Film Haven Reviews

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!! This week we are starting a new theme of "Time Thrillers" with the psychological Triangle (2009) This film was entertaining enough and had a very interesting premise (using the greek myth of Sysiphus as a base for its time loop concept), however its low budget cgi and a flair for pretention brought the film down from its great potential. Still, I gave...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!! This week we conclude our Atomic Age theme with the harrowing british TV Movie Threads (1984) Threads takes a factual step-by-step approach, showing us the real life ramifications of nuclear war and its effects on the citizen populace. This is not for the faint of heart, yet it also feels extremely important for us to witness as it sheds perspective on the dang...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!! This week we continue our Atomic Age theme with the critically acclaimed black comedy Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) There is no other film quite like this one, it stands on its own as a singular peace of satire that has stayed relevant over the decades. I gave this film a 9/10 for its intelligent subtext and incredi...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are starting a very special new theme of "Atomic Age Films" with the very well made and topical Oppenheimer (2023) I don't do alot of movies that are actively in theaters but this one is special as I read the book that is was based on "American Prometheus" and was particularly excited to see this adaptation. It's an e...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are ending our Horror/Mystery/Thriller theme with another found footage gem The Taking of Deborah Logan (2014). This film, despite having some unfair reviews, is a fresh take on the possession genre, filming in the style of a faux documentary about Alzheimers Disease, and then transitioning into something more sinister. The two main characters are...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are continuing our Horror/Myster/Thriller theme with the cramped found footage film As Above, So Below (2014).  An interesting mix of Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider under the banner of a horror moive, this film doesn't always hit its marks, with the emotional notes feeling forced and the ending being debatably lame. But the journey sure is fun...

Welcombe back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are starting a brand new theme of Horror/Mystery/Thriller with the suprisingly amazing film, The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016).  This film completely knocked me off my feet, I was expecting a simple mystery movie and what I got was an atomospheric true crime film that slowly transitioned into a bonafide spooker! Incredible acting, amazing use of low...

Welcome back to Film Have Reviews!!! This week we finish off our Underground Societies with the beatiful but grim Mad God (2021).  This film is not for the weak, it requires a strong stomach and a stronger mind to withstand the existential dread that this film induces. It's hard to encapsulate but I gave this film an 8/10 for its genius level macabre design and its thought provoking messaging...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are continuing our Underground Society theme with the surreal and aptly named Undergound (1995) I had heard this film was great, but I didn't realize it would be so historically enriching and insightful. This film doesn't just teach us about life, it also teaches us about Yugoslavia and the strife and turmiol that ill fated state went th...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! Today we are starting a brand new theme of Underground Socities with the Luc Besson directed libertine slice of life film Subway (1985) Subway is not for everyone but for those who enjoy their films to be a little quirky with a touch of philosophy, I can't recommend this film enough. I was annoyed at first by its non-sensical character motivations and mea...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! Today we are saying goodbye to our Backwoods Horror theme with the surpisingly serviceable House of Wax (2005).  This film was a huge surprise for me as I had really only known it as a Paris Hilton vehicle that was probably pretty dumb. However, I was so impressed by this film's ability to mix the teen killing slasher trash genre with elements of Twilight...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are continuing our theme of Backwoods Horror with the extremely isolating film Wolf Creek (2005).  This film is based on the Backpack Murders of serial killer Ivan Milat, and while that might seem a bit sensationalist, they change up enough stuff for it to not be an exact reinactment of his crimes, and in a weird way the film feels like a PSA for...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reivews!!! This week we are beginning a new theme of Backwoods Horror which centers around the isolating terror that comes with befalling nefarious intentions in the midst of being far away from the reach of normal society. There's no better film to start this theme off with then the iconic, if not somewhat notorious, Deliverance (1972).  This film is more than &quo...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!! This week we are saying goodbye to the ill Fated Sword and Sorcery theme with the action packed Red Sonja (1985) This one was the least entertaining when it came to unintentional humor and quirkiness, but it provided the best sword fighting and action sequences. The main characters might not know how to act but they do know how to swing a sword, and for a movie...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews! This week we are continuing our ill-fated sword and sorcery theme with The Beastmaster (1982).  This derpy but lovable film thoroughly entertained me and despite some bad costumes and hokey acting, there was plenty to love and enjoy about this Conan knock off. I gave this film a 7/10 for delivering on exactly what it set out to do and for having lots of cute ani...

Welcome Back to Film Haven Reviews! This week we are starting a whole new theme: ill-Fated Sword and Scorery! 80s Sword and Sorcery movies that had abysmally low critical ratings but comparitively high userscores. I'm going to be taking a look at these next three films and trying to figure out where the disparity is coming from, and what it is a that makes these films so seemingly enjoyable,...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews! This we're finishing up our WWI Theme with the ecentric and stylish See You Up There!  This film was a mixed bag for me, as the first half seemed to have an energy that the second half couldn't compete with, but the uniqueness of the premise and the creativity of the cinematography help to keep my overall score high. I gave this a 7.8/10 for having a u...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews! This week we we're continuing the theme of "WWI Movies" with the Stanley Kubrick classic Paths of Glory!  Unsurprisingly I loved this film! Instead of the All Quiet on the Western Front approach of the "sweeping epic", Paths of Glory breaks down one scenario and pulls out moral ponderances on the nature of power and the struggles between...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews! This week we are starting a new theme of "WWI movies" with the new (and now 4 time Oscar Winner) All Quiet on the Western Front!  This film was an incredible remake of the 1930 classic that was itself based on the memoirs of the same name and it does a great job of encapsulating the same energy and overall theme, while diverting just enough to have its...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews! This week marks the conclusion of my "Killer Creations" theme and what better way to close out than with Mary Shelley's Frankenstein!? This muddled Kenneth Branagh directed adaptation is a mixed bag of bad acting, weird choices, and some incredible set/production design that caused me to have an enjoyable experience, if not a slightly disappointed...

Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews! This week the "Killer Creations" theme continues with the 2019 Child's Play Remake!  Spoiler alert: I didn't like it! I gave it a 3.5/10 for taking all the things that made the original franchise great and completely subverting that into something boring and offensive (in the wrong way).  For my full written review feel free to follow my inst...

Welcome to Film Haven Reviews! Thanks for joining me on my very first episode! This week I am starting my "Killer Creations" theme with the new killer doll movie M3GAN! I gave it a 7.5/10 and feel like it is less derivitive than people are saying and adds a fresh twist to its obvious influences of Child's Play, Terminator, and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. I rather enjoyed it an...