Paul Sands Reviews

The Amazing Mr. Blunden (1972)

Proto Others

[14 February 2003]

The very first time I saw The Others my mind rushed immediately back to this gem...very much a similar premise, people from different periods of time appear to each other as ghosts. It's a nice little film. It's long been my wife's favourite, and its available on DVD from Feb 24, 2003 in the UK which is ooh so cool :)

Audition (1999)

Too Much Hype

[5 October 2001]

I had to comment, the superlatives being spouted about this film are way way way over the top. While there is an underlying edge to the movie and moments that bring to mind David Lynch the climax that was, supposedly, going to "have me cowering" (according to the usually discerning Mark Kermode) was a total disappointment...I must be missing something but it left me unmoved (actually it left me angry I'd spent £17 buying it)

French Twist (1995)

Dubbing? No Thanks

[19 September 2001]

strenuous effort should be made to avoid the English dubbed version that was released in the UK. The voices used detract terribly from the characters...the sub-titles are worth the effort as the film flows much more naturally with the original vocals

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

You get out what you put in

[13 December 1999]

The scariest moments of this movie occur after the closing credits as you attempt to figure it all out. You can't fail to dwell on the terrifying dénouement, where all the pieces of the puzzle, all of the clues gel. Its not an easy film to watch but if you immerse yourself, going along for the ride and set your own imagination free (conjure up how you might feel in a similar situation) it will pay dividends in spades Not the scariest movie ever made but damn good nonetheless

The Exorcist (1973)

Its the aftershocks that get you

[13 December 1999]

When originally released I was too young and couldn't sneak in the local flea pit to see this (and admittedly a little too scared to try too hard), I was witness to the hysteria that surrounded it but had to settle for the book (which was scary enough in its own right). It wasnt until 1983 that I finally managed to see this on video (just before the ban) and I found it the most chilling cinematic experience of my life (there were awful coincidences happening in my house throughout the movie that scared the living bejeezus outta me). I moved to the States in 1997 and The Exorcist, along with Clockwork Orange, were the first two movies that I rented and whereas some of the impact has been reduced, proably due to an over exposure to gore in the preceeding years, the deeper tremors can still be felt..it still functions at the psycholgical level just as effectively..a view shared by my then 12year old daughter. The use of subliminal images (of a face painted Damien Karras) serve to highten the underlying fear that runs throughout this movie...somtimes its what you dont see, or what you think you see that delivers the real shocks