What started out as a summer “coming of age” movie takes a very dark turn. A small town on the water in Michigan. People getting picked off one by one. An enemy that you can’t quite put your finger on, even by the end of the film. That oh so beautiful cliffhanger ending that makes these horror films legendary. The creep factor of “The Witch.” You think you know where things are going, but then they turn the tables again and keep you off balance almost the entire runtime.
Again, the ending of this is a thing of beauty. It takes a hot second to catch up with what’s going on, but when you do…
The whodunnit factor of “Knives Out.” The camera work of “Paranormal Activity.” The “y’all gonna die” factor of an 80’s slasher movie. A pleasantly surprising thriller, with well developed characters and well executed twists and scares.
I think they were going for intriguing… but they just left me confused and bored. Like watching an hour and a half of Debbie Downer. You’re rooting for her to die yesterday towards the end of the film.
The dynamics between the siblings, newly children of divorce. The soaring John Williams score. The perspective of the camera angles between filming the adults and filming the kids, much like JAWS, provides a subtext that really adds to the realism of the storytelling. The masterfully subtle, yet impactful touch of one of the all time great directors. Only Spielberg could make a creature like E.T. lovable.
Damn you, Netlfix! I knew exactly how this was going to go, and I still loved every awkward, ultimately lovable second!
Shocker… they have relationship troubles when Hunk 1 moves to the other side of the country and has the audacity to befriend a young woman who also goes to Harvard.
Shocker… Hunk 2 moves into Elle’s life just in time to save her from having to find something to do with her free time other than destroying her best friend’s relationship with his girlfriend who puts up with way too much shit from him if you ask me. Like, bro, you’re straight up neglecting this girl who is moving heaven and earth to be with you. You repay this loyalty with making her a third wheel in her own relationship.
Movie then pulls a “surprise” on our two main love birds by basically pulling a “When Harry Met Sally.” “She’s just my friend from school, babe. You know, like you and Noah.” This leaves hunk 2 with the sequel bait line “she’s worth it” line at the end, to let us know his quest for Elle’s heart isn’t over yet. But to be honest, she played him just to win that DDR tournament and pay for Harvard. You can do better Hunk 2, I’m rooting for you in the next one.
In all honesty, they haven’t seen the end of “When Harry Met Sally.” This is going to turn into Biz Markie’s “Just a Friend” real quick in part 3…
Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare 