Low Budget Movie Buff: Movie Reviews

  Back in the ancient year of 2016, movie goers across the globe were giddily caught off guard by the wild and wondrous trailer for David Ayer’s Suicide Squad . Marching into the hearts and curious minds of many on the bombastic backbeats of Queen, this film promised a fun, violent, and obscene adventure filled with a colorful cast of deliciously quirky and dark anti-heroes; ones that the audience could both grow to love and possibly cheer on to die. So with a star studded cast taking on the roles of a slew of DC-deepcut favorites and expectations over a mile high, the film was primed for world renowned success. And on August 5, when it finally hit theaters, the masses ran to the theaters only to leave with mixed feelings ranging from “pretty alright” to “atrociously bad.” But all around, no one could deny that the film was nothing less than disappointing, given it’s hype.  Even being a huge and unapologetic DC fanboy myself, I too found the film lacking and at best viewed it ...

Gentle whispers of a dark, cold room. The feeling of an invisible hand brushing against your face when you're trying to sleep. The inescapable feeling of something or someone stalking you from the shadows with hungry eyes. Are these just illusions made manifest by unfound fears of the night or does the darkness really conspire against you? And if so, who or what does it conspire with? Such unnerving ambiguity is what conjures the thoughts that one day blossom into full blown nightmares - nightmares that we as a society love to explore and indulge through a plethora of tall tales. But perhaps when you've stepped into the darkness one too many times, the nightmares themselves begin to lose their luster and thus their tales lose their sway over no longer fearful hearts. The Conjuring franchise is probably THE most popular horror franchise of the modern era. And although it’s spinoff titles like The Nun and Annabelle have come up a little short, the main line films have managed t...

Growing up in the 90’s I always caught this David Fincher classic on tv, but admittedly as a dimwitted child, I never quite grasped what was going on. Regardless, what never changed, no matter what age I came to, was the palpable tension instilled within me whenever I watched it. And if nothing else, that alone kept my interest time after time for subsequent viewings throughout my childhood. Fast forward to today and The Game returned to me like a haunting ghost from the depths of Netflix, beckoning me for another visit, for if nothing else, a chance to offer resolution to the all too puzzling mystery laid before me so many years ago. What was The Game ? This is the very question posed by wealthy banker, Nicholas Van Orton (Michael Douglas) when he’s presented with a peculiar gift from his brother on his 48th birthday. And what does someone get for a man that presumably already has everything? Is it fancy cakes? Extravagant trinkets? Forbidden contraband? No. It’s merely a simple ...