Gross Movie Reviews #275

By Tim Gross

Depression: The Movie (Theater/DVD) – Henrique Couto, one of the most talented independent filmmakers I have ever had the pleasure of meeting is back with this feature that introduces the audience to four  poor souls who seem to be doomed in life whether it is by their own doing or not. They all have horrible relationship problems: ex-girlfriends, enjoying being alone because it’s safe, blaming parents, you get the picture of this dark comedy very quickly. This film will make you laugh, it possibly will make you cry, and it will entertain you all. Possibly the best part of the film for me had to be the one character talking to a girl on her bed and as she is undressing because she is so attracted to him he tells the story of going to South Africa and finding a box that was supposed to take him to different heights of pleasure… a wink, wink to Hellraiser which just about made me piss my theater seat in laughter! Mr. Couto once again proves he is a proven talent in the film world that co called “in crowd” needs to take notice! I give the film 3 out of 4 stars and more info about the film can be found at www.depressionthemovie.com .

Eddie Presley (DVD/Theater) – A depressing yet inspiring story of an Elvis impersonator way down on his luck that gets another chance to do what he loves one more time? Eddie lives in a van and works as a security guard that doesn’t pay well to the point a girlfriend/waitress that works at a dive of a diner steals Eddie coffee. But as we see Eddie working he constantly is falling asleep or daydreaming about his past life of being a family man, working man, and also singing with his old group that he talks a lot about to his co-workers. Eddie with his second chance to show off his talents just about has a complete meltdown on stage as his favorite tape gets eaten and he goes into his life story that almost sends his audience running to the doors. Jeff Burr did a great job of telling an inspiring yet depressing fun story that pretty much has everybody and anybody Hollywood name wise make a cameo appearance in the film. After watching the film I am very surprised this film went unnoticed when it came out in the 90s and did not garner more attention award wise for “Best Story” or “Best Director”? Jeff Burr should be proud of this film… If you get anything out of the film it’s if you enjoy something you do, stick with it, follow your dreams. I give the film 3 ½ stars.

This is Horror with Stephen King (DVD-R) – Oh back in 1988, 1989, somewhere around there MTV put on four or five one hour episodes onto their Saturday night schedule before Headbanger’s Ball. These episodes were of Stephen King talking horror films, his books, and random stories of death and mayhem. Plus, we got random clips of horror movies from the 80s that we all enjoy and show behind the scenes of flicks with Steve Johnson and KNB doing their effects. This show wasn’t your father’s Terror in the Aisles… It was a great show and from what I could recall it only played twice on MTV to never be seen again? But it has been pointed out by a few Gross Movie Reviews fans that there was at least one VHS tape put out there, but no official DVD release that myself or many horror fans know of? You can find parts of it on YouTube but if you come across this set of episodes, you must get it by any means possible if you are any type of horror movie fan. I give the show 4 stars.

A Chance in Hell (DVD/Internet) – A perfectly shot independent film about Nazis in the 40s experimenting on humans and something goes wrong after a young bald girl is injected with something that changes her into an inhuman creature that begins to tear apart a couple Nazi officers deep inside their compound that is about to be raided by Americans. Once inside the Americans are also unprepared for the horrors that await them as they must not only kill the infected Nazis but their own troops also once they learn after being bitten they change into these horrific creatures. This film is just absolutely beautiful… The creatures, the gore, and enormous amounts of effects are some of the best I have seen in years. This 32 minute film needs to be made feature length and needs to be supported horror fans. I have to say this is in my top five independent films of 2012 as I give it 4 out of 4 stars. Horror fans get off your asses and go to www.scotchworthy.com ! Did I also mention it has German subtitles to give that extra cool horror movie feel to it?

Sand Sharks (DVD) – Corin Nemac, Brooke Hogan, Gina Holden, and shitty looking CGI sharks that swim on land feasting on a concert at the beach during spring break. It’s horrible, yes it is. But I was entertained for 90 minutes as I give it 2 stars.

The Last Battleground (DVD) – A 2008 independent film from Sonny Fernandez and Down Twisted Studios about the world ending and the world lies in the hands of a couple horrible so-called hitmen and a few other dysfunctional characters. Mr. Fernandez’s no budget no problem attitude for the film makes it for an entertaining horror film about survivors fighting off blood thirsty creatures trying to rid the world of humans. The film has a certain first time out filmmaking charm to it that makes you get past the lack of budget and enjoy the film for what it is. I give the flick 2 ½ out of 4 stars and can be found for sale at www.amazon.com . Down Twisted Studios and Mr. Fernandez can be found on Facebook.

The New Girls (DVD) – Sonny Fernandez is back with his second feature that tells the story of three women who happen to be vampires and have seen it all. They return to a familiar place of dwelling and the youngest vamp decides it’s time to stop all the senseless killing and believe she can find a man she can trust while the lead female vamp wants to wipe out the town as she and the other two vamps have done so many times before. Mr. Fernandez’s film is filled with paying homage to other cool vampire films and TV series but lack of budget, among several other little things hurt this film in the long run. Like most independent filmmakers who try to make a great vampire film, the odds are against you unlike a zombie film or monster film. You can have a great story, great actors, but it seems like horror fans get very picky if you don’t have the budget to pull off what you want? I like the filmmaker’s story but this is one of those instances that needing a budget helps a long way as I give the film 1 out 4 stars. The DVD is available at www.amazon.com and you can find Down Twisted Studios and Sonny Fernandez on Facebook.

The Complex (DVD) – Independent filmmaker Sonny Fernandez goes for the completely weird and odd direction in a film about tenants of an apartment complex that is held against their will and has no memory of who they were before but only numbers on their wrists. But if that wasn’t enough the tenants are terrorized from time to time by this black garbage bag-like creature named “The Keeper”.  But it only takes one to upset the balance as one man known as 109 isn’t satisfied with the answers he has been given and sets out to solve the mystery of the complex. The story is interesting and can be fun but the biggest problem I believe with the film is it shouldn’t be two hours as much as a 20 or 30 minute short film. The film suffers from not editing it down more than no budget or other factors independent filmmakers run into.  I give the film 1 ½ out of 4 stars and can be purchased on www.amazon.com . Also don’t forget you can Sonny and crew on Facebook.

Highway 91 (DVD) – A trio of survivors traveling a land that zombies have long taken over. The survivors not having answers of the origin of the outbreak nor care are just looking for a safe place to live their life. Along the their travels they come upon other survivors who are just trying to survive also and decide the route they are looking for is Highway 91 and it will lead them to a safe haven from zombies. If they can survive themselves and the zombies constant attacking they just might make it? Mr. Fernandez’s no budget no problem attitude continues in this 2011 independent zombie film that suffers a lot from bad zombie effects and a running time that rivals Romero’s zombie classic Dawn of the Dead. I always enjoy bad zombie flicks but having a lot of bad dialogue scenes, lack of editing, and wanting the lead characters to die of a quick death didn’t make me enjoy the epic running time of this flick. But if you are a zombie fan and want to see it for yourself you can purchase the film at www.amazon.com as I give it 1 out of 4 stars. Also you can support Sonny Fernandez and Down Twisted Studios through his Facebook pages.

Justice League: The New Frontier (DVD) – DC Comics continues to make great animated features about their characters to watch. This story is of the effects of WWII on the group of superheroes that consisted of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman in the 50s where they face a new threat called the Centre! And they must resolve issues with other Americans to rise and fight a being that threatens to destroy the world. With the help of Martian Manhunter, the introduction of the Green Lantern and forming the Justice League of America they just might have a chance… Fun DC movie I give 3 ½ stars too.

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