October 20, 2014

Willow Creek (2013)

Director: Bobcat Goldthwait

Writer: Bobcat Goldthwait (Screenplay)

Starring: Alexie Gilmore, Bryce Johnson

Plot: Jim and his girlfriend Kelly are visiting the infamous Willow Creek, the alleged home of the original Bigfoot legend

Verdict: Found Footage Wrong

Story: We follow the couple as they film their trip to discover more about Bigfoot. They spend time interviewing people who have experiences to tell as well as the people who just don’t believe, before going into the woods to have their own encounter.

This could have worked as I do believe that found footage could work with the Bigfoot legend. This doesn’t work because we have 50 minutes of the two exploring, nothing remotely close to horror happening. A lengthy ten minute scene with noises outside the tent with the couple inside it. Leaving another 10 minutes of walking around in the day time trying to find a way out before a 2 minute snap scene to finish the film. NO SIGN OF ANY BIGFOOT. Yes we don’t even see a Bigfoot we might not even have been up against one. So if you want to spend an hour watching a couple walk and rive around talking about a legend we already knew the details about enjoy. (1/10)

Actor Review

Alexie Gilmore: Kelly an aspiring actress who supports her boyfriend on his trip to discover Bigfoot. Easily a forgettable character and performance. (1/10)

Bryce Johnson: Jim wants to discover Bigfoot and make his on documentary about his search for the legend. Another forgettable performance from an uninteresting character. (1/10)

Director Review: Bobcat Goldthwait – This guy has a reputation for his work, this could have been his worse. (1/10)

Horror: For the one moment when it gets interesting I will give this one because the rest is sleepy. (1/10)

Thriller: You don’t care what happens. (0/10)

Settings: how could you mess up the settings for such an easy film idea so much? (3/10)

Suggestion: Don’t even look at what this is about. (Avoid)

Best Part: Clutching at straws here, but the one scene when something happens could have made this good if it was same pace as the rest of the film.

Worst Part: The rest of the film

Believability: No (0/10)

Chances of Tears: No (0/10)

Chances of Sequel: PLEASE GOD NO

Post Credits Scene: No

Oscar Chances: No

Runtime: 1 Hour 17 Minutes

Overall: Terrible

Rating

Cold in July (2014)

Director: Jim Mickle

Writer: Nick Damici, Jim Mickle (Screenplay) Joe R. Lansdale (Novel)

Starring: Michael C Hall, Vinessa Shaw, Wyatt Russell, Don Johnson, Sam Shepard, Bill Sage, Nick Damici, Brianda Agramonte

Plot: When a protective father meets a murderous ex-con, both need to deviate from the path they are on as they soon find themselves entangled in a downwards spiral of lies and violence while having to confront their own inner psyche.

Verdict: Slow Moving Thriller

Story: We start by seeing quite family man Richard and his wife being woken up by a noise in their house, to which we see him investigate to find a man inside the house. He shoots and kills the man leading to his statement and self-defence charge. After the young man’s father is released from jail he starts to play games with the family, just how far will the man go? After questioning the identity of the man he killed Richard uncovers the corruptness in the police and teams up with the father to discover the truth which is more disturbing than anything they could have imagined.

What starts out as a thriller that focuses on revenge turns into a vigilante film with three guys trying to take down the criminal ring. It goes through the change but loses a lot of momentum when the second half happens because you don’t completely know where it is meant to be going. Sadly it comes off very slow and apart from the shock in the crime it doesn’t offer any twists that you haven’t already heard about from the trailer. (6/10)

Actor Review

Michael C Hall: Richard Dane local business owner and family man who upon an intruder in his house accidently kills him, leading him to question his sanity as the father stays playing games on the family. He uncovers that not everything is what it seems and goes into a world he could never imagine by the end. Michael gives a good performance fresh off the back of Dexter. (7/10)

Vinessa Shaw: Ann Dane wife of Richard who at first thinks he is over reacting but soon starts to agree with his worries. Vinessa gives a solid performance but only seems to be involved in first part. (6/10)

Don Johnson: Jim Bob detective bought in to try and help the two men figure out the truth. Don gives a good performance as the smooth talking gunslinger. (7/10)

Sam Shepard: Russell the father of the so called victim that haunts Richard before calling in an old connection to help uncover the truth. Sam gives a good performance as the man who has realised he has made mistakes in his life. (7/10)

Support Cast: Be it the cops or the criminals each member of the supporting case helps the story unfold more.

Director Review: Jim Mickle – Solid direction but sometimes ends up letting the story flow too slowly when nothing is actually happening. (5/10)

Crime: Trying to expose the truth that has been getting covered up because of the criminal action. (7/10)

Thriller: keeps you interested to see what the characters will do even though it has moments you might start to lose interests. (7/10)

Settings: Authentic settings re-created but in the end they are not used as much as they need to be. (6/10)

Suggestion: This is one for thriller fans to try but it might be a bit slow for the casual fan. (Thriller Fans Try)

Best Part: First encounter with the Mexican.

Worst Part: Slightly slow during the middle.

Believability: No (0/10)

Chances of Tears: No (0/10)

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

Oscar Chances: Unlikely

Runtime: 1 Hour 40 Minutes