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Carlisle Cult Cinema Club monthly recommendations
Attention all film and TV lovers! The Carlisle Cult Cinema Club is excited to bring you our new monthly films review column.
PD will be scouring the streaming services to find the hidden gems and must-see titles that you won’t want to miss.
From the latest releases on Netflix and Amazon Prime to the classic films on Disney+ and beyond, we’ll do the searching so you don’t have to. Get ready to discover your new favorite show or movie as we bring you honest and insightful reviews every month.
NETFLIX
BLOOD & GOLD (2023)
Blood & Gold is a Fantastic German film that takes place towards the end of World War II. Directed by Peter Thorwarth, who also helmed the excellent Blood Red Sky, the movie weaves together a World War Two adventure with a Spaghetti Western aesthetic.
The plot centers around Elsa and Heinrich, two individuals fighting for justice against the Nazis and searching for their loved ones.
Their search leads them to a remote village where a Jewish treasure of gold is hidden that the Nazis want to plunder.
As the villagers and the SS clash in an action-packed search for the treasure, secrets are uncovered and the greed for gold leads to a bloody showdown in the village church. The religious themes and the superb Ennio Morricone-like score add to the film.
While Blood & Gold is not as bloody or extreme as Sisu, it still has its moments. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and highly recommend it, it’s a great watch.
FUBAR (2023)
If you’re looking for a high-octane, and fun series to sink your teeth into, look no further than FUBAR, the latest offering from none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger himself!
This eight-episode comedy follows the story of a father and daughter who have both secretly been working for the CIA for years – a fact that neither of them knew about the other.
When they finally discover the truth, they are forced to team up and work together on their most explosive mission yet!
As a die-hard fan of classic 80s action movies, I was absolutely thrilled with FUBAR. Arnie’s first foray into TV is an absolute cracker, and Netflix has definitely picked a winner with this one.
I binged the entire series in one sitting, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. The show has a great blend of action and comedy, and it reminded me of some of the best movies from the golden era of the genre.
It’s got that same tongue-in-cheek humor that we all know and love, and the cast has fantastic chemistry that really shines on screen. Each episode is packed with thrilling action and suspense, and the pacing is spot-on.
From start to finish, the show zips along at a breakneck pace, building up to an explosive climax that will have you on the edge of your seat. Overall, FUBAR is a really fun watch, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good action-comedy.
And who knows – maybe we’ll even get more from Arnie on the small screen in the future!
DISNEY PLUS
MR INBETWEEN (2018 – 2021)
Let me tell you about an absolute ripper of a show called Mr. Inbetween. This brilliant three-season show is based on the 2005 film The Magician and it follows the life of Nice Guy Ray Shoesmith, a hitman and criminal with a soft spot for his daughter.
Scott Ryan, who played the lead in the original film, is back at it again as Ray. The show is full of dark humor and witty banter as Ray navigates his dangerous line of work while trying to balance his parental responsibilities and even a little romance.
I tell you what, this show is a fair dinkum must-watch on Disney+. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed. So grab a cold one, chuck on Mr. Inbetween, and enjoy the ride. Cheers!
AMAZON PRIME
GET DUKED (2019)
I recently watched the 2019 film Get Duked and I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised.
The movie follows three teenage troublemakers and an overachiever on a Duke of Edinburgh Award trek through the Scottish highlands. The group is dropped in the middle of nowhere with nothing but a map and they must work together to reach their campsite before dark.
However, they soon discover they are being hunted by wealthy aristocrats who intend to use them as sport.
The film is a modern take/twist on A Most Dangerous Game, and it does a great job of building tension and suspense and Plenty of laughs throughout the story. The cast is fantastic, with standout performances from Alice Lowe, Eddie Izzard, and the always-great James Cosmo.
Overall, I highly recommend Get Duked to anyone who enjoys a good thriller with a bit of humor thrown in. The movie is well-written, and well-acted, and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. So, grab some popcorn, and settle in for a cracking little watch.
HACKERS (1995)
I recently re-watched the 1995 film Hackers and I have to say, it still holds up after all these years. The movie follows a young boy, Dade who was arrested for writing a computer virus and banned from using a computer until his 18th Birthday.
Years later, he and his new friends discover a plot to unleash a dangerous computer virus and must use their computer skills to stop it.
Now, I know the technology in the film may seem a bit dated compared to today’s standards, but the storyline is still just as thrilling as it was when it first came out.
The cast is fantastic, with standout performances from Angelina Jolie and Johnny Lee Miller who fell in love and got married after meeting on set. Plus, the soundtrack is absolutely amazing and really sets the tone for the film.
Overall, I highly recommend checking out Hackers on Amazon Prime Video if you haven’t already. It’s a classic film that still manages to entertain and thrill audiences to this day. So, fire up your computer (or laptop, or tablet, or phone) and prepare for a wild ride!
FILM TREASURES & HMV
THE LAST HUNTER
I recently had the pleasure of watching The Last Hunter, a 1980 Italian exploitation film directed by Antonio Margheriti and starring David Warbeck, Tisa Farrow, and Bobby Rhodes.
The movie takes place during the Vietnam War and follows the story of an American soldier who gets trapped behind enemy lines. A squad of his buddies sets out to rescue him, and what ensues is a thrilling and action-packed adventure.
The Last Hunter is a classic example of Italian exploitation cinema, and it was even released in Italy as an in-name-only sequel to the award-winning film The Deer Hunter.
The movie also draws inspiration from Apocalypse Now, resulting in a unique and exciting blend of war and exploitation genres.
The film has recently been released on Blu-ray by a new boutique label called Film Treasures. This is their first release, and the Blu-ray is packed full of extras, including a set of Art cards and a double-sided poster that’s exclusive to The Treasured Films Webstore.
The picture quality is also outstanding, with the film looking better than it has in decades. In fact, it’s a huge upgrade from the previous Code Red release.
It’s great to see a new boutique label like Treasured Films bringing these classic films back to life in such high quality. The Last Hunter is available to purchase at HMV, or you can buy it directly from Treasured Films.
Overall, if you’re a fan of Italian exploitation cinema or just looking for an action-packed war movie, I highly recommend checking out The Last Hunter on Blu-ray. It’s a true hidden gem that deserves to be seen.
