Law Abiding Citizen (2009)

Starring: Gerard Butler, Jamie Fox
Director: F. Gary Gray


Premise:
A man's wife and child are murdered. His attorney takes a plea bargain as one of the murderer confesses against the other for a lesser sentence. Years later the man decides to get justice he feels he deserve and put the entire system under a microscope.

My Take:
I'm surprised. I enjoyed the movie far more than I anticipated. However after a solid first half filled with over the top gore and a solid story, the second half falls into more of the typical Hollywood action movie. That's when my interest started falling off.

Rating: In the middle (side of warning)




Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.seankimmel.com.

Dweller

Author: Jeff Strand

Synopsis:
A boy sees a monster in the woods. Over time he becomes the thing's friend. And like every friendship, there are good times and bad times through the years.

My Take:
A tale of an awkward man and his monster friend. It makes for a quick read but as the main character gets older you lose sympathy for him. Covering up the monster destroys his life.

Rating: In the middle




Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.seankimmel.com.

Shark Night (2011)

Starring: Sara Paxton, Donal Logue, Joel David Moore, Joshua Leonard, Katharine McPhee
Director: David R. Ellis

Premise:
A group of college kids head to one of their homes on a rural lake in Louisiana Gulf. Once there they discover the lake is invested with sharks.

My Take:
I love sharks. I am a huge fan of Donal Logue and enjoy the work Joel David Moore & Joshua Leonard as well (who all three do a decent job with what little is there). But why in the hell did this cast agree to make such a dumb movie? I guess sometimes you need a pay day.
This is the worst movie I've watched in a long, long time. I could write ten pages on the logic gaps, script holes, cheap looking CGI, and more. Luckily I wont as it would devote more time than this movie deserves.
What is even more baffling is it received studio financing and a wide screen release. No wonder people think mainstream horror movies are the pits. Crap like this and sequels, and remakes are the only movies which are seen in theaters.
Stay clear of this stinker!

Rating: Steaming Pile




Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.seankimmel.com.

Preacher: Until the End of the World (volume 2)

Author: Garth Ennis

Synopsis:
The past of Jesse Custer catches up with him and he can run no more. His family finally finds him and brings him back to the South Texas and Granny, who makes him carry out her ways. Until he fights back.
Then the Jesse and Tulip head out to San Fransisco. Here he finds Cassidy, an interesting party, and a group called The Grail who want Custer for their own purposes.

My Take:
I really enjoy the character of Jesse Custard. Tulip, his girlfriend, and Cass, his vampire best friend, aren't bad either. This book has two stories in it, both of which I never would have guessed.
In the first half we really get to see Jesse's past as he and Tulip are kidnapped and taken back to the place he grew up. The hate and torture from his Granny who chose his path is at times unbearable to read. But finally Jesse decides to fight back.
The second part half has Custer and Tulip meeting up Cassidy. A group called The Grail deems Custer to be the new Messiah since he can control people with his word. Tied in are a couple of drug dealers for a rich perv. Violence and sex ensues.
A fun read indeed.

Rating: So Good



Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.seankimmel.com.

The Dead (2011)

Starring: Rob Freeman, Prince David Oseia
Director: Howard J. Ford, Jonathan Ford

Premise:
A plane crashes off the coast of a war torn African country. One man survives and takes to the land, which is full of zombies. He meets a soldier who deserted the army to search for his son. The two men combine forces to try and survive.

My Take:
The story isn't reinventing anything with zombie lore. Men are trying to survive and find their families. But it's well done and so are the special effects.
And since the movie was shot in Africa it makes new social questions and has amazing scenery.

Rating: So Good



Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.seankimmel.com.

The Woman (2011)

Starring: Pollyanna McIntosh, Angela Bettis, Sean Bridgers
Director: Lucky McKee

Premise:
While hunting a lawyer finds the last remaining woman from a clan of cannibals who terrorized the Maine coastline. He captures the woman and attempts to civilize her.

My Take:
The sequel to the movie/novel Offspring, which in itself is a sequel to the jaw dropping novel by Jack Ketchum called Off Season.
The violence is heavy here as this woman is beaten, raped, and tortured by a sociopath of a man and to a lesser extent his son. The wife and daughters go along with the father's plan basically out of fear. However, there is much more going on in this tale. Some very subtle dialog and actions reveal far more than seem upon reflecting back on the film.
For the most part I liked it, but there are a couple of scenes with heavy music played over the sequences which give it more of a music video feel than a feature.

Rating: In the middle






Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.seankimmel.com.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, part 2 (2011)

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Alan Rickman, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, Rupert Grint
Director: David Yates


Premise:
Harry, Ron and Hermione search for the three remaining artifacts that will put an end to the Dark Lord's reign.

My Take:
I've never been blown away by this franchise. However the movies have become better as the series went on, mainly because the story gets darker and more adult oriented.
In the final film, the battle between Harry and Voldemort comes to a head.

Rating: In the middle






Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.seankimmel.com.

Sex and Zen II (1996)

Starring: Qi Shu
Director: Man Kei Chin

Premise:
A strict father, who is determined to become a master at the art of sex, sends his daughter away after putting a chastity belt on her. Along comes a demon disguised as a beautiful woman and weds the father. His daughter will not stand for it, nor will the man tracking the demon.

My Take:
I have a confession to make. I only watched this movie because I am somewhat smitten with the lovely Qi Shu.
The movie is basically a skin flick with some comedy and a dab of horror. There is lots of nudity (and way too long sex scenes), crazy sword play, and the bizarre conclusion to it all. I will also admit that I was slightly amused with film.
The movie isn't for everyone but if the above items are your fancy, then seek out the movie.

Rating: Warning





Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.seankimmel.com.

Bellflower (2011)

Director: Evan Glodell
Starring: Evan Glodell, Jessie Wisemen, Rebekah Brandes, Tyler Dawson

Premise:
Guy meets girl. Guy and Girl date for awhile. Girl cheats. Guy flips out. Girl flips out. Bad things happen.

My Take:
A movie that's hard to categorize. I suppose the best way is to say it's a romantic tale with a tragic and brutal ending.
The four main actors are excellent with the characters they portray and I can actually believe the paths they go down.
A solid movie that one shouldn't over look.

Rating: So Good





Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.seankimmel.com.

Torchwood: Miracle Day, Season 4 (2011)

Starring: John Barrowman, Eve Myles, Bill Pullman, Mekhi Phifer, Lauren Ambrose


Premise:
A mysterious event keeps people from dying. The press calls it "Miracle Day". But as the population explodes to record numbers, resources are tapped and so is the way of handling life. At the source is a group called "The Three Families". Enter the Torchwood team to find a solution, this time aided by two CIA Agents.

My Take:
A cool story, that greatly changes through the season, is muddled by many things including huge plot holes and over acting by a few characters. But that's the series in a nutshell. Don't over analyze it and just enjoy the ride.
Bill Pullman once again proves why he is such an under rated actor.

Favorite Episodes: Immortal Sins (episode 7)
In this episode we see some of Captain Jack's past and the beginning of The Three Families.

Rating: In the middle






Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.seankimmel.com.

Damned

Author: Chuck Palahnuik


Synopsis:
A thirteen year old girl of a famous movie actress and producer dies from an overdose. She winds up in Hell. Once there she makes the most of the situation and becomes determined to find Satan.

My Take:
If you're a fan of Chuck, then you kind of know what to expect. There's no difference on these pages. It's an engaging tale told from a unique narrator.
Worth reading just for gruesome and disgusting vision of Hell.

Rating: So Good





Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.seankimmel.com.

Fact or Faked: The Paranormal Files, Season 2, Part 2 (2011)

Starring: Ben Hansen, Jael De Pardo, Bill Murphy


Synopsis:
A team of investigators try to replicate paranormal videos to find out if these clips could be fact or faked.

My Take:
Each case follows the same format. They investigate. Trial to duplicate the video, try again, and one attempt it more time. Then the groups reconvene to discover the conclusion. The format gets very repetitive but I watch mainly for the cases.

Favorite Case Investigated: (Episode 19) In Tonopah, Nevada, to investigate a ghost hunting video of an alleged apparition appearing in a cemetery.

Rating: In the middle





Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.seankimmel.com.

The Silent House (2010)

AKA: La Casa Munda


Director: Gustavo Hernández


Synopsis:
A father and daughter take a job to get a house ready for sale. It's located in a rural area. On the first night, they get attacked and must fend for their lives.

My Take:
I never like to give a lot away in the details of the films I review.
The movie moves very slow for the first 50 minutes. A lot scenes with the actors being scared trying to figure out what is going on as tension builds. But the final act ramps up and is well worth the wait.

Rating: So Good






Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.seankimmel.com.

Bedlam, Season 1 (2011)

Starring: Theo James, Charlotte Salt


Premise:
A family turns a former asylum into apartments. But the ghosts of the past like to haunt the current tenants.

My Take:
The series really didn't offer a lot to keep me interested. The cast was good and the story is decent. It focuses on a group of friends who live there. One runs the place with her father, who carries secrets about the asylum, and another has the ability to see ghosts.

Favorite Episode:
Honestly, I didn't think one episode stood out over any others.

Rating: In the middle




Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.seankimmel.com.

The Shortcut (2009)

Starring: Raymond J. Barry, Katrina Bowden
Director: Nicholaus Goossen

Synopsis:
Two brothers who are new to town find a shortcut in the woods. The shortcut has a legend behind it and soon the old legend starts all over again.

My Take:
There's nothing new in this movie which covers familiar territory. It has plot holes. It has nonexistent gore. It has decent acting. It has a spark of charm. It has good scenery. In the end, it's an OK watch and one you will soon forget.

Rating: In the middle



Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.seankimmel.com.

Helldriver (2011)

AKA: Nihon bundan: Heru doraibâ


Starring: Eihi Shiina
Director: Yoshihiro Nishimura


Synopsis:
A girl watches her mother murder her father and proceeds to rip her heart out. A mysterious cloud covers Japan and starts turning people into horned zombies while some sort of force strikes the mother turning her into the zombie queen. The girl is then recruited by the government to become the ultimate zombie slayer

My Take:
Lots of spurting blood and over the top violence, which is what these movies from Sushi Typhoon are known for. Either you like them or you dont.
This one is completely off it's rocker but great for mind numbing entertainment.

Rating: In the middle





Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.seankimmel.com.

Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires (1974)

Starring: Peter Cushing, David Chiang
Director: Roy Ward Baker


Premise:
Dracula takes the form of a Chinese monk to resurrect the seven golden vampires. Soon Van Helsing makes his way to China with a group of body guards from a local village to stop the evil.

My Take:
A cross production between Hammer Studios and The Shaw Brothers, it makes for an entertaining watch even if it is a bit clumsy. It's kung fu vampires with British elegance.

Rating: In the middle




Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.seankimmel.com.

Chromeskull: Laid To Rest 2 (2011)

Starring: Thomas Dekker, Brian Austin Green, Danielle Harris
Director: Robert Hall


Synopsis:
Chromeskull is revived by a team of workers who then set up another victim for him to hunt.

My Take:
Picking up from where the first flick ends it doesn't take long for shit to hit the fan. We get some background on Chromeskull, but it's really just enough to make us ask more questions about the mysterious character. And there is some other logic gaps. But terrific special effects which are very gory go a long way. Plus there's clever weapons.
Brian Austin Green is awesome as the heavy.

Rating: In the middle (but not shabby for a sequel)





Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.seankimmel.com.

American Horror Story, Season 1 (2011)

Starring: Connie Britton, Dylan McDermit, Jessica Lange


Premise:
To try and save their marriage a couple from Boston moves their family to an old mansion in L.A. that holds a number of secrets and a deadly past.

My Take:
Yeah, there's problems with the show. The plot holes, way too many ghosts with history in this house, and the editing can make each episode a bit disorienting. But for me, it didn't matter as it added to the craziness of the show. Each episode builds a little bit more. And the cast is fantastic.
The season finale floored me. Not what I expected. Then a few days later I read the next season will be an all new cast and location.

Favorite Episode:
My initial reaction was "Birth" because so much shit is finally revealed. But I think the two part Halloween episodes, titled appropriately "Halloween part 1 and part 2", were my favorite.

Rating: So Good





Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.seankimmel.com.

Happy New Year: A Message

I hope all of you have a fine year.

I been writing quick reviews of the movies, TV shows, books, and comics which cross my path for a few years now. This year I decided to start on blog with only the reviews in them instead of putting these on my normal site. I also set a goal of putting out one post a day for the rest of 2011.

Goal accomplished. I realized however that I cannot keep up this pace for 2012. There simply is too much going on with my real job and in my personal life. There is not enough time in the day. So I am going back to more relaxed schedule. Which is whenever I watch or read something in the genre, then I will write a review. More than likely it will still be anywhere from ten to twenty posts per month.

Thanks for following. If you like Fringes of Horror please spread the word.

And if you're a director or writer and have a movie or book you would like reviewed, just contact me. I will watch or read and give a far more detailed review of the product.




Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.seankimmel.com.