Film Review: RE-KILL (2015)

It’s been five years since the Re-Animates (better known as zombies) outbreak and the world has tried to move on from the decimation of most of the world’s population.  It is up to the military’s R-Division to handle the Re-Animates when there is a problem and the film crew of Re-Kill (2015) to film it.  In a world where zombies almost out number humans the members of R-Division are task with keeping the public aware of the fight against the undead. 

Told from the perspective of a “live” television show (complete with commercials and ads) the program Re-Kill is all about getting into the mind of the soldiers on the front lines before and after their deaths in real life (as most of them die in combat).

The film is written by Michael Hurst and directed by Valeri Milev and it is a film that horror fans will enjoy.  It has enough horror, gore, and zombie action to satisfy even the most jaded.  Even the style of the “found footage” or “reality show” style won’t deter you from enjoying this film as it plays like a war film on zombie crack.  The make-up FX are excellent and the action sequences are fierce and numerous.

If there is one thing working against the films, it’s that you never really get into the heads of any of the soldiers except for maybe one but then that also works in the film’s favor as you never know who is going to live or die which is the element you want in a good horror film.  A film I recommend for fans of zombie films.

Film Review: #HORROR (2015)

Actress Tara Subkoff writes and directs the horror-thriller #Horror (2015) in which six over privileged children on a sleep over play an obsessive game on their cell phones that leads them to bullying each other.  The evening starts off as something innocent between rich children but as the night draws near secrets are revealed and the bullying between them gets worse. 

The film has a better than expected cast in such notable names as Chloe Sevigny, Timothy Hutton, and Balthazar Getty, but the young cast is just as well which is good since they are the ones that carry the whole film.  The production design is amazing as is the cinematography but unfortunately this isn’t much of a horror film until the final third.  For most of the film it plays more as a film about bullying and abuse and less like a horror film except for the voyeur point of view shots throughout.  

The film also has too many hashtag graphics thrown within as an element of the style of the film but to me it was more annoying than anything else especially considering the frequency for which they were used.  A little can go a long way.  

Overall, the film (despite the excellent make-up FX when they come) will not satisfy horror fans as it doesn’t contain enough essence of a good horror film but it does work as a good dramatic film about bullying as it tells a good story in that regards and it is a well done film nevertheless.

Film Review: LAST SHIFT (2014)

I really enjoyed director Anthony DiBlasi’s adaptation of Clive Barker’s Dread (2009) so I was intrigued for the film Last Shift (2014).  Written by DiBlasi and Scott Poiley the film follows the first day of rookie police officer Jessica Loren (Juliana Harkavy) during the last night of a police precinct set to shut its doors permanently.  By herself at the station, she gets a mysterious phone call from a girl claiming to need help but with no support staff she doesn’t know how she can help.  She also starts to see things and a homeless man seems to be able to get in and out of the station despite all the doors being locked.  Soon she begins to realize that everything is not what it seems to be. 

Harkavy is an extremely capable actress who holds her own throughout the film very well.  DiBlasi’s direction is also key to keeping audiences on edge throughout since the film is almost exclusively on Harkavy’s shoulders.  I’m the first to admit I’m not a fan of the “jump scare” and this film is filled with them.  It actually is a crutch for the film as by the halfway mark it seems like that is the only way the film knows how to unnerve the audience and it becomes repetitive really fast.  

The film wants to shock and awe but it lacks any real suspense.  Harkavy does a good job keeping the film moving forward but the biggest trick is not boring the audience as they slowly learn the truth about the police station as her character does.  The film isn’t the best of its kind but it does have great make-up FX and a brilliant score that is creepy and fits well with the film.