B-MOVIE OF THE MONTH - DEAD END (2003)

Made for less than a million dollars, the slightly obscure Dead End is a chilling little indie you don't want to miss. It might just be the best Christmas horror movie no one ever heard of and every dollar is up there on the screen. It's quirky, weird, funny, bizarre, and scary all at once. Black comedy for sure but much more, this would make a nice double feature with The Perfect Host, another movie we're big on around here. So, grab some eggnog and a snack or two and check out the inimitable Ray Wise with legendary Lin Shaye as they take their family down a wrong turn, what's up with this road? Why doesn't it end? After all, they're just trying to make it to Christmas Eve dessert at Frank's mother's house. Tubi, Plex, Freevee, enjoy! 2.75 stars/2.75

Sunday, April 30, 2023

THE TWO FACES OF JANUARY (2014) - VIGGO MORTENSEN AND OSCAR ISSAC ARE PLAYING A GAME OF CAT AND MOUSE IN GREECE WITH KIRSTEN DUNST

 

A neo-noir based on a old novel from 1964 but after seeing this, one I wouldn't mind reading. The Viggo-Mortensen-Meister plays a wiser than his adversary traveler who while vacationing with his wife (the lovely Kirsten Dunst looking better than ever) accidentally kills a detective. Meanwhile, their shifty and shady tour guide (Oscar Issac) pretends to be on his side to help him escape the local authorities but what he really wants is Viggo's wife. As they try and leave the area, a cat and mouse game between the two men develops but Viggo is always one step ahead of the younger, slightly aloof guide. 

Nice to see Greece used as a backdrop for a mystery noir. It gives fairly good justice to the genre and Mortensen is on here, delivering a nice solid performance. High marks for cinematography, music supervision and particularly, costuming. Give this one a shot, it currently streams free on Tubi, Vudu, Pluto and Peacock.  3.0 stars/5

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