Thursday, September 4, 2014

REC 3: Genesis

REC 3: Genesis Movie Review

All hell breaks loose at a wedding reception and it’s not because your Uncle Eddie is wasted and dancing the Macarena.  No, it’s because he’s a zombie!  Or demon…or whatever he is in this installment of the REC quadrilogy “REC 3: Genesis.”


This is the first film in the series that Spanish director Paco Plaza made without the help of Jaume Balaguero, the co-director of the first two REC films.  The result is a fresh new perspective that stays true to the original plot; this film takes place during the day, uses a fiction style camera and has a nice touch of humor throughout that doesn’t take away from the terror.  This movie is not a zomcom (zombie-comedy) but let’s face it, certain things are going to happen in the course of a horrific event that might seem funny to those watching from the comfort of their own home and this movie capitalizes on many of them perfectly. This doesn’t mean that all the great draws of the first two films are absent however, there is a wedding videographer roaming around and we frequently cut to his view and eventually it does get dark which helps intensify the atmosphere.  What definitely hasn’t changed is the ravenous and ever growing horde of zombies….or infected….or demons….or whatever the hell you want to call them.

 
To sum them all up I am going to call them ZOMBIEMONS…a combination of zombies and demons.  Did Gory Gary just coin a new horror term?  I think he did!   It’s like it started with a cult that infected people but once they kill, the dead reanimate like zombies…zombies that heed to religious commands.  It is some seriously weird stuff, man!  These things, or ZOMBIEMONS if you will, are terrifying, fast and hungry—all bad when you’re trying to run for your life.  The gore is excellent and uses all practical effects, which we love here at the BOT.


As a filmmaker myself and someone who has shot many, many wedding videos (currently editing two) this couple was totally believable as loving, caring sweethearts.  The bride Clara, played by Leticia Dolera, and the groom Koldo, played by Diego Martin do a terrific job of straddling the line between horror and happiness.  In foreign films acting is a difficult thing to judge but I think these two definitely pulled it off well but what I took issue with was how easily they were able to kill their family members and friends who had turned into zombiemons.  I get it, they are fighting for their lives, but it’s going to be hard for me to kill my uncle Eddie because I love the guy and he got me drunk my first time and paid for my first tattoo!  Case and point it’s not going to be that easy to kill many people at your wedding unless it’s your sister’s douche bag fiancĂ©.


“Rec 3:Genesis” is rated R has a run time of 80 horrifying minutes and gets a 4 out of 5 stars on the gore score.  This one has everything we loved from the first two with a few extra buckets of blood to keep you interested.  We have enjoyed each film so far in this series and are really looking forward to its conclusion in Rec 4: Apocalypse.

       

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Don't Go In The Woods

Don't Go In The Woods - Movie Review

The lead singer of an indy band forces his bandmates into the woods on a camping trip.  They get rid of the weed, the booze and the cellphones and focus all their efforts into writing some new, kickass tunes. KUMBAYA!!!


I want to start this review by saying I was really looking forward to this movie.  The premise, marketing and trailer were right up our alley here at The Basement of Terror but the execution was right down the sh#tt@r!! This film is directed by Vincent D'Onofrio which most people remember as the enigmatic Private Pyle from "Full Metal Jacket."  I thought to myself "Ok, we got Vinnie D, he has got some cash and the film is shot on some land he owns in New York somewhere.  On top of that he knows how to act and has a ton of experience in the industry so how the hell could he screw up a slasher film?!"  Well, folks, he did....he did bad.

Right off the bat I had trouble believing the actors.  Now I don't want to get down on these guys; they are certainly better actors than I will ever be and it is a very difficult thing to judge.  I wish them the best in their careers, hopefully doing whatever besides acting.  It just wasn't there, dudes, and if you want to blame that on the director than go ahead.  I immediately hated the lead singer Nick, played by Matt Sbeglia.  I think it's Matt Sbeglia but I am unable to find any pictures on IMDB because this is his only film credit to date -- Thank you for that, Matt Sbeglia.  They are about five minutes into the movie and he throws their weed out the window saying "We are here to focus on the music."  How cliche!  And the way the rest of the band acted when it happened was just ridiculous. They didn't say anything except "Did he just do what I think he did?" sounding like a dude that just woke up from a nap!  He just threw a big bag of weed out the window and you are going on a camping trip!  Now we are not potheads at the Basement of Terror but we know you never mess with a man's bag of weed.  At its most basic level it's just like he threw $100 out the window--and probably more judging by the size of that bag, and these dudes do nothing more than whimper!  Guess what this jerk does later?  He pours out all their booze! What a dick!  Is this the main character I'm supposed to care about?  Who am I supposed to care about?  The Asian guy?  The blind guy? Yes, this band has an annoying lead singer, an Asian guy, a blind bass player and I think the remaining member is Mexican or something...they are very cultured and super annoying.


The pacing was the scariest part of this entire movie.  It starts out with just the band but then to the behest of the annoying lead singer all their girlfriends and groupies show up.  I didn't mind this because I knew this was a slasher and now there are plenty of victims to go around, THIS COULD BE FUN!  Nope, we basically watch an episode of Glee chock-packed with one awful song after another.  Maybe I misunderstood the marketing but I in no way expected this to be a musical.  And it's not just songs from the band members, it has songs sang by every damn person in the entire movie including a French girl who is just learning to speak English!  "Je t'aime je t'aime je t'aime....I love you..I love you..I love you" UGH that just gave me the chills remembering it.  Apparently this entire film was written to showcase the music of Vinnie D's friend, Sam Bisbee, who is also the co-writer.  Let's just say you all need to find new day jobs.  "Hey, I've got this awesome jam that has some French words in it... let's like, have there be a French girl in the script!" DUMB!!!  I've got some French for ya...Au revoir any movie or music containing Sam Bisbee. 


"Don't Go In The Woods" is Not Rated, has a run time of 83 minutes (which feels like a year and a half) and gets a half star on the gore score, our lowest score to date.  Only because we respect filmmaking and realize how difficult it is can we give this movie a half star.  I suggest going in the woods if it helps you escape this big private PYLE of garbage.

  

Thursday, August 28, 2014

KILLER KILL of the month - August

KILLER KILL OF THE MONTH - AUGUST!!!

Wow!  If you haven't seen the Maniac remake starring Elijah Wood, what the hell are you doing with your life?  Shot in first person like the original the opening scene sets the tone for the entire film.  Watch for yourself, catch the brutality and go out and buy this SPLATTERPIECE!


The end where he touches her face is some creepy stuff.  Excellent film!  You guys got any scenes I should see on par with this?  Email basementofterror@gmail.com and if I use your video you just might get a BOT tshirt!!!!!

-GG

Being Poor...

Back when the BOT was in its infancy I had the twinkle in my eye that I would review and give the latest and greatest when it came to horror films.  Well, I'm not gonna worry about that anymore and I'm just gonna review whatever the hell I want.  If it was made yesterday or 37 years ago makes no difference to me and for the longest time it seemed like every movie that came out was found footage anyways.  So, to make a long story short, I work a full time job and I gots bills to pay so for all four of the readers I have (not counting my mom or her friend Claire)  I'm just gonna let it all flow like the blood out of the elevator in the Shining.

I started with Wolf Creek 2 which actually came out the day after my birthday in April, so it's not that old, ya dick!  From there I will be moving onto "Don't Go In The Woods" Directed by Vincent D'Onofrio and I'll wrap up this batch with the cult classic "Ghoulies" which I have never seen.  Should be a FRIGHTFEST for all you gorehounds.  Thanks for reading.



-GG

Wolf Creek 2

Wolf Creek 2 Review

Mick Taylor is back and boy oh boy is he better than ever!  Even though it’s been eight years since the first Wolf Creek, Mick is slashing, stabbing, shooting and paralyzing foreign tourists like it was just yesterday!  Just like stabbing a bike eh, Mick?  Well, something like that…


This film is just the third feature film from writer/director Greg Mclean, a member of the infamous “splat pack” film directors.  This effort shows a maturity in aesthetic and a polished directing style that was missing from the first film.  Don’t get me wrong, I loved Wolf Creek, but I don’t own it; this film I will definitely buy and I suggest you do the same.
 
The film starts off with a couple backpacking across the Australian outback only to cross paths with the murderous, demented Mick Taylor, played by John Jarratt who reprises his role from the first film.  Mr. Jarratt is an excellent actor and is completely believable in the psychopath role.  I guess that’s a compliment.    Though the film had those moments where you yell at the television and tell the girl to “RUN, B*TCH!!!!  WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!?!?” the acting by Shannon Ashlyn and Phillipe Klaus, the unwitting couple, is excellent.


So we have it set up: Mick Taylor is the bad guy and he chases the couple through the outback hitting one speed bump of terror after another for 90 minutes right?  WRONG.  What was really inventive about Wolf Creek 2 is Mick Taylor is the main character!  Just when you think you’ve got a protagonist…WRONG AGAIN!  It’s nothing to lose your head over though; each new character that takes the place of the old dead one is just as superb and just as believable.  Take the character Paul Hammersmith, played by actor Ryan Corr, for example: he is just a good dude, stopping to help a lady in need and then BANG now he’s the target of Mick’s dissection…I mean affection!  He all too soon realizes the old adage…when you’re in the outback, never stop.


 I’m rambling now about how great this movie was but it did have some issues: the car chase was a bit ridiculous on its own, expecting us to believe any vehicle could stand going 70mph over the jagged terrain of the Australian outback.  I was ok with it though until the chase culminated in a herd of kangaroos deciding to cross the road while Paul Hammersmith flees Mick Taylor-- who traded in his truck from Texas Chainsaw Massacre and got an 18 wheeler….after killing the driver of course.  Let’s just say if the CGI wasn’t so bad PETA would be all over this film for how many kangaroos appeared to be mashed, smashed, crushed and ran over.  At least twenty computer looking kangaroos get killed.  I know they aren’t going to use real kangaroos and the cost of puppets or whatever would be way too much money, but if that’s the case just leave the scene out!  It didn’t add anything to the chase, in fact, it took away the seriousness and looked silly.


Hmmmm mashed, smashed, crushed and ran over….aren’t those all the same?  Wolf Creek 2 is Not Rated, has a run time of 106 minutes and it gets a 4 out of 5 stars on the gore score.  We absolutely loved this film at the Basement of Terror for its acting, gore, unpredictability and overall fun.  We also liked how they make no doubt that there will be a third installment!!! 

   

Monday, February 11, 2013

FIRST TSHIRT WINNER!!!!

We finally sent out a shirt and it was received by Steve G of Pennsylvania.  Thanks for the sweet clip you sent us from "Poughkeepsie Tapes," I always thought that was one hell of a scene and I am glad you helped us bring it to the masses!!!!  All nine fans we have.

Here's a picture of this cool dude.  What do you guys think?  Chicks are going to be all over this guy!


Keep reading for your chance to win your very own BASEMENT OF TERROR TSHIRT!!!

-GG

Friday, February 1, 2013

KILLER KILL OF THE MONTH - January

What's up, fright fiends?  We finally have a submission from one of our great readers; Steve G emailed us this great scene from Poughkeepsie Tapes.  If you haven't seen this movie it is great, gory and twisted...just how we like it.  Anyways, keep sending in your favorite kill scenes for your chance to win a Basement of Terror tshirt.  Thanks, Steve G, your shirt is in the mail!!!

Pretty hardcore wouldn't you say?

-GG