Slightly mirroring the plot of Hostel, writer/producer Roth stars as an American tourist visiting his buddy Ariel (Ariel Levy) in Santiago, Chile. They are joined by Ariel’s friend Pollo (Nicolas Martinez) as the trio set out to nightclubs full of drunken debauchery in hopes of hooking up with beautiful women.
The trio fatefully meet single mother Irina (Natasha Yarovenko), party gal Kylie (Lorenza Izzo) and Kylie’s older and protective half-sister, Monica (Andrea Osvart); and together the group embark on a vacation they hope to always remember—and unfortunately for them, their wish comes true when a fatal earthquake hits at a dance club one night, leaving one member of the group severely injured. The group then must fight to stay alive in the chaotic streets of Chile and quickly discover that earthquakes and tsunami warnings are the least of their worries when a group of escaped rapists and murderers from prison start terrorizing the streets and a whole new level of trepidation unfolds.
The first half of Aftershock manages to entertain its audience with light comedy, beautifully shot scenery and a great scene of gasp-worthy kills when the initial earthquake hits that is sure to make gorehounds applaud. However, just like the town itself, the second half of Aftershock starts to crumble and fall apart as the audience must witness degrading and graphic rape scenes (which caused many walk-outs at the screening) and predictable and ineptly written plot twists that will leave many viewers infuriated.
It should be noted that both Lopez and Roth were inspired by real-life news stories and events that plagued Chile during an earthquake while making this film, and to some it will be enough to validate the explicit and brutal nature of the film. Unfortunately, because of the “buddy comedy” feel of the first half of the movie, the moments of viciousness in the second half simply glorify real-life violence instead of invoking genuine feelings of dread whenever visions of extreme human ugliness and degradation are displayed onscreen.
Despite its major flaws, Aftershock will still manage to shake devout horror fans to the core, even though it is guaranteed to make any average filmgoer’s blood boil.
The script does have to take a few unfortunate shortcuts to make the story work. You’re Next works wonders when it keeps the audience in the dark and our only solace is that the attackers are flesh-and-blood humans, but we don’t know their motives, their masks are creepy as hell, and for half the film we don’t even know how many there are. However, Wingard and Barrett eventually make concessions that lessen the tension and offer an explanation that would knock you out of the movie if it hadn’t already drawn you in so deeply. The ending is also predictable but Wingard plays it so well that you won’t mind.
Almost everything in You’re Next goes off with a hitch. It’s the perfect balance of horror and action with a little bit of comedy thrown in for good measure. Wingard and Barrett haven’t re-written the genre but they’ve added enough minor tweaks to keep the story feeling fresh. But the film’s greatest strength is in how how it blends jump scares, creepiness, dark comedy, and gore to create a damn fine horror flick that will have you locking your doors and fearing your windows.
Rating: B+
Filmgoers will be easily deceived by the vicious nature of the film after the attention-grabbing opening sequence involving two lustful lesbians having their lovemaking session interrupted after a machete-wielding maniac invades their apartment. However, it should be noted that Here Comes The Devil is more of a drama than a horror film and although that may disappoint some, it doesn't make the events shown onscreen any less terrifying...
However, when many hours pass and their children still haven't returned, their worlds are quickly turned upside down when they have discovered their children are now missing. Luckily, the next day their children are remarkably returned safely without any explanation. The parents are thankful until they start discovering their kids are no longer who they used to be and after they find possible signs that their children were sexually abused, the pair set off to take revenge on the culprit.
Although the fear of sexual abuse should be the least of the couple's worries as there is something dark and demonic behind their children's transformations and it is merciless and out for blood.
Like Peter Weir’s Picnic at Hanging Rock, Bogliano’s film is shot remarkably well and is shrouded with mystery, making it a great nightmarish, atmospheric film even though it lacks the flashier and frightening aspects seen in most films dealing with demonic possession.
Although there is creepy imagery shown onscreen, the most disturbing and controversial part of the film happens off screen and will have viewers gasping and is guaranteed to deeply perturb any parent.
From the eerie storyline, the cinematography and gripping performances from both Laura Caro and Francisco Barreiro, Here Comes The Devil proves to be a powerfully erotic and controversial film that sets itself apart from the cookie-cutter supernatural films as of late.
Even though everyone pretty much knows him as the ghostly and caring father of "Dexter," James Remar will always be Ajax from The Warriors to us. Given that Michael Beck's (Swan) career ended in Xanadu, we all now know who the real Warchief was...
John Ary On HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH!!
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The most overlooked and one of the best in the franchise finally gets a BLU. Bout time.