Ju-Rei: The Uncanny (2004 film)

Long-time readers of my original site know that I'm a big fan of Japanese horror (and, well, Japan in general).  When Hollywood Video had one of their rental deals, I took advantage of it by renting a bunch of Japanese horror movies.  Among such offerings as the Tomie series, I found this film, Ju-Rei: The Uncanny.  The picture reminded me of Ju-On/The Grudge (one of my favorite horror series of all time), so I decided to give it a shot.   What I found was an interesting presentation of the traditional grudge-type curse.

The film starts at Chapter 10 and works backwards through a curse, eventually showing the source of it and how it spreads to each person that's shown.  As such, since I normally give a summary of events here, any such summary would probably be laden with spoilers and I want to avoid that as much as possible. 

The film was, for it's chronologically backwards state, very straightforward.  I also want to point out that the summary on the back of the box has very little, if anything, to do with the plotline of the film.The acting here was pretty well-done.  The effects were interesting, as well.  There was very little to no blood in the film.  What I found interesting was the effect over the ghost actors.  When shown on camera, as a ghost, they're either shown with their entire body completely out of focus, or as a dark shadow standing in the background.  That's another thing I enjoyed in this film, that sometimes the ghosts will appear in the background, watching the chapter's current protagonist.  It's a very creepy touch that works.

Chinatsu Wakatsuki played Noriko Maeda, Chapter 9's protagonist.  She was also in Otoshimono.  Yurei Yanagi played Juku-koshi Kasahara in the film, and may be recognized from Ring and Ring 2, Ju-On: The Curse 1 and 2, plus Ju-On: The Grudge, Death Water, Exte: Hair Extensions and A Slit-Mouthed Woman.

So, an interesting film in the vein of Ju-On and Ring.  I give it a solid 4 out of 5.  It's good, but it's not one of the best I've seen.  But I do enjoy it quite a bit.  Next up on the Happy Horrorween marathon, we have a film from 1974 to serve up for you... the original killer baby film, It's Alive!  The tagline says "The ONE Film You Should Not See Alone."  Well, I'll be seeing it alone and serving it up to you.  Until then, take care of yourselves and this is Red Hawk signing out!

Detour (2003 film)

This place kind of grows on you... like leprosy. - Cashie

When I had planned out typing this up, I originally was going to bill this as Happy Horror's first film from The Asylum, but then I remembered, on the original site, I reviewed their Vampires Vs. Zombies film (the less I say about that one, the better!).  I rented this one on a fluke one time a few years ago.  When the Hollywood Video in my town closed up shop, they started selling films off at pretty good prices, and this is one of the ones I bought, remembering it and thinking it would be a good one to write about on the site.  So, here we go!

The film opens on a couple of girls driving down the freeway.  While moving in to kiss (there was mention early on about a wedding, as well), some nasty-looking red stuff splatters all over their windshield and sends them offroad.  The driver, Tiffany, sees a robed figure striding towards them through the desert and gets out the Club to defend herself, when he swings a rebarred hook, disarms her and stabs her with the makeshift weapon.  The other girl, Angela, gets out and runs, stumbling due to her leg being hurt in the crash.  She runs into a stake trap that the homicidal maniac soon impales her on.

The rest of the film concerns seven friends traveling from a rave back home, when the leader, Neil, takes them on a detour to try to locate some peyote a friend of his tipped him off to.  What they find is a nightmare waiting to happen, as they're picked off, one by one, by a group of cannibals looking to make them into their next meal.  Will the group survive the night?  Will they get their motorhome unstuck before the cannibals finish them off?

On paper, this film sounds alot like The Hills Have Eyes, with a group in a motorhome being besieged by a family of cannibals in the desert.  However, it takes several twists and turns that Hills never made, resulting in a film experience that was actually very unique and fun.  This film predates when The Asylum became an exclusively mockbuster studio, and while their films were sometimes hit or miss, I really miss some of these more fun, original titles like this.  The acting was really good, with very few overly hammy scenes (with one particular character excepted).

Ashley Elizabeth played main girl Tara really well, even acting through some sickness near the end of the shooting.  The movie was filmed in mid-February, so the desert was not as hot as one might normally think, and she'd often have to act in a bikini top or worse at points in very frigid cold, so definitely major kudos to her for this role.  She's also had uncredited roles in WWE Films John Cena vehicle Legendary and Green Lantern, and a part in 2012 short film Slayground.  Aaron Buer played Lawrence, aka Loopz, a rapper wannabe who needs to dig deep to find the courage to help his friends fight off the cannibal tribe.  Throughout the film, he talked like a stereotypical hip-hop type, which gave him some pretty funny lines but could get to be annoying after a little while.  This was the only real overacting in the film, but it worked for him.  He was also in 2009's Nuclear and Killer Yacht Party, aka Dead in the Water.  Tiffany was played by scream queen Tiffany Shepis, who did a really good job with the little screen time she had.  A veteran of Troma's films, her acting career dates back to 1996's Tromeo and Juliet, but she's also been in Toxic Avenger IV: Citizen Toxie, Night of the Demons remake, and Bonnie & Clyde Vs. Dracula, to name just a few.

I really enjoyed this movie.  Though there were a few continuity errors (pointed out on the commentary by the director and producers), and a couple special effects failures, the film was really good, in my opinion.  I give it a 4 out of 5.  Up next on our Happy Horrorween tour, I'll be taking you back to one of my favorite countries in the world: Japan!  Don't miss it!  Until next time, take care of yourselves, and this is Red Hawk signing out!

Saw 3D: The Final Chapter

Game over. - Jigsaw

And so, our Saw extravaganza comes to a close with this, the last film of the series.  It's been a long road, one I've been happy to share with you.  This was my second viewing of each film, and it's been fun seeing them again.  We've cringed, we've laughed, we've been shocked and horrified, we've been up and down and every which way, including loose!  (Sorry, got excited there.)  But all good things must come to an end, and so it is with Saw.

Once again, the story is broken into two parts.  The main story follows Jigsaw's apprentice as he hunts down the last loose ends standing in the way of his getting away free and clear.  His methods are brutal and just as prescient as his master, Jigsaw himself.  What could possibly stand in his way?

The other story, running concurrent with the main one, is of one Bobby Dagen, a man who claims to have survived a Jigsaw game and has written a book about his experiences.  One night, after attending a Jigsaw victim support group (look for cameos from several previous film survivers), Bobby and his entourage end up in another Jigsaw game.  Can he save the others?  Can he save himself?

The film brought a very satisfying close to the series.  It touched on, and filled in, many plot holes and unanswered questions.  In addition to the surviver's cameos, we get scenes that touch on many plot points of previous films (including how certain previously unexplained scenes worked).  This film definitely brings the series full circle.

Casting-wise, it'd be foolish to assume we didn't get the returns of series mainstays Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor and Betsy Russell.  Sean Patrick Flannery played Bobby Dagen.  He was also in such films as Powder (playing the title character), Boondock Saints, Indiana Jones in the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles series, as well as the SyFy film Mongolian Death Worm.  Chad Donella played IA detective Matt Gibson, the officer Jill, Jigsaw's widow, approaches with the identity of the apprentice.  He was also in Disturbing Behavior and Final Destination.  Gina Holden plays Joyce Daggen, Bobby's wife.  She's been in a lot of movies, including Final Destination 3, Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, and The Butterfly Effect 2.

So, a terrific conclusion to a very successful franchise.  Thanks for reading my reviews and allowing you to share in my enjoyment of the films.  I give it a very high 5 out of 5.  As always, any comments are welcome in the provided boxes below, or you can contact me here if you have a private question.  I hope that you'll keep coming back.  We've got more stuff for you, both obscure and well-known, high and low budget, well-know actors and forgotten favorites.  Happy Horrorween as only just begun!  Thank you very much for visiting and, as always, this is Red Hawk signing out!

Saw VI (2009 film)

You think it's the living that will have ultimate judgment over you, because the dead will have no claim over your soul.  But you may be mistaken. - Jigsaw

We're nearing the end of our journey, with Saw VI, one of the best of the series.  From start to end this film twists and turns, not unlike the maze our game protagonist finds himself in.  But this isn't just about our player.  Some unavoidable spoilers to previous films will unfortunately be included in here.

After the obligatory opening game, we see how the last film ended, with the apprentice getting away scott free.  Most of the rest of the film is him trying to tie up loose ends and keep the frame-up going that he started in the last film.  But will a plan from Jigsaw himself get in his way?

The game of the film is run by William Easton, an insurance executive who more or less doomed Jigsaw when he denied him an experimental treatment.  Forced to run a maze, he encounters employees and coworkers, people he knows and works with on a daily basis, and is forced to make some hard choices.  What awaist him at the end of his game?

So, in addition to the returning cast of Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Shawnee Smith and Betsy Russell, we get a new cast of characters.  Peter Outerbridge played William, and he played him well.  You could feel the tension involved in having to make every decision he's forced into.  Mark Rolston portrayed FBI agent in charge of the Jigsaw case Dan Erickson in this film and the previous one.  He's had a long career in several well-known movies: Aliens, Robocop 2, Lethal Weapon 2, The Shawshank Redemption, and Rush Hour.  Darius McCrary played Dave, one of Easton's "Dog Pit" of investigators, trying to weed out people that might be cheating their system.  He played Eddie on Family Matters, probably his best-known role, but he was also in Vampires: Los Muertos and Transformers.

The movie builds up to the usual twist ending (a double, this time), setting up for the next, final movie.  The effects are great, the traps believable, the acting's good.  I really enjoyed all aspects of the film and give it a 5 out of 5.  Tomorrow's the Final Chapter.  Once we're past that, I'll have a little more variety for you.  Until then, take care and this is Red Hawk signing out!

Saw V (2008 film)

If you're good at anticipating the human mind, it leaves nothing to chance. - Jigsaw

Day 5 of my Saw series coverage and it's getting hard to review these now.  Why, you ask?  Because starting with this one, I'm going to have to try to avoid being too spoiler-riffic in my summaries.  This film's opening seriously spoils the end of Saw IV.  The next film spoils the ending of this one.  And the seventh film spoils the ending of at least the first movie in the series!  I'll do what I can, though, with a minimal amount of reveals.

The film starts with FBI Special Agent Strahm in the room the third film ended in.  Seeing some paint glowing around a hidden passage, he finds a recorder hanging behind the doorway.  Strahm plays the tape and finds it addressed to him, telling him to stop his pursuit or he may live to regret it.  Strahm ignore the tape, tries to pursue Jigsaw and comes face-to-Pigface with an abductor.  Strahm awakens to find himself in a trap, but saves himself due to a bout of quick thinking.

The rest of the film is split between two storylines.  The first is Strahm trying to figure out the identity of Jigsaw's other accomplice, while said accomplice does their best to discredit and tear down Strahm.  The other is another set of players, stuck inside a series of rooms and forced to play Jigsaw's latest game.

In addition to Tobin Bell (who did a fantastic job, as always, as Jigsaw), Costas Mandylor (who also did a terrific job as Hoffman), Scott Patterson and Betsy Russell, we get some new characters again.  Julie Benz played Brit, a real estate developer caught in the five-person trap.  Benz also played in Romero film Two Evil Eyes, Jawbreaker, Shriek if You Know What I Did Last Friday the Thirteenth, and 8MM 2.  Meagan Good played Luba, another victim of the five-person trap.  Her acting credits include 2005's Venom, the One Missed Call remake, and 2009's The Unborn with Gary Oldman and Odette Yustman. 

The interplay between actors continues to impress me.  The scenes between Jigsaw and his accomplice work very well, each playing off the other and making the scenes work beautifully.  Tobin Bell gets even more of a chance to shine here in flashbacks to the setups to previous games, even ones we've seen such as the house in Saw II.

I give this film a 5 out of 5.  It goes a long way towards setting up the overarching endgame plot covered in the next two films.  Tune in tomorrow for the penultimate chapter in the series.  One man, several decisions.  You won't want to miss it!  Until then, this is Red Hawk signing out!

Saw IV (2007 film)

You think you will walk away untested.  I promise that my work will continue. - Jigsaw

Day 4 of my Saw run and we're picking up the pace on the series.  We get another 'maze run' with this one, but with one difference... aspects of the player's life become more of his test than ever before.

With the start of the film, we get the usual teaser trap, with two people chained to a contraption in the middle of an old mausoleum, one with his eyes hut, the other his mouth.  After the outcome of this game, we jump to S.W.A.T. commander Rigg leading his squad into another of Jigsaw's lairs.  Guiding a robot in, they get a scope of the room, but when Rigg sees the hanging body of Detective Kerry, Rigg busts through the door without thinking.  Later, Detective Hoffman gives him a severe reprimand over breaking through an unsecured door, and Rigg is sent home, relieved of duty.

Arriving home, Rigg finds his wife packing, with a note for him on the stand in the hall.  She implores him to come with her, but he turns down the idea.  After she leaves, Rigg gets an unexpected visit... from the Pigface.  Awakening in his shower, he finds a Jigsaw video waiting for him in the bedroom.  His task?  To realize that, like Jigsaw, he can't say everybody.  Will this lesson take, or will he end up like so many before him?

Once again, we get a bunch of recurring actors, plus a few new faces, gracing the screen.  Among the returning cast is Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Dina Meyer, and Donnie Wahlberg.  New actors include Louis Ferreira (going by Justin Louis here) as Art Blank, one of the two hooked up to the trap in the beginning.  His career includes over 100 screen credits, including NCIS, Breaking Bad, Criminal Minds, and movies like Blood and Donuts, and The Lazarus Child.  Scott Patterson plays FBI Special Agent Strahm, a man convinced that Jigsaw was working with a second person.  He does well in this film, but he gets a much meatier role in the next one.  Athena Karkanis plays FBI Special Agent Perez, Strahm's partner.  Other films she's been in are Repo: The Genetic Opera and Survival of the Dead.  We also meet Jill Tuck, Jigsaw's ex-wife, in this film, played by Betsy Russell.  She goes on to have a larger role in the later films, as well.

This film was a fun watch for me.  The acting was great, the story built on what happened in the previous film (and even continued some scenes from that one).  The third movie, while continuing themes and characters from the previous two, really set in stone some continuity points.  This film continues that tradition and sets up for the next really well.

My rating for this film is a 5 out of 5.  Continuing the use of likeable characters, plus really delving into Jigsaw's past to find out what started him down his dark path, was a great touch here.  Tune in tomorrow for Saw V, where we return to the second film's multi-player theme.  Take care, be safe, and this is Red Hawk signing out!

Saw III (2006 film)

Suffering?  You haven't seen anything yet. - Jigsaw

So, Day 3 of our October coverage and we're getting deeper into the Saw saga.  This time around, we're following two stories, plus continuing the ongoing story from the previous film.  Who lives?  Who dies?  That's up to Jigsaw's players, now, isn't it?

After briefly touching up on what happened at the end of the second film and afterwards, we meet a somewhat jaded doctor, Lynn, who seems to just be going through the motions of her job.  We also meet Jeff, the father of a boy who was killed in a traffic accident.  Both are abducted by the series' iconic figure, the Pigface, and awaken elsewhere: Lynn in Jigsaw's workshop, where he and his apprentice want her to operate to relieve the pressure on his brain and Jeff in a maze where he'll encounter people related to his son's accident.  Will Lynn save Jigsaw's life (and her own)?  Will the father be able to sort out his feelings and grief?  Tests like this have rarely been so bloody!

This film goes for a little more minimalism.  Its kills are reduced, but what it lacks in deaths it makes up for in both imagination and gore.  There are some unique traps used in this film, though none quite as cringe-inducing for me as the syringe pit from Saw II.  Probably the most disgusting is the pig pit, where the intended victim is chained in a chamber and being slowly covered in the juices and entrails from rotting pig carcasses falling into a grinder.  Drowning in pig parts is NOT how I would choose to go.

Returning from Saw II, either for a more notable part or a cameo, are Donnie Wahlberg (Detective Williams), Shawnee Smith (Amanda), Dina Meyer (Detective Kerry), and Lyriq Bent (SWAT Lieutenant Rigg).  Besides the Saw series, Lyriq Bent also played in Four Brothers, Skinwalkers, and the 2010 Mother's Day remake.  Costas Mandylor plays Detective Mark Hoffman here.  Mr. Mandylor has had a long career in acting, all the way back to 1989, and has been in such movies as Virtuosity, Dinocroc, Immortally Yours, and is rumored (on Wikipedia) to be playing Needles Kane, driver of Sweet Tooth, in an upcoming Twisted Metal Hollywood adaptation.  And, playing Jigsaw in his third film, is the great Tobin Bell.  He has a large number of scenes in this film, and he does extremely well with the role.  He's also had a long career, with movies like Tootsie, Ruby, Goodfellas, The Quick and the Dead, and Boogeyman 2, among a host of others under his belt.

Darren Lynn Bousman did it again with another great entry into the series.  My opinionated rating gives the film a 5 out of 5, definitely a recommended viewing (with the caveat being that you enjoy and/or can stomach these types of movies, of course).  Tune in tomorrow for our next entry into the series.  There's only four left to go!  As always, until then, this is Red Hawk signing out!