The official plot for Let Me Make You a Martyr is “[a] cerebral revenge film about two adopted siblings who fall in love and hatch a plan to kill their abusive father.” (IMDB.com) Watching the film, the plot doesn’t seem that simple. Multiple people plot to have another killed while living difficult lives as best they can, some trying to do some good at the same time.
Tag Archives: Murder
Agonie (2016) [Fantasia International Film Festival]
A law student starts a fling with another student. A young ex-military trains to become stronger. The law student works out his bedroom kinks with his girl in increasingly violent ways. The ex-military discovers a potential new side to himself that he has difficulty accepting. Both lash out in violent ways, one going to an unexpected extreme. David Clay Diaz creates an almost sober drama with his script writing and direction. The film shows the lives of two early twenties men and how their lives evolve. Both of their stories evolve slowly throughout most of the film until each of their story’s end when things take a turn with acts of violence changing everything for both of them.
Both stories are strong character studies of two very different men. The calm and control of the first, his disconnect from most of society, lead him to being able to do despicable acts without anyone expecting it or knowing why. The second is more volatile but also more involved with others, he has a short temper that leads him to bad decisions and violence, but for him it’s anything but cold, he is more connected to his surroundings, creating a much different character. This dichotomy of types and style is artfully contrasted in how David Clay Diaz represents each of their lives, their surroundings, their families, and the characters themselves.
As both stories are contrasted, each has its lead character. The law student, Christian, is played by Samuel Schneider who plays charming with a very cold side, like a calculated man who knows when to be charming but who gets satisfaction from inflicting pain of increasing intensity. As the film goes by, his shows an increasing to complete disconnect with society, very little bring a reaction out of him. The performance by Schneider reflects this perfectly. Playing the other lead of Alex is Alexander Srtschin bringing a nervous, twitchy energy to his scenes, even the calmer ones to some extent. He shows his characters inner turmoil without saying a word. Both of them show talent and how great casting can make all the difference.
The film’s story is slow and dark, so the cinematography by Julian Krubasik matches this. His framing showcases the grey weather, the coldness of the stories and of life. His style fits the film and its characters, showing everything as it is, no sugar-coating, no adding any hope with happy images.
Agonie is a very cold drama with little emotions from the characters besides various forms of anger and indifference. The little bit of love that is shown is quickly snuffed out. According to the director’s IMDB page, his next movie is one titled Agony to come out in 2016, which sounds a lot like a remake, so see the original first if you can.
Fantasia International Film Festival ran from July 14th until August 3rd, 2016 and will be back in the summer of 2017.
I, Olga Hepranova (2016) [Fantasia International Film Festival 2016]
What pushes someone to once day decide they have had enough and that the only solution to be understood is to commit mass murder?
In 1973, in Prague (Czech Republic), 22 year old Olga Hepranova drove a truck into a waiting crowd, hitting 25 people and killing 8 of them. The film is the story of how Hepranova got to this massacre. Taking on the hard task of writing this story for the screen without falling into sensationalism or exploitation, writers Roman Cilek, Tomas Weinreb, and Petr Kazda, they took a delicate subject and turned it into a touching and beautiful story of a girl who feels as though she is being bullied and who has a long period of bad luck.
After long enough of asking for help and not receiving it, she decides to take drastic measures. They do not build Hepranova as a martyr or anti-hero but simply as a complex human being in need of help. Directors Petr Kasda and Tomas Weinreb took this script they co-wrote and turned it into a beautifully sad tale of a woman who possible could have been saved. The way they shot the film, in tandem with cinematographer Adam Kozakl in black and white and with very somber tomes is sublime. It takes this very heavy subject matter and make it bearable to watch. They craft a film that mesmerizes its audience while making them just a bit uncomfortable.
As so much of the film rests on her shoulders, the part of Olga Hepranova had to be cast perfectly. Actress Michalina Olszanska (mesmerizing in The Lure) was chosen and she is perfectly gloomy and fantastic. She clearly understood the depth and seriousness of the part, never over acting, always giving her all and stepping in Hepranova’s shoes, no matter how uncomfortable the process looks. She loses herself in the part and shows tremendous talent, proving that she is a start to keep watching. The rest of the cast is also very good to great with one stand, Klara Meliskova, as Olga’s cold, unloving mother.
She shows how one woman can be there and take care of basic needs for her child while showing absolutely no love or affection toward that child. Most characters are played as cruel or cold, except for the character of Miroslav, a man who tries to help Olga but has his own problems. This part is played by Martin Pechlat who brings a bit of light to the film by not being as serious as the rest of the cast. However, this is not in a funny or goofy way, but by showing just the right amount of light, even though highly flawed, to Olga’s life and the film.
The film is a must for fans of 70s Eastern Europe. The costumes by Aneta Grnakova and the art direction by Alexandr Kozak are perfectly on point. They give a great idea of what Prague and its people looked like in 1973. They do a very detailed job, bringing the era to life. I, Olga Hepranova is a somber film with a dark subject that is a part of Czech history. It was important that filmmakers behind the film pay attention to details and that they be careful to not over-dramatize the story. They do this while creating a perfectly gloomy film that should make any audience feel something.
The very timely subject matter of a mass murderer running people over with a truck is unfortunate but it should not keep people from seeing this film when the genre, style, or subject matter is something they would like to watch. This is not a film that is a feel good one; on the contrary, it’s depressing, sad, and beautiful.
William Castle Horror Collection (2 DVD)
For William Castle buffs, Mill Creek recently offered you the chance to witness some of his best films in the five movie set on DVD. And they have also released these titles in double bills on Blu-Ray. William Castle movie are already fun and novel horror films with some fine gimmicks, watching them in bunches pairs provides a fun experience altogether. William Castle was a one of a kind director and showman and this is a neat collection for horror fanatics. There’s “13 Ghosts” from 1960 starring Charles Herbert, Jo Morrow, Martin Milner, and Rosemary DeCamp respectively.
Iron City Chronicles: Bitter Heart (2015)
NOW SEEKING FUNDING ON KICKSTARTER – It’s a real testament to Jason Turner’s talent that he’s able to pull off such a unique neo-noir with such a low budget. “Bitter Heart” is kind of a sequel to the original adventures of robotic private investigator Iron Joe. After being plagued with nightmares of a lost love, Joe is contacted by his ex-colleagues from Iron City’s police force when a young man is mysteriously assassinated. Linking evidence on the scene to a specific culprit, Iron Joe goes looking for the minds behind the murder and runs afoul a lot of interesting thugs willing to protect some secrets.
In particular, Iron Joe is on the track of a lead named Stoker, who is a CEO of Teknika, a corporation responsible for the robotic augmentations in the entire city. What link this assassination has with Stoker remains wholly ambiguous, but it’s intriguing to see how far Iron Joe is willing to go to take aim at corruption in the city. With some neat special effects both CGI and traditional, Turner unleashes this bold and unique wasteland where Iron Joe has somewhat bitten off more than he can chew with his assistant J.E.S.S. I hope we get to see how Iron Joe fares in the future, as “Bitter Heart” is a wicked prologue to an epic crime thriller.
Slasher: Season One [Blu-Ray]
When last we saw Katie McGrath, she was suffering a cruel and unnecessary death in “Jurassic World,” and has now entered the sub-genre of the slasher film. A skosh more entertaining and engrossing than “Scream,” Chiller TV’s “Slasher” is a very entertaining, and tense slasher film that mixes in elements of a murder mystery in the process. I had no expectations for “Slasher,” and surely enough it won me over after two episodes, working within the confines of the slasher sub-genre, while also side stepping some of the more common clichés here and there. Much like “Scream,” main character Sarah comes from a small town where everyone has skeletons in their closets.
The Hateful Eight (2015) [Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital]
Director Quentin Tarantino has apparently had enough of delivering fans films that are mash ups of genres he loves and instead seems to want to challenge his audience the older he gets. Any artist grows the older they become and Tarantino has grown, exploring cinema that’s gradually more polarizing and alienating as time goes on. Quentin Tarantino hasn’t lost his ability to tell a story and unfold an interesting narrative, as he’s hellbent on exploring a character piece that’s less action and call backs to past genres, and more of an implementation of certain genres to create what has been his most divisive film to date.