Born Skeptic

Whodunnit, Mar 6 2004

The movie is off to a brilliant start. A serial killer is being given a last minute review of his death sentence (insanity plea) even as 10 people find themselves in a motel where they are being killed one by one. The psychiatrist is arguing the serial killers case. Meanwhile, the people in the motel discover that people are being killed according to their motel room numbers. They are all very different, a soap opera star, a chauffeur, a call girl, a cop, but they all have one thing in common. They were all born on the 10th of may. Who is killing them? One of them? The spirits of Ancient Indians on whose burial ground the hotel is built? The serial killer? Are these people seemingly normal… Read more

What would horror movies be without dumb american teenagers?, Mar 6 2004

This has all the elements of a classic B grade horror movie. American teenagers, a ditzy cheerleader who suddenly becomes psychic, a monster who looks like Freddy Kruger in a phantom of opera costume (called the Creeper, though he ought to be called the eater), albeit with bat wings who keeps coming back to life, a lot of screaming, and a lone ranger (accompanied by kid) who is determined to seek revenge against the monster.

It starts with a quick kill by the monster who flies away with a young blonde kid as his father, brother and cowardly dog watch. Then, we have a bunch of insufferable football players who are travelling in a school bus down a corn field lined road. (Nebraska? Kansas?)… Read more

Every American stereotype in bold relief., Mar 6 2004

You have seen this movie before. No really. You have. Maybe in different movies, but you have seen it. Every cheesy stereotype that typically is part of the Hollywood film experience is here and you will groan in recognition. The rebellious protagonist, the tough single mom, the insufferable, paper pushing boss, the team of people that no one believes in who prove themselves in the end, the evil foreigner and oh, the weak link in the group who betrays them. The only stereotype missing is the Jewish best friend. Even the dialogues are full of what the script writer thought were smart one liners. The action scenes are slick and the movie moves along at a fair clip, but you've seen it all… Read more