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Quicksand (2019)
Don't be fooled, this show is NOT good.
Don't be fooled by the endless rave reviews, this series is seriously bad. The more I reflect on it the less my score will be, so I gave it a 4 because at least there is some good acting. Off we go with the reasons why this show is not remotely as good as the ratings would indicate:
1. Very slow paced, which isn't always bad in itself but it surely didn't help this show.
2. Could have easily been 3 tight episodes, instead it drags on and on with much of the "plot" being boring and mostly useless filler.
3. Too many unanswered questions. Instead of like 20 different scenes of wild partying, they could have showed the WHYS behind the protagonists' decisions (unless you are satisfied with the 'bad parents are to blame for eveything' cliche).
4. Too many implausibilities. The last scene of the show, which supposedly sheds light to how things unfolded in the classroom, makes Maja's actions AND the court's decision absolutely unbelievable nd infuriating.
Sweden is rightly famous for many really good and deep dramas. This isn't one of them and imho it has the most misleading ratings I've seen in a while on IMDB.
Efterforskningen (2020)
Matter-of-fact film making does not a good drama make
This is a Danish mini-series about the investigation in the murder case of Kim Wall. The main problem with this is the duration: It could very easily have been 2 episodes instead of 6, and it would have been much easier to watch, since the pace is painfully slow.
Walking up and down the same corridors, showing the chief investigator drive his car and/or wait outside offices etc., are things that could have been omitted for the benefit of the pace. They add nothing to this drama, on the contrary they make it seem like it drags on forever.
Also, the decision to not show the accused at any point in the series and not even mention his name, is a respectful way to go about it, BUT it doesn't necessarily make for compelling drama. Lastly, the neglected daughter thing is totally unecessary and unoriginal, since we've seen it like a thousand times before.
Overall it's a good show, but it could have been so much more. You can sacrifice oversentimentality and sensationalism and still have compelling television. This was not done that well in this show.
Happy Death Day 2 U (2019)
Not as good as the original, still entertaining
It's a step-down compared to the first film, but what it lacks in originality and the surprise element it makes up for with good amounts of entertainment, laughs and a sci-fi twist.
Happy Death Day (2017)
Refreshing time-loop teen slasher
The time-loop thing has been done before numerous times, still this is a fun take -with a nice twist at the end which you may or may not see coming- that's worth a watch.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Big impact, lesser essence
Rewatched it in 2022 without remembering much about the plot, and I have to say it has aged quite well. Creepy and scary, and of course it has to get extra points because it's one of the pioneer (and probably most memorable) films in the found-footage genre.
All that said, if you take out its impact and significance on the horror scene at the time and just look at the film for what it is, I still consider it to be fairly overrated. If you take out a few suspense instances and the ending, it's mostly three people arguing about a map.
Blair Witch (2016)
A (decent) modern remake rather than a sequel
Although it does look like a modern remake of the original rather than a sequel, Blair Witch has enough scares, creepiness and some added elements (no spoilers) to be effective.
While it does have weaknesses (for instance noone seems to be able to talk to someone else without jump-scaring them) and could have been significantly better, overall it's a pretty good film in the found-footage genre.
Also, it does get extra points in my book for a particular sequence towards the end, which triggers one of my greatest fears in real life...
Severance (2006)
It's all fun and gore
Gory, funny and frightening. The premise isn't that original, but the execution is mighty good and it succeeds in making you actually care for the characters. Well worth the watch!
Il capitale umano (2013)
Fine drama and social study
Great drama boosted by excellent performances and presented in a unique way, through the use of chapters that reveal the truth little by little. Apart from being a crime mystery, it is also a potent social class and character study. A truly fine film.
Passengers (2016)
Great sci-fi potential squandered by creepy romance
Although it's a real spectacle production-wise (minus the age-old error to add sound effects in outer space - where there is no sound), the sole act of violence which the whole plot is based on, is inexcusable. The premise is based on a single act that is disturbing and morally reprehensible, and it surely isn't saved neither by the two leads great chemistry, nor by the cheap, lackluster and anticlimactic ending.
Blood Simple (1984)
Hasn't aged well
Perhaps watching this about 37 years after it came out doesnt do it justice, but still... Extremely slow paced, muddled story and not very believable characters. The film is kind of saved by the nice ending, but it isn't enough.
Beoning (2018)
Shoots itself in the foot
Intriguing and mysterious, but those qualities get severely diluted as the film drags on for way longer than it should. Aside from being painfully long, the ending is as predictable as it gets. Not a bad film by any means, but it could have been so much more.
Busanhaeng (2016)
One of the best zombie films ever
Definitely one of the best zombie films ever and probably the best one coming out of Asian cinema. Holds you at the edge of your seat from start to finish, with non-stop action, great special effects and even greater writing, directing and performances. Masterpiece.
Cargo (2017)
Zombies, drama and a powerhouse lead performance
Not your typical zombie/viral apocalypse film, leaning more on the drama than the horror spectrum. While it's not anything groundbreaking, it does evoke an emotional response, plus Martin Freeman's performance is a real treat. Worth a watch.
Creep 2 (2017)
Original was great, this one is good
Unavoidably lacks the mystery of the original, plus the ending (which I found absolutely brilliant and terrifying in the first film) is lesser in every way compared to its predecessor. Still, the suspense is there, plus we get even more depth as far as the lead character is concerned. Good, but not great like the first one.
Creep (2014)
Masterful simplicity
Well made and well acted found-footage film, succeeds in slowly mounting the tension and keeping you on the edge of your seat up until the last possible minute. The two leads are simply excellent in portraying their characters, giving them depth and attention to detail. Fantastic little low budget film.
Viral (2016)
Waste of time
Unoriginal and boring. It's been done many times before, and way better than this. At least it's short, hence the 2/10 rating. If it was longer it would have deservedly got a 1/10.
Nine Dead (2009)
Remember "The Room"?
Classic example of a really terrible film, that is so bad that it makes it good! Haven't had such fun with an atrocious movie in a long time. It's a low-budget, Saw clone, with horrible acting (except for the guys who play Eddie and Coogan) and equally awful dialogue. Give it a go if you bump into it, just for fun!
Doctor Sleep (2019)
Good adaptation and a worthy successor
Succeeds in recreating the bleak atmosphere and the feeling of dread tha the Shining is famous for. It's all there. Loses some steam (pun intended) in the last chapter, still it's a worthy successor to the all time classic 1980 film. Prequel (Halloran) or sequel (Abra) will be welcome!
Last Shift (2014)
Underrated low-budget gem
Pleasantly surprised with this little gem. A perfect example of a making the most out of a simple premise, without fanfare or ridiculous plot devices. An excellent low-budget psychological horror film that fires on all cylinders, accompanied by good acting.
Who Killed Garrett Phillips? (2019)
Kudos, Liz Garbus
Masterfully presented documentary about the brutal murder of a 12 year old boy.
While the crime itself is infuriating, what is also infuriating is the fact that some amateurish and possibly racist local cops destroyed a man's life with basically zero hard evidence against him, with the aid of an overzealous and self-interested politician.
Whether you think that the accused was guilty or not, it's incomprehensible to think that he could have been convicted with such flimsy circumstancial evidence. Although justice for little Garrett hasn't been served yet, in the case of Nick Hillary the justice system worked.
Grégory (2019)
In the 80s you could pull off anything...
This docu-series had the potential to get 10/10 had it been 3 episodes in total. The crime itself and the mystery surrounding it are enough to fascinate the viewer, and the first couple episodes are really powerful.
It presents the immense media sensationalism of the time, the lack of means for detective work needed to be done by the police, the incompetence of the judge, the emotional pain of the family. If only they had DNA testing back and/or cameras back then... Haunting and disturbing stuff.
Sadly, they shot themselves in the foot by dragging this to a total of 5 episodes, making the film boring and repetitive at some points, especially in episode 4.
Still, a very well made documentary about the horrible murder of a child and the turmoil it caused throughout the country of France.
Sunshine (2007)
What a waste.
A pretty good premise and a decent sci-fi flick for the first hour or so, suddenly turns into a supernatural horror film. A sci-fi movie with lots of potential goes completely wasted.
Seriously, who the heck thought that adding a mutant with superhumans powers completely out of the blue was a good idea?The last 30 mins were SHOCKING for me and completely ruined the experience and basically the film. Laughable stuff.
Amanda Knox (2016)
No answers, but a focus on the murky investigation.
If you are looking for definitive answers, this documentary will disappoint you. But if you want to become familiar with this case and see how justice can easily go from blind to hobbled when the media are involved, this is definitely worth a watch.
Although it clearly supports Amanda Knox's side of the story and strongly advocates her innocence, this film isn't so much about the verdict. Rather, it highlights how flawed a crime investigation can be when the media and the public put such immense pressure on officers and detectives. How amoral and ruthless the media can be for the sake of selling "the perfect story", and how the public's opinion is so easily and quickly shaped because of it.
The sheer indifference that journalist Nick Pisa shows when proclaiming how Rudy Guede's story "wasn't interesting" was very telling. Also, it is completely baffling how the head of the investigation ended up being promoted after doing such a stunningly bad job in this case.
In the end, whether you side with Knox or not, this film -while not necessarily having the depth that one might seek in such a documentary- clearly demonstrates how rushed and weak the case against her was, the product of a botched investigation fueled by media frenzy.
3½ Minutes, Ten Bullets (2015)
A murdered teen, a murky law, an important film.
Good documentary about the killing of an African-American teenager in Florida the impact of the case and the trial of the perpetrator. Through good editing and subtle presentation of the court case, the film is able to show how "stand your ground" laws mud the waters even more instead of helping the justice system. The film does a good job of raising -and answering- important questions about human morality, cultural differences and perception, and the justice system. A few facts of the case were left out and you might feel that there's something missing in order to makes this a truly great docu, but overall it's still a well made and important film.
American Crime Story (2016)
Amazing depth, excellent acting and casting, except OJ.
Powerful and brilliantly acted, American Crime Story Season 1 will keep you hooked from start to finish. Even though the subject is already well known and has been analyzed so many times, the series manages to take you deep into the story from the perspective of the people that actively participated: The prosecution, the defense team, the judge and the jury, showing the emotional roller-coaster of everyone involved, but also presenting interesting details of the case. It also managed to capture the whole vibe surrounding the trial, be it the media or just the man on the street.
Excellent acting, especially by Sarah Paulson (Marcia Clark), Courtney B. Vance (Johnnie Cochran) and Sterling K. Brown (Chris Darden). Those three really shined, exceptional job. I also liked Travolta as Shapiro, despite the mixed reactions that his performance has received.
Only minus was the portrayal of OJ himself. Cuba Gooding, although a great actor, was horribly miscast for the role, and despite his best efforts (there were times that he did succeed), most of the time he didn't look or sound anything like the real Simpson. High-pitched voice, shorter statue, smaller frame, didn't really fit. I'm really baffled as to how they managed to do such a good job with the casting regarding everyone else but OJ Simpson.