• The first stage of the forum upgrades has now been completed but they remain in a degraded state and are still being worked on. Normal posting/reading should now be possible.
    Please read this thread for more details.
    New user registrations are currently disabled.

SMB Film Thread 2025

Status
Not open for further replies.
Cosmo said:
Logon or register to see this image

COHERENCE - Strange things begin to happen when a group of friends gather for a dinner party on an evening when a comet is passing overhead. 7.2 IMDB. My score is 9/10 one of the best flms I've ever seen.
Click to expand...
I'd started to watch that a couple of times previously but always got that American young actor vibe of shitshow so switched it off. Watched it last night fully, solid 8/10. It's given me the will power to stick with two others I've put off watching, those being "The Endless" and "Primer".
 

SAFCOldie said:
I'd started to watch that a couple of times previously but always got that American young actor vibe of shitshow so switched it off. Watched it last night fully, solid 8/10. It's given me the will power to stick with two others I've put off watching, those being "The Endless" and "Primer".
Click to expand...

The Endless is incredible but do you know it's the 2nd movie in a series of related films?

Resolution (2012)
The Endless (2017)
Synchronic (2019)
Something In The Dirt (2022)

They do all work as standalone movies but just so you know there is a link between them, and a couple of minor cameo characters from Resolution are the main characters in The Endless (as well as a location and macguffin in common and a theme similarity).

The link in Synchronic is a "sneeze at the wrong time and you'll miss it" link, so that one probably the most "standalone" of the four.

Something In The Dirt iirc has more in common with the first two but again is a standalone story.


I'm a massive fan of Benson & Moorhead, the writer/director/producer/actor pair responsible.

Another one of theirs, Spring (2014) is an awesome movie too (but unrelated to the other four). Lovecraftian cosmic body horror vibes disguised at first as a romantic drama.

You must be logged on to see external links
 
Last edited:
fyl2u said:
The Endless is incredible but do you know it's the 2nd movie in a series of related films?

Resolution (2012)
The Endless (2017)
Synchronic (2019)
Something In The Dirt (2022)

They do all work as standalone movies but just so you know there is a link between them, and a couple of minor cameo characters from Resolution are the main characters in The Endless (as well as a location and macguffin in common and a theme similarity).

The link in Synchronic is a "sneeze at the wrong time and you'll miss it" link, so that one probably the most "standalone" of the four.

Something In The Dirt iirc has more in common with the first two but again is a standalone story.


I'm a massive fan of Benson & Moorhead, the writer/director/producer/actor pair responsible.

Another one of theirs, Spring (2014) is an awesome movie too (but unrelated to the other four). Lovecraftian cosmic body horror vibes disguised at first as a romantic drama.

You must be logged on to see external links
Click to expand...
Many thanks for that info. I didn't know that but it's exactly the sort of information I come on this thread for 👍
 
fyl2u said:
The Endless is incredible but do you know it's the 2nd movie in a series of related films?

Resolution (2012)
The Endless (2017)
Synchronic (2019)
Something In The Dirt (2022)

They do all work as standalone movies but just so you know there is a link between them, and a couple of minor cameo characters from Resolution are the main characters in The Endless (as well as a location and macguffin in common and a theme similarity).

The link in Synchronic is a "sneeze at the wrong time and you'll miss it" link, so that one probably the most "standalone" of the four.

Something In The Dirt iirc has more in common with the first two but again is a standalone story.


I'm a massive fan of Benson & Moorhead, the writer/director/producer/actor pair responsible.

Another one of theirs, Spring (2014) is an awesome movie too (but unrelated to the other four). Lovecraftian cosmic body horror vibes disguised at first as a romantic drama.

You must be logged on to see external links
Click to expand...

I'm planning to do one of their films as a Hidden Gem on the pod - What's your recommendation of where to start with them?
 
SAFCOldie said:
I'd started to watch that a couple of times previously but always got that American young actor vibe of shitshow so switched it off. Watched it last night fully, solid 8/10. It's given me the will power to stick with two others I've put off watching, those being "The Endless" and "Primer".
Click to expand...

As for Primer, fantastic movie, but you'll need to watch it at least 6 times while studying a diagram of the timelines to work out what the fuck is going on.
Cockney Mackem said:
I'm planning to do one of their films as a Hidden Gem on the pod - What's your recommendation of where to start with them?
Click to expand...

The Endless is my favourite of them all.

Synchronic has the biggest budget.

Resolution was early years low budget and a difficult watch at first, but rewarding in the grand scheme of the four movie "series".

Something In The Dirt they made during lockdown and is back to their low budget early years vibe. Minimal locations, mainly just the pair of them onscreen.

Spring is probably the most "hidden" of their movies, mainly because it's not one of the linked ones and they're starting to get a name for themselves.
 
Last edited:
Good Boy (2025). Supernatural horror from a dog's perspective! Not bad and only 73 minutes! Bit like some kind of old Creepshow episode but wih added clever camerawork. Ben Leonberg is the diector and hope he directs something with a bigger budget.
 
OOOSH YEAH said:
Is anyone else just absolutely bored of hearing about comic book films or Star Wars type films made by the likes of Disney?

Why aren’t people putting money into stories anymore?
Click to expand...
Probably because there's nothing else to be done? It's all remakes for the 3rd or 4th time, Spiderman 9,transformers 15 or star wars 12. Crap. We'll be getting films about YouTubers next
 
The Shop at Sly Corner (1947) - TPTV Encore

Oskar Homolka is an antiques shop owner with a daughter who is an aspiring concert violinist. She is engaged to Derek Farr, a military type. Homolka’s assistant - Kenneth Griffith - is a nauseating little pissweasel, who feels empowered to rise in the world after he overhears some key information from his employer.

I think this is a little belter. It’s a British B noir, and sails along sedately until the final couple of reels, which are nicely put together and quite emotionally handled.

There’s some excellent camerawork, framing and lighting, all adding to the characterisation evident throughout. Throw in a nifty car chase, and you have a quality, brooding unassuming crime thriller.

Homolka is excellent at playing a character with depth. He’s a typical noir creation - not good enough to like, not bad enough to hate. Despite his actions, you do side with him. Griffith is brilliant as a loathesome, snide, immoral little creep. The film hangs almost entirely on these two performances.

I’d never even heard of it.

7.5/10
Maybe an 8.
 
Last edited:
Doogie Hauser said:
Sorcerer (1977) - Criterion 4K UHD

Brilliant. A superb example of 70s filmmaking.

Sparse dialogue allows the action, cinematography and setting to tell the story. Scheider is very good, but it’s Friedkin’s direction that’s the real star. He ramps up the tension so that you’re constantly on edge, and even the vaguest bump in the road causes you to wince. The famous bridge scene retains its brilliance, and several other sequences are pure tension. In fact, the bridge bit seems better than ever, with that roaring storm battering everything. The environment and weather both feel like antagonists.

I absolutely love the fact that it’s all proper practical effects. No shitty computer effects, no back projection - just real action, skilfully filmed. Tangerine Dream’s soundtrack is used sparingly, though effectively.

One of Friedkin’s three 70s masterpieces, and better with every watch. I even enjoyed the opening vignettes more than last time.

I couldn’t tell you whether or not the 4K master is better than that Blu-ray. Presumably so, but that’s not particularly important. What is important is that @Cockney Mackem stops messing about and buys one of the best films of the 70s in its premier presentational form.

9.5/10
Click to expand...
Never heard of it, and it looks absolutely amazing. Just bought it.
OOOSH YEAH said:
Is anyone else just absolutely bored of hearing about comic book films or Star Wars type films made by the likes of Disney?

Why aren’t people putting money into stories anymore?
Click to expand...
Because not many people go to the cinema any more, and bloated superhero / space opera prequel / sequel bullshit all but guarantees returns.
Cockney Mackem said:
So I haven't watched this but am now are that it exists, so...

Logon or register to see this image
Click to expand...
Omg, is that Major Peter Andre, the mayor of Houghton?

Please tell me it is a hard boiled gangster film pitching him as the new Danny Dyer and not some half bake spoof.
 
Last edited:
Good Boy 5.9/10

I like the way it's shot around the dog and the dog itself is fantastic. You never actually really see anyone's faces which I like too. It's quite a good idea but I think it could have been so much better.

Apart from a couple of minor chilling sequences it's just basically a film about someone's illness and a dog fannying about for a bit. It's a bit of a stretch to call it a horror film..

Best part was that it's pretty short.
 
The Exorcist (1973) 10/10
The greatest horror film ever made. The 4K Director's Cut includes additional footage and a new ending (the original intention was to replicate the dialogue from the end of Casablanca, but - fortunately, I think - they couldn't salvage the sound from that particular take). One downside of 4K is that makeup is a tad too garish to be believable.
You must be logged on to see media items

The French Connection (1971) 10/10
The greatest police procedural ever made. Hackman's terrific, and the car chase is the best ever committed to film. From the extras, I love the story that Friedkin wanted the French gangster to be played by an actor from Belle de Jour - but the casting director got the wrong actor, Fernando Rey instead of Francisco Rabal. Can't imagine anyone other than Rey in the role now.
You must be logged on to see media items

The French Connection II (1975) 8/10
John Frankenheimer directing instead of Friedkin, and it shows - especially in the middle section, which drags a bit. But the ending's flawless.
You must be logged on to see media items
 
Logon or register to see this image

The Strange Thing About the Johnsons - A 30 minute Short film. A dark domestic horror drama about the ties that bind, and the ties that really bind. 7.1 on IMDB.​

FULL MOVIE ON YOUTUBE ⬇️🙈
You must be logged on to see media items
 
Dangerous Animals - Aussie psycopath (great over the top performance) loves sharks - a bit cheesy / unrealistic at times but a solid 7.5/10 - well worth 90 minutes of your time
 
The Northman (2022)

Not entirely what I expected, which is my problem, not the film’s. Nevertheless, it’s visually striking and authentic, and prides itself on atmosphere. Far more brooding and measured than I anticipated, it really won me over and has enthused me to watch more stuff in this setting.

8/10


Falling Down (1992)

I’ve watched this so many times, and gradually my thoughts about it have changed.

When I was younger, I enjoyed the vigilante violence of Foster socking it to those everyday annoyances, like a well-armed Victor Mildrew.

As I got older, it seemed to show a man flipping as personal life crises, economic rejection and societal uncertainty stacked up against him. A man pushed over the edge due to the toll of life on his mental health. A cynical thread about racial inequality and class privilege seems to run through it. Foster is a victim.

Recent watches have made me see it differently. Foster is the villain of the piece. The response to everyday irritations masks his true nature: a man who is so violent that his wife has a restraining order on him. A man who resorts to pretty extreme violence in his first encounter in the grocery store, and uses it, or the threat of it, indiscriminately thereafter. A man who comes to realise ‘I’m the bad guy?’ too late. Yes, you are. Duvall’s character is the counterpoint. The different way of handling and processing the stresses of middle age. Foster has massive issues that come to a head, seemingly not for the first time. He needs help, and is a representation of his own and society’s failure. All of the class and race satirical stuff still has something to say, but this is a film about a psychopath, and unfortunately the tone and presentation of the script seems to lead to massive misunderstandings.

Or maybe it’s just me misunderstanding it?

Douglas is excellent in it, as is Duvall. Not many films keep coughing up thought-provoking reactions so far down the line.

8/10
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top