Review of Borderland (2007) by Diana S — 29 Oct 2008

[b]Borderland [/b]is another good After Dark film. Based on actual events, though I didn't check into that claim, the story follows three friends headed down to Mexico for some fun. They end up involved with a cult that practices blood sacrifice. It's gritty and fascinating, though not that scary. Just creepy and intense. I enjoyed it.

[b]Lake Dead[/b] is also an After Dark movie, and this one is good for people who are frightened of incest and camping. Two girls inherit a hotel they've never seen. They go with some friends to check it out, and killing ensues. Most of the acting is atrocious, but there are some good scares and many tense moments. Enjoyable.

Thanks to the Sci-Fi Channel, I caught yet another After Dark horror movie, [b]Mulberry Street.[/b] This one is really good. All over New York, rats are biting and infecting citizens. These bites turn the victims into violent, hungry rat creatures. The film focuses on a group of tenants in a run down apartment building. It's tense, the characters feel real, and I cared about them. It's very much like a zombie movie, with infected friends and family turning against each other. Good times.

[b]The Last Winter[/b] sets a group of oil drillers in the Alaskan wilderness where the land is rebelling against them. Due to how humans have abused the earth, the Alaskan permafrost is melting and releasing spirits into the world. It's an interesting premise, but not that well executed. Ron Perlman ("Hellboy II: The Golden Army") is the main character, and he is belligerent and annoying. The other characters are only slightly interesting, and I didn't care that much when they died. The effects are pretty good. But mostly, this is a forgettable movie.

I finally caught up with [b]Cloverfield,[/b] and I really liked it. It's not going to change the world or anything, but I don't see where all the hate is coming from. The premise of a surprise party gone awry when a giant monster attacks New York City is awesome. The guy from the party running the video camera films all the action from a first person point-of-view. I think that was a good way to handle the chaos. And the guy was amusing. The characters are believable and established quickly. And not too much of the monster is shown, which builds suspense. Then, when we do see it, the pay-off is worth it. Check this one out.