RRR - Randall's Review Room

"Scream VI" Where I watched it: Cineplex The "Scream" franchise has had its ups and downs. The first two, of course, were classics. The third and fourth, not so much. Now, only a year after the release of "Scream V" and riding strong on the newfound star power of Jenna Ortega comes "Scream VI." "Scream VI" has been teased steadily over the past year with posters and stills depicting the radical change of setting from the quiet and isolated town of Woodsboro to the chaotic, bustling metropolis of New York. While some horror movies have produced negative results by having a scenary change ("Jason Takes Manhattan"), this movie works surprisingly well in its new environment. "Scream VI" had me at the edge of my seat. The pace is rapid and unrelenting. The tension is ever-present. There are hardly any moments where characters are allowed to catch their breath before being chased, attacked or brutally murdered by Ghostface...

"Enter the Drag Dragon" Where I watched it: The Fox Theatre This film is an absolute blast. If anyone has seen other films by Ottawa native/legend Lee Demarbre (Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter, Smash Cut) you'll kind of know what to expect, but nothing can truly prepare you for this wild ride. The film centers around a part-time detective/ full-time drag queen named Crunch. Along with his friend, Jaws, he embarks on the case of a stolen painting that turns out to be a treasure map.   The film casts 3 different actors as the lead, Crunch, as he gets comically disfigured in various ways throughout the movie.   Speaking of cast, there are about 20-30 characters in the movie, all of which get their own glorious grindhouse-style freeze frame intros. There are even some notable cameos from B-movie legends Lloyd Kaufman (Troma Entertainment) and Greg Sestero (The Room). The film also stars Phil Caracas, who played Jesus in Lee Demarbre's cult classic "Jesus Christ Vampire ...

"Hatching" aka "Pahanhautoja" - Finland Where I watched it: DVD This film is about a young girl named Tinja, who happens upon an egg that she decides to take home and nurture. The egg grows exponentially in size before ultimately birthing a very strange creature, who the young girl continues to keep and care for until its violent side takes over. The actor that plays Tinja is incredible. Most of the actors do a great job, but she really stands out. The plot is pretty weird, of course, but it also speaks to the idea of motherhood and how certain parental influences can lead to disastrous outcomes. I was a little disappointed with some of the decisions this film made, but overall, I was thoroughly entertained, and the creature effects were top notch. I would definitely recommend checking this one out, too! 7/10

"Piggy" aka "Cerdita" - Spain Where I watched it: DVD "Piggy" is the story of a young woman named Sara who is the victim of intense and never-ending bullying from the people in her small Spanish town, in particular the teenage girls. A mysterious stranger arrives and begins kidnapping, torturing and killing people. Coinciding with Sara's interests, a lot of the people being captured and killed by the stranger are people who are assholes to Sara. And with this, a weird love story (kinda) emerges. This movie is wonderfully shot. The acting is phenomenal from everyone involved, but where it doesn't succeed is from a plot perspective. The film goes in a direction that you'd more or less expect it to go in, but it leaves certain elements of motivation to the viewers mind, which can work in some films but in this I found it distracting and ultimately unfulfilling.   Despite some issues, I would recommend checking this out. 6/10

"Terrifier 2" Where I watched it: Blu-Ray Let me just start by saying that I didn't really care for the first one. It was extremely dragged out and fell short of the hype that accompanied its release. In many ways "Terrifier 2" has the same problems as the first one. This movie is almost 2 and a half hours long. In what world is that necessary for a slasher flick? In true homage to the campy classics of yesteryear, "Terrifier 2" follows a psychotic murderer (who may or may not have supernatural abilities) as he murders victim after victim in increasingly gruesome ways. The protagonist, a "Final Girl," goes through all the clichés as "Art the Clown" comes after her and her friends/family. The acting in this is pretty bad, although it might be an intentional choice to add to the throwback vibes of a late 70s/early 80s slasher flick. The mom of the main character is the worst. Where this film succeeds is in its practical effects. The ...

"Death Spa" Where I watched it: AMC+ I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into when I put this on. "Death Spa" is a horror movie that takes place at a fitness center in the late 80s. Now, is a fitness center usually considered a spa? I'm not sure, but it's definitely not what comes to mind when I envision a traditional spa. Especially not the kind of establishment that this movie takes place in. It's almost like a workout mall. This gym/spa thing is inexplicably run by an advanced computer system that literally controls everything from the hot water in the showers to the resistance levels on the exercise bikes. The computer system is operated by one person named David, and he's a computer wizard of unmatchable skills. But forget about that for now. Let's talk about Michael, the infinitely cool manager of the gym/spa. Rarely wearing a shirt and constantly desired sexually by all who frequent the gym, Micheal has a traumatic past, one where ...

"Please Speak Continuously and Describe Your Experiences as They Come to You" In this short film by Brandon Cronenberg, we follow a young woman at a hospital who relives her nightmares as she reports their details to a doctor. In all of its 9 minutes of abstraction, it's actually quite profound. All the Brandon Cronenberg stamps are there: full frontal nudity, bloody body horror, red lights, and of course it leaves lots of room for audience interpretation. 7/10

"Possessor" Where I watched it: Blu-ray After seeing "Infinity Pool," it was clear that I needed to finally watch Brandon Cronenberg's "Possessor." In a way, the two films are very similar, stylistically and in tone. "Possessor" is set in an alternate 2008 where an assassin uses a machine to "possess" the bodies of others to carry out her hits. In this alternate 2008, many things are slightly off-kilter. Technology is both outdated and advanced. The only cars that exist are classic cars. Everyone vapes excessively... wait, that part's actually pretty faithful to our own world. Anywho, in this weird world, our main character with a Star Wars name, Tasya Vos, enters the bodies of people who she then pilots as she carries out her assassination assignments. Similar to the concept of "Being John Malkovich," the consciousness of the host is kept tucked away in the backseat of the mind while Vos is in control, watching helple...

"Infinity Pool" Where I watched it: Toronto Premiere at Scotiabank Theatre "Infinity Pool" is Brandon Cronenberg's third feature film. To be brutally honest, I stopped watching his first film "Antiviral" after about 20 minutes. I kinda hated it. I own a copy of his second film "Possessor" but I still haven't gotten around to watching it. I decided to check out his latest film in part due to the premiere screening having Brandon Cronenberg himself and star of the film Alexander Skarsgård in attendance. Another big draw was Mia Goth with "Pearl" being one of my favorite films of 2022. I knew very little about this movie going in and I would recommend keeping it that way for anyone interested in seeing this. The trailer is weird and vague enough that you can safely watch it without spoiling much. To say this film is an assault on the senses is an understatement. Imagine David Lynch, Gaspar Noè and David Cronenberg all stepped into ...

"Skinamarink" Where I watched it: The Fox Theatre A student film blown way out of proportion by social media hype. This film is a series of close up shots on various parts of various rooms. There is no accompanying music, only static sounds and the occasional ghostly whisper that is at times highlighted through subtitles. The shots are overlayed with an artificial film grain that lasts about 5 seconds and then is thrown into reverse to provide coverage for the lengthy shots of room corners. There's an atmosphere of tension throughout, there's no doubt about that. I think it might come down to the viewer trying to see the horror or find the fear amidst the shots of nothingness. I think we can all relate to that feeling of being a child and looking into the corner of your bedroom in the middle of the night and wondering if there's something looking back at you from the dark. You pull the blankets up over your head only to have a new fear that something is under the ...

"The Invitation" Where I watched it: Amazon Prime Not to be confused with "The Invitation" with Logan Marshall-Green or "The Invitation" with Lance Henriksen. This "The Invitation" centers around a young woman who, feeling lonely, decides to take a DNA test revealing a 2nd cousin of ultra posh British decent. She agrees to fly out to jolly old England to meet more of her relatives and attend a lavish wedding at a mansion owned by a charming, rich, sexy aristocrat named De Ville (subtlety is not this movie's forte). It's a delightful romance until it is not. Blimey! Two thirds Hallmark movie, one third shitty horror movie. This movie was originally released in theaters with a PG-13 rating but now that it's online and available for everyone to see without parental restriction it is rated R for CGI gore, one f-bomb and some side boob. This is another one of those movies where the contrast is brought up so high that barely anything is vi...

"The Menu" Where I watched it: Disney+ A good meal is one that leaves you feeling full and satisfied but still fond of what you have consumed. A good 3 course meal should provide 1) the appetizer; drawing you in and "setting up" the palette for what is to come next 2) the main course; the heart of the 3 course meal in which the stakes are raised in a way culminating in, let's say a "rising action" between the consumer and the entrée 3) the dessert; a final blow to the tastebuds... a sort of "resolution" if you will... an energizing and savory way to conclude the full meal. What I was served here on this Disney+ platter was overdone, dry, bland and comprised of ingredients that should never go together. I think I'd like to send this one back to the chef, please. 4/10

"Run Sweetheart Run" Another dud by Blumhouse. I will admit some of this is kind of fun and engaging but in the end it's silly, nonsensical and lackluster. The film is about a young professional who is set up on a business date with a rich guy. The rich guy turns out to be an actual monster and bestows upon the young woman the challenge of surviving until sunrise. Parts "Funny Games" and parts Mr. Nimbus from Rick and Morty... this film is a jumble of stuff that feels out of place. Like "Funny Games" there are moments when the antagonist breaks the fourth wall and demonstrates abilities that seem to manipulate the narrative. Like Mr. Nimbus, the antagonist controls the police. Similar to "Barbarian" and other recent allegorical horror films, this movie is a symbolic introspection into the horrors and dangers of being female in a male dominated world or even workplace in this case. It's heavy handed to be sure and doesn't work as well ...

"The Wonder" "The Wonder" is an extremely slow film about the power of belief. The story follows a young Irish girl who her family claims hasn't eaten in 4 months. The town brings in a nurse and a nun to get a science vs faith diagnosis of what's going on with this young lady. Lots of people stand around. Or sometimes they sit. Occasionally they'll say something. I was struggling to keep my attention on this movie but it was really challenging me to do so. I don't think this is a bad movie by any means, the story is curious enough and the subtext is thought provoking but holy shit is it ever long, slow and boring. Florence Pugh is great as always and the acting in general is pretty solid. I think this might have worked better as an episode of Cabinet of Curiosities. An hour long, maybe upping the creepy factor a bit. 5/10

"Hellraiser (2022)" From David Bruckner, director of modern horror masterpieces such as "The Night House" and "The Ritual" comes the latest entry into the "Hellraiser" franchise. Not really a sequel and not really a remake, I guess this could be considered a re-imagining. "Hellraiser 2022" follows the story of an extremely unlikeable young woman who does just about everything horribly wrong. So much so that it ruins the lives of all of those around her. Maybe that's the message of the movie... bad life choices don't just f*ck up your own life but the lives of others too. But the way it plays out in the film is nothing short of irritating. Bruckner's films have until this point had incredible acting. The lead, all things considered, isn't awful but the supporting cast are shockingly bad. Fun fact, the lead character played by Odessa A'zion is the daughter of Pamela Adlon. Jamie Clayton does a pretty good job as the ne...

"The Roost" Ti West's first film! I feel like this one requires a great deal of context to be properly rated and reviewed. It's wild to think that only 2 years after making "The Roost" Ti West went on to direct "The House of the Devil" which almost immediately gained him a cult following. It's even more wild to look at his most recent film "Pearl" and hold it up side by side with "The Roost" to see how far he's come as a filmmaker. "The Roost" is a homage to cheap, made for TV b-movies. It's a clever design choice to make it look low quality for the sake of imitation rather than what was most likely the reality... a lack of money, locations and actors. The film follows 4 friends going to a wedding when their car becomes lodged in a ditch after an encounter with a bat. As the group leave the car and search an old farm house for help they encounter more bats and soon learn that these bats are... ZOMBIE BATS! ...

"Two Witches" Pardon me for what may seem like a complete digression but I just thought of this analogy and I think it's perfect.... This movie is a Pterodactyl. Hear me out. Imagine this... you have a dinosaur egg... you don't know what's in it.... it could be any dinosaur. Your mind is going crazy with the possibilities. Maybe it's a T-Rex. Maybe it's a velociraptor. The egg starts to shake. Holy shit whatever dinosaur is in there is about to come busting through. Your heart is racing. This is nuts... a dinosaur?! These things have been extinct for millions of years and here you are about to witness one being born. This is truly wild. The egg cracks a little. You hear a tiny shriek. Cute... but also foreign in a way you know is the noise only a dinosaur could make. The egg cracks a little more. A smile envelopes your face as you feel more and more like John Hammond in that baby raptor birthing scene in Jurassic Park. You even adopt a Scottish accent as y...

"Smile" A popcorn horror movie with a really solid analogy. "Smile" if taken on a surface level is a run of the mill Friday night horror film with jump scares, drone shots of a car driving through the woods and of course, sub par acting (namely the dude in jail). While it is all of these things, its also much deeper. The film serves as a representation of depression, trauma and suicide. It also very cleverly hides all of this behind "smiles" much like those dealing with these kinds of heavy emotions tend to do in the real world. Trauma begetting more trauma is also a strong theme. While I respect it for its subtext and creativity in doing so, I do feel like it did come across as a Blumhouse film which ultimately made me not care overly about the characters and had me rolling my eyes at the numerous predictable jump scares. With its surface level horror device being creepy smiles, it's going to inherently be a bit divisive. It's like people that are...

"Prey" I'm sure this goes without saying but "Prey" is the latest film in the "Predator" series. It's as far back as the predator lore goes (if you discount the Mayan pyramid shit in AvP) and follows a Comanche woman who wants to prove her abilities as a hunter to her tribe and herself. I'm not going to build suspense here, I loved this movie. It's a fantastic tale of overcoming challenges, misogyny, societal expectations and it ultimately demonstrates that cunning will always overpower bravado. From a horror perspective, there's not too much going on... unless you equate violence and gore to horror... because it's definitely not lacking in that department. But suspense building and genuine terror of the Predator isn't there like it was in the first film. Speaking of which, there are a lot of nods to the original Predator movie and a clever connecting element to the second Predator movie, none of which feel forced or shoehorned ...

"Matriarch" This is a strange one. The first 20 minutes are a real challenge. Extreme shaky camera for no reason. Extremely unlikeable lead character. Questionable acting. Once you get past this part and Kate Dickie enters the picture, things get substantially better. I've been trying to figure out how to word this without it seeming weird or inappropriate but I think if you know... you know.... So here it is: Kate Dickie has the hardest working nipples in the film biz. See "Matriarch" and "The VVitch" for proof. Kate Dickie is also excellent in the music video for "Second" by Sleaford Mods. My points of reference for her are fairly limited (I've never seen Game of Thrones). Anyway Kate Dickie is great and the movie becomes fairly engaging once the shit starts to hit the fan. The film gets pretty bonkers toward the end... a little cheap looking but if you can put that aside there's some pretty creepy and unique imagery. I actually thi...