2008
Kidnapped
In many ways, much tighter than Rabid Dogs, but the ending ruins the film.
The House by the Cemetary
Fulci haunted house movie. Pretty slow until the finale.
The Antichrist
Starts out interesting but loses focus in the second, exorcist wannbe, half.
Grindhouse
Shallow and stupid, but I guess that’s the point. Nonetheless, always entertaining. Tarantino’s section is mediocre but the fake... more
The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg (Parapluies de Cherbourg, Les)
Visually stunning French film. If you don’t like musicals, just turn down the sound and read the subtitles… you... more
Indagine su un Cittadino al di Sopra di Ogni Sospetto (Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion)
An ingaging film about corruption, power and the law. There are threads of dark comedy mixed in with the... more
Horton Hears a Who
Mildly entertaining, but caters too much to the Shrek crowd.
The New York Ripper
You’d be hard pressed to find a movie that hated its female characters any more than this one does.... more
The Five Days of Milan
Dario Argento’s political farce. Has many funny moments, but is very confusing if you don’t know the history of... more
Seven Shawls of Yellow Silk (Crimes of the Black Cat)
Horrible quality video. A giallo that isn’t quite as stylish as its contemporaries, but has a solid plot and... more
The Eye (Gin gwai)
Mediocre ghost story in which bursts of sped-up film and of quick cuts are a lame substitute for real... more
Zombi 5: Killing Birds
Absolutely horrible. It was like a student film from a C student. The overly loud sound of chirping insects... more
Crimson
Gangster/mad scientist movie that is only worth watching tsee the satyr burlesque number in the middle of the film.
Murder Party
What’s not to love about a gory thriller/comedy that makes fun of art scene-sters.
Zombi 4: After Death
I thought it was better than Zombi 3, but not by much. More gore, and an effective opening. Paper... more
Zombi 3
Fulci literally phones this one in. A few interesting shots, but mostly poorly paced and horribly acted with no... more
Children of Men
A great sci-fi film with lots of long-shot action sequences that will have you wondering how the heck they... more
2007
Talladega Nights
Business as usual comedy from Ferrell.
Baron Blood
Bava doesn’t quite have the monster movie thing down. Has it’s moments, but overall just a mediocre Gothic horror.
Your Vice Is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key
An Italian twist on Poe’s “The Black Cat.” All the standard giallo elements are here in this better-than-average entry... more
Lisa and the Devil
Trippy and confused, but somehow this movie works for me. Telly Savalas is great. One of Bava’s best.
Five Dolls for an August Moon
A Bava play on the And then There Were None theme.
Four Times That Night
Strange Bava sex comedy based on Rashomon.
Flushed Away
So-so animated feature from Ardmann. Much of the humor falls flat.
Hot Fuzz
Not quite as funny as Shaun of the Dead, but entertaining nontheless.
The Devil’s Rain
Even Shatner and Ernest Borgnine in a goat mask can’t save this lame devil worshipers movie.
Who Saw Her Die
Predictable yet watchable giallo. Ennio Morricone music gets quite repetetive even though it’s a nice theme.
Rabid Dogs
Posthumous Bava film. Most of the action takes place in a car as bandits kidnap a woman, man and... more
Horror Express
Okay horror film about a “fossil” that kills with a look.
The Decent
Very effective horror movie. Claustrophbia abounds.
The Case of the Bloody Iris
Well done giallo with a decent plot and a fair ending.
Short Night of the Glass Dolls
Initially compelling giallo that loses steam at the out-of-nowhere ending.
Seven Blood-Stained Orchids
Ho-hum giallo offering. You can see the earplug in Antonio Sabato’s ears at the climax.
Shock
Horrible child acting ruins what would be a great thriller.
Torso
Very suspenseful third act make up for the awful first 2/3 of the movie. This one get better with... more
Planet of the Vampires
Colorful and holds your attention despite the technical limitations of the era. Very cool art design.
Seven Deaths in the Cat’s Eye
Mildly entertaining giallo. Not terribly suspensful or scary.
Munich
Decent thriller, that gets a bit too political at times and, like Spielburg’s last few movies, doesn’t know when... more
Knocked Up
Entertaining comedy that is a veiled chick flick.
Flightplan
Lame third act really ruins this otherwise tight thriller.
Feast
Limited budget and bad acting. Not as funny as it should have been and not very scary at all.
Kill Baby… Kill!
Slow moving ghost story that is just a bit lacking in budget to make it great. I write a... more
Knives of the Avenger
A viking tale that’s a bit too weak on style and action.
The Girl Who Knew Too Much
Lighthearted giallo with great B&W photography.
The Devil’s Backbone
Ghost story set in an orphanage during spanish civil war. I would have preferred more ghosts and less reality.
Pan’s Labyrinth
Dark fantasy amid Franco’s spanish civil war. Great effects, story and characters.
Idiocracy
Entertaining one-joke movie about a future of stupid people.
Sleepless
Not awful, but far from Argento’s best. A few inventive shots and Max Von Syndow make it worth a... more
A Scanner Darkly
Mildly intriguing but, beyond the acting, fails on many fronts.
Borat
Does not live up to the hype, but has its moments.
Black Sabbath
Collection of 3 horror tales. They vary in quality but the last is superb.
Danger: Diabolik
Visually stunning comic book adaptation. The plot and character development are a bit lacking though.
Two Mules for Sister Sara
The plot is a bit disjointed at times and Shirley McClane is not terribly good , but Clint Eastwood... more
I Drink Your Blood
Low budget grindhouse production about killer, satanic hippies. Pretty boring. Only the last, zombie-flick inspired 10 minutes are kinda... more
The Church
Disappointing resolution and shallow characters, but enough interesting imagery and weirdness to moderately recommend.
Buio Omega (Beyond the Darkness)
Cheesy Italian horror film about a taxidermist who is infatuated with his dead girlfriend. It’s a character study without... more
The Wicker Man
Classic tale of pagan villagers. I was spoiled because I already knew the twist ending, but was enjoyable nonetheless.... more
Clerks II
Funny and a nice sequel. Hindered by Kevin Smith’s lack of comic timing as a director (and actor). But... more
Art School Confidential
Falls apart when it attempts to become high-minded satire near the end, but the characterizations of art school stereotypes... more
Slither
Silly but entertaining monster movie.
Aragami
The companion piece to 2LDK. Not as good, and a bit too talky and not enough fighting.
2006
Inferno
I didn’t like this movie that much when I first saw it, but it has since grown on me.... more
Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion
Italian thriller from the early 70s. Beautiful colors and photography and an excellent Morricone score. Not the most complicated... more
Society
Brian Yuzna’s directorial debut about a rich kid’s paranoia regarding his family and the other members of “society.” Takes... more
The Wax Mask
Argento/Fulci production. Harkens to the Hammer era gothic horror films. Derivative but enjoyable.
3:10 to Yuma
Classic Western. Okay.
For Your Height Only
Incredibly bad movie that has to be seen to be believed. Has plenty of dull moments but it more... more
Death Rides a Horse
Mediocre Italian western with a great score by Morricone. Drags on a bit.
Vengeance
Italian western starring Richard Harrison. Good end baddie and some stylistically good fights.
Aswang
Amateurish production values and acting hinder this fairly effective independent horror film from the Philippines.
Batman Begins
The best of the modern Batman movies. Forgoes the theatrics in an attempt to bring the comic into a... more
Moon Child
Mildly entertaining Japanese vampire movie that take a turn for schmaltz about halfway through.
The Hills Have Eyes (2006)
Much of the intense “anyone can die at any time” atmosphere of the original are in this remake. More... more
Marnie
Hitchcock thriller that falls flat with a dumb ending and unbelievable plot.
Saw
Good thriller with annoying Nike-commercial-esque style and bad acting.
The Warriors
Has its moments but doesn’t live up to the cult hype.
2LDK
Japanese slow burner about roommate strife that builds to the incredible climax.
Six String Samurai
Good premise is mired in low budget, poor editing and direction.
Phenomena
A nice supernatural thriller from Argento.
Dolls
Stuart Gordan further assures us that Re-animator was a fluke. Bad acting, bad story, and horrible music. There is... more
War of the Worlds
Really enjoyed the effects and apocalyptic imagery. The story and ending are lame.
Rope
A good Hitchcock thriller. Essentially a real-time stage play.
The Black Belly of the Tarantula
Stylish but overly confusing (too many red heads!) and an unsatisfying ending hinder this giallo.
Cemetery Man
Tries to be funny but isn’t. Tries to be deep, but isn’t. And not scary at all.
Mark of the Devil
Interesting and well-acted witch hunt movie. Lots of torture.
Hostel
Good, suspenseful and gross.
Frenzy
Hitchcock does giallo! Nice character development and twisted humor.
Opera
A lame ending and some bad music choices hinder this otherwise great Argento movie.
Manhattan Baby
Lots of really nice close-up facial photography, but a dull plot. Only high point is the stuffed bird attack... more
Alucarda
Stylish Mexican horror movie. Surreal imagery overshadows the weak plot. Sorta falls apart towards the end of the second... more
Howl’s Moving Castle
The plot is a mess, even by Miazaki’s standards. The art is nice though.
The Cat o’ Nine Tails
A decent thriller, but it needed more Karl Maulden and less handsome guy.
Four Flies on Gray Velvet
I probably would have like this better if the sound was in tact. The story and mystery is obvious,... more
Lizard in a Woman’s Skin
Good mystery. Lucio Fulci is a bit of a clumsy director, but manages to provide a few surprises even... more
Rear Window
Hitchcock at his finest.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Not as good as #3, but the ending is worth all the cheesy dragon fighting.
Blood and Black Lace
My first Mario Bava movie. The blue print of the modern slasher film. There’s lots of stylized lighting but... more
Bio Zombie
Low, low budget Japanese zombie movie. Terrible make-up. No scares. There are a few funny gags though: finger sushi... more
Drunken Master
Nowhere near as good as the sequel.