Autopsy of Jane Doe

Everyone that has seen this flick has been singing the praises. From Blumhouse to IHorror.com they have all stated to check this Festival flick out.

Well I headed over to the Alamo and enjoyed a couple of Mexican Martinis deciding to checkout The Autopsy of Jane Doe

I have to say that the praise is well deserved.

The plot seems relatively simple. A body is taken from a crime scene to a local morgue where a father and son team conducts the autopsy and that is where the simplicity ends.

All that I can say is that this body is connected to a series of strange events in the morgue and there are strange things afoot here that will keep you guessing till the end.

Helmed by Andre Ovredal, The Autopsy of Jane Doe utilizes it's limited location and cast with lighting and addition to the claustrophobic and isolated feel to the flick.

Emile Hersch and Brian Cox make a great father and son duo and Olwen Kelly maintains the frights despite being a corpse for the entire flick.

8 Dead Bodies

2 Breasts

3 Beasts

1 Dead Cat

1 Fire

3 1/2 stars

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Beware The Slenderman

Tragically sometimes a documentary has to be made to tell us the bad news.

They always say its all fun and games till someone gets hurt and that is the recent case with our internet habits. Sometimes we get so into things that we blur the lines between reality and fiction with disasterous results. 

I admit that yes I am into Creepypastas in the fact that I love a good scary story and in the words of 1978's Halloween "Everyone is entitled to One Good Scare". 

The subject of Beware The Slenderman is the events of 

Lucky for all parties involved there were no deaths in this tragedy, which is a sad state of affairs in our society today. 

Now first off...What is Slenderman? 

I am not here to debunk the myth because quite frankly I've seen Candyman enough times that I know what not to mess with but I will do my best to explain...without Spoilers as well. 

Essentially Slenderman is an internet creepypasta character that has achieved quite a following, so much in fact that many believe that the character is real. 

Depicted as a tall man in a black suit and tie with a featureless face and in other cases hidden tentacles and often in he company of children. An internet boogie man of sorts. 

The brand new documentary from HBO follows a tragic case where a couple of girls stabbed a friend in an attempt to appease Slenderman and the aftermath. The victim being Payton Leutner and the perpetrators being her two best friends Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser.

Academy Award nominated Irene Taylor Brodsky not only tells the story of Slenderman and the case but looks into an explanation of the phenomena and how it could appeal to the young and lead to the tragedy. 

Looking at folklore such as Grimm Fairytales and especially the case of the Pied Piper and the linking of the tales to The Slenderman. All of this while taking a look at the psychology of a child and why this would appeal to them making   Slenderman an imaginary friend rather than a Boogieman. 

The documentary also focuses on the families of the accused in a search for awnsers to the many questions. 

I particularly liked he cinematography of this documentary and the flow that it maintained and the putting a human face on the attackers. 

I know that there are some controversies with the production of this documentary but due to the subject matter that can be expected. 

All in all I feel it is worth a look.

Kickboxer: Vengeance

Memories! I'm reminded of staying up late in the summer when I was 10 years old for HBO's "Best Summer Ever".

It was during this time that I was introduced a flick and its star in what was pretty much his second film. That star would go on to be known as "The Muscles from Brussels" aka Jean Claude Van Damme.

The film that I am referring to of course is Kickboxer which was by the looks of it was intended to be a Star vehicle for Van Damme who was fresh off the success of Bloodsport and was being built as the next Sly or Arnold.

Following Kurt Sloan (Van Damme) who while serving as corner man to his USA Kickboxing Champion brother Eric travels to Thailand to face their champion Tong Po, Tragically Eric is quickly defeated by the massive brute and to add insult to injury is paralyzed and left for dead with Kurt vowing revenge.

Taking the tutelage of Master Xian (Dennis Chan) Kurt learns Maui Thai and works his way to a face off against Tong Po and his corrupt handlers in the "Ancient Way".

Needless to say Van Damme enjoyed his success and Kickboxer spawned 4 sequels.

Penned by David S Goyer Kickboxer 2 was produced and was in fact a success.

Van Damme at this point would not return for the second film and it was explained that his character was gunned down by Tong Po after his defeat in an act of Rage.

Taking over for Jean Claude was Sasha Mitchell who remained for 3 films with Dennis Chan returning for 2 and 3.

Despite the killing off of characters many of the sequels were pretty good flicks though I admit that I stopped at 4 as Mitchell's character was killed in the opening credits using a body double.

The original flick has enjoyed its own following and has had the jokes of memorial scenes such as Van Damm's Bar Room Dance.

Recently Kickboxer received the full remake treatment and clearly with a bigger budget and cast.

Helmed by genre veteran and Director John Stockwell who you may all remember from Christine and Top Gun and director of Turistas and Into the Blue, Kickboxer: Vengeance is basically the same story as the original with a few brief subplots dealing with corrupt officials.

Van Damme also returns to the Franchise in the Dennis Chan role as Master Durand. While maintaining some of the quirks still keeps his status as action star.

Where in the original you briefly saw Xian take action with Van Damme it happens often.

Van Damme also serves as Executive Producer alongside he man who takes on the role of Tong Po is taken on by former WWE Champion Dave Batista who I already knew would make a great villain as I am familiar with his work and presence that would be required for the role.

Also joining the cast is female MMA Star Gina Carano in a villain role.

That brings us to lead actor and stuntman Alain Moussi in the role of Kurt Sloan. I have to say I was impressed with him. Not only taking on the role but to play the role opposite the actor who played the original.

All in all I enjoyed the flick. As a matter of fact I watched again soon after my original watching and I just learned of a planned sequel which I am looking forward to.

2 Dead Bodies

4 Breasts

5 Street Fights

Elephant Chase

Dance Parody

3 Stars

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