Blair Witch (2016)

 

**This post contains spoilers**

The Story- Lisa (Callie Hernandez) sets out to make a documentary. The subjects? The Blair Witch, and the mystery behind the strange disappearance of her friend James’ (James Allen McCune) sister, Heather Donahue. James, Lisa, Peter (Brandon Scott), and his girlfriend, Ashley (Corbin Reid) travel together to the Black Hills Forest in Burkittsville, Maryland. The group reluctantly allows Lane (Wes Robinson), and his sister, Talia (Valorie Curry), two Blair Witch obsessed locals, to tag along with the promise of filming their own footage.

After a distasteful hoax, James agrees to give up on the documentary, and the search for his sister. But a series of bizarre events confirms the group’s suspicions: Someone or something is watching them, and they’re not alone in the woods….

My Thoughts- Ear cameras? That’s a new one! Well, it’s new for me, I guess. Logically, the ear cameras for Blair Witch are a perfect fit for a found-footage film. Yes, the group is always recording everything. But they’re not wasting time making foolish mistakes by using their phones, or whatever recording device is available, because “PEOPLE NEED TO SEE THIS!” or one of the usual nonsensical reasons different characters cling to for recording in found-footage films. 

Lisa and Lane only use their handheld devices, when they’re trying to capture footage for their documentaries, or when they need the light for dark places, and that’s perfectly fine. And you can add a few bonus points for the drone POVs adding aerial shots, possibly giving the group a better chance to find any escape routes.

Is Heather alive? Well, no. During, the fiasco inside the house, James’ sightings of Heather were not real. Just more mind games and bait from the witch to lure James into the house. No one escapes The Blair Witch here. And Lisa had to murder Lane out of self defense, because Lane completely lost his mind.

Also, something to pay attention to here is the video that served as a possible shred of proof that led everyone to the Black Hills Forest. The video on You Tube, supposedly featuring a shot of Heather, was already recorded by Lisa before the current storyline. Tying into the time loop/paradox problem, the video was a trick used to lure the group into the forest, and they were already doomed before they made the trip. 

I wasn’t surprised Blair Witch had a high kill count. With the way the story was going, you could tell early on they didn’t have any real plans for a sequel, or to continue the stories for this particular set of characters. 

Blair Witch was always going to be a one and done movie, and maybe that’s the best option? You can only go to the well so many times for the storyline about a group of people going to the Black Hills Forest to find the truth about the Blair Witch. There’s a well documented history of bad things happening to people, who sniff around in the forest, so why would different people continue to go knowing there’s a good chance you’ll die or disappear forever? Maybe if you’re an adrenaline junkie, who’s looking for a bigger fix, but that’s still not a good enough reason to do it.

One of my bigger complaints for Blair Witch? The characters are too thin, and it’s to the point, where you know they’re disposable. You can feel sympathy for James. He’s a good guy, who’s determined to find his sister, and he’s willing to risk his life to uncover the truth, but that’s about it. 

I did get a few good chuckles out of the little feud between Peter and Lane, no matter how one sided it was. After Peter’s reaction to the confederate flag in Lane and Talia’s living room, and the meeting at the trailer, Peter quickly dismisses Lane and Talia as two loony locals, who have way too much free time on their hands. 

Still, you can pick anyone from the main cast of characters, and I wasn’t surprised, or I didn’t care that much, if anyone died. Everyone is a candidate for a spot on the chopping block. You expect it in horror movies similar to Blair Witch, whether it’s a found-footage or traditional POV film, but at least give me a reason to care.

Blair Witch 2016 is a more polished film. If we’re comparing it to the original, Blair Witch looks more clean and sharp. The majority of spooky and tense moments throughout the movie revolved around strange noises, roars, and things that go bump in the night during the nighttime scenes. 

The big finale mostly delivered for me. Some good nail-biting moments, featuring the main characters looking for a way out during a stormy night, and I’m glad they never fully showed or locked in on the witch for any close-ups. You’ll get a few brief glimpses of her, and that’s the right approach. Otherwise, you’re just killing the mystique for a monstrous creature. The witch isn’t just an unseen force in Blair Witch. She’s a deadly threat, but you can only see her, when you need to, or during perfect timing scenarios. 

Blair Witch didn’t feel the need to misuse the source materials. Rustin Parr is mentioned more here, the stick symbols, and adding more layers to the time loop/paradox in the Black Hills Forest works as a good thought-provoking dynamic for the movie. A few scenes of nasty gore (e.g. showing the aftermath for Talia’s broken and mangled corpse, and that loud crunch, when Ashley snapped the wooden symbol. Ouch!), and some gross-out amounts, mostly centered around the cut on Ashley’s foot and the growth in her leg. 

Overall, Blair Witch is an okay sequel. It’s not bad, but Blair Witch is still a forgettable film. You’ll see a lot of shaky cam stuff, and characters making questionable choices. Why are you splitting up, or going to do something by yourself, when it’s clear you’re not safe and lost in a dangerous place? 

This is my third or fourth rewatch for Blair Witch, and if I had to choose, I still prefer the 1999 original film. The grainy footage, and the rough cut feel of it added a strong sense of realism. It was easy to believe three ordinary people just wanted to make a documentary. But they got lost in the Black Hills Forest, and it was all downhill after that. 

Blair Witch 2016? I was very aware of the fact that I was watching a found-footage movie with actors. Bottom line, with or without the Blair Witch label, Blair Witch 2016 is just a decent enough film. The home stretch delivers in certain spots, but it’s another case, where the original film still holds on to the number one spot. 

Rating- 5/10

Blair Witch (2016)(Minor Spoilers)

 

**This post contains MINOR spoilers**

The Story- Lisa (Callie Hernandez) sets out to make a documentary. The subjects? The Blair Witch, and the mystery behind the strange disappearance of her friend James’ (James Allen McCune) sister, Heather Donahue. James, Lisa, Peter (Brandon Scott), and his girlfriend, Ashley (Corbin Reid) travel together to the Black Hills Forest in Burkittsville, Maryland. The group reluctantly allows Lane (Wes Robinson), and his sister, Talia (Valorie Curry), two Blair Witch obsessed locals, to tag along with the promise of filming their own footage.

After a distasteful hoax, James agrees to give up on the documentary, and the search for his sister. But a series of bizarre events confirms the group’s suspicions: Someone or something is watching them, and they’re not alone in the woods….

My Thoughts- Ear cameras? That’s a new one! Well, it’s new for me, I guess. Logically, the ear cameras for Blair Witch are a perfect fit for a found-footage film. Yes, the group is always recording everything. But they’re not wasting time making foolish mistakes by using their phones, or whatever recording device is available, because “PEOPLE NEED TO SEE THIS!” or one of the usual nonsensical reasons different characters cling to for recording in found-footage films. 

Lisa and Lane only use their handheld devices, when they’re trying to capture footage for their documentaries, or when they need the light for dark places, and that’s perfectly fine. And you can add a few bonus points for the drone POVs adding aerial shots, possibly giving the group a better chance to find any escape routes.

I wasn’t surprised Blair Witch had a high kill count. With the way the story was going, you could tell early on they didn’t have any real plans for a sequel, or to continue the stories for this particular set of characters. 

Blair Witch was always going to be a one and done movie, and maybe that’s the best option? You can only go to the well so many times for the storyline about a group of people going to the Black Hills Forest to find the truth about the Blair Witch. There’s a well documented history of bad things happening to people, who sniff around in the forest, so why would different people continue to go knowing there’s a good chance you’ll die or disappear forever? Maybe if you’re an adrenaline junkie, who’s looking for a bigger fix, but that’s still not a good enough reason to do it.

One of my bigger complaints for Blair Witch? The characters are too thin, and it’s to the point, where you know they’re disposable. You can feel sympathy for James. He’s a good guy, who’s determined to find his sister, and he’s willing to risk his life to uncover the truth, but that’s about it. 

I did get a few good chuckles out of the little feud between Peter and Lane, no matter how one sided it was. After Peter’s reaction to the confederate flag in Lane and Talia’s living room, and the meeting at the trailer, Peter quickly dismisses Lane and Talia as two loony locals, who have way too much free time on their hands. 

Still, you can pick anyone from the main cast of characters, and I wasn’t surprised, or I didn’t care that much, if anyone died. Everyone is a candidate for a spot on the chopping block. You expect it in horror movies similar to Blair Witch, whether it’s a found-footage or traditional POV film, but at least give me a reason to care.

Blair Witch 2016 is a more polished film. If we’re comparing it to the original, Blair Witch looks more clean and sharp. The majority of spooky and tense moments throughout the movie revolved around strange noises, roars, and things that go bump in the night during the nighttime scenes. 

The big finale mostly delivered for me. Some good nail-biting moments, featuring the main characters looking for a way out during a stormy night, and I’m glad they never fully showed or locked in on the witch for any close-ups. You’ll get a few brief glimpses of her, and that’s the right approach. Otherwise, you’re just killing the mystique for a monstrous creature. The witch isn’t just an unseen force in Blair Witch. She’s a deadly threat, but you can only see her, when you need to, or during perfect timing scenarios. 

Blair Witch didn’t feel the need to misuse the source materials. Rustin Parr is mentioned more here, the stick symbols, and adding more layers to the time loop/paradox in the Black Hills Forest works as a good thought-provoking dynamic for the movie. A few scenes of nasty gore (e.g. showing the aftermath for Talia’s broken and mangled corpse, and that loud crunch, when Ashley snapped the wooden symbol. Ouch!), and some gross-out amounts, mostly centered around the cut on Ashley’s foot and the growth in her leg. 

Overall, Blair Witch is an okay sequel. It’s not bad, but Blair Witch is still a forgettable film. You’ll see a lot of shaky cam stuff, and characters making questionable choices. Why are you splitting up, or going to do something by yourself, when it’s clear you’re not safe and lost in a dangerous place? 

This is my third or fourth rewatch for Blair Witch, and if I had to choose, I still prefer the 1999 original film. The grainy footage, and the rough cut feel of it added a strong sense of realism. It was easy to believe three ordinary people just wanted to make a documentary. But they got lost in the Black Hills Forest, and it was all downhill after that. 

Blair Witch 2016? I was very aware of the fact that I was watching a found-footage movie with actors. Bottom line, with or without the Blair Witch label, Blair Witch 2016 is just a decent enough film. The home stretch delivers in certain spots, but it’s another case, where the original film still holds on to the number one spot. 

Rating- 5/10

31 (2016)(Minor Spoilers)

 

**This review contains MINOR spoilers**

The Story- On Halloween night in 1976, a group of carnival workers are ambushed and kidnapped. In a secret and undisclosed location, Charly (Sheri Moon Zombie), Roscoe (Jeff Daniel Phillips), Levon (Kevin Jackson), Panda (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs), and Venus (Meg Foster) are all forced to play 31, a deadly game, where numbered contestants must survive a twelve hour period of fighting off attacks from violent clowns called Heads.

A group of aristocrats led by Father Napoleon-Horatio-Silas Murder (Malcolm McDowell) are the masterminds and organizers behind 31. The group is determined to fight back against the Heads, but the savagery takes another dark turn, when Doom-Head (Richard Brake) arrives….

My Thoughts- “I’M NOT CRAZY; I’M IN CONTROL!”

Doom-Head finally shows up towards the end, drastically decreasing the remaining survivor’s chances to escape the madhouse of horrors. Rob Zombie does a good job of building up Doom-Head as the final boss villain. The Heads/Clowns are all depraved nutcases, but it’s clear Doom-Head is the worst of the bunch. Doom-Head’s villainous aura starts with his appearance, including his dirty teeth. You get the feeling this guy hasn’t showered in weeks, and Doom-Head punching himself in the face until he bleeds to add red to the clown makeup was a nice touch. 

Richard Brake is fantastic. The unhinged facial expressions, the believable nasty mean streaks, and it’s easy to buy into the fact that Doom-Head is a man, who genuinely loves his job. Lighting up a cigar before he delivers the final blow, Doom-Head wants to savor every moment before a big kill. Doom-Head is eerily calm, while he taunts his victims, spouting off about his views of the world, his personality, and his victims, while he enjoys being the final voice you’ll ever hear.

Sheri Moon Zombie has a few moments as Charly, the free-spirited woman, who slowly emerges as one of the leaders and fierce fighters in the group. Charly truly cares about her friends, and she wants to do her best to make sure everyone makes out it alive. It’s a decent overall performance, and Rob Zombie created a character, where Sheri doesn’t have to go too far outside of her comfort zone.

The aristocrats are real sickos in this one, a rich and morally bankrupt family. They get a kick out of watching innocent people, people who are nothing more than peasants in their eyes, die in horrible and unimaginable ways. The presentation for the aristocrats is spot on. You can see there’s a noticeable effort to take things seriously with the costumes, the pasty white makeup, and they employ literal servants to wait on them. There’s also a more sinister twist for the aristocrats setup, where they gleefully watch brutal murders, and they actually gamble and bet on the outcomes of the game! Dastardly fiends through and through, no doubts about it. 

I always roll my eyes, when the game starts. Charly and the others are terrified of the little guy. Sick-Head (Pancho Moler) is cosplaying as a Nazi. I guess it’s supposed to be one of those scenarios, where the jokes write themselves, or silly humor that you’re not supposed to take too seriously, but Charly and the others could’ve easily overpowered Sick-Head. 

Visually, 31 is not as festive or detailed as other Halloween horror films, but it’s still one of my favorites. After the wacky stuff with Sick-Head, 31 slowly ramps up the brutal violence by introducing Heads/Clowns, who fill the roles for more serious threats, with everything leading to Doom-Head’s arrival. I don’t think I’ll ever understand Rob Zombie’s obsession, or the need to put characters, who resemble backwoods hillbillies in his movies. But Psycho-Head and Schizo-Head using their chainsaws to terrorize the group is one of the better fight sequences in the movie, and a highlight that truly stands out. 

Thirty-One is a twisted mix of zaniness and sadistic carnage, a horror film, where you’ll find yourself rooting for a group of close friends to fight back against the bloodthirsty maniacs. There’s plenty of blood and gore here, a fair amount of nudity, and the scene, where Roscoe and Panda are unknowingly feasting on the corpse of someone from the group? Yikes! Truly a good and shocking gross-out moment. 

A cast of colorful characters from top to bottom for 31. Jeff Daniel Phillips, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, and Kevin Jackson are all hilarious in their own ways, and Richard Brake easily takes the top spot for the best performance. The soundtrack is excellent. Any horror movie that uses California Dreamin’ usually gets a thumbs up from me, because there’s no denying the music and each song used throughout the movie is a perfect fit for certain moments and scenes here. 

The cliffhanger works, because it’s not necessarily the kind of cliffhanger that teases a sequel. No, it’s more of a case, where things are left up to the viewer to draw their own conclusions for what might’ve happened. Who won? Did Charly have enough gas left in her tank to fight back? My money is on Charly finding a way to come out on top. Remember, we’re talking about a woman, who just watched all of her friends suffer. She’s alone, she’s pissed, and Charly’s got nothing to lose! 

Rating- 7/10

31 (2016)

 

**This post contains spoilers**

The Story- On Halloween night in 1976, a group of carnival workers are ambushed and kidnapped. In a secret and undisclosed location, Charly (Sheri Moon Zombie), Roscoe (Jeff Daniel Phillips), Levon (Kevin Jackson), Panda (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs), and Venus (Meg Foster) are all forced to play 31, a deadly game, where numbered contestants must survive a twelve hour period of fighting off attacks from violent clowns called Heads.

A group of aristocrats led by Father Napoleon-Horatio-Silas Murder (Malcolm McDowell) are the masterminds and organizers behind 31. The group is determined to fight back against the Heads, but the savagery takes another dark turn, when Doom-Head (Richard Brake) arrives….

My Thoughts- “I’M NOT CRAZY; I’M IN CONTROL!”

Doom-Head finally shows up towards the end, drastically decreasing the remaining survivor’s chances to escape the madhouse of horrors. Rob Zombie does a good job of building up Doom-Head as the final boss villain. The Heads/Clowns are all depraved nutcases, but it’s clear Doom-Head is the worst of the bunch. Doom-Head’s villainous aura starts with his appearance, including his dirty teeth. You get the feeling this guy hasn’t showered in weeks, and Doom-Head punching himself in the face until he bleeds to add red to the clown makeup was a nice touch. 

Richard Brake is fantastic. The unhinged facial expressions, the believable nasty mean streaks, and it’s easy to buy into the fact that Doom-Head is a man, who genuinely loves his job. Lighting up a cigar before he delivers the final blow, Doom-Head wants to savor every moment before a big kill. Doom-Head is eerily calm, while he taunts his victims, spouting off about his views of the world, his personality, and his victims, while he enjoys being the final voice you’ll ever hear.

Sheri Moon Zombie has a few moments as Charly, the free-spirited woman, who slowly emerges as one of the leaders and fierce fighters in the group. Charly truly cares about her friends, and she wants to do her best to make sure everyone makes out it alive. It’s a decent overall performance, and Rob Zombie created a character, where Sheri doesn’t have to go too far outside of her comfort zone.

Charly is the sole survivor! Not a big surprise, but I still loved the final face-off between Charly and Doom-Head. Doom-Head let his ego and his narcissism get the best of him. He got too wrapped up in delivering one of his big farewell speeches, the clock ran out, and going by the rules of the game, Charly won her freedom. Doom-Head was forced to let her go, but that didn’t stop him from following her. 

It’s a cool moment to close out the movie, with Dream On playing in the background, while a bloodied Charly is ready to fight during a stare down with Doom-Head. The home movies and the credits start rolling right before Charly moves towards Doom-Head. The cliffhanger for 31 works, because it’s believable that Doom-Head takes too much pride in his work to simply allow a target to walk away. On the other side of that, Charly becomes a more scrappy and gutsy fighter towards the end, so she’s ready to stand up to Doom-Head.

The aristocrats are real sickos in this one, a rich and morally bankrupt family. They get a kick out of watching innocent people, people who are nothing more than peasants in their eyes, die in horrible and unimaginable ways. The presentation for the aristocrats is spot on. You can see there’s a noticeable effort to take things seriously with the costumes, the pasty white makeup, and they employ literal servants to wait on them. There’s also a more sinister twist for the aristocrats setup, where they gleefully watch brutal murders, and they actually gamble and bet on the outcomes of the game! Dastardly fiends through and through, no doubts about it. 

I always roll my eyes, when the game starts. Charly and the others are terrified of the little guy. Sick-Head (Pancho Moler) is cosplaying as a Nazi. I guess it’s supposed to be one of those scenarios, where the jokes write themselves, or silly humor that you’re not supposed to take too seriously, but Charly and the others could’ve easily overpowered Sick-Head. 

Visually, 31 is not as festive or detailed as other Halloween horror films, but it’s still one of my favorites. After the wacky stuff with Sick-Head, 31 slowly ramps up the brutal violence by introducing Heads/Clowns, who fill the roles for more serious threats, with everything leading to Doom-Head’s arrival. I don’t think I’ll ever understand Rob Zombie’s obsession, or the need to put characters, who resemble backwoods hillbillies in his movies. But Psycho-Head and Schizo-Head using their chainsaws to terrorize the group is one of the better fight sequences in the movie, and a highlight that truly stands out. 

Thirty-One is a twisted mix of zaniness and sadistic carnage, a horror film, where you’ll find yourself rooting for a group of close friends to fight back against the bloodthirsty maniacs. There’s plenty of blood and gore here, a fair amount of nudity, and the scene, where Roscoe and Panda are unknowingly feasting on the corpse of someone from the group? Yikes! Truly a good and shocking gross-out moment. 

A cast of colorful characters from top to bottom for 31. Jeff Daniel Phillips, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, and Kevin Jackson are all hilarious in their own ways, and Richard Brake easily takes the top spot for the best performance. The soundtrack is excellent. Any horror movie that uses California Dreamin’ usually gets a thumbs up from me, because there’s no denying the music and each song used throughout the movie is a perfect fit for certain moments and scenes here. 

The cliffhanger works, because it’s not necessarily the kind of cliffhanger that teases a sequel. No, it’s more of a case, where things are left up to the viewer to draw their own conclusions for what might’ve happened. Who won? Did Charly have enough gas left in her tank to fight back? My money is on Charly finding a way to come out on top. Remember, we’re talking about a woman, who just watched all of her friends suffer. She’s alone, she’s pissed, and Charly’s got nothing to lose! 

Rating-7/10

Character Spotlight- Estelle- Hardcore Henry

 

**This post contains spoilers**

Henry wakes up in a strange high-tech laboratory, that happens to be hovering high in the sky. He’s missing an arm and a leg. His memories and his past? One big blur. And Henry’s being reborn as a super soldier! That’s a lot to deal with, after being unconscious, or frozen in a form cryostasis for a presumably long time.

Luckily, a scientist named Estelle (Haley Bennett) is tasked with Henry’s rehabilitation. She’s going to guide him through this strange journey, and Estelle is also Henry’s wife! 

Henry’s on the road to recovery and a new life, but Akan (Danila Kozlovsky) has other plans. Akan, an evil and powerful telepath, terrorizes and pursues Henry, with some help from his mercenaries. To make matters worse, Akan kidnaps Estelle.

Henry teams up with Jimmy (Sharlto Copley) to storm Akan’s headquarters. It’s a risky mission to stop Akan’s evil plans and rescue Estelle……but Estelle is not Henry’s wife? And she’s actually married to Akan? Imagine risking your life to save someone, because you believed she was your wife, someone, who actually cared about helping you. 

Turns out, not only is she a liar, but she’s married to the enemy. And Estelle is the one, who came up with idea to convince Henry he was her husband. For Estelle, Henry was nothing more than a lab rat for Akan’s field test, because he wanted to see how one of his super soldiers handled  deadly scenarios, testing his true potential.

Haley Bennett deserves a round of applause for her performance. When we’re introduced to Estelle during the opening moments of the movie, it’s easy to buy into her as the innocent scientist, who’s a soothing presence for a scared and confused Henry. She’s the loving and soft-spoken wife, a believable damsel in distress, complete with crocodile tears, and next to Jimmy, she’s supposed to be one of only two people filling the roles for Henry’s support system. 

But things change, when Estelle shows her true colors. Picture this, Henry is on the ground after Akan brutally manhandles him. He’s out of it, broken and beaten down. Guess what Estelle does? She gloats about how her plan was a success, brags about how smart she is, and how she knew Henry was the chosen one, after he pulled her into the escape pod at the laboratory. And Estelle shows absolutely no concern whatsoever for Henry, who’s lying on the ground right in front of her. Man that’s cold. 

Estelle and Akan got a little bit too cocky. They were sure they outsmarted Henry, got the best of him, and they used him for their experiment. Henry served his purpose, so it was time to throw him out like yesterday’s trash. But they didn’t expect Henry to make one last push, and fiercely fight back. All things considered, that’s kind of a weird mindset to have, because Henry killed A LOT of people, with Jimmy popping in to help every now and then. 

Henry took care of Akan, and Estelle had the audacity to beg for mercy? Estelle pleads for Henry’s help, as she’s hanging on by her fingertips outside of the helicopter, urging Henry to listen to his heart. Henry’s response? He slams the door shut on Estelle’s fingers, causing her to fall to her death. A delusional mindset, and insane levels of arrogance from Estelle. Did Estelle really believe Henry would just forgive her after everything she did? And she tried to murder him inside of the helicopter, repeatedly blasting away, one bullet at a time. 

Henry triumphs, and Estelle’s anger and her ego got the best of her. A fitting ending for one half of a husband and wife duo, working together as two diabolical masterminds, who wanted to take over the world.

Character Spotlight- Akan- Hardcore Henry

 

**This post contains spoilers**

A strong telepath, he’s rich, and he’s a sociopathic jerk! Similar to so many evildoers before him, Akan (Danila Kozlovsky) has dreams of world domination. Assisted by his wife, Estelle (Haley Bennett), and his army of super soldiers, a power-hungry Akan is determined to eradicate anyone, who tries to stop him.

Akan is all-powerful. He’s seemingly unstoppable, but Akan has two big problems to worry about: Henry and Jimmy (Sharlto Copley). Henry, Akan’s new and promising star super soldier, impressively passed his field test. Jimmy? Akan’s ex-scientist is motivated by revenge, after Akan crippled him for his failures. Akan should’ve had any easy path to ruling the world, but things didn’t work out that way. 

Akan convincingly thrashed and brutalized Henry during the final battle on the rooftop. But Akan celebrated a little bit too early, giving a rejuvenated Henry an opening to defeat him. Akan was an asshole bully, who enjoyed toying with and pushing Henry around throughout the movie. His ego wouldn’t allow him to believe Henry had a realistic shot at defeating him. Akan FINALLY decided it was time to take things seriously during the fight with Henry, but it was too late. Henry, using the wires connected to one of his eyeballs, to slice off half of Akan’s head? Yikes! Now that’s a gory ending for someone, who truly deserved his comeuppance, in the worst possible ways imaginable. 

You have to give a lot of credit to Danila Kozlovsky, because Akan doesn’t work without his performance. Akan is clearly nuts, a madman with a dark sense of humor, but Kozlovsky never comes off as being too silly. On the surface, you might take one look at Akan, and you’ll think this guy is way too goofy to be the main villain. But Kozlovsky will quickly remind you Akan is an extremely dangerous man, who’s willing to do horrible things to get what he wants. 

Akan should’ve been invincible. Jimmy and his gang of avatars caused a few problems, some inconveniences along the way. But Henry, a super soldier, slowly learning his abilities during a field test, shouldn’t have been a real challenge for him. Henry didn’t just kill Akan, he literally tore him to shreds (with an assist from the rotor blades on the helicopter). Why? Because Akan was too full of himself, and that kind of cocky mindset ultimately led to his downfall.

Character Spotlight- Jimmy- Hardcore Henry

 

**This post contains spoilers**

Jimmy (Sharlto Copley) is a masterful scientist, who specializes in making super soldiers! But there’s one big problem: Akan (Danila Kozlovsky) is his boss. Imagine having a demanding nutcase constantly breathing down your neck, if you’re not meeting his ridiculously high standards. That’s a lot of stress, knowing you’re one mistake away from suffering the most severe punishments imaginable. 

During the early stages of the process, one particular batch of Jimmy’s super soldiers spectacularly failed. They were nothing more than a group of malfunctioning klutzes. Akan’s response? Not only did Akan lock Jimmy in the room with the broken super soldiers, giving them the chance to viciously attack him, Akan used his powers to paralyze Jimmy.

So what does Jimmy do next? Does he simply allow Akan to execute his plans for world domination? No! Jimmy, motivated by revenge, dedicates his life to stopping and killing Akan. Supported by Henry and his unique avatars, Jimmy fiercely goes after Akan, determined to put an end to his devious plans.

Jimmy’s avatars? You’ll see a variety of different characters, including a distinguished soldier, a coked-out party animal, a punk rock rebel, complete with a Mohawk and a leather jacket, and an eccentric homeless man.

Sharlto Copley’s energetic and versatile performance brings the laughs, and a handful of wildly entertaining scenes, but things change towards the end. When Henry removes the headset on his motorized wheelchair, you’ll see the real Jimmy, a broken and bitter man consumed by his hatred for Akan.

There’s a flashback that shows a different version of Jimmy before Akan crippled him. Jimmy was this harmless and nerdy guy, with a soft voice. Pay close attention to the scene, where Henry tries to get Jimmy to come to his senses, and you can hear the anger in Jimmy’s voice, rage coming from a man, who’s stuck in an immobile body for the rest of his life.

The avatars gave Jimmy a chance to be normal, to live life freely, and of course, the chance to destroy Akan’s empire. Jimmy had a chance to enjoy a lot of freedom and happiness through his avatars, and you can see it throughout the movie.

So what about Henry? Jimmy completely snapped, when he believed Henry was working as a spy for Akan. Jimmy had to spend a lot of time alone. Henry was supposed to be his friend, so Jimmy couldn’t handle the thought of someone he trusted possibly betraying him. He actually tried to kill Henry! 

Towards the end of the movie, Henry and Jimmy share an emotional moment in the elevator, as Henry prepares to fight Akan and his army of super soldiers alone. It’s a big scene and a full circle moment for Jimmy, because he finally realizes Henry was always a true friend. You’ll also see an admission of guilt from Jimmy, when he unlocks Henry’s real memories. Jimmy wanted a friend, but he was also using Henry as a tool to fulfill his quest for vengeance against Akan. So Jimmy did not want Henry to clearly remember his past, because Henry might’ve asked (through hand gestures, or maybe written notes) one too many questions. 

Henry killed Akan, and Jimmy had a chance to say his goodbyes before he died. Is it a bittersweet ending? Bleeding to death in an elevator? Not entirely. Akan is gone, a determined Jimmy gave it everything he had, fighting his way through pesky waves of enemies, and Jimmy didn’t die alone. Henry was right there by his side, as Jimmy took his last breath. Jimmy’s only possible regret is, he didn’t live long enough to witness Akan’s brutal demise with his own eyes, because I’m sure Jimmy would’ve loved to keep Akan’s severed head as a souvenir.

Character Spotlight- Henry- Hardcore Henry

 

**This post contains spoilers**

Half man, half machine, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, Henry is the future of super soldiers! But Henry doesn’t have flashy superpowers? He can’t fly? He doesn’t have any catchy one-liners, or a big spirited monologue? So what’s so special about him? 

There’s something mysterious about this particular voiceless super soldier, because we don’t know a lot about Henry. Sure, they give us bits and pieces of Henry’s story and his past. His dad was a mechanic. Henry was obviously picked on a lot as a kid, and if we’re going by his grisly injuries, it’s safe to assume Henry was in the military. Maybe he was the victim of a catastrophic attack, or is there a chance he worked in law enforcement? So many different possibilities, including Henry being a soldier for an organized crime family. 

No, Henry is not as smooth, crisp, and brutal as John Wick, and he’s not a Terminator. Henry struggles during the chase and the fight with Slick Dimitry (Andrei Dementiev). Akan (Danila Kozlovsky) EASILY swats Henry away like a fly for the vast majority of the movie, and Henry literally can’t lay a finger on Akan, because he’s just too powerful. 

Henry is learning as he goes. The fights are sloppy, rough, and Henry struggles every now and then. But during Henry’s journey, you can see flashes of confidence. Little by little, he truly becomes Hardcore Henry. That’s what I’ve always loved about Henry’s character development: it’s messy, because he’s not simply tearing through all the bad guys with ease. Henry looks like a klutz at times, but in the end, he puts all of the pieces together to become a resilient and scrappy ass-kicking machine.

There’s a reoccurring flashback throughout the movie that shows a group of bullies picking on Henry, and breaking one of his toys. Needing that one last motivational push to defeat Akan, Henry remembers the “you little pussy” pep talk from his father (Tim Roth), after he chased the bullies away. Henry’s mind was clogged up with fake memories centered around his “wife,” Estelle (Haley Bennett), so he needed a spark from someone, who actually cared about him. Truly a wild series of events for the big final battle. That one memory from his father encouraging him to stand up for himself, so he can fight back against the bullies is what he needed to jump over that last hurdle to take out Akan.

And let’s not forget about Jimmy (Sharlto Copley), the man of many avatars, a clever scientist, and the brains behind Henry’s rebirth! Jimmy was seconds away from pulling the plug on Henry, but after some stern hand gestures and a good hard slap across the face from Henry, Jimmy came to his senses. Jimmy and Henry formed a bond as friends, united in their disdain for Akan. 

Trust was a big issue for Jimmy, after he was betrayed and crippled by Akan. That’s why Jimmy’s farewell speeches (as himself and using the military soldier avatar) for Henry in the elevator sticks out as the big emotional moments, because Jimmy found a friend, who was willing to risk his life to help him. On top of that, Henry was one of Jimmy’s creations, who wasn’t corrupted or poisoned by Akan.

You’ll see the entire movie through Henry’s eyes, and he doesn’t speak one word from start to finish. And we only see a brief glimpse of his face through a reflection on a shard of glass, but we still know a lot about Henry. He’s tough, he doesn’t quit, and Henry’s got a big heart. 

It was supposed to be over for Henry. He finds out Estelle is actually married to Akan. She worked together with Akan to use Henry as a test subject during a crazy field test, and Akan pummeled Henry to the point, where he was seemingly dead. 

But Henry fought back, killed Akan, and he made sure to rub it in Estelle’s face. Showing Estelle her husband’s mangled head wasn’t enough for Henry. When a distraught Estelle demanded answers from Henry, he had one simple response: using his own blood, Henry wrote the letters “EZ” together on the inside of the helicopter. Ouch, that’s gotta sting for Estelle. 

Henry defeated Akan, the deranged and powerful telepath. He stopped Akan’s army of super soldiers from destroying the world, and he helped Jimmy find peace and closure before his death. Not bad for a guy, who was previously nothing more than a mutilated and dismembered corpse, without the capability to speak, huh?

Underworld: Blood Wars (2016)

 

**This review contains spoilers**

The Story- Selene (Kate Beckinsale), accompanied by David (Theo James), reluctantly accepts an invitation to the Eastern Coven from Alexia (Daisy Head). The legendary Death Dealer is hunted by Lycans and vampires. Marius (Tobias Menzies), the new leader of the Lycans, is obsessed with capturing Selene’s daughter, Eve for her pure hybrid blood. On the other side, the vampires “signed” Selene’s death warrant, seeking retribution for Viktor’s (Bill Nighy) death. 

At the Eastern Coven, a council member named Semira (Lara Pulver), supported by Thomas (Charles Dance), and Varga (Bradley James), the head trainer for the Death Dealers, asks for Selene’s help. Cassius (James Faulkner), the leader of the council for the Eastern Coven, doesn’t trust Selene, but he eventually accepts Thomas and Semira’s proposal for clemency, Selene agrees to train the Death Dealers to prepare for Marius’ impending invasion, but Semira has other plans.

Thomas urges Selene and David to go to the Nordic Coven in Var Dohr. Selene and David are welcomed by Lena (Clementine Nicholson), and Vidar (Peter Andersson), the elder of the Nordic Coven. Vidar reveals truths about David’s past, and the identity of his mother, and Selene learns about the Nordic Coven’s sacred ritual. 

A secret ally from the Eastern Coven helps Marius, as he prepares to launch his attack on the vampires. Meanwhile, dissension and power struggles threatens the vampire’s chances of survival. Can Selene save the Eastern Coven and defeat Marius?

My Thoughts- “Leave me alone!”

Three surprising words coming from Selene, when she’s cornered and restrained by a group of Lycans. We’re talking about the fierce and scrappy Death Dealer, who never backs down from a fight, but things are different in Blood Wars. Michael is still missing. Selene’s own daughter wants nothing to do with her. Eve is the sole reason why Marius wants to capture Selene, and Selene unfortunately finds out about the crippling effects from Nightshade poisoning. On top of that, the vampires won’t be satisfied until they have Selene’s head on a silver platter. Selene is justifiably burnt out on the war. She’s clearly depressed, and it’s safe to say Selene is way past her breaking point here.

Selene loses the fire that’s necessary to fight, and towards the end, she loses the will to live. Her daughter disappears, death, betrayal, and carrying the burden of being an outcast amongst her own people. Selene goes through a lot in Blood Wars, one big road block after another. Kate Beckinsale delivers another solid and resilient  performance, showing more emotions for a character, who’s understandably struggling and broken. 

Lara Pulver nails Semira. Before Semira reveals her plans for Selene, it’s obvious something is off about her. She’s phony, devious, and Semira is obsessed with power. Semira is also a sensual character, using seduction as a manipulation tactic, a strategy that comes with mixed results. She’s not conflicted about what she’s doing. Semira fiercely and coldly goes after what she wants, with an arrogant smile on her face, and Pulver is an excellent addition to the cast.

Marius is coming! Blood Wars puts a lot of effort into building up Marius’ mystique. He is the greatest threat to the vampire race’s existence, because “there’s never been a Marius.” That’s what they want you to believe, but there’s still something off about Marius. 

No complaints about Tobias Menzies’ performance, and I understand Marius is supposed to be a disciplined, ruthless, and focused tactician. He demands civility from his fellow Lycans, ruling with a strong iron fist, but going by Blood Wars’ standards, Marius is supposed to be the be-all and end-all for Lycan/werewolf villains and leaders. That’s how Marius is presented, but if we’re comparing Marius to Lycan/werewolf adversaries from the past, can we really say he’s more imposing or frightening than Lucian, Raze, William, Dr. Jacob Lane, or Quint? I can’t answer that question with a resounding yes, so that’s a big problem. 

Blood Wars hits the home stretch, and there’s a lot to talk about. David finds out Amelia is his mother. David has pure blood heritage, AND he’s the rightful heir to the Eastern Coven! A cool moment, when David comes to his senses and accepts his place in the vampire hierarchy, taking a special sword crafted by Thomas, infused with silver, and David charges into the battle at Var Dohr. 

Selene’s death after Marius (with some help from Alexia) kills her? Eh, I understand what they were going for. Selene hit rock bottom. She’s exhausted for a number of reasons, but I didn’t buy it for one second. 

When Lena explained the journey to The Sacred World (aka Valissa), while she performed the Nordic Coven’s ritual on someone else, you knew what was coming at some point. Lena performs the ritual on Selene, a resurrected Selene gets another big boost for her powers, she’ll make a “perfect timing” return during the big final battle to even the odds against the Lycans, and that’s exactly what happens. Visually, it’s a few tweaks for Selene’s look, with the white Nordic coat, and the blonde streaks in her hair. Selene’s new power-up also includes super speed! 

Sensible one on one pairings during the final battle at the Eastern Coven, because it’s Selene vs Marius and David vs Semira. David gets his revenge for Semira murdering Thomas. Kind of a funny moment, when David rams his sword through the back of Semira’s head, because Semira was basking in the glory of being able to stand in the sunlight, without burning to death, after stealing Selene’s blood.

Personally, I was hoping Selene would square off against Semira, because they’re both connected to Viktor for another big story. Semira wanted to break and kill Selene, and she nearly succeeded. Semira is still bitter and holding a grudge against Selene. In the past, Semira was Viktor’s regent, but when Selene arrived, Semira was tossed aside by Viktor in favor of Selene. She was sent to Var Dohr, where she, in her own words, was forced to live with a bunch of  “peace-loving cowards.”

But I guess you could say Selene vs Marius needed to happen. They teased the fight throughout the movie, the two strongest characters going up against each other. To add to that, it’s revealed that Marius bled Michael Corvin dry, killed him, and Marius continuously injected himself with Michael’s blood to increase his strength. So in the end, Selene had her own valid reasons for wanting revenge.

A good ending to the fight between Marius and Selene, when Selene bites herself to use her blood memories of Michael and Eve for the emotional kick that she needs to kill Marius. And there’s a good gory visual, when Selene rips out Marius’ spine. 

But there’s something I don’t understand about Marius using Michael’s blood. Marius is obsessed with finding Eve, because her hybrid blood could end the war….but he already had Michael’s blood, and Michael is a hybrid? Is Eve’s status as a “pure blood” hybrid the big difference? They never made an attempt to explain the details for tipping the scales in Marius’ favor, if pure hybrid blood is a game changer for his plans. And that’s how you close Michael Corvin’s chapter? Killing him off in blood memory flashbacks with a different actor? Come on man.

I didn’t understand the point behind the secret romance between Alexia and Marius, with Alexia being the traitor and Marius’ inside woman, because Alexia believes Semira is too power- hungry and dangerous. Well, Alexia is right about that. Semira is a slimy sociopath, but Marius really didn’t need her help. He manhandled Selene before Alexia stabbed Selene in the back with her sword, and Marius had a huge army of Lycans at his disposal. 

I kind of get the feeling they just wanted to shoehorn another forbidden love story between a vampire and a Lycan into the movie. But Alexia sneaking around with Marius falls short, if we’re comparing their relationship to Selene and Michael, or Lucian and Sonja. Marius and Alexia’s transactional romance feels forced, and there’s way too many moving parts in the story, so they didn’t have enough time to focus on Marius and Alexia’s shenanigans. 

Still, Blood Wars ends with a solid finale. A big full circle moment of redemption for Selene, when Selene, David, and Lena are all chosen as the new elders. And to close out the movie, Selene reunites with Eve (played by a stand-in) at Var Dohr. Imagine that, the pariah and the disgraced Death Dealer is now an elder. A surprising storybook ending that works on so many levels, because Selene deserved all of it. 

Also, if we’re talking about full circle moments, it’s hard to forget about Thomas fighting to the death against Semira and Varga. In Awakening, Thomas was disgusted by Selene. He willingly gave Eve to the Lycans as a gift. But Thomas, with David’s help, freed Selene, and he basically sacrificed himself, giving David a window to escape with an incapacitated Selene.

Underworld had a consistent streak for maintaining continuity, so what happened here? Going back to Underworld: Awakening, the existence of vampires and Lycans was exposed. The humans launched a purge or a cleansing, targeting both species. Vampires were living underground, and Lycans were supposedly on the brink of extinction. 

Selene tore through Antigen in Awakening. She killed A LOT  of Lycans, so why do the Lycans have a base of operations that’s located out in the open at a railway yard? Why are the vampires at the Eastern Coven living an unbothered life of luxury, complete with fancy parties? Yes, the Eastern Coven is supposed to be a fortress. I get it, but important plot points from Awakening are completely ignored, and there’s no dancing around it. 

Eve hates Selene now? Selene and Eve had a bad falling out. That’s obvious, but it’s a really weird shift after Eve and Selene had a strong bonding experience in Awakening, complete with both characters holding hands during the closing moments. 

The vampires want justice for Viktor’s death. Okay, but what about Markus? Selene murdered Markus in Evolution, but they never mentioned his name here. Selene killing TWO vampire elders is supposed to be a big deal, so essentially erasing Markus was kind of a weird choice. 

Five films in, and William still takes the top spot for the best wolf form/design for final boss werewolves. Marius transformation? He’s big, towering over Selene, and Marius retains some of his human features in his werewolf form. Yes, it’s another big change for the main villain, but this one didn’t do anything for me. It’s another form that heavily relies on special effects, and when you see the close-up shots, it just looks really bad.

A pair of women are apart of Marius’ clan. One woman clearly works on the armory and all the tech stuff, but she only has a few lines of forgettable dialogue. Maybe it’s just me, but I wish they would’ve done more with their characters. Make a bigger deal out of women joining the ranks of Lycans, because it’s almost to the point, where they’re just background extras, and it’s easy to forget about them (their characters also don’t have names), as the story progresses. 

The decision to go with two villains has its setbacks. Occasionally, Blood Wars feels like two movies in one. Marius and Semira’s stories could’ve stood on their own for two separate films, because there’s more than enough material for their characters. Both outcomes for the final battle at the Eastern Coven fixes some of the problems, but Blood Wars teeters on the edge for a story that’s too much of a jumbled mess. 

Switching to some positives for Blood Wars, I’ve always been a big fan of Var Dohr, and everything about the Nordic Coven. Underworld digs into its rich lore to introduce a vampire coven that’s noticeably different. The Eastern Coven is a lavish coven, full of egos, petty in-fighting, and everything is darker, including the decor and the wardrobes. 

The Nordic Coven? White is the color of choice. It’s not so much a representation of good vs evil, or light vs the darkness.  White fits perfectly with the Nordic Coven, because it’s a peaceful coven, where all the vampires work together as a unit. Vidar is a calmer and more enlightened leader, and you’ll see similar character traits in Lena. The Nordic Coven, isolated deep in a frigid location, works as a refreshing setting for Underworld. There’s something oddly cozy about Var Dohr and the Nordic Coven’s ancient and rustic style, a quiet castle forgotten by time, filled with vampires, who are ready to fight, when the situation calls for it. 

Blood Wars has its problems. A useless and unnecessary secret relationship between a vampire and a Lycan, the story has a fair amount of holes, and the conclusion for Michael Corvin is too weak and disappointing. 

There’s more absurdity in Blood Wars. One moment that’s hard to forget about happens during the final battle. Marius and David, eyes locked, are slowly walking towards each other, they’re shooting nonstop, and every bullet hits. It gets better, because they push the bullets out of themselves, with big growling roars. I know it’s not the reaction they were going for, but I couldn’t stop laughing. 

Blood Wars mostly redeems itself with a satisfying conclusion. Lara Pulver, James Faulkner, Clementine Nicholson, and Peter Andersson are all good additions to the cast. And Varga has a punchable face, so a big thumbs up for Bradley James’ performance, as Semira’s smarmy and pompous lackey. Blood Wars also introduces something new for the Death Dealers. The rookie Death Dealers have a hi-tech training facility, equipped with moving holograms of werewolves for target practice!

The fight scenes and the action sequences are hit-and-miss. Overall, Blood Wars lacks the previously established electric pulse, and the spark for fast-paced and stylish action scenes. Still, I can pick out a few good ones, including the one on one fights with Marius and Selene, and David vs Semira. The battle at Var Dohr is another good choice. It’s Lycans and their machine guns going up against the Nordic vampire’s shields, swords, and crossbows, a bizarre battle, but it works.

We’re inching towards ten years since Blood Wars was released. Is this it for Underworld? The final adventure for Selene? Blood Wars wasn’t set up, or presented as the grand finale for Underworld, but you won’t see any cliffhangers here, and they closed a lot of open loops. David establishes himself as a stronger and more confident character. The identity of David’s mother is revealed. Selene hits another higher level of power, and Selene gets the big reunion she was looking for, after surviving one tough hurdle after another. And Blood Wars ends with the selection of THREE new vampire elders!

Blood Wars is a flawed film. You could say it’s the weakest entry in the series, but Selene’s story finally comes full circle. She gets the big happy ending after enduring a hellish series of events, and there’s a sense of relief for Selene during the final moments of the movie. It’s a mostly complete ending, if Blood Wars is the final chapter in Selene’s journey. Blood Wars actually gives fans closure, even if things weren’t intended to go that way. In the end, if Blood Wars winds up being the last stop for Selene, you can safely say she was more than ready to finally ride off into the sunset. 

Rating- 5/10

Underworld: Blood Wars (2016)(Minor Spoilers)

 

**This post contains MINOR spoilers**

The Story- Selene (Kate Beckinsale), accompanied by David (Theo James), reluctantly accepts an invitation to the Eastern Coven from Alexia (Daisy Head). The legendary Death Dealer is hunted by Lycans and vampires. Marius (Tobias Menzies), the new leader of the Lycans, is obsessed with capturing Selene’s daughter, Eve for her pure hybrid blood. On the other side, the vampires “signed” Selene’s death warrant, seeking retribution for Viktor’s (Bill Nighy) death. 

At the Eastern Coven, a council member named Semira (Lara Pulver), supported by Thomas (Charles Dance), and Varga (Bradley James), the head trainer for the Death Dealers, asks for Selene’s help. Cassius (James Faulkner), the leader of the council for the Eastern Coven, doesn’t trust Selene, but he eventually accepts Thomas and Semira’s proposal for clemency, Selene agrees to train the Death Dealers to prepare for Marius’ impending invasion, but Semira has other plans.

Thomas urges Selene and David to go to the Nordic Coven in Var Dohr. Selene and David are welcomed by Lena (Clementine Nicholson), and Vidar (Peter Andersson), the elder of the Nordic Coven. Vidar reveals truths about David’s past, and the identity of his mother, and Selene learns about the Nordic Coven’s sacred ritual. 

A secret ally from the Eastern Coven helps Marius, as he prepares to launch his attack on the vampires. Meanwhile, dissension and power struggles threatens the vampire’s chances of survival. Can Selene save the Eastern Coven and defeat Marius?

My Thoughts- “Leave me alone!”

Three surprising words coming from Selene, when she’s cornered and restrained by a group of Lycans. We’re talking about the fierce and scrappy Death Dealer, who never backs down from a fight, but things are different in Blood Wars. Michael is still missing. Selene’s own daughter wants nothing to do with her. Eve is the sole reason why Marius wants to capture Selene, and Selene unfortunately finds out about the crippling effects from Nightshade poisoning. On top of that, the vampires won’t be satisfied until they have Selene’s head on a silver platter. Selene is justifiably burnt out on the war. She’s clearly depressed, and it’s safe to say Selene is way past her breaking point here.

Selene loses the fire that’s necessary to fight, and towards the end, she loses the will to live. Her daughter disappears, death, betrayal, and carrying the burden of being an outcast amongst her own people. Selene goes through a lot in Blood Wars, one big road block after another. Kate Beckinsale delivers another solid and resilient  performance, showing more emotions for a character, who’s understandably struggling and broken. 

Lara Pulver nails Semira. Before Semira reveals her plans for Selene, it’s obvious something is off about her. She’s phony, devious, and Semira is obsessed with power. Semira is also a sensual character, using seduction as a manipulation tactic, a strategy that comes with mixed results. She’s not conflicted about what she’s doing. Semira fiercely and coldly goes after what she wants, with an arrogant smile on her face, and Pulver is an excellent addition to the cast.

Marius is coming! Blood Wars puts a lot of effort into building up Marius’ mystique. He is the greatest threat to the vampire race’s existence, because “there’s never been a Marius.” That’s what they want you to believe, but there’s still something off about Marius. 

No complaints about Tobias Menzies’ performance, and I understand Marius is supposed to be a disciplined, ruthless, and focused tactician. He demands civility from his fellow Lycans, ruling with a strong iron fist, but going by Blood Wars’ standards, Marius is supposed to be the be-all and end-all for Lycan/werewolf villains and leaders. That’s how Marius is presented, but if we’re comparing Marius to Lycan/werewolf adversaries from the past, can we really say he’s more imposing or frightening than Lucian, Raze, William, Dr. Jacob Lane, or Quint? I can’t answer that question with a resounding yes, so that’s a big problem. 

Underworld had a consistent streak for maintaining continuity, so what happened here? Going back to Underworld: Awakening, the existence of vampires and Lycans was exposed. The humans launched a purge or a cleansing, targeting both species. Vampires were living underground, and Lycans were supposedly on the brink of extinction. 

Selene tore through Antigen in Awakening. She killed A LOT  of Lycans, so why do the Lycans have a base of operations that’s located out in the open at a railway yard? Why are the vampires at the Eastern Coven living an unbothered life of luxury, complete with fancy parties? Yes, the Eastern Coven is supposed to be a fortress. I get it, but important plot points from Awakening are completely ignored, and there’s no dancing around it. 

Eve hates Selene now? Selene and Eve had a bad falling out. That’s obvious, but it’s a really weird shift after Eve and Selene had a strong bonding experience in Awakening, complete with both characters holding hands during the closing moments. 

The vampires want justice for Viktor’s death. Okay, but what about Markus? Selene murdered Markus in Evolution, but they never mentioned his name here. Selene killing TWO vampire elders is supposed to be a big deal, so essentially erasing Markus was kind of a weird choice. 

Five films in, and William still takes the top spot for the best wolf form/design for final boss werewolves. Marius transformation? He’s big, towering over Selene, and Marius retains some of his human features in his werewolf form. Yes, it’s another big change for the main villain, but this one didn’t do anything for me. It’s another form that heavily relies on special effects, and when you see the close-up shots, it just looks really bad.

A pair of women are apart of Marius’ clan. One woman clearly works on the armory and all the tech stuff, but she only has a few lines of forgettable dialogue. Maybe it’s just me, but I wish they would’ve done more with their characters. Make a bigger deal out of women joining the ranks of Lycans, because it’s almost to the point, where they’re just background extras, and it’s easy to forget about them (their characters also don’t have names), as the story progresses. 

The decision to go with two villains has its setbacks. Occasionally, Blood Wars feels like two movies in one. Marius and Semira’s stories could’ve stood on their own for two separate films, because there’s more than enough material for their characters. Both outcomes for the final battle at the Eastern Coven fixes some of the problems, but Blood Wars teeters on the edge for a story that’s too much of a jumbled mess. 

Switching to some positives for Blood Wars, I’ve always been a big fan of Var Dohr, and everything about the Nordic Coven. Underworld digs into its rich lore to introduce a vampire coven that’s noticeably different. The Eastern Coven is a lavish coven, full of egos, petty in-fighting, and everything is darker, including the decor and the wardrobes. 

The Nordic Coven? White is the color of choice. It’s not so much a representation of good vs evil, or light vs the darkness.  White fits perfectly with the Nordic Coven, because it’s a peaceful coven, where all the vampires work together as a unit. Vidar is a calmer and more enlightened leader, and you’ll see similar character traits in Lena. The Nordic Coven, isolated deep in a frigid location, works as a refreshing setting for Underworld. There’s something oddly cozy about Var Dohr and the Nordic Coven’s ancient and rustic style, a quiet castle forgotten by time, filled with vampires, who are ready to fight, when the situation calls for it. 

Blood Wars has its problems. A useless and unnecessary secret relationship between a vampire and a Lycan, the story has a fair amount of holes, and the conclusion for Michael Corvin is too weak and disappointing. 

There’s more absurdity in Blood Wars. One moment that’s hard to forget about happens during the final battle. Marius and David, eyes locked, are slowly walking towards each other, they’re shooting nonstop, and every bullet hits. It gets better, because they push the bullets out of themselves, with big growling roars. I know it’s not the reaction they were going for, but I couldn’t stop laughing. 

Blood Wars mostly redeems itself with a satisfying conclusion. Lara Pulver, James Faulkner, Clementine Nicholson, and Peter Andersson are all good additions to the cast. And Varga has a punchable face, so a big thumbs up for Bradley James’ performance, as Semira’s smarmy and pompous lackey. Blood Wars also introduces something new for the Death Dealers. The rookie Death Dealers have a hi-tech training facility, equipped with moving holograms of werewolves for target practice!

The fight scenes and the action sequences are hit-and-miss. Overall, Blood Wars lacks the previously established electric pulse, and the spark for fast-paced and stylish action scenes. Still, I can pick out a few good ones, including the one on one fights with Marius and Selene, and David vs Semira. The battle at Var Dohr is another good choice. It’s Lycans and their machine guns going up against the Nordic vampire’s shields, swords, and crossbows, a bizarre battle, but it works.

We’re inching towards ten years since Blood Wars was released. Is this it for Underworld? The final adventure for Selene? Blood Wars wasn’t set up, or presented as the grand finale for Underworld, but you won’t see any cliffhangers here, and they closed a lot of open loops. David establishes himself as a stronger and more confident character. The identity of David’s mother is revealed. Selene hits another higher level of power, and Selene gets the big reunion she was looking for, after surviving one tough hurdle after another. And Blood Wars ends with the selection of THREE new vampire elders!

Blood Wars is a flawed film. You could say it’s the weakest entry in the series, but Selene’s story finally comes full circle. She gets the big happy ending after enduring a hellish series of events, and there’s a sense of relief for Selene during the final moments of the movie. It’s a mostly complete ending, if Blood Wars is the final chapter in Selene’s journey. Blood Wars actually gives fans closure, even if things weren’t intended to go that way. In the end, if Blood Wars winds up being the last stop for Selene, you can safely say she was more than ready to finally ride off into the sunset. 

Rating- 5/10

Midnight Special (2016)

 

**This post contains spoilers**

The Story- Pursued by a cult and the government, a young boy named Alton (Jaeden Martell) with supernatural abilities only means of survival and safety is to reach a secluded location before he runs out of time. Protected by ex cult members, including his father, Roy (Michael Shannon) and his mother, Sarah (Kirsten Dunst), Alton does his best to maintain his composure during a rocky journey. Roy’s childhood friend, Lucas (Joel Edgerton) is a dedicated and trusted supporter, but the group is severely outnumbered.

Pastor Calvin Meyer (Sam Shepard) is determined to bring Alton back to the cult to fulfill a prophecy. The government closes in, but Alton, Roy, Sarah, and Lucas find an unlikely ally in Paul Sevier (Adam Driver).

My Thoughts- Alton is a unique prodigy. He’s smart. Alton has incredible powers, but he’s still a child. Alton knows what’s at stake, and he fully accepts his destiny, but Alton is also scared. 

Towards the end of the film, Alton finally manages to control and smoothly use his powers. He’s confident, but not cocky or dangerous. The scene where Alton is being interrogated at the military base is a great example. Alton could’ve easily been more aggressive, using his powers for a more destructive escape. Instead, he was polite, but also firm during the interrogation. He created a diversion, so he could quietly sneak away with Paul to reunite with his family. 

Roy, Sarah, Lucas, and Paul were all willing to risk their lives to protect Alton. Why? It’s not because he has cool powers. They all believed in HIM. Alton is a good person. He’s someone who’s worth fighting for, and through no fault of his own, he’s an outcast, who needs a strong support system.

Jaeden Martell is fantastic, delivering an earnest and vulnerable performance. It’s also a nice touch to throw in some irony with Alton being enamored with Superman comics. He’s a kid, who’s understandably blown away by a popular fictional character, while also not realizing he’s basically a real-life Superman in his own way.

Micheal Shannon delivers a strong performance as Roy.  Shannon does a good job of showing believable desperation and anger, with great facial expressions. Roy is a dedicated, loving, and fearless father, who will do anything to protect his son. Roy risked everything, including having the guts to save his son from the cult after Pastor Meyer crossed the line by stealing Alton from him. And Roy fiercely protects Alton, while the cult and every government agency in the US is breathing down his neck. 

Joel Edgerton really nails Lucas, the trusted and devoted friend. Edgerton’s best scenes involve Roy, when both men clash on what lines should or shouldn’t be crossed to protect Alton, and Lucas knowing his place, when it comes to making big decisions about Alton.

You can clearly see Sarah is lonely. She finds some happiness again, when she reunites with Alton and Roy, and Dunst did a good job of capturing Sarah’s emotions. Sam Shepard, filling the role of a cult leader, makes the most of his short screen time. Shepard is a reliable veteran actor, and his character represents everything you’d expect from a cult leader. Calvin Meyer is a textbook narcissist and a master at manipulation, forcibly adopting Alton, when he realized Alton was the one person, who could justify his delusional vision.

Paul Sevier is an important character. He’s basically the man who’s responsible for safely delivering Alton to Roy and Sarah after the government captures him. Adam Driver is believably quirky and timid as Paul. Paul is really the only character with any comedic moments throughout the movie. Driver is never too goofy or over the top. Paul’s comedy fits perfectly in certain scenes, and Paul’s well-placed funny moments work as a convenient break from Midnight Special’s overall seriousness and emotional drama. 

The father/son relationship between Roy and Alton is the foundation for Midnight Special. The little details and nuances for Roy protecting Alton are noticeable from the opening scene until the end of the movie. 

Roy doesn’t hold his hand. He carries Alton. The scene at the gas station, where the lady almost removes Alton’s goggles? Roy SPRINTS across the gas station before the lady has a chance to touch him. Roy is protective of Alton, but he’s not overprotective, especially when you consider the consequences and the unprecedented circumstances surrounding Alton. 

There’s also a stretch in the film, where Alton is clearly sick. It’s a gut-wrenching experience for a parent to see their children ill and suffering, and in Roy’s case, he can’t just waltz into a hospital with Alton. Sarah and Lucas panicked, when Alton couldn’t breathe on the highway, but Roy confidently trusts Alton’s decisions. 

Roy knows at some point he’s going to have to say goodbye to Alton, and he’ll most likely never see his son again. Of course there’s a fictional twist to it, but there’s some realism about a parent trusting their child to make the right decisions for their future. Roy is forced to make sacrifices, and Roy strongly supports Alton, but it’s tough. He has to push through the heartbreak of losing his only child to do the right thing. 

Midnight Special undoubtedly has a lot of answered questions. What’s the exact reason for Alton needing to join the others in the unseen world? Is it because Alton is sick, and there’s a chance he’ll die, if he stays on earth? Alton’s deteriorating health becomes a real problem at one point, sparking serious concerns from Lucas. Are the people from the unseen world supernatural humans? Aliens?

If you’re looking for concrete answers, you won’t find any here. Midnight Special doesn’t rely on spoon-feeding crucial plot points. Writer/director Jeff Nichols presents thought-provoking questions, and you’ll see enough clues to form your own conclusions. Alton is clearly important, because he’s greeted by people from the unseen world. The unseen world has a sleek and futuristic look to it, but it’s also built with ordinary materials. It’s a sign that the unseen world is old, possibly dating back to ancient times, and the people from the unseen world are not malicious. 

One big plot hole that drives me nuts happens, when Roy and the others chase after Doak (Bill Camp) and Levi (Scott Haze) after they kidnap Alton. The Army soldier stops Roy, and the soldier looks directly at Roy. The soldier aggressively instructs Roy to rejoin the other cars on the road, and that’s it? Why didn’t the soldiers detain Roy and the others? Why did they just let him go? Keep in mind we’re at a point in the movie, where Roy’s face has been all over the news, so there’s no excuse for the soldiers to not recognize him. 

There’s a handful of awe-inspiring scenes and visuals throughout the movie. The final full reveal for the gargantuan and extravagant unseen world, the scenes featuring Alton using or losing control of his powers, and my personal favorite scene at the gas station, where Alton takes out the satellite.

Midnight Special is a tense and emotional sci-fi thriller, featuring a superb cast. A lot of believable close calls throughout the movie, and the big finale was executed to perfection. Shannon, Martell, Dunst, and Edgerton all did a wonderful job of selling the nervousness and the strong sense of urgency from the main characters. The group knew they only had one chance to get it right, to safely deliver Alton to the open field. There was no room for mistakes or any botches.

The sci-fi side of the film never overwhelms or undercuts a story about love, family, friendship, sacrifices, and an unbreakable father and son bond. Jeff Nichols seamlessly blends everything together for a quaint film with a satisfying ending. Midnight Special joins Take Shelter as another great collaboration for Michael Shannon and Jeff Nichols, truly one of the more underrated modern sci-fi films. 

Rating- 9/10

Hardcore Henry (2016)

 

**This post contains spoilers**

The Story- In Russia, a severely injured and confused Henry awakes in an airborne laboratory. Tasked with his rehabilitation, Henry’s wife, Estelle (Haley Bennett) finishes installing the mechanical upgrades and equipment, including replacing Henry’s severed limbs with a robotic leg and a robotic arm.

Henry’s resurrection is quickly interrupted by Akan (Danila Kozlovsky), a powerful and wealthy telepath, and the man responsible for financing Henry’s rebirth. Estelle and Henry briefly escape Akan, but Akan’s mercenaries kidnap Estelle.

Henry tries to piece together broken memories from his past, while receiving help from a scientist named Jimmy (Sharlto Copley). Henry and Jimmy team up to rescue Estelle, tearing through Akan’s forces to get to her. Akan is close to fulfilling his plans for world domination with an army of super soldiers, and a seemingly airtight plan. Will the duo of Henry and Jimmy be enough to stop Akan?

My Thoughts- Henry is an unusual super soldier. Sure, he has an extremely high tolerance for pain and punishment. His stamina is off the charts, but he’s not completely invincible. Half man, half machine, Henry struggles to hold his own during the early stages of the movie. He truly doesn’t become Hardcore Henry until the tail end of the movie, namely during the big final battle with Akan.

The approach to humanize him as a somewhat ordinary guy, who has to figure things out on the fly adds a bit of normalcy to Henry as a grounded character in a preposterous and over the top movie. He’s the scrappy underdog you want to root for. Henry doesn’t speak one word, including the flashbacks with Henry as a kid. He doesn’t have a speech module, but we still know a lot about Henry. He’s compassionate, fearless, and he has a big heart. Henry was willing to risk everything to save Estelle. Jimmy has serious trust issues, and he’s justifiably paranoid. Towards the end, Jimmy tries to kill Henry, when he suspects Henry is a spy for Akan. Jimmy stubbornly pushes Henry away, but Henry never gave up on the friendship. 

He’s a bit too goofy at times, but Danila Kozlovsky’s performance as Akan still works. Akan is an unhinged and eccentric villain, narcissistic to the core with an obvious god complex. He’s delightfully cruel and cold, the kind of evildoer, who deserves his comeuppance. 

Sharlto Copley proves he’s a man of many talents here. All of Jimmy’s avatars have their own unique personalities: the coked-up and unhinged party animal, the philosophical stoner hippie, or the gentlemanly military man. Copley shows off his versatility, bringing a specific brand of comedy to match each avatar’s personality, but Copley also proves he can be serious when it’s necessary. There’s an emotional scene towards the end, where the real Jimmy, paralyzed and bound to an electric wheelchair, is dying. The somber transition from Jimmy’s military avatar to his actual human body gives Jimmy the chance to say goodbye to Henry as himself, while Jimmy also acknowledges Henry as a real friend.

Hardcore Henry’s presentation and style is reminiscent of a video game, specifically a first person shooter. You’ll see the entire story through Henry’s eyes, and the video game parallels are undeniable. Henry fighting his way through hordes of henchmen, while battling mid level bosses, with increasing levels of difficulty along the way, including Slick Dmitry (Andrei Dementiev), the man with a shiny sliver jacket and the flamethrower, and the big burly super soldier at Akan’s headquarters. 

Special power-ups? Henry takes the bigger battery from the husky super soldier, and he uses shots of adrenaline to fight off Akan’s army. Easy to draw connections to a video game, when your back is against the wall, your health is too low, and you desperately need that Hail Mary boost. Weapon upgrades as the story progresses, and of course there’s the agonizing struggle before the big final boss battle with Akan. 

Wait a minute. Estelle is not married to Henry? She’s actually Akan’s wife! That’s right. Estelle was never kidnapped, and Henry’s mission to rescue her was actually an elaborate field operation, because Akan wanted to see one of his super soldiers in action. Henry exceeded expectations as his first big success story. The ultimate test for Akan to confidently carry out his plans for world domination. 

It’s a good and genuinely surprising twist. They don’t give away any clues or hints to possibly expose Akan and Estelle’s plan, because everything feels real. The close calls and innocent people are killed throughout the movie during Henry’s quest to save Estelle. MAYBE you could point to the fact that Akan could’ve easily killed Henry whenever he wanted. But Akan has a massive ego, so it’s easy to buy into Akan having fun and just playing around with Henry, knowing he could eliminate him, if he believed Henry was any kind of threat.

The big final showdown between Akan and Henry raises a few questions for logic and continuity. We’re lead to believe Henry is no match for Akan. He’s just too powerful, and during every encounter with Akan leading up to the finale, Henry can’t even lay a finger on him. Henry using the memory of a motivational pep talk from his father (Tim Roth) to give him that extra push to kill Akan is a good scene. Tim Roth is barely in the movie, but he absolutely nails the flashback, where tells a young Henry about the importance of fighting back and standing up for himself. 

Akan bleeds from the mouth, whenever he pushes things too hard with his powers. But Henry still couldn’t touch Akan, when he was supposedly weakened? So reliving a fond memory was the key to defeating Akan? It’s a feel good ending, because Akan gets what he deserves, but the lapse in logic is hard to ignore. 

The soundtrack is great. Each song in Hardcore Henry perfectly fits and compliments the scenes they’re used in. One of my top picks is, when Henry enters the brothel/strip club, and My Girl is playing in the club. 

Hardcore Henry is an inventive, fun, and completely bonkers action film for the super soldier sub genre. Hardcore Henry maintains a high level of energy, while moving at a frenetic pace, featuring brutal violence and bloody gore. There’s a good mix of humor and thrills, because Hardcore Henry is a movie that never takes itself too seriously. Sharlto Copley carries the load for a film that’s full of lively characters, also including Katya (Dasha Charusha) and  Olga (Svetlana Ustinova) as The Dominatrixes. And Hardcore Henry wraps up the movie with a satisfying ending after Akan and Estelle’s deaths.

There’s a voicemail from Jimmy during the credits. Jimmy asks Henry to do one more thing for him, but we’re closing in on ten years since the release of Hardcore Henry. Jimmy, Akan, and Estelle are dead, but there’s always more new adventures for Henry. Still, I think Jimmy’s voicemail was more of a way to slightly crack the door open for a possible sequel in the future, without having any concrete plans in place.

Rating- 8/10

Nerve (2016)

 

**This post contains spoilers**

The Story- Living in Staten Island, Vee (Emma Roberts) wants to take a risk and step outside of her comfort zone, so she decides to join Nerve, an online game where players take their chances with dangerous challenges to win money. Vee quickly outshines her best friend, Sydney (Emily Meade) as one of Nerve’s popular players, while her friend Tommy (Miles Heizer) and Vee’s mother, Nancy (Juliette Lewis) worry about her safety.

Another player named Ian (Dave Franco) forms a duo with Vee, as the dares become more dangerous. Nerve’s watchers throw their support behind Ian and Vee as the flavor of the night. But the it team will have to deal with Ty (Machine Gun Kelly), Nerve’s most dedicated and fearless player, if they want win and escape the game. 

My Thoughts- Vee is a simple and relatable character. She’s young, she’s scared about going out into the world on her own, and Vee doesn’t want to leave her single mother alone after her brother’s death. Vee is at that stage in her life, where it’s time to take that big leap into the real world. Emma Roberts delivers a believable performance, as a nerdy kid, who’s still stuck in her shell, going through the growing pains of transitioning into adulthood.

The friendship and dynamic between Vee and Sydney is one of the bigger storylines in Nerve. Vee is frustrated with being Sydney’s sidekick. Sydney is noticeably jealous, as Vee’s popularity continues to rise. Sydney resents Vee, because Sydney craves attention and validation. Vee is stealing her spotlight, but Vee doesn’t see it that way. She’s just trying to have fun, breaking away from her usual safe and predictable lifestyle. 

Of course, you know at some point there’s going to be a big argument between Vee and Sydney. They’ll angrily hurl deeply personal insults at each other, and that’s exactly what happens at the party. It’s a predictable step by step process, leading up to the moment where Vee and Sydney decide to bury the hatchet.

Emily Meade really nailed Sydney’s outbursts at the party. You can buy into the anger and heartbreak, as she’s tearing into Vee, because she’s upset her best friend vented to someone else (Ian), who’s basically a complete stranger. Solid execution for playing out the drama between Sydney and Vee, but as soon as Vee decides to join Nerve, and you see Sydney’s reaction to it, it’s easy to see where everything is going. 

Dave Franco delivers a solid performance as Ian. He’s charming and ambitious, and Ian is someone Vee can trust. Franco and Roberts share good chemistry as a duo, with Ian being the guy, who helps bring Vee out of her comfort zone. 

Tommy having a crush on Vee is hinted at and teased, but ultimately Vee and Ian fall for each other. Roberts and Franco did a good job of playing off of each other, with their opposite personalities. Their relationship easily had more of a spark. Going the route of putting Vee and Tommy together would’ve been the more cliched and boring choice, because Vee and Ian were a more entertaining impromptu duo/couple.

My biggest problem with Nerve is, I never believed the main characters were in any real danger. Nerve is supposed to be this extremely dangerous game, where ANYTHING can happen. Sure, some of the dares are nail-biters. The ladder dare, and Ian needing to hit 60 mph on his bike blindfolded, while Vee guides him are a few good examples. Yeah, they showed a highlight reel of failed dares, and the one tragedy, where a player fell to his death during one of Ian’s old games. But Nerve leaned too heavily on the side of teasing that something bad could happen, instead of actually showing a truly disastrous outcome in the current storyline.

The final challenge? Ty shooting and “killing” Vee just wasn’t believable. Vee faking her death as a ruse to help shutdown Nerve for good was way too obvious. I get the idea behind Vee wanting to sacrifice herself to put a stop to Nerve, and scaring all the watchers into believing they’re accessories to murder. They tried to throw in another curveball, with Vee leaving Ian in the dark about her plans to make her death feel more realistic. I could’ve actually bought into Franco’s devastated reaction, if Nerve was more convincing about death being a serious possibility throughout the movie. 

Nerve was released in 2016, but the social commentary is still relevant today. I’d go as far as saying it’s more relevant today than it was eight years ago. Whether it’s TikTok, Twitter/X, or any other social media platform, the urge to go viral is something that continues to escalate. 

There’s definitely a lot of realism with people feeling the need to record themselves doing absolutely stupid things, hoping they’ll possibly turn their fifteen minutes of fame into a career. Add in the fact that Nerve players receive a bigger payout for bolder and more riskier dares, and you can easily see the connections to modern social media influencers or content creators.

Ty and Sydney are two perfect examples for real people that you would expect to play Nerve. Before she acknowledges her mistakes, Sydney is obsessed with the little bit of fame that comes from Nerve. She was willing to get suspended from school for flashing her butt, but Sydney didn’t care that much, because she gained more followers. Ty? He has the openly narcissistic and cocky personality that you’d expect from someone, who lives for the thrill of being watched and showing off.

There’s a happy ending all around, with Tommy and his hacker friend, Kween (Samira Wiley) working together to shutdown Nerve. Vee decides to go art school with her mother’s blessings, and Ian and Vee are officially together. 

New York was the right setting for Nerve. The bright lights, and the idea of the city that never sleeps, fits perfectly with Nerve’s non-stop and lively characteristics. There’s also a connection to Wu-Tang. Vee is a big fan of the legendary group. There’s a scene, where Vee raps along to C.R.E.A.M. as a distraction to help her get through the tattoo challenge, easily the perfect choice for a Wu-Tang song. 

Nerve is a vibrant and fun thriller, that moves at a fast pace. Roberts and Franco are two likable lead characters, and taking an interactive POV approach throughout the movie was a nice touch. It fits with Nerve’s theme to give you the impression that you’re apart of the game, or you’re at least watching everything unfold in real time. Some decent laughs every now and then, and there’s a handful of unanswered questions, but Nerve has a definitive ending, without any cheap cliffhangers.

Rating- 6/10

The Belko Experiment (2016)

 

**This post contains spoilers**

The Story- In Bogota, Colombia, the employees of Belko Industries normal work day is interrupted, when a mysterious voice over the intercom instructs them to play a game. The game? Two employees must be murdered within a strict time limit, or they will face severe consequences. 

Mike Milch (John Gallagher Jr.) immediately jumps to the worst possible conclusions, while the COO Barry Norris (Tony Goldwyn) dismisses the threat as a prank. But it’s quickly revealed the unknown voice was not joking around, when four employees are murdered.

Mike, his girlfriend, Leandra Florez (Adria Arjona), the Human Resources manager, Vince (Brent Sexton), the security guard, Evan (James Earl), and others join together to find a more peaceful resolution. But Barry, Wendell Dukes (John C. McGinley), Antonio ( Benjamin Byron Davis), and Terry Winters (Owian Yeoman) decide to take a more aggressive approach. 

My Thoughts- The Belko Experiment features a real solid cast from top to bottom. Gallagher Jr. does a terrific job of portraying the compassionate and levelheaded Mike Milch. Milch doesn’t even want to consider murder as an option, and he’s horrified at the thought of his fellow coworkers feeling the need to go down that road. Gallagher Jr. also shows believable emotion and panic, when Mike starts to realize the experiment won’t end with a peaceful resolution.

Tony Goldwyn absolutely nails Barry Norris. Norris is ruthless, when he decides there’s no choice to do what has to be done. Goldwyn is intense as Norris. The anger and frustration Goldwyn brings to Norris really ties everything together, and Norris becomes more serious and relentless as the game winds down.

John C. McGinley delivers a near show stealing performance as Wendell. Wendell Dukes is a violent lunatic, and he’s Barry’s trusted right hand man. But McGinley also brings an awkward goofiness to the character. Wendell’s whacky side is really not meant to bring out laughs. You’ll mostly see this side of Wendell in the scenes he has with Leandra, because Wendell is so delusional and aggressively creepy that he can’t comprehend the fact that Leandra has absolutely no interest in him for romantic reasons.

Sean Gunn and Abraham Benrubi provide a lot of the comic relief here. Gunn is this quirky stoner, with wild conspiracy theories, and Benrubi basically plays the part of his loyal sidekick. They’re a hilarious duo, and they both deliver some of the best comedic moments throughout the movie.

A lot of the kills and deaths in this one are brutal, but I honestly don’t think anything tops the explosives planted in the heads of all Belko employees. Early on in the movie, Belko employees are lead to believe the bombs in their skulls were tracers. A safety precaution for possible kidnappings, but they’re actually tiny bombs that explode with a simple flick of a switch from The Voice (Gregg Henry). The deaths from the explosives are instant. No time for goodbyes or any last words, just an abrupt and random ending with no chance to brace yourself. That is truly terrifying, when you stop and think about it.

Things get serious, when the Belko employees basically split into two groups. Barry leads Wendell and others, while Mike is still searching for a peaceful solution. The split raises a lot of thought provoking questions and issues. True, Barry, Wendell, and Antonio are ruthless with their methods. There’s the big execution scene in the lobby, where Barry has plans to kill thirty people to avoid The Voice killing sixty as a penalty. Also, Barry and Wendell were military guys. “Special forces trained to kill” to be exact, so that’s a big advantage over everyone else.

If you’re just focusing on Barry, you can see the conflict in him, while he’s carrying out the executions. Samantha (Luna Baxter) tells him he’s going to “rot in hell” for the killings, but is Barry really a bad person? He’s a man with a family, who’s stuck in an impossible situation, locked inside a building with no way out. Sure, he probably likes his employees, and he doesn’t want to murder anyone, but he’s also not willing to die or sacrifice himself for the people he works with. That is a reasonable mindset to have, and Goldwyn does a great job of showing Barry’s internal struggle, because you can clearly see it’s tearing him apart to do the killings in the execution scene.

Terry is another good example of seeing how the tough decision to kill his fellow coworkers affects the cast of characters. You get the feeling Terry reluctantly joined Barry’s group. He’s a jittery and blubbering mess, when things get serious, and he’s put into a position where he might have to kill Mike, who’s also his best friend. Still, similar to Barry, you can understand Terry’s need to do what needs to be done, because he simply doesn’t want to die and leave his family behind. 

Wendell and Antonio are really the only two characters who enjoy the large amounts of blood shed. Wendell is just completely nuts, and Antonio had a brig grin on his face, when Barry was handing out the guns from the armory.

On the other side, sure you can say Mike is being a naive fool about all this. Mike was literally willing to take a bullet to hang the SOS banners as a last resort to avoid killing. But Leandra makes a great point, when she sternly tells Mike people are out for themselves, especially when their lives are on the line. You can try and cling to morality and doing the right thing all you want, but when people are scared for their lives, their primal survival instincts will kick in. Just look at what happened with Vince. He really tried to stay on the peaceful side, but when Vince realized the situation was nearing the point of no return, he picked up a gun and was hurling Molotov cocktails, because his life depended on it. 

The gore and violence is something else here. The scene where Leandra hacks into Wendell’s face with an axe, and the close up shot of Barry examining the back of a Belko employee’s head that’s been blown wide open are just a few highlights. The gore ties in with the desperation of almost everyone at Belko being forced to do horrible things, so it really works. 

The final fight coming down to Barry and Mike wasn’t a huge surprise. You could tell the story was going in that direction, the big final showdown between the leader of peace vs the leader of violence. It took Barry killing Leandra to make Mike finally snap, gain the upper hand in the fight, and viciously beat Barry to death. Leandra bleeding out and telling Mike she loves him for her final words takes the top spot for emotional moments. It’s really the only scene here, where someone had the chance to say goodbye, and it’s easy to see why Mike lost it. 

There’s a surprise, when Mike finally meets The Voice at the end. Mike is the sole survivor and he’s declared the winner, but he delivers the final blow, when he secretly stashes a handful of bombs on The Voice and his armed henchmen. Mike detonates the explosives and kills The Voice and the rest of his research team.

There’s a lot of questions packed into the finale with an intriguing cliffhanger. It’s revealed that other Belko games are being played, and Mike is just one of many sole survivors. The Voice told Mike about his team and their research and why these kinds of experiments need to be conducted with no restrictions or outside interference. Was the local government actually involved? Is it possible The Voice played the same game in the past, and he made it out alive as the sole survivor? The Voice has some noticeable scarring on one side of his face, so it is a possibility to consider. 

Can we really believe The Voice legitimately selected random Belko employees to kill? If The Voice’s choices to set off the bombs were truly random, then why didn’t Mike, Leandra, Wendell, or Barry die early in the movie? I simply think about it this way, The Voice kind of looked at the things like a twisted reality show. He wanted to keep all the compelling characters and storylines alive for as long as possible, while eliminating the more ordinary or boring people.

With the cliffhanger, it’s announced stage two of the game is about to begin for all the survivors. For a long time I wanted a sequel to The Belko Experiment for more answers, and to see how this cliffhanger would play out. But now I go in the direction of just leaving things alone. I don’t think a sequel is necessary. The Belko Experiment’s many questions make you think, and that’s a good thing. Just enough was revealed here, this was a good film, and I do believe it’s better to protect that mystery behind Belko, and who’s behind the curtain and why. 

The Belko Experiment also features a few entertaining side storylines. The newbie Dany (Melonie Diaz) is resourceful and well, she has a lot of luck throughout the movie. She escapes one close call after another, and you start to think maybe there’s a chance she’ll escape as the winner or the final girl. But after taking so many careful precautions, she lets her guard down coming out of the elevator, giving Barry an easy chance to shoot and kill her.

You also have the story of the two maintenance guys. Bud (Michael Rooker) plays the role of a big brother for Lonny (David Dastamalchian), but things go south, when an already panicky and paranoid Lonny accidentally kills Bud. That visual of Bud’s head with a big indentation from the wrench sure is a nasty one.

The subject matter in The Belko Experiment is heavy, but the movie never takes itself too seriously. The chaos constantly escalates, but there’s a good balance of dark humor and brutal violence here. The execution scene in the lobby features a Spanish version of California Dreamin.’ It’s impossible not to see the irony of such a happy go lucky song being played, while innocent people are being murdered. 

There’s also a hilarious moment with Roberto’s (David Del Rio) reaction to finding out the sweet and likable Dany actually killed someone. And when Mike is bashing Barry’s head in with a tape dispenser, there’s an over the top and triumphant score playing in the background. The score sounds like something you’d hear in a comedy film, when one of the goofy main characters has a victorious moment, or it would fit with someone running a victory lap.

The Belko Experiment is truly an entertaining and energetic horror film, that makes you really think about the character’s thought processes and motivations. Director Greg McLean brings brutal violence and bloody gore to this one. The scene where Barry breaks Lorena’s (Cindy Better) neck is definitely capable of making you squirm. The pacing is good here, because The Belko Experiment never drags or feels dull. When The Voice makes his announcement and the carnage starts, it’s an unrelenting push to the big finish, and it’s one shocking moment after another to see how far the employees of Belko are willing to go to stay alive.

Rating- 8/10