Full Review | Original Score: 3/10 Released by Ojala Productions. Really held her own especially alongside the incomparable Stephen Tobolowsky! STRANGE NATURE starts with the trusted “based on true events” flashing on the screen and almost immediately makes you giggle at the notion. Editor Rating . and the Terms and Policies, Directed by James Ojala. Acting . Released by Ojala Productions. No, it isn't the first to explore this. Movie Review: “Strange Nature” Is A Sleeper Cult Drama A single mother and her shy son move in with her estranged hermit father in the backwoods of a … Strange Nature is ultimately the creation of a first time director...Achievements in campy creature fun and practical effects that horror fans love might not be enough to keep audiences in seats past an unstable first hour. I remember seeing news many years ago about these frog deformities the it all just kind of disappeared. Great work for an independent. A children's hiking group in rural Minnesota discover several live, mutated frogs along a pond. User Ratings Movie Review: "Strange Nature" Is a Wonderful Mix of Morals and Mutations treespaz 21 October 2018 While watching "Strange Nature", a horror/thriller with a description that mentions mutated frogs, I was pleasantly surprised to notice that this movie was more than just cheap visual thrills you'd find in a B grade horror film. Definitely worth a watch. I don't recall hearing about this "true life event". The real news clips that begin Strange Nature certainly make a case for it. A move which puts her at odds with the towns people when she investigates a mystery affecting the local frog population. The production values were worse than most of the stuff on the SciFi channel. But Mayor Paulson (Stephen Tobolowsky SINGLE WHITE FEMALE, LONERS) doesn’t want to hear it.Sam (John Hennigan MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT, DAVE MADE A MAZE) and his buddies who work at the plant are openly hostile to the idea.But the mutations move up the food chain, to dogs, then humans. More obvious than that is toward the end with the double headed wolves, Hollywood can get crazy & out of hand with some of this s***. Written by Stuart D. Monroe. Strange Nature is branded as an eco-thriller based upon a true unsolved eco-mystery, of a bunch of deformed frogs in Minnesota. I put up with it for the monster portions, but that was a let down. | MHS Score Strange Nature is a horror/thriller written and directed by James Ojala. 5 star 71% 4 star 7% ... Movies, he says, are about moving the audience, and Troll 2 is by those standards a great success. FAQ INTRODUCTION In 1995, hideously deformed frogs began popping up in Minnesota ponds. Could this really happen, given all that we know about the way our world is being polluted and carelessly treated? Movie Review: “STRANGE NATURE” brings blood, guts and oddball fun to the eco-apocalypse. For me, this movie is a throwback, to some of the 70's, 80's and 90's horror movies that I grew up watching. The music, FX, cinematography were all pretty stellar but the acting really stood out to me. The horror is the acting and writing. Take away the freaky creatures, and this would be a decent little indie slice-of-life, about people facing up to their past mistakes - some mundane, some toxic. This trope has been done better. While watching "Strange Nature", a horror/thriller with a description that mentions mutated frogs, I was pleasantly surprised to notice that this movie was more than just cheap visual thrills you'd find in a B grade horror film. Gore . What happens when you take a little from the movie The Prophecy (not the one with Christopher Walken) and a little from Wrong Turn and then a pinch from Alligator? A cockamamie science lesson is not what I was expecting. Based on a true unsolved ecological mystery, thousands of hideously deformed frogs have turned up in the waters of Minnesota. Prophecy did in 1979 Starting Talia Shire andvArmabde Asante. Plot / Writing . First: I found it interesting that all the 8/9/10 all come in one cluster and all single review profiles. Deathly-dull middle acts mute this mutants come to Minnesota creature feature. The directing style of Strange Nature fails to bring any atmosphere, the acting is so nondescript that it barely registers (with two notable exceptions), and a lack of cohesive vision leaves the movie uncertain of what it truly is. 3.6 out of 5 stars. We almost… Well-acted, great effects, good characters - I actually love this movie. Film Review: Strange Nature (2018) Kevin Nickelson 12/18/2018 Film Reviews. Essentially, Strange Nature would have fit in perfectly back in the 1970s when giant alligators, killer bees, and even murderous rabbits were roaming the drive-in scene. And since I wasn't even familiar with the movie and the fact that it is a horror movie, of course I did sit down to watch it. Coming up at eleven: Mutant frogs; will they spell the downfall of life as we know it? In many ways, Strange Nature plays out like a throwback thriller - in a good way - until it's undone by an uneven final act. So this is ok, if you don't mind the low budget nature of it. Brings to mind classics like Prophecy and Long Weekend. However the film is what we are here to talk about. I felt compelled to write a review due to the fact that there is alot of negative reviews.I paid for this movie and it was absolutely worth it. Movie Review: Strange Nature (2018) By DanXIII on September 12, 2018 in Horror, Indie, Movies, Review, Reviews, Sci-Fi. MHS Score Strange Nature is a horror/thriller written and directed by James Ojala. Strange Nature is a well-directed and fair cinematic ride with good effects, but the story ultimately founders as a 100 minute-long PSA. Even though this film is kind of a slow burn it is very character based which I appreciate. STRANGE NATURE starts with the trusted “based on true events” flashing on the screen and almost immediately makes you giggle at the notion. and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango. Watching the movie I find many things very much over exaggerated. Sign up here. External Reviews Also a very nice turn up from a horror actress who almost just does a cameo in this. If you are a leftist with a high tolerance for schlock, you'll be able to nod in agreement with the agenda while enjoying terrible special effects and garbage acting. It may have happened. No pun intended here. In this thriller film, we will get to see for the first time the exposure of unsolved wildlife deformity outbreaks and possible outcomes if left unchecked. All rights reserved. Strange Nature, the feature debut of James Ojala, is a sci-fi thriller that could easily become a reality, and is worth a look on that basis alone. It's not long before they too start witnessing strange occurrences including a disemboweled deer and the family dog's deformed puppies. I can't believe the lead, Lisa Sheridan, hasn't been in more starring roles. September 27, 2020 Could have been so much better but for the very last scene, Movie Review: "Strange Nature" Is a Wonderful Mix of Morals and Mutations, "Strange Nature" has more to offer then horror, Not as far from strange as one might think. The director uses a child as his vessel to express disgust with guns and rural Americans writ large. The true events part lies solely in, a bunch of kids on a field trip in 1995 discovered a bunch of deformed frogs in Minnesota. By SHAWN MACOMBER. Review: Less than scary ‘Strange Nature’ does get rural Minnesota right Kim (Lisa Sheridan) used to be a pop star. Movie Review: Strange Nature (2018) by Midnight Horror Show. Strange Nature Movie Review. Sidney Poitier’s 7 Most Memorable Performances, All Harry Potter Movies Ranked Worst to Best by Tomatometer. Acting . Then again if that describes you, you will watch anything as long as you have the volume loud enough to drown out the sound of your wife getting pounded by Jamarcus on your side of the bed. Adam Pope Bruce Bohne, Carlos Alazraqui, Chalet Lizette Brannan, David Mattey, eco-thriller, James Ojala, John Hennigan, Jonah Beres, Justen Overlander, Lisa Sheridan, movie mutations, Movie Puppetry, Practical Creature Effects, Practical Special Effects, Stephen Tobolowsky, Strange Nature Movie 0 Also a quite heartwarming and engaging sub plots involving deformed residents and eventually a red neck showdown. I know it is supposed to be scary, but yeah ... well at least something I would say. This movie starts off with a west coast liberal elitist view of the midwest, or "fly over" states, which is superficial and very unflattering. Some frog populations were as much as 70% deformed. This is the core of Strange Nature, which explores ecological and body horror against the backdrop of a small rural farming community. Cast: Tiffany Shepis, Stephen Tobolowsky, Lisa Sheridan, David Mattey, Carlos Alazraqui, John Hennigan, Jonah Beres, Ann Hearn Director: James Ojala Running Time: 100 min. BORRRRRRRING Strange Nature is a well-directed and fair cinematic ride with good effects, but the story ultimately founders as a 100 minute-long PSA. The first film to expose unsolved wildlife deformity outbreaks and where they may lead. And while I've seen better monster movies, I've also seen worse. This is one of those movies that's on the left side of the parabolic curve of the rating of movies. It’s often hard to combine the two, and “Strange Nature” doesn’t seem like it can “combine the best of both worlds. Strange Nature Movie Review. As seen through the eyes of a one-hit wonder single-mother and her 11-year old son, a small town struggles with the unknown when the deadly mutations move beyond the ponds. Rate This Movie: ... All the mention about the drama aspects of this movie Ojala, Art Director Vanessa Lara, and Visual Effects artist David Mattey deliver on the frights and grossout moments in spades. Perhaps it's not for everyone, but what movie is? Finally An Indie Horror Film With Good Acting! Movie Review: “Strange Nature” Is A Sleeper Cult Drama A single mother and her shy son move in with her estranged hermit father in the backwoods of a … Her acting with the camera, without anything being there (literally) is quite funny. Summary: Based on a true unsolved ecological mystery, thousands of hideously deformed frogs have turned up in the waters of Minnesota. Blu-ray Review: Brain Dead (1990) Simon Fitzjohn. The directing style of Strange Nature fails to bring any atmosphere, the acting is so nondescript that it barely registers (with two notable exceptions), and a lack of cohesive vision leaves the movie uncertain of what it truly is. Where it goes from there I won't say. "Strange Nature" is a not-at-all-terrible low-budget horror pick about pesticide-driven mutations popping up in the Great Lakes, in Duluth, Minnesota. Scare Level . Probably more so since it seems everyone in charge is either asleep at the wheel and lacking oversite. Decent script and cinematography. The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth. For having several known stars and assumably a decent enough budget. Now, she’s dealing with some “Strange Nature” in her hometown. I love a great movie with story-lines that could be completely separate movies on their own. The directing style of Strange Nature fails to bring any atmosphere, the acting is so nondescript that it barely registers (with two notable exceptions), and a lack of cohesive vision leaves the movie uncertain of what it truly is. 4.3 out of 5 stars. Blu-ray Review: Brain Dead (1990) Simon Fitzjohn. STRANGE NATURE is an Eco-Thriller feature film based on true unsolved outbreaks of wildlife mutations. The story is as poignant today as similar films in years past. Film Review: Strange Nature (2018) Kevin Nickelson 12/18/2018 Film Reviews. While most films of this nature adhere to cheap gimmicks and a one track mindset, Mr. Ojala's creative vision somehow finds a way to weave Comedy, Romance, Suspense, Mystery, and Horror in an enrapturing adventure that keeps you hooked until the last minute. It is really trying as another reviewer already stated. Strange Nature › Customer reviews; Customer reviews. This story has plenty of blood but brings you from plain horror to a disturbing drama real quick and definitely made me uncomfortable a few times, it's a good experience. In the same area, a single mother, Kim, and her 11-year-old son, Brody, have just moved in with her estranged father, Chuck. So bad that it becomes good again. Strange Nature is a 2018 independent ecothriller film written and directed by special-effects artist Jim Ojala in his feature directorial debut.. Really connected with the story and characters in this film. | The directing style of Strange Nature fails to bring any atmosphere, the acting is so nondescript that it barely registers (with two notable exceptions), and a lack of cohesive vision leaves the movie uncertain of what it truly is. This is a nature gone bad movie with an explanation that wasn’t found in real life, when this ‘problem’ was being studied in several states. She is not well loved as she dissed the town in an interview as a teen. And it is a whole lot better. Then we get the environmentalism agenda crammed down our throat for the next 75 minutes. | All in all an excellent movie that mixed entertainment with real world issues wonderfully. Movie review of Ojala Productions' release of Strange Nature (2018), directed by James Ajala and starring Stephen Tobolowsky, John Hennigan, Lisa Sheridan Strange Nature (2018) Reel Reviews - … Over the next few years, thousands were discovered. Please enter your email address and we will email you a new password. Based on a true unsolved ecological mystery, thousands of hideously deformed frogs have turned up in the waters of Minnesota. Great horror flick! Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! As seen through the eyes of a one hit wonder single-mother and her 11-year old son, a small town struggles with the unknown when the deadly mutations move beyond the ponds. 3.6 out of 5. Don't have an account? Written by Stuart D. Monroe. Fortunately, the same 3.6 out of 5 stars. Wild to see a film actually based on this and even has real deformed frogs in the film. I got the chance to sit down and watch the 2018 movie "Strange Nature" here late in 2019. I live less than an hour from the Duluth area and the first obvious exaggeration is that it's not how rural small town living is like. Strange Nature is a well-directed and fair cinematic ride with good effects, but the story ultimately founders as a 100 minute-long PSA. Strange Nature Movie Review. 109 global ratings. Rate This Movie: ... All the mention about the drama aspects of this movie Ojala, Art Director Vanessa Lara, and Visual Effects artist David Mattey deliver on the frights and grossout moments in spades. Watch this with a few friends and beers and you'll have a great night. Strange Nature › Customer reviews; Customer reviews. Strange Nature, that's what! September 27, 2020 Nothing else really like this out there. There's plenty of the good stuff at the end. While in town, she investigates the mass amount of mutations and has sex with her son's teacher who explains the origin of the issue. This is a nature gone bad movie with an explanation that wasn’t found in real life, when this ‘problem’ was being studied in several states. Plot / Writing . 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