Seconds Apart (2011)

I wasn't expecting wonders from Seconds Apart, since almost all of the AfterDark HorrorFest movies are lame, and i was obviously not expecting greatness from the AfterDark Originals. But Seconds Apart was definitely an awesome surprise. It is that sort of mindfucking thriller/horror that has it all - a bit of gore, the "jump-of-the-chair" factor, sex, love... Nothing is missing, which is quite impressive for a low budget movie.

The story is maybe something that everyone except me has already seen: two twins (may i add, two gorgeous twins) have some sort of connection between each other, that allows them to control people's minds. But they use that gift the most unusual way ever: they lead people into committing suicide and then tape them and keep it for further reminder. So, right here we have one of the most positive points of the movie - the screenplay. It is unusual, it is creepy and it is great.

Next point on the agenda, the acting. Oh my god, that amazing acting. And also, the enormous number of actors in this movie with blue/grey/green eyes - maybe o match the twins ? Awesome detail, anyway. Indeed, all of the movie was filled with juicy details - which for a low budget creation was quite amazing.

The soundtrack is a bit odd, though. Not the best part of the movie, but the hell with it, Seconds Apart must have been one of the best horror movies i've seen in a while (after Hatchet, i was starting to really doubt the industry).

Overall, this is definitely a movie with a lot to it, and totally a worth-watch.

Imprint (13)

I had built a high expectation under 'Imprint' ever since i found out it had been banned from cable in the USA: and i found out later on that it wasn't banned from Portugal. Yet, the episode didn't quite lived to match my expectations, since i thought it wasn't worth all the hype around it.

The beginning of the episode is quiet, and a bit impressive when they find a dead woman in the river on their way to an island that is made of whores, drugs and black market. I thought there was an awesome approach to the details of the Japanese culture (Takashi Miike is Japanese, so i thought it was also quite patriotic of him), with the added amazing option of showing its darkest side. It is quite impressive how they created that notion of girls locked in cages and begging the foreigners for sex.

The story is quite impressive, and also unusual: i really loved the fact that the main character (Billy Drago as Christopher) came all the way just to find Komomo (and for love, which is even more unusual to find in an horror flick). The acting is awesome and dialogues are quite honest and profound, almost philosophical. Actually, the detail on The Woman's (Youki Kudoh) story, about her mother, the abortions and so on, is really impressive. And with a lot of great special effects added ! Oh, and the torture scene, oh my god, that torture scene. Must have been one of the most impressive, disgusting and painful things i ever watched (not even Hostel can top it). And that thing with the sister (the hand, the Imprint) was beautifully made, it seemed so freakin' real.

But overall, i couldn't understand all the hype around the episode. Indeed, it had a few impressive things, and it's good. It's really good. But something was missing in there and i can't really tell you what it is. Maybe it should have been a bit more simple. Yet, it is definitely worth watching.

Haeckle's Tale (12)

I really liked this episode in particular. I thought it was amazingly shot, with some good special effects, and with an amazing story behind it, believable and totally consistent.

So about the story, it was amazing the fact that it was based on a tale initially written by Clive Barker (that's right, the one you're thinking). And it is quite simple, the story is about a character, Haeckel, a medicine student who believes he's capable of raising the dead - Frankenstein style. One night, he got lost near a cemetery, and found an old man who offered him a place to stay. With his weird wife, who likes to have awesome orgies on the cemetery with - guess what ? - zombies. The sex scenes with the zombies are amazing, and although the story is kinda silly, it is amazingly built (when i say this, i mean it was flawless), and the ending is quite impressive.

Overall, an episode worth-while (since most of them suck).

Pick Me Up (11)

This was weird. I didn't knew what to expect, yet i was thinking they would come up with something a lot like Rest Stop. Not good.

So, about the episode, i though acting wasn't that bad. But the story... hmmm, it wasn't consistent at all, i mean - the bus just crashes in the middle of nowhere and then there are some weirdos who simple appear out of the blue ? That's not right, i can understand the need of a hitchhiker, but where did that cowboy came from ? Obviously, in the end we do figure out that they have some sort of connection, and there are signs of that during the episode: they do blink their eyes to eachother. Overall, i can understand that it is all about the girl, and it seems like they were making some sort of race to see who kills her first - and i must admit i absolutely loved this part, it seemed like a serial killer competition.

The story is enjoyable though, not so quiet as i was expecting it to be, and the character of the trucker is awesome: he goes from kind to psycho in no time ! Also, it really needed to have a horror flick cliché - yes, i do mean the motel. And shower scenes are too typical since Hichcock's "Psycho", there's got to be someone in the shower on an horror flick.

That torture scene, oh my god, that torture scene ! Must have been the highest point of the episode - i absolutely loved it. It is violent, teasing, really funny and gory, all at the same time. Also the fighting scene is awesome, quite realistic. The ending in that ambulance somehow managed to be ridiculous and awesome at the same time.

Overall, this isn't brilliant, it has definitely a lot of flaws, but it is close to greatness and deserves to be watched.

Sick Girl (10)

I already knew a little bit of the mind of Lucky McKee, from the time when i saw May, and i liked the way it functioned. So my expectations over Sick Girl were kinda high. A bit too high, i must admit.

First things first, i thought acting was awesome (although the main character had the most annoying voice ever), and i loved the fact that the main character is the same actress who played May (and therefore she had already proven to be great).

The story was so-so, i thought it was a cool subject and all, but i suppose it could have been better - it had material/content to be better. Also, there are a few cinema clichés implied in it (like covering homosexuality). That bug thingy was new and fresh and brought an interesting flavor to the episode. But still, nothing really exciting happens during the episode. And overall, i don't think it was that good.

I suppose i must lower my expectations...

Fair-Haired Child (09)

So, what can i say about this Masters Of Horror episode ? First, i should say that i was quite surprised, positively, of course. I really liked the episode, although it isn't brilliant. The story is not confusing at all, and quite catchy ("buyable", as i usually say). It has an interesting basis in its argument, and the creepy soundtrack brings that special atmosphere to the episode.

At start, i thought i was getting ready to watch some lame story about zombies, or something like that. The beginning of the episode was really quiet, yet creepy, and wasn't really getting me into the story, but then it starts evolving in absolutely every aspect and i didn't really wanted it to end (they had material in there to make a 2h30 story, yet it was enough as it was). There are some scenes that are lame, for instance that hitting scene (not "buyable" at all), but acting is quite good (thumbs up for Lindsay Pulsiphere - Tara made it all worth-while). Didn't liked the way Tara was always saying "Johnny, are you ok?" - seemed like some sort of catch phrase.

The special effects weren't so bad, and the so-called "fair-haired child" seemed taken right from The Grudge. Yet, for what it was, it was awesome. The ending is insanely good and totally unexpected.

Overall, this episode had its ups and downs, yet, in the end it was all worth-while.