I’ve never liked “Jaws: The Revenge.” Even as a kid who would watch anything that was on TV, I would often doze off during “The Revenge.” And that’s saying a lot since the movie technically has killer sharks in it. I’m glad I’m not in the minority as “The Revenge” has ranked up there with embarrassing sequels like “Staying Alive” and “The Exorcist II” and for good reason. “The Revenge” is a further slap in the face of the 1975 film, first killing off one of Brody’s children to a—ahem—vengeful shark. And then we later come to learn that Martin Brody has also died off screen from a massive heart attack. So that’s it? Brody gets a cheap off screen death, and the shark gets a very goofy movie serial revenge arc. Got it.
Tag Archives: Thriller
Jaws 2 (1978)
You either die a hero or live long enough to become a villain. That’s the sad fate for Sheriff Brody who, years after the events of “Jaws,” is now seen as the crackpot of Amity Island. Despite the fact that the mayor admitted defeat in the end of “Jaws,” and in spite of academic backing, and a very experienced shark hunter dying at the teeth of the beast, Amity Island has a streak of memory loss prompting a lot of people to forget what Sheriff Brody accomplished at the end of the original movie.
Twister (1996) [4K UHD/Digital]
Available from Warner Home Entertainment.
Director Jan De Bont is one of the last remaining blockbuster directors that delivered a one two punch of big movies in the 1990’s. After his big debut with the thriller “Speed,” De Bont followed it up with a classic disaster film in the tradition of Irwin Allen. The climate was just right as disaster pictures had experienced a big resurgence and “Twister” hit all the right chords. While it might not be the most complex of disaster pictures, it has a great time staging huge scenes of weather wreaking havoc on land.
A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)
“A Quiet Place” has managed to balloon in to its own respectable horror/scifi series but through it all has remained an apocalyptic tale about people. Just when you thought you’d seen all apocalyptic scenarios, Krasinski and co have explored a reality where Earth is destroyed by super powerful monsters known as “Death Angels.” They hunt by sound and are merciless when pursuing victims. In spite of running the risk of tiring this premise, “Day One” finds a way to explore a new angle of this alien invasion. Here, director Michael Sarnoski likens the invasion of the “Death Angels” as a horrible catastrophe where in survival relies on isolation and alienation and not unity.
Listen Carefully (2024)
A bank manager and new father with a dark secret sees his baby daughter kidnapped when a mystery man calls him to get him to jump through hoops to get his child back safely.
Five Great Motorcycle Movies
This week Jeff Nichols releases his highly anticipated motorcycle thriller “The Bikeriders” starring a who’s who of prominent character actors including Tom Hardy, Austin Butler, Norman Reedus, and Michael Shannon, respectively. With any luck we end up with a great film; in honor of Nichols’ latest being centered on the motorcycle community, I thought it’d be fun to list five great Motorcycle movies to get you in the mood for the up and coming release in theaters. Lets us know your personal favorites in the comments.
Blue Velvet (1986): The Criterion Collection [4K UHD/Blu-Ray]
Now Available from Criterion Collection.
My first experience with David Lynch was with “Mulholland Dr.,” a film that is far and away breath taking but also difficult to decode. After trying to find an explanation for it someone told me that it was only one of his easiest to access. But I like to think that it’s “Blue Velvet.” Lynch’s 1986 Neo Noir is a nightmarish fever dream in to the American dream. Lynch paints a portrait of two mirror worlds, one with the perfect Norman Rockwellian picket fences and women with babies on their shoulders. The other America is a bleak and violent Wonderland where deviants and criminals lurk in every corner waiting to prey on the weak.