I have to say last year was a banner year for me and seeing films in the theater. More than a dozen trips and for the most part the experiences were good. So I enter 2019 feeling good about tackling another docket of films before they end up on streaming services. So what have I seen so far?
The Girl on the Third Floor (2019) - Steven Travis directs this strange oddity of a horror film about a man renovating a house with a past. Travis with more producer credits than director does a good job showing the story of the flawed homeowner and his struggle to renovate not only the house but his life. As things get odd in the house lead character Don Koch struggles with the spirits in the house as well as his own vices and demons. Some pretty good effects when this film gets rolling. It has to go down as a haunted house film but it sort of slow burns its way to the last act where it then comes together nicely. I saw this at the Salem Horror Fest and probably will add it to my collection when it comes out on a physical medium.
Antrum: The Deadliest Film Ever Made (2018) It's Michael Laicini and David Amito's recent festival entry that I saw at the Salem Horror Fest. The edifice hanging off this film is that it is a 70s found footage of a film that was never completed and that said footage when viewed causes bad things to happen to the viewers. Stories are woven into the narrative around this film to highlight those bad things. Needless to say if anything happens to me soon you can blame this film for that. I thought the film did everything it needed to do to have an audience. The story within the 70s part of the film is about a young boy who is grieving the loss of a pet and his older sister who comes up with a overly complex fantasy to help he get over it. When things go horribly wrong with that plan that includes camping we have a real horror film. Sandwiched in the production and viewing history of the we also explore the tragedy surrounding the viewing of the 70s no name film. I enjoyed it and thought it was competent but was not blown away. It does open up the jokes around only having a couple weeks to live which my sister and I took full advantage of after coming out of the theater.
It: Chapter Two (2019) - I have to say before starting in here that I am not really a fan of Stephen King. I find his character driven books in need of a good editor to get out of the heads of some of those characters. Don't get me wrong I don't hate King's writing more that I often find myself scanning because I just want to get to the story point without having to read five pages of ruminations on what a character considers a good shit. I did see part one of this film and so seeing part two has been in the cards for me. This first film was okay but again I disliked some of the characters particularly the very hate filled bad kids in the town of Derry where the story takes place. Still there were some scary bits in the film that made it worthwhile. The second movie starts 27 years later and all the kids are adults making their ways in the world. Mike who stayed behind in town calls them all back to battle the alien force once and for all. The film takes quite a bit of time establishing which adult corresponds to which kid from the first film. Fades from real time to childhood memory is used repeatedly. There are some scary bit in this film but not as well done if you ask me. Often there is some joke or sight gag after a scary bit making it less effective. Then the ending where SPOILER they literally wish the monster away is biggest let down of all after slogging through 2 hours 40 minutes plus of sentimental crap. So really feel like I should have waiting for this one on the streaming services.
Yesterday (2019) - When I saw the previews for this romantic comedy I was not excited to see it. Why would a horror fan like me want to see this kind of film. Well it is pretty simple really; trying to find movies to see with my wife that won't make me want to rip my eyes out are hard to find. Since I love the Beatles and so does my wife the premise of this one struck me as tolerable. I thought I missed it in the theater but my wife found it in a second run theater in Arlington MA. The opportunity to share a film and be able to go out to dinner at our favorite Middle Easter restaurant Cafe Barada in North Cambridge was too good to pass up. So heading into town on a Saturday night, (something else I try to avoid) we have a date night. The film is about Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) a struggling musician who after getting hit by a bus when biking home during a blackout wakes up in the hospital to find that things are not like they use to be. In fact he learns that the band the Beatles never existed, no one remembers them or their music. Jack uses the world amnesia to kick start his career by recording Beatles songs as his own. It is a romantic comedy so there is a bunch of time spent on unrequited love etc. but choking that down is really not why I went to this film. The film is fresh and funny and the gags about what the world can't remember after the blackout are very clever. My wife loved it and I found it tolerable so it served its purpose.
Luz (2018) - Luz made a bit of a splash when it made the movie festival circuit and that is what got is on my radar. This year it is making the rounds to smaller theaters around the country and I had mind to get out to see it. I missed an opportunity a couple weeks ago when it was a midnight movie at the Coolidge Corner Theater, who goes to midnight movies these days. Instead I saw it last night at the Brattle Theater in Cambridge. It was a full house to see this small movie that runs only 71 minutes but like me most of the audience sought the film out. Its hard to tell if this film is a short stretched out to its running time or a feature that could still be more developed. I think the later. It is the story of Luz (Luana Velis) a cab driver who is being chased by a demonic being, a mistake from her past, a responsibility she can not avoid. A low always present sound design carries this weighty story forward creating the dread needed to make the story work on screen. Low budget effects are used to visually reinforce the supernatural aspects even though most of the film takes place in one room of a police station. In the end I wished there was more meat on these bones but I liked the way the writer / director Tilman Singer made the most of what ends up a good story about a woman running away from the mistakes of her past. I am sure this is probably scheduled for a streaming release so even if you can't find it in your town you will probably get the chance to see it later.
Ready or Not (2019) - The first time I saw a preview for this film I was really excited. Samara Weaving had been on my radar since Mayhem and The Babysitter a couple years ago. She was great in both those flicks and I was looking out for what she would do next. Here we have a theme where she is a new bride and part of the family initiation is to play a game. In this case a game of Hide and Seek but not your average game, this one is much more deadly. Writers Guy Busick and Ryan Murphy hit us over the head with how evil the Rich are while they also have a fine sense of humor inherent in the theme. Weaving who exudes confidence and ability carries the film through a night of cat and mouse with her new husband's satanic family. Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett do a competent job staging the scenes and executing a small set with lots of physical gags and action set pieces. I liked this movie really I did with it's very bloody, gory mess during the climax. It is worth the time and money you will spend to see it. I had an idea for a similar film where the rich are satanist who sacrifice innocent in order to keep their worldly success, my idea was much darker and not as fun as this one. This is worth the trip so check it out.
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019) - This film was on my list only because I happened to see a trailer and the CGI creatures looked pretty good. The film though is a really PG light on scares slightly above average effects but it just did not hit with me. Not that there was anything structurally wrong with the film; the story of friends coming in contact with a magical scary book that writes itself is fine. There is a parallel that runs through the movie where the writers and there were a lot of them, seem to connect the war in Vietnam and soldiers leaving and never coming back to that of the victims of the horror film also disappearing. The connection is not strong and it may be me reading into the film. Stella (Zoe Margaret Colletti) and her friends after checking out the town's old haunted house come across a ghosts story book. Taking it leads to her friends disappearing one at a time in some really well executed chilling scenes. Still though I think Director Andre Ovredal let the early pacing plod along and then seemed to rush the ending. It all ends up way too convenient with a nod to maybe a sequel. I think I could have left this one until streaming options but so be it.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) - Telling stories is what Hollywood does best and Writer Director Quentin Tarantino gives us a cool little tale that is history adjacent that sets up expectations and then subverts them in the most wonderful way. Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a former TV star sort of on his way to obscurity, smaller roles, playing the heavy so the star of the show can look good, but definitely moving away fro the starring role work he had early in his career. He with his stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) are on the side of Hollywood when the spot lights start moving on from you. We follow the inseparable pair as Dalton tries to recapture the glory of earlier days while fighting the alcoholism that is holding him back. Mix in this story one of Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie), famed actress murdered by the Manson family. Having the story of Dalton adjacent that of Tate around the time of the infamous murders creates this wonderful place of dread. All through the story you feel you are waiting for "IT" and Tarantino plays with and subverts that expectations. In the end I don't know if this is Tarantino's best film but it is like many of his works a unique original story that shows him as one of the best writers and director of his time.
Midsommar (2019) - Yet another mind fuck film from Ari Aster (Hereditary 2018) about a group of post grads who join one at his Swedish community for a special summer ceremony. The interpersonal story has to do with Dani (Florence Pugh) who after suffering a devastating tragedy joins the travelers. Her boyfriend, Christian (Jack Reynor) who seems to not be able to break up with her but really wants to is distant and emotionally unavailable in her time of need. This film does so much in showing how emotional support during crisis can be warped into some very odd decisions but also draws a stark contrast between the supportive community and the selfish boyfriend. I really loved this film although I thought it forecast its outcomes a bit too much so when the big turn comes it was seen a mile away. Still it was pretty great with a fully fleshed out story and some exceptional gore.
Crawl (2019) - I did a whole buildup going into this release, reviewed a bunch of films with Alligators and Crocodiles and it was a fairly decent exercise with its highs and lows. This film though was a lot of fun. It wastes no time setting up a dysfunctional relationship between the lead character Halyley (Kaya Scodelario) and her father (Barry Pepper). She leaves school to head to the family home to check on him since he is not answering his phone and there is a category 5 hurricane bearing down on the place. She finds him and with him becomes trapped in the crawlspace below the house by a couple alligators. As water flows into the space the two must figure out how to escape the cellar before they drown from the rising water. It really does a nice job to make it more than that and the added characters that are there to be alligator bait and it works just great. When the levees break the entire area is flooded and full of gators from the local alligator farm. The action is wonderful and even though there are some not so great bits like working through the personal crisis in some awkward conversation that seems out of place at the time and in the crisis. Also the logic of how fast humans can swim also sticks in the caw but overall this is a fun creature feature that delivers on its promises.
Brightburn (2019) - I had to get right out and see this one, first day and show. The idea of a superhero film gone wrong film caught my attention and the trailer with the remarkable eye trauma was compelling. So the film is basically a Superman type story of a baby that crashes to the earth in a spaceship and is adopted by a couple who live on a farm. When the child is about twelve his powers awaken and his sociopathic tendencies (that all 12 year old boys have) work against his parents tutelage about being good. Feeling alienated the boy allows his selfishness to be the driving force in his new life. This is a dark film so people expecting a happy ending will be disappointed. The hanging chad of the pulsating ship in the barn also leave the viewer wondering what its purpose was. I liked the film but hope for a bit more.
The Curse of Llorona (2019) - This film is another in a long line of PGish horror driven by chilling jump scares and thin plots that get the viewer right into those scares. In this one a social worker Anna (Linda Candellini) is forced to take two children from there Mother who has them locked in a closet. The woman claims that a spirit Llorona is after them. When the children are killed the curse of Llorona is transferred to Anna and her two children. So with the help of a Curandero (Raymond Cruz) attempt to fight off the ghost and save her children. There is a cross pollination with the Conjuring universe through a cameo by Father Perez (Tony Amendola) who appeared in the film Annabelle (2014). Overall it was fine, but as I began there is this "variety" of horror here in the new century that makes money but don't really have any edges. They know how to execute a jump scare and build a bit of dread but they are just missing having a distinct personality.
The Avengers: Endgame (2019) - The biggest movie in the history of movies and the lines, lets not even talk about the lines. I generally don't wait in line and I have to say I cut a lot of people to get a decent seat. Having a paper ticket really helped that in that there was a line for phone tickets and a separate one for paper tickets. This allowed me to get a nice seat in the sold out showing. The film was good, about grief and moving on and those who can't. It hit all the right notes throughout but had a tendency linger for effect in the emotional scenes. The action parts were well managed and the outcome a bit too convenient. There is a moment where the horribly contrive female fan service was executed was so manipulative I had to laugh. It got the desired cheer in the theater. I liked it, maybe not as much as Infinity War but still this is the height of the Marvel Universe.
Escape Room (2018) - This film had sets up six people to try to complete a series of escape rooms in order to win ten thousand dollars. The fact that this film starts with scenes that will happen later in the film allows for a tense start. A man rushes to complete a puzzle before he is crushed by a shrinking room. It foreshadows the serious, deadly nature of the escape room game long before we meet our main characters. After we are introduced to the main characters of the film we start in with all the being invited to a chance to solve escape rooms for a prize. We have the nerdy physics major, the arrogant wall street trader, the down on his luck stock boy, the traumatized former soldier, a professional gamer and the awkward older guy. Once they are all assembled and signed in the games begin. Very quickly it goes from fun day out to deadly fight for survival. I really enjoyed this film. The characters were stereotypical but well defined, what makes it are the very cool and exciting rooms. I could have done without the bigger picture reason why the game was happening but still very enjoyable.
The Girl on the Third Floor (2019) - Steven Travis directs this strange oddity of a horror film about a man renovating a house with a past. Travis with more producer credits than director does a good job showing the story of the flawed homeowner and his struggle to renovate not only the house but his life. As things get odd in the house lead character Don Koch struggles with the spirits in the house as well as his own vices and demons. Some pretty good effects when this film gets rolling. It has to go down as a haunted house film but it sort of slow burns its way to the last act where it then comes together nicely. I saw this at the Salem Horror Fest and probably will add it to my collection when it comes out on a physical medium.
Antrum: The Deadliest Film Ever Made (2018) It's Michael Laicini and David Amito's recent festival entry that I saw at the Salem Horror Fest. The edifice hanging off this film is that it is a 70s found footage of a film that was never completed and that said footage when viewed causes bad things to happen to the viewers. Stories are woven into the narrative around this film to highlight those bad things. Needless to say if anything happens to me soon you can blame this film for that. I thought the film did everything it needed to do to have an audience. The story within the 70s part of the film is about a young boy who is grieving the loss of a pet and his older sister who comes up with a overly complex fantasy to help he get over it. When things go horribly wrong with that plan that includes camping we have a real horror film. Sandwiched in the production and viewing history of the we also explore the tragedy surrounding the viewing of the 70s no name film. I enjoyed it and thought it was competent but was not blown away. It does open up the jokes around only having a couple weeks to live which my sister and I took full advantage of after coming out of the theater.
It: Chapter Two (2019) - I have to say before starting in here that I am not really a fan of Stephen King. I find his character driven books in need of a good editor to get out of the heads of some of those characters. Don't get me wrong I don't hate King's writing more that I often find myself scanning because I just want to get to the story point without having to read five pages of ruminations on what a character considers a good shit. I did see part one of this film and so seeing part two has been in the cards for me. This first film was okay but again I disliked some of the characters particularly the very hate filled bad kids in the town of Derry where the story takes place. Still there were some scary bits in the film that made it worthwhile. The second movie starts 27 years later and all the kids are adults making their ways in the world. Mike who stayed behind in town calls them all back to battle the alien force once and for all. The film takes quite a bit of time establishing which adult corresponds to which kid from the first film. Fades from real time to childhood memory is used repeatedly. There are some scary bit in this film but not as well done if you ask me. Often there is some joke or sight gag after a scary bit making it less effective. Then the ending where SPOILER they literally wish the monster away is biggest let down of all after slogging through 2 hours 40 minutes plus of sentimental crap. So really feel like I should have waiting for this one on the streaming services.
Yesterday (2019) - When I saw the previews for this romantic comedy I was not excited to see it. Why would a horror fan like me want to see this kind of film. Well it is pretty simple really; trying to find movies to see with my wife that won't make me want to rip my eyes out are hard to find. Since I love the Beatles and so does my wife the premise of this one struck me as tolerable. I thought I missed it in the theater but my wife found it in a second run theater in Arlington MA. The opportunity to share a film and be able to go out to dinner at our favorite Middle Easter restaurant Cafe Barada in North Cambridge was too good to pass up. So heading into town on a Saturday night, (something else I try to avoid) we have a date night. The film is about Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) a struggling musician who after getting hit by a bus when biking home during a blackout wakes up in the hospital to find that things are not like they use to be. In fact he learns that the band the Beatles never existed, no one remembers them or their music. Jack uses the world amnesia to kick start his career by recording Beatles songs as his own. It is a romantic comedy so there is a bunch of time spent on unrequited love etc. but choking that down is really not why I went to this film. The film is fresh and funny and the gags about what the world can't remember after the blackout are very clever. My wife loved it and I found it tolerable so it served its purpose.
Luz (2018) - Luz made a bit of a splash when it made the movie festival circuit and that is what got is on my radar. This year it is making the rounds to smaller theaters around the country and I had mind to get out to see it. I missed an opportunity a couple weeks ago when it was a midnight movie at the Coolidge Corner Theater, who goes to midnight movies these days. Instead I saw it last night at the Brattle Theater in Cambridge. It was a full house to see this small movie that runs only 71 minutes but like me most of the audience sought the film out. Its hard to tell if this film is a short stretched out to its running time or a feature that could still be more developed. I think the later. It is the story of Luz (Luana Velis) a cab driver who is being chased by a demonic being, a mistake from her past, a responsibility she can not avoid. A low always present sound design carries this weighty story forward creating the dread needed to make the story work on screen. Low budget effects are used to visually reinforce the supernatural aspects even though most of the film takes place in one room of a police station. In the end I wished there was more meat on these bones but I liked the way the writer / director Tilman Singer made the most of what ends up a good story about a woman running away from the mistakes of her past. I am sure this is probably scheduled for a streaming release so even if you can't find it in your town you will probably get the chance to see it later.
Ready or Not (2019) - The first time I saw a preview for this film I was really excited. Samara Weaving had been on my radar since Mayhem and The Babysitter a couple years ago. She was great in both those flicks and I was looking out for what she would do next. Here we have a theme where she is a new bride and part of the family initiation is to play a game. In this case a game of Hide and Seek but not your average game, this one is much more deadly. Writers Guy Busick and Ryan Murphy hit us over the head with how evil the Rich are while they also have a fine sense of humor inherent in the theme. Weaving who exudes confidence and ability carries the film through a night of cat and mouse with her new husband's satanic family. Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett do a competent job staging the scenes and executing a small set with lots of physical gags and action set pieces. I liked this movie really I did with it's very bloody, gory mess during the climax. It is worth the time and money you will spend to see it. I had an idea for a similar film where the rich are satanist who sacrifice innocent in order to keep their worldly success, my idea was much darker and not as fun as this one. This is worth the trip so check it out.
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019) - This film was on my list only because I happened to see a trailer and the CGI creatures looked pretty good. The film though is a really PG light on scares slightly above average effects but it just did not hit with me. Not that there was anything structurally wrong with the film; the story of friends coming in contact with a magical scary book that writes itself is fine. There is a parallel that runs through the movie where the writers and there were a lot of them, seem to connect the war in Vietnam and soldiers leaving and never coming back to that of the victims of the horror film also disappearing. The connection is not strong and it may be me reading into the film. Stella (Zoe Margaret Colletti) and her friends after checking out the town's old haunted house come across a ghosts story book. Taking it leads to her friends disappearing one at a time in some really well executed chilling scenes. Still though I think Director Andre Ovredal let the early pacing plod along and then seemed to rush the ending. It all ends up way too convenient with a nod to maybe a sequel. I think I could have left this one until streaming options but so be it.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) - Telling stories is what Hollywood does best and Writer Director Quentin Tarantino gives us a cool little tale that is history adjacent that sets up expectations and then subverts them in the most wonderful way. Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a former TV star sort of on his way to obscurity, smaller roles, playing the heavy so the star of the show can look good, but definitely moving away fro the starring role work he had early in his career. He with his stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) are on the side of Hollywood when the spot lights start moving on from you. We follow the inseparable pair as Dalton tries to recapture the glory of earlier days while fighting the alcoholism that is holding him back. Mix in this story one of Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie), famed actress murdered by the Manson family. Having the story of Dalton adjacent that of Tate around the time of the infamous murders creates this wonderful place of dread. All through the story you feel you are waiting for "IT" and Tarantino plays with and subverts that expectations. In the end I don't know if this is Tarantino's best film but it is like many of his works a unique original story that shows him as one of the best writers and director of his time.
Midsommar (2019) - Yet another mind fuck film from Ari Aster (Hereditary 2018) about a group of post grads who join one at his Swedish community for a special summer ceremony. The interpersonal story has to do with Dani (Florence Pugh) who after suffering a devastating tragedy joins the travelers. Her boyfriend, Christian (Jack Reynor) who seems to not be able to break up with her but really wants to is distant and emotionally unavailable in her time of need. This film does so much in showing how emotional support during crisis can be warped into some very odd decisions but also draws a stark contrast between the supportive community and the selfish boyfriend. I really loved this film although I thought it forecast its outcomes a bit too much so when the big turn comes it was seen a mile away. Still it was pretty great with a fully fleshed out story and some exceptional gore.
Crawl (2019) - I did a whole buildup going into this release, reviewed a bunch of films with Alligators and Crocodiles and it was a fairly decent exercise with its highs and lows. This film though was a lot of fun. It wastes no time setting up a dysfunctional relationship between the lead character Halyley (Kaya Scodelario) and her father (Barry Pepper). She leaves school to head to the family home to check on him since he is not answering his phone and there is a category 5 hurricane bearing down on the place. She finds him and with him becomes trapped in the crawlspace below the house by a couple alligators. As water flows into the space the two must figure out how to escape the cellar before they drown from the rising water. It really does a nice job to make it more than that and the added characters that are there to be alligator bait and it works just great. When the levees break the entire area is flooded and full of gators from the local alligator farm. The action is wonderful and even though there are some not so great bits like working through the personal crisis in some awkward conversation that seems out of place at the time and in the crisis. Also the logic of how fast humans can swim also sticks in the caw but overall this is a fun creature feature that delivers on its promises.
The Curse of Llorona (2019) - This film is another in a long line of PGish horror driven by chilling jump scares and thin plots that get the viewer right into those scares. In this one a social worker Anna (Linda Candellini) is forced to take two children from there Mother who has them locked in a closet. The woman claims that a spirit Llorona is after them. When the children are killed the curse of Llorona is transferred to Anna and her two children. So with the help of a Curandero (Raymond Cruz) attempt to fight off the ghost and save her children. There is a cross pollination with the Conjuring universe through a cameo by Father Perez (Tony Amendola) who appeared in the film Annabelle (2014). Overall it was fine, but as I began there is this "variety" of horror here in the new century that makes money but don't really have any edges. They know how to execute a jump scare and build a bit of dread but they are just missing having a distinct personality.
The Avengers: Endgame (2019) - The biggest movie in the history of movies and the lines, lets not even talk about the lines. I generally don't wait in line and I have to say I cut a lot of people to get a decent seat. Having a paper ticket really helped that in that there was a line for phone tickets and a separate one for paper tickets. This allowed me to get a nice seat in the sold out showing. The film was good, about grief and moving on and those who can't. It hit all the right notes throughout but had a tendency linger for effect in the emotional scenes. The action parts were well managed and the outcome a bit too convenient. There is a moment where the horribly contrive female fan service was executed was so manipulative I had to laugh. It got the desired cheer in the theater. I liked it, maybe not as much as Infinity War but still this is the height of the Marvel Universe.
Escape Room (2018) - This film had sets up six people to try to complete a series of escape rooms in order to win ten thousand dollars. The fact that this film starts with scenes that will happen later in the film allows for a tense start. A man rushes to complete a puzzle before he is crushed by a shrinking room. It foreshadows the serious, deadly nature of the escape room game long before we meet our main characters. After we are introduced to the main characters of the film we start in with all the being invited to a chance to solve escape rooms for a prize. We have the nerdy physics major, the arrogant wall street trader, the down on his luck stock boy, the traumatized former soldier, a professional gamer and the awkward older guy. Once they are all assembled and signed in the games begin. Very quickly it goes from fun day out to deadly fight for survival. I really enjoyed this film. The characters were stereotypical but well defined, what makes it are the very cool and exciting rooms. I could have done without the bigger picture reason why the game was happening but still very enjoyable.