[JonE(vil)]

Dr Cheon and talisman. 2023. South Korea.
9/10
​A semi pretend shaman meets his fate.
The trailer sets it up as fake shaman who encounters the real thing. It's not that all. The film is just over 90 mins and is packed. The main character has a history that is central to the plot. He doesn't really take it too seriously at the start, but that doesn't last long. From there it lays out a epic backstory involving a demon, his brother and grandfather. Very engaging it really pushes forward with the plot and how it relates back to him. The effects are well down and even thou it does go full cgi near the end, it is well deserved.

[JonE(vil)]

Stalker. 1979. Soviet Union.
Dir. Andrei Tarkovsky.
7/10
A bloke called a 'stalker' takes a professor and a writer to a room in a wasteland where they can have a wish granted.
With a run time of two hours forty three minutes its a hefty watch. Long shots and little action make up the entire film. Conversations between the three main blokes are at the start relevant to where there going but soon turn philosophical and inward. It is a film that is complicated, on the one hand, it expertly shot with a droning soundtrack that reflects the slowness. But with almost no action, actual plot, characters don't come across any obstacles, physical or otherwise, the viewer is expected to be able to interpret it as he or she wishes.
​

[JonE(vil)]

Frantic. 1988. France.
5/10
Directed and co written by Roman Polanski, it follows Harrison Fords character as he tries to find out what has happened to his wife and why.
Slow but steady the film doesn't have any spectacular scenes. Very much a crime mystery, it adds characters with the doctor and the audience left to try and figure out their connection. WIth little happening plot wise, the slow pace became a bore by about the 90min mark of the two hour run time.

[JonE(vil)]

A bloodthirsty killer. (Sal inma) 1965. South Korea.
8/10
A ghost gets revenge years later on the people that murdered her.
Small cast of characters, it kicks off right away with a father seeing a portrait of a woman that he recognizes. A ghost appears, kills the painter and aducts his children. It moves rather quickly with everyone being affected. At this point there is no explanation for anything and it relies on a alot of spirituality and no real violence. The third act is where there is a major flashback which shows how things got to where the film started.
​Simple idea that paid off and made for a entertaining 90mins.
No trailer.

[JonE(vil)]

The cop, the gangster, the devil. 2019. South Korea.
10/10
A detective and a gangster team up to catch a serial killer.
Riveting crime thriller based on real events. The plot is complex and violent with both the police and criminals weary of each other. With alot of characters, but not hard to follow. It is a gritty and brutal film that shows the betrayal and relentless chaos within the main criminals groups and the corruption and illegal techniques used by the police.

[JonE(vil)]

The Vourdalak. 2023. France.
​6/10
A diplomat gets robbed and ends up at a strange familys place.
Different take on the vampire lore. Employs a puppet style character for the 'father' which is interesting. The plot is centered with a small cast in one place, it has particular attention paid to the lighting and style in which it is filmed, thats helps create a creepy atmoshpere.
In the end, it just seems to pad out parts of the story and exist in a slighty fantasy realm.
Trailer has no english subs

[JonE(vil)]

Deal of the century. 1983.
5/10
A arms dealer (Chevy Chase) gets involved with a military dictator and weapons manufacturer.
Directed by William Friedkin, its a uneven mix of satire and underlying drama that pokes fun at and exposes the nature of selling weapons. Chase provides some laughs supported by a talented cast, but after a while it just runs on empty.

[JonE(vil)]

Civil war. 2024
8/10
America inplodes.
Set in a time when the U.S. has a faction dedicated to the overthrow of the government. A group of war photographers get in a car and travel to Washington in order to get a interview with the under siege president.
The film is interesting for a number of reasons. It doesn't explain how or why this all happened, it just follows the journos and their point of view.
​'Get the photos, get them published, let the veiwer decide.' The main characters are four distinct types. The old man who is wise. The younger man and woman, both experienced and the young lady who is new to it all. Little things are said along the way but the film is mainly violent gun battles with mild reflection. This does give it a very shallow sense. But it does show exactly what happens in war.
Tense and well filmed, it leaves alot up to the viewer, which in this case, will divide audiences.
But maybe thats the point.

[JonE(vil)]

Niebezpieczni dzentelmeni. (Dangerous men) Poland. 2022
9/10
Four different men wake up after taking peyote with a dead body in the house.
Very funny but detailed crime comedy, taking the idea from The Hangover, but adding a whole lot of plot. The main four characters are very specific.
​So each has a certain way about them. Along the way several more characters are added and flashbacks tell there story or add to what happened.
Set in 1917 it ramps up to a chaotic politically charged ending that involves one of the four that is a doctor, presumed dead, mistaken for a famous poet, set to be assassinated on stage, so Lenin and his wife can overthrow the government. Fast moving with lively characters that are animated and have there own quirks, it was a effort to follow but packed with laugh out loud moments.
Trailer has no subtitles.

[JonE(vil)]

Your were never really here. 2017.
8/10
Drama about a bloke who tracks down abducted girls.
Starring Joaquin Phoenix as 'Joe' its a slow burn film a solid character development. Suffering from flashbacks he uses the skills learned in the army and law enforcement to rescue trafficked girls.
90 mins long it ensures no wasted time, with the unusual last act slowing things down instead of a dramatic finish it makes for OK for repeat viewing.