COOP COOPER is an independently syndicated film critic with a split personality. His “Southern Side” prints mainstream reviews that appear in various print publications across the mid-south. His “Dark Side” from Los Angeles befouls the site with reviews of horror and grindhouse flicks. Welcome to the site where COOP’s two halves (and his contributors) review and debate the latest film/DVD releases…

It’s a shame that people have gotten so down on the “Ju-on” series of films and remakes. Strike that, I mean the first one. Umm… actually I have no idea which one I saw. Believe it or not there are eight films in this franchise. Apparently the first two films were remade in Japan first, then remade again for American audiences (I seemed to have missed one in there, but I digress). My point is that whichever Japanese version I actually saw was one of the scariest movies I’ve ever seen. Flash forward to present day…

Whenever the subject of films comes up, I am invariably asked “So what’s your favorite?” I’ve always equated this overly-broad inquiry with “So what’s your favorite liquid?” If you’re talking beer, then it’s Mac and Jacks. Wine, probably Louis Martini Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (NOT Sonoma). Tequila… Therefore, “What’s your favorite movie?” gets whittled down to “favorite comedy”, “favorite drama” and eventually “favorite sports movie”. And when it comes to one’s taste in athletic competition, brutality truly is in the eye of the beholder. Some like it rough, some like it serene. Some are attuned to team sport; others are drawn to…

“Swimming Pool” and “Under the Sand” were both helmed by the same director: Francois Ozon. There are subtle tones and themes that run through both films. He hits all the right notes that a filmmaker should when making a compelling drama. He finds, in both films, an extremely capable actress in Charlotte Rampling. As studies [...]

This one came out of left field and shocked me. The Thai film market continues to impress me with the quality of their current releases. “13: Game of Death” would probably be remade as a major release in America and I actually hope it is. The story is fantastic and the writing far above par.
Pusit [...]

What’s with the French these days? If this film and “À l’intérieur (Inside)” are any indication, France has reigned supreme in the horror genre for the last year or two. I say that because we are just getting them now on DVD. I include the recent release, “The Strangers,” in that category, which is a [...]

I hereby declare “Inside” the most brutal horror film I’ve ever seen. I don’t say that lightly. I’ve seen more horror films than most critics, but this one takes the cake. Once it begins, it doesn’t let up until the shocking, final five minutes that had me squirming and covering my eyes. I won’t say [...]

Available on DVD from Netflix: This entertaining South Korean flick is based on the true-story of the first recorded serial killer in the country’s known history (back in the 1970’s). When the police find the bodies of young women brutally strangled along rural routes of a small town, they capture, torture and beat confessions out [...]