Author: Joel Fisher

In 2003 there was a coup d’état in Guinea Bissau which was thankfully peaceful and did not lead to any loss of life. However, that doesn’t mean that there weren’t people looking out for their own interests. Chaka (Yann Gael) leads a group of men who are indeed looking for something and once they find it, they flee and bury it at the nearest opportunity. This eventually leads them to a hidden region on the Saloum river of Senegal.

They’re welcomed in kindly by Omar (Bruno Henry) and settle down, talking about the state of the country and how they hope that things will improve. However, soon somebody is attacked by something otherworldly, and he starts speaking about the myths that have run through Senegal for centuries.

Realising their situation and what they must do to survive, they devise a plan to get out of there with their lives while they’re relentlessly being hunted.

Saloum is a horror exclusive to Shudder directed by Jean Luc Herbulot and co-written by Pamela Diop. Set in a time and place that perhaps most of the world wouldn’t know much about, Herbulot’s setting seems perfectly isolated for the events in Saloum to unfold.

Presented like a western, the supposed criminals have hidden out and are waiting for their time to move so they can escape to better pastures.

However, the melding of the macho gun totting aesthetic with the spirits of folklore tales seems to work rather well. The film does seem to take a while to get going and an international audience may not be too familiar with the details of Senegal’s history. Although, once the horror aspects finally kick in then the build-up will have been worth the wait.

As the lead and the leader of the group, Gael gives a great performance and manages to pull things together nicely. The idea of a creature that appears as a swarm is original as well and surely relies on Senegal folktales, thankfully with a good enough CGI interpretation that works when the attacks begin. Something of a slow burn for Shudder, Saloum takes its time but delivers on its promise.

Maika (Tasiana Shirley) her family and friends live in the little hamlet of Pangnirtung in the Qikiqtaaluk region of the Canadian territory of Nunavat. She has a small group of friends and still being in their early teens they’re still trying to figure everything out. Maika has learned some skills from her parents though and they have made her hunting instincts excel beyond her age. Although hopefully she’ll never need them.

However, one day whilst out with her friends they see a large polar bear running towards them, but something about it doesn’t feel quite right. Things escalate and thankfully with quick thinking and a careful aim, Maika is able to save her sister when she’s attacked.

Unshaken by their encounter, they all go home, but something seems to have made that bear behave strangely and it’s starting to affect the other animals as well.

Slash/Back is a Canadian horror comedy Shudder Original about a group of teenage girls who fight off an alien invasion from their home. Viewers may instantly think that it’s trying to copy Stranger Things, but with its rather inexperienced cast, director Nyla Innuksuk relies on the chemistry between the girls which makes it feel different.

As the action increases, as does the comedy and there are some laugh out loud moments as the girls are forced into defending themselves. Some witty dialogue is passed off well by the cast, with Maika’s friend Uki (Nalajoss Ellsworth) being a particular stand out and audiences may start to be reminded of films such as Shaun of The Dead and Attack the Block.

The premise for the movie is also rather unique, not only with its beautiful setting, but with its almost Invasion of The Bodysnatchers meets The Thing set up. The special effects may not be the best, but some may appreciate the practical effects more, with interesting physical performances and hauntingly rubber faces.

Those looking for something a bit more intense and scarier may go away wanting more. Although for those looking for a horror inflected adventure, they may be surprised with something that thinks outside the box.

Pinball: The Man Who Saved The Game – Raindance 22 Review

Before video games there was another kind of game called pinball and in many states in America, it was deemed illegal due to their gambling aspects. The trouble is that it took over 30 years and for one man to show the courts that pinball is not a game of chance, but a game of skill and that man was pinball enthusiast and GQ writer, Roger Sharpe (Dennis Boutsikaris).

Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game is a comedy biopic about Roger Sharpe, the man who helped to overturn the decision in New York and across The United States which made pinball illegal. Starting out as a mockumentary, Sharpe is interviewed about his life and the audience is introduced to young Roger (Mike Faist) and how it all started.

Going back to the 70’s, the film shows how Sharpe’s fascination with the game started and how he became a pinball wizard. However, the film also knows that this kind of subject could be rather dry if you’re not into pinball, so the story is helped along with a love story when he meets Ellen (Crystal Reed).

Although this is not to say that Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game is a straightforward biopic either. Because it is not just a biopic, but a dissection of biopics themselves as older Roger often steps in to pick at the facts and point out the clichés. So, for those who didn’t know about Sharpe’s story or don’t care, there’s still a lot to like.

However, as much as it does try to subvert the tropes of biopics, it often falls into them. For example, Ellen only seems to exist as a plot device for the audience to cling onto as she fawns over him, helping him get through bad times.

Also, biopics do often focus more on relationships rather than the thing for which the main character is known best, and Pinball does seem to forget this too.

Saying that though, for those interested in gaming history and don’t care too much about the details then Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game is fun. Often breaking the fourth wall, it seems to know its niche value and runs with it.

Elephant Refugees: Review

Elephants have been on the endangered species list for decades. Poachers, climate change and devasting droughts have seen their population in Africa dwindle and around sixty per cent now live in Botswana. There are varying rules around the protection of wildlife as well and one of those rules is that animals such as the elephants should be left alone, even if they are in danger. A worry especially as the laws around elephant hunting seem to change at the drop of a hat.

Elephant Refugees is a documentary directed by Louise Hogarth and narrated by Jerome Flynn which follows a human family who decided to move closer to the elephants so that they can protect them from a respectful distance.

However, although their presence keeps the poachers away, it does bring the tourists. Which means they must keep a steady balance between keeping the elephants safe and making a living.

As mentioned in the documentary, most tourists have no idea just how endangered the elephants are, so the family do their best to educate people on the reality of the beautiful creatures. Also, having elephants around them can often bring joy and sometimes a little mischief.

Showing a close-knit family of three generations, all of them have had to adapt to living around elephants from the grandparents of the family to the very small but courageous dogs. There seems to be a peaceful understanding between humans and animals though, and their relationship reminds them how much they may need each other.

As light-hearted as the documentary seems at times, it’s never too far away from its message and it sends it out with no holds barred in an unfiltered and honest way. There may not be much time left for elephants and it seems that little can be done even when a family decides to get so close.

Jerome Flynn provides a suitably soothing voice over in his narration and his passion for the animals comes through as it should do. However, the compassion of the family is what is truly unique in this situation and perhaps more knowledge and understanding from people like them may save the largest land animal in the world.

Francis (Noah Segan) is a loner and that’s just the way he likes it. He spends his days in quiet motels that are out of the way and finds ways to make money whenever he can. However, one day his quiet and solitary life is disrupted when Jane (Victoria Moroles) turns up at his door and claims that she’s his daughter.

Not really knowing how this could be possible, Noah denies it at first, but he soon realises that he must teach Jane everything he knows because it turns out that she’s a vampire too. Something which becomes an issue for them both when Jane kills Francis’ landlady.

Blood Relatives is a coming-of-age horror comedy Shudder Original about a father and daughter getting to know each other. A unique premise and something that’s not often discussed in vampire lore because most people don’t know that vampires can have children under the right circumstances – not even Francis. However, the story works out well and the horror spin on a familiar tale told in films such as Logan and The Road plays out as an audience may expect.

The idea of the adolescent experience being played out in comparison to vampirism is hardly a new metaphor either, but it is well done and there are some very funny moments while Jane is trying to figure it all out. There’s good chemistry between Segan and Moroles as well which helps the audience connect with their characters.

However, for those expecting something with a little more bite, then they may be disappointed because the story of Blood Relatives could easily be played out even if there were no vampires. Instead, Blood Relatives feels more in tone of a feel-good drama with some comedic moments where a father learns responsibility while his daughter finds her place in the world.

It may also turn some people off because for the most part the horror is forgotten and only brought in for the comedic scenes.

Saying that though, Blood Relatives is a good story well told and is unusual for a horror comedy to leave you with a warm feeling. The two leads give great performances and there could even be potential for a high school sequel.