Category Archives: Suspense

2006, Based on true facts, Nudity, Revenge, Suspense, True Story, Violent

End of the Spear (2006)

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From NetFlix:

Many years after his missionary father was speared to death at the hands of Waodani tribesmen, a young man (Chad Allen) returns to the Ecuadorian jungle to meet the native (Louie Leonardo) who murdered his father and learn the truth about his family’s legacy. The result, in this film based on a true story, is a life-altering experience that brings him closer to the kin of his father’s killer and impacts both of their lives forever.

When I was in Catholic parochial school (grades 1-8) we used to donate money to the Society for the Propagation of the Faith in order to convert pagan babies. Although I now have mixed feelings about missionaries in general, I have to admit that this film shows that the efforts of this particular set of missionaries led to a practical result: the tribe of Waodani still exists. Because the Waodani culture was so violent and based on a code of lethal revenge, the tribe was headed for extinction.

There is a book “Through Gates of Splendor” that tells the true story.

Towards the end of the film there is a bit of supernatural flim-flam that turned me off. However, just watching the film and taking the story as it comes was for me a pleasurable experience. You can just ignore the religious bias, the story in itself is interesting. For whatever motivation, those missionaries were brave and devoted people that did their best to help the Waodani. But you must be prepared for much violence (lots of spearing to death).

Stick around after the film seems to have ended. There is an epilogue in which you get to see two of the real living characters, including a tribesman.

2008, Acceptable for children, Mediocre, Plot Twist, Psychic Phenomena, Sci-Fi, Suspense

Knowing (2008)

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From NetFlix:

Fifty years after a time capsule was buried at a local school, teacher John Koestler (Nicolas Cage) examines its contents and discovers that it holds many shockingly true predictions. Soon, John is convinced that his family will play a role in an impending apocalypse. Rose Byrne co-stars as Diane Wayland, the daughter of the woman who first buried the capsule, in this tense blockbuster thriller from ace sci-fi auteur Alex Proyas.

Give this film a B. Nonetheless, this sci-fi film tells a well-detailed story that held my attention. While not violent, you witness several fatal accidents such as subway and plan crashes, including burning live victims.

Without spoiling the story for you, you should expect the final fifth of the film to take what was for me a very unexpected turn that seemed to place the film in possibly a less worthy category. From a certain standpoint the ending was very daring and perhaps not pleasing to the general audience. More than that, the very ending was a bit too Steven Spielberg-like for my tastes. In my humble opinion we could have done without that last scene.

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2003, Complicated, Drama, Drugs, Grim, Medical Theme, Non-physical Violence, Not Feel Good, Nudity, Plot Twist, Prison, Redemption, Religious Theme, Revenge, Sex Scenes, Suspense, Violent, Wonderful acting

21 Grams (2003)

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From NetFlix:

A tragic car accident brings together three strangers — a teacher (Sean Penn) with a weak heart, a former drug addict (Naomi Watts) turned housewife and an ex-con (Benicio Del Toro) who’s found Christ — forcing them to face their darkest fears, reevaluate their lives and seek redemption. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu directed this complex drama that earned Oscar nominations for lead actress Watts and supporting actor Del Toro.

Mexican directory Alejandro González Iñárritu is known for possibly disturbing films such as “Babel”, “Amores Perros”, “21 Grams”, and “Biutiful”. His “Nine Lives” did not please me very much.

“21 Grams” is a jigsaw puzzle. Scene sequences are scrambled and you eventually have to figure out what the complete story really is. Some scenes are repeated such that on a succeeding viewing you finally understand what that scene means. Not that the scrambling is random, rather the non-linear sequencing is done very well. What really keeps the film moving is the sudden changes in scene without any warning. Expect some sudden surprising plot twists.

Violence, infidelity, ill health, forgiveness, and possibly redemption are the major themes.

“Redemption” is debatable because Del Toro’s character possibly never forgives himself for what he has done (we are talking ambiguity here). He certainly was a horrible father in addition to his other shortcomings. His little son does a great job showing that he had to keep himself distant from his capricious and often violent father. His daughter accepts him unconditionally.

Sean Penn seemed to me a basically selfish man, mostly concerned with his identity (“who am I with this newly transplanted heart ?”). He finds it easy to abandon the woman who loves him.

Naomi Watts’ character asks the question: “How possible is it to forgive someone who killed your loved ones ?” Watching her life go down the drain is no fun.

Interest never flags in this intense, worthwhile, demanding film.

2010, Based on true facts, French, Military, Occasional gore, Quiet, Religious Theme, Slow, Suspense, Terrorist Attack, Unusual

Of Gods and Men (2010)

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From NetFlix:

Awarded Grand Prix honors at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, this compelling historical drama relates the ordeal of seven French Trappist monks in the mountains of Algeria who are taken captive by Islamic fundamentalists. Before the monks’ abduction, they have ample reason to believe they may be in danger, but their assumption that there can and must be common ground between Islam and Christianity leads them to remain at the monastery.

Quiet, beautifully photographed, possibly inspiring (depending on your point of view), this film is an unusual gem. It is based on a true story which you will find in the Wikipedia article.

Notable throughout is the chanting of the monks. In fact the only other music that I can recall is Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake overture played on a tape recorder in an unforgettable dinner scene.

Among other things the film is a study in the characters of each of the monks, each of whom must decide whether to flee from death by terrorists or to stay at the monastery and accept his fate. In this respect there is a constant atmosphere of menace at war with the peace and quiet.

Kathy and I debated afterward about whether their decision to stay really did any good for anyone or had any meaning at all.

Normally I don’t like to include spoilers, but here I make an exception for a good reason. Do not avoid this film because you expect to see violence brought against the monks. You never see this violence explicitly. (However, you do witness a Croatian worker having his throat slit.) Rather that final violence is implied in the perfect photographic ending.

French with subtitles.

1000NYTimes, 1001BeforeDie, 1955, Acceptable for children, Black and White Film, Classic, Corny, Suspense

The Night of the Hunter (1955)

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From NetFlix:

Bogus “preacher” Harry Powell (Robert Mitchum) learns cellmate Ben Harper (Peter Graves) has stashed stolen loot on his property. So after the demented Powell is released, he charms Ben’s widow (Shelley Winters) into getting hitched, and in time, only Ben’s kids stand between him and the money. As he stalks the siblings relentlessly, they seek refuge with the indomitable Rachel Cooper (Lillian Gish), setting the stage for a battle of wills.

Lately I have read much praise for this film. In fact you should read the Wikipedia article that mentions the positions this film occupies in various anthologies of worthy films. Its descriptions of why the film is special surpass any description I could write.

Personally I found the black and white impressionistic photography incredibly clear and a new experience. This film was Charles Laughton’s only directed film (probably because it was not a success). Times have changed and for me the film was a bit corny and much too long. Moreover in those days you had to see the bad guy get his comeuppance. Today’s films love ambiguous endings instead of the clear resolutions demanded in the black and white years of the 50’s.

You may never have heard of Lillian Gish (1893-1993) but surely you have heard of Robert Mitchum and Shelley Winters. I always knew Peter Graves (TV’s “Mission Impossible”) as an older man. In this film he played Ben Harper (the bank robber father) and was only 29 years old. Billy Chapin (John Harper, the son) had a small part in “Leave it to Beaver” and seems to have vanished.

At the very least you get to see and feel what small towns were like during the depression. It’s a bit like going to a museum to watch a “talkie”. I don’t regret the experience.

2010, Acceptable for children, Could be boring, Horror, Independent, Suspense

Monsters (2010)

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From NetFlix:

Six years after aliens invaded Earth, a security force maintains tenuous control in the Infected Zone straddling the U.S.-Mexican border. Andrew (Scoot McNairy), a photographer, is documenting this war-torn area when he’s interrupted by an unexpected rescue mission. Samantha (Whitney Able), daughter of a media mogul who just happens to be his boss, needs an escort home, and Andrew reluctantly takes on the job.

Only superficially is this a horror film. Rather it is more an independent film that is somewhat like a travelogue showing an American man and woman trying to get out of Mexico’s monster-infected region and back safely into the United States. Underlying the trip are his problems with his illigitimate son and her problems with her parents and her fiancee. Kids would be bored to death and if you do not like slow-paced films then you too can be bored to death. Yes, you get to see a monster or two, but it really doesn’t matter.

Probably the most impressive site was the gigantic Hadrian’s wall that has been constructed on the border between the U.S. and Mexico. For details about the many mistakes and the effort involved see the Wikipedia article.

2010, Based on true facts, Bullying, Conspiracy, Dark, Drama, Drugs, Grim, Non-physical Violence, Not Feel Good, Psychological Drama, Sex Scenes, Suspense, Violent

All Good Things (2010)

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From NetFlix:

After restless real-estate scion David Marks (Ryan Gosling) weds middle-class beauty Katie McCarthy (Kirsten Dunst) against the wishes of his disapproving father (Frank Langella), suspicions of murder fall on the unmoored heir when his wife mysteriously vanishes. Though he’s not indicted in her disappearance, people with ties to the case begin turning up dead when it’s reopened two decades later — and the unhinged David is the prime suspect.

Thanks to Wikipedia for leading me to the model for this film, namely Robert Durst. After seeing the film be sure to go to this article about Robert Durst. Believe me, truth is stranger than fiction. You just have to wonder why juries are so stupid. According to Wikipedia, Robert Durst really liked the film. That figures!

And is it just such manipulation of the law that makes this grim film really infuriating. If you are prepared for a non-happy ending, a leap into exasperating unfinished business, then this perfectly made film is for you. All three actors get it right. Frank Langella is a truly evil man. In fact the entire family is a real-life version of the “Adams Family”. Even Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan is portrayed as an politician who was given evidence of the family’s corruption and choose to ignore it on the grounds that such matters were really just the private affairs of the family (who contributed huge amounts of money to various politicians). Later on in the film the family gets to the district attorney who reopened the case many years later.

In a certain sense Ryan Gosling does not even need to act. He presents a lost, increasingly distant man who shows almost no emotion. As an amazing recreation of suspenseful evil, here is a film to which I was glued.

But you ARE warned!

2010, Conspiracy, Could Be Hard To Watch, Cowboy, Dark, DO NOT MISS, Grim, Plot Twist, Revenge, Suspense, Violent, Western, Wonderful acting

Red Hill (2010)

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From NetFlix:

After being shot on duty, police officer Shane Cooper (Ryan Kwanten) moves with his pregnant wife to the quiet Outback town of Red Hill, where surly sheriff Old Bill (Steve Bisley) is downright unfriendly and Shane’s first day on the job turns into the worst day of his life. When killer Jimmy Conway (Tommy Lewis) escapes from jail and heads for Red Hill, the police try to track the skilled hunter, and Shane soon realizes something is very wrong.

Not a detail is out of place in this suspenseful and violent Australian cowboy sheriff film about an aborigine escaped from prison and intent on killing every single lawman in the dying town of Red Hill.

Ryan Kwanten is the only actor I will remember from this film and he was terrific. Those of you with vampire tastes will recall that Ryan Kwanten was the irrepressible Jason Stockhouse in the TV series True Blood (2008). His tender scenes with his very pregnant wife are touching. My only objection is that he is physically a bit too much of a superman, overcoming all obstacles while severely wounded. But don’t let that stop you from watching.

How dull: aborigine escapes and shoots a lot of people. Not at all ! First this killer’s hunting (he can smell his intended victims) and shooting skills and his amazingly clever instincts make him a formidable enemy. HOWEVER, the plot has an amazing and very emotional twist that holds you to the end.

In my book, this violent film is an Australian masterpiece. Don’t miss it!

2009, Could Be Hard To Watch, Drama, Grim, Horror, Occasional gore, Suspense, Violent

Carriers (2009)

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From NetFlix:

As a lethal virus spreads across the globe, brothers Brian (Chris Pine) and Danny (Lou Taylor Pucci), along with Bobby (Piper Perabo) and Kate (Emily VanCamp), seek a supposed plague-free haven. But while circumventing those infected, the travelers begin to turn against one another. Real-life brothers Alex Pastor and David Pastor write and direct this apocalyptic chiller, which co-stars Christopher Meloni.

More apocalypse than horror film, this film about the human race dying of a plague really concentrates on two brothers and the two women traveling with them and their relations with one another. These relations are challenged to the extreme by the need to follow certain rules designed to keep them plague-free. Tough choices are made throughout the film.

Among the four travelers Brian (Chris Pine of Unstoppable (2010)) is clearly the leader. Actors Pine and Pucci carry their parts well.

Christopher Meloni of “Law and Order: Special Victims” fame, has a part as the father of an infected young daughter. His role is just a bit more than a cameo, but he does it well.

Children would be frightened by the sight of the dying and dead infected blood-encrusted victims. But the film is really about choosing between survival and whatever criteria we had for good human behavior in the pre-plague past.

Never a dull moment!

2010, Acceptable for children, Based on true facts, Drama, Suspense, Trains

Unstoppable (2010)

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From NetFlix:

It’s a nail-biting race against time as an unmanned train carrying a load of lethal chemicals speeds out of control, and a conductor and engineer do everything in their power to keep it from derailing and killing tens of thousands of people. Denzel Washington leads the cast in Tony Scott’s tough-minded action thriller, in which a terrible circumstance forces a couple of ordinary men to become extraordinary heroes.

“The Perfect Storm” of human error leads to a train (not coasting, rather actually using power) going 70 mph carrying hazardous and explosive material through densely populated areas and headed for a treacherous 15mph-limit elevated curve right in the middle of a city.

Expecting nothing more than a glorified train wreck, I was pleasantly surprised to find a well-organized retelling of a real-life situation in Pennsylvania. If I knew more about trains and how they are scheduled, joined, side-tracked, etc, I might have enjoyed the film even more.

Mixed into the plot are personalities and their problems. Denzel Washington plays Denzel Washington as usual (at least he enunciates). Chris Pine (Brian Green in “Carriers”) has the next largest role and does well. Many of the other supporting actors you will recognize immediately. You will also easily separate the truly dedicated workers from the traditional screw-ups. Stay to watch the final credits because you get to see what happened to the real life characters, some of whom justly ended up in the “fast-food industry”.

Probably this film would do no harm to children (except scare them).

Hold on to your seats!