Catching Up With My Prime Watchlist...

Last week was a funny old week, for one reason and another, capped off by having a tooth out at the weekend. I've got a horrible feeling that another couple (at least) will need to come out, at some point, but one step at a time and all that ;o) It's a new week so hopefully things will calm down a bit, hopefully...

I didn't do too badly with my reading, last week, but my head was all over the place and when that's the case, I end up going through Prime Video and seeing if there's anything that will take my mind off things. I add films to my watchlist at an absolute whim so there's always something there that will take my mind off things :o) Four films this week, a couple of which were re-watches, let me tell you about them...

'Dead by Dawn' (2020)

A suicidal man, in a remote cabin, is suddenly faced with protecting a woman fleeing from three killers. Unable to contact the outside world and with night drawing in, a fight to the death ensues where only the strongest will make it through to the morning.

Now here's a film that has been sat in my watchlist, more or less since I started subscribing to Prime Video, seriously :o) Well, I finally decided to do something about that and... it was ok. I liked the premise, and its execution, but if you're going to explain what has led up to events taking place, you really need to have it make more sense than you get here. I know Lulu has been through a lot (and the film doesn't hide from this, a definite trigger warning for sexual assault here) but no backstory would have been better than the 'half a backstory' that we got here. It's not a dealbreaker though; when 'Dead by Dawn' gets going, it's really easy to stick with. A faceoff between vicious criminals and a guy trying to do the right thing is always a sure fire winner.

'Don't Grow Up' (2015)

On an isolated island, a group of teenagers (living in a children's home) wake up to find that they are completely on their own, the adult care workers have all disappeared. What initially promises to be an idyllic existence ends abruptly when the group head out to search for food. The adults of the island haven't disappeared, they were just waiting...

It feels like a small thing to moan about (and it probably is) but I like to know where a film is taking place, especially if it's in the 'real world' (I know its a film but, you know what I mean). I couldn't get a feel for where things were happening in 'Don't Grow Up'; it's all beautifully shot but for an isolated island... There's a massive town, possibly two, mountains and even a little bit of desert. It threw me a little but I suspect that's more about me rather than the film.

Having said all that though, 'Don't Grow Up' has a lot going for it, building up tension and then releasing it in jump scares and explosive violence. I told you earlier that 'no backstory' can be a positive thing and it certainly is here, our leads are thrown right in the deep end and left to get on with it with no idea of what has happened. That really adds to the urgency when things kick off. 'Don't Grow Up' also has a real thoughtful air to it as well with a group of teenagers being forced to grow up quickly and make some tough choices. 

'Trailer Park of Terror' (2008)

Six troubled teenagers, and their course leader, are caught in a vicious storm and take shelter in an old, abandoned trailer park. They're not on their own though, the original inhabitants may have died but they're still very much in residence and looking to indulge in some mayhem...

It has been years since I last watched 'Trailer Park of Terror' and I figured I was due a rewatch :o) Now there's a little revenge to be had, in the plot, and I liked the little twist at the end, but this is very much a film that exists purely to line up a bunch of unlikeable teens to be killed off by the Redneck undead. And you know by now, I love a film that isn't ashamed to be honest about what it is. That should tell you all you need to know ;o)

'Tonight She Comes' (2016)

Friends and strangers are drawn to a remote cabin, where a young woman has just gone missing, and by the end of the night, they will all be dead. Because tonight, she comes...

Here's a movie that I watched years ago, promptly forgot the title and have been trying to remember it ever since. Which is really difficult when all you can remember is 'naked possessed lady walks a lot'... :o) I finally found it though and settled down, last night, for a watch and... I loved it :o)

I'd hesitate to call it a comedy (despite what IMDB calls it) but it's a still fun to watch with a demonic version of the Terminator facing off against a family of backwoods magicians, two college girls and a couple of perverts, none of whom are capable of working together. Okay, maybe it is a comedy after all. What 'Tonight She Comes' definitely was though, was a brutal attack on my senses and a film that asked serious questions of my stomach. If you have a weak stomach, I would advise you to think twice before sitting down for a watch. I don't want to give too much away but certain methods of collecting blood, for a ritual, were pretty grim, even for me. Fair play to 'Tonight She Comes' for not being afraid to go there though.