levelFILM Film Review - Wexford Plaza

Lonely 19-year-old Betty (Reid Asselstine) takes a job at a Security guard at a strip mall that has more stores shuttered then open. Here workplace poisoning boss Rich (Francis Melling) gives her the orientation tour advising her that she’s to check the ally behind the store on a regular basis. As part of the tour, she meets Danny (Darrel Gamotin) The bartender at the mall’s restaurant with very few patrons.  After a couple of drunken encounters between the pair, Betty perceives wrongly that there is more between them leading her to pursue Danny hard.

Director Joyce Wong brings a story to the screen that is close to her heart. She is a native of the Toronto suburb of Scarborough where the action takes place. Wong wanted to focus on the underdog with her main characters and also with the Strip Mall format itself as today Walmart, Home Depot and Multiplexes anchor Big Box centres cutting out the mom and pop local feeling of the 70’s & 80’s staple shopping environment.  Joyce tells the story in two non-linear halves. The first is entitled Betty as we meet her on her first day on the job, see a bit of her home life and get her encounters with Danny and the spaces in between from her point of view.  Part two is focused on Danny we go right back to that first encounter then many beats are revised through Danny’s eyes.

Reid Asslestine is delightful as Betty. Due to her appearance and lack motivation her prospects aren’t great She active on a Tinder pseudonym Winder where guys want to meet her 10 minutes after a match. However, she’s equipped with a captivating smile and willing to give as good as she gets. Darrel Gamotin is effective as the friendly money strapped Danny. He has a live-in girlfriend that wants to move out of their basement apartment but he's in a low paying job struggling with 12k  credit card debt.  

Wexford Plaza is a bare bones tale of minimum wage workers that dwell on the fringes. They spend their times talking smoke and weed breaks drinking in suburban watering holes where bottle service and velvet ropes would never think to tread. Social media plays a prominent role in the piece and Wong flips back and forth between showing text messages up on screen or on the screen of the smart phone itself. It’s an engaging tale that delves deeper than expected making it a film I can recommend.

*** ½ Out of 4.

Wexford Plaza | Joyce Wong | Canada | 2016 | 80 Minutes.

Tags: Strip Mall, Security Guard, Bartender, Direct Sales, Karaoke, Basketball, YYZ.

levelFILM Film Review - Suck It Up

Dealing with a terminal illness and the grief after the inevitable death can affect people in many different ways. Some can’t handle seeing a loved one in extreme pain as they wither away pain while others are present giving as much care and comfort as they can. It’s even more challenging when one of the two special people to the patient completely withdraws from the scene.  That’s the case here in Jordan Canning’s sophomore effort Suck It Up.

Ronnie (Grace Glowicki) and Faye (Erin Carter) are two former best friends and principals of the film. Ronnie has been on a self-destructive downward spiral since her brother’s Garrett’s death of cancer drinking and drugging constantly while spending time hanging out in her brother’s room wearing his clothes.  Faye who also happened to be Garrett’s ex-girlfriend is trying to land a job as a teacher having been estranged from the family since Garrett broke up with her a year ago to save her the fate of seeing him deteriorate. After a mishap with a lawnmower, Ronnie’s mom Dina (Nancy Kerr) calls Faye to come and help noting that her stepdaughter had hit rock bottom. At first, Faye tries to help Ronnie in the family Calgary home but then she takes a bold step of loading the passed out Ronnie into Garret's vintage Mustang for a road trip to the family Invermere  B.C. cottage for a change of scenery. The pair clash along stereotypical lines at first but soon revert more to the centre as they interact with several colourful locals.

Director Canning tells a story that has almost universal appeal. Just about everyone has suffered loss  and been in a situation where they felt that they had contributed more than someone else. The summer events chip away at Faye’s prim and proper exterior while Glowicki devours the role of wild child Ronnie taking the opportunity to breathe in all the goodness that the Columbia Valley can provide. Cinematographer Guy Godfree lens adds depth and context to the production displaying the Mountain ridges and lush valleys of the territory.

Suck It Up shows that millennials to have some depth responsibility and are willing to look out for each other. Especially taking into accounts today’s climate it was refreshing to see how often Ronnie’s friends and acquaintances looked out for her when she was in vulnerable positions. The film also had a strong message for those that have a health or physical issue that they can manage it and get on with life.

*** ½ Out of 4.

Suck It Up | Jordan Canning | Canada | 2017 |101 Minutes.

Tags: Cancer, Bender, Black Eye, MDNA, Invermere, Asthma, Diabetes, Stuttering, Canada Day, Mustang, Skype, Interview. Mud Wrestling.    

   

BiTS '17 Film Review - The Child Remains

Taken from the true account of the Butterbox babies dating from pre -1950's Nova Scotia. Native son Michael Melski builds out from the source event to create a narrative about a 42-year-old expectant first time mother Rae (Suzanne Clement) and her husband Liam (Allan Hawco) who arrive at a newly opened small town Inn to celebrate Rae's birthday. Rae was a crime reported but the violent events and imagery of the job affected her psyche forcing her to step away from the profession. Her Liam husband set up the weekend to help his expectant wife clear her mind as part of her recovery.

The pair meet their proprietor Monica (Shelly Thompson) the daughter of the original owner Rose. It turns out the inn has just reopened so they will be the only guest during their weekend stay. Melski titles the chapters by day. On the Friday arrival, Rae senses that there is something not right with the place. She has flashes of distressed mothers, babies crying and blood smeared on doors.  She goes for a walk coming upon a barbed wire fence with warnings that seem to try too hard to keep people away from a seemingly benign wooded area. Meanwhile struggling jingle writer and self-described hack Liam finds musical inspiration in an upper-level suite in the Inn where a mysterious device indicates that there is another presence in the room.

Writer-director Melski's narrative is full of ebbs and flows embedded in a complex challenging plot that pays off for the attentive viewer. Everyone featured has a connection to the house. Rae feels connected as she senses that the house like hers left is suffering from PSTD from all of the horrors its scene in the past. Melski underpins the piece with a fitting score inspired by his favourite genre films from The Shining to The Changeling.

Canadian award-winning actress Suzanne Clement leads the cast as Rae. She's compelled to dig into the Inn's past even though it could upset her delicate mental state, effect her marriage as her husband is running out of patience plus if her suspicions are correct could be dangerous to her self and unborn child. Shelly Thompson disappears into the role of Monica. Her devotion to her mother who sent her away for most of her life is unusual. She's quick to gain leverage on Liam shielding him from a past dalliance and allowing him to use of a space where he can finally grow as a musician.  Look for veteran Canadian actor Geza Kovacs as Talbot. He is a keeper of the Inn's secrets that has a soft spot for Rae.

The Child Remains title alone is a clever source of clues as to where this production is headed. The four main actors handle the material well as each character shifts dramatically from where they start at the outset of the film. The story is proof that the actions of people in real life outstrip any imagined thought of fiction. It's a story from an era that has hopefully gone by but with the growing religious zealousness today bad acts could be excused if you present as a good religious person.

*** Out of 4.

The Child Remains | Michael Melski | Canada | 2017 | 112 Minutes.

Tags: Butterbox Babies, Adoption, PSTD, Unwed Mothers, Faith, Prudence, Country Inn, Elixir, Ghosts Box, Gods Will.

BiTS '17 Film Review - Darken

Karisse (Gabrielle Graham) challenges Priestess Clarity (Christine Horne) on her pronouncements about Darken. It's not immediate death and peril if you leave this dark, grimy desolate place but instead, there is sunlight, water, and trees. Clarity banishes her with a parting gift sending Karisse into the unknown into the light to the horror of her partner Taro (Jon McLaren). Upon the wounded  
Karisse wonders Eve (Bea Santos) a nurse suffering from guilt over patients she cannot save. She renders assistance then upon hearing that there are others behind a door of an apparent abandoned building enters only to have the door lock behind her sealing her in.

Audrey Cummings helms a piece that is centered in a parallel labyrinth full of chambers, crawl spaces and tunnels. The exits aren't evident but lead to multiple alternate worlds depending on when you step through. The citizens are split between disciples who are loyal to Clarity and devoted to the creator Mother Darken and outliers forced to hide in the shadows who question Clarity's reign. As Eve explores deeper into the world she encounters Kali forcefully portrayed by Olunike Adeliyi and mute Mercy (Zoe Belkin) who introduce her to the exiles plight.

The desire to be free from a despotic leader is a theme that's permitted society and films for generations. The fear disseminated by these regimes keep their populations in place afraid to venture into the unknown or rising up due to openly advertised consequences. Survival and escape are the driving forces of the exiles. They struggle to tell what is truth versus fiction about Mother Darken and if they and disciples receive the true message from the creator as everything funnels through Clarity.

Darken is a hopeful story despite the pain and suffering endured by a good portion of its people. The citizens struggle with the dark dangerous environment run by an iron-fisted despot with some being more intuitive than others. However, when a crucial moment faces the devotees their decision is one that strengthens the viewer's faith in humanity.

*** Out of 4.

Darken | Audrey Cummings | Canada | 2017 | 85 Minutes.

Tags: Dystopian, Disciples, Sanctuary, Outsider, The Keeper, Haven, Exiles, Key, Doorway, The Light.

BiTS '17 Selected Short Film Reviewed

BESTIA - Director Gigi Saul Guerrero

A sole figure (Mathias Retamal) dressed in furs comes too on a patch of sand surrounded by water and the most magnificent setting of stumped trees imaginable. He awakes with a start remembering the terror that faded him before he passed out. Off camera, there are the growls of a very large beast. As our hero tried to get his bearings the sound seems to follow him as he enters the woods. More clues turn up to explain what went wrong before. As a bad situation progressively gets worse the protagonist must make a harrowing decision on what to do next.

*** 1/2 Out of 4

FUN - Director Greg Kovacs

Greg Kovacs is a 7-time alum of The Blood in The Snow Film Festival. His latest Fun asks the question what if when the hyper-positive children show host received a NO answer to her questions asked to the viewing audience. Pigtailed Anna (Tiffany Hunter) the host of Poppyseed place is untangling a skipping rope. Into the frame comes muppet like Ellery (voiced by D. Campbell MacKinlay)y to assist with days topic FUN. Ellery is invited to play jump rope but the audience has other more sinister suggestions on what would be FUN to do with the rope and to Ellery.

**** Out of 4.

CONSUME - Director Michael Peterson

The timely topic of residential schools is explored in this short based loosely on true events.  Former Resident school student Jacob Wematim (Julian Black Antelope) is facing losing his land and the break up of his family. He is visited by mythical wendigo spirit in the form of a female elder (Wilma Pelly). She directs him to provide meat for his family, which in his desperate state morphs into a final solution for Jacob.

*** Out of 4.

ITCH - Director Sean Patrick Kelly

John Smith (Sean C. Dwyer) is watching an infomercial for an itch remedy lotion that he's already purchased. After it ends he develops an uncontrollable itch on his right hand. He tries to scratch it then rub it with the cream. Still unable to find relief he moves on to increasing physically scarring measures to scratch that itch.

*** Out of 4.

SCRAPS - Director Christopher Giroux

Billy (Jordan Gray) and Jessica (Emily Alatalo) are leaving a bar after hitting it off on the first date. As they walk back to his place the journey seems to be taking longer and longer. The guy who seemed nice at first looks like he's leading his date astray. Soon the pair is confronted muddying the issue as to who is actually leading whom into a trap.

*** 1/2  Out of 4.

BiTS '17 Film Review - Once Upon A Time At Christmas

Jennifer (Laurel Brady) is growing tired of the charade being put on by her parents Lucy (Brook Fletcher) and Frank (Robert Nolan). They are obviously headed for divorce but try to keep up the facade of a happy family Christmas. Into their sleepy town of Woodbridge, New York come two psychotic killers posing as demonic Santa (Simon Phillips) and Harley Quinn channeling Mrs. Claus (Sayla de Goede) who sports pigtails while wielding a mean baseball bat. The pair picks off their first three days of victims before local law enforcement glean to what's going on.

Writer co-director Paul Tanter breaks new ground in the Christmas time horror market. His story is anchored on two holiday traditions an Advent calendar based title for each new day plus clues from the crimes that link to The Twelve Days of Christmas.  The tone is set early by a special spooky version of jingle bells greeting the viewer as the opening credits roll.

A film like this depends on the strength of its villains. Phillips and de Goede play of each other perfectly as the Kringles. She's often the lure disarming potential victims to his axe swinging hammer. We learn that they met in a psychiatric institute for the criminally insane which is where you would expect this duo to have gotten together. The other pair that works hand in glove is local Sheriff Mitchell (Barry Kennedy) and his number one deputy Fullard (Jeff Ellenberger). Sheriff Mitchell has veteran savvy knowing how to link together evidence in an investigation. Fullard is full of youthful exuberance eager to do the legwork checking out every last angle to catch these killers. Laurel Brady's Jennifer is not your typical scream queen. She's smart, resourceful and refuses to be the victim as she does her own research to determine why she seems to be the link to much of what's going on during the twelve-day killing spree.

Once Upon A Time At Christmas is a film with enough originality and tongue in cheek violence that it could land in heavy rotation both at Halloween and Christmas time each year. The straight-ahead narrative has enough twist to keep the audience mildly guessing. The toxic pair of killing Clauses like to play with their food as they corner then dispatch their victims. It's a deliciously gory feature that I can recommend.

***1/2 Out of 4.

Once Upon A Time At Christmas | Paul Tanter | U.K. | 2017 | 102 Minutes.

Tags: Santa Claus, Christmas, Divorce, The Mall, Axe, Bat, Crossbow, FBI, Drum Fest, Eggnog Latte, Bear Trap.

BiTS '17 Film Review - Fake Blood

Hollywood film companies want to get as wide of an audience as they can for their films. A tool to do so is not to show blood when people are shot. The reward, if you don't is a PG-13 rating. The possible side effect to your audience is a belief that violence is not messy which can lead to desensitization. Rob Grant and Mike Kovac had made a couple of small budget horror films that had moderate success on the festival circuit. Their second film Mon Ami followed two guys who worked in a hardware store that decided to kidnap the bosses' daughter for ransom. The bumblers end up killing her by mistake then go back to their hardware store to get tools to dismember the body. It's a video of this shopping spree that a fan sends to Rob making him begin to think about his responsibility to the public as a horror filmmaker.

To find out Rob and Mike go to a range and shoot guns, Mike gets in a fight in a dojo then they  contact a criminal defines attorney friend to learn what it's like to interact with real criminals on a daily basis. Another contact links them to film consultant that they call "John" who has seen and likely participated in real violence. The repeated theme is in real life violence happens and it's over fast. You can beat someone up in eight seconds. If you're caught in the wrong place at the wrong time; one moment you're here and the next your gone.

Somewhere along the way, the theme of the film changes from determining the responsibility if any of a director to the public for the level of violence portrayed on screen to chasing down those that have experienced real violence on both sides to find out how it made them feel. The latter a more dangerous proposition with real-life consequences that could put the subjects, filmmakers, family, and friends in jeopardy.

Fake Blood is a tense mix of lighthearted investigation and full-on psychological with the hint of physical peril. The documentary crosses over into reality inviting real-life consequences when the filmmakers ill-advisedly dig deeper into consultants John's stories. The switch is jarring leading to a final stanza that will stay with the viewer long after they exit the theatre. Another big difference pointed out to the pair is in movies as opposed to real life there is no aftermath. The filmmakers get to see the chilling aftermath of their actions first hand during the making of this documentary. As "John" states: Movies don't make people go out and kill people but they can change how guys who kill people behave.

**** Out of 4.

Fake Blood | Rob Grant | Canada | 2017 | 81 Minutes

Tags: Documentary, Consultant, Parking Lot, $600.00, Vancouver Island, Drug Trafficker, Manslaughter

BiTS '17 Film Review - Kill Order

David (Chris Mark) has a haunting dream where he is being medically prodded then sees a suggestive fiery figure demanding that he kill. At that points he wakes sweating, heart pounding as the alarm clock goes off in the background. He heads off to his academy school still dazed for the first class on psychosocial development.  Into first period burst a tactical team looking for David. They attempt to take him down when his hidden skills buried deep inside kick in along with his natural instincts to disable the team and escape.

This is an action film that delivers. From the first sequence when David takes out the kill team. The choreography is on point and the benefit of casting stunt people in the acting roles is clearly apparent. David is part Jason Bourne and a third Neo as he flows through the classroom taking out his adversaries.

Writer/ Director James Marsh tells a tale that is low on dialogue in its place is hand-to-hand combat, swords, slo-mo/fast paced gravity-defying sci-fi effects, blunt objects, and knives. The sets of these battles are low tech, a classroom, apartment, clearing in a forest and a medical facility. The soundtrack works in concert to communicate the intensity of the battle with David's implanted training kicking in where required. Marsh takes a co-credit for stunt coordination plus acts as the literal Ying to Davids' Yang. Besides starring as David Chris Mark also serves as fight coordinator for the film.

The narrative slowly gives clues to David's past. There's Shiro Fujitaka (Denis Akiyama) the head of the Saisei Corporation that's hit upon a new energy source. The shadowy Mr. Collins (Jason Gosbee) with a team of sunglasses suited goons that walk and talk like Agents from the Matrix. Then there's the Organization an off the book entity authors of David's augmentation in the first place.

Kill Order is a chance for the unsung to step out from the shadows and in front of the camera. The cast filled with stunts performers do the heavy lifting but don't hear cut to be replaced when its time for a close-up. The narrative is secondary to the visuals as it should be for this type of film, making it  an overload for the visual pleasure sensors not to mention a seamless set up for a sequel.

*** Out of 4.

Kill Order | James Marsh | Canada | 2017 | 77 Minutes.

Tags: Orphan, Programming, Experimentation, Reprogramming, Trigger, Tactical Team, Clean Up Crew, Spirit Energy, Kill-Love, Electric Shock, Purpose, No Name, Ying-Yang, Revenge.

BiTS '17 Film Review - Buckout Road

Three students decide to do a project on an infamous road in their Westchester New York town. After completing their project they all begin to have strange dreams based on the stories then fear they may be killed. One story is shown grindhouse style featuring two albino cannibals who appear along the road if you park and honk your horn three times. A second surrounds a wife that's accused by her husband of being impregnated by a slave. She defends herself when he attacks producing a fatal result. The third is the story of three witches who were hunted down and burned at the stake right on the roadway.

Into this environment comes Aaron Powell (Evan Ross) home from the military to stay with his grandfather (Danny Glover). Dr. Powell has a session with Cleo Harris (Dominique Provost-Chalkley) one of the students from the project. Aaron strikes up a conversation with Cleo then begins to have dreams about the urban legends himself. The twist with Aaron is he can interact with the historical figures in the nightmares as opposed to being paralyzed by the events.

Aaron joins Cleo and the Ganzer twins to do some more investigation into the Buckout Farmhouse owned by slaveowner John Buckout and wife Mary, the disheveled house of the two albinos then the  three witches that were killed that is marked by three x's on the road. They learn the story of the witches is real and that they may be being punished for their project doubting the myths.

Buckout Road is a psychological thriller, horror, mystery and historical fable mixed together. The ensemble cast does not make a false step in the piece. The young leads are backed by a veteran core of actors that beside Danny Glover include Henry Czerny and Colm Feore. If you're looking for a historical thriller with secrets passed down and protected through generations then this film is for you.

*** Out of 4.

Buckout Road | Matthew Currie Holmes | Canada | 96 Minutes.

Tags: Witches, Westchester, Sleepwalking, Curse, Cannibals, Suicide, Slave Owner, Schizophrenia.

BiTS '17 Film Review - Red Spring

The undead has been a staple of movies and television since their rebirth since the rebirth of the virus spread phenomenon in Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later.  With so many writers giving their vision on the genre it's hard to break new ground. Jeff Sinasac has managed to do so with Red Spring. The Canadian production follows a small group of humans that have survived an outbreak that has transformed the majority of the population into vampires. Some of the standard rules are followed, people are bitten and transform, they are normally not out in the day but the twist is the turned keep their abilities they had from before. They can drive cars, form roadblocks, shoot guns and track humans by sent that is used by the small band of humans to their advantage.

Sinasac stars in the film as Ray who at the fins opening is surveying rotting bodies in a shelter that has been overrun by vampires. He's looking for his wife and daughter who where were evacuated to the camp but are now missing. He head's back to the van where the rest of the group Bailey (Lindsey Middleton) driving, Solider Mitchell (Reece Presley) the defacto leader, Eric (Adam Cronheim) who himself had escaped from a farm just before becoming food and Carlos (Jonathan Robbins) are aboard with a plan to head out of the city. On their way, they come across Vicky (Elysia White) who persuades them to head to her Dad's place where there's a bomb shelter with plenty of food and security cameras to track any approach.

Sinasac flips the narrative part way through the film to give the vampire's point of view. They have a new recruit that knows the survivors well. The new disciple taunts his former friends, disrupts their hideout as a valuable tool to the vampire leader (Andre Guantanamo) who has past military training himself. The story uses scent in the spot where others have used movement or sound. The group is very aware of this leading them to use different methods to disguise their scent.

Red Spring is a fresh entry into the undead genre. The film has a healthy distrust of authority as the population was directed into shelters where many met their fate. Sinasac has something new to say about vampire behavior met with original strategies by survivors. It's a thoughtful piece and a film that I can recommend.

*** 1/2 Out of 4.

Red Spring | Jeff Sinasac | Canada | 2017 | 104 Minutes.

Tags: Vampires, Kincardine, Bomb Shelter, Motorcycle, Rain, Mud, Boat, Gunshot, Antibiotics, Ballet Class.

EUFF 17' Film Review - My Name Is Emily

Mental stability and genius are two edges of a thin piece of wire. Robert (Michael Smily) is bubbling under the wrong side of the ledger until his daughter Emily (Evanna Lynch) is born. Emily inspires more engagement then Robert fully blossoms after taking a job as a teacher. He's moved to write a book about people needing to have more sex that becomes a best seller leading to book tours, fame and happiness for his family.

Cut to the second stanza where Emily comes home searching the daily mail for a letter greeted by a man and a woman who are not her parents. Emily is in a foster home in Dublin her mother having died in a car accident causing her dad to progressively loose grip on reality and end up in a mental hospital up north. Emily is concerned as her regular birthday card from her dad has not arrived. She enlists the only friendly face in her new school Arden (George Webster) in a plot to head up north and break her dad out.

Writer/Director Simon Fitzmaurice who is paralyzed due to A.L.S. crafts a tale that is heavy on water birthing imagery and lyrical death references. The story uses timely flashbacks to fill in the gaps. Fitzmaurice challenges convention with a key theme that "A Fact Is A Point of View." Cinematographer Seamus Deasy is gifted the Irish countryside as a creative palette. Deasy takes advantage with lush green grasses and pale blues shots of the sea. Translucent underwater scenes highlighting Evanna Lynch's blue eyes mixed with a bright yellow vintage Peugeot complete the picture.

My Name is Emily is a switch in the coming of age story formula. The kids Emily and Arden not the adults are the teachers. Fitzmaurice cuts out modern convince right from the start killing Arden's mobile phone then putting the pair in a vehicle barely above walking speed. It's a pleasantly paced non-linear story that I can recommend.

 My Name is Emily | Simon Fitzmaurice | Ireland | 2015 | 94 minutes.

Tags: Father -Daughter, Book Tour, Foster Home, Mental Hospital, Weird, Road Trip, Maps, Shoplifting, The Sea.

EUFF 17' Film Review -The Citizen

Wilson (Dr. Cake-Baly Marcelo) has been trying to pass the citizenship test for years. He reads the material but the finer points just don't stick. He is a political refugee in Hungary having lost his wife in a conflict in his native land Guinea-Bissau. His two daughters also went missing due to the conflict.  He works as a security guard in a supermarket and lives in an apartment complex that mainly houses new arrivals.

After his friend Prince leaves for a job in Austria one of his aquatints Shirin (Arghaven Shekari) arrives just about to give birth. She is without status in the country as is her child that is born in Wilson's apartment. When not working or looking out for Shirin and her child Wilson starts to study with his boss' sister Mari (Agnes Mahr) in order to pass the test. Instead of mainly looking at books she takes him to the sights so he can internalize the material. Mari having been cooped up at home caring for her Husband and two grown boys comes to life in these outings growing increasingly closer to Wilson to her own surprise.

Director Roland Vranik presents a timely story in light of the migrant crisis in Europe and growing nationalism around the world. The sentiment of he is not like us bubbles beneath the surface at every turn of this film.  Wilson is a hard working individual contributing to society wanting only to have a fair shot at becoming a citizen. Vranik contrast his approach with Shirin who escapes from a refugee camp. Is hiding in the shadows without papers with her newborn child.

Dr. Cake-Baly Marcelo who himself came to Hungary as a refugee is steady, kind and thoughtful in his first acting role. He manages to hold his temper for the most part despite legitimate and dubious roadblocks put in his way alongside stereotypical attitudes of the locals. Agnes Mahr produces a complex performance as Mari. She is introduced as a tough no nonsense teacher but soon softens in the presence of her attentive expressive student. Look for Istvan Znamenak as Hentes Wilson's sonly local friend who injects some comedic moments into what is otherwise heavy narrative.

*** Out of 4

The Citizen | Roland Vranik | Hungary | 2016 | 109 Minutes.

Tags: Refugee, Camp, Birth, Citizenship Test, Papers, St. Stephen, Budapest, Magyar, Employee of the Year, Austria.

Fox Searchlight Film Review - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Anger is the fuel that drives the action both literally and metaphorically in "Three Billboards". At the head of the wronged cast of characters is Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) who 7 months after her daughters rape and death has heard nothing new from the police and does not want the case to fall off the radar. Next in line is Officer Dixon (Sam Rockwell) living with his mother, short on smarts but angry ever since his fathers death takes out his anger on the citizens of the small Missouri town especially the ones that don't look like him. Third is Mildred's ex-husband Charlie (John Hawkes) an ex-cop and former wife beater who is now shacked up with a dimwitted 19 year old (Samara Weaving) who could be a surrogate for easing the pain of loosing a teenage daughter in a violent act.

If you live in a town where the police department openly spout derogatory names for its colourful citizens while Police Chief Willoughby (Woody Harrelson) states that if you got rid of all of the racist cops the ones left would be homophobic then you're clearly in frontier land. Writer Director Martin McDonagh has not made a feel good movie. Instead his creation is raw, hurtful mean and confrontational. McDonagh goes a different way by turning the background sound off during intense exchanges.

Frances McDormand sets the tone as Mildred. She is tough as nails with a heart full of pain that will take on a police chief, rogue deputy or teenage girl if they get in her way. Lucas Hedges continues a run of strong teenage performances as Mildred son Robbie all. He has to suffer the consequences of his mom's actions at school. Then on the way home see the billboards that continually rip open the unhealed wound of the violent loss of his sister. Robbie openly opposes his mom's authority with verbal attacks then takes it to a differently level towards his dad in perhaps the most intense moment in the film.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is not about what the viewer would expect when they first enter the theatre. Instead it's about family and community relationships in a small town where startling if not criminal acts are largely ignored becuase deep down the actor is a good person that the town supports. But even if they aren't the citizens are still willing to look the other way. An excellent cast master a challenging and unique material making this film one that I can truly recommend.

**** Out of 4.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri | Martin McDonagh | UK/USA | 2017 | 115 Minutes.

Tags: Advertising, Billboards, Murder, Rape, DNA Testing, Police Brutality, Iowa, Live Eye, Zoo Worker.

Film Review - The Heretics

Gloria (Nina Kiri) the centre piece of a group cult sacrifice has not suffered any side effect of the event going on five years. She has a devoted girlfriend Joan (Jorja Cadence) who is willing to accept her despite her scars both physical and emotional due to that traumatic event. Still unsure of the reasons for that episode she is abducted by Thomas (Ry Barrett) on the eve of the current Locus Moon. Thomas takes her to a remote cabin deep in the woods where as the Locust Moon rises Gloria begins to undergo physical transformations.

Director Chad Archibald continues his exploration of the body horror realm that he pushed boundaries in with Bite. Again it's a female character thats the focus of the transformation, she's confirmed to a small space and the confirmation is both messy and painful sparked by an inner entity. Cinematographer Jeff Maher return to produce that shiny golden familiar nighttime hue that is a staple of the Black Fawn universe. The narrative is deliberate, developing slowly with just enough twist to keep the viewer guessing.

The ensemble cast embrace their roles. Ry Barrett turns in another solid anti-hero role as Thomas. Newcomer Jorja Cadence has perhaps the most to do as Joan. She fiercely hunts for her missing partner willing to use any means necessary to extract information for someone who she thinks could supply a lead. Nina Kiri gives a storm physical performance as Gloria. She's chained to a wall sitting on the floor for a good part of the film. Only moving when a new hole protrudes from her body to reveal a new appendage or black puss oozes from a pore.

The Heretics features a shifting narrative that's a strong entry into the body horror genre. The nimble actors roll with their every changing fates backed by visuals and makeup effects that will draw in the horror enthusiasts. Chad Archibald commands the set with a steady hand producing a tightly packaged film that I can recommend.

*** Out of 4.

The Heretics | Chad Archibald | Canada | 2017 | 87 Minutes.

Tags: Cult, Abduction, Locus Moon, Ritual, Sacrifice, Mass Suicide, Demon, Winnebago, Shotgun, Black Fawn Films.

Film Review - Thor: Ragnarok

The Ragnarok prophecy is the underlying element of the latest output from the MCU Thor: Ragnarok. Taika Waititi whose last few works include the brilliant Hunt for the Wilderpeople and What We Do In The Shadows is a different type of action director. Waititi puts his stamp on the production from the first scene. Thor (Chris Hemesworth) is suspended shackled in a cage speaking of the need sometimes to be captured to gain information. As he is speaking to his capture Sutur (Clancy Brown) wrapped in chains he spins slowly in a clockwise direction asking his tormenter often to pause exposition each time until he can complete a rotation.

Waitit injects an unprecedented amount of comedy into a Marvel film. Thor does not take himself seriously in the slightest. His banter scenes with the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) on who is the strongest along with the Hulk being a sympathetic pouting character when slighted are a sight to see. A straight forward narrative also helps to keep the momentum of the film going. Odin (Anthony Hopkins) first born child Hela (Cate Blanchett) returns from exile revealing a hidden chapter of Asgardian history. She follows Thor and the ever cheeky Loki (Tom Hiddleston) back to Asgard knocking her brother and adopted sibling off course. The pair end up in a pleasure planet Sakaar where garbage literally falls from the sky. There Thor meets the last surviving Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and must fight the Hulk in a gladiator challenge in order to return to Asgard and stop the Ragnarok prophecy.

The visual effects team alongside the set designers do yeomen work creating the films footing. The golden city of Asgard, metallic space junk falling from the sky in Sakaar stand beside the Norwegian seaside landscapes on earth. Chris Hemesworth is extremely comfortable in Thor's headspace. He pokes fun at his dependence on his hammer often standing arm outstretch waiting for the weapon to return. Tom Hiddleston continues to be his perfect foil as Loki. He's as slippery as ever but every once in a while willing to do the right thing. Look for Westworld's Tessa Thompson as the no nonsense bounty hunting hard drinking last of the Valkyries. The only character that follows a straight line is Cate Blanchett. She is mean and ruthless from first frame to the last that she is on screen.

Thor: Ragnarok is a welcome addition to the Marvel Universe. Director Taika Waititi raises the comedy level to 12 leading the cast to an improv environment that they were all willing to inhabit. It's a risk taker that ventures far off brand. The result is a fun ride that still gets the point across in a way that leans more Guardians of the Galaxy than Captain America:Civil War.

*** 1/2 Out of 4.

Thor Ragnarok | Taika Waititi | U.S.A. | 2017 | 130 Minutes.

Tags: Prophecy, Queen, Contest, Gladiator, Thunder, Norway, Wormhole, Revolution, Evacuate, DireWolf.