Late Night Quickies

DEAD SPACE: DOWNFALL-2008-This is an American made ALIEN inspired horror animation that tries very hard to be like a Japanese anime. It kind of succeeds but it’s not for everyone. I think it’s based on a video game.

A space ship from Earth picks up a supposedly religious relic but it unleashes ALIEN/THE THING like creatures that drink blood and kills. Bruce Boxleitner, Kelly Hu and Keith Szarabajka provide the lead voices. Director Chuck Patton had previously done work on GI JOE, DINOSAUCERS and SPAWN.

SHUTTER-2008- A newlywed couple (Joshua Jackson from TV’s FRINGE and TRANSFORMER's Rachael Taylor) arrive in Japan where the husband works as a photographer. While enjoying a short honeymoon they seem to run down a (RING look) girl while driving. No victim is found but later on mysterious images begin to appear in all the husband’s photographic work. While highly derivative in spots (part of the story is reminiscent of the ‘80’s film GHOST STORY) director Masayuki Ochiai makes some good spooky scenes and a great final scene!

LET’S ROCK-1958-“To rock or not to rock”. In his only real movie appearance singer Julius LaRosa plays Tommy Adane, singer of ballads who’s finding it hard to have a hit because Rock and Roll is more popular and he refuses to have anything to do with it. Danny and The Juniors (who do “At The Hop”), Roy Hamilton, The Royal Teens, Paul Anka and Della Reese all perform. Even future TV game show host Wink Martindale does the rocking “All Love Broke Loose”. Conrad Janis is Adane’s manager who wants him to record a rock tune.

I’M CYBORG BUT THAT’S OK-2006-In this Korea lensed comedy-drama a young woman (Su-jeong Lim) thinks she’s a cyborg, When she almost kills herself at work she’s put in a mental hospital with other eccentric crazy people. Eventually a male patient (Rain) tries to help her eat. This was too long and weird for me to enjoy (and has an all too typical confused ending) but it probably has the makings of a cult film courtesy of director Chan wook-Park (OLD BOY).

Thanks for reading!