Saturday 19 September 2015

Satsujin Douga Site (AKA Death Tube: Broadcast Murder Show)


So what if Saw was funny, well maybe it already is, I've only seen the first one so maybe it gets really funny after that.



So I first heard about Death Tube at university when a friend was showing the trailer to everyone, I think it was the name that drew people in, and its stylised logo designed to resemble the YouTube one. If the title and logo didn't let you know what you were in for than the trailer certainly does, a bloody horror comedy on a shoe string budget.


So the plot goes like this, a video streaming website called Death Tube is quickly gaining infamy as it shows live videos of people been forced to partake in challenges, challenges that if they fail, they die. Viewers can comment on the videos which the victims can see but often they aren’t helpful as most believe the videos are fake. We follow eight players as they must work together to compete in these games in the hopes that they will survive. Though as you may guess their number quickly diminishes.


What sets this film aside from Saw and other similar themed films is that this one in no way takes itself seriously, the games are more like children’s party games and on top of that the rules are given to them by people in teddy bear costumes. Heck the pun name should have given away that this film is not one to watch expecting serious horror.


There is a lot of classic music sprinkled through out the film and to good effect, adding to the strange tone of the film. There is a great moment that the Dies Irae from Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem is used, a pice of music many will remember been used as the overture in Battle Royale (2000), the scene game me some strong déjà vu of Battle Royale and if you watch both films you'll understand exactly what I mean.



The film swings between its more serious moments and the goofy ones with ease and very frequently, it's hard not to get sucked into its strange little world. If you can get your hands on a copy give it a try but I'll admit it's not for everyone, the quick changes from serious to silly may not sit well with some people, but personally I really enjoyed this film.



There is also a Death Tube 2 out there but I haven't had the chance to see it yeah, but I'll be tracking down a DVD soon.

Just remember, if you do choose to watch it... Death Tubes contestants are picked from the viewers!

Tuesday 1 September 2015

Good 3rd Films


The third film in a series often gets a tough time, even when they are good, maybe it is because if a second film is good then expectations are even higher on a third, or if the second is bad people just expect it to be bad as well. Whatever the reason today I'm going to list three third film's that I think a really good successors to their originals. I won't be going into too much detail as I may cover these films on their own one day.


Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (Uncut)


I don't think anyone can argue that the uncut version of Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3 is a vast improvement over the crap that was shown in cinemas in 1990 but many people still don't give this one a chance, which really is a shame. I have said before that out of the original Texas Chainsaw films this is the one that feels the most like a typical horror film and out of all of them and the closest to what most people think when they hear the title of Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Personally I feel this is a very satisfying trilogy when watched with the first two though I will say this is the weakest of the three, but it's a lot better than the fourth one!

I really enjoy this film but make sure it's the Uncut version you see, the only downside is they keep the theatrical ending which does kinda suck, you can watch the original better ending on the DVD but it's a shame they didn't add it back onto the film where it belongs.


Poltergeist III


This is a damn good movie and for the life of me I don't know why it gets crapped on so much, the first Poltergeist is a classic and probably one of the best horror films ever made, the second one was rubbish, it isn't without merit but it's a film I really don't enjoy that much. But the third is a genuinely scary movie, moving away from the suburban setting and relocating to a city skyscraper, once again evil forces attempt to drag Carroll-Anna to the other side. The film is great to look at, the building is full of mirrors so constantly we get creepy imagery of peoples reflections not following them or the villain appearing and watching them, all good stuff. In this film Carroll-Anna is living with her aunt, uncle and cousin all played fantastically but it is a shame that this final battle couldn't be with the family we followed through the first two films. There is also supposed to be an alternate ending to the film that would have fit a bit more with the characterisations so far but that been said this is still a damn good film and an brilliant end to the Poltergeist trilogy.


Psycho III


Personally I think all four original Psycho films are great and one day I may write in more detail about them but for now I will say the third film is fantastic, as was the second. I understand why the Psycho sequels aren’t even given a chance by a lot of people, the idea that they would make sequels to one of the classic greats is almost unbelievable. But they did the impossible, not only are these films great I would say without a doubt they are worthy successors to the original. The third film was directed by Norman Bates himself Anthony Perkins, and he really shows how much he knows this character whom he had lived with for so long, he doesn’t try to imitate Hitchcock but does his own thing and it really works.

Roger Ebert had this to say about Psycho III and I feel it perfectly sum's up the film; "For the first time, I was able to see that the true horror in the 'Psycho' movies isn't what Norman does - but the fact that he is compelled to do it."

This is a damn good film and I urge everyone to check it out, you will have to watch the first and second as well but they are all great films.