Category: Z-View

The Devil Doesn’t Want Me by Eric Beetner

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The Devil Doesn’t Want Me (A Lars and Shaine Novel Book 1) by Eric Beetner

Paperback: 280 pages
Publisher: 280 Steps

First sentence…

Seventeen years is a long damn time.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

The Devil Doesn’t Want Me is the first in Eric Beetner’s Lars and Shaine series.  Lars is a semi-retired hitman living on the west coast.  His boss, Nikki Senior, is one of the old guard mobsters who finds himself being pushed out by his son, Nikki Junior.

In an effort to clear the books and show his pop he can run things, Nikki sends a young hitman out to find Mitch the Snitch — a job given to Lars seventeen years prior.  Although Mitch was in government protection and killing him could cause more problems than it would solve, Nikki wants it done.

Enter Trent.  A cocky young hitman who immediately rubs Lars the wrong way.  Although Lars and Trent are at odds, they know they have to work together to find Mitch the Snitch.  And they do.  Without planning, Trent guns down Mitch and when the Snitch’s sixteen year old daughter stumbles in, Mitch turns to kill her as well.  Lars steps up and saves her and finds himself on the run with a sixteen year old orphan in tow.

It takes all of Lars’ skills and then some to keep himself and Shaine alive now that Nickki Junior has called out a team to kill them both.  And of course Trent killing a government protected witness has the feds on their trail as well.

Eric Beetner has never disappointed me.  I really liked  The Devil Doesn’t Want Me and have the sequel, When the Devil Comes to Call waiting in my to be read pile.

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The Prowler (1951)

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The Prowler (1951)

Director: Joseph Losey

Screenplay: Hugo Butler and Dalton Trumbo from a story by Robert Thoeren and  Hans Wilhelm 

Stars: Van Heflin, Evelyn Keyes and John Maxwell


The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make a cheating couple and a murdered husband…”

Tagline: She had to keep THE PROWLER from telling…

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Police officers Webb Garland [Heflin] and Bud Crocker [Maxwell] respond to a prowler call made by a woman [Keyes] waiting up for her husband to get home.  Although no evidence of a prowler is found, Garland returns later alone under the pretense of checking on her.  She invites him in and it becomes clear that he’s there for more than just a wellness visit.  One thing leads to another and her husband ends up murdered… by Garland.

The Prowler is a low-budget noir that is under-rated.  If you’re a fan of noir you owe it to yourself to check out The Prowler.

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The Prizefighter and the Lady (1933)

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The Prizefighter and the Lady (1933)

Director: W.S. Van Dyke, Howard Hawks (uncredited)

Screenplay: John Lee Mahin and John Meehan from the story by Frances Marion 

Stars: Myrna Loy, Max Baer, Primo Carnera, Jack Dempsey and Walter Huston


The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make a boxing movie with real life boxers and Myrna Loy!”

Tagline: Max Bear is the new “It” Man of the screen.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Steve Morgan [Baer] is discovered working as a bouncer in a bar.  Soon enough he is fighting his way through the professional boxing ranks.  Morgan should be on top of the world angling for a fight against the Heavyweight Champion of the World.  The only things holding him back are that he’s in love with a mobster’s girl and his own womanzing ways.

Your mileage on this on may vary, but I really enjoyed seeing real-life boxers on the screen.  Also the movie has some boxing cliches but also a couple of twists that more than make up for them.

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Weird Woman (1944)

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Weird Woman (1944)

Director: Reginald Le Borg

Screenplay: W. Scott Darling and Brenda Weisberg from the Fritz Leiber novel

Stars: Lon Chaney Jr., Anne Gwynne and Evelyn Ankers


The Pitch: “Hey, let’s adapt Fritz Leiber’s novel.”

Tagline: MURDER STRIKES WITH VELVET CLAWS!

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

College professor Norman Reed [Changey] returns from a trip to the jungle married to a mysterious woman [Gwynne] who believes in voodoo.  Soon enough Reed is a best-selling and popular author.  But when Reed destroys some of his wife’s protective charms, things go south and people die.  Could his wife be right and evil is out to get him?

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Crashing Las Vegas (1956)

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Crashing Las Vegas (1956)

Director: Jean Yarbrough

Screenplay: Jack Townley

Stars: Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall and Bernard Gorcey


The Pitch: “Hey, let’s have Sach gain psychic powers again!”

Tagline: FRANTIC FUN IN FABULOUS LAS VEGAS! Stacked and Packed with LAFFS!

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

When Sach gains the ability to predict the future the boys head to Vegas to get rich.  As they rake in the money at roulette, crooks decide to make Sach believe he killed a man in order to squeeze his secret system of winning out of him.

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The Killer Inside Me (2010)

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The Killer Inside Me (2010)

Director:  Michael Winterbottom

Screenplay: John Curran based on the Jim Thompson novel

Stars: Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson, Jessica Alba, Ned Beatty, Simon Baker and Bill Pullman.


The Pitch: “Hey, let’s turn Jim Thompson’s noir classic into a movie.”

No Tagline

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Lou Ford [Affleck] is a mild-mannered small town Texas Deputy in the 1950’s.  Ford is also a psychopathic killer.  One murder leads to another and although the local DA begins to suspect Ford, witness keep ending up dead.

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The Night Walker (1964)

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The Night Walker (1964)

Director: William Castle

Screenplay: Robert Bloch

Stars: Robert Taylor, Barbara Stanwyck, Judi Meredith and Lloyd Bochner.


The Pitch: “Hey, we’ve got a screenplay by Robert Bloch and Barbara Stanwyck!”

Tagline: Will It Dare You To Dream of Things You’re Ashamed to Admit!

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Irene Trent’s blind husband, Howard is convinced she is cheating on him because of the things Irene says while sleeping.  When Howard is killed in a mysterious explosion, Irene begins to have vivid dreams and is convinced that someone is trying to drive her mad or kill her.

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Black Rain (1989) / Z-View

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Black Rain (1989)

Director: Ridley Scott

Screenplay: Craig Bolotin, Warren Lewis

Stars: Michael Douglas, Andy Garcia, Ken Takakura, Kate Capshaw, John Spencer and Luis Guzman.


The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make a movie with American cops caught up in a Japanese gang war.”

Tagline: An American Cop in Japan. Their country. Their laws. Their game. His rules.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

A detective [Douglas] under investigation for an ethics violation and his young clean cop friend [Garcia] accidently witness a Japanese gangland killing on US soil.  When they capture the Asian murderer, they are tasked with taking him back to Japan.  Once there they find themselves teamed with a straight-laced and uptight Japanese cop and in the middle of a gang war.

Michael Douglas in arguably his best role.  Andy Garcia is perfect as Douglas’ partner.   Ken Takakura is a joy.  Kate Capshaw has never been more attractive.  Yûsaku Matsuda as Sato is creepy evil.  And they’re all directed by Ridley Scott.  Black Rain is a winner!

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Dig That Uranium (1955)

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Dig That Uranium (1955)

Director: Edward Bernds

Screenplay: Bert Lawrence, Elwood Ullman

Stars: Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall and Bernard Gorcey


The Pitch: “Hey, let’s have the boys go out west!”

Tagline: HE TAME WEST GOES WILD WITH LAUGHTER!…When They Go Huntin’ Uranium!

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Tricked into buying a worthless uranium mine, the boys head out west to seek their fortune.  Once there they have to deal with claim jumpers, wild indians and a pesky old miner.

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Crossfire (1947) / Z-View

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Crossfire (1947)

Director: Edward Dmytryk

Screenplay: John Paxton adapted from the novel by Richard Brooks

Stars: Robert Young, Robert Mitchum, Robert Ryan and Gloria Grahame


The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make a novel based on the novel Crossfire.”

Tagline: Hate Is Like A Loaded Gun!

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Homicide Detective Finlay [Young] investigates the murder of a man.  Evidence points to one of a group of soldiers on leave but something just doesn’t feel right…

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Knock Knock (2015) directed by Eli Roth, starring Keanu Reeves, Lorenza Izzo & Ana de Armas / Z-View

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Knock Knock (2015)

Director: Eli Roth

Screenplay: Eli Roth & Nicolás López & Guillermo Amoedo

Stars: Keanu Reeves, Lorenza Izzo, Ana de Armas, Aaron Burns and Colleen Camp.

Tagline: ONE NIGHT CAN COST YOU EVERYTHING

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Evan decides to stay home to get caught up on work while his wife and two young children take a weekend trip. Working late, Evan is surprised when two young women show up at his door.  They were dropped off for a party, had the wrong address and are soaked.  Evan calls a cab but it will be forty-five minutes.

He allows them to wait inside.  Despite his best efforts one thing leads to another and Evan learns that all is not what it seemed and “one night can cost you everything.”

Thoughts…

Knock Knock is a remake of Death Game (1977), which co-starred Colleen Camp and Sondra Locke.  Camp and Locke co-produced Knock Knock.  Colleen Camp also had a role in this remake.

Co-star Lorenza Izzo was Director Eli Roth’s wife at the time.  Keanu Reeves said this made  filming the nude scenes awkward.

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Jail Busters (1955) / Z-View

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Jail Busters (1955)

Director: William Beaudine

Screenplay: Edward Bernds and Elwood Ullman

Stars: Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall and Bernard Gorcey

The Pitch: “Hey, let’s put the boys in prison.  That ought to be funny!”

Tagline: It’s Real Stir-Crazy!

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

When a reporter friend of the boys gets put in the hospital by the mob, the boys decide to get the scoop by getting sent to prison to sort out the corruption.

Rating:

Cabin Fever 3: Patient Zero (2014) / Z-View

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Cabin Fever 3: Patient Zero (2014)

Director: Kaare Andrews

Screenplay: Jake Wade Wall

Stars: Sean Astin, Currie Graham and Ryan Donowho

The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make another Cabin Fever movie!”

Tagline: The BIRTH OF FEAR.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

A group of young friends get dropped off on a remote island for a weekend of fun.  Sadly, a flesh-eating virus has escaped from the island research facility.  And they thought sun burn was the worst of their worries.

Rating:

The Blob (1958) / Z-View

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The Blob (1958)

Director: Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr. and Russell S. Doughten Jr. (uncredited)

Screenplay: Theodore Simonson and Kay Linaker

Stars: Steve McQueen, Aneta Corsaut and Earl Rowe

The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make a monster movie that will appeal to teenagers!”

Tagline: The management of this theatre disclaims any responsibility for heart attacks or damage to nerves.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

When a couple of teenagers discover that a blob-like alien life form has landed on Earth and is consuming people, no one in town believes them… until it is too late.

Rating:

The Great Race (1965) / Z-View

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The Great Race (1965)

Director: Blake Edwards

Screenplay: Arthur A. Ross from an original story by Blake Edwards & Arthur A. Ross

Stars: Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood, Jack Lemmon, Peter Falk, Keenan Wynn, Arthur O’Connell, Vivian Vance, Larry Storch, Ross Martin and Denver Pyle.

The Pitch: “Hey, let’s make a big budget comedy that’s a throwback to the old comedies!”

Tagline: THE GREAT LAUGH SHOW OF ALL TIME!

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

When the popular daredevil, The Great Leslie [Curtis] proposes a global car race, he finds himself pitted against his arch-rival the evil Dr. Fate [Lemmon].

The Great Race is a classic comedy that works.  There are sight gags, pie fights, slapstick and just good fun.  It’s a joy to watch and re-watch.

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