The Film Fiend

Feb 25

REVIEW: Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010)

  I don’t want to sound like a queer or
  nothing, but director Eli Craig’s
  hilariously gory tale of mistaken identity
  is easily one of the most heartwarming
  buddy flicks in ages. Watching two
  life-long redneck chums stumble from
  one inspired set piece to another never
  grows tiresome, due in part to a pair of
  genuine performances from Alan Tudyk
  and Tyler Labine. Their relationship is the
  foundation for the entire movie; had it
  not seemed like the real thing, nothing
  would have worked. This is a fine
  example of just how effective horror-
  tinged comedies can be when someone
  takes the time to craft sympathetic
  characters. However, fear not, you blood-
  thirsty bastards — there’s plenty of
  jaw-dropping violence to go around.

Directed by Eli Craig. Written by Morgan Jurgenson and Eli Craig. Starring Tyler Labine, Tyler Labine, and Katrina Bowden. 89 minutes.

Overall Score: An effortless 10 out of a possible 10.

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Feb 22

REVIEW: Mom (1991)

  Stop me if you’ve heard this story
  before: An old woman rents a room
  to a mysterious stranger who turns out
  to be a blood-thirsty werewolf. Upon
  discovering his secret, the
  aforementioned elderly female is
  transformed into monster by her tenant,
  resulting in a series of grisly murders
  that her son — a well-respected
  investigative journalist — must help
  cover up. Director Patrick Rand was
  obviously aiming for laughs, but most of
  the jokes miss the proverbial mark by at
  least a square mile. In fact, the ending is
  so needlessly melancholy that you’ll
  wonder why, precisely, anyone living on
  this side of sanity would think this
  movie is funny. Interesting premise,
  lackluster execution. Sigh.

Written and directed by Patrick Band. Starring Maray Ayres, Jeanne Bates, and Julie Bryant. 95 minutes.

Overall Score: A dysfunctional 4 out of a possible 10.

Feb 21

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REVIEW: Legend of the Fist (2010)

  Who doesn’t want to watch a movie
  starring Donnie Yen as a masked
  superhero who stylishly kicks a lot
  unscrupulous ass in post-World War II
  China? Although the story itself is a
  little tepid — feel free to doze during
  the film’s numerous melodramatic
  moments — Yen’s tightly-choreographed
  fight scenes are second to none, and are
  reason enough to sit through the
  picture’s weaker offerings. My only real
  complaint is with actress Shu Qi, whose
  patented cutesy shtick has grown a
  little stale at this point. You’re super
  adorable, okay? We get it. Now, if you
  don’t mind, please stand aside so I can
  watch Donnie Yen flip over a car and kick
  some guy in the face. After all, that’s
  exactly what I paid money to see.

Directed by Wai-keung Lau. Written by Gordon Chan. Starring Donnie Yen, Shu Qi, and Anthony Wong. 105 minutes.

Overall Score: A solid 9 out of a possible 10.

Feb 18

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REVIEW: The Video Dead (1987)

  Writer/director Robert Scott is a
  cinematic genius. No doubt about it.
  His eerily surreal feature-length debut is
  chocked full of so much comedic gold
  that I honestly do not think I can
  accurately describe its brilliance without
  completely destroying what’s left of my
  brain. The film has everything: skunk
  humping poodles, blue pompadour
  zombies, and overzealous oral hygiene
  are just a few of the kookier elements
  sprinkled throughout the course of the
  story. Who knew that watching a brother
  and sister attempt to save the world
  from bashful and emotionally unstable
  zombies would yield so much pleasure?
  I’m literally counting the minutes until I
  can watch it again without feeling like a
  total loser. Thank God for Netflix.

Written and directed by Robert Scott. Starring Michael St. Michaels, Thaddeus Golas, and Douglas Bell. 90 minutes.

Overall Score: A thick and cheesy 10 out of a possible 10.

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REVIEW: Space Raiders (1983)

  As sad as it may sound, this low-budget
  Roger Corman-produced “Star Wars”
  knock-off is one of my earliest cinematic
  memories. The film follows the
  adventures of a young boy who, during a
  particularly clumsy shoot-out inside
  some sort of futuristic warehouse,
  sneaks aboard a spaceship piloted by a
  crew of interstellar thieves, miscreants,
  and degenerates. The kid — who some of
  you may remember from the TV series
  “Our House” — grins like a card-carrying
  idiot throughout the entire picture,
  leaving you to wonder why, exactly,
  these unscrupulous ruffians are so
  bloody concerned with returning him
  safely to his home planet. The whole
  sordid affair is as awful as it sounds,
  maybe even more so. Podunk brilliance.

Written and directed by Howard R. Cohen. Starring Vince Edwards, David Mendenhall, and Patsy Pease. 84 minutes.

Overall Score: A wonky yet enjoyable 7 out of a possible 10.