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An American Werewolf in London, a review by Jimmy

Title : An American Werewolf in London (1981)

Overview
It's a rainy night on the Welsh moors. Two American students on a walking tour of Europe trudge on to the next town, when suddenly the air is pierced by an unearthly howl. . . . Three weeks later, one is dead, the other is in the hospital and the nightmare begins for "An American Werewolf In London". David Naughton, Griffin Dunne and Jenny Agutter star in this contemporary story of the macabre which takes you from the Welsh moors to Picadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and the grounds of Windsor Castle.

My Impression
This one is a special one for me since this is the first movie that I've seen in a theatre at 12 years old. It was a triple features horror night and the 2 others one were "The Funhouse" and "Dead & Buried", evidently the theatre weren't really a theatre (we talk about Petit Saguenay, a village with less than 1000 citizens) but the church basement at the same place where the dead are expose (no they were none this night  ). I've always like this film and this is one of the first dvd that I've bought.

The chemistry between David Naughton and Griffin Dunne is really good, they are supposed to be friend in this and they look like. Jenny Agutter is certainly a beautifull nurse and she's good in this one, but I prefer her performance in "Logan's Run". The transformation effect is certainly the best thing in this movie, 27 years later nothing equals this FX creation by Rick Baker and honestly I don't think that we will see better soon since every movie use CGI now. Another good make-up job is the one when we see Jack after his death, look real to me. I love the music in this too, nice idea to have the word "moon" in the title of each of these songs. I love everything in this : the story, the dream sequence, the acting, the end setting, ...

The only critic that I can make is that the comic relief character (the policeman) was not necessary.
 
Rating :

Number of film watch : 11

(From My October Horror Marathon on October 4th, 2008)

Murder-Set-Pieces, a review by Jimmy

                 

Title: Murder-Set-Pieces (2004)

Genre: Serial Killer
Director: Nick Palumbo (Nutbag)           
Rating: Unrated (but certainly a NC-17)
Length: 1h30
Video: Widescreen
Audio: English
Subtitles: No Subtitles

Stars:
Sven Garrett (A Miami Tail)
Valerie Baber (Emmanuelle vs. Dracula)
Jade Risser (Sinister)
Gunnar Hansen (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre)   
Edwin Neal (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre)

Plot:This movie is a great exemple of a public relation failure or to write it differently an exemple of what not to do to market a film. I think that I've to explain this statement a little bit. If you frequent genre film forum the chance are really high that this film title sound very familiar to you, since the PR was directed at those boards. Not that it was a bad idea since the usual member of these forum are the peoples who buy this genre of film. But, the marketing on the board was too much and all of this became a flame war and hate discussion when some employees of Nick Palumbo insult some people. In the genre film forum that I frequent (dvd maniacs) this is one of the worst discussion that we have had about a film (another subject is Victor Salva, but the majority prefer to ignore his project and yes I'm one of them) and Palumbo enter in the discussion and repair the bad job done by his employee the best that he can. Ok, now that I've precise this we can go for the film itself.

First there are 2 versions of this movie : the director's cut (the one I own and review here) and a R rated version release by Lions Gate (never seen it and I can see what rest of this movie with a R). This is a serial killer movie and probably one of the most violent that I've seen (so if you have found Maniac or Henry disturbing don't think to watch this film). The killer is what he is and they don't try to explain why (a lot of reference are made on his German background, but that it's not use as an explaination), I like that since in real life a psychopath is a psychopath because he is that's all. The killer when he lost control and kill talk  in German, I don't understand the language and I find that great (it bring a lot of insecurity when you are unfamilliar with a language and, don't take it wrong, this language sounds so agressive). The murder effects are well done, all is old school no stupid and unrealistic CGI. Two actors are especially good : Sven Garrett who play the killer (don't hope to see him in different role, he will be typecast) and Jade Risser, this is her first movie (she is 11 years old) and she is incredible (I've never seen a young actress that good, the young boy in the Sixth sense doesn't have half of her talent.). Tony Todd and Edwin Neal did a good job with their cameo. I can't say the same with Cerina Vincent, but she's a very weak actress with no real talent to begin with. One thing ,even if I don't have a problem with that, that risk to disturb some viewer is the fact that some children are killed too (one of them graphically).

In fact there are only two things that I don't like in the movie. The majority of the girls are not natural (fake breast and other chirurgy) and that's what I hate in the actual cinema industry (I don't like a lot of other things, but that's what I hate the much). The other happen when one woman is kill at her home and the killer go to see her baby. The baby is clearly traumatize by this : the actress is his mother and he is very affraid of Garrett and it's heartbreaking to see the child when he go to his dead mother.

I can't tell you if I recommand it or not. You have read the review, so if you like the genre you will like it. But as I've said this movie is hard to watch at times. The only recommandation that I can make is to avoid the R version, I've not seen it but it's impossible that this movie can be good with a R (75% of the film is easilly NC-17).

Rating :   

Trailer : Sorry the disc is copy protected, I can upload it

(From The little known movie review depot on March 3rd, 2008)

"Due South" marathon, a review by Tom

4.11 Hunting Season (1999-03-11)
Writer: Paul Haggis (Created By), Julie Lacey (Writer)
Director: Francis Damberger
Cast
Rating:

(From "Due South" marathon on January 5th, 2011)