Review- Twin Peaks: The Return (2017)

 

by Armando Vanegas

Shows that come back from a long hiatus can be tricky because you don’t know how it will be perceived and it’s hard to know if it will have the same impact that it did with viewers from years ago. The other thing to consider is that people change and as a result, feelings and sensibilities change. This seems to be a big part of what co-creators David Lynch and Mark Frost were aware of coming into this new season of Twin Peaks, also known as Twin Peaks: The Return, as it seems to have a somewhat different feel from the original series. Whereas the old show contained lots of intentional soap opera satirical aesthetics, these new episodes have a more experimental and esoteric feel that is more fitting on its new premium cable home, Showtime. As usual with any David Lynch project, you’re not going to be given simple answers and satisfying conclusions. As long as you’re okay with that going in, you’re bound get something out of this. It’s not exactly a fun watch, but it gives you something to chew on even if it can be hard to wrap your head around at times thanks to the trademark surrealism on display.

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Review – Another WolfCop (2018)

Sequels are a disease…..meet the cure! Logan Myerz reviews the sequel film Another WolfCop that is now available on Blu-Ray, DVD, and Digital HD.

Check out our full interview with director Lowell Dean and actor Leo Fafard.

https://cinephellas.com/2018/07/05/another-wolfcop-interview-with-lowell-dean-and-leo-fafard/

“Alcoholic werewolf cop Lou Garou springs into action when an eccentric businessman with evil intentions seduces Woodhaven’s residents with a new brewery and hockey team in this outrageous horror-comedy sequel.”

Another Wolfcop – Interview with Lowell Dean and Leo Fafard

by Logan Myerz

When it comes to sequels, especially in the horror genre, the second installment can either make or break the franchise. There have been many films that surpass the original in many ways, such as Evil Dead 2, The Conjuring 2, and even Aliens. And many films that killed off the franchise before it really took off, such as Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows. As a filmmaker, it’s a chance you take to continue with the storyline and capturing what happens to the characters in the next chapter.  Do they live or do they die? More importantly, does the sequel capture the chemistry and tones that made the original movie so compelling?

I had the chance to interview the director, Lowell Dean, and the alcoholic werewolf himself, Leo Fafard, about Another Wolfcop, the sequel to the 2014 underground smash hit Wolfcop. With a title like this and the films poster (a take on Sly Stallone’s Cobra), you know you’re in for some laughs, thrills, and a downright good time. Another Wolfcop is a sequel film that I’ve been awaiting since the original and can honestly say I enjoyed it more than the first movie. Today, I spoke with Lowell Dean about the continuation in this franchise, the challenges, and the process of making a sequel film.  And with Leo, I found out what it’s like playing a werewolf, being doused in buckets of blood, and being banned from the U.S.

Sequels are a disease…..meet the cure!

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Review – Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)

Logan Myerz reviews the 5th entry in the Jurassic Park franchise, Jurassic World : Fallen Kingdom.

“Four years after the Jurassic World theme park was closed down, Owen and Claire return to Isla Nublar to save the dinosaurs when they learn that a once dormant volcano on the island is active and is threatening to extinguish all life there. Along the way, Owen sets out to find Blue, his lead raptor, and discovers a conspiracy that could disrupt the natural order of the entire planet. Life has found a way, again.”

Review – Twin Peaks (Seasons 1 + 2)

by Armando Vanegas

Twin Peaks had to be interesting to see back in 1990. It was at a time when TV largely stayed in their lanes and never threatened to disturb the status quo. But that’s what happens when you get David Lynch, then of Blue Velvet and Wild at Heart, have the audacity to condescend to TV and bring his weird brand of black lodges and dancing little people in small red rooms with striped floors. For a few years now, I’ve been attempting to experience this show and see what makes it special. After all the hype, I heard about the latest revival by Showtime from last summer, I wanted to review the first two seasons and share some thoughts as someone who was completely new to it and was totally out of the loop as this show was way before my time. I also wanted to give it a chance as it’s considered a pioneer of Peak TV and David Lynch has made things that I’ve liked in the past, so I wanted to see what his vision would look like if it was contained in a network TV show.

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Review – The Week Of (2018)

by Nile Fortner

Adam Sandler and Chris Rock star in the Netflix Original film The Week Of which reunites the two former Saturday Night Live mega-stars. This is a movie coming from Adam Sandler and it’s part of Sandler’s eight-picture deal with Netflix.

Adam Sandler’s eight-picture deal with Netflix has been mostly negative with the exception of The Meyerowitz Stories, where Adam Sandler shines along with his co-stars Ben Stiller, Emma Thompson, and Dustin Hoffman. The Meyerowitz Stories showed viewers that Sandler has range as an actor and can show us a new side that we do not see very often. It took Sandler out of his comfort zone and away from the mediocre to just straight-up bad material that we’ve been getting from him over the last few years. Unfortunately, The Week Of is Sandler going back to his comfort zone and bad material.

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The Last Witness – Interview with Piotr Szkopiak

Who Gets to Call it History?

Director Piotr Szkopiak Talks Justice, Katyn, and The Last Witness

Director Piotr Szkopiak on the set of The Last Witness

Photo courtesy of Momentum Pictures

 

By Christopher M. Rzigalinski

History is written by the victors and those with power. Significant events in the lives of ordinary citizens often go missing from news reports, calendars, and textbooks. But May 11th, 2018 was a monumental date. The Last Witness, Polish-Anglo writer and director Piotr Szkopiak’s second film, opened in Poland that day. Red carpet arrivals and press coverage mattered little compared to the importance of Szkopiak’s mother being present to watch the film.

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