Saint Nick (2010)

AKA: Sint / Saint



Director: Dick Maas

Premise:
Saint Nick returns every December 5 when the moon is full to kidnap and murder children.

My Take:
A fun movie with a unique take on the legend which Santa Claus is based. At time a bit absurd, especially the climax, but there's enough wit and gore to make it more than a enjoyable viewing.

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.

Texas Killing Fields (2011)

Starring: Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Sam Worthington, Chloë Grace Moretz, Jessica Chastain
Director: Ami Canaan Mann

Premise:
Two small town Texas detectives investigate the murders of several teen girls.

My Take:
A police procedural drama with enough weirdness to make horror fans happy. The type of movie where damn near every character is a suspect and the viewer is always being misdirected.
A great cast with a solid script make this a movie one shouldn't miss.

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.

Intruder (1989)

Starring: Dan Hicks, Sam Raimi, Ted Raimi
Director: Scott Spiegel


Premise:
A local grocery store staff must work overnight to get ready for the sale of the store. In the process, they are harassed by a killer.

My Take:
The movie surpassed my expectations, which weren't very high. Lots of gore, some sweet camera shots, and some comic relief make up for the movie short comings.
Go for the new director's cut version which is supposedly lots gorier.

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.

Phase 7 (2011)

AKA: Fase 7


Director: Nicolás Goldbart

Premise:
An apartment building is quarantined during an outbreak. Several days pass and a man tries to protect his pregnant wife from one of the tenants who starts killing the others off.

My Take:
I enjoyed the flick. It blends the perfect amount of comedy, splatter, and drama in a believable situation. The characters are fantastic.

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 Oregonian (2012)

Starring: Lindsay Pulsipher
Director: Calvin Reeder

Premise:
A gets in a car wreck and wanders around for help.

My Take:
One word: boring. The first twenty minutes is nothing but a bloody girl walking through the woods screaming for help complete with an annoying audio overlay. Then comes several weird characters in snippets. Then it's over.
It comes off trying to be like a David Lynch movie and fails miserably. This might have been better as a forty minute long experimental film instead of a feature.

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.

Exhibit A (2007)

Starring: Bradley Cole,
Director: Dom Rotheroe


Premise:
Judith captures her family's trouble through her video camera which ends up in a horrific outcome.

My Take:
I enjoyed the slow breakdown of a normal, caring father under every day pressures of life. It's the kind of scenario which could happen which makes it all the more frightening. But quite often I found myself not really caring about the family.
Overall, it's worth watching movie.

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.

Contagion (2011)

Starring: Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Lawrence Fishburne, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Marion Cotillard
Director: Steven Soderbergh

Premise:
An unknown virus sweeps its way across the globe infecting millions as doctors try to find a cure and government official try to keep order and normal people attempt to hold their lives together.

My Take:
What makes this movie so damn frightening is the scenario is 100% plausible.
It has a star studded cast, a top notch director, and a solid script. It's very interesting watching the different react to the spread of the virus, the containment, and handling a cure. Everything clicked for me.
You'll never want to shake hands with another person again.

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.

Wrecked (2010)

Starring: Adrien Brody
Director: Michael Greenspan

Premise:
A man awakens in a wrecked car at the bottom of a ravine. He battles the elements of the secluded location and attempts to remember how he ended up there.

My Take:
In order to pull this type of movie off, basically a one person movie for 90 minutes, you need either a great character and an engaging actor. While Brody certainly has the acting chops, the character falls short.
Most of the movie is spent trying to figure out if he's hallucinating or actually trying to pull himself from the wreckage. Then suddenly at the end of the movie, he remembers everything.
It's not a horrible movie but one that will easily be forgotten.

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.

Julia's Eyes (2010)

AKA: Los Ojos de Julia


Director: Guillem Morales

Premise: Twin sisters suffer from an degenerative eye disease which causes blindness. One of the sisters dies a mysterious death. The other believes she was murdered and sets out to investigate while her sight deteriorates.

My Take:
The film has a nice premise. But it moves slowly, a tad too slowly in this case. About fifteen minutes could have easily been trimmed and helped the pace. And the mystery turns a more into a stalker situation. Still the movie is worth a watch.

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.

Tresspassers (2006)

Starring: Michelle Borth, Joleigh Fioravanti
Director: Ian McCrudden


Premise:
A group of friends head to a secluded beach in Mexico. The locals tell them the beach is cursed by the followers of religious fanatic called "El Gringo" who now cannibals.

My Take:
A silly story all around and quite boring.

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.

Fright Night (2011)

Starring: Colin Farrell, Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, David Tennant
Director: Craig Gillespie

Premise:
A man moves in next door to a single mother and her son. As disappearances in the town pile up the son starts to suspect the neighbor is a vampire.

My Take:
First, the movie comes no where near the greatness of the original. Not in any way.
Second, if you don't compare it the original and judge it on its own merit then the movie is adequate.
I enjoyed the some of the updates the movie had such as the Vegas locale, the suburbia lookalike America, and more explanation of the vampire origins. But missing are the general creepiness and character build.

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 House (2007)

AKA: Baan Pii Sing


Director: Monthon Arayangkoon

Premise:
A reporter investigates a murder in house. Then discovers three other murders the same number of years apart occurred at the same location. The closer she gets to the truth, the closer she gets to becoming the next victim.

My Take:
Follows the formula of many Thai horror flicks. Ghosts and a mystery and a big swerve towards the end. The formula works for me, well most of the time, and this movie is no exception. Too bad some other things in the plot drag the story down.

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.

Burke and Hare (2011)

Starring: Simon Pegg, Andy Serkis, Isla Fischer
Director: John Landis


Premise:
Two men take to murder in order to sell the bodies for dissection to a prestigious doctor at the prestigious Edinburgh medical school.
Takes place in the mid 1800's and based on a true story.

My Take:
The only thing really horrific is the way the characters make their money. The cast is amazing and play it perfectly with the comedy. And there is lots of it.
A nice comeback for director John Landis with a twisted take on historical events.

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.

Emanuelle & the Last Cannibals (1977)

Starring: Lara Gemser
Director: Joe D'Amato


Premise:
Emanuelle gets an assignment to write an article about a long lost tribe in the Amazon with cannibal tendencies.

My Take:
I should have known better. I had hoped for more of the Italian style cannibal movies of the time period. I received very little of.
There was ample amounts of nudity from the lovely Lara Gemser and others (as in all the Emanuelle movies) in ridiculous scenes that run way too long.
Really the movie is just boring.

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.

The Caller (2011)

Starring: Stephen Moyer, Luiz Guzman, Rachelle Lefevre
Director: Matthew Parkhill


Premise:
A woman has split up from her abusive husband and moves into an apartment. Soon she begins to get phone calls from a woman looking for her unfaithful. The woman is from the past and the her actions start effecting the present.

My Take:
An interesting concept which has some general tension. It starts to loose a bit of the tension when the whole "butterfly effect" scenarios comes into being. A good cast as well.
Still, it's worth a viewing.

Rating: In the middle (with upside)




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.

Grave Encounters (2011)

Starring: Sean Rogerson, Juan Riedinger, Ashleigh Gryzko
Director: The Vicious Brothers


Premise:
A group of paranormal investigators go to a run down insane asylum to film an episode for their TV show. While there, the group finds far more activity then expected. And not friendly kind either.

My Take:
Another "lost footage" movie, which I tend to be a fan. The movie is quite good. It has a fine cast and good scares which builds suspense to a bizarre and crazy outcome.
Give this one a try.

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.

Sanctuary, Season 4 (2011)

Starring: Amanda Tapping, Ryan Robbins, Robin Dunne, Christopher Heyerdahl


Synopsis:
This season has Hollow Earth getting destroyed. The abnormals rise to the surface to escape and find the humans aren't ready for them. A battle breaks out between the two with The Sanctuary members trying to keep the peace and come up with a solution for all.

My Take:
The entire season had a strong focus and sense of direction. And a story better than last season, though the two are connected.

I feel like this series has come to an end. I'm not sure if SyFy has renewed it or not. While I found the season enjoyable the overall premise really doesn't have anywhere left to go.

Favorite Episode: "Sanctuary for None, part I and II"
The two part season ending episodes wrapped the story up nicely and tied up many the loose ends concerning the abnormal uprising, the US government, and the Sanctuary.

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.

Detour (2009)

AKA: Snarveien


Director: Severin Eskeland


Premise:
A couple are forced to take a detour through the forest on their way home to Norway. A series of too coincidental things occur and soon the couple discover they are part of a snuff movie being broadcast to the internet.

My Take:
A decent plot and good acting are the strength of the movie. It doesn't attempt to reinvent things but does a solid job at telling this all too familiar tale.

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.

Hostel III (2011)

Starring: Kip Pardue, John Hensley, Sarah Habel
Director: Scott Spiegel


Premise:
A group of friends head to Vegas for a Bachelor party weekend. They end up in the wrong club and one gets kidnapped. The rest of the group attempts to find him and end up as part of the a game where their lives are the bet.

My Take:
Nothing really stood out in this sequel except one or two kills (and those have been seen before).
Unless your a fan of the franchise, then you probably wont be interested.

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.

SARS Wars: Bangkok Zombie Crisis (2004)

Director: Taweewat Wantha


Premise:
The SARS virus mutates and causing the infected to turn into zombies. The beginning of the outbreak is contained in a Bangkok apartment building where a gang kidnapped a girl who they are holding for ransom.

My Take:
Some over the top comedy, decent special effects, and shear bizarreness make this a mildly entertaining movie.

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.

Guard from the Underground (1992)

Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa


Premise:
Workers at an office building start getting murdered.

My Take:
This early Kurosawa has all the director trademarks - specially a slow build and tension. There's a little more to the premise but going more in depth will spoil the mystery.

If you like the director's other films or a fan of suspenseful thrillers with minimum gore or love 80's slasher movies then please give this flick a viewing.

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.