filmape Reviews

Demons (1985)

Derivative and Incoherent, but Somehow Good

[6/10 · 28 August 2021]

This movie looked at everything that had happened in the 80s horror and sci-fi genre to date and set out to embody it all. Argento and Bava must have thought of this as the ultimate horror film. You can see The Terminator, Alien, Evil Dead 2, Knightriders, and The Thing, to name a few. The Dawn of the Dead influences border on rip-offs. The demons themselves look exactly like they came from Gargoyles.

The druggie characters are ridiculous in their eccentricity, and the characters in general were obviously written with almost zero knowledge of the culture they're drawn from. The story is thoroughly illogical. The plot is missing big pieces like they didn't have the budget to tell the story they wanted.

But, the meta-movie aspect (the viewer literally watches one movie inside another for half the film) is original and interesting. The special effects are mostly inventive and satisfying. The image of the gang of demons with eyes glowing in the dark stuck with me since the first time I saw it. This is a fairly notable cult film, but with its problems, my 6 still feels generous.

The Tomorrow War (2021)

Has it All - Almost

[8/10 · 1 August 2021]

A hundred reviews here will tell you the story isn't logical. It's formulaic, it's predictable, and it has holes. I admit, I don't always watch movies for fine storytelling. If a quality story is your overriding interest, you should look elsewhere, because The Tomorrow War doesn't really have one.

What it does have is time travel paradox, awesome action, great special effects, cool stunts, killer cinematography, an everyman hero, and the most creative monsters I've seen in a while. It even takes a stab at character development, and deals with father-daughter and father-son relationships in a way a lot of people can probably relate to.

I think truly entertaining movies are pretty few and far between, so I was pleased to see this. In fact, my whole family really liked it, and it's not easy for us to find something we're all interested in. Watch it if you want to have fun.

Alice's Attic (2009)

Great animated short

[9/10 · 14 April 2010]

Great technical execution, particularly in terms of creating the models, lighting the sets, and shooting the stop-motion.

This short is a fantastic allegory for neurosis, unwanted thoughts, and unreasoning fears that resonate with viewers at a basic level.

There's something vaguely grotesque about the scenario but - moreover - Alice's reactions to it, that really leave an impression, while the brash score creates an uneasy mood. The score, in fact, industrial and jarring, lends a great deal to the short's impact on its audience.

I discovered it can be viewed on the creator's website, along with her newer piece.