Leofwine_draca

Italian horror films are a scarcity these days, and this latest American/Italian co-production is notable for being particularly lightweight and predictable. Apparently a labour of love for star Sydney Sweeney, it tells a familiar story about Sweeney's character heading to a convent and uncovering the usual dark conspiracy therein. The first half of this is all the usual set-up, not too bad at all, but the second half really lets rip with one over the top scene of contrivance after another. It's fairly graphic at times but predictable with it, and it unfortunately gets more and more predictable as the running time progresses, ending in the most generic way imaginable.

ROBOCROC is a typical Z-grade monster flick about a rampaging killer crocodile, with the twist that this time it's a mechanical monster. This doesn't really add much to the monster rampage plot, which plays out as a cheesy rip-off of PIRANHA 3D for the most part, other than having a few scenes on computer screens with the usual boffins and technicians. The film is saddled with wooden performances from the likes of Keith Duffy and the usual nonsense level CGI effects used to animate the crocodile; even worse, it steps back from delivering the kind of bloodshed and mayhem demanded by the horror lover. Stick with PIRANHA...

OUT OF SEASON is a dullish three-hander set in an empty hotel occupied by mother Vanessa Redgrave, daughter Susan George, and interloper Cliff Robertson. That kind of character trio has been utilised superbly in the classic ONIBABA and its pseudo remake FAR NORTH, but sadly this drama fails to ignite the screen in the same way. The film was based on a play and thus feels extremely static, conversation based and with little to no incident throughout. Of the characters, Redgrave is stuck with a bore, Robertson a sleaze, and only George makes any impression as the wilful daughter, although her role seems a reprise of her one in the far superior STRAW DOGS.