Let the Right One In – Film Review

Posted on July 19, 2021 by ashleymanningwriter

Director: Tomas Alfredson

Starring: Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leanderson, Per Ragnar, Ika Nord, Peter Carlberg

Rating: ★★★★

Let the Right One In is more than just a vampire story, it’s a coming of age story, about love and friendship. On the outside this could be mistaken as a horror film, but it’s far from it. Sure there are some gruesome moments, a few killings and some horrific and striking images, but beyond that it is the sweet story of two children on the verge of becoming teenagers who are lonely and desperately seeking friends.

Oskar is a twelve-year-old who is horribly bullied at school. He pushes it off, telling his mum that he slipped and cut his face. He doesn’t have any friends and is completely isolated from the people around him. One day, when fantasising about revenge and notably stabbing a tree, Eli approaches him. At first she tells him that they can’t be friends, but over time they bond. She tells him to stand up for himself and he starts taking weight training after-school.

Eli has just moved into the apartment next door to Oskar, and everything is not what is seems. The old man that has moved in with her is killing people in the local area, stringing them up and draining them of their blood.

Let the Right One In is an exploration of the point between childhood and adolescence. It’s a romance between two outcasts, a vampire and the bullied kid and the extent of their friendship. It’s a moving and sweet masterpiece with moments of terror and truly horrific images. It keeps you in the dark about what’s going on for a long time, slowly dribbling information so you can piece everything together. The two leads relationship is innocent and pure, even with the darkness and death that surrounds them.

From the poster and images online it’s easy to mistake this as a horror film, but there’s no point in watching it to be scared, it isn’t scary. Instead, you will be investing in their relationship and care about the characters.  

Visually this film is dark, somehow even the white snow seems muted and dark. The tone matches this, with the intentionally slow and sombre narrative and the melancholic score acting as a foundation for every scene. It’s a beautifully constructed film that envelops you and drags you in. The performances are all excellent and believable.

Tomas Alfredson directs a captivating, moving story of youth, love and alienation. From brilliant performances, dark and gruesome moments and a stunning score, Let the Right One In is a modern classic. 

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Space Jam: A New Legacy – Film Review

Posted on July 18, 2021 by ashleymanningwriter

Director: Malcolm D. Lee

Starring: LeBron James, Don Cheadle, Khris Davis, Jeff Bergman, Eric Bauza and Sonequa Martin-Green

Rating: ★★½

It genuinely feels like there has been word on a new Space Jam film in the works forever. It’s always been something rumbling on the internet, and I don’t think anyone thought it would ever actually happen. It may have taken a quarter of a century, but for better of worse Space Jam 2 is finally here. I want to start by saying that I haven’t seen the first one in a very long time, I don’t remember much about it, but I’m pretty sure I didn’t like it. I was more of a Back in Action fan. I don’t think it matters to be honest this one is completely stand alone with only a few references to the first one, including the poster in the background. It’s strange that the first one exists in this one, and the Looney Tunes characters remember it.

LeBron James takes centre court in Space Jam: A New Legacy. The film starts with James as a child, showing the enormous pressure that was put on him, we then get a catch-up of his career to date to show that the pressure paid off. He’s a successful basketball player with children of his own, who he is now putting pressure on to be the best they can be. The main plot thread is something we’ve all seen before countless times, a father who doesn’t quite understand his children in some way and learning to grow and become a better dad. The second this film starts you know what the final moment is going to be. It’s cliched, but doesn’t matter, timeless stories are classics for a reason.

James has a super fan in the form of Al-G Rhythm, played by Don Cheadle (Avengers), an A.I. that Warners use to create their new projects. It’s a nice joke about how algorithms rule the content that we consume. Al-G, who has dubbed LeBron ‘King James’, has created an idea to copy James and put him into existing properties. James takes his son, who he is struggling to connect with, to the meeting at Warner. After the idea is rejected, Al-G traps James and his son in the server. The only escape is to create a team and beat Al-G’s team at a game of basketball. If he loses, they have to stay in the virtual reality forever.

There are so many references in this film, that it feels not only an advert for everything Warner owns, but them showing off that they can stand up against Disney with their list of I.Ps. From Harry Potter and Game of Thrones to A Clockwork Orange and Austin Powers, with a little Rick and Morty thrown in for good measure. The references are a dime a dozen and while some of them get a chuckle or a smile, there is too many. However the music from each franchise, combined with the different animation styles when the characters travel between them is a nice touch.

The reason this film doesn’t work is that it’s all building up to a basketball game, and when it finally happens it isn’t exciting or entertaining. There are no stakes, you know who’s going to win. It isn’t a gripping match, it’s just a few scenes of people scoring points with an ending you know before you even go to see the film. Knowing the ending, doesn’t mean that it can’t be good, but it’s just not presented in a very interesting way. It’s not fun or engaging. For the most part it feels like it’s there because it has to be.

The screening that I was in was full, the fullest since cinema have reopened, including Black Widow. It was obvious that the kids were enjoying it, with laughter and awe sounding from every direction. That’s who the film is for and it clearly works. If you’re going to see this with children, they’re going to have a great time. Other than a boatload of references there isn’t much here for anyone else. It’s not a bad film, but it’s nothing great. This is probably going to be forgotten fairly quickly.  

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The Forever Purge – Film Review

Posted on July 17, 2021 by ashleymanningwriter

Director: Everado Valerio Gout

Starring: Ana de la Reguera, Tenoch Huerta, Josh Lucas, Cassidy Freeman, Leven Rambim and Will Patton

Rating: 3.5/5

In eight years, there have been five entries to The Purge series, plus 2 seasons of an anthology TV series. It’s surprising, considering just how poor the first film is that it has spawned one of the most successful franchises of the last decade. There has been some highs and some very big lows, but the franchise keeps going, with a 6 film in early development. Thankfully The Forever Purge is a big high for the series, being the best film so far.

One of the biggest flaws of the franchise is its failure to deal with its own concept. For 12 hours all crime is legal, and then life continues as normal afterwards. Crime is down, employment is up, everything is perfect outside of the murdering. It never feels plausible how people react to this. It seems like a good portion of the population turn psycho for one night, how can it only be for one night? Thankfully in The Forever Purge all of this is finally tackled with a very timely plot focused on  white supremacy, racism and division. It’s release is only 6 months after the Capitol was stormed in Washington, but the tension has been building for a while. That’s what screenwriter James DeMonaco has picked up on and shown in The Forever Purge, the division and extremism of some groups and how that can boil over. When you look at pictures of what happened in January, you could mistake them for several shots from The Forever Purge. The film’s themes and messages aren’t subtle, they are loud and spelt out for you. There is no need for subtly and it’s effective.

The film starts with explaining how the annual Purge has resurfaced after the events of Election Year. It spells it out plainly and quickly. We then meet Juan and Adela who are crossing the border to America to avoid the violence and bloodshed in Mexico and find a new life for themselves. Ten months pass and they have settled in, just as the purge starts. The first twenty minutes or so feel very formulaic for the series so far. We get to know the characters who will be trying to survive in that years Purge. What makes this one different is that the Purge is done and over within half an hour, at least the twelve hours is over.

This time there is a terrorist group of white supremist who want to purge forever, in order to take control of ‘their’ country back. Juan and Adela join with a group in order to survive. Mexico is opening its borders for six hours to let anyone willing to put down their guns salvage. It’s up to them to get to the border in time to make it across, avoiding the terrorist group at all costs.

The Forever Purge is a tense film. There are so many moments where you will be on the edge of your seat willing the characters to survive. It keeps this up for the entire duration and doesn’t slow down at all. As soon as the purge starts, this film is relentless in its action.

At this point the series isn’t horror, it’s more of an action thriller. There are moments of gore and horror, specifically the goat cage that Adela is caught in towards the beginning, but the majority of the film is more thrilling than chilling. And that’s not a bad thing it’s good at that.

The performances are all great. The main group are a real mixed bunch of characters, that all feel developed and interesting. The story is compelling, and it keeps a good pace to ensure that you never feel completely safe. The writing is punchy with some good one-liners and an interesting look at race relations. At this point in the series, they know what they are doing. It may start formulaic but they quickly inject it with adrenaline with a fresh look on The Purge and it doesn’t slow down.  

The biggest downfall is some of the action is chaotic. A lot of the film is very dark visually, meaning it can be hard to keep on top of what’s going on when the fighting gets going. On top of that, there is a lot of choppy camera workj during the fighting and it becomes difficult to make out everything. A lot of the time you just have to just wait and see who is still standing to figure out what happened. It isn’t that bad most of the time, but when it gets hectic, especially towards the end, it is annoying.

The Forever Purge deals with a lot of heavy subjects head on and without subtlety. The series has moved more towards social commentary with each instalment and this one has it as its focal point. It’ll have you on the edge of your seat all the way through and doesn’t feel too long or drags at any point. If only the action was a little clearer, this would be a really excellent film. Regardless The Forever Purge is great and the best of the series so far.

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Fear Street Part Three: 1666 – Film Review

Posted on July 17, 2021 by ashleymanningwriter

Director: Leigh Janiak

Starring: Kiana Madeira, Ashley Zukerman, Gillian Jacobs, Olivia Scott Welch, Benjamin Flores Jr.

Rating: ★★★★

Netflix’s Fear Street trilogy has come to a close with 1666. After going back to the 1970s last week with a Friday the 13th inspired slasher, this time we are taken back even further to the origins of Sarah Fier in 1666. Previously we had only been given glimpses of where it all started, and now we finally get some answers and it’s one hell of a pay-off. The conclusion to the ambitious trilogy, based on teen horror books by R. L. Stine, lives up to the expectations the previous ones set and exceeds them. This is a seriously great horror film and a contender for best horror film of the year.

After the conclusion of 1978, Deena has travelled back in time and lives Sarah’s origin story from inside her head. Travelling back to 1666, the film can’t rely on pop culture references or music from that time, instead there is a subtle and foreboding score, with heavy and screeching violins. It builds up tension perfectly. Sarah Fier seems like a normal teenager in a small town, that will one day become Shadyside, she seems to be living a mostly happy life. That is until a curse is placed upon the town. The settlers turn into a frenzy, not knowing what to blame but believing it’s the devil. They turn their anger and rage towards Sarah Fier and her partner, Hannah Miller. Believing their love to have brought the curse and calling them witches.

There are so many twists and turns throughout Fear Street Part three. The story is compelling and interesting. The lore this series has built up over the trilogy really pays off in this one, there are moments that will surprise you. Even though this one is the longest of the three, it doesn’t feel it. Most of the film is set in 1666 before the film jumps back to 1994 to bring conclusion to the over arching story of the trilogy. It keeps the pace up and the change in time gives the film a boost, not that it needed it.

While the first and second parts of the trilogy felt tonally identical, one moving to the next seamlessly, this one is darker. The main story in 1666 is more grounded and less of a slasher and more of a chilling thriller. It still has some gruesome moments, but these aren’t overstated. The scene in the church is horrific, but you don’t see anything happen, just the aftermath. The frenzy of the settlers feels real and is scarier that most of the first two combined. It feels all to relevant to today how people can get worked up over misinformation and lies.

Much like the trilogy so far, part three, is a very well produced film. The set designs, especially in the past, look great. The costumes are all believable. The score is excellent and the performances all work. Once we get back to 1994 it does start to seep back into the formula that the first 2 followed, with music and bright colours. It still looks good and it’s still entertaining.

Fear Street as a trilogy is great. Each film stands alone as really good horror films and join together to create one of the most ambitious horror trilogies of recent memory. It’s a gamble and it pays off. Part three is a fantastic film and a worthy ending to the trilogy.  

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Films I’ve Watched Recently, but haven’t Reviewed

Posted on July 17, 2021 by ashleymanningwriter

I don’t review everything I watch, sometimes I don’t have enough to say, sometimes I write notes, but don’t get round to writing it up and sometimes I just watch something with no intention of reviewing it. I wanted to write a quick post about some of the other films I’ve watched over the last couple of weeks.

The Tale of Two Sisters

A horror film from 2003, that is designed to mess with your mind. The last half hour or so, completely flips everything and it becomes very hard to follow, at least for me. I have found out that this was the intention, it was supposed to be confusing and hard to understand, although a lot of people seem to have gotten it straight away.

I didn’t review this one, simply because I didn’t understand it. I had to watch a YouTube video afterwards to explain it to me. I felt dumb after watching this and not in the same way that I felt after watching The Purge (That one made me lose braincells). Overall it’s a pretty decent film. It has some creepy moments and some striking images. The plot is interesting and even though I was completely lost, it’s still compelling. I will watch this again at some point, but I don’t think I’ll review it ever. It is good and if you like strange horror films, this one is up there.

The Stanford Prison Experiment

The infamous prison experiment from the early 1970s where students were given the roles of prisoners or guards and they quickly fell into their assigned roles and acted them out. This was a pretty good film, the set design and costumes are all great. It looks great, sounds great but it’s at least half an hour too long. There are a lot of great actors in it, and they are all really good. The thing is, you can read about the experiment online within about 20 minutes, and the film doesn’t really do anything beyond that. It retells the experiment with some exaggeration. Read the Wikipedia page, it’s quicker.

Girl, Interrupted

This is Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar for generation X. The cast is great and the film is compelling and interesting in all the best ways. It’s based on the memoir by Susanna Kaysen, who spent some time in McLean Hospital in the last 1960s. I can’t say how accurate it is to the book, but it does feel real. It’s a haunting story and really good. I didn’t review this one, simply because I didn’t have time too. I find it hard to write longer pieces about something too far after watching it, even with notes.

Say Anything

This is a great film. I wanted to watch this just to put some context to the famous boom box scene. It it such a great scene, even with all of the weight the legacy has given it. John Cusack is phenomenal. He starts off really creepy, but quickly grows on you. I really enjoyed it. I’m sure most people have already seen it, but it’s worth watching if you haven’t.

There is an odd scene around two thirds of the way in. Cusack is driving around describing what he sees into a tape recorder. It’s very reminiscent of how we first meet Agent Cooper in Twin Peaks. The music sounds like something from the Twin Peaks soundtrack as well and to top it off, the girl he is talking about is called Diane. The strange thing: it came out almost a year before Twin Peaks first aired. I can see that others have spotted it online as well, the consensus is that it’s a coincidence. It would be a great twist if Say Anything was one of David Lynch’s favourite films.

Thanks for reading and until next time,

Ashley

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