Change Your Image
brett-robson
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
Thale (2012)
A horror movie that tries for more
Thale is really a great movie. Cinematography, locations, set design, colour schemes, acting and casting are all spot on. The budget didn't stretch to magnificent special effects, and if I have one criticism it would be that the director could have found a way around these scenes. He could have implied both the creatures and the violence a la Val Lewton.
It's also a mystery for the first thirty minutes or so. At the end it tries for a bit more. You actually feel that the characters lives have changed due to their experiences. This could easily have been maudlin or even silly but the two male leads manage to make you believe through understatement.
Don't expect to be jumping out of your seat but welcome the thoughts this movie conjures up.
Aleksander Nordaas is a force to be reckoned with. Can't wait to see more from him.
The Tall Man (2012)
Meretricious
Major Spoiler Alert - Yes I'm giving the whole plot away.
First, this film was marketed in a way to lead the innocent viewer/purchaser to believe it was somehow related to/inspired by events in Phantasm (1979). Simply not true. Phantasm (Never Dead in Australia) was an entertaining B horror film with some interesting scenes and ideas. Lots of fun in a brainless way - the main hero is an ice cream man.
Secondly, this films basic premise is extremely offensive. We are treated to scenes where the mother of an abducted child is comforted by the person committing the abduction. The reason for the abduction - the mother is too poor to raise the child properly. You can't not find this offensive.
The attempts at "mystery" by deliberately obfuscating plot points is just annoying. The Tall Man is (maybe) 6 feet 2.
While technically competent it is basically a waste of your time. I'm giving it a one because you can see and hear what's going on although for much of the movie you wish you didn't.