“Countdown” begins the predictable journey of most higher-end (budget/editing wise) jump-scare “horror” films. The jump scares are hollow, contrived and obnoxious, with 100% jump ratio over a not a scare to be had. This film has adequate acting, but for the main course, there is nothing outstanding, noteworthy or engaging. If you are looking for a formulaic “thriller/horror” this one will fit that niche, provided you are not viewing it for anything original or remotely scary. The reliance on jump scares winds the viewer up with tension and very little else.

I am in love with this entire movement. I cannot wait until episode 3 (of 6). This is an amazing journey of rehabilitation that helps us humans at level I cannot communicate effectively. A must watch for those interested in life. Full stop.

This series is about the contrast/comparison of Alaskan law enforcement via “the lower 48”. At present, they are examining 4 cities in Alaska. It in no way is promoting the notion that Alaskan Law Enforcement are formally referred to by the name of the series. The contrast that is presented (after 2 episodes) is not only brutal, it is indeed highly watch worthy, especially due to the un-scripted and un-rehearsed, authentic nature of each episode. If you enjoy high-tension, true crime, shows that are not recreated, this show will be an interesting and riveting watch.

First off, why did an admittedly unused kitchen of a multimillion dollar hotel have a “working”, walk in freezer than was not (at the very least) padlocked and the kitchen itself alarmed and locked? That’s incredibly irresponsible, and 100% criminal in violating safety codes. As for the allegations that was [intentional] murder, that remains to be proven. It is a tragedy that this was so incredibly preventable. Irrespective of the fact that no amount of money will bring this girl back, her family should be awarded a substantial amount of money for the neglectful business behaviour of the hotel. It doesn’t matter whether she was drunk or not, what matters is that she easily gained access to that area at all (health and safety violations are abundant in this regard).

This series of verified internet stalking, murder, profiling, and chronic sociopathy is at very least spine tingling. Taken in the realism with which it warrants, these cases are factual horror. Who needs Dracula when humans are capable of such insidious evil?

This story of an online serial rapist is horrifying. Honestly, the internet and internet dating has become like shooting fish in a barrel for these types of sociopaths. This is truly terrifying!

This episode freaked me out! The synopsis above does not allude in the slightest to the extent the horror of this murderer, stalker and sociopath subjected Candy Williams to. For me it is nearly unbelievable to learn that this is a true crime https://murderpedia.org/male.Z/z/zimmer-peter-photos.htm. This episode is a horrific accounting of what really happened.

The absolute true horror of what this mother did for attention at the literal expense of her son (and anyone else in her life) is worthy of the unwarranted attention to detail that other online fictionalised hysteria receives. Online personalities(Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc.) create environments that these unwell and homicidal personalities thrive in. Be careful what you give attention to is truth, and not another reason to stand on a soap box and get your own recognition. Personally, this story made me sick.

Truly the worst 3rd installment in the history of Dracula EVER. What started off as innovative has digressed into an almost “drunken” meandering of nonsensical shite that inspired a guilty and imposed, “let’s call it Dracula”, afterthought. I won’t ever be re-watching this or recommending it. This started with such promise. I reckon someone got drunk mid way, and impulsively called it a wrap. They then flew to the Bahamas to recover and hide in shame and booze. SAD. (EIDT 21 JULY 2020: I did re-watch, with a friend. The first episode is brilliant, and well worth it. The second is nearly as good. Skip the last episode, and the series is worth it.)

What’s going on here? This installment went in a way I did not expect. Can the Dane please stick to the English accent or throw it all in the bin and just speak the way he speaks naturally? His constant vacillation throws my ability to suspend my disbelief out the window.

This “Pilot” episode for Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector is a re-telling of the origin story that vacillates between Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs/Donaghy (found in a somewhat longer version in the movie “The Bone Collector” 1999 https://www.primewire.li/movie/344902-watch-the-bone-collector). I found the pacing of this episode to be tedious and predictable, even as a stand alone (without knowledge of the movie). If you’ve seen the 1999 movie, you know what to expect, so it’s the acting and direction that should provide some substance. For me, it did not. However, I will watch future episodes in the hopes that the “hunt” will prove to be a better written, directed and acted result.

I’m really fed up with the roller coaster of engaging episode followed by a complete dud… like this one. If I had one recommendation for anyone thinking of watching this series; wait until they are ALL uploaded so the binge will be congruent and eventful. Waiting a week between the duds isn’t worth it (to me).

I watched this episode in a partially amused and partially horrified state. Death by “anal fascination” is a phenomena that is much more common than I ever would have thought possible. Actually, I never, ever would have considered any of this. I don’t particularly care for the narrator’s voice and find it intrusive and sensationalistic, but the content of the episode stunned me enough to continue watching, in disbelief!

Let’s be ACCURATE; Casey Anderson is a Hollywood animal stunt coordinator, specifically NOT a bear biologist. He has a minor in wildlife biology; bears are a specialty.

I am aghast that this show is continuing. It’s disgusting.

Man Vs. Bear? Really?

Let the bear go and see how long these super “juiced” folks fare, eh?

minus five stars for being beyond disgusting.

I’m not certain why this was made. It is an Italian “exposé”, presumably on the Italian (and Eastern European) porn industry and most specifically, Rocco Siffredi. I found it incredibly sedate and yawn worthy. There is no exposé, in my opinion. It is purely an opinion piece/intentional character study. It was long, and boring. “A Serbian Film” which has notoriety for extreme violence and gore is actually much better… if you want that kind of shock cinema in your life. Anyhow, this is passable, by a long shot. It’s not worth subjecting the viewer to this narcissistic drivel. The aforementioned is BRUTAL, intentionally so. I don’t like it, but it does what it does well.

I found this first episode of Dracula to be a cheeky/spicy blend of dark humour and traditional evil. To be honest, I was quite impressed with some of the newer approaches in telling this story. I hope they are able to hold this standard. I would highly recommend this to any Dracula fan who has an open mind to innovative changes in traditional story-telling.

Another excellent BBC Two Nature programme highlighting the horrific affects of the fur trade and exotic pet trade on the Russian Lynx. Thanks to the these two men (a Russian and and Brit) this animal now has a chance at being re-established. The first episode is heart rending and engrossing. There are 6 episodes in total.

This episode has picked up the implied horror momentum and has given this viewer the impetus to stay with the show at least for the next episode. Rupert Grint is well-utilised, demonstrating that he can act beyond his Harry Potter persona of “Ron Weasley”. I’m excited for the next episode!

After watching 4 episodes of “Expedition Bigfoot” I have to admit I like it… for what it is. I’m most intrigued on how they got an actual Primatologist, Dr. Mireya Mayor, for the show. After some research I confirmed that she indeed did earn a PhD in anthropology from Stony Brook University in New York, although she also worked as a cheerleader for the Miami Dolphins in-between her Bachelors and PhD studies. She also was responsible for co-discovering another species of rare mouse lemur in Madagascar, as well as prompting Madagascar’s prime minister to establish a national park to help protect the new species. I felt like her addition was a good one to an otherwise staged, choreographed and highly techo saturated “search” for Bigfoot. I do not believe, or disbelieve. I look at shows like this for entertainment value and to score as to whether or not they are telling the truth in any respect at all. I love shows about Aliens, Bigfoot, Loch Ness Monster… and any other rare and unusual animal, or even the staged hoaxes, IF they work their mysteries correctly. However, just like the so called extinct coelacanth (supposedly gone for the last 400 million years), there’s always the search, which can be quite entertaining, and with a bit of luck, interesting. I’d suggest binging at least 4 episodes at a time with this one.

“Knives Out” is proof that an average script can be transformed into an amazingly entertaining movie with the help of well-directed, talented actors who work together, and pull off a feast for the eyes and the emotions. I really enjoyed this film, it’s unique in that it didn’t go too far with its humour and become a parody. Daniel Craig and Ana de Armas are amazing for the viewer to watch, as is Christopher Plummer. This film is highly recommended entertainment for the end of 2019 viewing!

“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” is every bit a classy Spider-man ,full length animation that adheres to the graphic novel and entertains, simultaneously. The animation is seamless and comprehensive. The characters are engaging and complimentary. I especially enjoyed the use of stylised graphics and the introduction of the story-line. Even elements I didn’t think would work (like “Peter Porker) were accomplished with the grace befitting a true Spider-man feature. It was a pleasure to watch.

“Uncut Gems” is a thoroughly engrossing, hectic character study of a diamond/jewelry broker in New York City. The look and feel of this film is frantic and chaotic. It encapsulates the personality and life-style of the broker, Howard, whose life is literally held together by what-if’s, gambles and impetuous trades, even at the expense of familial relationships, and his own reputation. Truly, this film had me captivated in a tense and anxiety drenched fervor to see what would happen next. Adam Sandler is well-utilised in the film beyond his usual ranting bellows into a character that is believable and hard to look away from.

Ooops. Obviously not the family entertainment Home Alone. lol

This Rom/Com should rightfully be rated “Unbearable” UNLESS you are a hardcore Keanu Reeves/Winona Ryder fan. It’s is predictably embarrassing and formulaic… but oddly, like watching a train wreck in holding a viewers attention if they meet the criteria.

Judy Garland’s last year of life is brought into heart-breakingly sharp focus in “Judy”. Renée Zellweger’s physical and emotional mimicry of Judy is poignant and true-to-life. Although I was hesitant to watch this biopic, I am very glad I did. It is not a life story, but a snippet at the end of a life, that includes the emotional life of the gifted and large-hearted, Judy Garland. Whilst the verbal interactions from the film cannot be authenticated, the situations can. I very much enjoyed the light they have Judy in; it feels respectful. Lorna Luft (one of Judy’s two daughters) has stated that she will not watch this film so as to protect her mother’s “legacy and legendary career”, and further encourages fans to watch her [Judy’s] films to learn about her. “Judy” is marvelously acted, and Zellweger is nearly mesmerising to someone who’s watched Judy Garland films. To compare the Judy of this film with the real Judy Garland, watch “The Wizard of Oz”, “A Star is Born”, and “Meet Me in St. Louis”, and you will know that the Judy of this film, is the Judy that should be known.

“Manson: Music From an Unsound Mind” is a fresher/different Biographic perspective of Charles Manson, as well as of his connection to Dennis Wilson (The Beach Boys). The recordings and interviews in this film are not ones that I have seen before, so they add something to the history, horror and never answered questions of the Manson “phenomena”. The production value on this piece is very high so the 104 minutes go very quickly.

“The most Micheal Bay movie Micheal Bay ever Micheal Bayed”, from an IMDB reviewer and spot on. Lots of fun, but I agree with many other reviewers…editing was terrible with some truly cringe-worthy film-making faux pas. If you can’t get an over the top action movie right in 127 minutes…3/5.

“Code 8” is a hidden, crowdfunded indie that made my nightly search for engaging and original films worthwhile. Whist there are problems with this so called “mutant” film, it is for the most part 100% viewing pleasure. I would actually hate to see it done with a bigger budget, and a main stream production team. The story is interesting and the special effects are incredibly well done, so much so that it is easy to believe that these people exist. This is a solid film and should be viewed by anyone who enjoys a humbler “X-Men” style film. (On a side note, the plot wouldn’t happen in Europe, which is one thing (as a European) that was a cause of intellectual pause for me.)

After watching the second episode, I have to say I am thoroughly enjoying this “show”. I enjoy Bigfoot the way I enjoy anything unknown; such as vampires and aliens and ghosts. I don’t believe, or necessarily disbelieve. This show is extremely well-choreographed, and has a bonus actual primatologist, as well as cutting edge, high-tech gadgetry. If you enjoy the aforementioned as entertainment… and maybe more, it’s an entertaining watch.

I immensely enjoyed this series, and especially learning about the iconic Suze Randall who was Playboy’s first female staff photographer (and is also featured in the first episode).

I later learned that Suze Randall got into the industry by responding to an “attractive girls wanted” newspaper ad at age 22 (in the early 1970s when she was a low-paid staff nurse at St. George’s Hospital in London) and fed up with being broke.

This series also features is Erika Lust, a film director based in Sweden who works to create feminist porn. It’s an interesting look into women in this industry. It changed the way I view things quite a bit.

I lived in Japan for a while and can legitimately argue that Westernised porn and Hentai (Magna animated porn with an actual intricate plot and artwork) are chalk and cheese… as are any live action porn in Japan and in the West. They are just different things due to how vastly different the cultures are. Someone reared in the West and never having been to Japan would have vastly different cultural norms that are so intrinsically bound to their persona that they wouldn’t be affected at the same level as someone from Japan would around Hentai. Hentai does have a story, and the artists who develop the animation and writers who write the stories, do so in a way that mainstream softcore or hardcore Western porn does not. A quasi-fair comparison (because there really isn’t any animation to compare) to Hentai in Western porn would be Suze Randall (and now her daughter Holly Randall). Hentai was traditionally of the same standard as Suze Randall’s photography. In Japan, if you were to buy any Hentai prints, there would be a X covering where the genitals would be. Some of the art work is actually quite beautiful, as were Suze Randall’s pictures.

“Villains” is a quirky, black-ish comedy along the lines of “I Don’t Feel At Home In This World Anymore”. Bill Skarsgård once again transforms himself into his character, and makes the film worth viewing despite the fact the the film overall fails to achieve the darkness of a true black comedy. Although listed as a Thriller and Horror in addition to its Comedy status, it is neither. The film climaxes early on and then proceeds to plateau and meander to the extent that the viewer can disengage from the characters and story. I am glad I saw it due to Bill Skarsgård’s performance. It is certainly worth a viewing if you enjoy his work

The pacing of the last 2 episodes (inclusive of this one) has been on the less than enthralling side of Horror/Thriller/Drama. The (supposed) subtle nuances drag and feel a bit like lead weights in the forward momentum of the story. I’m hoping the next episode will pick up and allow the viewer to observe, and not be as led by the nose, into the undercurrent of symbolism.

This is one of the few intentionally saccharine sweet Christmas movies that actually delivers it’s message of hope in a classy package… thanks to Kurt Russell. I loved this film; it’s fun, it’s modernised and it is paced really well. Watch for the cameo of “Mrs Claus” at the end… and get ready, “The Christmas Chronicles 2” is on its way for Christmas 2020, with Mr. and Mrs. Claus!

This season (2) has actually topped, and bested, every expectation I had for it. What an amazing wrap up, made even more amazing by the fact that every one of Stephen King’s books can now come to life in this series. I am filled to the water line with excitement over what book and which characters will come next and how it will all be brought together. To have a show with talent on every aspect like this, is the reason I watch anything.

I thoroughly enjoyed and immersed myself in this series. It is the perfect blend of the natural world as it is, and the factual world encroaching on the natural world. It is not (as some may have feared) all doom and gloom, but rather, it is a thoughtful, and optimistic, look at the natural world of today, all over this planet. Due to the success of this series, and the encouraging/monitored response toward conservation efforts (as well as David Attenborough’s age — 93 —), there is already underway a new series entitled “Green Planet”. This alone would make any one who cherishes these magnificent series’ over-joyed. I know it does that for me, as well as feeling good after watching this series, which is a must see.

This adaptation from the book by Stephen King (of the same name: “Doctor Sleep”) actually works exceptionally well, despite the obvious alterations for “film”. Stephen King’s books traditionally do not work well as adaptations primarily due to the fact that he has a multiplicity of intricate characters in each and every story and book. However, this adaptation is both thoughtful and wise in its elimination of characters. This film is creepy, ghastly, crud, offensive and downright scary… Ewan McGregor holds the entire film together (much to my own doubtfulness), and his performance ensures that what would have been absolute tosh, migrates into scary and sinister malevolence and utter devolvment for the viewer. It is an excellent and scary watch…

My faviourite (and much more accurate version) of The Shining. I’m delighted to see it here. Thank you.

I cannot believe this series is serious! As a comedy, it works, as a serious, human contestant against trained grizzly, it’s ludicrous. The premise was something I had to check out, but the entire competition is laughable. It’s definitely a good way to check out what steroids can do the human body, though. Poor bear growling and roaring on queue, that bit really got to me after a while.

What a fun and amazing series this is. However, it’s in no way original. Coyote Peterson had a web only series for Discovery Channel entitled “Brave Wilderness” which was based on Justin Orvel Schmid’s sting pain index (and book Insect Defenses: Adaptive Mechanisms and Strategies of Prey and Predators). I love seeing this subject matter again. Check out Youtube for Coyote Peterson videos on the same subject!