Welcome to Reviews from the Horror Chamber. I am your chamber keeper, Anthony Thurber. I have some news on a couple of films that I’ve reviewed in the past, so it’s time for another edition of News (N) and Thoughts (T).
(N) Eat Your Heart Out was recently review in the horror chamber back in April, now the film has been picked up by Lionsgate and they re-titled the film “Skinned Alive” The movie will be out on DVD August 26th.
(T) I enjoyed this film, as this was a different type of zombie film. You can check my review of the film including the updated info at: http://www.filmarcade.net/2008/04/reviews-from-horror-chamber-kinky.html
(N) It didn’t take long for one of the best horror films of this year so far to find a distribution deal. 13 Hours in a Warehouse, a film I reviewed back in late March now has release date. The film which was picked up by Maverick Entertainment will be available on DVD on October 28th (3 Days after my birthday, Had to throw that tidbit in there) .
(T) If you closely at the poster, which you can find on the film's myspace page, your truly is quoted in the poster. This is one of those films where, you will hear me talk about it more near its release date. But for now, you can read my review of the film at: http://www.filmarcade.net/2008/03/13-hours-in-warehouse-review-by-anthony.html
And that’s it for news and thoughts. Now on to the reviews.
Otis
Year: 2008
Director: Tony Karntz
Stars: Daniel Stern, Illeana Douglas, Kevin Pollak
MPAA Rating: R
Studio: Warner Brothers / Raw Feed
Running Time: 100 Mins
Review Rating: 4 Stars
Official Website: http://www.otisdvd.com/
Otis is the fourth entry in the Raw Feed series. The film is about a part-time pizza delivery guy who is shy and thinks that he’s wicked cool and oh by the way he’s a complete psycho who calls the women that he abducts Kim. This time around he abducts a woman from a happy suburban family. Unlike the previous abductions where the families of his previous victims did nothing, this family decides to fight back. They do that by using array of weapons that you would thing of using. The film also co-stars Jere Burns, Ashley Johnson and Bostin Christopher, as Otis.
Otis is easily a more accessible film than Karntz’s last film Sublime (which I recommend). Director Tony Kartz does a good job directing this dark comedy. He nails the dark humor and the subject matter very well, as the humor didn’t feel stupid. Karntz also goes a very good job with the film’s tone. It was one of those films, where there a lot of sub-genres are being used. To his credit, Kartntz goes a good job balancing it, so that the tone isn’t off base. His direction of the actors was very good especially Bostin Christopher, who makes his character’s state of mind, very disturbing with his presence. It was very nice to see Daniel Stern (City Slickers, Home Alone), Illena Douglas (To Die For, Ghost World) and Kevin Pollak (The Usual Suspects, The Whole Nine Yards) headline a film, as I’m a fan of each of the actor’s works. Each of their performances was very good, as they played a vital part of the film.
The screenplay was written by Thomas Schnauz and Erik Jendresen was very good. They developed the title character very well. They focused on his state of mind, as it wasn’t too comical or light. They made him out as a sick individual that nobody loves. They save the comic tone for the development of the family. The screenwriters do that so the film doesn’t get too dark or to the point where the film is just another of those abduction / torture porn films. They also use the humor in proper places, as it didn’t feel disturbing. Most of the dark humor, in the film is satirical. The writers would use in scenes, in which the family or the FBI were in the scene. It was done to spoof procedural cop shows and the media’s obsession with these missing person cases.
Otis a dark and twisted comedy – horror film that will make you laugh and make you feel disturbed.
Pink Eye
Year: 2008
Director: James Tucker
Stars: Melissa Bacelar, Joshua Nelson, Joshua James
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Los Angles Films
Running Time: 78 Mins
Review Rating: 5 Stars
Official Website: http://www.myspace.com/pinkeyemovie
(T) If you closely at the poster, which you can find on the film's myspace page, your truly is quoted in the poster. This is one of those films where, you will hear me talk about it more near its release date. But for now, you can read my review of the film at: http://www.filmarcade.net/2008/03/13-hours-in-warehouse-review-by-anthony.html
And that’s it for news and thoughts. Now on to the reviews.
OtisYear: 2008
Director: Tony Karntz
Stars: Daniel Stern, Illeana Douglas, Kevin Pollak
MPAA Rating: R
Studio: Warner Brothers / Raw Feed
Running Time: 100 Mins
Review Rating: 4 Stars
Official Website: http://www.otisdvd.com/
Otis is the fourth entry in the Raw Feed series. The film is about a part-time pizza delivery guy who is shy and thinks that he’s wicked cool and oh by the way he’s a complete psycho who calls the women that he abducts Kim. This time around he abducts a woman from a happy suburban family. Unlike the previous abductions where the families of his previous victims did nothing, this family decides to fight back. They do that by using array of weapons that you would thing of using. The film also co-stars Jere Burns, Ashley Johnson and Bostin Christopher, as Otis.
Otis is easily a more accessible film than Karntz’s last film Sublime (which I recommend). Director Tony Kartz does a good job directing this dark comedy. He nails the dark humor and the subject matter very well, as the humor didn’t feel stupid. Karntz also goes a very good job with the film’s tone. It was one of those films, where there a lot of sub-genres are being used. To his credit, Kartntz goes a good job balancing it, so that the tone isn’t off base. His direction of the actors was very good especially Bostin Christopher, who makes his character’s state of mind, very disturbing with his presence. It was very nice to see Daniel Stern (City Slickers, Home Alone), Illena Douglas (To Die For, Ghost World) and Kevin Pollak (The Usual Suspects, The Whole Nine Yards) headline a film, as I’m a fan of each of the actor’s works. Each of their performances was very good, as they played a vital part of the film.
The screenplay was written by Thomas Schnauz and Erik Jendresen was very good. They developed the title character very well. They focused on his state of mind, as it wasn’t too comical or light. They made him out as a sick individual that nobody loves. They save the comic tone for the development of the family. The screenwriters do that so the film doesn’t get too dark or to the point where the film is just another of those abduction / torture porn films. They also use the humor in proper places, as it didn’t feel disturbing. Most of the dark humor, in the film is satirical. The writers would use in scenes, in which the family or the FBI were in the scene. It was done to spoof procedural cop shows and the media’s obsession with these missing person cases.
Otis a dark and twisted comedy – horror film that will make you laugh and make you feel disturbed.
Pink EyeYear: 2008
Director: James Tucker
Stars: Melissa Bacelar, Joshua Nelson, Joshua James
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Los Angles Films
Running Time: 78 Mins
Review Rating: 5 Stars
Official Website: http://www.myspace.com/pinkeyemovie
Pink Eye reunites Director James Tucker with stars Melissa Bacelar and Joshua Nelson who all worked on Skinned Alive (aka. Eat Your Heart Out), a film that I reviewed inside the horror chamber, a couple of months ago. The film is about an upstate New York asylum where doctors are testing a top-secret drug. Soon the subjects are starting to lose their mind and killing themselves in horrible ways. The project gets worse when one of the angry patients escapes the hospital. All deformed and everything, he starts to go on a killing spree until he comes across a family in the woods. He then, begins to stalk them. Can he be stopped before he strikes again?
Pink Eye is a frightening and suspenseful horror film. Director James Tucker creates this gory/suspenseful horror film to perfection. He does that by creating a dark atmosphere in the way he has the scenes shot. It gives off that dark and creepy vibe that haunts you through out the film. His direction with the actors was very good. I thought Melissa Bacelar and Joshua Nelson’s performances were very good. They are both maturing into good solid actors, as the performances were one of the main factors that contributed to the success of this film.
Joshua Nelson’s Screenplay was very good. He goes a very good job developing the characters, as you cared for them. Another thing that was done right was that he balances his focus on the struggles of the family and the chaos that ensures. Nelson’s creation of characters were very good, especially the main villain, as he made the character creepy and frightening. It also helped, the tone of the film become dark. He also adds a lot of suspense and gory moments to the story. Nelson does that so the viewer is terrified and shocked with the events.
Pink Eye is a frightening and suspenseful with an ending that will leave you in shock.
If you’re a filmmaker and interested in having your horror film reviewed in the horror chamber, you can reach the Chamber Keeper himself at horrorchamber@filmarcade.net or if you have any film in any genres that you want Film Arcade to review. Send us an email at screeners@filmarcade.net.
Also, don’t forget to add the official myspace home of Reviews From the Horror Chamber at http://www.myspace.com/reviewsfromthehorchamber.
Pink Eye is a frightening and suspenseful horror film. Director James Tucker creates this gory/suspenseful horror film to perfection. He does that by creating a dark atmosphere in the way he has the scenes shot. It gives off that dark and creepy vibe that haunts you through out the film. His direction with the actors was very good. I thought Melissa Bacelar and Joshua Nelson’s performances were very good. They are both maturing into good solid actors, as the performances were one of the main factors that contributed to the success of this film.
Joshua Nelson’s Screenplay was very good. He goes a very good job developing the characters, as you cared for them. Another thing that was done right was that he balances his focus on the struggles of the family and the chaos that ensures. Nelson’s creation of characters were very good, especially the main villain, as he made the character creepy and frightening. It also helped, the tone of the film become dark. He also adds a lot of suspense and gory moments to the story. Nelson does that so the viewer is terrified and shocked with the events.
Pink Eye is a frightening and suspenseful with an ending that will leave you in shock.
If you’re a filmmaker and interested in having your horror film reviewed in the horror chamber, you can reach the Chamber Keeper himself at horrorchamber@filmarcade.net or if you have any film in any genres that you want Film Arcade to review. Send us an email at screeners@filmarcade.net.
Also, don’t forget to add the official myspace home of Reviews From the Horror Chamber at http://www.myspace.com/reviewsfromthehorchamber.
Until next week, have a frightening day.
Otis sounds like a big hit with everyone. Great reviews!!
great reviews. Otis was an awesome film, that showed a great balance between intensity and the satirical comedy. Illeana Douglas was hilarious in the film and the family's revenge was great. I really liked that they didn't just make Otis the villain, they showed a great sense of deprivation of acceptance,which he linked most directly to his high school years that were much less than what he wished they were. It could have been better if we had some more background information on what the relationship with Kim was and if there even was a relationship there. We get that if she ever was with Otis she is not anymore and feels the only way he can feel the missing acceptance is to kidnap girls. I thought Bostin Christopher did a great job with this, his first lead role and Ashley Johnson gave us a stronger victim than most who uses her smarts to play the game and get out of there. Overall a very impressive and exciting horror film. I am glad you like it as well.
Pink Eye is the story of an insane asylum where ghastly drug experiments are conducted. There are other things going on in this nut house as well that include orderlies wearing shrunken-head masks while they rape the female patients - Remember those machines that would dry out a carved apple to make a prunie little head with a face on it? You could get them from the huge Sears catalogue when I was a kid – and I think director James Tucker got one for Christmas one year and based the mask on the memory.
I really want to see OTIS. Sounds like a really good satire. Great reviews.