Category: Television/Short Subject Reviews

Seemed mediocre, stupid in parts, even quasi-copied from episode 2 (the speech: badly) at first.

But then it got somewhat interesting. Hang in there, you just might like it, even though the buildup is a lot of tedium.

I like the brief moment of humanity displayed near the end.

I also appreciate the way the show avoids slipping into maudlin sentimentality, instead displaying its statement stubbornly as-is: a “reality” established in the plot outside the realm of right and wrong, what should or should not be.

Your initial guesses, whatever they may be, are probably wrong.

Following the plot I made my own guesses, including one as to the nature of the message. These were challenged by the plot twist, although there remains a certain connection between what I guessed (and what most people will guess) and what actually is happening.

The problem, to me, is that neither during part one (“The Episode”) nor during part two (“The Twist”) was I particularly impressed with the quality of the writing. To say nothing of part three, which is “The Epilogue” but to me could just as easily be labeled “The TV Time Filler”.

This isn’t BAD…don’t get me wrong. But it’s uninspired, at least as compared to the rest.

It is adequately executed competence, nothing more; ‘Black Mirror’s Contractual Obligation Episode’, at least to me.

In the not-too-distant future…

Another small-scale tale attempting to send a large-scale message.

But this one resonates much more than the last because the relationship, even though only briefly established, is completely believable.

And because it raises some really difficult questions – what constitutes reality, and to what extent should we allow ourselves to escape into things other than pure reality, no matter how pleasing or comforting it might be to do so? Especially when such escape sacrifices “real” life.

When does indulgent fantasy become a perversion of real moments…moments that are best remembered as the brief but pure things of beauty that they were, and will in memory always remain?

Better than episode 3, but episode 2 looks more and more like this show’s pinnacle.

In the future, people have immediate access to every memory they’ve ever had. So if the mind is indeed one snapshot after another, everyone now gets to see each and every one – none lost in the shuffle, for better or worse.

Choosing NOT to have such a total recall is considered odd (and rare).

Much more small-scale than the previous two. Also pretty predictable (if well done), which is a huge disappointment after episode 2.

But hey, at least it makes you think…a little.

THIS is ‘Twilight Zone’-ish, an episode with a twist.

Interesting futuristic (but not TOO far in the future) sci-fi setting/set-up.

Pokes fun at pop culture, mass marketing and zombie-like mass acceptance as opposed to diversity, creativity, and individuality.

Much better than the first, and gets better as it goes along. Great performance by the lead.

Beyond “interesting”…compelling.

Well done.

Inspirational Quote: “I’m an entertainer.”

A mini-mystery/thriller/character study/statement on the times.

Nothing at all like ‘The Twilight Zone’, as I was led to believe, but certainly interesting enough to watch (and to watch further episodes).

Not for the faint of heart, but more restrained than it could have been (translation: not in bad taste purely for sensationalist ratings purposes).

Tom Savini directs. So he gets to take a nice little idea about Werewolf/Human growing pains/territorial pissings and inject product placement and the obligatory NotLD moon shot.

It’s not as interesting as Pandora’s Box or the “Drink Me” bottle from ‘Dragon’s Lair’, but it’s a decent, solid episode.

Really silly.

This series can’t do scary, really, but occasionally they do ok with camp.

Creepy at the end. Though I fail to see the “message”…don’t eat food? Slightly overweight women MUST diet?

Root’n Toot’n! He WAS a midget!

Dark mild humor. Ehhhhh.

Somewhat interesting in a mildly creepy way.

Still nothing special, but a keeper as far as these are concerned.

The first tolerable one in a while. Barely.

How do you make a TftD episode tolerable?

Add bugs. They don’t know how to act badly.

They wear their sunglasses at night…

Decent episode. And it’s got an ACTUAL twist!

A poor woman struggles to escape from her unwanted Goodness.

I like it…not scary but kinda funny; pretty well-written.

Well…it’s watchable in a horribly cheezy way.

Whenever a little girl says goodbye to someone, they die shortly thereafter.

It’s cheezy and the acting is mediocre but the idea is fairly interesting so it may be worth a watch if the concept intrigues you.

Really cheezy story about a sleazy floating guy. Kind of amusing, though.

Four passengers on a weird train.

It’s not very good, but it’s tolerable; vaguely interesting at times and at least not completely stupid.

Oh well…someone’s gotta do it.

The choice between “perfect” fantasy and flawed (by definition) reality.

Not terribly exciting but not embarrassing.

An aspiring writer meets an odd agent.

It’s macabre in a really casual, light, mildly funny way until the end, which is dark and predictable.

Best in a long time, because this show usually sucks.

I’ve been trying to review one of these, I REALLY have.

Finally…

“A marvelous accomplishment!”
“A prodigious achievement!”
“You said it, it’s tolerable!”

It’s not scary, but tolerable kooky is the best in a while.

Some interesting life insurance. Decent.

NSA exposed!

First contact, envisioned and handled in an unconventional and fairly unique manner. I like it.

Reminded me of a Stephen King short story that I found out was called ‘Quitters, Inc.’. Not anywhere near as good of course.

Fixed previously misnumbered episodes also, that’s probably more of note.

Ancient Chinese Secret.

Starts out quite interesting…then it hits a big lull. Borderline.

Inspirational Quote: “Sayonara…that’s not even Chinese.”

Cheezy and (kinda) creepy, and fairly interesting. A decent political satire, yet! Who woulda thought.

Cheezy but interesting. Which is about all you can expect from these.

A little borderline-insane home remodeling and exploration.

That rotary phone is pretty scary.

And being personally comfortable with its level of technological advancement.

It’s actually pretty freaky and interesting for the most part. Lots of monologue, but it makes something out of very little. Also it’s somehow creepier because of its Britishness.

The ending is a real let-down, unfortunately. So, borderline.

The macabre twist is INCREDIBLY predictable.  But that doesn’t mean it’s no fun at all to watch.

Too cheezy, too…but again, see above.

Marginal, depending on how original/surprising you need it to be.

Does it need to be said that this opening is cheezy wanna-be Star Wars sh1t that will one day be as mockable as Gamera or Godzilla?

And so is the ending?

Be that as it may…

Harry Anderson is almost always cool. Unless he’s in Philly.

The usual silly vehicle for him, and he does ok with a mediocre script.

Lots of calm, indifferent narration and third-person.

Very silly, too; more of a comedy except that I don’t find it that funny because it’s SO over-the-top.

Sort of borderline.

A man dies but apparently comes back to life out of sheer stubbornness.  His body, however, disagrees with his mind’s decision.

Pretty amusing and intelligent, actually. And a bit dark of course.

Based on a Stephen King story.

Pre-Post-‘NeedfulThings’, so it doesn’t inherently kinda suck.

…Oh my Lord that’s a big disk.

GREAT premise: a word processor that can make anything happen while looking horribly cheezy.

An interesting episode.

 

A Tom Savini project, if you can’t get enough of him.  Also semi-featuring fellow ‘Living Dead’ alums George A. Romero and Patricia Tallman (the Savini remake).

Kinda creepy, actually. But the mystery turns out kinda cheezy and unexplained.

Decently written. Kinda amusing and interesting.

Danny Aiello really helps.

Arsenic and Old Maid(s). Kind of cute, which is interesting as it turns creepy.

Not the most exciting, but with an interesting/somewhat macabre twist.

Revenge is a dish best served old. Somewhat borderline.

Somewhat interesting if not exciting. With a sad twist.

Haha…the husband reminds me of Phil Hartman’s Anal-Retentive X and the wife of the 50-year-old college student from ‘Is This Love?’.

A good one…it’s love, Jim, but not as we know it.

Good intentions gone horribly obsessive. And STOO-pid.

And twisty, if far-fetched.

Cool intro.

The budget problems are obvious, as are the acting limitations.

But there’s some interesting – and amusing – ideas, and the script isn’t all that bad considering it’s a $100 student film.

It’s got a bit of ‘Shaun Of The Dead’ to it, especially in a mirroring-the-thrown-records scene.

Of course it’s really rough and there are plenty of mistakes, obvious and subtle; but it’s an interesting watch for fans of the genre.

Grade: C+

Available to watch on YouTube, here are the vitals:

Tropfest Australia 2013 Finalist, Directed by Ben Howling & Yolanda Ramke, Length: 00:07:03.

Now, the story…

Husband wakes up from a car crash to find his wife a zombie but his baby still alive and alright.

The film is basically the father’s quest to keep his child not only alive, but happy and well.

He does his best, and it’s fairly touching and also fairly sad…with a twist and ending that’s rather unique.

Not to diminish it, but it’s a lot easier to make an emotional moment/statement when you only have to sustain it for a few minutes as opposed to an hour and a half.

But that being said, this does that. Recommended to people that like zombie films with characters and character.

Grade: B-

Motivation of the three characters: Greed, Greed, and Greed.

Decent twist for a decent episode.

Ahhh…the beauty of human compassion. People SUCK…

Vincent Price does dignified very well, and the ending is a gruesome final twist.  But it’s a bit slow and there’s a moment of unbelievable stupidity in the pre-twist twist.  Marginal.

To heed the fortune-teller or not to heed the fortune-teller, that is the question.  Good ol’ Jack Klugman as the voice of – reason?

About obsession.  Not bad, decent twist.

“…two men on the same train succumb…and finger each other…”

I like my version better than NF Streaming’s.

As for the episode, it’s pretty good…lots of extreme paranoia, cause and effect.  And lots of voiceovers.

Nice ironic ending, too.  Worthy of a spot as a relatively “normal” quality TZ episode, even.