Change Your Image
31Byrnsey
Reviews
Midnight Mass (2021)
Style slightly over substance but a solid body of work
Midnight Mass is very much an exercise in managing your own expectations. But if you can do so, you'll come out feeling rewarded.
I am massive fan of Mike Flanagans previous work so I really did go into this with high expectations. The first 3 episodes, however, were a bit underwhelming. The pacing is an issue and the monologues, whilst undeniably well acted, do drag on. I just wanted the story to tease me with some action, some intrigue that would keep me interested. For 3 episodes I didn't really get that. At this stage I was disappointed and ready to give up.
But.... and it's a big but. Perseverance is rewarded because from episode 4 you get some of that Flanagan magic. The story unfolds at a faster pace. It's still too slow and infiltrated by further unnecessary monologue but the carrot is dangled just enough to hold you there.
I would have given this a 6 if I was basing it on the story alone. But the quality of the acting, the cinematography and the actual message behind the the story do enough to leverage Midnight Mass to a 7. I do wish Flanagan has pushed the moral of this series further. Unquestionable faith can have fatal consequences and this broaches that message with subtlety rather than a very direct approach. Maybe that's just my interpretation.
In summary, do not go into this expecting something as polished as The Haunting of Hill House or Bly Manor. Appreciate the high production standard, the superb acting and you'll come out satisfied at the end.
Us (2019)
A letdown...
I was rooting for this movie. I really was. There were flaws that I was willing to overlook. Poor comedic elements (that Peele nailed in Get Out), the illogical character behaviour and even the madcap nature of the tethers would be fine had this film delivered some depth and background to it's concept.
The idea was great. Set up with some cryptic pretext that I continually tried to reassure myself would be contextualised and steer Us in the direction I was hoping for. Something with depth and originality. Unfortunately, while there was originality, the explanation for the tethers never really materialises beyond a vague metaphor. In fact, I'm not even sure what the metaphor was.
The twist was fairly obvious although, again, I would have been satisfied had the film delivered in the 115 minutes that preceded. It doesn't and it's a shame. A real miss from Peele on this occasion.
Death to 2020 (2020)
Mocks what should be mocked. But it's just not funny.
What a missed opportunity. Death to 2020 was such a good idea. But ultimately it fell so far short in an attempt to appeal to the masses.
I was hoping for a more cerebral approach from Charlie Brooker. I know that sounds pretentious but I believe Death to 2020 would have been so much more impactful (and funny) had it taken itself more seriously.
Hugh Grants character sums it up perfectly. Polarisation plagues today's society. Ironically, this film will do the same with audiences.
The Third Day (2020)
Very strong start. Very weak end.
*Do not bother with reviews that do not extend beyond the first 3 episodes.
The Third Day starts brilliantly. The pace moves really well and it grips you from the very beginning. It's an incredibly well shot series and the location really adds to the intrigue surrounding the initial story.
I was gripped by the first 3 episodes. It actually could have wrapped up there and allowed for another short season. But as strongly as The Third Day starts, it falls apart dramatically.
Episode 4, The Mother did explain the timeline structure and rightfully offered some prestory to June Laws character but it served as the platform for series rapid downfall. It does become a bit farfetched, which is fine if it's entertaining and suspenseful but it wasn't. Scenes became dragged out and too dialogue heavy. Again, if it offers something to the story that would be ok but it becomes tedious when entire episodes are consumed by the issue.
Overall I would recommend watching, just for the fantastic opening 3 episodes. After that, a liberal use of the fast forward button will help you finish what you've started, simply for the satisfaction of seeing how it ends. But don't expect to feel particularly contented by the conclusion.
White Boy Rick (2018)
Good. Could've been great.
I went into this having never heard of Rick Wersche Jr or his story of rise from youth arms dealer to drugs kingpin.
It's an intriguing story. White Boy Rick holds your attention because you are under the premise that you'll get into the detail of the 'how?'. But it never really delivers that, which is a shame as I think, with an over two hour run time, it had the opportunity. I was longing for more insight into the FBI's involvement and manipulation of Rick. How did he achieve the rise within the drug scene? And to what level did he reach? Local dealer? Detroit Kingpin? Some questions left frustratingly unanswered.
McConaughey and Merritt are great in their roles. They did well to portray the dysfunctional yet underlying closeness of the unconventional father/son relationship.
Ultimately, it's a good watch. There are some decent scenes and cinematography. But genuinely believe in the hands of a Scorsese, White Boy Rick could've been turned into a great. It just lacks the depth required to get to that level.
His House (2020)
A great concept, not well executed. But definitely decide for yourself
His House is far from a traditional horror and will certainly not appease viewers looking for a movie that follows the Haunted House status quo.
The concept was good. Following an African refugee couple who have fled turmoil in their homeland only to find an all new horror that awaits them within their temporary accommodation.
His House has a slight art-house feel with good tone setting that reminded me of The Babadook. But it moves too quickly to the revelation, physically, of what torments (or will torment) the lead couple. It didn't build any real suspense and because of that the scares fall flat. A shame because it could've been truly terrifying.
And this is the issue with the whole movie. The pacing is off. Too slow where it could move more swiftly, which ultimately diminished the scenes where suspense could be utilised to ramp up fear.
I was rooting for His House and I can see why some have opted for the higher ratings. But for me it felt like a great opportunity missed. A genuinely compelling concept let down by below par execution.
The twist is not so much a twist. More an explanation for the presence within the house. The final scene is swift but good. A simple but well shot piece.
I would recommend fans of cerebral horror give it a try. I didn't feel my time was wasted. It just didn't quite fulfill the early promise.
The First Purge (2018)
Final nail for a once promising concept
I went into this with low expectations. Easy viewing on a lazy Friday night was the rationale for even bothering in the first place.
The Purge was a fantastic concept upon it's initial movie launch. A genuine, original idea that was so intriguing. Unfortunately with each follow up there has been a steady deterioration.
The latest installment, a prequel to the first movie, could've been a final hurrah that would've saved the overall reputation of the series. But no, they absolutely missed a very good opportunity.
I'm not even going to bother listing what this movie could've been. I'll cut to the chase by describing the narrative in 4 parts:
Part 1: Staten Island selected to be trial location for the first purge. Very little pretext other than a new political party coming to power amid economic downturn
Part 2: Meet the protagonist(s). A drug dealer, an anti purger, anti purgers brother. All linked tenously. You won't care about any of them.
Part 3: The Purge. Not much happens. Predictable plot twist (that isn't a plot twist to anyone who's not experienced a lobotomy). In short, new government plants some mercenaries to kick start the purging.
Part 4: Protagonists survive. The end.
And thats it. Not even in a nutshell. That is genuinely it. No link to the preceding movies nor an explanation into how they might all be intertwined.
You're welcome. I saved you approximately an hour and a half of your life.
2 stars because the music made me want to go on a night out.