Oops, almost forgot to say Happy Halloween.

This is the pumpkin I carved this year. The pictures turned out pretty well so I thought I’d post one. I might update this post a little later with a couple more pics. Or maybe I’ll just add a new post, with the other Jack O’ Lantern pics and a couple of costume pics.

Today we’re taking a look at horror with a review of Prison of the Psychotic Damned from Red Scream Films LLC. Some of the best horror films of all time are independent works. It makes sense. Horror movies deal with some things that make the big names nervous. Horror also has a tendency to get slapped with ratings that the studios don’t like.

Story

Prison of the Psychotic Damned follows a small team of documentary film makers as they investigate the shocking past of an abandoned train station in Buffalo, NY. The station was built with a bright future ahead of it, but that all came crashing down when the depression hit. Eventually the station was turned into an asylum for the criminally insane. Corruption among those running the institution resulted in horrifying conditions among those who were unlucky enough to be inmates. As bad as that is, it’s only part of the dark history of the place they’ve come to explore.

Execution

The filmmakers responsible for Prison of the Psychotic Damned show some real potential. There are some great moments and a couple of decent scares. As they improve their craft they’ll be making some very good movies. Prison isn’t one of them.

From the beginning of the film they made some choices I don’t agree with. It opens with a scene that I think is supposed to be disturbing, but falls far short. Once that is over we get right to the action, or about as much action as we’ll see for most of the movie. The crew is on their way to spend the night in the station and do some filming. We get a rundown of the history of the place and a brief explanation of why they’re going there. The scene drags on far too long. The rest of the movie follows suit.

The Biggest Problems

With the exception of a handful of cool scenes this movie is more suited to being an audio book. It’s filled with exposition. The characters talk about creepy stuff, but we don’t see it. There are numerous “artistic” quick shots and underlying audio that is apparently meant to put the audience on edge. All it does is irritate. Luckily the sound effects are so overused that before long you won’t even notice them anymore. It’s too bad the same can’t be said for the disjointed images that flash on the screen.

Verdict

This film had a lot of potential. There’s a good story in there somewhere. The unfocused execution and the maker’s choice to talk about the story instead of showing it to us ruined it. You might find something you enjoy in Prison of the Psychotic Damned if you’re a fan of bad horror.

: Movies, Horror, Review, Prison of the Psychotic Damned, Red Scream Films, Independent Films

I was pretty happy when I heard the people from the new Battlestar Galatica were involved with bringing back the Bionic Woman. They did an excellent job with Battlestar after all. The new Galatica is one of the best shows on television. So I was pretty surprised when I didn’t like the new Bionic Woman. After watching the episodes so far, I think I know why it sucks. I also know how to fix it.

Bionic Backbone

Jaime Sommers is the biggest problem with the show. Not the actress playing Jaime, the character itself is bad. I’m sure Michelle Ryan could play a great Jaime Sommers, it’s the creative team behind the camera that won’t let her. The main character is saddled with problems that are supposed to make her human. They don’t, they make her dull.

The web site for the show says “Ultimately, it’s Jaime’s journey of self-discovery and inner strength that will help her embrace her new life as the Bionic Woman…”, but that’s inaccurate. She has no inner strength. Sure she can leap 50 feet into the air and punch through a brick wall, but she can’t stand up to her little sister. Her dealings with the shady agency she’s now working for aren’t any better. One minute she seems like she’s standing up for herself and the next she’s slinking off to do whatever they tell her to. She had her legs and right arm replaced. What she needs is a backbone.

Starbuck is a Cylon

Wait, wrong show. Katee Sackhoff plays Sarah Corvus, the first Bionic Woman. Unfortunately she’s gone just a tiny bit crazy. Bad for her, great for the viewers. Sarah is almost the only thing that makes this show tolerable. Seriously, I barely pay attention when she isn’t involved.

If the creators want this show to be any good at all they’ll surprise everyone and kill off Jaime Sommers switch focus to Sarah Corvus and pretend like they planned it that way. That would be talked about across the country the next day and the following episode would be at the top of the ratings. They could even have some fun with the press. “Hey, the name of the show is Bionic Woman, not Jaime Sommers, Bionic Woman. Sarah Corvus is Bionic. Sarah Corvus is a Woman. She was the star all along.”

Will they do that? Not likely.

Will the show get better? Also not very likely.

: Fandoms, TV, Sci-Fi, Action, NBC, Bionic Woman, Jaime Sommers, Michelle Ryan, Sarah Corvus, Katee Sackhoff

I’m working on something for the site. Posting to the blog has slowed because of this. I do have a few good post planned, so keep an eye out.

In addition to the posts I have planned, I also have something else lined up. Someone I know is writing up a nice little fandom guide. I don’t want to say too much about it, but I think it’ll be good. I’m looking forward to reading it myself.

Who knew an old guy wearing robes in a proffesion here he works with children would be gay?

Oh yeah, Catholics.

: Books, Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling, Albus, Brian, Wulfric, Dumbledore, Homosexual, Gay

This could be bad news, but even bad news is great when it’s reported by Stephen Colbert.

: Video, Humor, Halloween, Pumpkin, Jack O Lantern, War, Stephen Colbert, Colbert Report