Well, this movie review is several weekends’ worth of films, so you’re going to get my quickest two cents I can manage. I promise I won’t be so deliquent again!
The Strangers: Chapter 2 – I somewhat reluctantly went to go see the second installment of this horror franchise reboot. Mistake. Somehow they managed to make one even worse than the first one. They barely had me and then a wild CGI hog gets involved at some point and then they totally lost me. That part was almost comically bad. You do learn something about one of the killers which I think kind of defeats the point of these films, but at least it was something different. I will have to remind myself of how bad this one for when the third installment releases.
The Smashing Machine – Sadly, I don’t know that this drama will get The Rock the recognition he deserves. It’s his big swing at some serious material, and he delivers! It probably helps that it’s not too far out of the world in which his career started. In this, he plays real life MMA fighter, Mark Kerr, as he endures the big stage, drug use, and a manipulative signifcant other. I was nervous this wasn’t going to land for me, but I found it all pretty intriguing.
Roofman – Sigh, this was one of the few tickets I snagged for TIFF before deciding I wasn’t going to be able to go this year. Luckily, I didn’t have to wait long for it to get its wide release. In this comedy-drama, Channing Tatum plays a real life man who was notoriously known for robbing McDonald’s through the roof, but also for his kindness during those robberies. He did get caught, but managed to escape. Unfortunately for him, he gets trapped at a local Toys-R-Us for quite some time before his feelings end up getting him caught again.
The Knife – This tense thriller was in theaters while I was in Baltimore, but the timing just wasn’t right. This brief dramatic thriller is perfectly taut, showcasing excellent performances by an incredible cast. Melissa Leo always shines, and she does here to as a veteran cop trying to put together the pieces of a likely homicide in a young black family’s new home. The twist at the end I did NOT see coming, and honestly, it’s brought up so subtley that if you’re not paying attention you might just miss its reveal. Definitely check this one out!
Oh Hi! – I had been waiting patiently to see this film that never came anywhere to a theater near me, so finally getting to see this quirky film was pretty fun. Iris and Isaac have been dating for the past four months, at least according to Iris. According to her friend, Isaac is a classic “soft boy” who does all the things boyfriends do but have no intention of defining the relationship. Angry and overwhelmed, Iris does something she maybe shouldn’t have, but as more people get involved, it definitely gets funnier.
Cloud – I blame myself for waiting last minute to snag a ticket for this film at Seattle’s International Film Festival, but I knew I could get potentially lucky on a flight to Japan. And I was! The twisted director who brought Cure to me earlier this year, is also responsible for this dramatic thriller. Yoshii is an online reseller who’s scammed one too many people. It turns out a group of people have had it with his antics and set out to make things right. The extremes that this film goes through towards the end are wild, but it was a really fun watch.
No Other Choice – I am so lucky! While in Korea I was feeling the itch to watch a movie, but also recognizing that I don’t speak Korean well. Thankfully a quick Google search brought me to a little indie theater that shows new Korean films with English subtitles! That means your girl got to see Park Chan-wook’s newest films serveral months before wider US audiences can! This film is about a man who’s recently lost his job and the extremes he will go to in order to get it back. The escalation at the end is kind of wild in comparison to the rest of the film, but this was so, so good. I can’t wait to watch this one again!
A Normal Family – This was a TIFF title I was on the fence about last year and didn’t end up seeing, but luckily the plane ride home had it readily available. From a very high level, this reminded me a lot of the Korean version of the series Your Honor. In this particular film, two slightly estranged and well-to-do brothers’ children are involved in a murder. At first they have differing views on how to handle the situation, but the tables turn in a dramatic way by the film’s end. Some scenes read a little over the top to me, but it was still a great watch.
Creep – For movie club at work, this Netflix horror film was selected, and I admit that I completely forgot that I had already seen this a year or two ago. Just like the first time, I fell asleep in the middle of it only to wake again at the end when the main protagonist gets an axe to the head. Just as shocking the second time around. Though not many people in the club ended up watching it, it did lead to some good discussion. I also learned that there is a whole universe built off of this film! A sequel and two seasons of a television show! I’m definitely going to check them out!
Black Phone 2 – I thought I remembered a lot about The Black Phone, but I didn’t know immediately that Gwen was Finney’s sister. Or that she was part of the reason that he was found at all. Or that their mother commited suicide as she was afflicted with the same “curse” that Gwen is. Her dreams are powerful. They lead her to things, by either showing her the future or the past. This time, it leads her to a camp where their mom used to be a counselor. The Grabber’s home base is here and there is no way he’s going to let a bunch of teenagers kill him for good. I really enjoyed this!
K-Pop Demon Hunters – I wanted to end a busy week with something I knew was enjoyable, so K-Pop Demon Hunters it was. This is in no way replacing my comfort movie, The Childe, but I just didn’t want to mess around with my Blu-ray player, either. If you haven’t watched this mega-hit yet, what’s stopping you?!