Adverse

 "Adverse" (2020, Brian Metcalf, Black Jellybeans Productions, Potato Eater Productions, Red Compass Media, Lionsgate).

Ethan (Thomas Nicholas) is trying to make up for a shady past. He is the sole guardian of his little sister, Mia (Kelly Arjen), and is barely making ends meet with a job as a ride share driver. His life is about to turn upside down, however, when it transpires that Mia has gotten herself into debt with some dangerous people. Taking the job as the driver for chief gangster, Kaden (Mickey Rourke), Ethan infiltrates the crime syndicate in an attempt to exact some revenge.

A dark tale with no true winners. The film starts off as a gritty neo noir thriller before ramping up into a more action driven piece. We follow Ethan as he reluctantly invades the criminals' operation, driving not only Kaden around, but also his associate Jake (Matt Ryan), who is suspicious of Ethan and has an unpredictable temper. Ethan also has to win over the other gang members in order to work his way up to Kaden; swallowing his pride to get close to them. 

The film takes its time to introduce Ethan, Mia and their world before ramping up in pacing. We meet Ethan's parole officer, Dr. Cruz (Lou Diamond Phillips) and his overbearing ride share boss (Sean Astin) and are introduced to his lonely, chain-smoking neighbour. Metcalf himself appears as the desperate nightclub owner and drug dealer who sets the whole sorry tale into motion. 

As Ethan's world begins to collapse, he attempts to take back control. The film boasts some impressively violent scenes and a fantastic 'first shooter' (or should I say, 'first tyre iron') style scene in a warehouse that demonstrates that Ethan has been pushed over a line he will not be able to come back from. 

Despite the short time we spend with the characters, the cast bring a depth to them. Mickey Rourke delivers an excellent performance as the ailing crime boss, Kaden, who is both disgusted at but resigned to continue his crime legacy. The film also lets Thomas Nicholas pull away from the more comedic roles he's known for to deliver the sympathetic, but gritty performance as lead man, Ethan. Kelly Arjen brings out the vulnerability in the feisty, headstrong Mia. And Matt Ryan's Jake is a quick tempered sadist who takes pleasure in violence, but also has a separate, softer façade for the outside world.

Available now on several VOD services in the US and also available to purchase on Region 1 DVD. The film is also playing the Ramsgate International Film Festival in the UK on 3rd June 2021. Hopefully, it will roll out onto other platforms globally in the not too distant future.

[Image: Lionsgate, et al]

Hani

88

"88" (2014, April Mullen, WANGO Films) is not really a horror movie. It's more an action movie reminiscent of the likes of "Pulp Fiction" and others.

Whilst yes, it isn't a horror, I still want to mention it here because it's good, it's gory and it stars one of my favourite modern day scream queens; Katharine Isabelle. I love her. I can't help it. Not only because she is super hot and in some of my favourite films, but also because she is downright hilarious and, as proven in this particular film, extremely adaptive as an actress.

Gwen (Katharine Isabelle) walks into a highway diner with an injured hand, a gun, a backpack and no idea what the hell is going on... From there we're taken on her journey between two timelines where we get to know more about who she really is and what has brought her to this diner. As it happens, she's a pretty dangerous lady on the lookout for whoever killed her lover. And, wouldn't you know it, it was probably someone pretty dangerous who did it!

A fun and very violent film with more than one similarity to Tarantino (timeline styling, violence, gang banter....). The characters are all very colourful, very memorable and very disposable. It's stylish, witty and not scared to make you think a bit. The story manages to avoid too much confusion, despite the fractured timeline style, and everything links up nicely by the end.

So, if you're a fan of Katharine Isabelle..., or you like Tarantino-esque films..., or you like action movies.... or gore.... or if you are anyone at all... I recommend giving this movie your time. It's worth it.

[Image: Wango Films]

 

Hani

Bring Me The Head of Machine Gun Woman

"Bring Me The Head of Machine Gun Woman" (2012, Ernesto Diaz Espinoza, LatinXploitation, Ronnoc Entertainment) is a Grindhouse-esque Spanish language movie about an Argentinian gangster who is trying to kill the sexy, half-naked, female mercenary (Fernanda Urrejola) who wants his head. When a young video game loving DJ named Santiago (Matías Oviedo) accidentally overhears a private converstation, the gangster forces the boy to go after the Machine Gun Woman.

Paying homage to the Grindhouse 'classics' and with some nicely tinted camera work, I found "..Machine Gun Woman" to be everything I wanted it to be; bloody, violent, filled with fight scenes and dodgy gangster types, with a semi-naked gun toting chick and a shed load of rapidly worded Spanish conversations.

It's based on a Grand Theft Auto-type game, and as our young hero attempts to go through each stage of his mission, we get a nice loading screen telling us whether he's completed the level or not. Although, admittedly this does lose its charm after a while.

It's not clever and it knows it, and it's certainly not everyone's cup of Pisco. But it's exactly as it's marketed to be and no more. Definitely a must see for Grindhouse aficionados.