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Popeye’s Revenge

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Vampire Owl: Isn’t this that person known as Popeye the Sailor Man?

Vampire Bat: Well, this character entered the public domain in the United States of America.

Vampire Owl: This reminds me of those other movies which dealt with similar idea.

Vampire Bat: Well, these childhood icons were truly killers, I would say.

Vampire Owl: Yes, the truth that William Golding said about children, right?

Vampire Bat: The children are all inherently evil, we know.

Vampire Owl: Even the newly reborn vampires are no different from the same.

Vampire Bat: Children in their original form are children of the night.

Vampire Owl: But we are also children of the night, aren’t we?

Vampire Bat: But we are less evil compared to humans who lack even basic goodness.

[Gets a bourbon biscuit and three cups of Ooty tea].

What is the movie about? :: Johnny (Steven Murphy) is a man with a troubled past. As child, his peculiar appearance with muscular forearms and a strange chin made him the target of continuous bullying at school, and his love for sailor outfit had not made things any better. One day, after a bully hurts a girl who tried to save him from bullying, the boy ends up killing one of his tormentors by strangulation which also leads to the boy’s eyes popping out of their sockets. To protect their son, his parents hide him in their basement, where he befriends an unseen person slipping supportive messages from under the door of another locked door there. But the townspeople who are driven by fear and anger for the unknown psychotic child tries to seek vengeance on the ugly, brutal killer and set the house on fire. He escapes while his father and mother burns in the fire, but seemingly drowns in a nearby lake which keeps the angry people of the local town relieved and satisfied about the boy’s fate.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: Fifteen years later, a group of vloggers Alan (Kyle Jordan), Cherry (Eva Ray) and Mia (Danielle Scott) visit the area for their episode of Haunted Houses of Evil, a series taking the viewers inside the homes of murderers. This time, they talk about the killer boy Johny who is called Popeye for his looks, and his house is being renovated by new owners who have no idea about what to do with the house as there has been so many disappearances in the area. They try to make it feel that Popeye’s ghost in haunting the area, but Mia who sees some movement in the fog is concerned about what is happening around there. They keep moving around in the unusual fog, and Alan goes to the basement with Cherry while Mia sets up the sound for the shooting before the owners or the locals show up. In the basement, Cherry removes her clothes and seduces Alan, and while they are having sex, Popeye drops in and kills both of them. He also kills Mia who wanders further in the fog. But this disappearance goes unnoticed as nobody knew that they were there.

And what more is to happen with one of the strangest killers on the loose in the fog? :: The house gets transferred to the name of Lora (Amanda Jane York), a former teacher at the school where Popeye has studied as a kid, and she along with her husband George (Oliver Mason) have plans for the house, while their daughter Tara (Emily Mogilner) comes up with an even bigger plan, to make it a haunted house attraction which can become one of the best in the state with the kind of backstory it possessed. She had listened to the story from different people she knew, and her boyfriend Dylan (Connor Powles) agrees to the same. They are joined by their best friend Donna (Danielle Ronald), her boyfriend Nick (Bruno Cryan), his secret sex partner Sky (Atlanta Moreno), quick money seeker Kathy (Karolina Ugrenyuk) and a nerdy Max (Fyn Phoenixx) who are all looking for some extra pocket money which Tara has promised them along with a few interesting nights on a charming holiday mood in the cabin in the woods. With tension running between Donna and Sky to claim Nick as their own, the group has to deal with the killer and a seemingly insane woman named Olive (Kelly Rian Sanson), can they do it before facing death?

The defence of Popeye’s Revenge :: Here is another unstoppable force of a psycho killer, and this is someone right out of our childhood, a hero turned into pure evil. This makes the whole situation different from Halloween, Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer or any other which comes as the natural slasher antagonists of ultimate chaos. To add to it, we have a fine setting, an environment which keeps the horror going with a supernatural touch, as the villain is someone who will keep coming at you. There are some practical horror moments with a lot of interesting kill scenes, with the bath-tub murder bringing the best of it – the grasscutter and many others do follow the same as the full slasher mode is switched on; there was also a test does in the beginning when we look closer to it. This violence clashes with the nostalgia creating a new world of favourite childhood terror. The isolated house in the middle of nowhere and stalking by a resurrected monster makes the blood and gore that much more interesting in this world of childhood monsters. The fear is nicely generated in the situation which is leaves with no options to escape.

The claws of flaw :: The movie often feels particularly suited for the slasher audience, and the rest might not enter this world with that much of an ease, as a certain amount of specialization can be felt, never going out of that self-imposed restriction. If one thinks much more about, there can be a feeling of missed opportunity, and it might be due to the lack of budget that provides such a feeling. If there is a second movie with the same character, one might be able to find a better budget and bigger scenes out there. The slasher effect can be seen the best in the group of youth involved here, as they are mostly generic slasher victims whom we have talked about in The Cabin in the Woods which explored the whole genre model. We once again have the young group coming, getting hunted, some of them dying, followed by an attempt to survive, and there is some success with the antagonist killed or almost murdered and coming back. The character development was minimum even though they have managed some balance by letting the characters work on some interesting moments.

How it finishes :: Popeye the Sailor Man as the one-eyed, spinach-loving cartoon sailor known for his superhuman strength after eating spinach, and having Olive as girlfriend, has defined our childhood for quite a long time. But this time, we see the other side of him, and these twists related to our childhood characters depicting them as murderous monsters in the form of a different Steamboat Willie, Winnie-the-Pooh, Peter Pan, Bambi etc, continues to make an impact. The movie’s quality might be called into question here as we do not seem to have the budget in its favour here, but still, it shall entertain in its own way as a slasher in the usual old model. While not going on a polished horror model, this one still manages to raise its level without trying too hard and following the usual policy. After watching this version of one of the greatest cartoon characters of all-time, it is yet to be seen if we will see Popeye as the same cartoony person again, for this character is also going to stay, and the version will stay in the slasher list for some time.

Release date: 13th February 2025
Running time: 80 minutes
Directed by: William Stead
Starring: Steven Murphy, Emily Mogilner, Connor Powles, Danielle Ronald, Bruno Cryan, Atlanta Moreno, Karolina Ugrenyuk, Fyn Phoenixx, Kyle Jordan, Eva Ray, Danielle Scott, Amanda Jane York, Oliver Mason, Kathi DeCouto, Paul Frost, Kelly Rian Sanson, Clarisse Félix, Max Arlott

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<<< Click here to go to the biggest movie of last year.

@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

Companion

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Vampire Owl: Vampires have always looked for eternal companions for togetherness.

Vampire Bat: These people are talking about companion robots.

Vampire Owl: Haven’t we developed a vampire robot yet?

Vampire Bat: We do not need any more scientific development now.

Vampire Owl: I am sure that Dr. Frankenstein would have other ideas.

Vampire Bat: Mr. Frankenstein and his ideas are surely not real science.

Vampire Owl: They are science, especially after inventing that time machine by the doctor.

Vampire Bat: He just declared that he travelled through time.

Vampire Owl: Yes, and it is truth, as he has proven with records.

Vampire Bat: He has always created all the fake records by himself.

[Gets a choco-marble cake and three cups of Chinese tea].

What is the movie about? :: Iris (Sophie Thatcher) and her boyfriend Josh (Jack Quaid) travels to a mansion on the edge of civilization, a huge property around a lake owned by a billionaire named Sergey (Rupert Friend), who is the boyfriend of his Josh’s best friend Kat (Megan Suri) – Kat still calls herself Sergey’s property, keep or mistress due to the nature of Sergey, yet they remain open to welcoming friends as Kat maintains that influence on the Russian billionaire. They also invite two other friends Eli (Harvey Guillen) and his partner Patrick (Lukas Gage). The group seems to spend some happy moments in the mansion at night, and everyone seems to get along with each other well. But on the very next day, Sergey attempts to sexually assault Iris at the lakeside, and Iris ends up killing him in self-defense. She returns to the house in panic, attempting to explain what happened, but Josh tells the blood-covered Iris to go to sleep, and she losses her consciousness, waking up only to find herself strongly tied up to a chair.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: Josh tells her that she is a companion robot that he is renting from a robotics company known as Empathix. He adds that her emotions and intelligence are controlled by an app on his phone, and the love and sexual desire are also under his control. He adds that the memory of them meeting for the first time is a lie, coming out of a pre-loaded idea chosen from many options, and it is her programming that makes her fall in love with him, and the past has all been part of that programme. He adds that now he has to take her back to the company, and maybe dismantle her there, but she does not believe her. He makes her believe by making her speak in the language he wishes to, and also shows that there are many other customizable options. As he goes for one final talk with Kat, Iris manages to escape though, and she also takes her phone to have full control over herself, increasing her intelligence and changing other options as the friends start to look for her.

The defence of Companion :: The movie can boast of a fine cast led by Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid, along with Megan Suri’s perfect contribution as she makes that one the most interesting human character around. The film nicely explores the themes of control, need for freedom and toxic relationships through an entertaining sci-fi situation which is thrilling no because of the scientific situation, but the human predicament. The surprises of the movie are good, and even without those big twists, manage to keep us interested. The multiple elements of horror, thriller dark comedy and sci-fi nicely come together effectively while also leaving a few social messages about people, relationships, rights and freedom. The one and half hour length is supportive of the movie’s cause as it goes through the whole thing perfectly during that time period, never too much or less. There is no loss of strength here as we understand that we are quickly getting to a twisted situation, and the mood would remain somewhat similar throughout its run.

The claws of flaw :: The idea of artificial intelligence with a conscience, emotions and physical relationships may feel familiar to viewers with movies like Wifelike and Ex Machina which did the same better – the exploration of the ideas were so much better with an emotional side there, and the latter was indeed that sci-fi classic which deserved all the appreciation in the world. Those two movies were rather courageous with the depictions, but the movie here seems to keep to the safe zone, and at times, even comes up with just the blame game for all characters except the robotic main character. The science fiction mode is also on a struggle at times, as there is no clear focus on the robot either, and its making and structure, as well as the parent company are restricted to a few dialogues. One cannot say that the idea is original, and there is no real further development on the same available data. Some of the character decisions would seem illogical or seem to exist only to create more situations of interest, and the final hesitation of the robotic character to shoot is just one of them. This often feels like an opportunity for glory missed out.

The performers of the soul :: Sophie Thatcher delivers a fine performance, and the way in which she makes even the usual situations remarkable needs a mention. The final moments have her making an even bigger impression. Jack Quaid can also be considered highly effective in the darker role, and sometimes raise the level so much above what we expect according to the proceedings. This is one antagonist who brings the unexpected. Then, who strikes the most playing the side characters is Megan Suri, who is fantastic as the only woman character with a villainous side – among the characters, she seems like the most determined, and someone with a clear vision, and the same is depicted perfectly by her. For a slasher horror movie with supernatural or psycho killers, she would make a perfect choice – there is something about her that suits the genre. Lukas Gage’s work also remains notable, while Harvey Guillén does fine. Rupert Friend as Sergey has his moments despite being there for only a short amount of time. Jaboukie Young-White, Matthew J McCarthy and Marc Menchaca are there in smaller, but relevant roles.

How it finishes :: Companion becomes interesting because it successfully combines different genres with social commentary without being preachy or slow, and the cast nicely supports the same by adapting to the situations. The strongest points here are the performances, dark humour and interesting surprises, while it never really gets out of the familiar themes and the predictable side that comes even in the end. This will never be one of those movies which comes up with innovation in the topic, as it chooses the safe side, but the entertaining side is safe around here. It seems to know what kind of movie it needs to be, and with this knowledge, touches the necessary elements which need to keep the world interesting. The movie is currently available in Jio Hotstar, but you should remember that this idea can be seen in a few other movies which did the same better earlier. So, choose wisely, and go through the idea. Yet, remember that this is the newest version of the same, and therefore has made some nice changes too.

Release date: 31st January 2025
Running time: 97 minutes
Directed by: Drew Hancock
Starring: Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, Rupert Friend

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<<< Click here to go to the biggest movie of last year.

@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

Until Dawn

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Vampire Owl: We never really wait for dawn.

Vampire Bat: It is because we are against dawn. We are people of the night.

Vampire Owl: So, these people are looking forward to dawn.

Vampire Bat: They are surely trying to get rid of people of the night.

Vampire Owl: Well, we are not the only people of the night around here.

Vampire Bat: Yet, we are the major ones around here.

Vampire Owl: The werewolves might disagree.

Vampire Bat: Would that matter if they do not agree?

Vampire Owl: I am sure that Doctor Frankenstein would mind.

Vampire Bat: Well, Mr. Frank has never been the ideal or even real doctor as we know.

[Gets an onion vada and three cups of Vagamon tea].

What is the movie about? :: Clover (Ella Rubin) has been searching for her missing sister Melanie (Maia Mitchell) for a very long time, and she decides to retrace the steps of the sister traveling through the final days when she was in contact and sent a video. For the same purpose, she is accompanied by Nina (Odessa A’zion) her best friend, Max (Michael Cimino) her ex-boyfriend, Abe (Belmont Cameli) Nina’s boyfriend and Megan (Ji-young Yoo) Max’s step sister, who are all hoping that Clover could get better by going through the same path her sister had taken, and get better by understanding that this is the end and the past should be left behind for what is the best. As they stop by a gas station where Melanie had recorded a video, Clover is warned by the attendant there that people go missing in a mining town called Glore Valley, and it has never been a safe place, as he has been noticing for years.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: They keep driving though, and as there is a thunderstorm with heavy fog on the way, Abe is not able to see the road, and every turning back or driving straight seem to lead to the same place, and they finally reach a building which resembles a centre for visitors or a guesthouse of the mining town, and surprisingly, the climate is rather better around there. As Nina signs on the visitors’ register, she finds the name of Melanie there, and there is also the photo of Melanie on the noticeboard in the drawing room with many others, but there is no address, phone number or e-mail to contact if the person is found. There is also a moving hourglass which gets turned on. At the same time, it seems that their car is taken away by someone and Clover feels that she heard someone calling her by name, and she thinks that it was none other than Melanie. But soon, they come across a person with an axe, and he proceeds to kill everyone around quickly.

And what is this certain strange mystery all about? :: Soon, the group finds themselves waking up in the same house, but with the realization that they were brutally murdered. They find their photos on the missing list placed on the noticeboard this time, and hopes that they can get out of the building before the same person tries to kill them again. But it seems that this time, it is not the man with the axe that they need to worry about, with some other entity awaiting them. This time, it is a demonic possession that awaits them, as they realize that Megan who had a strong connection with the supernatural is possessed and there is something more sinister than a man with an axe that awaits them. There is also a new house in front of their house, and there seems to be more terrifying elements coming right out of there. Now, can they survive this night, and how many others await them? If they survive this, if this the end? Even they are out of this, can they really get back home to a normal life?

The defence of Until Dawn :: Like The Cabin in the Woods and Evil Dead of the past, this movie makes a fine impact in horror. The scares feel really good and the mystery is too good to be left behind as we are taken right into the middle of terror from where there is no escape. The location is too good and the music and sound effects nicely supports the events. The methods of death used here are pretty much efficient, and the monsters brigng the scares nicely. Ella Rubin who is also seen in Fear Street: Prom Queen makes the perfect scream queen, the classic heroine of the horror films, as it is seen here too. Her different looks seem to support the same, and we hope to see her in one of those classic horror reboots, with serial killers or demons. Her final look with that determination and pickaxe makes the whole thing feel more classic. After a fine work here, Odessa A’zion could also have herself in a horror movie which would make a similar impact, as we hope to see her in similar horror movies of interest.

Positives and negatives :: There are not many movies with an infinity of horror, and this one provides the unlimited horror with repeated deaths which makes one feel the ineffectiveness and uselessness of life itself. It could have been more, but we can be very much satisfied with what we have. The movie’s twists are quite nice, and we have the feeling that there is always more than what meets the eye. It is like having many horror movies into one, and not being sure in which film we are in and which one is to follow next. This way, the movie also provides a fine tribute to the slasher horror genre which has not been getting to its past glory again due to the inability to use the basic elements which were always there to be taken. When we take the young cast as a whole, we know that so much talent is there to be used in the horror genre, and it is an advantage that the new generation of horror movie makers have, and they need to use it every time, just like atmosphere has been used efficiently here.

How it finishes :: This movie is a reminder that good movies can be made out of computer games, especially from the survival gaming modes to a survival film of a higher level. I still believe that Doom, Hitman, Resident Evil, Silent Hill etc were well-made. I have not played or heard about the game before, but it would be an interesting choice to get into that – even though I have that feeling which says that my days of gaming are over, even for those old versions of Age of Empires: Conquerors and Unreal Tournament: GOTY. The final scope for sequel that is left in the end would make one wonder what twist is yet to come. This is like being respawn in Unreal Tournament or Quake 3 Arena to kill more and be killed, as we think about it, but as we use this idea in horror, there is much more at stake. After watching this movie, we can only feel confident that horror will stay alive as long as cinema takes forms like these.

Release date: 25th April 2025
Running time: 103 minutes
Directed by: David F Sandberg
Starring: Ella Rubin, Michael Cimino, Odessa A’zion, Ji-young Yoo, Belmont Cameli, Maia Mitchell, Peter Stormare, Lotta Losten

@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.