Its intangible intentions make “Malignant” a mostly one-man show that has a hard time creating enough entertaining reasons to stay tuned for its message.
666: DEVILISH CHARM (2014)
Either intentionally as part of some misguided production design to look twenty years older than it is, or unintentionally because director David DeCoteau cannot shake loose from his late 20th century straight-to-video prime, “666: Devilish Charm” looks like it was conceived and shot in 1994.
REPORT 51 (2013)
As “Report 51” progresses, it transforms from an outer space-related horror into a “Blair Witch Project” meets “Paranormal Activity” fusion where its aliens are portrayed as feral banshees instead of as intelligent lifeforms.
MISCHIEF NIGHT (2014)
Explored stylishly, the idea at the story’s core can potentially power an intriguing movie. “Mischief Night” is not that movie.
COWBOYS VS. ZOMBIES (2014)
“Cowboys vs. Zombies” at least features the cowboys and the zombies promised by the title. It’s what the movie doesn’t have that makes it a terrible choice for 90 minutes of what is supposed to be entertainment.
ROSEMARY'S BABY (2014)
In spite of story changes that significantly alter critical character motivations, the setting and the photography renew a fair portion of that fumbled atmosphere.
ROSEMARY'S BABY (1968)
Through a perfect storm of acting, characterization, direction, sight, and sound, Roman Polanski takes a sensational nightmare of inconceivable proportions and makes it frighteningly plausible in spite of its inherent absurdity.
ANNA (2013)
Even if some pieces of the mystery are bobbled a bit, the rest of the production exudes enough confidence to sustain interest in the outcome and in the experience.
LUCKY BASTARD (2014)
“Lucky Bastard” is one of the more believably structured stories to use the “found footage” frame, but its NC-17 subject matter is too sleazy to have broad appeal that will work for all thriller fans.
SCREAM PARK (2012)
"Scream Park" thinks it is a throwback homage to festival-set fright fare, yet doesn’t rise above being boringly derivative.
WAY OF THE WICKED (2014)
Swap the menstruating girl with a teenage boy, remove all of the personality, and “Way of the Wicked” can be described as a male version of “Carrie” with a slight hint of “The Omen,” albeit far less interesting than either.
COMPOUND FRACTURE (2013)
“Compound Fracture” falls into that category of movies you want to like more than you do simply because you can see the filmmakers giving it an honest go.
PIGGY (2012)
“Piggy” is not a cheap slasher at all, but a psychological character study that accentuates mood and motivation instead of gory body counts and typical horror movie trappings.
THE ZOMBINATOR (2012)
“The Zombinator” plays like stoned teens decided to live action role play poorly conceived “Walking Dead” fan fiction with a Terminator as the lead while someone hit record on a home video camera.
LESSON OF THE EVIL (2012 - Japanese)
The overall value of “Lesson of the Evil” as a meaningful film is debatable, although it is assuredly a demented portrait of a sociopathic psycho like only a twisted visionary can create.
HOUSE OF DUST (2013)
... the downside is that the movie features a rote story framed in a milquetoast production where nothing stands out as noteworthy one way or the other.
BLOOD GLACIER (2013 - German)
From a fox mixed with a woodlouse to a falcon merged with who knows what, “Blood Glacier” is at its demented best when throwing monstrous mutations on top of outmatched scientists.
BOTTLED UP: THE BATTLE OVER DUBLIN DR PEPPER (2014)
Simultaneously sad, sweet, inspiring, and even suspenseful, “Bottled Up” is a fascinating, and at times heartbreaking, David versus Goliath story where Goliath unfortunately emerges as the victor.
APP (2013)
The true intention of “App” is to reinvigorate the moviegoing experience with a playful dose of creative fun. In that regard, “App” succeeds.
THE SACRAMENT (2013)
Anyone able to conceptualize the horrifying history fueling the fiction may find “The Sacrament” almost as terrifying as the real thing.
Maybe more eyes will notice how short the legs are on the concept of a resilient heroine unleashing whoop-ass on empty upper-class stereotypes.