ALWAYS B SCROLLING?

 

In lieu of cinema's being open I have been watching a good few films on Netflix and Amazon and rather than going for the sort of thing I would ordinarily go to see on the big screen I have been dipping my toe into B Move territory. These films are generally around an hour and a half, are high on concept and feature both actors that are little known and a smattering of big names. Given that scrolling for the perfect film can become a repetitive strain sometimes it's good just to pay your money and take your choice.

Heres a rundown of the good the bad and the ugly;

• Songbird-Set in a Covid-23 future of complete lockdown this is an efficient race against the clock thriller that promises more, but enjoyable none the less
• Spree-The age of social media is put under the microscope in this frantic satire featuring multiple viewpoints.
• Ava-Standard female assassin stuff that wants to be Atomic Blonde but is more like Point Of No Return
• American Mary-Body Horror slow burner with a great deal of imagination, promising from all concerned
• 10 X 10-British cast, American accents, good concept but disappointing third act
• The Night Eats The World-Superior Zombie movie set in an isolated Paris apartment.
• The Wall
• Child Of God-Method, Method, Method in this meandering modern western
• Lifechanger- Much like Fallen this film is quite ingenious and does well on such a tight budget
• Orphan-Again a great concept but hampered by a 'by the numbers horror format'
• Sputnik-Very good Alien on earth movies from Russia. Well acted and executed
• Arizona- Wants to be a Coen Brothers film but a good cast fail to deliver 
• Arkansas-Above average Neo-Noir Crime drama
• White Boy Rick-Underrated biopic about a remarkable real life story set in the "white trash" drug world
• Adult Life Skills-Doctor Who on quirky form im this film that has a great deal of charm
• Blue Ruin-Superb dark side of America drama
• Saint Judy-Feel good Erin Brokovitch lite
• Bad Day For the Cut-Gritty Irish revenge thriller, well worth a watch

The world of the B movie offers much, the films are usually shorter which means not having to dedicate too much time on a risk but for every Frog there is a Prince. I grew up in the era of B movies and this was always a great opportunity to try something sight unseen before the main event. That's part pf the enjoyment of cinema for me. Discovering hidden gems and even getting something out of stinkers.

Given that there is so much choice on streaming platforms you can find yourself searching for a substantial length of time. Next time you are undecided, why not take a chance on a lesser known title? You never know, you might like it