The Fourth Kind (2009)

The Fourth Kind (2009)

“There are four kinds of alien encounters. The fourth kind is abduction.”

The Fourth Kind, by director Olantunde Osunsanmi, is an unusual beast – a bizarre blend of documentary, mockumentary, dramatization and out-and-out sci-fi/horror fiction. Spinning off the premise of alien encounters in an isolated Alaskan town, Osunsanmi presents us with twin views as the story unfolds: “actual” footage of Dr. Abigail Tyler and dramatization with Milla Jovovich portraying Dr. Abigail Tyler. At times this choice is extremely effective and, at other times, succeeds in pulling you out of the story.

At times the footage and the dramatization are presented side by side or even in grid format. It is a very interesting and original approach; however, for me, it served to remind me that it’s a story, a movie and I would suddenly find myself in the theater again, no longer immersed in the story. Thankfully, the director manages to pull you back in quickly, but the result is at times jarring. I also think this was on purpose, a cinematic trick to make you feel as if it were “real” and had indeed happened and to some degree it works. When the scene’s switch to focus on Dr. Tyler’s recorded footage and is combined with an excellent, amplified score, the result is pure horror. To my surprise, I felt my heart race and my hands and feet tense up. It can be quite chilling and effective, if you let yourself get caught up in it and I did.

The plot is fairly simple, recounting Dr. Abigail Tyler’s encounter with the Fourth Kind, first through her patients (she’s a psychologist) and then her own involvement as well. To say much more would be unfair.

The movie succeeds much more on the psychological and horror levels than any sci-fi level, there are no space ships (ala CE3K) and no aliens – at least in the traditional sense. The focus is on the human element and the affects of the encounters both to the mind and body. When the encounters happen, it can be truly terrifying and horrific. Let’s just say this isn’t a Spielberg happy ET experience. At these moments, the dramatization layer falls away and lets the “real” footage take over where the film is obscured and distorted. This is insanely effective as it allow you to fill in the blanks and imagine much more than is actually there – not many films can do that and not as well as you find here.

The performances are all top notch with Milla Jovovich really hitting it home. You feel her character’s loss, her desperation, her fear and her drive. This is her best performance. Elias Koteas and Hakeem Kae-Kazim support her character, grounding her findings and lend the believability the story needs. Will Patton, as the sheriff, serves as the skeptic exceptionally. The most haunting performance may be the Dr. Abigail Tyler character herself found mostly in an “interview” with the movie’s director framing the film and the key plot points throughout; she is a haunting visage, and she emotes a broken and haunted woman.

I’m not sure this film will appeal to everyone, to many at all, In fact. It takes a large leap of suspension of disbelief to succeed. If you get caught up in how hokey the story and premise can be (and the devices found within expose that from time to time), you won’t find yourself truly enjoying this film. However, if you can let yourself get into the story, you may find yourself genuinely frightened and affected.

7.5 out of 10

Vamp (1986)

Vamp (1986)

"Grace Jones is looking for a few good men."

I remember seeing Vamp in the mid eighties and I remember enjoying it at the time. I haven't seen it since then. I'm left the impression that it was campy and fun and that Grace Jones made a good vampire. The leads were fun and the girl-in-distress was hot. I'm going to be putting this on my to-see list for a revisit.

IMDB provides the following: "Two fraternity pledges go to a sleazy bar looking for strippers to entertain their college friends. They have problems with transportation, Biker gangs, and worst of all, the staff of the bar, all of whom seem to be vampires, with Grace Jones playing the head vampire."

Vamp stars Chris "My Bodyguard" Makepeace, Robert "A Nightmare on Elm Street 2" Rusler and Gedde "Sixteen Candles - Long Duck Dong" Watanabe. DeDee Pfeiffer also stars along with, of course, Grace Jones.

See the trailer below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqSMYeNRGok

Teenage Exorcist (1991)

Teenage Exorcist (1991)

Oh, the horror. Ugh. Yet another cheap direct to video horror flick from the early '90's. This one written by Fred Olen Ray and directed by Grant Austin Waldman. It stars Brinke Stevens and Michael Berryman.

IMDB describes the movie "Diane, a repressed, neurotic grad student, moves into a cursed mansion and is possessed by the house's demonic master.Transformed into a raven-haired, leather and lingerie-clad seductress, Diane seeks a virgin sacrifice for her master while her sister, brother-in-law, a priest, and a pizza boy try to rescue her and avoid his wrath." It's basically a lowball, cheezeball riff on the exorcist genre, trying desperately to be funny. Mileage may vary.

What brought this to my attention was the appearance of fan favorite actor from the 1970's, Robert Quarry, playing Father McFerrin.

Enjoy the trailer below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQo-8jHuGhg

12-24 (2009)

12-24 (2009)

Holiday horrors.
View it here.

9 (2009)

9 (2009)

Check it out here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhvSabqCLFE

Terminator Salvation (2009)

Terminator Salvation (2009)

Nuff said. Watch it.

Check it out here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPrcF1tqNAE

2012 (2009)

2012 (2009)

Ever the optimist, let's go with the future disaster, end-of-the-world flick 2012 from the makers of Independence Day, 10000BC and (US) Godzilla. Oh, boy. All the rumors about the Mayan calendar predicting the end of days on December 21, 2012 are on display. Have at it and have fun. Enjoy.

Check it out here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3C05jQUDYU

Dead Snow (2009)

Dod Sno – Dead Snow (2009)

Zombies. Zombie movies are universal. The idea of an undead corpse trying to eat you is globally frightening. Of course, the US is famous for them: “NOTLD,” “Dawn of the Dead,” “Return of the Living Dead.” Most other countries have their zombies too: UK “Shawn of the Dead”; Italy “Zombie”; Spain “Tomb of the Blind Dead”; France “The Living Dead Girl”; Japan “Versus”. Recently, Norway has spawned its entry into the mix: “Dod Sno” or Dead Snow (2009).

While I wouldn’t be surprised to find that Tommy Wirkola’s Dead Snow is not the first Norwegian zombie movie, it is the first one to receive the amount of hype and press it’s getting. The internet provides movie fans across the globe early access to posters, stills and trailers nowadays. Combine that and a spot a Sundance, Dead Snow garnered a early positive buzz. Recently, I was fortunate enough to see the film and was pleasantly surprised at what I found.

Dead Snow is a riot, a successful mix of gore and comedy with a likable cast and fun, if light, plot and beautifully realized zombies. The movie never takes itself too seriously and doesn’t try too hard to break any new ground. While never truly scary, the film is delightfully ghoulish and grand guignol, much like an early Raimi or Jackson joint.




Wirkola and his co-writer, Stig Frode Henriksen, wear their love for the horror genre on their sleeves, borrowing heavily from not only zombie films, but others such as Friday the 13th, Halloween and the Fog. Still it has its original moments: never have entrails been used so creatively. For example, one of our heroes dangles from a cliff holding on to the unraveled intestines of one zombie while fighting off another hanging along with him. Early on, the Nazi Zombies attack the local trapper (much like Crazy Ralph from Friday the 13th movies) in his tent a beautifully shot subtle and brutal scene. Later on, the big bad calls forth a barrage of undead soldiers with a howling cry; the ground shakes as they suddenly and violently erupt from the frozen tundra.

While the actors do their part well enough and are appropriately appealing , it’s the effects and set pieces that make this film work. The zombies themselves succeed wonderfully; the understated makeup allows the iconic costumes carry as much fear as dead rotting flesh should. Setting the carnage against the bright white of a snow covered landscape also emphasizes the absurdity and gore: bright, bright red blood and dark wartime clothing contrast sharply against brilliant white snow. There are also touches of promise in later scene, when Wirkola spends some time laying out a scene, placing his pieces on the movie board for optimal visual effect. My favorite scene has to be when the big bad and his minions corner our last-guy hero near a burnt-out pit.

For me, this movie was well balanced comedy horror film with great effects and gore. It is perfectly crafted for a world market too, setting up the plot in a familiar tone. This movie won’t overwhelm you with a dense plot and will deliver the goods. The last 30 minutes or so of Dead Snow continue to make me smile long after lights come back on and the popcorn is gone. Well done, Wirkola, well done.