Category: CPE
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Criterion: Shivers / They Came from Within (**1/2) feels like a bad date
It’s effective, for sure. Not my gig, even slightly, but it is not a bad film. It might even be considered good for the time.
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Freaky (***1/2) gets in touch with its other self
If you ever enjoyed Vaughn and wondered where his comic chops have gone in the last decade, look here. His skill at evoking laughter from a mixture of intelligence and physical comedy is near top form.
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Criterion: Deathdream (*) Should have stayed dead
This is a film for no one. Save your time by staring at the wall. It will feel less awkward than 95% of the dialogue of this film.
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Criterion: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (***) is unrelenting horror
As it stands, there is no one that can take it’s cult status away. This will forever be a history making cinematic effort, even if it is almost as annoying as it is scary.
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Another Look: Criminal Law (***) Big Fish, Little Pond
This film made impression enough on me that I started following Oldman, there and then, and I have never regretted it.
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Netflix’ His House (*****) holds in the pain
Weekes does an excellent job creating a situation that we can empathize with, even if it is not an experience we share.
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Criterion: Black Christmas (***1/2) coal for everyone
Bob Clark is best known for directing A Christmas Story. This sorority slaughter fest is his 2nd most famous Christmas film.
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Criterion: It’s Alive (*) and it’s bad
Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist naturally lead to stuff like this crawling around in the sewer of entertainment. Having Warner produce just brings a nicer sheen to the turd.
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Criterion: The Crazies (**) is a rough draft for a better film
There are occasional good moments here and there, but overall, the skill is somewhat below local theater troupe making an even lower budget version of Home for Purim.
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Antebellum (*) blunders its opportunity
Take it as a warning. This film robs of the senses you should have and replaces them with garbage.
Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews 