Dave Made a Maze

 "Dave Made a Maze" (2017, Bill Watterson, Gravitas Ventures, Butter Stories, Dave Made an LLC, Foton Pictures).

Annie (Meera Rohit Kumbhani) comes home from a weekend away to find a large cardboard thing in her livingroom. To make things weirder, the large cardboard thing contains her boyfriend, Dave (Nick Thune). Dave warns Annie not to enter his 'maze' for fear of getting lost and explains that he has been trapped within his cardboard creation for the full duration of Annie's trip. When Annie attempts to lift the maze to reveal Dave, Dave yells out and Annie decides to heed his warning. Confused, Annie seeks help from their friend, Gordon (Adam Busch), who then seeks the help of; Harry (James Urbaniak) and his film crew (Frank Caeti and Scott Narver), Leonnard (Scott Krinsky), Brynn (Stephanie Allynne), Greg (Tin Nordwind) and Jane (Kirsten Vangsness). Because that's not enough people to ponder this cardboard conundrum, they also bring over a local homeless man (Rick Overton) and two Flemish tourists (Drew Knigga and Kamilla Alnes).

After some pizza and a lot of pondering, the party decide to enter the cardboard maze. To their surprise, they discover that Dave was not lying and that the inside of the maze is much greater than its exterior looks. To their utter surprise, however, it soon becomes apparent that this maze has a mind of its own and that the maze's cardboard inhabitants may actually be dangerous. Can they find Dave and exit this maze or will they all meet a cardboardy doom?

A fantastically creative piece from the concept to the set design, to the characters. This film is so hard to put into any particular category. It really has to be experienced, to believe. The maze is a wonderfully inventive and sometimes creepy idea. It has an almost nostalgic feel to it. Like the cardboard equivalent of a Henson production. 

The cast deliver an excellent off the wall performance that fits the film so well, in it's otherworldliness. It was nice to see Adam Busch as a familiar face, and Meera Rohit Kumbhani is excellent as Annie. 

The film is not without its dark sides and we experience a surprisingly poignant reflection on serial project abandoner, Dave, and his relationship with his friends, Annie and also with himself. 

At 80 minutes, the film does not overstay its welcome and its sheer inventiveness keeps you engaged as a viewer. A genuine delight that is so worth checking out. You can't know entering the maze whether it's your thing or not. You just have to go in and find out.

Currently streaming on the Arrow Player and available to purchase elsewhere.

[Image: Dave Made an LLC, et al]

Hani

Armistice

 "Armistice" aka "The Captive" aka "Warhouse" (2013, Luke Massey, Double Dutch Film) is a supernatural and psychological thriller.

A.J. Budd (Joseph Morgan) is a Royal Marine who awakens in a strange house. He doesn't remember how he got there, or where exactly he is. In fact, he can't remember much outside of his name and his Rank. He goes downstairs to find breakfast waiting for him, but before he can tuck in he's attacked by a grotesque zombie-like creature. After dispatching of the creature, he finds that he cannot escape the house. Eventually, he finds the creature's body has disappeared and a bag of chips await him for dinner. 

As well as being inescapable, the house also contains no other food than that left for him and all the books are blank inside. Confused, he turns in only to wake and experience a second identical day.

Eventually he finds some books that have been used as diaries by another trapped soldier from some time before called Edward Sterling (Matt Ryan). Sterling reveals that he also has no memory from before the house but he has been injured apparently in battle and has slowly begun to unravel the secrets of the house. Through Sterling's many diaries, Budd attempts to navigate an escape as well as to defend himself from the attacking creatures and attempt to maintain his sanity. But will he dig too far and discover a truth he would rather not know about this place? And what of Sterling's fate?

A slow burning, contemplative film that explores the concepts of self identity (and perhaps of soldiers in particular having that identity changed by their work), of loneliness, of war and of human resilience (or, in some cases, breaking point) while also weaving in some humour to break up the bleakness. The film uses its low budget nature as part of the plot delivery. Our protagonists are trapped and the setting is claustrophobic and repetitive. Both actors give a fantastic performance as they live out their endless identical days and slowly begin to unravel. 

Despite never meeting, Budd and Sterling become almost friends with one keeping the other going up until a point. And the sense of loss and betrayal that Morgan's character experiences as the plot reaches its climax is palpable. 

There are a few little plot holes that leave unanswered questions about how the rules of this prison work. Such as how Sterling is overjoyed to find that a brick he had smashed remains smashed upon his waking, but he never seemed to question his daily markings on the wall and his diary entries remaining intact when other things reset. Perhaps the house has a sense of cruel irony that the prisoners can track their hopeless time but cannot effect their prison permanently. However, the mystery of the house is well achieved and the film keeps the viewer engaged with its clever diary delivery and the comparison of both men's experiences. There's also a really clear sense of difference in era between Sterling and Budd which is shown in their characterisation but also in how they choose to spend their time. I enjoyed the clear contrast between Edward's time spent improving his playing of the piano and Budd's time making an extravagant pillow fort!

Both characters are tragic but their journeys and experiences in the house go in different directions. With Budd finding some motivation in Sterling's writings. Sterling drives the narrative and his journey is driven by a stiff-upper-lip mentality to hold on as long as possible, but inevitably this leads to despair. The scenes with the piano and the wind up to his ultimate fate are emotional.

The effects and make up are practical and gooey. As a fan of low budget gungy gore I was suitably satisfied. 

I make no secret of my appreciation for Matt Ryan, but I say this as a film fan in general when I tell you that this film is a thoughtful film worth checking out. Currently available on Prime UK.

[Images: Double Dutch Films]

Hani 

The Axiom

 "The Axiom" (2018, Nicholas Woods, Axiom Movie Production Co.,  Phoenix Down Films) is a supernatural horror film.

Mackenzie (Hattie Smith) and Martin (Zac Titus), along with some friends, head out to the National Park searching for their missing sister. They seek the help of local man, Leon (William Kircher), who should have been a dead giveaway at best that they were headed towards danger. With wild abandon for their safety, and any thought for their companions, Mackenzie and Martin dive right in.

Upon following Leon's directions, they find themselves in a hidden alternate dimension within the woods, where strange whispers, violent apparitions and possessed friends threaten their lives and sanity... 

A film with a  excellent premise but a mixture of arduous pacing and a lack of monsters rob this film of some of its promise. It does, however, have some fun with its cast and keep a couple of twists fairly well. Also, when we do finally get some monsters they are pretty well done.

 "The Axiom" is worth checking out and I enjoyed Kircher's menacing performance as devious harbinger, Leon.

[Image: Axiom Movie Production Co. & Phoenix Down Films]

Hani

Death of a Vlogger

"Death of a Vlogger" (2019, Graham Hughes, Enlightened Monster Productions, 101 Films) is a found footage mockumentary about a video content creator who discovers his flat is haunted.

Graham Hughes stars as the titular vlogger, Graham, who hits the trending gold mine after a viral video seems to show evidence that his Glasgow flat is haunted. From there we follow a mockumentary style with interviews from friends, fans and... others as we learn the tale of Graham's rise to fame and journey to darker territory.

A well paced, interesting film that delivers some thoughts on the nature of social media and 'cancel culture' as well as some genuine jumps and impressive effects and camera work which are used sparsely and to great effect. The mockumentary and vlog style feels extremely relevant in 2020's pandemic lockdown world and keeps the slow burning style moving. The plot builds up with twists and turns to keep viewers engaged and changing their allegiances between the characters as we are delivered more information.

Creative and well crafted, this film is worth checking out and is currently available to rent from various Video On Demand services.

[Image: Enlightened Monster Productions, et al]

Hani

They Look Like People

"They Look Like People" (2015, Perry Blackshear, Signature Entertainment) is an independent psychological thriller about a man who is convinced that people are turning into evil creatures. He travels to stay with a friend in a bid to protect him.

Wyatt (MacLeod Andrews) travels to New York City to stay with his old friend, Christian (Evan Dumouchel). Both men have recently become single and Christian is tentatively seeing his boss, Mara (Margaret Ying Drake).

Wyatt is a withdrawn guy and it's slowly revealed that he believes that people are becoming possessed by some evil entity. He is seen to be stockpiling weapons in Christian's basement. Christian seems like a well adjusted guy, but he suffers from some insecurities and seems to be looking to find a purpose in life.

An arty film with a very slow pace and somewhat rudderless plot. It feels like it has a lot to say about mental health but the message, for me at least, was not particularly clear, and overall I found myself pretty bored throughout and have to admit that the film just isn't for me. The film likes to keep things unexplained, which can work in some ways, but in this case it just made the purposefully slow run time feel even longer.

The cast do a great job and the characters feel very human, but overall the styling of the film made my interest ebb after the first 30 minute mark and it felt like it was spending too much energy trying to be clever and not enough energy on actually being engaging.

For an early film from new film makers it's a good accomplishment and doesn't feel amateurish or badly made. Despite a low budget, the film uses the characters alone to build tension and does a good job of creating believable relationships between the characters; particularly between Wyatt and Christian.

If you're into slow paced, character-driven films this might be right up your street, but for me it missed the mark.

Hani

Imitation Girl

"Imitation Girl" (2017, Natasha Kermani, Illium Pictures, Cup of Joe Film, Epic Pictures) is a sci-fi drama about a shape shifting alien.

A quick learning alien life form crashes to earth and assumes the form of a porn star cover girl called Juliana (Lauren Ashley Carter) from a discarded magazine. The creature then proceeds to investigate her new world where she finds help in the form of Saghi (Neimah Djourabchi) and his sister, Kahar (Sanam Erfani).

Concurrently, we follow the real Juliana who keeps catching glimpses of the alien using her face in the mirror...

"Imitation Girl" is a very character-driven piece. Carter gives an amazing performance as both the curious alien creature and her human counterpart. The film gives us a study on modern life and the common question "who am I, really?". Juliana is discontented with her life and her career and is seeking a way to achieve more. She seems to be constantly at odds with herself as to whether she considers her achievements to date to render her life successful. She attempts to recapture old talents and new, exciting experiences but just can't shake the impacts and habits of her life, job and character flaws. She's in a rut and she can't find her way out. It's a struggle that I'm sure a lot of people relate to on at least some level. The creature wearing her skin is asking herself the same question as she goes through various experiences and builds a relationship with Saghi. In a somewhat poignant manner, it is the alien who gets the most out of the human experience; she finds love, learns to speak Persian and embraces what her time on earth has to offer her.

The sci-fi aspects of the film are really secondary to the exploration of identity and are used to drive the plot forward. However, the effects are good and have a serene quality that fits extremely well with the narrative. The film is very thoughtful, slow burning and beautiful. If you're looking for a more energetic alien story this is probably not for you, but if you're looking for a contemplative, art house piece this could tick a lot of your boxes and is definitely worthy of your time. Currently available on Amazon Prime!

[Image: Illium Pictures, et al]

Hani

Calibre

"Calibre" (2018, Matt Palmer, Wellington Films, Netflix) is a thriller set in the Scottish Highlands.

Marcus (Martin McCann) takes his friend Vaughn (Jack Lowden) hunting in the highlands to celebrate Vaughn's recent good news. Vaughn has never hunted before and is not exactly keen to kill an animal, but Marcus thinks it will be good for him. When they reach the small village in which they are staying they enjoy a heavy night of drinking and manage to make some impressions on the locals; some good impressions, but not all...

The next day both men are faced with a life changing tragedy. Their attempts to carry on as normal are thwarted and eventually they are forced to face up to the consequences of their actions.

A really superbly made film that is not only atmospheric, but dark, daring and engaging. Our protagonists are well rounded characters with flaws and plans and personality. Our villagers are not just two dimensional characters either, with an almost "American Werewolf in London" meets "The Wickerman" vibe that sets you on edge. Of particular interest is the character of Logan (Tony Curran) who shows the city boys understanding, but is not to be taken lightly.

The film provides some shocking action that will leave you feeling a little empty and haunted afterwards. Much like the other recent genre great, "Hereditary", this film makes you think. With scenes that are expertly crafted with the use of silence being as important as good scripting and skilled use of the highlands setting which can be as ominous as it is breathtaking.

None of the characters are 'the baddies'. Everyone has shades of grey and a very human mix of good and bad intentions. The outcome of the tragedies in this film are neither justice nor injustice and none of the characters give the impression of getting to move on comfortably with their lives.

An excellent piece that is definitely worthy of your time and will question your own morals and sense of selfishness.

Thanks for the recommendation, Stephen King!

[Image: Wellington Films]

Hani 

ABRUPTIO: Support the online crowdfunder

"ABRUPTIO" is a feature film using puppets. It was written, produced and directed by experienced husband and wife team, Evan and Kerry Marlowe.

**Update** Thanks to all the support for this Crowdfunding campaign, "Abruptio" has moved into the next stage of production! I, for one, am so excited! 


The film is an homage to 70s horror and centres around a man (puppet) waking to find that he has had an explosive device implanted into his neck by a devious mastermind. He must do what he's instructed, no matter how unsavoury, or risk being blown up!


Viewers will be familiar with many of the cast (which includes some personal favourites of mine) including James Marsters, Robert Englund, Sid Haig, Jordan Peele, Hana Mae Lee, Christopher McDonald and Rich Fulcher.


Prop and effects nerds like me will also recognise the name of creature creator Jeff Farley who has worked on many well-known titles including 1989's Pet Sematrary.


The film is nearing the next stages and, if like me you fancy helping out, Kerry Marlowe has recently set up an online crowd fund on Seed&Spark to keep the project moving on (and finance some more fake blood, which I'm fully on board with).


You can find the fund over on www.seedandspark.com - here
You can also find more information about the project at www.abruptio.com


Let's help get this movie made!

[Image: www.abruptio.com]

Hani

Parallel

"Parallel" (2016. Ieva Makselyte, Parallel Entertainment) is a supernatural thriller about alternate dimensions and love.


Heather (Faye Sewell) is chatted up by Neil (David Magowan) at a party. The couple hit it off and suddenly they enter a bit of whirlwind romance. Their whirlwind is stopped, however, when they encounter a mysterious psychic called Machlis (Brian Carter) who tells them about the parallel world; a world similar, and yet different from our own where there are parallel versions of us living different lives.


Heather is fascinated, and although Neil is not convinced initially, he too becomes interested after a session with Machlis. They find that their parallel lives are very different. In this reality, they do not meet one another at the eventful birthday party, and instead become romantically involved with much less savoury people.


Having both become obsessed with following their alternate lives, Heather and Neil risk losing everything. And there's that ever hanging thread of doubt that what they're experiencing is even real...


An interesting premise that's handled well for a low budget, indy film. The characters have some good chemistry and there are a few twists and turns in the plot. However, there are a few sound issues which are distracting and take a little away from the quality of the film.


The film won semi-final status at Los Angeles Cinefest 2016 and is available to stream on Amazon UK and Amazon Video.

[Image: Parallel Entertainment]

Hani

A Dark Song

"A Dark Song" (2016, Liam Gavin, IFC Midnight) is an indy horror from Ireland centred around the Occult.

Sophia (Catherine Walker) is a grieving mother who goes to an isolated house in the Welsh countryside with occultist, Joseph (Steve Oram), in order to perform a series of rituals to summon her guardian angel and speak with her deceased, 7-year old child. However, any slip can lead to the ritual going awry, with possible deadly results.

A slow, quiet movie with a really effective soundtrack and a stylistic storytelling method that doesn't particularly grab you by the shoulders, but does build up ominously. The black magic rituals have an element of realism to them that make the scenes effective. The magic is hard, and dirty and gross. The pretty stuff is simple and limited and the things on the other side are not friendly.

The gritty realism of the occult elements really play well with the disharmonious relationship between the determined, desperate woman and her reluctant, angry, world-weary spiritual guide. Sophie's inexperience and desperate resolution goes up against Joseph's seen-it-all-and-sick-of-it attitude, and his brash rudeness towards her drives her to fight against him, making the already gruelling process worse.

The quiet, desolate story telling style is effective, but it does make the experience of the film quite slow-going. While there were parts where I was on the edge of my seat, there were certainly sparse areas where I was just waiting on something moving the plot forward.

An altogether gloomy piece with a haunting impact. Innovative, if a little slow to get started.

[Image: IFC Midnight]

 

Hani