smarmy boyfriend. Stella is a stunningly beautiful woman who turned to prostitution in the West End as a way of making easy money, and Mrs Quilliam is a kind-hearted woman living on the breadline who repeatedly broke the law by shoplifting.

Once they have been released, they make a date to meet for dinner that evening and then individually set about trying to piece together the remnants of the lives they left behind.

Events that occur during that day seek to change their lives forever.

I must say I am a fan of films with characters who are all connected in some way or another and whose actions affect each other, and I was very impressed with the general tone and atmosphere here.

Die! Die! My Darling! aka Fanatic 1965 ***

 

Tallulah Bankhead is a fabulous actress to watch. Always so passionate and captivating, I loved her in her earlier years. Here, she plays the sadistically religious mother of a deceased son who was engaged to be married before he committed suicide.

Patricia is about to get married to her lover Alan, but before she does, she feels that she cannot continue without paying her respects to Mrs Trefoile, the mother of her ex fiancé Stephen. Once there, it becomes obvious that Mrs Trefoile blames Patricia for Stephen's death. And when Patricia reveals that she had decided not to actually marry Stephen after all, Mrs Trefoile turns nasty and hold Patricia captive.

Quite a creepy movie, although it does appear that Patricia isn't the brightest tool in the shed and many attempts to escape pass her by as she cowers in the corner or shouts to people out the window.

Night Life in Reno - 1931 ***

 

When June catches her husband John messing around with another woman, she is furious, and immediately sets off to Reno to file for divorce. All being well, the divorce should go through in six weeks, but what should she do until that time? Enjoy the Reno night life is what, and meet as many eligible men as she possibly can. She starts up a flirtation with one in particular, and all is going well, until his wife finds out. June is now no better than the woman her husband was playing about with.

Loved the music in particular, had a bit of the Django Reinhardt about it, and have only good things to say about the backdrop of the enticing and bustling 1930s Reno.

Extravagance - 1930 ***

June Collyer is so beautiful that it's hard not to fall in love whilst watching her on screen. She's got a Clara Bow naughtiness about her, with an Olive Thomas grace, so watching her is fascinating and captivating. Mae Murray's production company "Tiffany Pictures" didn't do particularly well, but it's still fascinating to see these nearly lost gems, ESPECIALLY when they are Pre-Hayes Code!

Alice marries her sweetheart Fred, eager to bask in the life of a rich housewife. Unfortunately, Fred isn't doing as well as Alice imagines he is, and cannot afford to pay for all her extravagant purchases that she is making. When she asks him to buy her a sable coat because all her friends are wearing them and he refuses, she decides to get one at any costs, even if  means stepping out with other men. 

Lovely glitzy glamour. Pre-code movies are very interesting to watch. 

Die, Monster, Die - 1965 ***

Nick Adams, famously close to Elvis Presley and James Dean in his personal life appears in this somewhat laughable sci fi movie about killer radioactive plants. Karloff, his wife and daughter Susan live on the outskirts of a village and are ignored and ridiculed by the residents. Mostly because Karloff believes a meteorite has landed in his greenhouse and turned the plants and his wife into crazy monsters. Scientist Stephen travels to the house to meet his fiancée's parents and soon becomes embroiled in the strange and terrifying behaviour that is displayed. 

Not scary, more amusing, plus if you counted the amount of times Susan wails 'Steeeeeve' by taking a drink you would be plastered by the end.

All I Desire - 1953 **

Douglas Sirk directs this rather mediocre drama about a middle aged woman who arrives back at home to see the family she abandoned years ago. The acting in general is poor to say the least and I didn't particularly warm to either Stanwyck's character or any of the others. A weaker production by a notably strong director.

The Purchase Price - 1932 ***

Joan is fed up with her life as a torch singer and her dodgy relationship with a hoodlum named Ed. On a whim, she takes the position of her cleaner who is off to marry someone she met through the personal adds. Arriving in North Dakota she weds local wheat grower Jim who is everything she doesn't want in a man. And she isn't the willing bride he had hoped for. 

The relationship is strained to breaking point, so when Ed arrives unannounced it threatens everything. 

Enjoyable Stanwyck drama. George Brent is tiring after a while however and has hardly any traits of a leading man.

The Interview - 2014 ****

Can't explain what I think about this, except that it made me laugh in a number of places. This is Rogen and Franco's fifth collaboration together, and by now you can tell in their mannerisms that they are utterly comfortable with each other. Franco plays Dave Skylark is a popular talk show host, interviewing the most up and coming celebrities and getting the most intimate gossip out of them. As the show reaches its 1000th episode, Skylark hears that Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader is a fan of the show and sets the wheels in motion to interview him. The only trouble is that the CIA want Kim Jong-un assassinated, and they are hoping Skylark and his producer Aaron will do the deed.

I know this film has received a heck of a lot of negativity from Korea and they have threatened the US with all sorts of legal action for allowing a film like this to be distributed, but I personally didn't take it upon an attack against a country, more a comedy film with a bit of a taboo subject. Sacha Baron Cohen's "The Dictator" was based on political piss-taking and it didn't receive such a manic flurry as this has. I understand the topic involves assassinating a leader of another country, but I don't see why North Korea take this as a personal attack on their country, it's simply the American film industry using a wide artistic license to make a funny film. I liked it. And the soundtrack. 

Let's Kill Ward's Wife - 2014 **

No one likes Ward's wife, least of all Ward himself. She controls him, insults him and bosses him around in front of his friends. Nothing he does is ever good enough. He wishes she was dead. And so do his friends. So one day at a BBQ Ward's wife catches one of Ward's friends on the phone to a woman who isn't his wife, and she threatens to tell all. But Ward's friend isn't going to let her. And when Ward finds her dead, he enlists all his friends to help him get rid of the body. 

I know this is supposed to be a comedy but it's really not that funny, and to be honest I didn't think the acting was up to much either. I'm surprised at Patrick Wilson in particular, because usually he picks good, strong roles in films, and here he was just more of a 'background' actor. 

Dumb and Dumber To - 2014 ***

I wasn't ever a tremendous cult follower of the first 'Dumb and Dumber' film, but I always found it quite funny. This offering is still amusing, but has left me with the same impression as before - that there are plenty of other films out there more amusing than this, although it's funny enough to keep me occupied for the time being. It's interesting to note that it has taken nearly 3 years for the film to be completed and released, mainly because Jim Carrey withdrew at one stage, due to be unsatisfied with the process and Warner Bros refused to produce the movie. 

We catch up with Lloyd and Harry 20 years on from the first movie. This time however, Lloyd is spending his days in an asylum after being committed there after his doomed relationship in the last film. Harry visits him every week, helping him and talking to him, until Lloyd tells him it was all a prank, and they head to Harry's apartment. Once there, Harry imparts some serious news, that he needs a kidney donor and fast. 

They go to Harry's parents house to ask about possible kidney donations and Harry's dad gives him some mail he never picked up. One piece is a postcard from Harry's old girlfriend from 1991 saying that she's pregnant. And so the adventure begins. 

Silly stuff, but I love Jim Carrey so it's worth it. 

(HORROR) The Babadook - 2014 ***

You can't help but be scared of this film. The very topic is the subject of children's nightmares all over the world. That of monsters. Amelia is a single mother who becomes worried that her son Sam is displaying strange behaviour, talking of an invisible monster and not being able to sleep. One evening, Sam asks his mother to read from a mysterious book that he found on the bookshelves, it is titled 'Mr Babadook', and from the minute the book is open, their lives become more terrifying than you could ever imagine.

Some scenes nearly had me screaming in fear, and that is rare for me, even in a horror film. The image of the babadook is something that will stay in my mind for a long time. What is so clever about this film is that it tunes in to the memories of the adults watching it, and reminds them of their own fears when they were Sam's age. That is the most terrifying thing of all. 

The Woman in Red - 1935 ***

Part of my love for all classic movies is the wonderful posters that were advertised. Nothing like nowadays, these colourful pictures summed up what it was to be glamourous. I adore them.

Stanwyck plays Shelby, a gutsy horse rider who falls for Johnny, a travelling polo player who used to be wealthy. Despite resistance from his family and his attractive admirer Nicko they decide to get married. However, a tragic accident on a yacht threatens both their relationship and their future.

Love Barbara Stanwyck, such a powerful actress who wasn't afraid to be herself. 

Three and Out - 2008 ***

Paul is a train driver who accidentally runs over 2 people on the tracks. Although mentally scarred by the experience, he is told by two colleagues that if he manages to run over one more person in under a month he will earn ten years' salary and can stop working. As Paul is off work for the next week he has to find someone who is prepared to die under his train by the following Monday, and that is when he bumps into Tommy, a man who is desperate to die. Discussing this with Tommy, he agrees, and sets about spending his last weekend alive sorting out his dis-functional relationship with his family. 

I was surprised by this film. It's a strange and uncomfortable topic to present in a 'comedy' but it somehow works, and actually I found it rather poignant.