B-MOVIE OF THE MONTH - THE LIFT (1983)

Greetings all, finally back and looks like the new updated blog list is being enjoyed. I left a few of the real old blogs on there even though they haven't updated in years (hellooooo, anyone home??) they are chock full of good B-movie articles. Ok, so our B-movie of the month is the Dutch sci-fi horror semi-cult-classic The Lift about an elevator gone mad. Not to riff on a cliche but this one gives new meaning to "so bad it's good." It's also both fun and funny, slightly scary and a little sexy too - just all the things we love in a B-flick. I'm recommending the newest version playing now on Tubi. Viva Le Lift! 2.75 stars/2.75

Friday, July 15, 2022

BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE (2018) - CAPTIVATING NEO-NOIR MYSTERY THRILLER IN SERIOUS NEED OF A HAIRCUT

 

We love movies that wholly create their own world and this neo-noir gem does just that including an entire hotel created from scratch. One side resides on the California side and the other Nevada and the hotel comes complete with a secret chamber to spy on rooms. Coffee is one cent more a cup on the California side but you can't gamble there. 

Enter five characters that are all checking in - a singer, salesman, hippy girl (not the nice kind,) priest and bank robber. They all share deep dark secrets that will intersect on a certain night at the hotel. 

Pretty cool stuff but the movie does have a serious pacing problem and is way overlong at 2:22 which somehow I get the feeling with a movie like this is intentional. The cast is awesome although I feel Jeff Bridges as the priest is a bit of a miscast. The third act and ending is also a problem as it fails to deliver the ending it was building towards. The performances and awesome production design is what carries the film to a mostly satisfactory experience. Which would be nicer cut to about an hour and 45 minutes.  3.0 stars/5

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B-MOVIE GAZETTE RATING SYSTEM

5 Stars - Only awarded to the precious few.
4 Stars - Excellent, see by all means.
3 Stars - Very Good, you should like.
2 Stars - Fair, like a frozen dinner.
1 Star - Poor, like a spoiled dinner.

ALL B-MOVIES, DRIVE-IN MOVIES AND TV MOVIES HAVE A MAX AWARD OF 2.75 STARS.

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