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Reviews8
vacantskies00's rating
Revenge is a modern French exploitation of many films that came before. I Spit On Your Grave, Ms. 45, and Martyrs are on full display here as we get an ever explosive rape/revenge film with hemoglobin to spare.
The pros here are the locales, cinematography, and score. Visually, this film is a sight to behold. Gritty and picturesque in the same measure makes for a breathtaking experience. While a French venture, this film feels more akin to an Australian exploitation film. The rocky, golden landscape appears straight from a 70's ozploitation cannon.
The score is retrograde in the ways of John Carpenter and Tangerine Dream. Synth driven melancholic themes that drive each scene and character. Paired with the lighting and camera work, it makes for a nostalgic experience.
The cons: The cast did the best they could ever achieve with the script. At the end of the day, there's not a likeable character in the bunch. Sure, we rally for the raped and abused heroine in the end, but even she isn't a ray of sunshine. A mistress at best, we're forced to identity with the "other woman." Not to say she isn't sympathetic and strong, but it takes a complete suspension of disbelief and prolonged development of "revenge," that by the time we back her up to end the nightmare, it's so over the top that it doesn't matter anymore.
The runtime is a factor. A lean hour and twenty minutes would suffice. However, we're treated to extended nightmare sequences, hunting/cover up scenes, and an over the top ending with lots of gore, but no logic.
Overall, Revenge is a modern take on classic rape/revenge films of the 70's and early 80's. While bloody and well photographed, the long runtime and the lack of a relatable lead and subsequent characters makes for a familiar road that's been traveled better, long before.
The pros here are the locales, cinematography, and score. Visually, this film is a sight to behold. Gritty and picturesque in the same measure makes for a breathtaking experience. While a French venture, this film feels more akin to an Australian exploitation film. The rocky, golden landscape appears straight from a 70's ozploitation cannon.
The score is retrograde in the ways of John Carpenter and Tangerine Dream. Synth driven melancholic themes that drive each scene and character. Paired with the lighting and camera work, it makes for a nostalgic experience.
The cons: The cast did the best they could ever achieve with the script. At the end of the day, there's not a likeable character in the bunch. Sure, we rally for the raped and abused heroine in the end, but even she isn't a ray of sunshine. A mistress at best, we're forced to identity with the "other woman." Not to say she isn't sympathetic and strong, but it takes a complete suspension of disbelief and prolonged development of "revenge," that by the time we back her up to end the nightmare, it's so over the top that it doesn't matter anymore.
The runtime is a factor. A lean hour and twenty minutes would suffice. However, we're treated to extended nightmare sequences, hunting/cover up scenes, and an over the top ending with lots of gore, but no logic.
Overall, Revenge is a modern take on classic rape/revenge films of the 70's and early 80's. While bloody and well photographed, the long runtime and the lack of a relatable lead and subsequent characters makes for a familiar road that's been traveled better, long before.
A group of teens find a supernatural entity that is using a game to kill them off one by one; unless you play by the rules.
Director Jeff Wadlow is no stranger to the genre. The underrated meta-slasher Cry Wolf was a simple, yet intelligent take on PG-13 horror/thrillers. With Truth Or Dare, and Blumhouse in tow, he attempts to capture similar teenage themes of trust, denial, and the fact that your closet friend could be a liar.
What works for this film is its ever evolving sense of menace. The entity really bares down on each characters flaws. Each "kill" has relevant motivation and pushes the rating to the max. The facial effects are decent and creepy.
What works against the film are the characters. Most of them are disposable. Merely there to add death scenes and nothing more. Additionally, several scenes which could've added more to certain character arcs simply cut away to move the story along, but leave possible dramatic elements to rot to get to the "horror." The most notable negative is the cast. While not god awful, they did well considering, it was hard accommodating a bulk of the cast. Half of which were total dicks, the remaining cast holds so many secrets from each other that we wonder how they managed to be friends so long. Oh, long enough to fill an hour and a half.
If you love mostly forgettable characters, twists on familiar games, and twisted rule based supernatural thrillers like Ouija and/or Final Destination; Truth Or Dare is for you. Give it a spin. I dare you...
Director Jeff Wadlow is no stranger to the genre. The underrated meta-slasher Cry Wolf was a simple, yet intelligent take on PG-13 horror/thrillers. With Truth Or Dare, and Blumhouse in tow, he attempts to capture similar teenage themes of trust, denial, and the fact that your closet friend could be a liar.
What works for this film is its ever evolving sense of menace. The entity really bares down on each characters flaws. Each "kill" has relevant motivation and pushes the rating to the max. The facial effects are decent and creepy.
What works against the film are the characters. Most of them are disposable. Merely there to add death scenes and nothing more. Additionally, several scenes which could've added more to certain character arcs simply cut away to move the story along, but leave possible dramatic elements to rot to get to the "horror." The most notable negative is the cast. While not god awful, they did well considering, it was hard accommodating a bulk of the cast. Half of which were total dicks, the remaining cast holds so many secrets from each other that we wonder how they managed to be friends so long. Oh, long enough to fill an hour and a half.
If you love mostly forgettable characters, twists on familiar games, and twisted rule based supernatural thrillers like Ouija and/or Final Destination; Truth Or Dare is for you. Give it a spin. I dare you...
555. The VHS I never tried to rent. I still blame the perfectly framed pink and blood splattered cover. This is a dangerous film. My mother would never let this flick fly.
Flash forward twenty years. Making my own ends meet, I finally had enough scratch to get a DVD copy of 555. I feel both dirty and naive. With a dash of admiration.
555 is ambitious, but limited. While my childhood recalled a dark, slaughterhouse of decapitations and vomit inducing hallucinating gore set pieces, the real 555 film was a cheaply made detective thriller.
While delivering some bloodthirsty set pieces, the movie is mostly known for its VHS cover. And while I respect the filmmakers addition to the VHS splatter film videography, some experiences are better left on the rental store wall display.
Flash forward twenty years. Making my own ends meet, I finally had enough scratch to get a DVD copy of 555. I feel both dirty and naive. With a dash of admiration.
555 is ambitious, but limited. While my childhood recalled a dark, slaughterhouse of decapitations and vomit inducing hallucinating gore set pieces, the real 555 film was a cheaply made detective thriller.
While delivering some bloodthirsty set pieces, the movie is mostly known for its VHS cover. And while I respect the filmmakers addition to the VHS splatter film videography, some experiences are better left on the rental store wall display.