This low, low budget movie won't disappoint unless you're looking for reasonable acting, directing, writing, sound, lighting, editing, or a plot that makes sense. In fact, every aspect of the film making process was done artlessly. Perhaps the only creative area that showed some slight success was in the casting. That is not to say that the actors who landed their roles displayed significant acting ability. The casting was partially successful in finding some faces that fit the characters, and only hit and miss at that for a small cast. The sleazy actor looked the part. The two lead actors looked like thoughtless, reckless, twisted individuals. And unfortunately, that is about it for highlights. In hindsight, five stars was very generous and will likely be one of the higher ratings. Those involved took some risks, creative and financial, that just didn't produce a satisfying end result. If I were a gambling soul, the over/under for rating will probably be closer to 2.0.
3 Reviews
There was earnest potential here. Unfortunately, the questionable choices are more significant.
I_Ailurophile31 December 2023
I knew better than to get my hopes up. We want bisexual and lesbian representation in cinema, but all too relatively few are those titles that both meaningfully give us what we want, and are otherwise good enough to deserve viewership on their own merits. Not to be presumptuous, but I'm pretty sure the number of such flicks that we can call "great" can be counted on one hand. Case in point, I hadn't realized before I sat to watch this that filmmaker Rich Mallery was also the same person behind 2020's 'Sinful,' which I found to be a tiresome, sloppy mess. Unfortunately, while the premise of 2023's 'Felines' holds some promise, it doesn't take long at all before we see how dull, weak, and unimpressive it is. I was very willing to give it a chance, but I don't think this is very good. I look forward to the day when I see something Mallery made and am pleased; I look forward to seeing the cast develop their skills, and proving their worth in the future. This isn't the picture to provide that illumination.
No matter the music laid over top, and no matter the dialogue on hand, the tone is too often bland and middling, achieving nothing. The bare-faced production values are a tad painful on the eyes (though at least, not as bad as what some other films of the past thirteen years or so have given us); Mallery's direction seems meager and unpracticed. Between that flimsy direction and the cast's own seeming inexperience or lacking capabilities, too much of the acting is woefully stilted and unconvincing, even as some instances and some actors are better than others. Mallery's screenplay is even worse, though, giving us forced, clichéd, and far less than credible dialogue, scene writing, and characters. Just as much to the point, the sum total of the viewing experience - writing, direction, acting, wardrobe choices, and perhaps even the cinematography and editing - all reflect the exhausting, glaring truth that this feature offering lesbian romance was built from the ground up with the blunt, tactless, simple-minded, childlike, unsophisticated eyes of a very heterosexual man who goes senseless and slack-jawed at the very idea of a woman, let alone two women together, celebrating their sexuality. With that in mind, it's kind of amazing that Mallery was able to hold himself together enough to make any semblance of a movie at all.
Some facets are more commendable than others. In and of themselves I do like aspects like the hair and makeup, some of the wardrobe, and some of the music. If nothing else is true of the acting, at least it can be said that chief stars Madison Santos and Kate Lý Johnston are making an earnest effort. There are, actually, some very good ideas in the story, not least the tried and true central notion of an abusive relationship, and the heavier notes of dramatic crime and thriller airs. On paper, if imperfectly, this had a real chance. The best value 'Felines' has to offer is just too little, though, and there's a lot of dubiousness that distinctly weighs down that value. Too much of these ninety minutes is highly questionable with the choices that were made, and with the mindset that envisioned it and brought it to fruition. There's nothing this title has to offer that we can't get elsewhere, with higher quality all around; it's not that it's perfectly awful, but it's surely no more than average, and in my estimation even that might be too generous an assessment. A few scenes or ideas are so wholly rotten that they further diminish the potential and my favor. I'm glad for those who get more out this picture than I do, but whatever it is you're looking for, I strongly suggest seeking out other like-minded fare; once you see what else is out there, you'll never look twice at 'Felines.' To whatever extent one could say this has some worth, far more than not it's kind of tedious in too many ways, and at times even exasperating, and ninety minutes seem too long.
Oh well.
No matter the music laid over top, and no matter the dialogue on hand, the tone is too often bland and middling, achieving nothing. The bare-faced production values are a tad painful on the eyes (though at least, not as bad as what some other films of the past thirteen years or so have given us); Mallery's direction seems meager and unpracticed. Between that flimsy direction and the cast's own seeming inexperience or lacking capabilities, too much of the acting is woefully stilted and unconvincing, even as some instances and some actors are better than others. Mallery's screenplay is even worse, though, giving us forced, clichéd, and far less than credible dialogue, scene writing, and characters. Just as much to the point, the sum total of the viewing experience - writing, direction, acting, wardrobe choices, and perhaps even the cinematography and editing - all reflect the exhausting, glaring truth that this feature offering lesbian romance was built from the ground up with the blunt, tactless, simple-minded, childlike, unsophisticated eyes of a very heterosexual man who goes senseless and slack-jawed at the very idea of a woman, let alone two women together, celebrating their sexuality. With that in mind, it's kind of amazing that Mallery was able to hold himself together enough to make any semblance of a movie at all.
Some facets are more commendable than others. In and of themselves I do like aspects like the hair and makeup, some of the wardrobe, and some of the music. If nothing else is true of the acting, at least it can be said that chief stars Madison Santos and Kate Lý Johnston are making an earnest effort. There are, actually, some very good ideas in the story, not least the tried and true central notion of an abusive relationship, and the heavier notes of dramatic crime and thriller airs. On paper, if imperfectly, this had a real chance. The best value 'Felines' has to offer is just too little, though, and there's a lot of dubiousness that distinctly weighs down that value. Too much of these ninety minutes is highly questionable with the choices that were made, and with the mindset that envisioned it and brought it to fruition. There's nothing this title has to offer that we can't get elsewhere, with higher quality all around; it's not that it's perfectly awful, but it's surely no more than average, and in my estimation even that might be too generous an assessment. A few scenes or ideas are so wholly rotten that they further diminish the potential and my favor. I'm glad for those who get more out this picture than I do, but whatever it is you're looking for, I strongly suggest seeking out other like-minded fare; once you see what else is out there, you'll never look twice at 'Felines.' To whatever extent one could say this has some worth, far more than not it's kind of tedious in too many ways, and at times even exasperating, and ninety minutes seem too long.
Oh well.
This goes to some concerning angles with barely anything to show for it other than how everyone needs therapy and some writing classes
iwastedyourtimereadingthis16 January 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Yeah I just watched this and the way lilly flips on the main character or well anyone is concerning like lilly would press boundaries constantly all throughout where if someone wanted to not take drxgs or had to go to work shed call her a b really bothered me. I'd honestly have ran the moment someone says they wanna burn the whole world down. It's very repetitive how many times she just says that doesn't have a plan or anything just wants to be destructive and it's honestly boring
There were just so many red flags on this I don't see the romance this is more a story about dealing with multiple abusers. How she never thought it wasnt right how lilly talked so mean to her and would be back at Lilly's place that same day. Then she goes to the guy with an obvi large age gap and they cosplay as her being a minor and him being her dad and them doing sexual things it's just...concerning that was even romanticized or like yeah queer people are totally gonna enjoy watching this with everyone being abusive to the girl trying to fond herself.
This being made in 2023 they could've done better with the frame of this. I feel like the writing was uncomfortable and stilted to where it didn't feel like full enough dialogue with people really responding and it tanked a lot of the performances
Ig one of the main part of the storyline don't see that much that made me feel that dang moment was where main character mentioned how she lied about mom cheating and it led to her mom's death. Don't usually see people doing that and those consequences leading to such dire endings. The actress did a really emotional job explaining that she wished it were her instead. I think the main actresses were beautiful and they were given and they dealt it out like they're convincing in this world we're so many people are detached from the reality of their decisions and ways with conversations.
I get what another review was saying about all the cast fitting their roles cuz yeah they all did what they were to do. I liked the colors, clothes, and music with how it increased intensity and at least there's scary music going on while it almost seems normal to the characters but it's sick/disturbing/wtf to the viewers. The places are even nice for the scenes it just doesnt have that something that really immerses the viewer with the lack of genuine dialogue.
It is scary tho that there are people out here with such a distain for life they just don't care how they treat others or themselves. Says a lot about a society teaching folks to be so cold/destructive and fentanyl is so dangerous. Makes me sad how many people have died from their stuff being laced. That dude was a whole creep tho. Also gross how the supposed friend literally went after her dad. And the dad even going for it when Lilly's around his daughters age...
Dude wasn't a dad what was he even there for fr. To have him go try and act like a father when he was flirting w her friend and been checked out for years is just. What the h. I suppose the thing about the movie and movies alike have you think about how fked the mind goes where people really be like that/even thought of any of this and how messed community becomes when people don't genuinely look out for each other or at least are actually decent...this movie is so unhinged.
How does she not know if she was set up or not with how lilly responded to her? And how would she find anybody getting high n drunk so plastered she can barely walk? That was her plan to find her? They could've done better than that like and for her to just say fk you to Scott at the last line? The decisions in this are so random!!! Jesus Christ.
I prob wouldn't watch that again except to do a documentary/talk on what the h is this cuz I feel I wouldn't even want to show my friends a movie like this. You could really go without it and be better off cuz at least you don't know it exists.
Also, the music round the end when she was just driving to find Lilly she was in the car with a black n blue background behind her and I just? Maybe there was too much distortion but it sounded like a hair dryer was going on at full blast?? I just don't get it.
There were just so many red flags on this I don't see the romance this is more a story about dealing with multiple abusers. How she never thought it wasnt right how lilly talked so mean to her and would be back at Lilly's place that same day. Then she goes to the guy with an obvi large age gap and they cosplay as her being a minor and him being her dad and them doing sexual things it's just...concerning that was even romanticized or like yeah queer people are totally gonna enjoy watching this with everyone being abusive to the girl trying to fond herself.
This being made in 2023 they could've done better with the frame of this. I feel like the writing was uncomfortable and stilted to where it didn't feel like full enough dialogue with people really responding and it tanked a lot of the performances
Ig one of the main part of the storyline don't see that much that made me feel that dang moment was where main character mentioned how she lied about mom cheating and it led to her mom's death. Don't usually see people doing that and those consequences leading to such dire endings. The actress did a really emotional job explaining that she wished it were her instead. I think the main actresses were beautiful and they were given and they dealt it out like they're convincing in this world we're so many people are detached from the reality of their decisions and ways with conversations.
I get what another review was saying about all the cast fitting their roles cuz yeah they all did what they were to do. I liked the colors, clothes, and music with how it increased intensity and at least there's scary music going on while it almost seems normal to the characters but it's sick/disturbing/wtf to the viewers. The places are even nice for the scenes it just doesnt have that something that really immerses the viewer with the lack of genuine dialogue.
It is scary tho that there are people out here with such a distain for life they just don't care how they treat others or themselves. Says a lot about a society teaching folks to be so cold/destructive and fentanyl is so dangerous. Makes me sad how many people have died from their stuff being laced. That dude was a whole creep tho. Also gross how the supposed friend literally went after her dad. And the dad even going for it when Lilly's around his daughters age...
Dude wasn't a dad what was he even there for fr. To have him go try and act like a father when he was flirting w her friend and been checked out for years is just. What the h. I suppose the thing about the movie and movies alike have you think about how fked the mind goes where people really be like that/even thought of any of this and how messed community becomes when people don't genuinely look out for each other or at least are actually decent...this movie is so unhinged.
How does she not know if she was set up or not with how lilly responded to her? And how would she find anybody getting high n drunk so plastered she can barely walk? That was her plan to find her? They could've done better than that like and for her to just say fk you to Scott at the last line? The decisions in this are so random!!! Jesus Christ.
I prob wouldn't watch that again except to do a documentary/talk on what the h is this cuz I feel I wouldn't even want to show my friends a movie like this. You could really go without it and be better off cuz at least you don't know it exists.
Also, the music round the end when she was just driving to find Lilly she was in the car with a black n blue background behind her and I just? Maybe there was too much distortion but it sounded like a hair dryer was going on at full blast?? I just don't get it.
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