James Wan and his creepy dolls.
Based on events in real life, Carolyn and Roger Perron, together with their children, move in a farmhouse in Rhode Island back in 1971. As they move in, strange things starts happening around the house that terrifies their entire family. Carolyn seeks help from paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren to take a look at their house. True enough, the couple finds out that a malevolent creature (it is clarified that it is not a spirit) is haunting their house and is threatening to harm their family by possessing Carolyn. The Warrens must now do what they can in order to put a stop to this demon before it hurts everyone involved, including them.
It's been a while since I've seen a horror movie that will really haunt me before I go to bed. Usually I'd just forget them after watching it.
The Conjuring is great in so many levels. What I really love about it is its smart and witty scares. This is what I look for in the horror movies I watch. There's nothing I hate more than a movie which uses cheap scares. Though Evil Dead also did a good job in turning the cliche into something new and scary, The Conjuring takes it up a notch and makes sure to send chills down your spines and keep you at the edge of your seat. This is the film that I needed to see after watching The Purge which uses the oldest tricks in the book when it comes to scaring people.
The story is very simple yet very effective. It's about a family that moves into a house that turns out to be haunted. There is a minor twist to who or what is haunting the house but aside from that detail, the rest is your normal horror story line. What makes is so different and unique from the rest is its execution. There are numerous horror movies out there that sound so good when you hear about it but you end up being disappointed when you watch it because it is not executed properly. The Conjuring, right from the start will literally scare you witless. The introduction of Annabelle, the haunted doll, is a great teaser to the entire film. Some were disappointed though since Annabelle is not given much spotlight since it turns out she is just a filler, well sort of. However, I look at it the other way around and I believe that Annabelle's story is a great stepping stone for the rest of the film. Right after Annabelle's story, the film allows the people to relax a bit but makes it impossible to do so since everyone is now wary of what might be lurking around the corners of the screen. I like how it does not rush into things. It keeps the film's mystery and thrills the audience even when nothing is happening yet. I am in love with how the film keeps on teasing and making the audience imagine the scariest thing that could happen, which would eventually not end up happening. When the moment comes wherein you start to relax, even for just a second, the film will suddenly surprise you with all of its might. I have to add that the trailer for this movie is also well done. When you see the film, having watched the trailer beforehand, you think you know where the scary parts are but it turns out the trailer is another ploy to add thrills and to scare the audience when they finally watch the movie.
Despite being a great film, it is not completely perfect. As the movie progresses, I keep on waiting for a twist that will happen in the end. Sadly, nothing happens that will blow my brain. Not unless if you count its suggestive thought for a sequel at the end, which there will be. I guess they took the simplicity to heart. The film is not completely void of twist and turn of events though since it did keep a few secrets of its own that will be thrown right at you as you watch the film but you wouldn't really count them as plot twists.
The scare and thrills in the third act of the film wanes from what was established in the earlier parts. It is still good but the decline is quite noticeable. It's probably because I keep on thinking of The Exorcist which is a really creepy and scary film that will never be forgotten. The Conjuring is a good film but probably can't hold a candle near The Exorcist.
The film is set to have a sequel which is a good excuse for numerous plot holes they leave in the movie. So if you have seen the movie and felt dissatisfied because of the plot holes, then worry not because hopefully the sequel will satisfy your hunger for closure. I'm not really a fan of sequels since they are mostly of low quality compared to their predecessor, but I'll give the sequel a chance for closure.
Overall, The Conjuring is a great horror film and it is a great addition to the horror/possession/exorcism genre we have today. We need more of these films since people have been so engrossed to the 'vengeful ghost' movies that they can't take these types of films seriously. This is probably one reason why some people thought that this film was not even scary. They now probably think that when a movie is of the horror genre, it's all about a vengeful ghost of a girl in a white cloth.
Rating: 4/5
Who would you kill first when this happens?
In the year 2022, the United States is a nation reborn. The economy is good. Employment rates are up and crime rates are way down low. This is all because the government has approved a law called The Purge, wherein for 12 hours, all criminal activity is legal. The Purge acts as a way for the people to cleanse themselves of all the hatred and negative emotions in their hearts. All the victims of the Purge are then given thanks for sacrificing their lives for the betterment of the country.
The very first thing I like about this film is the concept that fuels it. Though the thought of it alone is highly improbable, one really can't help but think of what they will do if they are in the shoes of the characters in the film. More than its genre of being a thriller, it is a film that challenges society's value and morals. The thought of the purge may be very unlikely now but one will never know if it can really happen in the future. The establishing sequence of the film which is a series of CCTV footage of various crimes and murders alone is gruesome enough that one may actually consider the purge as a solution to the problems of society. The film questions the morals of man: would you be a realist or an idealist?
The film, aside from being thematically driven, is character driven as well. It offers a variety of different characters that have their different beliefs and perspectives with the concept of the Purge. James Sandin (Ethan Hawke) is a successful security developer that has gotten wealthy thanks to his sales of home security systems designed for the purge. His character is stuck in reality and is thinking of the practicality and logic of things. He is married to Mary Sandin who is the closeted idealist in the family. She follows what her husband says because she trusts him and she believes that it is the best for the family. They have two children, one of them is Charlie whose conscience and ideals have set the film in motion. It is this little dude that opened the door for the bloody strangers that is being hunted down. In a world inhabited by human beings, Charlie is the only character that is humane in it. Though his actions and decisions may be the cause of annoyance from the audience, it further shows his idealistic nature and humanity, in contrast to the people around him. The film has good characterization and character development. As the film progress, the characters that are initially blind and naive are shown to have learned what they needed to learn. The characters' attitude and personality have deeply changed by the end of the film. There is great contrast in their characteristics from the film's beginning until the end.
However, the film is mediocre in the field of thriller and horror. Though the concept may be new, it still relies on heavy cliches and old-fashion tricks and scares that fail to deliver. The film is actually a reminder of the thriller film The Strangers. Though they may differ in concept, the execution and technique is very similar. So zero points for originality right there. Not to mention, it was very anticlimactic. The build-up could have been better but it was good enough for a one hell of a ride climax, but instead it offers us cold and stale performances of the antagonists. I can't blame you if you would expect so much by the third part since you have been led to believe in the beginning that the villains are a force to be reckoned with. There is too much anticipation for nothing. There is a twist at the latter part of the film but that as well is only a slight improvement from its previous problem.
Overall, the crazy concept of the film is the only interesting thing to see here. Don't expect to be blown away with its so-called thrills and horror. It's such a pity for an interesting concept to go to waste. Could have definitely been executed better. High hopes for the sequel perhaps? But do expect a good performance from Ethan Hawke though. The guy just knows how to do it.
Rating: 2/5
An overwhelming revenge film that is definitely not for the squirmish.
For some unknown reason, Oh-Dae-Su finds himself abducted on the night of his daughter's birthday and he is locked away in a mysterious hotel for fifteen years. His only connection to the outside world is a television and his daily ration of dumplings for sustenance. He eventually learns to live his life inside his prison and the longer he stayed, the more vengeful he became. He plans to escape using a tunnel he has been digging for a long time using chopsticks, but before he can make use of it, he is suddenly released for no reason. He starts on a search for vengeance against his captors but soon finds out that he is swimming in an ocean far deeper than he imagined.
One of the main reasons I wanted to watch this was because I liked the last film I saw by Park Chan-wook which was 'Stoker'. This South Korean director definitely knows how to spice up the revenge genre while successfully disturbing our minds at the same time. Another good reason why I watched this movie was because Hollywood is planning on a remake of the film and is set to be released within this year. I'm not really a fan of Asian to American remakes but I'm willing to give the remake a chance.
When I watch a movie, I always look for the character development. I want to see the character alive and see him transform from one person to another. This film did not disappoint at all. There is emotional attachment from the character to the viewers. Throughout the run of the entire film, it would be perfectly understandable for you to switch alliance from the protagonist to the antagonist. But by watching it, you might also end up asking yourself who is the hero and the villain. What I love about the movie is that it challenges the audience' morals and their views about revenge and what's right and wrong.
The movie runs in a theme-driven plot and does not fail to deliver its message in a twisted and disturbing way. The movie highlights how solitude and the passage of time can change a man in different ways unimaginable. Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik) is a man who introduces himself as a womanizer with a strong personality but at the same time manages to amuse us. After his captivity, we see him grow into someone darker and violent. Such traits must have been present within him for a long time but the confinement surely made the inner violence surface.
But the theme that fuels the entire movie is revenge. Oh Dae-su seeks revenge to those who held him captive for fifteen years while the captor Lee Woo-jin (Yoo Ji-tae) is also driven by revenge or something that has happened a long time ago. The twists and turns will manage to keep you at the edge of your seat. You wouldn't know who is one step ahead of the game until the very end. The concept of revenge is challenged whether it is righteous to get even to the people who have done you wrong. In addition to this, the question of 'what will you do after you carry out your revenge' is raised.
Story-wise, the movie is beyond perfection. If I continue to talk more about the morals and themes of the film then I might end up digressing.
The acting is superb. Choi Min-sik is a national treasure. No inhibitions when he acts and always makes sure to give it his best. He delivers so well that you can feel his emotions and his character's hunger for vengeance. One of the most memorable scenes of his would have to be when he ate a squid alive. No CGI here. It was also said that four squids were used to take that shot. I could barely stomach that part but I still managed to get through it.
The editing and the cinematography of the movie also deserve a big round of applause. There were numerous scenes that are memorable to me. The hallway fight scene which was shot in one continuous take was well choreographed, well executed and very entertaining. What I loved about it is like watching a real life fight happen. No cuts pure action. I also loved the part where he went back to his high school to search for answers and we enter a flashback sequence where his old self and his past self is are present in the sequence. It's a great execution of the concept 'tracing back your footsteps'.
In conclusion, Oldboy really deserves to be called as one of the best films in Asia. Well crafted, well directed, and well executed. This film would definitely be a winner for horror and gore fans out there. If you're not then don't worry, you can still relate to it. Definitely a film to watch before you die. Or at least before you take revenge on someone.
Rating: 5/5
Evil Dead serves as the reboot of the Evil Dead series back in 1980s and a loose continuation of it. The movie is about five teenagers who venture into the woods with one goal: to help their drug junkie friend to live a better life, and what better way to do it than a rehab in the middle of the forest.
Mia (Jane Levy), the druggie, is forced to spend a getaway in a cabin in the woods in order to clean herself after almost dying due to overdose. With her are her two friends and brother David (Shiloh Fernandez) and his girlfriend. Mia has not seen his brother for a long time already so they have a rough start at first. Unbeknownst to them is the Book of the Dead waiting to be opened which would give life to their most terrifying nightmares ever.
Before going to the cinemas and watching this movie, I made sure to watch the original series at first to know what changes they brought to the table. Thankfully, I'm not disappointed.
The best thing I loved about this movie is how it pays great homage to the original series. (geek mode for a bit) If you've watched the trilogy beforehand, you would see this reboot in an entirely different light. In the entire length of the film, there would always be a reference to the old films which makes it a success as a reboot. There are many reboots and remakes right now that don't give good regard to the original film at all. There were lots of moments in the movie wherein I smile not because it's funny, but because I recognize in which film from the original they took it from. But say you didn't watch the original series and don't plan to do so, there is no need to fear of being lost while watching the film. Its goal is to entertain the original fans and to attract new ones.
Another thing that I love in the movie is how the two main actors of the movie was given a deeper character background and not just mere puppets forced to act inside a box. This helped very much in the development of the story in the movie. Sadly, the other characters fall short in establishing a persona of their own.
Evil Dead this time decided to fully go on horror mode unlike its predecessors that were a combination of horror and comedy. It didn't have much humor like the first film but I leave that for you guys to decide whether that's good or bad.
Director Alvarez did a good job in making this film and one of the things that I liked was the use of the classic horror scares. He made use of very cliche horror scares that one may have seen too many for his lifetime but it surprisingly works in Evil Dead. Why? He took all those horror cliches you know and puts a twist on them. I have to say it's very risky choosing to use such scares in a new audience who is harder to please. Weirdly enough, what made the original Evil Dead scary was the very unexpected screams it would give you. Moments where you think everything is safe then boom, you're dead :) I was looking for it in the reboot but sadly it didn't give any. Lots of moments where you would expect and actually want something to pop up but there's none.
Though this movie is based on something old, I think it would fare well with the audience today since this might actually be new to them. Yes, a group of teenagers in a cabin in the woods may be overused but what I mean by new is how it is presented. (The trailer itself had too much blood already) Overall, the Evil Dead is Good.
Rating: 4/5
