“Kill” (2023) / Z-View

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Kill (2023)

Director: Nikhil Nagesh Bhat

Screenplay:  Nikhil Nagesh Bhat

Stars: Lakshya, Raghav Juyal, Ashish Vidyarthi, Abhishek Chauhan, Harsh Chhaya and Tanya Maniktala.

Tagline: This journey is one-way.

The Plot…

Amrit and Tulika are in love and wish to be married.  Amrit is an Army commando.  Tulika, the daughter of a wealthy businessman.  Tulika’s father has arranged for her to be married to the son of a wealthy business associate.

Tulika’s father has arranged for the family to travel by train to New Delhi for the wedding.  Amrit and his commando buddy Viresh have secretly booked passage on the train as well.  Amrit’s plan is to get Tulika to elope with him.

All of that changes when a large group of ruthless bandits enters the train. There plan was to rob everyone, but when they learn that a rich business man is on board they decide to rob everyone and kidnap his daughter.

As the express train barrels along it will be up to Amrit and Viresh to save the day.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Reportedly this film is based on a real event.  In 2010, a retired Nepal commando traveling on the Maurya Express single-handedly took on 30 – 4o bandits.  Although he was severely wounded, he killed three and wounded eight of the terrorists.

Kill was nominated for eight International Indian Film Academy Awards and won five.  It was nominated for fourteen Filmfare Awards and won six.

Most reviewers like this film better than me.  I thought it was good, but became a bit redundant.  As always, your mileage may vary.

Kill (2023) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“4Got10” starring Dolph Lundgren, Johnny Messner, Vivica Fox and Danny Trejo / Z-View

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4Got 10 aka The Good, the Bad, and the Dead (2015)

Director: Timothy Woodward Jr.

Screenplay: Sean Ryan

Stars: Johnny Messner, Dolph Lundgren, Danny Trejo, Vivica A. Fox and Michael Paré.

Tagline: Who can you trust?

The Plot…

Brian Barnes comes to.  He’s in the desert, has been shot and is surrounded by several dead bodies.  The sound of a cop car pulling up is what woke him.  Brian closes his eyes and plays dead.

Sheriff Olson and his Deputy get out.  They quickly survey the scene.  In the van they find cocaine and bags of money.  A drug deal gone sideways.  There’s three or four million in cash just sitting there.  The Deputy says he’s going to call in for backup.  Sheriff Olson says, “Hold up… That’s a lot of money…”

Olson throws out the idea that they keep the cash.  The Deputy thinks Olson is joking.  He moves to make the call.  Sheriff Olson shoots the Deputy in the back.  As Olson moves to get the cash, he realizes Brian is alive.

Brian wounds Sheriff Olson and takes off with the cash.  As Brian fights to remember why he was at the drug deal, he must stay on the run.  Sheriff Olson, a relentless FBI agent and the drug lord who lost his son and cocaine when the drug deal went bad are closing in.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The plot is better than the finished film.

4Got 10 aka The Good, the Bad, and the Dead (2015) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Patient Zero” (2018) starring Matt Smith, Natalie Dormer and Stanley Tucci / Z-View

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Patient Zero (2018)

Director: Stefan Ruzowitzky

Screenplay: Mike Le

Stars: Matt Smith, Natalie Dormer, John Bradley, Clive Standen, Agyness Deyn and Stanley Tucci.

Tagline:  Find the Disease. Find the Cure.

The Plot…

A virus has wiped out most of the population. Once infected humans quickly become enraged, unable to think or communicate.  A large group of civilians, soldiers and CDC scientists have found shelter in an underground bunker.

The scientists bring in captured infected for study to find a cure.  They’re surprised to discover that one of their test subjects, a former professor, doesn’t show the normal signs of infection.  Even more shocking is the professor’s ability to understand and communicate  with those infected.   The scientists believe the professor could be the key to a cure.  The professor believes that he (and others like him) are the next step in human evolution.

As the scientists work on a cure, the professor has a plan of his own…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Fans of Jonathan Maberry’s Joe Ledger tales will be disappointed to learn that this film has nothing to do with the first novel in his series.  Still, fans of zombie movies should enjoy this one.

Patient Zero (2018) rates 3 of 5 stars.

Thobias Daneluz’s Art for David Morrell’s FIRST BLOOD!

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Yesterday I shared First Blood pieces by Thobias Daneluz.  They were personal pieces.  Today we get to see art Thobias created for David Morrell’s FIRST BLOOD novel released in Portugal.

Check out Thobias’ Instgram to see more of his art.

“I don’t think you understand. I didn’t come to rescue Rambo from you. I came here to rescue you from him.” – Colonel Trautman

“Blood Star” (2024) starring John Schwab & Britni Camacho / Z-View

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Blood Star (2024)

Director: Lawrence Jacomelli

Screenplay: Victoria Taylor, Lawrence Jacomelli, George Kelly

Stars: John Schwab, Britni Camacho, Sydney Brumfield, Travis Lincoln Cox, Felix Merback, Wyomi Reed and Brandon Brown.

Tagline:  There is just one law.  Run.

The Plot…

Bobbi Torres is driving a remote strip of New Mexico highway.  When Bobbi sees a gas station she pulls in for a fill-up.  At another pump is Sheriff Bilstein who tries to strike up a conversation with Bobbi.  The cop definitely gives off a strange vibe.  When Bobbi declines his offer of a soda, he drives off.

Bobbi pays for her gas and heads out.  A few miles down the road Bobbi is surprised when a cop car falls in behind her and hits the lights.  Bobbi pulls over.  Up walks Sheriff Bilstein.  Bilstein says that trash Bobbi threw out of her car broke his light-bar.  Although not true, Bobbi realizes that arguing is not going to get her anywhere.  Then Bilstein takes her cell phone and demands she drive back to the gas station.

Soon enough Bobbi realizes that Bilstein is a psycho who intends to kill her.  Alone on a deserted road her options are limited… but Bobbi’s not giving up without a fight.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Blood Star is better than you might think.  Although not a classic, it’s a fun ride.

Blood Star (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.

Thobias Daneluz’s “First Blood” Art!

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These First Blood pieces by Thobias Daneluz are fire.  I’ve said before it would be cool to see Thobias adapt all of the Rocky films.  Well, let’s add the Rambo franchise to the list.  Check out Thobias’ Instgram to see more of his art.

“I could have killed ’em all, I could’ve killed you. In town you’re the law, out here it’s me. Don’t push it! Don’t push it or I’ll give you a war you won’t believe. Let it go. Let it go!” – John Rambo

“Bad Blonde” (1953) starring Barbara Payton and Tony Wright / Z-View

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Bad Blonde aka The Flanagan Boy (1953)

Director: Reginald Le Borg

Screenplay: Guy Elmes, Richard H. Landau; based on THE FLANAGAN BOY by Max Catto

Stars: Barbara Payton, Frederick Valk, Tony Wright, Sid James.

Tagline: Sure, I accept favors from men!

The Plot (beware of spoilers)…

When Johnny Flanagan beats a carnival boxing champ, he’s introduced to boxing promoter Giuseppe Vecchi.  Vecchi decides to become Flanagan’s manager.  Vecchi is impressed with with Flanagan’s skills.  Problem is, Lorna, Vecchi’s young wife, is impressed with Flanagan as well.

At first Flanagan wants nothing to do with Lorna.  But she’s relentless.

Soon enough Lorna and Flanagan want Vecchi out of the way.  And they have the perfect plan to make it happen.

Or do they?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Bad Blonde is the title The Flanagan Boy was released under in the United States.

Bad Blonde comes off as a low-budget, uncredited reworking of The Postman Always Rings Twice.

Bad Blonde aka The Flanagan Boy (1953) rates 2 of 5 stars

“Hope” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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The poster and trailer for Hope is here.  The poster piques my curiosity and the trailer pulls me on board.  Hope has already been released to great reviews in France.  It premieres in the US this fall.

Deal me in.

In the remote South Korea village of Hope Harbor, police chief Bum-seok (Hwang Jung- min) and officer Sung-ae (Hoyeon) are called to find a mysterious creature that has wreaked havoc on the village.

In the nearby forest, a coterie of hunters, including Sung- ki (Zo In-Sung) set out to track the beast and find themselves hunted instead.

But all is not as it seems, and perceptions can be misleading. What begins as ignorance plants the seed of disaster, escalating through human conflict into a tragedy of cosmic proportions.

HOLE by Gerry Brown with art by Eduardo Risso / Z-View

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HOLE by Gerry Brown with art by Eduardo Risso

First sentences…

They came for Hole while he was in the library.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Emile Hole’s size didn’t fit his demeanor.  Emile was very large, long haired man with small round glasses that looked too small for his face.  Emile’s voice didn’t help either.  It was way too light.  You wouldn’t find Emile in the weight room.  No, he’d be found in the prison library sitting alone in a small chair reading.

Even in the best conditions prison would be rough on men like Emile.  Moundsville State Prison was about as far as you could get from the best conditions.  The guards either were crooked or looked the other way.  Gangs ran Moundsville.  Davie and his Warlords were at the top of the heap.

The Warlords ran a profitable business.  One of their best money-making endeavors was to video-tape the beating of a new inmate.  They’d then send the video to the inmate’s family with a request for on-going payments to prevent further beatings.  It always worked.

So when the gang gave Emile a tune-up and sent the video to Emile’s brother Vint, they expected the money to come rolling in.

Man, were they wrong.

Vint’s going to pay the Warlords, but not in the way they’re expecting.  See Vint’s got skills.  Skills better left contained.  But now, Vint’s got reason to let loose.  And he’s going to.

+++

Eduardo Risso’s art was what got me interested in HOLE.  Then I read the sample and was hooked.  Gerry Brown has crafted a fun prison/revenge story that’s a fast, fun read.

HOLE is only available on Kindle but the price is less than a buck.  It’s worth a buck just to see Risso’s illustrations.

Rating: