The Spooky World of Chris Ringler
Welcome to my strange world of Blogs, Books, Movie Reviews, Podcasts, Stories, and Art!
Here you will find a collection of my reviews.
It's interesting that when you think of all the horrors that can beset people in movies, bears don't make many appearances as the beast. Heck, there are more shark movies than bear movies. Perhaps it's because bears, even as they are eating us, remain cute, whereas sharks are always frightening, no matter how you see them. The odds of us meeting a bear on a nature walk are greater than the odds of running into a shark, so what is it?
I have mentioned it, oh, a hundred times or more, that there are unwritten rules to found footage films, things you should stick to in order to retain that tenuous faux-reality. Unlike traditional films, found footage movies are presenting themselves as if they are "real," and as such, they need to come across as at least a LITTLE believable. Sure, we know it's all fake, but going in, we are looking to BELIEVE this could be real, even though we know it isn't, even while going to see an "Avatar" film and not demanding the same.
Over the past year, the author reviewed short films by an emerging filmmaker, particularly highlighting "The Amasol Project" and "NightBound." While both films exhibit Rios's growth and creativity, they suffer from reliance on dialogue and digital effects. The potential for improvement lies in reduced narration and more tangible scares. Rios's passion is evident.
The latest entry in the found-footage horror franchise presents several short films themed around Halloween, but struggles with coherence and originality. While one episode excels in creepiness, others fall flat or feel silly. Overall, the collection lacks depth and connection to Halloween, leaving the reviewer disappointed and unable to recommend it.
MANOR OF DARKNESS follows a desperate brother and sister aiming to rob a posh estate to finance their ailing mother’s care. As they uncover secrets within the home, the film evolves from a typical horror narrative into something more intriguing. Despite some flaws, it offers a unique, suspenseful experience worth watching.
BODY & SOUL is a found footage film depicting police officers on duty, initially engaging with the public effectively. However, it falters when the plot shifts to a tense chase in the woods, becoming disjointed with two bickering officers and lacking narrative depth. Despite its promising concept, the film ultimately disappoints.
THE CHILDREN UNDER THE HOUSE is an analog horror film presented through VHS interviews between a therapist and a non-verbal girl who claims to see deceased children. This unique storytelling technique evokes imagination and fear, despite some emotional delivery issues. It's a chilling, low-budget film worth watching for horror enthusiasts.
Found Footage military horror is uncommon, yet this film stands out with a British patrol during the Afghan War facing both moral dilemmas over stolen money and sinister threats. While the pacing and camaraderie are strong, the climax confuses, leaving viewers lost. Ultimately, it’s a unique and creepy experience worth exploring.
Most people live their lives as the star of their story; the hero pitted against the world. There comes a time though, when you start to realize that while you may be the hero in your story, you may well be the villain in someone else's, and in some cases, aren't even the hero you at all. To quote Flannery O'Connor, "It's no real pleasure in life".
Fair warning, this is not to be confused with the Hugh Grant film. HERETICS isn’t the first found footage film I have seen about cults, and it does feel like an apt way to look at them. Seeing a cult examined through the lens of a found footage film, and in this case from the… Continue reading Found Footage Movie Review – HERETICS
The faux-documentary is a tricky business. You have to present yourself as a documentary, with those trappings, but have to offer something different. You have to walk in those steps to a point, and know when to deviate. And with so many murder docs out there, it becomes even harder to find the correct tone. STRANGE HARVEST reminds me a bit of the film THE POUGHKEEPSIE TAPES. It’s similar, but don’t mistake them for being the same. They both handle horrific stories about a serial killer, and do so with aplomb, but STRANGE HARVEST is its own animal, and it has its own lethal bite.
Legacy sequels are a strange beast. They are movies dipping heavily into nostalgia for a film property, and while calling back to the things that fans loved from that original film, they also have an eye on rejuvenating a property. Legacy movies are nothing too new, but they have really become a fad in Hollywood, especially in horror, as studios try to wring every last dollar from these movies. They lean on the nostalgic love of these movies, even bringing back characters from the originals. The problem with a lot of them, is that they often feel like cash grabs more than honest attempts at renewing these movies.
Over the past few months, I have had the honor to check out three of director Rios’ films. It’s been fascinating to watch him hone his craft, tighten his storytelling, and really evolve as a filmmaker. A willingness to keep working to improve, and to become a better creator and, in this case, filmmaker, is how you GET better. We hear the adage of “putting in the work” all the time, but not all of us want to actually do that.
The Spooky World of Chris Ringler 