No Country for Old Men (2007): There are few movies which leave a mark in the way No Country does. As an audience, we have always had a penchant for serial killers and hitmen, but even among these, Anton Chigurh stands out. It’s the character that really put Javier Bardem on the Hollywood map, and one heck of a part at that. The setting and circumstances that Cormac McCarthy envisioned for No Country, woven into themes worthy of long contemplation and populated by distinctive people, often no matter how small the part, elevate a modern Western into a timeless classic. I would love to see a present day tackling of the theme, because psychopathy has a predominantly different manifestation in the digital age, and the tectonic shifts in society sure make it all feel like old men wouldn’t have a great time here. Well, unless they’re well-to-do boomers, in which case they might not even care that much while living their sheltered existences /s. 9
Drag Me to Hell (2009): I’ve referenced this one at least a couple of times over the years, but seem to have never written a review on it. Sam Raimi’s movie is one that tends to split people, between those who enjoy its tightrope walk between horror and comedy and those who find it all way over the top. I had both experiences of this: when I first saw it, almost alone in a large cinema, it was profoundly unnerving; when I saw it again in a smaller cinema with a lot of people, the vibe was a lot more relaxed, with laughter filling the room several times. That’s extraordinary and a testament to how much viewing setting can affect the experience. A movie being able to conjure both these things must be special and after watching it a handful of times over the years, I still believe it is. Creepy, unpleasant, ridiculous and somehow just sad, with a story arc that doesn’t leave much room for redemption. A must see for genre fans, if you ask me. 8
Cruising (1980): It was as good a time as any to rewatch Cruising, which I already wrote about during my Friedkin exploration. The thriller-mystery about a killer in the more hardcore corners of the early 1980s world of gay men remains curious. Pacino doesn’t bring to the role a whole lot of presence, but there are still distinctly memorable moments, which get only more memorable when you hear the stories behind them in the audio commentary. The fact that this movie was made and came out before the AIDS epidemic is a macabre coincidence, because the mind does naturally wander to the more metaphorical interpretations you can ascribe to a killer amidst the G community. All said, I think it has a lot to offer as a window into a different time, a sample of “this could never be done today” that was already crazy controversial for reasons that don’t add up as well in the 21st century. 7
Uncle Peckerhead (2020): In the world of midnight horror-comedies, there is room for everyone. Amongst everyone you will find Uncle Peckerhead, Matthew John Lawrence’s movie starring Chet Siegel and David Littleton. It’s essentially a music film littered with gore and blood in key moments, as we follow a wannabe band tour around the US in the Peck’s spacious van. Only problem is they are basically selling their souls for transportation, because Peck, who is an all around swell guy, has a small murder-mayhem issue, induced by a midnight monster transformation. It’s unfortunate that the movie doesn’t manage to work its way to a satisfying finale, but there’s good fun to be had here for those partial to this kind of experience. 6
The Slammin’ Salmon (2009): The Broken Lizard comedy troupe, especially known for the Super Troopers series, produced this restaurant themed fun romp with a cast that includes Michael Clarke Duncan, Cobie Smulders, Olivia Munn, Will Forte and Lance Henriksen alongside the original group. It’s an evening of serving clients, placating the boss and dueling it out for a big prize among the waiters, which makes at times for funny moments and at other times for distinctly “meh” moments. The movie is innocuous, so it shouldn’t upset most sensibilities, while going down rather smoothly. Not much to remember from it either. 5
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