moviesmaniax Reviews

Us (II) (2019)

Lupita Nyong'o deserves an Oscar // more REVIEWS on instagram @moviesmaniax

[8/10 · 22 March 2019]

First off, Lupita Nyong'o probably delivers the best performance I have ever seen in any horror movie EVER. Her performance is just so genuinely creepy and deeply unsettling, especially those Oscar moments with her other self that unfortunately seems to overshadow the inferior nature of the film itself. (Also shout out to Elisabeth Moss for her intriguing performance too). But, "Best Horror Movie of All Time"? Hell no. It seems to be clear now that Jordan Peele doesn't seem to like showing the gores in his movie, which in this one, is quite a let down, because there are lots and lots of opportunities to go hard on that R-rating, which in my honest opinion, would make this a much more horrific and terrifying experience to watch as a whole. The film also has some humorous, some scary moments, and decent twist, yet nothing over-the-top that would give you nightmares or shock you in any way, which again, is quite a let down. Instead, Us drives you toward that thrills on the 'why' rather than the 'how', triggering your curiosity while delivering a bloody fun ride along the way. Nonetheless, Us is a thoughtful, well-crafted, funny, thrilling, and inventive horror film fueled by Oscar worthy performance from Lupita Nyong'o, with that alone, is more than enough to highly recommend this movie for.

A Quiet Place (2018)

Easily the best horror of the year so far // MORE REVIEWS on instagram: moviesmaniax

[10/10 · 9 April 2018]

A well-deserved 97% Certified Fresh on Rottentomatoes. A Quiet Place starts off with a promising concept that basically if you make a sound, these creatures would come out and eventually slice you in half. This allows a fresh take on the film's storytelling through mostly silent sequences that once something does make a sound, it will effectively make you jump and make your heart beats like a running horse as you unexpectedly anticipate what's about to happen next. Once the film hooks you with this gimmick, the thrills only go uphill from there where it smartly builds up the stakes of this family, making it even higher and thus lowering their chances of surviving, thus leaving the viewers a more terrifying and breathless experience as the story progresses. Another selling point of this film are these grotesque, alien-looking creatures that look deliciously creepy and mesmerizingly frightening as well as the strong performances and well-constructed characters that you will actually end up liking and caring for their fates. Overall, not only does this film have a promising concept but also with its breathlessly terrifying moments along with brilliantly constructed characters and plot, the execution is just beyond and exceptionally horrifying. A Quiet Place is perhaps one of the best monster films ever made and easily the best horror of the year so far.

>>A<<

It (I) (2017)

A near-perfect reboot horror! // Instagram: moviesmaniax

[10/10 · 8 September 2017]

Okay, since I'm now swifting It Comes At Night to my best thriller of the year category, this near-perfect reboot of Stephen King's IT is now THE best horror film this year (so far) and is easily one of the best clown horror films ever made. IT packs plenty of genuine scares as well as jumpy ones, all of which are presented way more frequent than most big studio horror films and making its pacing flow well with constant scares and thrills to keep the audience entertained and spooked throughout the film. The use of practical effects here are also deliciously creepy and gleefully disturbing to look at along with the freaky performance from Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise just even increases the insanity and horrifying level of this re-imagining version of the character without entirely replicating what has already been done (still, this version of Pennywise somehow reminds me of Johnny Depp's Mad Hater on cocaine at some point). Not only does this film have all the horrors to offer but other elements in the film here are also crafted so well like The Losers' Club. The Losers' Club here are perfectly cast, acted, and developed, making us care about their fates and relationships and therefore, be able to hook us to the screen from start to finish with their funny, energetic, and heartbreaking performances. Overall, besides its genuinely frequent scares, applaudingly creepy practical effects, and performances, IT not only proves to be a near-perfect remake but also strongly adapts what already has been done and creates a whole new insanity level of horror on top of that, as well as keeping the same heartbreaking drama core of the original through its exceptional cast into finally becoming this year's best horror film.

(A)

It Comes at Night (2017)

This Film Will Rip The Audiences and Critics Apart // INSTAGRAM: MOVIESMANIAX

[10/10 · 15 June 2017]

A24, from now until the day I die, I will be watching every single horror movie you buy, you have my word. Are you tired of watching dumb characters making bad decisions and getting themselves killed? Or those that could have survived but eventually died because of their careless moves? Or those predictably loud and annoying jump scares that you have seen in countless horror films and wonder if there could ever be that one movie that would avoid everything mentioned above. Lucky for you, this is that film. It Comes At Night is a psychological horror/thriller/drama that brilliantly avoids a typical, predictable horror cliché and shifts itself into being an anti-horror film instead. The characters here are precisely smart, brilliantly developed, and powerfully acted along with the simple, yet twisted survival concept and atmospherically creepy setting, I would seriously pee my pants​ if this film is shown in VR format, and proving that sometimes, what is left unseen and untold can be scarier than you might expect. These are what make the film so intriguing to watch as it slowly hooks you to the suspense by squeezing the fear, paranoia, suspicion, and survival instinct of our human nature out to their worst nightmare, which all results in this nail-biting, thrilling final act that will cringe shudder you until the credits roll. Again, this film aims at making the audiences feel desperate and unsettled while piling up their fears from something they don't know or see. So if you are looking for a jumpy scare with loud or random creatures popping up in your face, then this movie is definitely not for you. Overall, with its unusually smart characters, intriguing performances, atmospherically creepy dystopian setting, and suspensefully constructed plot, It Comes At Night is an anti-horror film that effectively succeeds in avoiding all the horror cliché, both character and story wise, and easily placing itself as the best and smartest horror film so far this year.

>>A<<

TWITTER: @moviesmaniaCX

Alien: Covenant (2017)

I like the way these dumb characters die // INSTAGRAM: MOVIESMANIAX

[8/10 · 15 June 2017]

Congrats horror fans! You just got yourself one hell of a bloody ride in space here. Alien: Covenant serves as a prequel to Alien (1979) and a sequel to Prometheus (2012) and it does a great job filling the story gap while delivering intense, gruesome, and bloody action-packed moments for the audience and fans of the series. There are also plenty of GORY scenes here that will delight horror fans, yet most of them are pretty much just replications of the previous films but nonetheless, you will still get a blood-splattering, stomach-ripping, and gut-gushing experience, just like the good old days. However, the main problem of this film is perhaps, beside Michael Fassbender, most of the characters here are just dumb, loud, and excellent at making bad decisions, which can be irritating to watch at times. Also, there isn't really anyone you would care or cheer for, but rather just waiting to see how and when they would end up dead. Overall, there are enough suspenseful action sequences, gleeful twists, and impressive visual effects that would make up for some eye- rolling moments and weak characters, making Alien: Covenant still a bloody satisfying and delightfully gory experience for the fans of the series.

>>B+<<

TWITTER: moviesmaniaCX

Underworld: Blood Wars (2016)

What you expected it to be, a fast, brainless, bloody action movie that will mostly entertain fans of the series and people with short attention spans

[5/10 · 16 January 2017]

A fifth entry in the Underworld franchise and it still doesn't seem to stop there. At this point, I think we can all expect to leave our brains at home and just go in for a pure bloody action. And that's what I suggest you all to do. There are so many stories going here that you don't even have to care or pay attention to understand what's going on as well as new characters added just to make the action parts more chaotic and entertaining to watch. Even though there are some bad CGI moments along with its unoriginal plot, but there are still lots of twists and turns and gleefully GORY action sequences for horror fans to enjoy throughout. Overall, Underworld: Blood Wars is what you expected it to be, a fast, brainless, bloody action movie with enough surprises, blood, and body counts that will mostly entertain fans of the series and people with short attention spans. (C+)

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The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)

From the director of Trollhunter comes one of the scariest horror films of this year! // Instagram: moviesmaniax

[8/10 · 16 January 2017]

From the director of Trollhunter comes one of the scariest horror films of this year! The Autopsy of Jane Doe takes us on a terrifying journey through the two coroners (Brian Cox and Emile Hirsch) in finding out the cause of death of this mysteriously beautiful corpse "Jane Doe". The film does a great job in hinting and playing with the audience and keeping them on the edge of their seats before revealing the twist that is, unfortunately, much better than the resolution and the final act of the story. Still, the whole build-up is thrilling and SCARY enough to make us forgive the final act as well as some cliché moments and delivers a spine-chilling haunted house thrill with a unique setting in the morgue this time around. The film also shows the full autopsy scene that's so cringely satisfying and GORY and is definitely not for the weak stomach. Overall, The Autopsy of Jane Doe succeeds in its genuinely suspenseful and cringely intriguing build-up with some forgivable bumps and cliché along the way and ultimately ends up being one of the most thrilling and scariest films of the year. (B+)

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The VVitch: A New-England Folktale (2015)

In 2014, we have The Babadook. In 2015, we have It Follows. In 2016, we have THE WITCH // instagram: moviesmaniax

[9/10 · 24 February 2016]

In 2014, we have The Babadook. In 2015, we have It Follows. And so far in 2016, we have ourselves another horror masterpiece, The Witch. First time writer-director, Roger Eggers, has delivered a movie that is soul-shaking, intensely disturbing, and gleefully Satanic enough that will likely satisfy most horror fans who can tolerate slow-burn style of movie. The Witch slowly builds its tension and thanks to its terrific production, performance, and music, all of which fit perfectly to create a dreadful tone and pressuring the audience the whole way through.

Like It Follows, the music in The Witch is just haunting and uneasy to listen to and really plays a huge part in creating the eerie atmosphere and tension effectively. The visual here is just as stunning and compelling as well with a brilliant production and setting that makes us feel like we are watching something we are not supposed to. While the story-line is not as spectacular as other elements in the film but it still manages to delivery the theme of faith and human nature effectively enough through the talented performance from all the cast. Even though this is a slow-burn horror film but it never gets boring as there are always something interesting and captivating to look at and the pacing here is just nicely flow with its tension rising up and down throughout the whole film.

The Witch doesn't rely on any cheap scares, like most modern horror film did, or over-the-top gore to shock the audience but rather its theme and concept that really creeps the hell out of them and delivers a spine-chilling experience. The Witch succeeds in almost every aspect in filmmaking giving horror fans an eerily rich and devilish experience that's pleasantly disturbing throughout. It's excited to see what the writer-director, Robert Eggers, has to offer in the near future as he has proved with The Witch that there's still hope for a horror filmmaking once again.

>>A-<<

Deadpool (2016)

The filthiest, most entertaining, and hilarious superhero movie in the Marvel universe! // instagram: moviesmaniax

[10/10 · 12 February 2016]

Ryan Reynolds returns once again as Deadpool after his first appearance in X-Men Origin. Expect the unexpected in the most anticipated R-rated superhero film of the year that will blow your brains out, literally.

After the failure of rebooting Fantastic Four last year, 20th Century Fox finally redeems itself with Deadpool and takes a risk in releasing this with an R-rating, which is really rare for a mainstream superhero film these days, but the result clearly shows that they made the right decision. Deadpool has a pretty basic plot about a guy getting revenge and killing people along the way. While it may not have a fancy plot like other superhero movies, the result is beyond satisfying and lives up to its premise. The whole movie is filled with non-stop raunchy humour as well as a delightful amount of bloody, violent action sequences that are refreshing and certainly will entertain the hell out of you throughout its running time. This is a movie that totally deserves its R-rating (for strong violence and language throughout, sexual content and graphic nudity). I'm pleased to see that they didn't choose to go soft by giving it a PG-13 rating to gain more audiences, which in that case, would have totally limit the movie's potential. Thanks to that decision, you all can now expect lots of violence and nasty dialogue and prepare to laugh your guts out.

Also, the important element that makes all this all work is the cast. Ryan Reynolds is perfect for this role, which reminds us what a big mistake it was to shut his mouth in X-Men: Origin. Deadpool here is just as foul-mouthed and filthy as you expect him to be. Without a great supporting cast, this movie wouldn't have been this satisfying. T.J. Miller, Rachel Sheen, Brainna Hildebrand (as Warhead), and scene-stealer Leslie Uggams (as Blind Al) all did a great job portraying their characters and adding a great comedic touch and chemistry with our Deadpool and naturally balanced their performance really well. And trying not to give anything away, Stan Lee also has one of the best cameos you will ever see in a Marvel movie.

Overall, with its gleeful violence and non-stop raunchy humour, Deadpool turns its simple plot into the filthiest, most entertaining, and hilarious superhero movie in the Marvel universe.

>>A<<

Ash vs Evil Dead (2015–2018)

Basically a Star Wars experience for horror fans // instagram: moviesmaniax

[7 January 2016]

If there's any higher grade than A+ I would definitely give it to this series! This is basically a Star Wars experience for horror fans. After 30 years, Ash is back to fight the deadite once again in this consistently hilarious, scary, and gory, Ash vs. Evil Dead. Never will you ever see any series in your entire life that is able to deliver scare, laugh, and buckets of blood and deaths in every single episode like this one. And it's just a triumph and a gift for horror fans to switch to this half an hour show every week to see a blood-splattered gory fun ride. The GORES here are almost entirely practical effects and are brilliantly design and gleefully gory and it's just fun to see different kinds of cool deadites and actors covered in blood in every freaking episode even though the show doesn't have long running time as The Walking Dead or American Horror Story. The first episode, directed by Sam Raimi starts out with a bang and filled with effective SCARES as well as a great comedic timing and groovy one-liner from Bruce Campbell along with the decent supporting cast. However, one thing that bothers me is the character of the police (played by Jill Marie Jones) in which I think is a really annoying character and her performance also makes it worse. But as this series goes, you can really see the improvement from all the characters and eventually care for their fate, even the unlikable Marie Jones's character. And the finale ends with a bang that will soon lead to more bloodshed in the next season while also being the scariest episode giving us more nostalgia from the original films and perfectly ends the season. Overall, Ash vs. Evil Dead is downright the best horror/comedy TV show I have ever seen in my entire life. It's short, fast, and consistently funny, scary, and twistedly gory in every episode making us, horror fans, feel like we can always switch to Starz every week and enjoy the same, yet better version of Evil Dead film and have a bloodbath good time over and over again.

>>A+<<

The Night Before (II) (2015)

Only worth a few chuckle here. // instagram: moviesmaniac

[5/10 · 22 November 2015]

Joseph Gordon-Levitt reunites again with Seth Rogen after 50/50 in this new stoner Christmas comedy from the guys who brought you Neighbors, This Is The End and (almost) The Interview, The Night Before. Before going into how disappointing this movie is, let's talk about some good treats this movie has to offer here. Probably the only thing that almost saved this movie are the terrific cast including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, and Anthony Mackie as well as other supporting cast and cameos, all of which did their best here in bringing the most out of this cliché, unfunny, raunchy, vulgar, and racist humors and provide some chuckles and a few laugh along the way. Especially Seth Rogen, whose comedic talent here really stands out and prevents this movie from being a total disaster. However, the script and plot here really overshadow their talent with its pointless story and the writing that just feels really lazy with no clear goal in what it's trying to achieve but rather just another repetitive concept about grown-ups getting high, being immature, making stupid decision, and ending up making everything right. So since the plot here fails to deliver, all these vulgar, drug, celebrity references, and sexual humors are filled to supposedly make the movie funnier but most of them are just too immature to be funny and get old real fast even if you are a fan of their previous films.

It's not until the second half where stuff starts to get interesting, beside most childish humors they put up, a couple of familiar cameos appear that will likely satisfy fans of this comedy genre and younger teenagers and I must admit it does bring some amusement and joy to the movie after sitting through the first half that doesn't seem to go anywhere. Nonetheless, The Night Before is just forgettable and doesn't have any elements in the plot or humor to be as funny or memorable as This Is End or Neighbors or The Interviews.

Overall, The Night Before features a talented set of cast and a concept that their fans are all familiar with, but with its scattered plot and lifeless character development it's just only worth a few chuckle here.

>>C<<

Tales of Halloween (2015)

An entertaining, uniquely silly, gleefully bloody, and wickedly humorous flick // instagram: MOVIESMANIAX

[7/10 · 5 November 2015]

And here we just have ourselves another fun traditional Halloween movie where we can watch alongside Trick 'R Treat even though it's not nearly as good. With its 10 chilling stories which are all pretty much more humorous than SCARY and all of them are fast, short, and creative enough to watch and benefiting itself for being an anthology film. The down side? Well, all of the short here have some smart, unique, and gleefully disturbing ideas but you could only wish that it would be longer. So instead, maybe by having only three good segments and work around more with that (like Trick 'R Treat) might be a better idea as when each segment ended, it just leaves the audience craving for more and all of them just seem to not have a really satisfying closure. Some segments here especially Friday The 31st are gleefully GORY and is probably the most fun of all, along with Trick, and The Night Billy Raised Hell. Overall, while Tales of Halloween is an entertaining, uniquely silly, gleefully bloody, and wickedly humorous flick that lives up to its title but each segment may be too fast, short, and lack a continuation to live up to its premise.

>>B<<

Freaks of Nature (2015)

Turns out to be ridiculously fun! // instagram: moviesmaniax

[8/10 · 5 November 2015]

And here we just have ourselves a possible cult classic. Going in blind without having seen any trailer or really any advertisement around at all, this movie turns out to be ridiculously fun! Freaks of Nature blends in horror/comedy/romance/drama with zombie/alien/vampire/human smashed-up and it works really well thanks to the strong performance and likable cast. The movie has insanely GORY and bloody action sequences and really interesting premise which continues to deliver that to the end despite some nonsense moments along the way. It also has great dramatic moments, crazy twists, and is a really funny and pure entertainment film with a heart. The make-up effects for both zombie and vampire here look really deliciously freaky and bring out some SCARES as well. Overall, Freaks of Nature bites the right note in horror/comedy genre with its gleefully smashed-up theme, strong cast, freaky humors, ridiculously fun plot, and a heart, proving it to be more than just a brainless teenage flick.

>>B+<<

Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (2015)

Gleefully bloody enough but with its mostly immature jokes and forgettable script, the movie never rises to live up to its promising premises // instagram: MOVIESMANIAX

[6/10 · 5 November 2015]

Probably it's intended to be, but this is one immature zombie comedy flick that quite lives up to its title but not so much on the premises. The movie blends in zombie, comedy, friendship, and coming-of-age theme but never quite succeeded in any. The zombies here are very immaturely acted and doesn't seem to have a clear identity or personality and the writer seems to not give a crap either and just mixed all different types (dumb, fast running, slow walker, way too smart for a dead person) together and is pretty much a mess. The comedic parts in the movie are childish and not as funny as it should have been due to mostly cheesy dick and fart jokes. And the movie could have even been better if they dig deeper into the coming-of-age and friendship theme here, which they pretty much did just a decent job here thanks to its terrific young cast. The GORES here, however are blood-splattering fun and gleefully bloody enough to most likely entertain genre fans and some zombie make-up here are quite SCARY to look at as well. Overall, while Scouts Guide to Zombie Apocalypse is gleefully bloody enough but with its mostly immature jokes and forgettable script, the movie never rises to live up to its promising premises.

>>C+<<

Goosebumps (2015)

Pretty much brings out your inner child especially if you are a fan of the book. // instagram: moviesmaniax

[7/10 · 29 October 2015]

When people asked me, how did I first get into horror stuff, I just realized a while ago that it was the Goosebumps book series that got me started as a kid! And now, this movie just really brings back all the fun and good memory as well as some other horror references with quite effective message and emotional depth that makes this more just a silly children film. Jack Black is a great choice as R.L. Stine as well as the voice of the devilish Slappy and this film is pretty much a celebration of monsters that we all love from his books even though there are some silly, predictable moments. There are also some in-your face 3D SCARED tricks, all to make this an entertaining horror/action/comedy all family members can enjoy and will pretty much brings out your inner child especially if you are a fan of the book.

>>B<<

Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension (2015)

Beside the impressive 3D gimmicks there's no reason to see the same scare tricks all over again for the fifth time // instagram: moviesmaniax

[5/10 · 29 October 2015]

I guess to this point, the least disappointing thing about this film is the 3D. After four films and two spin-offs, it's clear now that this franchise needs to end and that cooking up the same scare tricks for the fifth time here just doesn't work anymore. While the trailer makes it look like it could take a fresh direction, it really isn't even though it manages to tie most unanswered questions up in this one but not in a surprising way enough to differentiate itself from the rest of the franchise. The SCARES here are all jumpy ones and if you are familiar with the franchise, there's nothing new or exciting to see here, except the 3D. The 3D here really brings the whole movie out to a new dimension with its unique depth as well as throw-in-your-face-scare and gimmick and it's a fun distraction to the typical slow-build story in the first half despite some horrible CGI effects toward the end. And as we all know, GORES are not the main selling point here so don't expect lots of that. Overall, this may still be a fun 3D horror film for those who haven't seen the franchise before, but for those who did, beside the impressive 3D gimmicks there's no reason to see the same scare tricks all over again for the fifth time.

>>C<<

Crimson Peak (2015)

Just way too shallow, dull, and predictable in delivering its theme and story // instagram: moviesmaniax

[6/10 · 15 October 2015]

Crimson Peak or pretty much Alice In Horrorland is another piece of imaginative work from the director of much superior films like Pan's Labyrinth and Hellboy and it's clear that he should just stick with his fantasy/action genre rather than horror and romance here. I had a chance to attend the first screening of the film with director Guillermo del Toro coming to greet the audience himself and told us to see this movie as a Gothic romance love story rather than a straightforward horror film. He was right, because he doesn't seem to learn (as a producer from MAMA) that CGI ghosts are not SCARY, they sure look cool, but it's just that and also they don't seem to be much necessary to the story and are pretty left out as the story goes. After failing on delivering the SCARE, the Gothic romance theme that the director was trying to sell here doesn't seem to fully reach its potential either. The chemistry between Tom and Mia are just okay and watchable but nothing near excellent or touching whatsoever. Jessica Chastain however, did really well with creating a cold and memorable character which really makes the movie interesting to watch and helps add the thrill a bit to the climax as well. The story line is pretty simple with nothing much surprising or amusing as you can pretty much figure and predict what will happen at the end of each and almost every single scene in the film throughout. One good thing about this is probably the GORY scenes which is very terrifying and shocking and quite unexpected. Overall, Crimson Peak is another expensive-looking horror film with fascinating production to admire at, but it's just way too shallow, dull, and predictable in delivering its theme and story.

>>C<<

Jurassic World (2015)

Oh man, I just wish this film was rated R // instagram: moviesmaniax

[9/10 · 11 June 2015]

Oh man, I just wish this film was rated R. This is a new chapter to Jurassic Park that can perfectly stand on its own. The film has many scenes that remind us of the original film with bigger action sequences and visual epicness. While the film may not be as SCARY and intensely thrilling as the original but it's guaranteed to entertain the hell out of you for its whole running time. What I really wish here is if this film was to be rated R, it will definitely be a bloodbath horror show that will surely satisfy horror fans but no doubt that this is a family film, so just saying. However, that doesn't mean the movie is tame at all, considering it as a hard PG-13 rating with a surprise amount of GORY scenes and deaths to bring more horror and thrill to the story and the 3D helps add those up as well. Overall, Jurassic World is a film that can perfectly stand on its own while respecting and perhaps brings more entertainment value than original does.

>>A-<<

The Human Centipede III (Final Sequence) (2015)

The taste will never leave your mouth // instagram: moviesmaniax

[4/10 · 23 May 2015]

"The taste will never leave your mouth", don't eat anything while you watch this, you have been warned. This was one of my anticipated horror films of 2015 and I must say I was really disappointed. With the film's big premise and ambition, it turns out to be ultimately dull throughout with little entertainment here. The film is filled with perversely sick moments, immaturely psychotic performance, and shocking GORES that's intended to make you puke and gross you out instead of making a gleefully enjoyable one to watch. One of the main problems here is the performance of Dieter Laser which make him looks like Marlon Wayans going pull psycho which is amusing to watch for like 5 minutes and the rest is just childishly annoying and just dull, making the film laughable and looks like a parody of itself. Another problem is how the story drags out and we have to sit through the whole psychotically dull act and vulgarly racist dialogue before the final sequences happen which is nothing that surprising since most of them are already shown in the trailer. Overall, The Final Sequence is crude, vulgar, perversely sick, over-the-top in its violence and chessily insane performance, yet still ends up too dull to enjoy even for the fans of the genre.

>>C-<<

Parasyte: Part 1 (2014)

A film that you can be fully satisfy once the credit rolls but still make you crave for more sequel // instagram: moviesmaniax

[9/10 · 20 May 2015]

To be honest I never read the Japanese comic book version before but now, I think I should start reading one. Even though Parasyte Part 1 seems to have some unsettling moments going on, but at the end it all wraps up really well from its thoughtful and amusingly entertaining storytelling. All the actors here did their roles really well thanks to the script that leaves room for character development resulting in an effectively touching moment in the last act. The effects in the film is also impressive in an Asian film level and it gets really bloody, GORY, and disturbing throughout as well. I may not be able to compare it to the comic since I never read it but overall here, Parasyte Part 1 is an accomplishment in entertainment value while being able to add in thoughtful social context and creating a character where audience can actually care about. It's a film that you can be fully satisfy once the credit rolls but still make you crave for more sequel.

>>A-<<

The Voices (2014)

Everything is awesomeeeee when you start killing people~ // instagram: moviesmaniax

[7/10 · 19 March 2015]

Everything is awesomeeeee when you start killing people~ This is exactly what I feel like after watching this adorable horror/comedy film. Ryan Reynolds did a great job portraying this naive psycho dude and really adds the weirdness, empathy, and even some SCARY personality to his character. While there are GORES and guts in this film but due to the film's randomness and surrealism, it was just done in a non-serious tone and just intend to make you laugh. Overall, The Voices is a wonderfully gleeful psychological horror/comedy film with catchy music (especially the end credit) and will make you feel that sometimes killing someone can be a fantastic and optimistic thing to do, just like the cat suggested...it's better than sex.

>>B<<

It Follows (2014)

Will surely scare the daylight out of you // instagram: moviesmaniax

[9/10 · 18 March 2015]

If The Sixth Sense scared the sh*t out of you when going to toilet at night, or Paranormal Activity made you afraid to stay at home alone, It Follows will definitely creep you out when walking back alone at night. After I saw this film, I would definitely run my ass off if I see anyone walking slowly behind me late at night. This film is a truly modern classic with its original and brilliant concept, all of which is put together nicely with its expertly directing and thought-provoking scares. The SCARES here are effective throughout thanks largely to its excellent soundtrack and intense sound effects that even though you can tell something is coming from its increasing volume of the music, but it will still effectively shock and gives you the chill down your spines when it happens. There are not many GORY scenes here but once it happens, it's definitely a terrifying one to look at. Overall, It Follows is not only the scariest film since The Conjuring but also one of the best ones worth watching before you die for its directing, concept, performance, music, etc, all of which comes together and works perfectly. It may have some funny moments along the way but once the scare comes, it's just expertly done and this film will surely scare the daylight out of you.

>>A-<<

Everly (2014)

Another bloody action film in the style of Kill Bill, Kick-Ass, and Kite, Everly turns out to be quite a pleasantly decent film // instagram: moviesmaniax

[6/10 · 13 March 2015]

Another bloody action film in the style of Kill Bill, Kick-Ass, and Kite, Everly turns out to be quite a pleasantly decent film. Thanks to the talented Salma Hayek in the lead role that really proves she can kick ass while delivers a heartwarming performance moment despite some of the cheesy ones. Nothing SCARY in this film unless you are scared of blood and guts since this film can be GORY at times, with a similar style to Kick-Ass even though it doesn't quite reach to that level of FUN, but at least this film is definitely way better than Kite. The musics here also play a role in making the fight scenes more gleeful and entertaining to watch as well. Overall, while there's not much to expect from the plot but Everly is still a cheesy, bloody good times action film with decent performance from Salma Hayek that can probably fit in a so-bad-it's-good category kind of film

>>B-<<

What We Do in the Shadows (2014)

Hilarious! Hilarious! Hilarious! // instagram: moviesmaniax

[10/10 · 11 March 2015]

Hilarious! Hilarious! Hilarious! New Zealand has made it again with my last year's favorite Housebound and now What We Do In The Shadows is my new favorite and best horror/comedy film of 2015!! Not only all the characters here are absolutely hilarious but the mockumentary concept of this film is just brilliant. Think the mixed of Behind The Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon and a bit of Cabin In The Woods and you will get this vampire twisted-genre film that pokes fun at several vampire references and will make you laugh like crazy from start till finish. There are some SCARY make-up and jump scares here but overall the film is more of a comedy so don't go in expecting any of that kind like Housebound as well as the GORES. While the plot may not seem to be fully developed enough but as long as it can crack you up all the way through with several laugh-out-loud moments, plus making fun of the genre you love, that's just all it takes for me for a successful horror/comedy film

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The Lazarus Effect (2015)

Filled with same old horror cliché dragging the whole film down and ultimately becomes a forgettable one at last // instagram: moviesmaniax

[5/10 · 4 March 2015]

Here we have another interesting horror film that fails to fulfill its premise. The problem with horror films these days are that they seem to have the same cliché and the same old annoying jump scares. This film falls into all of those above even though its concept is somehow interesting (not to mention how similar it is to the film Lucy). The only strong point here is probably the appealing cast and Olivia Wilde really delivers the SCARE, but still not enough to save this movie. The film is also PG-13 so don't expect any GORES here and the kills are not fascinating or creative whatsoever as well. Overall, this is a horror film with great cast and interesting concept to watch throughout but filled with same old horror cliché dragging the whole film down and ultimately becomes a forgettable one at last.

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