Following the tradition of starting, but never continuing, monthly features, I have now devised a new plan to replace all of my other sadly phased out ideas. This one, I can honestly say, will be an easy article to write and therefore should be easy to perpetually sustain! *Pause for crowd cheers* Every month (fingers crossed) I shall recommend three films that I have recently watched and found interesting. They won’t all be new, they will just be movies that I have happened to watch and enjoy during that particular month. I shall stop rambling, I know you’re excited to see what films I have chosen for this month, so go on, take a look.

13 Tzameti
Initially confusing (if you have no notion of its plot) but utterly gripping, 13 Tzameti is the story of young carpenter that stumbles, by way of relentless curiosity, into a seedy underground game of which he has no comprehension. After watching the trailer I was incredibly psyched about getting my hands on this movie and I shall confess that it was not as exciting as the teaser so explosively implies. But that’s not to say that it isn’t an excellent film – which it wholeheartedly is. It’s one of those films that really endeavours to artistically innovate and provides us with a unique and attractive visual experience (they seem particularly interested by the lights in that oh so famous phrase). 13 Tzameti is a film that will rocket into a lot of your own personal top 10’s and serve as a lesson in finesse for filmmakers of all levels.

Marebito
Marebito is a fine example of what Takashi Shimizu can achieve when he’s not making multiple Ju-On sequels, prequels and in-betweequels (the next Japanese incarnation is due for release in 2008). Marebito is an intelligent and unnervingly sinister exploration of one man’s obsession with mythical subterranean worlds and what inhabits them. Its amateur sensibilities enhance the sinister temperament of the film: with shaky camera work and displays of gritty shades from – ‘untouched by editors’ - urban Japan. The film really is a tough cookie to mentally crack but if you’re a fan of the cryptic and the creepy, then Marebito shall infatuate you. I loved it.

Running Scared
Directed by Wayne Kramer and starring Paul Walker from The Fast and the Furious (hold on, stick with me on this one), Running Scared is an intense action thriller that will seize your consciousness and invade it for a solid couple of hours. The film isn’t particularly unique; it’s a modern, gritty crime movie with little other than slight nuances to set it apart. But it’s well utilized set of action conventions hark back to the days when action movies actually delivered the adrenaline rush they promised. I personally developed a kind of nebulous rapport with Running Scared – hence this recommendation – and, being as cheesy as I possibly can, I believe you will enjoy what it has to offer too.

Well, watch those three films (if you haven’t already) and stay tuned for next month’s picks…maybe this should be bi-weekly, it’s really rather short….but if I do it bi-weekly, will I continue to do it regularly? No, it’s monthly. Until further notice…