Unlucky Charms

Well, lots can be said about the 2013 movie "Unlucky Charms". But if you are a fan of the movie from Full Moon Features then you know what you are getting yourself into when you sit down to watch "Unlucky Charms".

And I will say that this 2013 movie from writers Charles Band, Domonic Muir and Kent Roudebush was actually a step up from the usual movies that I have seen from Full Moon Features. Sure, this wasn't by any means a milestone within the horror genre, but it was a campy enough horror movie that was suitable for watching.

The storyline told in "Unlucky Charms" was easy to follow, though it wasn't a scary story, nor a particularly outstanding or memorable story. So the movie made for a less than mediocre viewing experience. I must admit that I was expecting a bit more in the horror department for a movie from Full Moon Features.

The acting performances in the movie were bland, but of course it wasn't exactly award-winning performers that participated in the movie. And for a movie of this caliber, then "Unlucky Charms" did manage to deliver the type of acting performances that I was expecting.

Visually then "Unlucky Charms" was a rather mixed bag of nuts. I mean, some of the effects were actually good enough, while others were nothing more than cheap latex masks put on the performers without even an active effort done to make the transition from latex mask to skin seem realistic.

I am sure that there is an audience out there for these type of cheesy movies, otherwise Full Moon Features wouldn't still be around.

My rating of "Unlucky Charms" lands on a less than mediocre four out of ten stars.

I'm a big fan of bad but entertaining movies. Unfortunately this one is just bad.

The majority of the film is a fictional depiction of an America's Top New Model sort of competition, and is just as annoying (when it isn't boring). The main difference is that the women don't look anorexic, which is quite welcome, but unfortuantely most of their mass is plastic.

Oddly for a film whose main appeal (besides horror) is meant to be T and A, the one and only sex scene involves a woman who goes out of her way to awkwardly cover up her breasts with her arms. Because, you know, one always feels the need to be modest in front of whoever they're having sex with. There is another nude scene, but largely of appeal to fans of beachballs.

As for the horror: That part of the plot seems to have been almost completely forgotten. Most of the makeup is mediocore (for some reason they have a leprachaun who isn't even all that bad a person looking like he has bad eczema). And the visuals of the film give it the look and visual mood of a kids show like The Wriggles. No shadows, bright saturated colours, etc. Even in the age of digital replacing film, most directors still manage to create some mood. Not here.

Charles Band at least remains a competent music composer, but you've now heard it all in his previous films.

Looking to win a modeling competition, a group of girls at a remote Gothic mansion trying to get the top prize are slowly removed by a greedy entrepreneur in the competition through the use of powerful leprechaun gemstones, and when they get tired of being pawns strike back against their plans.

This was quite a fun cheesefest. That in itself is the greatest aspect featured here which runs rampant throughout the film. This is apparent from the very beginning with the introduction to the Leprechaun and the other monsters attempting to look into the human world and to segue from that into one of the hokiest excuses for a modeling show which looks incredibly cheap and low-rent if it were a real show. Getting to see the monsters run around the mansion conducting their brand of mayhem on the competition is all the more fun for how long it goes on into the film before they find out what's going on as their mischievous antics allow for some cheesy fun here. Manipulating themselves into looking like the others which not only allows for some cheesy nudity but also giving off the chance to see their magical powers in action and all that entails. Overall, this is the best aspect of this one. The main aspect holding this one back is the sheer audacity of the premise which is decidedly so goofy it's impossible to take seriously. Indeed, that is the whole point here with this one but the make-up work is truly laughable in terms of their overall appearance as each of the creatures has something to dislike. The Leprechaun's frizzy hair and slick face glean in the light unnecessarily, the cyclops' face is nearly immobile, making it's source materials obvious and the oracles are just silly expressionless masks. That goes together with the constant fantasy-laden magic effects and a lighter tone through the constant spying on everyone looking to find the source of the missing magic to create far more of a comedic-fantasy than a genuine horror film, especially in the latter half where the mischievous beings are revealed to be controlled by evil forces all along and all the horror elements are dropped considerably. When you don't fear the main creatures, the film has issues that are hard to overcome.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language, Nudity, Violence and a mild sex scene.

Unlucky Charms directed by acclaim director Charles Band takes a spin and parody turn upon the television series America's Top Models added in with a horror twist featuring monsters (leprechauns, a cyclops and other weird creatures).

The plot of this film is quite confusing. In part of what occurs with the female judge. Was not sure if she was apart of the gag or why exactly she needed the charms. It wasn't clear enough.

The acting is what we would expect from a low budget B- movie like this. The effects aren't completely terrible including the creatures (they do look creepy). There is some entertainment but the problem is the movie isn't funny enough.

The film is really short and it almost feels like parts of it were cut. It seems like it was rushed to finish for whatever reason. Surely they could have added 10 more minutes to explain clearer in the end.

I was very impressed and entertained by the first 2/3rds of this one. The last 3rd is predictable and anti-climatic (run out of money?, but most of the film is funny, quick and very well shot. This is bizarre for Full Moon's catalogue, but especially their recent decline. Full Moon founder Charles Band directs so that explains why there's more energy and attention paid here. Its the cast and screenwriters that really save this, but Band's directing is more competent and free here than his earlier, drab and overly serious films. The film grows repetitive and too stupid, but its a good time-waster. I'm glad Full Moon has finally added minorities and gays to their films but unfortunately its still as comedy and villains. Even on his best day, Charles Band seems 20 years behind the culture. Thats a plus and a minus.