tiffmasters Reviews

Wrong Turn (2021)

Bill Sage. What else matters?

[8/10 · 14 October 2021]

I would call this a retelling or or reimagining before I'd ever call it a remake, but that's a good thing. The original wrong turns were tacky, campy and plain gross. At the beginning you think you'll hate it. Annoying suburbanites on a trek to find themselves while representing all the popular fads in current minorities representation. But come on, we know what's happening to them.

Without spoilers, this is more of an attempt at social commentary, who are really the savages, mirror images up to themselves to see who's more flawed vs more pure. BUT BILL SAGE! His performance was near perfection, and the joke about cannibals was cute. They show u again why you shouldn't judge people and how were all walking a border between good and wicked. I recommend it. I'll even buy it.

Kevin Can F**k Himself (2021–2022)

If you didn't watch it all, take your rating and review down

[10/10 · 31 July 2021]

Annie Murphy held her own this time! I am so proud to she her land on her feet after Schitts Creek ended but this proves she is a magnificent actress. And she cares.

When I started watching the show, I was trepidatious. But much in the way of American History X, the lighting and imagery alone does so much to elevate the story. To take on sitcoms in their own world, and the idols created out of it was masterful. To watch a woman take hold of her terror and look it in the face and say not anymore, and figure out what to do as she went along, rather than to wait, that was spellbinding. And Patty fed off of it too. They inspired each other to be more and to live more and to control more of their own lives.

I absolutely want season 2!

The Closet (2020)

Insidious Meets Korea

[9/10 · 3 January 2021]

The start is slow and pretty easily predictable, starting out almost exactly like 0.0mhz which i just watched. However, Jung-woo ha hasn't disappointed me in a movie, really ever. And when this seemingly traditional haunting of Korea takes a turn into the closet, very Poltergeist-esquire, we get the twist we were waiting for, and that the movie needed. It is extremely emotional, but that's what these films do. They confront ugly realities of living, they don't lie to us and make things pretty and happy all of the time. They show us our demons and force honesty down our throats. And these kid actors they have, it's incredible.

After a tragic accident leaves Ina without a mother, she and her father disconnect in their grief and move to a new house to try and start over. Isn't it always the way? The new house has seen its horrors though. in twenty+ years dozens of kids have gone missing, and now, Ina has joined them. These kids were unwanted by their parents, and the first of those to die in that house, made a playground to welcome them home.

Tunnel (2017)

Unexpectedly Outstanding!

[10/10 · 12 April 2020]

In 16 episodes, you would think I could count the times I laughed or cried or even yelled. But I can't. Literally every single episode amazed me in some way. You may be sobbing because of something that just occurred, but without missing a beat, the characters make you laugh. Why is this remarkable? Because it means the writing isn't one dimensional; these are stories of believable human beings who deal with conflicting emotions at every turn. As outlandish as the story may seem upon reading a summary, I've truly never loved a storyline like this. You get cultural insights, and universal truths about love and separation and depravity and how deep connections can truly take you anywhere. Watch this show. It will surprise you in all of the best ways.

Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer (2020)

A Story for Women by Women

[9/10 · 1 February 2020]

The new Amazon Prime 5-part special, "Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer," not only gives a face to the writer of "The Phantom Prince", but also to many of the women he destroyed, and the many who survived. As it is said early on, the story has been told over and over again by men, but now it's our turn, because we lived it. Another side to a man who captivated a nation, 40+ years later, leaves me both heart broken and strengthened, empowered and jaded. There's a moment when one victims mother is speaking to Teds mother, and it's simply a shattering moment I've never heard before. She said, "there was no reason for her to apologize to us, she didn't do anything. She is just another mother who lost her child." Where does enlightenment, strength, resilience of the magnitude come from? She said he took her child, he wasn't going to take the happiness from her entire life. As Hannah Gadsby said in Nannette, "There is nothing stronger than a broken woman who has rebuilt herself."

Out of the Furnace (2013)

Better Every time

[10/10 · 31 December 2019]

With a cast like this, what could go wrong? Answer, nothing. The melodramatic tale of two brothers caught on the difficult side of life shows eloquently and brutally, shows us how easy it is to lose everything, good, bad, or otherwise intended actions having been made. Christian Bale is a hard working man, who adores his girlfriend, brother and the rest of his downtrodden family. Casey Affleck, with no less amount of love or devotion, returned from the military a little more shattered than expected. While the brothers' patriarch is bed ridden and failing in health, one accident seemingly destroys all of the good in a man. Difficult, under appreciated work; a violent, unpredictable brother; multiple losses one can hardly handle when life is good, Bales story reminds us of how quickly we can lose it all, and the suffering we can be set up for. While most of his life's trials are beyond his control, the action which takes him fully under, is made by choice, to the viewers, but out of necessity to the man. The script is well written, the characters beyond well acted, the subplots epic, and the always accompanied ugly-crying, takes viewers into an abyss we may never know otherwise. I recommend this movie to everyone. You can either relate and realize suffering is conquerable; or you will see how much worse it could be.

Baby Girl (III) (2018)

Terrible, all the way around

[1/10 · 8 June 2019]

Not only is the story poorly written, but the acting was cringeworthy, the likes of which I've never seen. Because the rating was so Hugh, I finished it thinking it would evolve, but only turned cliqued. Do not watch this movie, or anything this girl ever acts in, if she ever gets a job again in her life.

Wicked City (2015)

Binge-worthy

[10/10 · 5 February 2019]

After watching the 8 episodes of Wicked City, I am appalled it was cancelled so hastily. In the aftermath of Ted Bundys fame, charisma, and semi-success, Kents story isn't shocking, it's appealing.

The luring intrigue of Ed Westwick as a serial killer with a misunderstood heart, holds up throughout the show, allowing mild sympathy for the killer, and growing disgust for the cops who hunt him down. The audience sees the while the killer exposes his truth, the "good-guy" cops hide theirs from all who know them.

Who will win, the good, bad, or other, and which is which?

While nearly perfect in believability, the only discouraging force in the show is Taissa Farmingas acting, parallel to her constant deer in the headlight approach to each situaion, in every other show. She is underwhelming, and distracting from the smoothness of the rest of the cast. Highly recommended, reboot desired, dvd release, a must!

Koma (2004)

Too fun to not be enjoyed

[8/10 · 21 January 2019]

Never knowing which twist is coming next, Koma keeps viewers on their toes the entire film. As both leading ladies are living a life lacking that which they truly desire, only to discover it in the other, the develop a friendship in each other that has a cliff dive at every turn. The film keeps excellent pace, while keeping you guessing throughout, with an ending that makes you keep thinking of the characters after it's over. Who really won? Did anyone? Did everyone?

Blood Fest (2018)

Might be my new favorite film!

[10/10 · 14 January 2019]

This is literally everything you want a horror movie to be! It makes fun of horror tropes and absurdities, in the way Scream attempted to, but with ultra violence and a collective spirit. This movie brought together everything the other movies bring in separately and unites them. With homages to Trick 'r Treat, TCM, IT, Evil Dead, Saw, The Nun, The Grudge, Friday the 13th, and so many others, it becomes the ultimate fan experience. If you watch this movie as a fan, and not a "critic" you won't regret it!

Home for the Holidays (1995)

Perfect madness

[10/10 · 3 January 2019]

This movie will save you a trip home. The acting is superb, and the story is chaotic, exactly what ever holiday is really like. Some of the side stories are unbelievable (yet completely believable), and some of them are so mundane it makes you feel bad about your own life. The dialogue is swift, thrusting viewers from laughs to cries to confusion in an instant. But how else would you want to spend the holidays?

Kids (1995)

Stays with you

[9/10 · 3 January 2019]

Disturbing, even all these years later. Taking us back in time to some all too relatable scenarios, fears and peer pressures, catapulting in the ultimate horror story, Kids was real life for too many. This movie stays with you long after the credits roll, so be prepared to think it over. A lot.

Unsane (2018)

Don't watch if you've ever been stalked!

[7/10 · 30 December 2018]

Early on, a lot of triggers and fears came to life! A lot of people may not understand the real horror in this film; but unfortunately, a lot of people will understand it all too well. The fear and paranoia women are expected to explain away and just deal with are explored in depth in this film, and shows us every way it can go wrong!

Mom and Dad (2017)

Fun flick to start a real marathon

[6/10 · 30 December 2018]

Almost feeling like a "reverse zombie" flick, the action starts quickly and keeps going. It's fun to see Nicolas Cage go a little nutty, and do it well, but while there's not a lot of depth or exploration in the movie, the speed and story will get you pumped up for a night of horror movie marathons. Don't go into it expecting Romeo; go in expecting Cage, and you'll come out satisfied.

Summer of 84 (2018)

Such nostalgia; this is what we've been wanting!

[7/10 · 30 December 2018]

Think, Stand By Me, meets Disturbia, in all the good ways. Yes, you get to figure it all out early on. But, you don't see the exceptional acting coming, or the random scares, or the affection for it, once it's all over. Lacking perfection because it is so familiar, but gaining fans because it is so familiar.

Fatal Frame (2014)

Beautiful exposition of female relationships

[9/10 · 24 December 2018]

Ghost stories are often mislabeled as "horror" and found disappointing by American standards, but once you remove expectations and watch the movie as a cultural exploration of female relationships, it becomes quite beautiful. Yes there are horror elements, but fall into the story of love and female bonding, and find significance in the evolution of feminine roles in Japan. It takes a little while to unfold, and the repetition early on can be discouraging, but eventually it makes sense. We need to see how invasive this curse has been, and how necessary it is to be removed.