Horror

Extra Ordinary

  • Title: Extra Ordinary
  • IMDb: link

Extra Ordinary movie reviewExtra Ordinary has the advantages and disadvantages one would expect from a writing and directing team working on their first feature. There’s certainly style and out-of-box thinking on display here, although the film is still quite rough around the edges.

We’re offered two stories that will eventual intertwine. The first, and more successful, involves lonely Irish driving instructor Rose Dooley (Maeve Higgins) whose paranormal powers she has been afraid to use since childhood. Meeting a likable-enough bloke (Barry Ward), who has troubles both with a home haunted by his deceased wife and a daughter (Claudia O’Doherty) under possession, forces Rose to dig back into her childhood skills (and pull out the old VCR tapes of her father’s paranormal infomercials).

The movie’s other story ties into possessed Claudia (O’Doherty) whose current plight was caused by one-hit wonder Christian Winter (Will Forte) hoping that sacrificing a virgin to Satan will provide him with inspiration for another hit. It’s in Forte’s segments that the film veers closest to going off-course, but Mike Ahern and Enda Loughman keep things on track.

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Angel + Spike #9

Angel + Spike #9 comic reviewFollowing the events of the Hellmouth crossover, a soulless Spike has taken up residence with Angel Investigations and proven himself a worthy ally (if not a trustworthy one). Angel‘s return leads to some conflict among the group who stands up for Spike against their boss’ reservations leading to Angel begrudging accepting Spike’s inclusion and a brand-new title for the comic.

Considering the original timeline didn’t pair up the two until both had their souls, it will be interesting to see what differences a soulless Spike has on Angel Investigations.

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The Addams Family

  • Title: The Addams Family (2019)
  • IMDb: link

The Addams Family Blu-ray reviewWhile the look of the animated remake of the 60s television show offers some intriguing designs, too much of the script flounders. After an introduction which offers up both the marriage of Gomez (Oscar Isaac) and Morticia (Charlize Theron) and the establishment of the family ni an abandomed insane asylum, The Addams Family jumps forward years to when a cookie-cutter suburban development moves in down the hill run by the maniacal Margaux Needler (Allison Janney).

Expected events unfold without much excitement or surprise as Needler riles up the community against its neighbors only to later be revealed to be the true monster. The tale offers some stand-out moments, almost all of which feature Wednesday (Chloë Grace Moretz) while her poor brother gets stuck in an extraneous subplot. The best of these could have all been done as shorts saving audiences from the drudgery of the rest of the film.

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Hellmouth #5

Hellmouth #5 comic reviewThe big finale of the first Buffy & Angel crossover of the rebooted universe is (like much of the crossover) a bit underwhelming with specific panels and moments that never-the-less stick out. In the conclusion, Buffy goes toe-to-toe with the Hellmother who is gathering her forces to rise out of the Hellmouth and invade the Earth (while sadly lacking any of the style of the Master).

In terms of the moments that shine, the sudden appearance of Buffy’s posse, including Kendra and a giddy Camazotz who is finally able to help the Slayer, provides some of the best panels of the issue. I am curious to see the comic develop Kendra (who I hope will get a little more time as a Slayer than the original). I’m also curious to see where the foreshadowing of Anya‘s words with Giles ultimately lead.

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Hellmouth #3

Hellmouth #3 comic reviewThe third issue of the crossover event between Angel and Buffy the Vampire Slayer catches up with the two characters who followed Drusilla inside the Hellmouth.

After the pair find a bit of common ground and mutual respect by kicking some serious ass inside the mouth of Hell, the comic’s most memorable moment comes with Buffy‘s discovery of Angel‘s nature (ending the issue before the vampire with a soul can explain his complicated history). These two certainly aren’t starting out as star-crossed lovers this time around.

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