B-Movie Gazette: MARK RUFFALO & ETHAN HAWKE ARE OLD SOUTH BOSTON CHUMS WHO TURN TO CRIME TO PAY THE BILLS IN "WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU" (2008)

B-MOVIE OF THE MONTH - WITHOUT WARNING (1980)

Greetings All - It would be cool to do a post one time called the ten most essential B-flicks, sort of a B-Movie 101 thing. If that ever happened I would have to include this sci-fi horror classic from Graydon Clark (Black Shampoo, Satan's Cheerleaders.) This one's a don't pass go and don't collect $200 folks, just see it, Or watch it again. I'm not even going to begin to explain the plot except you have these flying disc things that attach themselves to people, in this case campers on an outing and kill and feed on them. Eventually these discs are tied to an alien, a hungry alien. A forerunner to 1987's Predator sort to speak and with a flat-out goofy cast. Jack Palance and Martin Landau, say what? And looking drugged out I might add but the real surprise here is veteran character actor Larry Storch, from the '60's, a guy who knew 150 dialects and here he is in this as a boy scout leader lol. Also known as It Came Without Warning, this gem is streaming free now only on Plex. 2.75 stars/2.75

Friday, March 15, 2024

MARK RUFFALO & ETHAN HAWKE ARE OLD SOUTH BOSTON CHUMS WHO TURN TO CRIME TO PAY THE BILLS IN "WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU" (2008)

Who says crime don't pay when you come home and haven't seen each other in a long time? Our two leads are great in this little mob crime thriller that flew way below the radar. After a decent premier at TFF, the film had a very small release before Yari Film Group collapsed.

It's a pretty decent crime thriller and has a prison sequence in the middle which is cool. Action sequences are excellently produced. Hawke is his usual self, Ruffalo is actually really good, classic pout and all. Amanda Peet as Hawke's wife I could do without here and pretty much everything she's been in. Donnie Walberg has a supporting role as a probation officer, he's been way better but I always enjoy seeing him, mostly the opposite with his more famous brother. What Doesn't Kill You streams on Tubi, Plex, Pluto and other free services. 2.75 stars/5