I'm having another slow month, my second in a row even. While this month isn't over yet, I know I won't be getting too many more reviews in. Hopefully, I will turn things around soon. I just haven't felt all that excited about doing reviews, so I struggle to get through one once I decide to sit down to write one. Anyway, I decided it was time to get around to another Netflix DVD that I have here at home. I've only had it just shy of a month, so it is about time I got it sent back. This one was called Spike (2008). Netflix called it a take on Beauty And The Beast and I have to agree with that somewhat. It hasn't been getting the best ratings, but that doesn't mean I would agree...even though I ended up doing so.
Four friends are out driving around on a road through the woods when the driver (Anna-Marie Wayne) runs over something that causes a flat tire. Her brother (Jared Edwards) gets attacked by something while checking out what caused the flat. His girlfriend (Sarah Livingston Evans) is then kind of held captive by Spike (Edward Gusts), a guy who has growths that look like spikes growing from all over his body. Spike has been watching his captive for years now, apparently, he knew her when they were young kids, and has decided to make his move to get the girl.
Spike was written and directed by Robert Beaucage. This was an interesting take on an old tale, but I felt it could have been better than it actually was. One thing I found annoying is that we never learn anyone's name. I suppose it isn't important and far as understanding what is going on, but one would think that in nearly an hour and a half of film, someone would have shouted out a name. Especially when people are being hurt and/or killed. I was never sure if Beaucage was trying to make Spike feel like a good character, but the whole thing felt creepy to me. Spike has been watching this girl for a long while it seems, with pictures of her over the years. He then could have gotten her killed by causing a flat tire and eventually kidnaps her. While he allows her to walk around, he is always fairly close by. There is also a scene that possibly hints that Spike has done this before with someone else. Besides Spike being weird, I also found the boyfriend's sister really weird as well. After her brother has been attacked and is obviously in pain, his sister refuses to let her girlfriend, played by Nancy P. Corbo, go help him. She even goes as far as knocking out her girlfriend at one point. Maybe my information on the film is a bit skewed though. Spike is a slow film with a lot of talking at times. Because of that, it was easy to zone out at times. I had to pause it a couple of times and walk around a little to keep myself from dozing off. It wasn't the film's fault, I have just been having a busy week at work so been feeling tired when home. The film also suffered some from being too dark. I get that it is in the middle of the night and in the woods, but it was very hard to see what was going on at times. During a scene where is some lightning flashes going on, I thought that Spike was wearing some kind of coat. It was hard to tell because the flash of light was so quick, but then in something of a flashback scene I could see that he was. He didn't wear it in all of his scenes and I don't know why he would bother wearing one with all those spikes anyway so it was just an odd thing.
The effects are okay. The makeup and however they did the spikes for the main character are the best part of the effects. They don't move around a lot and look really cool when it isn't too dark to actually see it. There are some gore effects but they aren't much. A little bit of blood, cuts and once in a while we get spikes going through people. Just see that after they have done so though. These aren't bad effects but not all that gory really. The acting was just okay for me as well. Again, the highlight was Edward Gusts who played the main character. Not that the other actors are bad really, I just never got into their characters all that much. I was surprised to see some minor nudity from Sarah Livingston. It isn't much but she does go topless for a little while. She covers up with her arms so don't get to see much for long.
I was happy with the way that Spike ends at least. Spike can come across as a good guy despite everything, but at the same time, we see that he has moments where he isn't a nice guy at all. Because of that, in part anyway, things don't end well. It ends on a sad note, but I almost wish it had gone beyond that just slightly. I liked Spike, just not enough to give it at least an average score. Some minor changes, especially with the lighting, would have gone a long way here. I know not all films can afford great lighting, but I can't help but think how much it would have helped here. Despite Spike having a monstrous appearance, things never really feel all that tense or scary. Even so, if it sounds like a film you would like then I would highly encourage you to check it out. This seems to be a film that has been overlooked for the most part.
2 out of 5 Talk about dangerous love making
Four friends are out driving around on a road through the woods when the driver (Anna-Marie Wayne) runs over something that causes a flat tire. Her brother (Jared Edwards) gets attacked by something while checking out what caused the flat. His girlfriend (Sarah Livingston Evans) is then kind of held captive by Spike (Edward Gusts), a guy who has growths that look like spikes growing from all over his body. Spike has been watching his captive for years now, apparently, he knew her when they were young kids, and has decided to make his move to get the girl.
Spike was written and directed by Robert Beaucage. This was an interesting take on an old tale, but I felt it could have been better than it actually was. One thing I found annoying is that we never learn anyone's name. I suppose it isn't important and far as understanding what is going on, but one would think that in nearly an hour and a half of film, someone would have shouted out a name. Especially when people are being hurt and/or killed. I was never sure if Beaucage was trying to make Spike feel like a good character, but the whole thing felt creepy to me. Spike has been watching this girl for a long while it seems, with pictures of her over the years. He then could have gotten her killed by causing a flat tire and eventually kidnaps her. While he allows her to walk around, he is always fairly close by. There is also a scene that possibly hints that Spike has done this before with someone else. Besides Spike being weird, I also found the boyfriend's sister really weird as well. After her brother has been attacked and is obviously in pain, his sister refuses to let her girlfriend, played by Nancy P. Corbo, go help him. She even goes as far as knocking out her girlfriend at one point. Maybe my information on the film is a bit skewed though. Spike is a slow film with a lot of talking at times. Because of that, it was easy to zone out at times. I had to pause it a couple of times and walk around a little to keep myself from dozing off. It wasn't the film's fault, I have just been having a busy week at work so been feeling tired when home. The film also suffered some from being too dark. I get that it is in the middle of the night and in the woods, but it was very hard to see what was going on at times. During a scene where is some lightning flashes going on, I thought that Spike was wearing some kind of coat. It was hard to tell because the flash of light was so quick, but then in something of a flashback scene I could see that he was. He didn't wear it in all of his scenes and I don't know why he would bother wearing one with all those spikes anyway so it was just an odd thing.
The effects are okay. The makeup and however they did the spikes for the main character are the best part of the effects. They don't move around a lot and look really cool when it isn't too dark to actually see it. There are some gore effects but they aren't much. A little bit of blood, cuts and once in a while we get spikes going through people. Just see that after they have done so though. These aren't bad effects but not all that gory really. The acting was just okay for me as well. Again, the highlight was Edward Gusts who played the main character. Not that the other actors are bad really, I just never got into their characters all that much. I was surprised to see some minor nudity from Sarah Livingston. It isn't much but she does go topless for a little while. She covers up with her arms so don't get to see much for long.
I was happy with the way that Spike ends at least. Spike can come across as a good guy despite everything, but at the same time, we see that he has moments where he isn't a nice guy at all. Because of that, in part anyway, things don't end well. It ends on a sad note, but I almost wish it had gone beyond that just slightly. I liked Spike, just not enough to give it at least an average score. Some minor changes, especially with the lighting, would have gone a long way here. I know not all films can afford great lighting, but I can't help but think how much it would have helped here. Despite Spike having a monstrous appearance, things never really feel all that tense or scary. Even so, if it sounds like a film you would like then I would highly encourage you to check it out. This seems to be a film that has been overlooked for the most part.
2 out of 5 Talk about dangerous love making
