Lord of Tears film review (no spoilers) 2013

Kount Kreepy was kind enough (or was it really to torment me?) to drop off "Lord of Tears"for me to review.

Thanks to Lawrie Brewster the director for sending  this collectors DVD to review.

This movie fits the bill for creepy movies. The haunting imagery starts strongly right from the beginning and does not disappoint. The tone is like an impending doom that makes you wait and want to know more as the story evolves and has some twists toward the end that many won't see coming, but done in a way that is fitting with the story and characters. Based on urban legend as well as ancient myths gives it some historical setting. If one is a Jungian follower of psychology you could well find that this film will hit that deep seated nerve or collective memory.

There is a dark wintry feeling to the imagery and scenery with brief moments of faint hope for the main characters against a foreboding back drop. Lord of Tears relies on the camera work and ambiance instead of the special effects and CGI that too many films seem to rely on these days. Its like being taken back to when films could scare the crap out of you without the buckets of blood and fancy tricks.
(imagery courtesy of Lord of Tears on tumbler)

I hate comparing films to others as this one surely stands on it's own but for those looking for an idea or "its kind of like such and such" this film has elements of other films I've enjoyed immensely. Some films just stick with you for a long time after and Lord of Tears is no exception to that.

Visually it  has a lot of power and suggestion to it putting me in the mind of films like Ringu (or The Ring in English- a Japanese Horror film) or The Shining (When a building just sitting there gives you the creeps!)

Feeling wise it puts me in mind of Dagon or In The Mouth of Madness which fits in with the Lovecraft style and pace of the film. Given that the budget was from a Kickstarter campaign the film is great.

A part of the film struck a chord with me (I don't think its really a spoiler), the main character finds the taps in the bathroom turn on by themselves. Many moons ago I had stayed at a hotel that was allegedly haunted and awoke to find the taps on. Thinking about it this happened twice at two different locations and both were apparently haunted!

So enough said already. Get the DVD, it has some great bonus features including an interview with the Director who comes across as inclusive with his audience. He is like a tour guide of horror coming along with you for the ride and experiencing what you experience, he just has a few more of the answers and helps put it all into perspective.

Also there is a quick mention of the next project "The Unkindness of Ravens" about:

"Andrew Alburn, a homeless veteran suffering from PTSD is plagued by flashbacks, stemming from a traumatic event he witnessed while in the armed forces. He spends time in a highland retreat where he hopes to overcome his fear of ravens, the dark creatures that trigger and populate his visions. But in the bleak highlands of Scotland, his nightmares manifest into an enemy more powerful than he could ever have imagined." from Facebook

being a veteran myself I can't wait to see this. If Lawrie does it any justice like Dog Soldiers (portraying military characters as more than 2D cut outs) I'm sure it will be a good film.

Thanks for tuning in.- Evil von Scarry

Cleanskin (2012)

"Cleanskin"- an intelligence term for an operative that is off the radar and previously unknown to intelligence networks.

 I kind of waited out for this movie. My initial impression (without seeing it yet mind you) is that it would be another feel good film for the masses. "Good guy kills terrorists and we can all go home feeling better about the increasing security state" type of film. Well fuck was I wrong (not for the first time, lol) about this one.

A bit of a long movie its not so much action adventure (although it does have enough) but more of a drama. Kind of two parallel stories that intertwine. One story being of a British born Muslim man (played by Abhin Galeya)  who gets indoctrinated into the radicalized world of Islam. The other is a story of an Intelligence operative ( played by Sean Bean ) who's lost his wife to a suicide bomber attack and will kill any and all extremists his handlers tell him are a threat.

There's quite a few plot twists and the movie does show a bit more than most action films looking at things in a black and white perspective. You get the feeling throughout the film that both of the main characters are "being played" by their respective sides. Also there are elements in the film reminiscent of the real life Operation Gladio operations. The critics didn't like it but fuck them, any film that makes us a bit uncomfortable with our myth-conceptions is a good one in my books.

It's been out on video for a bit and if your attention span is better than a pet rock and intellect higher than most of the main stay "man fall down stairs ....funny" crowd, you'll be in for a good film. -EvS

Dredd (2012) review

Go fricking see it.
No really.

We finally got a decent book to screen interpretation of a comic book hero. For those who haven't heard of Judge Dredd just think Punisher if he was actually supported by the law for his actions and go about 100 years into the future. The Dredd were talking about here is the 2000 AD comics version not that DC comics "bullshit one off" they tried to pull.

For those that actually have read to comic book you should be happy with this film version. Also it has Judge Anderson (aka Psi-Judge Anderson,who is actually a main character in the comic) starting off as a rookie.

From Lionsgate films- "The future America is an irradiated waste land. On its East Coast, running from Boston to Washington DC, lies Mega City One- a vast, violent metropolis where criminals rule the chaotic streets. The only force of order lies with the urban cops called "Judges" who possess the combined powers of judge, jury and instant executioner. Known and feared throughout the city, Dredd (Karl Urban) is the ultimate Judge, challenged with ridding the city of its latest scourge - a dangerous drug epidemic that has users of "Slo-Mo" experiencing reality at a fraction of its normal speed." -- (C) Lionsgate

Yup that's right really great distopian shit. Me I put efn mustard on that! 

I was initially concerned with seeing the slo-mo combat scenes as I thought it might be the whole movie but it was used in good proportions and didn't turn the film into an advertisement for some new film techniques. Effects and make up were good and visuals exceptional.  There were quite a few nods (to those who would notice that kind of thing) to quite a few Judge Dredd story line factors such as the "fatties" and "block mania","The Apocalypse War",also the use of the Lawmaster (Dredd's gat) was done well.  Anyhow even though it didn't do that well at the box office we could give a "Drokk" and really hope to see a 2nd part. Cheers, EvS