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.

Hot Pepper - 1933 **

 

It was an exciting moment for me to finally watch Lupe Velez on screen. I've researched a lot about her, both early career and death and it was magical to finally see her. The film, apart from Velez's presence however, was extremely disappointing. There was nothing particularly funny about either of the 2 male counterparts, and they seemed to perform as unfunny Laurel and Hardy-esque characters. One seemed to delight in 'arresting' people with his fake police badges. They are equally taken by the fiery 'Hot Pepper' who stows herself away into a cargo boat from South America to bring her to America to launch her career. Whilst Velez is gorgeous in every single way, she does have a rather psychotic personality, one minute charming and sexy, the next screaming and becoming violent (which was very like her personal life). I feel this was maybe the wrong film to start with for my introduction to Lupe. I can't imagine this was a highlight in her career.  

Day-Time Wife - 1939 ****

 

This was just adorable! And Linda Darnell is the most mature 16 year old to play an older character that I have ever seen!

Jane has been blissfully married to Ken for nearly 2 years. And as the day approaches she looks forward to the inevitable celebration that will occur once her husband is home from work. But there's a problem. When Ken gets home he doesn't have slightest clue of the day, supposedly after having being kept late at the office, or notice Jane's excitable manner. Jane doesn't let it phase her too much though, until she starts to notice that Ken is spending a lot of extra time at work, most notably with his young, beautiful secretary. Her friend who has been married countless times tells Jane it seems likely that Ken is 'playing away' because business men usually fall for their secretaries, and when Jane discovers actual proof of Ken's infidelities, she decides to get her own back in the most glamorous way possible - she finds herself a job as the secretary of Ken's rival Bernard Dexter.

I really loved this film, and considering I have never heard of it before now, I was enchanted by it. Tyrone and Linda make such a gorgeous couple, and it's great to hear that they went on to make 3 more films together. Lovely, light-hearted, gentle comedy.

(NOIR) Inner Sanctum - 1948 ****

 

Based on the late 40s radio mystery plays, 'Inner Sanctum' is a fascinating little noir about what happens to dodgy people who share close quarters.

Told from the view of a flashback on a train, we meet Harold, who after finding himself on the run from the police because of a murder he's involved in takes lodgings in a boarding house run by a kindly woman and her husband. What becomes apparent soon after arriving however is that Harold has seen the couple's son Billy somewhere before. Surely he couldn't be the same boy that Harold tried to murder near the train station after Billy witnessed something he shouldn't have? And why does the beautiful woman who also lives in the boarding house find him so interesting? Can Harold keep up the charade of innocence, or is he already starting to crack?

I found this little known noir rather excellent, and it's so worth the wait.

Behind Closed Doors - 1931 ****

 

Beautiful secretary Mary Linden is smitten by Jim Duneen, the laddish salesman hoping to land himself a better job as an executive. Mary is able to orchestrate this for him, and he is soon sitting in the President's chair happy as Larry. The only trouble is, because of his high position he is now starting to neglect Mary, taking her for granted, hiring an extra assistant and openly flirting with other women in front of her. Mary is devastated, and tries to find solace in the arms of married, yet devoted Ronnie. Once Jim realises what he might lose, he desperately tries to win Mary back.

Mary Astor is gorgeous here, and I can't help but guess that the time she was filing this coincided with the infamous scandal of her 'red diary' which contained the memoirs of all the men she had slept with... behind her husband's back. This gives an added juiciness to the film where she plays a meek and proper secretary.

Convenience - 2015 ** 1/2

 

Attempting to rob an all night garage, two idiots end up bungling their plan and getting themselves jobs there for the night instead. It's got some funny parts, and Ray Panthaki does a good job in his post-Eastenders role, but you can tell it's a film that's 'trying too hard.' One of those films where the majority of comic moments appear in the trailer, and when you break it down there isn't much left in the story that can make you laugh. Also, I don't know where Vicky McClure has come from but she has zero personality and isn't the greatest choice for her part.

The Outer Gate - 1937 ***

 

'The Outer Gate' works very well for what it is - a simple story and plot acted very well. The premise is revenge, and what happens when you get tarred with the same brush .

Bob has been working for his girlfriend's father John for a while now, and feels he is effectively part of the family, so when someone embezzles a lot of money, Bob can't quite believe it when John accuses him of the crime and he is sent to jail for a number of years. Fast forward to his release, and Bob is still feeling hurt and angry after John's betrayal. John, feeling bad, tells Bob he now trusts him completely, but Bob isn't about to forgive him anytime soon.

Well acted, easy storyline to follow, solid performances.

(HORROR) The Perfect Husband - 2014 ****

 

'The Perfect Husband' starts off well, with so much potential and promise, then it descends into something even more horrific than imagined - and it's pretty darn good! Gabriella Wright hasn't got a particularly overbearing screen presence but this does work in her favour, and her onscreen husband alternates between wimpy and terrifying in each scene which keeps you on your toes, never knowing when he might snap.

A young couple named Nicola and Viola go to an old cabin in the woods (where have you heard this before) to rest and recuperate after Viola suffers an awful miscarriage leading her to a nervous breakdown. Very soon after arriving, Viola starts realising that Nicola is behaving oddly, he's rather possessive, snappy and angry interspersed with abject apologies soon after. Added to which, Viola is having strange dreams involving her miscarried baby, and feels like she is being spied on.

This sounds pretty good to start with, but the second part of it really blows your mind, and overall I thought it was extremely well done with a nice build up of tension and ghastly climax.

Margin for Error - 1943 ****

 

I have always found Joan Bennett to be one of the most beautiful of the 40s stars. She's just so graceful and elegant that you can't help but be mesmerised by her screen presence.

Here Bennett plays Sophia, the wife of an the infamous German Consul Karl Baumer who is in deep water after having squandered money for the sole purpose of sabotaging an American Port at the end of a radio speech made by Hitler. After former police officer Moe is ordered to become Karl's bodyguard he makes friends with Sophia, who confides in him that she loathes and detests her husband and has only stayed with him to make sure her father is released from prison. Moe also finds Karl a horrendous human and cannot understand how anyone can support his regime. Add into the mix Karl's secretary who is becoming less and less dedicated to Karl as he asks him to complete tasks he does not morally accept. Tensions are running high as the radio speech approaches, but who will crack first?

Otto Preminger does a fantastic job as the morally bankrupt Consul and the panic and stress is outlined beautifully. This was an incredibly powerful, sharply executed piece of film work.

Whispering Whoopee - 1930 ***

 

'Whispering Whoopee' is an enjoyable little gem from 1930 featuring the gorgeous Thelma Todd at her most amusing. She was so much fun to watch, you could tell from her face how much fun she was having filming and acting her role.

Charley Chase is hoping to land an important business deal, and uses 3 women from an escort service to do so, also getting himself into hot water in the process. Thelma is of course the one who really stands out from the 3, and delivers all her lines with wit and sarcastic charm. Worth a watch.

(HORROR) Halloween Night - 2006 *

 

'The Asylum' has churned out another monstrosity with it's take on 'Halloween.' Dire as you would imagine, 'Halloween Night' centres around a young boy named Chris who is put away in an insane asylum after watching his mother killed by 2 thugs. Years later he emerges as a psycho and goes on a killing spree on Halloween night... how original... Just an awful, very badly acted film, but sometimes that's all you can expect from 'The Asylum'.

Chance at Heaven - 1933 ****

 

'Chance at Heaven' is a rather adorable piece of fluff that I found myself watching the other day. What happens when you believe the grass is greener and can't be content with what you already have. Lovely Ginger Rogers plays the practical, thoughtful Marje, who is engaged to immature, yet handsome gas station owner Blackie. Blackie's head is turned however when a ditzy socialite named Glory crashes her car into his petrol pumps and falls head over heels for him. Selfishly he ditches Marje and runs off with Glory, but things have a habit of working themselves out in the best possible way, and Marje isn't one to give up on her man. Nice little film and you can't help but come out of it feeling besotted with Ginger.