Movie Review: Growth (2010)

Let me start this review with a small question.

Do scientists really have these fancy islands somewhere in the world where they can all get together and plan tomorrow’s world?

To be honest, I have seen enough films with instances of this to know that it must be true (films say so). Anyway, Growth is another example of why I write this blog. Not to discover the best horror films but those which don’t cost an arm and leg to make, don’t boast the biggest Hollywood stars and above all else show real promise.

It seems that the only thing Hollywood can put out in this genre is sub-standard remakes and rubbish exorcist rip-offs (for the record, the original was rubbish too) but within the world of low budget independent horror, we find a great deal of “promise” and every now and then we do find those little gems which makes it all worthwhile.

To be perfectly honest, Growth is not without its charm but sadly it lacks a little sparkle. The story starts in 1989, the residents of Cuttyhunk island are experimenting with parasites in an attempt to help speed the evolution if humans along. They hope to create healthier, stronger and smarter humans. Unfortunately something goes wrong and most of the islanders are killed. One of the survivors was Jamie, a young girl who was sent to safety after the death of her mother.

Twenty years later and Jamie is returning to the Island in order to sell of the land she has inherited. Little does she know that something even worse is about to be unleashed upon this small island!

As far as the films storyline goes, it pretty much puts a tiny twist on the alien parasite movies such as Slither and The Faculty. It is not terribly original but as a whole, it has its moments. For the most part, the cast are rather good. Mircea Monroe plays the aforementioned Jamie. Christopher Shand plays her step brother and unfortunate host, Justin. While Brian Krause, Nora Kirkpatrick and Richard Riehle round off the cast.

While Growth does have its moments and a few glimmers of hope, the whole feel of the film is rather poor. Zero characterisation besides the lead and a very slow pace with absolutely no suspense let the whole thing down. A word of note must be made regarding its special effects, which were excellent when you consider that the whole film had a reported budget of just $300,000. A very modest sum of money to make something that if nothing else, looks good!

Taking into account all of its drawback and its positive points, Growth doesn’t quite reach the heights that maybe it should have done. If only someone had believed in it a little bit more and pushed some more coiffeurs into the purse. Unfortunately, they didn’t but never mind, what we have is an acceptable little thriller. If you want a creepy or gory horror film, stay away but if you can find it for £1 (Like me) then I would say give it a watch, you might like it.

Released: 2010

My Rating: 4

Movie Review: The Ruins (2008)

As much as I should really criticize this film, I find myself on the fence. Despite being full of tired clichés and possessing a storyline which essentially is a combination of two other films, The Ruins was still quite enjoyable. The two films I refer to are The Beach and The Descent, to anyone who has seen these two contrasting films, you will immediately connect the dots upon watching this film.

The Ruins starts off on the slow side, picks up in the middle and sadly falls away towards its conclusion which starts to resemble a mediocre creature feature. A group of friends, Jeff, Amy, Eric and Stacy are vacationing in Mexico when they are joined by a mysterious stranger, Mathias. Jonathan Tucker, Shawn Ashmore, Jena Malone and Laura Ramsey play the group of friends and Joe Anderson plays the mysterious stranger. Mathias tells the group about an unearthed, previously lost Mayan pyramid which must be seen. They all set off in search of the rather poorly hidden “lost” pyramid but on arrival they run into a couple of armed locals and things turn bad fast!

Initially, drugs must be the cause for the concern as the pyramid is covered in what appears to be marijuana plants although none of the characters seem to make that connection but looks can be deceiving and some unnerving horticultural delights turn this film into something fairly different.

The cast cope rather well with the lacklustre script which does very little to bolster the below par “copycat” storyline. Stand-out performances from Tucker and Ramsey whose characters complement one another perfectly as Jeff (Tucker) is going to med school to become a Doctor and Stacy (Ramsey) decides to perform a little D.I.Y surgery in one of the best visual scene’s in the film. Shawn Ashmore who is perhaps best known for playing Bobby “Iceman” Drake in the X-Men films does a good enough job at playing a role totally different to that of Iceman but he fails to really make a name for himself with this one.

Needless to say, The Ruins meanders through its chewing gum storyline with very little to worry about. Not enough empathy is built up for the characters who, as I have said try their hardest to make this film everything it could have been if released ten years earlier. A very good production value and some visually impressive shots keep you watching but that’s where it ends I’m afraid.

Like I said in the beginning, anyone who has seen both The Beach and The Descent will probably not be as impressed but through its unoriginality, some glimmers of hope can be seen and this is always enough for me to justify watching.

Released: 2008

My Rating: 5

Movie Review: The Killing Room (2009)

What happens when you can’t be bothered to walk upstairs and get another DVD from the office? You end up flicking through the movie channels. Fortunately for me, The Horror Channel is free with the full Sky package. If you like lesser known horror films then you can often find something enjoyable on there.

Well anyway, by chance I tuned in just as The Killing Room was starting. A quick check on IMDB revealed the cast list and I was sold. Peter Stormare, Clea DuVall and Nick Cannon were enough to convince me to watch.

The Killing Room follows a group of people who are participating in what they think is a Psychological study, it soon becomes apparent that they are involved in something far more sinister. Peter Stormare plays, as he invariably does, a shady foreigner (Not xenophobic, just an observation) Nick Cannon plays a quiet participant as does Clea DuVall. The remaining test subjects are played by Academy Award winner, Timothy Hutton and Shea Whigham. The whole thing is rounded off with the new recruit to Stormare's secretive agency, Chloë Sevigny who is being rigorously put through her paces in a job interview to top them all!

The Killing Room's plot focuses on a secret CIA research facility which looks to be continuing the work from the 1950's and 60's known as Project MKULTRA. This projects' goal in reality were ultimately unclear but the film can take any approach it wants. On the one hand you have a valid study to try and use mind control (as valid as that can be?) but on the other, you have various techniques involving torture. However you look at it, it’s no wonder why there was so much fuss surrounding the original studies in the 50’ & 60’s. I will say if you like conspiracy theories, have a little read. It's quite interesting.

The film's dialogue leaves a lot to be desired but the very able cast more than makes up for that short coming. Some very convincing performances, most notably from Hutton who plays the "been there done that" character and despite the lack of personal involvement, his character, Crawford may be the one the audience connects with the most. Cannon plays Paul Brodie, a seemingly quiet kid who is looking for a bit of fast cash. His character grows throughout the film and ultimately becomes one of the main protagonists. All in all I think the whole cast gives a good performance and one which you can feel sympathy for. Let’s face it, if you don’t feel empathy for the characters then someone isn’t trying hard enough! The customary OTT performance from the brilliant Stormare finishes everything off nicely.

Despite not really being a horror film, The Killing room does have its shock moments and it is one that I would have bought if I had seen in the shops. Having done the rounds at Sundance and then (I believe) released straight to DVD it didn’t receive the kind of publicity that maybe the cast should have demanded. This was very unfortunate as I really enjoyed it and would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who enjoys atmospheric thrillers.

Released: 2009

My Rating: 6.5