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eorwell
Reviews
Grimm Kumikyoku (2024)
Solidly OK
CLAMP collab? Definitely here for it. The artwork is lovely, the character designs are whimsical, the Pied Piper episode was stretching into Ghibli-esque territory with their visuals, and some of the themes and elements were downright chilling.
First episode sets you up thinking everything will have this subversive twist. The last episode almost does the same thing, but you are more along for the ride on the subversion train rather than blindsided by it.
But none of the other episodes reach a satisfying level of "unexpected," instead, leaving you with a feeling of wondering what it was trying to represent. The source fairy tales themselves already had their moral lessons and with rare exception, it didn't present any "variation" to the tales or moral lessons. Much of it felt like an artist's rendition of an already known work. Not a copy, but how they see it. And while that can be appreciated for what it is, I felt dissatisfied, wishing it was for the reason of wanting more. But I didn't.
I was presented with a six-course meal and while I didn't leave the table hungry, none of the dishes were anything I would necessarily order again.
The Hunted (2013)
Nothing happened...
... And then nothing continues to happen. That's the extent of the movie. It gets one star because it had potential. Some of the scenes hinted at greatness (the knife in the tree, the ladder unhooking) and we thought this would be something entertaining. I gave it one extra star because the framing of some of the shots was good. The interview scene near the end which shows the reflections in the window was smart. To see the actors sitting across from each other framed in the same shot actually "acting" opposite each other was decently set up.
As for the rest of the story, the pacing was odd. It felt like it had a lot of the traditional ghost story elements and had all the usual tropes, but it was told in the wrong order. Side characters seem to "know" more than they let on, but you never really get the significance of what everyone else knows and why they don't exposit. You finally get the actual ghost story at some point, but by then, you almost don't care. Too much "nothing" has been happening at this point.
The "ghost" aspect of the film was not as well executed. While too many films are ruined by "the big monster reveal" not living up to the hype, this went the total opposite. The screams were great! Explained as an animal in the beginning and becoming increasingly more haunting was fine. But the fact that everything was "invisible" ended up feeling more than unsatisfying. So many shots were set up to make you think you should be "seeing" something over a shoulder or just behind a character, building it up and making you look for some evidence, and it NEVER rewards you for your diligence. Framing an unseen character can be done well (The Invisible Man {2020}, Paranormal Activity, An American Ghost Story) but that's typically because your observation skills are rewarded with some sort of evidence.
With this film, your only reward is something screaming at you and the main characters spontaneously "dying."
In the words of my immortal partner: "Movie was bad." -Partner 2023.