Lights Out - 2016 ****

 

Genuinely terrifying in my opinion, and I don't get easily scared by horror films anymore. I also found the storyline itself was highly original, which was another plus. Based on a short film of the same name, and a directorial debut no less.

Teresa is a ballsy, confident woman who lives alone away from her disturbed mother Sophie, who has a severe mental illness. Sophie spent a period of time in an asylum when she was a child and became friendly with a young girl named Diana during that time. Diana was a strange child, with a terrible allergy to light, and was also feared by other patients who thought she was evil.  

Teresa's younger brother Martin lives with her mother, but has begun to experience scary things whilst being there with her, such as seeing her have hushed conversations in the dark by herself and being unwilling to keep any lights on. Because of this, Martin has now developed insomnia which is heavily affecting his schoolwork. Teresa decides it's best for Martin to come and stay with her, but she hadn't planned for the terrifying ordeal they would both face.

I really enjoyed this, I found the pacing just right, the story on the whole was full of scares which I loved, and the acting overall was good. I was pleased with the ending as well, and glad it didn't go down the typical 'Hollywood' road.

 

(NOIR)( Dear Murderer - 1947 ****

 

'Dear Murderer' is a surprisingly clever film from Gainsborough. I had heard very little about it before I started watching which is always a positive when it comes to film noir.

The film centres around an unhappily married couple named Lee and Vivian. Vivian is consistently unfaithful to Lee, and Lee is pathologically paranoid that she is cheating on him. Normally he can't find any proof, but seems to take it for granted that she will play away when he goes off on his business trips. One time however, he comes back early from his trip away, and finds several letters to his wife that solidify his fears. Confronting the lover, he persuades him to write Vivian a farewell letter before offing him, believing he has created the perfect murder. But in cases like this, there is always something that goes wrong...

Great acting for Eric Portman, Greta Gynt is beautiful and Dennis Price is suitably smarmy.

A little hidden gem in my opinion, with a cracking ending I wasn't expecting.

The Pregnancy Pact - 2010 ***

 

One of the scary things about this movie is how acceptable it was becoming for teenage girls to get pregnant because of a supposed pact. Thora Birch, now an up and coming reporter goes back to her old school to research and discover the truth about why there have been a sudden increase in pregnancies amongst a group of girls without any good reason. It's quite a well done film, obviously based on true events at Gloucester, but it's disturbing the lengths teenagers can go to when it comes to being a part of a gang.

The Never Come Back - 1932 *

 

I think Dorothy Sebastian is the only thing that vaguely contributed to this otherwise dire film. The other actors were wooden and unemotional, the plotline was rubbish (a boxer getting injured then having to go back to fighting to help a struggling young starlet) and the production values left a lot to be desired. I wasn't expecting much from this mediocre piece, but I still hoped to be vaguely entertained. I was not.

Accidental Obsession - 2015 ****

 

A beautiful, intelligent lawyer named Heather believes she is finally riding high after winning the biggest legal case in her career. She has her eye on a handsome new man and has just met a potential new friend Vanessa after a minor car crash. The only negative pointer is her old flame Ray, who seems intent on restarting their relationship to the point of obsession. Oh, and then there's Vanessa, who seems to be a bit over keen on Heather and is starting to invade all her personal time, dress like her, walk like her, act like her. She is also furious that Heather's ex is sniffing around. What could she possibly want?

I really enjoyed this, I found the acting great, and Josie Davis is strangely becoming one of my most liked actors in lifetime movies. She's got a strong, independent vibe which I am drawn to.

(NOIR) The Sleeping Tiger - 1954 ***

This was Joseph Losey's first British production after being blacklisted from America. Sadly he had to direct the film under a pseudonym for fear of being outed which I find such a terrible shame.

Dirk Bogarde is a boorish thug who attempts to steal from a prestigious psychiatrist at gunpoint. Luckily, the psychiatrist overpowers him, and presents him with two options - either Frank can go to jail or he can come to stay at Dr Edmonds' house and be the subject of tests and analysis in an attempt to reform him. Frank agrees to come home with Dr Edmonds, but comes as quite a surprise to Dr Edmonds' wife Glenda who is only learning first-hand of the situation. Understandably, she behaves in a cold manner to Frank, and cannot understand why her husband has taken this step.

As time goes by however, Glenda starts to soften towards Frank, a decision that could lead to tragic consequences.

Bogarde and Smith are excellent. Alexis Smith is beautiful and performs with charm and suitable dry wit.

The Man Who Played God - 1932 ****

 

'The Man Who Played God' is a rather sad, poignant little piece. Bette Davis isn't the standout performance here, she is gently pushed aside by George Arliss who plays a wonderful concert pianist Montgomery Royale who tragically goes deaf after a bomb goes off whilst he is performing. Initially  distraught, Montgomery gradually starts to begin to learn how to lip read, picking up conversations between people of a private nature. Instead of this upsetting him, Montgomery decides to use his newfound gift in a selfless, positive light to help people with their problems. One of these selfless acts involves his relationship with fiancée Grace, who has fallen for another man.

A little known gem, and worth a watch.

Obvious Child - 2014 *****

 

 

 

Donna's world of quirky fantasy suddenly comes crashing in around her when she finds out that she is pregnant after a one night stand with a graduate student named Max.

As a stand up comedienne, Donna is used to having people laugh at her, and she doesn't mind laughing alongside them, but when her boyfriend leaves her because of her constant referral to their private life in her sketches and then she loses her job, she begins to realise that the world isn't all about non stop jokes and amusing insults. She needs to take control and grow up for the first time. Add a pregnancy into the mix and things are going to get really messy.

Quite a good film, I liked it's originality and enjoyed the adlibbed interaction between the characters.

Falling in Love - 1984 ***

 

Not a bad film really. Quite a sweet attempt by De Niro and Streep, but it really cannot compare to 'Bridges of Madison County' which can make me weep and weep uncontrollably.

Molly and Frank are two married commuters on the same train everyday, but they have never really had anything to do with each other. Neither is fulfilled in their relationship, and both feel lost and unappreciated. That is until they bump into each other whilst out Christmas shopping and realise they have more in common than they first realised. The two actors don't make a particularly good couple, and I wouldn't rate the chemistry highly in the slightest, but it's a fluffy rom-com that leaves you with a bit of a warm glow afterwards and it's not a bad film overall.