REVIEW: Film Reviews.

[JonE(vil)]

Review and rate a film.

Black Adam. 2022.
2/10
A superhero is awakened to take on a bloke corrupted by power.
Dwayne Johnson is the latest actor to attach himself to the 'superhero' genre. Not knowing anything about the character, or any of the other 'superheros' that appear doesn't really matter. It explains itself, to a degree. The opening is a generic origin story, followed by the standard fare from a film like this. Large amounts of cgi destruction make it interesting, but even that becomes a boring. Tamer than The Suicide Squad by James Gunn, it just looks like a studio driven movie thats out to copy Marvel with a bit more grit.

[JonE(vil)]

Smile. 2022.
5/10
A woman thinks she's going crazy.
Interesting film that uses the concept of one person being exposed to certain things others can't see. In this case, it takes the form of her seeing people 'smiling' and particular events.
For the first hour, it did have a gradual sense of dread. Jump scares with loud noises were effective. That soon became the norm and with the lead character as the main focus, watching her decent with no real help from anyone it soon became a bore.
Overall, a good film, but with a concept that has been done better in asian cinema, (The Wailing.)

[JonE(vil)]

Tar. 2022.
10/10
Lydia Tar is a celebrated female conductor, with countless awards have given her access to an elite lifestyle.
Excellent drama that slowly builds a blackening tension. Layered in musical lingo, the films makes it understandable and relatable. The main plot of the film is very subtle. A allegation against Tar is the catalyst for a gradual demise. Gripping and tense, it is a indictment of ego and modern society.

[houseoftechno]

Red Riding Hood, Director James Cimini, 2005, R, Horror, Psych Sketch
9/10 (warning mainstream reviewers do not like this film)
Indie Italian horror film. Female adolescent serial killer abandoned and living alone in Rome also lives in her own psychotic world. The film interlaces scenes among the two worlds, so the viewer is not always sure if scenes are actual occurrences, or what the girl is imagining. Similarly I liked the rote-like dialogue of the girl because it could be what she is saying or it could be what she wants to say, again not necessarily reality. Her dialog mirrors the awkwardness of adolescence that hides under her confident exterior. Kathleen Archebald was perfectly cast as the girl because of her unique look and her psychotic aura. I though another effective element of the film is that it uses a simple device (an actor in a cape and mask) to represent girl’s imaginary cohort. That device leaves it to the viewer to imagine what the cohort looks like and is doing - unlike the typical hollyweird formula that relies on special effects and over-detailed scenes to fill in all those blanks – details which are inferior to my imagination and interfere with the plot. The writing excelled in its honesty - a refreshing departure from typical horror and drama scripts that are full of cheap plot twists and deceptive roller coaster climaxes. I liked the intelligence and courage of the girl for detecting, calling out and delivering payback for the lies and injustices of the deceptive characters. Simple plots can be very satisfying. The gore elements of the film are entertaining, cheesy and memorable. The gore does not contain sicko elements such as pain and suffering, or lingering durations. I love the black humor ending – it is unique and leaves me satisfied, even though it doesn’t resolve a damned thing! This is one of my favorite horror films. This film has many negative reviews. My guess is some unhappy reviewers do not recognize the psychological profile elements of the plot, so are missing that dimension of the film. I think other unhappy reviewers want to be fitted with a bullring and led through the hollyweird film formula without having to imagine on their own. As a corollary, many US viewers do not understand the cultural subtleties and differences of foreign films.

[JonE(vil)]

Triangle of sadness. 2022.
Unrateable pile of shit.
A crew and guests of a 'super yacht' get shipwreck on a island.
Winner of this years Palm d'Or, written and directed by Ruben Ostlund. It was, sadly, everything that it tried to 'poke fun' at.
With long scenes and bland dialogue, it failed to spark any interest. There was nothing really pushing the plot. In his first film, Force Majeure, conversations were had that centered around the husbands failing to help his family at the start. That lead to his redemption at the end. This seemed content to forward the idea that 'rich people' who have everything are actually boring, and rely on service people. Because they are fucking lazy.
It that was the point, then it worked, but not for me.
Successful directors have in the past been plucked out of their native countries (sweden in this case), given a bigger budget with the idea that they can create something 'successful' in a different market.
Overall, it was well filmed with a few laugh out loud moments. But it failed in its aim and the creator, unfortunitly, looks like the idiot.


Der Todesking. (The Death King.) 1990. Dir Jörg Buttgereit.
8/10
A series of short films, one for each day of the week. The alternate between suicide and murder.
Filmed after Nekromantic, its still looks cheap and simple, but retains a unique style and intensity. None of the 'stories' are linked, they just play one after the other. Simple in terms of dialogue, but the way it was filmed speaks volumes. For example. One of the days is entirely of parts of a very tall over pass bridge. Near the end, the camera crosses a space in the middle showing a very real, very long way to the ground, cars can be scene going past on the road below.
The final scene in a stationary long shot of the bridge. Over most of the footage are names and ages of people that, it can be assumed, have jumped from the internal structure to their death.
There is also a relevant monologue about mass shooting, before the character, films herself shooting up a concert.
Challenging, but very interesting. Came off as kinda 'arty', but still keep my interest throughout.

Full movie here on , sign in required.
Internet archive, full film here. I ripped a copy and added subtitles. They wouldn't sync up properly, but the limited dialogue meant it didn't really matter.

[JonE(vil)]

Barbarian. 2022.
6/10
Air bnb is not what it seems.
Interesting thriller that borders on horror. When a woman books a house for a night she ends up staying with another guest.
Events lead her to investigate the basement, where she finds a secret passage.
The film is broken into three distinct but interconnected parts. The first, after a slow start is very effective. From there it starts all over. This also takes its time. By the third act i wasn't really interested due to the up and down nature of the film.
Overall, good thriller with certain horror cliches played on for varying effect.

[JonE(vil)]

Project wolf hunting. 2022. South Korea.
2/10
Con Air on a boat, with a mutant.
Violent action film that follows the same idea as Con Air*(1997). The convicts escape with the help of some other blokes, but there is a mutant super zombie that doesn't take a side and just wants to kill.
The film is ultra violent. Would be a good thing if it didn't have a VERY OBVIOUS western influence. It not quick and brutal, but staged, slow and bloody.
Alot of characters,which is typical of a SK film, but the plot is paper thin. I lasted less that 20 mins before i started clicking thru it.
Could be entertaining, but only if you want it to be.



Vengeance is mine. 1979. Japan.
8/10
True crime drama about a bloke in a killing spree in Japan.
Opens with the murderer caught and casually talking to the police, knowing he will be hanged eventually. From there is goes back to him as a young boy and then showing the various murders and frauds he committed while on the run. It shows a man who had contempt for society from a early age. Born bad best describes him. He eventually gets a little serious with a woman running a inn with ex con mother. But he also kills both of them.*

Tense with a steady pace it does a good job of balancing him with his wife, father and the inn owner who try to help him but keep getting abused by his reckless disregard for everyone..

[houseoftechno]

The Others, 2001, Dir Alejandor Amenabar, 13, UK Cast, Spanish Crew
5/10 (mainstream reviewers adore this film so I know it is a dud)

Nicole Kidman ghost story. From 0 seconds onward, writer/director ruins film with blasts of loud suspense music and screams because, what, Nichole’s acting isn’t good enough???? Oh no, that isn’t right, perhaps because ghost stories are supposed to be filled with ridiculous, cheap Steven Spielbergous shock noises! None of the supporting cast clicks in the least. Painfully scripted foreshadowing of “plot reveals” (practically narrated via cast dialog) adds to an already horridly obvious storyline. Potentially creative and interesting storyline side-elements (Catholic teachings, fucking a ghost) were clearly attempted, but the screenplay and the casting botched them beyond recognition. And for the ultimate insult, although Nichole spends most of film in nightgown and robe, this director, cast and crew are unable to coax sensuality from one of the hottest actresses to walk the earth: NK might as well be an animated Pillsbury Doh boy. A dud from beginning to end, with no warm squishy spots in the middle, either. My rating was generous.

Footnote: NK's best film is Birth, a brilliant film.

[JonE(vil)]

The Menu. 2022.
7/10.
A group of upper class people are invited to dine on a island.
This film does what Triangle of sadness can't. Provides a look at the selfish attitudes of the rich and the empty hollowness of a elite chef.
It introduces the characters nicely, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, and John Leguizamo co-star with the two men Hoult seeming like a influencer and Leguizamo as slightly forgotten actor. Taylor-Joy is the odd one out, and the film kinda follows her as she is the who tries fight back. Ralph Fiennes as the head chef is excellent. Restrained, brutal and thoughtful. Set largely in the dining room, it has a sterile artsy kinda look with overhead views of the small portions of food.
Builds and maintains a good amount of tension.

[JonE(vil)]

Tokyo vampire hotel. 2017. Japan.
6.5/10
Directed by Sion Sono, it's a very colourful, violent, surreal horror about two waring clans of vampires.
The descendants of Dracula have been forced underground by a rival clan, and now there is a special woman that is the ultimate being that both must have in order for either to survive. Or so it would seem. The film jumps around alot. Focusing on certain characters as it does so, which kinda makes sense. And going completely in a different direction, while still seeming to make sense. The sets and fight choreography are impressive which make up for the wild plot.