mother! Review

Directed by: Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream, Pi, Black Swan)

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris, Michelle Pfeiffer, Kristen Wiig


Plot: A couple (Lawrence and Bardem) have just rebuilt their home in the middle of nowhere, after it burned down, and are ready to get back to their peaceful life. However, things take a dark turn when Bardem begins letting people into their home against his wife's wishes.

Review: ...and then things get weirder and weirder.
First of all, this is not the horror movie that it is marketed as. Even though there are a few very disturbing momentss, this is a movie that most horror fans will probably hate.
mother! is closer to an art film. There is a story, but somewhere along the way, reality just goes out the door. One can easily tell that it is trying to be symbolic, even if they don't know what it is about. But I'm pretty sure everybody in the theater, myself included, walked out asking one question: "What the hell did I just watch?"
It is a good movie in terms of film-making, with good performances. But it is still a bizarre, often nonsensical movie, that will definitely divide audiences. But whether you love it or hate it, you will be thinking about it afterwards. It was made to be analyzed, and to have people try to piece it together.
For a long time after watching, I was unsure whether I liked it or not, but I decided that I did. It is an intriguing film, that made me want to piece it together, even if it did make Requiem for a Dream look normal in comparison. I am very surprised that such an unconventional film was made by a major studio.
In conclusion, whether you love or hate it depends on who you are. Just don't expect a horror movie. Or any kind of normal movie.

Rating: 3 out of 5 WTFs

It Review

Directed by: Andy Muschietti (Mama)

Starring: Bill Skarsgard, Jaeden Lieberher, Finn Wolfhard

Plot: Based on the first half of Stephen King's novel. It is the 1980s in the small town of Derry, Maine. Children are being killed by a shape-shifting clown named Pennywise, who takes the form of what scares them the most. A small group of kids set out to stop him.

Review: 2017 has been a great year for horror movies. Get Out was immensely successful financially and critically. Split was also very successful, and proved that, despite his recent reputation, M Night Shamalan can still make good movies. And now, the new iteration of It has become a box office smash.
Fortunately, this is a great version that deserves this kind of attention. It is based on only the first half of the book, or the first, and most acclaimed episode of the the two-part miniseries adaptation. There have been plans to make the second part, and I am fully behind this.
It is full of intense sequences and creepy imagery. This version of Pennywise is scary enough to match Tim Curry's excellent performance in the original. Even though there are more than a few jump scares, they are overshadowed by several genuinely frightening moments.
But it also plays like a Stand By Me type movie. All of the children are from harsh backgrounds, become close friends, and go on this dark adventure together. Each of these characters are unique, fully fleshed out, and well-acted.
In conclusion, It is the most disturbing film I've seen all year. It has plenty of disturbing scenes, fully fleshed out characters, and great performances from a mostly young cast.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 balloons

Little Evil Review

Directed by: Eli Craig (Tucker and Dale vs Evil)

Starring: Adam Scott, Evangeline Lilly, Sally Field

Plot: A real estate agent (Scott) has just married the woman of his dreams (Lilly). But things are less than ideal between him and her son (Owen Atlas), who he is starting to suspect is the Antichrist.

Review: This is the second film from the director of the cult hit, Tucker and Dale vs Evil, a movie which I would highly recommend. And while this one does not reach the heights of his debut, it is still an enjoyable horror-comedy.
Like Tucker and Dale, it gets a lot of its humor from parodying many horror movie tropes. The child's evil power is far from subtle. Many of his actions parody scenes from other horror movies such as Poltergeist, The Shining, and, of course, The Omen. Also, there is plenty of good comedy from the reactions of side characters, who, as exaggerations of the typical horror movie character, can't see that something's wrong with him, even when it is completely obvious.
This is relatively fun movie, even though there are a few jokes that fall flat. It is a comedic tribute to the horror genre, that takes the "demon child" sub-genre in a completely different direction in the last act. This may not be something you'll remember for a long time, but it is a fun way to kill about ninety minutes.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars