Wilks

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Inthemiddleoftheoutback,astolen4WDcollideswithatransporttruck.Twolocalkidsinthecararebadlyhurt.Someoneshouldhavecalledforhelp,buttheydidn’t.Theydidn’tbecausetheyworkforaninternationalresearchprojectno-onetalksaboutandtheircargoisaprohibitedsubstance.TheaccidentwouldhaveremainedamysterywereitnotforNed(DanSpielman)andJesseBanks(AshleyZukerman).Nedisayounginternetjournalistdesperateforabreak,andJesseishistroubledyoungerbrotherwhoseobsessionwithhackinghasgothimintoseriousdifficulties.NedandJesseBanksaregivenapoisonedchalicewhenaphonevideooftheoutbackaccidentarrivesintheirin-box.Theirdecisiontodigdeeperdragsthebrothersintothedarkestheartofpolitics,thewebofblackmarketeersandtheinternationalagenciesthatmonitorandmanipulatethem.Together,theysuddenlybecometheunlikeliestcrusadersfordemocracy.Thequestionisjusthowfarthoseinauthoritywillgotokeeptheirexplosivesecretsafe-andjusthowfarthetwobrotherswillgotorevealthetruth.

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PANIC BEATS begins with a totally nude woman with welts on her body, running through a misty forest full of decayed skeletons. A knight on horseback is chasing her, and we soon learn that he is Alaric de Marnac (a wicked character Naschy first created for HORROR RISES FROM THE TOMB), viciously killing her for her unfaithful ways. After the credits role, we are taken to the present where a descendent of Marnac named Paul (Naschy) is married to the wealthy Geneviève (Julia Saly) was has some serious heart problems. Paul decides to take her to his ancestral home in the country for some peace and quiet, but the superstitious-filled setting opens a Pandora’s Box of terrible occurrences.　　We soon discover that Paul is a real son-of-a-bitch who plans to scare his wife to death, planning to control her fortune and continue his secret affair with seductive bad girl Mireille (Silvia Miró), who happens to be the niece of the tarot card-reading housekeeper, Mabile (Lola Gaos). Paul’s malevolent scheme works, but he still has to worry about an additional money-hungry mistress (this guy really gets around!), the unforgiving Mabile, as well as new fianceé Mireille who might be hiding a thing or two herself. More grisly murders follow, and the ghost of Marnac returns from hell to punish the most despicable human character in the film.　　PANIC BEATS was also written by Naschy (under his real name Jacinto Molina) who injects the film with an old-fashioned spooky house motif, beefed up with a modern movie sense of violence and sexuality. The film offers nothing too innovative storywise, and even Naschy admits on the disc’s extras that it was partly inspired by GASLIGHT and REBECCA, but he seems to just toss in a hodgepodge of exploitation and horror ingredients, while delivering a stylish and enjoyable effort with a number of twists and some genuinely chilling moments. The camera shots and lighting are both effective, and there's even does a cool set-up (much like what Freddie Francis did in THE SKULL and THE CREEPING FLESH) where we see the point of view of Marnac through his dark helmet as he stalks his female prey. Graphically, we are exposed to everything from a plate of bloody eyeballs, to victims being beaten relentlessly with the various Medieval weapons affixed on the house’s walls (for example, someone is axed in the stomach, followed by the soaked entrails oozing out!). Naschy’s most frequent 1980s leading lady, Julia Saly, is not given much to do, but with her offbeat looks, is a nice presence nonetheless. The prominent female star here is Silvia Miró who is seen in the buff frequently, and she certainly makes for some well-appreciated Euro starlet eye candy. Naschy himself is very good in the film, putting on conniving facades, carrying a number of women on a string,

Whatcouldpossiblyhaveendedthetight-knitthirtyyearfriendshipofTullyandKate,our"FireflyLaneGirlsForever"?We'lllearntheanswerthisseason--butfirst--KategrappleswiththepainfulaftermathofJohnny'sill-fatedtriptoIraq,whileTullyfacesalawsuitafterwalkingawayfromhertalkshow,andmuststarthercareeroverfromthebottom.Thisleadsher...

Having witnessed his junkie father killed Russell Stevens grows up to become a policeman and make a difference. When he is offered an undercover job by Gerald Carver he accepts and begins to build a relationship with David Jason in order to get to the main dealers. However as he is forced to deal drugs and kill to keep his cover he finds the lines between cop and criminal being lost – is he a cop pretending to be a dealer or a dealer pretending to be a cop　　Larry (as he was then) Fishburne's first lead role was a typically dark vehicle. The story is the usual one of cop losing himself when undercover, however it manages to be more than that for most of the time. Co-written by Tolkin, who wrote The Player, this naturally has a nice cynical edge to it when it looks at the US's hypocritical approach to drug control and the political links between the street hustlers and the political high rollers who court respectability. The story does eventually settle into a traditional setting but even then it works well as a thriller.　　The multi-talented Bill Duke directs well with a gritty feel and a few nice touches. However several things are a bit iffy. For most of the film Fishburne's narrationvoice over is a bit like a cross between Apocalypse Now and Blade Runner – it comes across as a little too dark and heavy and also explains things like we can't figure it out ourselves. However once you get into the film it's not as big a deal. My main problem lies with the characters.　　Fishburne is excellent, a real model of underlying anger and violence, Goldblum is good but perhaps a little OTT on the yuppieviolence thing, but there's good support from Smith and Spin City's beautiful (and often underused – but not here) Victoria Dillard. However the two main white characters (Goldblum and Smith) are both smeared with racist insinuations – Smith appears to insult his black officers and doesn't care about the junkies, while Goldblum is fascinated about all things black and talks about them as wild beautiful beasts and loves having sex with black'. These things aren't a major problem, but with basically only two white characters in it, it's a little worrying that both are given that edge.　　However these are minor complaints that get lost with a good thriller. Fishburne excels and Duke delivers a story that is a good thriller but also has a jaded, subversive edge.

With no immediate family to live for, Joseph is haunted by a past he has tried, for decades, to forget - if not actively obscure with drink and drugs. Suffering the hangover from hell - the dry spell over - he walks away from his present life and boards a boat bound for Ireland to confront hazy, fear-inducing memories from a childhood spent in the care system that he's had to forget. Emotionally and physically wrecked, Joseph reunites with an incredulous Anna (Helen Behan, This is England '88 - and '90), the sister he hasn't seen since childhood. Anna persuades her wary husband Michael (Frank Laverty; Michael Collins) to let Joseph stay and give him work in the family-owned building company. There, Joseph is forced to directly confront the demons of his past when he comes face to face with Craigy (Mark O'Halloran), a shadowy figure who is dogged by dark rumors, and who won't leave Joseph alone. Joseph's precarious family reunion is further complicated when he is immediately drawn to ...

RADIOGRAMissetin1971Bulgaria,undertheCommunistregime:whenanywesterninfluence,especiallymusic,isanationalthreat.AtimewhenradiostationslikeBBC,DeutscheWelleandRadioFreeEuropearemuffledandprohibitedandwhenallreligiousorganisationsarerestrainedandanysuchexpressionisbanned.Basedonatruestory,itfollowsafather,whowalksforalmost100kmtotownsohecanbuyanewradioforhisrock’nrollobsessedson.Thefilmisaboutmusic,freedomandidentity

A monster stalks the corridors of an abandoned mansion, targeting those curious enough to find themselves inside. Two friends break in and discover that all exits have been sealed off. The creature that hunts them is growing hungry for their blood and there is no escape…