aquascape Reviews

Silver Bullet (1985)

Small town under a big threat

[6/10 · 6 April 2018]

A Stephen King written film based on his own novella "Cycle of the Werewolf" which he heavily modified into more of a parody of the book.

"Silver Bullet" takes place in a small peaceful town where one night a horrendous murder occurs. The local thought, including the sheriff's, was that the deed was done by a deranged killer. Meanwhile, our story follows a young paraplegic boy, played by teen idol Corey Haim, who receives a motorized custom-built wheelchair from his uncle, Red and sneaks out to take it for a spin during the night where he gets attacked by a hairy creature. He manages to escape and tries to warn everybody that there is a werewolf-like animal around town and that it's been the true cause of the murder. Convincing no one. he goes off together with his sister to try and find out who the werewolf is.

The cast does a great job of giving life to characters from a small enclosed community that experienced an attack disrupting their peaceful and uneventful lifestyle. Gary Busey plays uncle Red with a level of craziness that fits his every-day persona perfectly, even ad-libbing parts of his dialogue that later remained in the final cut on King's decision.

The script's final draft is written in a more comical way by Stephen King than his novella, adding a lighter tone to the events, even getting a few laughs during some scenes.

"Silver Bullet" is a decent 80's horror film that matches perfectly with that decade and is certainly a good addition to the werewolf horror genre.

The Gate (1987)

Small demons that aren't scary at all

[5/10 · 6 April 2018]

Tibor Takács' directorial debut got minor attention back when it was released, although later it developed a cult following, even spawning a sequel.

"The Gate" follows a 12 year old boy called Glen, played by a very young Stephen Dorff, who together with his best friend accidentally release a horde of small-size demons. With the help of his older sister, the group attempts to close the hole where the demons came from and save humanity.

This film has campy horror vibes written all over it and the plot doesn't have the most ingenious story to begin with. The acting adds to the B-movie feeling of it all, thought watching Dorff as a confused sweet kid is a win on its own.

The special effects consist of stop-motion animations and rubber suits, a technique pioneered by the undeniable Ray Harryhausen decades ago. If you consider this a B-movie then the special effects are decent, but not excelling.

"The Gate" doesn't bring anything original to the table and just dusts off in the ocean of 80's horror films. Nevertheless, it's a good horror film to actually watch with your kids, as it isn't scary and it can bring them into the world of the horror movie genre.

It Follows (2014)

A curse that slowly and relentlessly gets to you

[6/10 · 6 April 2018]

David Robert Mitchell had a brilliant idea outlined for a horror film, one that has been commended for its originality leaving other modern films of the genre two steps behind.

"It Follows" revolves around a young girl, Jamie, who spends her time with her boyfriend, Hugh. One night after a date, they get intimate in the car, when suddenly Hugh knocks her out unconscious by using chloroform. She wakes up tied to a chair in an abandoned building where Hugh explains to her that she is now cursed and that no matter when or where, a supernatural entity will slowly follow here until it reaches her and consumes her. It is revealed that the curse can be lifted if she has sexual relations with someone else, therefore passing the curse to the other person. From here on, with the help or her friends, Jamie tries to figure out what to do next. Maika Monroe gave a great performance as Jamie, having the puzzled appearance of a teenager trapped with her own demons.

The idea of an entity following you restlessly until it gets to you is great. The fact that it can appear as anyone at any time, family member or random person on the street, makes it even more scarier. My only concern is that the way it was transmitted, by sexual encounter, and the plot involving teenagers adds up to what's typically a horror movie cliche. Naturally, you will be expected to see a lot of dumb decisions of that nature throughout the film.

The film's pace is slow accompanied by eery music and it loses its focus here and there giving the movie a prolonged and jarring feeling. It definitely has some good moments, like the fact that the audience doesn't know if the person that walks towards the cursed one is a normal human being or the supernatural entity. That right there brings out more scares and excitement than the overused jump scares.

"It Follows" does not shape up in to a scary film, in a true "cover your eyes" way, instead it gives a feeling of petrifying terror about to hit at any moment. Mitchell's subject is not for everyone's liking, but it can be a surprise for some.

It Comes at Night (2017)

The drama of an unknown virus

[6/10 · 5 April 2018]

Joel Edgerton excels in independent films and in "It Comes at Night" outshine the movie itself, as it turns out to be a bland pandemic horror film that Joel and the rest of the actors sublimely carry.

"It Comes at Night" is about an unknown outbreak of a deadly virus. To escape the virus' effects, Paul and his family live secluded deep in the woods, where they have enough supplies to survive for a while. One night, an intruder breaks in their home and is confronted, captured and tied up by Paul. The intruder later tells Paul that he has a wife and son of his own and they need a place to stay and survive. Paul, played perfectly by Joel Edgerton, is a decent, trustworthy man and is convinced by his family to bring the others in. That is when the trail of terror started to develop and affect everyone's lives.

The screenplay lacks details on how it started, where it began or what the virus was, dealing only with the troublesome family's survival. The action is slow and dragging, feeling more like a filler episode of a lengthy television series. The only thing that makes it worth watching is the terrific acting of the cast, as they gave sense and meaning to their struggle with the unknown disease in a desolate future.

"It Comes at Night" is more of a drama film with horror undertones that just doesn't deliver in the end.

Deathgasm (2015)

Your parents did warn you that heavy metal can be dangerous

[7/10 · 5 April 2018]

Comedy Horrors are hard to take seriously in the means that most of them are spoofs, parodies or just plain silly. The New Zealand film industry has taken off quite a bit in recent years with the likes of Taika Waititi or James Napier Robertson, director Jason Lei Howden makes his own entrance within this new wave with his directorial debut "Deathgasm".

"Deathgasm" is about Brodie, a heavy metal loving teenager who tries to cope with his new life after moving in with overly orthodox Christian uncle, since his mother had been institutionalized. His high school life is tough, being treated like an outcast and is more or less forced to befriend nerds. Shortly after they form a heavy metal band called "Deathgasm" and one of his new acquaintances tells him about a famous metal musician Rikki Daggers, who has been hiding from society in a nearby abandoned house. They search the place and find sheets of music hidden inside a record. Naturally, they go on and play the notes from the sheets with the whole band, unknowingly summoning an ancient evil called "The Blind one". At this point, the fun begins as they try to preventing the demon's resurrection.

The premise is interesting by which I mean that you don't often see comedies revolving around heavy metal (and not emo) that are actually well-intended. The imaginative main character is someone that you could relate too, even for someone who doesn't necessarily enjoy that musical genre. The acting is alright, nothing too outstanding but enjoyable nonetheless.

The movie is faced-paced with quick cuts and sleek filming style like Guy Ritchie or Paul Greengrass in "The Bourne Trilogy", topping it all off with the delightful New Zealand accent just makes it even greater.

Some jokes and situations were witty and originals while others were just strange and immature, reminding me of "Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse".

"Deathgasm" is more than a B-Horror film, it's actually part-entertaining part-quality and it must definitely not be overlooked by fans of the horror genre. "Deathgasm" works well when watched with a small group of friends.

Under the Shadow (2016)

Terrifying unearthly circumstances during a war-torn Iran

[7/10 · 4 April 2018]

Babak Anvari's directorial debut is something not to miss, if you are a true horror fan. A Persian-language horror film is not something that frequently gets the media attention of the Western world.

"Under the Shadow" takes place in the 80's during the post-revolutionary war between Iran and Iraq. It follows a family of three living in a Tehran bombarded by missile attacks. The husband is a medical doctor who is called up to the war front to help the wounded, leaving behind his wife and young daughter. The attacks before more and more intense, but yet Shideh, now alone, does not want to leave together with her daughter, Dorsa, to her parents and instead chooses to remain in the apartment building that's crumbling from all the bombing. If the fear of the ongoing war was not enough, a mysterious being called Djinn begins to haunt their house. This leaves them with absolutely no choice at this point, if they leave the house enemy soldiers or bombing could be their demise, if they stay at home the evil spirit might claim their souls.

You can actually feel Shideh's desperation as she and her daughter get cornered constantly. Apart from the terrifying atmosphere the film also adds excitement with one or two jump scares.

The premise is quite interesting from a foreigner's point of view and to sense the Iranian life and torment during the post-revolutionary war is staggering. The social subtexts the writers are implying is food for thought, leaving the impression of a confined paradise that Shideh had in her apartment packed with a VCR or casual clothing, things that were dangerous to possess.

"Under the Shadow" is a good horror film that doesn't rely on Hollywood formulas. It's definitely an interesting entry from the Middle East film industry.

The Dead Girl (2006)

A dull murder mystery tale

[4/10 · 4 April 2018]

Movies that have different storytelling techniques are always appealing to watch and "The Dead Girl" does it by segmenting the narrative structure into five chapters, all inter-connecting in the end. You definitely need to have a well-written script for even attempting such a film and I think that is where it falls a bit flat.

"The Dead Girl" tells the story young girl, played by the regretted Brittany Murphy, who is murdered and shows us the different people that were affected by or were directly affecting the death of the girl. The premise sounds stunning and the acting is astounding from the likes of a hugely talented cast, Brittany Murphy, Toni Collette, Giovanni Ribisi or Marcia Gay Harden just to name a few. Some segments made sense and were better than other, but there were a couple that simply didn't work out in my opinion.

"The Dead Girl" has an interesting take on the murder mystery genre but it's just not that entertaining in the long haul. I have seen a lot of praises for it, each to his or her valid opinions, but it just did not captivate me enough to say that it's a great movie.

The Bad Batch (2016)

Bizarre post-apocalyptic film without a true purpose

[7/10 · 4 April 2018]

"The Bad Batch" heavily borrows elements from "Mad Max" but without concluding to anything really, having a slow narrative with minimum dialogue.

The film takes place in an post-apocalyptic desert wasteland and follows a young woman captured by cannibals who chop off her right arm and leg and plan to eat her piece by piece. She eventually escapes the cruelty of those creatures, led by Jason Momoa, and wander off into the desert.

There really isn't any plot or main story, the protagonist treks the empty barren land until she meets various strangers, like a helpful but crazy hermit, played questionably by Jim Carrey, who's current real-life state of affair could probably be transposed into the character with ease. Keanu Reeves also plays a strange person called the Dream, the cult leader of a settlement. With more depth to the characters and back-story, I think this film could have turned out nicely, while adding maybe another side-story to it.

The film's soundtrack was definitely odd, from Ace of Base to Die Antwoord to strange rave music. I was confused on what feelings to assess by connecting the scenes with the music.

"The Bad Batch" is definitely one of those bizarre and offbeat independent movies that fall under the radar. I wouldn't say it was a good or bad movie and it wouldn't be on the top of my head when recommending post-apocalyptic movies, but "The Bad Batch" had some interesting parts that I probably won't forget for some time.

The Emoji Movie (2017)

A incomprehensible waste of money, work and talent

[3/10 · 3 April 2018]

When I first read the news that there is an animated full-length feature film being developed called "The Emoji Movie", I took my hand and forcefully applied it to my forehead. This movie was absolutely uncalled for, yes, we do live in a generation where everyone has a phone or computer and sends each other instant messages, sometimes adding emoticons to reflect their state, but that doesn't justify the need for it. What made sense to pour out $50 million into making this picture? And how come it ended up making over $250 million at the box office? It's beyond comprehension....

"The Emoji Movie" centers on a city called Textopolis, which is basically in everyone's smartphone, and the residents of Textopolis are various emojis that have a daily job of making faces and emotions whenever the phone user selects one of them in a text message.

The main character is Gene Meh, a..."Meh" emoji that doesn't like to stick to the norm of one single emotion and is targeted for deletion due to his multi-expressions. He bands up with other malfunctioned emojis in order to escape from the software agents that are hunting them and find the Code to fix Gene. The adventure takes them through various apps like Just Dance, Candy Crush or Instagram. The film is literally a marketing gimmick for phone apps. The fact that Sir Patrick Stewart appears in the film as the Poop emoji had me worried for a bit, but fortunately his appearance is short and minor.

The animations aren't half-bad, but that's about the only good part of the movie. All the jokes fall flat, there was not a single moment where I actually laughed. Judging by the targeted audience of teens and pre-teens, I expected to have more triumph over toys and merchandise, but it didn't really pick up.

"The Emoji Movie" is a film that shouldn't have been made and instead should have invested the budget into something else.

Alien: Covenant (2017)

Less xenomorphs more androids

[7/10 · 3 April 2018]

With all the plot holes that "Prometheus" had, I still hold it at a high place in the "Alien" franchise and I have hoped that the sequel to it would be a better thought-out film. However, the latest installment does not bring anything new to the series, feeling like an episode of a science-fiction TV series at times.

Ridley Scott comes back to direct what he created 40 years ago joined by acclaimed screenwriter John Logan, of "Gladiator" and "Hugo" and cinematographer and frequent collaborator Dariusz Wolski. Despite Scott's age, the veteran proves that he is still able to recreate the universe the once brilliantly displayed, with fast actions sequences and glorious special effects.

"Alien: Covenant" is set eleven years after the Prometheus expedition centering on the colonization ship Covenant's course to build a new world on a remote, earth-like planet. Nothing is as it seems on this apparently inhabitable planet, as alien lifeforms viciously attack the crew of the Covenant. Michael Fassbender takes on the dual role of synthetic androids David, the former crew member of Prometheus and Walter, a newer model. Fassbender's dead-pan robotic performance makes him once again the ideal candidate for this type of role.

The set-pieces and production design were great, relying on props, traditional make-up and costumes rather than straight up special effects. This gave the film a proper serious science-fiction experience.

The film's main story isn't one of the most imaginative narrative lines ever written down. It's really just another movie where a spaceship lands on a planet that turns out to be dangerous. The most troublesome part of it is that it doesn't include a lot of xenomorphs and it doesn't really connect to the "Prometheus" idea of engineers being humanity's predecessors. It's more of a spiritual sequel because of the timeline and the "accidental" appearance of David when it should have explained more the philosophical themes of creation.

"Alien: Covenant" is a decent addition to the "Alien" franchise, but does to enough justice to the series or to the lore.

The Age of Shadows (2016)

Entertaining thrill ride in a Japan-controlled Korea

[7/10 · 3 April 2018]

South Korean thrillers rarely misfire even if they aren't that well reviewed or rated. Coming for Kim Jee-woon, who masterfully directed "I Saw the Devil" and "A Bittersweet Life", "The Age of Shadows" makes a notable entry to his filmography. The Western audience doesn't really get to see period South Korean film set in early 20th century and it gives us a chance to perceive life on the Eastern front.

"The Age of Shadows" takes place in the 1920's around a back-and-forth game between a group of resistance fighters and Japanese agents. The film is deeply rooted in the Korean independence movement from the Empire of Japan. While most of the people back home wanted to gain independence, they could not do anything in front of the strong Japanese authorities. The key was to form resistance groups to overtake the Japanese dominion.

The film stars two of South Korea's biggest actors working in the industry today, Song Kang-ho and Lee Byung-hun. They have paved the way of the South Korean new wave by delivering outstanding performances that helped the film industry achieve new heights. In "The Age of Shadows" they play on the opposite side of the fences, Song as a Korean police officer charged to sniff out the resistance and Lee as the leader of the resistance fighters. Lee's character begins to sense that the police officer can turn ways and be persuaded to help the resistance by feeding them information. At this point the wheels start to be in motion and it will be a very bumpy and eventful train ride, literally.

"The Age of Shadows" is a good period thriller with twists and turns that will keep you entertaining until the end.

Wonder Woman (2017)

A decent origin story that brings DC on the right track

[7/10 · 3 April 2018]

"Wonder Woman" was received with high praises from critics, complementing the presence of a female-centric superhero movie. While there certainly is ambition into making this film, the story that it evolves around is just another generic "superhero fights a forgettable villain". The film was also surrounded by social movements and my recommendation is to watch the movie from your own perspective and make your own judgement.

The film centers on Diana Prince, known as Wonder Woman, and her initial training in becoming a fierce Amazon warrior. The daughter of Hippolyta lives on the island Themyscira, a secluded paradise inhabited by women. Their whole idyllic way of life is disrupted when American pilot Steve Trevor crashes on the island. We later find out from him that outside of the island, there is an ongoing war, The Great War, that is consuming mankind. The golden heart princess sets off into London together with the pilot to stop the threat and fulfill her true destiny. The film tries to hide the story's plainness with a villainous twist, but ultimately is turns out like any other film of the genre.

Gal Gadot is the perfect representation of Wonder Woman and does terrific in the action sequences. Chris Pine performs great as pilot Steve Trevor adding a lot of comical effect to the movie. The scenes with Gadot and Pine are especially great, as they are lighthearted and delightful.

The script has a lighter tone than regular movies from the DC universe and it can be seen that DC is trying to change their style to better accommodate the general audience.

The film's score was very good, in particular the main theme song, it really made you believe you were in the midst of the Amazonian people. This is something that's been missing from recent superhero movies, not having a suitable theme, a theme that could be recognized anywhere. Rupert Gregson-Williams did an excellent job and I hope he will continue on this path moving forward.

"Wonder Woman" is one of DC's finest works soaring at the box-office, but in my opinion it doesn't stand up to the high praises its been given. In the end, it still felt like it missed the excitement of a well constructed superhero movie.

Justice League (2017)

DC needs to rethink its strategy

[8/10 · 2 April 2018]

DC's response to "The Avengers", "Justice League" should have been the film that would wash every unsuccessful attempt the gigantic comic book publisher ever displayed on-screen as a live-action superhero movie. Sadly, it just falls into the deep pit of every other work from the DC Cinematic Universe. I strongly believed in this movie before it came out, especially after the rave reviews of "Wonder Woman", this should have set a new ground in terms of quality for DC.

"Justice League" centers around a team of superheroes formed by Batman, played by Ben Affleck, in order to stop the menacing force crowned as Steppenwolf. Batman enlists the help of other people with special abilities, such as Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman or Cyborg. Despite shaping up Earth's first line of defense, Steppenwolf withstands the mighty team. Now Batman is forced to find a new way to stop the menace and only one person could face up to the task at hand, Superman.

The plot is a classic comic-book story that feels to have entered a little late in the superhero genre. If the movie was developed and released in the early stages, pre-Iron Man era, then I would have given it a pass, but in this age of ever-pouring comic-book movies year by year, it just doesn't stand up to the standards. Aside from the main story, the script has been revised by Joss Whedon who's hand was seen throughout the movie, giving it a lighter more comical touch. This was a slight improvement to the DC Universe, but not enough to save the movie.

Steppenwolf was really just a bland villain bringing absolutely nothing new to the table. The villain is an important part of the superhero movie process and they misfired once again after "Suicide Squad".

Instead of following the Marvel formula by having each individual superhero origin story told first and only then connecting the storyline unto one epic stage like the "The Avengers", DC rushed production by postponing several key characters' own films. There may have been slight hints in "Batman vs Superman" of The Flash, Cyborg and Aquaman but not enough to make they're involvement aware to the audience. There is no true indication that Marvel's way is the only path to success and even so, DC still did not take the right approach.

The casting and acting was great, Ben Affleck does an amazing job as Bruce Wayne, probably the second best live-action Batman portrayal after Michael Keaton. Ezra Miller, Gal Gadot and Jason Momoa also fit well within their character's personalities.

"Justice League" had serious development troubles with two months of re-shoots and script rewriting, not to mention Henry Cavill's digitally removed mustache.

Famed composer Hans Zimmer did not return to score the soundtrack after "Batman Vs Superman" and was replaced by Danny Elfman, who in one way or another brought back the enjoyable theme song from 89's "Batman". Elfman's work matched the pace of earlier parts of the movie very well, but in the latter half, just like the script, it started to not amount to anything.

I know that an 8/10 is a high rating, but even with all the above being said, I actually enjoyed the movie and I truly hope DC is going to learn from its mistakes and turn it all around with "Justice League 2". Marvel needs a big competitor and DC needs to step up its game.

Mother! (2017)

Spellbinding and highly creative piece of art

[8/10 · 2 April 2018]

Darren Aronofsky always turns heads whenever he releases a feature film. I can't believe that a completely original movie can still be made in today's Hollywood, it gives hope for the future generations of directors and producers. Aronofsky came after the contentious epic biblical film "Noah", which took heavy hits from critics, to regroup his efforts and give another stab at his creative nature, only to yet again be questioned by critics.

"Mother!" stars Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem as a couple living in a battered, run down house in the middle of nowhere. Bardem's character is a poet who is struggling with writer's block and is hoping to recover by moving to this old crummy house secluded from society. His wife decided to support him and starts renovating the house room by room, piece by piece. One day, a couple of strangers, Ed Harris and Michelle Pfeiffer, knock on the door and they are let in without any second thoughts. From here on chaos slowly starts to ensure in ways that no one would suspect will carry on. The film starts slow, building up the tension of the main character's relationship, but after a third of the movie, things start to pick up and it is just spellbinding. There is about half an hour of non-stop madness that will leave you speechless, incapable of taking your eyes off the screen.

All of the characters are unnamed, given just their position in the family, such a mother, man or son, leading to the impression of an eerie Garden of Eden setting, where later Lawrence would go on saying that her character is an allegory of Mother Earth and the film depicts the destruction of nature.

The distinct sound editing makes "Mother!" an interesting piece of film. Aronofsky decided to scrap the original soundtrack after seeing a rough-cut without music and instead focused on set-sounds from the landscape.

The filming also offered us a different camerawork approach from the norm involving heavily of close-ups that may leave you dizzy when watching it on a big screen.

"Mother!" is controversial though-provoking film with deep philosophical and biblical undertones that should not be missed. It really is one of those movies where at the end of it you will either love it or hate it.

Dirty Grandpa (2016)

The fall of a titan

[3/10 · 1 April 2018]

"Dirty Grandpa" is just another modern attempt at a crude and raunchy humor thrown in a cesspool of R-rated comedies. It's a niche that sells tickets by the ton due to the gigantic stars attached to the films and by making the audience try to let of steam from a hard day's work with vulgarity and crude sexual humor. That's my two cents on the contemporary comedy film and make no mistake, "Dirty Grandpa" gets every box ticked from the checklist above. There are established stars that work out greatly in raunchy comedies and then there are serious actors who do not fit in that environment.

The film centers on a young lawyer, player by Zac Efron, who is about to get married it two weeks. Unfortunately, his grandmother passes away leaving his grandfather, Robert De Niro, a war veteran, shattered into pieces. He tries to console his grandfather and is deceived into going on a spring break road trip, hoping to find his youthful self again. The script has no quality to it, just another spring break type of story with many disturbing scenes involving De Niro, especially his character's awkward relationship with Aubrey Plaza's character.

I idolized Robert De Niro for many decades, from "Mean Streets" to "Casino", he was the embodiment of the gangster persona. His performances left you chills long after the movie ended. Since the 00's he has been doing mostly light comedies or family friendly movies. Now, with seeing the vast majority of De Niro's filmography, I have to say that "Dirty Grandpa" is definitely one of the lowest, if not the lowest point of his career. This is not due to his performance, but to the fact that he agreed to take on this role and embarrass the guy that once put raw energy into his characters. The film really left me in an unpleasant mood, a bit shook up on how an idol fell to the common rows.

"Dirty Grandpa" is a childish film that will make you never look the same way again at Robert De Niro. One of the most disappointing cinematic experiences I have ever had!

Shimmer Lake (2017)

Interesting storytelling device of an uninteresting story

[5/10 · 1 April 2018]

Once in a while a film jumps out that doesn't follow the conventional ways of storytelling and that certainly leads to a peak of interest. "Shimmer Lake" tells a murder mystery in reverse, in the ways Nolan brilliantly told his "Memento" decades ago, however nowhere near as gripping as that.

"Shimmer Lake" centers on an investigation lead by small-town sheriff Zeke Sikes, played by Benjamin Walker. The clever gimmick of the script is that the narrative is presented backwards, day by day within the time span of a week. While the way it informs the viewers on how the events came to be is interesting in its premise, the screenplay seems muddled and rushed, missing out tiny details or not explaining everything that leads up to the plot.

The cast did a great job with an impressive performance by Rainn Wilson in particular. However, I felt like I couldn't connect with any of the characters and didn't find myself wanting them to either succeed or fail in the film. The film's running time doesn't even pass 90 minutes, this I believe, leading to a hasty narrative, overlooking backstory details.

"Shimmer Lake" sells itself as an interesting take on a crime mystery film, but ultimately it just isn't that interesting as it was supposed to be.

The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)

Well-made bottle horror movie

[8/10 · 1 April 2018]

Norwegian director André Øvredal impressed me with his fresh take on the mockumentary fantasy-horror movie "Trollhunter" and I highly anticipated his next film, which came out 6 years later but it's better later than never.

"The Autopsy of Jane Doe" tells the story of two father and son coroners, played by the great talents of Brian Cox and Emile Hirsch, who late one night receive a rushed in emergency case of a young girl who has been the homicide victim of mysterious circumstances, dubbed "Jane Doe". While examining the body of the unidentified woman, they start to experience supernatural phenomenons leading to the anonymous woman's enigmatic death.

The whole film takes place in a single location, the coroner's office where the two perform their examinations, turning it into a bottle movie. The script is cleverly written to contain the action in a single spot using the paranormal as a barricade. The film provides good scares and even parts where it makes you unaware of what is about the happen next. That is a really fine quality in a horror script.

"The Autopsy of Jane Doe" is a good example of a smart and well groomed horror film that will entertain you from beginning till the end.

1922 (2017)

Giving fear of rats a new definition

[7/10 · 1 April 2018]

The third book adapted from Stephen King's library in 2017, "1922" is a well intended take on the novella without scrapping up heaps of dollars for its production. Director Zak Hilditch demonstrates that if you create the tension and atmosphere of a horror film in the right way, you don't need to dig too deep in the pockets for unnecessary costs.

"1922" centers around a modest but proud farmer, Wilfred James, played exceptionally by Thomas Jane, who with the help of his son, plot and deliver on the murder of his wife in order to retain the land they live on. Time were definitely tough during those times and Wilfred's wife, played by Deadwood alumni Molly Parker, wanted to move in the city and sell the land in order to lead a better more joyous life. Alas, Wilfred rather wants to lead a simple pastoral life then working in the city, not allowing the transaction to happen and after committing the sin, he is haunted by visions, rat infestations and supernatural events, where Stephen King's class storytelling can be experienced.

Thomas Jane does an exquisite job of portraying the main character, probably giving the strongest performance of his career. He lives and breathes the same air as the character he plays, mesmerizing the viewers and ensnaring their attention until the very end.

"1922" is a solid atmospheric horror film essential in King's gallery of adaptations. If you are looking for a slow-burn movie with stirring performances definitely give it a chance.

Bright (I) (2017)

An alternate universe filled with potential

[7/10 · 1 April 2018]

Probably Netflix's most ambitious feature film, "Bright" attracted much media attention after the company's extended marketing effort. With established director David Ayer at the helm, screenwriter Max Landis to oversee the script and fueled by a $90 million budget, "Bright" was looking to be Netflix's flagship movie of 2017 and surely enough it became one of the steaming service's most viewed content ever.

"Bright" stars Will Smith and Joel Edgerton as a human-orc police unit in the Los Angeles of an alternate universe where orcs, elves, centaurs, dwarves lived amongst humans. As with our modern society, the film tackles racism and social issues, trying to send the message across by using fictional and supernatural creatures. In our story, Edgerton's orcish police officer becomes the first ever of his race to join the ranks of the police department. This fact is not seen with good eyes by the rest of LAPD's human force and certainly not by Smith's character, Daryl Ward. The unit is sent to investigate a crime scene where they find an Inferni elf who is in possession of the magic wand, a wand that is pursued by rogue elves. Thus the newly formed police unit is in search of the truth leading to a prophecy with Ward as an important piece of it.

The film's dialogue I found to be rudimentary and bland with nothing of true quality or wit being said. The script's premise isn't the most interesting story ever written and it felt like it went sideways a bit during the last half of the film. However, the film's lore is quite interesting and I wish they expanded more on the its backstory and given us more information on the riots, revolution and how Los Angeles came to be a community of different fantasy creatures living together.

"Bright" is Will Smith's return to serious science-fiction after the failed attempt that was "After Earth" and while his performance is definitely better than the Smith-family controlled environment of M. Night Shyamalan's movie, it is also a more suitable fit for his on-screen persona, the portrayal of a police officer during tense social times.

"Bright" had the potential of being a solid science-fiction film, but its screenplay and rushed paced took its value a step back, however it leaves new possibilities for the sequel. I recommend watching "Bright" to action, sci-fi and fantasy enthusiasts and if you already have a Netflix account, definitely check it out as it is one of their finest efforts at a feature film.

Little Evil (2017)

Comical take on the Antichrist fable

[7/10 · 31 March 2018]

From director Eli Craig that brought us heaps of laughs with "Tucker & Dale vs Evil" comes another comedy horror film, which regrettably does not match his directorial debut film, but is a delight in its own way.

"Little Evil" tells a story that's been told numerous times, a story about the Antichrist, cleverly disguised by Craig in a quiet 5 year old boy who is unaware of his powers and behaves like a kid his own age. Funnyman Adam Scott plays the role of Gary Bloom, husband to Evangeline Lilly's Samantha and stepfather to Lucas, the chosen vessel of world destruction. Scott is unsuspecting of the extra baggage while stepping into his new marriage and is the latest in a long line of exes, a fact that makes Lucas a tiny bit upset, which as you can imagine will make life a literally living hell for Gary.

The premise sounds like it could be Eli Craig's second hit in the genre and somewhat it is until a certain point. The script is good, but it goes out of control at times instead of sticking to the right path. The cast does an excellent job, especially to what I think the highlight of the film is Bridget Everett's performance as another "stepfather" and Gary's best friend and co-worker, who helps him with the child problem. The cast is composed of big names like Sally Field, Clancy Brown, Donald Faison or Tyler Labine who aren't being put to good use and should have been given more deeper and thorough characters.

"Little Evil" is not the most thought provoking or most humorous movie but it's not the worst either by far. Go in with no expectation and you should be fine, as long as you don't try to compare it with "Tucker & Dale vs Evil".

Kill Your Darlings (2013)

Scrambled story about the origins of the Beat Generation

[5/10 · 31 March 2018]

Beat poetry is a subject that I am not familiar with and I am not entirely sure it exist in the parts I am from, but it's definitely an interesting subject to illustrate on film.

"Kill Your Darlings" discusses a murder that occurred in the 40's involving several monumental names of literature from Allen Ginsberg to Jack Kerouac, who would later go on forming what's called the Beat Generation. The acting was on par with the theme of the film, Dane DeHaan and Daniel Radcliffe, in particular, doing a fantastic job. The film debates topics such as sexual repression, recognition, reputation and exploration. As with most artists, the members of the Beat Generation certainly had a tumultuous and troublesome lifestyle that is depicted in the movie through love triangles, extravagant parties and misdemeanors.

The film's screenplay started off well, describing Ginsberg's freshman experience at college, meeting with DeHaan's character, Lucien Carr, and surely enough the first steps of beat poetry were about to begin. However halfway through the script looses focus and ultimately doesn't lead up to anything, leaving the viewer with not much factual information about the great poetry generation.

"Kill Your Darlings" had substantial background information that could have been put to more use while still being captivating to the audience.

Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017)

Decent low budget animation that produced insufficient laughs

[5/10 · 30 March 2018]

Dreamworks' second entry of 2017, "Captain Underpants" is a rather low budget animated feature from the colossal studio with nearing "only" 40$ million, but still displayed crisp animation without heavy funds. For that matter alone, the movie should be acclaimed, but regrettable the finite result is not sufficiently well put together. The movie is adapted from a vast children novel series created by Dav Pilkey with more than 15 overall books under its sphere.

"Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie" revolves around two fourth grade pranksters (voiced by Kevin Hart and Thomas Middleditch) whose imagination fabricate a superhero in the form of their mean school principal, dubbed "Captain Underpants" after their comic books.

The screenwriters do a good job telling the origin story of Captain Underpants and how it all came to be, however the film is lacking laughs and giggles with some of the jokes being quite childish. Given the fact that Dreamworks released "The Boss Baby" is the same year, they are probably going for that same type of humor and target the same demographic that made it a box office hit. Although I have to admit I laughed every time the word "Hahaguffawchucklealamus" was spoken.

"Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie" is a decent animated feature film for children, but the adults may not find it as entertaining.

The Nut Job (I) (2014)

A great lesson to learn for the kids

[7/10 · 30 March 2018]

Modern technological advancements have reached the point where small animation studios can bring feature animation films to the big screen with good production values. "The Nut Job" certainly can't be put in the same category as Pixar or Dreamworks, but it has charm in its own way.

"The Nut Job" is a heist movie about a squirrel who plans to raid a nut shop after being kicked out of the park. Featuring a star studded cast with the likes of Will Arnett as the main character Surly, Brendan Fraser, Liam Neeson, Katherine Heigl or the stern Stephen Lang, the nutty film brings out a wonderful adventure of friendship and betrayal with plenty of good qualities for the kids to learn and understand.

It's not the funniest movie, but it manages to touch one's heart and make them become sympathetic for the honesty of the characters, especially the mute rat Buddy. "The Nut Job" gives out a good example to children: help others and don't always chase personal gain. I recommend this animated movie for children as it may teach them a valuable lesson in life.

The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature (2017)

Funnier but not as heartening as the first one

[6/10 · 30 March 2018]

I saw the sequel to "The Nut Job" right after finishing the first one, making it a double feature picture night. I wasn't impressed with the original, but wasn't disappointed either as I enjoyed it with no major expectations going in. The same thing happened after watching "The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature".

"The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature" follows the events of the first movie, centering once again on Will Arnett's squirrelly character, Surly. This time the gang's mission is to stop the Mayor from bulldozing the park and replacing it with an amusement park. A thing that happens too often in the real world, green zones getting paved and constructions getting build on top of them.

The human characters were all horrible people and, if I didn't yet find myself rooting for the animals before, I certainly did after seeing the terrible intentions of the humans. On the other hand, the street mice were a terrific addition to the movie, with the leader voiced by Jackie Chan turning them into a deadly martial arts gang. One of my favorite characters from the first movie was Buddy, the mute rat partner of Surly, who unfortunately, I think, didn't get enough screentime in the sequel.

"The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature" didn't succeed at the box-office and the released date was pushed multiple times, but it's still an uplifting animation that will leave kids and adults lighthearted.

The Hidden Face (2011)

Captivating thriller about closure and enclosure

[7/10 · 30 March 2018]

I love Spanish-language thrillers and horrors and whenever I need an escape from Hollywood, I would look up a nicely crafted mystery from the Latin regions.

"The Hidden Face" is about an orchestra conductor who's girlfriend mysterious disappears leaving him devastated and perplexed. Actually, unlike the aspiring conductor, the viewers know the whereabouts of his girlfriend, trapped in a secret room hidden away from plain sight. The thriller consists of the young woman's attempt to escape said room, which proves to be more than a difficult task.

The plot sounds first-rate and the execution is not bad, however at times it did feel more like a Colombian soap-opera, especially the parts involving the conductor. The imprisoned woman's attempts at escape seem sound, but there are a couple of decision that would leave you questioning her actions. An interesting aspect of the movie is the one-way mirrors used to view the bedroom and bathroom from inside the hidden room, adding more to the captive's frustration after seeing the events occurring without her known presence.

"The Hidden Face" is a good thriller that emerges as a crowd-pleaser and is definitely worth a look at.