Green Room (2015) #439

'Although "Green Room) may not be a traditional horror film but it does have the intensity and thrilling moments of one. The movie neither failed or exceeded my expectations because I didn't really have any going in. All I really knew about "Green Room" was that it had Patrick Stewart ("Lifeforce") playing the leader of a white supremacist group that's trying to kill a punk band that played at his club, and that is exactly what it is. Stewart's performance is top notched as the character Darcy, a calm and collected leader who is trying to rid his bar of a little "problem". He's dangerous, respected, and he knows what he's doing. 

Anton Yelchin ("Fright Night") stars as the guitar player for the punk bank the Ain't Rights; he is easily believable as the terrified band member who was only trying to do the right thing by calling 911 when he walks in on a murder scene. And Anton's co-star and love interest from "Fright Night" Imogen Poots ("28 Weeks Later") rounds out the cast as Amber, another unfortunate witness of the gruesome murder that occurs in the club's green room. Alia Shwkat ("Arrested Development") is another recognizable face, playing Sam, the group's bass player. 

The action sequences and the violence involved are all rather intense and come across as realistic. One moment that really stands out for me is when someone gets shot in the face by a shotgun; you see enough of the damage done before the camera switches view. There is also a scene where Anton's character, Pat, gets his arm hacked up by machetes, leaving the limb bloody and almost useless. The most brutal act of violence might be inflected by the attack dogs that Darcy's men use on the band members. Again, very intense.

Overall, the movie is worth seeing just to watch Patrick Stewart's performance, a role that he considered to be very challenging. This film also marks Anton's final movie premier before his untimely death, R.I.P.

Fright Night (2011)

One of my favorite remakes of recent memory is the 2011 production of "Fright Night". While I appreciate the original 1985 version, I find the remake to be a superior movie. The teens characters look more like teenagers, the dialogue and reactions between characters are played realistically and less comical, and the special effects are pretty top notch. The pacing is more comfortable in the remake and the overall story is sharper and streamlined. Finally, I love that the movie is now set in Las Vegas, a perfect place for a vampire to hunt his prey.

From the leads to the supporting cast, everyone gives a stellar performance. Anton Yelchin shines as Charley, a former geek turned popular high school kid who comes to believe that his neighbor is a vampire. He plays this role very seriously, a perfect anchor that allows some of the other characters to have their comedic moments. Imogen Poots, who shared the screen with Anton in “ “plays Amy, Charley’s girlfriend and Toni Collette plays Charley’s mom Jane.

Colin Ferrel is confident, sexy, and completely predatory as the new neighborhood vampire, Jerry. His presence, which a good vampire needs, commands the screen whenever he appears. I really enjoyed this kind of portrayal of a vampire and is reminiscent of those from “30 Days of Night”.  Finally, taking the place of Roddy McDowall from the original is David Tennat, fresh from his time from “Dr. Who”. Like Mr. McDowall, Tennat’s performance adds a level of dark comedy to the film. David Tennant does a wonderful job of making the role of Peter Vincent, Vampire Hunter, his own. In this version, he is a stage magician with his own show at the Hard Rock Café Hotel. 

Charley comes to suspect that his new neighbor might be a vampire after Ed, his former best friend, points out to Charley that several students have gone missing recently. After trying to prove his point, Evil Ed is tracked down by the vampire in question, Jerry, who turns Ed into one of his vampire minions. Charley explores Jerry's house and discovers a girl that Jerry had brought home one night is tied up in a secret room. Charley is able to get her outside but she burns to dust when the daylight touches her skin. Charley then turns to a famed Vegas act featuring a self claimed Vampire Killer, the magician Peter Vincent. Peter dismisses Charley after he asks for help. The next night Jerry attacks Charley's house, and Charley, his mom, and his girlfriend Amy barely escape the assault. While asking Peter for help again, Charley, Peter, and Amy are attacked by Ed and Jerry. Ed is killed off but Jerry takes advantage when Charley and Amy are separated, biting her and turning her into a vampire. Peter finally agrees to help and the two take a brave, final stand as they take on Jerry in his own house.

28 Weeks Later (2007)

Happy New Year's Eve!!

"28 Weeks Later" is one of those very rare films where I had to hit the pause button while watching it because it got too intense for me to handle the first time I watched it. This film is violent and unforgiving, and the way it is filmed only adds to the intensity of the events that are happening on screen. Danny Boyle has given up the director's chair and has taken on the role of executive producer. Robert Carlyle stars as Don and has great support from Jeremy Renner and Rose Byrne.

The film begins at the height of the original RAGE outbreak, where Don and his wife are living with four other survivors in a boarded up house. During their meal, a boy comes to the house and begins pounding on the door begging to be let in. They let him in but a few minutes later a mob of infected attack the house and quickly over run the place. Don barely escapes, leaving Alice behind after she decides to try to protect the boy. He catches a glimpse of her being attacked as he runs away to a boat waiting down at a stream. He escapes to live another day...

28 weeks later, a portion of London has been cleared and declared safe for a small portion of residents to return and start the rebuilding process. A U.N. team led by Americans are providing military support and protection of the quarantined area. Don's two children return to London after being away in Spain during the outbreak; they catch the attention of Major Scarlet Levy, the chief medical examiner, who was not informed that any children would be in the first group coming back. During her medical inspection of Tammy and Andy, Scarlet notices that Andy has different colored eyes, just like his mother had. Once home, Tammy and Andy ask their dad how their mother died, forcing Don to lie and tells that that he saw Alice being killed by the infected when all he saw was that she was attacked. The kids decide to sneak out of the quarantine zone and visit their old house, where Andy finds his mother in a feral state. The kids are discovered by the military and take them back to the zone, along with the mother to be inspected. Scarlet discovers that Alice is carrier of the Rage Virus, having been exposed to the virus but hasn't become fully infected; Scarlet also notices Alice's different colored eyes and suspects that her genes have a natural immunity from the virus. The Commander orders Alice to be killed and body destroyed immediately but Scarlet begs that Alice be spared because she could offer a cure to the virus. Before Alice can be killed, Don sneaks in and visits his wife, apologizing for leaving her behind. He goes in to kiss her and her saliva infects him, "turning" him immediately. Having loss all control, he ruthlessly kills Alice and begins to kill and infect the nearby staff. The virus quickly spreads throughout the quarantine zone, forcing the military to turn their weapons on both the infected and innocents who are trying to survive. Scarlet finds the kids and tries to protect them. With the help of Flynn, a sniper who realizes that London is lost and will be nuked, the group makes an attempt to escape London while being chased down by the infected, the military, and a very clever infected Don who is driven to find and kill his children.

Scarlet, Flynn, Andy, and Tammy

Flynn rescuing Scarlet and the kids

Don running away from the infected

Infected Don