Saturday is Horror Day #112 - The Lost Skeleton Returns Again, Final Destination 5

 The Lost Skeleton Returns Again

Jerranium 90 - the little rock that everyone wants, but can only be found buried in the heart of the Amazon. What lengths will evil people, as well as good people, go to in order to locate this rock? As luck would have it, Dr. Paul Armstrong (Larry Blamire) is actually in the Amazon, has been for two years. His wife Betty (Fay Masterson) isn't concerned, even thought she hasn't heard from him in two years, not since the telegram he sent upon his arrival. Reet Pappin (Frank Dietz) is a government agent assigned to located the elusive element. He goes to the home of the scientist, only to learn that he is missing. He announces his intention to go to the Amazon to find Paul, and Betty insists on coming with.

Dr. Roger Fleming, evil scientist, is dead, but his twin brother Peter (Brian Howe), a TV repairman, lives. 

He has his brother's personal effects, including a creepy skull. Peter's wife Sandra (Christine Romeo) finds it abhorrent and is in favor of getting rid of it. But the skull begins to talk to Peter, and he finds himself under its control. He must go to the Amazon to seek out an idol called the Dalp of Anacrab, in order to restore its body. So off to the Amazon Peter goes, to the confusion of his wife who wonders why, since he's a TV repairman.

Handscombe Draile (Robert Deveau) is also after the elusive element and teams up with a cheap hood named Carl Traeger (Kevin Quinn) and it's off to the Amazon for these two as well. Meanwhile, our favorite alien couple, Kro-Bar (Andrew Parks) and Lattis (Susan McConnell) are back on earth in their new ride, having gotten the impression that their friends the Armstrongs are in trouble. They too head off to the Amazon, which is rapidly becoming everyone's favorite destination.

If you enjoyed The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra, you will certainly enjoy The Lost Skeleton Returns Again, with pretty much the same cast, most of whom are wearing their original costumes. Goofy plot, goofy monsters, and general all-round silliness sets the tone for this sequel. And don't worry, Animala (Jennifer Blaire) is back, and we have a new evil scientist villain in the form of Dr. Ellamy Royne (Trish Geiger), and we have Chinfa, Queen of the Cantaloupe people (Alison Martin)

And let's not forget the titular character, the Lost Skeleton itself, now reduced to a mere skull, But that doesn't stop him from planning and dreaming, and using humans for his own evil purposes! Quite the adventure and lots of fun! I'll give this film 4.5 Stars.

Final Destination 5

Sam (Nicholas D'Agosto) and a number of his co-workers are headed by bus on a business trip. Sam is down in the dumps because his girlfriend Molly (Emma Bell) has dumped him. How awkward is it that she works for the same company and is on the bus as well? But he's determined to win her back, if he can figure out what the problem is. However, as the bus is about to cross over a bridge, where construction is going on, Sam has a... wait for it... premonition in which he sees a whole lotta death when the bridge collapses. Naturally he wants off the bus, and some of his co-workers end up getting off as well. Just in time, too, as the bridge proceeds to self-destruct.

The fortunate survivors are both grateful and shaken, and naturally they want to know how Sam knew 

what was going to happen. But Sam has no idea. And that is what he keeps telling the suspicious FBI Agent Block (Courtney B. Vance), who is sure Sam had foreknowledge due to some sort of complicity on his part. But then the survivors also begin to die, and they begin to wonder if there is some order to this madness. Or is it at the ME Bludworth (Tony Todd) told them, that Death can't be cheated.

Here we go again... and if you've seen the first four films, you pretty well know what to expect. Survivors of a near-catastrophe who begin to die in gruesome ways. In fact, the best thing about most of the films is watching the unique forms of death. But the fifth film is actually better, and obviously had a bigger budget because we're getting stars of the caliber of Nicholas D'Agosto and Courtney Vance, plus some pretty cool special effects.

The other thing that lifts this film above the others is that there is a twist...a very cool, very unexpected twist. And no, that would be a spoiler if I told, you have to see it for yourself. But it is worth it. I think this is my favorite film in the series (I think there is a sixth film planned but it's just in pre-production now, according to IMDb). At any rate, if you've made it this far, you have to watch this one too. You'll be glad you did. I'll give this film 4 Stars.

Saturday is Horror Day #108 - The Order, Final Destination 2

 The Order

Alex Bernier (Heath Ledger) is a young priest with special talents he uses in the service of the Church. He is devastated to learn of the death of his mentor, Dominic (Francesco Carnelutti).  They belong to the dwindling order of the Carolingians. A priest named Driscoll (Peter Weller) sends Alex to Rome to investigate the death. Before he leaves, he is visited by Mara (Shannyn Sossamon), a young woman whom he exorcised a year before. She attempted to kill him and has been in a mental institution ever since...until she makes her escape and rejoins the priest she has a crush on. He lies in order to hide her presence and take her to Rome with him.

In Rome, he is reunited with an old friend and fellow order member, Thomas (Mark Addy). Alex does not believe the official story that Dominic committed suicide. He bribes a morgue attendant to allow him to view the body and discovers unexplained wounds which may be the sign of a Sin Eater. Alex turns to a mysterious hooded figure, head of a pagan cult, who reveals that this man is William Eden (Benno Fürmann), who was born during the Renaissance. His duty is to perform the last rites for those the Church deems unworthy of more traditional rites.

Alex is a priest in conflict, having feelings for Mara that he should not have. Eden reveals his life as a sin-eater to Alex, in the hopes that he will take his place. But he decides to take a chance on love instead and leaves the priesthood instead in order to be with her. Will this decision place the ones he cares about in harm's way? Is this really an offer Alex can refuse?

To be honest, I watched this because it has Heath Ledger, and I have to say he does very well. Shannyn Sossamon does okay. I don't think she's a particularly good actress, but she isn't terrible either. I loved the relationship between Alex and Thomas - you may recall Mark Addy as Robert Baratheon from Game of Thrones. These two have done at least one other film together, A Knight's Tale. Peter Weller, of Robocop fame, is chilling as Driscoll. However, that being said, the film isn't really all that interesting. I'm including it as horror, but using the term loosely. There are a lot of slow parts, and I didn't feel particularly engaged other than with Ledger. Would I recommend it? Not really. I'll give it 3 Stars, and that only because of Heath Ledger. If you aren't a fan of his, give it a pass.

Final Destination

A year after the events in the first movie, Kimberly (A.J. Cook) is headed off to fun in the sun with a few friends over their break. Just before getting on the highway, AJ experiences a strange vision, involving a horrific chain accident set off by a truck bearing huge wooden poles, one that culminates in many deaths. Freaked out, Kimberly blocks the highway entrance, refusing to move, much to the annoyance of other drivers. A passing state trooper,  Officer Burke (Michael Landes) stops to see what the problem is. She tries to explain, but he is understandably skeptical. Just then the truck she saw passes by and before their eyes, the accident occurs, with Kimberly, her friends, the officer, and the people she blocked all surviving. But does that mean they've only postponed the inevitable?

Knowing this was the anniversary of Flight 180, Kimberly is determined to figure out the meaning 

behind what happened. The only survivor of the crash still alive is Clear Rivers (Ali Larter), so Kimberly goes to visit her. The paranoid Clear isn't very forthcoming with either sympathy or answers, so Kimberly leaves. But people are still dying, and Clear can't ignore the facts.

Okay, so maybe the premise is a little lacking and doesn't really make a whole lot of sense. Death making a list? Then what, checking it twice? The personification of Death is a little weird. Also the premise that when your number is up, it's up, and Death will still get you. But beyond that, it's entertaining, especially seeing all the innovative "accidents" that culminate in some rather gruesome deaths. One definite plus is the all-too-brief appearance of Tony Todd. I hope he returns in the next two films. I think it's worth watching, so I'll also give this film 4 Stars.