SoapboxQuantez08 Reviews

On the Borderline (2001)

Bordering Turmoil

[6/10 · 15 June 2016]

In this sturdy "stranded couple" film, everyone is suspected of smuggling immigrants across the Mexican border. Practically everyone. Early in the film, a polite couple stops for fuel at a small Texas town, en-route to a job offer in California. The shady gas-station owner/operator, Dean, seizes an opportunity to take the couple's last few hundred dollars. It being that this is a border-town, and the couple are out of money, you might guess where the film goes from this point. Well, sort of. While not advertised as a period piece, the film seems to have a certain 70's mood. Not to complain, as it adds a certain flavor and zest, per se. I'm not familiar at all with Bill Sage as Dean, but he did his part, as did the rest of the cast. Eric Mabius apparently filmed this one concurrently with "The Crow: Salvation" and stars as Luke. His wife in the film, Marley Shelton, is in fine form as an actress (especially in a waitress uniform). There are a few head-scratching scenes, such as a scene where Web can't make up his mind whether he wants to use a .38 caliber or an automatic pistol, at a crucial point. But for the most part, the film is serious (almost too serious, as Dean is overtly slimy as the villain, to the point where he has no respect for infants whatsoever). As I mentioned, the performances are a strength, including R. Lee Ermey (star of Full Metal Jacket) as the long arm of the border-law. All in all, a worthwhile film, deserving of repeat views.

Howling IV: The Original Nightmare (1988 Video)

An unyielding nitemare

[7/10 · 9 May 2016]

The only flaw I want to emphasize is that the early scenes in this film, much like the opening credits, are too quick to be effective. This one (however) is more faithful to the novel than the original, and once you get past the first 15 minutes, it doesn't seem so rushed. Romy Windsor plays the vision-bound, introverted, semi-tolerated Marie. Neither Marie, nor her husband Richard, nor their friend Tom, believe in werewolves. Janice, an ex-nun, is the only one considering a werewolf-existence possibility. Marie/Richard met her in Drago, and Janice's belief in demons is probably what paved the way for her werewolf suspicions. Along the way, some peeps have vanished, including a hitch-hiking couple and the long-dead sister Ruth. When Marie discovers that the sheriff covered-up the disappearance of the pleasant hitch-hiking couple, or attempted to do so, tempers flare. There's more than one way to skin a wolf (or cover it's tracks), and it isn't by lying to red-riding hood. You can't run a successful werewolf business without breaking a few nuns, as it turns out. The lethargic and apathetic sheriff would probably agree. The main complaint here is the scarce on-screen werewolf time. But in my opinion, this is redeemed by acceptable performances, just enough atmosphere, and a classic 80's score.

The Immortals (1995)

'Time doesn't matter'

[7/10 · 11 April 2016]

"Time doesn't matter when you're talking about eternity." At one point in the film: One of the eight one-time convicts (who were hired to steal suitcased loot in pairs) says this to a fellow thug (who, in turn, points a gun on the declarist's forehead). Every character in this flick has a reason to be on-edge, and we discover those reasons at the end of the film, which is blessed with a magnificent cast. Eric Roberts leads the pack with style, Chris Rock plays a goon who boasts, and Kevin Bernhardt is a tough guy that delivers extremely-timely lines. The hostage "Cleopatra" adds plenty of sex appeal, sporting some fine threads and some fine cleavage, almost distracting the viewer. There's a certain '95 film that may seem cousin-bound, but to compare this film to "The Usual Suspects" is blasphemous. 'Suspects' doesn't have the action, humor, or the Cleopatra that this film has. TUS simply has an unusually inferior cast and script to this action-comedy. This crowd-pleaser also stars Bill Forsythe, known for his villainous role in 'Out for Justice'. In this one, he seems to play a homophobe who bickers at Kerry, and early in the film they visit a titty bar. In this one, however, he doesn't battle Steven Seagal at the end. But gay or straight, they all slowly but surely realize they have more in common than they initially thought. And whether you're an Eric Roberts fan or not, this has to be considered (along with 'Nature of the Beast') a 1995 timeless masterpiece.

Virtuosity (1995)

Virtuous Mayhem

[7/10 · 29 February 2016]

This film could be called a cross between Copycat and Terminator 2, but it's so much more than that. This is a film that wound up losing money, and I have 3 explanations for it. First: Sid is an over-the-top villain (almost joker-esque), which is rather off-beat for a cyber-entity. Second: The music is arguably inappropriate, and is often less-than-serious. Third: Many thrillers came out in 1995, so there was a lot of competition, to the point where this time was seemingly a harsh year for thrillers to get good reviews (Lord of Illusions, my next fave '95 film, has lackluster reviews as well). In his own words, Sid 6.7 "likes to play games". Knowing he has an existential advantage due to his regenerating prowess, he primarily focuses on taunting ex-cop Barnes with abandon, taking any hostage at his disposition. All said, Virtuosity is a tremendously entertaining cyber-thriller that is a roller-coaster of mayhem.

Brain Twisters (1991)

Enter my mind

[7/10 · 12 June 2015]

Certain collegians have been losing control in a town, and the reason could be subliminal experiments by one of the professors. At the center of the film is Laurie Stevens (Farrah Forke), a college student who befriends a detective. Early in the film, a teen is so beyond help that he panics during the detective's first-murder questioning, and leaps out of a building just for a crime he wasn't guilty of. At one point: a subliminal attempt is made on Laurie, while she and the detective are having dinner, and it seems he's going to get his groove on. Instead, she snaps out of the phase, and he winds up with spaghetti tossed on his shirt. There are pretty bizarre killings, as people are losing control, and people are murdered during a party halfway through. Only Detective Turi can protect Miss Stevens, and stop the pandemonium before it's too late. X-Files episodes involving mind-control (Blood, Wetwired) clearly took a page out of this one.

The Execution of Raymond Graham (1985 TV Movie)

Fairly Shocking

[6/10 · 19 May 2015]

A death row inmate is hoping for a last-minute pardon by the governor, and is making amends with everyone he's known, in case it doesn't come through. This film is quite flawed: The picture has a soap-opera feel to it, the audio is below-par, and cameo performances are not what you'd expect from the stellar cast. Still, there's much to enjoy here, besides the obvious fact that this film is a curio for seeing Morgan Freeman and Jeff Fahey in such early roles. Laurie Metcalf (of Roseanne fame) gives a rather impressive/heartfelt performance ala Raymond's sister, as did the reporter who sets out to plead for Graham's life. Overall, an unforgettable film, worth-watching for Metcalf's performance alone, in my book.

My Sweet Killer (1999)

Charlie and Pasqua

[6/10 · 25 August 2014]

It is believed that a young man named Charlie offed his father to avenge his mother and sister as a boy. He's been in and out of institutions, and is crazy for sleeping pills. He eventually has a confrontation with his boss, losing his job, and runs out of a house when he's about to get laid. He's clearly losing control, and is apparently in love with Pasqua, the apartment's previous tenant. Pasqua is his daily fantasy, and other than the thugs in front of his residence, is the only person he communicates with. Charlie has been a machinist, and on the job, he meets a co-worker who's concerned enough to act as an adviser. Charlie's co-worker is his only hope of ever returning to reality.