Episode 647 - "Nightmare Cinema" (2018)

Hi everyone!

Welcome back for another review. It took some negotiations mediated by One Movie Spouse, but we’re allowing Shane Hyde to return to the podcast with a new series of reviews covering contemporary horror films. We figured it was the best place to put him after his extensive role in Reign of Terror 2019. Expect to see Shane around here a lot more often in the coming weeks, and especially next year, starting with today’s review of a critical darling. Although, he proves results may vary. And for a few other reviews form Shane, check out “Polar” (Episode #412), “They Shall Not Grow Old” (Episode #426), and the collaboration that inspired part of Reign of Terror 2019 during his review for “Starship Troopers” (Episode #447).

Before the review, we’ll have a promo from our friends at the Donna Martin Graduates podcast. Every episode, Kelly Senatra breaks down an episode of the pop-culture sensation, “Beverly Hills 90210”. Subscribe and get caught up as they continue their journey through season one. And definitely check out their guest appearance for Reign of Terror 2019 in Episode #599, with her review of “Scream 2”. You can find them Twitter @graduatesdonna, Facebook @donnamartingraduatespodcast, and Instagram @donnamartingraduates90210.

Subscribe to stay current with the latest releases.

Contribute at Patreon for exclusive content.

Connect with us over social media to continue the conversation.

Here we go!

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<< DONNA MARTIN GRADUATES PROMO >>

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Kia Ora!

I’m Shane. When I’m not the villain of the podcast, I’m also providing some really late reviews for your listening pleasure. Apologies to Joe. 

Today’s movie is “Nightmare Cinema”, 2018’s horror anthology film, all tied together around a loose premise of people being bought together in a cinema to view their worst fears. And there are some names attached here! There’s Mickey Rourke, John Chamberlain, Elizabeth Reaser (who’s from “The Haunting of Hill House”, you’ll know her when you see her), David Slade, and even frickin’ Joe Dante of “The Howling”! But, like all recipes, the whole isn’t necessarily the sum of its parts.

Shall we take a look?

And there will be spoilers ahead. Warning you now.

Now first up, I’m not going to say I wasn’t entertained. I really was. Of the segments, ‘The Thing in the Woods’ was almost comical in the way it satirized the slasher genre, and then knocked that on its ear with ‘Alien Spiders’ of all things. ‘Mashit’ tried to take itself a little seriously, but with some dodgy green screen, and some questionably hilarious special effects, it let itself down somewhat. And while watching that, I couldn’t help but think of what was an homage (homage?) to Peter Jackson’s “Brain Dead”, or “Dead Alive” as its known in the United States.

For me, the best segment was the middle one: “This Way to Egress”. It was effectively filmed in black and white, which left you questioning reality or sanity in a similar manner to say, 2006’s “Silent Hill”. This segment I LOVED! It was directed by David Slade and starred Elizabeth Reaser from “The Haunting of Hill House”. It was quick, to the point, and conveyed the horror of lost control so demonstrably. Yeah, the mood was something else.

A lot of what we see here, though, can be seen in last year’s “Twilight Zone” or “Channel Zero” or “Two Sentence Horror Stories”, all of which are just as effective as this film. But, as it’s a film, we do need to touch on the connective tissue. The cinema, the projectionist, because this is where the film was at its weakest. A segment would start with the protagonist seeing their name up in lights outside the cinema, walk on in, and then be shown their worst fears. The Projectionist didn’t even appear until halfway through the film – and Mickey Rourke was terribly, terribly underutilized.

2018’s “Nightmare Cinema” felt a little more like a showpiece. Like someone saying, ‘Look at what we can bring together!’ with the cinema component being something of an afterthought. But don’t take that as me crapping on it, I’m really not. From the campy humour of “The Thing in the Woods” to the existential dread of “This Way for Egress”, and even the wackiness of “Mashit”, it has a bit for everyone.

Rotten Tomatoes: 77% (CERTIFIED FRESH)

Metacritic: 60

One Movie Punch: 7.0/10

“Nightmare Cinema” is like a bag of jelly-beans. Someone will find something they like and leave me with the black ones, because clearly black jellybeans are the best.

“Nightmare Cinema” is likely available on most streaming services.

And that’s it from me. Be kind to one another and I’ll be back in a week with another review. I really do have to ask: How hard can it be to see at nighttime wearing a welding mask?

Hi everyone!

Welcome back for another review. It took some negotiations mediated by One Movie Spouse, but we’re allowing Shane Hyde to return to the podcast with a new series of reviews covering contemporary horror films. We figured it was the best place to put him after his extensive role in Reign of Terror 2019. Expect to see Shane around here a lot more often in the coming weeks, and especially next year, starting with today’s review of a critical darling. Although, he proves results may vary. And for a few other reviews form Shane, check out “Polar” (Episode #412), “They Shall Not Grow Old” (Episode #426), and the collaboration that inspired part of Reign of Terror 2019 during his review for “Starship Troopers” (Episode #447).

Before the review, we’ll have a promo from our friends at the Donna Martin Graduates podcast. Every episode, Kelly Senatra breaks down an episode of the pop-culture sensation, “Beverly Hills 90210”. Subscribe and get caught up as they continue their journey through season one. And definitely check out their guest appearance for Reign of Terror 2019 in Episode #599, with her review of “Scream 2”. You can find them Twitter @graduatesdonna, Facebook @donnamartingraduatespodcast, and Instagram @donnamartingraduates90210.

Subscribe to stay current with the latest releases.

Contribute at Patreon for exclusive content.

Connect with us over social media to continue the conversation.

Here we go!

/////

>

/////

Kia Ora!

I’m Shane. When I’m not the villain of the podcast, I’m also providing some really late reviews for your listening pleasure. Apologies to Joe. 

Today’s movie is “Nightmare Cinema”, 2018’s horror anthology film, all tied together around a loose premise of people being bought together in a cinema to view their worst fears. And there are some names attached here! There’s Mickey Rourke, John Chamberlain, Elizabeth Reaser (who’s from “The Haunting of Hill House”, you’ll know her when you see her), David Slade, and even frickin’ Joe Dante of “The Howling”! But, like all recipes, the whole isn’t necessarily the sum of its parts.

Shall we take a look?

And there will be spoilers ahead. Warning you now.

Now first up, I’m not going to say I wasn’t entertained. I really was. Of the segments, ‘The Thing in the Woods’ was almost comical in the way it satirized the slasher genre, and then knocked that on its ear with ‘Alien Spiders’ of all things. ‘Mashit’ tried to take itself a little seriously, but with some dodgy green screen, and some questionably hilarious special effects, it let itself down somewhat. And while watching that, I couldn’t help but think of what was an homage (homage?) to Peter Jackson’s “Brain Dead”, or “Dead Alive” as its known in the United States.

For me, the best segment was the middle one: “This Way to Egress”. It was effectively filmed in black and white, which left you questioning reality or sanity in a similar manner to say, 2006’s “Silent Hill”. This segment I LOVED! It was directed by David Slade and starred Elizabeth Reaser from “The Haunting of Hill House”. It was quick, to the point, and conveyed the horror of lost control so demonstrably. Yeah, the mood was something else.

A lot of what we see here, though, can be seen in last year’s “Twilight Zone” or “Channel Zero” or “Two Sentence Horror Stories”, all of which are just as effective as this film. But, as it’s a film, we do need to touch on the connective tissue. The cinema, the projectionist, because this is where the film was at its weakest. A segment would start with the protagonist seeing their name up in lights outside the cinema, walk on in, and then be shown their worst fears. The Projectionist didn’t even appear until halfway through the film – and Mickey Rourke was terribly, terribly underutilized.

2018’s “Nightmare Cinema” felt a little more like a showpiece. Like someone saying, ‘Look at what we can bring together!’ with the cinema component being something of an afterthought. But don’t take that as me crapping on it, I’m really not. From the campy humour of “The Thing in the Woods” to the existential dread of “This Way for Egress”, and even the wackiness of “Mashit”, it has a bit for everyone.

Rotten Tomatoes: 77% (CERTIFIED FRESH)

Metacritic: 60

One Movie Punch: 7.0/10

“Nightmare Cinema” is like a bag of jelly-beans. Someone will find something they like and leave me with the black ones, because clearly black jellybeans are the best.

“Nightmare Cinema” is likely available on most streaming services.

And that’s it from me. Be kind to one another and I’ll be back in a week with another review. I really do have to ask: How hard can it be to see at nighttime wearing a welding mask?