Cheap Thrills (2014)

Starring: Pat Healy, Ethan Embry, David Koechner, Sara Paxton, Amanda Fuller
Director: E.L. Katz


Premise:
A man who is behind on his rent, just fired from his job, and not sure how he will support his family runs into an old friend at a bar. The two catch up and are interrupted by a couple who start daring them to do things for cash. As the night goes on and the stakes get higher, the two friends are tested on just how far they will go for cash.

My Take:
A great cast handles what appears to be a one note premise, but is actually multi-layered, with ease. And each plays the role perfectly knowing when hit the laughs, drama, and terror. The tight direction only helps to pull the viewer into this crazy world.

Rating: So Good

Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
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Monsieur Hire (1989)

Director: Patrice Lacounte


Premise:
A woman is murdered and the police's main suspect is a strange man the neighborhood doesn't seem to like.

My Take:
A quirky tale which dances around horror mainly due to the main character's voyeuristic nature and the grisly murder of a young woman. The main character displays a sympathetic and creepy nature.
The movie is a nicely acted piece with beautiful camera work. 

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.

Look (2007)

Starring: Giuseppe Andrews, Rhys Coiro, Jamie McShane, Chris Williams, Ben Weber,
Director: Adam Rifkin

Premise:
The lives of several individuals are pieced together through surveillance footage.

My Take:
This is the movie which spawned the short lived TV program on Showtime.
We view the tragedies and high points in the lives of several loosely connected individuals including a teacher who succumbs to a moment of weakness with a student and faces the dire outcome, a insurance worker who is constantly picked on who is hiding is own secret, a lawyer who has a wonderful family hiding his homosexual affair, a department store manager who is promiscuity with many of his female employees, a late night worker at a gas station with dreams of becoming a rock star, and two men who kill a police offer then take off on a crime spree.
As I said in my review of the TV show, it's scary how much of our lives are taped and we have no idea or think nothing of it. At times it can be good and other times its an invasion of privacy. The movie holds it together with its rather captivating human tales.

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.

Look, Season 1 (2010)

Starring: Ali Colbrin, Sharon Hinnendael, Giuseppe Andrews, Robert Curtis Brown, Claudia Christian
Director: Adam Rifken

Synopsis:
The lives of several L.A. residents intertwine through several security and surveillance cameras.

My Take:
An interesting take on "The Big Brother" motiff as we are always being recorded. The frightening part is how little people really are watching and the crimes that are still committed under these cameras.

Favorite Episode:
None stood out over the 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.