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Fall (2022)
Suspend belief
Good points:
Great premises for a suspense film. I hate heights so this captured my fear pretty much from the off.
The actresses playing the lead parts were believable characters. Good chemistry between them and they kept me watching through the whole film.
The twist. I won't put any spoilers here but I really enjoyed the twist and it added an extra layer of chills.
Really does give a sense of the predicament they were in.
Bad points:
These were supposed to be experienced risk takers but they climbed 2000ft with 50ft of rope, the wrong clothing (how cold and windy will it be 2000ft up!?) and then dangle off the edge of a platform the size of a large pizza literally just holding hands for safety?
Similarly, they didn't secure themselves at the top with anything despite having the equipment to do so.
Why not fly a phone down with the drone, let it send a message and then fly it back with the phone intact?
Laying there watching videos while trying to conserve battery life.
They took very little supplies with them and told no one where they were going. Also, why didn't anyone report them missing? They were gone for days!
When Hunter admitted the affair, it kind of fell very flat (excuse the pun). They talked for 5 minutes and then it was as though it never happened. What was the point of that? They missed real opportunities to flesh out the relationship between the two women and this seemed a poor offering.
All that build up and suspense with the 'will they, won't they' survive and then the rescue wasn't shown at all. Just cut to the bit where the Dad arrives to take her home, no questions asked! Also, why were Becky's lips totally back to normal on the ground when just an hour or so before they were dry as a bone and cracking? Same with her face, which was totally back to its normal complexion and not the drawn, washed out look she had mere hours before.
Overall it was a great premise and started well, but just kind of petered out towards the end. The ending felt really rushed and didn't make sense. A lot of stuff didn't make sense with this, which was a real shame as it could have been as good as The Descent.
IF (2024)
Much better than I imagined
I saw the film today with my 9 year old daughter and we both loved it. I went into the cinema thinking (as I've done several times over the years when I've been begged by her to go see films) that at least I can just relax and maybe have a snooze if I didn't like it while she's entertained. I would eat my words though because it really was a lovely story all the way through, where nothing felt too rushed and nothing was superfluous to the story.
Sometimes films can start off slowly but this one pretty much starts straight away with the backstory of Bea and her parents. I was worried that the subject may be a bit heavy for my daughter but it's done so well and gracefully that I needn't have worried.
Fiona Shaw is just lovely as the Grandma, I was so glad to see her in this. She actually made me the most emotional in this. I won't put any spoilers in but suffice it to say I found myself wiping away a tear a few times where she's concerned.
There isn't a single thing wrong with this film. It's funny, pacey, sad in places and very nostalgic in others.
The IFs are all genuinely great, with none of them being samey or something we'll have seen before.
Of course, the cast is A list all the way, but the character of Bea really made this her movie. She was fabulous. Ryan Reynolds was the perfect foil of physical comedy and real heart which he always does so well.
Steve Carell, especially for me (being a huge The Office fan), has an instantly recognisable voice but thanks to the story and character development being shared out pretty evenly amongst the cast, you don't think 'oh there's Steve Carell doing a voice', you genuinely forget it's him and just accept it's Blue talking.
All in all I loved it and was pleasantly surprised to find that it's the best family film I've seen for ages.
John Krasinsky has really knocked it out of the park. This is not just a kids movie. It's that rare thing which adults and children alike will love.
The Fall of the House of Usher (2023)
Hit and miss
I really enjoyed Mike Flanagan's work so far. Midnight Mass and Hill House being the best of them in my opinion, so I was eager to see The Fall Of The House Of Usher to see if it could top either of them.
I'll start with the positives.
It was great to see most the main ensemble cast working together again in such different roles, especially Rahul Kohli who had almost a fringe role in previous adaptions, aside from Bly Manor, so it was good he had more screen time in this.
The interweaving of Poe's stories and poems was nicely done. It's not a retelling of Poe's work but it borrows inspiration from them and appropriately nods towards them.
Each episode was focused on one family member and their respective lives, so we get a clear sense of who they are and who orbits them.
Carla Gugino. Every scene she is in, she steals. She gives us another captivating and charmingly haunting performance as Verna.
Classic Flanagan chilling horror scenes and backstories. The walled up boss being a particular shout out from me for just how horrifying this was to watch them being bricked up bit by bit, knowing they would never be found.
The not so good points.
The characters of the Usher children are mainly just awful, but there's no subtlety for the viewer to work this out on their own. It's very 'in your face'. They are almost caricatures in their standoffishness towards everyone, each other included, their 'I'm so important everything bores me' attitudes and just their general self entitled-ness, cheating, lying and abusive tendencies. It started to get on my nerves as there is nothing redeeming about any of them. Why these people had spouses and partners who seemed to have some sort of moral compass is beyond me.
The bit at the start where the Usher twins Mum rose from the dead to kill their Father was just a bit silly to me. The hand placement on his neck especially looked obvious that it was a light placing of hands. Certainly nowhere near strong enough to push a grown man to the ground without a fight anyway. They did exactly the same when Madeline stangles Roderick. Same light touch and same easy take down.
None of the characters, aside from Annabel Lee (who we don't see enough of), Lenore and her Mum, managed to elicit any kind of empathy. From Roderick, to Madeline to the children. I honestly didn't care if they lived or died as they were just these two dimensional villains, so it felt a bit flat and lacked suspense in places.
On balance though, I did enjoy it. The unravelling of the story, the switches back and forward in time as we begin to understand what's going on and the glue that held this all together, Carla Gugino, means this is worth a watch, but maybe just the once.
Not the best but not the worst either.
The search to topple Hill House from the number 1 spot continues.
Firefly Lane (2021)
Seriously good
I watched Firefly Lane, a story about two teenage girls from very different family circumstances, navigating their way through 30 years of life, and was glued to the screen the entire time.
Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke absolutely knock it out the park with their portrayal of Tully and Kate. It's believable, funny, charming, heartbreaking in places and above all, it shows just how strong those child-to-adult friendships can be and how important they are.
The actors playing their younger versions are fantastic as well. They made it very believable that the transition from children to adults were about the same characters so the jumping between eras wasn't clunky at all, but served the story really well.
I watched the entire season 2 today and it has made me laugh and ugly cry. My only critique is that the last episode seemed to go on much longer than necessary but the ending was just perfect.
A true gem of a TV show which has showcased the importance of love and loyalty between 2 friends and hasn't focused solely on a romantic storyline. What a brilliant series.
Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022)
A lovely film full of heart
**contains spoilers**
This was everything I expected from Downton. Of course, there are some bits and pieces that don't make sense and are quite far fetched (the whole secrecy surrounding the Dowager and the French villa being one) but this is just a minor thing really.
It was wonderful to see most of the old faces back. It was like it had never been away.
I loved the little nods to 'real life' such as Lady Mary referring to Matthew as a 'fairy tale prince' (when he was exactly that in Beauty and the Beast), and the bit with Carson and Imelda Staunton being mistaken for the married couple when they are married in real life. Just lovely. The little references to actors and what acting must be like was also quite surreal amd again, a great touch.
Seeing the servants get their moment at the dining table in their finery was absolutely brilliant as well.
It was funny, charming and moving all at the same time. Lots of loose ends tied up and even Thomas gets a deserved ending, which I loved.
Of course it has its sad parts too, which made me cry but it was done perfectly.
For me it felt like the final goodbye to Downton and it left me feeling like it was a very fitting end. It's a shame in one way because I do love it but in another its really the best way to end a series of a high, which is what this film is.
Brilliant acting from all involved and just a lovely way to spend a couple of hours.
A Haunting at the Rectory (2015)
Just bad
There wasn't anything redeeming about this film.
The paranormal activity was predictable and boring. As was the love story.
I kept watching in case it picked up a bit but it didn't. The chemistry between the actors is none existent and they seemed to veer from over the top to wooden and stilted.
Just overall a film I wouldn't watch again as I don't think it knows what it's supposed to be. A horror or a love story.
It also didn't have that 1930s feel to it.
For me, this film just fell flat on all levels unfortunately.
The Witchfinder (2022)
Fun to watch
Watched this today and I don't really understand the negativity surrounding it.
I found it funny, daft, a doesn't-take-itself-too-seriously bit of light heartedness.
The 2 leads, Tim Key and Daisy May Cooper worked well together and I really enjoyed their chemistry. Daniel Rigby also pops up with some great screen moments.
Watch this for what it is. It's not a historical documentary, it's a bit of a caper set in the 1700s against a backdrop of a serious subject.
Yes, it is predictable and there aren't many scenes that create the tension you'd expect when there's a women being falsely accused of being a witch, fearing for her life but then it's not supposed to be that. I chuckled at it a few times and really warmed to the main characters.
Mother/Android (2021)
Had loads of potential but didn't quite deliver.
I've just finished watching this and I think it's quite a mixed bag.
The lead actors who play Georgia and Sam are great, firstly. They have believable chemistry and I genuinely cared about their characters.
The idea of humanoid robots breaking their programming and trying to destroy humans is one that's been done before but what didn't make sense to me is why robots would keep human prisoners just to torture them. Surely, if wiping out the human race is the goal, why bother chaining them up and breaking legs?
The Arthur character was also played really well and I enjoyed that twist with him. I didn't see it coming to be honest.
For me, we just don't see enough of the robots and the suspense isn't there enough. I think the beginning when the robots initially turned could have had loads more done with it.
There's one good chase through the woods with the robots as well but that's it.
For me, the horror element comes from the threat of being caught and I only felt this a couple of times, rather than the underlying uneasiness that should have threaded through the film.
The ending was far too depressing. Usually there is a tiny glimmer of good fortune or hint of something turning out OK but the harbour scene was really depressing.
It was well acted but the storyline itself was wide open for more and it just didn't quite deliver.
The Irishman (2019)
Outstanding.
The Irishman is probably one of the best films I've ever seen.
Robert De Niro, Joe Peschi, Al Pacino - what more can you want? They are all on top form with this fantastic fictional depiction of what happened to Jimmy Hoffa.
Although the main cast are famously known for their mafia roles from Goodfellas and Casino, the similarity from these roles casts no shadow on this. They are undeniably brilliant.
Ray Romano was also worth a mention as he excelled in this too.
I was a bit late to the party with this as I mistakenly thought that when you've seen the same actors play mafia gangsters before then there's nothing new to see, but I was wrong.
Joe Pechi is his subtly menacing best. De Niro stands out with his understated competence as his right hand man and Al Pacino is utterly convincing as Hoffa.
There is just nothing about this film which is bad.
The ending is heartbreakingly final and had my heart going out to De Niro even after knowing what he's done over the years.
A masterpiece. Watch it!
Drag Me to Hell (2009)
So bad it's good
I have no idea if this was supposed to be a serious horror or not. Either way, it's worth a watch if you have a spare couple of hours just because it is probably the worst film I've ever seen.
I'm usually quite easy to scare but the CGI effects were so obvious and frankly in places, ridiculous that I ended up laughing.
The only good thing about this film is that it's entertainment value is epic, just because it's so bad that it's good.
For me, the bit that sealed the deal with my rating was the part with the goat. If I'd managed to take it seriously until that point, then after that it was a huge no from me.
I have nothing against the cast. They did alright to be honest. It was the story, the script and the CGI effects which put the icing on the cake.
The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020)
A slow burner and boring in places
The story is solid, full of tragedy and sets up the viewer to be drawn into this tragic, old English world.
The cast are great in this, especially the actress who plays Hannah. She is probably the best in the whole series.
The accents are hit and miss but for the most part, they deliver solid performances as we came to expect from the Haunting of Hill House. In some places, the accents are so sharp they could cut glass.
Unfortunately, although it is creepy at times, it takes forever for the scares to get going. When they do come they lacked the terror of Hill House, apart from maybe two jump scares which got me.
In some episodes, the same scenes repeated again and again becomes tedious. I could easily have fast forwarded through half of some of the episodes and missed nothing of the story.
There were too many unanswered questions left by the finale to make this satisfying for me. Where did Eddie go, being one.
In all, as a stand alone series, it was OK. Not the best but not the worst either. Unfortunately, it is going to be compared to Hill House, which was vastly superior in my opinion. I probably won't go back and watch this again but I'm glad I've seen it.
Vacation (2015)
One of those rare things - a decent spin off movie
I was a massive fan of the original Vacation films. They are something of a family tradition in our house from when we were kids, so I watched this with the understanding that nothing would beat those.
I was pleasantly surprised though.
The casting is just spot on. Ed Helms picks up the reins of Rusty flawlessly. Also, Christina Applegate is wonderful as usual. The appearance of Audrey and her husband was just hilarious.
The story throughout is predictable but still fun with some good laugh out loud moments, followed by some cringe moments and gentle nods to the originals. It keeps very much to the Vacation spirit of the older films.
Seeing Chevy Chase and Beverley D'Angelo reprise their roles for those few scenes were just great. It really put the cherry on top of a very good and enjoyable film.
Annabelle (2014)
Don't waste your time
My 14 year old wanted to watch a horror film and asked for this one. I pre watched it before he did and I have to say it is hands down, THE most boring horror film I've ever seen.
Firstly, the couple are not believable at all. Very bland, vanilla and boring.
The doll is used just for close up camera shots of her face coupled with creepy music. I actually got bored while watching and wrote this review!
Annabelle: Creations was much more creepy and horror genre than this. Give this one a miss and just watch that instead.
It's a paint by numbers doll movie which hits all the wrong notes.
Truth or Dare (2018)
Quite enjoyable
I'm quite surprised at the bad reviews on here. Ok, it's not exactly am Oscar winner, but for what it is (90 minutes of creepy entertainment) it's pretty good.
Some decent horror moments and the cast were good.
I'd recommend this film.
After Life (2019)
Seen it all before
I'm a big fan of Ricky. I've listened to his podcasts and seen his films and TV shows so I was looking forward to watching this.
Unfortunately, it didn't hit the right note with me. A lot of the jokes are old stuff he's done and said before in the podcasts and stand up. Case in point, the joke about the 93 year old being scarred for life is just one of them.
There's no doubt that Ricky is one of the best in the business. He does human emotion perfectly. This just seemed a bit unrealistic in places and laboroured. In fact I heard so often he wanted to kill himself that it started to get a bit stale.
The cast is perfect however. Great actors and it was nice to see Ashley Jensen back again in a more savvy role.
Overall it seemed like everything was Ricky just being Ricky instead of a character.
Glad I saw this but won't watch again.
Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)
Dragged on a bit
I took my sons to see this today. I loved the first film but this one was quite dry and, dare I say it, boring.
The film is slow to get going and once it does it becomes predictable, limping along from one scene to the next. Characters appear but it doesn't make sense for them to be there. Disney princesses just laying around together doing nothing? It was just a gigantic Disney advert really.
The premise was good and there's a few laughs but nothing great.
The woman who voices Felix 's wife is criminally underused and when she did speak she's been turned from a strong woman into a grinning loved up ninny.
There was so much they could have done with this film but they lost so many opportunities for a good storyline.
I was waiting for it to end about 90 minutes in. A couple of times I thought it was wrapping up but then it took another turn into a new adventure.
All in all I was disappointed in this film. I know a sequel is often not as good as the original but this just didn't do it for me.
Trainwreck (2015)
Absolutely garbage
If I could give this film a 0 I would. Terrible from start to finish.
I quite like Amy Schumer. Sometimes she makes me laugh but this was not one of those times.
It begins quite well and I thought, 'oh, OK maybe it won't be too bad', but I was wrong.
It's full of vulgar sex jokes, drug jokes, bad dad jokes and bad boss jokes, which is OK for a bit but not something to base an entire film on. The guy who played Aaron was good, as was John Cena and LeBron James but that's about it.
I literally couldn't have cared less about the characters and I didn't even watch till the end. It was just so bad I switched it off. I assume it ended happily, as it was exactly the kind of 'film-by- numbers' it was shaping up to be 30 seconds in. They did try for some emotion with her dad but it missed the mark.
I do not recommend this film to anyone. It was almost as bad as Twilight.