The Forlorned (2017) Movie Review

Above Poster on IMDB from Midnight Releasing


Of course it is nearing Halloween so what better way than to celebrate it with some horror. The Forlorned rather uninteresting yarn about a legend. The novel was written by Angela Townsend and I could not help thinking watching this, that some stories are better left to the reader imagination. The plot is good yet, at barely an hour and 20 minutes, the lower budget film seemed not to not have the presence nor the energy to warrant a recommendation. Even near the end a character is essentially explaining what is happening.

All is not lost, as there is some really cool make-up and some artistry shown in the film, sadly a story of this scope and magnitude just needed more of a budget. I respect the effort as with the locations and special effects taking up probably much of the cash, it probably was hard to get the full story across.

The Forlorned is probably a rent for horror fans only, others probably wait for Netflix or TV, and rates a 5 out of 10.

'Q' (2014) Movie Review

Above: Q Poster IMDB credit

Q Movie Review (2014)

Brash and unforgiving 'Q' blasts your senses like a hammer, yet the air in the film is light. A ravished slum in India is home to a particularly seedy family, with the mother, actress Heeba Shah, in crises, with a small boy and a baby, when a new girl is introduced to her house she is tasked with taking care of her, until such time that she is taken or used.

I do not want to spoil this Netflix film, (India) it is called, yet, 'Q' is so horrible, yet enlightening at the same time, as it leaves more questions than it answers. What is the motivation, is it strictly money? Why even bother to dress up, and play the charade if the outcome is the same?

The boy is told not to friend the girl, and eventually they are left alone and do interact. The acting between the young leads is superb, natural, not like acting, more like a spy camera in the room. This is an Indian film and there is no dancing, no spectacle, just raw emotion, and a seething sadness permeating throughout, mixed in with occasional joy, such as the boy's birthday. Because of this, the audience is forced to listen intently to the dialogue, and even in silence facial expressions and body language speak volumes.

The further the movie progresses, one minute you want to just cry with Heeba Shah and her softness and caring for her own children, then the cold anger, and black heart rears it's ugly head in the later third. Is she a monster, or a victim of her own poverty. 'Q' asks the questions and leaves the viewers to decide. Kudos to Netflix for picking up this important film, and exposing a topic rarely talked about, in this manner.

Creator Sanjeev Gupta really made me think, get angry and want to do something, that said, what can we do, except talk about it, money motivates, and desperate people, at times will want to do anything for it.

I spoke at length with Casting Director and star Ashwin Shukla and he says that the shooting time was about one and a half months, and five different babies were used during production. He cast the two kids and at the time they were around 8 to 9 yrs old. I have never seen kids act like this before, again not coached but just being themselves, not like they were acting, just being.

The movie is really incredible, and rates an 8.5 out of 10, difficult subject matter, yet important for the world to see what horrors some children have to endure.

Subscribe to Netflix today @ www.netflix.com or if you are a subscriber, watch the film, and form your own opinions. https://www.netflix.com/title/80161850

Harvey Weinstien Ousted, My Thoughts About Repairing the Company Image

Producer Harvey Weinstein's ousting after the New York Times expose exposes the dark underbelly of Hollywood that is rarely discussed, and when it is often times it is made light of. With today's news coming that TWC or The Weinstein Company itself will be re-branded, and the name itself dissolved. I am hoping that more people who have had dealings with Harvey will come forward, and be honest. Today it was announced that more names like Angelina Jolie, have come forward.

It is all over the news about his payments to several women throughout the years, but the big thing is, his high powered name is entrenched in Academy Awards and his films have made a mark on the landscape of movie making. A tough road for sure but, one possible way to begin to make things right, is by releasing his films, and having ALL, yes I say every damn cent going to domestic abuse, sex slave, and rape survivors. Wait what, lose money you say, yes! The thing is TWC, or whatever it will be called is in full damage repair mode, by doing this, it may be able to start fresh.

A good place to start, is the recent Netflix/TWC co-release, Crouching Tiger 2: Sword Of Destiny. The 20-25 Million Dollar film, was a Harvey Production and Netflix exclusive property. As of this writing, there are no US DVD or Blu-Ray planned releases. Wait, why release a film that is supposed be exclusively a property of the service? If you look at the shelves, the Netflix Marvel properties are very slowly making their way to store shelves. Actually Netflix themselves, an amazing company, is probably losing money, not releasing special editions of their films with additional footage, say  8 to 12 months after release.

As I trip off my soapbox, being someone who goes out of their way to support women in action, it appalls me to see this, women have it extra hard in the business, as there is already a stigma against them. The stunt ladies, have to do hard fights and falls in slinky clothing, female directors and director of photography are often slighted and not thought of as equal to men, and actresses themselves are easily pushed aside for the next person, who is younger and willing to play the game. I am hoping that more ladies will speak up as soon as this happens and not push it under the rug. My message to the ladies: Do not laugh it off, say something, and do it right away.