2,307 reviews
- lovemichaeljordan
- Dec 7, 2023
- Permalink
- powers-40739
- Dec 8, 2023
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After just a few minutes, we (wife and I) were pulled into the suspense and drama of this movie. For over two hours we followed the tense, taut events with several 'whoa!!' moments.
And then it just ended. With all the effort in building up the complex, intriguing plot, I can see how a definitive ending would be difficult or impossible to create. It felt like rather than make any attempt, they just chose an abrupt, inexplicable stopping point versus an actual ending. Many plot elements were developed and left hanging.
The first two hours I'd rate this an 8 or a 9. The last 10 minutes a 2 at most.
And then it just ended. With all the effort in building up the complex, intriguing plot, I can see how a definitive ending would be difficult or impossible to create. It felt like rather than make any attempt, they just chose an abrupt, inexplicable stopping point versus an actual ending. Many plot elements were developed and left hanging.
The first two hours I'd rate this an 8 or a 9. The last 10 minutes a 2 at most.
Started out with lots of promise for a thoughtful, tense thriller. But unfortunately that didn't come to pass. And unfortunately the ending didn't make up for the thin soup we were asked to digest for the previous hour and a half.
I can't even say the acting was terrific, because it just seemed so . . . Adequate. And the direction was off and on, with some really good moments but way too many closeups of faces just wordlessly. . . Looking.
Bless them all for trying but it just didn't hold my attention. Although I hung in there until what I hoped would be a revelatory and redeeming ending. But alas, no.
I can't even say the acting was terrific, because it just seemed so . . . Adequate. And the direction was off and on, with some really good moments but way too many closeups of faces just wordlessly. . . Looking.
Bless them all for trying but it just didn't hold my attention. Although I hung in there until what I hoped would be a revelatory and redeeming ending. But alas, no.
Would have made a better series. Some great parts in this film and it has a great cast of actors that somehow keep you watching until the end. However it is very disjointed and just ends without any sort of explanation. Branches of in all sorts of different directions, mini stories shared but not finished. Left with a lot of questions it's like they ended it half an hour too soon. Kevin Bacon has a bit part they could have done more with his character. If you have a couple of hours to kill give it a watch however prepare for the dissatisfaction it leaves you with when the credits roll! 6/10 from me and that's mainly down to the actors.
- tegs-33059
- Dec 7, 2023
- Permalink
- kanekennedy1234
- Dec 7, 2023
- Permalink
This movie was a case of throwing some many angles against the wall to see if any of them stuck. None did! This, at first, drew me in with it's trailer. It claimed it was a thriller and I was intrigued. I've never been dissapointed from an Ethan Hawke, Julia Roberts or Kevin Bacon film performance. This movie, however, changed that! The concept, of this film, seemed interesting in an 'end of the world' way but there were so many different elements going on and none of them seemed to have any linear connection (Perhaps the chaos of the script was intended to be an enhancement of the chaos of the plot) anyhow if you're looking to be dissapointed in a movie this film is for you.
- glennogonz
- May 20, 2024
- Permalink
Facing the apocalypse in a unique way is not an easy thing to do in movies, but director/screenwriter Sam Esmail takes Rumaan Alam's 2020 novel and turns it into an unrelenting 2023 psychological thriller that captures the current extremist political landscape and isolationist world view with sharp acuity. No one real is explicitly mentioned, but so much of the threat presented in the spiraling plot felt not only relevant but palpable. It starts with a last-minute family vacation in a Long Island mansion and the two strangers who enter their lives. Julia Roberts plays an unapologetically mistrustful woman with familiar conviction, while Ethan Hawke does what he can as her laid-back husband. As the mysterious stranger, Mahershala Ali has to play it close to the vest, while Kevin Bacon has an effective turn late in the story. I could've done without some of the contrived camera angles and predictable music cues, but overall the film got me thinking what I would do under similar circumstances.
A prophetical nightmare about the inevitable consequences of our way of living in the 21st century.
A dysfunctional family with emotionally drained bonds between them, with patterns of social arrogance, mistrust and racism in their relation to another couple, each trapped in a doom-like situation, without a point of return to normal. The way they successfully describe the evolution of a global apocalypse here is disturbing, but absolutely true. It's likely that it won't come with a Big Bang, but with a whimper, a creeping process, which no one is able to understand or control, during everything looks like normal, but under the surface, invisible, everything has already changed with fatal consequences. The occuring events are enigmatic and the uneasiness resulting from that is perfectly shown by camera movements, montage of sequences and sound design.
Nature is out of balance, natural and technical ressources come to an end, our total slavish dependance on digital gadgets makes us vulnerable, a perfect target. Ignorance won't help us out. It's devastating that many of the viewers are already unable to get the crystal clear message of this movie. They prefer to continue, ignore and entertain themselves with stupid sitcoms.
That's what the end is telling us! And that's why they don't get it.
A dysfunctional family with emotionally drained bonds between them, with patterns of social arrogance, mistrust and racism in their relation to another couple, each trapped in a doom-like situation, without a point of return to normal. The way they successfully describe the evolution of a global apocalypse here is disturbing, but absolutely true. It's likely that it won't come with a Big Bang, but with a whimper, a creeping process, which no one is able to understand or control, during everything looks like normal, but under the surface, invisible, everything has already changed with fatal consequences. The occuring events are enigmatic and the uneasiness resulting from that is perfectly shown by camera movements, montage of sequences and sound design.
Nature is out of balance, natural and technical ressources come to an end, our total slavish dependance on digital gadgets makes us vulnerable, a perfect target. Ignorance won't help us out. It's devastating that many of the viewers are already unable to get the crystal clear message of this movie. They prefer to continue, ignore and entertain themselves with stupid sitcoms.
That's what the end is telling us! And that's why they don't get it.
- berndgeiling
- Dec 11, 2023
- Permalink
I really liked the overall film, with a good level of tension right from the outset... proper on the edge of your seat kinda stuff.
However.
There do seem to be a lot of messy story lines in the overall script. The whole 'Friends' line really irritated me, but it made a bit of sense towards the end. Oh... and what the heck were all the deer about?!!?! No idea!
Kevin Bacon's part was just minimal and lacking in any major substance other than validating what was already pretty obvious.
Julia Roberts I didn't initially recognise from the poster, but she was really good in this. I'd have to say anyone else in this role I'd have knocked 3 stars off my score because Julie saves the whole thing.
If you have two and a half hours to spare, it's good fun.
However.
There do seem to be a lot of messy story lines in the overall script. The whole 'Friends' line really irritated me, but it made a bit of sense towards the end. Oh... and what the heck were all the deer about?!!?! No idea!
Kevin Bacon's part was just minimal and lacking in any major substance other than validating what was already pretty obvious.
Julia Roberts I didn't initially recognise from the poster, but she was really good in this. I'd have to say anyone else in this role I'd have knocked 3 stars off my score because Julie saves the whole thing.
If you have two and a half hours to spare, it's good fun.
- FrozenDreamer
- Jan 20, 2024
- Permalink
Amanda and Clay take their kids for a weekend break in luxury home. On The first night, communications break down, and a strange man and woman appear at the front door, claiming to be the home owners.
It's only right that I start by saying, I didn't care for the book, I read it back in January, I couldn't get into it, the film adaptation, however, I rather enjoyed.
We've all seen end of the world films before, it put me in mind of Children of Men, War of The Worlds, The Stands etc, I don't think this is as memorable, or as poignant, but it's worth seeing.
I liked some of the imagery, the ship, the flamingos, and I did like the strangeness, the curiousness of it, at no point do you seem to know what's going on. Teslas at the end of the world, that was funny.
It's so interesting seeing Roberts playing a character like Amanda, I only just finished watching pretty woman, Vivian is sassy, but cute and pretty sweet, nice to see her playing someone a little more unpleasant, I really did enjoy her scenes with Ruth.
That ending.....no comment.
I could watch Mahershala Ali in anything, he's such a fine actor, Ethan Hawke very good also.
I get why some dislike it, and on another day it may have driven me round the twist, but this afternoon, I enjoyed it.
7/10.
It's only right that I start by saying, I didn't care for the book, I read it back in January, I couldn't get into it, the film adaptation, however, I rather enjoyed.
We've all seen end of the world films before, it put me in mind of Children of Men, War of The Worlds, The Stands etc, I don't think this is as memorable, or as poignant, but it's worth seeing.
I liked some of the imagery, the ship, the flamingos, and I did like the strangeness, the curiousness of it, at no point do you seem to know what's going on. Teslas at the end of the world, that was funny.
It's so interesting seeing Roberts playing a character like Amanda, I only just finished watching pretty woman, Vivian is sassy, but cute and pretty sweet, nice to see her playing someone a little more unpleasant, I really did enjoy her scenes with Ruth.
That ending.....no comment.
I could watch Mahershala Ali in anything, he's such a fine actor, Ethan Hawke very good also.
I get why some dislike it, and on another day it may have driven me round the twist, but this afternoon, I enjoyed it.
7/10.
- Sleepin_Dragon
- Dec 14, 2023
- Permalink
- arungeorge13
- Dec 7, 2023
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- moniquerich
- Nov 29, 2023
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- xxxxxdarkmoon
- Dec 9, 2023
- Permalink
People will cry about the ending, but the ending is the best part of the film. I won't go into details but the ending isn't the ending, it's the beginning. How people can't see that is beyond me.
The film is apocalyptic horror comedy essentially. Also a dive into what makes us human and how we judge others but in reality we're just living in our own delusion. It's very meta and most people won't get it. That's fine.
I really liked the tension, the acting, the score and the comedic break scenes (dancing, etc). The other way this film excels is how it uses exposition. They use character, dialogue and subtleties to slowly bring the plot. It's not for everyone but if you like cinema that's not made to be easily digested, you will like it. Well done! 7.3/10.
The film is apocalyptic horror comedy essentially. Also a dive into what makes us human and how we judge others but in reality we're just living in our own delusion. It's very meta and most people won't get it. That's fine.
I really liked the tension, the acting, the score and the comedic break scenes (dancing, etc). The other way this film excels is how it uses exposition. They use character, dialogue and subtleties to slowly bring the plot. It's not for everyone but if you like cinema that's not made to be easily digested, you will like it. Well done! 7.3/10.
- zack_gideon
- Dec 9, 2023
- Permalink
What in the ever lovin F$!& was this movie all about? I was actually pretty intrigued. This was some sort of apocalyptic alien. Invasion type of thriller. And I was pleasantly surprised that the family that is typical in these movies was not some sort of whiny, spoiled brat, dysfunctional group. Mom tempted me at times two rethink that, but she eventually grew on me by the end. But after 3/4 of the way through, there was absolutely no advancement of the plot. You can chalk this up to some creative license or someone trying to be funny about not really telling the full story but damn, this just ended with absolutely nothing to go on. None of the characters arcs were fulfilled. Like Period. Who the hell wants to spend two hours watching a movie that has no ending!?
- saccitygrl
- Dec 16, 2023
- Permalink
This film will disappoint fans who basically don't want to think too much. Those who want everything explained, obvious, clear and explicit.
It seems to me that this film is not about truisms. It's a matter of reflection. Perhaps its intention is precisely to force people to question themselves about this blind and alienating individuality that takes over everyone, to the point that people prefer to stay glued to their cell phones or TV screens all day, rather than have more interaction with their family members. . or the people around. The film shows this and the final scene clearly symbolizes this message. Pay attention to the scene. It's all there. There are still other issues to be addressed in this reflection: narrative control, absolute dependence on technology, little concern with the search for correct information. But something tells me that most people will think that nothing in this film makes sense, that there are clear gaps in the narrative, but the answers are all there. The premise is excellent, tense, mysterious, suffocating and scary in that nothing is known about what happens. But the easy answer to these questions never comes, never! It's because that's not the idea, it's not to make it easier to understand. It is precisely to invite the viewer to reflect. And it's good that we start to reflect, because we are heading towards chaos, towards the collapse of society, but few are paying attention. Rate 7.0.
It seems to me that this film is not about truisms. It's a matter of reflection. Perhaps its intention is precisely to force people to question themselves about this blind and alienating individuality that takes over everyone, to the point that people prefer to stay glued to their cell phones or TV screens all day, rather than have more interaction with their family members. . or the people around. The film shows this and the final scene clearly symbolizes this message. Pay attention to the scene. It's all there. There are still other issues to be addressed in this reflection: narrative control, absolute dependence on technology, little concern with the search for correct information. But something tells me that most people will think that nothing in this film makes sense, that there are clear gaps in the narrative, but the answers are all there. The premise is excellent, tense, mysterious, suffocating and scary in that nothing is known about what happens. But the easy answer to these questions never comes, never! It's because that's not the idea, it's not to make it easier to understand. It is precisely to invite the viewer to reflect. And it's good that we start to reflect, because we are heading towards chaos, towards the collapse of society, but few are paying attention. Rate 7.0.
- jabandrade
- Dec 8, 2023
- Permalink