Sarah's Movie Reviews

Pokemon: Destiny Deoxys (2004)

Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys is a 2004 Japanese anime film directed by Kunihiko Yuyama. It is the seventh film in the Pokémon series and the second film released under Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation in Japan. The film stars the voices of Rica Matsumoto, Ikue Otani, Yuji Ueda, Kaori, Fushigi Yamada, Noriko Hidaka, Koichi Yamadera, Susumu Chiba, Kenji Nojima, and Becky. The events of the film take place during the seventh season of Pokémon: Advanced Challenge.

The film was released on July 17, 2004, in Japan. The English adaptation was produced by 4Kids Entertainment and distributed by Miramax Films and debuted on Kids’ WB on January 22, 2005.

The ending theme for the Japanese version is “Lovely (Yumemiru Lovely Boy)” (L•O•V•E•L•Y～夢見るLOVELY BOY～, “Lovely: Dream-Seeing Lovely Boy”) by Tomoko Kawase under her alias Tommy February6 while the English version is titled “This Side of Paradise” by Bree Sharp.
via Wikipedia

Again we have our quartet of Ash, Brock, May, and Max, this time their new friend is a child named Tori who is afraid of pokemon. This is explained in a flashback of Rayquaza fighting off a Deoxys in the introduction.

This happens again as a plot point, but this time the local populace is slightly more prepared for this event, as are our heroes.

Rayquaza is another one of my favorite pokemon, just the idea of a giant wyrm floating around in the ozone is interesting to me.

I also liked the city this takes place in, full of interesting technology and a Munchlax the literally takes the cake. There’s not much else to say here, it’s your standard fun pokemon flick that is age appropriate.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★

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Pokemon 4Ever (2001)

Pokémon 4Ever is a 2001 Japanese anime film directed by Kunihiko Yuyama and based on the television series Pokémon. The fourth official Pokémon film, it was released in Japan on July 7, 2001. The film was directed in Japan by Kunihiko Yuyama and written by Hideki Sonoda. It stars the regular television cast of Rica Matsumoto, Ikue Ōtani, Mayumi Iizuka, Yūji Ueda, Megumi Hayashibara and Shin-ichiro Miki. The events of the film take place during Pokémon: Johto League Champions.

The English adaptation of the film was released on October 11, 2002, in the United States, produced by 4Kids Entertainment and distributed by then-Disney subsidiary Miramax Films, which would take over from Warner Bros. starting with this film. The English dub was directed by Jim Malone, and written by Norman J. Grossfeld. The English adaptation stars the regular television cast: Veronica Taylor, Eric Stuart, Rachael Lillis and Maddie Blaustein.
via Wikipedia

We have the same colorful characters from the previous film: Ash, Brock, May, and Max, and this time we meet a new friend that’s actually an old friend: Sammy. And the main legendary of this film is Celebi, the voice of the forest; with a special cameo from Suicune (one of my favorite pokemon <3).

The antagonists here are the pokemon hunters that trap and capture pokemon for profit, not caring if the pokemon suffer in the process or not.

However, Celebi can time travel, so it escapes the pokemon hunter… for now.

Another fun, fascinating trip through the world of Pokemon with Ash and his friends, meeting new pokemon and saving the day yet again. These movies have all the same plot mechanics, but it still somehow works out entertaining nonetheless.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★

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Pokemon Heroes: The Movie (2002)

Pokémon Heroes (formerly titled Pokémon Heroes: The Movie) is a 2002 Japanese animated fantasy film, the fifth in the Pokémon series, the first to use digital ink and paint, the last to receive a North American theatrical release until Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!, and the last to feature the main cast from the first five seasons until the CGI remake of the first Pokémon movie. Directed by Kunihiko Yuyama and produced by OLM, Inc., the film stars the regular television cast of Rica Matsumoto, Yuji Ueda, Mayumi Iizuka, Megumi Hayashibara, Shin-ichiro Miki and Ikue Ōtani. The English adaptation was produced by 4Kids Entertainment and distributed by Miramax Films and was released in the United States on May 16, 2003. The English version stars the regular television cast of Veronica Taylor, Eric Stuart, Rachael Lillis and Maddie Blaustein. The events of the film take place during the fifth season of the Pokémon anime.

Pokémon Heroes focuses on the main characters, Ash, Misty and Brock, continuing their journey through the Johto region; the main location of the film is based on Venice, Italy. The name given to the city in the film is Alto Mare, meaning “high sea” in the Italian language. Although it is part of the group’s adventure in Johto, the film takes place on an island off of the mainland.

Optimum Home Entertainment re-released the movie on DVD in the UK on May 9, 2011. StudioCanal released the film along with Pokémon 4Ever on Blu-ray in the UK as a double feature pack on April 2, 2012, just one day before Pokémon the Movie: Black—Victini and Reshiram and White—Victini and Zekrom came out on DVD on April 3, 2012. Echo Bridge Home Entertainment released the film on Blu-ray in the United States along with Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys on May 15, 2011.
via Wikipedia

It’s pretty easy to find this movie all over the place. There are several videos on YouTube that feature clips and even the entire movie if you’re looking in the right places. I picked it up in a low priced movie bin with three other Pokemon movies in the set.

This is the Latios and Latias movie, it is one of the earlier movies as it Ash is still traveling with Brock, but May and her little brother are now tagging along instead of Misty. It’s the straightforward plot of the bad guys doing bad things, Team Rocket introducing some comic relief, and new friends step up to stop the bad guys doing bad things.

It is pretty cute that Latias is able to shape shift into a girl about Ash’s age and make him blush a little. It was freakin’ adorable.

Honestly nothing bad to say here, it’s Pokemon!

My Rating: ★ ★ ★

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Annabelle Comes Home (2019)

Annabelle Comes Home is a 2019 American supernatural horror film written and directed by Gary Dauberman, in his directorial debut, from a story by Dauberman and James Wan, who also served as producer with Peter Safran. It serves as a sequel to 2014’s Annabelle and 2017’s Annabelle: Creation, and as the sixth installment in The Conjuring Universe franchise. The film stars Mckenna Grace, Madison Iseman, and Katie Sarife, along with Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, who reprise their roles as Ed and Lorraine Warren.

In early April 2018, Warner Bros. Pictures announced that a then-untitled film in The Conjuring Universe franchise would be released on July 3, 2019. Later that month, it was announced that the film would be another installment in the Annabelle series, with Dauberman signed on to write and direct the film in his directorial debut, based on a story treatment written by Dauberman and Wan. Principal photography commenced by mid-October and officially wrapped in December 2018 in Los Angeles.

Annabelle Comes Home was theatrically released in the United States on June 26, 2019, by Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema. It grossed over $231 million worldwide and received mixed reviews from critics.
via Wikipedia

I think this might be my favorite movie from the Annabelle storyline. We are at a point in the storyline where we know what the doll is, what it can do, and how dangerous it can really be. We also get a sneak peak into the Warrens’ home life and what their collection of objects is starting to look like.

I watched some of the behind the scenes footage for this movie and it really helped me to see some more of the details I had missed from watching it through. Because of all the objects in the Warrens’ collection this isn’t just you average Annabelle movie, other specters get involved. It’s fun.

The scenario is the Warrens’ are away for the night and left their daughter in the care of her teenaged babysitter. Well, the babysitter’s friend crashes the babysitting, trying to find answers for her own grief. The babysitter’s love interest also shows up, and apart from the daughter, he is one of my favorite characters in this movie.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

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Annabelle (2014)

Annabelle is a 2014 American supernatural horror film directed by John R. Leonetti, written by Gary Dauberman and produced by Peter Safran and James Wan. It stars Annabelle Wallis, Ward Horton, and Alfre Woodard. Principal photography began in January 2014 in Los Angeles. It premiered at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on September 29, 2014, and was theatrically released in the United States on October 3, 2014, by Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema.

The film was inspired by a story of a doll named Annabelle by Ed and Lorraine Warren. It is a spin-off and prequel to the 2013 film The Conjuring, and was announced shortly after the release of that movie, due to to its worldwide box office success and positive reception of the depiction of the doll.

Annabelle received negative reviews from critics, with many feeling the film was inferior to its predecessor, but it was praised for its atmosphere. It was a major box office success, grossing over $257 million against its $6.5 million production budget. A prequel, titled Annabelle: Creation, was released on August 11, 2017. A sequel, titled Annabelle Comes Home, was released on June 26, 2019.
via Wikipedia

I find it interesting that the Annabelle movies never touch on the story of the two college students, the event that brought Annabelle to the Warrens in the first place. We only see it briefly in this movie, and again as a part of Annabelle: Comes Home.

This movie was the first to be made, but chronologically it is the second event in the doll’s story. “Creation” is the beginning, the doll’s assembly by the toy maker. Then “Annabelle” is added to a doll collection as part of a nursery for young couple’s baby.

And if you’re aware of what happens afterward, well the haunted doll does it’s thing. Which is in keeping with the overall theme of these movies and the mechanics they set up for how Annabelle operates.

My Rating: ★★★★

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The Slumber Party Massacre (19

The Slumber Party Massacre (also known as The Slumber Party Murders in the United Kingdom) is a 1982 American slasher film directed by Amy Holden Jones and written by Rita Mae Brown. It is the first installment in the Slumber Party Massacre series, and stars Michelle Michaels, Robin Stille, and Michael Villella. The film follows a high school senior who gathers her friends for a slumber party, unaware that an escaped power drill-wielding killer is loose in the neighborhood.

The film was originally written by Brown as a parody of the slasher genre but was shot as a straightforward horror film instead. As a result, it contains more humor, both intended and unintended, than usual for the genre at the time.

The Slumber Party Massacre grossed $3.6 million at the box office on a budget of $220,000, and received mixed reviews from critics. Despite the reception, it has obtained a large cult following since its release. Two direct sequels, Slumber Party Massacre II and Slumber Party Massacre III, followed in 1987 and 1990, respectively, with a fourth film following in 2021. Two spin-off film series forming a wider Massacre franchise were also produced: the Sorority House Massacre trilogy (1986–1990), and the Cheerleader Massacre films (2003–2011), the first film of the latter series having been filmed as Slumber Party Massacre 4 before being renamed.
via Wikipedia

This film was recommended as part of a 50 Best Horror Movies You’ve Never Seen list, and there will be more movies from this list coming along later, but for now that’s how I ended up watching this one. I did not realize going in that it had three sequels and a cult following.

However, I love the idea that this whole things started out as a parody of serious slasher films and I love it for that alone. The gratuitous naked shower scene is quite eye roll inducing, along with the semi-naked pajama party goers, the ostracized new girl who lives (because that’s how it goes, no spoilers here), the sex-starved high school boys who try to be heroes, and the ill-explained serial killer with a power tool.

Honestly, it’s fun to poke fun at this one, and I’m here for it.

My Rating: ★★★

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Older Gods (2023)

After the disappearance of his troubled friend, American Chris Rivers travels to the remote Welsh countryside to investigate what happened – leading him to a dark apocalyptic cult.
via OlderGodsMovie.com

I truly appreciated the Lovecraftian feel throughout this entire movie.

I appreciated the introspective look into grief and the loss of a friendship that had grown distant.

I appreciated the trip into existentialism.

I appreciated the conclusion of the film.

Okay I haven’t watched too many Lovecraft inspired films at all, and I’ve read nearly all of H. P. Lovecraft’s written works. For one of my first forays into horror films of this type I did appreciate the dark, creeping terror the builds throughout the movie. I loved that it is very British. I just really enjoyed this movie more than I thought I was going to.

The main character’s friend is found dead of apparent suicide and he feels guilty so he takes it upon himself to do some digging into what his friend was doing. Oh, and his wife is pregnant and close to her due date while all of this is going on. He (Chris), listens as his friend narrates the first third of the movie, while trying to process his grief.

Well, it soon takes a very dark turn from there. Not just for Chris’ grief either.

My Rating: ★★★

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House on Haunted Hill (1959)

House on Haunted Hill is a 1959 American supernatural horror film produced and directed by William Castle, written by Robb White and starring Vincent Price, Carol Ohmart, Richard Long, Alan Marshal, Carolyn Craig and Elisha Cook Jr. Price plays an eccentric millionaire, Frederick Loren, who, along with his wife Annabelle, has invited five people to the house for a “haunted house” party. Whoever stays in the house for one night will earn $10,000. As the night progresses, the guests are trapped within the house with an assortment of terrors. This film is perhaps best known for its promotional gimmick Emergo.

The film uses many props used in carnival haunted houses to generate fear and terror. The film is in the public domain.
via Wikipedia

I’ve seen this movie several times now and I very much enjoy it. Vincent Price is a treasure and everyone needs to know this. As this movie is in the public domain it is very easy to find and I highly recommend it just for Vincent Price alone.

The plot is actually pretty good though, it takes a bit of guess work but it is fairly easy to work out. It’s the trope of an eccentric millionaire trapping guests overnight in a haunted house for money. But it’s not that simple, their host offers them handguns as party favors. Yikes.

If you want the movie to be more enjoyable, do not look up who or what Emergo is. It spoils the ending.

My Rating: ★★★★

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Nine Miles Down (2009)

Nine Miles Down is a 2009 horror film based on the Well to Hell, a widespread urban legend (spread mostly in the 1990s) that Russian scientists had drilled so deep that they had broken through into hell and recorded the screams of the damned emanating from the borehole. It was the last feature film credit for writer Everett de Roche. It is an international co-production between the UK, Hungary, and the US.
via Wikipedia

I have to be honest with this one, it wasn’t my cup of tea. It was really difficult to follow and I’m not sure I even understand how this ended. It’s not even really about the Well to Hell, though I have enjoyed other movies based on this Urban Legend, it’s about what supposedly came out of the Well to Hell.

Which was an entity.

Maybe.

It could all be just part of psychological breakdown created by a noxious gas that came out of the pit.

Who knows?

Jack goes out to investigate the pit and what happened to the scientists there and finds JC. JC is not listed because they are a woman and women weren’t allowed at the pit so they hid her on the roster. Well, okay fine I guess. Weird but okay. So why is she the only survivor? And why is she so hot they have to get it on halfway through the movie? And then what the hell happened? Okay the place is contagious and needs to be quarantined and JC and Jack are in the hospital now.

And then…. ?

My Rating: ★★

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The Bad Seed (1956)

The Bad Seed is a 1956 American psychological thriller film directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Nancy Kelly, Patty McCormack, Henry Jones and Eileen Heckart.

The film is based upon the 1954 play of the same name by Maxwell Anderson, which in turn is based upon William March’s 1954 novel of the same name. The screenplay was written by John Lee Mahin.

Without giving too much away, this movie takes on the topic of “are serial killer tendencies genetically passed on from parent to child”. A different take on the nature versus nurture debate of child rearing. Though there are several points worth arguing about throughout the movie, such as “if nature was the answer why did it skip a generation?” and if it was nurture, what happened?

The whole movie revolves around a little girl named Rhoda and her mother Christine. Monica is their upstairs neighbor and landlady, and Leroy the handyman. Let’s just say that Rhoda acts a bit older than her age and is praised for it.

Honestly, this movie was done very well, from book to stage to screen even if it was in the 1950s when there wasn’t a lot in the way of special effects and many events happened off screen. This movie has been remade a few times since, once for TV and twice more as a movie.

My Rating: ★★★