Welcome to Film Haven Reviews!! I'm your host Sawyer and I've been writing film reviews for the last 4 years and have finally decided to turn these reviews into a podcast! On this show I give my first impressions of the films I watch, new and old, catergorized in themes of three (Example: Trucker Movies, WWI movies), and then I rate them from 1-10. Feel free to subscribe if you like the show and if you want to read all my written reviews follow me on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/film ...
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are continuing our Cyberpuck 1995 theme with Hackers (1995). This film was lots a fun and suprisingly based in reality. While lots of the "hacking" was not very realistic, it was obvious that the creators knew what real hacking was and so the concepts were authentic, even if the actions were cinema…
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are starting off our Cyberpunk 1995 theme with the cult classic Johnny Mnemonic (1995). This film was a mixed bag for me. While providing some really fun and entertaining world building, it also delivered some terrible acting and generic plot elements that kept the film from reaching its full poten…
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Episode 72: Scott of the Antarctic (1948)
24:37
24:37
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reivews!!! This week we are concluding our Arctic Antics theme with the very detailed and well producted Scott of the Antarctic (1948). This film is a feast for the eyes, and if anyone has ever wanted to see what an arctic expedition entails, this film will show you step by step what it is like. I gave this film a 8.5/10 …
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are continuing our "Arctic Antics" theme with the under the radar arctic survival adventure film The Red Tent (1969). While it didn't start off great, it doesn't take too long for this film to come into its own and offer a thrilling adventure filled with lots of tension and a fair amount of comment…
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are starting a new theme of "Arctic Antics" with the aptly named well made survival film Arctic (2018). This film was very successful as far as survival films go. There was a very basic plot and almost no lines of dialogue, and yet somehow that made the film more engaging. I gave this film a 8/10 f…
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are finishing up our "Spider" theme with the most middling entry in the bunch, Sting (2024). I hated ending on a movie that wasn't as good as the other two but, hey, that's how it goes sometimes. The biggest problem with the film was less than ideal pacing and critically bad acting from its lead, w…
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are continuing our "Spider" theme with the creepy crawly French film Infested (2023). This movie was surprisingly effective in producing scares and chills within a swarming spider creature feature. After last week, I had assumed spider movies would be better served as part comedy, but this film pro…
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Welcome back to Flim Haven Reviews!!! This week we are starting the "Spider" theme with a early 90s classic, Arachnophobia (1990). This film was surprisingly light and fun for a movie about killer spiders taking over a town. I really enjouyed the dry humor of Jeff Daniel's character as well as the science behind the special spider taking over the t…
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Episode 66: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
34:20
34:20
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are finishing our "help me with my homework" theme by talking about the political epic drama Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939). This is the first film of the podcast I have given a perfect score to. I gave this movie a 10/10 for combining incredible concept, with genius level script writing, acad…
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Welcome back to Flim Haven Reviews!!! This week we are continuing our "Help Me With My Homework" theme by talking about the gangster classic The Public Enemy (1931). This film was thick with commentary, especially considering it was made while prohibition was still in effect, and it also showcased just how far cinema had come since the birth of the…
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are starting a new theme call "Help Me With My Homework!" where you guys help me get through my current class on The Great Depression, by diving into the movies that I have to watch for the course! Today we are starting off with the incredible Wings (1927). This film is beyond innovative and showca…
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are finishing up our "Deep Sea Diver" theme with the more recent nautical film Underwater (2020). This movie was much better than the critics gave it credit for, but it still wasn't perfect. There was a great sense of atmosphere and the special effects and cinematography were very well done. I also…
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are continuing our "Deep Sea Diver" theme with the body horror creature feature Leviathan (1989). This film is an almost carbon copy of other films like Alien (1979) and The Thing (1982) but with a deep sea tilt to it. It also has an interesting twist on the monster, with it being a sort of intelle…
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews! This week we are starting a new theme of "Dead Sea Diver" movies with the technologically advanced film, The Abyss (1989). Being directed by legendary director James Cameron, this movie of course had incredible technical features and also pioneered some very realistic looking CGI (for the time), however, the fun …
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are ending our theme of "rubber reality" with a very strong entry Dark City (1998). This film was such a treat from all angles. I am giving it a 9/10 for great acting, amazing set design, a perfect blending of practical and visual effects, and an incredible sci-fi storyline that perfectly embodies …
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Episode 59: In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
29:23
29:23
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are continuing on our "rubber reality" theme with the H.P. Lovecraft inspiried In the Mouth of Madness (1994) This film had lots of greatness in it, especially with the atmosphere and the high strangeness that it exuded, however the acting was pretty horrid and the story lacked a substence that, co…
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!! This week we are starting a new "Rubber Reality" theme with the ultimate mind bending movie Jacob's Ladder (1990). This was a pleasantly surprise as I was expecting more of a horror movie, and instead got a very enriching drama with a heavy dose of mystery. I gave this film an 8.5/10 for being so well crafted an…
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!! This week we are sadly saying goodbye to our "90's Nostalgia Theme" and we are ending on a good note with The Shadow (1994). This film was a mess, but it was a fun mess at least! The plot was ridiuclous and at many points, non-sensical, but the production design and art design was incredible, and the feel of the…
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are continuing our "90s noir nostalgia" theme with the colorful and inventive Dick Tracy (1990) This film was a pleasent surprise for me! After the slightly disappointing Darkman (1990) from last week, I was expecting to be let down but was happy to be completely wrong about that assumption. I gave…
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Welcome back Film Haven Reviews!! This week we are starting a new (tentative) theme of "90's Noir Nostalgia", and we are kicking this theme off with the Sam Raimi film Darkman (1990). I was honestly a little underwhelmed by this film. I wanted to like it alot more than I did, and while there was some redeemable qualites to it, ultimatley it just fe…
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are finishing up our "70s Car Chase" theme with the ultimate car chase scene movie Gone in 60 Seconds (1974). This was a tale of two films as the first half was a pretty boring/mildly interesting car heist movie, and then the second half completely derails the narrative to have a 45 minutes car cha…
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Welcome backt to Film Haven Reviews!! This week we are continuing our "70's Car Chase Scene" theme with the good ol' boy classic White Lightning (1973). This was such a fun movie to watch and perfectly embodied the genre of Deep South Car movie. A young Burt Reynolds really sells the rough around the edges country hero and Ned Beatty plays a pitch …
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are starting a new theme of "70's Car Chase Scenes" and there is no better movie to kick this theme off with than the iconic film The French Connection (1971). I had no idea what this film was about other than a detective trying to bring down an organized crime ring, I also, of course, knew that th…
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!! This week we are finishing up our Arthouse Cannibalism theme with the very strange but engaging Dumplings (2004). This film was a complete surprise for me. It has some very tough subject matter as the nature of cannibalism in this movie is particularly heinous, but there is so much enrichment to be found within …
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!! This week we are continuing our "Arthouse Cannibalism" theme with the disturbing but beautiful Bones and All (2022). It is so interesting how beatiful this film was while also being deeply disturbing and being about one of the most taboo acts in human society. I loved how cannibalism was used as a thematic vesse…
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are starting a new theme of "Arthouse Cannibalism" which sounds super gross but this first film at least is not so bad! We are starting the theme off with the very "refreshing" movie Fresh (2022). This film is really firing on all cylinders for me. It has amazing style, an interesting story arc, a …
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!! This week we are closing out our Home Invasion Thriller theme with the influential When a Stranger Calls (1979). Unfortunately, just because a film is influential doesn't mean it is essential, and that is sadly the case with this film, as its boring middle half brings the entire film down and makes it basically …
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reveiws!! This week we are continuing our theme of Home Invasion Thrillers with the very supernatural/psychological Silent House (2011). This one is unique in that is shot in real time, being made to seem like everything was shot in one take (despite having a few cuts hidden throughout the film) and the hint of supernatur…
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we have Allie back in the studio to co-host the new Home Invasion Thriller theme! And we are starting that theme off with the well made Panic Room (2002). This film had a great sheen to it while also boasting incredible performances from the A-list actors in its cast list. It also had a well formed pl…
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are sadly saying goodbye to our Godzilla theme by talking about the original film from 1954! I knew this was going to be a good movie, but I still was so impressed by the dark themes and the serious tone compared to the later films in the franchise. I was expecting to hold back some laughter from t…
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are continuing our theme of "Godzilla" movies with the politically poignant Shin Godzilla (2016). The Godzilla in this movie is WEIRD, at first, and then he gets INTENSE. It was really cool to see a Godzilla movie where he evolved into different forms, it was also interesting to see Godzilla as a f…
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are starting a new theme covering a classic monster, THE KING OF MONSTERS, Godzilla. We are starting this theme off with the newest Godzilla movie Godzilla Minus One (2023). I was blown away by this incredibly well made Japanese film. To me, it seems the Japanese (obviously) make the best Godzilla …
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!! This week we are finishing up our Ingmar Bergman theme with his most famous film The Seventh Seal (1958) I was pleasantly surprised that this film was set during the Black Plague and it's dedication in terms of set and costume design to that era was refreshing and immersive. I gave this film an 8.5/10 for an eng…
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Episode 41: Through a Glass Darkly (1961)
26:02
26:02
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!! This week we are continuing our Ingmar Bergmen theme with the thought provoking Through a Glass Darkly (1961) This film was a surprise for me. After watching the very experimental Persona (1966) last week, I wasn't expecting to get such a succinct and tangible experience. The narrative was easy to follow and the…
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SPECIAL EPISODE: 2023 Horror Movie Roundup
1:28:26
1:28:26
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Hey everybody! Got a different format today I'm ranking all the horror movies from 2023 that I saw this year! Here are the rankings Exorcist: Believer (5/10) When Evil Lurks (5/10) Dark Harvest (5.5/10) It Lives Inside (6/10) Cobweb (6/10) Renfield (6/10) The Boogeyman (6.5/10) Infinity Pool (6.5/10) Nun II (6.5/10) A Haunting in Venice (7/10) Last…
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are starting a new theme of Ingmar Bergman films and we are going to be going in reverse chronological with one of his most acclaimed films: Persona (1966) This film was quite a psychological ride. You don't ever really feel like you know what exactly what's going on, but that's also not necessaril…
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Episode 39: All My Friends Hate Me (2022)
25:24
25:24
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!! This week we are finishing up our hard to define theme of Modern Murder/New Age Social Commentary movies with the very socially awkward: All My Friends Hate Me (2022) This film was very hard to watch for me, as I feel I related to the main character so much that at times I literally felt his pain and therefore d…
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!! This week we are continuing this theme of New Age Murder Movies with the darkly funny Shudder Original: Sissy (2022) This film was highly unique for it's slasher killer was also its main character, and a relatable one at that, which is something you don't see very often. I gave Sissy an 8/10 for its great themat…
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!! This week we are starting a new theme (kind of) with Modern Murder Mysteries, even though this week will probably be the only movie that actually fits that theme (its a long story). Today we are talking about Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022). Also as a side note I was recently on the Just James Horror Review Podcast …
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!! This week we are saying goodbye to our Sci-Fi Mystery theme with the Black Mirror-esque film: The Signal (2014) Similarly to last week, this film is on an extremely low budget for how good the quality is, and with actors like Olivia Cooke and Lawrence Fishburn in it, there is alot to love both thematically and t…
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are continuing our "Sci-fi Mystery" theme with the low budget but still effective: Coherence (2014) This film is way too good for being such a low budget venture, the acting is pretty good, the cinemtagraphy is great, and the concept is fascinating. I gave this a 7.5/10 for providing a mystery fill…
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!! This week we are starting a new theme of "Sci-Fi Mystery" with the small indie film: Spring (2014) Despite being a pretty low-budget production, this film has wormed its way into my brain ever since the end credits rolled. Its a unique journey and one that offers up many interesting ideas about Life and Death an…
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!!! This week we are sadly saying goodbye to Spooky Season with our last Nosferati entry: 30 Days of Night (2007) Luckily we are ending this theme on a bang! I hadn't seen this film since it first came out and not only does it hold up, but it seems to have only gotten better with age. There hasn't been another film…
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!! This week we are continuing our theme of "Nosferati" with the very on brand: Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979). This Wernor Herzog film was very avante garde and had alot more impressionistic tones than other more traditional takes on Dracula. Unsurprisingly, it takes most of its inspiration from the 1922 film of the…
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Special Episode: Child's Play Franchise Ranked
1:05:09
1:05:09
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reivews!! Today is a very special HALLOWEEN episode for everyone!! Ands its extra EXTRA special because I have a guest on the podcast for the very first time! Today I have my girlfriend Allie join me on the podcast and talk about one of our favorite horror franchises: Child's Play! I will put each of our rankings here for…
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Episode 31: The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023)
19:59
19:59
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reivews!! This week were are starting our new Nosferati theme with the critically downplayed The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023). I wanted to reveiw this film because I thought it deserved alot more credit than it was given. The flim wasn't perfect by any means and some of the complaints it has recieved has a kernel of …
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!! This week we are sending off our Werewolf theme with one of the movies that started it all: The Wolf Man (1941) I wasn't as impressed with this film as I had hoped I would be. I knew it wasn't as good as other Universal monster films like Frankenstein (1931) but I was still expecting a little more. I gave this f…
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SPECIAL EPISODE: Friday the 13th Movies Ranked
1:30:50
1:30:50
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews and thanks for joining me on this very special episode!! Due to Friday the 13th being in October this year (wohoo!!) I have decided to rank each film in the franchise and discuss my rankings in a special extended episode! For reference I will put my listings here! 11. Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday 10. Frida…
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Episode 29: The Wolf of Snow Hollow (2020)
15:57
15:57
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!! This week we are continuing our Werewolf theme with the tonally uneven film: The Wolf of Snow Hollow (2020) I was hoping to enjoy this film more, and despite some beautiful scenery and competent cinemtography, the writing and directing created a mess of a film that tried to be a comedy, horror movie, and a drama…
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Welcome back to Film Haven Reviews!! This week we are starting off spooky season with a new theme of Werewolf Movies and I can't think of a better movie to start with than today's episode: Dog Soldiers (2002). This is the film that Niel Marshall (of The Descent fame) cut his teeth on and its one of the best werewolf movies I've ever seen. This is s…
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