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ivokremer
Reviews
Unearthed (2007)
Too many wasted changes
I will add a short review to this one: This is a really nice example about how no to make a horror movie.
PLUS: acting is surprisingly better than I expected; PLUS: they tried to add some depth to the main character by showing flashbacks; PLUS: some scenes are actually pretty exciting for people who are not used to watching horror movies. However, this is only in the beginning in the movie.
PLUS: I liked watching the sexy actresses :P ; MINUS: all of the scenes end in an extremely predictable way; MINUS: all my favorite characters (as far as I had any) get killed; MINUS: it is very often not clear what is actually happening. This confused me so much that after a while I did no longer bother what was actually happening. They try to cover up too much with shadows. Shadows can do a lot of good, but only when used properly; MINUS: some characters seem to know more than you would normally expect. This is bad writing; MINUS: the camera crew was probably drunk while filming the action scenes; MINUS: the black guy carries a mysterious suitcase with him, but they never explain what is in it; MINUS: the tiny little flesh eating worms are never really explained. It's not clear what they are, just some kind of organic weapons or (what I thought of) offspring. They also looked too familiar to me; MINUS: the monster looks too familiar. They could have been more original. A low budget is no excuse for this.
I like stop-motion animation so I didn't mind about the poorly animated monster. They should have added more frames. But then again, this is a low budget movie.
Dead Bodies (2003)
Starts well, ends cheap
I have seen Shallow Grave years ago, and *that* was one of those movies I kept in memory for a very long time. It was intense from beginning to end and with plenty of sudden twists. But all of these made sense.
I can't tell the same about Dead Bodies. Above the title is a subtitle that claims it to be "even better than Shallow Grave". This is a big lie.
Dead Bodies looses strength and gets far less convincing during the movie.
Two supporting characters for example, turn out to be a whole lot less innocent than they first appeared to be. That could work as a surprise, but it didn't surprise me. I could see it coming minutes before, and *that* is a big difference with Shallow Grave.
Another thing I have to mention is that characters in this movie often respond not very realistic. They behave like that more often when the movie gets to it's end.
I would have found it far more interesting if some of the characters would have stayed completely innocent, not knowing what is going on. It would have been better for the contrast with for example Tommy and his friend who have to carry a *huge* secret with them.
But no, for some stupid reason the makers of this movie decided that all characters should show their darkest sides. It does not work in a movie like this.
The end felt much like an open end. It left me with an unsatisfied feeling. I expected a whole lot more of it.
At first I would have given this movie six stars because it is not entirely a bad movie. I liked watching it. Most of the time.
But occasionally I saw some really poor acting and unrealistic scenes and because of the disappointing open end, I stick to four stars this time. And because it turned out to be a mistake that I have spend my time and money to it. Unlike Shallow Grave, I will probably forget Dead Bodies very soon. It is just not such a special movie.
The makers could have done a far better job with this movie. It is a shame that they did not.
Citizen X (1995)
Poor DVD quality does not always make a bad movie
The poor DVD video quality is the only reason why I gave this movie a 9 instead of a 10. That could have been so much better, this movie deserves it.
This is truly a movie that covers several themes simultaneously. If you do not like movies about serial killers, but are fascinated by the astonishing bureaucratic culture in the former Sovjet Union, this movie is a must-see anyway.
I can't compare it to "Silence of the Lambs" for several reasons. The way the serial killer is portrayed, has been done far much better in Citizen X. You see several details of his private life, because you "travel" along with the killer, which gives you some idea of the source of his constant anger and sexual frustration.
The only other movie I have seen that is as realistic as this one was "Henry - portrait of a serial killer". If you were fascinated by that movie you definitely need to take a look at Citizen X.