EdgarAllen
Living Dead
Reged: 09/16/00
Posts: 2176
Loc: Star City
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Geeze, I just watched this mishmash. Has anyone else had the misfortune? I am unable to believe the guy who directed Salem's Lot, TCM 1 and 2, Invaders from Mars and Lifeforce was even on set during the filming. I am quite serious when I say that. If he was, I can only imagine he was ill in some way while working this project.
The story idea was quite acceptable and the acting, while not good, is passable. And I did actually jump once. But the movie is incredibly uneven. To the point that it feels like they were writing it as they went. It's hard to even put into words. Almost every scene in the first 3/4ths of the movie that could have been scary or tense was just one completely wasted opportunity after another. There is no pacing or build up to key moments. There's a complete lack of suspense up until the last quarter of the movie, and even at the end it feels more like an episode of Goosebumps than anything else.
In most parts there seems to be little consideration given to scene selection or camera angles, which is a huge strength in many of Tobe's earlier efforts. Worse yet, towards the end of the film there are scenes that feel like poor man rehashes of TCM2 and Invaders, one of the only signs that Tobe might have actually been involved in some way.
The effects are pretty cheap, which I can generally overlook assuming they working with a small budget. However, most of the make-up is unforgiveable. There's two characters that are given reasonable attention to detail, every one else looked like their mom dressed them for trick or treating. One of the main *monsters* isn't even given make-up at all. It feels like a total lack of effort or caring.
To define it in a brief phrase, the film is generic and plain and pretty much NOT special in any way. At best, this could have maybe been made-for-TV. Sorry Mr. Hooper, love you're movies, but this thing is a turd.
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"Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!"
- Lewis Carroll
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The_Dude
Rotting Corpse
Reged: 02/15/09
Posts: 696
Loc: N.B. Canada
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I kind of enjoyed this. I was quite buzzed when I watched it however. Maybe I should reserve judgment till I've watched it again.
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Mentally ill and ready to kill!
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EdgarAllen
Living Dead
Reged: 09/16/00
Posts: 2176
Loc: Star City
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I am still somewhat in disbelief at that film. I knew going in it hadn't won any praise from anybody but I was still shocked at the product. One specific thing I didn't mention above was the performance by Denise Crosby. She's acting in the beginning of the movie, but then somewhere along the way she just stopped trying. I'm wondering did she get mad during the production or something, I dunno. I'm also thinking they just ran out of money early on or something.
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"Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!"
- Lewis Carroll
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ScaryLarry
Flesh Eater
Reged: 12/11/99
Posts: 1851
Loc: Alberta
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I enjoyed your assessment of the film. I'm pretty sure I saw this a long time ago as one of several video rentals, and now possess no recollection of it whatsoever beyond the title.
Tobe Hooper just did absolutely nothing after TCM, didn't he? We all know Spielberg did Poltergeist and Hooper was basically a figurehead there. Hooper did TCM, and nothing at all interesting besides that. What the hell happened with him to ensure that he would be forever condemned to the purgatory of B-movie mediocrity?
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EdgarAllen
Living Dead
Reged: 09/16/00
Posts: 2176
Loc: Star City
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I know alot of people think he's a one hit wonder. But to me Salem's Lot and Invaders from Mars are a couple of masterpieces. I also enjoyed TCM 2.
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"Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!"
- Lewis Carroll
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Ikiru
Risen from the Grave
Reged: 07/02/04
Posts: 33
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I thought it was kind of refreshing, though worse than his better ones like Death Trap. Long live Judd!
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kamikaze_zombie
Flesh Eater
Reged: 10/03/05
Posts: 1019
Loc: Canada
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Pretty abysmal film, I'll admit, but something makes me want to call it better than shit (No, the producers aren't holding a gun to my head as I type this). I think it works the same way as films like Scream Bloody Murder and Slaughterhouse Phi: Death Sisters (Both are films that Mortuary blows away). It's somewhat entertaining because it's as terrible as it is. Granted, the fact that this is indeed a Tobe Hooper film is rather sad, but nonetheless, I can't help but cut it a little bit of slack.
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Bruce Campbell has a P.H.D......in kicking your ass!!
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EdgarAllen
Living Dead
Reged: 09/16/00
Posts: 2176
Loc: Star City
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Quote:
We all know Spielberg did Poltergeist and Hooper was basically a figurehead there.
Hate to post it, but after Zelda Rubinstein passed, I read an interview where she said her on-set work took about a week and Spielberg was directing the entire time.
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"Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!"
- Lewis Carroll
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Howler
Zombie
Reged: 11/26/01
Posts: 2642
Loc: N.B. Canada
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I never did get around to watching this again.lol
Quote:
Hate to post it, but after Zelda Rubinstein passed, I read an interview where she said her on-set work took about a week and Spielberg was directing the entire time.
I believe it. I can remember seeing some behind the scenes shots and Hooper was standing silent beside the camera for the most part. Spielberg on the other hand, was doing most of the talking while getting the shot set up. Yeah, I think it really is Spielberg's baby.
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Is the glass of blood half full? Or half empty? You decide.
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korosh1ya
Rotting Corpse
Reged: 06/06/05
Posts: 705
Loc: New Orleans, La
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whoops...I thought this was that christopher george film.
I'll be leaving now 
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korosh1ya
Rotting Corpse
Reged: 06/06/05
Posts: 705
Loc: New Orleans, La
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Quote:
I What the hell happened with him to ensure that he would be forever condemned to the purgatory of B-movie mediocrity?
eaten alive?
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woodenheart
Rotting Corpse
Reged: 04/24/10
Posts: 157
Loc: Illinois
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I like it. I own it. I watch it quite often.
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If you die first, I am definitely going to eat you, but the question is, if I die, what are you going to do? Bon appétit... Eat or die. ~Ravenous~
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