28 Days Later (2002) – A ’31 Films Of Halloween’ Quick Capsule Review

28 Days Later (2002) – A ’31 Films Of Halloween’ Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Hall of Fame Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Tense, scary and raw 28 Day’s Later for me is one of the best horror films ever made.  Even 17 years later it remains one of the most unsettling films ever made.  Danny Boyle, coming off a run that included Trainspotting and The Beach once again showed that he is a director not bound by genre.  Handheld, shot on low fi digital video and with a limited budget, Boyle creates a film that feels as real as it get that adds visceral gore, an epic score and a compelling twist on the then very worn Zombie film.  Add to that career making performances by Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris & Christopher Eccleston as well as an impressive debut by writer Alex Garland and you have a near perfect storm.  Essential viewing.

Best Bit: ‘Hello’

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Buy

If You Liked this Try: 28 Weeks Later, Trainspotting, Dawn Of The Dead

★★★★★★★★★★

Hall-of-Fame

 

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Carriers (2009) – A Quick Capsule Review (Revisited)

Carriers (2009) – A Quick Capsule Review (Revisited)

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
28 Dawn of The Living Stands Laters. Although considering most of those rate in my top 10 horror movies of all time, the fact Carriers doesn’t sit too out of place along side some of them isn’t a bad thing. Thoughtful, shocking and well made it’s biggest issue it that it just, ultimately, isn’t scary enough.  But man it tries…

Best Bit:Tough choices.

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: 28 Days Later,  The Stand,  28 Weeks Later

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Redcon 1 – A Quick Capsule Review

Redcon 1 – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
A film can fail but still be worth watching.  For me that’s Redcon-1  – a film very much the less of the sum of its parts that ultimately is undone by its scope being far greater than its budget.  It has a few nice moments but all the way through you see quite quickly that whilst it wants to be 28 Weeks Later meets The Raid, it’s more like a Devil’s Playground meets The Silencer (Look ’em up folks).  There’s talent on display here – Strange is very good at the action scenes- but the film can’t pull off its set pieces and scares as, at every moment, it just feels like there wasn’t enough money to make the scenes big or spectacular enough.  So Redcon-1 is worth streaming for the effort and vision alone but sadly in truth little else works.

Best Bit: It’s scope

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream (for effort)

If You Liked this Try: The Raid, 28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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The Cured (2018) – A Quick Capsule Review

The Cured (2018) – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
The Cured is an interesting take on the zombie/infected movie.  Feeling like it could exist in the 28 Days… universe, it takes the story of the ‘Cured’ infected returning to their normal lives and the effects this has on both them, their families and others.  It’s low budget for sure but it makes the most out of what it has and delivers a tense, brutal and often violent horror thriller.  Even if it is a touch predictable.

Best Bit: They are back

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: 28 Days Later, Dawn Of The Dead, 28 Weeks Later 

★★★★★★★★★★

 

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Ravenous – A Quick Capsule Review

Ravenous – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil Hobden Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Ravenous is a unique take on the zombie movie, feeling more like a Canadian 28 Days Later than a plodding Dawn Of The Dead rip off.  This latest Netflix released exclusive delivers scares, shocks and surprises as a zombie plague ravages a rural Quebec town and a band of strangers are forced to band together to survive.  What you have is an admittedly low budget fair but highly effective with good use of it’s budget and effects.  Well worth a watch.

Best Bit: Smoke. Field. Dead.

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream (Netflix)

If You Liked this Try: 28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later, Day Of The Dead

★★★★★★★★★★

The Girl With All The Gifts – A Quick Capsule Review

The Girl With All The Gifts – A Quick Capsule Review

by Phil's Quick Review Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
The Girl With All The Gifts plays like a cross between 28 Weeks Later and the yet to be made movie version of The Last of Us.  And yup for the most part it lives up to the quality of those two lofty titles.  Which is no mean feat. Close, Arterton, Considine and relative newcomer Sennia Nanua make a superb ensemble cast, delivering on point performances against the back ground of Colm McCarthy’s expertly drawn universe. Dystopian worlds don’t come any better drawn than this, especially at the budget level on display here but the film, it’s world and characters are superb.  Highly recommended.

Best Bit: The pram…

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Buy

If You Liked this Try: The Last of Us (PS4), 28 Weeks Later, Train To Busan, The Road

IMDB Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★

 

Author: Phil Hobden

Phil’s 5 Best Films of 2007…

Phil’s 5 Best Films of 2007…

by Phil Hobden Quick Review Year In Review

Film of The Year: Bourne Supremacy (9/10)
In Brief:  I had low expectations, liking but not a massive fan of the first 2. I was blown away with its story, action and performances.

2. Transformers
Why It was good: Because against all odds (toy adaptation, Michael Bay directing) this film was simply brilliant, delivering and then some.

3. Rocky Balboa
Why It was good: Stallone returns and brings pathos, heart and soul along with him. A feel good movie like they just don’t make any more.

4. Knocked Up
Why It was good: When a film arrives with so much hype, normally it’s a let down. Not so with Knocked Up, the funniest, warmest and most honest film of the year!

5. Grindhouse
Why It was good: Because it was Tarantino & Rodriguez both on superb form, once again making movies I love to watch!

Bubbling under:
Death Sentence (8/10); Ratatouille (8 /10); Hot Fuzz (7/10); 300 (7/10); 28 Weeks Later (7/10)