Persecution (1974) Movie Review

Persecution (1974) (IMDB)

Persecution (2003) movie poster

I actively watch movies that are considered bombs at the box office. The majority of them bombed for a reason, a bad script or bad acting. So when I sat down to watch this movie about a overbearing mother tormenting her son I knew to have low expectations. You don’t have to wait long for a hedge maze scene, as just over 7 minutes into the movie our characters enter the hedge for the first time. The hedge maze continues to be an important character in the movie (you can see the second hedge maze scene in the video below). We also have a prominent role for Sheba, the white cat in the poster above. As the story unfolds we see our mother character, and her cat be more and more sinister. Unfortunately, the story is a bit bland and the storyline to me just is unbelievable.

I give it a 5/10. I had trouble finding a true trailer for the film, but did find this extended scene from the hedge maze !

The Whoopee Boys (1986) Movie Review

The Whoopee Boys (1986) (IMDB)

The Whoopee Boys movie poster

Two misfit men take an etiquette/charm class to help them fit into high society. They like to run street cons but one of them has the opportunity to win the heart of a wealthy families daughter. The daughter is in a rush to get married at her father’s request but only to a man he thinks is good enough for her. Her father as another man in mind. A series of events lead to contests between the possible fiancés, including a fencing match, skeet shooting and a game called cross courts. The fencing contest overflows into a hedge maze and then into a fountain. The humor feels very Revenge of the Nerds, and that may be because the writers and the producers of it also made this film. It has some funny moments, but not enough for me to recommend it.

I give it a 5.2/10

Attack of the Gryphon (2007) Movie Review

Attack of the Gryphon (2007) (IMDB)

Attack of the Gryphon movie poster

In a world….you know how it is popular for trailers to start with that in the deep male voice. Imagine this movie review being read in that voice, it will be more enjoyable. In an ancient fantasy kingdom plagued by a civil war a gryphon is unleashed. A gryphon is part lion and part eagle so you don’t want it on your bad side. Unfortunately this particular one is computer generated from 2007 and it does not look good. So a barely ok movie becomes bad because the terrible animation is so distracting. If the special effects were re-done the movie would improve to almost watchable. While this was not a made for tv movie it feels like one that would be on a random small channel late at night. Possibly with people sitting in a movie theater talking about it while it plays.

What is a good way to escape a gryphon who is attacking ? Enter an underground labyrinth, of course. It works, but this movie does not.

I give it a 4/10.

The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh (1971) Movie Review

The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh (1971) (IMDB)

The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh movie poster

Early 1970’s slasher horror set in Europe. Mrs. Wardh is the wife of a diplomat who returns to Vienna from NYC and is stalked by a serial killer. As people around her continue to become victims, will she able to stay safe ? Is the stalker her former lover ?

If you are going to pay a bribe so your husband doesn’t find out about your affair, best to not make the meet-up place near a hedge maze. The dropoff is supposed to take place at Palmenhaus at Schönbrunn Palace (A must see tourist destination in Vienna, and maybe all of Europe - the grounds are outstanding). In real life, the Schönbrunn - Irrgarten includes many mazes if you visit !

The movie unfolds with Mrs. Wardh playing a game of cat and mouse, with notes, attacks and chases unfolding. Overall a decent movie worth a watch.

I give it a 6.3/10.