Only the gentle are ever really strong.
I'm so happy you liked it! I was on the fence as to whether or not you would like it or not. I totally agree with The Shining vibe. The film did have some fantastic composition and cinematography.
My main quibble, and it really is small, was at the party.Spoiler:Other than that, it's close to perfect.
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Did you see they're releasing a director's cut where the girl is chopping almonds instead of peanuts?
A NEW GAME BEGINS
I rewatched Hush from Mike Flanagan, and it's such a great film. All aspiring genre filmmakers should study a film like this very closely. It's not an original concept, and even when embracing the cliches of a slasher/home invasion film, it finds a way to do it in a unique and/or realistic way. From simply making the protagonist a deaf mute, to having the killer shed their mask fairly early on, and keeping the violence constrained so that it never loses it's effectiveness, but also keeping the stakes high and grounded in reality. In most cases, the protagonist in a film like this will take a few hits, and maybe get stabbed once, but the protagonist in Hush takes some serious abuse, some of it is absolutely cringe-worthy. And she isn't a stupid character either, and she doesn't sit around and wait to die, but it's also realistic in how her great ideas don't always work out, and her getting in some shots on the killer seem as much a complete accident as it is a credit to her will to survive.
And the killer, once unmasked, where we can see his face, and we can hear him speak, makes his character infinitely more creepy and interesting than if he'd just kept the mask on. And as someone who is sick to death of these masked killers in movies (I blame The Strangers for making this shit popular), Hush was a breath of fresh air. I wasn't interested in watching it because of the mask, but it was Mike Flanagan so I had to check it out. I think Flanagan too wanted to shirk that tired image too, and it was done in a way that was logical to the plot and actually added some depth to the killer. Slapping a mask on your killer is just the laziest fucking thing. Why take the time to write a character and find the right person to play that character when you can just go OMG SPOOKY MASK! and call it a day?
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Halloween (2018). Viewed on large scree, with Dolby Atmos:
Ignoring the previous 9 or so sequels, this movie take place on Halloween, 40 years after Michael Meyers rampage. Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) has spent 40 years waiting for Meyers inevitable return. Now living in a cabin filled with weapons, booby traps and mannequins. She has managed to estrange her daughter with her "paranoid" behavior, but has a better relationship with her granddaughter. Of course Michael escapes after the transport bus he was on crashes, and the mayhem begins. Curtis holds her own in the physical confrontation at the end of the movie, but an out is left for a sequel.
4/6 on the RFSRS
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I saw the new Halloween movie this weekend. I'd maybe give it a 6 or 7 out of 10. It's inevitable that I was going to be let down. I was really hoping for so much more from it. I get what RF was saying about it being a weird sequel and I completely agree. I don't want to say much and spoil it for those that haven't seen it yet. I will say though, that I really did enjoy all the nods to the original film. And I'm sure I didn't even catch all of them.
Only the gentle are ever really strong.
Now, THAT makes sense! I will watch any director's cut of that film to be honest.
I enjoyed Halloween. I wasn't blown away, but I thought it was a competent horror film and a much better entry into the franchise than most of the sequels.
I also wantedSpoiler:
There were quite a few nods to the original that I really appreciated. I especially liked and got chills whenSpoiler:
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Man, I want to be able to click on those spoiler tags.
A NEW GAME BEGINS
Has Anyone tried July 22 on Netflix? I am hearing it is REALLY good...
HELP ME FIND
Insomnia #459
ANY S/L #459
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I can't. my arm got ripped off.
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I'm really surprised I haven't seen more people talk about Bad Times at the El Royale. I feel like this one is falling under the radar. I think it's one of the more fresh, stylish films of the year with a kickass cast and a breakout performance from Cynthia Erivo. The film is directed by Drew Goddard, who directed the fantastic Cabin in the Woods. If you didn't know any better you would think El Royale was directed by Tarantino or the Coen brothers.
Check it out in theaters if you can, if not, don't miss it when it comes out for rent.
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I was looking forward to Bad Times but it's already down to one showtime at my theater. I know it didn't do amazingly well on opening weekend, but what gives?
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I feel like all movies these days, aside from blockbusters, are only in the theater for 2 weeks and then they're either gone or down to 1-2 showtimes.
Only the gentle are ever really strong.
Yeah, I think you're right. It makes it hard to see everything you want to see. I don't understand it, especially because you spent years and millions of dollars on making a movie so it doesn't make sense to just keep it in theaters for two weeks (unless it's seriously not making any money).
A NEW GAME BEGINS
Hunter Killer:
I'm a sucker for submarine movies, so I'll admit that up front. This movie requires quite a bit of suspension of disbelief, not only in the plot, but in the political climate depicted. Half way through the movie, a deus a machina drops in and really is a bit far fetched.
3.5 Beers on the RFSRS (half a beer added because I like sub flicks).
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Check out my website: PopCulturedwithMovieMike
Add me on Letterboxd: https://www.letterboxd.com/MovieMike80/