horror movie

Double Walker (2021) : Movie Thoughts

Posted by absolutebadasses on November 18, 2021

Posted in: Movie Reviews, Reviews. Tagged: colin west, double walker, double walker movie, films, horror movie, like, love, movie blog, movies, photos, pictures, revenge genre, slow burning thriller, suspense, sylvie mix, sylvie mix double walker. Leave a comment

Director : Colin West – Cast Includes : Sylvie Mix, Justin Rose, Quinn Armstrong

Colin West‘s directorial debut DOUBLE WALKER came out of the blue… I’d not even seen any promotional work for this movie, not heard of the filmmaker or indeed it’s thrilling young star either… I know this may sound rather morbid but I do love the revenge genre, somebody has been wronged in someway and punishment must be handed out, and you know the really great thing about Double Walker is that it’s refreshingly original, a bizzare mix of intrigue, weirdness (in a good way) and horror, all this combined allowing you to escape into it’s delicious twisty plot watching the perpetrators get their comeuppance one by one until the story unfolds and everything makes perfect (well sort of) sense towards it’s finale… Sylvie Mix wrote the story and she also plays the lead role, her screen presence is alluring and although her character rarely speaks her actions are enough to carry the film, grabbing your attention from that very first moment she appears in the woods to those mysterious scenes in the town of Fairview… the writing is clever, I loved the mood and the way Sylvie’s character is dressed in mostly white almost angelic, the darkness that consumes each & every character and the blood that’s spills… Double Walker comes highly recommended, it’s a slow burning chiller that I throughly enjoyed and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for it’s director and star ★★★½

Director : David Gordon Green – Cast Includes : Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak

David Gordon Green‘s Halloween back in 2018 finished with Michael Myers trapped in a burning basement in Laurie Strode’s house, HALLOWEEN KILLS follows on directly after those events… the gasps, the laughter and the uncomfortable silence is why this movie is a must watch on the big screen… Halloween Kills is a real chaotic, unforgiving, relentless and NASTY AS HELL horror movie that pays homage to Carpenter’s original by building on the Haddonfield ethos, creating this timely reminder of the consequence of a witch-hunt whilst also managing to keep the films tension bubbling to boiling point : unlike previous outings in the franchise out the window goes this subtle, stalking killing machine that lurked in the shadows, in Halloween Kills you can almost feel the anger, & pain behind his torn up mask as he uses someone’s back as a pin cushion plunging knife after knife into their flesh for the sheer joy of it, I just felt there was something different, more evil than I had seen previously… the writing was on point too with Green’s narrative not all about Laurie dealing with her demons but more of a collective with Tommy, Karen and Allyson more in the firing line… the return of Kyle Richards as Lindsey & Nancy Stephens as Marion is not only a great touch, bringing both actors back from the 78′ original but it also worked well in the overall storyline and my eye’s lit up like a Birthday morning when Jim Cummings came on screen playing officer Pete McCabe in an early well worked flashback : for me Halloween Kills is the best Michael Myers outing since 1978’s Halloween & it’s underrated sequel Halloween II, it’s a film that suits the big screen arena but BE WARNED this film is not for the squeamish, with each death the next is more fierce and it’s R rating is a true indication of it’s horror : BLOODY AWESOME ★★★★½

Director : Leos Carax – Cast Includes : Marion Cotillard, Adam Driver, Simon Helberg

ANNETTE : Henry is a stand-up comedian who falls in love with Ann, a famous opera singer. Under the world’s glare they form a much photographed and devoted couple but when Ann gets pregnent and gives birth to a little girl their lives are turned upside down : the passion & the commitment by Adam Driver in giving Henry McHenry this bat-shit crazy existence is totally admirable, from the opening tune of So May We Start to the scenes on the boat and his showdown with Simon Helberg’s Accompanist, Adam Driver is devastatingly good… as is Marion Cotillard playing Ann the opera singer and partner to McHenry, from the extraordinary sex scene to the birth scene Cotillard one again demostrates her prowess, her range of vocals and acting ability is astonishing… and don’t get me started on baby Annette (bizzare just don’t cover it)… and as for Leos Carax’s movie I can guarantee you that you will not see anything as uniquely ambitious, wildly bizzare yet quite as brilliant this year !! ★★★★½

Director : Robert Schwentke – Cast Includes : Henry Golding, Andrew Koji, Úrsula Corberó

SNAKE EYES (G.I. Joe Origins): After saving the life of the heir apparent a Japanese clan called the Arashikage welcomes Snake Eyes into their world. He is taught the way of the Ninja until his past catches upto him and his secrets become known to all around : I had a good time watching Snake Eyes but just felt the PG-13 rating hampered the overall tone of the movie, if it was darker, a tad more violent as the Yakuza generally are and the lead role of Snake Eyes was someone with a bit more experience in Martial Arts in real life and onscreen then the film would have kicked ass, I’m a big fan of Henry Golding but didn’t find his character believable enough… so overall Schwentke‘s movie is nothing more than a solid slice of entertainment that fails more than it does succeed ★★★

Director : Michael Morrissey – Cast Includes : Kay Tuckerman, Chukwudi Iwuji, Lexi Johnson

THE GIRL WHO GOT AWAY (aka: Mother) : After a female serial killer who killed four young girls escapes from prison, she returns to a small town to hunt the one girl that got away : It’s been eleven years since filmmaker Michael Morrisey directed Boy Wonder his first feature and judging by his latest I hope he directs another one soon… The Girl Who Got Away is a slow burning low budget slasher that’s reminisent of Carpenter’s Halloween, the film does a great job in keeping the tension bubbling with it’s intriguing plot and fabulous turns especially from Iwuji and Johnson, some of the death scenes really caught me off guard, making me jump on a few occassions and the film has a few twists that you don’t see coming duing it’s finale ★★★★

Director : Shawn Levy – Cast Includes : Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Lil Rel Howery

FREE GUY : A bank teller who discovers he’s an actual NPC (non-player character) in an open-world video game, decides to become the hero of his own story : Shawn Levy has directed many films in his career including the likes of Real Steel, Night at the Museum and The Pink Panther BUT nothing comes close to what he’s achieved with Free Guy a film that MUST BE SEEN on the biggest screen (please stay safe and wear a mask but this is perfect Cinema material), the writing by Zak Penn and Matt Lieberman is a delight, keeping the plot fresh, funny and playing perfectly into Ryan Reynolds capable comedy turning hands… the action is break neck and Jodie Comer is ON FIRE (and without sounding creepy she’s GORGEOUS too) her chemistry alongside Reynolds is terrific handling all the action scenes with ease and the faces she pulls when delivering her pitch perfect comic moments are so damn funny… I must also mention Taika “what you talking about Willis” Waititi who’s hilarious as the film’s villain, he swaggers with the best of them and his one liners are out of this world and along with some wonderful movie injokes look out for a great cameo by Channing Tatum who had me in tears (mum can you stop the hoovering)… CINEMA feels damn good right now and FREE GUY is the summer blockbuster of the year !! ★★★★★

Following the Abbott family who are forced to venture into pastures new as they quickly realise that the alien creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats lurking beyond the sand path : A QUIET PLACE Part II opens up with a flashback… Day 1 starts with happier times where we get to see the the small American town where the Abbott’s lived right before the Alien invasion took place, there’s smiles aplenty as the kids are playing baseball, we get to see Brody’s Pizzeria an obvious nod to Spielberg’s Jaws and we get our first look at a new character Emmett played by Cillian Murphy, a family man watching the baseball when his and everyone’s life changes forever : if your a horror fan then the darkness of the Cinema is the best place to watch A Quiet Place Part II as Polly Morgan’s imaginative camera work, the muted sound with flashes of screeching, screaming Alien attacks and the tension with each scene as the family attempt to navigate their now crushed world without making a sound is unbearable : I know I touched on this after 2018’s first movie but I have to say how impressed I am with Millie Simmonds who’s easily the star of this sequel, her character Regan is fearless & clever and the train and boat yard scenes with Cillian are terrific to watch, Emily Blunt of course is superb, the pain Evelyn feels in defending her children & insurmountable loss is the backbone of the movie, from heartfelt moments such as leaving her wedding ring on the cross and her fight with the creature whilst carrying two oxygen tanks is formidable, Peaky Blinder Cillian Murphy is a welcome additon to the cast, his character Emmett plays a pivotel role in the Abbott families survival and The Undoing’s young star Noah Jupe is once again fabulous, that scene where Marcus is running out of air in the safe had my pulse racing and my knuckles turning white as I gripped the arms of the chair, nearly knocking my popcorn all over the place : it’s no mean feat to direct a sequel that stands up well alongside it’s original yet somehow John Krasinksi has managed just that… yes if I was being slightly picky the film finishes rather abruptly and could have benefitted with an extra thirty minutes… but since a third film in the franchise has been green lit with no other than Jeff “Midnight Special” Nichols directing then I’ll let this one pass and look forward to another chapter where being quiet is the new norm : TERRIFYING ★★★★

A devout community suffering from a plague is torn apart by a beautiful young woman and the forces of witchcraft and possession : I do love me a good folk horror movie, with the likes of Witchfinder General, Blood on Satans Claw, The Witch amongst my favorites in the genre, films that oooze the occult, darkly bewitched by supernatural elements, carry the stench of an evil force fighting against or part of a religious group and there usually set in some sort of rural farm community or isolated island in the middle of nowehere : Thomas Robert Lee’s The Curse of Audrey Earnshaw is another such movie, one that evokes a slow burn foreboding with flashes of unsettling scenes alongside it’s dark and eerie setting : the story in the movie is fine but does get a bit messy in parts and some it’s characters are a little underused but nevertheless there’s a trio of very strong performances from the likes of Catherine Walker who plays Agatha, Catherine was excellent in Liam Gavin’s very scary horror movie A Dark Song, Jared Abrahamson who was last seen in American Animals and Jessica Reynolds in her movie debut gives a haunting painful display as Audrey : I really felt for poor Bridget in the movie played by the wonderful Hannah Emily Anderson, she first looses her child and then this hideous curse is placed upon her to devistating effect, the tooth scene, shaving blade and that moment with the sheep is very upsetting : the idea of transporting Audrey in a box as not to be seen by the towns folk was terrific, as was the idea of Agatha’s land only producing crops, I also found the film’s sets and lighting superbly effective throughout : so overall if your a fan of these slow building, folk horror movies then The Curse of Audrey Earnshaw will thrill and chill your bones : LOVED IT ★★★★

A family of fur trappers who live in a remote wilderness find their tranquility threatened by what they think is a wolf, but something else has been stalking the woods and Joseph, Anne and Renee are about to find out what : WOW !! I wasn’t really prepared for this movie and I’m not just talking about it’s macabre, unforgettable finale but also the harshness of it’s story about a family that live off the grid in the Canadian wilderness, living off the land, killing animals for their fur whilst teaching their young daughter to set traps, to shoot a gun, skin animals and generally learning how to fend for herself without little knowledge of the outside world : during the opening twenty minutes of Hunter Hunter I realised that I didn’t care much for the parents, their treatment of Renee and the animals butchered for monetary gain didn’t particular sit well with me so I was rather hoping that the rogue wolf that had been terrorising the area for years would finally get even, it would have been a slice of karma but things don’t always go to plan and the course of the movie was about to shift and things were about to get real : without giving too much away my only criticism with the film is that I felt that the plot could have expanded to include more backstory to some of the more relevant aspects throughout, that being said filmmaker Shawn Linden captures the danger of inhabiting the wilderness with a provocative, tense driven ride that explodes during it’s final act which what can only be described as incredible : ONE TO WATCH ★★★½

After losing his wife in a car accident, a father relocates to a new home with his daughter, but things go horribly wrong when strange things start to happen and his daughter vanishes after being cared for by a local nanny : with shades of the Ring and James Wan’s Insideous Kim Kwang-bin’s THE CLOSET is a chilling ghost story that tells of personal grief and trauma of others : apart from a short back in 2011 this is Kim Kwang-bin’s directorial debut that he also wrote, and what a spooky way to start your career behind the camera, the film is dark, it deals with disturbing images and has a haunting message that you’ll discover deep inside the belly of Kwang-bin’s storytelling : there’s moments during every good horror movie when the penny drops and during The Closet the real pay off comes with a small flashback scene involving Myung-jin and what happened to her, it’s disturbing and is certainly a choke you up moment that I didn’t see coming, the combination of supernatural elements, creepy characters and eye peeling effects mixed with a bunch of relatable characters creates the perfect balance in the movie and one I found extremely fun to watch : I loved the father and daughter played by Ha Jung-woo and Heo Yool both are excellent in their respective roles, Heo Yool’s Yi-na especially is quite innocent to begin with and then changes when the evil gets hold, super scary and those rolling eyes GULP, I also found the local exorcist played by the superb Kim Nam-gil who involves himself with the father in helping him find his daughter was a brilliant touch adding that bit of Poltergeist/Insideous element to proceedings : overall The Closet is worth every minute of your time, it’s a thought provoking, gut twisting ghost tale that packs a punch ★★★★

Bodies are discovered, mutilated after each full moon so it’s upto the local sheriff and his deputies to find the killer before they strike again : Firstly let me say how visually stunning the introduction is to THE WOLF OF SNOW HOLLOW almost like The Shining the camera follows the mountainous backdrop of the films location, at times it’s scenery is cleverly reflected above as the camera reaches it’s destination….. a big old grisly moon, what a terrific intro and the perfect mood-setter for what’s to follow : I personally LOVE everything about this bat shit crazy slasher from it’s director & star of the movie Jim Cummings who’s nutty sheriff is having the worst few days of his fucked up life and boy this guy loves to SCREAM : I found the dialogue really witty and at times I didn’t know whether to laugh, console or shout at this poor guy loosing his shit with everybody who crosses his path : the snowy Utah backdrop and action scenes are well shot by Natalie Kingston, it’s quirky Lynch-esque characters are somewhat adhering, we get to share in the great Robert Forster’s final screen outing, a stand out performance from the delightful Riki Lindhome and it’s Agatha Christie keep you guessing narrative The Wolf of Snow Hollow is an absolute riot that tackles addiction, dealing with your demons, marital separation and a killer on the loose : it’s so much movie goodness wrapped up in the smallest of run-times with a bunch of character’s I hope we get see more of….. some time soon : IT’S SO GOOD ★★★★½

Number 3 of My Top 31 Horror Movies : When a 12-year-old girl is possessed by a supernatural entity, her mother seeks the help of a priest to save her : Based on William Peter Blatty’s novel, The Exorcist came out in 1973 from filmmaker William Friedkin who also directed The French Connection & Sorcerer amongst others : I don’t think there’s ever been another horror movie about possession that’s even come close to scaring me half as much as The Exorcist still does, the way Friedkin slowly tells us the story of Chris MacNeil an actress and her 12yr old daughter Regan entwined with Father Karras who’s struggling with the loss of faith & loss of a loved one is not only compelling, but adds so much depth to the film and it’s characters, so by the time the possession truly takes hold of Regan and her bed starts rocking, head starts spinning and the vomit starts flowing the fear factor has already set in, your pulse is racing, your breathing has become shallower & you start burying your head in your hands in an attempt to hide from this devilish force of intimidation : I revisited The Exorcist two days ago and apart from the shocking possession scenes that include Regan violently masturbating with a crucifix, spider crawling down the stairs, forcing her mother between her legs & her head spinning 360 degrees there are also so many terrific sub-moments, I really loved the excavation scenes, the sound, color and imagery is so haunting during this beautifully shot opening to the movie, watching the broken Karras visit his mother in the hospital is emotionally draining, the subliminal hidden image of the demon shown during a scene with Ellen Burstyn really caught me off guard again and the scene with Lee J. Cobb’s brilliant Lieutenant is questioning Chris at her home is captivating, “can I have your autograph” really was a lighter moment : Jack Nitzsche’s score flows through the film better than most in it’s genre, it’s haunting and memorable and adds greatly to the films atmosphere and considering it’s low budget the film really come through with it’s creepy special effects that haven’t aged one bit : I don’t think I’ve ever seen a better performance by Ellen Burstyn the way she portrays being the helpless mother is phenomenal, Jason Miller is the embodiment of a broken priest and considering his limited screen time previous to this film was outstanding, Max von Sydow plays the elderly, tired yet commited Father Merrin wonderfully well but it’s Linda Blair as Regan who you will remember when think about this film, her vulgar, unpleasent display whilst being possessed by the devil is something to behold : The Exorcist is not for the faint hearted, it’s an unforgettable, multi layered horror movie that contains one of the most horrific final acts in cinematic history ★★★★★

Number 12 of My Top 31 Horror Movies : Mary Shelley recounts how the main characters of her novel survived and how Frankenstein, goaded by an even madder scientist, builds a Bride for his monster : James Whale’s 1935 monster movie BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN is one of the greatest sequel’s in movie history, a wildly unpredictable horror full of incredible sets, wonderful acting by the less talked about duo of Una O’Connor & Dwight Frye and of course the introduction, although it be short of the Monster’s Bride iconically portrayed by the ravishing Elsa Lanchester : the lavish sets filmed in gorgeous black-and-white are sensational and one of my favorite scenes in the movie is in Pretorius’s lab, where the mad Doctor shows Frankenstein several miniature creatures he has created including a King, Queen and Mermaid, the sinister atmosphere, these tiny abominations & both Doctor’s manic expressions as they discuss their work is both scary & facinating : of course the Bride of Frankenstein is filled with so many moments of sheer jaw dropping brilliance, like when the Monster comes across the old blind hermit (of course you think of Young Frankenstein which brings a smile) but the scene is shrouded in dread and you just know that it won’t end well, I love the moment when the Monster looks at a reflection of himself in the water, such a great moment and you just can’t help feel pity for this hideous creature but of course the highlight is ten minutes from the end of the movie when the Bride is brought to life… and Frankenstein’s words “she’s alive…alive” echoes round the chamber as the bandages are removed and Elsa Lanchester’s imposing monster is released to the world : a Scary, Atmospheric Monster MASTERPIECE ★★★★★

Number 15 of My Top 31 Horror Movies : A group of camp counselors are stalked by an unknown killer while trying to reopen a summer camp which was the site of a child’s drowning and a grisly double murder years before : Originally titled A Long Night at Camp Blood Sean S. Cunningham’s FRIDAY THE 13TH was shot for a measly $500,000 and was released in 1980, becoming a box office success and spawning numerous sequels : from Harry Manfredini scary Hitchcockian score that screams Psycho, the film’s inventive and cruel kills created by the special effect guru Tom Savini, especially Marcie’s axe to the head and Jack’s arrow through the neck are grizzly & quite realistic, the beautiful cast including Jeannine Taylor, Adrienne King, Harry Crosby, Laurie Bartram & Kevin Bacon and their colorful raincoats to the late Barry Abrams atmospheric, close up camera work that creeps around the lake & captures each scream, each kill with chilling gratification : I know the movie inside out & love everything about it, from the iconic Camp Crystal Lake sign to the wonderful yet brief role of Annie Phillips, the cute & bubbly councelor who hitchhikes to the camp at the start of the movie but there’s no doubt my favorite moment in Friday the 13th comes in the last 20mins where Alice played by Adrienne King uncovers the killers identity and then a showdown takes place as she battles to stay alive : being a huge fan of the slasher genre and especially the “golden age” from around the mid-70s onwards Friday the 13th is one of the most iconic horror movies of the last 50 years, we not only get to witness the origin story of one of the most terrifying villains of all time but also get to meet his creator : two words HORROR CLASSIC ★★★★★

Number 20 of My Top 31 Horror Movies : Carrie White is a shy teenage girl, sheltered in life by her domineering mother, unleashes her telekinetic powers after being humiliated by her classmates at her senior prom : As Stephen King movie adaptions go Brian De Palma’s CARRIE is the finest to date, a supernatural horror centered around high school bullying, bad parenting and the over powering use of religion : like King’s novel Carrie is heartbreaking to watch and the way De Palma’s movie shows Carrie’s transformation from innocence to power weilding destroyer is quite terrifying : I know some people will always criticise the changes from book to movie but in fairness the only change which I was slightly unhappy with was how Carrie killed her momma played in the movie by the deliciously evil Piper Laurie (in the book Carrie killed her by stopping her heart with her powers, in De Palma’s movie she was killed by various knives nailing her to the wall like a Crucifixion) : along with the great Sissy Spacek & Piper Laurie I was absolutley floored by Nancy Allen’s turn as Chris, her nasty, lick lipping performance is enough to make you spit blood and absolutley loathe her character : the use of sound and score by Pino Donaggio is enough to stand your hair on end and De Palma captures each scene with haunting precision and although the bucket scene at the prom is the film’s most talked about moment and by god it made my stomach turn, my favourite has to be when Carrie is argueing with her momma whilst getting ready to be picked up by Tommy and taken to the prom, it’s terrific piece of acting by both, the bed scene is still quite unnerving “Sit Down” yells Carrie and you can see the fear in Piper Laurie’s eye’s as she’s pinned to the bed : CARRIE (the 1976 version) is as powerful and disturbing today as it was back upon it’s release, a film full of religious themes and supernatural elements that shock, anger and reward thanks to it’s great performances & disturbing narrative ★★★★★

Number 22 of My Top 31 Horror Movies : Five friends travel to a cabin in a remote region of Tennessee, where they release flesh-possessing demons : Sam Raimi’s THE EVIL DEAD is still after all these years a joy to behold, a guilty pleasure, a wickid low budget scare fest that sees actor Bruce Campbell get pretty much everything thrown at him and his friends? well they get attacked, possessed and wreak holy havoc : there’s no doubt that the two sequels to The Evil Dead are great fun but it’s Raimi’s original released back in 1981 that holds a place in my horror loving heart : right from the offset when their car crosses that rickety old bridge on their way to the cabin, the banging of the swing porch and then as the key is retrieved from it’s place above the door the swing stops, the poster nod to Craven down in the cellar and for a budget of $400,000 the effects throughout are impressively gruesome especially Cheryl’s possessed demon who’s one mean, twisted servant from hell : I rememeber watching this over a friends house during my early teens a few years after it’s initial release and being scare senseless, from it’s shaky camera work, the wind effect, the tree attack to the body dismemberment all had a lasting effect on me growing up and still does : The Evil Dead is pure brilliance, shoe string budget filmmaking of the highest standard that MUST BE WATCHED at least once a year : speaking in my best demonic voice JOIN US ★★★★★

Number 31 of My Top 31 Horror Movies : Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren work to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in their new family home out in the country : Since the great John Carpenter gave up the director’s chair and Wes Craven left us for his new home in the sky, it’s my humble opinion that Australian filmmaker James Wan has delivered more consistent scares than most since SAW hit the screens back in 2004 : in typical James Wan style The Conjuring contains no sex scenes and when it came to the film’s rating the movie received an R for pure scare value alone, the film also contains very little violence just pure nerve jangling horror, filmed like a throwback to the 60s and 70s horror gems : Wan shot the movie in 28 days on a budget of just over $20 Million and to this day the film has grossed well over the $300 Million mark : The Conjuring (like most low budget pics) relies heavily on some creative storytelling and superb acting and there’s plenty of this on show with the reliable pair of Wilson & Farmiga along with The Haunting’s Lili Taylor who really does look like she belongs in the Hammer Horror era overpowering the screen with her unique beauty & ability to switch between playing a loving parent to a raving looney in a nano-second, the scene’s where her character is possessed and the demonic spirit won’t let her leave the house is amongst her finest work, I was also impressed by Ron Livingston’s working dad performance, truly believable and adds so much to the film’s ensemble : I really dug the way James Wan gives the viewer a little taste into Ed’s treasure trove of horror at his home including that creepy demonic doll Annabelle and other items taken from cases Ed & Lorraine worked on : overall The Conjuring is one of the creepiest horror movies in the last 20yrs, the camera work especially inside the Perron’s house is quite brilliant (those upside down shots and inside the walls of the bedroom are terrifying), the film made me jump out of my skin on more than one occassion, and if you have a wardrobe in your bedroom it might be an idea to invest in some locks before revisiting this masterpiece ★★★★½