Character Spotlight- Sheriff Ben Meeker- Halloween 4 (1988) & Halloween 5 (1989)

**This post contains spoilers**

"Martians could land on Ben's doorstep, and all he'd do is spit once, and get himself a shotgun."

That's a direct quote from Earl (Gene Ross), the owner of a bar in Haddnonfield, Illinois, after the announcement of a mandatory curfew for locals as a precautionary measure for Michael Myers' return. Earl wanted answers for closing the bar early and losing money. Earl and his buddies provided a helping hand in the fight against Myers, but that's another story for another time. Think about Earl's quote for a second. Sheriff Brackett's (Charles Cyphers) replacement didn't have a problem standing face to face with the little green men from Mars, so you know he's ready for the fight against Michael Myers.

Beau Starr is a tough and grizzled enforcer as Sheriff Ben Meeker. There's no fear in Meeker, and his daughter Kelly (Kathleen Kinmont) is off limits. Ben warned Brady (Sasha Jenson) about "groping" his daughter with a promise of having to answer to a shotgun for disobedience, and Kelly threw in her two cents, as Brady passed second base (Ben's arrival with Rachel and Jaime interrupted Brady and Kelly's make out session the couch in Ben's home). The price for Ben catching Brady and Kelly in the act? Ben will "skin" Brady alive without thinking twice about it.

It's hard to forget about the relationship between Ben Meeker and Donald Pleasence's Dr. Loomis. As always, Loomis is the paranoid old warhorse, who will do anything to stop Michael Myers. At first, Meeker is reluctant to trust (Halloween 4: The Return Of Michael Myers 1988) Loomis, but after Kelly's death, Meeker lowers his guard for accepting Loomis' help in the next chapter (Halloween 5: The Revenge Of Michael Myers 1989). 

Highlight moments for this relationship include a heated argument on the steps of the police station in Halloween 4. In an attempt to control an outbreak of panic, Meeker wants Michael Myers' return to remain a secret, but Loomis spills the beans in front of Earl and his buddies. Loomis mentioned Myers' name as motivation for Earl and his friends. Remember, Michael's massacre at the police station? Well, Loomis wanted to use Earl and his friends as a temporary police force, but Meeker doesn't like the idea of a bunch of town drunks and their ring leader running around in the dark with shotguns. And the bickering between Loomis and Meeker during the sting operation in Halloween 5? Hilarious.

Unfortunately, Sheriff Meeker was a victim of The Man In Black/Dr. Wynn's raid on his police station. Michael Myers escapes a lifelong prison sentence, and Ben Meeker suffered a brutal death during the shootout. A bittersweet ending for the Sheriff, but Ben Meeker earned a spot on my list of memorable and likeable Halloween characters.

Also, remember the cliffhanger at the end of Halloween 4? Loomis had his finger on the trigger, as Jaime Lloyd (Danielle Harris) stood at the top of the staircase with a bloody pair of scissors. Myers was dead, but Jaime Lloyd was ready to kill anything in her path. Loomis almost pulled the trigger on his gun, but who stopped him at the last second? Sheriff Ben Meeker. Just think about that for a second as some food for thought in the Halloween franchise. Without Sheriff Ben Meeker, there's no Jaime Lloyd in Halloween 5 or Halloween 6/The Curse Of Michael Myers.

Nothing But The Truth (2008)(Minor Spoilers Review)

**This review contains MINOR spoilers. No major reveals, plot twists, or character deaths.**

Rachel Armstrong (Kate Beckinsale) is about to risk her career, freedom, and family for a controversial headline story. Rachel works for the Capital Sun Times as an aggressive and persistent reporter, who won’t take no for answer. Rachel crosses paths with Erica Van Doren (Vera Farmiga), a covert operative for the CIA. Unbeknownst to Erica, Rachel and Erica share a bond as soccer moms.

But Rachel is more interested in Erica’s top secret information about a recent assassination attempt on the President Of The United States. Venezuela is at the top of the list for prime suspects, and Erica took a trip to Venezuela, but Erica vehemently refuses to help Rachel with any inside info.

Rachel sidesteps Erica with some help from a secret source to publish the article revealing inside info for the President’s assassination attempt. Rachel receives support from her trusted editor Bonnie Benjamin (Angela Bassett), and Bonnie convinces a reluctant Avril Aaronson (Noah Wyle), the Capital Sun Times legal counselor, to support and assist Rachel. The story hit’s the front page to stir up a frenzy in Washington and the media. Rachel is under fire for treason after revealing top secret information. She’s labeled a traitor to her country, and Judge Hall (Floyd Abrams) throws Rachel in jail for contempt of court, because Rachel refuses to give up her source.

Erica, her husband Oscar (Jamey Sheridan), and her young daughter, Allison (Kristen Bough) are caught in the crossfire after Rachel’s story hits. Erica is a prime suspect, and the CIA won’t stop until Erica tells the truth about her relationship with Rachel.

Meanwhile, Rachel, sticking to her beliefs of journalistic integrity, is stuck in jail for refusing to cooperate and reveal her source. The Capital Sun Times hires Albert Burnside (Alan Alda), a famed veteran with an impeccable record as a defense attorney, as Rachel’s attorney, but Rachel runs into a big roadblock during the proceedings.

Special Federal prosecutor Patton Dubois (Matt Dillon) is determined to break Rachel’s spirit until she cooperates with the investigation, and Dubois will do anything within the limits of the law to force Rachel into revealing her source. Months pass during Rachel’s time in jail, and her silence comes with a costly price. Rachel is running a serious risk of ruining a happy relationship with her alienated son, Timmy (Preston Bailey), and Rachel’s husband, Ray (David Schwimmer) questions Rachel’s priorities and her loyalty to the family. Will Rachel give up her source to return to her family and a normal life, and save Erica from a doomed future with no hope?

Kate Beckinsale is the stand out star here. Beckinsale deserves credit for a strong effort and a believable performance, because you can feel everything Rachel’s going through. The sadness, the rage, the frustration, the hopelessness, the anger, everything. It’s all about Rachel, her decision to say quiet and protect her source, and the rippling domino effect in the government, the Supreme Court, and everyone involved in the scandal.

Matt Dillon delivers a noteworthy performance as Dubois. He’s a cold-hearted bully, who won’t stop until Rachel cracks and spills the beans. Vera Farmiga is solid as Erica, and Alan Alda brings his A-game as a seasoned veteran. There’s nothing special about David Schwimmer’s performance. Noah Wyle is decent, as a guy, who’s towing the lines between defending Rachel, and doing what’s best for the Capital Sun Times. And there’s nothing wrong with Angela Bassett’s performance, but she’s limited to sporadic here and there performances throughout the movie.

Nothing But The Truth’s methodical pacing enhances feelings of desperation and hopelessness for Rachel. From start to finish, you see every step in Rachel’s rise and fall story. First, she’s the hot reporter with a controversial story, but as the story develops, Rachel’s life devolves into a never ending downward spiral of misery.

Her family is broken, and Rachel makes a transition from the victimized and sympathetic hero with big headlines to a forgotten hot topic, who lost her fifteen minutes of fame. Albert hits Rachel with the cold, hard truth during a visit in jail. In jail, days turn into months, and there’s a counter (adding up the number of days) at the bottom of the screen in every other scene to keep track of Rachel’s time in jail. Also, Rachel hits rock bottom after a nasty fight with an angry bunkmate in jail.

It’s a saddening series of events to watch. One minute, Rachel is this brave reporter, who’s taking a bold stand against the nasty bullies in suits. Towards the end? That’s a different story. The vast majority of Rachel’s support team (including Albert) hit a point of frustration, because they’re tried of fighting a seemingly unwinnable battle. To add to that, Rachel’s pleas for an unfair and sexist double standard are ignored  by Dubois. Rachel believes a man in her shoes would receive unquestioned support as a hero, but as a woman, Dubois sees a whiny and selfish person, who’s looking for a Pulitzer Prize award.

Nothing But The Truth is a smooth, emotional, and well-executed political thriller, featuring an overall sturdy cast, and a few surprising twists and turns at the end. Kate Beckinsale delivers the best performance in her career here (I love the Underworld films as much as anyone, but it’s the truth), and it’s an impressive feat, when you consider the other noteworthy names (Bassett and Alda as seasoned veterans, and Farmiga ) in this cast.

Rating: 8/10

Michael Jordan had another run with the Wizards after winning six championships. Brett Favre was one step away from earning a second ring with the Vikings.

As the world's definitive multi-talented superstar athlete, Trisha Bunrastar is taking an unexpected and shocking leap into a new career path. Assuming the identity of Freechelle Fantabulous, Trisha vows to fight crime and battle evildoers as a superheroine. Will she conquer her new mission? Find out more here! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFLI6VK

Or take a trip into my special world of madness that includes comedy, horror, and the supernatural in this collection of short stories- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFMYZ0U

Remember Amazon offers free Kindle App downloads for various platforms. Follow this link to find out more- http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

And don't forget to follow me on Twitter here- https://twitter.com/LQuigleyFan1

Nothing But The Truth (2008)(Spoiler Review)

**This review contains spoilers**

Rachel Armstrong (Kate Beckinsale) is about to risk her career, freedom, and family for a controversial headline story. Rachel works for the Capital Sun Times as an aggressive and persistent reporter, who won’t take no for answer. Rachel crosses paths with Erica Van Doren (Vera Farmiga), a covert operative for the CIA. Unbeknownst to Erica, Rachel and Erica share a bond as soccer moms.

But Rachel is more interested in Erica’s top secret information about a recent assassination attempt on the President Of The United States. Venezuela is at the top of the list for prime suspects, and Erica took a trip to Venezuela, but Erica vehemently refuses to help Rachel with any inside info.

Rachel sidesteps Erica with some help from a secret source to publish the article revealing inside info for the President’s assassination attempt. Rachel receives support from her trusted editor Bonnie Benjamin (Angela Bassett), and Bonnie convinces a reluctant Avril Aaronson (Noah Wyle), the Capital Sun Times legal counselor, to support and assist Rachel. The story hit’s the front page to stir up a frenzy in Washington and the media. Rachel is under fire for treason after revealing top secret information. She’s labeled a traitor to her country, and Judge Hall (Floyd Abrams) throws Rachel in jail for contempt of court, because Rachel refuses to give up her source.

Erica, her husband Oscar (Jamey Sheridan), and her young daughter, Allison (Kristen Bough) are caught in the crossfire after Rachel’s story hits. Erica is a prime suspect, and the CIA won’t stop until Erica tells the truth about her relationship with Rachel.

Meanwhile, Rachel, sticking to her beliefs of journalistic integrity, is stuck in jail for refusing to cooperate and reveal her source. The Capital Sun Times hires Albert Burnside (Alan Alda), a famed veteran with an impeccable record as a defense attorney, as Rachel’s attorney, but Rachel runs into a big roadblock during the proceedings.

Special Federal prosecutor Patton Dubois (Matt Dillon) is determined to break Rachel’s spirit until she cooperates with the investigation, and Dubois will do anything within the limits of the law to force Rachel into revealing her source. Months pass during Rachel’s time in jail, and her silence comes with a costly price. Rachel is running a serious risk of ruining a happy relationship with her alienated son, Timmy (Preston Bailey), and Rachel’s husband, Ray (David Schwimmer) questions Rachel’s priorities and her loyalty to the family. Will Rachel give up her source to return to her family and a normal life, and save Erica from a doomed future with no hope?

Kate Beckinsale is the stand out star here. Beckinsale deserves credit for a strong effort and a believable performance, because you can feel everything Rachel’s going through. The sadness, the rage, the frustration, the hopelessness, the anger, everything. It’s all about Rachel, her decision to say quiet and protect her source, and the rippling domino effect in the government, the Supreme Court, and everyone involved in the scandal.

Matt Dillon delivers a noteworthy performance as Dubois. He’s a cold-hearted bully, who won’t stop until Rachel cracks and spills the beans. Vera Farmiga is solid as Erica, and Alan Alda brings his A-game as a seasoned veteran. There’s nothing special about David Schwimmer’s performance. Noah Wyle is decent, as a guy, who’s towing the lines between defending Rachel, and doing what’s best for the Capital Sun Times. And there’s nothing wrong with Angela Bassett’s performance, but she’s limited to sporadic here and there performances throughout the movie.

So who’s the source? It’s Erica’s daughter, Allison. Yep. In a flashback during the finale, they reveal more footage from the early moments of the movie. Rachel is a chaperone on a field trip for Timmy and Allison. Allison reveals details in an argument (Allison was eavesdropping, unintentionally) between Erica and Oscar, where Erica mentioned her trip to Venezuela. After revealing the information, Allison urges Rachel to keep everything a secret, and Rachel agrees.

But don’t look for any happy endings here. Dubois backs Rachel into a corner, and she’s forced to accept his deal for a two year stint in prison (Dubois promised Rachel he would make her life a living hell in a trial). Rachel alienated Timmy during her time in jail, so Timmy is still holding a grudge against Rachel during a teary good-bye. And a crazy assassin murders Erica in her driveway one day.

A gut-wrenching series of events to close out the movie. In the end, Rachel didn’t break, but she payed a bigger price with a broken family and a prison sentence. Timmy resents his mother for neglecting him, Ray willingly started an affair with another woman, and there’s an awkward sex scene (intentionally, of course) with Ray and Rachel during a visit in jail.

But when you see the clip of Rachel promising to stick to her promise for Allison, you have to admire Rachel’s dedication and loyalty. She was taking a chance of risking her freedom, destroying her family, and she had to worry about the risk of wearing the label of a traitor to her country. But Rachel made the decision, she suffered for that decision, because Rachel refused to break her promise to a little girl, who trusted her with the truth.

Nothing But The Truth’s methodical pacing enhances feelings of desperation and hopelessness for Rachel. From start to finish, you see every step in Rachel’s rise and fall story. First, she’s the hot reporter with a controversial story, but as the story develops, Rachel’s life devolves into a never ending downward spiral of misery.

Her family is broken, and Rachel makes a transition from the victimized and sympathetic hero with big headlines to a forgotten hot topic, who lost her fifteen minutes of fame. Albert hits Rachel with the cold, hard truth during a visit in jail. In jail, days turn into months, and there’s a counter (adding up the number of days) at the bottom of the screen in every other scene to keep track of Rachel’s time in jail. Also, Rachel hits rock bottom after a nasty fight with an angry bunkmate in jail.

It’s a saddening series of events to watch. One minute, Rachel is this brave reporter, who’s taking a bold stand against the nasty bullies in suits. Towards the end? That’s a different story. The vast majority of Rachel’s support team (including Albert) hit a point of frustration, because they’re tried of fighting a seemingly unwinnable battle. To add to that, Rachel’s pleas for an unfair and sexist double standard are ignored  by Dubois. Rachel believes a man in her shoes would receive unquestioned support as a hero, but as a woman, Dubois sees a whiny and selfish person, who’s looking for a Pulitzer Prize award.

Nothing But The Truth is a smooth, emotional, and well-executed political thriller, featuring an overall sturdy cast, and a few surprising twists and turns at the end. Kate Beckinsale delivers the best performance in her career here (I love the Underworld films as much as anyone, but it’s the truth), and it’s an impressive feat, when you consider the other noteworthy names (Bassett and Alda as seasoned veterans, and Farmiga ) in this cast.

Rating: 8/10

Michael Jordan had another run with the Wizards after winning six championships. Brett Favre was one step away from earning a second ring with the Vikings.

As the world's definitive multi-talented superstar athlete, Trisha Bunrastar is taking an unexpected and shocking leap into a new career path. Assuming the identity of Freechelle Fantabulous, Trisha vows to fight crime and battle evildoers as a superheroine. Will she conquer her new mission? Find out more here! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFLI6VK

Or take a trip into my special world of madness that includes comedy, horror, and the supernatural in this collection of short stories- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFMYZ0U

Remember Amazon offers free Kindle App downloads for various platforms. Follow this link to find out more- http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

And don't forget to follow me on Twitter here- https://twitter.com/LQuigleyFan1

All Is Lost (2013)(Minor Spoilers)

**This review contains MINOR spoilers. No major reveals**

A rocky disturbance disrupts a sailor’s voyage one morning. The Sailor (Robert Redford) awakes on the Virgina Jean to find puddles of water on the floor, and a large hole in the hull. A shipping container is stuck in the boat, so the sailor uses emergency equipment to free the ship. After a quick touch up repair job on the damaged hull, The Sailor stops the flooding temporarily, but he runs into another big problem during a fierce storm.

After the storm, the Virgina Jean is damaged beyond repair, so The Sailor uses a life raft for transportation. The remnants of the Virgina Jean sink to the bottom of the ocean, and The Sailor is stuck on the raft without a reliable form of shelter. As time passes, The Sailor is running out of options and supplies, and The Sailor runs into some trouble during a fishing break in shark infested waters…….

It’s all about Robert Redford here. With the exception of a reaching arm, Redford is the only human character you’ll see here. There’s a soliloquy at the beginning for The Sailor’s last good-byes to the world in a farewell letter, but Redford speaks his first words in real time at the twenty-two minute mark to make an SOS call.

Redford barely speaks here, but that’s not a problem. Redford’s remarkable ability to convey The Sailor’s frustrations, his anger, and a crushing sense of hopelessness with facial expressions and body language deserves admiration. For one hour and forty-five minutes, Redford is the only human being you’ll see in full view, but his captivating performance hooks you in. You’re rooting for this resourceful and clever man to survive, you’re waiting on his rescue, and I lost track for counting the “edge of your seat” close calls here (sharks, the storm, etc.).

What’s missing in this year’s list of Oscar nominees? A Best Actor nomination for Robert Redford. All Is Lost received one nomination for Best Sound Editing, but that’s it. A little while ago, Robert Redford pointed the finger at Lionsgate in an interview. Redford blamed poor marketing and a lack of distribution for Oscar snubs.

I’m still working my way through all the Oscar nominated stuff for 2013, but Redford deserved a nomination for Best Actor, and there’s no denying it. I won’t go on a rant for J.C. Chandor, because I can think of more deserving choices for Best Director (Spike Jonze for Her, Alfonso Cuaron for Gravity, etc.), but Redford is a noticeable snub for this year’s Academy Awards. Is Redford’s snub a grave tragedy? No, but he deserved the recognition.

All Is Lost is a captivating and emotional survival film, featuring a superb performance from Robert Redford. Redford’s performance hooks you in, and you’ll have a  hard time taking your eyes off the screen for the main attraction, and the only living character in full view throughout the movie. And kudos to director/writer J.C. Chandor for his steady and precise work behind the camera. Also, Chandor deserves credit for a dreary roller coaster ride to the end, with enough ups and downs to keep you on the edge of your seat during The Sailor’s fight for survival.

Rating: 9/10

Michael Jordan had another run with the Wizards after winning six championships. Brett Favre was one step away from earning a second ring with the Vikings.

As the world's definitive multi-talented superstar athlete, Trisha Bunrastar is taking an unexpected and shocking leap into a new career path. Assuming the identity of Freechelle Fantabulous, Trisha vows to fight crime and battle evildoers as a superheroine. Will she conquer her new mission? Find out more here! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFLI6VK

Or take a trip into my special world of madness that includes comedy, horror, and the supernatural in this collection of short stories- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFMYZ0U

Remember Amazon offers free Kindle App downloads for various platforms. Follow this link to find out more- http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

And don't forget to follow me on Twitter here- https://twitter.com/LQuigleyFan1

All Is Lost (2013)(Spoiler Review)

**This review contains spoilers**

A rocky disturbance disrupts a sailor’s voyage one morning. The Sailor (Robert Redford) awakes on the Virgina Jean to find puddles of water on the floor, and a large hole in the hull. A shipping container is stuck in the boat, so the sailor uses emergency equipment to free the ship. After a quick touch up repair job on the damaged hull, The Sailor stops the flooding temporarily, but he runs into another big problem during a fierce storm.

After the storm, the Virgina Jean is damaged beyond repair, so The Sailor uses a life raft for transportation. The remnants of the Virgina Jean sink to the bottom of the ocean, and The Sailor is stuck on the raft without a reliable form of shelter. As time passes, The Sailor is running out of options and supplies, and The Sailor runs into some trouble during a fishing break in shark infested waters…….

It’s all about Robert Redford here. With the exception of a reaching arm (more on that later), Redford is the only human character you’ll see here. There’s a soliloquy at the beginning for The Sailor’s last good-byes to the world in a farewell letter, but Redford speaks his first words in real time at the twenty-two minute mark to make an SOS call.

Redford barely speaks here, but that’s not a problem. Redford’s remarkable ability to convey The Sailor’s frustrations, his anger, and a crushing sense of hopelessness with facial expressions and body language deserves admiration. For one hour and forty-five minutes, Redford is the only human being you’ll see in full view, but his captivating performance hooks you in. You’re rooting for this resourceful and clever man to survive, you’re waiting on his rescue, and I lost track for counting the “edge of your seat” close calls here (sharks, the storm, etc.).

We’re in the final stages of the movie, and The Sailor is losing his will to fight. Two passing freighter ships missed The Sailor’s flare signals for help. At night, The Sailor spots another boat, but he’s out of flares, so he starts a fire using his journal and pieces of paper for a signal. The fire is out of control, and in a matter of seconds, flames engulf the life raft.

The Sailor jumps into the water to escape the burning raft. He’s trying to keep his head above water, but The Sailor throws in the towel. He willingly sinks to the bottom, but a passing boat spots the burning raft. Using his last ounce of strength, The Sailor swims to the top, and to close out the movie, you see an arm from the boat reaching towards The Sailor. The Sailor grabs the arm, the unknown boater pulls him up, and the screen cuts to black to end the movie.

Great stuff. Throughout the movie, you’re waiting for that one uplifting moment for The Sailor. Writer/director J.C. Chandor did a good job of constantly teasing the audience with the close calls (i.e. the passing freighter ships). And I have no shame in saying I believed in The Sailor’s demise at the end 100% with no questions asked, because Redford sold the moment with a devastated and defeated look on his face.

The Sailor’s swim to the boat takes the top spot for nerve-racking moments in All Is Lost, because you’re holding your breath until the last second, and Chandor pulled the plug at the right moment. The second The Sailor grabs the boater’s hands, the screen immediately cuts to black, so your imagination has a chance to run wild with possibilities for The Sailor’s rescue. It’s a satisfying finale, because The Sailor had to suffer through eight days of hell out in the middle of nowhere, but he made it to the end.

What’s missing in this year’s list of Oscar nominees? A Best Actor nomination for Robert Redford. All Is Lost received one nomination for Best Sound Editing, but that’s it. A little while ago, Robert Redford pointed the finger at Lionsgate in an interview. Redford blamed poor marketing and a lack of distribution for Oscar snubs.

I’m still working my way through all the Oscar nominated stuff for 2013, but Redford deserved a nomination for Best Actor, and there’s no denying it. I won’t go on a rant for J.C. Chandor, because I can think of more deserving choices for Best Director (Spike Jonze for Her, Alfonso Cuaron for Gravity, etc.), but Redford is a noticeable snub for this year’s Academy Awards. Is Redford’s snub a grave tragedy? No, but he deserved the recognition.

All Is Lost is a captivating and emotional survival film, featuring a superb performance from Robert Redford. Redford’s performance hooks you in, and you’ll have a  hard time taking your eyes off the screen for the main attraction, and the only living character in full view throughout the movie. And kudos to director/writer J.C. Chandor for his steady and precise work behind the camera. Also, Chandor deserves credit for a dreary roller coaster ride to the end, with enough ups and downs to keep you on the edge of your seat during The Sailor’s fight for survival.

Rating: 9/10

Michael Jordan had another run with the Wizards after winning six championships. Brett Favre was one step away from earning a second ring with the Vikings.

As the world's definitive multi-talented superstar athlete, Trisha Bunrastar is taking an unexpected and shocking leap into a new career path. Assuming the identity of Freechelle Fantabulous, Trisha vows to fight crime and battle evildoers as a superheroine. Will she conquer her new mission? Find out more here! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFLI6VK

Or take a trip into my special world of madness that includes comedy, horror, and the supernatural in this collection of short stories- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFMYZ0U

Remember Amazon offers free Kindle App downloads for various platforms. Follow this link to find out more- http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

And don't forget to follow me on Twitter here- https://twitter.com/LQuigleyFan1

Character Spotlight- Mandy Lane- All The Boys Love Mandy Lane (2013)

**This post contains spoilers**

Mandy Lane is a hot commodity at a local high school in Texas. Mandy is pure and innocent. No drugs, no alcohol, no wild parties. Mandy is uncorrupted, she's the last of a dying breed, and she's a prime target for the popular clique at school. 

Red, Chloe, Jake, Bird, and Marlin launch a plan to break Mandy out of her shell during a weekend at Red's ranch, but Mandy's best friend Emmet crashes the party. Mandy dropped Emmet as her nerdy best friend after a tragedy, but Emmet is still obsessed with Mandy. A harmless weekend of fun turns into a chaotic fight for survival, when a deranged and murderous Emmet unleashes his wrath on Mandy's new friends. 

When you look at the pic above, the first thought that pops in your mind is "Poor little Mandy." She's just trying to do the right thing as a teenager. Stay away from drugs and alcohol, focus on her school work and good grades, and she doesn't crack under peer pressure. Okay, she accepted the invitation to Red's party, but Mandy fought the urges to succumb to temptations during a wild night.

But Mandy shows her true colors towards the end. Chloe is the remaining survivor from the party, but Emmet is seconds away from finishing her off during a lopsided chase. Chloe runs into Mandy's open arms for safety and comfort, but Mandy drives a knife into her gut. To make matters worse, Mandy bails on an agreed suicide pact with Emmet, and she turns the tables on Emmet during a fight. Mandy murders Emmet, she rescues a wounded Garth (the ranch hand for Red's father), and Mandy escapes the massacre as the hero with Garth.

Everyone was wrapped up in Mandy's cloak of purity and innocence. They wanted to believe in this seemingly harmless good girl with no stains on her track record, but underneath her calm smile, Mandy is hiding a malicious and nasty alter-ego. Imagine someone luring you into an open field of green grass with the smell of fresh baked cinnamon raisin bread. You're in a trance, because the smell is infatuating, and when you finally let your guard down BAM! Someone slaps a bear trap on your foot. Mandy is the cinnamon raisin bread AND the bear trap.

Just think about something for a second. Emmet and Mandy came up with the plan to murder everyone at the ranch together, so Emmet knew about Mandy's bloodthirsty persona. Still, Mandy used Emmet. She played him for a fool, because Mandy is irresistible, and she's an expert at playing mind games, and using someone else's emotions against them.

And there's nothing Oscar worthy about Amber Heard's performance, but the last shot in All The Boys Love Mandy Lane is eerie and chilling. It's a flashback of a scene at a gas station from the early stages of the movie. Mandy is with the crew, and she's walking on the train tracks. Everyone else is too busy fooling around and cracking jokes, so Mandy is off to herself, and no one is paying attention to her. There's a close up shot with this knowing and diabolical look on Heard's face. Red and his friends are walking into a death trap, and a killer is quietly standing next to them. Mandy was basking in the glory of the upcoming slaughter fest for her sheeps, because they passed the point of no return.

All The Boys Love Mandy Lane (2013) won't change the landscape for horror films, and it's not a groundbreaking entry for the slasher sub-genre. But you can learn one important lesson from Mandy: Innocence is deadly.

If you're interested, you can read my spoiler review for All The Boys Love Mandy Lane by following this link- http://mitchmacready.blogspot.com/2013/10/all-boys-love-mandy-lane-2013spoiler.html  

Or you can read the minor spoilers review here- http://mitchmacready.blogspot.com/2013/10/all-boys-love-mandy-lane-2013minor.html

Hell (2011)(Minor Spoilers Review)

**This review contains MINOR spoilers. No character deaths or major reveals.**

In 2016, earth is a ravaged and desolate wasteland after solar flares destroyed the atmosphere. Together, Marie (Hannah Herzsprung), her little sister, Leonie (Lisa Vicari), and Phillip (Lars Eidinger) wander the deserted streets of Germany in a beat up and covered car. The group embarks on a mission to the mountains, so they can follow a rumor about a reliable source of water, but the car is on its last legs.

One day, the group stops at a seemingly abandoned gas station for more fuel and supplies. Suddenly, a stranger captures Leonie, but Phillip rescues Leonie during a fight with the stranger. After the fight, the stranger reveals himself as Tom (Stipe Erceg). Phillip allows Tom to join the group, and Tom agrees to lend a helping hand with his skills as a mechanic.

During a roadblock dilemma, the group unknowingly walks into a trap, when Phillip and Tom search an abandoned cabin in the woods for more water and supplies. Leonie is kidnapped, and after a botched rescue mission for Leonie, Tom is captured by the mysterious group of strangers.

Phillip was injured during the rescue mission, so he can’t walk. Marie leaves Phillip in a dark railroad tunnel for safety, but an exhausted and dehydrated Marie stops at an abandoned church for rest during the search for Leonie. In the church, Marie meets a local named Bauerin (Angela Winkler). Bauerin provides shelter and water for Marie at her farm, and Bauerin sends her son, Micha (Yoann Blanc) to help Phillip, but Marie discovers a horrifying secret at the farm……..

Well, I’ll get the stupid stuff out of the way first. Why would you leave Leonie, a girl, who’s barely in her teens, ALONE in a car with no weapons or protection? Phillip and Tom are still searching the abandoned cabin together. Marie carries an empty gas can to Tom and Phillip, and she leaves Leonie in the car alone? Ugh.

And to make matters worse, Hell throws in a clichéd relationship with Marie and Leonie. Marie fills the role of a protective big sister and a mother figure for Leonie, because their mother passed away after the solar flares. Of course, Leonie is a rebellious brat, who defies Marie’s authority, and Leonie is jealous of the relationship between Marie and Phillip. They never come out and say it, but it’s heavily implied Phillip and Marie are in a relationship in the beginning.

Director Tom Fehlbaum deserves credit for creating Hell’s eerie and desolate atmosphere. Rotting animal carcasses, ominous empty buildings, and the unnerving sound of sand crackling in the wind. You never know what’s going to pop out from around the corner during the glaring daytime scenes, and you can say the same thing about silent attackers lurking in the shadows during twilight hours and nighttime scenes.

Although, Hell relies on a handful of redundant post-apocalyptic clichés. The main group (Marie, Leonie, Tom, Phillip) of protagonists are lured into a trap, because they’re looking for supplies. One member of the group (Leonie) is kidnapped by the main group of antagonists. Usually, the main group of bad guys are a pack of deranged nutcases, or they’re cannibals. One brave survivor (Marie) decides to fight the odds, and they attempt a daring and seemingly impossible rescue mission to save the fallen comrade. Unfortunately, Hell sticks to the predictable formula step by step for the most part.

Still, Hell is an enjoyable post-apocalyptic film. Yeah, Hell won’t set the bar for post-apocalyptic films, but Fehlbaum deserves credit for sporadic moments of suspense and tension, and the tense nail-biting finale is fun to watch. Plus, Hell features a rock solid cast overall, the one hour and twenty-six minutes runtime is a breeze, and Hell never falls into a tedious slump during the smooth ride to the end.

Rating: 7/10

Michael Jordan had another run with the Wizards after winning six championships. Brett Favre was one step away from earning a second ring with the Vikings.

As the world's definitive multi-talented superstar athlete, Trisha Bunrastar is taking an unexpected and shocking leap into a new career path. Assuming the identity of Freechelle Fantabulous, Trisha vows to fight crime and battle evildoers as a superheroine. Will she conquer her new mission? Find out more here! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFLI6VK

Or take a trip into my special world of madness that includes comedy, horror, and the supernatural in this collection of short stories- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFMYZ0U

Remember Amazon offers free Kindle App downloads for various platforms. Follow this link to find out more- http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

And don't forget to follow me on Twitter here- https://twitter.com/LQuigleyFan1

Hell (2011)(Spoiler Review)

**This review contains spoilers**

In 2016, earth is a ravaged and desolate wasteland after solar flares destroyed the atmosphere. Together, Marie (Hannah Herzsprung), her little sister, Leonie (Lisa Vicari), and Phillip (Lars Eidinger) wander the deserted streets of Germany in a beat up and covered car. The group embarks on a mission to the mountains, so they can follow a rumor about a reliable source of water, but the car is on its last legs.

One day, the group stops at a seemingly abandoned gas station for more fuel and supplies. Suddenly, a stranger captures Leonie, but Phillip rescues Leonie during a fight with the stranger. After the fight, the stranger reveals himself as Tom (Stipe Erceg). Phillip allows Tom to join the group, and Tom agrees to lend a helping hand with his skills as a mechanic.

During a roadblock dilemma, the group unknowingly walks into a trap, when Phillip and Tom search an abandoned cabin in the woods for more water and supplies. Leonie is kidnapped, and after a botched rescue mission for Leonie, Tom is captured by the mysterious group of strangers.

Phillip was injured during the rescue mission, so he can’t walk. Marie leaves Phillip in a dark railroad tunnel for safety, but an exhausted and dehydrated Marie stops at an abandoned church for rest during the search for Leonie. In the church, Marie meets a local named Bauerin (Angela Winkler). Bauerin provides shelter and water for Marie at her farm, and Bauerin sends her son, Micha (Yoann Blanc) to help Phillip, but Marie discovers a horrifying secret at the farm……..

Well, I’ll get the stupid stuff out of the way first. Why would you leave Leonie, a girl, who’s barely in her teens, ALONE in a car with no weapons or protection? Phillip and Tom are still searching the abandoned cabin together. Marie carries an empty gas can to Tom and Phillip, and she leaves Leonie in the car alone? Ugh.

And to make matters worse, Hell throws in a clichéd relationship with Marie and Leonie. Marie fills the role of a protective big sister and a mother figure for Leonie, because their mother passed away after the solar flares. Of course, Leonie is a rebellious brat, who defies Marie’s authority, and Leonie is jealous of the relationship between Marie and Phillip. They never come out and say it, but it’s heavily implied Phillip and Marie are in a relationship in the beginning.

Remember Bauerin? Well, Marie unknowingly walked into Bauerin’s trap. Bauerin’s livestock perished after the solar flares, so Bauerin, her family, and another family living under the same roof found a solution for food and survival: Cannibalism. That’s right. With some help from Micha and other members of the farm, Bauerin uses the abandoned cabin to lure and kidnap fresh meat for food. The victims are forced to live inside a barn like cattle until their time comes, and Marie revealed Phillip’s location to Bauerin, because she trusted Bauerin as a new friend. Big mistake. Phillip is sitting out in the open at the railroad tunnel for an easy capture, and Phillip suffers a brutal death at the farm. Tom is a prisoner in the barn, and Leonie is still alive, but she’s trapped with Marie at the farm.

Tom’s fate is sealed as the next meal, but Bauerin has different plans for Marie and Leonie. Bauerin wants Marie as a wife for Micha in a forced marriage, and Bauerin has plans to groom Leonie as the next bride for Flori (a young boy at the farm). Marie tries to escape after she refuses the offer and a meal of people at the dinner table, but Bauerin’s group catches her before she can reach the door.

After Phillip’s murder, Marie takes a second shot an escape, and she succeeds. Marie rescues Tom and the other prisoners inside the barn. Tom and Marie escape the farm during a nasty chase, and Marie catches Bauerin, Micha, and Leonie in the woods.

A disappointed and disgusted Bauerin scolds Marie during a confrontation, and she promises Leonie will be the next bride for Micha. An infuriated Marie stabs Bauerin in the stomach. Bauerin dies from the stab wound, with a grieving Micha holding her corpse. Marie takes advantage of the situation. Marie frees Leonie, and together, they join Tom. To end the movie, Tom, Marie, and Leonie continue their journey towards the mountains to search for safe shelter and more water.

The finale is full of suspense and a few good surprises. I thought Phillip would make it to the end, but Tom was the sole survivor for the men. And Micha ignoring Marie was strange. I expected a fierce fight to the death from a vengeful Micha, but he didn’t care about Marie or Leonie anymore. Mourning his mother’s death was the top priority, and it’s as simple as that.

I enjoyed the finale, but it’s hard to ignore Marie’s stupid decision. You’re living in a post-apocalyptic world, where people are literally waiting to stab you in the back for a small cup of water, and you trust this strange woman you just met with Phillip’s location? Seriously? Marie is solely responsible for Phillip’s death, because Bauerin didn’t know anything about Phillip.

Director Tom Fehlbaum deserves credit for creating Hell’s eerie and desolate atmosphere. Rotting animal carcasses, ominous empty buildings, and the unnerving sound of sand crackling in the wind. You never know what’s going to pop out from around the corner during the glaring daytime scenes, and you can say the same thing about silent attackers lurking in the shadows during twilight hours and nighttime scenes.

Although, Hell relies on a handful of redundant post-apocalyptic clichés. The main group (Marie, Leonie, Tom, Phillip) of protagonists are lured into a trap, because they’re looking for supplies. One member of the group (Leonie) is kidnapped by the main group of antagonists. Usually, the main group of bad guys are a pack of deranged nutcases, or they’re cannibals. One brave survivor (Marie) decides to fight the odds, and they attempt a daring and seemingly impossible rescue mission to save the fallen comrade. Unfortunately, Hell sticks to the predictable formula step by step for the most part.

Still, Hell is an enjoyable post-apocalyptic film. Yeah, Hell won’t set the bar for post-apocalyptic films, but Fehlbaum deserves credit for sporadic moments of suspense and tension, and the tense nail-biting finale is fun to watch. Plus, Hell features a rock solid cast overall, the one hour and twenty-six minutes runtime is a breeze, and Hell never falls into a tedious slump during the smooth ride to the end.

Rating: 7/10

Michael Jordan had another run with the Wizards after winning six championships. Brett Favre was one step away from earning a second ring with the Vikings.

As the world's definitive multi-talented superstar athlete, Trisha Bunrastar is taking an unexpected and shocking leap into a new career path. Assuming the identity of Freechelle Fantabulous, Trisha vows to fight crime and battle evildoers as a superheroine. Will she conquer her new mission? Find out more here! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFLI6VK

Or take a trip into my special world of madness that includes comedy, horror, and the supernatural in this collection of short stories- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFMYZ0U

Remember Amazon offers free Kindle App downloads for various platforms. Follow this link to find out more- http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

And don't forget to follow me on Twitter here- https://twitter.com/LQuigleyFan1

The Condemned (2007)(Minor Spoilers Review)

**This review contains MINOR spoilers. No major character deaths, reveals, or twists.**

Jack Conrad (Stone Cold Steve Austin) has one shot at freedom, but he’ll have to compete in a fight or die reality game show to earn his ticket. As a former US Army soldier, Jack is stuck in a corrupt and brutal prison in El Salvador, and he’s awaiting his execution, but a last minute offer from the warden changes everything.

Jack agrees to participate in Ian Breckel’s (Robert Mammone) reality show on a remote island, so Breckel writes a big check for Jack’s release. On the island, Jack is forced to compete against other death row inmates from different countries. Jack fights Ewan McStarley (Vinnie Jones), Go Saiga (Masa Yamaguchi), Yasantwa Adei (Emelia Burns), Petr Raudsep (Nathan Jones), Lamont Bruggerman (Andy McPhee), Kreston Mackie (Marcus Johnson), Paco Pacheco (Manu Bennett), and his wife, Rosa (Dasi Ruz). Another death row inamte named Teach (Rai Fazio) fights the helicopter drop into the water, and he suffers an accidental death after a hard landing.

The contestants receive food, water, and weapons during scattered supply drops, but time is running out. Each contestant is wearing the mandatory ankle bracelet bomb. In thirty hours, the bomb will explode, and if a contestant tries to tamper with the bomb, they’ll trigger an explosion. The contestants are furious, but Breckel offers two choices for salvation: Option one, said contestant can choose to pull the red card on the bomb to trigger an explosion, or you can avoid suicide with a win.

Breckel receives support from a team that includes his girlfriend, Julie (Tory Mussett), Goldy (Rick Hoffman), Bella (Sam Healy), Eddie (Christopher Baker), and Baxter (Luke Pegler). Cameras are rolling 24/7, millions from around the world pay $49.99 to watch Breckel’s game, and Breckel is trying to shatter records for page views, so he can brag about beating ratings for the most recent Super Bowl.

McStarley emerges as the early favorite to win it all, but Jack has plans to throw a monkey wrench into Breckel’s sadistic game, when he reaches out to his ex-girlfriend, Sarah Cavanaugh (Madeleine West) for help. A reporter named Donna Sereno (Angie Milliken) scolds Breckel during an interview, and the FBI tracks Breckel’s game with some helpful tips from Sarah. Does Jack have a chance as a one man wrecking crew? Or will he run out of time and allies, when the bomb explodes?

Steve Austin is a suitable fit for Jack. Jack is limited to snappy one-liners, and a barrage of fight scenes, so you don’t have to worry about any problems with Austin stepping out of his comfort zone. On top of that, Jack is a scrappy guy with a good heart, and he’s trying to do the right thing, so you want to root for him.

Vinnie Jones fills his usual role for the snarling tough guy, and Jones is a nice fit for the sleazy and despicable adversary. Robert Mammone is a believable scumbag, and Rick Hoffman provides most of the comic relief here. Can’t say too much about the other death row inmates. For the most part, they’re scoundrels and savages, who will do anything to survive, but Paco, Rosa, and Mackie emerge as likeable characters as the story progresses.

My biggest problem with The Condemned? Mixed signals. The Condemned wants to be this mindless fun, guilty pleasure action film, but the need to deliver messages of morality muddles the tone for this one. Donna scolds Breckel for making a “snuff film” during an interview at the beginning, and towards the end, Donna proudly stands on her soap box to express her disappointment and disgust with the paying customers for Breckel’s show during a long-winded soliloquy. And I can’t forget about Julie’s teary-eyed pleas to Breckel, and Goldy’s moral dilemma.

Think about it like this. You’re sitting down at a fast food restaurant, and you’re about to devour a double cheeseburger with a large fry, a large soda, and a large chocolate milkshake. Out of nowhere, an employee walks up to you before you take your first bite. He or she puts a list on the table. This list contains the nutrition facts for everything in front of you.

After you look at the list, are you thinking about enjoying your food, or pigging out with no shame? No. Now you’re thinking about extra calories and pounds you don’t need, high blood pressure, and clogged arteries. That’s the biggest problem here: Occasionally, The Condemned ruins the fun with preachy morality gibberish. Also, the teased rape scene at the beginning, and the implied rape scene with Rosa and McStarley don’t help the problem. They don’t show everything in the Rosa scene, but you know what’s going on.

The Condemned had a shot at cult classic gold, but I’m going with a bare minimum passing score for this one. Yeah, the preachy stuff is annoying at times, and certain scenes of depravity feel random and unnecessary. But The Condemned delivers enough hard hitting fight scenes and sporadic bursts of adrenaline filled action sequences to hold your attention for one hour and fifty-three minutes. Plus, the cheesy one-liners are good for a few cheap laughs. In the end, I’m just glad we don’t have to worry about The Condemned 2 or 3 for more useless and forgettable straight-to-video releases.

Rating: 5/10

Michael Jordan had another run with the Wizards after winning six championships. Brett Favre was one step away from earning a second ring with the Vikings.

As the world's definitive multi-talented superstar athlete, Trisha Bunrastar is taking an unexpected and shocking leap into a new career path. Assuming the identity of Freechelle Fantabulous, Trisha vows to fight crime and battle evildoers as a superheroine. Will she conquer her new mission? Find out more here! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFLI6VK

Or take a trip into my special world of madness that includes comedy, horror, and the supernatural in this collection of short stories- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFMYZ0U

Remember Amazon offers free Kindle App downloads for various platforms. Follow this link to find out more- http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

And don't forget to follow me on Twitter here- https://twitter.com/LQuigleyFan1

The Condemned (2007)(Spoiler Review)

**This review contains spoilers**

Jack Conrad (Stone Cold Steve Austin) has one shot at freedom, but he’ll have to compete in a fight or die reality game show to earn his ticket. As a former US Army soldier, Jack is stuck in a corrupt and brutal prison in El Salvador, and he’s awaiting his execution, but a last minute offer from the warden changes everything.

Jack agrees to participate in Ian Breckel’s (Robert Mammone) reality show on a remote island, so Breckel writes a big check for Jack’s release. On the island, Jack is forced to compete against other death row inmates from different countries. Jack fights Ewan McStarley (Vinnie Jones), Go Saiga (Masa Yamaguchi), Yasantwa Adei (Emelia Burns), Petr Raudsep (Nathan Jones), Lamont Bruggerman (Andy McPhee), Kreston Mackie (Marcus Johnson), Paco Pacheco (Manu Bennett), and his wife, Rosa (Dasi Ruz). Another death row inamte named Teach (Rai Fazio) fights the helicopter drop into the water, and he suffers an accidental death after a hard landing.

The contestants receive food, water, and weapons during scattered supply drops, but time is running out. Each contestant is wearing the mandatory ankle bracelet bomb. In thirty hours, the bomb will explode, and if a contestant tries to tamper with the bomb, they’ll trigger an explosion. The contestants are furious, but Breckel offers two choices for salvation: Option one, said contestant can choose to pull the red card on the bomb to trigger an explosion, or you can avoid suicide with a win.

Breckel receives support from a team that includes his girlfriend, Julie (Tory Mussett), Goldy (Rick Hoffman), Bella (Sam Healy), Eddie (Christopher Baker), and Baxter (Luke Pegler). Cameras are rolling 24/7, millions from around the world pay $49.99 to watch Breckel’s game, and Breckel is trying to shatter records for page views, so he can brag about beating ratings for the most recent Super Bowl.

McStarley emerges as the early favorite to win it all, but Jack has plans to throw a monkey wrench into Breckel’s sadistic game, when he reaches out to his ex-girlfriend, Sarah Cavanaugh (Madeleine West) for help. A reporter named Donna Sereno (Angie Milliken) scolds Breckel during an interview, and the FBI tracks Breckel’s game with some helpful tips from Sarah. Does Jack have a chance as a one man wrecking crew? Or will he run out of time and allies, when the bomb explodes?

Steve Austin is a suitable fit for Jack. Jack is limited to snappy one-liners, and a barrage of fight scenes, so you don’t have to worry about any problems with Austin stepping out of his comfort zone. On top of that, Jack is a scrappy guy with a good heart, and he’s trying to do the right thing, so you want to root for him.

Vinnie Jones fills his usual role for the snarling tough guy, and Jones is a nice fit for the sleazy and despicable adversary. Robert Mammone is a believable scumbag, and Rick Hoffman provides most of the comic relief here. Can’t say too much about the other death row inmates. For the most part, they’re scoundrels and savages, who will do anything to survive, but Paco, Rosa, and Mackie emerge as likeable characters as the story progresses.

After the inevitable one on one showdown with McStarley, Conrad is presumed dead after he lost a battle with McStarley’s shotgun. McStarley is the only man standing after twenty plus hours of blood shed, so McStarley is declared the winner, and Breckel orders McStarley’s release. Here, it’s revealed Breckel and McStarley agreed to a secret deal. Breckel manipulated (i.e. the weapon and supply drops) the game so McStarley could be the clear cut favorite to win. In return, McStarley promised Breckel a grand show, because he’s the “real deal.”

Breckel grants McStarley his freedom, but there’s one catch: Breckel refuses to pay McStarley his cash prize. Breckel double crossed McStarley, so McStarley snaps. He grabs a machine gun, and McStarley murders the remaining members on Breckel’s tech team at the control center on the island. But Jack returns to save the day at the last second. McStarley is about to kill Julie, but Jack murders McStarley with a series of shots to his torso.

Breckel leaves Julie behind, and he’s trying to escape on a helicopter, because he’s trying to outrun an approaching group of Navy SEALS. A vindictive Julie uses a key to release Jack’s ankle bomb, and Jack uses the bomb to kill Breckel and the unlucky pilot in a fiery explosion. To end the movie, Jack (as a free man) reunites with Sarah and her two children. To add an extra tidbit, Jack’s real name is Jack Riley. Jack Conrad was an alias for the mission in El Salvador, but Jack was captured by Salvadorian soldiers.

McStarley and Conard as the final two in a fight to the death is predictable, because you can see the showdown coming from a mile away. Still, Breckel and McStarley receive their deserved gruesome deaths, and you get to see the feel good moment of Jack’s reunion with Sarah, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

My biggest problem with The Condemned? Mixed signals. The Condemned wants to be this mindless fun, guilty pleasure action film, but the need to deliver messages of morality muddles the tone for this one. Donna scolds Breckel for making a “snuff film” during an interview at the beginning, and towards the end, Donna proudly stands on her soap box to express her disappointment and disgust with the paying customers for Breckel’s show during a long-winded soliloquy. And I can’t forget about Julie’s teary-eyed pleas to Breckel, and Goldy’s moral dilemma.

Think about it like this. You’re sitting down at a fast food restaurant, and you’re about to devour a double cheeseburger with a large fry, a large soda, and a large chocolate milkshake. Out of nowhere, an employee walks up to you before you take your first bite. He or she puts a list on the table. This list contains the nutrition facts for everything in front of you.

After you look at the list, are you thinking about enjoying your food, or pigging out with no shame? No. Now you’re thinking about extra calories and pounds you don’t need, high blood pressure, and clogged arteries. That’s the biggest problem here: Occasionally, The Condemned ruins the fun with preachy morality gibberish. Also, the teased rape scene at the beginning, and the implied rape scene with Rosa and McStarley don’t help the problem. They don’t show everything in the Rosa scene, but you know what’s going on.

The Condemned had a shot at cult classic gold, but I’m going with a bare minimum passing score for this one. Yeah, the preachy stuff is annoying at times, and certain scenes of depravity feel random and unnecessary. But The Condemned delivers enough hard hitting fight scenes and sporadic bursts of adrenaline filled action sequences to hold your attention for one hour and fifty-three minutes. Plus, the cheesy one-liners are good for a few cheap laughs. In the end, I’m just glad we don’t have to worry about The Condemned 2 or 3 for more useless and forgettable straight-to-video releases.

Rating: 5/10

Michael Jordan had another run with the Wizards after winning six championships. Brett Favre was one step away from earning a second ring with the Vikings.

As the world's definitive multi-talented superstar athlete, Trisha Bunrastar is taking an unexpected and shocking leap into a new career path. Assuming the identity of Freechelle Fantabulous, Trisha vows to fight crime and battle evildoers as a superheroine. Will she conquer her new mission? Find out more here! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFLI6VK

Or take a trip into my special world of madness that includes comedy, horror, and the supernatural in this collection of short stories- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFMYZ0U

Remember Amazon offers free Kindle App downloads for various platforms. Follow this link to find out more- http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

And don't forget to follow me on Twitter here- https://twitter.com/LQuigleyFan1

Chop (2011)(Minor Spoilers Review)

**This review contains MINOR spoilers. No major reveals or twists**

Lance Reed (Will Keenan) is on a road trip one day, but some unexpected car trouble ruins Lance’s plans. Lance is stuck on the side of the road without cell phone reception, when a mysterious stranger (Timothy Muskatell) in a pickup truck offers him a ride to the nearest town for a phone call.

During the trip, The Stranger asks Lance a bizarre hypothetical question, and he pushes Lance to give an answer. The scenario? Lance has to kill one of two people, who are very close to his heart: His half brother, Bobby (Chad Ferrin), and his wife, Emily (Tanishaa Mukherjee).

To play along, Lance chooses Bobby, and a few seconds later, The Stranger shoots Lance with a tranquilizer dart. Lance awakes in a warehouse, and Bobby is sitting in front of him, tied to a chair with a gag in his mouth. With some help from a friend, The Stranger is ready to pull the trigger on Emily’s execution, so Lance murders Bobby with an axe to the top of his head to save Emily.

Three weeks later, a distraught and paranoid Lance is trying to stall the two detectives assigned to the case for Bobby’s murder. Detective Williams (Adam Minarovich) and Detective Roebuck (Tamil T. Rhee) want a DNA test to clear up any suspicions, but Lance has to worry about bigger problems, when The Stranger returns. During Lance’s blackouts, The Stranger cuts off his fingers one by one. The Stranger’s plan? He’s going to dismember Lance piece by piece until there’s nothing left.

The Stranger uses another tranquilizer dart to kidnap a disfigured Lance. The Stranger takes Lance as his prisoner, and he demands an explanation and an apology for an incident in the past. Lances tries to think of a plan for escape, but Lance is running out of time and limbs, and his survival depends on two answers to two crucial questions: Who is The Stranger, and why is he so obsessed with vengeance?

Will Keenan and Timothy Muskatell deliver the two best performances here. Keenan is entertaining as this jittery nervous wreck, who’s trying to come up with a plan to outsmart The Stranger, but you‘ll see Lance‘s nasty side in flashbacks. Muskatell delivers a solid performance, as the kooky psychopath with a dark sense o f humor. Unfortunately, Keenan and Muskatell are alone for noteworthy and quality performances here. Mark Irvingsen (Ray Fielding) and Jeff Sisson (Jeff) had a chance to standout, but their screen time is cut short here.

Chop is loaded with screwball characters. Ray Fielding is a sadistic ex-drug dealer with a missing leg, and he’s got a score to settle with Lance. Ray’s cousin Jeff is a creepy pervert, with a few loose screws, and Stephanie (Malaya Manson) is a vicious and vindictive prostitute, who seizes the opportunity to make Lance suffer. Detective Williams and Detective Roebuck are two guys, who don’t take their jobs seriously, and they share a strange relationship as partners. So when it’s all said done, Emily is the only normal person in this eccentric cast of characters.

Enjoying Chop depends on your reaction to the big reveal/twist at the end. You’ll either laugh at the situational irony of The Stranger’s motivations for tormenting Lance, or you’ll take the “nonsensical” approach to dissecting The Stranger’s motivations, and you’ll hate this film.

But you have to consider something before you make your decision. Chop is a no holds barred horror comedy. It’s supposed to be a ludicrous and over the top film, and you’re supposed to laugh at the absurdity  behind The Stranger’s motivations. In the end, it doesn’t matter what side of the fence you’re standing on for reactions to this twist, because you’re going to ask yourself a series of questions after the finale. Does Lance deserve his punishment? Are The Stranger’s actions justified? Chop’s thought-provoking finale is full of questions, and it’s almost impossible to resist the urge for a dissection and answers.

Chop is a consistently funny horror comedy, with a twisted sense of humor, and the right amount of nasty blood and gore. The gruesome stuff never passes the overkill point, and Chop will show you just enough to pull a reaction. Also, kudos to writer Adam Minarovich for a few good twists, including Lance’s “glass” eye. The Stranger was one step ahead of Lance throughout the movie, because he replaced Lance’s glass eye with a mechanical eye, and the mechanical eye was equipped with a camera.

Although, I’ll admit, my score for Chop is bittersweet, because Chop had the potential to be a MUCH better film. Problem is, overall the cast is mediocre at best, and Keenan and Muskatell have to carry the load in the acting department. Trust me, Chop would’ve been a lot worse without Muskatell and Keenan. On top of that, I know this is a low budget film, but I can’t ignore the sub-par production values.

Rating: 7/10

Michael Jordan had another run with the Wizards after winning six championships. Brett Favre was one step away from earning a second ring with the Vikings.

As the world's definitive multi-talented superstar athlete, Trisha Bunrastar is taking an unexpected and shocking leap into a new career path. Assuming the identity of Freechelle Fantabulous, Trisha vows to fight crime and battle evildoers as a superheroine. Will she conquer her new mission? Find out more here! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFLI6VK

Or take a trip into my special world of madness that includes comedy, horror, and the supernatural in this collection of short stories- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFMYZ0U

Remember Amazon offers free Kindle App downloads for various platforms. Follow this link to find out more- http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

And don't forget to follow me on Twitter here- https://twitter.com/LQuigleyFan1

Chop (2011)(Spoiler Review)

**This review contains spoilers**

Lance Reed (Will Keenan) is on a road trip one day, but some unexpected car trouble ruins Lance’s plans. Lance is stuck on the side of the road without cell phone reception, when a mysterious stranger (Timothy Muskatell) in a pickup truck offers him a ride to the nearest town for a phone call.

During the trip, The Stranger asks Lance a bizarre hypothetical question, and he pushes Lance to give an answer. The scenario? Lance has to kill one of two people, who are very close to his heart: His half brother, Bobby (Chad Ferrin), and his wife, Emily (Tanishaa Mukherjee).

To play along, Lance chooses Bobby, and a few seconds later, The Stranger shoots Lance with a tranquilizer dart. Lance awakes in a warehouse, and Bobby is sitting in front of him, tied to a chair with a gag in his mouth. With some help from a friend, The Stranger is ready to pull the trigger on Emily’s execution, so Lance murders Bobby with an axe to the top of his head to save Emily.

Three weeks later, a distraught and paranoid Lance is trying to stall the two detectives assigned to the case for Bobby’s murder. Detective Williams (Adam Minarovich) and Detective Roebuck (Tamil T. Rhee) want a DNA test to clear up any suspicions, but Lance has to worry about bigger problems, when The Stranger returns. During Lance’s blackouts, The Stranger cuts off his fingers one by one. The Stranger’s plan? He’s going to dismember Lance piece by piece until there’s nothing left.

The Stranger uses another tranquilizer dart to kidnap a disfigured Lance. The Stranger takes Lance as his prisoner, and he demands an explanation and an apology for an incident in the past. Lances tries to think of a plan for escape, but Lance is running out of time and limbs, and his survival depends on two answers to two crucial questions: Who is The Stranger, and why is he so obsessed with vengeance?

Will Keenan and Timothy Muskatell deliver the two best performances here. Keenan is entertaining as this jittery nervous wreck, who’s trying to come up with a plan to outsmart The Stranger, but you‘ll see Lance‘s nasty side in flashbacks (more on that later). Muskatell delivers a solid performance, as the kooky psychopath with a dark sense o f humor. Unfortunately, Keenan and Muskatell are alone for noteworthy and quality performances here. Mark Irvingsen (Ray Fielding) and Jeff Sisson (Jeff) had a chance to standout, but their screen time is cut short here.

Chop is loaded with screwball characters. Ray Fielding is a sadistic ex-drug dealer with a missing leg, and he’s got a score to settle with Lance. Ray’s cousin Jeff is a creepy pervert, with a few loose screws, and Stephanie (Malaya Manson) is a vicious and vindictive prostitute, who seizes the opportunity to make Lance suffer. Detective Williams and Detective Roebuck are two guys, who don’t take their jobs seriously, and they share a strange relationship as partners. So when it’s all said done, Emily is the only normal person in this eccentric cast of characters.

Is Lance a harmless and innocent man? Well, the answer to this question is kind of tricky. Yes, Lance is just a normal guy, who lives with his beautiful wife in a nice home, but he’s also a recovering drug addict. Lance tries to fight off the urge to use again throughout the movie, and during the flashback sequences, we see Lance’s past as a scummy and despicable human being.

Need some examples? Ray Fielding was a drug dealer, who was trying to unload the rest of his merchandise. Ray wandered into an alley after a deal. Lance was broke, so he couldn’t buy any drugs, and Ray was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Lance saw an easy opportunity, and he used his car to hit Ray dead on. Lance stole Ray’s stash, and he dumped Ray’s unconscious body into his trunk. Lance made a quick stop at a hardware store to buy a shovel, but Ray disappeared, when Lance returned to his car.

But it’s not over yet, because Lance had a thing for prostitutes. Lance suckered a prostitute named Tammy (Elina Madison) into a ten dollar job, so she had plans to blackmail Lance into a bigger payday with the promise of secrecy (Tammy had plans to expose Lance to his wife). Lance tried to silence Tammy during an argument, but Lance accidentally killed Tammy, when he broke her neck.

After a series of accidental confessions, The Stranger presented Ray and Stephanie (Tammy’s ex-girlfriend) with an offer: Ray and Stephanie can take one “piece” from Lance’s body for revenge, but they’re not allowed to kill him, because The Stranger wants to bask in the glory of Lance’s demise. Stephanie was overjoyed at the opportunity to chop off Lance’s leg, but Jeff’s weird antics ruined the deal for Ray, so The Stranger used Ray’s gun to shoot and kill both men.

Why is The Stranger holding a grudge against Lance? During Lance’s stint as an abrasive junkie, Lance unknowingly bumped into The Stranger on the street one day. Lance knocked The Stranger’s keychain out of his pocket, but Lance didn’t pick up the keychain for The Stranger. Instead, Lance picked up the keychain, and he threw it into the street. Lance walked away with two middle fingers for The Stranger, and Lance shouted “fat ass” for a departing insult. Something inside the The Stranger snapped, and in that moment, he embarked on a mission to make Lance’s life a living hell.

For the appetizer, The Stranger infiltrated Lance’s home as a cable man. Earlier in the movie, The Stranger exposed Emily’s affair with Bobby. In Lance’s house, The Stranger murders Emily with a gunshot to the head. The Stranger resented Lance, because he was unworthy. He didn’t deserve his nice home or his beautiful wife. 

When the story shifts to the present timeline again, Lance finally remembers the incident, when he spots The Stranger’s keychain, but it’s too late. The Stranger commits suicide with a gunshot to the head, and before he pulled the trigger, The Stranger injected Lance with a lethal poison. To close out the movie, a stunned Lance recalls the incident, but the poison is too much for him, and he dies a painful death, as the credits roll.

You can look at the twist from so many different angles. On one hand, I can see how others would label it as disappointing. The Stranger forced Lance to suffer, so you were probably expecting a more heinous crime from Lance. Did he burn The Stranger’s house to the ground with his family inside? Nope. Lance just bumped into the stranger with a nasty insult, and that’s it.

My take? I enjoyed the twist. Remember, it’s a horror comedy, so you have to laugh at the situational irony for The Stranger’s motivations to torture and kill Lance. As a drug addict, Lance ruined people’s lives, but The Stranger is upset, because of an accidental bump and insult? Hilarious stuff.

On top of that, before Lance, The Stranger was a seemingly normal guy, who lost his daughter at the age of thirteen after her lengthy battle with cancer. As the audience, you have to assume The Stranger was on the edge, and Lance had to be the unlucky guy to give him the last push.

Also, I’m glad they didn’t finish the movie with a clichéd and predictable happy ending. You know, an army of police officers bursting through the doors to save Lance, and The Stranger suffers a brutal death after a defiant shoot out with the police. It’s something I’ve seen one too many times, but Chop takes a chance with something different, and it’s a nice touch.

Enjoying Chop depends on your reaction to the big reveal/twist at the end. You’ll either laugh at the situational irony of The Stranger’s motivations for tormenting Lance, or you’ll take the “nonsensical” approach to dissecting The Stranger’s motivations, and you’ll hate this film.

But you have to consider something before you make your decision. Chop is a no holds barred horror comedy. It’s supposed to be a ludicrous and over the top film, and you’re supposed to laugh at the absurdity  behind The Stranger’s motivations. In the end, it doesn’t matter what side of the fence you’re standing on for reactions to this twist, because you’re going to ask yourself a series of questions after the finale. Does Lance deserve his punishment? Are The Stranger’s actions justified? Chop’s thought-provoking finale is full of questions, and it’s almost impossible to resist the urge for a dissection and answers.

Chop is a consistently funny horror comedy, with a twisted sense of humor, and the right amount of nasty blood and gore. The gruesome stuff never passes the overkill point, and Chop will show you just enough to pull a reaction. Also, kudos to writer Adam Minarovich for a few good twists, including Lance’s “glass” eye. The Stranger was one step ahead of Lance throughout the movie, because he replaced Lance’s glass eye with a mechanical eye, and the mechanical eye was equipped with a camera.

Although, I’ll admit, my score for Chop is bittersweet, because Chop had the potential to be a MUCH better film. Problem is, overall the cast is mediocre at best, and Keenan and Muskatell have to carry the load in the acting department. Trust me, Chop would’ve been a lot worse without Muskatell and Keenan. On top of that, I know this is a low budget film, but I can’t ignore the sub-par production values.

Rating: 7/10

Michael Jordan had another run with the Wizards after winning six championships. Brett Favre was one step away from earning a second ring with the Vikings.

As the world's definitive multi-talented superstar athlete, Trisha Bunrastar is taking an unexpected and shocking leap into a new career path. Assuming the identity of Freechelle Fantabulous, Trisha vows to fight crime and battle evildoers as a superheroine. Will she conquer her new mission? Find out more here! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFLI6VK

Or take a trip into my special world of madness that includes comedy, horror, and the supernatural in this collection of short stories- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFMYZ0U

Remember Amazon offers free Kindle App downloads for various platforms. Follow this link to find out more- http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

And don't forget to follow me on Twitter here- https://twitter.com/LQuigleyFan1

Devil's Due (2014)(Minor Spoilers Review)

**This review contains MINOR spoilers. No character deaths or major reveals**

Zach (Zach Gilford) and Samantha McCall (Allison Miller) are two newlyweds, and they’re on their honeymoon in the Dominican Republic. One night, Zach and Samantha take a wrong turn during the trip back to the hotel room, and they’re lost in the streets until a cab driver shows up. Zach and Samantha want to go to the hotel room, but the cab driver takes a detour to an underground club. At first, Samantha refuses, but Zach convinces Samantha to go to the club, because Zach wants a memorable send-off for the honeymoon. At the club, Samantha and Zach pass out after too many drinks. In the morning, Zach and Samantha awake in their hotel room with  no memory of what happened after the night at the club, but Samantha remembers an awkward encounter and the foreboding warning from a fortune teller.

Back in the US, Samantha and Zach prepare to start their lives together as a happily married couple, but Samantha’s unexpected pregnancy changes everything. Samantha is unnerved by the pregnancy, because she regularly uses birth control pills as a deterrent. Eventually, Samantha accepts the arrival of her first child. Zach is excited about building a nursery, and his new role as a father, and together, Zach and Samantha announce Samantha’s pregnancy to a group of family and friends.

During the countdown to Samantha’s delivery date, the pregnancy takes series of bizarre turns. Samantha’s erratic behavior raises some serious questions, and Samantha can’t fight cravings for raw meat. Zach notices Samantha’s odd changes, random strangers watching the house, and Zach suspects something fishy in the old abandoned house down the street.

Samantha’s due date is weeks away, and Samantha secretly carves a large symbol into the floor of the nursery. Zach tries to solve the mystery of Samantha’s descent into madness, and his investigation leads him to one troubling question: Is Samantha carrying the spawn of Satan?

Allison Miller delivers the best performance, but it‘s a default choice. Miller deserves credit for some believable temper tantrums, and creepy stares. There’s a scene, where Zach is recording Samantha while she’s sleeping. Samantha suddenly wakes up out of nowhere, and she squeezes Zach’s arm with this emotionless look on her face, but I have to give an assist to the CGI for Samantha’s eyes. The rest of the cast ranges from tolerable to mediocre, and Gilford is annoying at times.

The stupidity in Devil’s Due? Oy vey. Why, WHY would you trust a random cab driver? On top of that, this guy takes you to an underground club in a bad neighborhood, and you STILL ignore the warning signs? Seriously? And speaking of warning sings, Zach ignores Samantha’s weird pupils, and her violent mood swings (i.e. the scene in the trailers, where Samantha smashes the car windows with her bare hands)?

On top of that, Zach waits until it’s too late to do something about Samantha. Yeah, you have a bunch of creepy strangers watching your house 24/7, and you wait until the end to call the police? To make matters worse, you leave your sister alone with a psychotic Samantha? Unbelievable.

Devil’s Due is loaded with problems, with stupidity from the main characters as the number one problem. Still, Devil’s Due is a passable found-footage horror film, if you’re trying to kill some time. The pulse-pounding finale is full of blood, carnage, and it’s fun to watch the chaos unfold step by step. You’ll see a few good jump scares here, and the nasty stuff never reaches the overkill point. The restrained approach works, because the cringeworthy stuff (the priest’s bloody nose, Samantha’s unnatural bulges from the baby’s kicks, etc.) is capable of pulling a reaction out of you every now and then, and that‘s enough.

Plus, there’s a freaky scene, where Samantha uses her demonic powers to eliminate a group of teens in the woods during a feeding (live animals) frenzy. The obligatory home movies phase is frustrating and boring, and Devil’s Due stumbles out of the gate, but the pace picks up, as Samantha succumbs to her newfound evil powers.

Oh, and it’s almost impossible to ignore the similarities to Rosemary’s Baby here. In fact, Devil’s Due feels like a quasi remake for Rosemary’s Baby with a found-footage POV. Avoiding a remake or a “loose remake” approach and tagline is a smart move, because Rosemary’s Baby is worshiped as a great horror classic, and hardcore horror fans would trash this film with venomous hatred. I know. Devil’s Due flopped, and the vast majority of critics slammed Devil’s Due with negative reviews. Still, you can say Devil’s Due had a chance to stand on its own. As a full-blown remake, Devil’s Due can’t escape the enormous shadow from Rosemary’s Baby. Not a chance.

Rating: 5/10

Michael Jordan had another run with the Wizards after winning six championships. Brett Favre was one step away from earning a second ring with the Vikings.

As the world's definitive multi-talented superstar athlete, Trisha Bunrastar is taking an unexpected and shocking leap into a new career path. Assuming the identity of Freechelle Fantabulous, Trisha vows to fight crime and battle evildoers as a superheroine. Will she conquer her new mission? Find out more here! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFLI6VK

Or take a trip into my special world of madness that includes comedy, horror, and the supernatural in this collection of short stories- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFMYZ0U

Remember Amazon offers free Kindle App downloads for various platforms. Follow this link to find out more- http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

And don't forget to follow me on Twitter here- https://twitter.com/LQuigleyFan1

Devil's Due (2014)(Spoiler Review)

**This review contains spoilers**

Zach (Zach Gilford) and Samantha McCall (Allison Miller) are two newlyweds, and they’re on their honeymoon in the Dominican Republic. One night, Zach and Samantha take a wrong turn during the trip back to the hotel room, and they’re lost in the streets until a cab driver shows up. Zach and Samantha want to go to the hotel room, but the cab driver takes a detour to an underground club. At first, Samantha refuses, but Zach convinces Samantha to go to the club, because Zach wants a memorable send-off for the honeymoon. At the club, Samantha and Zach pass out after too many drinks. In the morning, Zach and Samantha awake in their hotel room with  no memory of what happened after the night at the club, but Samantha remembers an awkward encounter and the foreboding warning from a fortune teller.

Back in the US, Samantha and Zach prepare to start their lives together as a happily married couple, but Samantha’s unexpected pregnancy changes everything. Samantha is unnerved by the pregnancy, because she regularly uses birth control pills as a deterrent. Eventually, Samantha accepts the arrival of her first child. Zach is excited about building a nursery, and his new role as a father, and together, Zach and Samantha announce Samantha’s pregnancy to a group of family and friends.

During the countdown to Samantha’s delivery date, the pregnancy takes series of bizarre turns. Samantha’s erratic behavior raises some serious questions, and Samantha can’t fight cravings for raw meat. Zach notices Samantha’s odd changes, random strangers watching the house, and Zach suspects something fishy in the old abandoned house down the street.

Samantha’s due date is weeks away, and Samantha secretly carves a large symbol into the floor of the nursery. Zach tries to solve the mystery of Samantha’s descent into madness, and his investigation leads him to one troubling question: Is Samantha carrying the spawn of Satan?

Allison Miller delivers the best performance, but it‘s a default choice. Miller deserves credit for some believable temper tantrums, and creepy stares. There’s a scene, where Zach is recording Samantha while she’s sleeping. Samantha suddenly wakes up out of nowhere, and she squeezes Zach’s arm with this emotionless look on her face, but I have to give an assist to the CGI for Samantha’s eyes. The rest of the cast ranges from tolerable to mediocre, and Gilford is annoying at times.

Remember the cab driver from the Dominican Republic? Well, he’s apart of a secret satanic cult. He lured Zach and Samantha to the club, and when they passed out from too much alcohol, more cult members prepared Samantha for a ritual in a secret chamber.

And the cult members are using the old abandoned house down the street as a hideout to monitor Samantha’s every move with hidden cameras. Zach uses a hidden camera and microphone to expose the cult, but he left Samantha alone with his sister during the mission.

A possessed Samantha murders Zach’s sister. Zach tries to save Samantha, but Samantha uses her powers to stop him. An incapacitated Zach is helpless to save Samantha. Samantha uses a magical tool to cut open her stomach. Samantha dies from the wound, but the doctor from the cult returns to retrieve the glowing baby with some help from the cab driver.

After the massacre, Zach is sitting in a police station, and he’s trying to point fingers at the cult, because he’s the prime suspect for Samantha’s murder and his sister’s murder. The police aren’t buying his story, because they can’t find any traces of the cult at the abandoned house. And Samantha‘s new doctor can‘t verify Zach‘s story, because he mysteriously disappeared. Long story short, Samantha’s original doctor vanished out of nowhere, and a new doctor took over. They don’t come out and say it, but you have to assume the new doctor is working for the cult.

To end the movie, the story shifts to another newlywed couple on their honeymoon. They’re in Paris, and they’re lost until the Dominican cab driver shows up. He talks with a French accent this time around, and the couple wants to go to their hotel room (any of this sound familiar?). But the cab driver promises a wild night of fun, so the couple agrees to a detour for another club.

A strong finale for Devil’s Due. You knew there was a good chance Samantha wouldn’t make it to the end, but the hellacious carnage during the finale is amazing. Splatters of blood throughout the nursery, the gruesome sight of Samantha cutting herself, and the death of Zach’s sister. To give you a visual for the death of Zach’s sister, she walks into the nursery, and she’s trying to stop Samantha. Samantha is putting the finishing touches on the carving for the satanic symbol, and Zach’s sister tries to snatch the carving tool out of her hand. Big mistake. Samantha uses her powers to push Zach’s sister through the door, and you can see the door crash into the wall from the POV of a hidden camera.

The stupidity in Devil’s Due? Oy vey. Why, WHY would you trust a random cab driver? On top of that, this guy takes you to an underground club in a bad neighborhood, and you STILL ignore the warning signs? Seriously? And speaking of warning sings, Zach ignores Samantha’s weird pupils, and her violent mood swings (i.e. the scene in the trailers, where Samantha smashes the car windows with her bare hands)?

On top of that, Zach waits until it’s too late to do something about Samantha. Yeah, you have a bunch of creepy strangers watching your house 24/7, and you wait until the end to call the police? To make matters worse, you leave your sister alone with a psychotic Samantha? Unbelievable.

Devil’s Due is loaded with problems, with stupidity from the main characters as the number one problem. Still, Devil’s Due is a passable found-footage horror film, if you’re trying to kill some time. The pulse-pounding finale is full of blood, carnage, and it’s fun to watch the chaos unfold step by step. You’ll see a few good jump scares here, and the nasty stuff never reaches the overkill point. The restrained approach works, because the cringeworthy stuff (the priest’s bloody nose, Samantha’s unnatural bulges from the baby’s kicks, etc.) is capable of pulling a reaction out of you every now and then, and that‘s enough.

Plus, there’s a freaky scene, where Samantha uses her demonic powers to eliminate a group of teens in the woods during a feeding (live animals) frenzy. The obligatory home movies phase is frustrating and boring, and Devil’s Due stumbles out of the gate, but the pace picks up, as Samantha succumbs to her newfound evil powers.

Oh, and it’s almost impossible to ignore the similarities to Rosemary’s Baby here. In fact, Devil’s Due feels like a quasi remake for Rosemary’s Baby with a found-footage POV. Avoiding a remake or a “loose remake” approach and tagline is a smart move, because Rosemary’s Baby is worshiped as a great horror classic, and hardcore horror fans would trash this film with venomous hatred. I know. Devil’s Due flopped, and the vast majority of critics slammed Devil’s Due with negative reviews. Still, you can say Devil’s Due had a chance to stand on its own. As a full-blown remake, Devil’s Due can’t escape the enormous shadow from Rosemary’s Baby. Not a chance.

Rating: 5/10

Michael Jordan had another run with the Wizards after winning six championships. Brett Favre was one step away from earning a second ring with the Vikings.

As the world's definitive multi-talented superstar athlete, Trisha Bunrastar is taking an unexpected and shocking leap into a new career path. Assuming the identity of Freechelle Fantabulous, Trisha vows to fight crime and battle evildoers as a superheroine. Will she conquer her new mission? Find out more here! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFLI6VK

Or take a trip into my special world of madness that includes comedy, horror, and the supernatural in this collection of short stories- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFMYZ0U

Remember Amazon offers free Kindle App downloads for various platforms. Follow this link to find out more- http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

And don't forget to follow me on Twitter here- https://twitter.com/LQuigleyFan1