Review: Hell House LLC III: Lake of Fire

The Hell House LLC franchise has delivered some pretty solid thrills since writer/director Stephen Cognetti quietly launched it back in 2015. Sure, we'd seen found footage and faux documentaries before, but Cognetti and company crafted effective chills, especially in the inaugural outing.

Last year's sequel was good, but lost some of its lustre due to obvious acting. I know everyone is acting in these found-footage movies, but the less I'm aware of that fact -- ie, good acting -- the better the overall impact.

The final film in the series hit Shudder yesterday, and it's an entertaining piece of work. Cognetti continues to expand on the mythology of the Abaddon Hotel, creating one of the more interesting horror backstories in recent years. And the performances are generally better this time around.

If Hell House LLC III has a flaw, it's how ambitious the movie is. Cognetti is trying too hard to wrap things up neatly, and creates a pretty explosive climax that doesn't quite work, largely due to budget constraints. He also inserts footage from the previous films into this one at key moments. This pulled me out of the action, instead of enhancing it.

So yeah, I had fun watching Lake of Fire, and even recommend it to fans, but I didn't dig it enough to go back and watch it again. That means it's a Bad. The first entry is still the strongest, and I encourage fans to check it out this Halloween season.

Comments

#CocktailHour: Slushtail

Summer approaches, inspiring thoughts of sunshine, backyard parties, and having a tip and sip with friends. With that in mind, I bring you this week sunny beverage. To make a slushtail, mix a can of frozen orange juice, a can of frozen lemonade (or limeade), a can of pineapple juice, a couple cups of black tea (or English Breakfast), and two cups of bourbon- such as Southern Comfort, in a pitcher. When it's all nicely mixed, put it in the freezer until it's a nice slushy consistency. Scoop the slush into a cocktail glass, and pour in some Sprite or 7-Up. Add a little umbrella for some frivolous fun, and a straw. Voila! Ready to enjoy. This is a very refreshing drink. The fruit juices, Sprite, and bourbon- when chilled makes for a great punch-like drink. The bourbon doesn't overwhelm juices. In fact, they are all nicely balanced in terms of flavors. The sourness of the citrus fruits contrasts well with the slightly sweeter Sout...

Unlock your fate with The Puzzle

When my dad wasn't working, building stuff or being my dad, he was making puzzles. It was a guaranteed way for him to unwind. So it was with great interest that I sat down to watch Italian filmmaker Davide Melini's award-winning short The Puzzle. You see, the mother in the five-minute film likes to relax with puzzles just like my dad. Unfortunately, her good-for-nothing son keeps harassing her for money. Losing herself in her favourite passtime, the mother soon discovers that completing this puzzle might unlock a nightmare. The Puzzle has been an official selection at more European film festivals than you can shake a stick at, and was voted Third Best Italian Film at the Rome International Film Festival in 2008. Having watched it, I'm not surprised. It's a tight little film that hits you hard in the final few seconds. You can tell Melini cut his teeth as an assistant director for legendary Italian filmmaker Dario Argento. But enough chit chat on my part. See if yo...

The Animated Addict: "The Adventures of Tintin" (2011)

If you're a 40 + white dude, like myself, you may remember a comic series called " The Adventures of Tintin ". I know I remember them. This series, dating back to 1929, got turned into a animated feature film by Steven Spielberg in 2011. After buying a model of ship called The Unicorn, teenaged journalist Tintin finds himself on adventure that will take him from the high seas, to the low deserts, and from the distant past to the present. With his trusty dog, Snowy, by his side, Tintin uncovers a story connecting two men across the centuries.. . The story is really quite good. It's well crafted, and high paced- with just enough slow moments to build and develop the world and the characters. This is the sort of adventure story you'd find in the old serials of the 1930's and '40's. In fact, it felt like it was the sort of tale that you'd find Indiana Jones undertaking. I found myself swept up, and swept along as our hero swung from one e...

Search This Blog