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The Invisible Man (2020) Review

*SPOILER FREE*

The Invisible Man is a movie monster that most people should know about by now. The mere mention of the name and you’ve put an image in someone’s head of what they understand The Invisible Man to be. There have been plenty of adaptations of this story with the novella originally being published in 1897. This particular one is getting a lot of attention, as it should.

Elisabeth Moss and Oliver Jackson-Cohen star in the most recent adaptation of The Invisible Man, directed by Leigh Whannell. I want to start off by saying that the performance Moss gave was incredible. She delivered in every single scene; she didn’t miss a beat. Watching her character progression bloom on screen was worth the watch on its own. As for Cohen, he played an excellent villain. I wouldn’t have pegged him as someone who could play the hell out of a villainous role — especially after his part in The Haunting of Hill House — yet, he really did it. Now, you don’t get to see him that often throughout the film, for obvious reasons, but his voice, and the times you do get to see his expressions, are totally unsettling. I honestly can’t shake some of the expressions. Same goes for Moss, I’m still thinking about her emotionally charged scenes and the distant looks she gives when she feels defeated. The two of them really played off each other.

In a movie like this, you really need to find out how to scare the audience in a non-traditional way. And that’s exactly what they did here, with cinematography and sound design. The cinematography was disquieting. It’s interesting how they managed to incite fear just by showing you a completely empty room. You know in the back of your mind that nothing is there, but you wonder if that’s really true, and you start searching the scene for any hints of a presence. Those lingering scenes gives you a sense of panic. Your need to know what’s going on makes things a little more intense and exciting. Overall, the use of negative space and camera panning was fantastic. The sound design was also a big factor in the film. The score is done by none other than Benjamin Wallfisch, and his work sure does shine in this one. There are plenty of scenes when there is complete silence, or close to it. But when the things start to heat up, the sound explodes, in only the best ways. I truly appreciated the sound in this one, and all the other ways the filmmakers kept putting the audience on edge.

Speaking of fear, one thing I noticed was the lack of jumpscares. I really did expect there to be a lot more with a movie called The Invisible Man. They honestly could have gone overboard with it, but I’m completely happy with their decision to pull back and focus on the creepier side of things. There was also a surprising amount of action, and those scenes didn’t seem to take anything away from the actual story. They kept you right where you needed to be. And there were no predictable moments; there were actually a handful of scenes that were a little shocking.

To wrap things up, I do want to talk about the story a bit. As most people probably know, this movie is about an abusive relationship that escalates to a horrific point. Of course it’s not entirely realistic, but there are huge moments that can properly represent what it’s like to deal with such a traumatic experience. I think it especially focuses on what it feels like to be alone and not have anyone believe what you’re going through. The point being, you should believe people who have had to deal with abuse, and have PTSD as a result. What makes the story haunting is the fact that the message is so real. And I think they handled it really well.

The Invisible Man is a fun and modern take on the classic story by H.G Wells. It’s relentlessly eerie, and throws handfuls of emotions at you throughout the film. There were also some little easter eggs that fans will appreciate. I honestly wanted to watch it again almost as soon as I left the building. I’m extremely happy with how it turned out.

Go see this movie. If you have the chance to see it in theatre, it’s worth it. It’ll stick with you for a while. And hopefully pleasantly surprise you.

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Vivarium (2020) Review

*SPOILER FREE*

I honestly haven’t seen much talk about this movie, unless I’m specifically looking for some. Vivarium stars Imogen Poots and Jesse Eisenberg — a longtime couple looking to buy a house together and hopefully start a family someday. During one of their searches they stumble into a small real estate storefront. And everything begins there. Gemma (Poots) and Tom (Eisenberg) end up getting stranded in a suburban community full of houses that all look the same, and any direction they take brings them back to where they started. They’re the only ones there, until they’re forced to raise a mysterious child together.

This film takes place in a dreamlike setting that soon turns into a nightmare. The air seems thick, the colours are dull, and no matter which direction you go or how fast you try to get there, nothing changes. It’s as if you’re staring into someone’s dreaming mind — hazy and unpredictable.

Vivarium is a film that seems like there isn’t a lot going on. You keep watching hoping you’ll get to all the answers eventually. It’s a slow movie that still manages to keep you in its grip. You shouldn’t go into it with the assumption that you’ll be satisfied when it’s over. It’s a thriller, it’s science fiction, but it’s most of all a mystery — one that you’re left to try to figure out on your own. Let your imagination give you the satisfaction you need. Dream up your own answers.

Watching this movie will take you on a wild ride. It’s unlike any other movie I’ve seen, that I can recall. It’s eerie, disturbing, and utterly stressful to watch. Don’t let that scare you, though. Underneath the dread, there is a story that I’m sure will resonate differently with everyone. It’s about so much more than what’s on the surface.

Take an hour and a half out of your day and watch this movie. We’re all a little stuck right now, maybe we’ll be able to sympathize with the characters a little deeper — while we’re all sitting at home. 

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Doctor Sleep (2019) Review

*SPOILER FREE*

As advertised, yes, this is the sequel to The Shining. But it’s so much more than just that. Doctor Sleep is a movie not just about confronting your past, but it’s also about understanding where you came from and accepting who you are, despite being different. This story isn’t all about going back to The Overlook Hotel, as its been advertised. It stands on its own as a thrilling and emotional horror film. Mike Flanagan — known for his adaptations of Gerald’s Game, and The Haunting of Hill House — understands what it means to create a story that’s not only scary, but touching.

I’ve read both Stephen King novels, The Shining and Doctor Sleep. And I thoroughly enjoyed them both (The Shining more so). As some people know, the ending of The Shining book is much different than the ending of the Stanley Kubrick film by the same name. This, in turn, means the beginning of the Doctor Sleep novel has some parts that require the previous book ending to be true, not The Shining movie ending. But none of that seemed to stop Flanagan from bringing both projects together to make something that the book and movie fans can appreciate. I think it even made King appreciate the Kubrick film, I believe he said that Doctor Sleep redeems it.

Speaking of which, all the little details that paid homage to The Shining film were wonderful. This truly felt like a sequel, with the cinematography, music, and flashbacks. There were also moments that were shot-for-shot, which was just fun to see. I want to make sure I mention that the casting was superb. For one thing, Alexandra Essoe played quite a convincing Wendy Torrance. And the other characters they brought back were wonderfully played as well. I was pleasantly surprised. The new characters were also admirable; I really loved seeing Ewan McGregor as Dan Torrance, and I think Kyliegh Curran played a terrific Abra. When I read the book I feel like I pictured all the characters as they were shown in the film.

I know the box office hasn’t been good to the movie thus far, and that could be for a number of reasons. But I found Doctor Sleep to be a remarkably heart wrenching, horrifying, and heartwarming film. The only issues I had were with pacing, and some parts I felt weren’t really fleshed out enough. Though, knowing everything that goes down in the novel(s), I feel like it was easy enough to follow. They did a good job of making sure everything could be understood by the audience, whether they had read the book(s) or not.

Doctor Sleep is a well thought out film, with the right amount of scares and story. Go see it. Then tell your friends to see it, especially if they’re a fan of The Shining. You’ll surely want to experience this. 

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The Lighthouse (2019) Review

*SPOILER FREE*

The Lighthouse is a film set in the 1890s about two men, played by Willem Defoe and Robert Pattinson, who get stranded on a small island that inhabits the lighthouse they’re tending to. They’re originally supposed to be picked up after four weeks of work, but the weather becomes violent and they soon realize that no one is coming for them. 

This movie is brought to you by Robert Eggers, the same filmmaker that gave us The Witch. Having seen both movies, I have to say they do share similar aspects, but they are still quite different from each other. The Lighthouse is a refreshing piece of work in this day and age. From the cinematography, to the intensity of the story line, it’s something unique.

The story of the Lighthouse seems simple enough. But that simplicity proves to be gripping and unpredictable. As you keep watching the film, you start to feel as if you’re stranded alongside the two characters. You don’t know what to expect, and things start to feel claustrophobic. It also does a good job of making you wonder if what the characters are seeing is real or not. Are they losing their sanity or is there really something more to it? You just want the truth, and so does Winslow (Pattinson). He becomes increasingly more unstable, unlike his partner, Wake (Defoe), who seems to be entertained by the idea of Winslow losing himself. But alas, we don’t really know the truth about either of them. 

Speaking of the characters, I thought the performances from Pattinson and Defoe were captivating. They played the characters beautifully; they were utterly convincing. The way The Lighthouse was filmed also played a massive role in the story. If it was full-colour, and filmed in the normal aspect ratio, it would have been an entirely different experience — it wouldn’t have been as unsettling as it turned out to be. Robert Eggers knew what he wanted, and he knew how to get the reactions he desired from the audience. I think it’s safe to say he achieved his goal of creating something different and artful.

The Lighthouse is a trip worth taking. You will fall deep into the world that Eggers created and be left wondering what the hell just happened, in the best way possible. I’m always excited to see movies that are outside the box — movies that don’t need much to be memorable. And this one is going to be talked about for years to come, there’s no doubt about that.

Watch, and enjoy!

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Midsommar (2019) Review

*SPOILER FREE*

As some probably know, Midsommar is the second feature film by Ari Aster — his first being Hereditary. There has been much talk about this movie, and for good reason.

Midsommar follows a group of young adults who travel to Sweden in order to do research for a thesis on the Midsommar festival. But before any of that happens, the main character, Dani (Florence Pugh), goes through a traumatic experience. Following this tragic event, her boyfriend Christian (Jack Reynor) reluctantly invites her to his Swedish guys-only vacation. Among the group is Pelle (Vilhelm Blomgren) who is presumably an exchange student who made friends with everyone through school. He is originally from a commune in Sweden. And plans on bringing his friends to that commune so that they have a place to stay and witness the festival up close. Almost as soon as they arrive in Sweden, things get a little strange. Dani is also struggling to deal with her trauma, which results in visceral panic attacks throughout the film.

Without spoiling, I think the scariest part of the movie happens at the beginning of the film. The imagery is haunting and dwells in your mind until the very end, and even afterward. The rest of the movie has clear horror elements, but that’s not what you immediately focus on. I think it’s easier to be consumed by the terror of the entire situation. The film is scattered with panic and anxiety inducing scenarios. You really feel for Dani and what she’s going through, because her emotions are so raw. The other characters are less interesting and easy to forget/not care about. I’m not sure if that’s intentional, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was. And the pacing definitely contributed to the general feel of the story. Sometimes things felt rushed, but that seemed to add to the urgency of it all.

The imagery and cinematic elements are beautifully executed. There are scenes that are so hypnotizing you almost forget you’re watching a horror movie; you get pulled in and it starts feeling like you’re actually there with everyone. They’re violent, dreadful, and alluring. The artful scenes create a devastating story about trauma and growth like nothing else I’ve seen. It starts off with deep, sickening pain, but somehow ends with a feeling of peace; a feeling of finally being able to breathe.

Midsommar is a unique film that subtly explores the truth about romantic relationships and the agony that comes with being directly affected by a traumatic incident. This film is worth watching. Even if you aren’t familiar with folklore, or you don’t have much of an interest in horror films, this movie is something to be experienced.

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Pet Sematary (2019) Review

*SPOILER FREE*

If you’ve been reading reviews, you know that people aren’t ecstatic about this remake. Which is… understandable, in some ways.

Pet Sematary is a remake of the original movie from 1989, which was adapted from the 1983 novel of the same name. This movie follows a family of four, who just moved into their new home. Soon after they settle in, their cat is found dead by the father, Louis Creed (Jason Clarke), and their neighbour, Jud Crandall (John Lithgow). Jud then shows the father a special place beyond the “Pet Sematary” where the dead will come to life once you bury them there. And that’s where the fun begins.

For starters, I thought this movie was just fine. It isn’t anything to really rave about, but it also isn’t completely terrible. There were a handful scares, and creepy imagery, and the acting wasn’t bad either. It also had a couple heartfelt moments. But it did tend to rely on jumpscares a bit too much for my liking. And, the cat was definitely the star of the show. As for the plot, it was a little lacking. By now I’m sure you’ve heard of the plot change. I mean, if you’ve watched the trailer, you know it shows what happens right in it. Luckily I avoided all but the very first trailer, so I didn’t know what they were planning on doing before I saw the movie. For me, this change didn’t affect the story that much. I’d like to think that when the writers thought of it, it was a kind of “what if” moment. It was an interesting route to take.

The bit of side story with the mother, Rachel Creed (Amy Seimetz), might have been the creepiest part of the movie. If you’ve seen the original, you know what I’m talking about. But as far as I know — not having read the book — they changed a small part of that storyline as well. Though, it didn’t disrupt the main plot.

I honestly think all the small changes were okay. I just wish they tried harder to create something that was more emotionally impactful. I didn’t walk out of the theatre feeling much of anything. Maybe that’s because the creators didn’t put their heart and soul into making this movie; I got the impression that it was made just because it could be. I’d almost say that some of the film is forgettable, because they seemed to be too focused on the scare factor, rather than the actual story.

In the end, Pet Sematary was fairly average overall; it was entertaining. I’d say it’s worth a watch, especially as a Stephen King fan. And after you’ve seen it, check out what King’s suggested ending was.

As they say, sometimes dead is better. And sometimes remaking a movie for the sake of remaking it isn’t the best idea, either.

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The Kirlian Frequency (2017) Review

*SPOILER FREE*

The new animated hidden gem of Netflix: The Kirlian Frequency. It’s short, sweet, and creepy, with a little dark humor thrown in here and there. This little series consists of five episodes — all ten minutes or less. Originally created in spanish (known as La Frecuencia Kirlian) and dubbed for Netflix, this mini-series is about a late night radio show that discusses the strange things that happen in the town of Kirlian.

This show is excellent. I was pulled in from the start and didn’t want it to end. For one, the art is beautifully done. And the soundtrack makes the whole series. I mean, it’s a radio show, the ambiance does not — and should not — disappoint. Even the voice work gave me goosebumps. Many aspects of the series are chilling, and sometimes fairly subtle, which makes it all the better.

Each episode tells a different story; they give you just a glimpse of what really goes on after midnight in the small town of Kirlian. It’s eerie and mysterious, and after watching you’ll find yourself wanting to know more about this fictional place and all the people in it.

On a related note, as I was searching for more information on the series, I stumbled on an article from 2012 about Kirlian photography, which is truly fascinating, and totally played a part in the whole vibe of The Kirlian Frequency. If it didn’t, I’d be thoroughly surprised. I’ll leave a link to the article below!

I highly recommend this show. It really is brilliant. And I hope to see more work like it in the future.

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Us (2019) Review

*SPOILER FREE*

One of the most anticipated movies of the year: Us. It’s Jordan Peele’s second full-length film, and it is as good as everyone is saying — better, even.

Adelaide (Lupita Nyong'o), her husband Gabe (Winston Duke), and her two kids, Zora and Jason (Shahadi Wright Joseph and Evan Alex), arrive at their beach house in Santa Cruz, ready to enjoy their mini summer vacation. Adelaide has a fear of this side of the city, because of a moment in her childhood that caused her severe trauma and anxiety. Since then, she’s always been afraid of the beach, and this unknown person that looks exactly like her. Eventually, her fear comes to life, and she and her family need to do what they can to survive this bizarre circumstance.

I love this movie. There are so many aspects of it that make it horrifying. The deeper you look, the more fear you’ll see — the fear of the unknown, the fear of not being in control of your own body, the fear of someone out there who looks like you but lives a different life. Us sparks these unsettling realizations in ourselves and makes us walk out of the theatre wondering if it’s possible for something like this to be real. The horror is so subtle that it’s almost overwhelming. You’ll sit on the edge of your seat, with no idea of what will happen next; you’ll be consumed by fear. On that note, I want to highlight how this movie utilizes rational terror, instead of handing out cheap scares. There’s nothing scarier than real life, and the fact that you don’t know everything about it. But when you’re not feeling the dread of it all, you’ll be laughing, because there are a few moments that allow you to ease up. The humour is a great touch. Though, you nearly stop yourself from laughing sometimes. Peele likes to include misplaced humour in his work because it makes people feel unsure about when to laugh and if they should be laughing at all. Another thing about Us that stood out for me was the setting and cinematography; I thought the overall atmosphere was unnerving, and some of the camera work was highly notable. It pulled me in and made me feel as if I were there, experiencing it all with them.

An important thing to note is the acting. There are plenty of movies where one actor plays two or more characters, but this was something else. This was seamless. It got to a point where I honestly began to forget it was just one person playing two different characters. I was so convinced that these doppelgangers were the real thing. I can only imagine what it was like on set. Jordan Peele has mentioned in interviews that he gave Lupita a watchlist of horror movies so that she could prepare for the role and be able to understand the genre of horror as a whole. I have to say, her homework paid off. As for the rest of the actors — especially the kids — they were just as fantastic and creepy.

Us is wonderfully chilling, and a great addition to Jordan Peele’s horror movie repertoire. I knew he would deliver after Get Out (2017), and I am thoroughly impressed. My expectations were exceeded. He truly has an eye for horror that we desperately need right now. This film is a piece of art and should be recognized as such in the horror community. And whether you see it coming or not, I’m sure that ending will sit with you for a good while.

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