Hello Fiends! Been a long while since my last review (about 2 months) but I am back for the attack like Dokken! Hope you will take a few minutes to peruse my latest.
Note: These reflect my own opinions in being as objective as they can be. I'm never preaching the gospel, merely trying to provide a viewing guide on what to expect. As always I encourage viewers to watch ANY film they have an interest in, regardless of my final score.
Here we go:
THE RENTAL (2020)
3/5
Two couples on an oceanside getaway grow suspicious that the host of their seemingly perfect rental house may be spying on them. Before long, what should have been a celebratory weekend trip turns into something far more sinister.
Dave Franco does not pull off a great feat here but he does show some promise. Like THE BEACH HOUSE, this film starts out with two couples at...a beach house where they get high before all hell breaks loose. In this case, the suspense is there and the characters fairly likable as they slowly unravel the mystery of who is stalking them and filming their every move. The real weakness here is unoriginality as we have seen this type of thing before. Through deft lensing and some sizzling plot motivations, Franco keeps the viewer at least wanting to make it to the cool but predictable finale. Not a bad effort yet it won't win any awards. I sense that Dave Franco's next film will be even better. Worth a look.
GAME OF DEATH (2020)
3.75/5
Kill or be killed is the golden rule of the Game of Death. Sucks for seven millennials who ignored that rule. Now each one's head will explode unless they kill someone. Will they turn on each other to survive, or will this sunny day be the last for the innocent people of their middle-of-nowhere town?
How much or how little you enjoy this tasty chaotic gem will hinge on your affinity for a blood/gore/comedy/crazy cocktail. I personally loved it and was entertained the entire duration. That said, it is far from a flawless affair. First off, the characters are extremely unlikeable which is actually perfect for how this unfolds but that won't stop them from annoying you. The blood and gore are gleefully dispensed in more of a wow than disgust way and you will find your self rooting for the next head to explode. Production quality is top-notch, the glossy film enhancing the blood showers. While this is not a film for everyone, the unhinged brutal glee was entertaining enough for me to overlook the flaws...will you be able to? Give it a shot!
DEEP BLUE SEA 3 (2020)
2/5
Welcome to Little Happy, a tiny man-made island in the Mozambique Channel that's home to a flourishing nursery of marine life, where Great Whites come to mate and give birth every year. This peaceful conservatory is overseen by Emma Collins and her team of environmentalists, determined to continue her late father's legacy. This idyllic existence comes to an abrupt end, however, when Emma's ex-boyfriend arrives on the hunt for three bull sharks accused of butchering a half-dozen people. Their mother Bella was genetically engineered to be smarter and far more destructive. As the body count rises it becomes clear that Bella's offspring have inherited her enhancements, and if free to mate, will mark the end of life as we know it.
The best thing I can say about this second sequel to the silly yet fun original is that its NOT horrible. Aside from Tania Raymonde being a really bad actor, the first part of the film actually creates some intrigue. That is until a shark hunting team shows up to crash the party. The inane dialogue and listless performances are about what you'd expect from any standard SyFy effort. I kind of was expecting that but I wasn't expecting such a lack of shark action as well as CGI that looks lifted from 15 years ago. The sad thing is that this could have been fun if it played to its low budget strengths, went tongue in cheek, and amped up the camp. Instead, it's just kind of...there. Two things I should point out: One, do NOT go by the Rotten Tomatoes score, at least not yet. Those scores are aggregate of reviewers and the first ones are usually panderers of the film. Give that score some time to morph into a realistic number. Secondly, for the ladies, there are plenty of scenes of beefy, muscular guys getting in and out of their wetsuits, an obvious selling point. I can't really recommend this but if it sounds like your thing...do it. Don't say I didn't warn you.
GOOD BOY (2020)
2.5/5
Kind of like a Sundance indie comedy version of Cujo, this is the story of a stressed-out California woman who gets an emotional support dog named Reuben, who ends up not just consoling his new owner but literally removing the people from her life that cause her anxiety.
A really fun idea is somewhat wasted here in yet another of Hulu's mixed bag series of horror films. This one is almost too lighthearted with many of the cool plot turns not being developed enough and an overall blah of at least half of the proceedings. Worth a look if you're really bored but this one is on the lower spectrum of this series of films.
TOOTH FAIRY 2: ROOT OF EVIL (2020)
1/5
Just...don't
Well, that's it...hope you liked it. Your feedback is always appreciated! Ta Ta!