Review: Hypothermia

(imdb.com)

For some, ice fishing is a fool's sport. Sitting around a hole in the frigid cold, trailer or not, can be an especially daunting task for the weak spirited. Sure some alcohol may keep you warm, but nothing takes away from the fact that you're sitting on one of the coldest substances on earth. These dangerous conditions, exasperated by something far more terrifying lurking in the water, are what makes Hypothermia so great.

Following a family on an annual ice fishing trip, this B-movie is silly at times, but perfectly captures the essence of classic monster flicks like Creature of the Black Lagoon, while offering quite a punch in its short runtime. From the moment the foursome are set upon by a suspicious and blunt pair of fellow fisherman to the film's bloody unraveling and conclusion, Hypothermia is entertaining, even if the scares aren't the most effective and the dialogue is a little sugar-coated.


Written and directed by James Felix McKenney (Satan Hates You), Hypothermia stars Michael Rooker (Guardians of the Galaxy) as the surprisingly sentimental father =, Ray Pelletier, to Benjamin Hugh Abel Forster's (Automation) David and husband to Blanche Baker's (Sixteen Candles) Helen. Supporting actors include Amy Chang (Ace the Case) as David's girlfriend and Don Wood (Satan Hates You) and Greg Finley (Star-Crossed) as Steve and Steven Jr. Each is surprisingly effective, but the true star is Rooker who provides a soft touch to an otherwise hardy role.


Hypothermia definitely has a few flaws including some schlocky practical effects. But, in a world nearly absent of creature features, it’s a nostalgic kick. The plot line is incredibly simple but effective, the characters are likeable - even at their worst - and by the film's end, even though there are some terrible lines spilled from the cast, and viewers should be satisfied. Perhaps it's the taut 72 minute runtime or the power of the actors featured, but Hypothermia is surprisingly watchable and consistently fun.


Hypothermia could benefit from a higher budget, undoubtedly. But for what it is and how intense it becomes, this stumble-on find is definitely worth every second. The setting is beautifully stark and the bloodshed is constantly terrifying. For this film, which is now streaming on Shudder, audiences will find a lot to appreciate. 6 out of 10.

 

The Overlook: The Monster

(imdb.com)

Speaking of the horror selection on Amazon Prime, here's another terrific one: The Monster. In an apparent week of creature features, The Monster tells the story of a struggling mother, Kathy, and her daughter, Lizzy, attempting to survive in a car as an unknown entity lurks outside. The pair, who set off to Lizzy's father's house for his custody time, are at ends with one another after Kathy announced that she'd like Lizzy to move to the father's full time. Because of these circumstances, viewers can expect a child wise beyond her years and a mother that is both grippingly compelling and entirely broken over her life decisions.

The two lead actresses are both equally terrific in their roles. Kathy is placed by Zoe Kazan (Olive Kitteridge) and Lizzy is played by Ella Ballentine (Les Miserables). The Monster is a relatively simple movie to follow and yet thanks to the pair, it is far better than it could have been. Kazan in particular, is a strong force throughout and her haphazard, unhappy parent is so intimately performed that she's understandable, rather than cringe-worthy. Ballentine is also great though, and where many indie films offer mediocre child stars, she's really special. Her role is one that resembles that of an adult and her acting prowess makes it believable.


Like other films that occupy such a small space, The Monster makes the most of its confinement trading atmosphere and dialogue for grandeur. Sure, there are numerous fear-inducing scenes, but this is a movie that is more focused on the long game. The story is one that continuously builds without letting up, and even when escape seems plausible, the audience will take it hesitantly because in this movie, things can and will go wrong.


The Monster isn't concerned with some neat, happy ending. Moments after the duo's car hits a wolf, many of the hopes audience members might have held of a cheery conclusion are dashed. After all, this movie is set on a remote back road, not some populated suburb or city and for anyone understanding enough of horror convention, would realize that the daughter is at an age where she may not be off limits for the creature's mealtime. All of this culminates into an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride of seismic proportions.


The Monster is one of the only "good" horror movies on Netflix. Thanks largely to the legwork of Kazan and Ballentine, this is a film that truly is terrifying. For anyone who is terribly afraid of country roads, this isn't the movie to see. No matter what the monster reveal is or was, it's definitely one of the only options on Amazon Prime that's worth a second look.

The Overlook: Thirst

(imdb.com)

Today's article is brought to you by brevity. Brevity: because life gets busy.

Amazon Prime is kind of a wasteland when it comes to horror movies. For every semi-good one, there are about 80 others that are nearly unwatchable. It's a dumpster playground of poorly acted, mediocrely put together monstrosities that make horror look less like a marketable genre and more like a joke. That's why, when coming across even a semi descent flick, something needs to be said.

Today, we recognize the watchable film, Thirst. By no means as polished or entertaining as it could have been, the indie creature feature telling the story of a group of troubled teens escaping the clutches of a chameleon-like alien is sometimes over-the-top. But, for a movie with little to no stakes to put into it, Thirst is a pretty good find.

Thirst finds a reformation camp in the desert attacked by a giant alien who picks off the family run business and the teens who occupy it. It stars John Redlinger (Nashville), Jes Macallan (Mistresses) as Claire and Karl Makinen (Conspiracy Theory) as Burt.  Like many of the recent films acknowledged on this site, there is a collection of even lesser known supporting characters that, in various capacities, fill their role properly.

This movie is something someone would most definitely watch half-asleep on a rainy afternoon, but it'll be able to maintain and mandate enough attention to keep those willing, awake. It never becomes revolutionary but, for what it is, it can definitely put audiences in a nostalgic mood reminiscent of yesteryears' creature features.

Thirst isn't anything fantastic. It's a pretty ridiculous film, but definitely provides enough entertainment for an afternoon in. With what was a presumably small budget, the uniqueness of this film is commendable, even if its execution isn't. There aren't many scares but the stark landscape and love-to-hate characters give a certain easy-viewing vibe that can be calming, if nothing else. It's got deaths scenes that are fun and a Chiller network atmosphere, which considering all of the actual duds on Prime, is a huge step up.

 

 

Review: Arbor Demon





(imdb.com)

Camping can provide quite the adventure on its own, add in horror elements and traversing in the forest quickly becomes a nightmare. Movies like 2014's Backcountry and Preservation, or the classic Blair Witch Project, gave those looking for it, a startling look at what can go wrong when you go into the woods without proper preparation. Queue this year's Arbor Demon. Quietly released and lesser known, Arbor Demon leads audiences into a camping trip gone horribly wrong when a group of hunters unsettle a monster that invades their site.

Arbor Demon is a creature feature that no one asked for but any fans of the subgenre will be fine with. While poor in practical effects and makeup, the feat of placing the movie almost entirely in broad daylight is pretty daring, and for that it earns points. The film stars Fiona Dourif (Cure of Chucky) as Dana, the girlfriend who sets the whole trip up, Rob Bouton (Crackerjack) as her boyfriend, Howard, and Jake Busey (From Dusk Till Dawn) as one of the hunters, Sean.

First: the problems. While both Dourif and Bouton make worthwhile efforts to establish a relationship that seems believable, progress is consistently muddled by Busey.  Busey seems pulled from the street into this movie and both his acting and his character hobble Arbor Demon. Whereas a third party in a movie about a loving couple normally is used to build the storyline and provide outside insight, it feels like Busy's hunter inserts himself in too plain and obtuse ways, seeming less natural and more like commentary that you'd hear on a bonus disc, not the film itself. As previously said, it is also important to note how bad the monsters look in this movie. Like an episode of Face Off where multiple people are sent home, there is not a lot to please the eye in Arbor Demon. It's a great little movie with a lot of potential but, the big reveal is definitely offset by what looks like a Walmart mask.

Arbor Demon does offer its fair share of positives though. For a creature feature, it's surprisingly low-key and grounded. Its final moments are over the top, but throughout the movie, nothing really happens that makes you laugh unintentionally. In addition, its spin on horror- using daylight, rather than the cover of night, also lends a hand to the movie's desire to be different. Arbor Demon isn't particularly scary, but for what it lacks in scares, it certainly makes up for in aspiration.

Arbor Demon feels like an early 2000s SyFy channel movie. Between nostalgic fades and weirdly placed music interludes, it actually becomes a fun throwback. Sure the pacing and some of the scares aren't great, but there's something simple about Arbor Demon that makes it entertaining enough. I give the movie 5 out of 10 tents because that's where the majority of this movie takes place.