Movie Review: The Hills Run Red

Maybe I went to the movie house expecting a bit too much having been swept up by the hype train, but beside a show-stealing performance by William Sadler, it’s hard for me to recommend “The Hills Run Red” as much more than a movie night rental with your buddies. Here’s my take on this move…

The Plot

The story revolves around Tyler, a film aficionado on the hunt to find a completed print of a missing and legendary 80's slasher film, The Hills Run Red, said to be the goriest and most brutal little horror movie ever created. Enlisting the help of his best friend and girlfriend, Tyler embarks into the backwoods in search of the holy grail of gruesome, only to discover soon that things aren't quite all that they seem. To say more would be potentially giving away what story there is and ruin a twist or two that “The Hills Run Red” works itself up within the first hour of run time.

A Slight Comparison

Many have compared THRR to a cross between Wrong Turn and Scream, but I'm more likely to argue it has more similarities with John Carpenter's Masters of Horror Episode, Cigarette Burns, than the aforementioned Wes Craven franchise. Fans of the now defunct Showtime series will instantly recognize the not too obvious similarities in the story between Cigarette Burns and THRR, as well as the over the top gore scenes which stand out as big pluses in both films. THRR considerably never goes as far in its self-awareness and fan boy masturbation as Scream, and quite honestly, this film is much better off for it, in spite of being somewhat of a love letter to the horror genre.  Apart from that, there isn't anything else done particularly well here.

On a positive note, the film's highlight is William Sadler, who absolutely steals every scene he’s in, even if he’s not given enough to do as the “lost” films’ , maniacal and reclusive director. Sadler alone makes this film worth watching, though I'd be hard pressed to recommend “The Hills Run Red” as more than a rental to be enjoyed with a handful of friends and a couple of beers. This one comes with a lot of promise like recent slashers, Laid to Rest and Hatchet, but does very little to separate itself from the rest of the crop.

Source: Everything Zombie 101

The Horde: Zombie Action at its Best!

“La Horde” has to be the best zombie film that I've seen in a long time. It’s an insanely “violent and gore” French film. The Plot is really action-filled, but none of the characters are likeable. Cops and criminals work together to survive in a tower block as the end of days happen and the dead return as aggressive bloodthirsty zombies. The origin of the zombies has only minor explanation but I really didn’t care much as I was focused with the fast and brutal action.

The Plot

The story begins with four bent cops out to avenge the murder of another policeman by a group of ruthless gangsters , trapped in a condemned building. The gangsters were about to execute the cops when the nightmare occurs: hordes of cannibalistic blood-thirsty creatures appear and savagely attack everyone. The survivors run up to the roof only to discover that the entire city is in chaos. The streets are filled with hordes of countless cadavers and the whole city is in flames. Despite their mutual hatred, the gangsters and the cops must join forces if they want to survive against a sudden zombie horde, all within the confines of a high-rise building. They’ll have to go down thirteen floors full of ravenous creatures but the worst threat lies elsewhere…

My thoughts on this film

The action and tension were very good from the outset I was almost wishing it wasn't about to turn to a zombie film. But when it did, I wasn't disappointed. My only criticism of the film is that it shouldn't have been openly advertised as a zombie film, leaving their appearance as a surprise. But this doesn't stop it from being one of the finest zombie or action films around.

If you like a lot of action, brutality and violence then I highly recommend you to see this. The scares were very well thought and the tension is gradually built higher and higher. The only complaint is that the ending wasn't clever despite being different. Watch it as soon as you can!

Watch trailer here

Source: http://zombiegames01.wordpress.com