Resolution

Wow.

I read the synopsis for RESOLUTION on Netflix and saw the cover art and thought it was going to be some silly, "torture porn" crap-fest and avoided it. The DINNER FOR FIENDS podcast raved about it, so I did a 180 and checked it out. SO glad I did.

This falls under the "don't ask too many questions - just watch" category. You don't want to know too much going in. I'd even avoid the trailer, really. Just watch and let the thing flow over and through you like lightning. :)  No jump scares. No CGI beasts. No scenes of graphic violence. Just a great story with great acting. A man goes to a remote location to save his drug addicted friend from self destruction...and things get weird.  I think that's all you need to know walking into this.


It's rare that a film holds my interest to the point where I'm afraid to look away from the screen for fear of missing something deadly important. This is one of those films for sure.  Peter Cilella and Vinny Curran turn in fantastic performances. Very real. Very solid.

The film has two Director credits - Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead. It's an interesting happening and I was curious how they took this on. Benson's script is solid as well and doesn't drift into the realm of pandering or sloppy fiction that some of these films slip into to make connections. Benson is currently doing the same Director / writer team up for a new film called SPRING and I'll be there to see it for sure.

Check out RESOLUTION at once and let us know how you liked it!

>>>>>>> S P O I L E R S <<<<<<<






I loved the CABIN IN THE WOODS nature of this film!  Something bigger is going on here, not just getting a friend off drugs. There is a large and frightening story happening to these two guys and I think it was a great choice to just leave it unexplained. Unlike CABIN, we know things are frucking crazy and odd and off, but we never get the rundown on just what is happening to our characters at the end.

I LOVED THAT!  THANK you for that. Let me wonder. Let me ponder the happenings and come up with my own creepy visions. I'm sure I'll be having them all night!

Man...loved this film.

The Innkeepers (review)

THE INNKEEPERS got a bad break.  It got a trailer that billed it as a jump out of your seat horror scare fest. One look at the trailer might have you thinking that you're going to see ghosts jumping out of the walls five minutes into the film. Don't watch the trailer for this film. 

However, if you've seen THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL, you may already know that the film's director has more in mind than just jump scares and gore.
Director Ti West serves up another slow burn with The Innkeepers. He takes his time and tells a fantastic, creepy tale about two inn workers on their last shifts at an inn that's closing it's doors.  Their relationship is on a slow burn as well - buddies that may or may not like each other in "that way".

 Sara Paxton and Pat Healy play the inn workers and turn in great little performances as the bored folks who would rather play than work in an inn with a total of three guests. Kelly McGillis also stars as a somewhat washed up and out star staying at the inn while attending a conference. The characters drift around the big, empty inn and do their best to stay awake for the final, long weekend.

But, is there something else in the inn?

This is where the trailer leads us astray a bit. We're not looking for shocks and scares in the traditional, modern sense here. West takes his time and builds up character relationships - including their relationship to the hotel - and doesn't hold to traditional pacing. It's off-putting at first, but once you see what he's doing, it allows you to settle in and really take part in the build up.



And better still, when the characters are in scary situations later, you actually CARE that they are in potential peril. This is far different than the way things usually go in modern horror these days. Today's films often use what I refer to as the "set 'em up and knock 'em down" approach. They toss a group of "teens" at you, show a boob or two, talk about the scary thing in --fill in the blank-- and then they start getting bumped off one by one in Ten Little Indian fashion until the final girl breaks the spell or whatever. You don't really care about anyone, you just want the killing to start.

It's different with these West films. You don't want to see these folks get hurt. You lean towards wanting to see them make it out of danger.

If you choose to take on the particular challenge of watching this movie, make sure you have the volume up or listen with headphones. Particular care was put into the sound design and it's well worth making sure you hear it in all it's layered glory.

Downsides time. There are not many.

It's a strange film. No doubt about that. The pace is very different from other films of it's genre. Things came to light on my second viewing that I really enjoyed, but the first time through was like watching a new driver grind the gears trying to get things into place. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to be doing. Do I laugh? Am I scared? I blame the trailer for this and I have to agree with people when they say you are better off not watching it. It confuses the situation and muddies the water.

This film unfolds in a delightful, "old school" way. And, I say that with the utmost respect of Mr. West and his work. (SEE: THE HAUNTING in the Hill House Film Review) Older films took their time. They told a story. They let things unfold and let the imagination do some of the work. West does all that here and it works really well.

Ti West

THE INNKEEPERS is funny and creepy, tells a great story and has some fun characters. It's well worth a view! Check it out and let me know what you thought about it.

Dark Music Mixes of Simon Drax

The wondrous SIMON DRAX has some cool music mixes on the 8 Tracks site for those who have a little darkness in them.

Are you looking for a little mood swing music from the twilight reaches of the soul? Look no further than DRAX! He uses the site to craft mixes that create a mood and space that strikes a dark and melodious cord. I find myself taken with the choices time and time again. He has a real sense of flow and direction that I find to be very pleasing. The the chosen music is an eclectic and wondrous mix as well. Groups I would never know about spin round each other expertly - one song leading into another with expert vision.

Turn out the lights. Settle in. Take a listen.

http://8tracks.com/drax

ABOUT SIMON DRAX

SIMON DRAX was born in Gloomy, Massachusetts. His writing has been published in The Quarterly, Bonesaw, Midnight Zoo, Fever, After Hours, and VideoScope. He is the author of the novels A VERY FAST DESCENT INTO HELL and DOOMTROOPERS, Book 1: White Sky Friday. The online serial EXIT VECTOR, originally published by Underland Press, has been archived for your reading pleasure.