Sophie Wilde. © 2023 A24, Screen Australia, South Australian Film Corporation, Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund, Head Gear Films, Metrol Technology, and Causeway Films. Directed by Danny Philippou & Michael Philippou.
Watched it at AMC Theaters
Ok...Talk to me. When I saw who was directing this project, I knew right away this was going to be an instant banger. After seeing the film twice, this is going to be an interesting review to write because this is the freshest horror story I've seen in a long time. The creativity on screen is immaculate and the horror aspects are through the roof. This is a film that hardcore horror fans and even movie fans will absolutely enjoy and be glued to the screen. The film doesn't just do horror right, but it allows you in on the characters' emotions, struggles, and addiction. Let's go to a wild party and test out this weird magic hand that you may encounter dead people through...or become the dead person itself. Story: When a group of friends discover how to conjure spirits with an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill and high-stakes party game -- until one of them goes too far and unleashes terrifying supernatural forces. Directors Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou took a simple horror concept and twisted it to its limits. The sheer amount of violence, horror, and insanity is present throughout this film. The Philippou brothers used their camera and directing magic from the YouTube videos they created and turned this film into a cinematic horror-fest. While this film isn't the huge gore fest and crazy camera work from Philippous' original content, there is still the flavor of RackRacka that is through the excellent camera work and direction with the characters and story. Speaking of characters and the story, the story is very engaging from start to finish. There is emotional weight and consequences behind every action these characters commit. The main character Mia (Sophia Wilde) has a unique character arc that goes in different directions that you may never expected to see. Wilde's performance really captures the teenager experience and her dynamic with her friends feels natural. I really loved how we get to experience these events through the eyes of Mia by following her every move with the hand object and how every action she takes will affect others. Plus, her personality makes her character more engaging and the performance feels fresh and vivid. The supporting cast is amazing including Alexandra Jensen as Jade. Miranda Otto is also great in the film as Sue. While she doesn't get to do much, she really encapsulates her presence between Mia and Jade. Overall, the performances here are some of the strongest I've seen in a horror film this year. With those performances into a gripping and haunting story, it makes the film more special and chaotic, in a good way. The story is simple yet refreshing to see in a unique horror film that anything can happen. The opening prologue sold me for the next hour and a half of the film. All in one take, setting up the vibe, atmosphere, and bloody horror of the film, I knew that I was going in for a treat. The film's pacing of the story was very smooth with no filler in between important scenes and character moments. It lets the story digest the world, characters, and the myth of the hand object. Plus, the hand object lore isn't explored a lot but the film gives you a quick rundown of the history behind this object and it's enough that you want to theorize more later. Certain plot points get very juicy when certain characters start to play with the object way too much where at a point, chaos starts to erupt. By the hour mark, the tension and horror don't stop and it holds you until the end. It's written so well by letting every scene and moment feel it has weight and it lets the audience digest each moment that has importance to the entire story. While the film is about supernatural beings and friendship, the film is really about trauma, grieving, and broken relationships. Plus, it's about fixing the broken things that have been broken for quite a while and you can't seem to fix it until you literally become broken. That is what I analyzed through the film's ending. Without spoilers, it's a heartbreaking ending that will let you think about your current relationships and how far can we maintain them until we destroy them with one action. Or even an action further. The story doesn't get too convoluted which is great because there's so much mystery behind this hand but it's really about these characters trying to get out of a situation that they shouldn't even be then in the first place. Even if the characters are not part of the situation with the hand object, they are still affected by the consequences of certain characters which makes the stakes of the film feel tight and real. With the addition of the horror aspects, it makes certain sequences feel haunting and fucked up. It's not full-on RackaRacka violence, but it gets you there at a point where you are in for a wild fucking ride.
That wild ride is carried by its horror elements. The camera work is fluid throughout the horror sequences with interesting shots and angles. Plus, the RackRacka flavor and directing makes these sequences feel like action sequences but in this case, through horror. The make-up effects of the creatures beyond the hand are scary and disgustingly good. Even some of the gore effects are pretty gruesome and deadly impactful to the story. The cinematography is very slick with interesting lighting choices and coloring use of muted and bright blues and reds. The editing here is also surprisingly great for a horror film. The pacing of each scene flows well and it doesn't waste its time on certain moments. However, when there's a crucial scene in the film, it slows down yet, with the strong directing from the Philippou brothers, the pacing through those scenes feels fast yet slow and meaningful. The score of this film is also solid alongside its interesting music choices. Nothing too crazy with its production design but I really like the simplicity of the possessed hand figure and to think that thing is real on the A24 shop is insane. Overall, the production and technical work of this film is amazing. With this film costing under five million dollars, it's incredible how they pulled off some of the biggest set pieces throughout the film while giving us an impactful terrifying story that expands on horror elements with a unique taste.
While there aren't a lot of flaws in this film, the one thing I could point out is the father dynamic between Mia and her father. I feel like there was something missing. Even though I loved the scenes between her and her mother because that's the core of the film, the father's storyline felt weak. Yet, I was still hooked in their scenes when they got into an argument about their mother's passing. Besides that, there could be some logical issues with its story decisions, but I was still invested from beginning to end. Haunting, darkly vivid, and gripping, Talk to Me is what horror films in this new era of cinema should be doing. Creating simple horror films with unique twists and turns that audiences won't expect. It passed beyond my expectations and I loved every second. This is a horror flick that many cinephiles and general audiences should watch. It's also emotional with its story and by the end, you will be asking more adventures of this hand fucking up people's lives. A definite must-watch horror film.
Now Available on VOD & 4K Blu-Ray!
Vizeit Score: "A"
(Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for continuing supporting my indie cinema website.)
Copyright © 2023 Vizeit Reviews / Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. Editor In-Chief/Owner of Vizeit Reviews | (Chicago Indie Critics Member [CIC])
0 Comments
Josh Hutcherson. © 2023 Universal Pictures, Blumhouse Productions, and Scott Cawthon Productions. Directed by Emma Tammi.
Watched it at AMC Theaters
Can You Survive The Five Nights? After waiting for almost a decade, it's finally here. Bouncing from different studios and directors, was it worth the wait? As a fan of the video game franchise, this was worth the wait. As a casual viewer who doesn't know the lore and even the general idea of this franchise, proceed with caution. Yet, you will find some enjoyability with the adorable killing animatronics. This is another win for the continued success of video game adaptations and this is another stepping stone for more future projects to come. Join me at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza and let's see the animatronics up close in person. Well, not that up-close or you will get bitten. Story: The film follows Mike, a young man who is troubled to find a job after a work incident. While Mike is taking care of her little sister Abby, Mike finds a night guard shift that will help pay his bills while still taking care of Abby. However, during this night shift, he witnesses unusual events that may connect to some murders in the past. With the help of Vanessa, a local police officer, they uncover clues that may be connected to Mike directly. This video franchise will always have a special place in my heart. Seeing the iconic animatronics come to life in live-action is fantastic. The detail of these animatronics is astonishing. Freddy, Chica, Bonnie, and Foxy are all amazing and sometimes, deadly adorable. The production design done by Marc Fisichella alongside his art crew really captured the design of the pizzeria with many details and easter eggs that fans will catch on to. From the little posters to a huge animatronic, they really made sure that the world of FNAF really captured the essence and atmosphere from the games to film. Plus, since the game is very lore-heavy, they eased on the lore easter eggs so new fans can join the mystery. But what mystery? Well, the mystery being unfolded in this film is interesting because not only does it take story elements from the game, but it mixes them with new and easy FNAF lore elements that make the plot easier to follow. In the original game, it's just a click-and-point game but there was hidden lore when you started to get through the five nights. However, the game progressed into a lore-driven game, and taking those elements into cinematic elements was going to be difficult. Seeing this story now come to life on the big screen was worth the risk as a fan of the game. The story was unique in terms of branching Mike's story which makes his personality and character more deeper. We not only get to see him working at the pizzeria surviving the night during his night shift, but we get to see his personal life with his young sister. Plus, the big thing that really made me care about his character is the custody battle between him and his aunt. That small story really comes into full play with the main story of the film and it adds character to Mike's personal struggles. Plus, Mike's trauma which we explore through flashback sequences helps connect the lore and the main plot throughout the film. The film takes unique routes within its screenplay and it's done mostly well to help new audiences explore this unique story and lore. Besides Mike's story, the supporting characters are solid. I really liked Vanessa's storyline which intertwines the whole story. Abby's storyline was good but it really focused on her relationship with Mike. There is one side character that I want to mention but for the sake of spoilers, he's important throughout the arc of the story. Overall, the story lands on its own by providing its spin on the lore and the plot doesn't get sidetracked which is a major positive since many video game adaptations feel off from that.
Speaking of video game adaptations, this is another win for this type of adaptation. As an OG fan of the game, this is a great translation from game to film. From the set design, animatronics, characters, and lore, it successfully builds off what the game established. What more video game movies are doing recently is taking the source of the game and completely translating it while adding a spin to it. The Super Mario Bros successfully does that and now with FNAF, filmmakers are actually respecting the source material. In addition to that, they are building more story and deep personalities to the characters or adding more world-building. Before studios started to take notes on this, filmmakers created their own stories and it pissed off many fans from the games they are adapting. However, if the story is entertaining and engaging, it works like Sonic The Hedgehog. With FNAF in particular, it adds on new material from the established material from the game. Plus, the biggest factor to include is that the original game creator, Scott Cawthon, is part of the entire production process. He's credited as a writer and producer. This is huge for an indie game developer to oversee the project, yet, give the creative freedom to Emma Tammi on the project. Overall, it creates a great relationship between the filmmaker, the creator, and most importantly, the fans. In the end, it worked and it brought many great easter eggs, twists, and changes from the lore onto the silver screen, and added story elements to make the characters have more depth. It's a huge win for this type of adaptation.
At the beginning of the review, I praised the film's production design but the other technical elements in the film that I didn't mention are also solid. I really liked the cinematography in this film. It's interesting they went for a 1:85:1 aspect ratio. The music is also excellent and I liked the opening theme of the film. What I'm surprised by is that they edited this film in under six months because the film wrapped in April. Kudos to the editors behind this film. It's a solid Blumhouse technical film and with the budget being under 20 million dollars, it looks very good. I hope the film gets a budget bump. Even with all of this praise, I still have some critiques that many will agree on. One of the biggest things that disappointed me as a fan of the game is the horror aspects of this adaptation. In the first game, the atmosphere, sound design, and even the coloring of the game felt very haunting and real. In this adaptation, the horror wasn't sparking. I didn't feel scared at all. I just felt excited. While having that excitement is positive, I didn't feel any huge tension with the animatronics on screen. The final act saved that heavily which sucks because I wanted to experience and feel that horror in the first two acts, not the final act. Some of the side characters were a bit underwhelming, especially with the aunt character. While that wasn't the most important storyline in the film, I feel like they could've improved it well with its writing. Even some of the character's arcs could've been sharper. Also yes, there are plot holes that could be answered in the sequel. But the biggest thing that I wish they could've tweaked is the story structure of certain characters. Especially with the main villain and I feel like the build-up was good, but it didn't feel impactful. Even as a fan of the game who knows the villain of the franchise, I felt like his entrance wasn't that impactful. Plus, the story was predictable and easy to figure out. Yet, I was still engaged and enjoying seeing these characters interact with one another. I still found enjoyment with these flaws and I hope they take them seriously for the next entry in this new franchise. Beyond the terrifying adorable animatronics, this is a great addition to the video game film adaptation collection. It successfully adapts what worked in the game and translates it into film. The characters are solid. The technical elements, especially the production design are great. The directing is very solid and overall, they made this film fun and engaging for new audiences and fans of the franchise. This is another win for Blumhouse and I cannot wait to spend more nights with these killer creatures. I hope Springtrap isn't at the next location.
Now Playing Only in Theaters and on Peacock!
Vizeit Score: "B"
(Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for continuing supporting my indie cinema website.)
Copyright © 2023 Vizeit Reviews. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. Editor In-Chief/Owner of Vizeit Reviews | (Chicago Indie Critics Member [CIC])
Kenneth Branagh. © 2023 20th Century Studios, Kinberg Genre, The Mark Gordon Company, TSG Entertainment, Scott Free Productions, and Agatha Christie Limited. Directed by Kenneth Branagh.
Vizeit Reviews is in solidarity with the WGA & SAG, however, SAG will allow film critics to continue their normal movie critiques as usual but with certain restrictions.
Watched it in Dolby Cinema @ AMC Theaters
Death Was Only The Beginning... Murder cases never finish but for detective Hercule Poirot, this might be his final case. This is Kenneth Branagh's next entry in the Agatha Christie's book series and it's follow up from the unfortunate disappointing Death on the Nile. Branagh takes the series in a new direction with spooky horror and witchcraft elements. How did it end up? This new direction really made up for the previous entry and went back to basics on why the first film in the series was actually good. Join me to visit Venice and see how the murder unfolds during Halloween. Story: In 1947, former detective Hercule Poirot, now retired and living in Venice, must solve the year-old murder of a guest at a séance he attends. The events take place on the eve of Halloween in a palazzo that was an ancient orphanage with a history of ghosts and murders according to the family living in the house. Right away, the film is a huge step up from the previous entry and one of those elements was the presentation. The film is shot in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio from the standard cinemascope from the previous two films. This decision is great because it allows the horror ambiance in the film to feel more real and it's a good change within Branagh's series of films. It feels more alive and it allows the cinematography of the film to feel more expressive and up-close. Speaking of cinematography, this is easily his best-looking film in this series and probably since Thor which speaks a lot. I will also include Belfast because it's a different approach in his directing style but that film felt more personal. The cinematography is more vibrant with a lot of creative angles and shots that create the personality of this film. Even the coloring is a vast improvement from the previous entry. The sound design here is honestly pretty good. If it spooked me with its ambiance and jump scares, it did its job correctly. The production here is also pretty solid and it takes place all in one location but it's much smaller now which is an interesting directing move. One of the elements I was worried about was the editing and pacing of this film. Well, surprise, surprise, the pacing was quicker and the editing was also a vast improvement. Overall, the production of the technical elements of the film was a huge improvement and the film was finally not boring which is a major positive from the last film. Well, how about the story? I'm glad to report that it's definitely an engaging one.
The story is again simple but the one thing I was worried about would be it's execution. Since the story went towards a horror route, I thought it would be cheap and just test the waters. However, Branagh didn't go for a cheap horror route, rather, he experimented with the horror genre mixed in with mystery and it worked well. There were some jump scares for sure but the horror ambience was very much present in the film. The plot is shorter now with this entry being the shortest film clocking in at one hour and forty-three minutes long. It didn't waste it's time to get right into the mystery and I'm happy that it stayed that way. There were barely any filler sub-plots in the film and it was kept central between Branagh's character and the supporting characters. Detective Hercule Poirot's character development was more clear and interesting this time around. We got to see his old detective skills back in use but the challenges present were more engaging, especially within the horror aspects Branagh is aiming for. The side characters were also pretty good and improved as well. The stand-out would be Kyle Allen as Maxime Gerard. I really enjoyed his performance and Tine Fey was a nice addition to the main supporting cast. In terms of character work, it was decent. Overall, the plot was a step-up from the bland second entry in the Hercule Poirot series but there were still flaws that were carried over from the previous two entries.
Throughout the trilogy, one of the constant flaws that is still affecting these films is the underdeveloped side characters, especially the smaller side characters. Even though they are present in the film, we wouldn't have time to see more of their personality and contribution to the main mystery. Also, the murderer in the film was so easy to figure out and it felt a bit cheap. While it's simple and straight to the point, I wish there was more creativity within the storytelling of the mystery, especially since Branagh is mixing it with horror elements. While the film is not boring, it can still be sidetracked for a moment and some moments are sluggish. Some of the characters were pretty wasted which was disappointing. However, the final act of the film really started to turn its tables and it was the best part of the film. Definitely an improvement but it still has its old flaws as usual. If you are looking for a spooky time at the theaters, this is one of the good choices to watch in theaters during the Halloween season! This is a spooky film with solid directing, creative visuals, and an improved story that fans of the series will be happy about. You don't need to watch the other two films to understand the full story. It is its own thing and you will get into the world of Hercule Poirot in no time. Time for a cup of coffee in Italy! Now Playing Only in Theaters! Vizeit Score: "B-"
(Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for continuing supporting my indie cinema website.)
Copyright © 2023 Vizeit Reviews / Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. Editor In-Chief/Owner of Vizeit Reviews | (Chicago Indie Critics Member [CIC])
Nicholas Hoult and Nicolas Cage. © 2023 Universal Pictures, Skybound Entertainment, and Giant Wildcat. Directed by Chris McKay.
Watched it at AMC Theaters
Dracula Sometimes Needs A Helper... Quick Review: Vampire films seem to be nonexistent now in modern cinema but it's good to have one in a while. Especially if it's a Nicolas Cage feature because that would slap. Well, we have one and it indeed slaps but with some issues along the way. This film is pretty campy and I feel like the tone really fits with this film. The campy vibes alongside the horror aspects and action were pretty entertaining. I really like the action set-pieces and it felt refreshing seeing good old bloody action scenes that are just plain fun. However, it can be overedited a lot and sometimes way too much. Still, I enjoyed it. The characters are solid. I liked Nicholas Hoult's performance as Renfield and his character is quite interesting. Throughout his character arc, we see him balance between good and bad but more on the good side. The character tropes were very present in the film, especially some of those tropes interacting with the story by making it feel cliché. Renfield as a character is still good and his soft personality really stands him out throughout the film. Nicolas Cage as Dracula is so funny and very good. I loved his campy performance and his character was well done. I loved how his character didn't give a crap about anything and just wanted world domination like any other villain. The side characters are good. Seeing Ben Schwartz as a gangster is not what I imagined and his performance was hilarious. Awkwafina was cool in her supporting role but her character was weak because it felt we have seen this type of character a lot in comedy films. Plus, the way it was set up was totally weak. It could've been much more strongly written and that's where I find my main issue. The film was pretty weak in its character set-up besides Renfield and Dracula. I couldn't find my footing until the second act. However, the performances still kept me entertained till the end. Overall, it's a solid vampire film with good performances and fun bloody action sequences. The set-up was weak with cliché tropes and a story that felt familiar yet not. Still, I had a good time watching Nicolas Cage go berserk. Now Playing in Theaters and on VOD. Vizeit Score: "B-" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for continuing supporting my indie film website.) Copyright © 2023 Vizeit Reviews / Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. (Chicago Indie Critics Member [CIC])
Joaquin Phoenix. © 2023 A24 and Square Peg. Directed by Ari Aster.
Watched it at AMC Theaters
In This World, Afraid Is Just A Stage. Quick Review: If Ari Aster makes a three-hour weird-fest with full of excitement, weirdness, and scope, I'm totally in. This film fucked my expectations in a good way due to its weird direction from Aster. This is such a weird film that not even other studios won't make but I'm glad this film exists. There is a lot of creativity and weirdness put into the film and I can tell that they put every penny into this film. The plot of this film is so weird and everywhere. Without any spoilers, it fucks with your mind and there are a lot of unexplained sequences that are well shot with huge scope, but at the same time, there's no explanation. Even with the metaphors presented in almost every scene, there are moments where I'm lost which takes me out of the film. However, the performances in the film are pretty great. I really loved Joaquin Phoenix's performance and his commitment to his character is insane. He goes from the adult side to the child side to the manic side in seconds. The side characters are also pretty good with their performances being amazing. I really liked the "antagonist" in the film and her motivations are very strong and explainable. However, some of the protagonist's motivations are pretty confusing and I was completely lost during the most important scenes in the film, unfortunately. I would say the film wasn't that long, however, some parts were really slow and unfortunately, there were some scenes that they could've cut out. However, the visuals in this film are really fantastic. I love the use of practical effects in the film including VFX. The cinematography in this film is very well done and the score is also memorable during some of the weirdest scenes in the film. Overall, it's a well-made film with great directing but with a confusing plot that will leave you sour or wanting more. The images in this film are some of the most fucked up since Men and it left me in a confusing state of mind. It's a well-made film for sure, however, if you expected a Odyssey film that will be fun, you got it, but try to set your expectations as low as possible. It's an Odyssey epic film for sure, but it will fuck up your mind. Ari needs some mental help. Now Playing in Theaters. Vizeit Score: "A-" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for continuing supporting my indie film website.) Copyright © 2023 Vizeit Reviews / Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. (Chicago Indie Critics Member [CIC]) |
Archives
April 2024
Categories
All
Copyright © 2024 Vizeit Reviews. All Rights Reserved. |