Review: Exam

Let me start by saying that Exam has probably one of the most unique yet, cliché movies I’ve seen in a while. The story is simple: Eight job applicants in a sealed room are given instructions to answer a discerning question which may lead them to the job of their lives. Handed blank exams they are to answer the question. When one applicant attempts to answer the question, she is ejected. With one down and seven left, they must now see what it takes to figure out the question for the answer.

These indie films these days are getting a lot of attention. As per last one of the previous movies, May. Exam is essentially a Saw concept with much less violence and much less blood and defiantly 100% less Danny Glover. This is a very sharp little movie that really brings into perspective of, how far are you willing to go for the answer.

The movie starts with all the main applicants as racial melting pot. Stuard Hazeldine is quick to establish each of the motives by assigning each of the applicants, minus the initial rejected applicant, a personality. There’s the smooth talking womanizer named “White”, the seemingly scientifically intelligent “Black”, the risk taking gambler “Brown”, the Frenchmen “Deaf”, the book smart “Dark”, the timd and shy “Blonde”, and the cross dresser (hey it’s the voice!) “Brunette”. Reason being is the applicants thought it be best to keep their names discreet through the process. This idea was executed perfectly in “Reservoir Dogs” and is equally effective here as well.

When you throw all those personalities in one room to answer and unknown question, you get an interesting result. White, played by Luke Mably, turns in a stellar performance by taking charge in the beginning by pushing the boundaries of the rules instigated by the Invigilator. The film’s premise revolves around this group of people who sees what they can or can’t do about the rules and ultimately tries to eliminate each other from the potential position while at the same time testing each other’s breaking point.

Exam is yet another high quality independent film that combines both the stresses of movies like “Saw” with the survivalist instincts of the reality show “Survivor” but with none of either of the flaws.


Netflix Rating Prediction: 3.7
My Rating: 4/5

Review: [REC]

[REC] is a movie that stars Angela(Manuela Velasco), a reporter tasked with following a group of firefighters with her cameraman Pablo(Pablo Rosso) to see what it’s like in a life of a firefighter. On a regular emergency call to an apartment building leads to some unexpected run-ins with the undead variety. Soon after the first encounter, the residents to the apartment as well as the firefighter officials and police find themselves trapped in the ticking time bomb of zombies by the government. Filmed from only the camera man’s perspective, it automatically show’s it’s Shaky Cam view.

Does that sound familiar any? It should, as 2008’s Quarantine(Dowdle) was based off this 2007 international film. The difference here is that [REC] seems to pull off the horror genre quite well. I think the biggest draw to [REC] is that it is filmed with Spanish as the primary language with English(or whichever other country) subtitles. The fast paced, dramatic language lends itself quite well to this genre of horror. In typical shaky cam movies I find that it is difficult to maintain momentum during the fast parts because of the slower language barrier, whereas with the Spanish language, it really has a good sense of urgency.

While the initial story presented seems a bit simple and straightforward, there is a whole other layer of story that, unfortunately presented at the end of the film, could have been more elaborated on. Stuff about the girl presented in the film being more than innocent as well as her roots tracing all the way to the Vatican and the Holy Church. It feels like this whole other story was to be meant as an ARG(Alternate Reality Game look them up) or something. It would be more effecive I think for this whole meta story to be placed through the movie rather than at the end.

That being said, [REC] is probably one of the best horror movie I’ve seen in quite some time. Though I have to give it a lower score just because of the pop scares that really get old fast, but I have to concede that other than that, the movie has really has no other methods of doing what it does best. The bottom line is this: Is this movie good? Answer? Yes. It is pretty good.

Netflix Rating Prediction: 4/5

My Rating: 4/5

Review: May

First let me start off by saying that this movie is very creepy. If you’re easily creeped out by dolls with blank faces, or easily disturbed by stalker-ish personas, you can stop reading here. Go on. Are they gone yet? Okay.

This is a pretty confusing movie. There seems to be several different themes going on in the movie. Bits of humor, horror, thriller are strewn through the movie. Overall the film is pretty dark in it’s execution. For the most part this is not a horror movie. But it is at the same time.

The story is about May(Angela Bettis), a girl who never got the good end of life. Being a new kid in school is hard, but being diagnosed with lazy eye at a young age didn’t help her social life either. One of her birthdays she was given a doll as a gift. But being that things never worked out for her, she never was allowed to play with the doll either. Kind of like a play-with-your-eyes, not-your-hands attitude. Fast-forward to 17-18 year old May where her social skills haven’t, lets say leveled up yet and her best friend is still the doll that her parents gave her. Being a healthy young adult she finds herself with a crush on a boy named Adam (Jeremy Sisto) and with no ability to talk let alone make eye contact with him, their relationship has an unusual start. Maybe it was the part where she puts her chin on his hand in a coffee shop when he was taking a nap.

The movie really picks up the pace in creep factor around the 40-minute mark. While not to spoil too much lets just say May and Adam have a brush with some “cannibalistic” tendencies to which Adam freaks out a little nor is not pleased with.

Then there’s a weird scene where May decides to help out at the local daycare center. Her real motivation isn’t exactly revealed as to why she does that but hey, part of that indie like feel right?

It’s very clear that even through May’s trials and tribulations of lack of social life, the central focus is around the doll that was given to her. The glass keeps breaking around the case of the doll that represents some form of oppression that’s stopping her from her life. When the case is broken, her will to live pretty much goes bye bye and whatever life she had left goes downhill.

There’s something to be said about horror movies in this era of scary movies. May brings things down to perspective in horror films by not needing any monsters, aliens or ghosts. While Writer/Director Lucky McKee has something interesting here, it’s just not my cup of horror tea. If I had to sum it up in one sentence, it would be that May a good old-fashioned creep fest by a socially awkward girl who grew up with no friends with a splash of dark comedy for good measure.

Netflix Rating Prediction: 3.5/5

My Rating: 2/5

Review: TiMER

In this day and age of internet matchmaking and speed dating, it's actually surprising that no one's really tackled the subject, and with just reason. Dating can be a very touchy subject and while for some it may be as easy as waking up, some may find it a little more daunting. TiMER attempts to put a spin on the whole dating website concept by nailing it down to an actual biological science.

In the not to distant, but mostly present future, scientists have found out what sciences that happen when two soul mates meet. Implanted with a timer, it will start counting down to when you will meet the person that you will spend the rest of your life with. Unfortunately for Oona (Emma Caulfield), she is nearing her 30th birthday and her timer hasn't started to countdown yet. While I don't really like throwing the word around, Director/Writer Jac Schaeffer really has something indie yet still have the makings of a romantic comedy at the same time, unlike some of the more recent films in this category. Plus, it's got Emma Caufield of Buffy!

Steph (Michelle Borth) plays a great role of the not caring, non-commital stepsister. And why wouldn't you? Working two jobs, one being with seniors all day long and then a bar waitress at night, there's bound to be a few screws loose. Her character is oddly set up as a girl who is willing to look the other way, but only for guys that have been timer equipped. Since her timer hasn't started ticking either, she decides to throw the rulebooks away and go after guys with a timer. Maybe that's why she works two jobs...

Without going further in spoilers, this 2009 comedy seems to hit all the clique romantic points and yet it still manages to have a fresh take on the comedy itself while also maintaining a few plot twists of it's own. If all else, this is the perfect rent-on-a-date movie.

Netflix Rating Prediction: 3.7/5

My Rating: 4/5