Philip Seymour Hoffman's performance alone should earn this 3.5 stars.
Surprisingly easy and pleasant watch for a movie about the government and a war. I guess that's a little weird.
Recently Reviewed
4,613 reviews
I wasn't sure how rewatchable this would be, because once you know the ending, you KNOW the ending. Watching it with that knowledge though makes Alison Lohman's acting more impressive though. She really kills it.
I love Sam Rockwell, always.
Released 20 years ago, <I>Wilderness</i> is a survival horror films that I never heard of but, if you read the non-spoiler reviews, looks like it was a well-known film in certain circles. I'm glad I read them before jumping in to this because it was not what I expected.
A group of juvenile offenders, ranging from petty crimes to murder, are sent to a remote, uninhabited island after the suicide of one of their fellow inmates. From there, the suspense builds, becoming a tense cat-and-mouse game with an unknown assailant who's roaming around unseen with four vicious dogs.
The characters are well-rounded, given that the actors portraying them really get into the part. Comradery is not in their playbooks while they try to defend themselves, with many being killed off in gruesome ways. It really all comes down to not survival of the fittest but thinking like a killer and acting on those instincts, especially when paired up with other violent men who will fend for themselves in any way possible.
While some of the acting and dialog are vital to character development, it's mostly unnecessary, but does provide an example for how they eventually ended up in the situation they're in. They aren't fit for society, and their actions have landed them in this situation, one that will result in life or death.
<B>LG OLED TV Film setup</b>: I watched <I>Wilderness</i> on Plex, which, surprisingly, didn't offer quality-streaming video for this title, so LG OLED's Filmmaker Mode was the way to go to really make it a worthwhile movie-watching experience.
One of the best B-movies ever produced!
It feels so much like a typical 50s monster movie, but it somehow rises above the rest.
After the success of <I>Saw</i>, many films tried to recreate that film's magic, but failed miserably. Case in point: <I>Steel Trap</i>.
While at a party, a handful of people receive text messages to join a private party on a different floor. Upon arriving, this newly-decorated (party style) floor offers anything but fun. Instead, this group must solve a few puzzles to stay alive. When they're slowly killed off one by one in not-so-creative ways, even when the "traps" are right in front of them, the guessing games begin as to who is behind this and how are they connected (which they immediately forget to try and figure out). Not only were the characters boring, but they were pathetically rude to one another and refused to work together. Upon the reveal, you expect some lavish excuse for this whole setup, but receive one of the most pathetic excuses, one that could've been solved without this whole thing, and then life carries on.
Don't get trapped into watching this mess.
<B>Film setup</b>: I watched this film on Tubi with my LG OLED G6 TV in Filmmaker Mode in Perfect Black. As much as that helped, it can't give me back the 89 minutes I wasted watching this.
A fairly solid big budget “B-movie.”
The cast is immaterial, as they are interchangeable. Anyone could have starred, but they chose some recognizable names.
The action is a bit too frenetic at times. That may work better in a theater setting, but not so much on home viewing.
No new ground broken here, but it was well done for what they did.
I DID appreciate that the movie did not go down the trope of an infected person immediately going to the dark side. This had the character using his new found abilities to actually try to help his friends. That was at least refreshing.
Not really reinventing the wheel here, but it has a great cast (minus Barry Keoghan, who I do not like). Chris Hemsworth with an American accent is a little unnatural, and Mark Ruffalo seems to only play this character now. Still an enjoyable enough watch.
I wasn't that into Men in Black when it came out, and I'm still not really. Catchy song though.
A new arrival to Netflix, <I>The Last House</i> sounds excellent on paper and looks beautiful on screen, but becomes a poorly-executed, drawn-out sci-fi film with no answers.
In the film, we watch a family (and their neighbors) take shelter in their homes as a terrible storm approaches, but what happens next is where the real terror begins - They become sealed in their homes. Something in the rain causes them to not be able to open all doors and windows, with no communication to the outside world. So, what do they do? They carry on with their lives.
While the first half of the film introduces us to the family, along with their strengths and weaknesses, we are given various perspectives of what's happening outside, where it rains daily and wildlife is flourishing. As supplies begin to dwindle (and this family knows absolutely nothing about conserving food or basically anything in general), they begin to adapt, saving seeds and rationing food, and become creative in how they can capture water, grow plants, and trap animals. Then, the second half comes.
After a number of years being trapped in their home with still no form of escape, the outside creatures become more present. At times, it's like they're playing with their food with their small taunts, but it's not effective as their true purpose is never revealed (but they are killing people).
Now, the ending. We're not given any answers at all as to what these creatures are (are they from the bottom of the unexplored ocean? How did they use the rain to seal people in their homes? How are they able to open and lock doors?). It's also quite laughable. Throughout this film, given what this family and others experienced, you expect a solid ending that wraps things up. Nope, doesn't happen.
The film had promise. Unfortunately, it just sinks under water fast, drowning with its potential.
<B>Film setup</b>: I watched <I>The Last House</i> with an LG OLED G6 TV in Filmmaker Mode. Given it's a new release, and the film's mix between color and darkness, it was a job well done.
<I>Evil Dead Burn</i> this film into the ground.
I delayed watching this because I thought it would be make me sad, and it did.
It didn't need that twist or the turkey baster. Great example of how less can be more.
