home invasion

Home Sweet Home (2013) Review

January 5, 2014 by Eric S. Leave a Comment

Synopsis: A young married couple comes home from a date night to discover that they are imprisoned in their own house with a methodical killer inside.

My Quick Review: Home Sweet Home is a pointless home invasion movie.

There is unfortunately no redeeming factor in David Morley’s (the french director behind the great zombie flick Mutants) movie. The script is non-existant and has zero originality. We can’t get attached to the main characters since they are as generic as can be. The “bad guy” is very bland, if not for his cool mask, and there is close to no horror/torture to even save us the viewers from total boredom.

What’s even worse is that David Morley fails to provide the necessary tension this type of movie requires, despite a few cool shots.

If you’re looking for a fun home invasion movie with a killer who plays with his victims, check out The Collector instead!

My Rating: 4/10

Director: David Morley

Origin: Canada

Click Here if you want to watch (really?) Home Sweet Home Online Now!

Home Sweet Home – trailer by elbellavistas

Funny Games (2007) Review

November 14, 2013 by Eric S. Leave a Comment

Synopsis: Two psychopathic young men take a family hostage in their cabin.

Quick Review: I can’t believe I actually wasted almost 2 hrs of my time on this patronizing, self-satisfied exercise in style.

Love him or hate him, Michael Haneke’s movies won’t leave you indifferent. So. kudos for him to create a movie that will have many people talk.

Since I haven’t seen the original movie I won’t be commenting on it but apparently the US version does not differ in any ways in terms of script and direction.

While I have to praise the actors for their work (Naomi Watts has found her best role yet and Michael Pitt is just delightfully creepy despite his angelic face) and, to some extent, Haneke’s quite brilliant camera work, I can’t go past the obnoxious 4th wall break and the whole hypocrisy of the proceedings.

Haneke wants us to believe Funny Games has a purpose behind the psychological and physical torture of this family. But it is just your typical torture movie disguised in art.

People can criticize movies such as I Spit on Your Grave or You’re Next all they want, but those movies aren’t pretending to be something they aren’t. They give us what we expect without judging us, the audience.

Funny Games is just an empty shell of a movie who wants to shock its viewers while making them feel guilty for doing so. Shame on you Mr Haneke.

My Rating: 4/10

Director: Michael Haneke

Origin: US

Click Here to Get Funny Games on DVD

You’re Next (2011) Review

October 2, 2013 by Eric S. Leave a Comment

Synopsis: When the Davison family comes under attack during their wedding anniversary getaway, the gang of mysterious killers soon learns that one of the victims harbors a secret talent for fighting back.

My Quick Review: It’s unfortunate that 2013 saw 2 home invasion movies and even more so that the weakest one, The Purge won the Box Office battle.

You’re Next was actually first screened 2 years ago at Fantastic Fest 2011 and stayed on shelves for way too long. Meanwhile the hype machine was launched and I, for one, could not wait to watch it.

I had the chance to catch a screening at my local theater yesterday and boy, I’m glad I did. It was worth the wait.

Sure, it could not have lived to its own hype but I was still pleasantly entertained, and surprised, since I did not care much for Adam Wingard’s previous movie A horrible way to die.

What’s most impressive about You’re Next is actually the acting, Sharni Vinson is great as the main heroine (and she seriously kicks ass) as is AJ Bowen, once again proving to be a serious asset in any movie he plays a part in.

The script is tight and the tension is always palpable. It’s a huge improvement on A horrible Way to die in that matter (if not for the first attack scene where the director overuses shaky cam shots and quick editing again). For gorehounds, there is plenty to like and for the others, the movie delivers a few scares as well.

You’re Next does not really reinvent the genre but, thanks to a flawless script filled with dark humor and convincing acting, it belongs to the best Home invasion movie out there and will stay a highlight of horror movies in 2013.

My Rating: 7/10

Director: Adam Wingard

Origin: US