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Reviews
Home Sweet Home (2013)
American Psycho meets Halloween
What a creepy movie! This is different than a lot of horror movies because it opens on the killer, who is already in the unoccupied home. It follows his elaborate preparation ritual where, much like Dexter, he turns the entire house into a kill-room. His American Psycho-esque preparation, from putting on his kill-suit and smearing the cruddiest, nastiest vaseline on his hair (to prevent loose hairs from falling?) really shows the killer's experience, and desire NOT to get caught. I love the mask that he wears, much like Michael Myers, that dehumanizes him. The actor does a lot of great physical stuff in a mostly-silent role, much like a mime, and he really makes the most of his time on screen. Once the husband and wife return home, the movie kicks into high gear and the tension, and blood loss, kicks into high gear. The movie has a great twist-ending that I won't spoil, but I admit I saw it coming about ten minutes before it happened. Great movie!
Just Crazy Enough (2012)
One Flew Over The Kattan Nest
I was disappointed with the path of Kattan's career post-SNL. His biggest job came on the TV show The Middle, so it's good to see him in another actual movie. I caught this on VOD and will def. order it to see it again. I thought Kattan did great work with his physical comedy and he has a real jim-carreyesque control over his facial muscles. I also enjoyed the spattering of recognizable classical music, which I'm sure was for budget reasons, but the director made it work here. Kattan really nails the combination of sweet and awkward, and every time I see him I think of Andy from Weeds. I am really hoping this movie will re-launch his career, he absolutely nailed these dual roles.
Electrick Children (2012)
electric* children
Electrick children is a beautiful movie that's even more beautifully shot. Director Rebecca Thomas shows a great cinematic sense and uses lighting brilliantly, from directly lighting Rachel in angelic fashion to the stark contrast between the dark Mormon community and the neons of the Vegas strip.
Julia Garner as Rachel really shines and viewers may recognize her from 'Perks of being a Wallflower' but this is her breakout performance. She perfectly balances the innocence and naivete of a Mormon fish-out- of-water, and is even totally believable when she insists her pregnancy is divinely inspired.
Other great performances come from Billy Zane as the overbearingly- devout Mormon patriarch (and Rachel's father) and from Rory Culkin as a band member who sympathizes with Rachel's plight. The best performance is turned in by Liam Aiken as Rachel's suspected lover and her partner in escape. He absolutely steals every scene he's in, growing and developing even more than Rachel herself. Fantastic work on his part.
Lastly, the soundtrack must be mentioned. The main song, which may have immaculately-conceived Rachel's child, returns throughout the film and never gets old. The sweetest moment happens when Rachel is speaking on a cell phone for the very first time and sings the lyrics softly. As a returning theme, one could not do much better than this particular tune.
Thumbs very much in the air.