Director Carlos Andre Stevens’s “The Alchemist’s Letter” is quite an accomplishment. It’s a fairy tale that also works as a cautionary tale about the ills of greed, and the dangers of over ambition. Would you trade memories and family for piles of gold? That’s what the alchemist asks his son when he leaves behind a letter that gives him a stern warning on what putting aspirations over the truly important things can do to a person.
“Up Route” is another fun film from director Jordan Wippell, the man who is becoming full of surprises as his career progresses. With a strong screenplay by Brandon Scott and Brett Chapman, “Up Route” is a visit to the Grindhouse sub-genre that pits two men against each other in a road trip.
“Jurassic World” is the “Gremlins 2” of the “Jurassic Park” franchise. It’s filled with call backs to the original film, and garners a tongue in cheek attitude about itself, while commenting on the ills and woes of consumerism, the media, and theme park spectacles. And the very spectacle that became of “Jurassic Park.” There’s one instance where the technicians groan at Verizon sponsoring an animal exhibit, and there’s constant talk about how consumers always want bigger, better, and toothier. And that’s what “Jurassic World” is. It’s bigger, toothier, yet not exactly better.
I loved Jordan Wippell’s “Meat” if only because it’s the slow unraveling of the inner conscious of a suburbanite that’s been repressed likely since childhood. It’s the inner delving in to the mind of a man who is unraveling before our very eyes and all we can do is watch. “Meat” has a very simple premise, but one that’s effective and suggestive when it closes to its credits sequence.
“Dawn” is an absolutely devastating film which is belied by its unbelievably vivid visual style of its innocent decade. Director Rose McGowan has a keen directorial sense, delivering one truly dark and vicious short film that is made even more gut wrenching thanks to the eerie performances by the entire cast.
This is the story of Andy, a man who was cheated on by his wife. So he got himself a boat called Evil Ways and took to the seas to look for booty. Literal booty of course. While there he comes across a gorgeous blond woman who is keen to his womanizing and helps him invite some partiers to feast lunch meat, and cheap beer while swapping partners. What’s a guy to do? When will Andy stop this hollow existence of sleeping with beautiful women?
“Don’t Go in the Woods… Alone!” is one of the Video Nasties that renders the slasher genre completely inept with a film that’s nothing but splatter fodder. And bad splatter fodder to boot. Representing the worst the slasher sub-genre has to offer, “Don’t Go in the Woods… Alone!” is bereft of a storyline, common sense, and even likable characters. The only two people that manage to survive our hobo serial killer are two of the most grating heroes pictured in the genre.