DAMIEN RILEY, world musician and performer

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  • 31

    A strength of 31 is its gritty kill settings, a weakness is its unrealistic plot. While an enjoyable horror movie as it is, it borrows from several plots like those of Saw, The Hunger Games, and The Purge. I found this distracting and it’s not good to be distracted when you’re trying to take in a horror film. Notwithstanding, this film is a fun, wild, and gory ride. I watched it on VOD and loved it.

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    31
    Cast

    Malcolm McDowell, Richard Brake, Jeff Daniel Phillips

    Directed by

    Rob Zombie

    Written by

    Rob Zombie

    Other Info

    Horror, Thriller
    Rated R
    1h 42min

    One thing I really enjoy about Rob Zombie is his ability to recreate an era. He is especially good at creating a flavor of the 1970’s. That’s why I was excited to see this film took place in 1976. People had vans like the one in the film. They did all sorts of things in those vans like smoke pot, have sex, and sometimes, they camped out or took road trips in vans. I think “the van” 1970’s style is a thing of the past now. Yuppies use them to stow their kids on trips but they don’t carry the same connotation. Those chracters alluded to by 1970’s vans are the characters in 31, part and parcel. It feels like we are being taken on a journey. It takes a little while before we start to realize where that journey will take us, and that’s when things get scary. As in so much modern media and literature, we are shown the rift between the rich and poor .

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    The idea of rich people making bets about what poor people will do under duress is not new. I recall Dan Akroyd and Eddie Murphy being bet on in the 1980’s film Trading Places. That’s a comedy but the core idea is the same as the more recent Hunger Games. Every camera is on Katniss as she fights and kills. There is an element of that here. Malcolm McDowell is a rich oddball among others and he thrives on the same sort of “game.” All modern horror fans know the premise of Saw so I won’t bother getting into it.

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    The characters are threatened and it seems they may be picked off and killed one by one but these stoner victims have a few tricks up their sleeves. It’s a fatalistic film in many ways and you’ll have to see if you agree with that in the last 3rd of the film, up to the final credit. This was a bummer. I’m not saying that horror movies are meant to motivate us, far from it. I am saying that a good horror movie operates under some sort over overreaching vision or sense. I really don’t know why these killings occur. It’s never explained. Could it be that these films have already set a precedent for a “death challenge game.” Perhaps it is common background knowledge that certain rich people out there would play murder games with our lives if we were guilty of nothing else than making a wrong turn.

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    I guess I wanted more explanation of the game in the plot. Rob Zombie’s film expects too much from the audience. We need a little psychology of why certain people laugh as they watch murder. I can accept it is because they are crazy but the lessens the impact of the movie. The homicidal manias are being paid but what about the bosses? Why are they orchestrating such a game? I wish I knew what Rob Zombie’s answer to that is.

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    To close this up, I’m a fan of Rob Zombie and I fully enjoyed watching this film. It is gore-filled, which is one of Zombie’s main colors he paints with. It tries to be cerebral but I think the owing to so many other film’s plots takes away from that thoughtfulness. It doesn’t feel entirely original at any point. It would have been 5/5 with me if it didn’t have the obvious plot pieces of other films. Having said that, it’s a fun film to see with your friends and family who like gore and the other works of Rob Zombie.

  • Your Name

    I am not an anime fan in general but I am a love story fan. 


    I was a little averse to the subtitles at first but once I started, it was easy to watch and really get into it. There are features in this film as deep as some of the most deep ones in American love stories and sci-fi. The concept draws you in immediately and if you pay attention, it starts to flow and flow and what a fun ride it is.

    It uses some elements we have seen in a new way and the anime really helps to that end. I have to tell you that after about 5 minutes in, I forgot the characters were animation, they seemed real to me.

    I found the two main characters charming. Again, I am not much of an anime fan. I have seen many of them but they aren’t my first choice. This would not only appeal to young lovers, like maybe those in love for the first time, but it will also rekindle those adolescent/young adult feelings in anyone who gives it a chance.

    If you examine my history at IMDb or my own sites you’ll see I am not new at recommending films. Take it from me, this is an instant classic. The artwork is also way above the usually anime bar. Some of the special effects had to be done by paintbrush, or by hand however they did it. It was a feast for the eyes and the story did not suffer.

    Having said all that, if you can’t give it your attention or you really have no interest to sit and watch subtitles, this probably isn’t for you.

    Give this film your full attention as a love story with some sci fi elements and you will not regret it.

  • Funny Games

    The key to enjoying this film is understanding its own specialized genre. In America, we have heroes like Bruce Willis and Superman who come in with a big gun and leave us feeling empowered over evil.
    While I have no real idea what the director was going for here, I will say it’s different from what we’re used to in a thriller/horror like this. This is streaming on Netflix at the time I am writing this review.

    People all must have a place where they connect shouldn’t they? Actually, not all people. Sociopaths kill with no empathy. Some of the biggest thriller blockbusters have had killers like these: ie; Hannibal Lecter, Ed Gein, Se7en, and such. These show us killers with no remorse and certainly no regard for human life. Why do we love these films so much? That’s another post.

    I didn’t just squirm in my seat watching this film, I writhed. Naomi Watts is always an amazing actress in her films and her name appears in the credits as an executive producer. That means she was really invested in getting this American version made. I would caution viewers against looking for deeper meaning. I think that will end up in a dead end. Still, it is one of those films that leaves you so UNsatisfied according to modern conventions that you almost want to communicate your thoughts with another human after seeing it. My wife and I were yelling at the screen several times. Some stuff we just could not believe we’d seen.

    Is it always the job of American films to satisfy us? That is an interesting question I think. I say no. We should have films occasionally that make us feel uncomfortable. We should question our comfort in a media driven culture. Once again, I have no idea what the director meant by this film but I think I am getting warm with this thought. Fans of torture horror and thrillers go see it!

    8/10

  • Togetherness

    In a world where dumb series often get renewed, a smart one didn’t.

    With the recent release of Mark Duplass’ Creep 2 which I heard will be released soon on Netflix as I’m writing this, I’m sending out my review of this great tv series he made with his brother. Togetherness is a must see.

    *** This review may contain spoilers ***

    After watching two series of this show, I find myself quite invested and almost sad it was not renewed for a third season. The Duplass brothers really created a touching world here that takes us into the lives of its characters.

    In a marriage, things can get stale and it’s up to the 2 spouses to breathe life back into it. It can be challenging. That’s the position we see Mark Duplass’ character go through with his wife. Both actors play these topics incredibly well. They are believable and I almost felt as if I was there with them playing Mark’s role, trying to get the sparks back into my marriage and failing.

    There is a lot of ridiculous stuff here that’s wonderful as well. A puppet show based on ‘Dune’ is one example. The Duplass brothers have a way of making childlike fun out of real world serious situations.

    Amanda Peet is at an all time career high here. I would have loved to see more episodes from her character alone. All the characters left me deeply invested and hers was equally so. I’ve seen her in several films and I think this was her best character yet.

    I recommend this for anyone with small kids or just getting into a relationship. Apart from that, you may or may not like it. As for me? I’m almost sad it’s been cancelled but I sure enjoyed the 2 seasons they managed to produce.

  • Justice League

    Justice League just opened at my local theater and I learned it needs to gross 600 million dollars to make a profit. Because it’s a DC comic book movie, I think sheer nerd and geek curiosity will get it close. Is it a great movie? I encourage you to do your reading and decide if you want to go first. When you’ve seen it? Then you’ll know. The question is, do you need to know? I have no spoilers in my review below so feel free to check in here along your journey.

    Justice League (2017)
    PG-13 | 2h | Action, Adventure, Fantasy | 17 November 2017 (USA)

    Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy.
    Director: Zack Snyder
    Writers: Chris Terrio (screenplay by), Joss Whedon (screenplay by) | 9 more credits »
    Stars: Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa

    DC brought Zack Snyder back to do this film. This surprises me because there has been so much criticism of his past movie. Batman vs. Superman is one example. When will the behemoth studios give the millions to new directors with new ideas about movies? I’ll be happy when they do. This looks and feels like a rehashing of Batman vs. Superman. The colors are grey and dark but not in a way that made me intrigued. It appeared like a “look,” the same way a goth person has their look. It isn’t goth though, I’m simply saying there was an attempt to keep colors subdued and cityscapes greyer than they usually might be. It might work for some but for me, it felt depressing. So, I’m not sure how Zack Snyder keeps getting a gig with DC but it looks like we are in for yet another since he has been chosen to direct Suicide Squad 2. Zack, some more color would be awesome.

    I’ll run through the actors: Gal Gadot is a show stealer. It’s no surprise to me they gave her ample screen time after the commercial and critical success of her Wonder Woman. I enjoyed her and her scenes. Ezra Miller as the Flash is a comic wonder. I absolutely loved his part and he delivered it all well. Even above Gadot, I think he is the star of this movie. Affleck and Cavill were flat, annoying, tired, and old. They some scenes zoomed in on Cavill’s teeth I thought I might gag. God bless you dentists out there, thank you for what you do. I for one could not get that close to peoples’ chompers every day. The other characters were also flat. I found myself looking at my watch during the first half of the film. It was like, we know the band is getting back together but why does it have to take so fucking long?

    The story is pretty simple. IMDB can tell you better than I. The Justice League has to reform because of a demonic character named “Steppenwolf” who is named after a demon but also an awesome book by Hermann Hesse I read in college, unrelated to this crappy story. They all need each other and there are some trite quotes about “Team.” I really kind of wish there was no Affleck in team but hey, you can’t always get what you want. I’m not a fan of this genre but I do like some of the films: Ant Man, Hellboy, and Green Lantern are some examples. To date, I have not enjoyed any comic book character ensemble film so that may explain my Scrooge-like opinion of this film. I really wouldn’t recommend it as a great film but with enough popcorn, coke, and candy, it’s a few laughs and action moments worth seeing. I guess in a way, even Suicide Squad is and I consider that the worst I’ve seen of all of them. At the moment I am even more excited to see Lady Bird. That gives you an idea of what I get excited about.

    6/10

  • The Brood

    This horror film from 1979 is interesting only from the 1/2 way point on but when it gets there, it really takes you on a messed up ride.

    The Brood (1979)
    R | 1h 32min | Horror, Sci-Fi | 25 May 1979 (USA)
    A man tries to uncover an unconventional psychologist’s therapy techniques on his institutionalized wife, amidst a series of brutal murders.
    Director: David Cronenberg
    Writer: David Cronenberg
    Stars: Oliver Reed, Samantha Eggar, Art Hindle

    You get to see primal tripod camera panning and some of the worst latex jobs ever created. Still, it had my interest. I may not have loved this film but I found it very entertaining and I thought David Cronenberg did a great job of writing this. It was a little complicated at time, more than it needed to be. In the end, it was a fun horror film and I encourage people to watch it.

    It’s a story about rage and a horror metaphor of what it can do to destroy us. Psych majors will really like it I think. As to the message of the writer/director? That would be gret to discuss in the comments. I think he’s saying something about women here. Their rage is a lethal force. I do allow spoilers in my comments section so if you’d like to get into further depth please leave a comment of your response to this film. Ebert hated this film, I am on the fence. I think it’s enjoyable and well made horror. Not the best but sertainly worth watching and being entertained by.

    8/10