A Whistle Stop Tour - 2024 - UK

A Whistle Stop Tour - 2024 - 6/10

 
Short where critic Kim Newman gabs about “The Whistler”.
Primarily the eight film series from Columbia, though he touches on the long running OTR series from Signal Oil, as well as the TV series, of which I was unaware.
Fans of the Dix series will find nothing new, nor is this an introduction to the series.
From a remastered box set, unavailable in the US.
I wasted time studying titles in Newman’s shelves.

Stoker - 2013 - UK

Stoker - 2013 - 6/10

 
After India’s father dies in a horrible car accident, her wayward Uncle Charlie appears.
Swiftly establishes himself in the estate as if born to it, and just before subsequent disappearances.
Slow, very slow boil thriller of the smiling predator, recognized by the moody daughter.
That said, there are several cruel twists, and formula expectations were foiled.
In essence, while this goes nowhere, the journey itself is perverse.
Mia Wasikowska and Matthew Goode memorable as the distorted pair.
Nicole Kidman almost perfect as widowed Southern belle, all too eager to move on.

Night Angel - 1990 - USA

Night Angel - 1990 - 3/10

 
Out of the oozing swamp she emerges.  Then, into negligees and onto power brokers.
Grade-D erotic thriller overlaid with succubus tropes, masked with a Lilith persona.
She slithers her way to Siren Magazine where she intends to pervert a mass readership to wickedness.
Actually, my encapsulation makes more sense than this inept attempt.
No one can act (why is Karen Black in this?), relying on facial grimaces, smirks and double-takes.
Low-light, softcore romping, latex prosthetics, and a script penned by a poodle.
Near the conclusion, there is a whacked out demonic orgy with effects and costumes that is imaginative.
If you must.  English subs = https://subsource.net/subtitle/night-angel-1990/english/10057734

Turkish Detective - 2024 - UK

Turkish Detective - 2024 - 7/10

 
Young detective Suleyman transfers from London to Istanbul.
Where he finds, police handle things differently.
Exotic police procedural.
Series of two-part mysteries, that are anything but routine.
Connecting the series is an arc of Suleyman’s girlfriend, violently attacked in Istanbul.
Domestic affairs I could take or leave, but they seem to be a fixture now.

Conflict - 2022 - USA

Conflict - 2022 - 7/10

 
“If a man’s got an open mind, he can’t keep anything in it.”
“… there’s one great incentive to human endeavour at work in the world today, that’s the incentive of the upper ten to keep things as they are.”
Heady, drawing room play set in the 1920’s, as the upstart Labour Party challenges the Tories.
Disparities referenced include class, wealth, gender.
This is post Great War England, pre-Depression, although there is mention of nations building armaments.
Lady Dare has a steady fella in Ronnie, but theirs is habit, not passion.
Then there is Tom, ex-schoolmate of Ronnie, whose pride and family were shattered by the War.
In time, the two become rivals in the constituency.
Very modern play, still resonates today, as our own disparities continue to widen and deepen.

The Maid - 2005 - Singapore

The Maid - 2005 - 6/10
AKA - 女佣

 
Rosa arrives from the Philippines to Singapore.
Auspiciously, it is the seventh month.
The Gates of Hell yawn open, spirits with a grievance emerge.
Rosa’s employers try to explain, try to warn her.
The girl is ignorant, however, makes mistakes, offending the ghosts.
Packed with jump scares (that soon grow tiresome) and wooden acting.
Script boasts a few twists, will be OK for those who sample different horror themes.
English subs = https://subscene.cam/subtitle/3351398

Night Watch - 1973 - UK

Night Watch - 1973 - 6/10

 
Yes, it is raining.  Pouring down hard, actually.
Nonetheless, Ellen spies a corpse in the empty house.
Sitting in a chair, throat slashed.
Police arrive.  Body, what body?  Conclude Ellen is overt-anxious.
And she is overwrought.  Her husband, best friend, and doctor want to place her in “a home”.
Roiling thriller pushed by Elizabeth Taylor’s neurotic performance.
Probably overlooked, and worth watching.
English subs = https://subscene.cam/subtitle/3351397

Libido - 1965 - Italy

Libido - 1965 - 6/10

 
Young boy Christian observes his father and blonde female in the mirror-lined pleasure room.
Just before dad murders her, then commits suicide.
Two decades of psycho-therapy later, Christian stands to inherit a wealthy estate.
Three days before that, he chooses to spend time in the haunted manor.
With his wife, always hovering, soothing, reassuring and reminding.
His guardian, who stands to maintain his status should Christian be institutionalized.
With the guardian’s oversexed, kittenish wife, provocative and rapacious.
This borrows heavily from Diabolique (1955), yet is a tight, claustrophobic thriller.
Innuendo laced dialogue includes = “She took your big piece with her little piece.”

Blind Lucky - 2015 - Germany

Blind Lucky - 2015 - 6/10

 
Yes, with the right kit, you can jack any car you want.
Even one that belongs to a psychotic, vindictive criminal.
Who, in short order, has you suspended by chains.
And who opens up a new world of pain.
Nasty little short.  Proof of concept for a feature.

Last Warning - 1928 - UK

Last Warning - 1928 - 6/10

 
During the climactic moment, the lead actor and owner is struck dead.
Curtain lowered, the audience confused, the police arrive.
Whereupon the body disappears, and is never found.
The building is now cursed, and lies dormant for years.
Until a new producer decides to revive the doomed play, “The Snare”.
Lively shocker is full bore Gothic, undermined by melodramatic, hammy acting.

Tea War: The Adventures Of Robert Fortune - 2001 - UK

Tea War: The Adventures Of Robert Fortune - 2001 - 6/10  

 
This may be of more interest to hardcore* tea drinkers.
By the 1840’s , the English were avid fanatics of the stuff, but felt restricted by China’s virtual monopoly.
Mr Fortune was sent to study techniques and collect as many tea plant varieties as possible.
He circumvented officials, inspectors, rules, laws, and customs, bringing a trove to India.
The documentary states this was one of the greatest thefts in history.
Unmentioned, were than most of the Chinese plants were unsuited to India and died.
Moreover, English preference was for brisk tea, meaning astringent or bitter.  With milk.
Not Lapsang Suchong or Keemun.

Tea preference test.  * Hardcore types answer 2.
1 – Herb tea or flowers  2 – Tea leaves.
1 – Teabags  2 – Loose tea leaves
1 – Mug or cup  2 – Really, please.  Kettle, pot, cups and saucers.
1 – Sugar with milk or lemon  2 – Black