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Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, a review by Jimmy

Title : Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)

Overview
Michael Rooker is unforgettable as Henry, a soft-spoken loner with a cool exterior masking an inner rage that boils at blast furnace intensity.

When fellow ex-con Otis invites Henry to move into his Chicago apartment, he becomes a willing participant in Henry's senseless, random killing sprees. Meanwhile, Otis' unsuspecting sister, Becky (Tracy Arnold) is smitten with Henry, whose broken childhood mirrors her own.

Masterfully directed by John McNaughton, HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER is a chilling character study of a mass murderer that continues to shock and disturb twenty years after its debut.

My Impression
Now I'm happy that my favorite horror movie was selected for this marathon. I know that some will disagree that this film is an horror movie, but for me it's the most frightening film I've ever seen (as you know I'm only frighten by the movie that could happen in real life). This movie is an evidence that it's possible to make a great film without a budget (100,000 $ for it). The acting is great and really convincing, seriously this is the best work of Michael Rooker and Tom Towles is the perfect choice to play Otis Toole. The movie doesn't always show the violent murder, but the result and this is scary to see only the dead victim and an echo of the murder action. Of course some murder are shown and the familly murder is the scarier thing I've ever seen on screen (I'm certain that the people who had seen the film understand) it's so realistically filmed and possible with all the crazy people living outside. The way Michael Rooker play Henry you had no choice to think that these kind of psychopat live a perfectly anonymous and normal life in reality.

Really nothing negative to say about this film (even the music score is frightening). They had changed some little fact about the real story by exemple the real Becky was the 12 years old niece of Otis, but I'm not sure that it's a bad thing since at one point enough is enough.

Rating :

(From Jimmy's 2009 Horror Marathon on October 22nd, 2009)

28 Weeks Later, a review by Jimmy

Title : 28 Weeks Later (2007)

Overview
The terror and devastation unleashed in '28 Days Later' picks up six months after the Rage virus has decimated London in this heart-stopping horror sequel that "surpasses the original" ('Dallas Morning News'). With order restored and the war against the infection won, the U.S. Army steps in to help repatriate Mainland Britain. But one of the returning refugees carries a terrible secret that threatens to reignite the deadly explosion of bloodlust, carnage and chaos.

My Impression
Sadly I'm not like Pete and when I watch a sequel I can't leave aside the precedent part. As a sequel this movie is a big deception... The movie start well and this is sad that the director had decided to not follow the story of the survivor. In place of this he had decided to make an ode to the US army and its greatness  , sure the others european countries can't intervene since they are a bunch of wimpy non coalition members (I'm sarcastic here). Honestly this movie is not a sequel at all, this is just a bad war movie... The script is weak, we don't care about the kids and why were we, since they are no development or backstory... Seriously don't tell me that the chopper stunt isn't stupid and impossible to do... No suspense, it's like the director had thrown everything that works in the first film in the garbage and a completly different movie (better known as the Nightmare on Elm Street syndrome).

Bad as a sequel and bad as a stand alone movie...

Rating :

Number of film watch : 20

(From My October Horror Marathon on October 10th, 2008)

"Due South" marathon, a review by Tom

1.01 Free Willie (1994-09-22)
Writer: Paul Haggis (Created By), Kathy Slevin (Writer), Paul Haggis (Writer)
Director: George Bloomfield
Cast: Paul Gross (Constable Benton Fraser), David Marciano (Detective Ray Vecchio), Beau Starr (Lt. Harding Welsh), Daniel Kash (Detective Louis Gardino), Tony Craig (Detective Jack Huey), Catherine Bruhier (Elaine), Christopher Babers (Willie Lambert), Ed Sahely (Hamlin), Christina Cox (Caroline Morgan), Domenic Cuzzocrea (Landlord), Djanet Sears (Public Defender), Elena Kudaba (Celeste), Todd Schroeder (Charles), Matt Birman (Donald), Michael Donaghue (Hugo)

A great first episode. All the other regular cast members are introduced, including Ray's beloved 1971 Buick Rivieras which will get blown up a few times.
I like the captain, also Elaine who falls for Fraser is fun.
A familiar face to me: One of the guest stars (Chistina Cox) starred in "Better than Chocolate", a movie I reviewed recently.


Rating:

(From "Due South" marathon on June 22nd, 2009)