The Phantom Carriage

Possible first swedish horror film I've ever seen?

I can't exactly recall where I heard about this movie from but the title alone was all I needed and the story that unfolds wasn't really what I expected. It at first seemed about a woman with consumption waiting for death but then we get an inverse of A Christmas Carol where the spectral driver of the eponymous carriage comes to collect a dead drunk and shows him the life he threw away and the mistakes he made that has links with the dying lady but he's already dead so he can't change it, before it naturally resolves to a happy ending. The movie is close to two hours long so you get familiar with these characters and their histories, seeing them go from loving and caring almost idyllic lifestyles to such depressing depths. It is a horror movie but not quite in the typical way you would think, true the phantom carriage is a proper spooky visual but it's almost more an existential horror. I mean imagine you die or are near death and you have to confront a life's worth of regret, seeing what your actions have wrought that have hurt other people's lives, to be helpless and succumbing to a sickness whether it be something as banal as liquor or something as serious as pneumonia with no real chance to heal, that's pretty fucking horrific to my eyes. And you are stuck with this bastard of a character, played by the director Victor Sjöström himself no less, through the majority of the film as he just becomes this loathsome man who has to own up for his choices and it's a pretty decent performance. Astrid Holm as the Salvation Army nurse Edit is the real victim here and played to tragic beauty, just someone trying to help where they can who is almost cursed with sickness makes it eerily clear that people have lives out of your orbit, she really is the light in such a dark film. The driver of the carriage also played by Victor due to the lore presented that if someone should die at midnight on New Year's Eve they must take the reins of the carriage is an interesting presence, keeping the hooded robe and scythe from the Grim Reaper yet somewhat personable as he lays someone's life out before them. He feels appropriately intangible and someone you could never fight, it's a more lowkey potrayal of Death but a good one nevertheless. The production is also pretty simple too with minimal sets that are reused thoroughly throughout, with a contemporary time period instead of a period piece set centuries ago which I think is awesome cause that means you get to see just a teeny bit of 1920s Sweden, the dark shadows and warmly lit interiors are very nice and the telling of a ghost story around a fire is as classic as classic can get. I can see the film being very life affirming to some with a message imploring others that it's never too late for love or forgiveness until your dying day, but it does leave you with more awareness of your own presence in the world. I quite liked it, it's not a great film or a shining example of silent cinema but a well told story with a strong message, and hey it's not everyday I can talk about a foreign silent film so I can dig it. I give it 2.5 stars, 7/10, and next week we got a little grab bag of movies so stay tuned.

The Man Who Laughs

Not a total horror movie by most's estimations but when the hell am I gonna be able to talk about this again?

The Man Who Laughs is a wonderful movie and can definitively be put in the Universal classics collection in my mind. Centering on a performer who was horrifically disfigured as a boy who garners a healthy reputation in 17th century England as a sideshow, while royal machinations interfere with his quite beautiful romance and the best of both worlds he cannot achieve. The first thing I really gotta point out is these performances...holy shit balls! Even as someone who champions silent cinema, who has seen my fair share, I'm kinda stunned how everything fit so well. Conrad Veidt is a marvel in this film as Gwynplaine (or as I affectionately called him, Gwyn) which says a lot considering he had to wear dentures with metal hooks in him to achieve the ghastly grin, but his eyes and his mannerisms convey so much you almost kinda forget it's a silent film! He shows heartbroken sadness, joyous love, nervous apprehension, and even prideful dismissal all with a smile on his face. Good God he deserves every shred of praise and recognition for this role. Do I even have to say I love Mary Philbin as Dea in this? She's only one of the most gorgeous women I have ever seen and the sheer just brightness and love she brings to this made it impossible for me not to be heavily invested in this character, and hey this might be the beginning of the trope where a blind girl falls in love with a slightly monstrous figure so how could I hate it? On the opposite end of the spectrum Olga Baclanova as the Duchess Josiana kinda gives me Maria vibes from Metropolis just not on as grand as scale, as this life loving, wild, slightly seductive woman who drifts into Gwynplaine's orbit is fascinating to watch. Literally from the first time she sees him you can read like this mix of morbid fascination and budding attraction on her face, and I didn't really know where her story was gonna go. Cesare Gravina as self proclaimed philosopher and sideshow manager Ursus while a minor role is prominent throughout and is a stalwart supporter of Gwyn and Dae's romance, has some standout moments too near the end that actually feels quite real in the desperation and heartache so bravo to him! We even get Brandon Hurst back as Barkilphedro and wow it is night and day between Hunchback and this, in Hunchback it was a very dry performance with enough to make you dislike Jehan but here he is eating this role up as this confidant servant to the royal family, and my God he is such a slimy son of a bitch in this movie and it is glorious to see cause you can tell he's relishing every second he gets to play this conniving swine. Like rarely have I seen a main cast of a silent film this spectacular across the board, you can read so much emotion through their faces alone and it perfectly encapsulates why silent acting has to be respected and appreciated. Production wise it's not as expansive and flashy with it's sets as Hunchback yet I'll be damned if I said they weren't good either. What more caught my eyes beyond the period costuming was the camera does some interesting stuff, it's not your typical early cinema shots, they do exteme close ups and place the camera at interesting angles and even does some crossdissolves that you really just don't see in movies even 20 years after the fact. And I'll admit to you straight up this movie had a loooot of pull on me, damn near cried not once but twice, was smiling like a fool, I even had a moment where I covered my dropped jaw in both shock and joy. I can't even recall the last movie to have those kinds of reactions from me but hey I'm older than the hills, I can't remember what I did three days ago. And on that distressing bombshell it is time to end, I give this 4 stars, 8/10, and next time we get foreigny.

The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1923)

Maybe not exactly a horror film as we define it today but a good movie to spotlight nevertheless.

As someone who grew up loving the animated Hunchback from a young age even I'm kinda surprised it took me this long to see the original film adaptation. This could very well be considered the first Universal Monster movie almost a decade before Dracula, and it's not often you get to talk about a film that's now 103 years old so let's talk about it! Set in 15th century Paris the film more or less consists of a love square between the eponymous hunchback Quasimodo, a gypsy Esmerelda, a captain of the king's guard Phoebus, and brother of the arch-deacon of Notre Dame Jehman as revolution broils under the surface, it's not a very involved plot which could be said about several silent films but you can get into it. What the film may lack in story the production well makes up for, with a true to scale facade of the Notre Dame cathedral on the Universal backlot that stood untouched until unfortunately a fire devastated the backlot in 1967 and it really does feel like we are seeing the church in the fifteenth century. All the sets are massive and decorated to the max, the costuming is garish and while I'm no expert on french clothing in the 1400s feels authentic, the staggering amount of extras for crowd shots, and there always seems to be a crowd shot, around every corner gives it such weight and scale that most movies could never even dream of achieving. In terms of acting, while this is not my personal favorite performance of Lon Chaney the dedication he always brought to the makeup and the sheer disdain Quaismodo has for humanity mixed with a tragic love for Esmerelda makes it still a fine acting part that is still talked about to this day. Patsy Ruth Miller brings such light to a sometimes grim movie as Esmerelda, showing great compassion and innocence which really makes me feel bad she's gotta deal with some real pieces of work at times and while I feel her backstory is woefully presented with a true out of left field element I'm also aware about fifteen minutes of this film is lost but we have a mostly intact copy. Norman Kerry who you might remember as Raoul from Chaney's Phantom plays Phoebus and I know this is modern sensibilities coming from me, but he's a bit of a fucking whore in this! I'm serious man he's already engaged to one woman and is known to get around as they say before zeroing in on Esmerelda, and I'm just like bro move on my God. Solid performance but an irksome character. And boy does that compound hard and fast with Brandon Hurst as Jehan who is our Claude Frollo equivalent in this film, you can just tell from Brandon's face he's a real devil of a swine and he just cannot leave this poor girl alone, tries to abduct her, literally stabs Phoebus to get to her, and pretty much orchestrates a failed coup just to run off with her, like Christ alive he's not as interestingly evil as the Disney version but he's still a bastard! It's easy to get invested because you do want the best for Esmerelda and can sympathize with Quasimodo even if he isn't a baby face voiced by angel sent from above Tom Hulce, and for a almost two hour film takes it's time but doesn't drag it's feet either. I would say it's more a minor classic of both the silent film era and the horror genre, but I still liked it just fine. I certainly can appreciate the art all made by hand no less, and this was a megabucks hit for Universal gaining over 3 million dollars and I need you to think about that for a sec considering movie tickets were dimes back then, and I'm happy to say I ginally have seen it. I give it 2.5 stars, 7/10, and we have a semi-horror title up next.

Primetime

You only have me for so much longer A24 so savor it while it lasts.

I will come clean 110%, I heard about this movie in passing and didn't really think it was for me until about 3 weeks ago, when I saw the trailer before Onslaught and that trailer alone made me want to see this movie. Now...did the trailer perfectly encapsulate the film? Nnnnno, it looked like a mix of psychological thriller and a police procedural, just mental as shit. The movie is kinda half and half between a slightly fictionalized look at the To Catch A Predator series and then we go to Denton, and it becomes an A24 movie. Granted the focus is on Chris Hansen and a decoy by the name of Dan Plum as they navigate quite possibly the most difficult show to ever film, as we build up to the suicide stinger that got the show canned back in the day. Robert you absolute madman I love you to bits, and it is fascinating watching this performance cause like I said it goes by the numbers and then as we near closer to the end it gets out there, and it without a doubt is an exaggeration of Chris but I'm so invested in the plot and was really having fun with Pattinson's acting to where I didn't really care. Skyler I feel has the most dramatic of roles to play as this regular actor who doesn't even know what show he's auditioning for as he has to condition himself to confront these horrific people and how Chris slightly guides/utilizes him for these arrests. Merritt Wever as the producer Andie took me awhile to grasp what she was laying down as this aloof, deadpan voiced, pretty much head honcho of the show but I got it by the end. And this is gonna sound weird as shit, I know it's probably just me but this movie kinda got some laughs out of me. It's not super on the nose comedy but it has these almost for lack of a better term, self-aware moments where if you really take a step back and look at the situation it's fairly ridiculous and it got some chuckles outta me. Go figure! Now this takes place in 2006, I was 11 at the time, I didn't have an opinion on whether the series was sensationalist television or anything like that cause it was so far off my radar it practically didn't exist. Now, yeah it's a fair bit obvious that the show did not have to exist for these operations to go into effect, and whether or not it made a dent in pedophilia or forced them to be more subtle and crafty I couldn't say and will leave that to more intelligent minds. I'm just here to tell you what I think about the movie and I really liked it! It certainly has no problem showcasing the zeitgeist of that era which I get a kick out of, every goddamn movie is 80s this or 70s that, it is going to be a fucking trip when we start getting early 2000s nostalgia in our movies man. But the production was sharp from the damn good cinematography, the more artsy lighting, the rock solid direction, the acting, it all worked and worked very well. It's an interesting movie to say the least and it likely won't work for everybody but I can give it an odd recommendation. Just see it cause this is one of those movies where you can only judge it for yourself. For me I give it 3.5 stars, 8/10, and we are shifting gears hard fucking core tomorrow.

Lover Of A Ghost

Madness, and beauty have struck.

Yes we have gotten even more niche than Ghost (the band not the specter) as I chose to highlight a short film made by my best friend which just premiered today in New York City. Violent Vira, rising metalcore band and sweetest lady I have ever had the joy of knowing has released a companion piece to her excellent debut album also titled Lover Of A Ghost, directed by Dylan Cole who has had more than a hand in crafting the visual style of her music videos, really took me by surprise in a multitude of ways. Short film it is, we haven't had something this short since Tim Burton's Vincent, clocking in at 12 minutes with credits and it took less than sixty seconds for me to become completely engrossed as a tragic story unveils concerning a young woman who after an argument with her lover is lost in grief and imagination after his death as she believes he is anything but gone. The movie takes on an almost silent film lens, with subtitles present but not a voice is heard which I loved to bits to the point where I'm positive this could be shot in black & white and look even better. Speaking of visuals this is actually difficult for me to articulate and it may sound terribly strange, but the settings showcased just screamed cozy to me, almost like it has just a tinge of that exquisite autumn atmosphere that I adore so dearly. It was giving me flashbacks to the visual style of A Ghost Story, another film that I love to eternity and back which has a little tie to her music history from the past. The atmosphere is outstanding, having this almost dreamscape look to it where even the pitch black nights have this beauty to them, both the cinematography and lighting was really well done and must be appreciated. Biased as I am with an unyielding love and pride for my dearest Vira, her performance told through sheer body language made me feel a swell of emotions. Hell I even got a fair bit choked up at the last scene of the film to be perfectly honest! The mix of music is practically the third star of the picture, using two instrumentals and a single from her album along with little flourishes never before heard that give it an emotional punch and as a fan of her music since before even the beginning, did all the more to enhance my enjoyment. Yes I am a diehard fan for this band, I would even go so far as to say they are my favorite band, I am biased and this film truly is for the Tarantula Army through and through so I'd be hardpressed not to love it. I have never seen a film quite like this before and I'm a big enough nerd to buy the movie, I think it would be a fascinating double feature with A Ghost Story! Just the presentation, the visuals, the emotion of the story which if you know the life struggles of Vira herself is only increased tenfold, not only struck me but gripped me. I think it's a very fine film and while not for everyone's tastes I feel the art can be appreciated even if you're not familiar with the artist. This feels like a capstone to the Lover Era and come what may I'll stand by her and gladly continue to support, waiting with baited breath to see what she makes next. I couldn't be more proud of her if I tried. Biased as I can be, but it's my show so I just don't care, I give it 4 stars and 10/10! 

The Odyssey

The one time I read the damn book and I have to say the movie was better!

I mean as an adaptation for one of the oldest written stories in human history it's actually pretty solid! They didn't change too much and trimmed quite a bit of fat found in the tale, and as Christopher Nolan is wont to do the movie does a lot of flashback storytelling as we follow the king of Ithaca after the sacking of Troy desperately trying to get back home as he encounters mythical beings and even when he returns home his fight is not over. I don't really have to tell you if it's a good movie, even with examples such as Tenet from Nolan you can surely expect quality and good if not great plots and yeah the movie may be 3 hours long but it just feels appropriate and you do get invested. Hell I was getting pumped up, tense, and even reflective while watching the film! The big main story beats they stick to are all memorable and engaging, from a suspenseful encounter with a cylcops, to a surprisingly grotesque example of body horror, to just the terrible nature of war it all landed expertly. The only real detachment I had with the movie is the cast, now that is not at all damning the performances themselves if anything they actually do really friggin' good. HOWEVER I did see more the actor and not the character which is odd because this isn't exactly the first star studded cast I've seen in cinema history but I just saw Anne Hathaway I didn't see Queen Penelope, I didn't see Calypso I saw Charlize Theron, I didn't see Telemachus I saw Tom Holland, and the only person who rised above was Matt Damon for reasons I can't even quantify. But like I said all the performances are rock solid and the drama of the story was so good it really didn't take much for me to be immersed in the film. The sets, costuming, all those wonderful practical details which I love so much are on top form as I suspected them to be! The music truly hammers home the suspense and unease, it gets the heart pumping and your nerves on edge, so well done Ludwig Göransson! Damn good cinematography (in other breaking news the sun will rise and the sun will set), the scope of crowds and the sea was just right, and even if you're not familiar with the book you can grasp the events unfolding. I say see it just to witness the fall of Troy, that was the highlight of the film in every respect and it truly felt momentous because that is a piece of history countless people have heard about but I have never seen it visualized. Ever! It just feels suitably epic for an epic tale and while I won't say it's the best film of the whole year I'd be a lying sack of shit if I said I didn't greatly appreciate and enjoy it. Even if this was the first and last time I ever watched this film I can safely say I was very happy to see it. 4 stars, 8.5/10, and this may be the last review of the month unless madness strikes hard and fast but this entire show is a literal odyssey, a long and eventful journey and it isn't quite over yet.

In Retrospect: Evil Dead Rise

Alright, from the top!

Yeah it has been about three years since I've watched this and regardless of if the new movie is any kind of follow up, it's nice to watch this again. Still pretty fucking horrifying just on a conceptual level I can tell you that, and I am going to be rather bold here for a hot second and just say Alyssa Sutherland...best horror performance of 2023. Now I know David was really really good in Late Night With The Devil that year, but Alyssa knocked it out of the park. And indeed while the characters aren't super intelligent, the writing is solid enough which is something I feel is grossly needed in the horror scene. That indicates several things to me, they don't half-ass a script, they want you to be invested and engage with these characters, and it just makes for a better story overall. Sure there's some fodder to up the kill count, but our main family unit is pretty damn good. I don't need airtight plots and ingenious characters, and to see a even more modern lens implemented to an Evil Dead film after 2013 works great! It all feels like a necessary evolution to the series, I don't think it's trying to match or top the original trilogy but rather just stand on it's own merits which it does admirably. Alllll the makeup, gore, and effects still are effective and the cinematography is anything but dull or unoriginal lending to a very good modern horror film. And considering the fact I haven't seen shit in terms of promotion for Evil Dead Burn, hell I can barely describe the poster, and yet I'm still very interested to walk into that theater Friday goes to show what a total underdog series this is. I mean really think about the trajectory of this franchise and the standing it has in the horror community, and it's kinda unbelievable we're at this point! Even I'm not that die hard a fan of the series despite reviewing every film, but I respect the living hell out of it and as long as we keep getting gnarly and good stories I'm totally game to see a new one. The score still stands at 3 stars, 7/10, and fingers crossed for even better this weekend.

Disclosure Day

Alright Steven, I can dig it.

Probably not a modern masterpiece of his films but a solid if bonkers movie. But hey, it's aliens I'd be disappointed if it wasn't bonkers! And the film kinda throws you in the deep end from minute one but it raises enough questions for you to want to know more and where it goes. It follows an archivist for a black ops team and a newscaster who for reasons unbeknowst to them have access to higher intelligence and they're willing to blow the whole lid on the you are not alone truth. It's interesting to see so many modern camera techniques utilized by Spielberg and it does make for a visually interesting film so props to you! Emily Blunt in my personal opinion is the standout role because she acts how any normal person would when confronted with such strange goings on, she has no idea what is happening to her and she voices it but still follows through knowing she has to do something. She feels unbelievably grounded in an earth shattering situation. Josh O'Connor is a good partnering lead with Emily, and I like how consequences be damned he is about unearthing the truth that yes extraterrestrial life has been on this planet for decades, but also the dyad they form into at a certain point I thought worked quite well. I think this is the first antagonist role I've seen Colin Firth in and while he's no Hugh Grant (sorry Colin please don't shoot) I kinda like the fact he's not this murderous, by any means necessary, above the law type villain, he just is doing what he feels right with such a massive truth. Colman Domingo is kinda the wild card in this deck because he seems to be the one who knows the most and has his own game to play, aiding our protagonists throughout yet it's not fully explained why and how. Far from the performance being bad, it's just a different element. The effects are minimal but are used effectively, they love shooting eyes I can tell you that and while the CG is not quite realistic who cares, it works just fine. Some people might bitch about the religious undercurrents but I found the filmmakers handled it right, with one character claiming this would be disastrous beyond recall and would damage religion worldwide because we need a god and a book to be good people while another claims and in my estimation too who the hell says alien life outside of Earth wasn't also created by a deity, and that faith is faith and not fact. They don't make a big deal out of it, it doesn't feel hamfisted, I rather appreciated that real world discussion. And yeah that reveal is about as real as you can get, though I do find it hilarious our own government has confirmed aliens are on this planet at least three times and we're just like, alright cool but could we maybe not fuck this planet and it's inhabitants even more on a daily basis. We know man, now could you please increase the minimum wage to a liveable status? I had not a great many expectations and walked away fairly happy, I think people will like it just fine and I'm happy to see Steven still doing what he loves. I give it 3 stars, 7.5/10!

Is God Is

Simultaneously what I expected and yet I got a good deal more.

The trailer admittedly got me intrigued, I like a good revenge story even if it is the most worthless of causes but it does a lot more than you would really think. It follows twin sisters who are given a task by their dying mother, to kill their father who burned them as kids but how the movie progresses has not only a plethora of quirks which are welcome to differentiate it from other examples of the genre, but you get a very true aspect of revenge that isn't shoved in your face, the change it instills in a person. From pretty much scene one it is established that Racine is the more outgoing and confrontational type while Anaia is the more soft spoken reasonable one who upon hearing her mother's request is realistically kinda taken aback. They share so many synchronized traits yet are two fundamnetally different people and it makes for a compelling and sad story. I mean are they still highly justified in killing such a heinous evil creature in the guise of a man? Oh abso-fucking-lutely! Though we barely get much of him in this movie Sterling K. Brown who is such a damn good actor he can convey so much dread and uneasiness when he has even a snippet of a scene, and towards the end he runs a bit of a gambit of emotions that leave you off balance not really sure if he's on the level or not. Didn't fool me for a second but the performance is what counts. And Vivica A. Fox who was a real trooper working under so much prosthetics like Mallori Johnson still holds presence and the simple fact she is referred to as God by her kids lends a fair bit of religious overtones in the dialogue. So performances get solid grades across the board, and the production certainly follows suit. It's stylistic but not in an overbearing way more of a quirky offbeat way, with De Palma-esque multiple camera shots, narrated flashback sequences drenched in sepia tone like it's a damn noir, and the little fact that the twins are telepathic and we can read their conversations through subtitles. So it's a strange movie but all these qualities add to the uniqueness of it, you just can't name another movie like it and that's something I appreciate. Whether it works or not for you you can respect the filmmakers for doing something original in a somewhat conventional genre. I give it 3 stars, 7.5/10, and next Friday simply cannot get here any quicker even at lightspeed.

Project Hail Mary

Sweet baby jeezus, this was a lot better than anticipated.

Granted I kinda forgot this movie was coming out, knew diddly squat about the book, and was expecting a decent film but I'll be damned if this isn't Top 10 material for the year. Centering on a science teacher who gets roped into a government operation in an attempt to stop a previously unknown lifeform from dimming the sun quickly makes second contact with another alien as a shockingly endearing and lovely friendship blooms. Bare bones plot, fantastic fucking movie. I can't believe how well all this is balanced cause it is a heavy plot and takes as much time for the drama as well as the humor and it is easily one of the quirkiest, sweetest, most fascinating movies I have ever seen in my life. It grips you right off the hook with a fair bit of mystery but relatively quickly stars feeding you backstory throughout the picture, giving you the necessary backstory and information, which is impressive. It never gets boring and is a very artsy film in terms of cinematography, I'll be talking straight out of my ass if I said I was never invested. Like this is the movie that I desperately needed, some truly positive even dare I say life affirming sci-fi without even a shred of saccharine or pulled punches emotionally. Goddamn movie nearly made me cry seeing Ryan Gosling talk to a rock creature, and a surprisingly emotional karaoke scene that I have not seen the likes of since Lost In Translation. I'm kinda speechless honestly how this movie not only submerges you in the emotion but keeps you trailing along every story beat with baited breath. Ryan Gosling I continue apologizing for not knowing your game, as he delivers a great maybe even award winning performance in my estimation. Fantastic stuff. But the movie wouldn't be complete without James Ortiz as our resident alien affectionately named Rocky who effortlessly stole my heart and was really the part of the movie that grabbed my attention to even want to go see it. They spend a good bit of time hurdling the language gap but with sharp writing and good humor it never feels like a slog, and the bonding time is essential. The movie never forgets about the crisis but you almost kinda wish it did just so you could see these two hang out even more. Hell yeah I wanna see humans make galactic friends, and it's so strong I...almost kinda see them as a couple! Not anything as base as mates, but something far deeper and more caring. I'm still baffled how they pulled that off but I sure as shit ain't mad! I just wasn't prepared for how damn good this movie really was, and I know that probably influences expectations so don't take my word for it and just go see it for yourself. I love the relationship dynamics, I love the visuals, the score from the drums to the choir is perfect for the film, the creativity of the camera work is right up my alley, and it practically injects 50ccs of dopamine straight into my bloodstream. Especially the ending, God almighty that is an ending I have wanted to see done in a sci-fi movie for decades. I'll be stunned if there's a more feel-good movie of the year after this, I really will. I have no reservations when I say 4 stars across the board, 9/10, big thumbs up from me! It's really moments like these that have kept me going for almost 11 years come next week, I love when I get movies that look interesting and just blind side me with how great they are, but hey that's just my opinion. You gotta go see it for your own. But you may be surprised how much you dig it, and I'll see you next week come what may.

The Bride

Okay first new movie of the year finally.

I'm a bit lost for words I won't lie. Admittedly, hands up, I knew exactly two things about this movie: It had Christian Bale in it and was some kind of Bride Of Frankenstein movie. Now I will also admit that's all it really took to get my ass in a theater seat but what I got was such a bizarre movie that I don't think I can call it objectively good and yet I respect it and rather like it. This review will utterly fail to sum up this movie and do it justice because it's all over the place. You'd think it would be this reanimation love story but it goes waaaay beyond that! When the movie starts, begins, with the body of a woman possessed by the spirit of Mary Wollstonecraft Shirley you kind of can already guess this is going to be out there! And I'll say it right here right now, I wasn't digging it at first and it took me until the dance club scene for it to kind of start clicking for me and even then it had moments where it was this off putting strange movie, but I simultaneously appreciate and even respect the artistry of it. The movie has themes of identity, feminism, acceptance, and challenging the world around you and those themes do indeed work. But it also kind of goes on tangents that don't amount to all that much in the main story that is told. Oh I certainly will not blame Maggie for this in her directorial debut, this script needed a smidge of ironing but her direction is decent and needless to say bold given the material. You have to walk in with an extraordinarily open mind to not walk away hating it, I certainly don't cause the movie has a lot I do genuinely like and even it's more wacked out moments has appeal. Could I really hate a Frankenstein movie that almost turns into this Bonnie & Clyde type story with dance sequences and actually decent romance? Helllllll naw! Performance wise Jessie Buckley has to juggle a lot and has to stand on an uneven script yet she does very well, affecting a split personality with a penchant for independence that is likeable and you can sympathize with. Christian Bale also is very strong with one of the best physical interpretations of this character in the 21st century, it really is a stellar design in my opinion mixing movie monster with inspiration from The Shadow. The personality is what really struck me most, he's well spoken, cares deeply about the Bride and supports her independence, has a liking for cinema, and has no problems curb stomping a rapist. Good solid man right there, even if he does still tell white lies. The romance is more of a slow burn between them with the Bride after being reinvigorated wanting really nothing to do with Frank which he does accept even if he wants her super bad to be his wife, and after he stops her from being assaulted they slowly grow closer to the point where they are ready to love each other to the end of time. Pretty damn happy ending if you ask me and I'm so conflicted on final scores here. The production for the most part is very good, the story has some kinks and shortcomings but I don't hate it, it's just this mixed bag of quality to where I'm stumped. If I really had to give it something I'll give it 2.5 stars, 7/10, and hopefully this is just the beginning of more new movies to hit the schedule. I'll see you sooner rather than later.

Babygirl

Oh yeah, we are doing this.

Now hands up, full disclosure, I saw this opening day over Christmas break back in 2024. I didn't write a review for it, just wanted to go to the movies to go to the movies, and man was I surprised when I was the only one there. But here we are and I really truly gotta say I really liked it! Centering around a mature CEO who gets entangled in a shaky but dominant relationship wirh a young man(take fucking notes 50 Shades), and really what the fallout of such a relationship is...when she's already married and has kids. I cannot overstate this enough, thank GOD this isn't some erotic thriller bullshit and actually takes a much more mature lens to people in a dominant & submissive relationship. The actors are what sells it but the story has enough going for it to where you do kinda want to see where it all ends. It isn't just steamy fluff you'll forget about. Nicole Kidman is very very good in this movie able to convey a lot of conflicting emotions, I mean yeah it's very realistic, you would have to do some mental gymnastics and a lot of settling in if you were going to pursue a relationship like this so full marks across the board. Plus anybody who can get nekkid on camera has my highest respect. Harris Dickinson is interesting to watch cause he's not really that typical commanding dom, hell they don't even drop the big D Word, he's got emotional baggage, I dare almost want to say he's a touch neurodivergent, he likes control but he's not gonna be an asshole about it. That's so goddamn refreshing and kinda, I don't wanna say nuanced cause I've barely seen any movies like this before, but it feels unique to cinema here. Antonio Banderas though admittedly a minor role is important, I mean he's the husband in all this, so you do feel at least a notch of sympathy and the movie does not shy away from the ramifications of the affair. In terms of production it doesn't look bad in the slightest, shot very candid and really only kinda lets loose at the rave scene which admittedly makes sense, the editing is damn good in my opinion at times, and I got respect for the ending. No spoilers of course but it is almost this bittersweet thing. Now it's not super graphic in the sexual aspect but it is...effective. Let's just leave it at that. It was a trip to watch it again and I know it is far and away from everyone's taste, but I can surefire recommend it anyway. Taking a somewhat taboo relationship and translating it well to screen and doing it with respect must be commended, I give it 3.5 stars, 8/10, fingers crossed for next month cause man the new movie well is dryer than the Sahara so far this year.

Rental Family

I can't even really express in words how upset I was not to see this in theaters.

All you ever had to say was Brendan Fraser in Japan, and my ass would have been in that seat day frickin' one! And what an interesting premise about a struggling actor essentially being hired at a company who supplies people for emotional moments, you could hire them as a friend to hang out with, a husband to wed, an interviewer to tell your life story, and it's all willing from all parties. Now this is new even to me, if this is indeed a legit business in Japan I've never heard of it and I don't even really see a problem with it but the movie does such a good job showcasing the hesitation and unease for someone hired to do a thing. Humans are emotional social creatures in our bones, we love to be around people and share experiences with people, and that is what the movie is about. Building connections. That's fascinating stuff and not only does the director craft an emotional tale but the actors are what makes it work as well as it does. Do I even need to talk about Brendan's performance? That handsome man could sway me into any movie, he does a damn good job and is incredibly believable in the part of Philip. Shannon Gorman for being so young has so much attitude and emotional range as Philip's "daughter" and I was kinda actually surprised how the movie doesn't focus entirely on their relationship. Rather Philip is always onto the next client, like Akira Emoto as novelist Hasegawa who is having memory issues and Philip helps him reclaim memories in a very emotional subplot. Also I'd like to shoutout Takehiro Hira, great to see him again after Shōgun and boy does he have a twist that would make Rod Serling pause, and ho mah gawd Mari Yamamoto I am shamelessly gonna crush on you forever, I'd stand by her and obey her every word because she is the boss in this movie. The film so easily spices the story up with variety, it can be heartfelt, sad, cute, fun, funny, and ultimately enjoyable. The cinematography is naturally going to get a generous heap of love from me, it's a gorgeous country regardless of it's surroundings being either urban or rural. At first it seemed flat but as the movie progressed we got more and more atmsophere to it, more beautiful shots, more brief moments of reflection on nature. And to be perfectly honest I think that's why I love it so much, why I praise it so much, why it steals my heart away and I won't ever care to ask for it back. We don't really do that in America where we shoot cityscapes or landscapes of nature with the same level of beauty or even reverence that japanese filmmakers do. I feel that's a crying shame but I'm happy someone is doing it! It's more a drama than a comedy despite some good humor peppered throughout, and yeah it got me very close to crying in the latter half. I'm...slightly puzzled by the ending and yet I still like it, I'm not sure if there's symbolism at work here or if it really did end on a positive note of quiet introspection, I can't put my finger on it but it works well all the same. I always appreciate foreign films and it is not a movie that goes light on the japanese language, but me being a sucker for that and being a subtitle enthusiast since DVD players started getting big it was far from a deal breaker for me. I very much liked it, I thought it was a different kind of love story that worked quite well for this week, and yeah it does make you appreciate all the more the people you already have in your life and could make you excited about the people you've yet to meet. 3 stars, 7.5/10, and our next film is going to be a doozy so join me on V-Day for something...less than family friendly.

Metropolis (1927)

I almost dare want to say there has never been a better time in the almost century this movie has been out than now to watch Metropolis.

It's funny how much I have heard about this movie and yet how little I have heard about this movie, I think people focus more on the impact and inspiration this film has than the actual plot and themes. It can be pretty layered with religious overtones, the gap between classes, a quite literal revolution story, and a romance all thrown in together but balanced quite nicely. We follow the son of the ruler of this metropolis who quickly is smitten by a woman from the undercity as he's drawn into the industrial nightmare, while his father has machinations of his own. That's bare bones, it really would take quite a while to break this plot down fully but it's so worth watching that I wouldn't give it away regardless. I have rarely seen a film so fitting of the times than now, the simple face value instances of a severe not only wealth gap but class gap between the higher echelons of society that reap the benefits of a nameless voiceless force that work themselves to death, a leader that has zero qualms instigating a violent response from lower class citizens to consolidate power, and how a small group can become an army to rise up against it's oppresors reeks of this foul year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty-Six. And oh how I wish the resolution of this film could be anything beyond a pipe dream in reality, a constant theme of the movie is, the mediator between the brain and the hand must be the heart, and it shows how compassion and solidarity for your fellow man can create a better tomorrow. It's fairly potent and powerful stuff, and ideals I support fully. I know Gustav Fröhlich is our main character and he does indeed do a good job showcasing a man who is willing to fight for the woman he loves and has sympathy instead of apathy for those less fortunate than him BUT Brigitte Helm is in this movie. Good fucking God this woman is the star and the real focus for my money's worth, and she gets to act with so much more range because of her importance to the plot. I have never in even my wildest nightmares seen eyes so jaw droppingly beautiful and yet terrifying beyond the capacity for rational thought, I don't know who was in charge of the lighting for this movie but they damn well knew how to light her face! Jesus God almighty! Another standout in the cast for me was Fritz Rasp known only as The Thin Man, maybe it was the clothing or such a distinct physicality but he almost almost was giving me Joker vibes, and for a relatively small part he was quite memorable. I know everybody and their grandmother talks about the visuals and the special effects, rightfully so cause Fritz Lang has always been such a diligent director who knows how to achieve a shot. The modelwork, the absurdly expansive sets, the backdrops, the truly experimental collage of images, the costuming, it's absolutely no wonder why this movie has stuck around in the public consciousness. And for a movie that is damn near two and a half hours long which is rare for me in my experiences with silent movies, moves at a pretty good pace. It's never boring and considering we still don't really have the full film even after all this time due to several edits being made not long after it's premiere, who knows how much longer it really is. But the reconstruction efforts are very much appreciated, thanks to a 16mm print found in Buenos Aires. Now the real question is do I like it better than Faust? In terms of plot, no. In terms of relevance, it's essential. I'll give it 4 stars, 9/10! I don't really get preachy on this show but pay close attention to the world, support your neighbors and community, and tear down those rich and powerful fuck's worlds until there's nothing but ash for them to choke on.

Faust (1926)

I know the term silent cinema is common but I couldn't pick a better word than cinema.

Needless to say I was heavily impressed, intrigued, and taken in by what many would claim to be F.W. Murnau's crowning achievement in filmmaking. To be honest I think I'm one of them even though I haven't seen even half his filmography mostly due to the fact that out of his 21 films only 11 still exist, but the power of Faust puts even modern films to shame in the simplest term for movies, imagery. This is a monumentally gorgeous film with so much special effects shooting it could be considered the Star Wars of it's day, where almost every frame is a painting filled with brilliant contrast of light and shadow, a wonderful mix of miniatures, cross dissolves, rear projection, and even animatronics that wouldn't be surpassed in cinema until 1933's King Kong. Concerning an old alchemist whose town is beleagured by plague, turns to the king of Hell itself to try to save people but is quickly snared by promises of youth and love as not only his life spirals but those he interacts with as well. The road to Hell is often paved with the goodest of intentions. For such a simple story it's told on a grand scale with drama to match, all the performances are big but not hammy or over the top. Gösta Ekman who plays the young and old versions of Faust does very good work and can convey a lot through facial acting, Camilla Horn as his love interest Gretchen honestly is my second favorite performance because she has so much range and dare I even say haunting moments which is amazing to witness, but the whole show is stolen in my humble opinion by Emil Jannings who plays Mephisto. I know, I know, praising the villain as per usual but you have not seen what I have seen. Dis guy, lemme tell you about dis guy! I have never seen a performance in silent movies so relishing in the part, I almost want to say he goes camp but that is not in a derogatory sense, gleefully indulging in vice, you can practically hear the hisses and groans when he's confronted with religious symbols, his natural instinct to backstab and lie. I am hardpressed in all of my years to think of a better devil character in fiction than this fella right here! Exquisite, definitive, iconic. Yet even with the lighter moments this movie can get dark man, with shots of people dying from pestilence, being stabbed with the most nonchalant grace, pretty much everything that happens to Gretchen after falling for Faust is horrific and depressing. I almost expected the movie to end on a seriously pessimistic if not even nihilistic note, but there is hope at the end with a message of love to help you fight through the darkness. I couldn't praise the visuals more and I'd be here all damn day if I tried, the direction is so tight and focused, you can tell this was a production that worked hand in hand with each department to craft the best movie possible. For an almost 2 hour movie it pretty much had me in a headlock before even the two minute mark hit, and it's got a solid pace to it. I loved it, I can fully see why it is lauded so much and has a special place in film history, I also can easily recommend it and hope that you enjoy it just as much if not even more than I did. Full 4 stars, 9/10, and I hopefully saved the best for last with one of the most influential movies of all time, Fritz Lang's Metropolis.

The Golem (1920)

How truly we are in need of a guardian these days.

Another year has come and it is time to begin again, kicking off with a small offering of silent cinema. The Golem is a classic character of folklore both of jewish and german history personified no better than here, with Paul Wegener not only directing but penned the script and played the titular character himself. A true period piece set in the 16th century a rabbi in a ghetto portends of great danger for the jewish people of his town and sets about constructing a guardian even at the cost of dabbling in black magic, as word from an oligarch condemns the jewish people for a list of "reasons", if they can even be stretched as such, to forfeit their homes and depart. For a film not even 90 minutes long and is the only surviving story of a Golem trilogy all directed by Wegener, I'm quite happy it was this one that survived acting as an origin story and it does a quite good job telling it. It's not an example of pure german expressionism like The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari, more expressionist lite with examples of architecture and lighting but mostly is shot conventional. For 1920 the special effects are fairly impressive cause I sure couldn't deduce how they pulled off certain things like the star studded night or the smoky appearance of the demon Astaroth, it looks quite nice and no doubt having such technical craftsmen behind the camera like Hans Poelzig and Karl Freund certainly helped bring this film to life. The performances are decent, obviously with silent cinema we can't get much inflection on dialogue but what is shown is easily understandable and the cast do quite well and I must give credit on the sheer scale of extras present. In true horror movie fashion it takes some time before the Golem is brought to life and even then isn't the centerpiece, but the look and imagery of what he does is what has kept this film from slipping into absolute obscurity. It's such a different tale that yes has some elements from other stories in the horror genre, the monster being in love with a girl, a creation that rebels against it's creator, but by far and away even after a century since it came out no movie is quite like this one. I wouldn't deem it a certified classic that simply must be watched at any cost but it is a very good movie where anybody who is a fan of silent cinema or indeed monster movies of all different types will get something out of it if they watch it. You can find the whole thing on a most trusted ally the Internet Archive, just look for the one that has both the english and german title, it has all the correct color tinting and everything. I give it a solid 3 stars, 7.5/10, and next time we're looking at F.W. Murnau's other classic of the 20s, Faust.

Wicked For Good

Oh thank God. I liked it way better.

Now that we've shed the schoolyard nonsense this is soooo much more up my alley. I would boil the plot down to the machinations of the Wizard against Elphaba in a tug of war over Oz, but it's way way more about the muddied complicated relationship between our two main characters. With Glinda really trying to come to terms with everything that went down last film and finding out when you get everything you want how unhappy you can still be, while Elphaba is kinda figuring out just how far she wants to go in her crusade while still trying to make her own place in the world and her relationship with Glinda. It's fairly riveting stuff truth be honest and investing to boot, and I'm quite happy to announce they barely even touch the Wizard Of Oz story as they should though it did crack me up how they jab at the transitional ownership of the Silver Slippers. This is really the movie to showcase for award season regarding Cynthia and Ariana's acting chops cause not only do they get to really belt out some songs but my God they can do soooo much acting with their eyes alone. In fact near the end I was like a hairbreadth away from having an emotional breakdown, because at a certain point that's not acting. That's Cynthia and Ariana loving each other so much and knowing the end is near, it's hard not to feel something at that moment. I don't need to tell you about their performances but I will say they got even better. Jonathan Bailey was good as ever, able to convey a lot of conflicted interest even without an abundance of screen time and once again the man just knows how to make my jaw drop and my face blush. No spoilers here by a long shot, but gotdamn that was...yeah. Jeff, I love you to bits Jeff, you were still kinda out there but you know what? It makes sense for the character and even though he's still a bastard I kinda still like him! Michelle really got to embrace that villain role and never did I ever think I could hate one of her characters, but man that's good writing and acting to make someone so detestable. Production values are still at their high standard but even I'll admit the scale didn't seem larger, which makes sense cause it is a more personal drama but the spectacle is still strong. Songs were still decent, I think if I had to pick one it's probably Elphaba's villain song just cause it's been 84 years since I've heard a villainous song so automatic win there! It did absolutely address the questions I had in my In Retrospect, answered other questions I didn't even ask in the first place, and gave me an ending that had more twists than a pretzel. Now the only thing left to do is watch the whole damn thing in one go to give my final words on it but that'll come at a later point. Hell if I get really lucky I may see the stage play itself, that would be rad! But all in all, it's a better film in my estimation and I'm happy to have went to see it. I give it 4 stars, 8.5/10, and that is it for this week. Next week will be busy with the holiday and super special plans of my own but I'll have hopefully one more new release for you before the abysmal season which shall not be named rears it's ugly head from the frozen depths of Hell. Halloween gods I beseech you to grant me strength and guide me through the brightly lit wastes.

In Retrospect: Wicked

Wellll I still enjoy it. Kinda.

Now, admittedly I feel like I was off my rocker putting this in my top 10 of last year cause I'm so split on it. Production wise, stellar, phenomenal, 10/10 visually! Story, oooh boy does it still grate on my goddamn nerves and I know the movie is saying a lot about prejudice, questioning authority, and simultaneously mocking and yet maybe encouraging popularity and shallow people. I get it, I understand it, still just seems like a slightly mishandled story considering you know...we're in the land of Oz. Allegory in fantasy is nothing new, but not every fantasy setting has to do it you feel me? It's really just the bitchiness and flat out bullying poor Elphie has to put up with, like girl I'd be sick of that too! Cynthia my darling, my beautiful star, I can confirm on repeated viewing your performance is still strong as a mountain and I can't honestly wait to see where it goes this Friday! Ariana still simultaneously drives me nuts and makes me laugh my ass off, I never really gravitated towards ditzy characters regardless of gender but Glinda for some reason just works for me so well. Will however state none of the songs really grabbed me second time around, closest we kinda got was Defying Gravity but you know that's our big fuck off emotional catharsis song so of course it has a higher standing, and I can practically hear the theater kids lighting their torches in the distance due to that remark to which I say unto you, we got a whole other movie that could change my mind so chill out. And yeah that's something I really gotta take into consideration, it's not a complete movie or experience until credits roll on Wicked For Good. And yes even despite my grumblings on the story and characters, I am strongly curious to see what could possibly come next. Like how much of the Wizard Of Oz will we retread? Will we see Elphaba become a much colder, darker, malevolent force? How the hell are the Silver Slippers gonna come into play cause as far as I know they belong to Nessarose and Dorothy has them by the time she returns to the Emerald City soooo are they really gonna kill off the protagonist's sister? It would be ballsy. So obviously I have interest still, I no doubt will see many pairings of black and pink, green skin and plain skin which is marvellous. Make movies events, you only live once. Did I friggin' call it or what on the whole costuming and production winning Oscar gold? I mean fuck the Academy Award's straight to hell you no film watching hack twats, but I love when I'm right (which is often)! I'm getting way off track here but you want opinions, you'll get opinions. So bottom line the production is more what keeps it at an 8/10 overall, if we judged purely on story this would actually be skirting a 6/10, but who the hell am I to talk? We gotta finish the damn movie first so I will see you at the movies!

Frankenstein (2025)

I hope everyone sees this on the big screen.

It is well worth it I will fully admit and wow what a good adaptation! Like this was on my radar since it's announcement and I only wish I could have seen it sooner, but we're here now and I am so so happy. Now admittedly I haven't read the book in years, fun fact true fact this was the subject of the first ever book report I had to do in school and was recommended to me by my teacher, but now I feel even more enticed to read it again! So I can't fullheartedly say this is a flawless adaptation of the story but I can say it is a damn good re-telling. I like how the movie is split up into parts giving us a bit of backstory on Victor before he even attempts reanimation, then going into the real meat and bones of his work in a fairly quick pace, and then we shift to see his creation's story from his perspective. Oscar Isaac is on top form here, easily the best performance I've seen him give and if ever people didn't pick up on the subtleties of Victor being the truly monstrous figure this film will set it straight for you! He manages to capture that wide eyed manic genius, the manipulation and spurn, and the sorrow of what his work has done to his life, so he plays quite a gambit throughout! Jacob Elordi as the creature in the very first example of his acting I have ever seen was indeed the highlight, balancing more nonverbal acting with very eloquent and equally dramatic lines with so much heart that would make Boris proud. Mia Goth was an interesting choice for Elizabeth and indeed while she's not in the movie a great deal her characterization is what makes her so memorable, she has her own interests, is very outspoken, smacks Victor in his place on several occasions, and melts quite easily in the presence of a quote unquote monster which was very lovely to see. It's funny how no matter how much times have changed there's still this intangible attraction to monsters in cinema, which of course I'm a massive fan of. Those are our big players but the fact we get talent like Lars Mikkelsen, Christoph Waltz, and David Bradley in the secondary character department made me happy as hell regardless of their screentime and role. The visuals are shock of all shocks amazing, I know very hard to believe in a Del Toro film, but the period piece costuming and sets, the gothic lens we peek through from time to time, the snowy environments, it all lends to a very beautiful film! And it has certain little bits of visual DNA from the other versions of this story, the windmill from the 1931 film, the black trenchcoat and possibly the heterochromia eyes of the 90s Robert De Niro movie, the lab sets almost straight out of a Hammer film, it felt right at home. The movie has the heart needed for the subject material without question, it didn't make me cry but it got me close, it is an emotional tale at the core of it all and it doesn't get overdramatic but when it needs to go big it revels in the moment. All the effects work is so well done from the creature design, to the more gory bits, to the pyro it all is top notch stuff. I had a very good time with it and I know some people will get even more out of it than me without a doubt to which I say, party it up girls! Have fun with it, go see it if you haven't already, it's worth the runtime. 4 stars, 8.5/10, and next week we'll get back to one review but it's more catch up from me so stay tuned.

In Retrospect: Nosferatu (2024)

Happy October!

Shit this movie's still really good! It was high time to see it again less than a year since entering the cinema on a cold Christmas night and I can safely say it has improved on repeat viewing. When a movie can make my jaw utterly drop 2 minutes in there's something special about it. I could get lost in the snowy night of this movie for a long time, my God what a visual masterpiece in my opinion. It really takes what was present with the Herzog version and it's nature filled landscapes and only elevates it, the sets, the costuming, the cinematography, it's all a little too damn good. Still just as friggin' horrifying as the last time, it was easy to get creeped right the frak out and it is effective horror even if being only somewhat visceral. Needless to say the performances even stand on stronger ground the second viewing, if anybody got just flat out snubbed for major awards it's Lily! My God woman you had such a great script to work with and your performance will not he easily forgotten for decades to come. Bill the impact you have left on this world and those freaky romantics even more so cannot be understated, an effectively unsettling and gruesome potrayal of the most famous (and best in my opinion) vampire cinema has ever known. I gotta admit it was fun to see Nicholas so recently after Superman and really does show he can play such a wide arrange of parts pitch perfectly. Willem, my guy, my main man, I'll never tire of seeing you in movies regardless of part and I'm thrilled you were a part of this production! Just...it really hammers the point home how finely crafted and handled this entire project was, there are few movies I laud so highly of being such expertly made and flawlessly interlinked from all aspects, to writing to music to worldbuilding. It shouldn't be this good but it just is! The appeal is still strong, the horror is just as rich, the apparent horniness I still don't greatly see albeit it has it's moments, even the drama felt so much stronger and present, if you haven't watched it since I can safely recommend another viewing. Hell even in broad daylight this movie still got under my skin, that's something I can so rarely say it's like seeing Bigfoot and Nessie on the same day kind of rare. A blood soaked shining example of modern day horror, and that trend will definitely continue next week as I catch up on other modern horror films that have cropped up on my radar. 4 stars, 9/10 still, I can't wait to share this whole month with you.