Movies I've Seen (Recently)

Ratings determined using a five blood drop scale.

INK
Ink introduces us to the fanciful Emma and her dispassionate father, John. As night ascends, two groups of mysterious beings materialize outside of their home – one aimed at delivering subconscious bliss, the other intent on doling out torturous nightmares. Emma quickly becomes ensnared in their fairy-tale dream battle and has to hope her father gains focus in time to save her.

A fantasy-rich sci-fi pic, Ink boasts a number of moody visuals and ambitions set pieces despite its limited budget. The film does well to balance an intriguing narrative with scenes of pure action (it appears the purveyors of dreams have had a class in MMA) while generating a sense of compassion for the characters involved. If not for the out-of-place adult language that permeates John’s workplace, Ink would be an excellent film for the whole family to share.

LO

When Justin’s sweetie is abducted by demons he must summon a member of the netherworld to get her back. Shot on a shoestring budget in just five days, Lo feels like a movie shot on a shoestring budget in just five days. While the exchanges between Justin and the demon Lo are at points witty and humorous, there isn’t a whole lot else in the movie worth getting excited about. Fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer will either appreciate the director’s attraction to that show or scorn him for his many obvious homages.

CABIN FEVER 2
The flesh eating virus that decimated a cabin full of coeds eight years ago is back to pollute movie screens once again. The original was a derivative piece of horror fiction that webbed gross-out humor around contrived genre elements to create a movie not worthy of the attention it garnered. Its sequel is an equally juvenile effort that may satisfy those with a fascination for brainless, blood-filled gruel but does nothing for the genre. A minor stumble in the promising career of director Ti West.



THIRST
A selfless priest volunteers for a medical experiment that turns him into a bloodsucking vampire. Not Park’s best work (that would be the soon to be remade for American audiences cult film Oldboy) but its poetic tone and mysterious mood make it oddly compelling. A bit long and slow, and I’m not a fan of the goofy humor that often floods Asian horror, but Thirst does enough to modify the vampire mythology to gain my recommendation.