Jurassic Park (1993)

Un paleontolog si partenera sa sunt invitati la un parc de distractie cu tematica jurasica, in care traiesc clone ale dinozaurilor, pentru a-si oferi parerea de specialisti inainte de deschiderea parcului.

Un film clasic sub bagheta magica a unui maestru obsedat de detaliu si constructii care lucreaza impreuna in armonie. Jurassic Park nu mai are nevoie de o introducere, dar e pacat daca exista inca oameni care il considera doar un blockbuster creat pentru profit financiar si sunt impiedicati de asemenea prejudecati din a se bucura de o capodopera.

Regia:  Steven Spielberg     

Cu: Sam Neill, Laura dern, Jeff Goldblum, BD Wong, Samuel L. Jackson, Wayne Knight, Richard Attenborough

Rating: 9/10

Also available in English

Jurassic Park (1993)

A paleontologist and his partner are invited to an amusement park with a Jurassic theme, where dinosaurs are brought back to life, to give their specialist opinion before the park opens.

A classic film under the magic wand of a mastro who's obsessed with detail and constructs that work together in perfect harmony. Jurassic Park no longer needs an introduction, but it's a shame if there are still people left who consider it just a blockbuster created for financial gain and are therefore prevented by their own prejudices from enjoying such a masterpiece.

Director:  Steven Spielberg     

With: Sam Neill, Laura dern, Jeff Goldblum, BD Wong, Samuel L. Jackson, Wayne Knight, Richard Attenborough

Rating: 9/10

The Inkeepers (2011)

In ultimele zile ale unui hotel pe cale de inchidere, cei doi angajati ramasi folosesc timpul fara activitate cautand dovezi ca hotelul este bantuit.

'The Inkeepers' este un film de groaza atmosferic, bazat pe elemente de supranatural. Va fi perceput probabil ca incet de multi, dar ritmul lent serveste minunat ca un catalist al unei curiozitati si unui suspans in continua crestere, momentele fara multa actiune fiind bogate in dialog si zeflemea inocenta.

Regia:  Ti West   

Cu: Sara Paxton, Pat Healy, Kelly McGillis

Rating: 9/10

Also available in English

The Inkeepers (2011)

In the last days of a closing down hotel, the two remaining employees use their time looking for proof that the hotel is haunted.

'The Inkeepers' is an atmospheric horror film based on supernatural elements. It will probably be perceived as slow by many, but the slow pace serves wonderfully as a catalyst for an ever growing curiosity and suspense, the moments without much action being rich in dialogue and innocent banter.

Director:  Ti West   

With: Sara Paxton, Pat Healy, Kelly McGillis

Rating: 9/10

Slasher season III - "Solstice" (2019)

Un an dupa uciderea brutala a unui tanar, rezidentii cladirii in care locuia sunt vanati pe ascuns, rand pe rand, de un criminal in serie numit Druidul.

Sezonul trei din Slasher, Solstice, e inca o miniserie de tip slasher horror, ce urmareste viata locuitorilor unei singuri cladiri pe parcursul unei zile intregi, fiecare episod acoperind trei ore din acea zi, timp in care Druidul gaseste cel putin o noua victima. Povestea are multe elemente de political correctness, ce pare sa fi enervat unii dintre vizionatori, dar acest aspect nu face decat a diversifica povestea. Probabil nu la fel de buna ca seria a 2-a, seria 3 e captivanta, mentine interesul, e predictibila in unele aspecte, surprinzatoare in altele.

Regia:  Adam MacDonald   

Productie:  Shudder, Chiller  

Creator:  Aaron Martin   

Durata:  Sezonul 3 din 4, fiecare a cate 8 episoade (1 ora fiecare)   

Cu: Baraka Rahmani, Lisa Berry, Salvatore Antonio, Dean McDermott, Paula Brancati, Mercedes Morris, Gabriel Darku, Joanne Vannicola, Rosie Simon, Jim Watson, Paulino Nunes

Rating: 8/10

Also available in English

Slasher season III - "Solstice" (2019)

One year after the brutal murder of a young man, the residents of the building where he lived are secretly hunted, one by one, by a serial killer named The Druid.

Season three of Slasher, Solstice, is another horror slasher miniseries, which follows the lives of the residents of a single building for a whole day, each episode covering three hours of that day, during which the Druid finds at least one new victim. The story has many elements of political correctness, which seems to have annoyed some of the viewers, but this aspect only diversifies the story. Probably not as good as the 2nd series, the 3rd series is captivating, it maintains the viewer's interest, it is predictable in some aspects, surprising in others. There's a bit of overkill involved as well.

Director:  Adam MacDonald   

Production:  Shudder, Chiller  

Creator:  Aaron Martin   

Duration:  Season 3 of 4, each with 8 episodes (1 hour each)   

With: Baraka Rahmani, Lisa Berry, Salvatore Antonio, Dean McDermott, Paula Brancati, Mercedes Morris, Gabriel Darku, Joanne Vannicola, Rosie Simon, Jim Watson, Paulino Nunes

Rating: 8/10

Taking Lives (2004)

Un criminalist FBI asista politia canadiana in niste cazuri de crime in serie in care faptasul fura identitatea victimelor.

"Taking Lives" e un film de investigatii criminalistice cu ceva momente melodramatice. Distributia e de milioane, si totusi filmul nu se poate abtine de la cateva scapari cand vine de logica si reactii naturale. Ideea este intereasnta totusi.

Regia:  D.J. Caruso   

Cu: Angelina Jolie, Ethan Hawke, Kiefer Sutherland, Olivier Martinez, Tchéky Karyo, Paul Dano, Gena Rowlands

Rating: 7/10

Also available in English

Taking Lives (2004)

An FBI peofiler is assisting the Canadian police following some serial killings in which the perpetrator steals the victims' identities.

"Taking Lives" is a forensic investigation thriller with some melodramatic moments. It involves a dream cast, and yet the film cannot refrain from a few weak spots when it comes to logic and natural reactions. The idea is interesting though.

Director:  D.J. Caruso   

With: Angelina Jolie, Ethan Hawke, Kiefer Sutherland, Olivier Martinez, Tchéky Karyo, Paul Dano, Gena Rowlands

Rating: 7/10

Slasher Season II - "Guilty Party" (2017)

Tabara Montega si un eveniment cu 5 ani in urma leaga un grup de prieteni ce se intorc in plin sezon de iarna in vechea locatie pentru a scapa de dovezi.

Sezonul doi de Slasher, Guilty Party, este inca o miniserie cu o tematica de groaza de tip slasher. Povestea si executia sunt net superioare primului sezon, personajele sunt mai bine creionate si fidele propriei caracterizari, crimele au devenit mai extreme parca (nu neaparat un avantaj) si sufera doar din cauza faptului ca raspunsul la whodunnit a fost evident pe la jumatate, dar cumva episoadele si-au pastrat farmecul.

Numele taberei (Camp Montega) e o legatura cu evenimentele din primul sezon.

Regia:  Felipe Rodriguez   

Productie:  Shudder, Chiller  

Creator:  Aaron Martin   

Durata:  Sezonul 2 din 4, fiecare a cate 8 episoade (1 ora fiecare)   

Cu: Leslie Hope, Christopher Jacot, Paula Brancati, Paulino Nunes, Ty Olsson, Joanne Vannicola, Jim Watson, Lovell Addams-Gray, Jefferson Brown

Rating: 8/10

Also available in English

Slasher Season II - "Guilty Party" (2017)

Camp Montega and a 5 year old event connect a group of friends who return to the old camp location in the middle of winter to get rid of the evidence.

The second season of the Slasher anthology series, Guilty Party, is another miniseries with a slasher horror theme. The story and execution are clearly superior to the first season, the characters are better defined and true to their own characterization, the murders seem to have become more extreme (not necessarily an advantage) and the season suffers only due to the fact that the "whodunnit" became quite obvious somewhere in the middle of the series, but somehow the episodes kept their charm even after that.

The name of the camp (Camp Montega) is a connection to the events of the first season.

Director:  Felipe Rodriguez   

Production:  Shudder, Chiller  

Creator:  Aaron Martin   

Duration:  Season 2 of 4, each of 8 episodes (1 hour each)   

With: Leslie Hope, Christopher Jacot, Paula Brancati, Paulino Nunes, Ty Olsson, Joanne Vannicola, Jim Watson, Lovell Addams-Gray, Jefferson Brown

Rating: 8/10

Aterrados (2017)

Un doctor in ale paranormalului, un specialist ce asista politia in cazuri mai atipice si un politist aproape retras formeaza o echipa neobisnuita intr-un caz ce implica un intreg cartier din Buenos Aires.

Un film de groaza foarte atipic si original, ce mizeaza totul pe atmosfera si efectul minunat de puternic al misterului neobisnuitului. Incepe cu o derulare continua a unor evenimente neexplicabile si complet nenaturale, iar jumatatea a doua este concentrata pe o preluare a controlului de catre o lume paralela de cosmar, ce aminteste de Silent Hill pe alocuri. Un deliciu pentru fanii genului.

Regia:  Demián Rugna      

Cu: Maximiliano Ghione, Norberto Gonzalo, Elvira Onetto, George L. Lewis

Rating: 9/10

Also available in English

Aterrados (2017)

A doctor specialised in the paranormal, a police consultant that deals with the more atypical cases, and an almost retired police officer form an unusual team in a case involving an entire neighborhood in Buenos Aires.

A very atypical and original horror film, which relies everything on atmosphere and the wonderfully powerful effect of the mystery of the unusual. It begins with a continuous unfolding of isolated inexplicable and completely unnatural events, and in its second half, it focuses on the takeover of a parallel nightmare world, reminiscent of Silent Hill in places. A delight for fans of the genre.

Director:  Demián Rugna      

With: Maximiliano Ghione, Norberto Gonzalo, Elvira Onetto, George L. Lewis

Rating: 9/10

Z (2019)

Un cuplu isi da seama treptat ca prietenul imaginar al fiului lor de 8 ani nu este doar imaginar.

Un film de groaza ce probabil atinge sensibil unii parinti ai caror copii au prieteni imaginari. Ideea filmului era buna, si unele alegeri artistice sunt chiar de admirat, dar in ceea ce priveste povestea si logica personajelor, filmul duce lipsa chiar mult, si in ciuda interesului autentic provocat, defectele nu pot fi trecute cu vederea.

Regia:  Brandon Christensen   

Cu: Keegan Connor Tracy, Jett Klyne, Sean Rogerson, Sara Canning, Chandra West, Stephen McHattie

Rating: 6/10

Also available in English

Z (2019)

A couple slowly realizes that their 8-year-old son's imaginary friend might not be so imaginary.

A horror film that might unnerve some parents whose children have imaginary friends. The idea of ​​the film was good, and some artistic choices are really admirable, but in terms of the story and logic of the characters, the film lacks a lot, and despite the genuine interest generated in the viewer, the flaws can not be overlooked.

Director:  Brandon Christensen   

With: Keegan Connor Tracy, Jett Klyne, Sean Rogerson, Sara Canning, Chandra West, Stephen McHattie

Rating: 6/10

Ryeong / The Ghost (2004)

O tanara amnezica redescopera treptat amintirile grupului sau de prietene ce acum sunt ucise una cate una in circumstante stranii.

Ryeong e un film koreean de groaza ce mentine curiozitatea si supansul constant si bine gandit. Cinematografia sufera putin datorita trecerii anilor, dar nu diminueaza placerea vizionarii. Ce dauneaza in schimb un pic e tonul un pic cam melodramatic al finalului neasteptat.

Regia:  Tae-kyeong Kim   

Cu: Ha-neul Kim, Sang-mi Nam, Hye-bin Jeon, Yi Shin

Rating: 7/10

Also available in English

Ryeong / The Ghost (2004)

A young amnesiac starts recovering memories of her group of friends who are now killed off one by one in strange circumstances.

Ryeong is a Korean horror that keeps the viewer's curiosity and the suspense constant and well thought out. The cinematography suffers a little due to the passing of the years, but it does not really diminish the pleasure of watching. What hurts it a bit instead is the slightly too melodramatic tone of the unexpected ending.

Director:  Tae-kyeong Kim   

With: Ha-neul Kim, Sang-mi Nam, Hye-bin Jeon, Yi Shin

Rating: 7/10

The Mortuary Collection (2019)

Un antreprenor de pompe funebre deapana amintiri macabre in fata unui posibil nou asistent.

Un film de groaza de tip antologie ca si clasicele Creepshow sau Tales from the Crypt. Este compus din 4 povestiri, care povestiri sunt scurte, eficiente, foarte originale si au avantajul tehnologiilor cinematografice moderne pentru a arata si mai impresionant pentru un ochi antrenat in genul horror. Finalul este cumva neasteptat dar binevenit!

Regia:  Ryan Spindell      

Cu: Tristan Byon, Eden Campbell, Hannah R. Loyd, Clancy Brown

Rating: 8/10

Also available in English

The Mortuary Collection (2019)

A funeral director shares macabre memories from his very long career with a candidate for a new assistant.

An anthology horror film following the footsteps of classics like Creepshow or Tales from the Crypt. It consists of 4 stories, which are short, effective, very original and have the advantage of modern film technologies to look even more impressive for an eye trained in the horror genre. The end is somehow unexpected but very welcome!

Director:  Ryan Spindell      

With: Tristan Byon, Eden Campbell, Hannah R. Loyd, Clancy Brown

Rating: 8/10

Thunder Force (2021)

Doua prietene din copilarie se raintalnesc ca adulti dupa ce cea geniala dintre ele a avut mult succes ca om de stiinta, lucru ce a ajutat-o sa descopere o modalitate artificiala de a crea supereroi.

Un film comedie mai mult sau mai putin de duzina. Momentele de umor nu lipsesc, dar comedia de calitate ce isi merita costul nu prea e de gasit nicaieri in cele 106 minute. Sunt putine filme ce pot fi vazute cu toata familia care nu sunt animatii, si Thunder Force e un astfel de exemplar, dar nu justifica excesul de investitie.

Regia:  Ben Falcone   

Cu: Melissa McCarthy, Octavia Spencer, Jason Bateman, Bobby Cannavale

Rating: 6/10

Also available in English

Thunder Force (2021)

Two childhood friends meet again as adults after the genius one of them has become very successful as a scientist, a fact which helped her come up with an artificial way to create superheroes.

A comedy film of more or less the run-of-the-mill kind. There are moments of humor of course, but the quality comedy that is worth its cost is pretty much nowhere to be found in all 106 minutes. There are few movies that can be seen with the whole family which aren't animated, and Thunder Force is one such example, but it just does not justify the excess investment.

Director:  Ben Falcone   

With: Melissa McCarthy, Octavia Spencer, Jason Bateman, Bobby Cannavale

Rating: 6/10

Slasher Season I - "The Executioner" (2016)

Sarah Bennett se intoarce in oraselul natal, unde parintii i-au fost ucisi brutal de The Executioner, dar momentul coincide cu o serie de crime noi de tip copycat dupa acelasi criminal.

Slasher e un serial de tip antologie ce ofera fanilor exact ce titlul promite: povesti cu multe personaje ce dureaza un sezon, in timpul caruia au loc crime spectaculoase, in adevarata traditie slasher. Similar lui American Horror Story, actorii sunt reciclati pentru fiecare sezon nou, si fiecare sezon poate fi urmarit independent de celelalte, in orice ordine.

Primul sezon incepe foarte puternic cu amintiri din anii '80 si intoarcerea personajului principal. Apoi, rand pe rand, in fiecare episod moare cate un personaj vinovat de unul din cele 7 pacate. Crimele sunt teatrale, bine gandite, dar povestea ce le leaga aduce adesea cu o telenovela cusuta cu ata alba, iar finalul slabut si inconsistent reduce mult impresia generala a intregului sezon.

Regia:  Craig David Wallace   

Productie:  Shudder   

Creator:  Aaron Martin   

Durata:  Sezonul I din 4, fiecare a cate 8 episoade (1 ora fiecare)   

Cu: Katie McGrath, Brandon Jay McLaren, Steve Byers, Dean McDermott, Christopher Jacot, Mayko Nguyen, Rob Stewart, Wendy Crewson, Jefferson Brown, Mark Ghanimé

Rating: 6/10

Also available in English

Slasher Season I - "The Executioner" (2016)

Sarah Bennett returns to her hometown, where her parents were brutally killed by The Executioner, but the moment coincides with a series of new copycat killings using the same murderer's MO.

Slasher is an anthology series that offers fans exactly what the title promises: stories with many characters that last a season, during which spectacular murders take place, in a true slasher tradition. Similar to American Horror Story, the actors are recycled for each new season, and each season can be watched independently of the others, in any order. 

The first season begins very strongly with memories from the '80s and the return of the main character. Then, one by one, in each episode, a character guilty of one of the 7 sins dies. The murders are theatrical, well thought out, but the story that connects them often resembles a soap opera with implausible causality and explanations (which can be forgiven up to a point), and the weak and inconsistent ending greatly reduces the overall impression of the entire season unfortunately.

Director:  Craig David Wallace   

Production:  Shudder, Chiller   

Creator:  Aaron Martin   

Duration:  Season I of 4, each lasting 8 episodes (1 hour each)   

With: Katie McGrath, Brandon Jay McLaren, Steve Byers, Dean McDermott, Christopher Jacot, Mayko Nguyen, Rob Stewart, Wendy Crewson, Jefferson Brown, Mark Ghanimé

Rating: 6/10

CHIPS (2017)

Un ofiter incepator si un agent FBI sub acoperire trebuie sa invete sa lucreze impreuna pentru a demasca o retea de coruptie in cadrul politiei rutiere din California.

Un film actiune/comedie ce readuce gloria unui serial popular din anii 80 pe marele ecran. Dax Shepard regizeaza si joaca in film si o face destul de bine. Filmul e distractiv, desi un pic cam amestecat si incongruent pe alocuri dar cateva scene bune sunt bine gandite, coregrafiate si regizorul pare sa stie ce atrage ochiul publicului pentru a maximiza efectul umoristic. 

Iar Michael Peña e mereu binevenit in lumea comediei.

Regia:  Dax Shepard       

Cu: Michael Peña, Dax Shepard, Vincent D'Onofrio, Rosa Salazar, Kristen Bell

Rating: 7/10

Also available in English

CHIPS (2017)

A rookie officer and an undercover FBI agent must learn to work together in porder to expose a corruption network within the California Highway Patrol.

An action / comedy film that brings back the glory of a popular series from the 80's to the big screen. Dax Shepard directs and starts in the film and does so quite well. The film is fun, although a bit mixed and incongruous in places but quite a few good scenes are well thought out, choreographed and the director seems to know what attracts the viewer's eye to maximize the humorous effect.

And Michael Peña is always welcome in the world of comedy.

Director:  Dax Shepard       

With: Michael Peña, Dax Shepard, Vincent D'Onofrio, Rosa Salazar, Kristen Bell

Rating: 7/10

We Have Always Lived in the Castle (2018)

Stabilitatea unei familii instarite de doar trei membri este amenintata de sosirea unui var indepartat ce a pus ochii pe averea familiei.

O adaptare dupa un roman popular al lui Shirley Jackson. Filmul are multe calitati, dar se pare ca la capitolul redarii cartii cu fidelitate pierde puncte. Filmul e categorisit drept film de groaza si drama si nu e complet gresit. Doar ca elementul de groaza nu provine de la sursa aleasa de autoare (incertitudinea fata de caracterul copilelor) ci de tratamentul dur cu care sunt tratate personajele de toti cei din jur care sufera de invidie, deoarece producatorii filmului au ales sa transforme personajele principale in victime pentru a gasi o explicatie usor de digerat pentru actiunile lor indoielnice: pacat! Dialogul este foarte bogat si viu, Taissa Farmiga si Alexandra Daddario sunt minunate in rolurile principale, Crispin Glover e genial in roul unchiului putin lipsit de acasa.

Regia:  Stacie Passon    

Cu: Taissa Farmiga, Alexandra Daddario, Crispin Glover, Sebastian Stan

Rating: 7/10

Also available in English

We Have Always Lived in the Castle (2018)

The stability of a wealthy family of only three members is threatened by the arrival of a distant cousin who has set his eyes on the family fortune.

An adaptation of a popular novel by Shirley Jackson. The film has many qualities, but it seems that in terms of adapting the book faithfully it does lose points. The film is labbeled a horror and a drama and that's not completely wrong. It's just that the element of horror does not come from the source designed by the author (the reader's doubts about the children's true nature) but from the harsh treatment the characters suffer from everyone around them, because the filmmakers chose to victimise the main characters in order to find an easily digestible explanation for their dubious actions: what a shame! 

The dialogue is very rich and lively, Taissa Farmiga and Alexandra Daddario are wonderful in the main roles, Crispin Glover is brilliant in the role of their slightly not-all-there uncle.

Director:  Stacie Passon    

With: Taissa Farmiga, Alexandra Daddario, Crispin Glover, Sebastian Stan

Rating: 7/10