Favorite films

Recent reviews

• 

  Maid Droid 2023

  ★★★ Watched 27 Sep 2023

  Full review: filmblitz.org/maid-droid-2023/

  This isn’t as tacky as I feared it might be. While there’s no shortage of nudity from the lead actresses – and they are both certainly easy on the eye – it’s mostly done with a sweet innocence. Indeed, perhaps a little too much innocence: there’s a very significant age gap between Alvarez and West, and on occasion this does swerve into the slightly creepy. Perhaps as much an influence is Audition, which also has someone who…

• 

  Apostle 2018

  ★★★ Watched 26 Sep 2023

  Full review: filmblitz.org/apostle-2018/

  This isn’t quite what I would have expected from the director of The Raid: Redemption and its sequel. I mean, you go from two of the most highly-regarded action films of the 21st century, to a Gothic horror about a weird religious cult, which has more in common with The Wicker Man. I admire the willingness to go outside your comfort zone, and try something different. But I can’t say this is successful, except in brief spurts.

Popular reviews

• 

  Jesus Christ Saviour 2008

  ★★★★ Watched 17 Nov 2014

  Klaus Kinski vs. 5,000 annoyed hippies.

  What could possibly go wrong?

  Full review: klaus.kinski.us/jesus-christus-erloser-2008/

• 

  Avarice 2022

  ★★★ Watched 14 Dec 2022

  Full review: girlswithguns.org/avarice/

  The final third does make an energetic attempt to make up for this earlier shortfall, and to quite satisfactory effect. Some of the subsequent pointy violence is rather effective. This is especially the case when Kate, for justifiable reasons (again: think smaller family gatherings…) decides to take the fight to the invaders, and goes into the warehouse from which they are operating. While a bit contrived, this provides a fine location for a spot of stalk ‘n’ shoot, as she picks off the minions one at a time.