Pearce’s Film Reviews

239 Films have been rated or reviewed by Pearce.

Belko Experiment, The (2016): I expected more from this writer, who usually manages a few original ideas. Not this time. This is just one more of those "lock people up to kill or be killed" movies that we've seen too many of lately.
Phantom of the Paradise (1974): They say that De Palma is just a Hitchcock imitator, but nobody else could have made THIS movie. Neatly straddles his earlier satirical movies and his later horror/thrillers, with great songs to boot.
Blow Out (1981): What if Hitchcock and Antonioni had collaborated on The Conversation? From hilarious slasher movie opening to emotionally raw ending, this is a masterpiece.
Octagon, The (1980): The introduction of the ninja to American cinema, so either add or deduct a star depending on whether you think that was a positive or negative development. It's a decent US action movie of the period, hampered only by Chuck's extreme lack of charisma.
Howling II, The (Your Sister Is A Werewolf) (1985): One of the all–time great bad movies, this has it all: werewolf orgies, Christopher Lee in '80s shades, a catchy but terrible soundtrack, midgets with exploding eyes, the woman who inspired Brown Sugar killing Jimmy Nail, you name it.
Q: the Winged Serpent (1982): A cop dressed as a mime watches in horror as a giant lizard drops Shaft off a building. Why aren't you watching this right now?
Hell Up in Harlem (1973): Thrown–together sequel contradicts the first movie and doesn't make much sense. The score by Edwin Starr is good and The Hammer is made of charisma, but as a movie it's rubbish.
Superfly (1972): The only reason this movie has a rep is because of Curtis Mayfield's music. Watch Shaft or Cleopatra Jones instead.
Hills Have Eyes 2, The (1985): I added one star because it's probably the only horror movie with a flashback by a dog, but this sequel suuuuucks.
Spider Baby (1964): This is like the adventures of the Addams Family's disreputable perverted cousins.

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Pearce’s Film Reviews