Gnomes | |
Directed by:
Mike Storch Released: June 2004 |
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![]() It was in the making for more than 2 years, and when it was finally complete it didn't disappoint. Written by Ramza Brave and directed by Mike Storch, Gnomes is truly the best horror film made in 3dmm. The plot is basic for a horror movie: New family moves into house, nearly forest area is haunted by evil... something. In this case it's killer garden gnomes. It sounds silly, but Mike made something that could have been incredibly cheesy be incredibly atmospheric and frightening. I've always thought Mike was really good at cinematography, and this movie proves that. The angles are perfectly placed, and they really give you a feeling of tension during every scene. I occasionally got shocked by a scene, which is a big thing in 3dmm. However, the horror element isn't all. The characters are also well-rounded. There's Henry, who's basically just a normal kid. Sarah is his friend, who has also recently moved to the area, and has a broken arm she is reluctant to talk about. The old man (expertly voices by Justin Wawrzonek) is the only one who knows about the Gnomes, and lives by himself after they took his dog. Sarah's mom is a pretty good character. Devastated by the loss of her husband, she takes her anger out on others, which is where the drama element comes in. Some people say it failed, but I think it added a nice touch to the story, and included the best line of the movie. The ending is kind of a let-down as not much seems to happen, but this is still the best 3dmm horror ever, and a damn good drama too. Review by Tom Bown. |
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![]() Gnomes [9.27 MB] |
Gnomes Trailer | |
Directed by:
Mike Storch Released: May 2004 |
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![]() Gnomes Trailer [729 KB] |
Maybe Next Year | |
Directed by:
Mike Storch Released: December 2003 |
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![]() Maybe Next Year [365 KB] |
Memory, The | |
Directed by:
Mike Storch Released: April 2003 |
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![]() Memory, The [981 KB] |
Missing | |
Directed by:
Mike Storch Released: April 2005 |
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![]() Missing is an atmospheric thriller backed by a compelling story and chilling dialogue. Mike Storch both borrows from and departs from the style of his previous thriller, Gnomes. Like Gnomes, Missing relies less on flashy animation and more on music and dialogue to propel the story forward. Missing employs a strong story penned by Andres de la Hoz, that follows two parallel stories that seemingly go together. The main story is of a prisoner, and a sadistic kidnapper, who establishes atmosphere early on with a chilling monologue about what kinds of torture he will inflict on his victim. The second story involves a wife searching for her missing husband, presumably one of the two characters involved in the first plot. These stories flash back and forth, building tension as we discover that the outcome of one story will ultimately determine the end for the other story. There are some holes, or unclear moments. Why has the man been kidnapped? What are the motivations? While these may have been purposefully left out to allow for interpretation, they leave the viewer slightly confused at the end. This is Mike Storch's strong point. Every camera angle was added for a reason. Storch doesn't resort to frivolous camera moves, or splashy scenery, because he doesn't need it. His camera work is atmospheric, evoking a claustrophobic, doomed feeling that serves the film wonderfully. I'd also like to note the chilling montage of torture tools shown near the beginning. This caused my stomach to drop, and set me up for the entire rest of the film. I've already mentioned that Storch doesn't indulge in splashy effects. His scenery is believable, consistent, and solid. Some effects are a little out-dated, such as the explosion-based rain, and some lacking textures. Otherwise, Storch's visual style of Gnomes returns in many of the outdoor scenes. The inclusion of suburban and domestic scenery does allow some departure from the constant rural setting of Gnomes. Andrew James Thomas has once again come through to arrange and produce (correct me if I'm wrong, please) a suspenseful, atmospheric score. Thomas is a fan of Silvestri, but it doesn't get boring. The score is one of the strongest aspects of the film, so strong that when I had to pause the movie, I rewound back to the music cue to experience it fully. Voices were well done. The torturer's speech stood out as a delightfully terrifying bit of dialogue. All the voice actors did Andres' script justice. Though the payoff at the ending was not as satisfying as one may have liked, Missing is a strong outing from Dark Gnome Productions. From the suspenseful story, to the atmospheric staging, Missing was well worth the download, and a movie that fans of Storch's work and thrillers should definitely take the time to see. Did I mention it's atmospheric? Review by Andrew Salter. |
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![]() Missing [4.98 MB] |
Mistake | |
Directed by:
Mike Storch Released: October 2003 |
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![]() Mistake [550 KB] |