Payback - 1999 - USA

Payback - 1999 - 7/10

 
Porter is left for dead by his partner, Val, who pockets the $70,000.
Left for dead ain’t the same as dead, however, and after an ugly recovery, Porter comes after the money.
Val, it turns out, used the funds to join a crime family.
Where Porter starts killing his way through the ranks.
Powerful Mel Gibson film, far darker than his popular persona of this period.
Exceptional male cast includes Kristofferson, James Coburn, William Devane, Bill Duke.
Director’s cut is more hard-nosed, less audience friendly, and superior in numerous ways.

Stay Tuned - 1992 - USA

Stay Tuned - 1992 - 5/10  

 
Lazy salesman spends his home life watching TV.
To the fury of his wife smashes the set – whereupon – a visitor arrives with a satellite dish.
Capable of viewing 666 stations.  666.  Does the couple pick up on that?  Please.
Soon enough they are sucked into the set, into bizarro, deadly programs.
Parodies of TV shows aren’t vicious enough.  Horror elements, silly.
“Stars” John Ritter and Pam Dauber lack oomph, chemistry, charisma.

Saw this when it originally screened and left me sputtering for days.
In 1989, I had pitched a highly similar premise to the old television series, “Friday The 13th”.
Male viewer is sucked into a weird TV, forced by Satan to participate in programs in Hades.
“Friday The 13th” was canceled, my 30” pitch returned (as were those to countless freelancers).
I eventually decided Stay Tuned was just coincidence.  Thems the breaks, folks.

Anatomy Of A Fall - 2023 - France

Anatomy Of A Fall - 2023 - 6/10  
AKA - Anatomie d'une Chute

 
Author Sandra is being interviewed at her Alpine home.
Not for long, however, as her husband begins blaring music at ear rending level.
Jealousy, spite, wounded male ego?  In any event, the interview ends abruptly.
And, within an hour, the husband falls to his death from an attic opening.  
Did he fall by accident?  Was it suicide?  Was he pushed?
Suspect number one?  You got it, the wife, the famous writer.
The police and coroner are inconclusive, leaving the verdict to the French judicial system.
Owing to insufficient evidence, the prosecutor’s strategy is to besmirch.
Courtroom drama compels, but is overlong to the point of tedium.

The Believers - 1987 - USA

The Believers - 1987 - 6/10

 
Recently widowed psychologist relocates from the Midwest to Gotham.
Where, he being working with the NYPD as they investigate a voodoo cult, sacrificing children.
Oh, yeah, our psychologist has a child of just about the right age.
The Santerai elements are skirted over, although blood embellishment is heavy.
An undercurrent of Yuppie scum predominates, much as resentment of that group heightened during the 1980’s.
Frightening moments seem at war with the moralizing.

The Devil's Stairway - 1964 - S Korea

The Devil's Stairway - 1964 - 6/10  
AKA - Maeui Gyedan // 마의 계단

 
The affair between the head surgeon and an attractive nurse has frayed.
His attitude is, “This is all fun, but not permanent.”  Her reply is a terse, “I’m pregnant.”
Meanwhile, the director of the small hospital wants to make the surgeon his successor.
Contingent on him marrying his attractive (and younger than the nurse) daughter.
So, nurse Jin-suk has become a major inconvenience, and needs to be sorted.
Solid psychological thriller looks like a Noir, with supernatural overtones.
Since solving the “nurse problem” leaves surgeon Hyeon in a worsening state.

The Case Of The Frightened Lady - 1940 - UK

The Case Of The Frightened Lady - 1940 - 6/10

 
Similar to the family Usher, the Lebanon family bloodline has run thin.
Consequently, Lady Lebanon orders her son to marry his cousin.
Before the murders begin.
Creaky whodunit, based on an Edgar Wallace novel, boasts an absolutely gorgeous, gloomy manor.
Stone in and out, vast ceilings, rooms lit by candlelight or fireplace.
Let’s not forget surly servants, and the toffy son who would rather pound the piano than woo his cute cousin.
This plays out like an early talkie, although fans of Wallace should enjoy, as will cozy fans.
If you are lucky enough, this still reps as a popular theatre play.

Running Man - 1987 - USA

Running Man - 1987 - 6/10

 
In the near future, one of the cops in the US police state is framed and imprisoned.
Only to be given a “chance” if he participates in life and death game show.
Contestants square off against the television heroes, and generally all lose.
Yes, Barney, the fix is in!
Action adventure film based on novel by Richard Bachman (who quickly started hollering, hey I’m really Stephen King, so buy this here book!).
Empty headed fun, part of a string of Schwarzenegger hits.
Richard Dawson as smarmy host, genius casting.

The Gilded Age - 2018 - USA

The Gilded Age - 2018 - 8/10

 
By the 1880’s, the wealthiest dominate the US landscape.
Rockefeller, Carnegie, Morgan, Vanderbilt, etc …
The notion of “democracy” one man, one vote, is usurped by capitalism, where the richest hold vast sway.
Politicians bought, laws bent to benefit the powerful.
While the rest of the nation, those looked down on as maggots, starve.

 
Matters come to a head in 1896 when, as will so often happen, the Electoral College gives the Presidency to the candidate with fewer votes.
One question lingers:  Does government represent the people?  Or does it represent wealth?
Exceptional documentary, sadly, still resonates to this day.
Voters endlessly reelect candidates who promise to work for then, only to enrich themselves.
The democratic alternative is what, mob rule?
Who bears ultimate responsibility?  Turn to the looking glass.
Subtitles = https://subscene.com/subtitles/the-gilded-age/english/3214067

Cat People - 1982 - USA

Cat People - 1982 - 6/10

 
Stylish, steamy, sexy remake of the Val Lewton film.
Troubled Irena begins relationship with zoo curator, flirtatious, but not sex.
Not so with her brother, Paul, who seems eager engage in incestuous procreation.
Meanwhile, escaped panthers have been killing, leaving mutilated corpses.
As remakes go, this is far more imaginative than the norm.
Malcolm McDowell especially memorable as Paul, lithe, graceful, deadly.
Terrific erotic thriller, doused with horror.