WHAT THE PEEPER SAW

WHAT THE PEEPER SAW (1972)

Featuring: Brit Ekland; Mark Lester; Hardy Kruger

Director: James Kelly

Still on the subject of horror movies there is this seventies British flick starring Brit Ekland and Mark Lester.

Elise (Brit Ekland) who is newly wedded to widower Paul (Hardy Kruger) comes home one day to find her new stepson, Marcus (Mark Lester) standing in the door. She hasn't met him before as he is supposed to be still away at boarding school. But from the get go it is clear they are not going to get along. Then something happens that turns the relationship even more sour and before long Elise starts to fear that the child might mean her dangerously serious harm.

As far as horror movies go, this one is very tame; almost no blood and guts. It is actually more of a psychological thriller. But for me the biggest let down was the casting of Mark Lester in the role of what is supposed to be an evil character. With his natural angelic looks and gentle disposition, he simply does not fit. The basic concept of the movie is not bad but the final execution thereof is, to say the least, unconvincing.

I'll rate it at 3 out of 5 stars.

Mark Lester and Brit Ekland

  

THE GREEN MILE

THE GREEN MILE (1999)

Featuring: Tom Hanks; Michael Clarke Duncan; David Morse

Director: Frank Darabont

A while back I started looking at some of the movies made, based on the works of Stephen King. This is the last one - for a while anyway.

It tells the story of Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks) who is in charge of a prison cell block housing death row inmates. He is also the one that oversees all executions and to make sure they are carried out properly. To him this has basically always been a job just like any other. That is until John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan) enters the scene. He has been convicted of the murder of two little girls. But it doesn't take Paul and the rest of his small staff very long to realize that not only may John be innocent, there is also something very special about this giant of a man: he seems to be able to perform miracles...

As always Tom Hanks delivers a solid and flawless performance. But it is Michael Clarke Duncan that steals the show with a powerhouse performance that won him a couple of awards and got him nominated for several more. This film is generally regarded as one of the best big screen adaptations of one of Stephan King's books. Well worth watching even if you have seen it before. It's also a must for any serious DVD collection.

I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

Tom Hanks, Michael Clarke Duncan and David Morse walking the "green mile"...

 On set with director Frank Darabont, writer Stephen King and starring actor Tom Hanks...

JASPER JONES

JASPER JONES (2017)

Featuring: Levi Miller; Angourie Rice; Aaron McGrath

Director: Rachel Perkins

Based on the popular novel by Craig Silvey, this coming of age movie is being labeled as "Australia's Stand By Me" which in turn was based on the short story "The Body" by Stephen King.

Fourteen year old Charlie Bucktin (Levi Miller) is a bit nerdish and struggles with all the usual issues of growing up. He also has a crush on the free spirited Eliza (Angourie Rice) and contemplates on how to approach her. But then one night his whole world gets turned upside down when the local outcast, Jasper Jones (Aaron L McGrath) calls upon him for help clearing the former from a murder which he says he did not commit. And to complicate matters even further, the murder victim turns out to be Eliza's older sister.

In every genre there is a standard. For coming of age it is Stand By Me (1986). Unfortunately this film doesn't make the cut. And even though it isn't bad overall it simply is not on par to justify the comparison. The only real highlight is the performance of Toni Collette as the mom which is, as usual, outstanding.

I rate it at 3 out of 5 stars.

  Levi Miller as Charlie and Angourie Rice as Eliza

 

FIRESTARTER 2

FIRESTARTER 2: REKINDLED (2002)

Featuring: Malcolm McDowell, Marguerite Moreau; Danny Nucci

Director: Robert Iscove

Even though there is a "2" in the title, this isn't a sequel. As a matter of fact it was produced as a four part mini series for TV. It is merely based on the concept and characters from Stephen King's book and the original 1984 movie.

Events take place (supposedly) sixteen years after Charlie destroyed the previous secret government facility. Since then she (portrayed in this film by Marguerite Moreau) also changed identity and is now working as a researcher at the same university that conducted the erstwhile experiments on her parents. But what she doesn't know, is that the same person who was responsible for those experiments is still alive and in the meantime went and rebuild the whole thing in a different location. And worst of all that he is looking for her...

If you watch this as a totally separate movie, not at all related to the novel or the original film, you'll most probably find that it is not bad after all. There is a lot of action, much of which is ending in big fiery explosions and burning bodies. And the menacing presence of Malcolm McDowell's character is just creepy enough to make your skin crawl.

So my advice if you want to watch this movie is to do so without thinking of Stephen King or Drew Barrymore. However, I didn't have any prior warning and did compare. Therefor I can only rate it at 2 out of 5 stars.

Danny Nucci and Marguerite Moreau

  

FIRESTARTER

FIRESTARTER (1984)

Featuring: Drew Barrymore; David Keith; Heather Locklear

Director: Mark L Lester

Last year I started looking at some of the films that were based on the novels and short-stories of Stephen King. This is yet another one.

In an effort to make some extra cash, two students volunteer for what seemed to be an innocent medical experiment. But when they later get married and have a baby it soon becomes clear that the experiment was anything but innocent after all. Because as the child grow older she begins to exhibit a strange quality: the ability to make things catch fire by just looking at it. However, when the secret government agency who conducted the experiment in the first place gets wind of it, they start hunting the family down.

This was Drew Barrymore's third outing on the big screen and, although not quite as polished as we grew accustomed to later in her career, she was not half bad. After all she was only eight at the time the movie was shot. Unfortunately, back in the day, reception of the movie was lackluster and it never became a box office hit. Today, of course, it is a cult classic and a must have for any serious DVD collection.

All things considered, I rate it at 3 out of 5 stars.

Trailer:

 Drew Barrymore, David Keith and Heather Locklear 

MELODY

MELODY (1971)

Featuring: Mark Lester; Jack Wild; Tracy Hyde

Director: Waris Hussein

The memory of that "first love" is something we all hold dear and just gets more precious with every passing year. A while back in 2014 I looked at a movie on this blog that expresses this very sentiment: the British film Melody. For a full review, check out my post dated Thursday, 4 December 2014. Unfortunately it was a bit 'hidden' away among the other '5 star' movies I also reviewed in the same post.

However, when it comes to the issue of celebrating puppy love, this film is of such significance that I simply has had to give it its own dedicated post. That being said, what needed to be said about this movie, I cannot say any better here than what was already said in the previous post. So, without any further ado, here is the trailer:

And below is a picture of the stars from this movie, Tracy Hyde, Jack Wild and Mark Lester

 

 

LOVE, SIMON

LOVE, SIMON (2018)

Featuring: Nick Robinson; Josh Duhamel; Jennifer Garner

Director: Greg Berlanti

By all accounts this is a ground breaking movie. It is the first time that a big Hollywood studio like Twentieth Century Fox tackled the until now taboo subject of teenage homosexuality. And boy, did they hit the nail on the head!

Simon Spier (Nick Robinson) is a 'normal' seventeen year old who has to deal with all the usual stuff of growing up and coming of age. Only thing is, he is gay and nobody knows it. Heck, nobody even suspects it. And has every attention of keeping it that way. Until one fateful day when the class clown accidentally discovers his secret and decides to 'out' him...

Based on the book "Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli, this is a powerful yet sensitive account of the anguish and inhumane agony that faces every gay person at some point or the other in their life. Some, like Simon, get through it rather unscathed - others are not so lucky. And even though this film was generally very well received by audiences and critics alike, don't expect to see much of it - or any at all - at this year's Oscars. The Hollywood establishment and other elite is still reeling after what happened with Call Me By Your Name at last year's Academy Awards.

Be that as it may, I award this gem of a film with my very rare 5 out of 5 stars!

Simon with his friends before they knew...

   

LOVE ACTUALLY

LOVE ACTUALLY (2003)

Featuring: Hugh Grant plus too many famous people to mention...

Director: Richard Curtis (who also wrote the script)

Since it is almost Christmas, this year I decided to take a look at this off-beat British comedy. Back in the day, Leonard Maltin had the following to say about this movie:
"It seems as if every Brit from the prime minister to a fading rock star to a widower is falling in love..." Hence, the title which actually refers to the lyrics of the theme song "Love Is All Around Us".

It is impossible to give a summary of the plot here (just look at the picture below) as there are actually something like ten loosely connected yet fully independent story-lines, all taking place during the last few days before Christmas. However, in the end I found it all very charming and heart-warming with an amazing sound-track to boot. This is just the thing to watch with all those near and dear to you this time of year.

I rate it at a very merry 4 out of 5 stars. Cheers until next year!!

 

VOICE FROM THE STONE (2017)

Featuring: Emilia Clarke; Marton Csokas; Edward Dring

Director: Eric D. Howell

Based on the 1996 novel by Silvino Raffio this 2017 movie is also set in Tuscany, Italy during the 1950's. Verena (Emilia Clarke) is a nurse hired to aid a young boy (Edward Dring) who'd gone mute upon the recent death of his mother. Convinced that he can hear his late mother's voice in the walls of the ancient villa they all live in, the boy gradually draws his new carer into his own mysteriously silent world.

The mood is sombre and the pace is slow but the story is fascinating with a nice sting in the tail. As usual Emilia Clarke's performance is first rate but it is Edward Dring's wonderful depiction of the deeply troubled Jacob that really steals the show.

I rate it at a respectable 3 out of 5 stars.

 Edward Dring with Emilia Clarke

 

GIFTED (2017)

Featuring: Chris Evans; McKenna Grace; Olivia Spencer

Director: Marc Webb

Big gifts often come in small packages. Although that rings true for the central character in this movie the actual question it asks is this: What is "real" family.

Mary (Mckenna Grace) is a seven year old maths prodigy who has been in the loving care of her uncle Frank (Chris Evans) since she was a mere baby. That was shortly after her mother, his sister and also a maths genius, committed suicide. But then her estranged grandmother appears on the scene to stake her own claim on the little girl.

In an interview with Marc Webb who directed huge blockbusters like the Spider-Man movies, said that he really wanted to make a movie like this for some time now. And with stars like Chris Evans (Captain America) and Octavia Spencer (The Help) it is a winning combination - not even to mention the mega talented little Mckenna Grace. You have to have a heart of stone if you do not pick a tear for this one. 

I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

  Olivia Spencer, Mckenna Grace and Chris Evans

Trailer:

CUJO (1983)

Featuring: Dee Wallace; Daniel Hugh-Kelly; Danny Pintauro

Director: Lewis Teague

Every time I watch this movie (and it has been quite a few times now) it scares the heebie-jeebies out of me. No wonder it became a real cult classic amongst horror flick aficionados.

Again the main story contains a number of sub-plots but eventually everything work towards the main event. A mother (Dee Wallace) and her young son (Danny Pintauro) get trapped in their broken-down car on a desolate farm while a giant rabid dog is trying his best to get at them. How will they survive the ordeal?

Based on another Stephen King bestseller, the movie starts off happily enough in small-town America with nothing but wide open spaces only to climax into one of the most frightening claustrophobic and bloody film finales ever. Young Danny Pintauro's outstanding performance needs special mentioning though. It got him nominated for a Young Artist Award in 1984.

I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

Trailer link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45vzCiU01O4

Mom and son shortly before the ordeal began...

 

DREAMCATCHER (2003)

Featuring: Morgan Freeman; Thomas Jane; Damian Lewis

Director: Lawrence Kasdan

A "dreamcatcher" is a device used by the indigenous peoples of North America to ward off bad dreams. Exactly how that fits into the story is not made very clear in the movie. For that you have to look at the trailer.

Four childhood friends who share extrasensory powers head off to their remote cabin in the woods for a boys only weekend. However, no sooner did they arrive there or things start to go horribly wrong. At the same time the military is on secret maneuvers to seek and destroy an alien base in the same area. And of course this goes awry as well. So it is up to our friends to jump in and save the world from total annihilation.

Like so many Stephen King stories this one has so many sub-plots, each with its own weird twists and turns that it becomes difficult to keep your head about it. Unfortunately this movie doesn't succeed in doing it and therefor become rather muddled and confusing towards the middle. However, the ending does tie some strings together. The special effects are great though. It might be worth watching it for the scary stuff alone if you are in the mood.

I rate it at 2 out of 5 stars.

Trailer link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzBSoQEQrLE

The four friends looking up at the title object

CARRIE (2013)

Featuring: Chloe Grace Moretz; Julianne Moore; Ansel Elgort

Director: Kimberly Pierce

"Carrie" was Stephen King's first commercially successful book. It was made into film initially in 1975, starring Sissy Spacek in the title roll and directed by Brian De Palma. This 2013 remake is basically a updated version of that movie.

Carrie White (Chloe Grace Moretz) is the daughter of a religious nut who believes the first and original sin was intercourse. The poor girl therefor never got told any of the facts of life. So when she has her first period, it comes as a complete surprise. To make matters worse, it happens in the school showers in front of all her female classmates who, of course, makes fun of it all. At the same time she also discovers that she possesses over immense kinetic powers. From thereon one thing leads to another which could eventually only spell disaster.

As this is a more technological updated version to the original it is easier for modern audiences to relate to. And even though the story might be familiar, director Kimberly Pierce presents it in such a way that it feels fresh. The special effects, although not as many as you might expect, are quite good. However, it is the performances of the entire cast that stands out and makes this one a cut above other horror movies of this era.

I rate it at 3 out of 5 stars.

Trailer link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSn7JyijA8k

Scary girl!