(HORROR) Pin: A Plastic Nightmare - 1988 ****

 

Ursula and Leon have grown up alongside their father's obsessive relationship with his plastic mannequin named 'Pin' (short for Pinocchio). The father makes Pin talk, and uses this technique to belittle and put down his children, particularly his son. When both their parents die tragically, the children are left the house, and as a result, are lumbered with Pin. Ursula can't stand the doll, but Leon slowly becomes more and more besotted with him, throwing his voice and pretending to be Pin, and demanding that his sister respect the doll, and talk to it like you would any adult. When Ursula finds herself a decent boyfriend named Stan, Leon immediately insists that he is invited over for dinner, and gets to meet 'Pin' for himself... Such a creepy film, and rather well done for late 80s, I enjoyed it, and found the build-up of tension and suspense was layered on just right.

Trainwreck - 2015 **

 

'Trainwreck' is pretty much typical American humour. It's too over the top, and although there are some aspects that might make you snigger, overall it's just embarrassing. This Amy Schumer has suddenly appeared on television as the new 'funny girl' when in fact she's not in the slightest. The idea of the film is that a girl who believes that commitment and monogamy don't really exist since her father drilled this philosophy into her when she was young. She then starts to fall in love for the first time with someone. Isn't that utterly hilarious? No, exactly.

She's actually rather too mannish and downright gross a lot of the time to be amusing. The guy playing her love interest is the most unlikely sort of person that would break her 'relationship drought.' It's just stupid really. Then again, I didn't care much for 'Bridesmaids'.

Cloudburst - 1951 ****

 

Another wonderfully hidden gem! I love it when that happens! I happened to find this film on a very old DVD at the back of my cupboard. What a treat!

John is an expert code breaker. He lives happily with his pregnant wife Carol until one evening when tragedy strikes and Carol is killed in a hit and run.

John is rather calm in the days after Carol's death, and welcomes the arrival of his relatives to look after him at home, when in fact he is secretly plotting a way to find the perpetrators and kill them the same way they callously killed his wife. Will he track them down? And if he commits a crime, will he himself be punished?

The suspense in this is thrilling, and the length is just right. It leaves you wanting more, without feeling rushed, or too long. Robert Preston was excellent and put on a really heart-felt performance. Really, really enjoyed it.

(HORROR) Ginger Snaps - 2000 ****

 

I'd wanted to see 'Ginger Snaps' for years, and only now got a chance to watch it. I personally loved it. I found the acting was gritty and very raw, the story was original and the attitude from the two girls towards the other characters was incredibly cool! One of those films I probably should've seen when I was going through my teenage angst-filled days. Probably the first film depicting a werewolf that got everyone very excited I would think. Worth a watch as it really has become quite a cult movie, and I can't wait to see the sequels. PS Katharine Isabelle is surprisingly beautiful!

(HORROR) Cassadaga - 2011 **

 

Another rather rubbish excuse for a horror film. Roger Ebert even reviewed it stating it was 'obsessed with grisly parts and not much else' which I think sums it up quite nicely. A young deaf woman attempts to communicate with the spirit of her dead sister during a séance, but accidently speaks to a murdered woman. There are countless amounts of gore, and a rather weak story.

(HORROR) Blood Diner - 1987 *

 

Awfully produced horror about two brothers who operate a roadside diner, killing people and using their body parts to make the food. The two brothers are brainwashed by their uncle and told that they must create a fantasy woman using different body parts that they can use as a sacrifice to an ancient deity. One of those films where you feel you have missed a lot when in fact it's just utter rubbish from start to finish. It's such a badly filmed movie it doesn't really even warrant a star.

Ten Cents a Dance - 1931 ***

 

Barbara has a rather demeaning job working at a dance hall being paid 10 cents to dance with various men for the length of one song. She does a favour for her neighbour Eddie whom she has a soft spot for but has also caught the eye of a wealthy admirer named Bradley who wants to lavish her with gifts and money. Eddie is rather fond of gambling however despite marrying Barbara and attempting to be a good husband he has racked up a lot of debt and been unfaithful. Barbara, feeling she has nowhere to turn, confides in Bradley...

Rather well done, and I especially enjoyed the theme tune, so catchy!

Cake - 2014 ****

 

'Cake' is such a difficult film to watch, mainly because its a rather raw topic, and also partly because it's incredibly easy to fall under the spell of becoming addicted to prescription medication. This is what happens to Claire, who finds she can't go a day without taking a constant supply of tablets for the chronic pain she suffers after being involved in a tragic accident that killed her son. She goes to a support group for fellow pain sufferers, but this doesn't really seem to work, especially when a member of the group named Nina commits suicide not long after she joins. Claire then begins on a troubling journey to try to find herself again, and also starts seeing visions of Nina everywhere she goes. This prompts her to approach Nina's widow to find out the answers as to why Nina chose to die.

Jennifer Aniston has proved that she can really act here, and I thought her choice to film the whole movie without any makeup was a strong choice. She puts a lot of heart and passion into her scenes, and before long you genuinely believe that it's Aniston with the chronic pain. Very bleak, but exceedingly well done. I enjoyed it as much as I could've under the miserable circumstances.

(HORROR) Satan's School for Girls - 1973 *

 

Such an awful movie, this has all the hallmarks of a film you shouldn't waste any time on whatsoever, so how come it is ranked so highly among horror buffs?

After her sister supposedly commits suicide, Elizabeth immediately goes to her school to try to find out the real reason behind her mysterious death. It all seems very strange however, and none of the girls really want to give much away about her sister, which should in itself set alarm bells ringing. It bumbles along for the rest of the movie, slightly embarrassed by itself and amazed it has even been made. Not worth a watch by any standards.

Double Bunk - 1961 **

 

This was just utterly ridiculous. Totally Sid James. Always guarantees a bit of a laugh though. What makes it even more hilarious is the aptly named 'Double Bunk' theme tune sung lewdly by Sid James and Liz Fraser. It's like a karaoke nightmare.

Simple story - 2 newlyweds buy an old houseboat with the intention of doing it up and throwing glamorous parties on board. With the help of an old friend named Sid (what a surprise) and his 'bit of stuff' they plan a trip to Ramsgate through the Thames and end up in France by mistake. What a laugh. Snort. I think Sid James is great, but even he couldn't do a huge amount with this messy script.

Break of Hearts - 1935 ***

 

Oh I really did enjoy this. I love Charles Boyer and although Katherine H can be a complete pain in a lot of her work she complemented him extremely well. I found myself desperate for the two of them to stay together.

Roberti is a famous conductor and a bit of a ladies man to put it mildly. It is a rare occurrence for an evening to pass without him in the company of a beautiful woman. When he meets Constance she isn't exactly the stunner you would expect him to go for (no offence Miss Hepburn) but she loves him dearly and respects and adores his work, and he in turn loves her free spirit and humour.

Despite the fact that Roberti has given up his philandering ways, Constance cannot help but think the worst when she spots him out at a nightclub with another woman. She immediately leaves him, and this causes him to completely crumble into a depression that no one can get him out of. Will she go back to him? Charles Boyer is one of the gentlest actors I have seen on the screen, so to watch him in a series of painful scenes is too much to bear.

Home Sweet Hell - 2015 ***

 

A rather clever film that doesn't seem to want to stick to a particular genre, and masquerades itself as a dark comedy/drama. Don Champagne seems to have it all, a beautiful wife, 2 doting children, a perfect house and a job that is going exceedingly well.

In reality however his wife Mona is anything but perfect, she's a jealous lunatic who makes Don's life a misery if he doesn't conform to her crazy OCD rules that she sets him. She schedules sex in the calendar and makes Don read through their book of goals every night before bed. Soon this becomes too much for him, and when he claps eyes on his beautiful new employee Dusty, he can't help but fanstasise what if. The only trouble is, if Mona finds out about this liaison there are no levels she won't stoop to.

Heigl portrays a crazy wife exceedingly well here, and I liked to see Patrick Wilson in a bit of a softer, fluffy role that he has been previously known for. A good effort.

Lonely Wives - 1931 ****1/2

 

It's such a lovely thing for a film obsessive when you stumble across a film you have NEVER heard of, with an actor you LOVE, and a film that quickly takes place on your top 20 favourite films list.

Edward Everett Horton does a spectacular job portraying 2 identical men, creating a myriad of belly laughs as he plays married, womanising lawyer Richard and identical comedian Richard.

Richard appears dedicated to his wife, but actually he's rather keen on seducing women as quickly and as discreetly as possible. Obviously this doesn't really cast him in the best light, so when a chance encounter with a comedic doppelgänger means he can 'slip under the net' and go about his cheating without being seen, it seems too good to be true. Although surely his wife will find out? Or at the very least the butler will tell? Or maybe the inevitable will happen and Richard AND Felix will get stuck in the same place...

It's almost farcical in a lot of scenes and EEH is perfect in this double part. As soon as I had watched it I had to re-watch it again just to make sure I would still laugh. I did.