Movie Maniac added 1 item to Terror Blurbs! Part II (An Ever-Expanding List) list
Plot: Two siblings with very opposing personalities jump on an "otherworldly" opportunity in a bid to save their family's legacy and make a place for themselves outside of their father's shadow.
Jordan Peele's third directorial effort proves to be another engaging and refreshing exercise in the genre. Armed with unique approach to a subject that audiences might feel fluent in, Peele manages to misdirect just enough to keep the viewer guessing as to what might really be going on. Packing some strong performances, something of a Tarantino-esque vibe, some gorgeous shot composition, and some tense horror set pieces, "Nope" makes an indelible impression. Everything comes together for a satisfying pay off and a redefining approach to a sci-fi/horror staple subject. As with every Peele movie, there is some social thematics at play. "Nope" questions the moral and ethical issues that surround the pursuit of fame, our morose obsession with spectacle, and the dangerous roads our inability to abstain from those pursuits might take us down.
2 years, 9 months ago
Movie Maniac added 1 item to Terror Blurbs! Part II (An Ever-Expanding List) list
Plot: Nature revolts as birds attack the denizens of a small town, some of which we follow as they flee.
This movie did for horror what Tommy Wiseau's The Room did for drama. Namely, inadvertently create a film so abysmal that one can't help but revel in its aggressive awfulness. The only shock and terror here lies in the quality (or lack thereof) of the acting, scripting, directing, effects, and, well, everything else. Truly wretched but a must for fans of "so bad, it's good" type flicks. If you really want to amp up the misery, take in the behind the scenes material that reveals the delusion and ego of the director. Hitchcock this is not.
2 years, 9 months ago
Movie Maniac added 1 item to Terror Blurbs! Part II (An Ever-Expanding List) list
Plot: Another grim anthology from Amicus Production with stories written by Robert Bloch (Psycho) all centering on the patients of an asylum.
Armed with an interesting framing story that nicely ties into the events by the end and starring an assortment of familiar faces for fans of British horror, "Asylum" packs a somewhat distinctive punch with tales that wouldn't feel out of place in an EC comic or an episode of The Twilight Zone. The stranger stories come off stronger (especially the final section) than the one more "thriller-esque" entry but, all in all, they show why Amicus was renown and beloved for their anthologies. A delight for fans of Brit horror, anthologies, and movies that achieve a lot despite budgetary limitations.
2 years, 9 months ago