Chu Yen-ping's A Home Too Far (Yi Yu, '90)POSITIVES
* Sad, grand, operatic score by Ricky Ho
* Relentless, big scale war violence
* Stunning cinematography
* Grim tone
* Emotionally engaging love story
* Authentic atmosphere of menace and tragedy
* Career-defining performance by Chun Hsiung Ko
* Wrap-up is an absolute downer
NEGATIVES
* Inappropriate use of sped-up horse riding footage
* Terrible theatrical and non-theatrical distribution
* DVD is taken from 1"master and features tape tears
Uwe Boll's Seed (2008)POSITIVES
* Incredible one-shot sequence in which serial killer bludgeons the face of his female victim to a pulp (she is tied to a chair)
* Audacious slamming of infant into a pole.
* Moody cinematography
NEGATIVES
* Hand-held style kills the tension
* The performers overact
* Script recycles cliches over and over again
Johan Vandewoestijne's Lucker ('86)
POSITIVES
* In grossest sequence, title character plays with corpse, then licks his fingers.
* Grim, misogynistic vibe
* Detestable protagonist
* Necrophilia focus
NEGATIVES
* Extremely slow and boring
* Direction is inept
* Poorly lit
* Zero characterization
* Victims are ciphers
* Wants to be disgusting and disturbing, but is undone by its amateurishness
Dennis Yu's The Beasts (Shan kou, '80)POSITIVES
* Hong Kong-produced mix of The Hills Have Eyes and I Spit On Your Grave
* The Michael Berryman replacement is a naturally ugly retard and the movie benefits greatly from his presence
* Unrepentant use of copyrighted music
* Rainstorm climax beautifully shot
* Cavalier disregard for human and four-legged life
* Putrid atmosphere of vile menace
* Leering treatment of sexuality
* Non-stop action and deviance
* Nauseating death by hanging
* Revels in nastiness and base behavior
NEGATIVES
* It ends
* Occasional stabs at comedy relief fall flat
