Tag: 1987

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Movie Review

Hellraiser (1987) Movie Review

Hellraiser – Movie Review

Hellraiser is a brutal, bloody horror movie.

First Reaction – Hellraiser is a brutal, bloody horror movie.

Director: Clive Barker

Writer: Clive Barker (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A woman discovers the newly resurrected, partially formed, body of her brother-in-law and lover. She starts killing for him to revitalize his body and escape the demonic beings that are pursuing him after he escaped their underworld.

Runtime: 1 Hour 34 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Hellraiser starts when Kirsty (Laurence), Larry (Robinson) and Julia (Higgins) move into Larry’s childhood home. However, Larry’s brother Frank (Chapman) had been occupying the home and was involved with a mysterious puzzle box. Meanwhile, Julia had been having an affair with Frank before he vanished.

Now, the family has moved into the home, and they have become the targets for the demonic creatures from the underworld. Julia’s obsession with Frank leads her down a dangerous path to reconnect with her lover, one she might never return from.

Verdict on Hellraiser

Recap

The movie follows a dysfunctional family as they move into a new family home. However, their secrets cause a bigger stir when demonic figures return for something from them. It sees one begin picking up strangers in hopes of bringing her former lover back to life.

Best Parts

When it comes to body horror and make-up effects, this is one of the greatest horror movies ever made. It is head and shoulders above many others and showcases the talent people had to create things terrifying throughout the movie. There is also a much more complex story going on, which leans into more horror close to home.

Worst Parts

The body horror is going to be too much for some, which even in the more twisted concept and smarter storytelling, will be all people see.

Final Thoughts –Hellraiser is one of the best body horror movies with a smarter story.

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Movie Review

Demon of Paradise (1987) Movie Review

Demon of Paradise – Movie Review

Demon of Paradise is an inferior Jaws imitation featuring a lizardman attacking a resort after dynamite fishing disturbs its habitat.

First Reaction – Demon of Paradise is more of a plain, knock-off of the Jaws formula.

Director: Cirio H Santiago

Writer: Frederick Bailey, C.J. Santiago (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: Hunters become the hunted when illegal dynamite disturbs the ageold slumber of a carnivorous lizardman. Resort owner Angela, joins forces with Sheriff Keefer to save tourists from the beast’s path of death.

Runtime: 1 Hour 27 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Demon of Paradise starts when lazy fishermen decide to use dynamite to fish. However, it disturbs a carnivorous lizardman in the waters. Scientist Annie (Witt) joins forces with Sheriff Keefer (Steis) to explore the death and stop the creature.

As the locals prepare for the big opening, the hunt for the creature begins. However, with a lot of people believe it is just a series of accidents, it becomes a race to prove the deadly creature exists.

Verdict on Demon of Paradise

Recap

The movie follows a holiday resort that attracts the attention of a creature from the deep. It has been disturbed by dynamite fishermen and now it wants to reclaim the land. This becomes a battle to survive the attacks as the creature gets closer to eliminating the new threats.

Best Parts

The monster from the deep side of the story is interesting, as it dives more into lore and mythology around what protected the area.

Worst Parts

This is more of a poor attempt at a Jaws knock-off. It uses the resort, not wanting to close down to increase the body count, and has a scientist wanting to do the right thing. Elsewhere, it also has basic attacks which never feel like a threat despite what happens to the characters. Finally, the attempts to stop the creature is also a bit silly too.

Final Thoughts – Demon of Paradise is a knock-off of Jaws without any suspense.

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Movie Review

Spectres (1987) Movie Review

Spectres – Movie Review

Spectres is a horror film about archaeologists unleashing an evil entity from a pagan tomb, leading to a suspenseful struggle for survival.

First Reaction – Spectres is a creepy tomb invader movie.

Director: Marcello Avallone

Writer: Marcello Avallone, Andrea Purgatori, Dardano Sacchetti, Maurizio Tedesco (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A US professor of archaeology and his young research team uncover a sealed ancient pagan tomb under the mausoleum of the real life Roman Emperor Domitian. This unleashes an evil deity that starts haunting people involved with the dig.

Runtime: 1 Hour 32 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Spectres starts when Professor Lasky (Pleasence) leads a team of archaeologists into a pagan tomb. It was located under a Roman Emperor’s mausoleum, and they had unwittingly released something evil. The evil hunts down anyone who was involved in the dig, forcing Marcus (Pepper) and Alice (Michelsen) to uncover the truth.

Lasky joins them, and the race against time to survive the attack begins. However, the battle has a much deeper and darker motivation than they imagined.

Verdict on Spectres

Recap

The movie follows a group of archaeologists who uncover a Pagan tomb. However, it seems to be cursed and anyone who was around during the tomb opening gets targeted by an evil spirit. It becomes a race to learn the truth before they become the victims.

Best Parts

The myth around a tomb and a curse is always interesting to watch. It reinforces the superstitions surrounding the practice of digging up the dead. There are a few creepy moments, which bring the scares when needed.

Worst Parts

The movie leans into legacy, which doesn’t always feel like we are watching the truth come to life. It mixes a few too many religions, leaving things feeling overcrowded. There is a lot more to come from it and we could have had a lot more scares.

Final Thoughts –Spectres has some scares, but never feels as terrifying as the idea.

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Movie Review

Wheels of Terror (1987) Movie Review

Wheels of Terror – Movie Review

Read a review of Wheels of Terror, a gripping war movie directed by Gordon Hessler. Follow the 27th Panzers on a daring mission behind enemy lines.

Director: Gordon Hessler

Writer: Sven Hassel, Nelson Gidding (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: War story of the 27th Panzers, Hitler’s heavy-duty combat regiment composed of prisoners. In 1943, this motley tank crew is sent on a suicide mission behind enemy lines to destroy a Soviet train that’s carrying fuel for the Red Army.

Runtime: 1 Hour 40 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Wheels of Terror starts as we meet the odd group of military figures led by Cpl Joseph Porta (Davison). The group includes Hitler’s criminals including The Legionnaire (Kelly), Erich von Barring (Moffett), Tiny (Sanders) and Old Man (Szarabajka). They are given unwanted jobs in an attempt to earn freedom, despite most only being in prison for not following their political beliefs.

The unit gets selected for a mission against the Soviets, and it takes them behind enemy lines. It becomes more challenging than expected, but they know it is their only option for freedom.

Verdict on Wheels of Terror

Wheels of Terror is a war action comedy following an unlikely crew of soldiers who are mostly criminals who must work together on a mission for the Germans. They are given this chance as a way to make up for their crimes and look to stop a Soviet unit from getting to Germany.

This movie shows another one of the stranger stories behind the German military. It tries to show an unlikely comradery but struggles to give them enough life. This has a few laughs but not enough, it tries to bring some seriousness to everything but struggles too. Ultimately, it feels like the ideas were there, but not enough commitment to lean into one idea or the other.

Where to Watch

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JustWatch

Final Thoughts – Wheels of Terror struggles to decide whether it is a comedy or an action movie.

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Movie Review

The Fourth Protocol (1987) Movie Review

The Fourth Protocol – Movie Review

Discover the thrilling movie review of The Fourth Protocol. Michael Caine and Pierce Brosnan star in this espionage film set in the UK.

ABC Film Challenge – Set in the UK – V (Valeri Petrofsky)

Director: John Mackenzie

Writer: Frederick Forsyth (Screenplay)

Writer: Frederick Forsyth (Novel)

Cast

Plot: John Preston is a British Agent with the task of preventing the Russians detonating a nuclear explosion next to an American base in the UK. The Russians are hoping this will shatter the “special relationship” between the two countries.

Runtime: 1 Hour 59 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Fourth Protocol starts when British Agent John Preston (Caine) must lead an investigation into KGB spies. They have put everything in place, so they believe they have the upper hand. However, a converted spy James Ross (Brosnan) has begun an operation on English soil.

John believes there could be an attack on English soil and wants to investigate. However, his bosses refuse to believe his story is more paranoia. He races to collect enough evidence to save the country and prevent an attack.

Verdict on The Fourth Protocol

The Fourth Protocol is an action thriller following a British spy tracking a Russian spy who he believes is behind an incoming terrorist attack. He must go against his superiors to complete the investigation and potentially save millions.

This movie is a tense thriller following spy operations going on in the shadows. It shows how the investigation is more based on feeling than any evidence, which doesn’t help the story. When it comes to following the spy, it follows their cold calculated planning to make the events unfold. Overall, the movie follows the plans you would expect, where nearly everything is happening behind a normal day and the few reluctantly heroes must save the day.

Where to Watch

JustWatch

Final Thoughts – The Fourth Protocol is a tense spy thriller.

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Movie Review

Near Dark (1987) Movie Review

Near Dark – Movie Review

Read this fascinating movie review of 'Near Dark' directed by Kathryn Bigelow. Discover the thrilling story of a young man's encounter with a group of vampires.

ABC Film Challenge – Female Directors – N

Director: Kathryn Bigelow

Writer: Eric Red, Kathryn Bigelow (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A small-town farmer’s son reluctantly joins a traveling group of vampires after he is bitten by a beautiful drifter.

Runtime: 1 Hour 34 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Near Dark starts when a young man Caleb (Pasdar) meets a woman at a bar Mae (Wright). However, he is left surprised by their night together as her gang takes him away. The leader Jesse (Henriksen), Severen (Paxton), Diamondback (Goldstein) and Homer (Miller) are vampires and travel around feeding.

Elsewhere, Caleb’s family Loy (Thomerson) and Sarah (Leeds) search for him. However, Caleb must prove his worth to the vampires as he learns to survive with his new condition.

Verdict on Near Dark

Near Dark is an action horror movie taking the vampire story in a new gritty direction. It makes the vampires feel like a bunch of bloodthirsty outlaws on the run and leaving trails of bodies behind them. As one young man does everything to escape their capture.

This is a standout vampire movie, before ‘From Dusk Till Dawn’ and in the same era as ‘The Lost Boys’. Vampire movies had always been gothic feeling, that never managed to reach the next audience group. This feels gritty, it is fast-paced and the vampires feel monstrous with their strength. The fact the whole gang feels like developed characters helps, with the cold-hearted leader, the gung-ho member and the older person trapped in a small body. They feel more like travelling criminals than vampires and it is only the first step into a world which could have many more.

Where to Watch

JustWatch

Final Thoughts – Near Dark is an exceptional, must-watch vampire movie.

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Movie Review

ABC Film Challenge – 80s – W – The Witches of Eastwick (1987) Movie Review

Director: George Miller

Writer: Michael Cristofer (Screenplay) John Updike (Novel)

Starring: Jack Nicholson, Cher, Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer, Veronica Cartwright, Richard Jenkins

Plot: Three single women in a picturesque village have their wishes granted, at a cost, when a mysterious and flamboyant man arrives in their lives.


Tagline – Something wicked this way comes. 

Runtime: 1 Hour 58 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict: Easy Watch

Story: The Witches of Eastwick starts when three single women Alexandra (Cher), Jane (Sarandon) and Sukie (Pfeiffer) discover they can make a wish and things start to happen, with the three having a drink or two, they conjure up a dream man Daryl Van Horne (Nicholson) who arrives in town, turning all their heads.

As Daryl gets alone moments with each of the women, he starts to create a divide between them as they learn just how destructive they can be together with their wishes, needing to fix what they created.

Thoughts on The Witches of Eastwick

Characters – Daryl Van Horne is the man that arrives in town, showing his wealth and turning the heads of the three women, she knows how the charm any women along the way, which sees him having his way with all of them at some point, until he starts to become desperate. Alexandra, Jane and Sukie are the three close friends, all single, all looking for a man in their lives. They discover they have the power to summon their wishes, if they wish together, which sees them all bringing Daryl to the town.

Performances – Jack Nicholson as the womaniser, this is an easy role for him to play, showing the confidence through the film. Cher, Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfeiffer together are great, with their chemistry as well as showing us the individual problems they are facing.

Story – The story here follows three single friends that discover they have powers to make their wishes come true, which includes summoning the dream man, one who seduces all of them, with consequences for the whole town. The story here shows that the power of wishes within witches could become dangerous, when dealing with a charming can show the way men could control women, with women needing to get their revenge. This is women versus man deep down.

Comedy/Horror – The comedy comes from seeing just what happens to Daryl along the way, with how the women are getting their revenge on him, while the horror is about who he really is.

Settings – The film uses the on village setting to show us just how the women are close and need something new in life.


Scene of the Movie – Voodoo.

That Moment That Annoyed Me – It jumps in tone so fast.

Final Thoughts – This is a fun movie about being in control, with the three women finding what they want only to discover they needs to use their powers for the better.

Overall: Fun Comedy.

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Movie Review

ABC Film Challenge – 80’s Movies – U – Masters of the Universe (1987) Movie Review

This is under U because it is about the Universe being saved.

Director: Gary Goddard

Writer: David Odell (Screenplay)

Starring: Dolph Lundgren, Frank Langella, Meg Foster, Billy Barty, Courteney Cox, Robert Duncan McNeill, Jon Cypher

Plot: The heroic warrior He-Man battles against the evil lord Skeletor and his armies of darkness for control of Castle Grayskull.

Runtime: 1 Hour 46 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict: Cult Classic 101

Story: Masters of the Universe starts as the evil Skeletor (Langella) is looking to gain the power of Grayskull, with only one threat He-Man (Lundgren) needing to stop him before he takes his new power and takes control of the land, which sees the two sides clash and He-Man, Teela (Field), Gwildor (Barty) and Duncan (Cypher) leaving the Eternia world, finding themselves in America.

When Julie (Cox) finds the key to which Skeletor needs, he sends soldiers to retrieve it, which leads her to He-Man that must step up and fight to protect Earth too now.

Thoughts on Masters of the Universe

Characters – He-Man is the fearless warrior that defends Eternia, the good following, the evil want him dead, he is stronger than any other person on the planet and will never back down from a fight no matter what the odds are against him. Skeletor is the evil lord looking to gain complete power of Eternia, he does this by force over anything else, killing anyone that goes against him. Evil-Lyn is the one leading the hunt for the key and He-Man, she has powers which will let her get anything she wants, proving to be an asset for Skeletor to have by his side. Gwildor is one of the soldiers that works with He-Man, he likes what he finds on Earth and is usually used for a laugh along the way.

Performances – Dolph Lundgren in the leading role has the look for the role, which is needed for the film, he looks like he would beat most people in a fight too. Frank Langella as Skeletor is great because his voice adds even more evil to the role. The rest of the cast fit in well, working for the characters they are playing.

Story – The story here follows the adventures of He-Man as he looks to save the universe from the evil Skeletor who is trying to gain control and take over the universe using force. When superhero style movies weren’t a big thing, this was one that gave us the first live-action version of a comic book character, it is big, it is cheesy, being everything it needs to be for the concept behind the film of good versus evil, with the battle showing how one will always try for more power and the other will always step up to prevent it.

Action/Fantasy – The action is big, it is everything you would imagine a live action animated character would have, with the fantasy worlds showing the different mindsets between the characters.

Settings – The film uses the two main settings, with Eternia and Earth, it shows the different in beliefs and styles when it comes to fighting evil.

Special Effects – Being made in the 80s this does have effects that work for the large scale style of the film, they add the charm to what makes this one of the cult classics of a generation.


Scene of the Movie – The final battle.

That Moment That Annoyed Me – The humans are annoying.

Final Thoughts – This is a fun over the top 80s movie, it does show how you can bring the larger than life animated characters to life and can enjoy the over the top battles they find themselves in.

Overall: Fun Movie

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Movie Review

ABC Film Challenge – 80s Movies – H – Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987) Movie Review

This is under H because of director John Hughes.

Director: John Hughes

Writer: John Hughes (Screenplay)

Starring: Steve Martin, John Candy, Laila Robins, Michael McKean, Kevin Bacon, Dylan Baker

Plot: A man must struggle to travel home for Thanksgiving with a lovable oaf of a shower curtain ring salesman as his only companion.


Tagline – Pack in the Laughter! 

Runtime: 1 Hour 33 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict: Simple Road Trip Movie

Story: Planes, Trains & Automobiles starts when businessman Neal Page (Martin) who is trying to get home from New York for Thanksgiving, he first misses his taxi with Del Griffith (Candy) taking the cab, and his plane gets diverted to Wichita, where Neal must trust the help of Del to get home.

The unlikely pair clash, with Neal wanting to keep himself to himself, while Del is always wanting to chat, with connections all the way home, only things don’t always go to plan.

Thoughts on Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Characters – Neal is a successful businessman that has to get home for Thanksgiving from New York, he has it planned, but gets caught up in the middle of rush hour traffic, missing his plane home, where he sees his plane is diverted an dis left with mild-mannered happy go lucky Del. He constantly tries to ditch Del, but the two keep meeting and helping him along the journey. Del Griffith is a travelling salesman, he is always smiling through life, which rubs Neal the wrong way. The two constantly clash together. We do meet the colourful characters they meet along the way, who are played more for laughs than anything else.

Performances – Steve Martin does work well as the stuck up businessman, while John Candy as the ever positive character gets to bounce of Martin well through the film.

Story – The story here follows one man trying to get from New York to California in time for Thanksgiving, only everything goes wrong along the way and an unlikely friendship starts between him and a travelling salesman. This story does focus too heavily on Neal’s life and what he wants, which does play into his selfish nature, we get the idea that Thanksgiving will bring out the crazy in people who are trying to travelling across country and what it means to get there, while neglecting the big heart that we don’t see until the final act. We seem to focus on a situation for laughs, rather than furthering the story too, which just makes it an simple one to watch too.

Comedy – The comedy is hit or miss really, we have the occasional strong moment, while the rest seems to focus on forced laughs which don’t always come.

Settings – The film is a road trip movie, so we do see our characters in plenty of different locations, which usually all including somewhere travel related.


Scene of the Movie – I want a car.

That Moment That Annoyed Me – It doesn’t get the heart side of the film out enough.

Final Thoughts – This is an easy to watch comedy that tries more for laughs than the heart it wants to push to front and centre.

Overall: Average Comedy.