1: HARRY HE’S HERE TO HELP
OFFICIAL PLOT (wiki)
Middle-class couple Michel (Laurent Lucas) and Claire (Mathilde Seigner) have a chance meeting with Harry (Sergi López), a high school acquaintance of Michel’s. Starting with that meeting, Harry, traveling with his girlfriend Plum (Sophie Guillemin), becomes obsessed with Michel and Claire and begins to have a profound and damaging effect on the young couple.
MY THOUGHTS
it’s very hard to fault the French in filmmaking. They are on top of their game and covering all genres. My favourite horror movie is French (and I’ve seen them all) and my favourite comedy is also french. I have watched a hell of a lot of movies in my time so being able to pick out two all time favorites is saying something.
This is a well crafted and creepy thriller with a nice blend of dark humour. The moment you are introduced to Harry you know something isn’t right with him. He still manages to play the nice guy but at the same time leave you with a constant sense of doubt.
This is a great thriller but wouldn’t be suited to everyone but if you’re into a good Hitchcock psychological type movie then I highly recommend it
2: A COMPANY MAN
OFFICIAL PLOT (wiki)
Hyeong-do (So Ji-sub) wears a suit and tie like any other rank-and-file white-collar worker… except his profession is hitman. Seemingly a section chief in the sales division of a metal fabrication company that is actually a front for an organization of hit men, Hyeong-do is regarded as one of the best contract killers in the business and is up for promotion soon. One day, he meets a single mother named Su-yeon (Lee Mi-yeon) and instantly falls in love. Feeling guilty about his bloody past, Hyeong-do tries to quit the “manufacturer” to the surprise of his colleagues and his enemies. Seen as a loose end, he is immediately hunted down by his former employers
MY THOUGHTS
Just like the French. The Koreans are also on top of their game in filmmaking, and probably more so than anyone else, with American remakes like the fantastic “departed” pulling in A-list actors and making millions at the box office. It isn’t any wonder America is still to this day turning to Korea with their unimaginative little minds for their regurgitation’s.
This film would be for fans of films like “man from nowhere”. It has everything you would want from a Korean thriller. Superb acting with beautifully choreographed fight scenes and action sequences, a huge body count, an original story and a few twists and turns along the way. Granted this isn’t the finest Korean thriller that I’ve seen but in saying that the bar has been set really high with the huge range of superb Korean masterpieces released over the years. Miles better than any big budget Hollywood movie but just not as good as some of Korean greats and some ideas are borrowed from the likes of “a bittersweet life” but don’t let that put you off, this is still one hell of a movie.
3: GRACELAND
OFFICIAL PLOT (IMDB)
When a kidnapping goes wrong, a desperate father risks everything to save his daughter from the men who hold her captive.
MY THOUGHTS
After watching an impressive horror movie from the Philippines last year. I was thinking that it’s only a matter of time before they start making their mark. Graceland is a fantastic thriller that took me surprise. The only thing I read about the movie was what was written on imdb (posted above). So I knew that it was about a kidnapping that goes wrong. What I didn’t know was how it went wrong and what has to be don’t to prevent it from getting worse. A certain scene took me by surprise and completely flipped the boat and changed the storyline into a far more tense and impressive little thriller with great performances from all.
Since watching this film I have looked into upcoming releases from the Philippines and there is two films that I’m pretty sure is gonna be fantastic. One is called “KABISERA” and the other is called “METRO MANILLA”. I’ll be writing about both movies in a new upcoming foreign thrillers post in the next few days.
4: THE ELITE SQUAD: THE ENEMY WITHIN
OFFICIAL PLOT (imdb)
After a prison riot, former-Captain Nascimento, now a high ranking security officer in Rio de Janeiro, is swept into a bloody political dispute that involves government officials and paramilitary groups.
MY THOUGHTS
This film is flawless is every way. To say that I was impressed would be a lie. I was fucking blown away by this movie and I knew I would be. The first instalment was breathtaking and extremely refreshing to see the tables turn and see the action through the eyes of the BOPE. The swat team that is sent into the slums of Rio de Janeiro to seize drugs and kill without hesitation.
The enemy within is a continuation of the first film although it’s set years later and follows Captain Nascimento from the first film and after a bloody riot at one of the prisons he is promoted. So the film follows him and all the lies greed and corruption right from the top of the chain. An astounding piece of filmmaking that is impossible to dislike.
