More Monsters on the way

Shawn and I shared our thoughts on Gareth Edwards's much-hyped sci-fi drama here (and on the player to the right) . . . just in time, it seems, for a sequel to be announced.

Edwards told the fine folks over at Dread Central that Vertigo Films has decided to move ahead with a follow up to his ultra low budget film. As for his involvement? It sounds like the British helmer might not be that involved at all given his commitment to direct the latest U.S. version of Godzilla.

"I'm not sure how involved I can be right now, and I don't think my next film really should be a sequel just yet," he said. "I'd like to do something else first, but I would definitely be open to returning at some point."

He goes on to say: "Whoever comes in should definitely be given free rein to put their own spin on this world, and I know they'll get the right person."

As far as I'm concerned a sequel, prequel or whatever is a bad idea. I really dug Monsters, but it's a one off kind of movie. A franchise this does not have to be.

Jason and shawn review: Let Me In and Monsters

Let Me In

Jason: I have a love/hate relationship with this movie. On the one hand it's beautifully made, expertly acted, gruesome, dark and gritty. On the other, it's a pointless remake that lacks the heart, soul and emotional core that made Let the Right One In so damn good. Thankfully the vampire here is still a monster and still a little girl. Chloe Moretz is brilliant. Director Matt Reeves is a master at staging shots and atmosphere, but the film is sluggish and doesn't generate many thrills. Let Me In rates a Bad. We didn't need it to be made, but at least it isn't a total failure.

Shawn: Branding something as Made In the U.S.A. doesn't make it better. I guess cashing in on the success of something else is what America is best at. I have yet to see the original, but am willing to bet it's better. This moves at a slow pace and I have a big gripe about the CGI kill in the tunnel. Usually I can accept CGI, but it was unnecessary here. The idea of this movie is cool, and I would like to see the original, but I am giving this version a Bad.

Monsters

Jason: This isn't a monster movie. It's not even really a movie. It's a human drama that just happens to have space aliens wandering around in the background. And it's good stuff too. At times Monsters feels like a documentary. Everything feels real and the world Gareth Edwards creates is a convincing one. The actors totally sell their roles and I enjoyed taking this journey with them. The film is a tad slow and, ultimately, doesn't really go anywhere. But it's a great ride and one I will take again. I'm giving Monsters a Good.

Shawn: Deceit. Lies. Monsters? Are there? I was hoping to see monsters. I think there might have been four. Sure the acting was great. The bonding without nudity was well done. I could accept all that if this was a movie not about monsters. If you want monsters, check out the trailer and watch the first 10 minutes. That way you get your money worth. This was not what I was expecting. It's boring and Ugly.

Next on the chopping block: Let Me In and Monsters

What can we say other than we here in The Basement love our monsters. Maybe it's that primal fear left over from when we were children scared of the hairy monster in the closet or the masked bogeyman under the bed, but monsters or fascinating. Monsters are cool. As long as they are on the big screen that is.

Tonight we're putting two little-seen but well-regarded horror tales on the chopping block. First up is Cloverfield director Matt Reeves's vampire film Let Me In, which is a remake of the Swedish flick Let The Right One In. The Basement's Matt Bellamy actually likes the remake better, so that has Shawn and I curious. Speaking from my own experience, Let The Right One In is a modern classic. Never mind the horror part.

Then we take on Monsters, the low-budget directorial debut of Gareth Edwards that promises big things in terms of giant aliens running amok. We're jazzed to see it, but will Monsters actually be any good? Stick with us!

And stick around for our interview with sci-fi writer David McDonald. Not only does David write in one of our favourite genres, but he's also a Basement fan. David talks about his first novel, The Rewirers, the films of past Basement guest William Castle and how film influences his writing. It's a talk any writer and film fan won't want to miss.

So join us tonight at 10 p.m. PST on 92.5FM CFBX Kamloops and www.thex.ca for an hour of radio that's more talk, less rock and all film. 'Scopin!

And now for a sneak peak at tonight's films:

Let Me In



Monsters

Monsters director pegged to helm Godzilla redo

Shawn and I have yet to watch Gareth Edwards' Monsters, but the aptly named, and much praised, low-budget sci-fi horror flick is up for a review in February.

Therefor it's hard for us to get too excited by the news that the young director has been chosen to direct Legendary and Warner Bros. big budget version of everyone's favourite Tokyo-smashing creature.

That said, the Interweb is abuzz at the news, and praise for Edwards' film has permeated the geek world since it was screened at SXSW last year.  The film is supposed to be beautifully shot and have amazing special effects despite a budget of $800,000 or so. Clips we've seen look amazing.

And yours truly is a huge Godzilla nut, as any self-respecting movie nerd should be. If most of the online film community can now get excited for the project, then I suppose we in The Basement can too.

We'll let you know for sure when we review Monsters in a month's time.

Jason and Shawn review: Altitude and The Human Centipede First Sequence

Altitude

Shawn: This isn't a monster movie. Or is it? There may have been a monster in it, or maybe not? I hate airplanes. I can't even fully explain why, but this movie does play on that fear. That said, it's a pretty weak movie despite an interesting idea and messed up ending. The beginning and end are great. Too bad nothing much happens in between. And the cliched characters got on my nerves really fast. A Bad movie for sure.

Jason: A movie where the main idea is better than the end product. Altitude would have made a really great Twilight Zone episode, but there is not enough material here to sustain a feature film. The last 30 minutes, when we figure out what is going on and watch it all play out, are great, as is the opening scene. Too bad everything in between is pretty dull. A Bad rating for me on this one.

The Human Centipede First Sequence

Shawn: I've heard nothing but how disturbing this movie is and, in the end, I didn't find it that disturbing at all. The Saw movies are more disturbing than this. You can tell the idea was spawned from a drunken joke. It didn't rivet me to my seat, but I did enjoy it up to a point. There are parts of The Human Centipede I will watch again. And Dieter Laser, the main actor, is absolutely amazing. He's become one of my favourite movie villains. A Bad for me.

Jason: For all the fuss about how disturbing this movie is I found it really boring. Yes, the idea of people being surgically stuck together ass to mouth is gross, but the film offers little more than that. In fact, we see the human centipede too soon and spend half the movie watching people walk around on their knees stuck ass to mouth. It's pretty dull stuff. Throw in a bunch of stupid victims, the dumbest movie cops ever, little to no bloodshed and you've got a pretty lame horror movie. Ugly, is what The Human Centipede is.

Next on the chopping block: Altitude and The Human Centipede

Aerophobia, or a fear of flying, is not an uncommon affliction. And it makes perfect sense to be afraid of flying when a large tentacled monster is after the airplane you are in.

Such is the concept for Altitude, a direct-to-DVD feature that recently appeared on video store shelves and VOD. Given that Shawn is not a fan of flying, nor I for that matter, it makes sense that we'd turn our executioner's axe on the film.

Also on the chopping block tonight is The Human Centipede, a notorious Dutch horror film that is supposedly 100 per cent medically accurate in its depiction of how one makes, you guessed it, a human centipede.

Some of our fans requested we watch this, and we're all about taking one for the team here in The Basement. Is the film as fucked up as it sounds? Stick with us!

We've also got long-time Basement friend Anthony Michael Bosa hanging out with us tonight, a slew of new music for your listening pleasure, and the latest movie news to keep you informed . . . because knowing is half the battle.

Join us tonight at 10 p.m. PST at 92.5FM CFBX Kamloops or head online at the same Bat Time. It's a perfectly good reason to stay home on a Friday night.

And now some previews:

Altitude



The Human Centipede

Trailer Alert: Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

We here in The Basement love our horror. And one of the name's horror geeks have bowed at the alter of recent years is Guillermo del Toro.

The man's got a good resume under his belt, be it as a director (Blade 2) or as a producer (The Orphanage). So when his name turned up on this trailer for the remake of the 1973 TV movie Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, I had to give it a look.

The film promises to be creepy and, given the R rating, bloody. Throw in some pint-sized creatures and a big, spooky house and I'm there. Oh, and Katie Holmes is still cute.

The film is due out in January. If the main trailer looks good, I could venture to a theatre to see this. What say you?


Don't Be Afraid of the Dark in HD

Trailer Park Movies | MySpace Video

Trailer Alert: Monsters

We in The Basement have heard nothing but good buzz for this, and I (Jay) for one hope we can review it on The X once our show gets rolling this fall.

The premise is simple, and cool: Set six years after huge, Lovecraftian aliens have taken over Mexico, the movie follows two people who must try to get from South America to the US after all the official crossings have been closed. It's mating season for the monsters, and they're on the move and more dangerous than usual.

Writer/director Gareth Edwards is supposed to have made the film for a scant $20,000 to $30,000. To me, it looks better than most big-budget Hollywood productions. Watch the trailer below and judge for yourself.

More Monsters Videos