Film Friday #242

The Guest (2014)

Not long after the death of their son, a soldier named David (Dan Stevens) turns up on the door of the Peterson family. He claims to have served with their son and to have promised to take care of the family. Grief stricken, the family welcomes David into their home and he starts to make himself comfortable and useful… maybe a little too useful. He bonds with younger brother, Luke (Brendan Meyer) and helps him stand up to the kids who bully him. He commiserates with dad, Spencer (Leland Orser) over the fact that he’s lost out to a management position to a younger co-worker and reminisces with mom, Laura (Sheila Kelley). Daughter, Anna (Maika Monroe), on the other hand, is suspicious and when a series of murders occurs she starts to wonder who David really is. There were some things I really loved about The Guest. I thought Dan Stevens was fantastic as the enigmatic, David with his piercing blue stare, deep whispery voice and ability to snap between moods with no warning. I also loved the 80’s inspired styling and soundtrack. I even thought the beginning of the story was pretty compelling but once David’s origins become a bit more clear it loses its innovative angle and becomes a bit of a run of the mill shoot ’em up thriller. It’s not enough to stop it from being a cool and unusual little film though and I would definitely recommend giving it a watch, even if its just for Stevens who couldn’t be further away from his Downton Abbey role. 3.5/5

David was very unhappy to hear that Gossip Girl had been cancelled

Pacific Rim (2013) 

In the not too distant future Earth is plagued by monsters called Kaiju who attack from the sea which they enter from rift to another dimension. In defense the world has pooled its resources to build giant robots called Jagers, which are controlled by two pilots who form a kind of psychic link to direct the machine. After the death of his brother and co-pilot during an Kaiju battle, Raleigh Becket (Charlie Hunnam) has resigned from the Jager programme and started working in construction. At the same time the programme leader,  Maj. Stacker Pentecost (Idris Elba) is desperately trying to keep the Jagers active after a series of failed missions at the Kaiju attacks intensify. Pentecost decides to bring a reluctant Raleight back for one final battle but he’ll have to find him a new co-pilot, which is where his adoptive daughter, Mako (Rinko Kikuchi) comes in. At the same time scientists, Geiszler (Charlie Day) and Gottlieb (Burn Gorman) are working on some interesting theories on what’s driving the Kaiju that might change everything. I didn’t have very high hopes for Pacific Rim so I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. Not only does it look amazing but the performances were great, well from everyone but Burn Gorman who was awful, and I loved the relationship between Raleigh and Mako. I also loved the idea that people were selling Kaiju parts on the black market and Ron Perlman was so much fun as a black market baron called Hannibal Chau. It probably was a bit long and Charlie Hunnam had far too many clothes on but really this is what Godzilla should have been. 3.5/5

“What do you mean this film isn’t called Pacific Rimjob?”

Byzantium (2012)

Gemma Arterton and Saoirse Ronan play Clara and Eleanor, a vampire bother and daughter who move from place to place trying to survive and avoid a brotherhood of vampire elders who are trying to kill them. They live by a strict code and attempt to remain inconspicuous with Clara using her body to make money to support them. But when they arrive in a small coastal town, Eleanor meets Frank (Caleb Landry-Jones), a sickly hotel worker and starts to struggle to keep their story to herself. As the past unfolds alongside the future and the brotherhood get ever closer Eleanor starts to pull away from Clara but will Clara survive without her? The concept of this story was pretty cool and I liked the dark atmosphere that was created but unfortunately Gemma Arterton cannot act for shit, which kind of ruins the entire film. Clara and Eleanor’s background story involving two soldiers played by Sam Riley and Jonny Lee Miller sometimes doesn’t make much sense and it really slows down the pace. Not for me. 2/5

Clara’s pulling techniques had a way of flooring the fellas

Donkey Punch (2008)

Lisa (Sian Breckin), Tammi (Nichola Burley) and Kim (Jaime Winston) are on holiday in Spain when the crew of a yacht invite them to come on board. They head out to sea and indulge in drinking, drugs and flirtation but when a sex game goes wrong there are terrible consequences that will leave everyone struggling for survival. Donkey Punch has some major problems. There is almost zero character development and both the girls and the boys are completely two-dimensional and stereotypical following typical horror movie tropes like the slutty one being punished and the posh ones being more concerned about their reputation than human life. It’s also very focused on being as crude, disgusting and edgy as possible which gives it a very juvenile air. All that said, I didn’t hate every second of it and as budget horrors go it was kind of entertaining. I wouldn’t seek it out but I have seen worse things. I kind of feel like Eric might like it so maybe one to check out? 2/5

One stop closer and this is going up your arse!