SAW X: Bittersweet Revenge...But Not a Horror Film

SAW X (Blu-ray)

2023 / 118 min

FROM LIONSGATE

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat🙀

What makes Saw X one of the best entries in the franchise is that it strives for something different, at least from a narrative perspective. Aesthetically, it’s a welcome return to the original Saw…with its bleak, grimy warehouse setting and traps that look like they could have realistically been conceived and assembled by an ailing old man. But really, the similarities end there.   

Whereas Saw was a police procedural at-heart and subsequent sequels increasingly dove into horror or gore for its own sake (though I’ve never considered it to be torture porn), Saw X eschews the sensationalism and increasingly convoluted franchise timeline to present a simple, satisfying tale of comeuppance. In fact, I wouldn’t consider it to be a horror film at all.

Taking place between the events of the first two films, Saw X essentially tells a stand-alone story featuring the welcome return of John Kramer (Tobin Bell), this time as its protagonist. With terminal cancer and only months to live, he seeks out an alternative cancer treatment program overseen by Cecilia Pederson (Synnøve Macody Lund). However, whole thing turns out to be an elaborate scam she uses to bilk desperate patients out of their money.

When the WiFi goes out.

Naturally, Kramer applies his skills as an engineer to exact revenge. With help from Amanda Young (Shawnee Smith), he captures Cecilia and everyone else involved in the ruse, then imprisons them in the very “clinic” they used for conning him. And of course, Kramer offers each the opportunity for redemption if they can escape the horrific traps he’s devised. While Saw X may not be a horror film in the purest sense, rest assured, the death scenes are as creatively nasty as ever.

But ultimately, what makes Saw X such an effective visceral (and vicarious) experience is the story itself. In the other films, Kramer/Jigsaw was more of an anti-hero than a villain. Here, great effort is made to paint him as a likable, sympathetic protagonist (maybe even a tragic hero?). Conversely, the film features some of the most despicable villains of any in the entire franchise, especially Cecilia, who displays no remorse for her actions. Hence, there’s perverse pleasure to be had in watching these people begging for their lives before getting what they deserve (though I could have lived without seeing a child being waterboarded with blood). 

The film stumbles a bit when attempting to throw in the usual plot twists. While I understand they’re something of an expectation in the franchise, a major revelation during the final act requires a sizable suspension of disbelief. Other than that, Saw X is a satisfying tale of bloody, bittersweet revenge, but never really a horror film.

EXTRA KIBBLES

“REAWAKENING” - This is an excellent 6-part making-of documentary, with plenty of behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with cast & crew.

FEATURETTES - Drawing Inspiration (scene breakdowns with director Kevin Greutert); Make-Up Department Trap Tests (special effects tests).

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By director-editor Kevin Greutert, cinematographer Nick Matthews & production designer Anthony Stanley.

DELETED SCENES - Nealy 40 minutes’ worth.

TRAILER

DVD & DIGITAL COPIES

A BULLET FOR SANDOVAL: The Good, the Bad and the Borgnine

A BULLET FOR SANDOVAL (Blu-ray)

1969 / 101 min

FROM VCI ENTERTAINMENT

Review by Tiger the Terrible😼

Quite a few iconic American actors used to find additional work overseas, often popping up in action flicks and spaghetti westerns. For some of them, it was out of necessity, but for others, it was either for the love of acting or, perhaps more likely, a hefty paycheck. Whatever the case, producers of these films certainly knew the marquee value of a big name in the cast, even if they weren't the actual star.

The late, great Ernest Borgnine once made the trip, appearing in 1969’s A Bullet for Sandoval as the main antagonist. Speaking of which, watching this film (for the first time) was another reminder how good Borgnine was at playing both guys and bad guys without really changing gears too much. Whether lending his talents to a classic or a crapfest, his indelible presence makes a lot of films just a little bit better.

Borgnine’s not in the film nearly as much as the title or his billing suggest. The actual star is George Hilton (aka Jorge Hilton) as John Warner, a confederate soldier who goes AWOL to be there for the birth of his son, and then is pursued by his own superiors. John arrives home to find that his lover died after giving birth. Shunned by her powerful and resentful father, Sandoval (Borgnine), John takes the baby with him. However, since there’s also a cholera epidemic raging through town and no one is willing to help provide medical care or food, the child dies as well.

"High five, buddy...or else!"

This sets John on a path of revenge, leading a gang of outlaws who terrorize those responsible for his son’s death, with Sandoval being the ultimate target. Simply plotted and typically violent, A Bullet for Sandoval is neither the best nor worst of its kind, but overall, it’s a pretty satisfying revenge western. As with most slabs of spaghetti imported for English consumption, the dubbing is sort of a distraction, especially a couple of chuckleworthy moments where it’s obvious two different voice actors have been used to dub a single character (however, the original Spanish version, Los Desperados, is also included on this disc).

A Bullet for Sandoval won’t make anyone forget Sergio Leone, but spaghetti western lovers won’t regret giving it a go. Other than the lousy ending, this Italian-Spanish co-production is fast-paced, efficiently directed and features a good villainous turn by Borgnine (especially his final scene, which I won’t give away). VCI Entertainment has put out a Blu-ray that's fairly light on bonus material, but the overall 4K restoration is pretty decent.

EXTRA KIBBLES

LOS DESPERADOS - Spanish version.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By Repo Man director Alex Cox.

TRAILER

THE POOP SCOOP: Books, Bloodlines & Boxes

THE ART OF THE CLASSIC WESTERN MOVIE POSTER Coming March 28th 2024 from Schiffer Publishing.

Acknowledging the iconic, but with plenty of room for the rare and unfamiliar, The Art of the Classic Western Movie Poster presents poster art created for several hundred classic (and not-so-classic) westerns produced from 1903 to 1978. More than 800 images—many reproduced as full page—make this the most comprehensive book of western movie poster art ever published, and the definitive history of a genre often underestimated for its impact on American audiences. One of the earliest narrative films, 1903’s The Great Train Robbery, was a western, and before commercial cinema was a decade old the form had proliferated to such an extent that practically every nickelodeon in the country used short-length shoot-’em-ups in their daily programs.

MINE’S BIGGER THAN YOURS: THE 100 WACKIEST ACTION MOVIES Now Available from from Schiffer Publishing.

A celebration of the wildest and weirdest that action cinema has to offer, the hosts of the Really Awful Movies podcast take you on a fun-filled pilgrimage through the nuttiest movies in the genre. Traversing both decades and continents, these 100 titles reach beyond the typical patron saints of action, giving unsung genre heroes like Vic Diaz, Reb Brown, and Godfrey Ho their due. Our intrepid hosts have highlighted action gems with all of the necessary components for greatness: Heroes! Villains! Henchmen! But something’s typically missing. Usually, it’s a budget. Often, it’s talent. But that doesn’t mean these films aren’t as entertaining as any mainstream fare. Divided into nine chapters by subgenre, featuring stills and posters, and with a foreword by genre icon Brian Trenchard-Smith, Mine’s Bigger Than Yours is a romp through the world of fisticuffs, jailbreaks, pit fighting, mercenaries, and really big explosions—all the stuff that makes action movies great.

PET SEMATARY: BLOODLINES arrives to buy on Digital December 5, 2023 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD December 19 from Paramount.

In 1969, young Jud Crandall dreams of leaving his hometown behind, but soon discovers sinister secrets buried within and is forced to confront a dark family history that forever binds him to Ludlow.  Banding together, Jud and his childhood friends must fight an ancient evil that has gripped the town since its founding, and once unearthed has the power to destroy everything in its path. Find out why sometimes dead is better when the terrifying prequel PET SEMATARY: BLOODLINES arrives to buy on Digital December 5, 2023 and debuts on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD December 19 from Paramount Home Entertainment. Based on the untold chapter from Stephen King’s bone-chilling novel Pet Sematary, PET SEMATARY: BLOODLINES is a blood-curdling thriller starring Jackson White as Jud and an outstanding ensemble cast including Forrest Goodluck, Jack Mulhern, Henry Thomas, and Natalie Alyn Lind, with Pam Grier and David Duchovny.

THE WARRIORS Limited Edition on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray December 12 from Arrow.

On December 12th, Arrow Video invites The Warriors to come out and play in a new 4K UHD Blu-ray release and Limited Edition Blu-ray set. The action-thriller sets feature exclusive new 4K remasters of both the theatrical cut and the 2005 alternate version of the film sourced from the original camera negative, approved by director Walter Hill. After the assassination of respected gang leader Cyrus, the Warriors are framed for the murder and must traverse the boroughs of New York on foot to get back home to Coney Island. Hill’s thrilling and visually stunning adaptation of Sol Yurick’s novel (itself a retelling of the Greek story of Anabasis) features performances by Michael Beck, James Remar, Deborah Van Valkenburgh, and David Patrick Kelly. The two-disc 4K UHD Blu-ray / Blu-ray Limited Edition set’s bonus content includes a 100-page collector’s book containing new writing by film critic Dennis Cozzalio plus select archival material; limited edition packaging with a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Laurie Greasley; a double-sided fold-out poster with original and newly commissioned artwork by Laurie Greasley; 6 postcard-sized artcards; and gang logo stickers.

Forgotten Filmcast Episode 201: DOGS (1977)

We recently participated in a podcast at Forgotten Filmcast to discuss the 1977 killer critter film, Dogs. Thanks to host Todd Liebenow for having us on the show.

Click HERE to listen to the episode.

Poirot Gets Spooked in A HAUNTING IN VENICE

A HAUNTING IN VENICE (Digital)

2023 / 103 min

FROM 20TH CENTURY STUDIOS

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😽

A Haunting in Venice is now available on Digital, Blu-ray, and DVD November 28.

Director-star Kenneth Branagh's third go-round as legendary detective Hercule Poirot adds a dash of the supernatural to his usual crime-solving exploits. While A Haunting in Venice isn’t quite as intriguing or complex as Murder on the Orient Express or Death on the Nile, it’s a fairly entertaining entry in the franchise. 

Mystery writer Ariadne Oliver (Tina Fey) coaxes Poirot out of retirement to attend a seance conducted by self-declared medium Joyce Reynolds (Michelle Yeoh), who was hired by Rowena Drake in hopes of communicating with her dead daughter, Alicia. Oliver challenges perpetually skeptical Poirot to prove Joyce is a fraud. However, during the seance and supposedly speaking through Joyce, Alicia claims she was murdered by one of the others in attendance.

Shortly afterwards, Joyce herself is killed. As a storm builds outside the dilapidated orphanage where the seance took place (and where Alicia died), Poirot insists on locking everyone inside and questioning the suspects individually. These scenes are when the film is most effective…Poirot on the case, interrogating an eclectic cast of characters in his usual detached-but-forceful manner. As with other Poirot novels and the two previous films, there’s comfort in the formula and Branagh has long-since made the character his own (though I still believe Albert Finney did it best).

"My hat's cooler."

But unlike the novel on which it’s (very) loosely based (Hallowe’en Party), A Haunting in Venice unnecessarily throws paranormal elements into the narrative. I don’t know if this was to create more of a horror atmosphere, but if so, it tends to undermine the primary appeal of the Poirot franchise. While I can’t speak for everybody, the character’s methods and unflappable detective skills are what makes him enjoyable…not self-doubt and vulnerability when genuine phantasms figure into the story.

Still, A Haunting in Venice is primarily a whodunit with enough moments of genuine sleuthing to make it worthwhile. This time around, the secondary characters aren’t quite as interesting and the outcome is a tad more predictable, but like the previous two films, it’s gorgeously shot and features a solid ensemble cast.

EXTRA KIBBLES

MURDER, DEATH AND HAUNTING - 26 min making-of featurette.

11 DELETED SCENES

THE NUN II: An Equally Forgettable Sequel

THE NUN II (Blu-ray)

2023 / 110 min

FROM WARNER BROS / #InPartnershipwithWB

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat🙀

I know I saw The Nun, but aside from the image of the title character, I can't remember a damn thing about it. And even that image stems more from her brief but terrifying introduction in The Conjuring 2. Sometimes the only thing worse than a bad horror movie is one that leaves no impression.

Now here’s The Nun II, featuring returning characters I have absolutely no memory of, along with a few new faces for Valak to torment and terrify. Most of this one takes place in a Catholic girls’ school in France. Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga), who I forgot saved the day in the first film, is ordered to once again square off against Valak. Her old friend, Maurice (Jonas Bloquet), who I also forgot was possessed by Valak at the end of The Nun, is working there as a groundskeeper…still possessed.

Valak shows up early and often (as do other creatures doing her bidding), mostly emerging from the murky darkness, which was scary as hell in The Conjuring 2, but happens here so frequently that we’re more-or-less expecting it. The same can be said about the plethora of noisy jump-scares. There’s some perfunctory exposition about Valak’s past and how she might be defeated - as well as a couple of flashbacks to remind us that Maurice is possessed - but most of the actual story elements feel like afterthoughts.

"So are you gonna buy a magazine or not?"

The main emphasis is on CG-driven spectacle, especially during the fiery, destructive final act. Everything is slickly made and the performances are serviceable, but the film is seldom involving. There isn’t a single scene, character or image that is likely to resonate after the end credits roll. Even Valak herself is demystified to the point where she ain’t all that intimidating. She was a lot scarier when we knew nothing about her.

Ultimately, we’ve seen all of this before…probably in The Nun, but I can’t be sure since it left no impression whatsoever. The Nun II doesn’t either, so if nothing else, at least the franchise is consistent. But unless it’s the first horror movie you’ve ever seen, every aspect of the film is utterly forgettable.

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - The Nun II: Demon in Paradise (location shooting); Handcrafted Nightmares (covers some of the practical effects).

DIGITAL COPY

LE MÉPRIS (4K) and a Minority Opinion

LE MÉPRIS (CONTEMPT) 60th Anniversary Edition (4K UHD)

1963 / 103 min

FROM LIONSGATE

Review by Fluffy the Fearless😼

Maybe the problem is with me. I know it’s Jean-Luc Godard and many people think Le Mépris is another one of his masterpieces, but as a first time viewer, I sometimes found it baffling and interminable. 

And by baffling, that's not suggesting I didn’t get it. Storywise, Le Mépris is fairly straightforward, a movie about the making of a movie and how script changes reflect the increasingly turbulent marriage of its protagonist, playwright-turned-screenwriter Paul Javal (Michael Piccoli), and his sultry wife, Camille (Brigitte Bardot). 

Paul is hired by brash American producer Jeremy Prokosch (Jack Palance) to rewrite an adaptation of Odysseus being directed by Fritz Lang (Lang, playing himself). Not only does Paul become subservient - forsaking his own artistic integrity for money - he appears to be encouraging Camille to spend more time with Prokosch. Their marriage almost immediately hits the skids, with Camille stating she no longer loves Paul and feels nothing but contempt for him (never expressly telling him why). Seemingly confused, Paul’s proposed script changes to the movie mirror the current state of his marriage.

The baffling (and interminable) part is Godard’s depiction of the conflict between Paul and Camille...more specifically, the 35 minute argument that takes place in their apartment. Both characters’ moods wildly (and repeatedly) shift, their words and actions ranging from contemplative to abusive to downright childish.

"Forget it, Camille. I'm riding shotgun."

I’m sure Godard intended this sequence as the crux of the entire narrative, but listening to them grows extraordinarily frustrating, to say nothing of exhausting. I’m confused as to why the director felt compelled to show this fight in its entirety - in real time - especially since neither of these two generate an ounce of sympathy. Then again, what the hell do I know? Countless reviews praise this scene as the best in the entire film (narratively and aesthetically).

That’s not to say Le Mépris isn’t without interest. As one of Godard’s few big budget efforts, it’s gorgeous to look at. So is Ms. Bardot, whose ample nude scenes were apparently inserted at the behest of producer Joseph Levine, which further blurs the lines between fantasy and reality, since we can’t escape the idea that Prokosch might be intended to represent Levine. In fact, when focused on the film-within-the-film, especially the conflict between Lang and Prokosch, the story is pretty interesting.

Still, the film’s praise sort of escapes me. Maybe I’ll think differently upon further viewings, should I ever be compelled to revisit it. Maybe I had unreasonable expectations, since admittedly, the only Godard film I’d seen before was Breathless. So even though this one left me comparatively cold, my criticisms should be taken with a grain of salt. Le Mépris is widely considered one of his best films and fans will certainly love this impressive 4K UHD transfer

EXTRA KIBBLES

INTRODUCTION - By writer and film scholar Colin MacCabe

DIGITAL COPY

SCROOGED (4K): Have a Murray Christmas

SCROOGED 35th Anniversary Edition (4K UHD)

1988 / 100 min

FROM PARAMOUNT

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😼

The very definition of high-concept (especially in the ‘80s), Scrooged had it all…a huge cast, gratuitous cameos, mass-appeal direction by Richard Donner, a playful score by Danny Elfman and, of course, a classic story updated and tailor-made to suit the talents of Bill Murray. In terms of bankability, Murray’s comedic appeal was rivaled only by Eddie Murphy back then. 

Residual audience goodwill from Stripes and Ghostbusters turned Scrooged into a moderate hit at the time, but it wasn’t quite in the same league as those classics. Personally, I think that’s because it plays like it was specifically assembled as a Bill Murray vehicle and all other aspects of the film were of secondary importance. I realize it's a minority opinion, since this comedic update of A Christmas Carol remains a perennial holiday favorite in a lot of households, as countless home video releases will attest.

"You coulda knocked."

Just in time for the holidays, Scrooged is now being released on 4K, which will be of great interest to longtime fans for more reasons than one. I’ve never watched previous DVD or Blu-ray editions, but the overall video quality of this one is great. Textures, depth, details and colors look sharp and natural. The DTS-HD 5.1 audio is also nicely balanced. But the real treat for fans might be the bonus features. They aren’t actually new, but have never been included in previous editions. 

Whether one considers Scrooged to be a holiday comedy classic or a high-concept product of its decade, this is a great 4K UHD release from Paramount. Those who love the film enough to watch it every year will certainly enjoy the upgraded transfer and impressive collection of vintage bonus material. But of all the movies showcasing Bill Murray’s unique comic abilities, I don't think this one ranks among his best.

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - A Christmas to Remember; Updating Ebenezer; Bringing the Ghosts to Life; The Look of Scrooged; On the Seat with Bill Murray.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By director Richard Donner.

SHOWEST CLIPS WITH BILL MURRAY

DIGITAL COPY