Oh The Horror! "The Final Girls"

The Final Girls

Rated PG-13

Starring Taissa Farmiga, Malin Ackerman, Alexander Ludwig, Nina Dobrev, Alia Shawcat, Thomas Middleditch, Adam DeVine

Directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson

The Story:

Max (Farmiga) is the daughter of a famous B movie scream queen (Ackerman) who was tragically killed in an auto accident years earlier. Reluctantly attending a viewing of her mom's most famous role, Max and her friends find themselves somehow sucked into the film. At first, Max is thrilled that she gets to spend time with her mom, but as the killer comes calling, none of them may make it out of the movie alive.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love entries into the horror-comedy genre, especially when they are very well done and exceed any and all expectations.

That would be this film.

Not a spoof like the Scary Movie films, but smart and fun like Cabin in the Woods or Scream, this film makes you like it just on the merits that you've enjoyed the genre before and they can take all the obvious clichés and have fun with them and still make an enjoyable film.

I won't say too much about the film to avoid giving away much of the fun that they have making it, but if you like the horror genre, or specifically the slasher films of the 80s, you're really going to like this film.

Or so I hope.

:)

And like those films, I wouldn't even mind the eventual sequel that can't live up to the promise of the original but still brings back a bit of nostalgia.

Final Grade: B+

"The Numbers Station" Adds Up To A Pretty Good Thriller

The code is all that matters.

The Story:

Emerson Kent (John Cusack) is a black ops kind of guy who has a bit of a breakdown after his last assignment didn't go so well.  He is reassigned to an outpost in England where he guards a Numbers Station.  At this location, Katherine (Malin Ackerman), a code expert reads numbers over a shortwave radio broadcast.  These numbers are used by agents throughout Europe to give them their next assignments.  The code is of utmost importance, and in the event of its compromise, the broadcaster must be silenced.  What will Emerson do when his station is overrun by enemy agents out to use the code for their own personal agenda?

You know how most movies say based or inspired by a true story?

This film is different, they basically say that Numbers Stations don't exist, except in the feverish minds of conspiracy theorists.

Awesome!

That's not to say that what unfolds isn't entirely plausible, and makes sense.  Aside from face to face, what better way to transmit secret messages than a code over the airwaves that only those with code books will know what is being said?

Really, this movie works rather nicely in playing out the story through use of flashback to what happened to the team that work the odd shift opposite Emerson, as they piece together how the bad guys infiltrated the station and sent out their missions to the agents throughout Europe.

Now, it's up to Emerson and Katherine to send out a code to cancel the previous broadcasts if they can survive...and if Emerson doesn't just decide to kill Katherine first to ensure no further harm is committed.

The film does a decent job of keeping the tension ratcheted up considering the majority of the movie plays out in the underground bunker.  No car chases through the city, just moving from room to room for safety.

Available to stream on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: While I wouldn't rush out to buy this one, I could definitely play it again.  Pretty good little film.

What's the Best Kind of Gold? "Stolen"

There's gold in them there banks...

The Story:

4 criminals: Will (Nicolas Cage), Vincent (Josh Lucas), Riley (Malin Ackerman) and Hoyt (M.C. Gainey) are pulling off a $10 Million Dollar heist under the nose of the FBI.  As they attempt to getaway, Will and Vincent scuffle over killing a janitor, Will shoots Vince in the leg, throws him in the van and goes back to get the money...and his partners drive away.  Will is caught, sent to prison, and 8 years later he returns to New Orleans.  The FBI agents (Danny Huston and Mark Valley) are watching Will to see where he stashed the money.  Vince, presumed dead by the FBI returns to steal Will's daughter, and is holding her ransom for $10 million, and if he doesn't get it in 12 hours, the girl is dead.

What would you do?

This flick gets savaged by critics, opens in about a dozen theaters and disappears onto Netflix streaming, so it must suck, right?

Not so fast...

Apparently Nicolas Cage has moved to New Orleans and is going to do nothing but star in direct to DVD thrillers for the rest of his career.  That's okay if the output is like Seeking Justice or this one, which is even better.

If the worst complaint I can muster about this one is that it's like a 90s action movie... well that's actually pretty good praise, as the 90s cranked out some great popcorn movies.

Check your brain at the door, and just have fun.

Cage (and Gainey) re-team with Simon West who helmed one of the greatest (# 61 on my Top 100) 90s action flicks: Con Air.

Is this as good?

Nope, you don't have the cast and budget to pull off that spectacle here.

But they make the most with what they've got, and that actually works.

The story tightly weaves within New Orleans over the course of a day as Will frantically races throughout a Fat Tuesday New Orleans to find his daughter before resorting to return to a life of crime to save his little girl.

The ending climax is a bit over-the-top, but forgivable.

Available to stream instantly on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: B-

Would I Own It: Yes, I could get this one and watch it again.