The Boy (2016) Film Review

Must see razor sharp thriller, will turn your spine to glass, then force needles into your skin...

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Director:- William Brent Bell
Starring:- Lauren Cohan, Rupert Evans, James Russell
Genre:- Thriller, Horror

Absolutely do not look at the IMDB rating of this film- you will not watch and it, and if you do this, you'll be missing out on a real treat. This film picks you up gently, but smacks you up sharp after only a few minutes. You will be dancing on a razor wire of tension, then your brain will question everything you ever know. You may even need little mind rubbers after this film it is THAT disturbing. I have even created a new genre to accommodate this film- THROLLER- HORROR MIXED WITH THRILLER... THROLLER.

Greta is an American nanny on the run from something in her past... like running from a bear attached to you by a strong elastic, you're always going to be made to face the harsh reality of it. She arrives at the Gothic mansion owned by the mysterious Heelshire family and soon realises that their child is nothing more than a creepy doll. Questioning the mother's sanity, Greta soon disobeys a list of chores left for her which sets in motion a disturbing turn of events.

CHILD'S PLAY REVIEW
THE BIRDS REVIEW
DOGMA REVIEW

I am so glad that I watched this film. Obviously the premis of an ancient gothic mansion built even before Hitler was a little baby, is nothing new. Neither is the idea of a creepy doll, the terrible 1980s film CHILD'S PLAY unfortunately sprung to mind. Where Child's Play suffers from ridiculous scenarios that would never happen, we fully engage with the doll- Brahms. I can honestly say that I felt for the doll during the film, and even started rooting for him.

The film is entirely plausible and reminded me of The Blair Witch Project, which uses fear of the unknown to frighten the viewer and this is exactly what happens here. In fact one could liken the film to the Hitchcockian masterpieces in the same way. The longer the unknown continues to be hidden, the more scared we become! I must admit that I was genuinely scared- refreshingly so not from blood and guts, but the way the director messes with our minds. I find that I am drawn to horrors that are somewhat plausible and could actually happen, and this is a case in point.

This is not a spoiler alert, but the best thing about this movie was the ending. It was completely plausible, but soooo not what I expected. I couldn't believe what was happening before my very eyes and the mystery became unfolded like the opening of a mysterious, complex flower which eventually displays its full beauty. I urge you to watch this film and at 1 hour 30, you won't have to invest too much of your time.

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Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa (2013) Film Review

An absolutely CLASSIC film... even if you have never even seen Alan Partridge before- even better than The Spy Who Loved Me...

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Director:- Declan Lowney
Starring:- Steve Coogan, Colm Meaney, Tim Key and Nigel Lindsay
Genre:- Classic Comedy, Thriller

COOK A CAT

I've gotta say this, as a dyed in the wool Partridgian, I watched this picture well prepared to be disappointed, but I emerged as a happy japanese prisoner of war, with all of my finger nails still attached... which again, was a bonus. The film isn't 5 star but it's certainly competitive. In fact it was the best film I've seen in 8 years, when I had ended up seeing a better one- I think it was the one about the lady with the old tadger...

Admittedly Alan has been altered slightly to make him a little more appealing to the mass worldwide market, but his heart is still the same, which was pleasing to see. His blunders, gaffs and cow on the boat moments are all definitely still there! Personally, I think I buck the trend by suggesting that the Partridge products have improved with every release- most people think I'm Alan Partridge 1 is the best thing he's ever done, but I'd have to say those people are noticeable by their absense- the nerve... Since the brothers Gibbons have arrived, I would have to say the writing has become cleverer and funnier- evidenced in meaty Partridge sandwiches MID MORNING MATTERS and SCISSORED ISLE

Anyway, the film... the plot is quite simplistic, but don't that that put you off. The comedy and wit more than makes up for it. North Norfolk Digital has been taken over by a new major conglomerate- Shape, and this shit storm forces one man to act as the go between between police and the hostage holder- he becomes... SIEGEFACE... this man is... Alan Partridge.

I would highly recommend this film to all people except little babies as they, even though they would not understand the profanity, it they could, their brains would perish- definitely not Todd from the country club who was caught wearing denim in the bar...Other films could be fisted into a discarded coffee beaker then popped into the canal, but not Alpha Papa- it caters to Partridge fans and normal people alike, both waltzing down the pedestrianised Norwich City Centre towards the Radio Norwich building to create a perfect harmony in the form of comedy.

Movieandbookguy's rating: 4 STARS

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Don't Breathe (2016) Film Review

Imagine razor wire twisting around your body and you cannot escape... you've got Don't Breathe...

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Director:- Fede Alvarez
Starring:- Stephen Lang, Jane Levy, Dylan Minette
Genre:- Horror, thriller

When the Movie and Book Guy signed up for Netflix, I had no idea there were so many Netflix originals films. Also, I thought they would be as weak as a kitten with its claws removed- a kind of straight to TV sludge of a movie. How wrong movieandbookguy was! Don't Breathe is a case in point... a razor sharp, racing storyline that doesn't even let you stop for breath! 

The story begins to follow three naive robbers, the type who put your hair in a fax machine and press send, planning to steal $300,000 dollars from an abandoned neighbourhood from none other than a blind man. Easy pickings right? Wrong! The blind man, expertly played by Stephen Lang, has lost his daughter- run over by a nurse, and is ex-special forces... I think they picked the wrong house to rob!

The thing I loved most about this movie was the tension the director was able to create at all times. He wraps you with razor wire then pulls your finger nails out with pliers, then tickles your nose with a prinkly feather- that is how much tension is evoked. Such a strange case to see a blind man against seeing people- as the people move round they can't be seen, but you just know the blind guy can sense where the assailants are, this is heightened when he raises his gun and spins round slowly... The director has us wrapped around his little finger in this cat vs mouse thrillathon! Such a turn of events as you would assume the 'seeing' robbers would make easy work of the blind man... not a bit of it- movieandbookguy could not keep his eyes of the screen!

The thing is disliked was that the director interestingly made us feel sorry for the robbers when this should never be the case. Movieandbookguy wrestled with his conscience in the same way you'd watch Hulk Hogan wrestling an albatross- it shouldn't happen, but when it does, you're not sure how to take it and it stands out like an overgrown ginger stood in a field of albinos.

Anyway, back to reality. I urge you to watch this movie, as much as you would rub antiseptic in a seaping wound cut on glass mixed with discarded dog dirt- it is essential viewing. Well done Netflix!

Movieandbook guy rating- 7/10

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The Cabin at the End of the World, Paul Tremblay, Book Review

Promised so much... and the Cabin at the End of the World almost delivered...

Title:- The Cabin at the End of the World.

Author:- Paul Tremblay

You can buy The Cabin at the End of the World here

I chose the Cabin at the End of the World because I wanted an easy book to read on holiday... but what I got was a deluge of blood, gore, intrigue and a good deal of razor wire tension! Paul Tremblay left me exhausted, exhilarated, questioning everything in my make up, but I hate to say it a tiny bit of me was left needing more...

The Cabin at the End of the World starts during a family holiday between Andrew and Eric, and Wen their adopted daughter. Set in a lakeside cabin, Wen is playing in the garden catching grasshoppers when a huge beast of man named Leonard turns up unexpectedly. Despite his meaty size, he wins over Wen almost immediately, but throws an absolute bomb into the mix, stating that 'What will happen is not your fault...' then instantly, joined with his associates armed to the teeth with dangerous weaponry with statements on oncoming apocalyse tries to gain access to the cabin... what would you do if you were behind the door???

I cannot deny that I enjoyed the Cabin at the End of the World. You really love the small family network almost straight away. Wen is inquisitive and needs to know everything, and her dads- Eric and Andrew- are very much in love but different in their own ways. Tremblay creates the loving family atmosphere to help engineer shock and tension that builds throughout the book. We invest alot of feeling for the family, but particularly pleasing was the fact that Paul Tremblay does not make a big issue regarding the fact that the couple are homosexual- other authors would have rammed the issue down the reader's throat.

I am not sure if the next point is pleasing or not, but the amount of gore and blood and disaster featured is something I have not read before- the sheer scale, gravity and explicity is mind blowing! I would to say it reminded me of Irvine Welsh's granular writing, but Welsh simply does not achieve the gutsy, gorey writing that Paul Tremblay does!

As much as I enjoyed the Cabin at the End of the World, I cannot help thinking that the villains, Leonard, Sabrina, Adriane and Redmond, are not quite evil and nasty enough, and can almost be considered as the 'good guys' who are just following instructions from visions. Tremblay could have given the villains more depth with a horrible streak.

Despite Tremblay's expert building of the tension throughout the book, I do feel that he let the tension go far too far away from the right moment, which made the ending a little disappointing. The final 60 pages lacked the same vibrance of the rest of the book.

Overall:- 3/5- ok, but not good enough to recommend.

Have you got a book you would like me to review? If so, get in touch through the comments below or email on stevenlomax1984@gmail.com 

Game Over, Man! (2018) Film Review

So, so silly, but what fun!

Director:- Kyle Newacheck

Starring:- Adam Devine, Anders Holm, Blake Anderson and Daniel Stern.

Genre:- Action, Comedy, Geek

So we were scrolling through Netflix like you do on an idle Sunday night, trying in vain to find a comedy to lighten the spirits. I didn't actually think I would enjoy this movie as the description did it NO JUSTICE WHATSOEVER! If you go on IMDB to read the reviews you will see the usual snotty mouthpieces barfing up on their keyboards but, trust me, you WILL laugh at this film!

Think... White Chicks, think Naked Gun... think Step Brothers and if you love these movies like I do then you will serious love this comedy-arama! Sure it's dumb and sure it's silly but what is the purpose of a comedy film? Is it to make you applaud at a joke or make you laugh out loud even if the gags are silly? You don't need to answer this...

Plot:- 3 video game nerds with low prospects but with big ideas are on the verge of having their new game financed... but their financier is about to become snared by terrorists. Sounds dumb? Well it is, but stick with it. Meanwhile, our heroes (Dude Crew!) are also trapped inside the building whilst the terrorists are keeping the guests and staff hostage. How will Alexxx, Darren and Joel escape... with or without their finance cheque!?

The best thing about this movie is the pure crudity! We see everything from drug taking, animal cruelty, blood, guts and gore to full frontal male nudity. You just have to strap yourselves in and ride the rollercoaster on this no holds barred thrillathon. Don't expect new ground to be broken just sit back, watch and laugh.

There are plenty of cameo performances, including Daniel Stern of Home Alone fame in his excellent best as the sleazy hotel boss. We even see a very brief performance from Shaggy! Anyway you just have to trust me on this one- remember, you won't see cinematic genius but you will get a whole lot of laughs and a film that just doesn't sit still!

What do you think of this film?

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