Author Archives: surgeons of horror

Trash Night Tuesdays on Tubi: Needlestick

19 Tuesday Nov 2019

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You gotta love Lance Henriksen. 

He brings such gravitas to every role he portrays and with it a mantle of work to be proud of. So regardless of the storyline or plot and how thin it maybe, Henriksen will at least ground his role as deep as possible and make it believable. 

In this instance, he plays chief medic, Dr. Alexander Crick who exhumes a God-like personality as he approaches his work.

Needlestick may as well play out as a modern take on the Frankenstein tale, with Dr. Crick a carbon copy of the infamous doctor, hellbent on immortality through raising the dead and with a whole hospital as his playing field.

His Igor, a suave and magnanimous assistant, Boris (Jack Noseworthy, who will always be Justin from Event Horizon in this writers’ mind) ably assists Crick in their crazed pursuit of scientific glory.

Standing in their way, is bumbling resident Everett, (Michael Traynor – The Walking Dead, Nicholas), Nurse Marie (Kate Savoy), and patient with a death wish Sarah (Jordan Trovillion).

Throw in Frankenstein’s monster – a disfigured patient under Crick’s control as an overbearing Golem walking the hospital corridors and dispatching numerous characters with infected needles and we have the terror element to the movie.

Prognosis:

Its 3.5 rating on IMDB may be a little harsh. Needlestick is a fairly simple premise which offers little to stimulate or promote horror or thrills, so admittedly it fails in this account, but the characters aren’t too formulaic with both Henriksen and Traynor chomping the scenery with much delight.

Worth a watch but may not necessarily get the pulse racing.

Catch Needlestick on Tubi

  • Saul Muerte

Movie review: In The Tall Grass

13 Wednesday Nov 2019

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It’s been over 20 years since Canadian director, Vicenzo Natali left a highly impressionable mark with his directorial debut, Cube.
It’s fair to say, that since then he has never quite had the same response from his movies, but always has a visual style that he draws upon to create his vision. 

With In The Tall Grass, Natali’s sixth feature length feature (excluding the cancelled Tremors TV movie last year) it may have proven to be a step too far in translating a novella by Stephen King and Joe Hill into a 1 hour 40 min running time, as he stretches his vision across a broad canvas and in doing so, loses its appeal.

The premise is a simple one. A heavily pregnant Becky and her brother Cal are travelling to San Diego to give up her baby for adoption, when they pull up alongside a field of tall grass.
It is here that the siblings hear the voice of a young boy calling for help. As soon as they enter the mysterious void, they fall into a labyrinth of despair that calls upon their wits to fight their way out. 

Laboured with strong theology throughout, Becky and Cal must weave their way through the strange and everlasting land, but are constantly confronted by their own inner inhibitions.
Doomed to repeat their actions with slight changes, the audience is treated to an insight into how often they try alternate methods, only to be lead back to the centre of the field and a mysterious rock that feeds on energy and life. 

Accompanying them in the field is another family (a father, mother, and their son, Tobin), equally lost in their myriad of emotions and history.
They are lead by an evangelical father figure, played by the magnificent Patrick Wilson, and his hammed up rampage is a much needed pulse to project the narrative forward. 

Also introduced into the fold is Travis (Australian Harrison Gilbertson) Becky’s ex and father of the unborn child to provide some depth and dynamic interaction, as their fervour reaches fever pitch and leads the audience on a twisted, convoluted journey of redemption.

Prognosis:

Natali seems to love project his protagonists into a tangled web of fear and resolution that shows the kernel of humanity at its core.
In The Tall Grass propels this theme further, but is constantly bogged down in a merky plot that draws on and feels repetitive and predictable as it draws to its conclusion. 

Trash Night Tuesdays on Tubi: Jimmy Tupper vs The Goatman of Bowie

12 Tuesday Nov 2019

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Back in 2010, Director, writer, producer, and actor, Andrew Bowser attempted to take on all these roles in a self-funded, low-budget movie that serves as a massive homage to The Blair Witch Project.

In this instance, Bowser takes on the titular role of Jimmy Tupper, a drop-beat down and out loser, who is viewed by his friends as a waste of space stoner. 

So on one night, boozed up and blacked out, his so-called friends decide to abandon him in the woods as a prank. The next day though, Tupper fails to turn up for work. The friends go back to the woods to find a crazed and shambled Jimmy proclaiming that he had come face to face with a strange goatman. Naturally the friends dismiss this outrageous tale, so Jimmy sets out to prove them wrong by going back into the woods to get his proof.

Shot all with a handheld cam, JTvTGoB tries to capture the same style of cinematography often associated with found footage horror, and at the start of the film becomes really unsettling and disorientating, which could turn viewers off. By the time the film reaches its climax, and sat through Jimmy’s drunken rants and raves in the darkness, we hope that some form of satisfied ending would materialise but unfortanately this is not the case.

JTvTGoB has a great premise, but not enough plot or budget to pull it off successfully. There are hints that it could have been so much more, with some practical effects, and an ending that intrigues and wills the viewer for further tales with Tupper and the Goatmen. 

Prognosis: 

An intriguing attempt at creating a dark mythology set in the woods of Bowie, that plays on the idea of a town loser who tells a wild tale, only for it to bear truth. 
It may have its heart in the right place, but falls short of what it plans to deliver. 

Movie review: Little Monsters

11 Monday Nov 2019

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It’s hard to believe that director Abe Forsythe has been dabbling in the movie scene since he won the Tropicana award for his short feature, Guided by the Light of the Lord back in 1998 at the tender age of 16.
Since then, he has carved a career that has seen him mature and expand upon his skills to develop a knack for the unrestful, and unhinged psyche of the human mind, shedding the facade that we project onto others and baring the darker souls that reside beneath. None more so than the 2016 black comedy feature Down Under, which was set in the aftermath of the Cronulla riots.

His latest venture proves that Forsythe is not only a director to take note of, but with Little Monsters is only just starting to hit his stride. By shifting away from crime drama, Forsythe now tackles the horror genre and displays enough confidence to poke fun at the little things such as slow and fast zombies. In this instance, it’s the slow kind ala Dawn of the Dead, but instead of a mall, the shuffling corpses home in on a farm-based attraction.

Little Monsters much like its zombies take a little time to get going, as we centre on drop out, Dave (Alexander England) and his break up from his long-time girlfriend. The montage at the beginning of the film is actually kinda fun and projects Dave in a less-than appealing light, constantly arguing with his partner in highly social situations, and even when he bunks down on the couch of his older sisters place, has evidently still got a lot of growing up to do. Who is the real little monster at play?

Dave quickly rebounds though and thus starts his infatuation with his nephew, Felix’s (Diesel La Torraca) kindergarten teacher, Miss Caroline played by Academy Award Winner, Lupita Nyong’o. 

Nyong’o is simply marvelous here as the kind-hearted, bold, and humble kindergarten teacher, who just so happens to be an excellent kick-ass zombie killer. That’s fortunate.

It’s only when Nyong’o enters the scene that the movie really picks up, which is a testament to her acting prowess and charisma on screen as she provides the beating heart in an otherwise undead genre. 

When Dave accompanies the Kindergarten class in pursuit of his newfound infatuation, he doesn’t anticipate that they are about to encounter the ambling creepers, and team up with Miss Caroline and kids entertainer, Teddy McGiggle (Josh Gad) in a fight for survival and to protect the kids from the real-life danger and dread that lurks all around them. 

The Prognosis:

This may not hit the mark compared to most zombie flicks with a slow-shuffled start, but Forsythe provides a fun ride with plenty of heart, thanks mainly to the performance of Lupita Nyong’o. 

Podcast: Season 6 – Ep 9. A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)

11 Monday Nov 2019

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The Surgeons team return to the late great Wes Craven’s work through the middle years of his career that we have dubbed The Nightmare Years, beginning with A Nightmare On Elm Street.

Check out the episode below:

https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?id=455929

Will Sweet River be the next sleeper hit from Australia?

05 Tuesday Nov 2019

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Today we learnt of an exciting new project that is shooting in Northern NSW, Australia which could herald another strong story that exposes the dark underbelly of our Great Southern Land. Australia has been slowly carving out some disturbing tales of late such as the fantastic Hounds of Love, Killing Ground, Rabbit, and Lost Gully Road, all released within the last couple of years and well worth your time.

Described as a psychological thriller, Sweet River is set in between Byron Bay and  Tweed Heads, a land filled with sugar cane farms, that can grow up to 16 metres in height and potentially ripe enough to harbour secrets within. It’s a beautiful part of the world, so expect some stunning shots from Justin McMillan (Storm Surfers 3D), who also co-owns a drone company. 

The story unfolds with Hanna Montague (Lisa Kay – Indian Summers) who is on a quest for closure following the death of her son, and moves to a small cottage, but is confronted by a town hell-bent on hiding its secrets. She is united in her grief with her neighbour (Genevieve Lemon) who has also lost a child in tragic circumstances, but how far into their sorrow are they willing to go in order to uncover the truth?

Also starring Martin Sacks (Wentworth, A Place To Call Home), Sweet River promises to set the mystery that lurks beyond the shadows ablaze, and deliver a tale that could have devastating consequences. 

It is expected to be released in 2020 through Film Ink Presents. 

For more information see the press release below:

sweet-river-announcement-finalDownload
  • Saul Muerte

Movie Review: Sweet River (2020)

Trash Night Tuesdays on Tubi: Do Not Disturb

05 Tuesday Nov 2019

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Whilst searching through the bank of films from the Tubi catalogue, I was hoping to come across something on a similar vein to The Shining.
Yes, I know, you can stop you’re sniggering now, I should have realized that this was a tall order considering the unique position that Stanley Kubrick’s vision had on the horror genre. 

In my defense, it does boast a struggling writer holed up in a hotel room, under the guise of finishing a screenplay, but I have to admit this is a fine thread to tie these two movies together, and Do Not Disturb pales remarkably in comparison.

Starring Stephen Geoffreys (Fright Night) as troubled screenwriter Don, who seeks revenge of the death of his girlfriend so concocts a plan to off those who were involved in her murder.

The trouble is that Geoffreys performance is incredibly reserved and lacking in any emotion, so it makes it difficult for the audience to connect with him. This isn’t entirely Geoffreys fault though as he taps into a guy who is so disconnected from humanity in his vengeful journey, but in choosing to go down this route, we simply can not engage with his character. 

There are some suitably macabre moments in this low-budget movie, and the unhinged moments do enough to resonate with the character enough to wonder how it will end. Aided by Don’s agent Ava, (Tiffany Shepis – Sharknado 2, Victor Crowley) who provides the heart of the movie and is possibly our only entry point into the narrative.

It also boasts one of the last performances from 80s child actor Coey Haim, before he passed away, but this still isn’t really enough of a hook for the film itself, unfortunately. 

Prognosis:

The film ambles along at an incredibly slow pace and tries to lift through some macabre set pieces, but ultimately leaves you drifting aimlessly to its conclusion.

Movie Review: 47 Meters Down: Uncaged

01 Friday Nov 2019

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Just when you thought that you couldn’t sink any deeper, Johannes Roberts delves into a sequel to the mediocre 47 Meters Down, only this time, it’s uncaged.
Taking the same concept of an underwater dive into unchartered waters only to come face to face with nature’s deadliest underwater predator.

Director Johannes Roberts, who oversaw the first movie knows his element and develops a fun, and thrilling ride that puts our characters to the nth degree in order to survive their ordeal. Let’s face it though. This is not going to rock any brain cells. I’d say that it’s a pretty watered down affair, but then that would be stating the obvious seeing as we spend most of the time submerged. 

Peppered with some offsprings from A-List celebs looking for their big break with Corrine Foxx and Sistine Stallone, to add some bite to the cast, but it’s a pretty big pond, and the impact that they have on screen will hardly turn heads… well not in the way they may have hoped… ahem.

Okay, where was I? Ah yes, the plot. So we once again have two sisters, only this time it’s through a mixed blended family. One girl is awkward and a bit of a loner, Mia (Sophie Nelisse), the other, is confident and strong-headed Sasha (Foxx). Needless to say, Sasha finds Mia an embarrassment and tends to steer clear of her, but when given the opportunity to duck out of pre-arranged tourist underwater trip, she grabs Mia along with her friends Alexa (Brianne Tju) and Nicole (Stallone) to have an underwater adventure of their own.

Roberts sets the scene early on by laying the foundations about Mia and Sasha’s father (John Corbett) who happens to be an underwater archaeologist that has discovered an ancient city buried within a cave system and that a shark has somehow found its way down there and gotten stuck. Cue one hangry shark. This allows more time for action and to lengthen the nightmare for the four girls.

Having said that, most of the action gets lost in the murky depths and as such, becomes a little hard to follow. Our connection with the girls is slim and we don’t really care what happens to them by the end.

Equally Roberts is guilty of typical killer shark movie tropes, in particular one scene that feels remarkably similar to THAT moment in Deep Blue Sea. 

Prognosis:

There are some twists and turns along the way and Director Johannes Roberts continues to entertain but fails to stimulate beyond the usual shark fodder that is already out there.

A fun watch, but not a lot else.

  • Saul Muerte

Movie Review: Daniel Isn’t Real

30 Wednesday Oct 2019

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I rarely go straight out when writing a review by stating my position and casting a prognosis but in the instance of Daniel Isn’t Real my gut reaction was so strong and reactive during and post viewing that I felt an overwhelming compulsion to rave about how fantastic this movie is.
I’ve often mentioned how integral it is for movies to evoke a reaction that churns up inside and leaves me with this feeling that is hard to describe, but essentially sends a buzz of excitement and I can literally feel the creative energy being transmitted from the screen.

At its core Daniel Isn’t Real is a window into the psyche of our central character, Luke played by Miles Robbins last seen on the screen playing stoner Dave from Halloween 2018.

Luke suffers a mental relapse when two impactful events occur when he is young. The first is when his father walks out on him and Mary Stuart Masterson, who “Joons” it up as an equally unhinged mother.
On the same day, Luke ventures out into his neighbourhood and comes across the aftermath of a mass shooting.
It is then that Luke meets an imaginary friend, Daniel, who brings the worst out in Luke’s personality. This results on Luke’s mother making him lock Daniel away in the doll house to suppress this negativity ala Drop Dead Fred without the comedy.

Cut to years later and Luke is now 21, and with his mother’s condition seemingly worse, he begins to fear that the same thing may happen to him. Encouraged by his psychotherapist to unleash his imagination, Luke releases Daniel once more, but this time is lead by this mysterious entity (and takes on the form of Arnie’s son Patrick Schwarzenegger) that only he can see. At first, Daniel encourages Luke to step out of his shell, where he meets Cassie (a magnificent Sasha Lane) but this soon escalate as Daniel is able to possess Luke and make him do things that he has no control over and sends Luke into a transcendent spiral of depression and disillusionment.

Part of the magic of this film comes through the special effects that warp and shape our senses and throws the audience into disarray while we like Luke try to decipher the distinction between reality and a warped imagination. 

Prognosis:

It’s the age old story of good vs evil told between a disillusioned young man and his imaginary friend. Who will get the upper hand? 

Director Adam Egypt Mortimer delivers a beautifully visceral journey that is stunning and encapsulating. This is a must-watch film that needs to be viewed and discussed. Thankfully it can be seen at MonsterFest Australia this weekend.

MONSTERFEST AUSTRALIA 2019 SCREENINGS

Fri, 1ST NOVEMBER, 7:15PM:
Capitol Cinemas, Manuka, Canberra

Sat, 2nd NOVEMBER, 10:15PM
GU Film House, Adelaide

Sat, 2nd NOVEMBER, 10:20PM
Event Cinemas, Innaloo, Perth

Sun, 3rd NOVEMBER, 12:10PM
Event Cinemas, George St, Sydney

Sun, 3rd NOVEMBER, 2PM
Event Cinemas, Myer Centre, Brisbane

  • Saul Muerte

Trash Night Tuesdays on Tubi: Tourist Trap

29 Tuesday Oct 2019

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Tourist Trap is one of those movies that should probably get more recognition than it deserves. It definitely skipped me by and ended up on my must watch list for decades, but somehow kept evading me.
Buried among the late 70s, early 80s slasher films that surrounded its release, this eerie supernatural slasher film is often overlooked for its likeness to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and has been labelled as a cliche-ridden failure, and yet I was still intrigued by this concoction of these group of friends who are on a road trip and find themselves holed up at a curious museum filled with mannequins.
So I was pleasantly surprised to see Tourist Trap listed on Tubi and felt compelled to finally check it out and I found that I was more than willing to be taken on this ride and immerse myself in the narrative despite the afore-mentioned warnings.
I felt encouraged further still when I posted on social that I was sitting down to watch the film and received some positive responses. 

Immediately I found David Schmoeller’s direction interesting as he was able to set up an atmosphere that was deliberately offsetting and clearly pulled some learners from this movie that he would lay down for his cult classic, Puppet Master in 1989.
The scene is set and we’re introduced to our would-be victims travelling across an undisclosed American terrain, when one of the group, Woody goes ahead in search of a gas station, when he finds one that appears to be deserted, but when venturing out back comes face to face with menacing mannequins and flying debris that appears set out to attack him as if controlled by some unseen force, when finally he’s impaled by a metal pipe and quickly dispatched.

I've got two words for you, Sanch - telekinesis.

The rest of the film followers the rest of the teen pack made up from token male Jerry, his girlfriend Tina, the hard-headed Eileen, and the meek mannered Molly. They turn up at the gas station trying to find Woody, only for their jeep to strangely break down (nothing that a quick skinny dip can’t fix in order to keep their peace of mind). Here they encounter the overly friendly and slightly off-kilter museum owner, Mr. Slausen, who offers to help them out.

Before long the group of friends find that they are being stalked by someone who may or may not be Mr. Slausen’s brother.

The rest of the movie does play out with some typical horror tropes, but there are enough triggers and quirks along the way to keep the viewer engaged.

Prognosis:

Chuck Conners is delightful as the deranged museum owner, Mr. Slause, who you can never quite tell is all there. Connors hams it up to the right side of plausibility.
I also enjoyed the whole supernatural telekinesis component to the movie as it gave a nice spin on the usual slasher fare.

This combined with the direction and music supplied by Pino Donaggio gave enough atmosphere and edge to the piece that it was unsettling and engaging, particularly Tina’s harrowing death scene.

Definitely worth the watch and I’m glad that I finally got around to doing so. 

  • Saul Muerte