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Gojira -1.0 (2023)
The most horrifying and dramatic a Godzilla film has been in some time.
Set immediately after World War 2, Godzilla Minus One follows a Japanese soldier struggling with loss after returning home from the war. This is made only harder with the emergence of a giant monster wreaking havoc on the already devastated Japan.
The previous film in the franchise, Shin Godzilla, was a critique of the Japanese government's ineptitude during times of crisis. It was a more modern take with diverse cell phone footage of the creature, multiple office meetings between government officials to figure out how to deal with the situation, and Godzilla's actual size dwarfing any previous incarnation.
Minus One scales everything back, simplifies it, and brings it down to earth. This is a very heartfelt film about the worth of human lives and how they're devalued en masse during periods of war.
It looks at the scale of post war Japan from the perspective of the general public. Godzilla is less a metaphor for nuclear weapons this time around (though there are certainly still visuals that represent the atom bomb), but instead war's devastating effects on the common man.
Speaking of Godzilla, the creature is possibly the smallest it's been in the history of the franchise, but that honestly works in favor of the horror. Human beings are not near invisible to the creature for a change. It's focused on people and attacks them specifically. The actions of the characters have an actual tangible effect on Godzilla, and it hunts them down in return.
Godzilla Minus One is easily among the best films in the franchise. Perhaps THE best since the original movie, for similar reasons; The creature is actually horrifying. Its metaphorical function is woven perfectly into the plot and themes. And the drama is so human, relatable, and effective that you're gripped from beginning to end.
Do yourself a favor and watch this movie. In theaters or on the biggest screen you possibly can to get the full scope. You won't regret it.
Thanksgiving (2023)
A Middle of the Road Slasher
Eli Roth described this film not as a 1:1 adaptation of his Grindhouse fake trailer, but a modern remake of an imaginary film that trailer came from. While very bizarre a vision to base a movie on, that is definitely accurate.
DO NOT go into Thanksgiving expecting a movie version of that '07 fake trailer. This is a modern horror movie, and comes with the pros and cons of a contemporary horror film.
The basic plot follows a group of high school teens targeted by a serial killer who wants revenge after a tragedy during a Black Friday incident.
The opening Black Friday sequence is brilliant. Easily the best part of the movie, showcasing ridiculous deaths while being a funny criticism of holiday consumerism.
After that though you're left with a fairly straightforward slasher. Thanksgiving feels a cross between Scream and the more schlocky horror films Roth is a fan of. The problem is that it doesn't have any memorable/likeable protagonists like Scream, nor is as over the top as those schlock films. It falls somewhere in the middle.
There are some fun kills, but outside of that you're left with a pretty plain slasher plot. Which is even more strange given how absurd the material is. Some of the lines and kills match the ridiculousness, but come off a bit dry given how reserved the tone is generally.
That said, this is easily one of Eli Roth's best films hands down. When the film works, it works really well. And when it doesn't, it's nothing terrible. It just seems like picking a tone on one end of the spectrum or the other would've truly benefitted the movie. As it stands, Thanksgiving is a decent slasher. Nothing more, nothing less.
Outlaw Johnny Black (2023)
An Average Western
What happens when you take Black Dynamite, remove 50 percent of the humor and fun, and set it in the old west? You get The Outlaw Johnny Black.
I know this is supposed to be a spiritual sequel to BD and not directly related, but even that is a bit of a stretch. This movie is much more grounded. Doesn't feel like the 70's in its style. And takes itself a little too seriously.
Now if I'm being fair and not comparing Johnny Black to the previous film, all you're really left with is a light comedy/drama focusing on religion and forgiveness.
Its dramatic, heartfelt elements are well done, but not enough material there for a two and a half hour film. Yes, not only is this movie long, but it feels that way too.
While it's not shot or directed in any way that seems retroesque, Michael Jai White does a solid job as a first time director while also starring as the lead. Some nice looking wide shots of landscapes, zoom ins and close ups to heighten the drama of tense scenes, and White is often made to look like a million bucks as the character. Nothing mind blowing or anything, but does get the western feel down well enough.
Similarly the performances across the board are solid. The cast know the tonal line to draw in not being too silly while making the humor work, while being dramatic enough without taking it too seriously.
And while the style fails in that regard, the music is excellent in capturing the old 60's - 70's western feel. Great soundtrack.
If you go into The Outlaw Johnny Black, don't expect a sequel to Black Dynamite. That might help temper your expectations and look at the movie more fairly. But even then, it's a pretty average film.
Ghost Ship (2002)
Maybe the worst horror film I've ever seen.
Not so bad it's good. Not bad in ANY way interesting. This film is awful in such a bloodless, lifeless way that it's not even worth remembering.
Bland direction, with flat medium shots taking up most of the picture. God awful editing with slow mo followed by sped up footage for "intense" sequences. The most generic, lame metal music to match the awful editing. CGI that's aged poorly and was never great in the first place. Solid actors giving lifeless performances due to the mediocrity of the lines and material. And a script that feels like a blander knock off of another dumb horror film: Event Horizon. I didn't think it was possible to make a worse version of that film but here we are.
Ghost Ship is every terrible aspect of early 00s horror wrapped into one film. Absolute disposable trash.
Swallowed (2022)
So underdeveloped.
What a letdown. I rented this film expecting a horror movie. What I got was a weird drama thriller that barely falls under those categories either.
It's a thin script that's stretched out way too long for how little actually happens. No big twists, no big surprises, and moves like molasses.
Which is a shame because it starts off strong, establishing the characters, their relationship, and the intrigue of the plot set up, but doesn't do much of interest for the rest of it.
It is well acted though. From the two leads who are sympathetic, human, and believable, which gives the thin material more weight, to the female drug dealer who is intimidating while not crossing the line into completely unlikable. The one weak performance comes from Mark Patton, who's all over the place. But it feels like no one involved knew how his character was supposed to be portrayed.
Overall not very good.
The Void (2016)
What a waste of potential
You have a premise for a good film here. A group of people are trapped in a hospital while an evil force is affecting reality around them. They have to figure out what is going on and how to survive the situation together. It's a familiar premise, but has alot of potential for great scares, unnerving atmosphere, surrealist imagery, and entertaining character interactions.
But all of these aspects fall apart from a mediocre script, poor direction and pacing. The characters are one note and very dumb, giving you little reason to care about the situation they're in. They don't act or react like actual people in a life or death situation. And given how one note they are written, the performances range from mediocre to outright bad.
The practical effects are exceptionally done. One of the few highlights. But they're not utilized well for either atmosphere or scares. The intended horror moments are either slow and dull, or so random that you have no time to process anything to care.
The music also stops any chance of this film being scary. Hans Zimmer esque horns for most of it, and just a generic feel overall.
Overall, definitely a let down. I was interested given the premise and potential that came with it, but the mediocrity in all other aspects ruined any chance of this being a good horror film.
The Protector (1985)
Mediocre Action, Underutilized Star.
A weak film from top to bottom. The Protector stars Jackie Chan as the lead in a story about a New York City cop and his partner looking to take down a drug kingpin from Hong Kong. Jackie Chan is obviously the only reason why anyone would be interested in seeing this film but he's completely miscast and underutilized. The main character is written as a gruff, no nonsense type that completely clashes with Chan's style of lighthearted, comedic characters. To be fair, Chan has done well with serious material in other films, but the script here is so hollow that he's only allowed to be one note and ultimately dull.
Then of course there's the issue with the martial arts sequences. The whole appeal of a Jackie Chan movie after all. Sadly, Chan had no say in the staging of any of the fight scenes and was outright denied to work on said scenes by the director. The result is martial arts sequences sloppily directed with little to no flow or energy.
But even if you take Jackie Chan completely out of the conversation, The Protector still doesn't work. The performances are dull, the script is generic, the score is awful, and the non fighting action scenes are awkwardly edited.
If you can, see the Hong Kong cut of the film. It has much better editing, improved choreography, and some added weighty material compared to the US cut.
Regardless, this is one of the weakest films Jackie Chan has ever been in.
Leprechaun 6: Back 2 Tha Hood (2003)
What's Up Ninjas?
The last Leprechaun film to star Warwick Davis, Back 2 tha Hood is both the worst and best film in the series.
The story follows 4 inner city youths who discover a chest full of gold, only for its owner, the titular Leprechaun, to hunt them down to retrieve it. It's the basic Leprechaun story that anyone familiar with the series knows by heart already.
What makes this film different from the rest is the complete lack of quality on nearly every level. Other films in the series were at least mediocre on the technical side. Here, the shoddy craftsmanship is so noticeable, you'd think it was made by a first time director/writer with absolutely no budget (which may not be too far from the truth).
There's horrible editing with reused shots in the same scene, terrible direction with shots messed up on the day of filming that were later remedied with horrible cgi, and dialogue so bad that it comes across as the writer having seen Boyz in the Hood once and writing a screenplay based on what little he remembered from that film. Hell, even the characters are one note and complete stereotypes.
The one bright spot is the cast, that while held back by the material, come off as genuine and seem like decent actors overall. Warwick Davis is of course the standout of the group, delivering his lines with the same energy and humor he's known and loved for. The actor has always been a constant positive in these shoddy sequels.
That said, for as bad as the film is, it's incredibly entertaining on a so-bad-it's-good level. You have scenes with the Leprechaun getting high, getting shot up by a group of gangbangers, and reapeatedly getting hit by moving cars that generate the right amount of laughs. They're obvious gags but still funny.
Most of the other sequels in the series were bad films as well, but they tended to drag on top of that (namely 3 and 4). Back 2 tha Hood is thankfully short by comparison and keeps a brisk pace, allowing the humor to be more consistent.
It's a terrible film overall but one that knows that and simply tries to give you a few laughs along the way. For the sixth film in a series, you could do worse. I personally had fun.
I Spit on Your Grave (2010)
A pointless remake, but better than most.
A remake of the 1978 film of the same name, this update contains the same story of the original while not being an exact copy.
"I Spit on Your Grave" follows the character Jennifer, a female writer coming from a big city, who makes her way south to a more isolated, wooded town. Planning to spend a month in a cabin alone to work on her next novel, she catches the attention of 5 men who stalk, torment, assault, and finally gang rape her. Being left for dead in a creek, Jennifer resurfaces to seek bloody vengeance.
Much like the original, this remake is incredibly difficult to sit through. Scenes of rape and violence are directed as raw as you would expect from the material . You feel the complete helplessness of Jennifer's character during the first half and there is some satisfaction to be found in the gruesome ways she murders her attackers. Credit must be given to the cast for playing these roles so believably. Most notably Sarah Butler as the protagonist, who generates equal parts vulnerability and strength for the character exceptionally well. Right up there with Camille Keaton.
What holds the film back though is the attempt to modernize the material in its style.
The 1978 film almost came off as a war documentary in its execution. Raw, grimy, and with no filter. A result of the low budget, no doubt, but that lack of cinematic polish made the events feel more real. The remake comes across more like a conventional horror film of the moden day, in terms of framing, cinematography, and pacing.
The music follows the same path, with the obvious stings and scare chords you'd expect from any contemporary horror film. The original, on the other hand, completely omitted any non digetic sound. While I don't think either way is wrong, I do feel that the '78 film's approach worked better for the material.
There are also additions and omissions in the writing that weakens the film. The rape sequence isn't anywhere near as drawn out as the original, which makes it easier to sit through, but also loses much of the impact.
The second half strangely follows the antagonists, showing details on their cover-up of the crime and their family lives. When Jennifer finally comes back into the picture, it's structured just like a typical slasher, with the audience and soon to be victims wondering just when the killer will show up. The scenes of murder are extremely graphic, but even they're flawed in that Jennifer spews out one liners related to each victim's death, making the tone uneven.
Clearly I have mixed feelings on this film. While the material was handled as well as it probably could've been in this day and age, it is a simple rape and revenge story. You go into it knowing exactly what to expect.
If you're a fan of the rape and revenge or torture porn subgenres, I would recommend this film.
If not, then you aren't missing much in skipping it.
The Landlord (1970)
Flawed, but still very relevant to this day. **Spoilers**
The first film by director Hal Ashby, "The Landlord" is a mixed bag.
The story centers on Elgar (Beau Bridges), a white man from a wealthy upper class family who moves into a lower class apartment building in New York. Elgar takes over the building as the landlord, intending to evict all of the African American tenants living inside. However, as he gets to know his neighbors and develops relationships with them, he begins to learn valuable life lessons about race and responsibility.
There's a lot to admire in Hal Ashby's "Landlord". Very few films before or since have tackled the topic of race and presented it in such a straight forward light. Scenes, such as the party in the middle of the movie, where the tenants discuss with Elgar what it is to be a minority at the time, or one towards the end of the film, where an African American activist breaks down and goes on a rant of racial self hate, are both chilling and unforgettable.
The performances are outstanding as well. Beau Bridges is very convincing as the thoughtless, naive Elgar who grows to embrace the African American culture.
Dianna Sands is the standout of the movie, playing the tragic Fanny with such real emotion and likability that you can't help but feel for her character during the more dramatic scenes of the film.
Lou Gossett Jr, Pearl Bailey, Mel Stewart, and Lee Grant are also great in their respective roles.
That said, the film does have its share of problems. The most prominent being the tone and the story's progression. Labelled as a comedy and a drama, the film has drastic tonal shifts that makes it, as a whole, seem uneven. Take, for instance, a scene where Elgar's mother visits him in the apartment building. The disapproving mother comes over to chastise her son about integrating with the black tenants, only for Fanny to show up and reveal that she's pregnant with the Landlord's baby. The mother's paranoia is played for laughs as she envisions herself as a a plantation owner with many dark skinned grandchildren. In the scene immediately afterward, we're shown Fanny and her husband, Copee, as she reveals the affair and her pregnancy. The next few minutes of the sequence are absolutely terrifying as the enraged Copee hunts down and tries to murder Elgar with an axe. The rushed pregnancy plot takes the third act into almost melodrama territory (with the messages seeming more obvious/forced), and the film's ending becomes a bit sloppy as a result.
The unevenness also shows with the characters. Fanny and Elgar get a lot of development and screen time, while both of their love interests are strangely left behind. Lanie, Elgar's biracial girlfriend, never gets enough screen time for their confessed love towards the end of the movie to seem as genuine as it should. Likewise, Copee pops in and out of the movie solely to perform his role as the angry, cheated on husband. Both seem more like plot devices to display the messages they represent, rather than being fully fleshed out characters themselves. Even with the development, Elgar suffers a bit as well. The mentioned third act pregnancy plot takes the character back to the thoughtlessness he displayed in the beginning of the film, making it difficult to like him or care much about his trials in the end.
The Landlord is a good film with biting social and racial commentary, however the melodramatic elements in the story, and uneven script hold it back from being truly great.