The Bleeding / The Killing Jar

Michael Madsen getting paychecks in not-terrible movies

Thriller
Rod Lott
Rent must be due at the Michael Madsen household.

 

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Birdemic: Shock and Terror

The new 'Troll 2.'

Thriller
Rod Lott
Hear me out: "Birdemic: Shock and Terror" is jaw-droppingly awful, which makes it absolutely awesome. It’s the new “The Room” and/or “Troll 2,” so if that means anything to you, no need to read further — just go place your order.

 

Friday, February 18, 2011

The Hour of 13

An 'hour' of mild power

Thriller
Rod Lott
As far as gaslight-era whodunits go, I'll give "The Hour of 13" a 6 — a hair better than average, but far from socks-knocking.

 

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Inspector Bellamy

Arresting and beautiful, if slow-paced

Thriller
Rod Lott
"Inspector Bellamy" certainly arrests you with its opening credits sequence, unspooling over a picturesque cliffside view of Nîmes, France, that gradually reveals a crashed car at the bottom of said cliff, and ends with the image of its charred-to-a-crisp passenger, his head nearby on the sand.

 

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

The Night Digger

Interesting, but not a standout

Thriller
Rod Lott
Although best-known as the creator of the enduring children's characters Willy Wonka, Fantastic Mr. Fox and James (he of "and the Giant Peach" fame), writer Roald Dahl more than dipped his toes in dar

 

Monday, February 7, 2011

High Lane

A pretty decent 80 minutes

Thriller
Rod Lott
Hey, America! Looks like France figured out a way to combine the edge-of-your-seat action of "Cliffhanger" with the feral freaks of "Wrong Turn"!

 

Friday, February 4, 2011

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

You'll like it, but it's not the same as the others

Thriller
Rod Lott
Sweden's crime-film phenomenon comes to a close with "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest," the third and presumably final entry in the trilogy that began with "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" and "The Girl Who Played with Fire."

 

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Operation C.I.A.

Obscure but charming, plus Burt Reynolds!

Thriller
Rod Lott
Remember when Burt Reynolds used to kick ass? No? Well, he did, and you should rent "Deliverance" for solid proof, not to mention just a damn fine film. 

 

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Love at First Kill

Benign, but still a kick to watch

Thriller
Rod Lott
From the title, you'd expect "Love at First Kill" to be a rather benign thriller. And it is, but bear with it, because it's oddly a kick to watch.

 

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Night Must Fall

Dated, curious, and over-the-top

Thriller
Rod Lott
I'm sure "Night Must Fall" was quite the spine-tingler in 1937. Today, it's amusing to watch, but instead of being on the edge of your seat, you may be settled back in it, not counting a few bathroom breaks in its overlong two hours. 

 

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Map of the Sounds of Tokyo

The Hessen Conspiracy

The Window

The Outfit

Buried