European Movie Reviews »

The Pack (2010) Movie Review

The Pack (2010) Movie Review

James Mudge June 14, 2011

With current wave of brutal Euro-horror showing no signs of abating, the playing field is becoming pretty crowded, with film makers already being reduced to trying to one-up each other in terms of gore...

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Black Bread (2010) Movie Review

Black Bread (2010) Movie Review

Brent McKnight June 1, 2011

“Black Bread” starts of with a scene of such stunning violence—without giving too much away, it involves a sledgehammer and a horse, among a slew of other very nasty things—that it casts a shadow...

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Encapsulated Cinema Goes To SIFF: The Troll Hunter, The Stool Pigeon, and Viva Riva!

Encapsulated Cinema Goes To SIFF: The Troll Hunter, The Stool Pigeon, and Viva Riva!

Brent McKnight May 28, 2011

The great thing about the Seattle International Film Festival, and really any big fest, is that you get the chance to see crazy-ass films you might otherwise miss. In that spirit, this installment of...

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[Rec] 2 (2009) Movie Review #2

[Rec] 2 (2009) Movie Review #2

Todd Rigney May 27, 2011

Whenever I’m quizzed about the scariest movies I’ve ever seen, Jaume Balaguero and Paco Plaza’s creepy 2007 effort “[Rec]” is always one of the first pictures I mention. The film managed to violently worm...

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12 Paces Without A Head (2009) Movie Review

12 Paces Without A Head (2009) Movie Review

Brent McKnight May 25, 2011

“12 Paces Without A Head” tells the purportedly true tale of German pirates Klaus Stortebeker (Ronald Zehrfeld) and Godeke Michels (Matthias Schweighofer). The film imagines the story of these folk heroes as a buddy-action-comedy,...

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London Boulevard (2010) Movie Review

London Boulevard (2010) Movie Review

Nix March 21, 2011

“London Boulevard” is from writer/director William Monahan, based on the novel by Ken Bruen. Colin Farrell stars as Mitchell, a recently paroled criminal determined to go straight. Alas, as soon as he’s out the...

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Norwegian Ninja (2010) Movie Review

Norwegian Ninja (2010) Movie Review

James Mudge February 28, 2011

“Norwegian Ninja” is a truly inspired proposition, taking the real life story of Arne Treholt (a former Norwegian social democrat politician and diplomat who in the 1980s was sentenced to 20 years in prison...

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The Troll Hunter (2010) Movie Review

The Troll Hunter (2010) Movie Review

Todd Rigney February 13, 2011

From where I’m seated, it’s going to be extremely hard for anyone to top writer/director André Øvredal’s fascinating faux-documentary “The Troll Hunter”. Even if you absolutely detest the “found footage” genre, this thoroughly imaginative...

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Savage (2009) Movie Review

Savage (2009) Movie Review

James Mudge February 8, 2011

Irish indie production “Savage” marks the debut of writer-director Brian Muldowney, and is basically a “Taxi Driver” style tale of urban ills and revenge, showing a distinctly non-tourist friendly side to the streets of...

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Pelican Blood (2010) Movie Review

Pelican Blood (2010) Movie Review

James Mudge February 3, 2011

Brit-flick “Pelican Blood” is a film pretty obviously aiming for hip cult appeal, attempting to match the not exactly obvious combination of romance, angst, suicide and bird watching. Directed by Karl Golden (“The Honeymooners”,...

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Outcast (2010) Movie Review

Outcast (2010) Movie Review

James Mudge January 15, 2011

Scottish-set horror “Outcast” marks the feature debut of noted television helmer Colm McCarthy, known for his work on popular British series “Spooks”, “The Tudors” and “Murphy’s Law”. Mixing Celtic mysticism and rundown council estates,...

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Amer (2009) Movie Review

Amer (2009) Movie Review

James Mudge January 15, 2011

Although the legendary Dario Argento may be still lingering in an extended career doldrums, fans of old school Italian Giallo films have a treat in store with “Amer”, marking the debut of the co-writing...

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Siege of the Dead (aka Rammbock, 2010) Movie Review

Siege of the Dead (aka Rammbock, 2010) Movie Review

James Mudge November 26, 2010

The current craze for fast running zombies spreads to Germany with “Siege of the Dead”, a.k.a. “Rammbock”, another slice of ghoulish mayhem that marks the debut of writer Benjamin Hessler and director Marvin Kren....

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Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010) Movie Review

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010) Movie Review

James Mudge November 3, 2010

The Finnish “Rare Exports” has been building up some great word of mouth on the festival circuit as a sure fire cult hit, thanks in no small part to an outlandish plot based around...

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Burke and Hare (2010) Movie Review

Burke and Hare (2010) Movie Review

Gazz Ogden November 2, 2010

Simon Pegg, Andy Serkis, John Landis, Isla Fisher and an endless list of other British comedy talent – needless to say, I was rather excited about “Burke and Hare”.  I had my reservations about...

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13 Hours (aka 13 Hrs, 2010) Movie Review

13 Hours (aka 13 Hrs, 2010) Movie Review

Nix October 25, 2010

It’s been a while since I’ve seen a good creature film, and while Jonathan Glendening’s “13 Hours” (also spelled “13 Hrs”) isn’t the best the genre has to offer, it’s still a reasonably entertaining...

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A Serbian Film (2010) Movie Review

A Serbian Film (2010) Movie Review

James Mudge September 19, 2010

Few films have caused as much of a stir as Srdjan Spasojevic’s “A Serbian Film”, with it having whipped up controversy at pretty much every screening on the international festival circuit. Most notably, the...

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22 Bullets (aka L’immortel, 2010) Movie Review

22 Bullets (aka L’immortel, 2010) Movie Review

Nix September 15, 2010

Richard Berry’s French crime film “22 Bullets” (aka L’immortel”) is 80% Jean Reno and 20% brutal violence. If you’re keeping score, that’s not such a bad balance to have in a movie. Set against...

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The Horde (2009) Movie Review No. 2

The Horde (2009) Movie Review No. 2

James Mudge August 29, 2010

The new wave of French horror marches on relentlessly with “The Horde”, a fast paced zombie thriller which marks the debut of writer directors Yannick Dahan and Benjamin Rocher. Having won Best Screenplay and...

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Dead Cert (2010) Movie Review

Dead Cert (2010) Movie Review

James Mudge August 21, 2010

Given the seemingly never ending popularity of the Brit gangster film, it was always inevitable that sooner or later someone would take the next logical step and combine it with the horror genre. “Dead...

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