Hey folks, Harry here... Seems like we've been waiting forever to get a look at CUBE II: HYPERCUBE here in the States, but alas it has yet to arrive. As for THE SECOND NAME, I saw it at Sitges under the title EL SEGUNDO NOMBRE, and really kind of enjoyed it. Though I think I was enjoying it more for the details about the sect known as the Abrahamites... There aren't nearly enough CULT movies... meaning movies with actual CULTS in them, not weird films that just a few people love... there's tons of those. Anyway, here's Lonewolf with more from Brussels...
Lonewolf here again Harry with a bit more stuff from sunny Brussels.
Couldn't make the Saturday night showings due to prior commitments, but it was only (!!) Daredevil which opens here in a couple of weeks, so I can wait a bit to see Jennifer Garner in leather... Oh, hold on...
EL SEGUNDO NOMBRE
Sunday night sees a Spanish production of 'Second Name', based on the novel by Ramsey Cambell (generally a more cereberal horror writer, worth checking out). It's the first feture by Paco Plaza and is made with a British cast. Basically it is the story of a young woman (played by the oddly attractive Erica Prior) who's mother is in a mental institution and who's father has just killed himself. Something bothers her about his death, maybe the fact that his body is dug up shortly after the funeral and peirced with large wodden stakes. She must then search for the truth. Dumdumdum....
Certainly not a classic. The debt owed to Polanski and especially Rosmary's Baby, is huge. Strange sects, religious secrets, nobody is quite what they seem... Bla, bla, bla. A couple of reasonable moments (the discovery of the body for example) but some of the acting is truly horrible. (I mean, there are two security guards at an office building and they have the acting ability of a piece of wood. Or Kevin Costner these days...). Bit of a yawn really and you can see the 'twist' coming a mile off.
Next was Star Trek : Nemisis which I took a rain check on as I need to eat sometime. I did see people going in in Federation uniforms which is a bit frightening....
CUBE II: HYPERCUBE
22.30, time for Cube II : Hypercube. I had loved the first one (death by cheesewire is always fun). And was not sure what to expect with the second installment. And you know what? It was not that bad. Big mistake showing what was going on outside, that kills some of the mystery and is better left to the imagination. But while the story does not hit you as being as original now that you know the basic plot (people awake in a room with a door in each wall and die nasty deaths), the acting is much better and the introduction of extra dimensions is quite nicely handled. Some humour here and there and a nice visual feel to it (the director was Tarantino's DP for Pulp Fiction...). But I think this has been out for ages in the States and so won't spend too much time on it now. If you get a chance, worth a watch, a fun way to spend 90 minutes.
Anyway, today the competion proper starts, and I will try and drop you aline every now and then. In general I'd say it's off to a pretty good start. The audience are always fun, applauding each death, making kissing sounds when appropriate, shouting 'don't go in there'... Good atmospere, I would recommend it.
Must go now, 'They're watching us' awaits....
btw, talkbackers, Ellroy. is. one. of. my. favourite. writers.
