Slots inspired by Asian movies 28 Oct 2021, 3:29 pm

Slots and casinos are a huge part of Asian countries such as Thailand. Thailand has a vast history of gambling as the local Siamese played almost 100 gambling games including betting on bullfights. Soon traders and foreigners came in and introduced them to more such games which made gambling a lot more common.

Gambling in Asia today has come a long way from that time. The Asiancasinoclub helps bring gamblers in Asia together. Modern gambling takes many forms and slots are just one of them. They are the most fun and exciting part of gambling as they make it seem extra easy.

Slots and Movies

Slot machines have always had a wide audience and this is why they often take up on popular movies to please their audiences. If there are two things in this world that have a cult following, they are media and gambling. Hence bringing them together is the ultimate business move.

There are a number of movie-based slots on films such as the Jurassic Park franchise, Lord of the Rings movies, Marvel Universe, Star Wars, and Justice League. These are enjoyed by the fans with all their hearts as they bring their two passions together.

Slots and Asian Movies

As times change it can be seen that people are open to more foreign forms of media. This has also led to the popularity of Asian shows and movies. From Parasite winning the Oscar for Best Film to Squid Game becoming the most streamed show on Netflix and topping the charts in 90+ countries it’s clear that media consumption is taking a new turn.

This is why now more and more slot machine developers are turning to Asian movies to inspire them. Soon we will see countless such slots being developed. Casinos and slots are a business and they cater to what their customers want. As long as there is a continued demand for such slots, they will surely be delivered.

Slots Inspired by Asian Movies

Even though the list of Asian movie-inspired slots is less, there are still a couple that have already been developed and are loved by many. Let us have a look at them below!

Ghost in the Shell

Ghost in the Shell is a movie based on a famous anime with the same name. The movie was loved and appreciated by fans all over the world. The slot machine by the same name is based on the anime and movie. It is one of the best slots with high payouts.

City Life

The slot City Life has not been developed based on one particular film but multiple. This slot takes characters from well-known media in Asia and presents them in a very fun way. These include the movies Asura: The City of Madness, New World, and Godspeed.    

Conclusion

Movies have inspired slot games for decades and Asian movies are now entering this arena. With the popularity of Asian cinema, it is only a matter of time before the Asian-movie-inspired slot machines take over the online gambling world!

Casino-Based Movies That Are Worth Watching 6 Apr 2021, 7:29 am

There is no shortage of casino-based movies. From the classic casino-based movies to the present day, casinos and gambling have remained as one of the top choices of movie directors and producers. Some directors have portrayed it well, while others may have not. 

If you are a sucker for casino movies supported by a good storyline, start binge-watching from now as the list is long enough to sort you out for a week. 

Here are some of the best casino-based movies one shouldn’t miss out on. 

The Cooler

Directed by Wayne Kramer, the Cooler is too cool. The main character, ‘the cooler,’ is played by William H. Macy. Cooler is a person that is employed to stand beside the casino game tables because his luck is so bad. Such that standing beside the gamblers will make them out of luck too. 

But to the exception, the Cooler’s luck is revived, and he suddenly becomes the lucky charm of every gambler in Vegas, making it worse for the casino owner who employs him. 

The Cooler is a great watch that provides insights into the casino’s superstitions and the best online casino promotion, and the concept of luck. 

Rounder

Rounders again is an excellent casino movie that revolves around the journey of an entrepreneur. This man, played by Matt Damon, pays his university fees through his winnings on a poker table. 

If you would love to see a poker game in action along with its strategies, this movie is right for you. The other appearances of the film John Malkovich and Edward Norton, make the film more exciting and entertaining with their poker deals. 

The Gambler

Those who play irresponsibly should watch this movie as they can relate to the character of the movie. The lead character played by James Cann is a university professor who is addicted to casino gambling. 

This movie rightly depicts how addictive gambling can lead to a person’s self-destruction. The story deals with how his situation and quality of life worsens as he kept increasing his borrowings to meet his losses. 

The story also has a brilliant climax. 

21

21 is a modern classic based on a true story. It tells a tale of the math professor played by Kevin Spacey. It trains a group of brilliant students on how to count cards in major casinos. 

Everything that happens thereafter is a brilliant show of excellence, trickery, betrayal, and much more. Weren’t based on a true story, no one would have actually believed in the storyline. 

The Sting

This movie revolves around two con men played by Paul Newman and Robert Redford. One of them plays a beginner gambler while the other is a professional. They both together target a criminal boss who loves to gamble. 

The movie is full of twists and turns to keep you hooked to the long extended con. As a viewer, you will be hooked on how the protagonist in the movie gets out of the danger level till the end. Not to mention, Casino Royale and Casino are two other casino classic movies that need no formal introduction.

Review: Dutch Roulette; know what you are getting into 11 Sep 2020, 9:53 am

This new movie by director Louwrens Prins shows a lot of promise, especially if you look at the cast that is made up by up and coming actors such as Cody Nova, Max Parker and Elize March. The game is obviously about the casino game roulette, but not in a way that you may think. It shows the pitfalls of the new online casino’s, but it is still a positive family movie. After watching this movie, you’ll learn that you can safely play at an online casino. You just need to be careful in the beginning. Since it’s such a relevant topic, we decided to include this review in our list, even though it doesn’t have the genre that we usually like to watch.

Roulette is calling

The movie starts with a young Ivan Ventura (magnificently portrayed by Cody Nova), who sits behind his laptop trying to write his college essay. Unable to concentrate, he starts surfing the web until he stumbles upon an ad saying online roulette spellen en casino bonussen. As he is only 17 years old and therefore doesn’t have the legal age to visit a casino yet, he thinks it’s cool to try out some online roulette. Soon he finds himself playing roulette online and losing all of his money. We see him sweat and in this scene Cody Nova shows some of his best acting yet… desperate after losing all of his money to a Dutch roulette casino.

Friends may help

Ivans best friend is the always responsible Philip Douglas. This is the first person he runs to the next day. Philip agrees to lend him some money as long as he doesn’t spend it on online casino games. He even promises to keep this problem a secret from Ivans parents and girlfriend Elly Steele (played by Elize March). But as you can imagine, the first thing that Ivan does when he receives his friends’ money is play some more at the casino until he loses that amount as well. He calls his friend Philip to come to his house and shows him the ad that started it all. The one that read online roulette spelen en casino bonussen. To Ivans surprise Philip gets interested too and wants to start playing himself, but the boys have no money.

Odd jobs do the trick

In the following couple of days, we see the boys trying to pretend to lead their lives normally while keeping their secrets from their families. Who are suspicious about the reasons for the boys to suddenly want jobs. Mostly because they cannot seem to keep any job and the gambling is getting out of control. They are each spending about €5.000 every day.

Plot twist

If you don’t like spoilers, please do not read on. In the end of the movie, you’ll be amazed with a great plot twist. This happens when Elly is alone in Ivans room waiting for him to come home from work. Totally bored, she opens a random drawer where she finds a lot of money. When Ivan gets home it is revealed that the boys have not really been gambling. They have just played the roulette games for free with the €5.000 daily demo money. The money in Ivans drawer is the amount he has saved up to go to college. If you are interested to know more about these games you can read more about them on Asiancasinocentral.com/review/casinox/.

Will casino movies be based on online casinos in the future? – Interview with Karamba Casino 9 Jul 2020, 4:06 pm

Will casino movies be based on online casinos in the future? – Interview with Karamba Casino

It’s no secret that some of the world’s most beloved action movies have casino settings—think Ocean’s Eleven, 21, and Casino Royale. What could be a better setting than a casino, especially one on the Las Vegas strip? The fast-paced nature, ample drinks, and huge bankrolls are the perfect backdrop to a film about playing with high stakes. At BluRayFilmer, we certainly see the appeal.

However, like all segments of life, the gambling industry has been changed by the advent of technology and the accessibility of the internet. This has led to online wagering platforms like Karamba Casino 2025 gaining a loyal following. The days of land-based casino gambling certainly hasn’t evaporated. However, an estimated 1.6 billion people gamble online these days. We sat down with staff from Karamba Casino 2025 to get their opinion on an important debate: will casino movies be based on the top online casinos in the future?

Is online gambling exciting enough to be filmed?

We had to ask Karamba Casino 2025 the most important question first. Is online gambling, well, exciting? What’s the potential for real money winnings, and how do wagering sites keep gamblers engaged? Karamba Casino 2025 had some answers for us.

First of all, they assured us that players around the world win real money every day. It’s not just a few pounds here and there, either. The biggest online progressive jackpot prize was over 18,000,000 pounds on a single spin. That’s a decent enough sum on the line to generate tension and intrigue before.

As far as how gamblers stay engaged with the games themselves, Karamba Casino 2025 had some unexpected insight. They told us that slot games come in a wide variety of exciting themes from hundreds of the best software developers. They’re fast-paced, exciting, and attractive. There are also other games available, including online blackjack, which made us think back to the 21 film. It certainly sounds like there’s some potential to portray the drama and excitement of gambling at casino sites.

Any ideas about how these films could portray the online gambling industry?

To our surprise, Karamba Casino 2025 did have some interesting and unique ideas for films. First, they explained the possibility of creating a movie that incorporates CGI. The film could show how immersive slot machines can be by adapting the scene to plunge viewers into the same world as the player. Online slot machines come in plenty of different themes—fantasy, outer space, retro, and plenty others.

They also offered the idea to focus on live dealer games. Karamba Casino 2025 explained that live games can include blackjack, poker, baccarat, or roulette. There’s an actual dealer in a land-based casino or studio that’s filmed and streamed live to the everyone at the virtual table. Players can even live chat with each other or the dealer in some cases.

Will there be online gambling films?

These are all exciting ideas that have major Blockbuster potential. Either a Ready Player One or Matrix inspired CGI film could be visually stunning. And there’s no doubt that the incorporation of live dealer games could generate plenty of action and drama. Films could showcase international players gambling and winning cash simultaneously across the globe. Only time will tell if the top online casinos will be featured in film.

Breakthrough: Believe In Miracles 9 May 2019, 6:55 am

Breakthrough: Believe In Miracles

‘Please God, don’t take my son!’ This quote of a mother pleading with God for her son’s life becomes the golden thread of the movie Breakthrough (2019). After falling through the ice and being under water for 15 minutes, the medical professionals had no hope of survival for the 14-year old John Smith (Marcel Ruiz).  Only his mother Joyce (Chrissy Metz) did not give up and continued to pray and talk to her son until the impossible became possible.

This Christian drama, directed by Roxanne Dawson and produced by Unanimous Media for 20th Century Fox,is an inspirational faith-based movie that allows believers and non-believers alike to experience the close encounter of death and life, whilst exploring the unrelenting love of a mother fighting for her son’s life. The film is based on book ‘The Impossible’ written by the main character Joyce Smith who is played out in the movie by Chrissy Metz from the top US-series ‘This Is Us’.

John’s (Marcel Ruiz) parents Joyce and Brian Smith (Josh Lucas) adopted the boy of Guatemalan descent and although being dearly cared for and supported, John struggles with feelings of abandonment from his birth parents and so battles to fully accept his adopted parents love. The film follows John’s feelings of alienation from his family and friends. In class, John had to present an assignment on his family background. Trying to get out of it, he is warned by his basketball coach to get good grades in order to play with the team. John returns to class and gives a half-hearted account telling everyone that he doesn’t know much as everyone knows that he is adopted.

Soon after, John and his two friends, Josh and Reiger (named after his surname as his first name is also Josh) go hang out on a frozen lake. A close resident tells the boys to the leave the lake, as the ice is thin, but the teenagers ignore the warning and continue walking on the iced-over lake. Soon after, the icy surface cracks, and all three fall  into the freezing cold water. The two other boys make it out of the piercing cold water, but John stays stuck under the icy surface.

What follows is the unfolding of a miracle. John is rushed to hospital and about to be declared dead by the doctor. Joyce gets a last chance to say goodbye to her son and in that moment she begs God to spare his life....

This point is known as the climax or the ‘Plot Pivot Point’ which (according to tvtropes) is a specific moment during the story where “if something different had happened, or if some character had made a different decision, the entire plot would collapse and there would be no story left to tell.” Fortunately, a dramatic miracle happened at this point!  In a memorable moment of poignancy that will touch your heart, the mother Joyce, sitting at her son’s hospital bedside while he’s still in a coma with no medical reason for him to recover, speaks to him in defiant love and hope saying, “You are my pride and joy, I can’t wait to see you shoot those baskets and run up and down again.”

Soon after a faint heartbeat becomes visible on the monitor and the medical staff rush back in the room to stabilize the young man. Although being hopeful, the attendant physician warns the parents that John’s chances of survival are  slim. Nevertheless, Joyce continues to pray and assembles her church to pray for and believe in John’s full recovery.

Alongside the central story of John’s relationship with his parents, a strong sub-plot that adds depth to the film is the story of the rescue worker Tommy Shine (Mike Colter) and his own God-encounter during the rescue mission. Also, Joyce’s relationship with the pastor of their church gives another element of strong characterisation.

As in John’s real life, the film’s impact is powerful. The audience is left to wonder: why did John survive when so many others in that situation would have died? A further plot twist  shows John returning to school after being discharged from the hospital, where everyone is incredulous that he survived this ordeal. Despite a somewhat predictable storyline, the film captivates its audience through Joyce’s faith which shines through, and her unrelenting determination to push through and believe in the impossible. Thanks to the strong plot and characters driving the film , viewers can’t help but be left feeling uplifted,  maybe even with a renewed belief in miracles. At the fundamental level, although this is a Christian film, its message is truly universal: it inspires you to believe in the unlimited power of the human spirit to survive even the most deadly situations, and it’s an enduring testament to the passionate, visceral intensity of a mother’s love for her child.

Avengers Endgame: The Most Anticipated Film Ever Does Not Disappoint 9 May 2019, 6:48 am

Avengers Endgame

Avengers Endgame: The Most Anticipated Film Ever Does Not Disappoint

Sensational, entertaining and emotionally riveting - Avengers: Endgame is the grand finale of the pop sci-fi genre’s behemoth: Marvel’s ‘Infinity’ Saga. The film tells the story of the Avengers team that after having survived the destruction caused by the evil Thanos (Josh Brolin), allies together to repair what has been broken.

Probably the most anticipated movie of all time, its budget is one of the highest ever (estimated between USD $300-600) so you can expect a truly awesome spectacle that pushes film-making to new limits: state-of-the-art special effects, creation of an immersive sci-fi world, and a star-studded cast that includes Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Gwyneth Paltrow and Bradley Cooper.  The movie forms part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) franchise which has made a staggering USD $ 18 trillion from its 22 films. That places this franchise firmly in the #1 spot for most successful of all time. No other film franchise has been as successful in capturing the global collective imagination.

Avengers: Endgame is a 2019 American Sci-Fi superhero film based on the characters of the popular Marvel Comic’s Avengers team. The Disney film is produced by Marvel Studios, and it carries on and concludes the story from the previous Avengers: Infinity Wars (2018) feature film.

The movie starts off in space with a badly injured Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) aka Iron Man, saying goodbye to his secretary-turned-lover Virginia ‘Pepper’ Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) on his abandoned and broken spaceship.

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The wounds he sustained in Avengers: Infinity Wars were healed by Nebula (Karen Gillan) but the ship could not be repaired and the Avengers resources are dwindling. Thinking that he won’t survive to see the next day dawn, he records an emotional goodbye message.

But (thankfully!) this is not where the story was destined to end. Hope is restored soon after when Stark gets rescued by Captain Marvel (Brie Larson). A completely famished Stark is taken to the Avenger headquarters with Nebula where they meet Pepper, Steve (Chris Evans), Rhodey (Don Cheadle), Natasha Romanoff alias Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo). Together, the Avengers decide to find Thanos and the Infinity Stones to reverse the damage that was done in the film prequels. Without spoiling the movie ending, let’s just say that there is a very  satisfying conclusion to this film and the epic series as a whole. Order is restored, life on planet earth can carry on!

With Avengers: Endgame,  the epic 10-year long film saga that began in 2008 with Iron Man reached its finale with a well-executed movie. Although a high-standard was set by previous films in the franchise, unbelievable attention and detail has been put into the film by  the producers, writers and especially the director duo Anthony and Joe Russo. They once again delivered an action-filled yet still emotionally tender work of modern film pop-art.

The international premiere of the film was on the 22nd of April 2019 in the USA and since then the movie has received numerous awards and broken box office records. So far the movie has been recorded as the highest grossing movie of 2019 (USD $1.2 billion).  

Fans from all over the world have anticipated the movie and with Disney marketing the feature film for months, the film reached the zenith of superhero fandom zeal. Yes - Avengers: Endgame received massive applause from a wide global audience.  The bar has now been set so high that it will be difficult for any superhero movie to even come close to this masterpiece. It’s justifiably called the most anticipated movie ever, and it does not disappoint!

Dumbo – A Flying Tale Comes Alive Once Again. 9 May 2019, 6:46 am

Dumbo

Dumbo – A Flying Tale Comes Alive Once Again.

Dumbo is Tim Burton’s new fantasy adventure that tells the legendary story of the flying elephant Dumbo.   The movie is based on the Walt Disney animated picture Dumbo (1941) and follows the lives of the circus family who raises a cuddly baby elephant that flaps his oversized ears and wins every audience member with his long-lashed, large and expressive marble brown eyes.

With big names, such as Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Eva Green, Alan Arkin or Danny DeVito, Burton lures the audience into a wondrous adventure packed with thrills, fun and emotion. Based on the 64-minute original feature film, Burton’s movie is a remarkable remake, but probably less memorable than the other Disney’s revamps that are currently gaining screen time (The Lion King, Jungle Book, Aladdin and so on). 

Having on board screenwriter Ehren Kruger (Transformers, The Brothers Grimm), the story has vastly expanded from its original. More human characters are added to the story, which adds depth, yet takes away intrigue. The characters do not develop as the story unfolds, which adds a superficial tone to the remake. However, the main character Dumbo is irresistibly cute and adorable, and is complemented by a colourful cast of human sidekicks .

The story opens up in 1919, right after the war  introducing us to Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell) - a World War I amputee and show horse-riding performer.  Holt the former soldier, returns to the now financially struggling Medici Brothers’ Circus, managed by Max Medici (Danny DeVito). Since most of the elephants  had to be sold to make ends meet, Holt gets reassigned to take care of the pregnant Asian elephant ‘Mrs Jumbo’. After the mother gives birth to the calf, it is soon detected that the newborn is special- it’s got giant ears! Medici tries to hide the calf’s oversized ears, but they are discovered by a cheering and mocking audience, naming the baby elephant Dumbo. Mrs Jumbo is shocked and goes onto stage to defend her son, which results in damages to the circus. Soon after, Medici decides to sell the mother thus separating the two.  The young motherless elephant Dumbo goes on an emotional journey to adapt to his new world and find his mother. Dumbo is now isolated and his watery goo-goo eyes express his fear and burning longing for his mother. Fortunately Dumbo makes two new circus friends - Joe and Milly Farrier (Nico Parker and Finley Hobbins), who are also the children of caretaker Holt. They comfort baby Dumbo and discover his amazing ability to fly!

Thanks to Burton’s rich imagination and lush visual tapestries, through  impressive animation and state of the art CGI effects, the film achieves a great level of  realism while the nuanced portrayal of the main characters touch the hearts of the viewers on a deeper level than expected. The audience’s journey is intense and full of mesmerising spectacles that draw the viewer into a world of fairytale magic. So the tale of  Dumbo has once again come to life. Despite its weaknesses, Tim Burton’s Dumbo is a fun and rewarding film with an uplifting message. It tells us to just ‘be yourself and fly’.

The 2019 Hellboy Reboot Is Hot.. But Half-Baked 9 May 2019, 6:20 am

Hellboy Reboot

The 2019 Hellboy Reboot Is Hot.. But Half-Baked

Hellboy is back for 2019’s reboot. But is it half baked? Read on to find out. This time Hellboy emerges from the countryside of Scotland where he is told to battle the Blood Queen Nimue (Milla Jovovich) who is an ancient witch aiming to revenge a past betrayal.  As one character says “Somewhere out there there’s a 5th century sorceress who wants to bring down the curtain on London and the world.” Hellboy responds with his characteristic understated humour: “Great, homework!”

So it’s game on  for the modern Hellboy to save the earth from annihilation by ancient magic.

Hellboy 2019 is a superhero action film based on the Dark Horse Comics. The feature film is directed by Neil Marshall and stars David Harbour as the lead character. Alongside him, the movie stars great names, such as Milla Jovovich and Ian McShane. The movie is the third one in this franchise and a retake of the original Hellboy film series.

The movie was released into theatres in the United States on 12 April 2019. Although harshly criticized for an idiotic plot with too many apocalyptic fears, worn out clichés and stereotypical story problems, David Harbour rescues the film because he excels once again in his own version of the supernatural character.

The dark world adventure calls half-demon Hellboy to fight against the powers of evil- and who can resist getting caught up in the action! With his sharpened sword, glowing horns, and his epic iron-fist, he is sent off on an apocalyptic mission: He has to stop the sorceress Nimue, the monster Gruagach and many other mystical beings who want to destroy the earth and every living creature on it.

The backstory of Hellboy’s origins is that he was originally created as a hellish demon with a mission to destroy the earth but was interrupted and transformed into an ironic super-hero now enlisted to protect human civilisation. Sent onto a mission by Broom to England, Nimue cuts a trail of devastation through England. Now Hellboy and his teammates Anna (Sasha Lane) and Ben (Daniel Dae Kim) are not only confronted with an army of  darkness, but also with their own demons.

The plot hinges on  the evil witch Nimue’s plan not only to destroy the world, but to tempt Hellboy to help her! She even tries to reason with him: “Why do you fight for those who hate and fear you? You were meant for this. Out of the ashes,  a new Eden will emerge.” This clever play on identity, purpose, and power is the crux of the film and drives the plot and character tension to its satisfying conclusion.

In the  final analysis, this movie has some strengths like David Harbour’s credible acting which adds tons of conviction and gumption to the role of Hellboy - but this is a role that needs every ounce of it. On the weak side, the film lacks the coherence and execution that would make it truly memorable. There is just too much going on in the plot, so in the end, it doesn’t stick together and the film unravels into a series of gratuitous CGI-effects and fantasy battle scenes. For die-hard Hellboy fans, this film has its moments worth savouring, but for the rest of us, it’s more like visual fodder- unsatisfying, bland and ultimately, unfulfilling. So although Hellboy 2019 is luke warm and has its moments, it’s ultimately only half-baked.

Stephen King Says The New Pet Sematary Movie Is Scary. Don’t Say We Didn’t Warn You 9 May 2019, 4:57 am

Pet Sematary

Stephen King Says The New Pet Sematary Movie Is Scary. Don’t Say We Didn’t Warn You

2019’s release of Pet Sematary is a successful remake  of the 1989 film of the same name. The films are screen versions  of the serial writer Stephen King who is a master of the suspense and horror genre.  Hallmarks of this movie are a gripping, good plot that keeps viewers on their toes, a strong cast with excellent performances, and a feeling of ever-increasing dread. Top it all with some wonderfully black comedy  and you have all the requisites for a compelling film that stands out from the crowd.

Directed by Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer they quickly set the tone of inescapable doom like a pervasive fog that settles and stifles. That’s the perfect setting for the horror of the burial ground to be unearthed and unleashed. The plot pivots around the main characters who are part of the Creed family. The titular ‘Pet Sematary’ is a certain ancient burial place for family pets that has acquired the profane power to bring dead phantom animals back from the grave. A battle ensues against the forces of darkness in animal form that takes the human characters to hell and back!

The tale of the Creed family comes across as very human and all the more terrifying because the audience can experience every scare and new horror as it  it were happening to them. Jason Clarke takes the helm as character Louis Creed - a doctor who moves his family to a small town in Maine, including his daughter Ellie and her cat. They move into a rustic red house that’s a converted barn which is quaint - almost idyllic. But not quite! There’s a foreboding pet cemetery near the house. Its mis-spelt sign for ‘cemetery’ becomes a symbol for what else is about to go wrong. However, the really uncanny phenomenon is that the local kids have a  quasi-pagan habit of making a procession to the ‘sematary’ to bury their dead pets- while wearing animal masks! Once Ellie’s beloved cat named ‘Church’ dies and is buried- this time unfortunately for the Creeds, the dead just don’t stay dead.

There is an incremental and methodical build up from start to gruesome finish that makes for a  show stopping and blood-curdling finale. But to get there, you’ve got to watch every twist and turn. The otherwise excruciating suspense is tactfully alleviated at just the right times with some morbidly comedic moments. The young Ellie Creed - played by Jeté Laurence- is a talented actress who takes the limelight and convincingly portrays an angry girl stuck in the  midst of an outlandish supernatural storm. The rest of the Creed family work well in coming across as an authentic bunch which underpins the emotional fulcrum to lever the tension because the more the audience identifies with the  characters, the more intense the film!

By spinning off the original book, writer Jeff Buhler has adapted the Pet Sematary story well from the book of Stephen King. It even got Mr King’s nod of approval on Twitter: when he tweeted: “This is a scary movie. Be warned.” Now if Stephen King reckons it’s scary, we’ll take his word for it. But watch for  yourself and see if you agree? We dare you!

The Curse Of La Llorana Might Get You On The Edge Of Your Seat, But Won’t Keep You There 8 May 2019, 6:22 am

The Curse Of La Llorana

The Curse Of La Llorana Might Get You On The Edge Of Your Seat, But Won’t Keep You There

The 2019 film The Curse of La Llorana is a fresh installment of the blockbuster ‘Conjuring’ franchise of horror/thriller movies which all feature a common supernatural haunting/possession/ghostly/phantom theme. Although it’s got some mainstream commercial appeal, the overly familiar formulas for each film mean that this film struggles to rise above the mark left by previous incarnations.

It features the ghoulish protagonist who is the ancient ghost of a murderous mother, out looking for more kids to carve up. The film is  directed by Michael Chaves who makes his feature debut. The supernatural theme using haunting/paranormal activities is continued, but there is an emotive connection established with the main set of characters (one family) that brings a deftness and intensity to an otherwise unremarkable film.

This is the 6th movie of the franchise - a series that has a definite retro feel (mostly set in the 70’s) while another common thread is an evil female phantom hell-bent on destruction. Cinematically, each film features long lens tracking shots which follow the movement of the subject. This optical effect helps to add suspense and an atmosphere of uncertainty to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. With this  technique, since you can’t see a wide angle shot of what’s around the corner, it first conceals and then dramatically reveals the surprise elements - much to the horror of the viewers.

The film starts with a prologue set in 17th  century Mexico. There we discover that the real-life model of the ‘Weeping Woman’ of their folklore  was supposed to have drowned her own children. She was then cursed to look for other children to kill...forever. Fast forward a few centuries to 1970s LA, and we join our main protagonists at a time  soon after the events of the Annabelle movie - a prequel from the Conjuring Franchise. The mainstay of this film that keeps the ship sailing is Linda Cardellini in the role of Anna Tate-Gardia. Linda’s character is a social worker who was  widowed. She unwittingly releases the spirit of the deadly La Llorana while trying to intervene and save the children of the (apparently) mentally disturbed mother Patricia. As is revealed in a clever plot twist, Patricia was not crazy - she was just acting that way to try to protect her beloved kids.

Thanks to her background in social work where she had to deal with her own set of horrors, though of a more mundane and altogether less phantasmagorical sort, Cardellini brings a  hardened character full of tenacity to the role of Anna. To his credit, Director Michael Chaves ratchets up the tension- a significant achievement considering this is his feature film debut. The stand-out scenes are when the children are alone, trying to fend for themselves against La Llorana.

Overall the formulaic nature of the movie, as well as internal inconsistencies of plot and  the laws of physics (albeit supernatural) erode the film’s potential. The rehashed formulaic elements of pace, plot, and suspense mean that  alas, viewers of the the 5 previous installments of the conjuring franchise have seen it all before. Despite the strengths of characterization and the attempt to add  depth through the ‘folklore’ plot device, this film fails to convey a unified or meaningful story. That’s why The Curse Of La Llorana might have you on the edge of your seat for a time, but it won’t keep you there.