The Jeffrey Dahmer Files (2012, Chris James Thompson)

Not a bad documentary here, considering I've pretty much exhausted the Jeffrey Dahmer informational breadth at this point. Having seen every movie and documentary on the Milwaukee killer, and read my share literature, I think I've learned it all, for the most part. Still, "The Jeffrey Dahmer Files" isn't a total wash, despite it's flaws.

You're basically getting the Dahmer story through first-hand accounts with the detective who got the initial confession, the forensic guy and a crack head neighbor who goes over some of her casual interactions with him around the apartment complex...

Again, I wasn't getting a whole lot that I didn't already know about the Dahmer case, but the interviews were okay. That said, it seemed like they were a little "light" on the more 'pertinent' material so a lot of the doc is padded out with some pretty pointless dramatizations of Dahmer's day-to-day life. No murders are reenacted - the closest being Jeff dragging a body in a suitcase out of a hotel and into a cab. The rest of this type of stuff is just bland filler, showing Dahmer making a beer run and checking out a gay pride parade. I just didn't see the point in any of this so, in turn, I firmly believe that "The Jeffrey Dahmer Files" would've made for a much better short doc - consisting of, maybe, 15 minutes worth of the interview material.

So, as I said, you're not getting a whole lot of new and interesting facts on the Dahmer case, but I kind of enjoyed hearing from the retired detective.

Gorepump's Sewer of Short Horror #4

 

It's been almost a year, but the Sewer of Short Horror is BACK, bitches! Eight short films (as opposed to the usual seven - I added a bonus), eight mini-reviews and nothing exceeding 15 minutes in length. Short and SA-WEET. Some good ones here. Some typical shit. Some old. Some new. And a few that were directed by Hollywood A-listers. So, skim through 'em and look for the good ones or whatever tickles your fancy.

The Easter Bunny is Eating My Candy (2013)

A little girl goes into her parents' room at night and tells her sleeping mother that the Easter bunny is eating her candy. Mother is sleepy and tells her to go back to bed. On her way back, she sees the sinister rabbit still eating candy at the end of the hall. And it turns out "candy" is the name of her little dog, based on the tags seen in the final shot...

Not much going on in these few minutes in which this short lasts. I feel it would've been a little better if the Easter bunny didn't just look like a guy in a costume, since they give him a demonic voice and some kind of weird, evil sounding language. Seeing his hair sticking out the back of the mask kinda killed the creepiness.

Directed by: Drew Daywalt, David Schneider
Runtime: 2 minutes


Maniac (2011)

Two serial killers run around with a camera crew following them and a goal to kill 8 people, each.

For me, personally, nothing about that premise sounds good. Faux snuff/mockumentaries are something I'm fed up with at this point, but "Maniac" is actually a pretty damn good short film, directed by Shia LaBeouf of all people. In terms of the premise, it's the same thing as "Man Bites Dog" (French language, B & W mock-doc about a murderer), but since "Maniac" is only 10 minutes long and is shot very well and has some well executed kills - such as a shotgun blast to the gut and a molotov cocktail through the open car window of two love-birds - I gotta say, I enjoyed it. Plus, it doesn't feel like a fake documentary, give or take a few moments when the crew is addressed. Any longer than it's runtime and I could've seen this flick getting tiresome, however. People driven to make movies like this should stick with short-film mode. That's the only way to make 'em work, as far as I'm concerned.

Directed by: Shia LaBeouf
Runtime: 10 minutes

Electrocuting an Elephant (1903)

This isn't a very popular one from the 'golden age' of cinema and I can see why.

What you have here is a minute long demonstration - conducted by Thomas Edison - to showcase some of his discoveries in action. So they took an elephant named Topsy that had killed some abusive shitbag trainers (one of which burned the end of her trunk with a cigar). Since killer elephants are not granted a fair trial in our society, Topsy had to be killed. Edison stepped in and figured they'd kill 2 birds with one stone and kill the problem elephant while showing the dangers of alternating current. The result was "Electrocuting an Elephant". They bring Topsy out with wires all over her face and body, smoke rises from her feet before she goes stiff and slumps to the ground.

It's just a very historic and disturbing moment from 100+ years ago captured on film.

Directed by: Thomas A. Edison (?)
Runtime: 1 minute


The House That Dripped Blood on Alex (2010)

This is a pretty funny short starring the guy from "The Room". He plays a guy who moves into a ghetto shithole house that inexplicably drips blood on him no matter where he is.

Unlike "The Room", this is an intentional comedy that is just playing off the guy's terrible acting and quirky on-screen presence. So in that way, I think the cult fan base for "The Room" probably won't get into this, but I found it moderately amusing. The "duck feather" dialog made me chuckle.

Directed by: Brock LaBorde, Jared Richard
Runtime: 13 minutes


I Killed My Lesbian Wife, Hung Her From a Meathook and Now I Have a Three Picture Deal with Disney (1993)

Well, this was some boring shit. Some lame Hollywood satire that Ben Affleck directed years ago. It's just about a film director who has his wife suspended from the ceiling by a meathook - although not "Texas Chainsaw"-style, but more of just hooking the rope that's tying her wrists together. He rambles at her for a bit while it keeps cutting awkwardly to a young actress who is gearing up to audition for his latest movie. The second half of this is the audition... Which goes nowhere...

This thing is just pointless and unfunny. Even Affleck has denounced this film as being shitty and has said that he regrets ever making it. I agree with him. It's a cool title, though.

Directed by: Ben Affleck
Runtime: 15 minutes

Game (2013)

This one was alright. I never knew what a 'weremaid' was prior to seeing this 8 and a half minute little movie. It kicks off with a bound and gagged woman running through the woods from a trio of redneck nutjobs. I won't spoil the big 'payoff', but it doesn't turn out to be your average hillbilly psychopath flick.

Pretty good makeup FX and well shot. If ya come across it, give it a look.

Directed by: Josh Macdonald
Runtime: 8 minutes

Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash (2011)

This is one of the douchiest things I've ever seen. Comic books are fine, but trying to set up a 3-way brawl with a few of the most iconic horror characters of all time in under 15-minutes isn't going to work. Especially if you have little (to no) talent when it comes to film-making.

Some chick is having Freddy dreams. Then she's on a road trip with a couple of girl friends whose car breaks down. Jason shows up and kills one of this dumb bitches while the other two find a scroll in some kind of boneyard that brings Ash from the "Evil Dead" films through a portal which leads to a showdown between the three of them.

First, Freddy's face is a Halloween mask. It's cheap-ass rubber and the mouth doesn't even move. The guy who plays Ash does a Bruce Campbell impression that might slightly impress me at a party, but it's truly nauseating in this capacity. The fight choreography at the end is also a complete joke and makes for one of the weakest fights in film history. Perhaps I'm just a 'stick in the mud', but I hate these horror fan films. 

Directed by: Trent Duncan
Runtime: 14 minutes


Chainsaw Scumfuck (1988)

I've dug all the other early short stuff of Alex Chandon I have seen, but "Chainsaw Scumfuck" is definitely the worst. Ya gotta give it a pass, though, considering it was his first foray into indie-splatter film-making.

The 'plot' is as basic as you can get: three buddies are hanging out, chit-chatting, when a chainsaw wielding, hunchback psychopath barges in and annihilates them all.

The gore FX are cheezy as hell, of course. The camera is out of focus 99% of the time while the jerky movements make you dizzy. Also, the killer's pillow-stuffed hunchback was fucking hilariously bad! Check this out for a laugh and then go check out Chandon's later and "greater" stuff, like "Bad Karma" and "Drillbit".

Directed by: Alex Chandon
Runtime: 7 minutes

 

Dream Home (2010, Pang Ho-Cheung)

"Dream Home" is a considerably violent and gory Hong Kong slasher that also contains a pretty decent story pertaining the difficulties surrounding the housing market in HK. It's somewhat of a satirical take on economical struggles that occasionally shifts into a full-on gorefest that definitely secures this movie within the category of ultra-badassedness.

A young HK woman is working two part-time jobs (as well as offering a businessman the occasional suck-n-fuck for some monetary favors) with hopes of being able to move into a flat overlooking the Victoria Harbour. It's something she's been after since her problematic childhood in which her neighborhood was marauded by sleazy land developers who ruthlessly chased people from their homes - sometimes by shoving water snakes under their doors. She even sacrifices her sickly, burdensome father just to get some extra scratch...

The back story is done via flashbacks - jumping from the 90s to the early 2000s to present day which is where the fun takes place. Because her apartment deal fell through, she goes fucking berserk and starts slaughtering the various residents in the building. This includes vicious beatings, castration, disemboweling, as well as the brutal slaying of a pregnant woman.

The contrast between these uncompromising scenes and the more reserved tone of the 'story' portion of the film makes "Dream Home" a pretty 'offbeat' and original flick, in my eyes. I guess some people were a bit confused by this when it first hit, but personally, I found it kinda refreshing to see a film with a good story AND incredibly harsh kills working so well together. I highly recommend "Dream Home". It won't disappoint a strong gore hankering you may have.

Limp. (2013, Shaun Ryan)

"Limp." is definitely one of the best 'necro-art' flicks since Jörg Buttgereit's "Nekromantik". It's a beautifully shot piece of esoteric and morbid Irish cinema.

An extremely lonely man keeps the corpse of a young woman in his home for some much desired companionship. His pathetic home-life mainly consists of propping her up at the table during dinner, watching TV with her and, of course, having sex with her. His lamentable interaction with those in the outside world remains solely based in routine ass-kickings from an obnoxious prick and his bitch girlfriend who he tends to run into pretty frequently. As time goes on, he starts becoming regretful of his deceased gal pal and people begin inquiring about the girl's whereabouts which prompts him to arrange for her disposal...

While "Limp." doesn't do much new, plot wise, since it's very straightfoward, it's strengths lie in it's tactful and strikingly ambivalent reconnaissance into the main character's humiliatingly lonely existence. The style of the film clearly reflects his deteriorated mental state through slow, quiet shots often broken up by random flashes of tumult. It's never really overdone, however, so the film maintains a few nice 'flow', throughout.

I'd absolutely recommend "Limp.". Obviously, it's not for everyone, so if you're either bothered by necrophilia or happen to be looking for tons of fucked up violence and gore, you better steer clear. Personally, this is MY kinda film - artful, disturbing, well shot, while being very effective and non-pretentious in it's 'arthouse' approach. Check it out.
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The Prowler (1981, Joseph Zito)

I hadn't seen "The Prowler" in probably close to 10 years so the other night I decided to revisit it out of drunk boredom. Didn't take long for me to recollect that it's really just a weak and forgettable early slasher outing.

While serving in WWII, a soldier gets a "dear John letter" from his backstabbing bitch girlfriend who ends up going to the big graduation dance with her new weasley male companion. Our angry war hero shows up and brutally does away with the love-birds, making for a 35-year old cold case as we cut to present time (or the early 80s). The town is finally bringing the dance back and the scorned G.I. returns, armed with a bayonet, a sawed-off shotgun and a pitchfork, and is intent on ruining a magical evening...

The real 'saving grace' of this one is obviously Tom Savini's naturally badass effects work. Aside from that, "The Prowler" really has nothing else going for it. Standard slasher set-ups and characters, slow, lousy pacing, so-so killer design, very little suspense and no T n' A to speak of. Like I said - only worth a look for a few notable kill scenes - namely, a bayonet through the top of the skull and out the bottom of the chin, which I rather enjoyed for it's moderate originality. Otherwise, it's a pretty damn boring flick.

Stitches (2012, Conor McMahon)

I really wasn't expecting anything from "Stitches", but to my surprise, it actually turned out to be an immensely entertaining slasher joint out of Ireland.

While putting on a half-assed show for a bunch of misbehaving brats at a birthday party, Stitches the Clown has an unfortunate mishap that results in his bloody accidental demise. Cut to six years later, those same kids are in high school and the birthday boy from the ill-fated party is still haunted by the death of Stitches, especially after having stumbled across a strange clown ritual going on in the cemetery following Stitches' funeral. While the teenage friends are throwing a big drunken house bash, Stitches rises from his grave for revenge...

As far as slasher-comedies go, I rarely see any true effort put into them - especially these days. "Stitches" is actually a pretty refreshing entry in the genre - being clearly of modest budget, yet still managing to come across as a professional looking flick with an unusually likeable cast of characters, a reasonably memorable villain and a few instances where the humor actually worked. There's also a few decent and relatively gory deaths, cleverly themed after traditional clown tricks (one guy gets his head inflated like a balloon and popped). The one thing I feel like it could've done without, however, was the clown cult/painted egg thing that I felt didn't quite work and takes ya out of it a little toward the end. Otherwise, this one is definitely a fun way to blow an hour-and-a-half.

Rubber (2010, Quentin Dupieux)

Finally checked out "Rubber" and, upon mulling it over for about 2 days now, I still have no fucking idea what to make of it. From what I've heard, director Quentin Dupieux has turned out a few of these types of absurdist dark comedies as well as some offbeat music videos. "Rubber" is all I've seen so far and I don't really know what to take away from it...

The film mostly centers around a car tire that emerges from the desert sand and embarks on an unknown journey. Turns out, the phantom tire not only lives, but also has a mind that can make small animals and people's heads explode. It follows some chick in a convertible to a motel where it blows up the head of the cleaning lady, thus bringing in the police department, headed by a sheriff who believes that what they are dealing with is, in fact, NOT real life. There's also a bunch of spectators forced to watch the tire's skull-popping exploits from the top of a cliff with binoculars before they're eventually poisoned for no reason in particular.

Right off the bat, the movie explains to the viewer that all movies pretty much contain an inevasible element of "no reason", in one way or another, which is clearly the custom in which they chose to embrace with "Rubber". To the utmost. I guess I really just couldn't get 'into' it. It's well shot and goes for a completely unique concept, I'd say, but the humor and over-the-top quirkiness just kinda missed it's mark for me. I know some people dug it, so to each his own.

Official Friday the 13th Parody (2010, Gary Orona)

So yeah, the "Friday the 13" porn parody... Excuse me, the "official" F13 porn parody. I wouldn't want to lump this one in with all the imposters floating around out there. It's nothing more than exactly what you'd expect...

A group of porn actors are renovating the Crystal Lake Nudist Camp. They have their sex scenes and then are killed off by a big-dicked Jason Voorhees, shooting flesh eating jizz.

Frankly, I think XXX parodies typically suck and in the case of the F13 porno, the 'parody' element is pretty much nonexistent. Now, I realize they have to maintain a certain degree of pornographic integrity and I'm 100% onboard with that. However, if you establish that Jason's mutant donger spews toxic, flesh eating moisture missiles, then at least back it up with some kind of visual payoff. Throw some bloody science class skeletons in there or something. Hell, I don't expect Rick Baker-esque FX, but they literally just show people getting sprayed with killer jizz and that's it.

The fuck scenes were all fairly decent - the best being the first, due to all the ass play and the chick's dirty talk. You got your usual 'heavy-hitters' of the industry, such as Courtney Cummz, Asa Akira, Kagney Linn Karter and Tabitha Stevens pops up for a minute. It's all standard porn sex so those of you with freako kinks shouldn't get excited.

Overall, it's a fine skin-flick, but doesn't work as a porno parody. This kinda thing only really "works" when having known characters fuck each other, i.e "Seinfeld", "The Simpsons", whatever. If anything, they should've had Jason fuck some of 'em with his giant, killer piece. I'd definitely be 'singing a different tune' right now.

See the Sea (1997, François Ozon)

This 52-minute French film starts with the mother of a 10-month old baby who she is caring for alone while hubby is away on business. One day, a female backpacker comes a'knocking, asking permission to pitch her tent in the yard due to the nearest campsite being full. The mother allows this and, eventually, out of loneliness, begins pursuing some kind of chummy exchange with the stranger. While this is going on, mommy happens to stumble upon a fag orgy in the woods and has her box eaten by a kindly gentleman and the lady drifter seemingly has some sinister intentions brewing...

"See the Sea" has a nice build-up that leads to a conclusion I much anticipated. However, it's effective and well done. Having the mother being rather inattentive and careless with her infant made for an almost justifiable ending, I'd say, albeit, quite predictable. Still giving this one a moderate recommendation as it plays out pretty well as a reasonably quick watch.

Satan's Little Helper (2004, Jeff Lieberman)

"Satan's Little Helper" is an entertaining low-budget slasher. Not an extraordinary flick, by any means, but sustained my amusement for 90 minutes.

A little boy - obsessed with a Satan-themed video game - comes across a serial killer in a devil mask on Halloween. The kid thinks the silent murderer is just fashioning some realistically festive decorations, while he's actually killing all of the neighbors. He offers to assist his 'master' in his sadistic deeds - even proposing they target his sister's new boyfriend...

So yeah, it's a decent enough horror-comedy from Jeff Lieberman, of "Blue Sunshine" and "Squirm" fame. Little bit of gore and very brief T n' A. Of course, had it gone a little heavier with those elements, my 'grade' would be considerably higher. As is, "Satan's Little Helper" is an enjoyable enough Halloween slasher flick.

I Melt with You (2011, Mark Pellington)

"I Melt with You" is, without a doubt, the most depressing 'bromance' movie ever made. I promise I'll try to refrain from using that term again in this review...

Four old college buddies get together at a mansion on the California coast to cut loose and reminisce about old times. One of the guys is a doctor who arrives with a 'goodie bag' in tow, containing all of the necessities it takes to make for a killer reunion party, including coke, Special-K, Adderall, morphine, etc. As their drug and booze-fueled mirth kicks into high gear, their fun time begins to sequentially shift into despondency at the lachrymose realization that their lives haven't lead them down the paths they had hoped. This leads to one of their own taking his life after a wild night of drug-infused debauchery gets him to divulge some dirty laundry (during a threesome, of all times) involving his role in the tragic death of his sister. Turns out his suicide was linked to a sort of 'contract' they had all signed 25 years prior which stated that, after 25 years, if they were to forget exactly how it felt to be an exuberant, care-free youth, they would all die together. This agreement forces the remaining guys to face their own shortcomings in life, as well as the drug-awakened sense of failure and regret that is eating away at them as their fun vacation becomes just an excuse to numb themselves of all of life's crushing blows.

This is just a terrific film. The performances are all outstanding and harrowing and the psychedelic style gives you the feeling that you, yourself, are in somewhat of a drug-hazed stupor by the end. It's really a nightmarish take on the suffering of a mid-life crisis and the madcap struggle to recapture the euphoric freedom of youth. "I Melt with You" would be a fun one to loan your buddy who cracks up at infantile, 'dudebro' bullshit like "The Hangover" - as it's the complete anti-'bromance' party flick and will probably ruin his night. I can't really think of any complaints on this one. Really a solid and powerfully unpleasant film. Check it out.

Long Pigs (2007, Chris Power & Nathan Hymes)

The 'fake snuff' thing has completely run it's course, as far as I'm concerned. I was never really a huge fan and now it's just become even more boring to me. So why did I watch "Long Pigs"? Because a few people told me it had some notably decent practical gore effects and because I'm just a sucker for the "extreme" variety of cinema.

Two documentary film-makers follow a cannibalistic serial killer around as he kidnaps, kills, mutilates and cooks his victims. They also try to delve into his personal life involving his sickly mother, hockey buddy and job. There's also phony interviews with a radio host, detectives and crime experts, as well as the grieving father of a 9-year old girl whom the killer had abducted and consumed.

As for the effects, they were fine, but based on what I had heard I guess I was expecting a bit more. The most detailed scene of human slaughtering is shown in ultra-fast motion and is nothing all that 'shocking'. Overall, the gore was actually pretty tame in this flick. So, basically, "Long Pigs" is just a Canadian "Man Bites Dog" rip-off. The acting passable, I will say. Otherwise, "Long Pigs" is a pretty unremarkable 'mocumentary'.

You're Next (2011, Adam Wingard)

I remember seeing the trailer for this one before it hit and I never really felt the urge to see it, mainly because it just looked like a direct knock-off of "The Strangers". Unfortunately, "You're Next"'s release was delayed for about two years so it was a little late to the party, in terms of striking while the home-invasion iron was hot a few years back. Therefore, this flick gives off a strong "been there, done that" kinda vibe.

A group of rich kids and their significant others drive out to their parents country mansion for their anniversary. As they're having dinner, they're ambushed by a trio of masked assailants - armed with axes and a crossbow. From there, we get the usual home-invasion/survival slasher stylings you would expect...

"You're Next" isn't bad, though. It's very watchable and offers up a few decent kills, as well as a congruent mixture of black comedy and some more old-school horror elements. It's not nearly as 'disturbing' or memorable as films like "Inside" or "Kidnapped", of course, but, overall, I dug it quite a bit more than "The Strangers" or it's 2006 French predecessor, "Them".

The Green Elephant (1999, Svetlana Baskova)

I'm not really sure what to make of a movie like "The Green Elephant". I found it somewhat entertaining, while at the same time it was a rather tedious and boring mash-up of 'arthouse' and gore flick.

Two Russian soldiers are forced into a military prison cell together - which looks like a janitor's closet with a sewage leak. The one guy keeps babbling incessantly about fucking men and the time he was forced to eat his own feces. As the other guy gets more and more annoyed, his roomie becomes more mentally unhinged, going so far to shitting on a plate (as well as smearing it on himself) and trying to feed it to his cell mate while spouting rapid gibberish. This goes on for about the first 45-50 minutes before they're extracted from the room and basically forced to torture each other to death...

The interaction between the two guys is pretty funny at times, but just goes on for too long. By the end, it turns into a full fledged gore film with cannibalism, man-on-man buttfucking, self mutilation, disemboweling, etc. I'll admit I had no idea what the fuck was going on, but it was suitably nasty in the last 15-minutes or so. Still, there's nothing at all remarkable about "The Green Elephant" as it's pretty dull for the most part. Also, I couldn't figure out if it was suppose to be a 'fake snuff' style of film or not. It was shot like one, but the camera man is never addressed. Oh, well.

If you've seen stuff like "Psycho: The Snuff Reels" or the "August Underground" series, "The Green Elephant" is nothing new or all that 'shocking'.

Jailbait (2004, Brett C. Leonard)

As much as I enjoyed "Jailbait" for what it was - on a totally minimalist, indie-psychodrama basis - I did kinda feel like it was a little lacking, overall.

A 25-year old is sentenced to a 25 year prison stint due to a 'three strike' felony conviction for vandalism. His cell mate is a middle-age guy serving a life sentence for murdering his wife. Their confined relationship starts off friendly, but takes a bit of a dark turn when the lifer decides to make his newbie bunk-buddy his prison bitch...

That rundown makes "Jailbait" sound a lot more "raw" than the movie actually is, when in fact, it's more of a psychologically charged 'character study' of two prison inmates pretty much on opposite sides of the incarceration constraint. Young, fresh-faced kid and no-parole, lifetime convict with nothing more to lose forced into a tiny, claustrophobic cell together. It's a promising premise and it's execution here is not as 'brutal' as you would think. The movie consists, primarily, of their verbal interaction. The seasoned cell mate is starved for human interaction and wants the two to share the story of their all time worst sexual encounter. The new guy has a hard time engaging in this type of laid back of conversation, seeing as how he's looking at a 25 year stretch on top of now being his cell mate's new prison wife.

I enjoyed "Jailbait" for the most part. It's no "Shawshank", just a total slice-of-life with no real ending, whatsoever, which I'm still not sure if I completely liked. It's hard for me to express my trivial gripes exactly, considering what the film was going for, although I'd say I dug "Jailbait" for what it was. The performances are really stellar (while consisting of pretty much just three people, including the guy's mom), the dialog is entertaining and the tension is pretty gripping at times. I'd compare it to something along the lines of a Gus Van Sant film, as it remains consistently 'mellow', while keeping the tone pretty unsettling. Those who need lots of action should avoid "Jailbait". Lovers of a slow-burn kinda indie-flick might wanna give it a look.

The Snowtown Murders (2011, Justin Kurzel)

Based on Australia's worst serial killer, "The Snowtown Murders" - aka. The Bodies in Barrels Murders - is the story of John Bunting, a vicious and highly manipulative psychopath who preyed upon and murdered 11 young men around a Southern Australian suburb throughout the 90s. Bunting ended up marrying the mother of a teenager whom he convinced to assist him and his sleazy crew in exterminating those he deemed as gay, pedophiles or junkies. Many of Bunting's victims were found mutilated, usually with signs of rectal torture, and stuffed into barrels inside of an unused bank he had rented.

This film does a phenomenal job of portraying these events in a very dark and unsettling, yet highly character driven mien. All of the performances are tremendous and the desolate locale makes for a very bleak and tragic backdrop. The movie doesn't rely too heavily on all-out on screen violence, although the few scenes of torture and murder depicted are truly harsh and gritty, as well as it's rather brash depictions of pedophilia and incest. There's also some animal butchering on tap.

"The Snowtown Murders" definitely ranks high on my list of strongest serial killer biopics of all time. It's one of those films that will stick with you for a bit. Gotta say, though, it's not for everyone, but if you're cool with "rougher" types of cinema, "Snowtown" comes highly recommended.

Aftershock (2012, Nicolás López)

It seems these days Eli Roth is doing anything to stay afloat in the rough sea of relevancy. Being a one-trick-pony known for just a few directorial morsels of unabridged mediocrity, rapidly fading into the ether of nearly a decade long time period, he's decided to upgrade his onscreen presence from meer cameo annoyances to leading man status. So he produced and co-wrote a low budget disaster movie that spotlights his cringe-inducing acting "talents", as well as all of the irritating earmarks that comprise his lackluster style.

Some obnoxious douchebag friends are partying in Chile when an earthquake hits and a tsunami is said to be coming. So a bunch of people are crushed by debris and the group of friends have to navigate through a city consumed by chaos after the prison collapses, freeing a bunch of dangerous inmates.

At a certain point, the movie just becomes an awkwardly paced encounter with a bunch of escaped convicts. I just never really got the feeling that it was leading up to anything interesting or important. It all just seemed incredibly contrived and forced. Big earthquake, tsunami, savage inmate opportunists, dead babies. Just whatever it takes to get some semblance of a screenplay together - no matter how ridiculous it seems. And give us a good 35 minutes of partying before jumping ass-first into this arbitrary series of implausable events. Is that Disney Channel's Selena Gomez? Awesome cameo. Couldn't get the Biebs on set? Dammit, Roth! You almost had a MOVIE, here!

Needless to say, "Aftershock" blows. Shitty writing. Shitty twist ending. Shitty CGI effects. Just shit. The only enjoyable thing was Eli Roth is seen NOT talking about "Hostel" for once. You gotta see it to believe it.

El Infierno (2010, Luis Estrada)

"El Infierno" (aka. "Hell") is a pretty engaging cinematic exhibition into the world of the Mexican drug cartel. I'm sure many people have and will argue that this film falls short of the real cogent accuracy pertaining this incredibly admissible subject matter, which, considering a few preferential aspects, I can agree with. Perhaps this movie didn't showcase this activity in the most scrupulous of ways, but as a film I felt it contained a pretty solid story.

After 20 years in the states, a Mexican man moves back to his home town to find it reduced to a corrupt, violence-ridden hellhole. He learns that his brother had gotten mixed up with "a bad crowd" and was killed while he was away, so he decides to start asking around for some details on what happened. It doesn't take him too long to learn that his bro was doing one of the only things a guy can do professionally in Mexico and that's get involved in the world of organized crime. He also gets romantically rapt in his brother's prostitute widow and dealing with her delinquent son when some old friends offer him a job within their crime family circle when the nephew needs some bail money. From there, his immersion into the brutal, yet highly profitable business of drug trafficking forces him to learn the ropes which gets increasingly dangerous as a cartel war intensifies.

After checking this flick out, I'd say it's clear that "El Infierno" is a bit more of a subdued portrayal of the widespread violent crime activity that is ravaging Mexico. This is mainly due to the film's rather "light" tone with occasional humor and possible propaganda tinge. Regardless, I enjoyed the film for it's rather gripping, well-paced story, interesting and well developed characters and depiction of the plundered Mexican landscape, whether it be accurate to some people or not.

There's a few fairly hard-hitting scenes of violence, such as tongue removal and chainsaw torture. Nothing all that standout, though. Plenty of nice, gritty head shots help keep it rolling along.

I'm giving "El Infierno" a pretty sizeable recommendation. On a political basis it's not a perfect film, but it's got a strong story and is pretty damn engaging. Check it out.