Category Archives: Suspense

2005, Imperfect, Mediocre, Plot Twist, Psychological Thriller, Redemption, Suspense

The Lazarus Project (2005)

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From NetFlix:

Ben (Paul Walker) thought his life was over when he was sentenced to death by lethal injection. But following his execution, he awakens to a whole new world. After learning he’s been hired as a groundskeeper at a crumbling psychiatric facility, Ben realizes he’s earned a second chance. But whether he’s truly come back from the dead — or never died in the first place — remains a mystery. Linda Cardellini and Piper Perabo co-star.

Do NOT see this film. Instead see Shutter Island (2010).

In a certain sense this film is the reverse of “Shutter Island”. If Dennis Lehane had not written “Shutter Island” in 2003, I would have suspected he was inspired by “The Lazarus Project”.

Watch it if you must, but see if you don’t object to the following: Our hero is ending his prison probation with a job that seems to require no computer skills. Skip ahead to the “Shutter Island”-like captivity and finally he is so clever that he suddenly develops an amazing ability with computers. Moreover he is so clever that his captors give up without much fight. I just don’t buy it.

2005, Book Review, Child Molestation, Complicated, Dark, Detective, Explicit sex, Kidnapping, Occasional gore, Plot Twist, Rape, Revenge, Serial Killer, Sex Scenes, Suspense, Violent

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2005)

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From the book jacket:

Harriet Vanger, scion of one of Sweden’s wealthiest families, disappeared over forty years ago. All these years later, her aged uncle continues to seek the truth. He hires Mikael Blomkvist, a crusading journalist recently trapped by a libel conviction, to investigate. He is aided by the pierced and tattooed punk prodigy Lisbeth Salander. Together they tap into a vein of unfathomable iniquity and astonishing corruption.

Stieg Larsson has written a trilogy entitled “Millennium” whose three books in order are:

  • The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
  • The Girl Who Played With Fire
  • The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets’ Nest

My Vintage Books paperback edition is 644 pages long. Because the book is such a page-turner I devoured the book in a weekend. I was intent on reading the book before I watched the Danish film version.

Much of the narrative alternates often between the activities of Blomkvist and Salander, somewhat like ships in the night. Eventually they work closely together. Take “closely” to have two meanings because Blomkvist in the course of the novel sleeps with three different women.

Expect some graphic rape scenes, sadistic serial killings, and really nasty members of the Vanger clan. Also expect to have a lot of fun.

Initially I tried to maintain a written list of the many characters. Finally the novel itself provides a table of Vanger family members to which I often referred.

2009, Atom Egoyan, Drama, Erotic Thriller, Explicit sex, Explicit sexual discussion, Mostly About Sex, Nudity, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Vulgar

Chloe (2009)

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From NetFlix:

Suspecting her husband, David (Liam Neeson), of infidelity, doctor Catherine (Julianne Moore) hires sexy escort Chloe (Amanda Seyfried) to seduce him and test his faithfulness. But as Catherine checks in on Chloe’s encounters with David, Chloe’s reports become increasingly lurid. Soon, the relationships between all three intensify in unexpected ways. Renowned filmmaker Atom Egoyan directs this psychological drama

Not until the middle of this erotic thriller did I begin to suspect the truth. In fact for much of the beginning I almost dismissed the film as a mediocre excuse for “talking dirty”. But I stayed the course thinking that Julianne Moore just does not do cheap films. Up to the very last seconds this film remains sexually ambivalent.

Amada Seyfried is deviously beautiful as the “other woman”. Every now and then I could almost mistake her for Scarlett Johanssen (which can also be spelled “Johansson”). In this film she is certainly not the wonderful girlfriend in Dear John (2010)

Worthy film or not ? I am not sure. Opinions welcome.

2007, Complicated, Detective, Mediocre, Occasional gore, Revenge, Serial Killer, Suspense, Violent

88 Minutes (2007)

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From NetFlix:

Jack Gramm (Al Pacino) — a college professor and occasional forensic psychologist for the FBI — finds himself in a race against time when he receives a mysterious phone call telling him he has exactly 88 minutes left to live. Can he track down his would-be killer before the clock runs out? Amy Brenneman, Leelee Sobieski, Deborah Unger and William Forsythe co-star in this real-time thriller from director Jon Avnet.

As usual Al Pacino plays Al Pacino in this somewhat mediocre serial-killer drama. There are probably too many complicated details. A better plot would have made Al Pacino look guilty and would have made it more difficult for him to convince others of his innocence. He was too all-knowing and always knew what to look for next. I have seen much better “Law and Order” episodes.

2001, Corny, Melodrama, Military, Prison, Redemption, Revenge, Suspense, Violent

The Last Castle (2001)

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From NetFlix:

When General Irwin (Robert Redford) — a POW in Vietnam and a revered hero in the Persian Gulf and Bosnian campaigns — is court-martialed for disobeying orders, he’s sentenced to serve time at a maximum-security military prison run by a hard-nosed disciplinarian (James Gandolfini). But a battle of wills emerges between the two men as the prisoners and guards of “The Castle” find themselves drawn to Irwin’s natural leadership abilities

Because I was looking for films with Mark Ruffalo, I stumbled upon this forgettable production. Assumedly you know what “corny” means: mawkishly sentimental, sermons that tell you what you should be feeling, clichéd emotional tugs at the heart, etc. Or am I being cynical about this film which seems to be an effusive memorial service for Robert Redford. (Do you suppose he really doesn’t get it ?)

OK, forget the above snobbish attitude. To tell the truth, once I started watching I could not stop. James Gandolfini is the most wonderfully smarmy and sadistic prison commander you could imagine (but very different from the prison commander in the unforgettable “Shawshank Redemption”).

Granted that the final action scenes would be completely impossible, so outrageous that this movie deserves to be a cult film. Nevertheless it was a real blast seeing how General Redford’s ragtag army defeats all Gandolfini’s offensive moves.

Does Mark Ruffalo experience personal conversion ? Is the dastardly Gandolfini exposed ? Does General Redford go on to greater glory? Does that really mean and nasty tower guard get his comeuppance ? Stay tuned for more thrills and chills!

1996, Crime, Gangs, Revenge, Sex Scenes, Stalker, Suspense, Violent

The Juror (1996)

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From NetFlix:

Annie Laird (Demi Moore), a juror in an anti-Mafia trial, is forced to play along with The Teacher (Alec Baldwin), a gangster who threatens to kidnap and harm Annie’s son if she doesn’t convince her fellow jurors to return a “not guilty” verdict. But it seems The Teacher has become obsessed with her and won’t let her be — even after the end of the trial. Annie’s only way to protect herself and her son may be to take on the mob.

What a blast from the past! As soon as you see Demi Moore, Alec Baldwin, and James Gandolfini, you realize how much they (and we) have aged. That’s even more scary than this really gripping jury-stalker-mob film. Just hold onto your seats and enjoy the descent.

Can there be a better sociopathic monster than Alec Baldwin ? Talk about a super stalker! Fourteen years after this film, we see him doing comedy in “30 Rock” as a much heavier man.

Eleven years after this film, James Gandofini starred in “The Sopranos”.

Lindsay Crouse may not be as familiar as the above three stars, but we have seen her live many times locally as a stage actress. She (and just about every other actor under the sun) has appeared several times in “Law and Order”. For what it is worth, she graduated from Radcliffe in 1970 with the first class to receive Harvard diplomas.

Technology in the form of eavesdropping plays an important part in the plot. Notice that the cellphone is not used. It might be a lot easier to foil a stalker if you have a cellphone.

This one glued me to my chair!

2000, Crime, Detective, Direct to Video, Imperfect, Mediocre, Mystery Film, Plot Twist, Psychic Phenomena, Serial Killer, Suspense

Eye of the Killer (2000)

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From NetFlix:

After a blow to the head, haggard Det. Mickey Hayden (Kiefer Sutherland) acquires an extraordinary new ability: He can visualize the owner of anything he touches. This homicide-solving talent comes in handy when Hayden gets assigned to the hardest case of his life. A serial killer named Jabberwocky has resurfaced, pinning a note to his most recent victim challenging Hayden to stalk the murderer again in this direct-to-video thriller.

Despite being a mediocre film about psychic phenomena, the plot has some good surprises (including the very end). Alcoholic, depressed detectives are now such a cliche. And why do they often hang out in gay bars when they are really straight ? The fact that this film is a direct-to-video should be enough of a warning.

Is this damning with faint praise ?

2005, Political Suspense, Redemption, Revenge, Suspense, Terrorist Attack, Violent

The Interpreter (2005)

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From NetFlix:

Silvia Broome (Nicole Kidman) is a linguist whose job is to translate for her assigned delegate the complex issues facing the United Nations. But her daily challenge turns perilous when she overhears a plot to assassinate a high-ranking government official. Suddenly in the crosshairs of the conspirators, Silvia — with help from a Secret Service agent (Sean Penn) — must unravel an intricate web of intrigue to save herself.

Sean Penn and Nicole Kidman parry well (and thank goodness they don’t fall into the cliche of becoming lovers. Oops! did I give something away? But romance is not the point of this film at all!). Each has his or her own sorrow which eventually comes forth. Actually the theme is whether to forgive or avenge a wrong.

Details might be hard to follow at times. There is, of course, violence. In a way this is a mystery story: what’s really happening?

I was amused to see quite a few “Law and Order” participants. But then who hasn’t been on “Law and Order”?

Although the film is nothing special, I stayed glued to see the conclusion.

2006, Fantasy, Occasional gore, Suspense, TV Series

The Lost Room (2006)

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From NetFlix:

After Detective Joe Miller (Peter Krause) finds a key that opens a mysterious motel room, he discovers it’s a portal to an alternate universe when his young daughter Anna (Elle Fanning) disappears inside. Desperate to retrieve the key and save her, Miller comes up against a host of bizarre characters who also want access to the room. Julianna Margulies, Kevin Pollak, Dennis Christopher and Margaret Cho co-star in this eerie fantasy

My son Mike recommended that I watch a wonderful TV fantasy miniseries called The Room. As it turns out, Mike made a small mistake. “The Room” is now a cult film that plays often at the Coolidge Corner cinema. “The Room” is billed as the worst film ever made. Unfortunately “The Room” arrived from NetFlix and I started to watch it. Believe me, “The Room” might possibly be the worst film ever made. Whatever you do, do NOT watch “The Room”.

What Mike should have recommended was a two-disk TV miniseries called “The Lost Room”. If you liked “Lost” and other such fantasy series, you will love “The Lost Room”. Peter Krause is perfect. And lately I keep finding films in which Julianna Margulies (“Canterbury’s Law”, “The Good Wife”, The Man From Elysian Fields (2001)) plays.

Just sit back, suspend all disbelief, and enjoy the ride!

2007, Complicated, Drama, Imperfect, Love Story, Mediocre, Suspense

Premonition (2007)

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From NetFlix:

Housewife Linda Hanson (Sandra Bullock) is devastated when her husband (Julian McMahon) dies suddenly in a car crash. But when he reappears the next day as if nothing had ever happened, she realizes the tragedy might have just been a premonition. The question now is, can Linda prevent the horrible event from happening again, or is she powerless to redirect fate? Amber Valletta and Nia Long also star.

Most Sandra Bullock films have been date films. They are light hearted films that make Kathy and me laugh and have a good time. In The Blind Side (2009) she gets a little more serious. As far as I can recall “Premonition” is one of her few serious films. Although Rotten Tomatoes
gives a really low rating, the story itself kept me interested.

For me Julian McMahon will always be the womanizing plastic surgeon from “Nip/Tuck” (whose first few years were outrageous fun to watch).

Probably the story kept me challenged because it was a bit difficult to understand the time sequencing. Call me a romantic but I just wanted to see love triumph.

Sadly, the writers saw fit to have this poor depressed housewife visit a Catholic priest to hear a lot of maudlin nonsense. This part was high on the “Yuck”-o-meter.

If you think about it, who caused the husband’s death ?

All is all, a B-movie that is not horrible.