THE WOLFMAN

Horror

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Simon Merrells: Ben Talbot
Benicio Del Toro: his brother Lawrence, a Shakespearean theatre actor
Emily Blunt: Ben's fiancée Gwen Conliffe
Anthony Hopkins: Ben and Lawrence’s father Sir John Talbot
Hugo Weaving: Scotland Yard Inspector Francis Aberline
and others no doubt

REVIEW
Full Disclosure:
As I’ve said in my bio, I am not a fan of horror movies and would not under normal conditions contemplate for a moment going to see one. But recently I was in a bit of a bind: I had already walked out on one movie so my planned movie viewing schedule was cut short. Not wanting to return home fighting the rush-hour traffic I considered my alternatives. From the movie poster I knew there were some good actors in this film and it was promoted as a remake of a classic. So I said “why not check it out?”

I stayed about an hour, long enough to know just why I don’t like horror movies: your eyes and ears are assaulted with replusive images and loud unexpected noises. All the while you’re sitting there on edge waiting for something to happen. And it does.

This is not my idea of a fun time.

CLASSIFICATION
for bloody horror violence and gore. (And they ain’t kiddin’.)

THE MACHINIST

Original title: El Maquinista
Psychological horror thriller

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Christian Bale: machine-shop operator Trevor Reznik
John Sharian: Ivan, fellow employee
Michael Ironside: Miller another co-worker
Jennifer Jason Leigh: Stevie, a sexy hooker
Aitana Sánchez-Gijón: Marie, a waitress at the airport café

REVIEW
This movie is not for everyone. A rather bland low budget film with a moody, sombre setting of washed out colours (to match all the washed out people?). There is a minimum of gruesome, scary bits but enough to retain its classification as a horror movie. With various clues scattered throughout the movie, the ending should not come as a great surprise to fans of this type of movie. It caught me completely off guard of course since "I never go to these type of movies".

CLASSIFICATION
for violence, disturbing images, sexuality and strong language.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
1. When Trevor is talking to Marie out at the airport café, the digital clocks behind her show the local time and in New York City. But the clock in NYC never reflects the exact time zone difference of 3 hours: it is always a few minutes out, sometimes too early but most often too late.
2. Wanting to wash his hands thoroughly, Trevor uses the liquid lye sitting on the shelf. No body would do this because lye can be fatal if swallowed.
3. When Ivan gets hurt he falls face down; when Trevor approaches him, Ivan has somehow flipped over on to his back and his feet can be seen sticking straight up.

P.S.
The lead actor lost 63 pounds for this role by eating only an apple and one can of tuna a day. Sure beats some of the well-known diet plans for getting results it seems.