Rock the Cradle!

     I have to admit, going into these films as blindly as I do, sometimes leads me to miss a few things along the way. I could, of course, rewatch the film over and over and do all sorts of deep research. But what if, in doing that, I alter what I thought about the film on the first watch? At the moment I do have a separate window opened up so I can read a little more on this one. I also have the special features playing on the television. Trying to deliver a review for a movie you liked but has some flaws can be a very daunting task. On one hand you want to write the review favorably enough so readers want to see the film, while maintaining that you still had your own issues with the film.
     Alex Chandon, a name I didn't even know till I purchased Cradle of Fear. I have to say, this was not a bad film to be introduced to him with. Watching this one, I could tell whoever was responsible for what I was seeing, truly enjoyed what they were doing. Hard work and passion shows through in many scenes. Something that most big budget horror films are lacking. Not because big budget Hollywood can't do it, but instead they choose not to do it. With all this being said, there were still so minor flaws! But hell, when you can tell that a film was done because someone was trying to score with the audience and not from the audience, those flaws can easily be passed over.
     Cradle of Fear jumps straight into action. We are quickly introduced to, what I would consider to be the "story teller" or "story maker" in this 4 (or  5) part anthology, The Man. But who is The Man? I was unsure whether to tell you guys or not, so best I just let you decide who or what he his for yourself. I am also deciding to opt out of telling you guys too much about the wrap around story as well. Now this particular character never really connects with the viewer one on one, but he makes some very important connections with our characters throughout the film. Ultimately becoming a main driving force in the film. Basically, Cradle of Fear plays out just like any other Anthology. The stories flow along with very little in between. With each story depicting characters that are going to learn a lesson within the events that shall unfold before our eyes. For better or worse.
     The first story was my personal favorite out of the bunch. Introducing two very pretty female "vampires" at a club where Mel locks eyes with The Man. After mind fucking her, he decides to actually have sex with her. Or does he? Was he even there? These are questions I still have no answer to. Any-who, all hell breaks loose

the following day(literally). Mel can't seem to escape the hell no matter which corner she turns. Very strong acting, out right sexiness, and a bit of gore that caught me by surprise, I really would have liked to have seen this segment run a little longer. I gave it a solid 9 outta 11.
     The second story was a pretty solid follow up to the first one. Kind of creepy in parts and a little off setting.  But in a good way. The acting here wasn't as strong as the first entry. The writing could have been a tad bit stronger as well. Seemed to be a little bit of confusion in the conversation between the two leads during a blood bath scene. The effects could have been better. All the same, it was a fun little trip, and once again, it could have ran a little longer. Scoring a solid 6 outta 11, it was very entertain-able. It was also pleasant to see something done a little different but still giving a throwback to some of our favorite horror films.
     Did I completely miss something here? The third segment seemed to jump straight to action. While the others did the same, here it just seemed to fast. I needed a little more back story in this one. The acting was spot on. The plot seemed fun and over the top, but I just needed more back story. Over all I would say it was my second favorite of the segments. More story may have put this one to the top of the list. A little more gore wouldn't have hurt either. Some very weird CGI was used that kind of took me by surprise. It didn't add to the story, nor did it take anything from it. At the end of the day, I believe this segment was the on screen "elbow jab to the ribs chuckle". I laughed on a few occasions. Normally I never laugh. So that says a little something. Says enough to get this segment a 7 outta 11!
     The last segment had the most promise of them all. Sadly it fell apart very quickly. While the premise is very appealing, something was just lost here. We are introduced to a character who ties into the story very closely. He is working a dead-end job at a "safe search" internet company where his boss is a douche. Which is made worse due to the fact that our lovable main character is also a douche bag. His job is to, basically, scrounge the darkest depths of the internet. Reporting on every foul thing he finds. While searching, he stumbles across a website that offers the visitor a chance to torture someone however they please as long as they are willing to pay. The website mysteriously goes missing, which in turn, drives poor Richard mad trying to relocate it. After driving to the brink of sanity, Richard's life starts to fall into shambles with a very nice twist at the end.
     Way too long. That is all I can say for the final segment. With such a great idea, although not original, it was still very fun. It just ran way too long. It could have been shorten by at least 15 minutes. Sadly too much of a good thing can turn into a bad thing. They were trying too hard to make something simple much more complicated. Which actually turned in on itself. I give this one a 4 out of 11. Should have been over quick.    

     Solid acting in the wrap around story, and a very intriguing plot. I was really into the whole idea of what was going on. Sadly, the last segment was so irritating that I was ready to just see it come to an end. The wrap-around story tried to tie things up the best it could. With big hopes and visions,  the filmmaker did not disappoint overall. A few minor critiques but still a very solid movie going experience.
     So now we must rate the film. Taking all the ratings and adding them together and doing some simple math, we get around about a 60%. So if you are looking to have your void mind filled with new demons and nightmares you may want to look somewhere deeper and darker. Looking to just kill a couple of hours and have a pretty damn good time doing it? Then this is perfect for you. Cut the brain off and sit back and enjoy. Don't over think it. Just have some fun with Cradle of Fear, see where it takes you.              
                                                                                        -jackrippzz

Not so Macabre! (A short review of the "hardgore" film Macabre)

   With such films as Inside and Frontier(s), I really just couldn't find a spot for this one. The films started out pretty generic and pretty much stayed that way throughout. With characters that hardly have life to begin with made it very easy to not care who died, when they died, or how they died.

   From the opening scene in a small bar type setting we meet one of the many friends that will be brought along for, I am assuming, what the directors thought would be a fun and wild trip for the viewer. Quickly, you see the plot start to unfold. It's raining, the group of friends pack into a small van to embark on their journey. Then out of now where, as the van starts to pull forward, and the headlights come on. A young attractive girl appears out of the thin air in front of the van.

   At this point, I am sure you are thinking to yourself, "Wait, this may sound a little familiar." there's more! Of course one of the horny young male friends jumps out of the van, talks with the girl, comes back to van only to ask if they can just simply give her a ride home. (mind you there is a young married couple, with a wife that looks like she may give birth at any given moment.) after very little resistance from the group, everyone crams in, and hit the road. 

   A few seconds later we arrive to a very darkly lit house/ranch property where we immediately find out the Hitchhikers family are not who they appear to be....... Wait a minute, they actually do appear to be exactly what they are. I am sure by this far in, you can already start to draw the connections to other film favorites of most of us horror goers, two of which I listed above. 

  While I normally love the basic "a family that kills together stays together" plot. Here, it just dont work. The films pacing seemed off to me at parts. Then again, I guess that could have been done to try and make Macabre seem more chaotic then what it really was. The kills seemed to just happen "one down four more to go style." As I stated above, you actually build no relation to any of the characters of the film, good or bad. 

   It is really a shame they skipped out on any character build up. They touch on a few minor things at the start of the film, but it all seems a little sloppy and forced. It really is shameful though. The kills in this one are rather nice with nice gore to match. Sticking with a fairly realistic style of killing made it a little off setting when something way over-the-top happened.  One thing that really stands out to me in any horror film is lack of the struggle. If you see a scene where someone is being choked to death but the strangler's hands just appear to be placed around the neck, it really loses a lot of impact. I could be just harsh here, but I did notice it more then a few times.

   With all of that being said, the film was not a complete let down. Then again it was. At times Macabre did try and set itself far apart from all the other "crazy family" films out there, but then again it really didn't. I didn't hate this film, I just felt it was a little on the bland side. It stayed at a very uneven pace and ended with a very lack luster climax. You can't have every other kill in the movie be better then the final kill in the movie. I just didn't understand a lot of the motive in this one. Just seemed like lot of stuff happening to happen and hopefully win gorehounds over with its special effects and what they wanted us to think as brutal deaths. It did try and touch on some things with pregnancy and dead babies, but I saw that coming as soon as I seen a pregnant character that the camera couldn't seem to stay off of. 

   I have to say, with everything I have said negative about this film, they did do a couple of things right, but I will not tell you what I thought they were. Best for you to watch this and decide for yourself what they did right and wrong in this one! Macabre is coming in soft on my sheet with a 4 outa 11. I can't say I enjoyed my  experience. So Macabre will not be seeing my blu ray player again.