Howl: The Return of the Little Indie Direct to Video Brit Flick

26th January, 2016.

OK, I think I’ve had a little success, today.

Really.

Remember I told you — a few days ago, now — I was trying to sell off my sister’s old laptop?

I managed to do so, today.

Picking up a tidy sum, in return.

My sister, Ruth, got her share: I got a fish supper and a movie.

Didn’t I just … ?

The film in question?   Was the straight to video 2015, Paul Hyett directed, Neil Marshall penned, Howl.

And ‘straight to video’ … ?   Isn’t necessarily bad.

~≈Â≈~

The Sleeping Room — Hmmm …

15th September, 2015

Hmmm … 

How long have you been following Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar?

If you don’t mind my asking?

Hopefully, it’s for as long as however you feel comfortable doing.

And, hopefully … ?   Long enough to realise I like a film or two.

And try my damnedest to tell people about them, afterwards.

I’ve had a free night, tonight.

I’ve had money in my iTunes account.

And frankly … ?   An urge to catch … something … 

The something in questions … ?   Was the crowd funded, 2014, John Shackleton film: The Sleeping Room.

And yes … I think ‘Hmmm’ is appropriate … 

~≈fi≈~

Wake Wood: Return Of The Indie Brit Flick

9th October, 2014.

You know, I don’t get much cash: I really don’t.

You’ve possibly realised that, haven’t you?   After all, I’ve made secret of the fact I'm job-hunting at the moment: and receiving benefits.

Frankly … ?

Well, frankly, life is survivable.

That doesn’t mean it’s bad, just that resources are scarce.   And that the little cash I do get … ?

Gets juggled.

Frequently.

Something I AM glad of … ?   Is that I occasionally have enough cash to — once in a blue moon — buy an iTunes gift card.

That iTunes store credit — with the kit I’ve got — can be turned into all sorts things: games, songs … 

Movies rentals … 

It’s movie rentals I’m meaning to tell you, about, to be frank.

You see, being very aware there’s little on TV I’d any interest in watching, tonight, and having some iTunes credit, meant one thing to me.

Renting a movie.

It has to be said, there was only one film that caught my eye.

The 2011, David Keating directed horror flick that is Wake Wood.

It’s not a stunner, Wake Wood.

It’s interesting, though … 

~≈◊≈~

Europa Report: Punching Above Its Weight …

15th March, 2014.

You know, I think I can say I’ve had something of a horrible day, today.

Believe it or not … ?   I was actually hit by a car, as I was crossing the road.

Needless to say, it was largely my fault: frankly, I should’ve been looking where I was going.

And, in fairness to the driver, he immediately got out to make sure I was ok.

I think I’ll be ok: bar some aches and pains, I seem to be ok.

If anything changes, you’ll possibly be the first to notice … !

At ANY rate … ?

At any rate, I’m well enough to have actually rented a movie, tonight: the 2013, Sebastián Cordero indie flick that is Europa Report.

One I think we can say shows us a director coming from out of no-where …

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale: Nice … !

20th December, 2013.

You know, I HAVE to get writing in the morning.

A Thank-you letter, before you point out that I usually DO write, first thing, of a morning!

You see, my Aunty Bella, bless her, usually manages to give me a little cash for Christmas: or a check, anyway.

Some of which has been wisely spent, today, on bills, and food.

And some of which … ?

Has been spent treating myself to an iTunes card.   And — metaphorically — to a copy of Born To Laugh At Tornadoes, by Was (Not Was).

The band’s first LP is quite a listen*.

At any rate, it also meant I had a few pounds worth of iTunes credit to spend on renting a movie.

You’ve possibly worked out I write quizzes, haven’t you … ?

I do: and have to say, I came across the film I rented, researching today’s Christmas-themed, Friday Question Set.

You’ve already worked I rented 2010 film, Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale.

And I must say: someone’s got their tongue firmly stuck in their cheek … !

~≈§≈~

Boy Wonder: Wonderful Stuff … !

24th August, 2013.

You know, it’s getting late.

Or, at least, it’s getting comparatively late: for me.

I’m tempted to hit the proverbial sack.

Although what the sack’s done to deserve it, I really don’t know.

At ANY rate … ?

At any rater, I wanted to at least get started, writing about he movie I’ve just seen: the Michael Morrissey written and directed, 2010 movie, that is Boy Wonder.

And yes: I THINK the post deserves the title … !

Back in the morning … !

A Field In England — A Review

27th July, 2013: A Field In England.

I’ve said this before, and I’ll possibly say it again: genius is a hard thing to define.

Especially in a field as slippery as artistic creation: where I don’t necessarily have the critical skills skills or education to back up my view.

In the circumstances, I make the best effort I can: describing my preferences, discoveries and peeves — and the associated reasoning — as well as I can.

~≈†≈~

And it has to be said, I’ve caught a couple of damn good movies, over the course of the past few days: the 2006, Pan’s Labyrinth and 2001’s The Devil’s Backbone: both directed by Guillermo del Toro, and both fantastic films.   (Although I have to admit, I preferred The Devil’s Backbone, finding that it had an emotional resonance that worked well for me.)

But I’ve caught another film, tonight: one I rented from iTunes.

The 2013 Ben Wheatley, multi-platform release, A Field In England.

And when I say multi-platform, I mean multi-platform: including a showing — on its release date, 5th July of this year — on the UK’s Channel Four.   More on that later, I think.

~≈†≈~

π: Blimey … !

You know, I can honestly say that it’s not that often I’ve seen a Darren Aronofsky film.

Honestly.

I think the last one was the thoroughly enjoyable, Natalie Portman vehicle, Black Swan.

So his work is something I’ve not seen a lot of, to be frank.

Until last night, that is.

Last night … ?   Last night, I managed to rent π* from the iTunes Store.

I don’t know if you’ve seen i: but I came away rather impressed … 

~≈Â≈~

π follows the day to day life of Max Cohen, played by Sean Gullette.   Max is an obsessive number theorist who suffers some incredibly painful headaches, in between bouts of work on his theory that patterns can be observed in unexpected places: his particular hobby-horse is trying to find the patterns in the sheer chaos of the rise and fall of the Stock Market.

Until one day, he finds his purpose built server, Euclid, crashing, after picking out a seemingly random 216 digit number.

With one stock market prediction at a very low, nonsensical, value.

It’s only when, the next day, he finds that prediction is bang on the literal money, that he consults an old Maths mentor, Sol — Mark Margolis — who advises Max of two things.   That the number could well be meaningless.

And that he — Max — should take a break.

Something Max ignores: especially when he mets a young Hasidic Jew called Lenny, who tell hims a little of the ancient number searches involved in the ancient branch of Jewish mysticism he follows: and mets Marcie, a Wall Street broker who’s extremely interested in Max ’s work.

Offering an extremely powerful processing chip for his computer.

It’s only when Max uses that chip, and finds his system crashing again, that things go wrong: and his headaches get worse … 

~≈Â≈~

Now … 

Did’t I just have a whale of a time with this … ?

Lordy, didn’t I just … ?

π is a very surreal little psycho-thriller, one that had me thinking loving of the work of William Gibson: someone who’s been a favourite author for some years.

It’s pacey, intriguing, and, giving a focus on some hard science aspects of number theory, WITHOUT alienating a lay audience, great fun to watch.

I enjoyed it: I think you will too.

π
★★★☆

*        OK, OK, it’s called Pi … !

Exam: How to have fun with The Apprentice

Hmmm … 

I have to admit, I was bored witless, last night.

No, seriously.

Nobody around, nothing grabbing my attention on TV: and frankly, I was planning to save a good read from the library for later.

Actually, talking of the library … ?

It’s amazing what you can find in there, if you’re on a budget. 

I mean, I managed to dig up a copy of the 2009, Stuart Hazeldine directed, film, Exam.

Which maybe isn’t the greatest thriller on Earth.

But is rather entertaining.

~≈Ω≈~

Set in an alternative present, Exam sees a group of diverse candidates for an unrevealed — but seemingly high-powered — job with an unidentified company.

The eight (unnamed) people are given the rules for the Exam by an unnamed invigilator (Colin Salmon).

They can’t leave the room without being disqualified.

They can’t communicate with the Invigilator — or the armed guard on the door — without being disqualified.

And if they spoil their papers, accidentally or deliberately … ?

They get disqualified.

All they have to do … ?

Is answers one simple question.

They all have pieces of paper in front of them: to presumably write the answer on.

You’d think so, wouldn’t you?

Except for one minor detail: they — seemingly — aren’t asked the one question they have to answer.

Nasty, huh … ?

~≈Ω≈~

Now, I was saying Exam wasn’t good?

That’s very true.

On the other hand, it’s a nicely crafted, tense little ensemble piece that’s been — apparently — successfully staged in Manchester: something I wouldn’t mind seeing if the projected tour goes ahead.

What’s more … ?   One could argue that the twist at the end of the tale is guessable.

But that the film’s entertainment value — and I should stress, I believe that’s quite high entertainment value — comes from the simple fact that it draws you in with a good cast: one sympatheticly keeps you clued to you seat.

Personally … ?

I thoroughly enjoyed Exam.   Sometimes … ?

We can’t ask more than that.

Exam
★★☆☆

The clips a © 2009, of Hazeldine Film and Bedlam Productions: I believe is Fair Dealing under Sections 29 and 30 — criticism and review — of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Primer: Genius … ?

23rd March, 2013.

 

You know, I have to confess, I think — think — that title’s quite possibly right.

You see, I’ve just rented the little science-fiction film, Primer, from the iTunes store.

As you might just have guessed from the poster.

And I’m thinking, here, that it’s possibly a work of genius: because I’m — frankly — wondering what else to call it … 

Hmmm … let me sleep on that, folks … !

~≈§≈~

27th March, 2013.

Busy, busy, busy … !

But I think I can say I’ve slept on Primer*.

And … ?

Well … 

Primer tells the story of a pair of engineering students — Aaron and Abe, played by Shane Carruth and David Sullivan — who, along with friends Robert and Phillip, meet regularly to brainstorm new ideas that they can patent.

And, in the finest tradition of garage engineers, everywhere, making a fortune on the lines of Wozniak and Jobs, or Hewlett and Packard.

That’s not quite the way things goes, though.

Abe and Aaron initially start working on a box-like machine for reducing an object’s mass.

Which turns out not to reduce mass.

No … 

It turns out what they’ve accidentally invented is a time-machine: something the pair use to milk the stock market.

Much as it’s tempting to say “With Hysterical Results” … it’s really not.

Not when the pair realise they’ve got tangled up in their complicated time-loop … 

~≈§≈~

Now, I’m actually going to be perfectly frank, here, if I may … ?

I really couldn’t tell you whether Primer is a work of genius.   Or otherwise, frankly.

But I am pretty sure the film is something of a gem: that I, for one, feel is worth you spending some time with.

With a 77 minute run time, this is a film that, had I the money, I would want to buy.   Primer is an intellectually dense film that I’m — as I write — watching again on my iPod.   Given that it’s a film one needs to pay attention to, buying it would allow me to watch it as many times as possible: it’s complicated, as well as watchable.

Given that … ?

I think I have to give Primer a four star rating …

Primer

★★★★

*        I should add, at this point, I managed to work out how to turn on my iPod’s closed caption switch.   For those of us watching a closed captioned film the same way — via and iPod Touch running iOS 6.x or higher — you’ll need to go to Settings>Video and set the Closed Caption switch to ‘On’.   I hope that helps.

Salvage: Little Indie Britflicks …

6th March, 2013.

You know, I’m starting to think Wednesdays are getting busy!

No, seriously.

I’m mean, a blood test, shopping, putting up the Gazette Teasers, here and on their site.

Plus finishing off some Teasers, doing the associated videos AND writing about a movie, where possible!

Actually … ?

That’s simpler than you might think.

You see, last night, I managed to rent a film from iTunes — birthday money, don’tchaknow — hook the iPod up to the TV, through my new Dock … 

And got watching … Salvage … 

~≈§≈~

Released in 2009, Salvage opens with a paperboy delivering one of his last papers on Christmas Eve: and spotting an argument at one of his drops.

He manages to get away … Only to met SOMETHING nasty in the nearby woods.

Meanwhile, events elsewhere on the street, see Jodie (Linzey Cocker) returning home to see her mother, Beth (Neve McIntosh*) for the holiday.

Arriving just in time for the street to be raided by a squad of heavily armed special forces soldiers: soldiers who’re hunting for something.

Something nasty … 

Something nasty,with a taste for random violence … 

And something that’s killing Beth’s neighbours, one by one.

~≈§≈~

Now, I’ll happily admit, Salvage is not a big-budget, popcorn movie.

A long way from it: it was, after all filmed on the exterior set that had been used for long-running soap, Brookside, after the show had ended.

But it IS a fun little romp of a horror-film: one that, considering the price it cost to rent … ?   Wasn’t bad value for money, at all.

Salvage

★★☆☆

*        Madame Vastra, in case the Dr Who fans reading this were wondering

Storage 24 — South London SciFi

12th February, 2013.

Right … 

I’m going to be honest, here: I think the older I get, the more 22:51 hours starts to look like a late night.

But I DID want to at least start on this post: to make sure I told you I’d seen the Johannes Roberts direct, Noel Clarke produced, indie Brit-flick, Storage 24.

And while it may not be the greatest movie in the history of sci-fi-horrors … ?

It IS an entertaining one … 

Right … back in the morning … ish … !

~~~~~

13th February, 2013.

Right … Back to the action: and let’s get talking about Storage 24, shall we … ?

I literally had nothing to do, last night: and frankly … ?   Frankly had just enough in my iTunes account  to rent meself a movie.

And, as you might have already worked out, the one I went for was the Johannes Roberts directed, Noel Clarke produced, film, Storage 24.

Set in the modern day, Storage 24 sees Clarke as Charlie: a man who — along with his old friend, Mark (Colin O’Donohue) — is attempting to get a few last bits from storage: after having been dumped by his girlfriend, Shelley, played by Antonia Campbell-Hughes.  (Who’s likewise supported by her best mate, Nikki, played by Laura Haddock.)

The uncosy little meeting is interrupted, however.

Firstly, by the simple fact an engineer’s in, to fix the shutter at the front of the self-storage warehouse that’s the film’s setting.

Secondly, by the military cargo plane that’s crashed in South London and triggered a military lock-down in Battersea.

And thirdly … ?

Thirdly, there’s something hideous that keeps clawing it’s way through the pipework: and leaving the occasional corpse behind it … 

Kill List: Cult is the word …

18th January, 2013.

You know, it’s not THAT often I say this, but I might — MIGHT, I stress — have to rearrange the way I rate movies.

Please notice I say MIGHT, I hasten to add,

Equally, I might not: I’m a lazy little so and so, sometimes.

The reason I mention that … ?

Is the film I’ve just watched, tonight.

It’s either punching WAY above the weight one expects its to.

Or it’s … 

No, scrub that, Paul: Kill List is out and out punching above its weight.   Even if it’s the Brit-flick equivalent of an malnourished bantamweight …

Grabbers: Well, it grabbed me … !

2/1/2013.

OK … 

It’s early January, 2013.

You can tell that from the date I’ve posted, can’t you … ?

And frankly … ?

Frankly, I have to admit to spending some of my Christmas loot: or iTunes card, at any rate.

If you’d not already worked out — from the poster — that I’ve spent some of it on the 2012 film, Grabbers, then I’ll have to be blunt, won’t I … ?

I rented Grabbers.

Hmmm … 

I think I’m going to hit the sack, and finish this, tomorrow.

I’m starting to wander … !

~≈Ê≈~

3/1/2013.

Yes … I think I can say I feel a little better for that.

At least, better enough that I managed to spot the obvious typing errors.

And take a deep breathe, so I can tell you about … Grabbers …

Set on an obscure island off the west coast of Ireland*, Grabbers sees Richard Coyle as Garda Ciarán O’Shea: an Irish policeman who’s got a taste for a pint or two.

And one who’s joined at his small — and very rural — station by Garda Lisa Nolan (Ruth Bradley) an up-and-coming young officer who’s not only teetotal, but seriously prim and proper.

The odd-couple officers are forced to start working together when one of the locals finds what he dubs a grabber, and takes it along to a local scientist, played by Russell Tovey.

A scientist who’s ALREADY trying to work out what’s happening to the pilot whales that are washing up on the local beaches.

As it turns out … ?

The creatures that did that to the whales are — quite literally — after blood.

And … 

Well … 

It turns out that’s actually a good excuse for a beer … 

~≈Ê≈~

Now … ?

Was Grabbers any good … ?

Well, I thought so.

Granted, Grabbers isn’t going to grab any awards in the ‘Big Budget’ category.

But it is a very entertaining little romp of a film.

A romp … 

With a big heart, better tentacle … 

And a shed-load of old fashioned Irish hospitality.

We might want to have a word with the locals about that … 

*        Almost … !

Absentia: Hmmmm …

No, seriously … 

Hmmm … !

You’ve probably worked out I’m of a film fan, haven’t you … ?

Well, I am: just to confirm things.

And have to admit, I caught something of an … oddity, last night.

You see, I had the night to myself with a copy of the recently released DVD, Absentia.

And I’m thinking oddity is possibly the word … 

»»·««

Monsters Blood, guts, and an impressively Low budget

Hmmm …

No, seriously.

Hmmmmm.

With possibly extra mmm …

He says.

You know, all these ‘Hmmm’ noises are possibly leaving you wondering what I’ve put in my cocoa.

Milk and sugar, to be perfectly frank.

Well, milk, sugar and cocoa powder.

Oh, and hot water, but that should be obvious …

‹‹•››

But outside of cocoa … ?

The reason for the assorted, thoughtful, Hmmmmm noises is the film I’ve just watched.

The recent released on DVD, 2010, low budget Brit-flick that is Monsters.

And I have to confess, I’m none too sure if I’ve seen a work that’s wasted my evening, the science-fictional offspring of Apocalypse Now and District 9, a student piece done on a laptop …

Or a work of complete genius …

‹‹•››

Monsters sees Scoot McNairy as Andrew, a cynical photojournalist ordered to get his boss’ daughter — Sam, played by Whitney Able — out of Mexico.

The twist, here, is that not only have both Andrew and Sam lost their passports, and have to deal with nervous locals, and corrupt officials …

But that the Earth has been infested — yes, infested is the right word, here, I think — by the monsters of the title: giant creatures that resemble the glow-in-the-dark mutant offspring of octopi and spiders.

And they’ve been given some 48 hours to get to The Wall — the giant barrier that the US government has put up, between its territory, and the infested areas of the borders — before the next set of bombing runs …

‹‹•››

Now …

Work of genius, or waste of time … ?

I really am STILL not sure … ! And that’s some 40 minutes or so after actually finishing watching Monsters.

On the whole, I’m more inclined to say Monsters is definitely NOT a waste of time: although whether it’s a work of genius, I don’t know.

Well …

That’s not entirely fair.

I do know that — from reading both the IMDb and Wikipedia entries — that director, writer and special effects man for the film, Gareth Edwards shot Monsters mostly in Central America. With only Scoot McNairy and Whitney Able as his only two professional cast members, I should add here.

What’s more, he SHOT it, quite literally, on digital cameras, using a laptop to do the editing, and flash drives to transport the rushes.

I have to admit, that — and the fact that the budget looks like it was the leftover tea-club* money from Avatar — left me SERIOUSLY impressed.

To be frank … ?

Monsters isn’t a ‘Wham, Bam, Thanking YOU, Ma’am’ film: don’t watch it, if that’s what you’re expecting or wanting.

But I AM convinced you’ll see a film that’s certainly and seriously watchable!

Monsters

★★★☆

* Just so Debbi, Nina, Mr Strict and the rest of the off-shore Hard Squad know, a tea-club is usual in the workplace, here in the UK: it’s usually where everyone clubs together to buy a BIG box of teabags, some milk and sugar. Mugs and spoons are, of course, an optional extra …

Attack The Block: Innit, Blood … ?

Did I mention I slept through my alarm this morning … ?

Yes, I think I did, did I … ?

Mind you, I also admitted I had a very good excuse.

You see, I had Kevin D over, last night, for a cuppa, or two, and a movie.

And I think we’ve hit an interesting one …

The movie in question … ?

Was a recent DVD release I’d borrowed from Grub: the 2011 release that is Attack The Block.

~≈Ê≈~

Ghost Machine: A much debated Brit Flick …

Hmmm …

You know, there’s times when movie night can’t half generate a lot of …

Well …

I was going to say hot air.

But to be fair to myself, Movie Night Adrian, and Kevin, all at my place, tonight, to catch a film … ?

Let’s call it discussion, shall we … ?

And slightly odd text messaging. The three of us happened to briefly discuss Hannibal Rising, at the end of tonight’s movie: only for Kevin D to text me, once he’d got home, to tell me that the film version was on.

Mild piece of synchronicity, I think …

««~»»