Over the last couple days I watched:
Hell, a German post-apocalyptic film. Heavily reminiscent of The Road, but not as bleak, and since it wasn't as bleak, it just wasn't as gripping. Not bad though, it was well staged and decently acted and directed and had some tense moments. I would call it a low calorie edition of The Road. Surprisingly light on blood given the brutal setting and a major element of cannibalism.
House of Voices, an haunted orphanage movie by Pascal Laugier, who went on to direct Martyrs. Not a bad contribution to this haunted orphanage subgenre, although not hugely original. Very competently directed film, it's hard to believe its Laugier's first. It's not overly flashy but not flat either. It has some tense moments, but it isn't especially horrific for a horror film, but restraint in this genre is always a good thing. To put it another way, it's kinda dark but doesn't have much in the way of scares or boo moments, it is about atmosphere and mood. There is hardly any blood or violence despite being from the same director of Martyrs. The production is polished, and everything looks first rate. However, this movie doesn't have many surprises for those who have seen El Orfanato or the Devil's Backbone. I felt the screenplay was a bit light on establishing character motivations as well. Still, it is a handsome atmospheric film with a nice soundtrack which is worth watching for anyone interested in a more subtle haunting film. Even though this is a French Production, the dialogue is in English.
The Tall Man, the movie Pascal Laugier did after Martyrs. Despite its marketing, this is just barely a horror film, which isn't to say it is bad. It starts as a boogeyman movie like so many others, but it moves out of the conventions of that genre pretty soon. The star is Jessica Biel who is actually able to carry this movie in a shockingly good performance. The story has its fair share of turns and twists, in this sense it reminds me of an M Night Schyamalan movie. However the surprise ending poses a pretty ballsy socio-political question that I doubt Schyamalan would be willing to approach. The movies main asset is its curve ball plot, and is assisted by solid direction, a nicely articulated setting, and great performances. It is an unpredictable ride and ends up in an implausible place though. Again, unlike the director's previous movie, not bloody at all. It is an involving movie, so I would say it is worth watching.