September 19, 2015

Movie Reviews 101 Midnight Horror – Nightmare Code (2015)

Director: Mark Netter

Writer: Mark Netter, M.J. Rotondi (Screenplay) Mark Netter, M.J. Rotondi (Story)

Starring: Andrew J West, Mei Melancon, Googy Gress, Ivan Shaw, Nicholas Guest, Caitlyn Folley, Bret Roberts

Plot: After a programmer working on a top secret surveillance program snaps in a murderous rage, a notorious code wizard with problems of his own moves into the startup offices to figure out what went wrong and deliver the final product. But the deeper he delves into the code, the more the code takes on a malevolent life of its own.

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: Intelligent Horror

Story: Nightmare Code starts by making it clear that we will be watching four separate screens at once as Opt-dex dealing with a team being killed by a member Foster Cotton (Gress) before he killed himself. The company call in Brett Desmond (West) to uncover what is going on with the system.

Brett has to work with a team to learn what is making the computer code change what it is seeing and making simple ideas violent. When Brett finds the video of the killing he finds out a terrifying truth about what has been happening while he still has to deal with a personal issue.

Nightmare Code brings us a smart horror that tells the how story from the computer point of view, with the computer being the villain of the story it brings the idea from following the serial killer to a new dimension. I will say this starts off slow but as soon as you see the video about what happened everything just gets escalated to non stop viewing. I will admit this was a surprise because this really could have been a dire film but everything keeps you guessing which is a big plus for all the horror thriller films. (7/10)

Actor Review

Andrew J West: Brett Desmond is a brilliant hacker who has been bought in to figure out the bugs on a new system after the previous coder went on a killing spree at work. Brett has a law suit against him which is the only way he could have it lifted is to solve this problem which only seems to get more complicating every time he gets to truth. Andrew does a good job in this leading role showing how his character slowly starts to lose his mind. (7/10)

Mei Melancon: Nora Hunstman is one of the technicians working with Brett to figure out where the code is going wrong, she was part of the original team that worked on the project. Mei give us a good supporting performance. (7/10)

Googy Gress: Foster Cotton is the original coder who after creating the system ends up going on a killing spree of all the people who were against him while letting the people that showed him respect go. He becomes part of the system because of the way he died making the code even harder to crack. Googy does a good job especially through the computer version of the character. (7/10)

Support Cast: Nightmare Code has a small supporting cast which includes the techs working with Brett, his family along with the people who hired him. They all help with the final outcome of the film.

Director Review: Mark Netter – Mark does a great job bringing us a horror sci-fi with a twist in style along the way. (7/10)

Horror: Nightmare Code creates a good standard of horror along with horrific images and scenes that are full of suspense. (8/10)

Sci-Fi: Nightmare Code brings us into a world where computer programming can become an enemy, yes we have seen it before but not from the computer’s point of view. (8/10)

Thriller: Nightmare Code keeps you guessing to what will happen until the very end. (7/10)

Settings: Nightmare Code keeps most of the settings in one office floor where any other setting is only viewed through a video conversation. (9/10)

Suggestion: Nightmare Code is one for all the horror sci-fi fans to watch because it will be something different. (Horror Fans Watch)

Best Part: Computer point of view.

Worst Part: Slightly too much tech talk.

Oh My God Moment: Watching Foster’s killing spree.

Believability: No (0/10)

Chances of Tears: No (0/10)

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

Oscar Chances: No

Runtime: 1 Hour 30 Minutes

Overall: A fresh sci-fi horror that will leave you shocked with the outcome.

Rating

Danielle Panabaker Weekend – Time Lapse (2014)

Director: Bradley King

Writer: Bradley King, Bp Cooper (Screenplay)

Starring: Danielle Panabaker, Matt O’Leary, George Finn, Amin Joseph, Jason Spisak, David Figlioli

Plot: Three friends discover a mysterious machine that takes pictures 24hrs into the future and conspire to use it for personal gain, until disturbing and dangerous images begin to develop.

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: Intriguing

Story: Time Lapse starts by meeting struggling artist Finn (O’Leary) as he can’t find his inspiration for his next piece of work. We see how he works as a building manager to keep money together, we meet his girlfriend Callie (Panabaker) and his roommate Jasper (Finn). The friends investigate a resident who seems to have gone missing and discover a camera taking photos of their living room. Upon discovering that the camera takes a photo of the next day, the group try to figure out what is going on and discuss what they could use to their advantage. While they continue to make money from the camera suspicious starts to grow on them. Ivan (Spisak) Jasper’s bookie learns of the camera and soon ends up forcing them to continue getting the photos results so he can benefit from them. The friends grow distant as they continue to question why they end up in the situations in the photos.

Time Lapse gives us a time travel films that gives us plenty of questions, with each photo putting the group into a situation they can’t explain. This gives us as viewers the question what would we do if we saw ourselves in a photo that hasn’t happened in a position we could explain. Where the story get let down is in the generic characters that do the trademark time travel mistakes. We have the greedy monetary, the one who sees things improving for them personally and the one who gather inspiration even though they question the morale side. As many time travel films do they test the character development even when the science behind it all never gets fully explained. Time Lapse is a very interesting story that keeps you guessing without really pushing you to any limits. (7/10)

Actor Review

Danielle Panabaker: Callie aspiring author who wants to continue working on her work and see the camera as a way to make money and focus on her work. Callie turns out to be planning to gain more attention from her boyfriend with the photos. Danielle gives a good performance and shines when the final twist is revealed. (7/10)

Matt O’Leary: Finn young artist who has been struggling with his work but after the camera shows him his next picture he agrees to join in the work. The reluctant member of the friends who gains motivation from what he sees in the photos. Matt gives a good performance. (7/10)

George Finn: Jasper gambler who gets the three into trouble by making too much money after the camera reveals the results of the races. The member who gets caught up in his gambling addiction and becomes obsessed about photos, leading to his friends to be put in danger. George gives a good performance. (7/10)

Support Cast: Time Lapse only uses a few supporting characters who each offer something to what happens, be it explaining what is happening and what could go wrong with it.

Director Review: Bradley King – Bradley does a great job directing a time travel film that really makes you think. (7/10)

Sci-Fi: Time Lapse uses the theory of time travel to push a story where the characters get pushed into action they couldn’t. (7/10)

Thriller: Time Lapse doesn’t fit the full thriller side a story uses but keeps you wondering what will happen next. (7/10)

Settings: Time Lapse only uses one setting being a residential home where the three friends live together showing that they have become trapped in the world where they can’t escape a future they think they can’t change. (9/10)

Suggestion: Time Lapse is a film that should be tried by all fans of the time travel genre because it really shows you don’t need too much to get everything you need in a film. (Try it)

Best Part: Time Lapse best part is the theory behind the camera.

Worst Part: Time Lapse weak point in never really explaining the science behind the camera.

Believability: No (0/10)

Chances of Tears: No (0/10)

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

Oscar Chances: No

Runtime: 1 Hour 44 Minutes

Overall: Great Time Travel Film

Rating