Scream Bloody Entertainment

Death comes in twos.

A recently widowed detective conducts an investigation on an apparent mass suicide involving a group of high school students, with two mysterious twin brothers being the prime suspects on the case.

- intriguing premise
- good performances
- well-written dialogue
- unpredictable twist
- fittingly bleak atmosphere

- weak storyline
- plot is often incoherent
- lacks closure
- tries to mix too many genres together
- tends to lose direction towards the end

- moderate violence and gore
- low scares and frightening scenes
- moderate nudity and sexual themes
- moderate profanity

- Russian roulette can actually be quite a fun time waster
- bubblegum jokes aren't as funny the second time around
- police detectives can harass you for no reason
- be extra careful with your girlfriend if you happen to have an evil twin brother

Seconds Apart starts off on the right foot, boasting an intriguing premise and plenty of potential throughout its running time. Much like most recent After Dark films, however, it ends up fulfilling little of what it first promised, making for a somewhat interesting ride that unfortunately achieves surprisingly little over the course of an hour and a half. Edmund and Gary Entin, the lead actors playing the twin brothers, portray their characters in a fittingly detached and cold manner, and Orlando Jones also delivers quite a solid performance as a troubled detective. On the other hand, the plot is relatively weak, remaining all in all too vague as a whole and omitting a much needed conclusion to the storyline. Avid followers of the After Dark series of films will know that Seconds Apart could have done a lot worse, but that ultimately does not make the film worth a watch to average filmgoers.

horror meter: 3 matching stars (out of 5)

The summer movie season has officially begun, and I’m already looking forward to many upcoming releases, particularly the superhero films that will be hitting theatres in the next couple of months. Last year’s summer wasn’t a very kind one in terms of cinematic power, only managing to deliver a few notable pictures. Here’s to hoping this one will play out in a different fashion.

Monday

The Troll Hunter (2010) - 5/10
The Troll Hunter is not a bad film, and I’m sure some viewers will find it to be a very interesting ride, but for me personally, this was the most boring movie that I had to sit through for quite a long time now. One would think that a mockumentary done shaky cam style about trolls would prove to be an exciting experience, but The Troll Hunter is almost barren in its subject matter, seeming to focus more on road trips and mountain exploring than on the actual encounters with trolls. The story isn’t particularly interesting or engaging, and it fails to deliver a decent amount of memorable moments. My biggest problem with the film is its terribly slow-moving pace and its failure to hold my attention for an extended amount of time. The Troll Hunter manages to somehow make the hunting of trolls into something dull and simply not engaging, which ultimately secures its downfall for me. All in all, I wouldn’t recommend this one to anybody, but considering the glowing reviews it got, you may want to ignore my opinion and check it out anyway—maybe you’ll find something in there that I didn’t.

Tuesday

Monsters (2010) - 7/10
I was a bit hesitant to check out Monsters at first, mainly because I have heard some significant aspects of it being talked negatively about around the world of critics. However, I also heard that in terms of low budget movies, it’s one for the books, which ultimately led me to give the film a go. As it turns out, it really is quite an achievement when it comes to delivering the best possible product without spending much. For a half a million dollar budget, Monsters looks great. Actually, Monsters looks great nonetheless, and I dare say its visuals are several times stronger than those of several grossly more expensive movies. What I liked most about Monsters was the way the film managed to succeed both as a love story and as an ‘alien invasion’ science fiction ride. Scoot McNairy and Whitney Able, the two lead actors, do a decent job in their roles, though there was definitely room for improvement. The film also suffers from a pretty underwhelming script, often giving way to inconsistent or weak dialogue and a few drawbacks in terms of plot development. All that aside, though, Monsters is a damn good sci-fi film that deserves to be remembered.

Wake Wood (2011) - 2/10
I wasn’t too keen on seeing Wake Wood, though I did want to give it a shot due to the significant amount of praise that it’s been getting from some noteworthy critics. Unfortunately, Wake Wood was miles away from the movie that everyone made it out to be. Further, I actually believe that this film is the worst I have seen in the recent months, turning out to be a painstakingly slow ride that achieves absolutely nothing beyond setting up an interesting premise. I’m not one to complain about a film’s budget and I often enjoy incredibly cheap films, provided that they’re done right, but Wake Wood is just awful in terms of production quality. The gore, the sound design and editing, and especially the cinematography are just plain bad. It’s hard to believe that professional camera work can actually be this terrible, but there’s no doubt that this film suffered greatly in that aspect. Story wise, Wake Wood isn’t all that bad, but it’s also far from good, delivering some truly laughable dialogue during certain scenes. The acting doesn’t help, either, and everyone except for Timothy Spall (god knows why he got involved in this movie) is mediocre at best. I really have no idea why Wake Wood is getting such positive feedback; I guess it’s just one of those things I don’t ‘get.’ I wish I could tell you to avoid this one, but considering the praise that it’s getting, maybe I’d be stopping you from having a great ride. And on that note, I suggest that, if you really are interested, go check out Wake Wood and see for yourself just how awful of a film it is.

Wednesday

The Jacket (2005) - 7/10
The Jacket used to be my own little favourite movie that no one ever heard about. I remember seeing it for the first time on television a few years back and I was highly impressed by its unique plot and the grittiness present throughout the film. I imagine it’s not much of an obscure picture, but I never really met anybody that actually saw the film, making it quite a hidden gem for me. From what I can tell from the reviews and feedback is that The Jacket didn’t seem to impress many viewers, and I’m guessing that’s because its storyline is not particularly well fleshed out. However, this film tells a very interesting and unique story, and although it may present some plot holes or minor inconsistencies at certain points, it’s definitely a ride worth taking. I loved the mix of time travel, romance and drama, and I also thought the way the film managed to blend all these genres together was pretty great. Adrien Brody was terrific in the leading role (I always seem to enjoy his performances) and the supporting cast was also very good, particularly Keira Knightley, who adopted quite an interesting American accent, and especially Daniel Craig, whose acting was so outstanding that he was nearly unrecognizable in the role. Also, there’s a highly emotional and inspiring monologue during the final minutes of the film, which I thought was just brilliant. For all of the reasons listed above, I recommend you go check out The Jacket, because it’s a very interesting ride and provides solid entertainment, despite being surprisingly depressing at times.

“All experience is an arch wherethrough gleams that untravelled world whose margin fades for ever and for ever when I move.” – Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Anyone even mildly interested in comic books or superheroes must have heard of the upcoming The Avengers movie by now. This highly anticipated superhero film will see a once-in-a-lifetime gathering of several superheroes belonging to the Marvel universe—all played by big name actors, of course—and there’s no doubt that it’s going to be the biggest movie of next year, when it’s released. In order to prepare for its release and create greater anticipation and awareness of the film, Marvel Studios are planning to release an individual movie for pretty much every character of the all-star team, with Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man 2 having already seen the light of day from 2008 through to 2010, and two more films, Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger, hitting theatres this year.

With the recent release of Thor, we are finally getting to see a live-action portrayal of the beloved comic book superhero, played here by Chris Hemsworth. The film mostly takes place in two locations: one is Asgard, Thor’s homeland, and the other one is Earth, or, more accurately, a small town in New Mexico. As the firstborn son of Odin, king of Asgard, Thor is eagerly awaiting his ascendancy to the throne, much to his younger brother Loki’s envy. However, his arrogance and his blind desire for battle get the best of him when he tries to prove his worthiness to his father by taking a trip to the realm of Jotunheim and starting a ‘brawl’ with the Frost Giants, the Asgardians’ once greatest enemies. This reawakens a long lost feud between the two parties, resulting in Odin punishing his stubborn son for his foolish ways by stripping him of his powers and banishing him to Earth, along with his mighty hammer Mjolnir.


It is on Earth where the now powerless Thor meets a group of researchers made up of Jane Austen (portrayed by Natalie Portman), her assistant Darcy Lewis, and Dr. Erik Selvig, who eventually end up helping him reclaim the Mjolnir hammer. However, Thor is unable to wield his once mighty weapon as he is now deemed unworthy of its power. Meanwhile, things aren’t looking good in Asgard, as king Odin falls into a stress-induced coma and the mischievous Loki finally spots an opportunity to claim the royal throne for himself. As you can see, Thor boasts quite an entangled plotline, and although the story isn’t as complicated when experienced for oneself, it still moves away from the basic superhero scheme, even if only a little.

As expected from a movie of this calibre, the cast of Thor is made up of high profile actors, with Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgård and Idris Elba being only a few of the big names. Chris Hemsworth charismatically leads the way in the role of Thor, and his portrayal of the god of thunder is quite fitting, providing a striking balance between the character’s initial arrogance and pride and his eventual change of heart which turns him into a hero worthy of his status. Anthony Hopkins, who could have used a little more screen time here and there, delivers his usual best as the humble and wise Odin, the king of Asgard and father to Thor and Loki. He has little to work with most of the time, but when given the opportunity, Hopkins truly impresses. The scene where Thor is forsaken by his father is sure to have an emotional impact on many viewers.


The most notable performance comes from Tom Hiddleston playing Thor’s two-faced younger brother Loki, the film’s main villain. Not your typical ‘bad guy,’ Loki is arguably the most intriguing character in the film, and the Shakespearean bond between his father and Thor help make some scenes a refreshing change of pace and a much needed break from all the CGI-heavy action occurring in-between. Hiddleston manages to turn Loki into well-shaped villain, but also a character the audience can surprisingly often sympathise with and ultimately understand. On the other side of the pole is Jane Austen, played by a vibrant Natalie Portman, who never seems to evolve past the role of Thor’s romantic interest. Sure, Portman is nice to look at, but the character she portrays rarely sees any sort of development during the course of the film, making last year’s Academy Award winning actress an unfortunate waste of talent.

Horrible 3D conversion aside, Thor looks pretty damn good on a visual level. The look and design of Asgard and its inhabitants may take a while to get used to, but few will not be moved by this fantastical realm’s bright spark of colours. Thor’s brief trip to frozen wasteland of Jotunheim is also quite noteworthy, providing an interesting change of style from Asgard’s vivid imagery and also a worthy battleground for one of the film’s biggest action setpieces. The same cannot be said about the Frozen Giants however, who aside from their intimidating leader Laufey (befittingly played by Colm Feore), are too CGI-ridden for their own good.


The mark left by the upcoming The Avengers in Thor is significantly more prominent than in Marvel’s previous cinematic ventures, even when taking Iron Man 2 into consideration. The mysterious government organisation known as S.H.I.E.L.D. is of considerable importance in the outcome of this film, and the nosy ‘men in black’ receive a good amount of screen time along the way, particularly recurring special agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg). Jeremy Renner also has a brief cameo appearance as master archer and future Avengers team member Hawkeye, though he doesn’t get the chance to do much besides uttering a few lines and dexterously pointing his bow in a few places.

The biggest problem with Thor is that it tries to do too many things in a very limited amount of time. It tries to introduce us to the world of Asgard, it tries to develop the main character from cocky brute to humble hero in a believable way, it tries to incorporate the romantic aspect between Thor and Jane Austen, and it also tries to deliver a satisfying amount of action along the way. Some things end up working quite well, but in the end, most of them just end up feeling like a half-assed job. However, there’s an undeniable charm surrounding this otherwise standard comic book adaptation, much of which seems to stem from leading man Chris Hemsworth’s surprisingly potent screen presence. To sum it up, Thor is by no means a tour de force of the superhero genre, but for what it’s worth, it’s as fun of a popcorn ride as ever and a great way to start off the summer movie season.

From the creators of Japan's acclaimed RINGU, inspiration for the hit phenomenon THE RING.

In the midst of a harsh custody dispute, a woman and her daughter move to a run-down apartment building, but they soon discover that their new home holds hidden secrets.

- atmospheric and sinister
- realistic dialogue
- some really chilling scenes
- powerful climax
- heartbreaking ending
- doesn't rely on jump scares

- visually bland and dull
- too much character development
- too little action
- the plot is too vague
- some of the music doesn't fit

- low violence and gore
- moderate scares and frightening scenes
- very low nudity and sexual themes
- very low profanity

- Hello Kitty backpacks are dreadful things
- no one cares about the flooding in apartment buildings
- admitting that you have psychological problems won't help your child dispute case
- people never really check on water tanks anymore

Hailed as one of the Japanese horror greats, Dark Water may leave some viewers underwhelmed. It definitely boasts a chilling atmosphere and some frightening moments, but overall, it's far from the great horror ride that some make it out to be. Some of the film's biggest problems arise from the tediously slow pace, the sparse amount of thrills and the excessive amount of character focus. However, Dark Water does end on quite an impressive note, delivering a heartbreaking and thought-provoking conclusion to its story.

horror meter: 3 watery stars (out of 5)

I finally finished up with some remaining anime series of 2010, so you’ll be seeing my list soon. Also, the ‘top horror films of the year’ list isn’t too far, either. Stay tuned.

Tuesday

Total Recall (1990) - 7/10
I remember parts from Total Recall back from when I was a kid, and even though I had forgotten most of the film up to this point, some scenes stay with me even today. I had recently stumbled upon Total Recall in a completely random manner, and I felt like I needed to check it out again just to freshen my memory of it and also to get a good time out of it if the film withstood the test of time. Fortunately, Total Recall turned out to be a lot of fun, even today, and even though most of the seriousness and action prevailing throughout the movie now turned into cheesiness and pure Arnold Schwarzenegger exploitation, it still was a hell of a ride. Of course, the film is filled with countless clichés and typical action movie situations that have become tedious nowadays, that’s easy to look past considering that Total Recall was made back in the early 90s. I was surprised at just how well-constructed the storyline was, providing plenty of quite unpredictable twists and turns along the way. Arnold Schwarzenegger was great in the leading role, and even though his acting misfires and becomes rather campy and funny at times, he definitely has the screen presence to carry an action movie like this one. I highly recommend Total Recall if you haven’t seen it already, because it’s a perfect blend of action and sci-fi, making for an entertaining watch backed by a well-crafted plot.

Wednesday

Dream Home (2010) - 7/10
Not many have heard of Dream Home, but this film is without a doubt a true hidden gem of slasher and splatter horror. It tells quite an interesting story revolving around a woman and her struggle to secure the home of her dreams. There’s a dark social commentary present in the film, but where Dream Home really shines is when it comes to the kills, thrills and gore. There are truly massive amounts of blood present, and it does feel excessive at times, but what makes this film so great is the way it embraces the genre of splatter and its effective portrayal of the killings and the gory scenes. The killer is very memorable, and unlike many other slashers, quite fragile, making the experience more realistic and also a lot more shocking. Lead actress Josie Ho is noteworthy in the leading role, delivering a fine performance and successfully portraying quite a complicated character. The ending of the movie is also really good, delivering a satisfying conclusion to this fantastic gorefest and providing a fitting finale to a thrilling ride. I had a blast watching Dream Home, and I’m sure many other horror buffs will appreciate this little gem of a horror film. Check it out if you get the chance.

The Rite (2011) - 4/10
The Rite was a film that received a lot of buzz during the beginning of this year, mainly because it dealt with religion and exorcisms, which isn’t a subject that has been exploited much in recent years, and also because it starred Anthony Hopkins in a leading role. However, The Rite received surprisingly little feedback after its release and people mostly dismissed it as a mediocre entry into the supernatural horror genre, seemingly quickly forgetting about its existence. I did not get the chance to check the film out when it hit theatres, but I did get to watch it recently, after it got a disc release. I have to say, I wasn’t looking forward to The Rite too much, but there was nothing better for me to do or watch at the time, so I just went for it. Surprisingly enough, it started off pretty well and I definitely enjoyed most of its first half, even though it didn’t deliver anything interesting besides Hopkins’ excellent performance, which was expected. I liked the whole idea of having the protagonist adopting atheistic views and being the one to doubt the events that were happening in the movie, though that took a whole different turn during the second half of the film, when I realized that they were just using this approach to inject some religious propaganda into the story. Speaking of the second part of The Rite, it was downright horrible, calling on almost every Hollywood cliché in the book in order to convey a ridiculously typical third act that in the end completely ruined the movie for me. However, I will say that The Rite may be worth a watch for those who enjoy Anthony Hopkins and his roles, because he does do quite a tremendous job in this one.

Friday

Panic Room (2002) - 7/10
Believe it or not, I never saw Panic Room, despite being quite a David Fincher enthusiast. I remember catching glimpses of it years and years ago when my parents rented it on DVD, but I was barely aware of Fincher and his work at the time, so I never really checked it out. Recently, I was browsing through some films, hoping to get a good and entertaining one to watch, and I came across Panic Room and said ‘eh, why not?’ I’m really glad I choose this film, because it really fit with the mood I was in at the time, and even though it’s neither a spectacular movie nor one of David Fincher’s greatest works, it’s definitely solid entertainment at its best. The plot was very interesting, backed by a brilliant sense of pacing, delivering thrills and building up more and more tension as it went along. Jodie Foster was solid in the leading role, much like the rest of the cast, including Forest Whitaker and Kristen Stewart. However, the one who impressed me the most was Jared Leto in a brief, but effective supporting role. He nailed his character to perfection, and even though I may be a bit biased since I always found Leto’s performances quite impressive, I’m sure many will agree with me on this movie. The cinematography and camera work is also worth noting in Panic Room, making for a few outstanding sequences and shots that will definitely draw your attention and help the story become more intense and engaging. Overall, a solid thriller with a few clichés here and there, but in the end, David Fincher has definitely left his mark here.

Sunday

Bedevilled (2010) - 8/10
I was taking a look at some new horror releases a few months back and I remember stumbling upon the trailer for Bedevilled, an interesting but rather obscure South Korean film that was nowhere to be found at the time. However, Bedevilled reentered my radar recently, when I finally managed to get a hold of a copy and give it a watch. While the film didn’t turn out to be at all like I had expected, it’s an excellent movie with a very odd mix of horror and drama. For most of its first half, Bedevilled only explores its story and develops the characters, mainly focusing on the drama side of the film. The second half, on the other hand, is a straight out slasher with plenty of kills and a significant amount of tension. Secondary lead actress (I really don’t know how else to describe it) Seo Young-hee delivered quite a powerful performance in her role, portraying her character in such a way that she’s easy to sympathize with, but can also convey unease when needed. All in all, I found Bedevilled to be an outstanding film that manages to blend drama and horror in a very interesting way together, but it also delivers a sorrowful story filled with several deeply emotional moments.

This year spring break is cut short!

Two harmless hillbillies on a vacation in their newly purchased mountain cabin are attacked by a group of teenagers after a big misunderstanding ensues.

- outstanding performances from the two lead actors
- boasts plenty of laugh out loud moments
- thoroughly engaging and entertaining
- impressive cinematography and camera work
- well-written story with a few twists and turns
- lots of creative kills
- solid special effects
- highly memorable main characters

- the feel-good ending
- could have been a little more clever in some places
- not all jokes work

- high violence and gore
- low nudity and sexual themes
- moderate profanity

- bringing weed to a road trip makes you an instant genius
- scythes and creepy laughter definitely do not help when trying to approach girls
- if you have a recurring dream about sucking a dick, you're gay
- don't postpone fixing a potentially deadly trap
- when in doubt, use camomile tea

Tucker & Dale vs Evil is no doubt one of the most pleasant surprises of the year, delivering the most hilarious horror trip since the celebrated Shaun of the Dead a few years back. Thoroughly engaging and backed by a well-written plot, this little indie film puts a new twist on the slasher genre, twisting things around and making for plenty of laugh out loud moments while at it. Lead actors Tyler Labine and Alan Tudyk are outstanding in their roles, and the characters of Tucker and Dale will surely become cult favourites in the future. If you're looking for a killer comedy, look no further than Tucker & Dale vs Evil.

horror meter: 4 redneck stars (out of 5)

I hate violence.

Year: 2010
Number of episodes: 24 (aprox. 25 min per episode)
Genre: Action, Supernatural

The world of anime never ceases to come up with new and fascinating series, original and interesting storylines, or iconic and highly memorable characters. There’s a reason why this form of entertainment (and art) has attained such widespread reach over the years, and I truly believe that its decisive power lies in the near unrestrained creativity present in each and every anime series, original video animation, and whatnot. This freedom of expression and imagination has become somewhat of a signature for the Japanese animation industry, acting as sort of an assurance that anime features plenty of exclusive elements and things you won’t get to see anywhere else. Sometimes that can be a bad thing (if you know what I’m saying), but let’s face it, most of the time that’s undeniably beneficial to both the creators and the viewers.

A recent anime series, entitled Durarara!!, is a perfect demonstration of what the Japanese animation industry is capable of and the benefits of its broader range of creativity. Stretching over twenty-four episodes (not taking into account any possible OVAs or specials), Durarara!! tells a wonderfully unique story set in the Ikebukuro district of Tokyo, Japan. Dealing with themes such as friendship, betrayal, gang wars, the urban lifestyle, identity and the lack thereof, consumerism, and even the supernatural, its storyline is beautifully complex, surprisingly comprehensive as a whole, and features several intertwining story arcs that blend together in an impressive manner.


Durarara!! starts off with the teenager Mikado Ryugamine and his arrival in Tokyo, where he is greeted by his childhood friend Masaomi Kida, who has lived in the city for several years now. Mikado has longed for a big city life ever since he was young, and was newly convinced by Masaomi to transfer to his current high school in Japan’s capital, Tokyo. During their childhood, the two have been best friends up until Masaomi moved away, and have kept in touch through the internet ever since then. As they finally meet again in one of the biggest cities in the world, Masaomi wastes little time with catching up and immediately proceeds to show the timid Mikado around Ikebukuro. However, Mikado, still overwhelmed by the intimidating urban lifestyle prevailing throughout Tokyo, is even more stunned after realizing just how many secrets and mysteries this city actually holds.

While Masaomi shows Mikado around the city, he also introduces him to a bunch of people, some friends of his, others not so much, something which can be seen as an act of setting up the exposition upon which the rest of the series will depend. Durarara!! features a lot of characters and every episode follows more than a single plotline, so it may take a while to become comfortable with the occasionally frantic pace and often perplexing storyline prevailing throughout the series, though once the first impressions settle in, it all becomes a very exciting and interesting ride, thanks to the various fascinating elements making up the story as the anime progresses.



As mentioned earlier on, Durarara!! is a series that is very rich in characters and story arcs. As far as the protagonist goes, Mikado Ryugamine would be the obvious pick, though under the surface, things are a little more complicated than that. The first few episodes definitely focus on Mikado for the most part, developing him as a lead character and also using him as a means of constructing the exposition of the series. Once things are in place, a great deal of characters that were previously introduced come into play and several story arcs begin to take shape. On one side, there’s the group of high school friends consisting of the above mentioned Mikado Ryugamine, his longtime buddy Masaomi Kida, and the voluptuous, introverted and often shy Anri Sonohara. There’s an interesting, though perhaps somewhat clichéd dynamic going on between the three of them, and the full extent of their common bond only emerges towards the finale.

Another set of characters come into focus a little further down the line, some of the more noteworthy consisting of Shizuo Heiwajima, a bodyguard wearing a bartender’s uniform and sunglasses who is widely known around Ikebukuro as the strongest man in the world, Izaya Orihara, a young and enigmatic information dealer who seems to manipulate other people for his own enjoyment—he’s also Shizuo’s sworn enemy, and last but definitely not least, a mysterious motorcyclist known as the black rider who is often seen driving around Ikebukuro for unknown reasons—rumours have it that the rider is actually headless, an allusion to the legend of the headless horseman. These are only but a few of all the characters appearing in the series, giving you sort of an idea of how expansive the world of Durarara!! is, even though the entire anime takes place in one common location: the Ikebukuro district of Tokyo.


As impressive as Durarara!! is on a narrative level, it also excels in the visual and sound departments. The art and animation of the series is thoroughly impressive, giving each particular character a unique appearance that contributes to making an impression on the viewer. The city of Tokyo is beautifully portrayed, and Ikebukuro is drawn in a way that gives it a special urban atmosphere, with particular attention given to the nightlife, which truly vibrates amidst the glow of streetlights and hidden secrets. Durarara!! features an art style that is a little different from the usual anime series, meaning that characters are a little more rich in detail, have a slightly different build and their specific facial traits are more accentuated. What that means is that it may take a while for some viewers to get used to this particular style, though ultimately, it fits the overall feeling of the series well.

The series is also complemented by solid voice acting and a very impressive and memorable soundtrack, constituting a vigorous and upbeat opening track during the first half of the show and a very evocative and somewhat melancholic one during the other half. Both songs work well and are especially catchy, never seeming to get old, even after twelve episodes have passed. Unfortunately, the two songs played during the ending sequence of the episodes are a little underwhelming and definitely do not measure up to the standards set by the ones playing during the introductory section, but that’s just a small complaint, because the music tracks are still quite fitting, meaning that the mood prevailing throughout the show is never ruined.



As good of an anime series as Durarara!! is, it still exhibits a fair amount of flaws and imperfections along the way. The narrative power and expansiveness of the show has proved to be its strongest suit, but it has also made way to a few inconsistencies in the flow of the story, as well as a couple of unresolved plot points that have garnered over the course of the series’ running time. The ending of Durarara!! feels pretty rushed, a common shortcoming among many other anime series, which will surely anger some viewers, especially considering the time the show spent on developing certain characters and plot elements. It definitely could have used one or two more episodes to properly conclude things, if you ask me. Here’s to hoping that a second season will be made in the future—however unlikely—that will sort out some of these unresolved issues.

Its rushed finale and partially unfinished storyline aside, Durarara!! is an excellent anime series that is unique enough and boasts plenty of originality so as to make it one of the best shows of the year. It’s definitely the most well-written series in a significant amount of time, featuring thoroughly intriguing characters and engaging story arcs. The way everything intertwines and relates to each other during the course of the story is quite fascinating and it’s definitely interesting to see how things unfold in the end. Personally, seeing Durarara!! nail the look and feel of an urban lifestyle and depict the city of Tokyo in such a gorgeous way has sealed the deal for me, though I’m sure others will find plenty of diverse things to hold on to while on a ride through the mysterious Ikebukuro.

I got to see some really interesting films this past week, particularly those of the horror and thriller genre. Check them out below.

Wednesday

The Disappearance of Alice Creed (2010) - 6/10
I’ve been looking forward to The Disappearance of Alice Creed, mainly because of some really positive reviews and the fact that it was a British thriller, which we don’t see a lot of these days. After finally giving it a watch, I have to say that The Disappearance of Alice Creed didn’t exactly turn out to be as good as I hoped it would be, but it was still a very interesting ride. The plot was thoroughly well-written and engaging, though perhaps a bit underwhelming as a whole, and I also found the cinematography to be quite good. The acting wasn’t all that impressive, and I actually found Gemma Arterton’s performance pretty cringe-worthy during some parts, but all in all, it got the job done. For a first time director, I thought J Blakeson did a really good job and I’m certainly looking forward to more of his work in the future, though I have to say that even though The Disappearance of Alice Creed is ultimately a well-crafted thriller with some really nice twists here and there, it proved to be a quickly forgettable experience for me.

Friday

Prowl (2011) - 4/10
For some reason, I always look forward to an After Dark Films horror flick, despite the company’s reputation for delivering mostly mixed bags over the years. I guess that no matter how bad the films they release are, they always end up being fun and enjoyable to some degree. Unfortunately, the recently released Prowl ended up being one of the company’s lesser films, and that’s saying quite a lot. Surprisingly enough, the film starts off pretty great, introducing the characters and setting up an interesting premise. Sure, the characters are nothing more than the average teenagers you find in slasher flicks, meaning they’re shallow and one-dimensional, but I tend to be forgiving of that if the film is backed by an interesting storyline. And for much of the first half, Prowl was. However, once the kills start to happen and the action kicks off, ironically, this film turns into a very dull ride. It almost seemed as though halfway through the movie the writer or writers simply didn’t know how to continue the plot further, resulting in a progressively underwhelming storyline and too many scenes that feel as though they’re just added as fillers. Things get even worse when the film nears conclusion, making for a cliff-hanger ending that will surely piss some people off and ultimately providing little closure to what’s been built up during the movie’s running time. That pretty much sunk the entire film for me—Prowl was, all in all, quite a waste of time. Avoid it.

Saturday

Scream 4 (2011) - 7/10
Scream 4 has been without a doubt one of the most awaited films of this year for me, and I went to see it as soon as it hit theatres. I didn’t know what to expect of this movie, considering that Wes Craven hasn’t delivered something good in years (My Soul to Take was just horrible), but that didn’t stop me from being terribly excited to check it out. Thankfully, Scream 4 turned out to be a blast and it’s definitely the best one in the series since the first one, and that’s saying a lot. Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette are back and they’re also joined by plenty of new faces, most of which belong to a generation of younger actors. I found the storyline to be very well-done and enjoyed the various little twists and turns along the way. The kills were fun, often unpredictable and even though the meta humour has pretty much eliminated all the suspense by now, the ride is still quite thrilling. The final twist was a little underwhelming, in my opinion, though I have heard that others found it quite fitting. Man, I’m really glad Wes Craven is finally back, because Scream 4 reminded me of his days of glory and what he used to be able to achieve in the horror genre. Definitely one of my favourite horror flicks of the year, this one.

Source Code (2011) - 7/10
I was a little surprised to hear that Duncan Jones was directing a very mainstream sci-fi thriller, though after the amazing Moon, I was looking forward to his next film, regardless of the genre or budget. Source Code did not turn out to be quite as good as his directorial debut two years ago, though it certainly remains a great popcorn movie. I found it very surprising to see just how complex Source Code actually was beneath the surface, yet at the same time successfully keeping a mainstream attitude, meaning that pretty much everyone can enjoy the film, no matter the age or taste in movies. Surprisingly enough, I found the acting in Source Code to be a little weak, especially from lead actor Jake Gyllenhaal, who I usually enjoy on screen. Here, it feels as if he often tends to overact during certain scenes, resulting in a few misfires along the way when it comes to expressing his character’s feelings. Then there’s Jeffrey Wright playing a scientist and, as noted from his performance, a true madman. I have no idea if Duncan Jones personally instructed him to play his role the way he did, but his character just comes off as oddly inappropriate in a serious movie like this one. I can’t explain it too much in detail, it’s just something you have to see to understand. Thankfully, both Michelle Monaghan and Vera Farmiga were solid in their roles, somewhat balancing the equation for the most part. I highly recommend Source Code to anyone in the mood for a fun action thriller that knows how to cleverly use sci-fi elements to its advantage. Plus, it has a very interesting and thought-provoking story, so there’s that.

Sunday

Los ojos de Julia (2010) - 6/10
I really can’t remember how I stumbled upon this rather obscure Spanish horror film, but I was very much looking forward to seeing it, considering that a good amount of Spanish horror movies have impressed me a great deal in the past. Sadly, it was not meant to be with Los ojos de Julia, because even though the film can make for quite a chilling ride at times, it ultimately fails to generate a comprehensible narrative, often giving way to plot holes and various inconsistencies. On top of that, Los ojos de Julia is also an overly lengthy movie, with a nearly two-hour running time that feels almost like three due to the slow-moving pace prevailing throughout the film. On the other hand, Los ojos de Julia stars Belén Rueda, who some may recall from the great The Orphanage a few years back. She’s terrific in this role, much like the rest of the cast. It’s always nice to see a well-acted horror film, so that’s a plus. Furthermore, Los ojos de Julia also features amazing cinematography and a very effective score. Ultimately, it’s a well-made and well-acted horror film, but it seriously lacks in the narrative department, telling a story that lacks direction and has a ridiculous reveal. Los ojos de Julia would certainly have been one of my favourite films of the year had it followed a more consistent plot, but as it stands now, it’s merely a decent horror movie with nothing really memorable to offer.