Double Bill Mini Musings: Chainsaw Brides and Flesh Addicts...

Rec 3: Genesis:
What's it about?
A beautiful wedding reception is torn to bloody shreds after an infection turns the guests into undead ghouls possessed by fallen angels.
Who would I recognise in it?
Leticia Dolera.
Great/Good/Alright/Shite?
Ditching the found footage format of the first two movies inside twenty minutes, the bulk of the film unfolds in a traditional cinematic style while retaining the 'religious zombies' angle that helped define the franchise. The central characters - Groom Koldo and Bride Clara - bring a 'love conquers all' vibe to the gore-soaked proceedings, with Clara kicking a particularly impressive amount of arse, at one point wielding a chainsaw in her blood spattered wedding dress. Suffice to say, she's a heroine you'll be rooting for from the get-go as she attempts to find her broad sword-wielding husband amidst the carnage. Everyone else is cannon fodder, and the film lacks the nerve-shredding frights and infection paranoia of the first two films - opting for more of a gung-ho action horror vibe - but it's plenty of fun for the duration. Good, albeit on the lower end of the scale.

Click "READ MORE" below for Michael Fassbender rodgering his way through New York...

Shame:
What's it about?
From the director of Hunger, and 12 Years A Slave, this sexually charged drama follows a sex addict trapped in a lifeless cycle of bishop-bashing and bed-hopping, and his emotionally damaged sister who needs a place to stay after another unhealthy relationship has bit the dust.
Who would I recognise in it?
Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan, James Badge Dale.
Great/Good/Alright/Shite?
Frequently staged in long takes, the film's key performances - that of Fassbender and Mulligan - are front and centre. Etched with subtlety, honesty, and bravery, their respective dysfunctions push each other apart as much as they draw them together. Set amongst the bright lights and gleaming surfaces of New York's go-getters and bright young things, Shame tells an arresting tale of addiction, desperation, and - yes - shame. The back stories are as lightly sketched as the script is gentle in propelling its narrative, where apparently steamy trysts devolve into desperately sad encounters devoid of passion. Steve McQueen's direction is never intrusive, but always in control, displaying an impressive sense of when to push and when to just step back and watch events unfold. Ascending to a heart-clutching peak, the film leaves you with a sense of uncertainty and lingers in your mind for days after viewing. Great.