DaveCooper Reviews

Kill List (2011)

What was that about??

[8/10 · 29 December 2011]

Okay, so I finished watching Kill List and have been sat here trying to figure out just what the hell it was all about.

My advice would be to go into it blind without knowing anything about the plot - so if you've not seen the film - stop reading this review now.

Still with me? Good. Firstly I must say, I really loved the performances from the entire cast. Maskell and Smiley were great as the two 'men on a mission.' their relationship felt authentic and there was a real sense of care and love between the two former comrades. MyAnna Buring is as talented as she is beautiful and for the first time is really given some proper work for her to get her teeth into. It's a remarkable performance, fully rounded and believable were it could have been so very one note. As the film draws to it's close and the two hit men reach the third name on their titular Kill List the third act takes a new direction, albeit one signposted throughout the film and ends up dealing with the occult. It comes off a little wicker man'ish but without any kind of satisfying pay off. There are perhaps too many unanswered questions here to make it entirely enjoyable. The film hints at possible explanations. Is it in fact all a dream? Did Jay die in Kiev? Is Jay actually the Devil? In truth, i have no idea, yet I still enjoyed the film mainly due to the socially real 'kitchen sink' drama that precedes the final act, and because of the simple stripped back performances.

War Games (2010)

Nasty Stuff

[8/10 · 30 October 2011]

Cosimo Alema has crafted a really gritty and dark thriller which pits it's excellent young cast against some pretty nasty euro villains and watches in delight as they fight to survive. The idea of city kids being hunted in the wilderness by crazed locals is nothing new and has been done better in Deliverance and Southern Comfort but the old saying rings true, if it ain't broke.... The film really benefits from it's stylish burnt out visuals, no doubt thanks to Alema's background as a music video director. It gives the film a strong identity and makes the most of the awesome back drop in which the film is set. The hunting ground itself is a awash with lakes, waterfalls and forests which all lend to some great set pieces. The cast all do a good job to flesh out their limited characters, and give us a reason to root for them, whilst the bad guys all look typically gruff and nasty. Low on scares the film does throw in one or two good shocks and whilst never lingering too long on the kills as the cast are inevitably whittled down, it does create a very tense and believable atmosphere. A scene involving the two sisters Lara (Stephanie Chapman Baker) and Monica (Valene Kane) is heartbreaking and truly memorable. Sam Cohan does well as the groups de facto leader Alex who may or may not know more than he is letting on, and Neil Linpow is definitely one to watch as the reluctant hero Riko. A really good example of what I'd call Friday night fluff. An enjoyable watch that wont set the world on fire, but will keep you entertained throughout.

Wilderness (I) (2006)

Low budget fun

[6/10 · 30 October 2011]

It must be said, that if you can take a few good young up and coming actors, and pair them with a couple of solid older pro's, stick em' in a forest and chase them around, nine out of ten times you're going to get a pretty decent slasher. By no means is this film a seminal piece of work for anyone involved, and it barely registers on the radar in terms of top examples of the genre, but that said, this is an enjoyable ride. The young actors do well to flesh out there characters, given the limited information we are given. These kids are all borstal rejects who have committed violent crimes and as such do well to get us to care about their fates. Toby Kebbell shows us the early promise which he is now beginning to fulfill, and Sean Pertwee is always good value but it's Steven Wight who steals the show with his nastiest of the nasties Steve. Some of the other actors fare less well, Ben Mckay is whiny and annoying, more so than the part requires and Stephen Don is horribly miscast as the father of one of the young boys at the borstal. For a low budget British effort though, this is fun and well executed, and should be a platform for everyone to do better work.

Severance (2006)

Great fun

[8/10 · 30 October 2011]

First thing first, this MUST be the last decent movie Danny Dyer has made, and on the strength of this it's a real shame. Whilst he has indeed sold his soul 'for a pound note' and gone on to front some real dross, it's here he shows us why he was genuinely considered to be a talent not all that long ago. Leading the film with support from the always reliable Tim McInnerny, Toby Stephen and Laura Harris, Dyer keeps the balance and steadies the ship in this Slasher Comedy, which put Christopher Smith firmly on the map. Smith has gone on to make better films (Triangle, Black Death) but it's in this movie that he really hones the skills learnt whilst making the forgettable 'Creep.' The mood and tone switches up from being funny to dark to jumpy seamlessly and keeps you gripped throughout. It surfs on just the right side of silly and never takes itself too seriously which helps to make its darker moments all the more powerful.

Insidious (I) (2010)

What a let down

[5/10 · 30 October 2011]

Okay - creepy children scare the hell out of me. I normally avoid watching these types of films - but, hey it's Halloween so, why not. True enough, the opening 45 minutes was very tense with some great scares and strong direction from the safe hands of James Wan. Whilst not avoiding every horror cliché, Wan does well to keep the camera moving and not telegraphing the jumps. However, in my humble opinion it's the second act where it takes steep nosedive and ruins most of it's early hard work. The plot becomes pretty ludicrous and negates any fear, by being, basically dumb. Out of body flying children and demon faced wierdos aren't nearly as scary as a good old fashioned ghost boy. The father having experienced this all as a boy and being the only one who could save his son, along with the obligatory 'Twist' ending were all signposted a mile away and by the time it was finished, I wasn't even nearly scared. Just a bit bored.

Outpost (2008)

Not the best

[6/10 · 30 October 2011]

I must be honest, this film is pretty average. It's remarkably similar in story to the superior 'Bunker' that dealt with the same subject matter in a far better way. It seems to me as though there has been a fair amount left on the cutting room floor, which has lead to some plot holes and character inconsistencies. We find ourselves in the company of the usual mix of merc toughguys, none of which are particularly well developed. Only Ray Stevenson's character which is paper thin elicits any feelings of sympathy from the audience - and even with him, we are given very little to go on. The actors all commit 100% to their parts though, with varying levels of success. Richard Brake is good as Stevenson's redneck right hand man, but some of the other accents might leave you grinning for the wrong reasons. Im not exactly sure where Brett Fancy's Taktarov is meant to be from, but he along with Enoch Frost's woeful African accent certainly jar. There are a few good scares to be had, but in fairness the film is a little slow and doesn't really satisfy as either a horror or an action film. Dog Soldiers handles the brothers in arms versus supernatural enemy's far better, but for some odd reason, i found myself watching this to the end happily enough. The film looked nice and had an decent score, but was let down by underdeveloped writing and a few week performances. All in all though, this is decent fodder for a one time viewing.