Tweekums Reviews

Death Club (2023)

What will happen when five obnoxious characters enter the 'Death Club'?

[6/10 · 25 May 2024]

As this film opens five twentysomething friends; two girls, three boys; meet up outside and abandoned dance club; dubbed the 'Death Club' due to a number of fatal incidence that are reported to have occurred there. Initially the group wait for a sixth friend but when he doesn't show they break into the club without him. Once in they explore a bit then sit down for a drink and to partake in illegal substances. Soon things start to get strange; they start seeing things and each in turn is confronted by their various character flaws... is the club haunted or was there something in the drugs they took?

I thought this was a somewhat mixed film. On the plus side the abandoned club had a great atmosphere and things got nicely creepy at times. The mythology concerning the club was quickly established and helped in adding to the feel of the place. The idea of people being forced to confront past misdeeds isn't the most original, 'Flatliners' did it decades ago, but it is still effective. On the downside the characters were fairly unlikable from the start so it is hard to really worry about them when things get scary. At first I wasn't too impressed by the acting but to be fair they were playing obnoxious characters and certainly succeeded in coming across as obnoxious so it is hard to say they failed. Overall this isn't a must see but it does have a good atmosphere and as it is under eighty minutes in length it hardly outstays its welcome.

Doctor Who: Boom (2024) Season 1, Episode 3

A genuinely tense instalment

[8/10 · 22 May 2024]

This episode sees The Doctor and Ruby arrive on a planet where soldiers have been fighting an unseen foe. Moments after they arrive The Doctor steps on a landmine; it doesn't detonate immediately as it needs to scan him, for reasons that become apparent later but he knows that if he steps off it will go off. While The Doctor remains on the mine he and Ruby are joined by one of the soldiers and the daughter of one of the war's casualties... gradually The Doctor figures out the true nature of the war being fought.

Even though everybody watching will know that The Doctor and Ruby will ultimately survive this still manages to be a really tense episode and just because our protagonists are safe it doesn't mean that other characters are. The setting felt like a throwback to the classic Doctor Who I watched as a child... it could so easily have been filmed in a disused gravel pit! Unlike the previous two episodes there was little in the way of 'humour' and it was all the better for that. Overall I'd say this was a pretty solid episode; I hope it is a sign of things to come.

Star Wars: Tales of the Empire (2024)

Six short episodes showing two women's involvement with The Dark Side

[8/10 · 19 May 2024]

Like the previous 'Tales of the Jedi' this series consists of six fairly short episodes.

The first three show us how Morgan Elspeth, the sole survivor when the Droid Army attacked her people, the Night Sisters, gradually moves to the dark side. This is shown in three time periods, the first episode is during the separatists' revolt against the Republic; the second is during the age of the Empire and finally we see her as magistrate of Corvus; the roll she had when first introduced to viewers in 'The Mandalorian'.

The second three follow Barriss Offee, the former Jedi who was jailed for treason after betraying Ahsoka. After Order 66 and the rise of the Empire she is released to be trained as an Inquisitor and hunt surviving Jedi, a role she has growing doubts about.

I thought this was a solid little series that can easily by watched in a single sitting. The characters are minor compared to those depicted in 'Tales of the Jedi' but that didn't stop it being interesting. Each story had a solid character arc which differed nicely from each other. The animation is top notch and the voice cast does a great job bringing the characters to life. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to 'Star Wars' fans and hope we get more 'Star Wars Tales of...' in future.

Sparrow (I) (2010)

A low budget Anglo-Polish slasher

[5/10 · 16 May 2024]

As this film opens four friends go camping in the woods and are picked off, one by one, by a machete wielding maniac. Sometime later another group of friends, three boys and three girls, head into the same woods. They set up camp and one of them tells of an urban legend about 'Ranger Sparrow' who killed his wife and her lover in those very woods and is, if the story is to be believed, still out there killing those who venture into the woods. Of course none of them take it seriously until strange things start happening... will any of them make it out alive?

Few people will find this anything but utterly predictable; the only questions are 'in what order will they die?' and 'will any survive?'. Given that the characters are somewhat irritating one isn't likely to care all that much. They are meant to be friends but don't behave like it; they constantly argue and seem to dislike each other. 'Ranger Sparrow' just appears out of nowhere and kills those who are separated from the group; usually stabbing them with his machete... machetes don't work that way they are hacking or slashing weapons! There was no real sense of location; it was filmed in Poland, the group drove a car with New York plates and the cast were English but at no point talked about where they were meant to be; the fact that I spent much of the film pondering this showed how little the main plot gripped me. Overall I'd not call this a must see, not by any stretch of the imagination; it is just about okay if you like the genre and aren't too fussy.

Suddenly in the Dark (1981)

Suddenly in Dark Night

[7/10 · 14 May 2024]

This Korean psychological horror is set in a large remote house where biology professor Kang Yu-jin lives with his wife Seon-hee and their young daughter. When he returns from his latest butterfly collecting expedition he shows slides of various species he saw to colleagues, amongst them is picture of a strange wooden doll, he has no explanation as to how it got there. Following his next outing he returns with nineteen year old Mi-ok, a girl who was orphaned after her mother, a shaman, died in a fire. He suggests the family take her on as a maid. She has just one possession from her past... the strange wooden doll from the picture. At first she fits in okay but soon Seon-hee becomes convinced something is going on between Mi-ok and Yu-jin and has nightmares involving the doll. Is she imagining things or is something sinister going on? Either way her sanity will be tested.

When I started watching this I had no real idea what to expect; I've seen a few Korean horror films but none that were this old. It turned out to be quite different from the ones I had seen. For the most part it eschews gore in favour of creating an atmosphere where the viewer is unsure if what they are seeing is real or something Seon-hee may be imagining. This proves to be enjoyably disturbing. The special effects may be pretty basic but they are effective at adding to the film's atmosphere. The cast does a solid job, especially Kim Young-ae who is convincingly terrified as Seon-hee. It was somewhat, if accidentally, amusing that during the mildly erotic scenes the music used had been lifted from 'Flash Gordon'! Overall a solid film that I'd certainly recommend to fans of K-horror who would like to see something older than most that are available.

These comments are based on watching the film in Korean with English subtitles.

Andor (2022– )

An impressive prequel series to a prequel film

[10/10 · 13 May 2024]

The character Cassian Andor was introduced to us in 'Rogue One', the film that showed us how the Death Star plans were leaked prior to the events in the original Star Wars film. This series shows us what happened to him in the years before that. When we first meet him he is searching for his long lost sister but only finds trouble in the form of two local security officers. They don't survive the encounter but he is far from safe. His activity has come to the notice Deputy Inspector Syril Karn, an ambitious man who won't stop looking and who will ultimately put Andor on the Empire's radar. Andor finds himself working with rebel elements; something that will only put him, and those close to him, in greater danger.

Having enjoyed 'Star Wars' films since 1977, even the ones many fans don't like, I was still unsure about spin off TV series... it turned out I needn't have worried as I enjoyed them too. This is the final series I came to and must say it might just be the best yet. There is a good amount of action but unlike most of Star Wars it feels gritty. Rebels will do bad things for the advancement of the cause and far from being depicted as evil most of those working for the Empire are fairly ordinary people who believe what they are doing is the right thing for a stable galaxy. As well as Cassian we follow several key characters on both sides and they develop nicely as the story progresses. The series uses impressive locations and the effects look real; clearly a lot of care was taken to get thing looking right. The cast, which includes plenty of familiar faces, does a great job. Overall I really liked this and can't wait for season two. I hope we get more Star Wars series of this quality.

Doctor Who: The Devil's Chord (2024) Season 1, Episode 2

An improvement on the previous episode

[7/10 · 13 May 2024]

In the prologue to this story a music teacher in 1925 plays a 'forbidden note', the devil's note and as a result a strange woman, identifying herself as Maestro emerges from his piano. Back in the present The Doctor asks Ruby if there is anywhere (anywhen) she would like to go; she tells him she'd love to watch The Beatles recording their first album. They manage to blag their way into the studio but the first song is not what they expected; the words are trite and the music bland. The world no longer has proper music and if The Doctor and Ruby don't bring it back by defeating Maestro humanity will be doomed.

After the admittedly low bar set by 'Space Babies' this is a real step up. The story was imaginative and more importantly it was fun. Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson continue to impress as The Doctor and Ruby and Jinkx Monsoon was suitably over the top as Maestro. The effects were good. The only part of the story I wasn't keen on was the 'twist at the end'... I really could have done without that but that is just a matter of personal taste; others may love it. Overall an improvement on the series opener; hopefully things will continue to improve.

Expend4bles (2023)

Okay meat-headed action

[7/10 · 12 May 2024]

As this, the fourth instalment in the series, gets underway a group of ne'er-do-wells is attacking a base in Libya and stealing nuclear triggers. The Expendables are sent in to stop them but the mission does not go to plan; not only do the villains get away with the triggers but one of our protagonists is killed. The team are tasked with going after the attackers to prevent a nuclear conflict and identify 'Ocelot' the man behind the attack. They will be one man short though; Lee Christmas has been removed for disobeying orders on the previous mission... that won't stop him though. They will be reunited on a freighter heading into Russian waters with a nuclear bomb primed to detonate.

If you want plenty of violent action and aren't too demanding this is okay... of course that means it will be somewhat disappointing to fans of previous instalments, in particular the first two. There may be lots of action but the CGI isn't that great. Action fans know what they are seeing isn't real but it should at least look real. The story is okay; it serves to justify the action and has a couple of twists. The cast can clearly do the action and Jason Statham steps up to take the lead in impressively. There are some fine additions to the cast, most notably Iko Uwais, best known to Western views from 'The Raid', as Suarto Rahma and Tony Jaa, of 'Ong Bak' fame as Decha Unai, a former Expendable. The action is fairly mixed, as stated before the CGI is disappointing but the close-quarter fighting and much of the stunt work is still pretty good. Overall not a great film but it passes the time well enough if you just want some meat-headed action.

Doctor Who: Space Babies (2024) Season 1, Episode 1

A weak start to the new series

[6/10 · 12 May 2024]

After being introduced to the new Doctor and his new companion, Ruby Sunday, it is time for their first proper adventure together. After some exposition where the Doctor tells Ruby, and new viewers, about himself and the Tardis they set off into the far future and find themselves aboard a space station. They encounter a monster before fleeing to a higher level where they find babies growing in glass jars... not only that there are babies that appear to be running the station after the adults abandoned the facility. Will they be able to discover the nature of the creature and get the babies to safety? What do you think?

I started watching the original Doctor Who series in the seventies; enjoyed the reboot series, even most of the episodes other fans disliked, and after the introduction of the new Doctor and Companion had high hopes for this. First the positives; I thought Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson are great as The Doctor and Ruby and the special effects show that more money is available now Disney are on board. The exposition, necessary to introduce the characters to new viewers was swiftly and effectively dealt with. Unfortunately this wasn't enough to save the episode as the Space Babies, which could have been either cute or creepy, managed to be cringe inducing instead. The nature of the monster is a bit silly but should appeal to younger viewers, who were always a key demographic for Doctor Who. I did enjoy nods to sci-fi classics Alien and 2001 - A Space Odyssey, done in ways that won't affect enjoyment for people who haven't seen those films. Overall a disappointing start to the new series but with enough good points to keep me watching later episodes.

Everwinter Night (2023)

Decent enough slow burn horror

[6/10 · 10 May 2024]

As this film opens a couple stop off at a remote New England lodge to ask for directions... they don't come out alive. Thirty years later old friends Maddy and V are going away for a spa holiday together; things don't go to plan as Maddy's college friends, who V didn't know had been invited, show up and say that a group of wealthy young men had invited them all to stay with them for a few days at an exclusive lodge. V isn't pleased and it isn't long before displeasure becomes concern that something is off about their hosts. By the time we learn just how off they are it may be too late.

I thought this was a decent enough, if somewhat overlong, horror film. It opened well in the short prologue before introducing the main characters. V and Maddy are likeable, unlike Maddy's college friends who are irritating from the moment they show up. The premise is solid enough if not the most original and once at the lodge it drags somewhat more than necessary before the gory denouement. The cast is okay; I particularly thought Victoria Mirrer did a good job as V. The effects may have been fairly low budget and confined to the finale but it was nice to see physical effects rather than obvious CGI. Overall I'd say this is far from a must see but it isn't terrible either; worth watching once if you enjoy the genre.

Spy/Master (2023)

A solid Cold War drama

[8/10 · 8 May 2024]

As this six part series opens it is 1978 and the Cold War is still ongoing. Victor Godeanu, a member of the Romanian intelligence services and advisor to President Nicolae Ceausescu, walks in to the US Embassy in Bonn intending to defect. He has second thoughts when he sees a woman he recognises. Early episodes intertwine current events with the events that happened a few days previously that ultimately led him to decide he must leave his homeland and his wife and daughter. Eventually he does meet with CIA agent Frank Jackson. As soon as his disappearance becomes known the Romanians are determined that his treachery will be punished. He may be in West Germany but he is far from safe, neither are his family back home.

I thought this was a gripping series. It captured Cold War tension and had a real sense of danger. There was also a sense of intrigue; Victor's world was very murky leading to his motives not being too obvious. While the story is fictitious the way it used real events, most obviously the Camp David peace talks, gave it a feeling of reality. The cast was solid although I can understand Romanian viewers being more particular concerning those playing real people such as Ceausescu and his wife. At six episodes in length the series neither feels rushed nor does it drag. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to fans of cold war drama.

Hanna's Homecoming (2018 TV Movie)

Witchcraft

[7/10 · 5 May 2024]

As this film opens Hanna returns to her remote village home after being at boarding school for three years. It soon becomes clear that the locals have a problem with her. Her mother vanished some years before and shortly afterwards the bodies of three men were found in the nearby marsh. They believe her mother was a witch and she might be as well! Hanna does manage to make one friend; a city girl named Eva who lives in a cabin in the marsh with her grandmother. Soon people start having 'accidents'; is Hanna really a witch, is somebody else behind them or is the explanation more down to earth?

This film, retitled 'Witchcraft' on Amazon Prime, is a solid chiller. It starts well with the isolated location and unfriendly locals creating a good atmosphere. It isn't too long before things start happening that create doubts about our protagonist and hint at worse things so come. While it isn't gory there are a few scary moments. The cast is solid enough, especially Valerie Stoll and Milena Tscharntke who play Hanna and Eva respectively. I thought the resolution was pretty good; neither to obvious nor overly unexpected. Overall a decent chiller that is worth a watch if you are a fan of the genre.

These comments are based on watching the film in German with English subtitles.

Princess of Mars (2009 Video)

Entertaining in a low budget kind of way

[6/10 · 3 May 2024]

John Carter is a sniper serving in the US Army in Afghanistan. Following a serious injury suffered in the line of duty he if forced to take part in an experimental teleportation operation. He is sent to the fourth planet in the Alpha Centuri system; a planet the locals call Barsoom. When he awakens there he discovered that here he has the ability to jump great distances but is still captured by the reptilian Tharks. After helping during an attack he gains the trust of their leader. Later the group capture human Princess Dejah Thoris who was on a mission to take the new operator to run the planetary air-cleaning station... if what she says is true the atmosphere will become unbreathable if anything goes wrong at the plant... inevitably things will go wrong at it will be up to John Carter to save the day; but not before he has faced other dangers.

Perhaps it is because I expected so little of this that I ended up rather enjoying it. Yes, the plot is pretty simple, the effects are basic at best and the acting isn't going to be award winning but is far from terrible. It was more fun than I expected. Antonio Sabato Jr was solid as John Carter; I felt that he successfully avoided both taking it too seriously and the opposite and treating is as a joke. Not having read the books I can't say how close this is to the source material; obviously there are some changes as John Carter comes from the present day not the nineteenth century. The 'Mars' of this film has a good enough look even if the Vasquez Rocks filming location will be familiar to anybody who watched the original 'Star Trek' series. Overall I'd say that this film passes the time well enough if you like low budget sci-fi.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021–2024)

An enjoyable 'Clone Wars' spin-off

[8/10 · 2 May 2024]

The 'Bad Batch' of clone troopers were first introduced in 'Clone Wars'; this series shows what happened to them after Order 66 caused troopers to turn against the Jedi. These aren't ordinary troopers; each of them has specific skills and after Order 66 is given all but one of them turn against the new empire. They leave the clone facility on Kamino along with a young female clone named Omega. She was part of an important Imperial experiment and they are desperate to get her back. Over the course of the series The Bad Batch and Omega will get involved in a number of stand-alone stories while ongoing series long plots continue.

Based on their appearance in 'Clone Wars' I wasn't sure how the 'Bad Batch' could make up a whole series... thankfully the makers did and provide a really good show. We get to know the group much better and their characters develop nicely; especially the one that remains loyal to the Empire. Young main characters can be somewhat irritating but Omega is likable and not overly precocious or whiny. It was a refreshing change for a Star Wars series to be centred on relatively normal characters rather than Force Users. The stories are gripping with all the action one would expect from a 'Star Wars' series. The animation is of a high standard; when faces aren't on show one could almost be forgiven for forgetting that it is an animated series. The only minor quibble is that one really does need to watch many episodes in a dark room if you want to make out what is going on as the settings are dark. Overall an impressive series that Star Wars fans are likely to really enjoy.

Invincible: Atom Eve (2023 TV Movie)

The origins of Atom Eve

[8/10 · 30 April 2024]

This 'Invincible' spin off takes place before the events of the main series and concentrates on the origins of Atom Eve. We follow her from her birth to being a young girl with an instinct for science before she gains the power to change matter at an atomic level. Gaining powers gives her opportunities but also causes problems with friends and her adoptive parents as well as authorities who want her for their own purposes.

I enjoyed the first two seasons of 'Invincible' and liked the character Atom Eve so thought this would be worth watching... I was right. It gives a lot more depth to the character. It was enjoyable seeing her powers emerging; especially later on when she confronts various dangers and demonstrates just how powerful she will become. There are some nicely comic moments; I laughed out loud when one crook asked her if she was a Power Puff Girl! There are also more emotional moments as it becomes clear not everybody can accept who she really is. Overall I really enjoyed this special episode and would definitely recommend it to 'Invincible' fans.

Dodsworth (1936)

An American marriage hits the rocks in interwar Europe

[8/10 · 28 April 2024]

As this film opens successful businessman Samuel Dodsworth sells the car company he founded. With his wife, Fran, he plans an extended trip to Europe. Soon after they set sail aboard the, then new, Queen Mary, it becomes apparent that they want different things in life. While she flirts with Captain Lockert, a young Englishman, he befriends American expat Edith Cortright, who lives in Naples. Following a 'misunderstanding' with Lockert, Fran insists they bypass England and head to France. It soon becomes obvious that their marriage is in real trouble.

I thought this was a pretty solid film. The characters felt real and managed to be sympathetic; it was easy to understand why the Dodsworths were drifting apart even if one party was more to blame than the other. The cast is impressive; Walter Huston is solid as Sam Dodsworth as is Mary Astor as Edith. However for me Ruth Chatterton stood out as Fran, a less likeable character who is overly concerned about growing older. It was fun to see David Niven appear in an early roll a Lockert. Sets and locations are good; one could be forgiven for thinking it was shot on location in Europe rather than in America. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to fans of older films; it may not be full of action but the characters feel real.

In the Light of the Night (2020)

It Comes at Night

[6/10 · 25 April 2024]

Minthe Hellheim's life is about to get difficult; through no fault of her own she is about to lose her accommodation and her job. Then she gets offered a new job; surveying and restoring an old watermill near the town of Hellheim. It is no coincidence that she shares her name with the town; as a baby she was found there and taken into care. She isn't keen to go back but has little choice. Once there she learns more about her job then heads to the mill, which is situated in the remote Wolf Valley. She is instructed to stay away from the out building and the mute woman who lives there. It is a mysterious place and locals talk of ancient myths concerning the mill and what has happened there. Before the film is over she will learn more about the place, and herself.

I thought this was a decent enough film. The location created a good atmosphere and it did a solid job creating the mythology of the place. Unfortunately it never really got scary, succeeding only to get to the level of a bit creepy. Diana Maria Frank does an impressive job as Minthe and the rest of the cast are solid. There is little violence to speak of and what there is tends to happen out of view. Overall I'd not say this was a must see but if you prefer chills to outright scares it passes the time well enough.

These comments are based on watching the film in German with English subtitles.

Fallout (2024– )

You do not need to have played the game to enjoy this series

[9/10 · 22 April 2024]

This series opens in a time that looks very like the 1950s shortly before rising tensions lead to nuclear destruction. Moving forward two hundred years we find ourselves in Vault 33, one of a number of subterranean structures where the lucky few survived and their descendants await the day that it will be safe to return to the surface and rebuild America. When outsiders manage to enter the vault and kidnap its leader his daughter Lucy heads out into the wasteland hoping to find him. Here she will encounter many dangers. At the same time Maximus, a squire in the Brotherhood of Steel is given the task of assisting the mech-suited Knight Titus on a mission to capture a certain individual. When Titus is killed Maximus dons the armour and continues the mission. Also looking for the individual is a bounty hunter known as 'The Ghoul'... events will lead to these three crossing paths as more is discovered about the world they inhabit; things they don't realise themselves. Back in Vault 33 Lucy's brother Norm gradually learns further facts about the people that run their lives.

I've not played the game so have no preconceived ideas about what the show should look like. I can't say whether that is for the better or worse but I can say I really enjoyed it. It quickly and effectively introduced key characters and the world they inhabit and the story moves at a good pace. Every episode provides plenty of tension and fairly violent action as well as interesting revelations. Such a story could easily take itself too seriously but this manages to provide plenty of laugh out loud moments. I thought the cast did a fine job bringing their characters to life. The sets and locations are great; the vaults have a believable look and the locations have a suitably abandoned look. This might be because in at least one case the real long-abandoned town of Kolmanskop, in Namibia, is used. Similarly I liked the use of mostly physical special effects rather than the CGI more modern films and shows use. The retro soundtrack was fun and added to the feel of the action; especially when a light song played over more violent moments. Overall I'd definitely recommend this to fans of post-apocalyptic sci-fi whether you've played the games or not; I can't wait for season two.

River of Fear (2021)

River of Fear

[6/10 · 21 April 2024]

This Latvian film features a group who plan to film a commercial for vegetarian sausages in a remote river, and surrounding forest, near the Estonian border. The employ Andrejs to be their guide; he is unimpressed by their lack of safety concerns. Red flags should have been seen when they get to the river and are approached by a local who reprimands them and warns them against going into the forest. Things soon start getting strange; Andrejs suddenly finds himself naked in a forest pool. There is no sign of anybody else. He sets off looking for them and meets some strange and unpleasant characters along the way.

I admit that the main reason I watched this film was that I'd not seen a film from Latvia before. I wasn't disappointed. The plot was a little confusing at times but that didn't bother me as it added to the film's atmosphere. The river through a forest setting isn't exactly original; something the makers acknowledge with a reference to 'Deliverance'. That doesn't stop it being effective though. I don't know if it is referencing local folklore but certain elements certainly feel folkloric. The cast is solid enough; the sort one expects in a low budget fare. It is hard to assign this to a particular genre; there are horror elements but no real scares or gore, just a constant sense that something isn't quite right. Overall a decent enough film but not really a must see unless you are curious to see what sort of film Latvians make.

These comments are based on watching the film in Latvian with English subtitles.

A Shop for Killers (2024– )

A Shop For Killers

[9/10 · 21 April 2024]

As this Korean drama opens a sniper is trying to kill Jeong Ji-an, a young woman in a remote house; she finds a rifle under a sofa and fires back. We then, via a series of flashbacks see how she came to be there and why she is being targeted. It turns out that her parents had been killed and she when she was a young girl and she was adopted her uncle, Jeong Jin-man. Officially he runs a business selling tubing but in reality it is a front for an illegal weapons 'supermarket'; following his apparent suicide she has inherited the business... which came as a surprise to her.

I really enjoyed this action packed series. The opening scene immediately grabbed my attention before flashbacks start telling us how the situation occurred. Throughout the series we move between various time periods but is never confusing about when what we are seeing is going on. This means that even though Jeong Jin-man is dead when the series starts he is still a major character. The acting is solid throughout; the main bad guy may be a bit of a pantomime villain but that suits the feel of the series. The final episode wraps things up nicely without shutting down the possibility of another season. Overall I'd definitely recommend this to action fans.

These comments are based on watching the series in Korean with English subtitles.

Monster (2014)

Monster

[8/10 · 18 April 2024]

This Korean drama has three main characters; Bok-soon, who may be a little slow but is happy enough running her vegetable stall at the local market hoping to fund her younger sister's university tuition. She is however prone to violence if confronted. Tae-soo, a potter who lives in a remote house; he is also a serial killer. Finally there is Nari, a nine year old girl. Their lives will become tragically entangled after Tae-soo's brother asks him to retrieve a phone from a woman who is blackmailing his boss. That woman is Nari's older sister. Tae-soo kills her and tells Nari to run; he will come after her and kill her and anybody she asks for help. She meets Bok-soon and this leads to her sister's death. Together Nara and Bok-soon flee. Bok-soon is determined to save Nari as well as avenge her sister. Tae-soo is now after both of them.

I found this film to be very enjoyable and not what I expected. There is plenty of drama and the violence, of which there is quite a lot, is bloody and brutal; that was expected. What was not expected was the fact that it frequently manages to be rather funny and there is a touching relationship that develops between Bok-soon and Nari. The cast is solid; especially those playing the three leads. Locations are used well and the cinematography is great; at times things had an almost dreamlike feel to them, most notably a foggy scene in a forest. Overall I'd definitely recommend this to fans of Korean films who are looking for something a little different.

These comments are based on watching the film in Korean with English subtitles.

Star Wars: Rebels (2014–2018)

A solid addition to the Star Wars franchise

[8/10 · 15 April 2024]

It is fourteen years since the Republic fell and the oppressive Empire took its place. A small group of rebels aboard a freighter called 'The Ghost' are striking back against the Empire around the planet Lothal. They are led by pilot Hera Syndulla and include Jedi knight Kanan Jarrus, a Mandalorian named Sabine Wren, Garazeb "Zeb" Orrelios and a droid nicknamed Chopper. Into this group is added Ezra Bridger, a force sensitive teenager who Kanan takes under his wing; while all these characters are important it is clear that Ezra is the centre of the story. As the series progresses we learn more about the characters and get plenty of action as they face many dangers and adversaries both familiar and new to this series.

Having recently watched 'Clone Wars' and most of 'The Bad Batch' I looked forward to seeing this; when it started I was a bit put off by the change in animation style but, thanks to interesting characters and exciting storylines I soon stopped noticing the change. While Ezra can be a bit irritating at times I thought most of the new characters were a lot of fun, heroes and villains alike. I liked how some old characters pop up occasionally but never dominate the series. As one would expect from Star Wars there is plenty of action. This has a real sense of danger for characters, especially for those I haven't seen in films or series set later than this. Overall I'd say that while this might not be as good as 'Clone Wars' it is still well worth a watch. Make sure you watch it before watching 'Ahsoka' as quite a few characters introduced here reappear in that series.

Midsomer Murders: The Blacktrees Prophecy (2022) Season 23, Episode 1

Will any survivalists survive?

[8/10 · 15 April 2024]

As this episode of the long running murder mystery series opens a radio blares a warning... the missiles are in the air and Armageddon is minutes away! Luckily for disaster prepper Warren Kaine he has been preparing for such an event and had a large bombproof shelter in the nearby woods. On the way he calls to fellow preppers. Once there he has a drink to celebrate his survival... unfortunately for him it is drugged and the bunkers ventilation system is draining the air from the room. There was no missile attack and Barnaby and Winter are looking for a killer amongst the prepper community and their families. As the story progresses plenty of suspects and motives appear, as do further victims.

If like me you enjoy the silliness of most 'Midsomer Murder' stories you'll be sure to enjoy this. We get several regular tropes; members of a special interest group being murdered in highly imaginative ways, the second was particularly bonkers, numerous suspects, many played by familiar actors, and a range of motives. An early scene puts the killer on the viewer's 'suspect list' but doesn't make it too obvious; this show does love misdirection. Before that reveal there are some enjoyable plot developments and twists. The cast, both regular and guests, do a solid job playing things straight even in sillier moments. Overall I thought this episode was a lot of fun in a way fans of the series should expect.

Another Man's Poison (1951)

An enjoyable melodrama

[8/10 · 14 April 2024]

Janet Frobisher is a successful writer of mystery novels who lives in a remote house on the Yorkshire Moors. She is estranged from her husband, a man with criminal tendencies, and is having an affair with the fiancé of her secretary. One day she returns home to find a strange man, He identifies himself as a criminal associate of her husband. At first she tells him that her husband is not there but eventually admits that he is... but he is dead! She poisoned him. The interloper offers to help her get rid of the body and then starts impersonating the dead man who none of the locals appear to have met. He quickly makes life very difficult for her. Tensions rise but he may not be as easy to get rid of as her husband. Things are only complicated by the curious local vet.

If you enjoy melodrama then this is the film for you. Protagonist Janet is clearly not a good person but, largely thanks to Bette Davis's delightful performance, is likeable in the way one can only really like somebody if they are fictional. Gary Merrill, Bette Davis's real life husband, is equally solid as the antagonist... a character who is deliberately unlikeable. The rest of the cast is solid if distinctly secondary. While most of the action takes place within the house the occasional outdoor scene gives a sense of the isolated moorland setting. The rules of the genre mean most viewers will know what to expect in the end but seeing how we'll get there and the exact details are a lot of fun. Overall a solid melodrama that fans of the genre will want to see.

Cast a Dark Shadow (1955)

A solid melodrama where there is no doubt about who is guilty

[8/10 · 12 April 2024]

As this film starts we are introduced Edward 'Teddy' Bare and his wife Monica; she is a fair bit older than him. Soon afterwards he hears her talking to her lawyer about making a will; believing that she intends to leave him the house but the bulk of her wealth to her estranged sister he arranges for her to have a fatal 'accident'. It is only then that he learns she has already made a will with those terms and as her sister in in Jamaica he can hardly kill her. It is time to find another woman with money; this time a merry widow named Freda. They are soon married but she will be much harder to part from her money. Perhaps he will have more luck with Charlotte Young, a woman looking for property to buy.

If you want a whodunit then this film won't be for you; we know Teddy is a rotter from the start. However if you want a good solid melodrama where the only real question is whether he will get further victims before his inevitable exposure. Dirk Bogarde really impresses as Teddy; a character that we can see as dangerous but can understand why others trust him. Margaret Lockwood is solid as the working class Freda as is Kay Walsh as Charlotte. The rest of the cast is pretty decent too. Fine cinematography and direction help create just the right atmosphere with much of the action taking place in a single house; there is enough elsewhere to take the film away from its theatrical roots. Overall I'd say this is well worth watching if you are a fan of older British films and like a good melodrama.