This Review Roundup features two releases from this week and one from earlier in the month I got after its release. Up first is The Beast Within starring Kit Harington of Game of Thrones fame. This is a werewolf film and overall it’s pretty solid. I’ve said for years that I’m not a huge fan of British and Irish horror unless it’s based on mythology. That part of the world has mythologies that go back hundreds and hundreds of years yet they don’t make a ton of films about them. Werewolves aren’t just a British/Irish creature, but the film felt like the type of horror I want to see more of from there. Harington plays a husband/father who has a family curse. His wife chains him up away from the house so he can’t hurt them after his transformation. The backdrop and setting really works for the story and adds that level of mythological authenticity to the film. Harington is good as are Ashleigh Cummings who plays his wife, Caoilinn Springall his daughter, James Cosmo his wife’s father. Those into werewolf movies will enjoy it and I really liked the make-up effects on the creature. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it’s something different for spooky season. Solid flick.
Second we have Broken Oath. From the late 1970s, this is a classic tale of revenge. A child is orphaned and raised by Buddhist nuns. She is violent and is expelled and then uses her martial arts skills to track down the men who killed her father and imprisoned her mother. It stars Angela Mao who at this point was a huge star thanks to films like Enter the Dragon and Lady Whirlwind. You’ll also see appearances by Sammo Hung and Bruce Leung (a popular actor known as a Bruce Lee clone). It is an unofficial remake of Lady Snowblood, made in Hong Kong and not Japan. If you are a fan of 1970s martial arts flicks you’ll dig this. It feels like something I had seen before, but I can’t officially say if I had. The revenge storyline has been done many times before, but her using scorpions felt familiar. Fans of Mao will certainly be familiar with it and this new release is an uncut and restored version. It comes with multiple commentaries, interviews and more. If you are a fan of the film or genre I definitely recommend it.
Last we have Interview with the Vampire: Season 2. Season 2 opens with Louis and Claudia heading to Europe at the end of World War II. They are out trying to find other vampires and meet some in Romania, but eventually find themselves in Paris after the Nazis leave. They are watched, but eventually are introduced to a coven of vampires in Paris. Claudia joins their theater productions as Louis is questioned about knowing Lestat. Details from the original 1973 interview turn out to be manipulated and Louis, Claudia and Madeleine are put on trial where a surprise vampire makes an appearance. Louis is imprisoned in a coffin, but is freed and seeks his revenge. In present day no vampires are happy with Louis and what he’s saying. Like the first season I thought the series was ok. It’s quite different than the source material and Brad Pitt/Tom Cruise film, but I can see why the audience enjoys it. It’s sexy like all good vampire stories. If you liked Season 1 you’ll like Season 2.
The Nerds Templar 