Dead Within (2014)

Number Rolled: 30

Movie Name/Year: Dead Within (2014)

Genre: Horror

Length: 82 minutes

Rating: NR

Production Companies: 3:41am, This is Just a Test Productions

Executive Producer: Peter James Cooper, Aengus James, Colin King Miller, Gregory R. Schenz

Director: Ben Wagner

Writer: Matthew Bradford, Dean Chekvala, Amy Cale Peterson, Ben Wagner

Actors: Dean Chekvala, J. Claude Deering, Rick Federman, Sarah McMaster, Amy Cale Peterson

There was an outbreak six months back. Mike and Kim have managed to survive by barricading themselves in a cabin. As time goes on, they are forced to spend more and more time apart as Mike has to search further and further away for food.

I believe the only reason this movie got shoved into horror genre is because of the presence of zombies. In my opinion, just having a zombie in a movie doesn’t necessarily make it a horror. Dead Within felt more like a psychological thriller.

Netflix was pretty certain I wouldn’t like the movie. As I rate more movies on the site, whatever algorithm they use to rate movies for me seems to work better. It’s at the point where I’ve gained a lot of confidence in their star system. It doesn’t stop me from adding movies to my list or anything, but it does cause me to pre-judge films. In this case, they didn’t quite get it right.

I can’t say Dead Within was a good horror movie. I can say it was a really interesting film.

The 82 minutes flew by. I barely realized I’d been watching very long when the movie was over. Films that try to show the psyche of someone dealing with cabin fever can get incredibly boring, but this one didn’t. It was fractured at times and confusing, but that emotion aided the overall experience.

Dean Chekvala (Reception, People Like Us, True Blood) and Amy Cale Peterson (Vicariously, Southbounders, I Hate L.A.) really brought their characters to life. That alone was not a small feat, considering they had only each other and the setting to work off of during the majority of the movie. I didn’t see much chemistry between them, but I don’t think I was supposed to.

All in all, it was kind of nice to see a different kind of zombie film. It wasn’t perfect, but it wasn’t bad either.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – None

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 22%

Netflix’s Prediction for Me – 1.4/5

Trust-the-Dice Score – 2.5/5

The Random Rating: R

P.S. Some scenes during the credits

Movie Trailer: 

Revenge of the Bridesmaids (2010)

Number Rolled: 5

Movie Name/Year: Revenge of the Bridesmaids (2010)

Genre: Romance

Length: 87 minutes

Rating: TV-14

Production Companies: ABC Family, Von Zerneck Sertner Films

Executive Producer: Tai Duncan, Paul Schiff, Robert M. Sertner, Frank von Zerneck

Director: James Hayman

Writer: David Kendall, Bob Young, Stephanie Phillips, Mark Amato

Actors: Raven-Symoné, JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Beth Broderick, David Clayton Rogers, Virginia Williams, Chryssie Whitehead, Brittany Ishibashi, Lyle Brocato, Ann McKenzie, Angelena Swords, Lacey Minchew, Gary Grubbs, Kaysia Monique Stove, Evelyn Boyle, Audrey P. Scott, Talia Tooraen, Carl J. Walker, Billy Slaughter, Yohance Myles, Donna Duplantier, Jesse Moore

Abigail and Parker lived in Louisiana when they were younger. They had two other friends in their clique. One was a sweet, innocent girl. The other was a self-absorbed, spoiled brat. When they got tired of their small town, Abigail and Parker moved to New York City. On a trip back to their old hometown, they ran into their old friends again.

The only thing that makes Revenge of the Bridesmaids even remotely special is that it was slightly above mediocre.

This was the embodiment of a recipe movie. Romantic comedy, geared toward young adults that are just on the older edge of that target. It has all the over-acted, silly-scripting, of an ABC Family movie, with some of the content of an theatrical movie. By far, my favorite part was when it pretty much made fun of itself.

That’s the real reason Revenge of the Bridesmaids stood out. It delivered a decent story without taking itself too seriously. Without that little bit of poking fun at romantic comedies in general, there wouldn’t have been anything to set this film apart from all others that came before and after.

I have decided that I’m very fond of JoAnna Garcia Swisher (Once Upon a Time, Reba, Are You Afraid of the Dark?). This is not the first project I’ve seen her in and I think she’s significantly underrated. I hope to see her more in the future.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – None

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 57%

Netflix’s Prediction for Me – 3.3/5

Trust-the-Dice Score – 3/5

The Random Rating: PG-13

Movie Trailer:

RIP Leonard Nimoy

I grew up a huge Star Trek fan. It was something I picked up from my Uncle Steven and my mother.... mostly my uncle. I looked up to Spock.

His death hit me harder than I'd like to admit and I have no idea how to honor him because of it.

Nothing I write could possibly enough for the man who offered to be the grandfather of all of his fans.

Rest in Peace, Leonard Nimoy. Your memory shall live long and prosper.

Leonard Nimoy

March 26, 1931 - February 27, 2015