After (2012)

Very, very rarely I rate a 10. In this case I just had to because of the ridiculous 5,5 overall. And I don't even like romance movies! Normally I'm more "all for action and excitement" type of guy, but this title caught my eye via IMDb's "you might like this" object. So I took the risk and went out to catch a copy of the movie. Money well spent! Don't look at this movie as an action movie or complete fantasy fairytale. But look at this movie as the "this could also be an option" kind of film. You will know what I mean after you have seen it. So, even though I'm not the "drama", "romantic" or "fairytale" type and very much enjoyed this movie. Do not be fooled by some reviews that the acting was below average, because it was not!

Fmovies: I think most people will have more issues with the pacing than the story. Of course that doesn't mean that those same people will not be able to see where this is going (no pun intended). But if you can get yourself into the mood of the movie, you might actually enjoy it. It's slow building and the atmosphere it builds (nice framing/photography) is really good.

Of course quite a lot is depending on the two main actors for obvious reasons. I think they're doing a pretty solid job. So while this is nothing to get over-excited about, it still can make for a nice little watch, if you like movies like that

I freely admit, at first going in, I was more than a bit skeptical, but the key here is, you have to stick with it to really appreciate the concept, and the message.

Kudos to a well crafted story, even if it was produced with a very minimal budget. Sometimes, a good film doesn't need huge production extravaganza effects and big name stars to convey a concept that will stick with you, make you remember and perhaps think just a bit.

This is just such an example.

I won't even attempt to explain the story as it unfolds, as that would risk possible unintentional spoilers, so nary a clue here.

I'm not familiar with Jason Parish or Ryan Smith, but they deserve considerable credit for creating so much with so little, and really making it work.

Karolina Wydra's performance was maybe a bit overly expressive, but then again, she is something of a cartoon character come to life as it were, so perhaps that caricature is the perfect match for her part here. OK, that's just a clue . . .

Anyway, even if this is not your usual cup of tea, I'd say give it a watch, you're not likely to regret the time spent.

After fmovies. Like one of the Twilight Zone episodes. It starts out as sci-fi, then seems to move to supernatural/horror, then revealed as a psychological thriller and love story. I thought acting was competent, dialog intelligent, well-made for such a tiny budget.

You never quite know where this film is going, full of surprises and unexpected twists, even when you think you see where it is going. The empty small town may be remind you of "Where is Everyone?" (the first episode of Twilight Zone), but from there it takes off in its own direction, never staying in the same direction for long.

There are hints that this is a dream, but not enough to spoil the plot.

I just watched the movie After on Netflix. I don't recall having heard anything about it previously, no reviews or anything of the sort. I was pleased with what I saw.

It's difficult to discuss the movie without giving anything away and there are other movies with similar premises, but this one was well-executed.

Two strangers from the same town meet one another on a bus, with a bit of abbreviated and failed flirtation, shortly before there is a severe accident. The next thing we know they are the only two people apparently alive and active in their town. There are no corpses and no signs of life beyond the two of them. Surrounding the town is a wall of black, swirling mist with lightning and thunder active within it...and the wall is closing in.

It doesn't take altogether too long before the two protagonists discuss the possibility that they might both be dead, so they aren't as stupid as the characters in a lot of movies along these lines. We get to know them both pretty well along the way, through surprisingly natural conversation and glimpses into the past, without a lot of unnecessary exposition.

I won't go into any further details, you'll need to watch it yourself if you want those, but the acting is good and the production quality is high enough that it doesn't feel like a low budget movie at all. It's always kind of nice to go into watching a movie without any idea what to expect and to be pleasantly surprised.

When seeing the trailer for After for the first time, I was a bit skeptical. But the story peaked my interest. What I walked out of was a refreshing take on the genre of the thriller. I can't go into a "scary"movie anymore without watching either someone demon possessed (not really my thing) or girls and guys getting ripped to shreds by some mutant human. Sure, I love my Shining and even a little Evil Dead, but too much realistic gore just takes me out of the story. So, it was awesome to see a well acted, great looking film that had all the suspense I needed without the explicit gore. Lead Steven Strait did a wonderful job as our hero, while Karolina Wydra was captivating and easy to root for. What I loved most about this story was the idea of these moments that connect us that we may not even be aware of. How many people do you pass on the street that you may have played with as a kid, lived next door to, or more? Check out After. It offers plenty of thrills for the thrill seekers and yet also gives us a heart-warming story we unfortunately don't get to see in the Hollywood thriller anymore.