Review : The Midnight Meat Train (2008)

Image Source

A struggling photographer has been given the task of finding the perfect shot, to get a shot at the big league. And for that he is intent to go as far as he could. But what he didn't realize was that the city harbored a terrifying secret from which there's no escaping......



Pretty amazing this. Not as a horror movie, but as a suspense thriller this rocks. From the start we are thrust into a world which only looks good. And as Leslie Bibb says- "The city was never safe. It was always a hellhole". We know that its going to be downhill with the dark atmosphere being created, but it isn't scary for me. Its thrilling and suspenseful though. We want to know who the killer is. And after that why is he butchering the people? And also will our protagonist ever win the battle against this cold hearted murderer? Shades of some cannibal movies but this isnt as scary even though the antagonist looks creepy and scares you with his silence and coldness. Instead of the deformed faces which the cannibal movies revel in. So this train ride does thrill you and shock you but scary its not. I don't know why but I didnt feel anything akin to dread. Except maybe when Vinnie Jones looks coldly and slaughters people left,right and centre. And the ending which did make a little uncomfortable. And also delighted that it was my kind of a ending. Nihilistic.



Japanese director Ryuhei Kitamura (No One Lives) has directed this beautifully. We are from the very start introduced to a tense atmosphere which is never let go till the very last. The claustrophobic setting of an underground train has been used well to intensify the creep which can overtake you sometimes during the course of the movie. And also the train and the abandoned station looks creepy as hell. Plus the antagonist being a butcher means he has given us a large amount of gore which keeps the Gorrors happy. He with screenwriter Jeff Buhler, who adapts the Clive Barker short story by the same name, give us a pretty entertaining and gory ride into deep depths of hell from which its literally no coming back. And with it a parable of how to keep the worlds separate we have to kill. And thats not a comfortable truth. Nice work!!

Image Source

                                                      

 Acting departments is full of pretty nice names. Bradley Cooper(Leon), Leslie Bibb(Maya), Vinnie Jones(Mahogany), Brooke Shields(Susan) and Roger Bart(Jurgis) are the five main characters around which this movie revolves. And I was especially thunderstruck on seeing Bradley in a movie as dark and bloody as this. Who would have imagined he would come out trumps in such a gory horror movie role? He is marvellous as the struggling photographer ready to go to any length to make his career. As he does the dirty work, he serenades his girlfriend as passionately which will make all his female fans go awww. And the forthright girlfriend played by Leslie is mindblowing. She is the anchor which has the power to save her boyfriend from the madness but in the end she also falls prey to it. Also in great supporting roles Roger and Brooke sparkle never letting this movie lose steam,even as you feel a couple of the scenes weren't necessary. But what is the strongest point of this movie? Definitely Vinnie who just rampages onscreen as a negative version of Thor destroying and butchering everything that he sets his eyes on with his trusted hammer. He looks just too terrifying with his cold piercing eyes and huge build. I am afraid whenever I meet him I definitely won't ask for a autograph. He steals the show from Bradley, but to be fair the latter has looks which makes it harder to portray such a bloody character. So Bradley does really well. Also all the others who act well and give the amazing Clive Barker story a nice cinematic adaptation. Well done!!

Image Source

 To accompany this, is some amazing camera work which captures the dark underbelly of the city beautifully. The subways and stations look damn amazing but creepy as hell too. And the dark atmosphere is alleviated by some nice music and especially its used well in a fight scene in the climax. Editing is decent as are the gory effects. 



HighTension Verdict: If you are a fan of gory slasher cannibal movies ,you can't miss this. If you are a fan of Bradley Cooper than also you can't miss this. But some illogicality and a couple of unneccssary scenes may mar the experience for some. But otherwise its an enjoyable ride to hell. Not as scary but thrilling nonetheless with a great ending. 



HighTension Meter: 7/10.


Best QUOTE:

Driver: [pointing a gun at Sac] Step away from the meat.

Review : Predator 2 (1990)

Via ign.com

The Predator is back. And this time it has made Los Angeles its home. As it attacks and kills the citizens a police officer takes it upon himself to end the menace once and for all. Will he succeed against the ultra strong and technologically ahead Predator???

The movie opens with a gun fight between drug lords in downtown LA. While it is well done there are some comic moments. Some intentional and others unintentional. And from then on its an action packed violent ride with no laughs towards the climax which is a feel good one. And unlike the first I didn't feel satisfied after watching it. But what the hell. The whole movie was a tense affair as people got slaughtered left right and centre. And the kill scenes were nice. It made you feel tense as you saw people become Predator's food. But didn't feel sorry for all of them though. Atleast I didn't.

Director Stephen Hopkins(Lost In Space, The Reaping, The Nightmare On Elm Street- The Dream Child) has directed this well. And to tell you its more scary than the 1st one. Not to say that its more enjoyable but more edge of the seat affair. Maybe cos John was an action director while Stephen is more from the horror school. So as a horror fan the atmosphere of dread was more than welcome. A tad less action but the scary scenes more than made up for it. He with writers Jim Thomas has done well to bring the Predator into a city where it would mean a bloodbath. As the drug lords fought on the Predator starts its own war. A real nice gory war at that. Maybe it isn't as good as the 1st but it comes very near. And that in itself is a big achievement. Great work!!

Via thehunterslair.com

And why it comes near the original can be attributed to some great acting. Not much acting in the 1st but this boasts of some great acting. Kevin Hall, Danny Glover, Gary Busey and Bill Paxton. Wow!! Especially Danny as the one man army against the Predator. He is no Arnold but LA is no jungle right? And Kevin Hall again becoming the Predator and excelling to a large extent. He looks damn scary in this one. And with lots of people around its a party. For him. And for us. The others have limited screen time but they support these two well and in the process create an awesome scary experience. So well done cast.


HighTension Verdict: Action, violence, scares. And great acting especially Danny Glover. And an awesome train sequence which ends in a bloodbath. So go cuddle up and watch this one. It will be 100 minutes well spent.....


Hightension Meter: 7.5/10

Best QUOTE: Reporter: As drought-ridden Los Angeles swelters in agonizing heat, drug lords wage bloody warfare in the streets. Yet another open conflict... Oh, fuck this, get me out of here!