Time to Kill (2014 Short Film Review)

TIME TO KILL
(2014, dir: Justin Rettke)

As some of you may know, I am a big fan of crime and action cinema. When I was approached earlier this month to check out an exclusive online screening of the short film Time to Kill, a film following the life of a hitman, I was very excited and honoured. That being said, I always feel uneasy when I see some of my favourite concepts and genres being tackled from a comedic perspective. To save spoiling the complete story for you, here's the synopsis:
“For years, we've seen that moment. The hit man, sitting in the chair, moonlight slicing across his face, his gun pointed at his sputtering victim. Harris is such a man, so very good at what he does. What he’s not so good at is filling the time before the kill. Time he spends questioning his life, wondering if he even has one. Harris can kill anything that moves... except time.”
I always go in to films with an open mind, no matter if it's something I seek out for myself or if it's a film that has been sent over by those directly involved. Why blindfully bullshit and give a dishonest review? Thankfully, I can honestly say that I really enjoyed this 10 minute short. Watching a seemingly cold blooded hitman killing time and revealing himself to be just like you and I is a concept I don't think I have seen before. He has his problems just like us regular folk. He's got an overbearing mother, relationship issues as well as wanting more out of his life. An average Joe who just happens to make his money by being a cold blooded killer. Christoper T. Wood (Friends with Benefits) plays the hitman in a subtle, ultimately realistic way and definitely looks the part. Even though he's essentially the only character in the short, he carries the film's narrative nicely.

The film was paced nicely and fitted the 10 minut run pretty much perfectly thanks to some well executed editing from Jack Price (in his first credit) and solid directing and writing by Justin Rettke (Hawaii Five-0), T. Wood and Scott Frank (Her First Black Guy). The comedy aspect is just right. Blending some slapstick elements with juxtapositions and some genuinely witty moments. In terms of aesthetic quality, this is a high quality production with some simple, yet effective cinematography by Michael Marius Pessah (Little Erin Merryweather). It's a good looking film and the sound is equally impressive with a very fitting score by Brandon Vaccaro (Driven to Ride) that adds to mood. All in all, it's just a very polished and enjoyable short that doesn't outstay its runtime or undeliver. It's a subtle comedic character study that fans of comedy should definitely check out. Everyone involved deserves to praised. From what I saw, there's definitely room for a sequel, maybe even prequel, which I would be more than happy to check out.

It's definitely safe to see why it has received the praise and success it has had on the festival circuit.Want to check it out for yourself? Well you can! Those involved have made it available to stream online free:

Time to Kill from Cindy Hong on Vimeo.

A massive thank you to Christopher T. Wood for giving me the opportunity to check out this short prior to release!

PDx

Dr. Alien (1989)

"She has the cure for growing pains..."
There comes a time in every boys life where they experience the problem this piece of educational film making covers. That moment where all of a sudden your hormones, the testosterone completely takes over and next thing you know, you are beating the women off left right and centre. OK that is completely bullshit and that has nothing to do with this film but I needed your attention. Sit down and shut up because class is in session!

Dr. Alien is another film by prolific cheese director David DeCoteau from 1989. What we have in this fine effort is a teen comedy in which a socially awkward, intelligent teenage boy gets wrapped up in an intergalactic breeding plot when his biology teacher has an accident and his replacement is a stunner of an alien (would a female alien technically be called alienne?) who is trying to secure the future of her planet. The experiment makes our likable lead become a pussy magnet with a rather nasty looking fleshy antenna on his head.... so damn hot! As he's beating the women off with a stick (not literally, it's not one of those movies... sicko!) his heart is for one girl only and boy is she a cutie! No big twists or turns in this one folks!



Because I am good to you sleazehounds out there, let's get the main reason you are going to buy this film out of the way first, the women! Oh yes gentlemen (and ladies of course) we have a fine display of treats on offer! The big names I was glad to see where of course Linnea Quigley and even better, Ginger Lynne! Of course I have to mention Judy Landers who plays our teacher and last but by no means least, my personal favourite of the film, Olivia Barash who plays as the adorable love interest. Of course this film is littered in pure, unadulterated female nudity so if that's your thing then this a perfect film for you!

This film has more than just eye candy though. Our main guy is a genuinely likable chap even when he lets his new found sex appeal get to his head (literally... I'm hilarious!). You genuinely root for him when he gets mobbed by gangs of nubile young things and you want him to get the girl at the same time. It's a genuinely funny film which like most films of this type and era, don't take themselves too seriously. There is a never a dull moment and that's what I really enjoyed most about this one, especially when you look at modern teen comedies which are just crude, unfunny pieces of crap.

The story is nice and simple and the characters are all a joy to watch. You get a real sense that this was a fun film to make and there's something about films from the 80's in high schools and colleges that just appeal to me. The film has many memorable moments including the various dreams our stud has, the awesome gig scene towards the end of the film, a rather fun scene that involves a mobbing in the girls showers and a great climax. Of course, the film is littered with gems and it would do a great injustice to just tell you and not experience it for yourself.

Overall I highly recommend this film to anyone who loves a good cheesy ride... and of course bodacious boobs by the spacecraft load. If you are looking for that outlandish strong stinking bishop style cheese however, you might not fully get that experience but I'm sure you connoisseurs out there know this already. Once again 88 Films have put a great package with the trailers, reversible artwork and of course the bonus film which in this case is a rather interesting oddity from the early 1970's called Auditions which is kinda like a 70's version of a porno casting couch video... only the wannabe stars don't get humiliated by the redneck behind the camera!

Had to end on a high note!

PDx

Some Guy Who Kills People Review

Modern horror comedies recently have been very hit and miss. They are either overly cheesy and get dull or are just plain unfunny. That is why when I first head of Some Guy Who Kills People I was kinda worried that this was just another disposable horror comedy to add to the avoid pile. Three major factors made me change my mind and want to give this a watch. Number one, it is the first film put out by Grimm Entertainment label. Number two, John Landis (An American Werewolf In London) is the executive producer and number three, it has a kick ass trailer. Probably out of the three main reasons, the fact that Grimm Entertainment is the new venture from Grimmfest which is Manchester based company that puts on it's own festival and has screenings of some fantastic films. I took a chance and got in touch and the guys kindly sent me a disco for me to review, so let's get started by checking out some still from the film:

 Some Guy follows the story of Ken a comic book obsessed loner who has been recently released from "the loony bin" after he spent years there recovering from the torture he received at the hands of some jocks he insulted in his comic book. He works in an ice cream parlour and lives with his rather harsh and bitchy mother who is constantly disappointed. Ken's life is about to get a little more interesting as he is unwittingly reuinted with his estranged daughter, getting romantically involved with a bumbling British cutie and not to mention the jocks that had tortured him years earlier are mysteriously getting picked off one by one in some gruesome ways. Will he develop a bond with his daughter? Will his new relationship last? Who is behind the attacks? Is Ken seeking out his revenge? That is for you and the not too bright police department to find out. Be careful though, it's going to be bloody!

Overall, this is hands down one of the best horror comedies to be released in a long time. Not only is the comedy genuinely funny but it never oversteps the boundaries of taste. The scenes involving the police, especially the Sheriff (Barry Bostwick) have the best laughs and they kinda remind me of the cops from the original Last House On The Left. Ken is played perfectly by  Kevin Corrigan who puts in a genuine and honest performance. His love interest Stephanie is played by Lucy Davis who is pretty much playing the character she plays in most things, the bumbling British character. Both are likeable and work well together. The rest of the cast, especially Ken's daughter Amy also put in some great performances. This is a well put together cast indeed. The story is simple but never boring and has some twists and turns. The kills although not the most imaginative are pulled off brilliantly and the gore is spot on. A bonus is that there doesn't seem to be a drop of CGI at all in this film and if there is, it's done brilliantly.

This film is a well balanced horror comedy at a time where horror comedies are hit and miss. There is a fine balance of comedy and drama. There are some genuinely dark and tense moments which add to the experience. It may not be the most goriest slasher or the most absurd but it sure is a hugely entertaining film from the director who brought us the cheese fest Mega Shark v.s Giant Octopus. The kills are satisfying and overall, the film feels almost like a flick from the late 80's or early 90's. If like me, you are bored of horror comedies, then check this one out as it will restore your faith in this over saturated sub genre. This is a great first release of hopefully many from Grimm Entertainment and is well worth the price of admission.

PDx

Some Guy Who Kills People is now available on DVD, Blu-ray and on demand from Grimm Entertainment and Koch Media. Home release includes a making of and an audio commentary.

GRIMM LABEL WEBSITE