The Void

Whaaaa??  Not sure what I just watched other than the fact Aaron Pool, who is an Aaron Paul look a like, did a stand up job in fighting a monster that looked like Pizza the Hut!  So apparently this is set in a land where cops are huge pussies, hillbillies can walk around carrying guns and shooting anything they want, and the only hospital in town is a broke down chop shop!  The creepy place is now on its haunting hour, (I think) and a bunch of hooded cult members are trying to do....something (I think)?  Enter some creepy monsters and some cheesy gore, and you have The Void!  I enjoyed it but could have done without the monsters, or at least the last one.  It was better with the cult members terrorizing the hospital.  I would suggest this movie as a "keeps your interest till the very end" type of film.  Fun acting and the blood and guts are outrageous.  Now make a plate of greasy and slimy nachos and start watchin!

FYI:  Crowd funded project.  Some serious loyal geeks!

***

Rebirth

Ahhh, the old corporate retreat.  Most of us have been to one, and make no mistake, no matter what industry you are in they are all bad.  Lot's of corporate lingo, false motivation, fake cheers, righteousness, synergies and efficiency's, ass kissing, name dropping, and all around fun killing.  Yep, those are the ones.  Well how about a different kind of retreat?  One where you are "reborn" in a sense.  Its extreme, its dangerous, its sexy, and with the amount of brainwashing, you just may make it out a changed man!  It is basically like an Amway conference on steroids.  Poor Kyle, a middle aged business man with a family who lives in as they say "A Zombie State" is tricked by his old college friend to attend the Rebirth retreat, only to find out it is not quite what it seems.  This was a pretty good Netflix original but there were some pretty obvious holes here.  First off it was a pretty direct rip off of "The Game".  The flow was a little off, it seemed very rushed at some points and way to slow in others.  I felt like there should have been another 1/2 hour of the film giving it more substance.  The ending was a bit unexpected and somewhat original but not sure if I agree with the decision.  Overall I liked it and would watch it again, but of course anything with the over the top, ever so hot, hot, hot Nicky Whelan in it, I could stare at for hours.  No matter how bad the movie is!

FYI:  Harry Hamlin has a bit part playing exactly the type of guy you think he is in real life.

***1/2

Carnage Park

Nothin better than a road trip through the desert, warm calm winds, no clouds in the sky, the sun shining down and sniper bullets ripping through your flesh!  Sounds like a nice afternoon, right?  Carnage Park isn't your average, run of the mill leisure spot.  Nope, its private property fenced in and owned by a sadistic sniper who is hell bent on sending his victims through a world of torture and fear before killing them.  Enter Scorpion Joe and his hostage.  He is a bank robber who is on the run from his last heist.  After taking a hostage he finds himself in the desert being hunted.  Is he a match for the killer?  How about his hostage, timid bystander who is played by Ashley Bell who is constantly in the wrong place at the wrong time.  This movie is stylish and cool but not short on gore and horror.  It is a great survival film that is dirty, and grimy but fun!  Good gem on Netflix, it does have its faults but the characters are outstanding and the creepy setting is excellent.  Give this one a shot, pun intended.

FYI:  The hand scene is done in a single take, and is really gross!

***1/2

The Perfect Host

Having a dinner party?  I suggest inviting your closest friends then throw in an on the run criminal just to mess with his head!  What could go wrong?  Especially if your closest friends are so close they actually live inside your head!  This is a great find on Netflix that keeps you wanting more after each scene.  The film revolves around an injured bank robber who takes refuge in a strangers house after manipulating him into helping him.  He then finds that the host is not everything he seems to be.  David Hyde Pierce is outstanding as the host with the most.  He plays many parts and is extremely well rounded as a man not quite right in the head.  The movie has some holes of course but it is truly fun and exciting with a lot of little twists that keeps the roller coaster going.  If you watch this and aren't too nit-picky you will love it.  There are some key scenes that are movie greatness, one is a choreographed dance scene, one is a change of character and another a simulated sex scene.  Hello to the Host!

FYI:  Anyone remember Helen Ready?  I do (thanks Mom), and she makes an appearance!

****

Mexico Barbaro

Speak Spanish?  Who cares!  Crank up the subtitles and sit back for an incredible ride!  A Netflix gem here for sure and for those of you who dont appreciate some sick twisted shit, might be better to skip this one.  Another anthology film that has 8 disturbing Mexican horror stories, and they dont disappoint!  So a few are a little over the top, and a bit corny at times not to mention they have the slow burn of your typical indie with wasted "too long" shots of a tree or the wall, but great none the less.  Each story is gruesome in its own way and they dont skimp on the blood, grotesque situations, rape, creature rape, revenge, and mystery!  There is good and bad acting, some really intelligent story lines and some just for the shock factor.  With a little more finding and a bigger budget this could have gone from great to amazing, fortunately I heard there is a part 2!  Lets go Netflix, bring it!  Oh, and be sure to eat a creamy soup or cheese while watching this, you wont regret it. :)

FYI:  Winner of the "Fright Nights" film festival!

***1/2

Den of Thieves

You could watch the trailer for this and think, "oh, another heist movie where the bad guys are always one step ahead, the cops are just as slimy as the punks, and by throwing in a bunch of stars they will fill the seats for an empty film".  You could say that, and you may be a tad bit on the right path but in my opinion, this movie gives so much more.  There is not a lot unique about the plot here, its bad guys robbing a bank vault and the cops right on their tail.  The cops are just as bad ready to shoot first and ask questions later but there is a bit more in the plan ans scheme of things that keeps you guessing for a while.  The good guy vs bad guy on screen chemistry between Schreiber and Butler is genius and most of the casting is great.  As far as 50 cent goes, he could just stay out of Hollywood and movies, forever.  This was about as macho as it gets with dirt, grit, tattoos, swollen muscles, booze, chicks, and some pretty awesome shoot em up scenes.  There is a small part where one of the daughters has her Prom date come to pick her up and the dad takes him to the garage where all the buffed up criminals are pumping iron which was unnecessary but really cool.  Ice Cube's son starts off a little shaky but ends up controlling the screen and Butler is perfect.  Great movie that I will watch again.

FYI:  Butler gained 25 lbs for this role.

****1/2

Molly's Game

Ever gone to a poker night with the guys at someones kitchen table where the buy in is between $25-$50?  You plan for 3-4 hours up and down deciding the players who are lucky and the ones who really know how to play the game.  Then there are the ones who just pretend, and typically they are the most dangerous because they have no idea what position they are in most of the time.  That player is me BTW.  Well now take that example and throw in a minimum buy in of $50k!  Now its time for excitement, and this movie gives you all the excitement you can handle!  This is a docu-drama style film that celebrates the narrative of greats like Goodfellas, I Tonya, and The Social Network.  Based on the true story of Molly Bloom, an elite Olympic skier with hopes of getting the gold only to injure herself on the slope and finding her way into a Hollywood elite, high stakes poker game.  Not a player, but a co-host.  At this, her genius mind takes her to the top with her own game hosting high stakes and creating an underground "everything" game.  this comes to a fall when she is arrested by the Fed's and has to deal with the courts to fight for her freedom.  This has everything you need for an outstanding movie. It is completely addictive and will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time!

FYI:  Molly Bloom claims she witnessed $100 Million lost in a single card game

*****