Category: Horror/Thriller

Horror/Thriller Indie Science Fiction Uncategorized

“The Substance”

By Brett_G on

8.4

“Why does her bathroom look like something out of a “Saw” film?”

“Why is that hallway carpet and red bathroom straight out of “The Shining?””

Not since the movie “Society” have I seen a movie quite this moist… I can honestly say that I did not see the third act going that off the rails. Homages aside, the execution here is second to none. Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley are perfect playing off each other, and Dennis Quaid is the perfect amount of creep to really drive the central points home here. There’s definitely a strong underlying theme of obsession with vanity and selfishness and the broader themes of the Hollywood system. But there’s also one of the best body horror films in years. The originality of the horror slate this year is so refreshing, and I’m here for every frame of it on the big screen!

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Horror/Thriller Shudder Suspense/Thriller

“Speak No Evil” (2024) / (2022)

By Brett_G on

7.9 / 8.1

As a die-hard Shudder fan, I’m disappointed in myself that I didn’t realize that this was a remake of a fairly recent foreign horror film.

As for the American version, James McAvoy really makes it all work. Without him and his perfected mask slips and eventual descent into madness, I’m not sure they pull it off. I was genuinely uncomfortable from beginning to end. There’s just enough “off” in each scene to keep you on edge and keep you guessing where the next turn will lead. I will also never hear the Bangles’ “Eternal Flame” the same ever again.

Onto the foreign version… they really went all out. Where I didn’t think the remake pulled any punches, it turns out that there was indeed more room for things to get worse… much, much worse… This one is definitely not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach.

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Horror/Thriller

“Front Room”

By Brett_G on

6.1

Definitely one of the most disturbing movies of the year… it’s got that going for it.

As someone who used to work as a nurse aide in a nursing home, I haven’t seen this much combative old lady and incontinence everywhere in a long time.

The religious cult angle was a bit of a surprise. I expected an hour forty of the uncomfortable scenes with the lady from “poltergeist” weird voice, but didn’t expect it getting as strange as it did. There’s really no preparing for something like this.

Kathryn Hunter and Brandy do everything they can to rescue this thing, but it’s just too weird of a story to overcome. It couldn’t pull out of trying to be shocking to be anything else.

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Horror/Thriller Suspense/Thriller

“Blink Twice”

By Brett_G on

7.9

https://www.thehotline.org/

Unlike “It Ends With Us,” this one warns the audience that shit’s going to get dark.

… And holy crap does it ever get dark. I figured things would get weird, but not quite this deep into the worst of humanity. I can honestly say that I was caught as off guard as I’ve been in a long time by this one. But I can also say that not since “Promising Young Woman” and “Ready or Not” (or “Kill Bill) have I seen such an empowering tale of revenge on the silver screen.

I feel like he gets a lot of shit for “Magic Mike,” but Channing Tatum is one hell of an actor. He plays the villain perfectly in this one. Naomi Ackie on the screen and Zoe Kravitz behind the camera make for a hellacious one-two punch that really makes the film. I can’t imagine this coming together and being as balanced and impactful without their immense talents at play. Get ready to be befuddled for 2/3 of the runtime and sick to your stomach for the final act until the resolution right before the credits roll makes you want to laugh and cheer. It’s a WILD ride!

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Drama Horror/Thriller Romance Uncategorized

“It Ends With Us”

By Brett_G on

7.6

https://www.thehotline.org/

So… Blake Lively’s 100% in the wrong on this press tour. Damn… there’s nothing light about this movie. It’s an UNCOMFORTABLE watch. It’s a productive discomfort, but will definitely be triggering.

Going in with a fear that there would be a deference towards glorifying or worse yet romanticizing domestic violence, I was pleasantly surprised by the care that Justin Baldoni took to not only treat the subject matter with the utmost respect, but also delve into the nuance of broken people hurting other broken people when their broken pieces fit together and neither has the strength to pull out of the tailspin. The challenge of trying to help someone who needs but doesn’t want or isn’t ready for help. The weight of generational trauma.

It’s far better than the “Fifty Shades” fiasco. This one was well worth being the only guy in the theater not dragged there by his significant other.

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