IFC Midnight - The Wind Film Review

The Wind is available from Amazon. To purchase your copy go here

Lizzy (Caitlin Gerard) and Isaac Macklin (Ashley Zuckerman) are a couple living in the Western frontier of the late 1800’s. Up until recently the pair had gotten used to being the only inhabitants of the land. That is until the arrival of Emma (Julia Goldani Telles) and Gideon Harper (Dylan McTee). It soon becomes clear that life here isn’t as peaceful as one would think. 

I really enjoyed The Wind. The film allows for a lot of tension to be built before the first reveal. It impresses me when filmmakers are able to tell their story in a more simplistic way. We often find ourselves trying to relate to characters who are put in situations that aren’t physically possible in the real world. For that reason I appreciate even the smallest decisions because it showcases their attention to detail. 

The films plot may not be an original concept but the execution is what sets it apart from those who’ve walked this path before. As you watch Lizzy start to lose herself and succumb to the madness you realize that even you don’t know who to trust. You start questioning yourself on her behalf. 

I give The Wind a score of 10/10. It was brilliantly executed especially for the time period in which the story takes place. The plot develops slowly but this just adds to the atmosphere. The events in the film would never work in a fast paced environment so I think choosing to slow everything down was a smart choice. The smaller the cast the harder it is to make your story believable. The actors did a great job and it showcases their abilities. If you enjoy films such as The Witch I think you’ll really enjoy The Wind. Although the plots are different the atmosphere and overall tone of the film is similar. 

Film Information:

Studio: Soap Box Films   

Writer: Teresa Sutherland 

Director: Emma Tammi   

Country: USA

Language: English  

Run Time: 86 minutes  

Release Date: April 5, 2019 

IFC Midnight - I Trapped The Devil Film Review

I Trapped The Devil is available through Shout Factory. To purchase your copy go here

The smell of a freshly cut Christmas tree fills the air on a cold December evening. The incandescent lights lead your way through the dark path. An eerie feeling comes over you and suddenly you get the feeling that this isn’t your typical family friendly Christmas story. 

Matt (AJ Bowen) and his wife Karen (Susan Burke) decide to pay Matt’s estranged brother Steve (Scott Poythress) a visit during the holiday season. Expecting to be welcomed with open arms the two are shocked when Steve announces that they are not welcome in the family home. It becomes clear rather quickly that Steve is harboring a sinister secret. 

TV static, phone calls, and haunting music take an otherwise ethereal setting and turn it into a dark, unnerving environment. The tension and uneasiness in the air creates the perfect atmosphere for this story. Everything from the dim lighting to the discovery “down below” are mixed perfectly with a chilling feeling of dread and despair.  

I really enjoyed I Trapped The Devil. This film feeds on your fear without relying on old tricks and jump scares. It takes you back to that classic cinematic experience where you had to rely on your senses and imagination. The characters are believable and the cast does a brilliant job at making their story come to life. 

Josh Lobo did an exceptional job here and his passion for film and creativity are very evident throughout the entirety of the film. The final reveal was done so well I did not see it coming. It is rare that I have the pleasure of making such a large claim but in this case it’s warranted. I give I Trapped The Devil a 10/10. Very nicely done! 

Film Information:

Studio: IFC Midnight  

Writer: Josh Lobo 

Director: Josh Lobo  

Country: USA

Language: English  

Run Time: 82 minutes  

Release Date: April 26, 2019 

TV Review - Netflix’s Mindhunter Season 2

Mindhunter is a Netflix Original series based off of the best selling 1995 crime thriller entitled Mindhunter: Inside The FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit. The novel was written by both John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker. The project became a reality after actress Charlize Theron gave director David Fincher a copy of John’s novel. After years of deliberation with other agencies Mindhunter finally found its writer, Joe Penhall. With Theron and Fincher signed on as Executive Producers, the series would be picked up by Netflix in 2015, and air on October 13, 2017. 

The television series explores the first hand accounts of retired Special Agent and Unit Chief John E. Douglas. Douglas’s career started in the late 1970’s, and he has spent a total of 25 years with the United States Federal Bureau Of Investigation. He has sat down with some of America’s most terrifying and sadistic serial killers. Some of the men he’s dealt with are high profile killers such as Ted Bundy, Charles Manson, and Ed Gein. 

John learned how these men think, speak, and even act. He used this crucial information to build informative profiles of these criminals. As if his resume isn’t impressive enough, the character Jack Crawford from the 1991 film Silence Of The Lambs was based on John E. Douglas.

Season One of Mindhunter focuses on FBI agents Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Tench (Holt McCallany). With Ford being a rookie and Tench being a hard headed know it all, the first few episodes are quite interesting to say the least. Once the boys are given the task of running the Behavioral Science Unit the “fun” begins. Ford and Tench make their way to the prison in order to interview their subjects. These criminals are instructed to participate in a formal questionnaire. It’s during this process that the information is handed over to their research partner, Professor Carr (Anna Torv). 

The real life serial killers portrayed in Season One Of Mindhunter are Ed Kemper (Cameron Britton), Montie Rissell (Same Strike), Jerry Brudos (Happy Anderson), Richard Speck (Jack Erdie), and Dennis Rader aka the BTK Killer (Sonny Valicenti). 

Season Two premiered on August 16, 2019 and brings us back to the Psychological Unit. This time Tench and Professor Carr are instructed to keep an eye on Ford by newcomer Assistant Director Gunn (Michael Cerveris), as his practices are unconventional and not within the bureau’s protocol. Assistant Director Gunn is the replacement for Unit Chief Shepard who blames Ford for his forced retirement. 

Season Two focuses on a number of high profile serial killers. The current case Ford and Tench are working on are the latest murders committed by the American serial killer Dennis Rader also known as the BTK killer. BTK stands for “Bind, Torture, Kill”. Dennis Rader was active from 1974 to 1991 and was responsible for the deaths of 10 people in the Wichita Kansas area. After a long hiatus he returned in 2004 when he wrote a letter that resulted in his capture in 2005. Rader is currently serving 10 consecutive life sentences at the El Dorado Correctional Facility.

Dennis Rader aka The BTK Killer (left), Sonny Valicenti as Dennis Rader (right)

David Berkowitz started his killing spree during the summer of 1976. His trail of terror ended after his sixth victim. In 1984 Berkowitz pleaded guilty and was sentenced 25 to life for each one of his victims. David’s weapon of choice was a .44 caliber bulldog revolver. This led the media to nickname him the .44 Caliber Killer, a name which David detested. At the time he felt the name Son Of Sam suited him perfectly. He later retracted this statement in 2017 expressing that he hates the name and used it out of anger. Berkowitz is now a born again Christian who goes by the name Son Of Hope. Oliver Cooper’s brilliant portrayal of David Berkowitz is awe inspiring. It’s honestly one of the most bone chilling and convincing portrayals of a serial killer I have ever seen. 

David Berkowitz (left), Oliver Cooper as Berkowitz (right)

As much as I love Season One, Season Two just blew me away. I can’t express how much I genuinely love this series. Mindhunter isn’t your typical television program. All of the actors did such a phenomenal job of bringing these characters to life. Although writer Joe Penhall had his work cut out for him with the series, I felt as though he told John’s story beautifully. A lot of the content to seeing it in the television series is taken directly from John’s novel. 

The details about the FBI agents, the department, and the serial killers themselves were written exceptionally well. Some of the other infamous men included in Season Two are Charles Manson, William Henry Hance, Elmer Wayne Henley Jr., and William Pierce.

If you’re a fan of crime thrillers, serial killers, and TV shows based on actual events, I highly suggest you watch Mindhunter. If you’ve never seen the series, Season One is brilliant, and Season Two was so good I couldn’t stop watching it. Both seasons of Mindhunter are now available on Netflix. 

Two Evil Eyes gets a 4K Blu-Ray release

To pre-order your copy of Two Evil Eyes go here

The George A. Romero(Dawn Of The Dead) and Dario Argento(Suspiria) Film Two Evil Eyes gets a makeover from Blue Underground with a 4K DVD release this October in celebration of its 30th anniversary. Along with the restoration of the film, bonus features such as commentary and interviews with the cast and crew are included. The movie features two stories inspired by the works of legendary poet Edgar Allan Poe. 

Romero’s The Facts In The Case Of Mr. Valdemar tells the story of Jessica Valdemar (Adrienne Barbeau), a housewife who plans to commit murder in an unexpected and unconventional manner. 

Roderick Usher (Harvey Keitel), a crime scene photographer is driven to commit heinous acts of murder after being influenced by a ferocious feline in Agento’s The Black Cat. 

Martin Balsam(Psycho), E.G. Marshall(Creepshow), John Amos(The Beastmaster), and Tom Atkins (Night Of The Creeps) also star in this two story, action packed thriller. Two Evil Eyes will be a three disk set that is available on Blu-ray starting October 29, 2019. 

Two Evil Eyes Movie Trailer 

Artsploitation - Do It Yourself Film Review

Do It Yourself  is available for streaming on Amazon. To rent or purchase the film go here

Do it yourself is a clever game of cat and mouse except this time the mouse has a trick up his sleeve. What would you do if you knew you were going to be killed off after finishing the task at hand? Would you accept your fate or would you fight? 

Our story follows Alkis Vidalis (Konstadinos Aspiotis). Alkis agrees to film a video to restore the public image of a prominent business man. Things don’t go according to plan and that’s where the story really heats up. Knowing he’s going to be permanently removed from society, Alkis does what any sane man would do. He turns into MacGyver. Using every tool in sight to find a way to set himself free, Alkis out wits each one of his worthy opponents. Quentin Tarantino would be proud. 

Do It Yourself is in a league of its own. There’s so much to love here that I had trouble picking my favorite scenes. One of my favorites is how the main character speaks directly to the viewer. It adds something special to the already fast paced plot. There are tricks I’ve never seen in film before and although they’re small they definitely add personality to the film. I love the camera work, the technique, and the attention to detail. If you like action packed films that have a life of their own I think you’ll love this one. It’s entertaining and keeps you at the edge of your seat. 

I give Do It Yourself a solid A. It’s a movie I’d watch again. I don’t say that lightly. Writer/Director Dimitris Tsilifonis did an incredible job here. I look forward to seeing more of his work. 

Film Information:

Studio: Artsploitation Films 

Writer: Dimitris Tsilifonis 

Director: Dimitris Tsilifonis 

Country: Greece 

Language: Greek with English Subtitles 

Run Time: 97 minutes  

Release Date: March 8, 2018 

Film Score Review - Sandro Di Stefano - The Man With The Magic Box

The soundtrack for a The Man With The Magic Box is available on Spotify 

Man With The Magic Box is an Action/Sci-Fi film which takes place in the year 2030. The two main characters Adam and Gloria meet at work and start a tumultuous relationship. Unbeknownst to them their lives will be forever changed with an unexpected discovery. 

I had the upmost pleasure of listening to the films score which was composed, orchestrated, and conducted by Sandro Di Stefano. The music was played by the sensational Dnipropetroska Symphony Orchestra.

The score for this film is exquisite. Every song is written so beautifully and I love how each song flows to the next without losing its individuality. There is an underlying melody played throughout each song that is flawless. When listening to the music in the film you can not only see the story but you can hear it as well. It’s never easy trying to find a perfect match between film and music but Sandro Di Stefano did such a wonderful job that the two go hand in hand. 

The talent shines bright from both Composer and Orchestra. My favorites tracks from The Man With The Magic Box are The Shadow Of The Past, Adams Theme, Identity and Memory, And The Journey Through Love. 

Track Listing: 

1. The Shadow Of The Past 
2. Adam’s Theme 
3. End To End
4. Love Frequency
5. Hidden System
6. Identity and Mystery 
7. The Journey Through Love
8. Where The Words End 
9. Fortran (1952)
10. The Shadow Of The Future 
11. Nocturne Op 9, No. 2 (Bonus Track)
12. Walc A-moll (Bonus Track 

Artsploitation - The Man With The Magic Box Film Review

The Man With The Magic Box is available for streaming on Amazon. To rent or purchase the film go here

It’s the year 2030. QR codes (Quick Response Codes) on your backs and Microchips imbedded in the flesh hold the key to your new identity. Every thought, every feeling isn’t your own. Everything you once were and everything you loved has been “erased”. Gone forever and replaced with the memories of someone you don’t know. Who are these people? How did you get here? Is this real? Am I real? The more questions you ask the less you know. You can’t run, you can’t hide. They’ll always find you. Be a good little soldier or you’ll be sent “back”. Welcome to Man In The Magic Box. 

I absolutely loved this film! The imagery, the color scheme, the camera angles. Everything is perfect! If you’re a fan of Blade Runner and Men In Black you will be a big fan of Man In The Magic Box as well. The music is hauntingly beautiful and adds to the films dark but airy tone. There’s a particular scene that I did not see coming. It changes the film completely and I think this was a smart decision. I’ve seen this type of flip done before but this film does it exceptionally well. It’s hard to pull of this type of story and I think Bodo Kox did a brilliant job. 

Whenever I hear the term Sci-Fi I always think of Avatar, Matrix, and a “stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf herder” who’s best friend is a giant dog that gargles. Man In The Magic Box is a breath of fresh air in the Sci-Fi genre. It takes inspiration from stories once told but lands on its own two feet. It takes you in one direction and just when you think you’ve figured it out it changes course. This is one of the best genre pieces I have seen in a very long time. It’s well written, well thought out, and is captured beautifully onscreen. I give Man In The Magic Box a solid A! Well done! I tip my hat to the brilliant Bodo Kox (Writer/Director). 

Film Information:

Studio: Artsploitation Films 

Writer: Bodo Kox 

Director: Bodo Kox 

Country: Poland 

Language: Polish with English Subtitles 

Run Time: 103 Minutes 

Release Date: October 20, 2017 

Album Review - Mono Inc. - Welcome To Hell

Welcome To Hell is available from Amazon. To order your copy go here

             

Mono inc is a Gothic Rock band from Hamburg Germany. The band was formed in 1998 by Miky Mono (Vocals), Martin Engler (Former drummer) and Carl Fornia (Guitar) under the name Mono69. The name was later changed to Mono Inc. in 2000. Bassist Manuel Antoni joined the trio in 2003. After Mikey’s departure (around 2004) drummer Katha Mia was brought in and Martin became the bands lead vocalist. They’ve released 10 studio albums over the course of 15 years as well as various EP’s, Best Of, and Live albums. Although Mono Inc. had previously been a supporting act this would change after the band released their 2010 EP entitled Comedown. This lead to the bands increase in popularity allowing them to tour as a headlining act. The bands 2013 album Nimmermehr (Nevermore)remains as the bands most successful album thus far. 

Typically I have a certain style in which I write my reviews. However, since Mono Inc. has such an advanced discography I will be listing the bands albums by year followed by two of my favorite tracks on each record. The album I’ll be focusing on is the bands latest release, Welcome To Hell. 

2003: Head Above Water - The Last Waltz, My Sorrow 

2007: Temple Of The Torn - The Condemned, My Sick Mind TV 

2008: Pain, Love, and Poetry - This Is The Day, Bloodmoon 

2009: Voices Of Doom - Gothic Queen, Forgiven 

2011: Viva Hades - Viva Hades, Revenge 

2012: After The War - No More Fear,Forever 

2013: Nimmermehr - Euthanasia, Seligkeit 

2015: Terlingua - Never-Ending Love Song, It Never Ends 

2017: Together Till The End - Boatman - Featuring Ronan Harris Of VNV Nation, Children Of The Dark - Featuring Tilo Wolff (Lacrimosa), Joachim Witt, Chris Harms (Lord Of The Lost) 

Welcome To Hell which was released on July 27, 2018 is the album that got me into Mono Inc. I love how different each one of their albums is. They utilize each members talents in such a beautiful way. You can hear the bands chemistry in each song and it’s obvious that this is what they love to do. Martin’s voice is so distinct and when it’s matched with Katha’s angelic likeness it’s exquisite. Her ability to sing and drum at the same time is incredible. 

My favorite songs from Welcome To Hellare A Vagabond’s Life, Funeral Song, and Long Live Death. I love how well thought out each track is and how all of the songs are arranged in a way that they tell the story beautifully from start to finish. Welcome To Hellisn’t like anything they’ve done in the past, I’d say its closest companion is Together Till The End. 

I would recommend Mono Inc. to anyone who enjoys watching a band evolve over a number of albums. If you want to hear different styles of music and song writing I think you’ll really take a liking to their music. 

The bands music is available through Amazon, iTunes, and Spotify. A few of their albums as well as their official band merchandise are available on their website. 

Music video for the seventh track, A Vagabond’s Life (Featuring Eric Fish)

Welcome To Hell Track Listing:

1. The Heart Of The Raven
2. Welcome To Hell 
3. Long Live Death 
4. Risk It All 
5. Flies
6. Under A Coal Black Sun
7. A Vagabond’s Life (Featuring Eric Fish)
8. Funeral Song
9. Reign Of Rats
10. Unconditionally 
11. When The Raven Dies Tonight 

*Classic Versions are included in the Deluxe Edition 

Album Review - Scarlet Dorn - Lack Of Light

Lack Of Light is available from Amazon. To order your copy go here

Scarlet Dorn is a Dark Pop / Rock band from Hamburg Germany. The bands current lineup is Scarlet Dorn (Vocals), Gared Dirge (Keyboards), Bengt Jaeschke (Guitar), Henrik Petschull (Drums) and Benjamin Mundigler (Bass). 

The bands debut album entitled Lack Of Light was released on August 31, 2018. The album was produced by Singer / Songwriter Chris Harms and Benjamin Lawrenz. Chris Harms is the creater of the band Lord of the Lost. If you would like to know more about him and his band Lord Of The Lost check out my album review of their latest release Thornstar. Harm's influence can be seen throughout Scarlet Dorn's album debut as he and Anthony J. Brown wrote the albums opening track entitled Heavy Beauty which was released on March 21 2017. Harms and Dorn also collaborated on the song I Love The Way You Say My Name. The band is currently signed with Oblivion (SVP) Records.

You can find the bands official music videos on their record labels YouTube Channel. There are music videos for the songs I Love The Way You Say My Name, Heavy Beauty, Hold On To Me, and I Don’t Know, I Don’t Care. 

Lack Of Light is a solid album that showcases the bands many talents. Scarlet is a classically trained singer with such great range which works harmoniously with the instruments. She is a brilliant songwriter who puts so much time, dedication, and heart into her work. Scarlet Dorn offers something special that you don’t see every day. When listening to the album I had to remind myself that this is their debut. It sounds and feels like this is a band that has been together for years. The songs are beautifully written and the entire album flows cohesively. My favorite songs from the album are Heavy Beauty, I Don’t Know, I Don’t Care, and Snow Black.

Each member of the band is incredibly talented and some of the members even play in other bands. Gared Dirge plays Keyboards, Guitar, and Percussion for Lord Of The Lost. He also plays for David Hasselhoff. Bengt Jaeschke is the Singer/Songwriter for the dark rock band Down To Eden, and Henrik Petschull is the drummer for the rock band The Right Season. 

I would suggest Scarlet Dorn if you enjoy strong female vocals. Fans of Scarlet Dorn  also enjoy Lord Of The Lost, Mono Inc., and Hell Boulevard. 

Lack Of Light is available through Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, and their official website. 

     
          Music video for the tenth track, I Love The Way You Say My Name (Featuring Chris Harms)

Track Listing:

1. Heavy Beauty 
2. Hell Hath No Fury Like A Woman Scorned 
3. I’m Armageddon 
4. Hold On To Me
5. Rain
6. Kill Bitterness With Love
7. Snow Black
8. I Don’t Know, I Don’t Care
9. Cinderella
10. I Love The Way You Say My Name (Featuring Chris Harms) 
11. Frozen Fire 
12. In Another Life