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Reviews
Lightning Bug (2004)
Not all monsters hide under your bed or in your closet.
I was seeing "Lightning Bug" at the suggestion of Ashely Laurence, whom I met at a horror convention. I had a hard time finding this movie for rent in my small town until recently. I guess since it wasn't a big film they didn't order 100 copies of it since it wasn't spider man 8.
I absolutely loved this film. Seeing Ashley do a Drama was amazing! Known for being Kirsty Cotton in Hellraiser, Ashley has deeper talent than just this role of the scream queen of the Hellraiser series. They pay Homage to Hellraiser II in the film. She plays a southern Mom who has a bad habit of drinking a bit much and getting involved with the wrong men. Ashley was so convincing I was heart broken by her characters attempts to better her life. Her southern accent was very convincing. Bret Harrison plays Green Graves, a boy who's talent just doesn't fit his small town. Beyond those monsters he's battling with those at home too. Everything seems stacked against him but, his family loves him even though he is a bit different than they are. Laura Prepon, famous for the TV series that 70's show, plays Angevin Duvet. Her home is no different than her love interests and she needs to deal with her personal demons as well.
The acting was wonderful. It was great to see Laura Prepon outside her TV acing and doing it so well. She looked beautiful as the small outcast/Goth looking chick..grrrrr. Her character reminded me of those times when someone said, do you really think their life is so good you'd like to be them? Angevin and Green were complete opposites but were meant to be.
Spoiler below....
I tried not to include a spoiler but... The film had me in tears at the end. I want to know what happens to Green and his brother, if he ever found out about Angevin's secret she seemed to hold from him. If she continued on with her life or waited for him. Did Green make it? The film seems a bit incomplete just for this reason. It kills me to not know the exact reason she makes the choice she does. I took this film very personal. I love horror movies and I'm a horror movie lover like Green. I also love real down to earth dramas such as this film. I never imagined a drama with someone so similar. Greens life is a lot harder and he's a fighter. I can identify with his desire. Although I'm quite different. It really crept into my emotions like this.
The filming also seemed a bit strange. There were a few parts in the movie they show flashbacks to give you a perspective they decided not to give away. They start with this theme in the beginning and continue throughout the film. I didn't take it the way they meant. It seemed as if the movie stopped and I thought something broke on my set up at home. I really wish this was done differently.
"Lightning Bug" is a film that will be highly underrated and should be on you to do list to go and see right away. I've not seen a better down to earth drama like this in a long time. It also combats the stereotype that all horror film obsessed boys are satanists. Very personal and direct, "Lighting Bug" is about personal demons and the boy who has to defeat them to continue his talent to create them. I'd give it an 8 out of 10. This move is a grade A+ quality film.
Hellraiser: Deader (2005)
Hellraiser... DEAD!
Rick Bota had me expecting the best from Hellraiser:Deader when I saw hellseeker. He managed to bring back Kirsty, and film a what I felt was a riveting installment after many of the other unsuccessful installments.
Hellraiser:Deader doesn't even fit in the hellraiser series. It's got a whole different feel. It almost can survive on it's own without Pinhead. Worst part of the film is that it quotes a line from a previous installment that was filmed beautifully and they make it meaningless and somewhat comical. Can't pinhead at least have a new line by part 7? I'm disappointed. I hope hellworld, the next installment, will have cenobites and Pinhead and make sense.
In short... no more words needed. Deader is not a hellraiser film, the title is stupid, the story was obviously changed and there was a character that was supposed to be evil that they decided to not associate with Pinhead but, rather than rework the film completely they left the traces so you can figure it out. This film shows how lazy and unconcerned Bota was with making the film and the fans of hellraiser.
Not a hellraiser movie.... remove the box, Pinhead, or add more cenobites more Pinhead...
One or the other and it would be fine.
I know this is not a star class review but, truthfully you don't need more than to understand that this is not a hellraiser film.
The Devil's Rejects (2005)
House of 1,000 Corpses fan?... Rejects will be rejected!
Having faith that Rob Zombie would continue his heavily stylized film making into the second effort "The Devils Rejects" I expected to get my money's worth out of this film. I was wrong and feel horrible for defending zombie and having such faith in this film.
Needless to say, "The Devils Rejects" just doesn't seem to fit with the first one. The feel is completely different, I know Rob had intended that. My problem is that the characters even lost their charm. If you loved Otis, Mother firefly, Baby, or the ever Lovable dirty mouthed Captain Spaulding, you just might not in this picture. The comic attempts to break the violence are worthless. Random insults and meaningless arguments with dirty words can't break a smile amidst the exploitation of victims. The first film had a better formula to break this tension, don't expect it here.
The BIG difference...the violence is much more real. Instead of escaping the daily world and being put into a redneck rampage sideshow, you are thrust into a vile world of violence and exploitation without purpose. It's obvious this film is homage to the 70's exploitation and revenge films only now you will hear more complaints because it is in the public eye unlike those of the 70's. I was embarrassed to see a child no more than 9 years old leaving with his dad. (note, they looked pretty normal not like the film characters.)
On the good side: Just as the first film, this left me with many MORE insights. Good vs Evil an that borderline or level where there's indifference, questioning the pleasure we get from revenge and why it heals old wounds, and finally.... your rights as Americans to bear arms and do whatever the hell you want... as long as you're willing to face the consequences. It took the first hour of this film to pass before I could settle down and breath easy enough to think about these things.
It doesn't change that "The Devils Rejects" is very well made and it doesn't follow suit of the first. Rob would have done better to use different characters for this film and keep these characters out of the exploitation theme, it just doesn't' fit them. It is the only reason I give this film such a low rate. The firefly family was seductive and sadistic but, never showed a hint of sexually violent. It should have been left that way. They've gone from funny backwoods rejects with some secret project to very human, brutal rednecks with no godlike ability to seduce, just kill and manage to not get caught even public places that obviously someone else must have been in. A lot of flaws but, you have to admit it was well made. Even a few days later... I'm thinking... I have to see it again to be sure. Maybe I will.
Most people will need to take a shower after watching "The Devils Rejects" to try to get that dirty feeling out of their skin, I only fear it's not enough.