Behind Her Eyes: The TED Talk On How Not To Do A Twist

Written by Luke Barnes

Behind Her Eyes is a supernatural thriller series directed by Stephen Lightfoot based on the novel of the same name by Sarah Pinborough. The plot revolves around a love triangle at a local doctor’s clinic that becomes more dangerous due to the fact that one of the trio can astral project.

This was billed as Netflix’s most recent must binge series and I did, and honestly I have to say it is kind of a mess. The first few episodes start the show off on a strong note, there is a keen sense of place and characters and the hint of something more at play- a supernatural element. However, as the series rushes to its end, things quickly start to come apart.

The last two episodes of the series feature a number of twists that I believe ruin the show. The generic erotic thriller themes of the first few episodes are made more interesting by the tease of something more supernatural going on, and boy do you get that in the last two episodes. Sadly, when we do start dealing with the ideas around astral projection it is boring, poorly thought out and leaves more questions than answers.

Overall, the series does have moments of promise, but it throws it all away at the end.

Pros.

Some early intrigue and the tease of something more

Cons.

It quickly becomes generic

The twist is not very good

The astral projection stuff is riddled with issues

It derails itself

1/5

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Boogie: Shooting Hoops And Quoting Classic Literature

Written by Luke Barnes

Boogie is a drama film directed by Eddie Huang. The plot centres around the titular Boogie (Taylor Takahashi), a young man with only one dream, to become a professional basketball player. We see Boogie, deal with life, family and growing up all whilst trying to improve his game and stay in control of his life.

I am fairly mixed on this one, on the one hand I thought that its quieter moments of character drama were excellent, especially when the film was focusing on Boogie’s parents relationship or how each try and control who he is. However, I thought the premise and the wider execution of the film let it down as it ended up becoming just another generic sports film.

Both Huang and Takahashi intrigued me, I think both have a lot of potential which is shown within this film and I am excited to see where both go next. Takahashi especially, managed the emotional weight of the film well, whilst still feeling relatable and human.

Overall, if you are prepared to dig beneath the generic sports movie premise there is some solid drama and character work to be moved by here.

Pros.

The character drama

Takahashi

The ending

Cons.

It is very generic

It is predictable

2.5/5

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Bernie: Jack Black Proves He Can Nail Drama As Well

Written by Luke Barnes

Bernie is a dark comedy film directed by Richard Linklater. The plot follows the events surrounding the death of Marjorie Nugent at the hands of Bernie Tiede.

Jack Black plays the titular Bernie and I think he does it perfectly. This killer in real life was adored by a large majority of people in the Texan town of Carthage, and with the way Black plays him you can see why. Black sells the likeability of his character, but also eludes to a hidden darkness, he plays the character mostly straight, though he does manage a few laughs in some darkly comedic scenes.

I think it says a lot of Black’s performance that he can comfortably go toe to toe with Matthew McConaughey, who plays the lawyer who sent Bernie away for life, who is known for his dramatic prowess; I think in terms of dramatic acting this is a career best for Black.

I also thought the film had a lot of great eccentric moments to it, such as having one of the opening scenes be Bernie giving a lecture on how to prepare a dead body for burial as well as a number of interviews with real towns people who would have known both the victim and the murderer in real life: these touches add character to the film.

Overall, a lot of fun and a great performance from Jack Black

Pros.

Black

McConaughey

The quirks

It was fun to watch

Cons.

The pacing could have been tighter

4.5/5

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Dawn Of The Beast: People Should Know By Now That Nothing Good Ever Happens In The Woods.

Written by Luke Barnes

Dawn Of The Beast is a horror film directed by Bruce Wemple. The plot sees a group of graduate students head out into the woods in search of Bigfoot, however, what they find is far more terrifying.

There is only one truly good horror film about Bigfoot and that is the Lost Coast Tapes, the rest of them are frequently terrible. I am pleased to say that though this film has issues, this falls into the category of good Bigfoot horror, and does provide a nice entry into the subgenre.

I think the creature design on both Bigfoot and the Wendigo is very well done, and though we only see brief amounts of them over the course of the film they do leave an impression and look suitably scary or perhaps monstrous.

In terms of scares, the film isn’t scary, it has a few tense sequences and attempts a few jump scares but to limited success.

The issues with this film are all structural and fundamental. The pacing in this film is way off and what is a relatively short film ends up feeling far longer to watch then it actually is- developing a bloat. Moreover, the acting from the human characters is incredibly weak: yes I understand that most wont be watching this to see how layered and well written the human characters are, rather instead to watch monster carnage, but it did impact on my viewing experience.

Overall, a good Bigfoot horror film that is brought down by several glaring issues.

Pros.

Using its monster well

The creature design

A few tense sequences

Cons.

The pacing

The acting

3.5/5

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Made In Italy: Who Knew Renovating Old Houses Could Be So Emotional

Written by Luke Barnes

Made In Italy is a comedy drama film directed by James D’Arcy. The plot sees an estranged father and son bond whilst renovating their derelict Italian home for sale.

I enjoy Liam Neeson, I think he is great as an action hero, he is great in his rare comedic roles and he is great as a dramatic actor- this film proves that last point. This film is so passionate and raw that it simply has to hit a nerve in those watching it, and Neeson is a big part of that.

The dynamic and bond between the father and son is so moving and beautiful that it brought a tear to my eye. The relationship is more than a little relatable, and I am sure many can agree on that point, and the scene when the two finally open up to each other and talk about their issues is particularly heart-breaking.

There are a few different romance subplots sown into the film, but where in other films this could prove to be an unwelcomed distraction here it only serve to boost the emotion of the film and at times provide some much needed comedic relief.

Overall, a beautiful and thoughtful film that reached me on an emotional level.

Pros.

The father son dynamic

Neeson as a dramatic actor

The emotion

The ending

The score is also very strong

Cons.

None

5/5

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Shiva Baby: You’ll Cringe Harder Then You Have Ever Done In Your Life

Written by Luke Barnes

Shiva Baby is a dark comedy film directed by Emma Seligman. The plot sees Danielle (Rachel Sennott), attend a Shiva which is packed with her family and people from her past, including her ex-girlfriend, if that wasn’t bad enough her sugar daddy is also there.

I’ve seen some people imply that this is a social horror film, and I can see where they are coming from, as I was watching this I was getting stressed especially as the drama escalated and escalated- my social anxiety was not thanking me for watching this film I’ll tell you that.

I think this film perfectly executes what it sets out to do, moreover, I think this film manages to capture the horror of the day to day, and weaponizes awkward cringe to the point of it being terrifying.

The characters are all perfectly formed, layered and deep and as nuanced as any person you would meet.

Overall, one of the most stressful and cringe (in a good way), films you will ever see. Definitely worth the watch.

Pros.

The characters

The interaction

The awkwardness

The premise and the execution

Cons.

It may be too awkward for some

4.5/5

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The Secret Life Of Pets: Its Better Not To Know

Written by Luke Barnes

The Secret Life Of Pets is an animated family film directed by Chris Renaud. The plot of the film answers the age old question, what do our pets do all day when we are not there?

Recently, I have been exploring Illumination Animation, I have gone through the Despicable Me films, check the site for those reviews, as such this film was next on my list.

I have to say though I had issues with the Despicable Me series there were still some redeeming aspects, here however, that is not the case. Never before in my history of watching films have I witnessed a more mismanaged and outrightly unlikable voice cast: there are some talented performers working here, but for the most part they are working with cliches and one note characters, so they are hamstrung from the beginning.

Moreover, when I realised that Louis C.K voiced the main character that made the film hard to watch for me. For those of you who don’t know C.K was accused of sexual harassment and abuse several years ago, as such hearing him in this film made me feel uncomfortable. Obviously the filmmakers couldn’t have known at the time when they cast him, but it does make the rewatch hard

Finally, the humour did nothing for me at all. To say it was juvenile would be an understatement, I have no issue with a good fart joke, but these just felt lazy.

Overall, a deeply average film made worse by a troublesome lead.

Pros.

The animation looked good

Cons.

The characters are lazy cliches

The humour doesn’t work

Louis C.K

It has no soul or charm

1/5

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Charlie And The Chocolate Factory: Turning Willy Wonka Into A Sociopath

Written by Luke Barnes

Charlie and The Chocolate Factory is a fantasy family film directed by Tim Burton, based on the Roald Dahl book of the same name. The plot sees a group of lucky golden ticket winners get to explore a mysterious chocolate factory that is beyond imagining.

When people ask what is the most needless remake? I don’t see this film’s name come up nearly enough. It is a step down from the original Gene Wilder version in nearly every way, and I truly do believe that Burton was the wrong choice to direct this film- the book is really the anthesis of his standard mo.

Johnny Depp is trying his best as Willy Wonka, but he doesn’t play the character in the way we would expect or want, instead he plays Wonka as a cold, almost vindictive at times character who is drawn off and eccentric. Again this is very typical for the Depp-Burton dynamic, but it is not what anyone would want for a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory film.

Freddie Highmore is meh as Charlie, and really adds very little to the film.

The worst bit about this film is just how keen it is to explain away the mystery behind Wonka and his past, creating a social outcast, daddy issues, sub plot because why not.

Overall, it is as if Burton and the executives who signed off on this film had never read the book before.

Pros.

A few minor unintentional laughs

Cons.

Depp is miscast

Burton and his style don’t fit the film

There is a crucial misunderstanding of the source material

They demystify Wonka

2/5

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Chaos Walking: Yet Another Miss For Tom Holland

Written by Luke Barnes

Chaos Walking is a science fiction coming of age film directed by Doug Liman. The plot envisions a soul astronaut (Daisy Ridley), survive her spacefaring expedition to a previously colonised world that has gone dark. Said world is heavily gender skewed as all the world’s women have seemingly been killed, and the males are inflicted with something that allows their thoughts to exist outside of their body, being able to be heard by anyone.

This film will be historic, it will be remembered. Why? Well as the film that proved that the YA genre is well and truly dead. This film reminded me of the worst parts of that cinematic movement, on a par with Divergent and The Fifth Wave.

Both of the leads in this film Ridley and Tom Holland, are unlikeable and milk toast to say the least. Neither of them seem to have a personality and they have even less chemistry together on screen together.

The plot is pap that you have seen before in other better YA and Science Fiction films- here it is at its most generic.

With this and Locked Down in his recent filmography it might be time to start worrying about Liman’s skill and stop handing him 7 figure deals, less we end up with more mediocre nonsense.

Overall, a very weak YA film that reminds you of the worst the genre has to offer.

Pros.

Mads Mikkelsen

Cons.

Holland

Ridley

The plot and where it goes

The cringe

1/5

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Bad Trip: The Worst Of Tiffany Haddish

Written by Luke Barnes

Bad Trip is a hidden camera comedy film directed by Kitao Sakurai. The plot sees two best friends (played by Eric Andre and Lil Rel Howley), go on a quest to escape their boring lives and chase love in New York City.

I am split on this film. On the one hand it had several funny moments, mainly from Andre, that made me laugh out loud. However, on the other there were also a fair few jokes and stunts that were in deeply poor taste: such as one where Andre’s character gets his hand caught in a blender, now the reason why this is in poor taste is because those around Andre’s character think it is real and respond as such- this could be potentially traumatic.

Moreover, I didn’t find either of the main characters particularly likeable, however, of the two Andre’s is by far worse, he is a selfish jerk, and it is hard to root for him. I don’t know if this is a deliberate character decision or not, but it does taint the film to a degree.

Furthermore, Tiffany Haddish is unbearably unfunny as the films villain. Haddish has films were she shines, and films were she is the worst part, and this is definitely the latter. Her character has one trait that this film is interested in and that is that she is tough, and the film doesn’t bother to explore her character beyond that.

Overall, though it has a few laugh out loud hilarious parts, the film runs the gambit of bad taste and doesn’t have characters that you can even remotely root for.

Pros.

A few really funny jokes

Cons.

Haddish

Bad taste

Not all of the jokes land

The ending

1/5

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