THN Exclusive: Sideworld Series

Sideworld Documentaries

I recently got sent a screener for a documentary called Sideworld: Terrors of the Sea. I admit a pretty unknown, to me at least, chapter in a series of documentaries looking at stories that blur the line between reality and fiction.

Terrors delves into everything nautical, explaining things like the Mary Celeste to the flying Dutchman, though both those are just used as reference.

I'm glad they got in touch with me because I love wrapping myself up in a quilt (well maybe not in summer) and watching real life spooky stuff. (Not fake shit like most haunted but things really grounded in reality). Goodwins Sands is the first story on there, a terrifying expanse responsible for the disappearance of many ships over time.

The next creatures from the depths, deeply grounded in facts, the deadalus serpent sounds like something I wouldn't want to see!

Through this I also found one on forests and possible cryptids or animals reportedly living in them.

George Popov is the director and narrator of the series as well as Jonathan Russell. Both work at Rubicon films which can be found @RubiconFilmsUK. Both put in months of research into each of the sections in the documentaries. Evident by the amount of information George gives on each piece/chapter. Even some guest narration/appearances by William Poulter (a friend not well known Adam Warlock Will) and Suzie Frances Garton of Haunting at the Rectory.

Rubicon Films also has some other narrative films under their belt too. Hex a 2017 movie and 2020s The Droving too. 

Give support any way you can by watching these very interesting pieces. You'll find them on Amazon and through links on their Twitter.

THN awards Both pieces a strong 4 out of 5 stars, if only because I have to be in the right mood for a Documentary, otherwise flawless execution.

Review: Prey (2022)

Stars: Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers

Budget: Unknown 

Directed By: Dan Trachtenberg

 

Wow I wasn't expecting this to he anywhere near as good as it was. In today's time I was expecting at least a little perfection or some kind if writing that made this beyond the realms of believability.

Gladly I was wrong (that believable in the predator world that is.) This proved to be a very decent sequel.  Possibly the best since predator, that's coming from a guy who loves predator 2 mind, fukin' voodoo magic, hahaha.

Put into production near the end cycle of the abomination that was The Predator, (Shane Black you're dead to me). Under the working title of skulls back then. Very little was known, even if it was a predator film or not, just rumours. 2018 passed and everything went to shit for 2 years but they then pressed on with this. Things came out that this was set many years ago with the native Americans, the Comanche.

Then the dreaded word that frightens so many people today. A female lead. I mean I can sympathise with them, some roles and movies have been terrible due it around that time. (Cough star wars).

Then more came out and Dan Trachtenberg was connected and one thing I can give that guy a credit for is doing a good but flawed female lead. Never no super human unrealistically knocking down men twice their size, just using their brains. Even though I wasn't a fan of it 10 cloverfield lanes Mary Elizabeth Winstead was a great protagonist.

Then within the last year we've got stills and concrete plotlines. Set in the 1700s almost 300 years in the past from 1s date, it was a direct prequel too, so still in continuity. Amber was indeed playing a Comanche woman defying her background, but not completely as it wasn't entirely frowned upon just rare that a woman would become a warrior. I haven't as always with streaming services been able to find a budget for this but I know it wasn't a massive amount. 

A few gripes I had about this film were few and very minor. Mainly it's the cgi animals they look very uncanny valley, especially when they move. Also that the predator was clearly getting hurt but healed/stopped bleeding in the next scene. Yes we know predators can heal, but we 

A. Only see it once

B. It takes time in all the older films

C. His technology was older

But that's about it honestly.

Anyway on with the film, beware spoilers though as always I won't spoil the ending, or at least not to much. Naru is our main character she is trying to prove herself to her tribe as a warrior. Her brother Taabe seems to believe in her though others try to tell her not to bother, or worse.

She's not perfect but she's very observant and learns very quick. Unlike most female recent characters she's not perfect. She gets her chance to prove herself when a tiger attacks. Though she notes other things happening around too, she's very observant. Though even sometimes to her detriment. Shes

While hunting the lion she notices something in the forest. The lion attacks and Naru seems to hit it but falls from the tree and gets knocked out. 

She gets told off by her mother and that Taabe had to carry her back. Then we see Taabe bringing back the dead tiger. Which completes his hunt.

As for other things, Naru goes back out to hunt a bear. While doing that she falls into quick sand/mud and nearly dies. She's only saved by her rope axe weapon she created. This then echoes back to Taabe telling her about wet bowstrings. When she goes to shoot the unaware bear her bow string snaps.

Said bear then attacks Naru (in awful cgi) lucky her dog makes it chase him. After a few failed attacks Naru hides in a beaver dam. The bear almost kills her when the predator catches and kills it.

She's caught up by the others by then, actually being bullied quite badly chastised and beaten up. A little later though she and her tribesmen are attacked by the predator. It takes out most of them, then Taabe and Naru get caught by French fur trappers.

Next is pretty much the end of the movie, after the predator kills all of the trappers. Naru and Taabe have a good go against it until it's just left Naru on her own.

I'll leave it there as we don't spoil endings here at THN. One more thing I will say is it's obvious to see why predators changed one weapon to a plasma caster after this.

THN awards Prey a strong 4 out of 5 stars