The Taking of Deborah Logan (2014)
Starring: Jill Larson, Anne Ramsay, Michelle Ang, Ryan
Cutrona, Anne Bedian, Brett Gentle, Jeremy DeCarlos, Deputy Linda Tweed,
My Review and Thoughts:
There is still one type of horror film that gets too me. And
that is possession films. They are so twisted in plot and there are many that
stand out. It also sadly is a plot that’s been overdone, just like zombies, and
vampires currently. Going into to this, there was already two let downs to me,
unoriginal plot, and hand held camera horror. I can’t stand how so many films
this day and age are using the tired old Blair Witch concept, but I still give
them a go, no matter how much I can’t stand most of them.
I was surprisingly entertained by this one. I think it’s
mainly because of the stunning and amazing actress Jill Larson. She is
brilliant in the part and totally fits the part in a creepy, twisted and
disturbing ordeal. She gives it her all and creates a shocking performance that
massively sticks inside your head. Her frail and skinny nature mixed with her
age and the demented plot gives a sadistic imagery. Jill Larson is the golden
ticket in the part and makes the film work. Jill has been acting since the 70’s
in both small screen and big screen cinema. She is more likely best known for
playing the long running character Opal on the daytime soap opera All My
Children. She is an extraordinary performer and her talent shines in this part,
and is what saves the picture from being nothing more than another hand-held
camera film.
Also, one of the important parts is played by Anne Ramsay.
She and along with Jill Larson, control the film, and each one makes you
believe the plight taking place. The chemistry between them are perfect and
stands out. Both play off each other. Ramsey has been acting since the 80’s and
is always a treat to see in my viewpoint. Most will know her from her character
Lisa Stemple on the TV series Mad About You.
It was also nice seeing veteran actor Ryan Cutrona. Cutrona
has been acting for many years and is one of those character actors that never
really got the lime light that he deserved. Most will remember him from playing
recurring characters on the TV series The Practice, The West Wing and 24, also
playing in the modern classic TV series Mad Men. He is just one those actors
that you might not know his name, but you know him when you see him.
The down fall is the other characters. They are the basic no
dialogue, and no structure other than screaming or arguing at the camera.
Please, listen to me, people who decide to make these real time, lost footage
blah, blah, blah films, write dialogue that is not people screaming and
fighting with each other, it gets on the nerves quickly, and is boring as hell
and frustrating. Plus, write believable characters. The stuff that people do in
these type of films is not reality based. Normal people would not do some of
the stuff that takes place in films like this.
Every moment with Jill Larson is worth watching. If I could
edit out everybody else’s, “oh my god, what's that.” or the yelling and
screaming then I would return to this film often. I recommend it for Jill
Larson’s amazing performance and twisted conclusion.
Directed, edited, produced and co-written by Adam Robital.
This is Robital’s first feature length directorial debut. It will be
interesting to see what comes next for this new director. Being a hand-held
camera horror, there is really no skill behind the direction part. He also did
the editing to the film, could have used some tweaking, but overall, it’s a
basic hand held camera horror, which are a Dime a Dozen this day and age.
Robital’s co-writer is actor, producer, director Gavin Heffernan.
The movie is represented in the old tired way of film
students filming. They come to film a documentary about a woman suffering with
Alzheimer’s but end up filming more than they bargained for as the supernatural
takes places. You follow along with the story in several days, supposedly
retrieved crime scene footage. There is nothing new, nothing original. Don’t go
into this wanting anything fresh. It’s a tired old setting. A basic hand held
horror but it has one thing going for it, and that’s Jill’s performance.
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Next Up on this Late-Night Triple Horror Feature:
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Starring: Jemma Dallender, Yavor Baharov, Joe Absolom, Aleksandar Aleksiev, Mary Stockley, Valentine Pelka, Georgi Zlaterev, Peter Silverleaf, Michael Dixon, Kacey Barnfield.
Plot: Katie is trying to make it in the cutthroat world of modeling. When she innocently accepts an offer to have new photos taken for her portfolio, the experience quickly turns into a nightmare.
My Review and Thoughts:
Truly a sadistically brutal film that's shockingly violent
at times. This is the uncut version that was not shown in theaters. The cut
version was a huge mess and so this is the unrated version that I am viewing.
The rated version did cut out many moments or shortened them. The cut version
is at times sadistically brilliant revenge film. A rape and torture film where
the victim gets her ultimate justice.
Huge fan of the original 70's version. Huge fan of the
remake.
I am a fan of parts of Part 2. This one does not hold up logically as the others do. There are to many stupid moments or unrealistic happening in this one. I must say this is sadistically brilliant in
many ways. The rape scene was very violent, the overall torture was very
violent and hard to watch.
I don't know why this movie got such negativity from
reviewers because it's sadistically violent, just like all the others. Yes, it
has its flaws but it still works as a basic revenge sequel. I can see if they
watch the cut version why it has so much negativity toward it. The movie cut or
uncut has flaws in the story which does bring it down and makes the viewer
dissatisfied but still I was thoroughly entertained by it even with it's stupid mistakes and flaws in story.
The uncut is a brilliantly done psychological disturbing
film, almost on the grounds of a little too much, because it holds nothing
back.
I think it works. I enjoyed it, felt its premise, very in-your-face. One girls will to survive during a horrible
ordeal comes to life.
Jemma Dallender does a fantastic job and is a believable
victim in her pain and suffering and her ultimate vengeance plays out
flawlessly for the viewer at hand. She brings Katie to life, makes Katie
believable, gives Katie the substance that any rape victims feel.
It's hard to watch the brutality; it’s hard to watch any
bodies brutality. This film is hardcore and is filmed in such a reality way
that makes the viewer want to turn away. It is violent, it is disgusting and
disturbing. Three monsters, three guys and they deserve what comes to them.
Now for the negativity. There are many flaws in this that
are not reality-based. There is the concept that this skinny scrawny woman can
lift, limp weight of a full-grown man. How she ever got the men in the position
she did to torture them I will never know. Without help there's no way she
would've lifted and positioned the way she did, and so that does kind of play
with the viewer.
Plus, the reality that someone could come in and just take
her out of the police station without detectives being competent enough to do
their job, and to follow through with protocol is ludicrous.
Looking past, the negativity it's still worth a great watch
for those who love the torture porn type of scenario in horror films. A pure
visceral watch of violence and a helpless reality for your victim and the
viewer.
I can in all honesty say I have never seen someone’s death
by chunky poop water. This is just gross.
Some will like, some will not. It does have its flaws, but
it also has its brutal reality of hardcore type scenario's of a graphic revenge
film. Truly a vengeance, one girl pissed off seeking her justice.
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Next up on this Late-Night Triple Horror Feature:
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I Spit on Your Grave 3 (2010)
Starring: Sarah Butler, Gabriel Hogan, Doug McKeon
My Review and Thoughts:
I really liked the remake, I Spit on Your Grave (2010). Did
not care so much for Part 2 because of it's many flaws, but yet still entertained me. What makes part 3 more enjoyable is it
continues the storyline of the remake. Jennifer has now changed her name to
Angie. She is now in therapy, and her world is stained by the actions she went
through, and the revenge she instilled upon those who hurt her in Part 1.
Angie is now hardened, and looks at all men as despicable.
The over intense way that Angie is portrayed at times is a little too much. It
is a movie that clearly is against men at times, or showcases all men as
rapist. The regard of intensity in this reality can turn many people off. Trust
me, not all men are rapist dogs, or at least the movie showcases this reality.
Angie enters a therapy meeting for rape victims, where she
meets Marla, another rape victim who looks at all men as rapist dogs. Both feed
off each other’s hatred, and bitterness toward scummy men. Soon Angie finds
herself stalking, and seeking out men who demoralize women. The therapy or
friendship with Marla seems to help Angie, and she slowly changes her hardened
ways. Just when things are changing for Angie, her world is turned upside down
again, when Marla is killed.
Soon Angie is up to her old ways again seeking out men who
get away with rape, and using women as victims. Angie is looked upon by the
police as men are taken out one by one. A justice served that only one who's Spit’s on Graves can give.
The movie has flashbacks of the 2010 film as Angie thinks
back to her brutal rape, torture, and her ultimate justice, she displayed. What
makes this one really stand out is the very twisted, and graphic violence. One
death has a truly hardcore Penis stabbing, and brutality that makes even the
hardened Gore-whore go, “Did I just see that.”
This movie is very graphic, very intense, and displays of gore in a
graphic nature, are more intense than the first 2. I thought I would never say
this for a modern horror film, some of this hardcore violence is a little much.
There is a brutality to the film that leaves a lasting impression.
Something that also stands out is the display of emotional
drama. The solid acting by the therapy group, adds a sense of quality to the
film. Meaning, yes, the violence is brutal, and disturbingly thick, but there is
also an emotional side to the film. Doug McKeon was fantastic as Oscar. Sarah
Butler is a fantastic actress that makes you believe her victim persona, and
ultimate hatred. Her thick brutal nature displays itself in a believable
reality that leaves you the viewer in an intense struggle in trying to accept,
or fathom the hatred, and violence inside Angie/Jennifer’s persona. In the end
the movie gives mixed emotions.
Spoilers Stroll Down past the Spoiler
Angie is disturbed. Her persona changes from Justice
seeking, to full blown criminal in the end. Where I Spit on your Grave displays
a mentality of getting Justice for the wrongs, I Spit on Your Grave 3 strays
from that concept in changing Jennifer into a hardened cold blooded murderer,
which really turns off in being a lover of I Spit on your Grave. I Spit on Your
Grave was a female, (both the original and the remake) that had you the viewer
following along with her actions in her Justice, and revenge. In this one,
Jennifer becomes, nothing more than a cold blooded, unlikable character in the
end. It wasn't about Justice, it was about simply killing.
End of Spoilers
The start of the film was a turn off with the all men are
evil plot, but slowly turns into a revenge style movie where Angie seeks out
truly horrible men who rape, and murder women and children. This is a movie
geared to people who love this style of film, rape-revenge. A violent film with
the flare of the old Grindhouse style of content.
This is an unapologetic movie in its violence and gore.
It’s a movie that displays an anger, and a true building of
hatred seeking of justice to those victims denied justice by court systems, and
the law. I am not condoning the violence, but I understand what these movies
display. I understand that victims, and family members of victims, deserve
justice and sometimes, let’s just say, things happen, or at least they should,
and Angie solves that reality through her means of Justice.
One plus to this film is it’s produced by the original
director of the 1978 version, Meir Zarchi, adding a little nostalgia to the mix
of the film.
This is an okay movie, I have mixed feelings about it,
because of what I mentioned in the spoiler section. Overlooking that reality,
the movie is a solid rape revenge film.
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