1. Stoker (2013)- Mia Wasikowski, Nicole Kidman, Matthew Goode
Netflix Synopsis: An impressionable teenager grieving for her late father lives with her unstable mother and is bewitched by her enigmatic uncle, who has mysterious motives for his sudden appearance in her life.
My Thoughts: I wasn't really sure what to expect from this movie. While I enjoyed Mia in Alice in Wonderland, I'm not a Kidman fan(despite having an odd love affair with the movie To Die For, but I digress) and I had no idea who the guy playing the uncle was. So, the film was gorgeous, but a little too slow in places. I actually enjoyed Kidman as the alcoholic yet child-like mother. Mia did a lot of skulking around. The uncle seemed sleazy from the get-go, so I guess that means he did what he was supposed to do. Problems: I would have liked just a bit more back story about India and her father. Aside from that, it was an enjoyable watch. I imagine I will give it another go at a later date, just to see if I can answer some of my questions for myself, but this will not be a movie I just toss on for background noise. 3.75 out of 5 stars.
2. Grabbers (2012)- Richard Coyle, Ruth Bradley, Russell Tovey, Bronagh Gallagher
Netflix Synopsis: When alien monsters go on a murderous rampage on an Irish island, the only survivor is drunk -- because alcohol makes blood toxic to the aliens. Now, as the sober cop tries to stop the aliens, the rest of the town must get wasted in order to survive!
My Thoughts: I had never heard of this movie until I ran across a review of it, which I only half-read. When I saw the words "like a drunken Tremors" I knew I had to see it. My one concern going into this was that because they are Irish, and because, presumably, they would be drunk at some point, I would cease to be able to understand them through the booze and accents. Luckily, that was not the case, and with the exception of a few terms, this was nothing short of a rip-roaring good time. I was particularly fond of Ruth Bradley as Garda Lisa Nolan. I had my doubts about her in the beginning, expecting her to be a regular stick-in-the-mud because she came onto the island so by-the-book. I needn't have worried, she nailed it. Everyone was pretty delightful(also, hey, the bartender's wife is that chick from Pulp Fiction!), and this was one of the best horror-comedies I have ever seen(I wouldn't compare it to Tremors, however, it was nothing like it) 4.50 out of 5 stars.
3. Would You Rather (2013)- Brittany Snow, Jeffrey Combs, Enver Gjokaj, Charlie Hofheimer, June Squibb, Sasha Grey
Netflix Synopsis: Already an orphan, Iris can't stand the thought of losing her brother to leukemia, but she has no money to pay for his treatment. Millionaire Shepard Lambrick does, but he'll only part with his cash by way of a lethal winner-takes-all parlor game.
My Thoughts: Whew. This was a ride. One that was so engrossing that Alaska(who does not have the love of horror that I do) stopped what he was doing and watched with me. Although I liked this movie, one person in particular stood out, and I keep thinking about him even now. That would be Travis(played by Charlie Hofheimer) Travis was the only person sitting at that table who I gave a shit about, and we knew almost nothing about him. What we do find out is that Travis is a man with morals, and, dammit it to hell, there is a shortage of those in movies and the real world. Sasha Grey(whom I know is a porn star, even though I have never seen any of her "work") has very few lines, and that's certainly for the best. Jeffrey Combs was a superb cretin, and I was definitely interested in a little more back story on him and his rotten son. Brittany Snow was good in the lead, and I felt kinda bad for her and her situation, but I wasn't too concerned for her well-being. Some of the scenes were fairly brutal, and the ending takes a twist(or two, I guess?) Good movie, I will probably give it another viewing for anything I missed, but I doubt this will be one of my go-to movies for when I feel like something scary. 4 out of 5 stars-1 star of which is all for Travis.
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