A Couple of My Favorite 1980's Horror Films...

...resurfaced on NetFlix recently.

Michael Mann's The Keep (1983) is still stylish as hell.  The cast included a Scott Glenn, Jürgen Prochnow, Robert Prosky, Ian McKellen, and Gabriel Byrne (playing one very nasty Nazi).  Some of the special effects shots were not that good at the time and have not aged well at all.  The visual effects man, Wally Veevers, died during the production, taking some of his better ideas for the movie with him to the grave.  Others of Veevers' tricks are still pretty awesome.  The film is set in a gloomy gray pass in the Carpathian mountains where Wehrmacht soldiers - who in 1941 still anticipated a quick victory against the Soviets - encounter a force more evil than themselves.  Many Nazis die, which is always a good thing.

Nomads (1986) was written and directed by John McTiernan (who helmed the classic Predator the very next year year).  It has big hair, 80's music, and a pretty nasty French accent delivered by Pierce Brosnan, and draws on ancient Inupiaq folklore being played out in modern Los Angeles.  The idea was not perfectly developed, but it leaves us with nagging questions.  What if some of the cast off, marginal people we struggle to ignore every day were visible only to us?  What if we were not supposed to see them?  Does anyone do creepy and alluring like Mary Woronov did back in the day?  Why did McTiernan think a remake of Rollerball was necessary?

Monsters

Just monsters...

Imagine a world in which northern Mexico and the the America southwest have become infested with dangerous alien life accidentally released from a space probe returning from Jupiter's moon Europa six years earlier.  There is now a quarantined area in which Mexican and American forces are fighting a losing battle to contain the unwelcome creatures.  Unable to arrange passage home an aspiring photographer and the daughter of his employer choose to brave the "Infected Zone."

Filmed in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Texas, this clever low budget film ($500,000) was captured on digital camera by Gareth Edwards and then edited on his PC using off the shelf software.  Apart from the two leads, Samantha Wynden and Andrew Kaulder, the production depended on the talents of local non actors filmed ad lib in real life settings.  The movie evokes the verisimilitude of District Nine and Cloverfield and pays homage to scenes from Apocalypse Now and War of the Worlds. 

The acting is unaffected and genuine.  The effects are understated and effective.  The creatures are rarely on screen but they can be heard calling to one another in the night.  The result is eerie, realistic, and emotionally engaging.

Dark And Layered With Meaning

As if we need an excuse to watch a movie starring the daring Eva Green...

The 2008 movie Franklyn is set in a futuristic dystopian theocracy where secrets have become lies.  Or is it?  Directed by Gerald McMorrow, this science fiction flavored psychological thriller is stylish and visually rich, recalling V for Vendetta, Dark City, and Blade Runner, among others.  For some reason I am always surprised Ryan Phillipe can act, but he does well here.  The delightful Eva Green carries the emotional heart of the story, much of which is set in modern day London.  Actor Bernard Hill, most memorable as Theoden in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, does a nice turn as a grieving father seeking a long lost son.  The film weaves themes of estrangement, art, suicide, remorse, loss, madness, religion, and acts of redemption in moments of clarity.  It's not a perfect film, but it's a fine way to make use of your NetFlix watch instantly subscription some dark and quiet winter evening.

On the Importance of Herd Immunity

The decision to not vaccinate our children and ourselves is more than a personal choice...

The excellent Dr. Ginger Campbell, MD, released another fine Books and Ideas podcast on 28 February 2011.  Episode #40 features an interview with Dr. Paul Offitt, MD, most recently the author of Deadly Choices: How the Anti-Vaccine Movement Threatens Us All.

The takeaways from this interview, Offitt's book, and the war with the anti-vaccination lobby are simple...

"Children are actually at a greater risk if they are fully vaccinated and live in a relatively unvaccinated community (that would include going to a school that’s relatively unvaccinated) than if they’re unvaccinated and live in a highly-vaccinated community."

"Herd immunity is important for three reasons: 1) It stops the spread of disease. 2) It protects those who can’t be immunized. And, 3) It protects those who don’t respond to vaccines."

As always you can sign up for Dr. Campbell's engaging podcasts on iTunes or at her website.  More about Dr. Offitt, his work on this important issue, and his many books can be found here.

With Apologies to the Duke

True Grit (2010) is superior to the 1969 original in every way...except maybe that Dennis Hopper wasn't in this one.

The 13 year old Hailee Steinfeld is better than the 20 year old Kim Darby in the role of the 14 year old Mattie.  Matt Damon is better than Glenn Campbell (did I even have to say that?).  And, whether you care to admit it or deny it, Jeff Bridges is better than John Wayne (though neither version was either actors' best movie)  It's so good I may even read its inspiration, the 1968 novel of the same name by Charles Portis.  True Grit deserved better than it got at the 83rd Academy Awards but the Oscar's relationship to excellence is variable and fickle.