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Unwelcome (2022)
The unexpected sequel to Labyrinth nobody asked for...
I enjoyed it. It's a risky film in so many ways. Weird and unhinged. My imagination forced me into believing this is a bizarre origin story of the new goblin queen after the events of Labyrinth. The goblin king dead, because of a strong female presence who rejected the crown to save Toby and return to a normal life. Decades later, they find their Tiger mom to protect the remaining tribe after a long search. I'm going to run with that, because it makes the film all that more enjoyable.
In all seriousness, I want more of this enchanted world. I wish I knew more about the red caps and their intentions. While sparse, the creature design is well utilized and effectively realized. The frying pan moment and hearing one of them say "no hitting" was a punctuating moment of world building for me, almost comical but stark in presentation. This is no masterpiece, but while it deals with a lot of dark and not so funny themes, it still manages to come off as strangely whimsical and light.
Divisive? Yeah. Fun? Yeah. Give it a go, no harm in it.
The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window (2022)
Going over people's head
I thought it was absolutely brilliant. People who are complaining about the cliches miss that it's intended to be tongue in cheek. The title alone should be a dead giveaway. The story goes completely off the rails, and it was a joy to see everything unfold. After a brilliantly vomit inducing saccharin ending, it wraps with a nice cliff hanger that I hope will lead to a second season.
There are a few mind screws peppered in as well. Is it just me or did the daughter's headstone's epitaph keep changing? I believe so, and little touches like that are what I truly enjoy. I think I'll also never take a casserole seriously again.
W lesie dzis nie zasnie nikt (2020)
Not bad, Poland!
Look, people. Not every films has to be in-depth masterfully done fine art. Some people still watch movies to be entertained, and this is very entertaining. A throwback 80's camp slasher with a few cool twists. Great mixed practical and CGI effects, and absolute love the twins. They have GRAVITY, and are actually a pretty intimidating presence. A good popcorn horror film who love this sort of irreverence!
It Follows (2014)
A new cult genre film for the next generation...
Highly stylized and detailed production. I loved the anachronisms throughout the film. It took place in a world that was both familiar and unfamiliar. Little things here and there that didn't make sense, but seemed intentionally out of place. Like Kubrick, it gave you a strange sense of displacement.
The music was a nice touch. Utilizing unconventional musical motifs is becoming more common, but it is not often executed so well as in this film. The blend of retro, minimalistic 70's / 80's instruments evokes a different dimension of emotional depth. It evokes the great soundtracks from The Shining (Wendy Carlos), The Virgin Suicides (Air), and Donnie Darko (Michael Andrews). The soundtrack created a sense of gravity that I think a conventional score would not have been able to convey for the purposes of this film.
The story was inventive, and I loved the dynamic of the creature that follows. Early in the film, they establish just how dangerous this "thing" is, and what it's capable of masterfully. It was understated, and allowed the director to really utilize some incredible tension near the middle of the film. As a veteran horror film buff, I was both uncomfortable and grinning at the same time. Particularly the scene where it first breaks into Jay's house, and the creature confronts them in an enclosed space. My stomach was in knots, and it's been quite a while since a horror film has made me feel that way.
Sadly, it loses some momentum in the second act. I felt the film started to fall apart at the beach house. Too many gaps were filled, and I felt like my imagination was no longer in play. I am of the opinion that retaining this level of mental engagement is important for the film to maintain its integrity through the developing story arc.
The "final" battle at the pool lost me entirely. It did nothing to serve the purpose of the story, and spoon fed the viewer so much information and action on something that was otherwise intensely concealed and frightening.
The very end shot left me hanging as well. I understood the intention, and it left room for some discussion, which I appreciated. However, I think it avoided the potential to explore the moral implications as to how this "disease" is passed on sexually from person to person. It rested too aggressively on the notion that your past is always looming, and that death is inevitable.
In general, I expected more from the story. But truly admired everything else. A lot of detail was put into the production, which elevated the experience beyond what the story was attempting to convey.
Overall, an excellent film - but it had a lot of potential that it reached for, but ultimately did not achieve. I look forward to more from this director. I'd like to see him hone his craft. He's aced the look and feel of his films, but now needs to work on the depth and purpose of the story he's telling.
Under the Skin (2013)
Flawed, but very enjoyable...
I can sympathize with a lot of the negative reviews on IMDb. I will be the first to admit that a non-commitment to story and characters does not automatically make art. What art is supposed to do is IMPLY, thus allowing its audience to effectively INFER. This is supposed to bridge an emotional gap between the presenter and the viewer. This allows a film with many understated tones to speak on a much more emotional level. Making it more of an actualized experience, and thus something that resonates with the audience long after the curtain falls.
Personally, I thought this film did it quite well. There is always a dividing line between the expected role of film to entertain, and to make us think, making films like this divisive (as the reviews suggest). So, I will simply say that one should not expect to view this film for entertainment purposes. No. This is an introverted, thinking, feeling experience. There is very little dialog, but on the other hand, sound plays a very important role. Imagery is the centerpiece.
So, what did I infer? It's about an Alien who comes to earth to study human beings in some capacity. We do not sympathize with the alien at first, because it is cold, calculating, and predatory. It approaches us as a human would an ant - which is very clearly demonstrated early in the film's imagery.
This alien stalks the streets of Scotland in search of "Victims", luring them with sexuality into a den devoid of light. The victims sink into a black pool, only to be stripped of their insides and leaving only the skin behind. At first, the male victims are a bit scummy; your run of the mill sleaze bag who just can't wait to shove himself into the first woman he comes across. While we may not sympathize with them, we still identify the alien as evil. So what are we left with? Is everything in this film antagonistic? A confusing scene on a beach forces us to take an further step back from the situation, and upon realizing how truly dire the situation really is, the average person would simply emotionally disconnect entirely from the experience at that point.
However, that's the beginning of the film. My genuine feeling is that these men are not so much the victims of murder or cruelty, but unwilling participants of a strange type of assimilation. The alien was learning about humanity by absorbing them. Later in the film, when encountering a new type of victim, something changes. Suddenly, the cold face of the alien becomes strangely human. It is no longer a dead, unblinking stare, but one of worry, sadness, and vulnerability.
It is at this moment where the film's depth slowly unravels, and finally ends in tragedy. Even the music, which for the most part is a monstrous, dissonant presence, becomes very subtly emotional. It is suddenly in key, almost pleasing to the ear, but still very reluctant to become actual music.
I was only truly affected by the stark complexity of its final third. However, I would have not gotten there if it weren't for the entire first part of the film. This movie takes some genuine emotional audience participation, which for your average film is actually quite a lot to ask. It can be draining, it requires us to think, to empathize, and to allow ourselves to be emotionally vulnerable.
With that, be patient with people who hated the movie. It demands more of an investment than most are willing to give when watching a film. For most people, movies are supposed to be a safe escape from the stresses of every day life. Under the Skin, unfortunately, exposes these stresses with naked frivolity, with a pacing that is pensive at best.
I thoroughly enjoyed it. I expect that if this review makes sense to you, then you would also gain something from it.
HELL. A. (2014)
A great perspective on the challenges of being an LA transplant...
As a born native of Los Angeles, it goes to say that I know a LOT of LA transplants. This show represents a really interesting and comical perspective on some of the great stereotyped challenges of coming to Los Angeles from basically anywhere else in the US. It does a wonderful job of highlighting all parts of LA culture that deserve to be scrutinized and made fun of, without coming off as brash or overly critical of it.
A great cast supports a well written and insightful script. It's still young, but cannot wait to see it grow into a a more down to earth, everyman version of Entourage. I can see it going in many directions, and am excited for its coming evolution!
Keep it on your radar. It'll be a gem!
Insidious (2010)
Not entirely sure about this one...
A lot of people seem to like it, and I've seen it on many top 10 lists for horror movies of 2011. To be brief, I found the first 30 minutes or so very well done. But then the rest of the movie happened...
For those of you who crave "true" horror, this may not be for you. A lot of the movie is very tongue in cheek. While there are some memorable scare moments, this movie handles its reveals like a true PG-13 film. That is, this movie should only be truly scare to those in the 13 and below bracket.
Overall I found the film's plot sloppy. The entrance of two pseudo-comic relief characters mid point, who weren't even very well written, didn't help.
As an aside, the use of Tiny Tim's "Tip Toe" as if it were some obscure ancient song of a forgotten bygone era is kind of ridiculous. Though I can see it being creepy for those who are less culturally aware (again, 13 and below for the most part).
To close, I can see where the appeal is. But my personal tastes had my eyes rolling as this movie came to its conclusion. Just not my taste, or my style. PG-13 horror is best left to master directors (Spielberg's Poltergeist comes to mind), otherwise it kind of falls flat. Just my two cents. 4/10