This was bad. I can't really tell you which is worse: the story, the dialogue, the directing or the acting. I was unable to find a single redeeming quality about this pile of dung. If I could say anything to David Gordon Green after this, it would be: "Please, stop."
This is, without a doubt, the best horror movie ever made and one of the best movies I have ever seen in my life.
In this episode, we see the Enterprise take on a new passenger, a 17 year old boy who had seemingly been able to survive on his own for 14 years while stranded on a deserted planet. He behaves strangely and appears a bit lost, severely lacking in social skills. However, this notion quickly fades as he begins using his powers on a whim, or simply to get the attention he so desperately craves. The way in which this character is introduced to us and the enormous danger he represents to the crew on board the Enterprise felt uneven. But my main gripe with this episode is that it drags at times. The story could have developed into a sort of dramatic hostage situation, but it never really lives up to its full potential. The absences of Sulu and Scotty are also noticeable.
The original pilot episode of Star Trek lacked the intensity, wit and charisma of TOS's compelling characters. However, you'll be able to identify some of the elements that made this show great and why it stood the test of time. It's worth the watch, even though a huge chunk of it was used in the subsequently released two-part episode "The Menagerie".
When we see past the homage to Chadwick Boseman, we realize that this was the only think strumming on our heart strings. This movie is flawed beyond measure and it is really not that good.
So... a little skinny girl kills Dewey and stands tall like a 6 foot dude. And I'm supposed to suspend disbelief for how long? Pathetic! Will not be watching again any time soon.
This was actually the second pilot episode that Gene Roddenberry submitted to NBC, at their request, and I can completely understand why they've decided to pick it up for a full season. It's so much better than the original pilot and must have looked so advanced at the time that it probably blew everyone's mind. The narrative is quite dense and could have easily been extended to a full feature length. However, you can clearly see the changes they've implemented to both characters and tone of the show, even though the crew's uniforms, phasers and overall characterization would still be refined for future episodes. However, the fact that the antagonist turned out to be Captain Kirk's long time friend and helmsman of the Enterprise made the whole ordeal more personal and that much harder to overcome. We also get to witness one the many perils that lie beyond the edges of our galaxy and just how unprepared the Enterprise is to face them. This is, without a doubt, one of the strongest entries in the series.
The first episode of Netflix Original Series "Haunted" focuses on the first-person account of a man, Jason Hawkins, who believes that he has been haunted by a vengeful spirit ever since he was 8 years old. He is sitting in a room, surrounded by a small gathering of family members and friends, and begins sharing his version of what he thinks happened to him. Jason starts by telling them that he didn't have an easy time growing up, as his parents were poor and moved around a lot, and that one of his earliest memories was witnessing a murder that occurred on the parking lot of a diner. This event appears to have had a huge traumatic effect on him and ultimately triggered his parents' decision to find a place where they could settle down for a while. It was at this time, when they moved into an old apartment complex, that things started getting weird for Jason. He appeared to be overly aware of his surroundings and may even have started imagining things, such as finding closet doors open when they had been closed before, hearing whispers coming from the closet and a voice that called out his name. Then, one night, she was there... the "Woman in White". She appeared to be hanging by the neck in his closet and, from this moment on, she began tormenting him. As time went by, these occurrences got progressively worse and more brutal. He was suffering from sleep deprivation and his parents told him that he was sleep walking, even though he was completely unaware of this. He also mentioned that his parents didn't seem to care about what was happening to him and that this made him feel worthless. He even described instances of domestic violence. This went on for 6 years until his parents decided to move out of the complex and into a community closer to some family members. For a while, he didn't feel her presence anymore and started feeling safe again. But a brush with death followed by what appeared to be a psychotic break brought it all back. This was what drove him to run away from his parents house and keep moving, rarely staying in the same place for more than a day. Eventually, he met someone and they had a child. A few years later, he experienced another episode, moments before collapsing from heat stroke and dehydration. His heart stopped and, for a brief moment, he was dead. Jason thought he was finally safe. She had gotten what she wanted. However, towards the end of the episode, he admits to the group that he is has been feeling her presence again and that he is convinced that the "Woman in White" will not stop coming for him until he is dead. Overall, the concept was interesting and the story was compelling enough. The reenactments add value to the narrative and help set that horror movie tone, which makes this more compelling for the viewer. However, we can't escape the fact that this is merely the account of one man, with no corroborating witnesses, which will inevitably make us all wonder if this actually happened or if it was brought upon by trauma and mental illness.
The second episode of "The X-Files", which was also written by the show's creator Chris Carter and directed by Daniel Sackheim, marks the first time we get to hear the legendary "X-Files" theme, as well as the first time the show's catchphrase "THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE" is actually displayed on-screen. This is also known to be the second entry in the Alien Mythology arc and it portrays the first contact the main characters have with secret military projects involving the use of UFO technology. During the course of their investigation into the disappearance of a US Air Force test pilot, who seems to have developed strange physical and mental symptoms that could be related to high amounts of stress caused by the use of alien technology, Special Agents Mulder and Scully witness what appears to be aircrafts moving in the night sky in a way that defies the laws of physics. What happens next is but a glimpse of what the United States Department of Defense and the military are willing to do in order to cover up or protect their secrets. The eponymous episode also introduces us to Mulder's informant, a high-ranking government official that goes by the name of "Deep Throat". On another note, most people will be able to recognize Seth Green in an early performance as Emil, a young stoner who occasionally likes to sneak into the air base with his girlfriend to "kick back, listen to some tunes and... watch the air show". Overall, this was a pretty decent episode that deals with the concepts of government conspiracies, paranoia and UFO sightings. Even though they still couldn't get the tactical behavior during a military operation quite right, the plot, acting and dialogue were great and it had some really good moments of tension.
It's impossible to look at the introductory episode of "The X-Files" and not see it for the game changer that it was when it first premiered on television. The "Pilot" episode was brilliantly written by Chris Carter, expertly scored by Mark Snow and competently directed by Robert Mandel. It introduced us to Special Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, as they work on and investigate paranormal cases that were deemed unsolvable or given minimal-priority status by the FBI, along with one of the most mysterious and iconic antagonists in television history, the Cigarette Smoking Man. The series begins when Agent Scully is assigned by Division Chief Scott Blevins to assist in the investigation of the so-called X-Files and tasked with submitting reports from a scientific standpoint as a means to debunk any unusual findings and discredit Agent Mulder in the process. However, throughout the course of their investigation, both Agents experience strange occurrences, while having to deal with constant obstructions of justice and the deliberate destruction of any remaining physical evidence in a flagrant attempt to keep them from uncovering or exposing the truth. I find that this episode was extremely successful in setting the tone of the show from the start. It also succeeded in portraying Mulder as a true believer and Scully as a firm skeptic, which created a perfect balance between these two characters. Furthermore, it benefited greatly from having an interesting plot, a serious tone and a subversive atmosphere. Even the dialogue was extremely well written and delivered, making it sound as fresh now as it was before. The only gripe I have with this episode is the lack of skill that these actors display when handling a firearm, as it makes them look inexperienced as opposed to professionally trained agents. Still, this minor flaw shouldn't be enough to deter you from watching and even enjoying this episode.
What begins as a straight forward two-part mission that entailed rescuing a team of scientists from a research outpost located in the doomed ancient world and documenting the disintegration of this planet ends up becoming a race against time to save the Enterprise and its crew from spiraling into certain death. The madness starts with one crew member, but quickly spreads to others that are in charge of critical tasks needed to complete the mission. Admittedly, things do become a bit silly and gaudy, but eventually build up to a remarkably tense and emotional ending, which would influence Star Trek adventures in decades to come. This episode also delves into the inhibitions and emotional conflict that some of the main characters struggle with, most notably Kirk and Spock.
The sign reads "Welcome to Riverdale, the town with pep!", but that may actually be an overstatement. As a matter of fact, there is very little pep to be found here. It all looks and feels ominous and gloomy. Much like the teen angst that is affecting its main characters. Once we're introduced to this seemingly peaceful small town, we are immediately told that not everything is as it seems. We then proceed to trail the Blossom twins, Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) and Jason (Trevor Stines), an odd pair of gingers, all dressed in white, as they make their way to a local river for an early morning boat ride. Sounds incestuous? It isn't. Just a few moments later, tragedy strikes as Jason Blossom falls into the river and disappears. It's becoming more interesting, isn't it? Well, don't keep your hopes up. In fact, this mystery, which should be at the heart of this episode, is quickly relegated to being a mere backdrop in the lives of Archie Andrews (KJ Apa), Betty Cooper (Lili Reinhart) and Veronica Lodge (Camila Mendes), three high school sophomore students on the verge of discovering who they are and what they want out of life. Or is it "who" they want out of life? It doesn't really matter. What matters is the teen romance and the heartache. This is what we've come to expect from a CW teen soap opera, these days, isn't it? Regardless, some of the creative choices kept it interesting for me, such as choosing Forsythe "Jughead" Jones (Cole Sprouse) to be the narrator of this story, even though we are only introduced to this character at the very end of the episode. I was also into the whole retro vibe, which is clearly an homage to the old Archie comics. There was one scene, in particular, that I really enjoyed, which was an argument between Archie and his father, Fred Andrews (Luke Perry), while standing on their front porch, where they discuss the importance of honesty and truth on the road to becoming the best version on oneself. It was probably one of the best character-building conversations I've seen on the small screen and, in some weird cosmic sense, made me feel that Luke Perry was always meant to play this role. Altogether, "The River's Edge" turned out to be a pretty decent start to this teen drama. It was well written by the series developer, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, proficiently directed by Lee Toland Krieger, who currently seems to be the go-to guy for pilot episodes, having previously directed the premieres for both Happyland (2014) and Beyond (2017), and brilliantly scored by Blake Neely. It was also properly edited and boasts a few great moments, including a fair amount of pop culture references and the occasional nod to cult television shows that keep the source material fresh, interesting and relatable to its target audience. Let's see where it goes from here.
Disappointing. It's most definitely the "Iron Fist" of the MCU movies.
Just as I was about to watch "One Missed Call", the American remake of "Chakushin Ari", a Japanese horror movie that was directed by Takashi Miike and released back in 2003, I had a feeling that I had already done it once before during its original theatrical run. However, for some odd reason, I couldn't remember it. Well,... now I know why. It is utterly forgettable. Aside from the fact that it follows the same basic premise as the original movie, where people start receiving voicemail messages from their future selves with the exact date and time of their deaths, this movie simply ignores most of the elements that made the Japanese version so creepy and intriguing. But this didn't just end up being another pointless attempt by an American studio at remaking a Japanese horror movie. It actually killed the public interest in the genre and was also considered to be the worst movie of 2008, as well as one of the worst movies of the decade. Some of you are probably wondering what went wrong, so I'll be pointing out some of the reasons that led to this epic fail. Firstly, it was directed by Eric Valette, a French director with an unremarkable resume, who hadn't really done much outside of television prior to directing this movie and was also making his directorial debut in America. It appears that he had made the decision not to watch the original and asked his actors to the same. Frankly, I don't see the point in remaking a movie if you have no interest in watching the original or, at the very least, reading the novel from which it was adapted from, but that is just me. Anyway, rumour has it that, while on set, no one really saw eye-to-eye and that the writer, the director and the cast had very different ideas regarding what they thought the movie should be and that most were dissatisfied with the end result because of it. To give you a clear example of this, the screenplay that had been written by novelist Andrew Klavan was intended to be a horror-comedy, which kind of explains why the dialogue feels so clunky, but the movie itself ended up having a much more serious tone. Besides, you can't help but notice that this movie borrows a lot more from the far superior "Final Destination", a horror movie franchise that had begun in the year 2000 and had already spawned two successful sequels, than it does from the actual source material. And, even though it's half an hour shorter than the original, it's impressive how it still manages to be inexplicably plagued by filler scenes. But it wasn't all down to sloppy execution. The acting itself was just as bad and, regardless of how hard I tried, I was unable to find a saving grace from anyone at all. Not only that, but the special effects, which relied heavily on CGI, looked fake and detracted from the story. The studio executives are also to blame for this stinker, as they'd decided to make this horror movie PG-13 after they had already wrapped up principal photography, stripping away all creative control from the director. I could go on, but you probably get the point. In conclusion, it is my opinion that this was a boring, flat and lifeless horror movie that I don't plan on watching ever again... and neither should you.
The first episode of Bleach, like many other anime series that came before it, focuses on explaining who the main character is, what his motivations are and what distinguishes him from everyone else. Ichigo Kurosaki is a kind hearted, but fearless, high school student who appears to have a very special talent: he can see and is even able to communicate with ghosts. This is all established from the start, where we find him "educating" some goons on decency and respect after they knocked over a jar with flowers that had been placed on the ground as an offering to the soul of a young girl who had died there. In terms of his personality, Ichigo can be quite reserved and generally keeps to himself, as he doesn't seem to be very open about his thoughts and feelings, even with his own family. That being said, depending on the situation, he can also come across as being tremendously outspoken and energetic. His father runs a clinic and is family is presented as being comically dysfunctional, in large part due to the children's sensitivity towards the lingering spirits of the dead, a gift that they may have inherited solely from their mother's side. Ichigo's everyday life ends up being permanently affected by the arrival of the Shinigami, or Death God, Rukia Kuchiki in Karakura Town, which narrows the gap between their two worlds and brings a sense of purpose to Ichigo's existence. We learn that Rukia works for the Soul Society and is on the hunt for Hollows, who are described as evil spirits that feed on the souls of both the living and the dead. Initially, we are led to believe that they are hunting for the souls of spirits who haven't departed from the world of the living yet, which is why they are drawn to Ichigo's family clinic. However, we soon find out that it's Ichigo's own untapped potential and strength that make his extremely powerful soul such a coveted prize. As the inevitable fight ensues, Rukia is critically injured and Ichigo decides to sacrifice himself in order to become a Shinigami, so that he can defeat the remaining Hollow and save both of his sisters' lives, One of the great things about this episode is that there is virtually no filler of any kind. We are presented with a charismatic and interesting main character, along with a group of supporting characters that are not only relevant to the narrative, but also help move the story forward. Even when we are given some form of exposition, it's craftily delivered with humour. It's definitely an entertaining watch and I can't wait to see what happens next.
Having watched Can Evrenol's brilliant and nightmarish "Baskin" last year, I was really excited to watch "Housewife" this year. Not only that, but the only preview I could find on YouTube was actually quite compelling, so my expectations were at their peak as I entered the movie theater. Alas, as my initial excitement faded, my expectations would soon be laid to waste. While the movie had a promising start, it quickly went astray. The acting was mediocre, at best, but all I kept wondering was why on earth would any studio hire a non-English speaking cast to speak in English for the majority of the time when these events are not even occurring in an English speaking country? It's distracting and adds absolutely nothing to the story. Furthermore, while most of the dialogue focuses on exposing who these characters are, what they do for a living and how they came to know each other, not much of it is truly dedicated to clarifying some of the most meaningful aspects of the story, such as the identity of the old lady in the painting or the importance of the pendant that she wears around her neck. We can try to guess and speculate, but we never really know for sure. Plus, the nudity, sex, blood and gore also feel gratuitous and bear no significance to the story that we're being told. They're just randomly thrown into the mix. The only hint of purpose is only provided at the very end, where all threads are tied together, but the ending itself failed to have much of an impact and I wasn't invested on these any characters to even care about what happened to them. There was simply not enough meat on these skinny bones. In conclusion, the acting was wooden, as there was very little chemistry between the actors themselves, the characters were underdeveloped, the plot was weak, the story was insubstantial and the on-screen violence, even though it was well executed, served little purpose apart from attempting to shock the audience. There are far better movies out there for you to watch, so I suggest that you don't waste your time on this one.
Passengers are informed that, due to power failure down at the airport, the flight is being rerouted to LAX. Meanwhile, all efforts to reanimate the fallen passenger seem to be failing.
The city of Phoenix goes dark, as the flight attendant decides to open the door of the lavatory and the unresponsive passenger that was locked inside collapses on the floor.
As the airplane begins its final approach, the flight attendant is alerted to the fact that one of passengers is still locked in the lavatory. Meanwhile, electric power cuts are seen to be occurring all over Phoenix.
One of the passengers feels sick and rushes to the bathroom, which makes another passenger concerned to the point that she starts asking questions about his health. Could this woman know more than she's letting on?
The flight attendant acts strangely towards one of the passengers, as she pushes the beverage cart down the aisle. In the meantime, the lady sitting next to the young man notices his anxiety and strikes a conversation with him to ease his mind.
Mobile communications are down as the plane lifts off. Also, there seems to be something wrong with one of the passengers.
"Fear the Walking Dead: Flight 462" is a 16-part web series, which takes place during the events of an episode called "The Dog" from the first season of "Fear the Walking Dead". It focuses solely on a group of passengers aboard a commercial flight to Phoenix as it's about to take off. One of these passengers, a young man, tries to communicate with his mother, who was unable to get a seat on the plane and had to stay behind.
Fear the Walking Dead had a lot going for it before it aired, but it also had a lot to live up to. Riding on the success of The Walking Dead series, expectations were quite high, even though everyone already knew that it would be focusing on a new group of people from Los Angeles and that it would be set in a completely different timeline. That is why maintaining a balance between introducing these characters in their everyday lives and finding the right tone for the impending zombie apocalypse was crucial, which I believe the creators of this show have done quite well. Personally, I feel that the character that makes it all work is Nick Clark, a drug addict who is both at the very start and at the closing moments of this episode and whose actions end up being pivotal for all those around him to become aware of what is going on. I also particularly enjoyed the way they made the streets, schools and parks become progressively less populated, which makes the viewer feel uneasy and wonder... "what the hell is happening?"
It's not unusual to find previews that are actually better than the movies they're presenting. "Accidents Happen" is a perfect example of this, as it showed a lot of promise, but failed to deliver on every level: script, direction, acting... not even Geena Davis could save this dreary mess. Between the boring tone of the narrator, the lack of engaging characters and the overall pacing, it's truly hard to find something worth remembering. Even the story about this accident-prone boy who is torn between having to hold his dysfunctional family together, following a traumatic accident for which he was partly responsible for, and his need to experience life as it was before is not all that engaging. The dialogue is sketchy and the narrative is poorly constructed, making the viewing of this movie an extremely forgettable experience. The soundtrack, on the other hand, is quite pleasant and even includes a couple of catchy tunes. However, even though accidents do happen, all that is broken here is way beyond repair.
The second episode, titled "The passionate football prodigy", resumes immediately after the intense stand-off between Tsubasa Ozora and Genzo Wakabayashi that marks the beginning of their rivalry, which will span throughout the first arc, commonly referred to as the Kids' Dream or Elementary School Arc.
Wakabayashi is astonished by Tsubasa's skill, accuracy and shot power. He appears to be dazed until the players from Shutetsu B team show up. He then challenges Tsubasa to prove himself by facing the entire team and attempting to score, as this will be the only way to determine whether he is a true football player or not. Tsubasa agrees, and what follows is another testament to the quality of this anime series. In a riveting sequence showcasing the dynamic animation style it has become known for, Tsubasa makes easy work of his opponents. In a mixture of skill and speed, he dribbles, evades, and nutmegs the whole squad before shooting on target.
The face-off against Shutetsu B Team is the highlight of this episode, filled with captivating moments that culminate in another showdown between Tsubasa and Wakabayashi, where their rivalry escalates into a bloody affair. This scene is particularly noteworthy for two reasons: it reveals the identity of the mysterious stranger as Roberto Hondo, the famous center-forward of the Brazilian national team, and showcases Tsubasa Ozora's resourcefulness while establishing him as a complete football player. As a result, Nankatsu's Elementary School's football team regains access to the Junior Football Ground , so that it can be used as their training facility until the upcoming tournament.
Regretfully, the pacing becomes uneven as the episode loses its momentum, dialling down on the action considerably until the final scene. Even though we are shown a defining moment in Tsubasa's past, the plot point that ends up sparking our curiosity the most is the undisclosed nature of Roberto Hondo's connection with Kodai Ozora, Tsubasa's father. Still, these fail to either captivate or reach the intensity of previous standout moments.
The episode draws to a close with a promising setup for future contests, as Tsubasa ultimately decides to face Wakabayashi as the newest member of the Nankatsu Elementary School's football team, who proudly accept Roberto Hondo as their new coach. The anticipation for their rivalry remains, although one could have hoped for a stronger conclusion, as Roberto's acrobatic overhead kick, while impressive, doesn't reach the same level of excitement as the previous episode's intense stand-off.
"Spreading his wings into the sky" marks the starting point of a young boy's journey toward becoming the greatest Japanese football player the world has ever seen. We meet Tsubasa Ozora as he embarks on this new chapter, relocating with his mother, Natsuko, from suburbian Tokyo to Nankatsu—a place widely known to aspiring young football enthusiasts as the home of the prominent Shutetsu Football Team, recent winners of the national tournament.
The episode kicks off with an enticing glimpse of what lies ahead, offering a preview of the formidable adversaries Tsubasa will face in the early stages of his development as a professional athlete. Once he arrives at his new home, our main character wastes no time and explores his surroundings, hoping to find others as passionate about football as he is. Unrestrained, Tsubasa quickly captures the attention of local youth, be it for his dribbling skills or ball control. Most of them seem to harbour some form of resentment for the talented Shutetsu Private School's football team that Tsubasa aspires to join. However, theirs aren't the only eyes watching; a mysterious stranger, seemingly well-acquainted with Tsubasa's reputation as a youth possessing extraordinary skill and untapped potential, takes an unusual interest in him. But intrigue can wait, for shortly after, a face-off between the genius goalkeeper, Genzo Wakabayashi, and the captains from other sports teams, namely rugby, handball and baseball, ensues. This contest of skill showcases the exceptional animation style that this series has become known for, emphasizing fluid movement and dynamic ball play. Another highlight is the way in which Tsubasa chooses to challenge Wakabayashi, defying all odds and expectations. The subsequent stand-off between the two raises the stakes, fueling their rivalry and setting the stage for an epic clash between the local legend and the new kid on the block.
Other notable moments include the budding bond between Tsubasa and the captain of the Nankatsu Elementary School's football team, Ryo Ishizaki, as they become fast friends. On the other hand, Tsubasa's first interaction with Sanae Nakazawa is so unremarkable to the point that is doesn't even hint at what the future holds for them.
Overall, this episode delivers a well-paced and engaging introduction to "Captain Tsubasa". The standout scenes, particularly the showdown at Nankatsu's Junior Football Ground and the onset of the rivalry between Tsubasa and Wakabayashi, testify to the series' ability to set up the premise, develop character dynamics and offer thrilling football action that not only defies the laws of physics but also grips your attention and doesn't let go.
Choosing the 1977 Porsche 924 as the inaugural project for a TV programme like "Wheeler Dealers" was a clever move. It's a sleek car that commands attention, just like the dynamic duo that hosts the show. Mike Brewer, a natural at making deals, teams up with Edd China, who effortlessly demystifies the most challenging restoration processes.
After a brief introduction to the show and the vehicle itself, the first half of this episode focuses on Mike's search for the smartest buy, the much-needed test drive, and the swift deal-making (after a very brief negotiation) before handing the car over to Edd. The bodywork involved addressing a significant dent on the left-side rear quarter, which required fixing, scraping, filling, and repainting. Additionally, the passenger door needed to be replaced, and a laborious process of high-speed T-cutting was performed to restore the paint's glorious red shine. The exterior work was rounded off by cleaning and repainting the frames on the wheels.
The entire restoration process progressed smoothly, leaving Mike thoroughly impressed with the results. He even went the extra mile by including a set of inserts for the wheels, as the original ones had been broken. As the episode draws to a close, a brief recap highlights the budget and total expenditure thus far.
In his directorial debut, Martin Hicks demonstrated a clear understanding of what was originally intended by the show's creators, expertly utilizing interesting camera angles to match the program's informal style. Not only was this an engaging way to kick-start the series, but it also seemed to hit the mark with its target audience, as well as casual viewers, who turned '"Wheeler Dealers" into a massive success story.
"Ohm" is the short film debut of writer and director Santiago Menghini, who is credited for both roles. The film was released in 2009 and stars Nicholas B. York as an unnamed scientist who appears to be obsessed with experiencing sensorial augmentation, or the transference of his senses, through the use of an electrical resistance named Ohm. He seems intent on immersing himself ever deeper in an unquenchable thirst for control or understanding of certain elements and materials, such as water, wood, vegetation and ice. However, the increasing levels of electrical current used to conduct this experiment exact a heavy toll on his body and mind, as well as on anything electrical around him. Alas, although it proves to be nearly fatal, the experiment ends up claiming his sanity, as he plans on taking things a step too far.
This short film is presented in a 4:3 aspect ratio, with grainy visuals, and a vintage look. The overall aesthetics and level of technology employed are meant to transport us back to the late 1960s or early 1970s, which were the height of sci-fi during the network era of American television. And, notwithstanding a few continuity errors, half-baked effects, and average editing, it is clear that a lot of effort, thought and work was dedicated to this project. The influence of TV shows like "The Twilight Zone" and "The Outer Limits" is also quite noticeable, as is Menghini's inclination towards the horror and sci-fi genres. I found "Ohm" to be a very decent first effort and hope that it was a mere stepping-stone in a potentially prolific and brilliant career.
4444444444 (1998) is the second of two short films that were written and directed by Takashi Shimizu, which serve as prequels to his feature film debut, Ju-on : The Curse (2000). Here, we are introduced to Tsuyoshi Murakami (Kazushi Andô), a young man who just happens to be riding his bicycle around the corner of an old building when he stops to investigate the mysterious ringing of a mobile phone in a deserted alleyway. He looks for it behind abandoned furniture and damaged household items and eventually finds it, only to realize that the call is originating from a very odd number. He reluctantly answers the phone, only to hear the meowing of a cat coming from the other end. He dismisses the caller and decides to terminate the call. However, as he is about to ditch the phone, it starts ringing again. He sees that it is coming from the same number, but answers it anyway, only to be greeted by a similar raspy cat-like sound. He takes a seat on a nearby step and begins to wonder if someone might actually be watching him when he suddenly realizes that the cursed spirit of Toshio Saeki (Daiki Sawada) is sitting right next to him. Even though the premise is simple, it is extremely effective and showcases several characteristics of classic J-Horror movies, such as the ghostly figure of a child, an eerie or secluded location and a complete lack of a music score. The acting is also more than adequate and the ending is quite satisfying, despite being somewhat ambiguous. And, although it is still one of the shortest short films that I ever watched, it remains a fitting introduction or companion piece to one of be most famous Japanese horror franchises.
