Stonehearst Asylum

Hello guys! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! Sorry, I haven't been very active lately but don't worry, I have been keeping up with plenty of films and plan on posting the reviews as soon as possible. One film I managed to check out over the festive season was 'Stonehearst Asylum' and it was much better than I had anticipated so check out my review.


Stonehearst Asylum (2014) 

Synopsis:

Edward Newgate (Jim Sturgess) is a young doctor with a keen interest in the studies of medicine for those with mental health issues. He takes a trip to Stonehearst Asylum to develop his studies even further and finds himself besotted with a beautiful patient named Eliza Graves (Kate Beckinsale). As Edward struggles to come to terms with Dr Lamb's (Ben Kingsley) insane treatment methods makes a shocking discovery and realises not all is as it seems at Stonehearst Asylum.





Review:

Stonehearst Asylum is based on a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe and is a gothic, periodic, thriller that challenges the audience and keeps you on your toes throughout. With more twists and turns than a maze it is a film that requires your full attention but the complex and diverse array of characters portrayed by wonderfully talented actors keep the viewer submerged in the story. Stonehearst Asylum takes a look at the brutal and barbaric treatment of those suffering from mental health conditions and does so without the use of blood and gore. The film has certain aspects of a horror with it's grand, mysterious looking castle set out in the woods and the twisted, dark characters of Dr Lamb and Mickey Finn (David Thewlis) but pays more attention to the psychological threats by using edgy camera angles, chiarascuro lighting and an eerie setting that hosts dark corridors and frightening 'treatment' rooms.
Stonehearst Asylum is very similar to Shutter Island and also has an unpredictable ending, which I always find is a great bonus when watching a film. Although this film is a bit of a slow burner, each part is relevant in building up the layers of the story and creating the perfect atmosphere for this thoroughly enjoyable thriller.

4/5

Gone Girl

Hello guys, I'm sorry it's been a couple of weeks since I last posted. I've had exams at university and been busy at work so I haven't had much time to watch any films lately. I did, however finally get the chance to watch 'Gone Girl' the other night and it is by far one of the best films I have seen in a long time so here is my review.


Gone Girl (2014)

Synopsis:

When Nick wakes up on the day of their 5th wedding anniversary he discovers that his beautiful wife, Amy has gone missing. The media quickly becomes obsessed with the case and Nick finds himself under immense pressure to prove his innocence as the police investigation turns on him and he becomes the prime suspect.

Review:

'Gone Girl' is a modern and dark tale of matrimonial companionship gone wrong. Fincher has created a beautiful masterpiece filled with twists and turns and sensational craftsmanship. The character's are complex and almost unreadable, creating a tense atmosphere throughout the whole film. Fincher has done a remarkable job on Flynn's novel and managed to bring the words to life by ensuring the character's and the plot are just as twisted and complex as the book itself. 'Gone Girl' runs for 145 minutes and each one of them is vital to the plot; the whole film is full of clues and deceit and the audience will find themselves completely unsure who to trust. With incredible acting from Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike it's fascinating to watch these character's come to life on screen, I couldn't have picked out a better cast for these roles.

As I mentioned previously, 'Gone Girl' is quite possibly one of the best films I have seen in a long time and you would be missing out on an entertaining and brutal narrative that makes you wonder what is right and wrong and how far is too far? I couldn't fault the movie in any way; it managed to keep me absorbed throughout the whole 145 minutes and had me guessing all the time. A perfect tribute to a fantastic, best-selling novel. Please go and check it out.

5/5

Jurassic World

Now, I don't know about you but I just so happen to be RIDICULOUSLY excited for the new 'Jurassic World' movie and the trailer made things even better.

If you haven't seen it yet then check it out below;

In honour of the new 'Jurassic World' trailer I am going to give you my top 3 scenes from the previous Jurassic Park movies.
Here we go.


3. The Toilet Scene (Jurassic Park, 1993)

If the special effects and watching a T-Rex eating a guy who's taken refuge on a toilet aren't enough to blow your mind then I don't know what else to say.
I'm still in shock that I used to watch this film when I was a child because this stuff is terrifyingly real.


2. T-rex vs. Spinosaurus (Jurassic Park 3, 2001)

Of course this was one of my favourite scenes! Two of the most ferocious and dangerous dinosaurs in a battle to the death. I was never sure who I wanted to win but it was just about enjoying the cinematic effects that were created in this scene and witnessing two magnificent giants go head to head.
Jurassic Park 3 will always be my favourite out of the franchise and this is one of the reasons why.#

1. The Raptor's set a trap (Jurassic Park 3, 2001)

The Raptor was my favourite dinosaur as a child and this scene always fascinates me. Obviously we have no idea how intelligent these creatures were but I always liked to imagine they had the ability to communicate and work together to survive...

As Above So Below

Hello my amazing readers.
I apologise for my lack of posts but I have been mad busy lately.
I finally got around to watching another new horror release; 'As Above So Below' and here is my review.

Synopsis:

A team of explorers make their way down into the catacombs underneath the City of Paris in the hopes of finding the Philosopher's Stone. As they climb further and further into the twisted maze of the undead, they realise that they have entered their own personal hell and the only way out is to keep going further into the ground and away from civilisation.


Review:

I am a self-confessed 'found footage' fan but this film came as a huge disappointment. The catacombs make for a claustrophobic setting and yet it doesn't add any suspense or fear. The shaky cameras make it incredibly difficult to focus on what's going on and although I understand that it is one of the main characteristics of this sub-genre, 'As Above So Below' manages to make this into more of an annoying hindrance to the action.
The characters in the film are merely there to add another layer but they barely do that. They all lack any kind of personality and depth, especially Scarlett (Perdita Weeks) who insists on giving us a mythological history lesson even though all of her friends are dying around her.
I really wanted this film to be great and it had the opportunity to be, but all of that seems to get lost in an overly complex storyline which in the end, is downright ridiculous. The ending leaves us with more questions than answers and if you were to ask me what actually happened throughout the film, I'm not sure I could tell you.

Definitely wouldn't recommend this film to anyone.

1.5/5

Film of the Week

Hello my beloved readers, I apologise for being inactive over the weekend. It was my birthday on Saturday and I've had to organise my time between working and seeing family.
BUT it's that time of week again where I suggest one of my all time favourite films to you and this week that film is;


Liar Liar (1997)

I don't usually suggest comedies but I thought I'd revert back to my childhood and give you a little insight in to one of my favourite Jim Carrey films. I have watched this film so many times and I will never get tired of it, if you're looking for a light-hearted, laugh out loud comedy with an underlying sentimental story then Liar Liar is a must see. Carrey is a comedic genius and puts his heart and soul in to his characters, it's very difficult to dislike any film he makes an appearance in. 

Liar Liar follows the story of Fletcher Reede who is a fast talking, lawyer and makes his money from telling lies. As a divorced father he struggles to find the time for his son and constantly makes up excuses which causes Max to make a birthday wish which involves his father only being able to tell the truth for the next 24 hours. When the wish comes true Fletcher realises just how much he relies on his own lies and with a big case coming up he has to find a way to win for his client and win back the heart of his son with nothing but the truth. 

If you haven't seen Liar Liar then rent it out, buy the DVD or borrow it from a friend because I promise you won't regret it. This film has the ability to make you laugh out loud even on a bad day and keep an eye out for the elevator scene, it has me in tears every single time.

54 Days

Hello guys!

I was recently given the opportunity to watch '54 Days' which is an independent feature film by Australian Director Tim R. Lea. It follows the story of 5 survivors who find themselves locked away in a steel bunker to save themselves from a recent nuclear attack that has obliterated Australia and most of the world. As they begin to run out of food, water and oxygen they realise that somebody is going to have to sacrifice themselves so that the others can survive.



54 Days (2014)

Almost immediately I was impressed by '54 days' and it's high quality; the locations and settings go above and beyond to create a sense of verisimilitude in the diegetic world, making things more believable. From the start the viewer is lured in to a sense of false security, it's a friendly party atmosphere and although there are several inner conflicts it appears as if there's not a care in the world.
I have a lot of respect for someone who is talented enough to create a film that is set in one location and still manages to keep the viewer interested in what's going on. The different stages of emotions and panic throughout the group are reflected in the mise-en-scene and smartly placed camera angles, allowing us to almost feel as though we are trapped alongside them.
The viewer isn't given much information on the main characters but I think this adds to the storyline, there are subtle hints throughout the film in regards to actions and interactions with other characters that allow us to get to know them a little bit more but the fact that we do not know any of these people makes things a little uneasy. Who can we trust? Who will be the first to snap? '54 Days' keeps you guessing all the way through and I was surprised to find that in the end, I had no idea what was about to happen. Michela Carratini (Michelle) portrays a young woman in an unhappy marriage and later in the film we discover that she is pregnant which adds another layer to her character, we sympathise with her more than the others. Carratini plays the role incredibly well, showing the inner turmoil of a pregnant woman who believes she is about to die and as she deteriorates even more with time, she makes it believable to the viewer.
I think each part of the character development works well in contrast with one another; Dirk's strange obsession with the cockroach is to fill the void that is missing now that he has lost his daughter. Anthony loses his temper quite easily and talks down to the women, which gives us information on why Michelle has been unhappy with him. Elizabeth tries to keep the peace but after several drinks becomes slightly irate and unpredictable, leaving the viewer wondering whether we can trust her or not and last but not least, Rob who we are introduced to as 'the other man' and when he comes down to the bunker covered in blood it doesn't take a genius to figure out that this guy isn't to be trusted.

The bunker in which the majority of the movie is set has incredible attention to detail, from the cracks in the stone walls, to the cold, hard flooring. The props used also help to create the atmosphere and add a sense of reality, with it's cold metal bunk beds, tattered lockers and dirty furniture. It's obvious each shot, each tiny detail has been given a lot of thought to make the film credible and I really enjoyed watching it.
The countdown throughout the film is a fantastic touch, it adds tension and pressure on the characters which is reflected in their actions as well as how they look. As the timer runs down the shots become even more fast paced to give a sense of time passing much quicker than expected.
My only problem with '54 Days' is that I felt that there were several unanswered questions; one of them being where did the gun come from that Michelle used? And why did Elizabeth turn on her friends when she had been so desperate to keep them all alive?

Overall, I found '54 Days' to be a gripping film which looks in depth at human character's when forced in to a survival situation. It's a film I would definitely watch again, as I am a sucker for anything to do with apocalyptic situations so when you guys get the chance, please go and check out the website for the film.

http://www.54daysthemovie.com/



4/5

Happy Birthday Martin Scorsese!

Today is the 72nd birthday of the incredibly talented Martin Scorsese and to honour his special day I am going to give you a list of my five favourite Scorsese films. 
Just so you know, I didn't intentionally pick all the films with Dicaprio and DeNiro in them.

1. Shutter Island

2. Cape Fear

3. Goodfellas

4. Taxi Driver

5. Gangs of New York