Gross Movie Reviews #330

 

By Tim Gross

 

The Purge (DVD) – Ethan Hawke stars in a film where he plays a character that is well off money wise and has sold security systems to all in the gated community. But there is more to this story as the government as declared one day a year you are able to commit any crime you would like for 12 hours. It is to help people to purge any impure thoughts of committing a crime and it has help lower crime rates throughout the US. Problem is if you are poor you are screwed! Well people have come knocking on the Ethan’s door because his kid let in a potential victim and now must face the consequences.  The movie is a fun concept and has cool moments but I do not understand the fan fever behind this flick? Maybe I am just old…? I give the film 2 ½ stars.

 

The Purge: Anarchy (On Demand) – Its one year later… and the “Purge” is about to begin. This time around the story revolves around a struggling mother and daughter whose building has been targeted by people in all black and they are helped by a stranger who wanted to take part in The Purge but used better judgement for now. While on the run the story unfolds more and explains The Purge may be a way for the government to rid of citizens they feel is useless in the new society. I enjoyed this film more than the first because I could see this happening? I could see the government or let’s say rich folks come up with a way to rid their society of lower beings in their eyes. This movie suits what is going on right now with Wall Street and Occupy movement, now that being said, I am a person who loves sequels but feels to continue this series will be a mistake? Unless they go ass deep into the government angle! That’s right I don’t trust anybody, except beer… and horror movies, and more beer. I give the film 3 stars.

 

Godzilla (On Demand/remake) – Another remake of the giant lizard that was brought on by radiation is too damn long. I love the mutation or evolution of mean looking Godzilla but the need to retell the legend of it or how the monster came to be and origins of what may be attacking earth now is getting old. A Godzilla movie should not be over two hours long. But anyway in 1999 some strange shit goes down in the Philippines, 15 years later the same shit is happening again but even worse and a government within a government has been keeping it quiet. While some man who knows the truth and everyone thinks is crazy is exactly right but little does he know the government knows Godzilla exists and they tried to kill him in 1954 with a bunch of nations but failed. Now only Godzilla is earth’s hope to fight some kind of alien creatures that have laid dormant for millions of years. This film is good but is far from one of my favorites as I am a big fan of all the early 90s remakes and will always be a fan of the original Godzilla films! But with that said I give the flick 2 ½ stars and remember it’s too fucking long!

The Device (Vimeo) – Jeremy Berg and John Portanova who are a part of the independent film company “The October People” are back at it with this new release that deals with possible alien abduction and strange events that are in the same vein as “The X-Files”. Abby and Rebecca are sisters who have been a part for many years have gotten back together at an old cabin again to spread their mother’s ashes. While walking through the woods discussing the past they come across a strange black sphere and something that could be a wrecked plane? They bring back the strange black sphere and that’s when things get weird… Dreams of creepy aliens, pregnancy, death, and etc., leads up to an amazing ending for this independent sci-fi thriller that I must say is one of the best independent films of 2014. Bravo Mr. Berg and Mr. Portanova as I give it 3 ½ out of 4 stars. The film is available through amazon.com and for details on upcoming projects please check out http://www.theoctoberpeople.net .

 

Reviled (Web Series) – Independent filmmaker Jim Stramel has decided to tackle the very bloated zombie genre and try to give zombie fans something different and interesting to watch. The first episode is about a man named Frank who has something different for the underground zombie pit-fighting world… His undead daughter! Its dramatic but at the same time keeps that gritty horror flick feel as world hasn’t been overrun with zombies it was a mere blip on the radar of life as nations have moved on with regular life. But most Americans are always looking that something different, that edge, that excitement, and in this web series its zombie-pit fighting. Stramel shows off his talents with not only a well-scripted and well-shot episode but the look and feel in opinion should have zombie fans clamoring for more! I give the new series 3 out of 4 stars and wish Jim Stramel good luck with the ongoing project. You can purchase and find out more information about the project at www.reviledzombieseries.com .

 

Corvette Summer (VHS/YouTube) – A great car flick about a young Mark Hamill who spends his summer searching for this amazing car, a corvette, that his shop class rebuilt after it is stolen. A great flick to take a ride down late 70s memory lane and has a great supporting cast in a naked Annie Potts, Dick Miller, Brion James, and T.K. Carter. I give the film 2 ½ stars.

 

Link (VHS) – General Zod aka Terrance Stamp is a scientist and enjoys monkeys as he lives them and uses them for experiments. Problem is after a student Elisabeth Shue asks and gets a job at his place the monkeys go ape shit in this very boring movie about a monkey keeping Shue’s character trapped at the house. I give the film 1 star.

Haunted House on Sorority Row (DVD) – The film is produced and directed by the talented Henrique Couto who gives us a tale of college girls who want to start their own sorority without hazing and other random bullshit. They find an old house on the cheap and know it’s haunted but really don’t believe in that shit until one by one their past comes to haunt them till death… I enjoy a lot of Couto’s projects but this paranormal Indy film just didn’t seem to flick my bic! The film looks wonderful, cool effects, great cast but I can be very picky when it comes to paranormal horror flicks. Knowing Henrique I know that won’t stop him from making several other projects that I will purchase and enjoy. I give the flick 2 out of 4 stars and it is available on amazon.com.

 

The Dark Power (VHS) – Oh the random crappy horror films I will watch folks? This 1985 low budget classic has a sheriff who carries a whip facing off against evil Indian spirits that have come back from the dead to kill! It’s horrible, it’s hilarious, and its racist so prepare yourself if you find yourself in possession of a copy? I give it 1 ½ stars.

 

Savage Streets (DVD-R) – The crazy rape/revenge classic from Danny Steinmann in 1983 that stars Linda Blair, Linnea Quigley, and John Vernon. Linda Blair is tough girl who has a group of girlfriends that are close and do everything together and they all look out for her sister Linnea who happens to be a deaf mute. After screwing over a dope dealing gang the night before by taking their car, the gang comes back for revenge by raping Linnea and beat the shit out of her. If that wasn’t enough the same gang throws her pregnant best friend off of a bridge killing her. That’s when Linda Blair heads to the Bear Trap store and gets all Blackjack Mulligan on the men who caused her pain that features the classic line from Principal John Vernon, “Go fuck an iceberg!” You would think the film would be easy to get but it has been released several times on DVD only to disappear several times to show up on eBay for a retarded amount of money. Usually I am all about paying the 10 or 15 bucks for a film but when most of the time it doesn’t get cheaper than $25 unless it’s a used copy and there is rumors about the company that does this shit on purpose I say “GO FUCK AN ICEBERG!” it is available on YouTube on a regular basis. I give the classic 3 stars.

 

Hardcore (VHS) – A 1979 sleaze fest that stars George C. Scott as a father whose daughter goes missing in California during a religious retreat from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Scott’s character hires a P.I. in Peter Boyle to find answers on where his daughter is? Soon Boyle’s character finds an 8mm short that has his daughter doing an explicit sex scene sending him in a fit of rage with more questions than answers. After firing the PI, George C. Scott takes an extended vacation that lowers him into the seedy world of porn and porno making. He poses as a producer and sets up casting calls in order to find answers to find his daughter. The movie does a great job of making you feel you a part of the seedy porn world of 1979 that is much more accepted these days. If you looking for something non-horror but want a film with a little edge leave it to an unknown George C. Scott film to me to entertain you as you will not be disappointed in this sleazy vehicle. I give the film 3 stars.

 

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