J*A*S*M

Dumb, but not dumb enough to be at least be funny. Several video game levels with legendary Greek monsters that could be described as follows: I’m going somewhere → I kill a monster → I get some clues → I carry on. The monsters look pretty nice and so do the settings (you can see the budget), but the filler and the dialogues are lethal, with Perseus et al. constantly philosophising about their semi-godly nature, almighty Zeus almost breaking a branch under his own weight, Bubo rolling somewhere in junk and Andromeda pragmatically letting herself be eaten. That’s almost all of it. Worthington has nothing to work with, his Perseus is mentally a teenager and not a hero to whose hands I’d be willing to entrust my destiny. The gods shine weirdly, which instead of divine looks cheap, and certainly doesn’t give the impression that they lord over the world. The climax never had a chance to save the film and the last scene actually buries it. 45%

While House of the Devil reminded me of the 70s and Blood Night of the 80s, Evil Angel took me back to the films from the 90s. Unlike the first two, here I’m not sure whether this is intentional or not. Firstly, because ten years is still too short a time to distinguish between purposeful reflection and a mere stylistic echo, and secondly, because I’ve no bloody clue who would like to recreate horror from the 90s. Some sort of biblical demon arrives in a modern big town and (as it’s typical) begins to wreak havoc, only a brave male nurse can stop it… hmm. :-D Anyway, if we ignore the unoriginal premise, I have to say that it’s not bad at all. The above average rating is prevented only by the brutally excessive runtime, but it’s still worth watching, if only for that great scene somewhere in the middle. 6/10

I don’t want to repeat what Rob Roy and Pishin have already said, but it’s impossible to speak about this film without referring to Straw Dogs and the beautiful cinematography. Straw Dogs is grittier, while this one plays more with the visuals, but the results are similar. Better stay away from villages. An hour and a half of undiluted redneckery, drunkenness and prejudice – power in the hands of “ordinary people”. Some parts of the story made me feel unwell. Besides the cinematography, I’d like to highlight the sound design. There’s a tense moments when the people on the screen are screaming their lungs out, but all you hear is the rustling of the woods instead of the screams themselves, and it’s very effective, perfect for that particular scene. I believe the director has good taste and a feeling for restraint. The local exploitation fans perhaps will complain about the moderation of the last action scene, but more would have been only for the worse, and I think Bornedal is aware of it. Brilliant and a great surprise from Denmark. 9/10

I didn’t enjoy this short too much. It looks very cheap, and I don’t mean it financially. 5/10

If you’ve already watched Orphan and Case 39, you don’t need bother with The Daisy Chain because you won’t get anything better, but you could still watch it, it isn’t bad. A classic story about an unusual evil little girl, a dumb mum and a sensible dad. The atmosphere of rural Ireland is nice, what is not nice is the shortage of tense moments and the end without an ending. Passable film, but I’ve already almost forgotten what I watched it.

Considering the initial mixed reviews, Seance turned out to be a pleasant surprise. It’s well executed and it’s clear the director knows the classic elements of the genre, the jump-scares are effective, better than in many feature films from abroad, it could be said. Naturally, it’s not something that will make your jaw drop, but if I look at the state of today’s professional Czech horror (and cinema as a whole), I can’t ask from a student film more than what this one delivers. I’m very happy to give it a fourth star.

Riveting film. That said, the plan of the burglars was very far from perfect. There were so many things that could have gone wrong, even without Sherry, that all that brouhaha about a flawless plan must have been some sort of sophisticated joke by Kubrick.

A nice noir. In the first, and more boring half you can at least enjoy the composition of the images and the way they play with light, darkness and shadow, while the second half is very tense and fun. It’s not a masterpiece (though there are a couple of scenes that show hints thereof, besides the oft-mentioned box and axe, I would point out to the attack in an alley), but it’s still a very decent thriller.

Hmm, young Hanks looks so creepy that there’s no way I would let him in. Alone with Her is one of those modern, minimalistic films that want to look as realistic as possible, with the cameras playing a direct role in the story (though here it feels excessive at times). The script doesn’t deliver any surprises (let alone a twist) and leisurely reaches its expected conclusion, leaving the viewer with the not very pleasant feeling that the world must be full of such maniacs. Very decent.

The “Crap of the Month” award can be presented already today, on 4/4/2010 (unusually early, indeed), and the winner is Creature of Darkness! Congratulations!