An American Haunting: The Danger Is Closer To Home

An American Haunting is a horror film directed by Courtney Solomon. It follows a family that is cursed by the supposed Bell Witch after a property dispute, things then take a turn for the paranormal and then a twist leads to a far darker revelation; but no spoilers just yet.

So, this was not the film I thought it was, I was looking for the Owen Wilson staring horror film The Haunting and mistakenly put this on. However, it wasn’t entirely terrible. Yes, a lot of it was very samey, it was all very safe, and no boundaries were pushed, and you will have seen a lot of ‘the scares’ before in other films.

Despite that this film does two thing I think are worth talking about, two things that I think save it from being a stinker.

The first is the period setting. The horror genre has become infested with horror films set in modern times, where someone is always recording everything on their phone, or live streaming a demonic possession so, it is nice to see a film like this that strips away all the modern flair and gets back to basics. I think the choice of setting really does a lot to help the film stand apart from other more modern horror films.

The other is the twist. Spoilers here. The twist is that there is no curse, no demon. The girl’s father has been going into her room at night and abusing her both physically and sexually; he was the entity. The latter half of the film has a focus on parent child abuse and explores some really dark areas, revealing that both the mum and daughter knew about it, but blocked it out. I will applaud them for having the balls to land this twist.

Overall, a fairly generic affair, but it does have its moments where you can see little bits of potential.

Pros.

The twist.

The period setting.

Cons.

It wasn’t scary.

A lot of the horror is stuff we have seen better before.

None of the characters were memorable.

2.5/5

Reviewed by Luke

Take Shelter: Are The End Times Nigh?

Take Shelter is a psychological thriller drama film directed by Jeff Nichols. The story revolves around family man Curtis (Michael Shannon), who starts having nightmares about the end of the world as the film progresses these nightmares get worse and start to bleed over into his real world and Curtis becomes convinced that something bad is going to happen.

I appreciate Jeff Nichols; he is one of the most consistent but also incredibly underrated filmmakers working today: check out his whole filmography to see what I mean. What I think Nichols does so well is deal with complexity, in his films nothing is ever clear cut, nothing is ever as it appears. In relation to this film, we are never given an answer one way or the other whether Curtis is getting visons of the end of the world if he is suffering a mental break. The film ends and then it is up to us to draw our own conclusions.

Normally, I would hate that kind of ending I would say it is pretensions and a sign of someone who can’t write an ending. However, here it works, the ending fits nicely with the overall feel of the movie; it is natural. Something that again helps to get rid of any notions of pretentiousness is how down to earth this film feels, everything about it seems set in our world with characters that could easily exist. This is very true of Shannon’s Curtis as well as Jessica Chastain’s Samantha, both feel very real and fleshed out and both actors give magnificent performances.

Overall, this is a terrific film, it is genuinely tense and surprising throughout. My one issue with it is that it does feel a little drawn out and could probably do with a much tighter edit to trim it down. A lot of fun all the same.

Pros.

Chastain and Shannon.

The ambiguous ending.

The tension.

Cons.

It is too long.

A lot of the supporting cast is very forgettable.

3.5/5

Reviewed by Luke

Freaky Friday: A Modern Disney Classic?

Freaky Friday is a fantasy comedy film directed by Mark Waters, based on the 1972 novel of the same name. The plot sees Mother and Daughter duo, Tess Coleman (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Anna Coleman (Lindsey Lohan), switch bodies for a few days so they can each grow to understand the others perspective.

In my mind this is a Disney classic, this is to me what something like Beauty and The Beast is to people who grew up with that classic animated film; maybe that shows my age. Anyway I grew up with this film I watched it many times, there is something of a comfort food angel about this one for me, so recently I decided to watch it again.

I have to say it holds up, there are some not so stellar parts of the film in terms of race relations that I didn’t notice when I was a kid that I really could have done without, but other than that it is still a fun, whimsical good time. I think fun is the word I would use to describe this film because that is what it is, it basically boils down to Lohan pretending to be Curtis and vice versa for an hour and a half. It is dumb, turn your brain off fun.

I think both leads do a great job. Lohan especially. I think Lohan is really promising in this film and you could practically see her movie star future stretching out ahead of her, however that was never meant to be. Curtis is as fantastic as always; she is always a very reliable person to cast.

Overall, it is films like this that remind me there was a time when Disney magic still existed, call it fond nostalgia if you want to, but I thoroughly enjoyed this film.

Pros.

The Disney magic.

The Dumb fun.

Lohan.

Curtis.

Cons.

It does use stereotypes and some questionable depictions of race which could be viewed by some as offensive.

4/5

Reviewed by Luke

Batman, Assault On Arkham: Fear The BAT

Batman: Assault On Arkham is an animated superhero film directed by Jay Oliva and Ethan Spaulding. The plot follows the infamous Task Force X/ or as they’re otherwise known The Suicide Squad as they lead an Amanda Waller directed raid on Arkham Asylum in an effort to retrieve an object of immense value from within its walls.

I have been meaning to watching this film for some time, I really like the DC animated movie universe, and this is yet another jewel in it. Though I liked it, this film is what the DCEU Suicide Squad movie should have been. An adult and gritty take on the Batman rouges gallery that isn’t constantly trying to get you to care about and root for its leads. This film knows that the members of the Suicide Squad are villains and treats them as such.

I like the lethality this film has towards its characters, it reminds me of the comic books, people die in the Suicide Squad all the time hence the name; so I appreciate that this film doesn’t pull any punches in that regard. I also enjoyed the Batman fight scene, I thought it was very Arkham esque; I later learned that this film was in the same universe as the Arkham games and that made sense.

Overall, I liked the tone and approach of this film. I also enjoyed the animation, I thought it was very easy on the eye and wasn’t too over the top. I would gladly watch another film set in this universe as I think there are more stories to be told and more characters to explore. That might be my only real issue with the film the characters were not flushed out at all.

Pros.

The animation.

The tone.

The fight with Batman.

The violence overall.

Cons.

The character feel very one note.

4/5

Reviewed by Luke.

How To Build A Girl: The Teenage Condition

How To Build A Girl is a comedy film directed by Coky Giedroyc; based on the semi-autobiographical novel by Catlin Moran. The plot sees Nerdy shy girl Johanna Morrigan (Beanie Feldstein), transform herself into a badass rock reviewer in an effort to escape her hometown and have it all.

I have to say I enjoyed this one more than I thought I was going to; I went in with pretty average expectations as I didn’t know what it was about, Feldstein drew me to it. I recently rewatched Book Smart and thought Feldstein was the highlight of that film. I also enjoyed her small part on the What We Do In The Shadows TV series, so I decided to give his ago and it was a surprisingly sweet, charming film.

Firstly, I want to say Feldstein was terrific I completely bought her performance and I thought she captured the idea of a girl wanting to escape her circumstance, but then not knowing what to do once she had very well. She sold the inner conflict. Also I thought for an American her accent was quite good, quite convincing. Yes, it might have been a bit broad and there might have been times when she sounded as though she was from Liverpool rather than Wolverhampton, but I still thought it was a valiant effort.

Secondly, I thought Alfie Allen was a triumph as John Kite Johanna’s significantly older love interest. The character is supposed to be a deeply tragic one and I think Allen portrays that really well, I think he really shines in the films dramatic scenes. I thought the relationship between them was done just right, with them ending as friends; no icky age troubling romance.

Overall, I thought this film felt very human, it felt very real. By that I mean nothing outlandish happened, you bought that these characters could easily be real people, maybe you could even relate. I think this film is very good and something you should defiantly check out as it proves what a talent on the rise Beanie Feldstein is.

Pros.

Beanie Feldstein.

Alfie Allen.

It was very relatable.

The side characters particularly Paddy Constantine were superb.

Cons.

A little cliché at times.

4.5/5

Reviewed by Luke

Scoob: Scooby Doobie Don’t Watch This Film

Scoob is a computer animated family film directed by Tony Cervone. The film serves as a reboot of the Scooby Doo franchise and tries to establish a wider Hanna-Barbera shared universe. The film details the beginnings of the gang with a particular focus on Shaggy (Will Forte), and Scooby’s (Frank Welker), relationship. Then the plot just takes a dive of a cliff and everything becomes very confusing and weirdly jarring.

So, it is pretty safe to say I didn’t like this film. If you asked me how to make the worst Scooby Doo film, you possibly could I would have probably suggested a lot of the things that this film does. First, right off the bat this franchise doesn’t need to be a shared universe. I know that is the hot thing right now, but very few studios are doing it right and with the poor reception this film seems to be getting this is year another failed cinematic universe.

This film is the first in their shared universe so it should set up Scooby Doo and its characters, but this film doesn’t do that. No, no it jumps the gun and tries to include as many Hanna-Barbera characters as it can. The film kind of expects you to know who a lot of these characters are, these characters that haven’t really been relevant in like 40 years. Playing into that might work if you this film was aimed at the adults who grew up with these characters, but it is not.

My major issue with the shared universe thing is that this film is not a Scooby Doo film, it simply isn’t. There is no mystery, no investigating, it is just cameo after cameo. Also none of these new characters feel developed at all they just feel forced in for the sake of setting up a shared universe; the Dark Universe immediately springs to mind.

The other thing I loathed about this film is the references and blatant product placement. Now I need to ask you a question, do kids care about Simon Cowell? I don’t think so, but this film begs to differ. He is not the worst of it. The product placement in this film is worse than the last Power Rangers film. An example of what I am talking about, there is a scene early on in the movie where the gang are all dressed up for Halloween. One is dressed like Wonder Woman another is dressed like Harry Potter, they make a point of naming the characters as well, why is this bad? Well because they’re both other Warner Brother franchises that they decided to promote in the film, it is not meta or tongue in cheek, no it is blatant and sickening.

If you want to watch a film where a group of kids talk about Netflix and Warner Brother owned brands at length and go on an adventure with characters that are only their to set up a shared universe and aren’t developed to the point where you don’t remember their name then this the film for you. Don’t watch this, it is not worth your money in any way.

Pros.

Will Forte is okay as Shaggy.

Cons.

It spits on what Scooby Doo is.

It tries too hard to be trendy.

The product placement.

The needless shared universe that ultimate kills the film.

1/5 and that is being generous.

Reviewed by Luke

Capone: Bronson, The Krays and now Al Capone.

Capone is a biographic crime drama film directed by Josh Trank. The plot details the final years of notorious gangster Al Capone (Tom Hardy), as he battle with multiple health issues and slowly loses himself. There is also a subplot about trying to find some money Capone hid when he was a younger man; which still remains hidden to this day.

This is a testament to Tom Hardy as an actor, he manages to do a lot with very little. Some of Hardy’s lines are just gurgles or incoherent babbling and with a lesser actor it would just be dumb and strange, but Hardy manages to sell it. I think this is going to be a divisive performance from Hardy some people will like it and others won’t; it is very much like his Mad Max performance.

If you go into this thinking it is going to be a gangster crime film then you’re going to be disappointed. This is far more of a drama film. It shows us the decline of this once feared gangster to a point where he is a stranger even to himself, in a lot of ways this film is very sad, it makes you care about Capone despite all of his evil deed and it makes you sad to see him like this.

I think for sure this film can act as redemption for Josh Trank, one day I will write about my thoughts surrounding the treatment of Josh Trank during the Fantastic Four years, but for now I will just say that this film much like Chronicle proves him as a strong director with a keen eye. Both Trank and Hardy are on top form.

Overall, I think this might not be what everyone is expecting, but it is still a fantastic film that you will find hard to take your eyes off. A must watch.

Pros.

Josh Trank.

Making you care about Capone.

Tom Hardy.

The mystery around the money.

The flashbacks and the dreamlike feel.

Cons.

There are some unpleasant sights and I am not talking about the blood.

4.5/5

Reviewed by Luke

The Addams Family: A Friend To The Outsider

The Addams Family is a comedy fantasy film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld; it is based on the cartoon of the same name. It revolves around a strange quirky family that goes on dark often monstrous adventures; the humour of these film comes from how different the family are from the rest of the world. The plot this time around sees Fester Addams (Christopher Lloyd), return to the family after a 25-year absence, only is that really Fester Addams?

The Addams family are almost an oddball institution, most everybody knows who they are and has seen them in one form or another. This film was my first introduction to them when I was younger and watching it again now, I am pleased to say it stands the test of time in so many ways.

Each of the characters are iconic in their own way, each stands out and grabs your attention; especially Christina Ricci as Wednesday Addams. This film highlights the important of getting the casting process right: because these actors so perfectly encapsulate the characters that you can’t seem them played by anyone else. There is a reason they chose to do an animated follow up.

I think the reason these films speak to people so much is because they embody outsider culture, they’re something that anyone who has ever felt a bit different or a bit alien can relate to and find some companionship in. That at least is the enduring appeal as I perceive it.

Overall, I think as far as family movies go, this has some nice messages, some great characters and a few good cheer worthy moments. A nice film to watch for everyone!

Pros.

The message.

The characters.

The goofy fun.

The early 90s charm.

Cons.

It could be shorter.

4/5

Reviewed by Luke

The Wrong Missy: Spade Steals Sandler’s Romantic Comedies

The Wrong Missy is a romantic comedy film directed by Tyler Spindel. The plot follows Tim (David Spade), a man who goes on a corporate retreat with a girl who he thinks is the one. However, the girl who shows up is not the girl he thought he invited; the mismatched romance begins.

This film is by no means great it is a low-rent rom com it lives up to the incredibly low standards set by Happy Madison (Otherwise known as The Adam Sandler company), but it is by no means bad either. There are a few laughs to be had, depending on your sense of humour, the romance feels quite real and earned and there is a whole lot worse out there.

This is by all means Lauren Lapkus’ film, she plays Missy the off the wall type to Spade’s straight man how the film is was always going to come down to her. I have to say for a character that could very easily have been annoying and obnoxious she is surprisingly charming and endearing over the course of the film. Her brand of zany comedy plays much better off Spade then say if it were him and Sandler.

All of the usual suspects turn up in cameo roles, the best would probably be Rob Schneider who plays a shark diving instructor who is a bit of a card as you can imagine. Schneider sticks to his usual routine and actually manages to get some laughs. It is not just Sandler’s pals that turn up in this oh no, this goes a step further and gives his wife a role as the antagonist; nepotism at its finest.

Overall, this is pretty inoffensive, the romance is sweet and there are a few good jokes. Will it be the best film you ever see no, but there is a lot worse out there!

Pros.

Spade and Lapkus

The romance.

A few good laughs.

Cons.

It is very forgettable.

It is nothing you haven’t seen before.

3/5

Reviewed by Luke

Valhalla Rising: The Meek Shall Inherit The Earth

Valhalla Rising is an English language Danish film directed by Nicolas Winding Refn. The plot, as far as I could understand, is about a nameless warrior called One Eye (Mad Mikkelsen), who befriends a young boy and together they travel. The become entangled in a crusader quest to the Holy Land that goes badly wrong and the men end up far away from where they were meant to go; finding themselves outnumbered they must choose to fight or die.

I am a Nicolas Winding Refn fanatic, he is an acquired taste for sure, but for the most part he is a great, visionary director. However, even I must say this is a miss. Much like Only God Forgives, a later film of his that would prove to be incredibly divisive, this film feels like the definition of the saying style over substance.

A lot of the time you will have no idea what is going on as there is very little actually said and you can never be sure if what you’re seeing is real or one of One Eye’s visons; that he has frequently but the film never really clarifies. To say it is confusing would be kind.

It is also painfully slow, to the point of you wanting to turn it off. It goes on and on and you’re left begging for something to happen because it has become tedious.

However, there are some positives. If you like Refn’s style then there is a lot of it on display here, it is a very stylish film; that is something I enjoyed about it. Also Mikkelsen is also terrific, he has a great physicality and is very believable as a nomadic warrior, this film will make you want to see him in more action roles.

Overall, despite the coolness and Mikkelsen’s performance this is a bad film. It is overly long, boring and confusing. So pretty much a fail across the board, if you’re a die hard Refn fan then you might maybe find something of worth here, but it is doubtful.

Pros.

Mikkelsen.

Cons.

It is too long.

It is boring.

It is confusing.

Defines the phrase style over substance.

1/5

Reviewed by Luke