Film: I Spit On Your Grave

Spolier Alert: Impossible to review this one without some slight spoilers but if you’ve heard of the original you already know the story.

Re-make of the 1978 video nasty in which the victim of a brutal rape exacts horrific revenge on her attackers.

Writer Jennifer Hills (Sarah Butler) visits a remote cabin for inspiration for her next novel and encounters a group of sexually frustrated local yokels.

The attack that takes place is drawn out in a horrendously long scene that’s a struggle to sit through. Each time you think it’s over there is another level of depravity to go.

The same could be said for what happens to the attackers when Hills catches up with them. The methods used to hasten their demise are graphic and disgusting although there are some darkly humorous elements of poetic justice.

This is the type of film that sparks debate. While it can’t be called entertainment (there are plenty of other ways this story could be told) it takes courage of conviction to make a film that depicts violence in it’s ugliest form. The recent re-make of The Last House On The Left (see review elsewhere here) covers similar ground but doesn’t leave you feeling as dirty as this does. Another comparable film is the French movie Irreversible in which Monica Bellucci’s character suffers an attack of such ferocity that scores of audience members got up and walked out.

I’m glad I saw it so that I can have an opinion but it’s not an experience I’d be keen to repeat.

Ric’s Rating: 50% (I’m firmly on the fence).

Book: Mr Shivers by Robert Jackson Bennett

Robert Jackson Bennett’s debut novel follows the cross country journey of Marcus Connelly as he attempts to track down the man who murdered his daughter, the hideous Mr Shivers.

Set during America’s great depression this is a sprawling, dusty, atmospheric tale of an epic quest littered with odd characters. It’s a thriller, ghost story, serial killer, horror story of revenge that evokes memories of the fantastic tv shows Carnivale and American Gothic.

In parts it’s fantastic, the strange characters involved include a fortune teller with a diseased eye, a 100 year old sheriff and an entire town that’s in league with Mr Shivers.

The momentum is spoiled by dull periods between encounters and the end is somewhat of an anti-climax although all things considered this is a unique book that’s well worth a look for both crime and horror fans.

Ric's Rating: 74%

Film: 127 Hours

Director Danny Boyle (28 Days Later) brings us the true story of Aron Ralston, a man who was trapped in a mountain crevice for……you guessed it, 127 hours.

James Franco (Spider Man) takes the lead and the film hinges on his performance as the majority of it is spent in his company alone while he attempts to escape his predicament.

Franco does well enough but this is a subject better covered by a tv documentary, a 30 minute one would suffice. There isn’t enough material to flesh out an entire movie. The myriad of clever camera angles and various dream sequences used by Boyle don’t hide the fact that this is 94 minutes spent with a man trapped by a boulder.

It is a remarkable story but this type of thing has been done better before. Touching The Void springs to mind.

Ignore the hype, this 127 Hours felt more like a decade.

Ric's Rating: 41%

Film: The Next Three days

When Lara Brennan (Elizabeth Banks) is convicted of murder her husband John (Russell Crowe) struggles to keep up the legal fight while adapting to his new status as a single Father, raising their young son.

As pressure mounts from all angles John hatches a plan to break Lara out of jail. Will he go through with it?

Writer/Director Paul Haggis (Crash) delivers a tension filled roller coaster ride that also marks a return to form for Crowe. His portrayal of an ordinary man forced to either take action or face the fact that his beloved wife will be in prison for the next 20 years is compelling stuff. It has echoes of my all time favourite tv show Prison Break but you are kept guessing which way Crowe's character will go until you actually see him make his move.

There is excellent support from Banks along with almost cameo (but terrific) turns from Brian Dennehy and Liam Neeson but the film rests firmly on Crowe's shoulders which prove to be broad enough to easily handle the weight.

This is riveting stuff, you will be fully supportive of the plan while wondering if John should just move on with his life, for his own sake and that of his son.

It's 2011's first must-see movie. Don't miss it.

Ric's Rating: 96%

Book: American Devil by Oliver Stark

Oliver Stark introduces us to volatile cop Tom Harper and psychologist Denise Levene in the first of a new ongoing series.

Harper is recognised as a brilliant detective but following his marriage break-up and a fight with a fellow officer he finds himself off the force until a series of gruesome murders leave the Brass with no choice but to bring him back. One condition of his re-instatement is that he must attend regular sessions with Police Psychologist Denise Levene.

The story flows nicely as we follow Harper’s investigation but it really kicks up a gear when the characters of Mo and Nick are introduced and their part in proceedings is gradually revealed.

Unusually for this type of book it’s the female psychologist who steals the show from the tough cop. Her profile of the killer and subsequent interactions with him help this overcome the stereotypical route that it frequently veers into.

All the tried and tested elements of the genre are here:
Tough-but-kind cop, attractive & intelligent Doctor, killer with a deeply scarred childhood, horrible murders and some well developed supporting characters.

This debut novel is nothing original but has been written with enough style to warrant continued attention and with a sequel, 88 Killer, already on the way, it looks like Oliver Stark and his duo will be here for some time to come.

Ric's Rating: 69%

Preview: Dark Side by Belinda Bauer

Ben Willis at Transworld Publishers has kindly sent me a copy of
Belinda Bauer's new book Dark Side for review.

If it's even half as good as Blacklands, her fantastic debut, we are in for a treat.

Synopsis:

Shipcott in bleak mid-winter: a close knit community where no stranger goes unnoticed. So when an elderly woman is murdered in her bed, village policeman Jonas Holly is doubly shocked. How could someone have killed and left no trace?Jonas finds himself sidelined as the investigation is snatched away from him by an abrasive senior detective. Is his first murder investigation over before it’s begun? But this isn’t the end of it for Jonas, because someone in the village is taunting him, blaming him for the tragedy, and watching every move he makes...

Check back soon for a full review.

DVD: State Of Play

Hollywood heavyweights Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck star in this 2009
movie based on a BBC tv show.

Affleck plays Congressman Stephen Collins who is the head of a committee investigating the billions of dollars being paid to private security firms for U.S defence contracts.

When his researcher (who happens to be his mistress) dies in suspicious circumstances he turns to old friend Cal McAffery (Crowe), an investigative journalist, for help.

All the ingredients are here for a fantastic film but the pace is so slow that it's hard to maintain interest.

Crowe is an immense presence as usual and Affleck, Helen Mirren and Rachel McAdams all do their best but they can't rescue what is ultimately just a dull film that fails to live up to it's billing.

Ric's Rating: 46%

Top Films Of 2010

1. Mine – Captivating from the very first minute, this heart wrenching documentary follows Hurricane Katrina survivors in their harrowing attempts to be re-united with their beloved dogs which they were forced to leave behind.

2. The Town – Ben Affleck’s tale of Charleston bank robbers would have been no.1 in any other year. It’s even better than Gone Baby Gone, cementing Affleck’s status as a top quality director.

3. Tony – Peter Ferdinando deserves nothing short of an Oscar nod for his amazing portrayal of a socially challenged loner who resorts to murder as a way of making friends. Outstanding.

4. The Expendables – Sylvester Stallone delivers the kind of film that action fans have been longing for as his crack team of mercenaries attempt to take down an oppressive regime.

5. Rare Exports – A movie from Finland about Santa? This dark take on the Santa legend is a welcome change to the usual Christmas movie drivel.

6. It’s Complicated – Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin excel in this excellent American Pie for the over 40’s brand of comedy.

7. Spiral – A geek with mental issues finds purpose when he begins a relationship with a work colleague. How long will the tranquillity last?

8. Hot Tub Time Machine – Four friends find themselves back in the 80’s after taking a dip in a magical hot tub. Far better than expected.

9. Rampage – Tense journey into the mind of a disillusioned young man with horrific results. Controversial director Uwe Boll is at the helm of this surprisingly well-acted and tense drama with an inspired ending.

10. The Fourth Kind – “Real” footage is mixed with the fictional account of this creepy story of alien abduction.


Notable mentions also go to The Losers, Machete and The Crazies.

All of the above (except Mine and The Fourth Kind) are reviewed elsewhere here.

Films included were not all necessarily released in 2010.

Book: Ashes by Matthew Crow

Nestling somewhere between TV shows Shameless and This Is England, Matthew Crow’s debut novel takes us into the heart of the Meadow Well estate, a grim inner-city jungle dominated by thugs, drunks and drug addicts.

Following his release from prison Jack vows to stay out of trouble but his long suffering Mum Shirley fears the worst and when two locals are involved in a fatal car accident her intuition is proved to be correct.

Also helping Jack stay on the right side of the law is his Probation Officer, a former Meadow Well resident who has proven that with work and ambition you can make it out.

The first half of the book is fantastic as we join a community of rogues and scallywags struggling to make ends meat, all told in a fluid style peppered with fine moments of gallows humour. Unfortunately the humour quickly fades as the mood changes, along with the story, to one of disgruntled youths on a path of destruction. The riots themselves become quickly repetitive as innocent bystanders fear for their lives and property while the only way the gangs can show outrage is by setting fire to buildings within their own estate.

A fine debut showing bags of potential from the 23 year old Matthew Crow and while this isn’t perfect it signals the arrival of a future main player in the genre.

Ric's Rating: 72%

DVD: The Horde

When you watch a film like this French Zombie splatter-fest it's easy to see why European cinema often scoffs at Hollywood horror. This is wall to wall hardcore violence with little or no let up in the pace.

A team of cops enter a run down apartment block and find themselves forced to team up with the criminals they are there to arrest in order to make it out alive.

This is instantly enjoyable and features some fantastic Human v Zombie fight scenes but ultimately it has no likeable characters giving you nobody to root for.

Fast furious fun but no depth.

Ric's rating: 62%

Film: Skyline

A group of twenty-something friends awake from a night of partying to a blinding light from outside. When you look at the light you fall under it's spell and are soon on your way to a gruesome demise.

Yes, it's Alien invasion time again as the source of the light is revealed as either the creatures themselves or their Mother Ship.

This film plays kinda like a slasher movie as the cast are bumped off one by one with the Aliens taking the place of Jason/Freddie/Michael.

It starts off good fun and kicks up a gear when David Zayas (Dexter, The Expendables) appears but it's all downhill from there as it becomes rather silly with it's attempts to take a leaf out of District 9's book.

The cool effects and nifty Aliens can't make up for a shoddy story but if you switch off your brain it's just about passable.

Ric's Rating: 52%

Film: Cyrus

John C Reilly (Step Brothers) plays a divorcee struggling to come
to terms with life as a singleton when he meets Molly (Marisa Tomei), the two quickly begin a relationship before Molly's 21 year old still-at-home Son (Jonah Hill) becomes a serious problem.

This starts off mildly amusing but quickly becomes a creepy Oedipus complex drama that is neither dramatic or funny.

The character of Cyrus is a loathsome man-child that no one in their right mind would tolerate for five minutes let alone attempt to work around while forming a new relationship.

I get that it's supposed to be funny and touches on a subject that is true to life in a lot of families but they should have went for all out comedy (which would have worked) instead of this weird mix that just doesn't work.

Ric's Rating: 37%