Saw

Spawning the most successful horror franchise of its generation, this film is not for the squirmish. The brainchild of two Aussie blokes (Leigh Whannel & James Wan, the former playing the character of Adam) who went on to make millions from this film and its five sequels (with more in the pipeline).

The film begins with the aforementioned Adam and Lawrence (Cary Elwes) dazed, confused and chained in an abandoned warehouse. Through sharply executed flashbacks and the perspective of investigating officers (one of whom is played by Danny Glover of Predator 2 fame) the audience is dragged through the deviant plots developed by the man known only as the Jigsaw Killer until the brilliant climax which will have you gagging for more...luckily there is more. Heaps more.

This film attracted a stellar cast and the flashback scenes are crisp while the pace of the movie doesn't slow for a moment.

An impressively fresh take on this genre which breathed new life into it.

9/10

Willo

The Mist

The Mist, 2007

In stark contrast to the previously reviewed 'The Happening' - The Mist hits the mark in a similar genre.

Director Frank Darabont turns a Stevn King story (with King's help) into an edge of your seat jitter fest.

The population of a small town ends up inside the local supermarket as an eerie looking mist envelops the area. What starts out as a harmless bit of fog turns seriously sinister as all sorts of things spring from the dark.

As you'd expect, chaos starts to rule and the result makes for pretty tense stuff.

The largely unknown Thomas Jane (small bits in Face Off and Magnolia) does a sound job leading the way but this is about the mist, not the acting.

Pretty memorable ending too. Underrated movie.

8/10

Nutbuckle

The Happening

The Happening, 2008

Old mate Shyamalan backs out a turd of a movie with Marky Mark caught up in the putrid mess.

They say Entourage is loosely based on Wahlberg's experiences - well if that's the case - The Happening makes Medellin look like Ben Hur.

People start dropping like flies - watching one climb up the wall would be more fun.

Pooey.

1/10

Nutbuckle

P.S: It seem the good people at Empire Magazine agree with me on this one - they rank The Happening 8th on their list of the 'Worst Movies Ever'.

http://www.empireonline.com/features/50-worst-movies-ever/default.asp?film=8