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[BD Review] ‘Patrick’ Starts Strong Before Devolving Into Chintziness

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Having never seen the original 1978 Patrick (directed by Psycho II‘s Richard Franklin) I was able to take in Mark Hartley’s 2013 film of the same name as something of an empty vessel. There was no expectation, no attachment to the earlier work that would impinge upon my enjoyment. There was also no pre-existing fondness to make me hope for something special. Watching the new Patrick for me was as simple as sitting down in front of a screen and hoping for a good time.

In that regard, Patrick comes frustratingly close to success before taking a nosedive into the DTV abyss. Sharni Vinson is really quite good as Kathy, a well intentioned nurse who actually seeks out a creepily isolated treatment center for comatose patients. The clinic is populated with a host of good actors – Charles Dance brings his coldest can of Lannister to the role of Doctor Roget while Rachel Griffifths (Brenda from “Six Feet Under”) is almost completely misused as Matron Cassidy. Peta Sergeant’s Nurse Williams is the sole welcoming presence for Kathy, often arriving at just the right time to give the audience a break from the monotony of the film’s dour location and denizens.

Then there’s Patrick himself (Jackson Gallagher), a supposedly braindead patient with admirably healthy muscle tone and the ability to spit on command. As Kathy becomes convinced that Patrick is somehow cognizant of his surroundings, things start to go really wrong – both within and outside of the narrative. As Patrick opens itself up and begins revealing its secrets, it goes somewhat off the rails. This isn’t a complete disaster – we remain invested in Kathy and her struggle to keep the people around her safe – but it invites in some wonky elements (like psychic text messaging) and some horrendous CGI. In fact, everything modern about this film (from rendered pixels to the overuse of iPhones) had me wondering if this story would have been better off left in 1978 entirely.

It’s a shame, because so many elements here are actually constructed rather well. The setup is decent, the actors are good and even the script and direction initially seem like they’re going to rise above the pack. But then convolution and an overwhelming chintziness set in (alongside gore effects that conceptually rub the wrong way against the film’s tone) and it becomes a slog to the finish line. I felt like I knew every maddening, repetitious beat like the back of my own hand and was just winding down the clock. I can’t say this is worse than the original film, but I don’t see how such a potentially interesting idea could get a 3rd act any worse than this.

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SCREAMBOX Investigates UFOs and Extraterrestrials: Several Documentaries Streaming Right Now!

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As someone who is obsessed with UFOS (or more recently known as UAPs) and the concept of extraterrestrials, I love a good documentary. Sightings have been on the rise since the 1940s, with the atomic bomb seemingly acting as a catalyst for new visitors. But what are these UFOs/UAPs? Is there an explanation or are they simply beyond our explanation? Why are they here? Who are they? How much do our governments know? The questions are endless and so are the documentaries that attempt to uncover the secrets behind decades of sightings and alleged confrontations.

Whether you’re a seasoned viewer or new to the rabbit hole, there’s always a handful of interesting documentaries to get your neurons firing and leave you with sleepless nights. SCREAMBOX is investigating with the addition of several docs, all streaming now on the Bloody Disgusting-powered service. Here’s the breakdown:

Aliens (2021): Beam into this unidentified streaming documentary for a glimpse into Extraterrestrial life. Aliens are hypothetical life forms that may occur outside Earth or that did not originate on Earth.

Aliens Uncovered: Origins (2021): Before Area 51, hidden deep in the desert, the military discovered a hidden gem that helped them create Project Bluebook.

Aliens Uncovered: ET or Man-Made (2022): The crash of Roswell wasn’t meant for New Mexico. In 1947, a neighboring state had 3 major sightings that were swept under the rug.

Aliens Uncovered: The Golden Record (2023): In the late 70s, the US government launched a message to our distant neighbors.

Roswell (2021): This high-flying documentary examines the July 1947 crash of a United States Army Air Forces balloon at a ranch near Roswell, New Mexico. Theories claim the crash was actually that of a flying saucer, but what is the truth?

Also check out:

The British UFO Files (2004): Since the 1940’s the British Government has been investigating the Flying Saucer phenomenon. High-ranking military and government personnel, speak out for the first time, offering unique eyewitness accounts and inside information.

Alien Abductions and Paranormal Sightings (2016): Amazing Footage and stories from real people as they reveal their personal encounters of being abducted by Aliens.

And do not miss Hellier (2019): A crew of paranormal researchers find themselves in a dying coal town, where a series of strange coincidences lead them to a decades-old mystery.

These documentaries join SCREAMBOX’s growing library of unique horror content, including Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls, Here for Blood, Terrifier 2, RoboDoc: The Creation of RoboCop, Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story, The Outwaters, Living with Chucky, Project Wolf Hunting, and Pennywise: The Story of IT.

Start screaming now with SCREAMBOX on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Prime Video, Roku, YouTube TV, Samsung, Comcast, Cox, and Screambox.com.

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