Dir - Noboru Iguchi
Overall: MEH
Essentially if Lloyd Kaufman and John De Bellow went to Japan and indulged in their natural, non-artistic artistic inclinations, Dead Sushi, (Deddo sushi), would most likely be the result. Written and directed by former adult video filmmaker Noboru Iguchi, (Mutant Girls Squad, Zombie Ass), it is an indulgently silly, messy, juvenile-centered movie where just the title alone spells things out rather plainly. A premise about killer sushi that also features zombies, a talking egg, some of the worst digital effects ever committed to celluloid, random kung-fu break outs, horny businessmen, and a guy who turns himself into a were-tuna is nothing to take serious and is nothing taken seriously by anyone involved. Tone issues not even remotely being a problem then, the film gets to bask in its gross-out goofiness. It is harmlessly dumb and for those looking for something with enough wacky and very exclusively Japanese ingredients on display, this is a logical pit stop to make.
Dir - Nicholas McCarthy
Overall: MEH
The first full-length from writer/director Nicholas McCarthy who is primarily stuck with the horror genre throughout his career thus far, The Pact is an adequately made outing that does not quite overcome its still highly derivative nature. Too many conventional horror hallmarks are overused including but not limited to a blind spiritual medium, internet research, nightmare sequences, a makeshift Ouija board meant to be a very serious/no going back tool for communicating with the dead, faulty electricity, cameras catching supernatural phenomena, a woman that no one believes, and just about every single last frightening nuance being accompanied by a sudden and loud noise on the soundtrack. While the comic relief is nil, the film's trite components get overwhelming enough that it dips its toes unintentionally into cornball terrain anyway. McCarthy's clearly a fan of the genre as he pulls no punches in adhering so closely to it, though this is precisely the problem as the movie has not a solitary chance of rising above any other mediocre film so similar to it.
Dir - Sam Fell/Chris Buttler
Overall: GOOD
This collaboration between English filmmakers/animators Sam Fell and Chris Buttler is yet another generally fun horror film aimed at both parents and children in equal measures. Starting off with a deliberate "Feature Presentation" ode to grindhouse cinema and going the stop-motion route instead of being exclusively constructed on computers, ParaNorman takes some retro approaches without succumbing to straight throwback nostalgics. This is a plus. Even though the computer and practical animation hybrid still feels too clean and has that unfortunate, over-digitized smoothness, it also has that grounded and weighty quality that shooting actual objects with actual cameras brings to stop-motion. As far as the story goes, it is plenty moving and has a rather singular theme of unchecked fear resulting in regrettable actions with painful consequences. This never becomes too heavy-handed though as the visual aesthetics remain engaging and the predictable yet effective narrative is highly user-friendly to follow. The only downside is that much of the humor falls flat and certain scenes hit a brick wall because of it. Things never stumble for too long though and there are enough redeemable qualities to enjoy.
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