Captivity ( 2007 )

Can't say anything good about this deplorable movie.It doesn't make any real sense; is totally unconvincing ; is voyeristic and grubby in the worst sense and is so predictable and horridly cold it's a very unpleasant and nasty view all round. Alright ...it's slickly directed by Roland Joffe' but it's almost totally devoid of any suspense and character.

If watching a beautifull woman ( Elisha Cuthbert ) being trapped in a room and having mind games played on her is your bag you will probably enjoy this.

Unfortunately in this day and age there seems to be a growing demand for films like this, which is very sad. Definitely a bad and rotten egg!

BAD EGG

TARANTULA ( 1955)

Another splendid science fiction come horror film by film director Jack Arnold.My prevoius review of ' THEM ' was released a year earlier and has a similar beginning , being part of the popular 'Giant Insect ' cycle of the period. Rather than having the little girl fleeing from the unseen THEM Arnold has a strangely distorted man with head and hands twisted into bestiality, jump out into the desertr and collapse as the title credits appear.

Performances are much better than average in TARANTULA. Leo G Carroll ( remember him in ' The Man From U.N.C.L.E ) plays a biochemist experimenting with artificial nutrients which consequently have devastating abnormal effects not only on man but also a huge TARANTULA which escapes from the laboratory.

John Agar and Mara Corday, are also smoothly effective with some touches of humor.Look out near the end for a fleeting glimpse of a young and uncredited Clint Eastwood as the fighter pilot who drops some napalm.

Universals desert town standing set is used to great advantage as it did in THE MONOLITH MONSTERS. Used here as a focus of action and a bridge to the rather more threatening world which lurks just beyond the lamplight. Arnolds feel for the desert is once again perfectly realised.

Obviously the special effects are not up to todays standards but what we have here is all atmosphere throughout and not like todays CGI perfectly rendered mostly lifeless FX. Travelling mattes and giant sets were mainly used making the spider appear enormous. I think we can forgive tha fact that the spiders legs don't seem to touch the ground.

GOOD EGG

THEM! [1954]


Giant mutant creatures featured prominently in many science fiction films of the 50's and 60's , especially ones involving atomic explosions. Films such as "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms" This time around we have giant ants. "THEM" is a classic of the sub genre and is without equal, especially as it's the only giant mutation movie of any coherance and genuine dramatic tension.

Right from the introduction of the giant ants to the final showdown in the storm drains beneath Los Angeles " THEM " comes across as genuine and really scary of what we could unleash if we carry on testing atomic bombs.

Over 50 years on and "THEM" is as powerful today as it was then.The images portrayed still frighten and the sense of mystery and then threat still pack a punch. In less capable hands "THEM" would have been a failure but Director Gordon Douglas turns this into a classic.

No really notable actors, except Edmund Gwenn who plays the part of the old and wise entomologist ; as always he's excellent as is James Whitmore who is among the first to discover the ants. Much lesser known actor James Arness plays the lead who first appeared disguised as the carrot creature in "THE THING ".

"THEM" in some respects recalls " IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE " with it's desert locations and atmosphere. A girl stumbles out of the desert and is only able to utter "THEM" "THEM" which makes for a very powerful introduction. From then on we discover smashed buildings and twisted cars which in each case has a trail of sugar leading from the site.Eventually when the nest is found poison gas is pumped in and a party with flamethrowers try to wipe out any of the survivors. It's soon discovered that two of the queen ants have flown from the nest and as so the search continues.This time leading to the storm drains of LA and finally James Whitmores final battle as he tries to save not only his own life but also that of some children which become trapped.

So many remarkable scenes in "THEM" which are played excellently throughout and for me it's all the better for being in black and white. " THEM " is definitely a film you should see.

GOOD EGG

The Descent ( 2006 )

A cool tempting premise upon seeing and reading the DVD case /trailer.

A group of young women go cave exploring and wished they hadn't on this occasion when they discover malevolent creatures in the subterranean darkness.

What initially is a fun trip soon turns into one of terror. After a cave in and the entrance becomes blocked the group of women are forced to find another way out and venture deeper into the cave system to find that other way out, if any !

Now all of this may sound great entertainment value and up to a point it is but unfortunately what is really lacking here is characterisation. Without which we just do not really relate to any particular person and are insensative to anyones demise. A shame really , because this film would certainly have benefitted from much more emotionally involving characters and more rounded likable people. As a result, When the group comes across creatures which resemble albino dwarf mutants bent on devouring there prey, we really do'nt give a damn what happens to anyone of them , as heads are severed and we witness various scenes full of blood and guts. I at least didn't! The script is also very poor and really doesn't help matters at all.

PAR BOILED

THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN ( 1957 )

Scott Carey ( Grant Williams ) falls victim to a cloud of radioactive gas which causes him to gradually shrink in size.

Although the acting is unfortanately wooden this is a fine blend of science fiction and horror which one will for sure remember after the first viewing.

What begins as a figure of academic medical interest in Scotts predicament soon gives way to ridicule as he becomes more of an object of fascination , which cuts all the more deeper as Scott is just an ordinary Joe and doesn't understand at all what's happening him as he becomes smaller and smaller. Objects and pets such as his friendly cat soon become things of terror as he becomes no more to the cat than a mouse to be played with. More frightening still is the spider in the cellar as he becomes trapped there . Searching for food he finds a piece of cheese and winds up prey of the spider as he tries to attain a meal.

Director Jack Arnold made many fine films in this genre and this is one of his best.Excellent special effects throughout and the giant sets are really good. Incidentally the spider which is supposedly a trained one also appeared in Arnolds ' Tarantula '

Some may find the ending i a little cornball but all in all TISM a very highly recommended movie. Arachnophobes beware!!

CRYSTAL EGG