VENEZIADOGE Reviews

Complex of Fear (1993 TV Movie)

Fairly good mystery.

[11 July 2003]

Complex of Fear is part stalker theme, and part crime mystery in this Sliveresque tv movie. The apartment building setup creates a close nit distrustful atmosphere where anyone could be the one. The rural setting works great, looks like somewhere in the Carolinas. There is some good interpersonal dialogue between couples in this movie as well. The time frame is pretty accurate to the late 80s when the actual events took place.

Deadly Web (1996 TV Movie)

Rivergate, NY

[3 April 2003]

Deadly Web is a techno-thriller that highlights the weaknesses in internet security and the potential for cyber-stalking. The acting is actually not that bad compared to most other TV movies in the same category. Gigi Rice is great in this, but her greatest performance was in A Night at the Roxbury. The scariest thing about this movie was that it was much better than all the other cyber-stalking movies, especially The Net.

Much better than I had expected.

1st to Die (2003 TV Movie)

Decent but overused plot based on Basic Instinct.

[23 February 2003]

First to Die is based upon a Basic Instinct plot line. Roles are reversed, but the movie plays out like Basic Instinct right down to its title theme music.

The cast was particularly strong for a low-budget film. Sean Young and Robert Patrick did decent jobs, even though their characters are not overly complex. His character is somewhat familiar for him, since it is akin to his role as Jarvis in The Cool Surface.

The rest of the movie has moderate character interaction and conflict without extensive development. This works well considering that the movie keeps you guessing until the end. The level of predictability was moderate, but it was definitely not an edge of your seat thriller. I give it 3 out of 5 stars for a TV movie.

The Girl Next Door (I) (1998 TV Movie)

Entirely predictable, overused, pseudo-true storyesque tale of deception, betrayal, and murder.

[12 February 2003]

The Girl Next Door, whose title sounds more ominous than the movie actually is (something along the lines of Single White Female), is based on overused TV movie themes of jealousy and betrayal. Predictable from the start, it almost appears to follow a true-story plot line. The ending was especially overdramatic and silly. Definitely not one of the better TV movies.

America's Prince: The John F. Kennedy Jr. Story (2003 TV Movie)

Not a particularly well acted biopic.

[12 January 2003]

This made for TV movie factually stays true to form, but gives way in the acting and presentation department. It was a mix of biographical acting and silly dramatic comments by people who knew or wanted to know the protagonists.

They did find actors who resembled the underlying people moderately well, but the actresses leave something to be desired. The "Breaking News" and news interview type scenes detracted from the rest of the movie, but some of it was necessary to detail the events. Overall for TV movies it doesn't stand out.

Rapture (1993 TV Movie)

Predictable silly tale of obsession.

[5 February 2002]

Rapture is a tale of early 1990s obsession in a low-budget style. The main character does not do a very good job of playing a psychotically obsessed madman. There was a flurry of these types of TV movies in the late 80s-early 90s. It could best be described as a blend of Hider in the House, The Stepfather, Fear, and Unlawful Entry. I am not sure if they could have made it any more predictable than it is.

The Magnificent Ambersons (2002 TV Movie)

A good A&E pictures movie about a wealthy 19th century American family.

[14 January 2002]

The Magnificent Ambersons is one in a long line of A&E TV movies that have been done well, to very well. The cast including James Cromwell is impressive and essentially makes the movie. The acting, with the exception of Cromwell, is a bit sophomoric at times, but overall is very good.

The movie's theme is a bit like a Dickensian novel with the son, and his journey through life as the focus. It story plays off of the character traits of the family members, and how they impact this well-entrenched and highly interdependent family. It follows like a Dickens story from start to finish, with the very best traits of the protagonists being shown in the end, even if not apparent at first. It also had some elements of Titanic in it, in that it showed America's Gilded Age, and some new technologies that were transforming the nation. The scenery is excellent and is accurate of the late 1800s through early 1900s.

The cast is really what makes this version of The Magnificent Ambersons. The directing is good as well, and brings out the best of the story. I would give it a 4 out of 5 for TV movies.

Trixie (2000)

Absolutely horrible, among the worst...

[6 July 2001]

This horrid movie is another year 2000 waste of film that combines the very worst of Rain Man and Striptease. Besides being a misdirected rip off of mostly bad movies itself, it goes absolutely nowhere. Watson is painful to watch here, and Nick Nolte speaks like a cross between Tommy Lee Jones in Natural Born Killers, Burt Reynolds in Striptease, and some non-descript tall southern/western bumbling gentleman. The dialogue here is supposed to be funny by delivering these annoying twisted one word punchlines at the end of sentences, and by being "comically" serious. Even worse is the detective character played by Watson, combined with the movie's 1:57 length. Although it's unwatchable, I'm not surprised after 10 Things I Hate About You, Being John Malkovich, Pearl Harbor, The Mexican, Hugo Pool, Snake Eyes, and the Matrix. Nick Nolte must really regret this one.

Suspicious Minds (1997)

Mild thriller set for late night viewing, with typical twists

[2 July 2001]

Suspicious minds is slighlty similar to Love is a Gun, Body Double, and even Night Eyes II. The addition of Gary Busey raises the level of this movie slightly and makes it more watchable. Although he does only have a bit part, he adds to it even though he is out of place in this movie. The plot progression is typical of 80s-90s late night low-budget thrillers, but this one is somewhat well made. You can however tell that this is distinctly 90s because of the environmentalist anti-logging sub-plot. On a scale of 1-10 of late night silly thrillers, i give it a 6.

Heartless (1997 TV Movie)

Madchen Amick does a good job, but she doesn't give her heart away easily...

[15 February 2001]

Madchen Amick does an admirable job in this B late night movie. The plot is standard and predictable for this type of 90s mild thriller. The movie is reminiscent of The Giver and all other stolen organ, and organ transplant themed movies. Madchen is a bit prying at times in this movie, almost reversing her role as the movie's victim by circumstance. Although she never comes anywhere close to being two-faced as she was in Dreamlover. Personality change and duality is explored here, as well as personality change via body part change. At times it seems like a Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde set-up but it always lets in down and returns to the base line. The movie is not well scripted for major or unpredicted twists and turns, and has very few characters involved in the mystery aspect of it. In other words, the surprises aren't that surprising. Overall it has decent acting and a thinly veiled thriller plot which is not too bad for a made for TV movie. Just remember that the wine and the inviting acting of Madchen Amick may just be enough to keep you heartless.

The Death of Ocean View Park (1979 TV Movie)

One of the most unbelievably ridiculous 70s films that may or may not be a serious thriller...

[13 February 2001]

The Death of Oceanview Park fits the part for a TV Movie trying to be mildly scary. Actually it more accurately fits the 1970s idea of a silly TV trying to be mildly scary. The movie never really ties itself together and gives the impression that it was written and/or pieced together on a rainy Sunday afternoon. It has several paranormal phenomena that serve as the scary throw-ins, but they never resolve themselves or show how they actually fit in to the movie's events. The acting appears serious, almost too serious, but this only makes the movie that much sillier. Although this movie is bad, it's a great movie for a few laughs and a look into 1970s "made for TV" filmography. Beware of the roving sand bump!

Meteorites! (1998 TV Movie)

Roswell attacked by meteorites instead of aliens set against a series of USA social interplays.

[5 June 2000]

Meteorites is a classical USA movie that plays off of the alien reputation of Roswell, New Mexico and countless other commonly used B movie themes. In the movie, the town of Leroy is constantly bombarded by meteorites even though the chances of such an occurrence would almost be greater than the chances of finding a good movie in today's theatres! I believe that the same woman who played the mother in another USA movie, My Mother's Murder, is the central female figure in the movie.

Meteorites also has traces of Backdraft, Tremors, and many other "end of the world" movies. The most unbelievable aspect to this movie, like all other made for TV "destruction of earth" movies is that the person who discovers what is really going on is a housewife from the boonies. It is almost invariably never NASA or a highly respected objectivist scientist.

There are several humorous scenes in the movie, some which are totally laughable and inwardly funny. Meteorites is probably one of the more entertaining and watchable of the meteor/comet TV movies. Beware of celestial bodies coming

The 4th Floor (1999)

A decent apartment setting thriller that keeps you guessing...

[2 May 2000]

The 4th Floor is an amalgam of Apartment Zero, Pacific Heights, Never Talk to Strangers, and several other apartment setting thrillers. This movie is a spin off of the "new to the neighborhood" theme, but in this one it is the new tenant and not the neighbors who get tormented. It keeps you guessing the whole way through and is not as predictable as most thrillers in this genre. The movie is also somewhat intelligent so it holds your interest, and is complex enough to throw you off track.

William Hurt's excellent acting made the movie much more interesting. He also did a good job as a New York weatherman. This movie brings new meaning to the phrase "respect thy neighbor."

Our Mother's Murder (1997 TV Movie)

A USA movie based on an actual murder.

[27 April 2000]

This is a USA Original Pictures movie based upon the murder of the Scripps heiress by her abusive controlling husband. The daughters of the mother play a large role in the movie and narrate it at times. It follows a typical and predictable progression, partly based upon its semi-factually based premise. The movie is definitely watchable, but is obviously a made-for-TV movie and is reminiscent of previous USA Original movies.

The theme of the intruding con-man who works his way in until its too late to remove him appears here. Unlike the many other similar movies with this plot, this one is unique since it does have some basis in reality.

As Good as Dead (1995 TV Movie)

A good rendition of a typical 90s made-for-TV mystery/thriller starring some good actors.

[27 April 2000]

Crystal Bernard is mixed up in a self-induced identity crisis with Traci Lords and Judge Reinhold. She pulls off the part quite well with her Texas charm and manages to make this an entertaining cheesy made for TV movie. Judge Reinhold plays a decent psychopath, especially with his creepy "We were made for each other" voice. As Good as Dead is comparable to Heartless with Madchen Amick, and is about as equally entertaining. This movie rates high for predictability, and its plot outline has been done repeatedly. The movie is worth seeing just for Judge Reihnold's inimitable comical presence and to see what he's been up to.

My Husband's Secret Life (1998 TV Movie)

Anne Archer turns investigator to uncover the truth...

[22 January 2000]

This TV movie has some ok actors like Anne Archer, James Russo, and Maria Conchita Alonso, but the movie itself is typical of USAesque TV movies. Anne Archer plays a dead cop's wife who finds out some interesting details about her late husband's life. This sets her off on a detective on to uncover the truth.

The relationship between her and her daughter is somewhat comical, just the typical teenage mother-daughter dilemmas mixed in with lower-middle class life struggles. However perhaps the best aspect to the movie are the Long Island accents, particularly Anne Archer's.

The movie is formulaic and cheesy, but it's what you'd expect to get on a Friday night, or Sunday afternoon while you're checking out USA. Overall you should stay away unless you're a connoisseur of TV movies, especially the USA variety.

The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission (1985 TV Movie)

Unfortunately for us, the "Dirty Dozen" made it out alive in this one...

[14 November 1999]

This movie had all the warning signs of a horribly cheesy comical re-make. Based upon "The Dirty Dozen," this almost unbearable 90 minutes of film made me almost rethink such masterpieces as Conspiracy Theory, The Blair Witch Project, and Batman and Robin. The movie itself was a mix between the worst Naked Gun humor, and a mildly serious Police Academy 7. Since it was also a "made-for-TV" movie, and since it was also a "made-for-TV" movie comedy, it is among the very cheesiest of the cheesy. So be warned, and watch out for Sonny Landham who played Billy in Predator.Particular attention should be payed to the German scene, which was one of the cheesy-funny scenes in the movie. But as a rule, avoid most movies with "The Next Mission" in the title, or comedies made for TV.

Hopefully this was the Dirty Dozen's last mission, or rather the "Baker's Dozen's" last mission!