North By Northwest (1959)

4.5 / 5  Aug '11
Tagline:  Alfred Hitchcock takes you.... North by Northwest!
Directed by:  Alfred Hitchcock
Written by:  Ernest Lehman
Actors include:  Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason
Genre:  Thriller, Mystery
Length:  131 minutes
Banned:  Nope

Review:
Yet another reason why [Artist77324] is considered "The Master of Suspense"!  This taut thriller stars [Artist143734] as Roger Thornhill, a New York ad executive who is suddenly kidnapped from a restaurant.  His captors seem convinced that he's a Government spy but of course it's a mistaken identity thing.  The more Thornhill starts investigating the Spy, the deeper he gets wound into the mess and the more convinced the bad guys become that he really is who they thought.  It's just so well written and tightly wound that it makes for one hell of a great film.  This even has some extremely memorable and spectacular chase scenes (featuring a crop duster and Mount Rushmore) and it's pretty much non-stop excitement from beginning to end.  Who can argue with that?  If you haven't seen this film then you absolutely must, one of Hitchcock's best and undoubtedly a classic that everyone should enjoy!

Availability:  On DVD and Blu-Ray

Cardiac Arrest (1980)

2 / 5 Nov '09
Tagline: Some killers want more than just your life...
Directed by: Murray Mintz
Written by: Murray Mintz
Actors include: Garry Goodrow, Max Gail, Michael Paul Chan
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Drama
Length: 93 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
A very cheap looking film about a fellow they call "The Missing Hearts Murderer"...seriously! The detectives just bumble about doing stupid thing with evidence after stupid thing. The actors are less than skilled, and it's as dry as can possibly be especially with the dialog...sheesh! It appears that the culprit is using Curare darts to stun the victim before removing the heart...could it be? What could the possible motive be? As this goes on we follow a Woman who has issues with her heart who needs a transplant who is left with only luck for a donor. That is until she receives a phone call offering to remove the element of chance with her wait... It's not really a horror flick (though falsely billed as one), Police flick yes and maybe a thriller (although I wasn't thrilled) but more likely a mystery...the only violence is darkly lit and barely visible and it seems like so little happens over a very long time. It's definitely not something I'd recommend to anyone as there are better films about this subject matter and seriously I did have to force myself to sit through it sadly. It's very cheesy and maybe a laugh or two to be had within but I'm afraid that's the best you're gonna get! Really it's like an extended Matlock episode only less charming unfortunately.

Availability:  On DVD (but OOP) or watch for free here:  http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=3385159241218680804&ei=2dYUS_CgPJPllQfx6pG6Dg&q=cardiac+arrest+1980&hl=en

Lake Mungo (2008)

3 / 5 May '11
Tagline: If you've never seen a ghost... Look closer.
Directed by: Joel Anderson
Written by: Joel Anderson
Actors include: Rosie Traynor, David Pledger, Martin Sharpe
Genre: Horror, Thriller, Mystery
Length: 87 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Well points for creativity should be awarded here, though the dry spots in the story were a little too plentiful. The film is told in the style of a documentary about a family who's Daughter Alice has turned up drowned in the lake. They determine her death as accidental and her family tries to move on, they start seeing shadowy versions of Alice around. They contact some Supernatural specialists and exhume the body to try to determine what has happened. As things unravel we find out things aren't quite what we seem, and the more digging that happens the more the story contorts. Some of the imagery here is yes, somewhat creepy but beyond that I can't say much in the way of horror happens. It at least does try to build mystery and it did have me wondering exactly what was going similar to some of Peter Weir's flicks. I just think if they'd had a better cast and bothered to try to make it a bit more ominous things would have been so much better. Thanks so much to Happywax (http://doomgoryumshorroremporium.blogspot.com/) for this recommendation!

Availability:  On DVD

Vertigo (1958)

4.5 / 5 Dec '09
Tagline: A Hitchcock thriller. You should see it from the beginning!
Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Written by: Alec Coppel, Samuel A. Taylor
Actors include: James Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes
Genre: Crime, Thriller, Mystery
Length: 129 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
I saw this when I was a kid and liked it though I couldn't remember much but the typically thought of scene with the swirls and the high building. I was happily surprised to find when I watched it again that there is a lot more to the story than just my minor memory of it. The story is about a retired Detective (James Stewart) who of course suffers from serious vertigo. When he's asked by his friend to tail his beautiful icy wife Madeleine (Kim Novak) he gets an awful lot more than he bargained for. It seems Madeleine has some serious issues as she can't remember half of her bizarre activity. He starts to believe she is possessed by the soul of a Woman who is in a painting that looks just like her. The deeper in her web he falls the more he's tempted and the more he's challenged in the situation. It's pretty gripping, extremely well acted and has enough twists and turns to keep nearly anyone captivated I would think. There's definite reason that Hitchcock is so well regarded, this is one of his most interesting thrillers. Definitely recommended for a first timer or for anyone looking for a good story and some excitement.

Availability:  On DVD

Blow-Up (1966)

 4.5 / 5 Feb '10

Tagline: Michelangelo Antonioni's first British film

Directed by: Michelangelo Antonioni

Written by: Michelangelo Antonioni, Julio Cortázar

Actors include: Vanessa Redgrave, Sarah Miles, David Hemmings

Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Length: 111 minutes

Banned: Nope

Review:

Pretty darned impressive and highly influential little chiller from Michelangelo Antonioni (it's his first English language film). The style is marvelous, absolutely perfect in getting across the vibes of the '60s in swinging London. The music from Herbie Hancock was superb in setting the mood, and there was even a surprise performance from the Yardbirds, how cool is that? The film is about an arrogant photographer who snaps a bunch of pictures of a couple innocently kissing in the park but ends up in the midst of a murder! See after he takes the shots the Woman in them (Vanessa Redgrave) begs for them back and even shows up at his apartment to seduce him for the negatives. Naturally he's curious why she's so desperate for them and starts to examine them closely and he starts to learn why! It's really very interesting as far as the plot goes plus the combination of the art world and models and strange goings ons make this pretty irresistible. I actually prefer Blow Out (which is directly influenced by this) by a bit because it's more satisfying, but this one is a definite must too, very groovy and fascinating in it's own way.

Availability:  On DVD

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

4.5 / 5
Tagline: Seven Total Strangers Team Up For The Perfect Crime. They Don't Know Each Other's Name. But They've Got Each Other's Color
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Written by: Quentin Tarantino, Robert Avary
Actors include: Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Length: 99 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
After an organized armed robbery takes plays at a diamond warehouse. Six fellows who didn't know each other previously were assembled by the mysterious Joe Cabot and they all go by code names (Mr. Pink, Mr. Orange...etc, borrowed from the original The Taking of Pelham One Two Three). Something is obviously wrong when nearly immediately the Police show up and start shooting...there must be a rat among them but who? When they reassemble they try to sniff out the responsible party things start to get messier. It's very stylish, the dialog is definitely clever typical Tarrantino, some of his finest work really. The story is also rather intelligent and intriguing and let's not forget the memorable violence in this...it's a definite charmer. The characters created here are top notch and even the music is perfect, definitely see this if you haven't already, I doubt you'll regret it!

Availability:  On DVD & Blu-Ray

The Sixth Sense (1999)

3.5 / 5
Tagline: "I see dead people"
Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
Written by: M. Night Shyamalan
Actors include: Haley Joel Osment, Bruce Willis, Toni Collette
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Length: 107 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Even though I didn't guess what was taking place when I watched this, I still didn't find it amazing. I mean I know that's a big reason why everyone thought this was so cool but I didn't really find it very shocking. That being said this is by far the best M. Night Shyamalan film but I usually hate his work so by that standard this is a vast improvement. The story is about a boy who sees dead people (and yes once in a while the dead people surprise you) but they don't seem to think they are dead so he resorts to talking to a Child Psychologist who tries to help him through his problem. As far as ghost stories go it's not even one of my favorites but I suppose it's effective none the less.

Availability:  On DVD & Blu-Ray

The Last Wave (1977)

4.5 / 5 Feb '10
Tagline: The Occult Forces. The Ritual Murder. The Sinister Storms. The Prophetic Dreams. The Last Wave.
Directed by: Peter Weir
Written by: Peter Weir, Tony Morphett
Actors include: Richard Chamberlain, Olivia Hamnett, David Gulpilil
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Length: 106 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Another extremely mysterious film from Mr. Peter Weir that is gripping yet puzzling until of course things start to come together. It takes place in Australia of course after an Aboriginal murder, our main character is the lawyer set to defend the Aboriginal client. The deeper he seems to go into their beliefs and the possibility that the murder might be something more. This same lawyer happens to suffer from horrific nightmares of bad things happen and worse still unexplained things are happening in reality. The water seems to overflow, it appears to rain frogs...it's very dark and gloomy which I did like. I've never really seen a film quite like this one as it is sort of part disaster film as well plus it's so depressing, it really should be seen. Without spoiling anything the end is so powerful yet in a way they took the easy way out (you'll see what I mean) which will please some and irritate others. I found this to be beautifully filmed, very interesting and since it deals with things I know basically nothing of I found it to be all the more frightening. Go into this with a blank mind and don't read too much, I think you'll get more from it.

Availability:  On DVD

Solamente Nero (1978) aka The Bloodstained Shadow aka Only Blackness

3.5 / 5 Mar '10
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Antonio Bido
Written by: Marisa Andalò, Antonio Bido
Actors include: Lino Capolicchio, Stefania Casini, Craig Hill
Genre: Horror, Giallo, Thriller, Mystery
Length: 109 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Well unfortunately this starts out very slow, the gloomy serious nature of the film does add to it, and the cinematography is quite nice. However the restraint wasn't appreciated by me (this is a giallo film, I want sleaze!) and the cast for the most part is very unfortunate looking (and what was wardrobe thinking?). If you can get through the dull first half the second half is definitely more what one would expect from this kind of film. The soundtrack is one of the highlights though thanks to Stelvio Cipriani who's work creates tension and definitely adds to the film big time. Since a schoolgirl was murdered in the past (or the opening credits for us) and the murderer is never caught a young man named Stefano returns to his home (where the murder happened). He wants to try to figure out what happened along with his help of his seriously older brother (uh more like Dad) the local Priest. When another young girl is killed in front of the Priest and some ominous things start happening it's a rush to find out who is doing the killings. It does seem to borrow from better films like Profondo rosso [Deep Red] and 4 mosche di velluto grigio [Four Flies on Grey Velvet] and it's definitely not one of the best core gialli, but it's still worth a viewing for fans I'd say.

Availability:  On DVD

Horror Express (1972)

4 / 5 Apr '10
Tagline: Can it be stopped?
Directed by: Eugenio Martin
Written by: Arnaud d'Usseau, Julian Zimet
Actors include: Christopher Lee, Telly Savalis, Peter Cushing
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Length: 90 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Although I enjoyed the story and the actors and everything I think the cheapness with which this was made hindered the film unfortunately. That being said it's probably Eugenio Martín's most accomplished film but I've enjoyed most I've seen from him. Anyhow this one borrows heavily from The Thing From Another World [The Thing] along with several others but I thought it was quite fun anyhow. A Professor (Christopher Lee) finds some bones that he thinks may be the missing link, so he transports them on the Siberian Express. While on the train he meets his acquaintance Dr. Wells (Peter Cushing) who is very interested in the Professor's specimen. On the way the monster thaws out and starts attacking the passengers and it even takes on their memories! It's pretty thrilling in many ways actually and Lee & Cushing are a treat to watch as always. It's not the most original idea surely, but I thought it was a really entertaining film none the less, definitely worth giving a try to.

Availability:  On DVD