AND THE DEVIL MAKES THREE – NE†HERWORLD

Original Review by Alan Rogers

I know very little about a small independent film, And The Devil Makes Three, other than what the scant information I found on IMDB says about it. Written and directed by Samantha Friend and Doug Murman, the movie premiered at the recent North Hollywood CineFest and follows two friends “…tasked with packing up the belongings of a deceased grandmother…[they]…venture to a house nestled deep in the woods. Isolated from the outside world, strange noises, lights in the forest, and mysterious locals plague the pair as they begin to wonder if something else may be lurking in the woods at night.” From what little I have discovered, and from viewing the trailer, And The Devil Makes Three seems like your typical haunted house film where a couple of unsuspecting types are holed up in a house (or cabin) where “things happen.” The movie has an original score by NE†HERWORLD.

CRUSHED – Aaron Kenny

Original Review by Alan Rogers

Australian mystery thriller Crushed (2015), written and directed by Megan Riakos, stars Sarah Bishop as a young woman (Ellia) who returns to the family vineyard in rural New South Wales after her father is crushed by a barrel in a freak accident. However, when it is discovered her father’s death may not have been accidental, suspicion falls on members of her family. Ellia becomes increasingly isolated as she searches for clues to solving her father’s death. The score is written by Australian-born composer Aaron Kenny, whose previous works include scores for both film and television, as well as works for musical theatre and the concert hall. Kenny’s score is predominantly moody and atmospheric with little obvious thematic material and relies mainly on the strings of the US-based Youngstown Scoring Orchestra to establish the feel of the score. The composer also uses piano which seems to be a focus for the emotional aspects of the score at key moments of the film.

GHAYAL ONCE AGAIN – Vipin Mishra

Original Review by Alan Rogers

Sometimes a film score comes along that, when listened to, leaves you a bit confused. You like what you hear but at the same time you come away from the listening experience disappointed. Mumbai-based composer Vipin Mishra’s music for the 2016 Indian action flick, Ghayal Once Again, is one of those film scores.

Written, directed and starring Sunny Deol, Ghayal Once Again is a sequel to the 1990 action-comedy Ghayal (also starring Deol). In the original film, Ajay Mehra (Deol) seeks revenge for the murder of his brother. This original movie was received quite well but the same cannot be said of the sequel as reviews for Ghayal Once Again are somewhat mixed. Seemingly fashioned into a sort of Mission: Impossible/True Lies/Jason Bourne-styled action film, Ghayal Once Again sees ageing Ajay Mehra coming to the rescue of a group of teenagers who have become the target of the local billionaire hoodlum.

NUMB – Alain Mayrand

Original Review by Alan Rogers

There’s something about images of snowy landscapes and man’s struggle to survive in these environments that appeals. And out of the myriad of soundtrack releases that happen nowadays the artwork for Alain Mayrand’s score for Numb was bound to be an immediate draw. And, having been impressed with Mayrand’s previous score, Comforting Skin, I was keen to hear this new effort. Director Jason R. Goode’s debut feature film, Numb, stars Jamie Bamber and Stefanie von Pfetten as Will and Dawn, a couple experiencing dire financial circumstances. The acquisition of information appearing to offer them a resolution to all their money problems seems too good to be true. Set in the wilderness of a harsh British Columbia winter, the couple set out in search of their “pot of gold” despite being ill-equipped for the quest. Goode’s character-driven thriller charts how greed clouds their better judgement, leading them into severe personal danger at the hands of the hostile environment. Having picked up a couple of hitchhikers on the way doesn’t help matters.