An American Werewolf in London - REVIEW

Yeah, I know, I'm late with a review. Been out of town from a recent media briefing to Halloween Horror Nights 23. Anyway, I'm reviewing one of the films featured at the event!

PLOT: Two American college students on a walking tour of Britain are attacked by a werewolf that none of the locals will admit exists.



Directed by John Landis (Animal House), An American Werewolf in London (AWIL) follows a similar plot of Universal's classic film, "The Wolfman". The difference between the two is that Landis aims for more of a "comedic route" in which works perfectly for him. The film itself is a great horror classic, as it serves as one of the best horror films I've ever seen.

Story: Once again, the story somewhat is similar to The Wolfman, only it is told quite differently. The story does a great job at introducing the main conflict and the main protagonist (David). Nothing felt unneeded as the story kept progressing smoothly. It was perfect for what it did.

Cast: The cast in AWIL do an excellent job in their performances. David Naughton (David) does a great portraying his character and the werewolf, but it is Griffin Dunne (Jack) who steals the show as David's friend. Jack tends to be more of the comic relief for the film, and once again, Landis does a great job to blend the comedy with horror as Dunne helps get the job done.

Effects: For its time, AWIL was ground-breaking regarding effects. From Dunne's transformation as Jack, to the werewolf's movement and structure, AWIL did an amazing job pulling off the practical effects of the wolf and Dunne's makeup. Completely incredible.

VERDICT: Overall, An American Werewolf in London is a great, horror classic. It does not suffer from anything at all as the film is perfect in every way. I strongly urge you to check the film out if you haven't!

                                             An American Werewolf in London - 10/10
                                                  Film Released: August 21st, 1981
                                                       Directed by: John Landis


                                                         Written by John Landis

                                                            Starring: David Naughton
                                                                           Griffin Dunne
                                                                           Jenny Agutter

Avant Garde Project

A rough cut of my Avant Garde isn't present because I will be filming out of town this week for the project.

The project itself will focus on the wonders and sights of Orlando, FL. Specifically at Universal Orlando Resort. I will be spending a weekend over there for an event known as Halloween Horror Nights 23. This event will highlight popular licenses such as Resident Evil, Evil Dead, The Walking Dead, and many more.

I will be recording what I see and encounter in my journey. Things that pop out to me will be presented in this Avant Garde (such as scare-actors interacting with guests, rides operating, and shows). Filming begins 9/19 and ends on 9/23.

Insidious Chapter 2 - REVIEW

PLOT: The haunted Lambert family seeks to uncover the mysterious childhood secret that has left them dangerously connected to the spirit world.

      James Wan has made a name for himself in the horror film industry as well as Hollywood itself. With his recent hit, The Conjuring, Wan begins to end his streak of horror films for now (thanks to Fast/Furious 7) with Insidious Chapter 2. Now, usually horror film sequels don't usually follow up with the hype and they fail due to that. With Insidious 2, that is different. Wan continues to show us what lies deep into The Further and proves that there is a good story to be told.

Story - Written by James Wan and Leigh Whannell (both also wrote the first film), Insidious Chapter 2 takes place immediately after the ending of the first film, making it seem as though we never left the universe Wan has created. Insidious Chapter 2 stays faithful to its predecessor with its twists and scares (although the scares in this film weren't as powerful as the first film's scares). What I also loved about the story is its clear and clever connection to the first film, which somewhat ties up "loose ends" and makes the story more intriguing and fun to watch. That being said, the film's story makes the film filled with less scares than the first film. As for the scares itself, Wan continues to execute the perfect "jump-scares" with his added suspension and tension in every quiet scene, similar to what he did in The Conjuring. Wan also added a bit of comedy elements into the story in which ended up being a hit or miss scenario. Some of the comedy did work well while other parts of it were unnecessary as it felt forced or dragged-on.

Acting - Once again, Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne reprise their roles as Josh and Renai Lambert and many other actors who also appeared in the first film returned as well. Wilson steals the show in this installment as we see his character slowly transition from what we knew him as in the first film to something we never imagined him as. As for everyone else, everyone did a solid job portraying their roles. No one felt out of place or annoying at all.

THE VERDICT: Overall, Insidious Chapter 2 is another great entry in the Insidious story as Chapter 2 evolves into one interconnected storyline that works perfectly with the first installment. With the film's ending leaving the doors open for Chapter 3, it's best for Wan to hopefully end the series as a great horror trilogy people will love and remember. Who knows though when we'll ever return to the realm of The Further.

Note- It's highly recommended to watch or re-watch the first film. Seeing Chapter 2 without seeing the first film will ruin your experience.


                                                            Insidious Chapter 2 - 9/10
                                                        Film Released: September 13th, 2013
                                                            Directed by James Wan

                                              Written by James Wan and Leigh Whannell

                                                      Starring: Patrick Wilson
                                                                     Rose Byrne
                                                                     Ty Simpkins
                                                                     Lin Shaye

Concept - Avant Garde

In less than a week, I will be travelling to Orlando, FL for a trip (specifically, for Halloween Horror Nights 23). I will be going to many other theme parks such as Universal Orlando and Disney World.


As a concept background of what my next project will be, I will be filming the Avant Garde using my phone and shoot it in 1st person POV as if you're with me watching me on this journey. I will be shooting different aspects of my trip, combining the views and wonders of what I will encounter.

Dredd - REVIEW

PLOT: In a violent, futuristic city where the police have the authority to act as judge, jury and executioner, a cop teams with a trainee to take down a gang that deals the reality-altering drug, SLO-MO.

2012 brought a great year of comic book adaptations, such as The Avengers, The Dark Knight Rises, and The Amazing Spider-Man. To many people, Dredd was predicted to flop and become a horrible film. However, that doesn't seem to be a case. Dredd is surprisingly a great action flick.

Story - I will admit though the story isn't anything I've never experienced before. Dredd and his trainee are locked in this massive structure in the heart of Mega City One and have to fight their way in the structure as they're killing and taking out criminal thugs and drug dealers. Dredd did a fair job executing this story, however I feel another film has pulled the same story off better. Comparing Dredd and The Raid: Redemption (another action flick in 2012), The Raid showed more emotion and vulnerability in its story while Dredd presented a basic and less emotional flick. Dredd as well brings in some of its cliché action movie lines which surprisingly works well with Dredd. I will say though Dredd completely destroys and buries that god-forsaken 1990's Judge Dredd film with Sylvester Stallone with its better storyline and its respect to the comics (referring to Dredd leaving his helmet on).

Acting - Karl Urban delivers as Dredd and completely wipes out the memory of Stallone's role of Dredd for good. The acting isn't perfect and is cheesy at points, but it's meant to be cheesy and as I said, it works. Olivia Thirlby as Dredd's trainee, Anderson, also does a great job serving as a side-kick. Not much else is said for the other actors, serving there roles as either a criminal or a judge.

Visual Effects - Dredd can be very bloody at times, which is always fun in an action flick. Some of the scenes are brutal, but what I absolutely loved about the effects was the "SLO-MO" drug in the film. The "SLO-MO" drug can cause anyone that's induced to it to react slower in the world, therefore making everything they see in slow motion. The slow motion effect works perfectly with the film's effects and plot as it adds in the additional dimension of Mega City One and its structure.

THE VERDICT - With its plot being seen before, it doesn't make Dredd a horrible film. Dredd delivers with its meant to be cliché dialogue and amazing visual effects. Dredd also serves as another great comic book adaptation that stays true to the comics and respects its aspects.


                                                                      DREDD - 8.5/10
                                                        Film Released: September 21, 2012
                                                                Directed by Pete Travis

                                                                Written by Alex Garland (screenplay)
                                                                

                                                               Starring: Karl Urban
                                                                              Olivia Thirlby
                                                                              Lena Headey
                                                        

The Cabin in the Woods - REVIEW

PLOT: Five friends go for a break at a remote cabin in the woods, where they get more than they bargained for. Together, they must discover the truth behind the cabin in the woods.

Directed by Drew Goddard, this film completely rips the horror genre piece by piece. Both Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon wrote this film as they change the horror atmosphere. The film itself combines both horror and comedic elements, and it works perfectly for the film's scenario and purpose.

Story - Many people will think Cabin in the Woods is simply another generic horror movie with its generic plot and predictable story. Once again, Goddard and Whedon completely change the story as the film opens to dialogue that can only be written by Whedon and Goddard, and many Whedon fans will recognize his writing in the beginning. The film's writing itself rips on MANY horror clichés and makes fun of it, which is the highlight of the film. It also creates an unexpected turn for horror fans as the film's twist shapes the film as an original horror film, which is rare. Whedon and Goddard provide a great story that's well-written and gives fellow horror fans a few laughs.


Acting - The acting itself is great as it serves its purpose for the story. The five main characters and their roles also rip every horror movies' characters. You have: The Stoner (the one who's usually on drugs), the Whore (the girl who usually dies first and usually has sex the most in horror films), the Athlete (the "strong" and "brave one" of the group), the Scholar (the smart one in the group), and the Virgin (the main heroine and virgin of the group). Each actor serves their roles and purpose well. The lab officials as well did a great job in their roles as antagonists.


THE VERDICT: With its clever and well-executed writing, Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard create a fresh, new horror film that rips on other horror films. The acting serves its purposes with its clichés as the third act of the film is total chaos. Horror films nowadays are running out ideas as horror films show the same predictable plot and premise. With Whedon's writing and Goddard's credit as directing, it's good to see The Cabin in the Woods deliver a fresh, new, and original take on the horror franchise. I can't wait to experience the live experience in the haunted house based on the film at Halloween Horror Nights 23.

          

THE CABIN IN THE WOODS - 10/10
Film Released: April 13, 2012
Directed by Drew Goddard

Written by Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard

Starring: Kristen Connolly
Chris Hemsworth
Anna Hutchison
Fran Kranz
Jesse Williams
Richard Jenkins
Bradley Whitford

Introduction

I'd like to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Angel. I am a writer, actor, and currently a student who's learning filmmaking, and this blog itself is based on these things. As of now, I continue to watch films that inspire me and continue to come with ideas that appeal to me. I also make music as a hobby. I will be posting movie reviews, trailers, ideas, and thoughts here as well as my music mashups and creations. I hope you enjoy what I have for this blog.

"Dream big, work hard, and don't be an asshole."     - Mike Shinoda