Fish Tank

9/10 Screams

The raw feel, fascinating story, and incredible acting of lead Katie Jarvis, propel Fish Tank to the top. The story follows 15 year-old, tough-as-nails Mia (Katie Jarvis), as she struggles her way through daily life. No friends and a misguiding mother at home, help you fall in love with her as she fights to keep her head above water. Full of jaw dropping, meticulously composed shots, Fish Tank is just as pleasing to look at, as it is to follow.

Within the first few minutes I was hooked! Camera work that was so good I could feel the weather, sucked me right into to Mia's world. Katie Jarvis with zero acting experience, dominated the screen in one of the most convincing performances I have ever seen. Whether she is picking a fight or daydreaming about boys she makes sure you never question her acting. Coming of age stories are not usually my cup of tea, but the development of her intriguing character, had me glued to the screen.

There is not a minute to catch your breath in this film! You will root for Mia the whole way through. A must see film of 2010. Thanks for reading.

Daybreakers

6/10 Screams

An innovative twist on vampires, but a lack of believable special effects or a solid script, leaves Daybreakers in the dark. Big names Dafoe and Hawke gave mediocre performances that were backed solely by unique scenes of gore and violence. Sam Neil contributed one of the best performances; the very convincing evil leader of a bloodthirsty army, hell bent on sucking the entire human race dry.

Placebo's Running Up That Hill in the previews, and a dark overall feel in this film's trailer had me thrilled to see what I thought would be the best film of this unavoidable Vampire season. An extremely dismal atmosphere set up some appealing shots and imagery. With plenty of vampire lore artfully sprinkled throughout, as well as some solid actors, this film was very amusing.

Ethan Hawke's performance was ultimately ruined by his oh-so-fake, gritty voice. Willem Dafoe could not steer clear of cheesy one-liners that grasped for irony, but came up with nothing but air. I have not seen Sam Neil in anything worth watching since Jurassic Park! Coming through for Daybreakers as one of the scariest villains I have encountered on the big screen in a quick minute, Neil calmly sips blood out of a wine glass as he orchestrates his nocturnal hellions.

The scenes of gore keep you engrossed with their inventive, malicious nature. They would have been much stronger with improved computer graphics, and a more traditional makeup approach. Limbs, arterial sprays, severed heads, what more could you want? This movie will have you treading blood in a sea of gore!

Daybreakers is not a sensational film, but will surely keep you entertained through the entire bloody mess. I would save your ten spot and wait for this one to come to DVD. Thanks for reading.

The House of the Devil

9/10 Screams

Ti West throws us in a terror time machine to the 80's with his sure to be horror classic; The House of the Devil. Finally a smart, suspenseful movie that will haunt you to your core. I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I went to see it. This film follows Jocelyn Donahue's character Samantha as she slips and falls into a hell of ghastly characters.

80's style credits, high wasted pants, and a grainy film style help Jocelyn Donahue suck you right into this movie. The new scream queen holds down the silver screen with solid acting and a beautiful face while beating down satan loving maniacs. She does an excellent job playing Samantha the babysitter, and is blossoming into a great actress.

Ti West's ability to write and direct is beautifully displayed in this film. He perfectly builds tension and suspense all the way up to a thrilling climax that will shake the shit out of you. HIs ability to tell a story shines as he drops subtle bits of character into every scene. Just when you think its safe, your face gets ripped off with a brilliant plot turn. This movie horrified me and left me thinking about it for weeks after. Beginning to end, West destroys all stereotypes of the genre and leaves you wanting more.

No cheap scares here, West's new horror is a winner. Thanks for reading and I hope you found this review helpful. Grab a buddy, dim the lights, and enjoy a solid film.

The Wolfman

2/10 Screams

Joe Johnston's re-imagined take on the classic should be thrown to the wolves. Built around cheap, loud scares and a weak story, The Wolfman is sure to give you a headache or time for a nap. I went into this movie so excited but was let down within the first 15 minutes by boring dialogue, blah acting, and unbelievable characters.

I am a huge horror fan and love when a movie gets my blood pumping. Who ever says that horror movies just don't scare them are definitely watching the wrong ones! Other than the occasional cheap, loud scare, The Wolfman left me begging for a scene of suspense or a genuine, scary feel.

The gore was entertaining in some parts of this film, but fell victim to poor special effects and a terribly imagined, throwback style Wolfman. Less revealing angles or a shaky filming style would have saved the Wolfman from looking like an overrated actor in a gorilla suit. This all leads up to a very cheesy climax of not so special effects.

When there was not a werewolf on screen it was hard to keep my eyes open. Between the confusing flashbacks and very unbelievable characters this movie left me asking "REALLY?". This film tries its hardest to develop a gloomy past for Benicio's character but misses by a mile. Hopkin's and Blunt's characters are quick to do exactly what you thought they would and will have you saying "I told you so" to your friend sitting next to you.

I am thankful I had free tickets to an advanced screening of this film! If you're looking for anything remotely scary or entertaining, I recommend looking anywhere else. Thanks for reading and I hope this review helped.

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