Blu-ray Review: MARVELOUS MANDY (2016)

MARVELOUS MANDY
Dirtected by:   Chase Dudley           
Produced/Distributed by:  A Cut 2 The Chase Productions

  I always like checking out new independent horror films.  A lot of them can be somewhat of a letdown, but every now and then you can happen across one that is a true gem!  Such is the case with Director Chase Dudley's latest film, MARVELOUS MANDY!  Here is the basic plot from the film's imdb.com website:

  Down-on-his-luck single dad Harvey Fowler gets a much needed boost when he meets children's author Mandy Simpkins, author of the Marvelous Mandy storybooks that his daughter loves. Their beautifully vivacious relationship seems like it couldn't get any more perfect, until Harvey gains some disturbing insights into her fractured mental state. When cracks start to show through her dreamlike personality, Harvey learns who she really is- and just how vicious she'll become to maintain the illusion of her perfect life.

  So I need to start out by saying this isn't a true horror film, but more of a suspense/thriller.  Although there are a few bloody/gory scenes that rival anything you've seen in a horror film lately!
The movie is more of a dark "Fatal Attraction" type film, with the character of Harvey falling for what he thinks is an amazing woman, only to find out she is not the woman of his dreams as he first thought, but more like the woman of this nightmares!

  I have to admit, when I started the film and saw the running time of 145 minutes, I told myself one thing I will have to write in my review is how long it was and that it should have been edited down a bit and made a more typical 90 -100 minute film.  After watching the film in it's entirety,  I have to admit I was wrong.  The film did not seem that long at all to me while watching it, and it kept me thoroughly entertained the entire running time.   Now there were some slower parts, but they were important to building the character of Mandy so you really get to know who she is...or isn't.

  I mentioned the blood/gore above, so I know you horror fans are wondering about that, I don't want to give too much away, but there were a couple of scenes were the blood really flowed and looked extremely realistic.  

  MARVELOUS MANDY is a very smart, well-made thriller that I highly recommend.  It is low budget, so keep that in mind when watching.   My only complaint was the video quality of the film, as a better camera would have made for a crisper screen image, but the movie itself is very well done with a great story, great characters, and a great plot twist.   The acting overall is very good, but the character of Mandy (played by Paula Marcenaro Solinger) was especially well done I thought.  She could go from a fun, sweet, charming woman to a complete psychopath in a matter of minutes.  She showed quite the acting range in this film.  

  MARVELOUS MANDY is available now on Blu-ray.   I highly recommend this one!


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray from the film's website
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray from Amazon.com

 

Blu-ray Review: DON'T BREATHE (2016)

DON'T BREATHE
Directed by Fede Alvarez
Distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

  I'm going to start by saying this is by far one of my favorite horror films of 2016.   DON'T BREATHE looked amazing from the trailer, but I never got a chance to see it in the theater.  I finally had the chance to check out the Blu-ray and I am really mad I didn't see this one in the theater.  What a great film, full of suspense that would have been amazing on the big screen with 7.0 surround sound.  The film was still super suspenseful and enjoyable watching at home, though.  Here is the basic plot from Sony Pictures website:

  From the twisted minds behind EVIL DEAD comes a new terrifying experience. Three young thieves (Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette, Daniel Zovatto) fight for their lives after breaking into the home of a blind man (Stephen Lang) who has a dark side.

  Ok, seems like a very simple plot, but there is so much more to the movie than this plot tells you.  It is pretty simple at first as the 3 kids try to pull of the robbery of the blind man, a Military Vet that not take kindly to people coming in to take his money.   While he is blind, he has a heightened since of hearing that makes it easier than you think for the man to track the burglars inside his home, hence the title DON'T BREATHE, as even the slightest sound of a breath could tip the man off as to their whereabouts. 

  While you think the kids would have the advantage over the blind man, you find out very quickly that is not the case, as he knows his way around the house better than anyone, especially when he trips the breaker box and puts them all in complete blackness.  This immediately puts the kids at an extreme disadvantage.

  Now my immediate instinct when I was watching this film was to ask why the man doesn't call the police as soon as he knows they are in his house?  Well, that is soon answered with a shocking revelation that the kids stumble upon while in the man's basement looking for a way out.    I won't say much more as to not give anything away, but you immediately see why the man would not want any law enforcement to come anywhere near his home!

  DON'T BREATHE is a must see for all horror fans in my opinion.  It is available now on DVD, BD, and Digital Download and contains the following special features:

*  8 Deleted Scenes with Director's Commentary
*  No Escape featurette
*  Creating the Creepy House featurette
*  Meet the Cast featurette
*  Commentary with Director Fede Alvarez, Co-Writer Rodo Sayagues, and actor Stephen Lang
*  Man in the Dark featurette
*  The Sounds of Horror featurette


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray