The Call

The Call (R) 2013

Directed by Brad Anderson

Starring:  Halle Berry, Abigail Breslin, Morris Chestnut, Michael Eklund, David Otunga, Michael Imperioli, Justina Machado, José Zúñiga, Roma Maffia, Evie Thompson, Denise Dowse and Ella Rae Peck

Here We Go:  At first I didn't know where this movie was going to go because it seemed like it started with the climax.  However,  you quickly learn that there is more to the plot and that the story is really about redemption, closure and revenge.  I have to point out that the police chase made the LAPD look ridiculously inept while the 911 operator was a superstar.  I  guess since Halle Berry was the 911 operator they had to make her the star but LAPD could have been a little more competent.  And why were there no detectives on this case?  A kid is kidnapped and it is left to a 911 operator and some uniformed officers for a day long chase?  Without ruining the ending I will tell you that it is excellent and doesn't fall into the normal "happy ending."  In fact, the ending makes the entire movie worth watching.  

Bottom Line:  Watch it!

Occupant

Occupant (NR) 2010

Directed by Henry Miller

Starring:  Van Hansis, Cody Horn, Thorsten Kaye, Jamie Harrold, Lou Ferguson, Scott Gregory,
David Little and Dylan Clark Marshall

Here We Go:  When Danny's (Hansis) grandmother passes away, he suddenly inherits her rent controlled apartment.  The catch is that he is forced to stay locked in the apartment for several days, which kicks off a series of events that leads Danny to believe that he's sharing his new space with someone, or something, else.  It's a pretty creepy concept on paper, but it never really comes full circle.  At the end of the movie, you're tempted to think that you just saw a pretty good movie, but then...wait...so when that one guy did that one thing, did it mean this or something else? What did that other thing mean?  And what was that one guy about?  Certain questions are just left hanging there and you end up feeling unsatisfied, and all anyone can agree on is that they just don't have absolute answers.  This isn't your typical horror movie, and that much is refreshing, but that's as far as my compliment will stretch.

Bottom Line:  I don't blame you if you're curious, but watch it only if it's free.

Sucker Punch

Sucker Punch (PG-13) 2011

Directed by Zack Snyder

Starring:  Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, Vanessa Hudgens, Jamie Chung, Carla Gugino, Oscar Isaac, Jon Hamm and Scott Glenn

Here We Go:  Babydoll (Browning) is sent to a shady asylum where she teams up with other patients and plans an escape.  Sure, at the root of this movie there is definitely a disturbing foundation where girls are taken advantage of and politics and money mean more than the moral high-ground.  But the way that this movie shifts from reality to fantasy, and takes the girls out of their vulnerable roles into being deadly warriors, just makes it all eye candy.  Reality is a dark 1950s world that looks touched by Tim Burton.  Fantasy is world of action packed, robot slaying and full-on combat with some guidance from a sensei-like Scott Glenn.   Mix together an awesome soundtrack, sexy women battling it out with guns and swords, and a larger than life fantasy world, and you end up with a pretty hot movie. 

Bottom Line:  If you like an action packed movie that doesn't follow the typical prototype, this is the movie for you.

House at the End of the Street

House at the End of the Street (PG-13) 2012

Directed by Mark Tonderai

Starring:  Jennifer Lawrence, Max Thieriot, Elisabeth Shue, Gil Bellows, Nolan Gerard Funk, Eva Link, Allie MacDonald, Jordan Hayes, Krista Bridges and James Thomas

Here We Go:  Mother and daughter move into a rental that comes with a neighbor that has a back story that involves murder and an unsolved disappearance.  I would categorize this movie more along the line of thriller or suspense, rather than horror, but you still have a few moments mixed in where you jump in your seat.  The director did a good job with letting suspense build and dragging things out just a little bit longer than you expect just to really take you off guard.  One of the things that I really liked House at the End of the Street is that about half-way through things take a change and you end up wondering what the heck is going on.  From the middle onward there are a few twists and a some pretty decent Ah-Ha moments.  

Bottom Line:  If you're looking for something deep and graphic, I'd look elsewhere, but otherwise this is a pretty good thriller.

House Hunting

House Hunting (2013) R

Directed by Eric Hurt

Starring:  Marc Singer, Art LaFleur, Hayley DuMond, Janey Gioiosa, Paul McGill, Rebekah Kennedy, Victoria Vance and Emma Rayne Lyle

Here We Go:  Think "Groundhog Day" meets "The Amityville Horror."  The basic plot of the movie is interesting:  people are drawn to an isolated house and they soon discover that, no matter how far they wander from the house, they always end up right back where they started.  Unfortunately, the writing and acting don't live up to the potential of the story.  Then there's the little ghost boy wearing Halloween makeup around his eyes...it's just lame.  House Hunting is good for having something on in the background while you're doing other things but this should not be the focal point of your evening of entertainment.  I will give the writers credit for a decent ending that brought the story full circle.  One of the biggest problems was that there did not seem to be any climax.  There was a beginning, a long middle that dragged out, and then the movie ended.  

Bottom Line:  Watch it when you cannot find anything else.

Compliance

Compliance (2012) R

Directed by: Craig Zobel

Starring:  Sophia Lin, Craig Zobel, Theo Sena, Lisa Muskat, and Tyler Davidson

Here We Go:  What in the hell?!  I get that this movie is based on real life events, but the sheer fact that these people were this dumb in real life makes watching this movie painful.  I had to watch it just to see.  My torturous curiosity nagged at me until I couldn't take it anymore and I watched.  I watched with my jaw on the floor and threw in the occasional scoff, which I took as my body's way of checking that I hadn't actually slipped into some sort of stupidity induced coma.  The acting was decent, specifically, Sophia Lin's.  However, it's impossible to get past that these people are acting out things that actually happened.  The people that inspired this movie should be entered into a program for adults with special needs.

Bottom Line:  Watch it to settle your curiosity, OR to remind yourself that you're smarter than an entire restaurant staff.

Nine Dead

Nine Dead (2009) R

Directed by: Chris Shadley

Starring: Melissa Joan Hart, John Terry, Chip Bent...and a bunch of other people I've never heard of.

Here We Go:  I was ready to hate this because Sabrina the Teenage Witch can't act, but Melissa Joan Hart was decent with what she had to work with.  On the other hand, the strip club owner tried his hand at acting like he was related to the producer.  How did he get booked?  Drunken casting call at a local Fridays?  Either way, it wasn't a movie to write home about, but it was still fun to sit around throwing around guesses about what the hell was going on and why.  

Bottom line:  Check it out but only if it's free.