The Other Lamb

I am against many things in this world, especially pedophiles and men who abuse women. I can honestly say that i would not mind burning all pedophiles alive, and feel no shame in saying that. If you sexually abuse a child, you should suffer with pain, and have no legal rights. Some might say i am cruel saying so, that they should die in pain. But in my eyes they don´t deserve anything at all, just to be burned alive. With that said there is especially one issue that i have studied a lot about over the years, through books, documentary films and newspaper stories. And that is religious cults, that we can find all over the world. There are a lot of religious cults out there in history, and i could easily talk about many of them. But i decided to pick out especially one religious cult that made world news when President Warren Jeffs of the FLDS Church, was arrested in 2006, after the truth came out about him having sexually abused children. In 2011, Warren Jeffs was convicted of two felony counts of child sexual assaults, wich he is currently serving a life sentence plus twenty years. Warren Jeffs is a perfect example of a religious cult leader, who sexually abused children and manipulated church members to do what he wanted. There are several interesting documentaries about FLDS, where they also talk about Warren Jeffs. One that you can watch for free is on this link below, to the FLDS documentary Damned To Heaven, so you get to hear both members, and former members talk about the church and their leaders.

https://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentary/watch-online/filmedia/play/4688/Damned-to-Heaven

When it comes to films that tells the story of religious cults, i have a couple of films that i could easily mention. But there is one film i feel that not many people have seen, or heard about, that people should see. And that is the independent drama film Holy Ghost People, directed by Mitchel Altieri. This film tells the story of Charlotte ( played really well by actress Emma Greenwell ) who is looking for her missing sister, that joined a religious cult church up on Sugar Mountain. She ask her new friend Wayne ( Brendan McCarthy ) to help her find her sister, by pretending to join the church. They meet reverend Brother Billy ( with a fantastic performance by Joe Egender ), who welcome them both. But there is clearly something going on in this church, as Charlotte keep looking for her sister. Holy Ghost People is an effective drama film, of how dangerous cult members can be, and they are willing to do anything for their lord. I personally feel that this is the best film from director Mitchel Altieri. I suggest you buy the DVD and support this film, it is worth having in your movie collection. During this spring i was reading some articles online about a film called The Other Lamb, a film that brings up the subject of a religious cult, that takes place in the countryside. I saw the trailer, and this looked exactly like my cup of tea, and independent film that digs deep into religion. Is this one of the better independent films to see during this season of late summer, or is The Other Lamb a film that you don´t need to waste your time on ?

Selah ( Raffey Cassidy ) is a member of a religious group, run by their leader Shepherd ( Michiel Huisman ). Shepherd have several wives, and every child he have with them are women, as they live in a very closed society with no technology. The sisterhood tries to please their master, in every way that he needs to be pleased, since he is the connection to their creator. But when the sisterhood are having issues with Selah, they are forced to try and deal with the situation, no matter what needs to be done.

I had a feeling that this could be an interesting film, for many different reasons. And i am happy to say that The Other Lamb is a film that clearly shows the danger of religious cults, and the damage that they can cause to human beings. But there is so much more that is important to dig into in a story like this, how these women give up their whole lives, to be told what they should do. Can you imagine not being able to go anywhere you want, not eat the food you want, or not even have a soda you love, because someone will tell you what is ok or not ok ? I personally feel that religious cults such as this one are really dangerous, because the ones who run these cults are very disturbed personalities. This is where we should talk about some of the interesting characters. Let us begin with the cult leader Shepherd, played by actor Michiel Huisman. Shepherd is that kind of character that will piss you off, because he is clearly taking advantage of all of these women in this religious cult. Every woman is supposed to be avaible to him, and be breeded by him, because he is their Shepherd. I have to say though that Michiel does a powerful performance of this sick individual, and for that i applaude him. Actress Raffey Cassidy ( who most of you will recognize from Tomorrowland: A World Beyond ) gives the strongest acting performance in this film as the character Selah, who starts to question things in the sisterhood, as well as what Shepherd is doing. Raffey clearly wanted to give her performance a realistic look, of how it could be when you start to doubt what you believe in, and remember your life from the past. And she does this in a powerful way, that you will feel through her performance. The one thing i especially appreciate about The Other Land, is how beautiful this film is to look at. It is made with a passion to tell a story, especially from a female perspective. Director Malgorzata Szumowska ( who directed the powerful drama film Ine The Name Of ) bring us a film that not only show the pattern of manipulation, but also the power of fighting back, when you feel that something is wrong. The Other Lamb is an independent film with many lairs of important subjects, that needs to be told. Especially that there is a lot of abuse towards women in society, something we can not accept. A film you need to see, especially if you are interested in religious cults, just like myself.

Rating: DDD

Penance Lane

Back in the 80´s, i used to watch a lot of wrestling on TV. Everytime i watched Hulk Hogan strike down any wrestler, i felt a lot of joy. The same thing when you watched The Ultimate Warrior, or even " Macho Man " Randy Savage do their special tricks, i would cheer infront of the TV. The 80´s, up until the 90´s had a lot of fun wrestlers such as The Bushwackers, the only ones during that time who looked like Redneck Alabama folks, with a very unique walk. WWE used to be one of the things i always watched on weekends. As the 90´s went on, a lot of wrestling stars would show up in Hollywood films, and especially Hulk Hogan. Who has not seen his films Surburban Commando or Mr Nanny? He did do some other acting in such films as No Holds Barred back in 1989, that actually felt more like a connection to his wrestling career. Speaking earlier about Randy Savage, you might remember seeing him in the comedy film Ready To Rumble from 2000. This film really tried to bring in a lot of wrestlers such as Sting, Bam Bam Bigelow, Disco Inferno and many more. But the wrestling industry realised the potential that wrestling stars had on the big screen, so WWE Films produced a lot of action, and horror films as well. One of the films i remember especially is the 2006 horror film See No Evil, directed by Gregory Dark. This is a slasher film that used a lot of classic ingredients from similar films, and the most fun part of See No Evil is to see wrestler Kane as the killer character Jacob Goodnight, killing anyone who gets in his way. See No Evil may not bring anything new to the table, but that´s not the point either. If you enjoy slasher films with a lot of brutality, then See No Evil is Worth checking out. There is a sequel, but i personally prefer the first film. During spring this year i was hearing some buzz online about an independent horror film that would have wrestlers in a film called Penance Lane. This caught my attention of course, and i decided to pick up the film on DVD. Is this one of the better horror films i have seen this summer, or is Penance Lane as forgettable as Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 1?

Crimson Matthews ( Tyler Mane ) arrives in a small American town, looking for a job and to start a new life after being in prison. As he gets a lift to town, he helps local girl Sherry Roddick ( Scott Taylor-Compton ) from being avused by her boyfriend. She thanks him personally, when he goes in to have dinner at Sherry´s mother Jan Roddick´s ( April Bogenschutz ) diner. Since Crimson is looking for a new job, he ask Jan about the note outside her diner. It turns out that local pastor Father John ( John Schneider ) needs an old house to be fixed, and she helps him set up a meeting with Crimson. Father John hires Crimson right away, and there is a lot of work to be done. But this house have some secrets hidden, that Crimson is about to find, as he begins to fix up the place.

One of the biggest surprises for me personally, is how well this film have captured the American small town society. You have characters here that i bet a lot of Americans will say that they have seen, in small towns. And i appreciate that this film does not try and and add clichés of typical American people, and make them look like ordinary people instead. I think this helps the characters of this film become more interesting, since you can feel that they are just as ordinary as the people we all meet in smaller towns. But there is a secret about this small town, and that is one interesting twist that i especially appreciate, that i did not expect. In the beginning of this film, you might think that this is another paranormal horror film, that we have seen so many times before. But the plot actually becomes more clear, as the film goes on, and feels more like a mixture of Wes Craven infuences. Let us get into the characters for a bit. Lead actor Tyler Mane ( retired professional wrestler ) actually fit well with his character Crimson Matthew, who just got out of prison. At first you might think that Crimosn is leaving everything behind his past, but is he really ? Wonderful actress Scout Taylor-Compton ( who i guarantee you recognize from Rob Zombie´s 2007 horror film Halloween ) plays the female character Sherry. She may not be seen a lot, but Scout knows how to make her character fit in with the plot. Legendary actor John Schneider ( who most of you remember from the classic TV series The Dukes Of Hazard ) is one of the big surprises for me with this film. He is actually better than i expected, so that is without a doubt positive. I have to mention wrestler and actor Booker Huffman, with his character Shooter. He nails his performance right on target. Penance Lane is a horror film that is not groundbreaking in any way, but this is a good looking film and also have a clever twist into the story. I also have to mention that i enjoy the secret that this town holds, that helps the plot become more interesting. Director Péter Engert shares his passion for Wes Craven with Penance Lane, and do it with a effective combination of old school horror ingredients. Worth picking up on DVD, if you appreciate this genre, and wrestling stars as well of course.

Rating: DDD

The Lodge

I am a big city guy. I love the big houses, restaurants, pubs, cinemas, shops, strip clubs, everything that is supposed to be in a big city. All the years that i have travelled across Europe i appreciate everything that every city has to offer. But there are moments, when i just need a relaxing weekend, away from the big city. Just to go swimming in a lake, go fishing or just enjoy a barbecue outside a cabin. Just to wake up hearing the sound of nature, while having breakfast on the porch, is a great combination. What if your stay inside a cabin, does not turn out the way you thought ? This is something that British horror film Dog Soldiers clearly proved, that i consider to be a cabin horror classic. If you have not seen Dog Soldiers so far, there are only 2 reasons why you have not seen this film:

* You are a Minecraft addict, who never leave your computer screen for 65 hours ( pee bottle included of course, we need to be realistic )

* You play the banjo, on your Alabama porch, hoping to marry anyone who travel across your road, no matter if they are male of female, just as tradition goes in Alabama.

Dog Soldiers is directed by Neil Marshal, and the story is about a group of British soldiers who carry out a training exercise against a Special Air Unit, in the Scottish highlands. The following morning they find SAS unit´s savaged remains. As the Special Air Unit see themselves being attacked, they are helped by zoologist Megan, who take them to an abandoned cabin. It is here that the real fight begins, when they realise that they are surrounded by werewolves. If you did not think there is no really good werewolf film that takes place near a cabin, then you have to see Dog Soldiers. There are so many details that i enjoy about this film, but i especially love the make up effects. The werewolves are some of the best looking in this genre, and i have to say that they managed to make these werewolves very effective as they attack. And i have to mention that the cast does a really good job as well, with their characters. It feels like these people are real soldiers, and this is of course important to the storyline. If you have not seen Dog Soldiers, make sure to get it on DVD or Blu Ray. Speaking of Blu Ray, i actually picked up a film i was supposed to see in cinema this spring, but since the pandemic came along i skipped that chance. The film i wanted to see is called The Lodge, that have film critics very divided worldwide. If you do want to hear one interesting review of this film, i suggest you check out Sinister Cinema Reviews and his review of The Lodge on the link belown:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahPdIyeI-Eo

A family in a lodge in winter time ? Sounds like my kind of film, since no one loves snow more than me. Is this one of the better films i have seen this year, or is The Lodge just as bad as former professional boxer Oscar De La Hoya´s latino pop album from the year 2000 ?

Laura Hall ( Alicia Silverstone ), seperated from her husand Richard Hall ( Richard Armitage ), dies by suicide after he informs her he plans to marry Grace Marshall ( Riley Keough ), a woman he met while researching a book about an extremist Christian cult. Raised in the cult, Grace was the sole survivor of their mass suicide, led by her father. Laura´s Death devastates her and Richard´s children Aiden Hall ( Jaeden Martell ) and Mia Hall ( Lia McHugh ). Six months later, Richard announces that they will spend christmas with Grace at the family´s remote Massachusetts lodge to get to know each other. Aiden and Mia uncover Grace´s past, including video footage of the cult, showing the deceased followers draped in pure silk with duct tape across their mouths reading " sin ". At the lodge, the children are hostile toward Grace and refuse efforts to bond with her, as Richard is forced to go back to the city for a work obligation. Grace is determined to get closer to the children, by letting them participate in decorating for Christmas. But her plans to make this family become closer, are about to get even worse, for each day that goes by.

I tried going into this film knowing as little as possible, since the review of The Lodge from Sinister Cinema Reviews did not go into too many details on the plot, and i appreciate that. This is a very dark film, that feels inspired by director Ari Aster´s horror film Hereditary. I want to make it clear though, that these films are not connected in any way, but you can sense that the directors of The Lodge, who´s name is Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala, must have enjoyed Hereditary, since it feels like they have managed to find inspiration from director Ari Aster. The Lodge is a pshycological horror film with a religious cult undertone, that clearly shows how you can be affected by living in a cult, even if you are no longer a member. But that´s not all, this film also digs deep into the struggle of losing a very close family member in a suicide. One of the things that makes The Lodge such a powerful film, is thanks to the acting. And this is especially where we get 2 really powerful performances. Let us begin with actress Riley Keough ( who i guarantee some of you will recognize from the 2016 drama film American Honey ) as the character Grace. Riley really goes all in to her character, and considering her character´s past as a former member of a religious cult, i feel that she gives the strongest acting performance in this film. This becomes especially clear as the film goes on, and her mental statement is completely out of control. Riley manage to show this, both through facial expressions, but also through her body language. The next actor i feel did a really good job in this film, is Jaeden Martell ( who i guarantee you will recognize from Stephen King´s IT ). His character Aiden Hall, is clearly struggling with the loss of his mother, and Jaeden is so good at acting out these emotions, that you can tell that he has a lot more to offer the audience in the future. The location for this film, matches really well with the plot. A lodge that is secluded from any smaller community, makes everything a bit more difficult, since there is no one near them. One detail that you will notice, is that the doll house that Jaeden´s sister Mia have, almost looks like a copy of the lodge. There is a connection with the doll house, and this is an interesting detail that will make you think for a moment. The Lodge is actually a clever film, that digs especially deep on an emotional level. Directors Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz knows exactly how to tell a story of a family in crisis, and how wrong things can go when you can´t deal with your own mental issues. If you are a fan of really effective psychological horror films, The Lodge is a must see.

Rating: DDDD

365 Days

One moment can change your life forverer, when you least expect it. And i am a perfect example of that, as i am about to tell you about something that happened. In the autumn of 2014, i got a call from my friend Tony. He sounded horrible and i asked him:- What´s wrong Tony, i never heard you sounding this depressed ? He said:- Daniel, i just watched the trailer for Fifty Shades Of Grey, and it felt like the end of days is here, we can not survive this. I first thought that he was taking this too serious, so i decided to check it out. The trailer did give me a feeling that something is not ok, that this might actually be the film that could start the clock for the end of times. But it was not until my wife asked me to watch the film with her, when things got out of control. The last thing i remembered from that day, is that i ended up on the floor, crawling out of spasm attacks, and i felt completely drained. It would take weeks until i realised what has happened, when i finally started eating again. I even had to book therapy sessions, where the psychiatrist understood right away, that i was a victim of seeing Fifty Shades Of Grey. On one of these sessions, i was asked :- How did this film affect you Daniel ? I looked at the psychiatrist and said:- It felt like Fifty Shades took away any kind of joy i have ever felt, and threw it down a meat grinder, to make sure i would never feel any joy again. Ever since the therapy sessions, i made a decision, that i will not see the Fifty Shades sequels, no matter how much people wanted me to review these films. It did take a long time to get back to a normal life after seeing Fifty Shades Of Grey, and even to this day i knew that i should have listened to Tony, that he was right. I am happy to say that now i am in a good place, where i do feel hope. Looking back at 2015 now, it feels like i was stuck in the Fifty Shades universe, as many other people became victims of the same experience. Since i have not seen the Fifty Shades sequels, i thought we would be over this in 2020. But for some reason, Netflix decided to release a film called 365 Days, that reminded me of Fifty Shades Of Grey in the trailer. I was asked if i could review this film. At first i thought, is there a chance i will be back in therapy sessions again. But i decided to give this film a chance, because who knows, it might be as good as Dear John. Based on the novel 365 Dni, by author Blanka Lipinska, is the Netflix film 365 Days the masterpiece that i wish everyone would see, or is this a film that never should have been made at all ?

After a meeting between the Torrcelli Sicilan Mafia crime family and black market dealers Massimo Torricelli ( Michele Morrone ) watches a beautiful woman on a beach. His father, leader of the Sicilian Mafia family, is shot dead. Five years later, Massimo is now the leader of the Torricelli crime family. In Warsawa, Laura Biel ( Anna-Maria Sieklucka ), a fiery executive, is unhappy with her relationship with her boyfriend Martin ( Mateusz Lasowski ). Laura celebrates her 29th birthday in Italy but after Martin embarrasses her, she goes off for a walk and runs into Massimo, who kidnaps her. At his villa, Massimo reveals to Laura that she was the woman at the beach. He have thought about her all the time, so he lay out his plan to Laura. She have 365 Days to fall in love with him, as she will be his prisoner during this time. Will Laura try and escape, or is she really falling in love with Massimo ?

Imagine if you would do a remake of the 2010 film Letters To Juliet, with influneces of Fifty Shades Of Grey, and you would pretty much have 365 Days in a nut shell. The biggest difference is of course that 365 Days have much more erotic scenes to offer. Now, some might say that i can´t compare this film to Fifty Shades Of Grey, because it is not the same story. And that is true, there are some differences. But at the end of the day, it does not really matter. 365 Days is a perfect example when you take actors who are not professional, and try and make them feel realistic. And this is one of the big problems, you don´t actually believe in any of these characters. Imagine if you would pick some really bad porn actors from Poland, give them a bad English accent, and you have the characters of 365 Days. Let´s discuss the actors for a while, and let us begin with Italian actor Michele Morrone. This is the first time i have seen him in a film, and especially acting. Let´s just say that when he tries to deliver dialogue, it feels just as exciting as looking at a wall for 6 hours, just to see if you can find anything interesting to see there, and you realise that there is nothing there. Polish actress Anna-Maria Sieklucka is great to look at, but when she starts acting, you realise that she have ( a lot ) of work to do before she can become a serious actress. The chemistry between their characters Don Massino and Laura feels forced, and not natural at all. When we do get to the sex scenes, i have lost all hope. This does not feel sexy, or erotic. If i wanted to see something sexy i just watch Freddy Got Fingered with Tom Green on DVD. I just don´t see the point with 365 Days. Is this film supposed to spice up marriages, or let couples fantasies become more exciting ? Who cares, this is a stupid film that shows that this film wants to show the power of male fantasies, and that the man is in control. Directors Barbara Bialowas and Tomasz Mandes ( they needed two director´s to make this film ? ) have tried to make a film that is supposed to get you horny. Instead, this film won´t even get it up even with the help of a Viagra pill. My suggestion, if you want to get in the right mood for some fun in bed, just watch the 90´s TV series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers instead, and i guarantee you will find the G spot much faster.

Rating: D

20 Years Anniversary Review Of Hollow Man

Through science we can discover ways to cure people, learn new technology and improve the future. And as long as we have a lot of brilliant minds out there who keep developing new ideas, who knows what they will come up with next. I have a feeling there are a lot of things that will happen in the future, that we never thought would be possible. So what if you could make yourself invisible ? What would you do ? Would you sneak into places that you are not allowed to go ? Or perhaps you would empty a bar, and get drunk and don´t even have to pay, since no one can see you anyway ? For me personally i know exactly what i would do, i would try to get inside Area 51 and see what secrets they have hidden there. I have a feeling that the only secret that is inside that area, is that they actually have all the VHS concerts of Modern Talking Tour in the 80´s. Speaking of invisible, if you are a fan of old Hollywood films, i am pretty sure you have heard of the 1933 film known as The Invisible Man. I have seen this film a long time ago, and i believe it was on DVD, maybe back in the early 2000´s. The story of this film takes place in the English village of Iping in Sussex. This is where they discover Dr. Jack Griffin ( played by actor Claude Rains ), a chemist who have made himself invisible. One interesting detail is that this film is directed by James Whale, who also directed the 1931 horror film Frankenstein. Considering that this film was made in 1933, a lot has happened since then in the world of cinema. But i do feel that there is something charming about this film. The Invisible Man started a wave of films, and TV series, that brought up the subject of being invisible. Even legendary director John Carpenter made an attempt to make his own film about a man who becomes invisible, in the 1992 film known as Memoirs Of An Invisible Man. Not one of John Carpenter´s better films in his career, but i have to admit that legendary comedian Chevy Chase is a good choice for the character. Since i mentioned the early 2000´s, earlier in this review, i have to bring up a film that not many people talk about these days. And that is the sci fi horror film Hollow Man, released in the year of 2000. Directed by lenedary director Paul Verhoeven ( director of Robocop and Total Recall ), this film was a fun ride back in those early days of the year of 2000. Since this film have turned 20 years old this year, is Hollow Man better than i remember, or has this film aged just as bad as Carrot Top´s Las Vegas shows?

Scientist Sebastian Caine ( Kevin Bacon ) have developed a serum for the military that can make a subject invisible. His team includes ex-girlfriend Linda McKay ( Elisabeth Shue ), Matt Kensington ( Josh Brolin ), Dr. Sarah Kennedy ( Kim Dickens ) and other ones as well. The team succeeds in reversing the procedure, returning an invisible gorilla to visibility. Instead of reporting his success to the military, Sebastian lies to an oversight commitee wich includes his mentor Howard Kramer ( William Devane ), and convinces his team to go right into human testing. The procedure is performed on Sebastian himself. The test is successfull and Sebastian is now invisible. Sebastian is enjoying being invisible, when he sees all the things he can do that would not be possible in ordinary life. But his team is concerned that Sebastian is using this ability to cross a line that is not acceptable.

If you enjoy a combination of science fiction and horror influences, then Hollow Man does still have something to offer. This is a film that shows what could happen if you let science go into the wrong hands, when someone is taking advantage of science. In some ways you could say that this film is an updated version of the 1933 film The Invisible Man, but this film has also a lot more special effects. And this is something we need to talk about, because even if this film has turned 20 years old, i still feel that the special effects are actually not bad. I especially enjoy the scenes when Kevin Bacon´s character Sebastian, goes on a rampage journey through the city, being frustrated over becoming a laboratory rat. Speaking of Kevin Bacon, he fits really well into this movie. I would not say that this is one of his better acting performances, but he did manage to create Sebastian into a ignorant bastard, who loves to take advantage of women as he is invisible. But there are other actors in here as well, and one of the better acting performances comes from actress Elisabeth Shue ( who i will always remember in the 2004 film Mysterious Skin ). Her character Linda McKay is exactly who you would want in a working team, she is a good listener, she cares about everyone and she have such a natural shining personality. Legendary actor Josh Brolin is here as well, and even if you don´t get to see a lot of him, he does bring some fun moments to the table. The best part of Hollow Man ( if you ask me ) are the action scenes, when they are fighting against the invisible man. These scenes actually look pretty effective, and i especially enjoy the scenes when you see the invisible body in water. Is everything good about Hollow Man ? No, there are some flaws, but i can accept that and just enjoy this film for what this is, a sci fi action film made for fans of this genre, and who appreciate fun special effects. I know that director Paul Verhoeven does not like this film, and he directed this film. And i know he even said in an interview that he can defend Showgirls, but not Hollow Man. Of course he have the right to feel this way, and all i can say is that i think this is worth watching. For me, Hollow Man is one of those films that you watch for pure entertainment. Hollow Man is a perfect example that everything released in the year 2000 was not bad, and that has to be seen as something positive.

Rating: DDD

A Summer With Lou Diamond Phillips: The Night Stalker

Every year, we celebrate different holidays, or historical moments that means a lot to each country. And of course we should continue to do so, since this is important for many different reasons. And no matter what day you choose to celebrate, make sure you enjoy it. Lately i have been thinking that there is something missing in our lives. Could it be another Corey Feldman album ? Of coure we can hope he will release a future CD, just as unique as his previous album Angelic 2 The Core was. But this is actually not what i was thinking about. I have been thinking about a day that we should all celebrate together, worldwide. A day where we can all feel welcome, and will not be judged for our clothes, hair style or the color of our shoes. So what would make this day so special ? Easy to answer, because my idea is that we should have an official Lou Diomand Phillips Day. Imagine having one day, every year, where fans of Lou Diomand Phillips gather, to celebrate him and his films, with fans all over the world. A day where we can all dress up as many of his characters, talk about his films and discuss what it is that makes Lou Diomand Phillips so unique. I think this would be a fantastic idea to make reality, if one of the biggest fans would feel ready to start developing this wonderful day. Me and my friend Tony could probably help you out, in any way we can ( considering that we have made such a fantastic impact as The Golden Boys Of Sundsvall ). Since i started the segment A Summer With Lou Diomand Phillips last month, it was time to pick a second film that i have not seen so far with him. And i decided to go with the TV film known as The Night Stalker, where Lou plays serial killer Ramirez, also known as The Night Stalker. Is this the best film from this legendary actor in recent years, or should he have skipped this production and went for something better instead ?

In Texas, a drifter faces the death penalty in just a few days. His only hope is that his lawyers can persuade the serial killer Richard Ramirez ( Lou Diamond Phillips ) confess to the crime instead. His legal team includes Kit ( Bellamy Young ), who is tasked to travel to California, and visiting Ramirez at San Quentin State Prison in an attempt to persuade him to confess. But Ramirez is not going to tell Kit anything, unless they play a game, where the truth must be told. Kit is about to learn more of the mind of a sadistic serial killer.

If you have been looking for an acting performance from Lou Diamond Phillips, that is more powerful than his ordinary releases, then i have some good news for you. He gives his best acting performance in many years in this film. I am actually quite surprised how well Lou Diamond Phillips pulls off this role, considering this is a really hard character to play. For those of you who have heard about the story of serial killer Richard Ramirez you know that he killed a lot of innocent people between 1984 - 1985. This film does not really go into his murders, but focuses more on his last days in prison, and his meetings with Kit ( played well by wonderful actress Bellamy Young ) who try and dig out the truth out of him. There are some really interesting scenes, where Richard tell his story, and you can tell that Lou Diamond Phillips have tried really hard to portrait the serial killer in a beliveable way. It is especially in the scenes where he begin to show his disturbing mind towards women, where Lou get a chance to show that he is still able to surprise us. The plot is not very complicated, and that´s ok. Because we don´t need a complicated story here, since it works well with the main characters. My negative opinion about The Night Stalker, is that they should have told the past of Richard Ramirez in a more interesting way. We know that he have a very dark past, and you only get a glimpse of this in a few scenes. I think if these scenes would have been constructed more effective, the portait of Ramirez would have worked better. With that said, i have to say that this is one of the few TV films that actually work better than i expected. Director Meghan Griffiths ( who directed the powerful drama film Eden ) is clearly fascinated about the final days of Richard Ramirez, and with the help of the powerful performance of Lou Diamond Phillips, she manage to lift this film up to a higher level of quality than most Lifetime movies. I suggest you check this film out, because this film proves that Lou Diamond Phillips still have a lot to offer, when he gets the right material to work with.

Rating: DDD

You can find the film here on Amazon Prime Video:

https://www.amazon.com/NIGHT-STALKER-MRB-Productions/dp/B01H0Z2NBQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=HBJFAIPGCHSF&dchild=1&keywords=the+night+stalker&qid=1595809122&s=instant-video&sprefix=the+night+sta%2Cinstant-video%2C301&sr=1-1

It's Official, A Film Based On The Life Of Vanilla Ice Is Coming

Cheers everyone! :) 

If you grew up with hip hop like myself in the 80's,  you probably remember Run DMC, Public Enemy, De La Soul and many other hip hop bands / artists. But all was about to change in 1990 when one guy, calling himself Vanilla Ice was about to release his single Ice Ice Baby, that became a huge hit world wide. Everyone, and i mean everyone, knew how to do the Vanilla Ice dance moves with the special pants. I especially remember one guy from school, his name wss Martin, he even made his own Vanilla Ice pants ( i hope he still have them, that would be fantastic ), and he used to try doing the Vanilla Ice dance in those pants. :) The album To The Extreme, released on September 3rd, in 1990, became a big hit on the album charts worldwide. :) Vanilla Ice have kept on doing music since then, including films as well. :)

But the fantastic news that came out this week is that American actor Dave Franco will be playing Vanilla Ice in a film titled To The Extreme, a biographical film about his career. I am actually excited about this film,  since i was 13 years old when Vanilla Ice became huge, and i grew up with his music . :) I think this could be fun, especially from a 90s nostalgic view, with this classic album that changed the world. :) 

2 more reviews will be published this month, so stay tuned and why not do the Vanilla Ice dance while waiting for them to be published? :) I will see you soon, take care. 

Cheers from Daniel :)