The problem with this film is that it’s an evident rip-off or to put it nicely, “homage” to the Japanese cult horror film “The Ring.’ The plot is simple and straight to the point: bad website cursed, bad website kill, people who look at site die, the end. I was very intrigued to watch this, because I am anxiously awaiting “The Ring” and haven’t seen it, yet, so I figured this movie would be the next best thing… boy, was I dead wrong, dead, dead wrong.
Tag Archives: Thriller
Death to Smoochy (2002)
Boy, they must have offered these stars a lot of money for this tripe, because I can’t conjure up any sensible reason why they’d star in this. We get an all-star cast of Edward Norton, Robin Williams along with Catherine Keener who was so good in “Lovely & Amazing” but completely makes me lose any future interest in her as an actress. The cast stumble around this movie, playing these despicable characters in their sleep.
Bully (2001)
Based on a true story, we meet Marty Puccio a troubled guy who is being abused by his friend Bobby Kent until one day his girlfriend Lisa decides to group a bunch of friends to kill him. After his brutal murder paranoia ensues within the group. Over the past few years I’ve noticed a startling resemblance among Clark’s films, so I didn’t expect much of a difference from this and “Kids.” The story plays out as we see the naive and brain dead Marty who only surfs and watches Television is bullied by his malicious best friend Bobby. The characters are fascinating because Bobby is at times very abusive at one point hitting Marty across the face in anger, but when they’re alone he sincerely tells him, “You’re my best friend.”
Darkness Falls (2003)
“All this for a fucking tooth.”
In the town of “Darkness Falls” (There’s a name that will attract tourists), a kind old woman named Matilda Dixon used to give coins to children for their baby teeth out of kindness. One day she was caught in a house fire and became badly scarred; so much so she wore a porcelain mask to cover her wounds and hid in the dark due to sensitivity from sunlight. One day two children went missing and the town blamed her, and hung her. Before she died she inflicted a curse on the town until one day the two missing children appeared. The town hid the secret until modern times. We meet Kyle who encountered the demonic tooth fairy when he was a boy barely making it out alive and became institutionalized. Twelve years later, his childhood girlfriend Caitlin (Emma Caulfield) is experiencing an ordeal as her little brother is afraid to sleep claiming the tooth fairy will get him.
City by the Sea (2002)
For a film that’s identified as a bonafide thriller, the concept and entire plot is completely downplayed and low-key. I was never sure which direction it wanted go but it definitely does not become a thriller. It segues into all directions of plots never sure where it’s headed. The film is a story about relationships; the relationship Lemarca has with his ex-wife represents his past, the relationship with his new girlfriend represents his current life, and his son represents the past he abandoned. This could have been some amazing metaphors to mesh into the film, but it’s ultimately ruined.
Cube²: Hypercube (2002)
Taking off from the original fan fave, we meet eight people who wake up in a giant cube full of deadly puzzles, obstacles, and rooms that never end. Do they make it out alive? Do they ever make it out? I did not like the first one, so I was curious to see if the second one would be better, and this is basically the same deal. We have a bunch of people, each with unique characters, figuring their way through the constant white rooms and puzzles.
Rollerball (2002)
Now, granted, I’ve never seen the original “Rollerball” starring the great James Caan, but I think I can assure you, that it might have been better than this fiasco. The movie force-feeds us predictable and uninspired action scenes of people rolling around on their amped up blades and motorcycles as different growling and hooting players wearing ridiculous costumes and helmets bash each others skulls in etching to grab a hold of the rollerball attempting to score a point for a specific country as different announcers from the countries broadcasting the games holler at us through the screen play-by-play.