Ladies and gentlemen, we have our first bomb of the year!
What could have been an interesting plot is sufficiently squandered by the time the credits roll. We didn’t need this movie. Let alone the tired Russia vs. U.S. plot. The sad state of space CGI. Mediocre execution. Maybe it’s just that “Interstellar” set too high of a bar, and movies since are just struggling to catch up?
Nothing against the cast. They tried. There was just nothing to work with here. The only bright spot was that it was on an hour and a half of my life I can’t get back.
I didn’t expect this much Freddy Krueger in my Freddy Fazbear.
The PG-13 rating only really took away from the gore factor with this one. The kills and the tension were still there. The story was stronger and had more depth to it than I expected. Even more-so if you’re a fan of the video games, as the gentlemen behind me were. It drops a lot of Easter eggs and deepens a great deal of the lore behind the (even more) twisted version of Chuck E Cheese.
A perfect cast and a strong story made for a strong outing by Blumhouse. Unlike the recent “Exorcist” reboot attempt, I found this one much more within their wheelhouse. With the perfect song choice. 🤌🏻
Do you question the motives behind maternity processes?
Do I have the film for you! I myself do not have children, and I’d be fascinated to know the way it would change my perspective on this one. From gender to societal roles and implications, this film takes a deep dive into much broader territory than I was expecting. There’s so much going on, yet it feels perfectly natural and palatable as the story unfolds and our characters journey on into the unknowns of a changing relationship with themselves, each other, and the world around them. Here I thought I’d never get to use “nature vs. nurture” in one of these things, yet here we are. It’s a fitting distillation of this film’s core.
That being said, it’s Wes Anderson at the height of his powers. The aesthetic is awe-inspiring, and the alien invasion amusing. The typical cast of this time different characters unveil a narrative that had the packed theater both tilting our heads in confusion and tossing them back in laughter in unison. A really enjoyable opening night experience at the theater.
Far better than expected, and I had high hopes. Another Blumhouse homerun.
The beauty of the horror genre is its ability to serve as a conversational vessel, presenting subject matter that we typically cannot stomach in a palatable manner to help spur further conversation. This film dive into child psychology, grief, love, loss, attachment theory, and the ethics of artificial intelligence in much more depth than any hour and a half academic lecture could ever dream of.
The storytelling is razor-sharp, and the actresses Jenna Davis and Amie Donald deserve Oscars for their portrayal of our favorite animatronic adolescent. Violet McGraw is also an amazing talent with a hopefully bright future in Hollywood. There were moments of terrorized laughter throughout the runtime with this one. It was either laughing at the absurdity or being terrified by how closely it resembles recent/current events. Similar to the “Terminator” franchise, this film forces the audience to question “should we really chase convenience at all costs?” and “should we really trust machines programmed by imperfect humans?” Ponder those existential questions while enjoying this excellent horror film.
P.S. This is my 500th review! It’s been one hell of a ride. I can’t wait to see where we go in the years to come! Thank you to everyone who entertains my ramblings.
Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare 