Tag: Horror Drama

REVIEW: ‘Frankenstein’ is a gothically gorgeous creation

Guillermo del Toro was made for this.

The latest movie from the visionary director is right up his alley, from the story itself to the aesthetic. The film is of course an adaptation of the 1818 Mary Shelley novel. In del Toro’s take, Oscar Isaac portrays Baron Victor Frankenstein. The movie picks up with the doctor in the cold wilderness of the North Pole. There, he’s found by a Danish Naval crew from a nearby ship.

It’s to the captain of that ship (Lars Mikkelsen) that he tells his story. He describes how he had a vision of stopping death after his mother’s passing, which led him into a career of medicine and science. Then from there, how it led him to bringing the Creature (Jacob Elordi) to life Continue reading “REVIEW: ‘Frankenstein’ is a gothically gorgeous creation”

REVIEW: While not a contender, “Him” still scores some points

San Antonio may not have a real professional football team playing at the Alamodome, but it has a fictional one now thanks to this movie.

In “Him,” Marlon Wayans portrays Isaiah White, who’s become the professional football league’s greatest of all time, leading the San Antonio Saviors to eight titles. His success on the field has not only brought several rings, but it also inspired the next generation, particularly promising quarterback Cam Cade (Tyriq Withers).

A college star, Cade had planned to participate in the pre-draft combine where he gets to flex in front of scouts, but he’s sidelined by an injury. He gets a second chance to attract league attention, though, in the way of a private invite by White, who wants to give the player a chance to prove he has what it takes. Cade agrees, but soon learns he’s in for more than he bargained for.

Continue reading “REVIEW: While not a contender, “Him” still scores some points”

REVIEW: ‘Weapons’ builds tension well, but loses way in second half

After writing and directing 2022’s “Barbarian,” Zach Cregger is back with another suspenseful flick that will keep you guessing.

His latest picture is “Weapons,” which centers on the mysterious disappearance of 17 children from their homes in the middle of the night. The children were all from the same classroom at a school in a small Pennsylvania town, and there are no leads to their whereabouts, other than that they all left at the same time.

The situation puts a negative light on the teacher of the class, Justine (Julia Garner), who much of the town puts some blame on for the disappearance. As Justine struggles with the situation, the film explores what she goes through, and how the incident is impacting other citizens as well.

Continue reading “REVIEW: ‘Weapons’ builds tension well, but loses way in second half”

REVIEW: ’28 Years Later’ is an exhausting follow-up

What does this film have in common with its predecessor and 2013’s “The Purge?” Read on to find out!

After directing 2002’s “28 Days Later” and sitting out of its 2007 sequel, Danny Boyle has returned to helm the third movie in the series, “28 Years Later.” As the name implies, this takes place nearly three decades after the rage virus spread throughout the British Isles. Fortunately for the rest of the world, it has been contained to the islands.

Communities still exist on those islands, though, with enclosed towns on smaller islands loosely connected to the mainland. Only a few venture onto the mainland to scout and scavenge, such as Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). On his most recent trip, he brings his son, Spike (Alfie Williams), who’s come of age to participate.

Continue reading “REVIEW: ’28 Years Later’ is an exhausting follow-up”

REVIEW: ‘The Substance’ shocks, thrills and satirizes

French women are on a roll with body horror films lately with Julia Ducournau helming “Titane” in 2021 and CoralIe Fargeat crafting this flick in 2024.

The newer picture, “The Substance,” centers on actress and aerobics instructor Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore). Once a major player in the Hollywood scene, Sparkle’s career has faded a bit over the years and things get worse when she finds out her time as host of a morning aerobics show is coming to an end.

Through a series of events, though, she comes in possession of a serum that claims to create a younger, more beautiful version of the person she is. She ends up taking it and it works, creating another version of herself to live through (Margaret Qualley). However, as time goes on, the needed balance between her two selves begins to deteriorate.

Continue reading “REVIEW: ‘The Substance’ shocks, thrills and satirizes”

REVIEW: ‘Heretic’ has moderate suspense, though Grant shines

Hugh Grant has entered a villain phase with this and “Dungeons and Dragons,” and I’m all here for it.

In this film, Grant portrays Mr. Reed, a man who appears like a fine fellow at the movie’s outset. Early on, he’s visited by Mormon missionaries Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East), and welcomes them into his home to discuss their religion.

To make them feel at ease, he expresses interest in their religion and claims his wife is in the back baking a pie for them to enjoy. However, it soon becomes clear that everything is a ruse, as Mr. Reed traps the two women in his home and is prepared to test their faith in dark ways.

Continue reading “REVIEW: ‘Heretic’ has moderate suspense, though Grant shines”

REVIEW: ‘The First Omen’ is fine, but not phenomenal

There are a few directions a classic horror film can go to build a franchise. One is a series of sequels, another is a remake, and a third option is a prequel. “The Omen” has already done the first two, so a prequel it is.

“The First Omen” is set in 1971, five years before the events of the original 1976 film. The movie centers on Margaret Daino (Nell Tiger Free), an American woman who arrives in Italy to take her vows and become a nun. While she’s initially eager about the opportunity, she slowly becomes wary.

She starts to see suspicious and disturbing things taking place at the religious orphanage and church she lives at, and it becomes more frequent. Her fears are only heightened when she receives a dire warning from the priest Father Brennan (Ralph Ineson).

Continue reading “REVIEW: ‘The First Omen’ is fine, but not phenomenal”

REVIEW: ‘Late Night With Devil’ is a solid spin on found footage horror

If this movie was real, I feel like the host would definitely be invited on Coast to Coast AM with Art Bell in the 90s to talk about his experience.

The film centers on Jack Delroy (David Dastmalchian), the host of a late-night talk show. His series has its fans and is mostly well received, but always comes in second to the classic king of late-night, Johnny Carson. Stuck with declining ratings and a personal tragedy, Delroy is looking for a turnaround.

He decides he needs to do something big for the Halloween special of his show. The solution is inviting a teenage girl on his show who could possibly be possessed by a demon, among other guests. From there, what begins as a fun night of evening television turns into something terrifying.

Continue reading “REVIEW: ‘Late Night With Devil’ is a solid spin on found footage horror”

REVIEW: ‘Crimes of the Future’ is a fascinating sci-fi creation

In the “Crimes of the Future” world, there are two separate, yet equally important groups. The police who investigate crime, and an organ registry office to track human evolution.

These are their stories.

In the future portrayed in this film, humanity has evolved to the point where people no longer experience pain and are immune to infectious diseases. Evolution hasn’t stopped there, though, with some humans having bodies that create additional organs with no function, and others having a digestive system that can dissolve plastic.

Both evolutionary traits have gotten the attention of government agencies. Thanks to a man named Saul (Viggo Mortenson), the former trait has also gotten attention in cultural circles. He has made the removal of these organs into a show, as he allows an audience to watch these surgeries, which are conducted by an artist named Caprice (Lea Seydoux).

Continue reading “REVIEW: ‘Crimes of the Future’ is a fascinating sci-fi creation”

REVIEW: Alex Garland’s “Men” is ambitious but frustrating

I have a feeling this film will have some guys shouting “not all men!”

This film from director Alex Garland from the company A24 stars Jessie Buckley as Harper, a woman who’s gone to stay at a cottage in the country after a personal tragedy. The rental is in a nice enough small town and all seems well, but issues with her past continue to trouble her.

It’s made only worse as she has to deal with some rather bothersome figures in town, from a prying priest to a creepy schoolboy. These men only make her mental state worse.

Continue reading “REVIEW: Alex Garland’s “Men” is ambitious but frustrating”