Posts by Timothy J. Rush

When I had the good fortune of seeing Trick 'r Treat at Comic-Con International 2009, it was preceded by a short panel with the director Michael Dougherty and stars Lauren Lee Smith and Brian Cox, moderated by Harry Knowles of Ain't It Cool News. The one thing that you really got a sense of, from what little they did say before the film, was how much they absolutely loved working on the project and how grateful Dougherty was that the film was finally reaching a wider audience. Now, enthusiasm only goes so far in creating a quality product, but the fact that Trick 'r Treat is a labor of love shines through when you watch it. Trick 'r Treat is a film that deserves a wide theatrical release and not the direct-to-video treatment it will receive in October 2009.(read more...)

Roland Emmerich specializes in movies that are practically critic proof. He populates his films with amazing spectacle, blockbusters packed with explosions, disasters, and well known landmarks destroyed in various ridiculous ways -- exactly what people want to see when they desire entertainment that won't spoil the taste of their movie theater popcorn with intellectually challenging issues or drama. Emmerich therefore makes sure to keep things simple with his films, which means a sacrifice of character development and depth, logic, and general believability. Emmerich's 1998 remake of Godzilla is no exception to the rule. While there's a definite sense of grandeur and epic destruction, it is like a paper-mache pinata. When you hit it hard enough with a bat, there is certainly some disposable candy to be found. But what's truly there is now a broken, empty hull that never really had any substance.
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I wish I had some highly intelligent argument against Daughters of Darkness. The problem comes that on a certain level, the film succeeds. It is an unsettling, mind-screwing horror film, getting under your skin and making you uncomfortable. From the long discussions of death and torture, to the various sequences of the evil lesbians staring in at the blushing bride through the window, this movie just unsettles your stomach.  But the failure comes that this horror is neither thought-provoking nor in any way truly enjoyable.
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The sequel to At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul (which is touted as Brazil's first horror film), This Night I'll Possess Your Corpse has a lot more going for it than just an amazing title. While often 'cult' films are fueled by a strange fervor that has nothing to do with any actual merit to the film itself, This Night I'll Possess Your Corpse manages to be something unique and special. It combines rampant sexuality with grotesque curiosity, yet still touts Christian morals. While it's definitely not something you'll always want to pop into your DVD player, the film is one that you'll find yourself mentally dwelling on more than might be healthy. But make no mistake, unless you have a healthy morbid curiosity, you're probably better off leaving this film alone.
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