written and directed by Leigh Whannell
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Leigh Whannell once again masterfully -and unsurprisingly- combines raw emotion and artful practical effects to tell a story that blends classic horror elements with themes of generational trauma and the realistic messiness of navigating interpersonal relationships that hold both love and pain. If I had a nickel for every time Whannell took a classic monster movie and created a modern emotional masterpiece that personifies inner demons while giving us a badass final girl as a figurehead representative of taking back one’s power and overcoming adversity, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot but it’s weird (and wonderful) that it happened twice.
A sweet, strange introspective about self betterment, empathy, and the importance of sincere kindness directed both inward and outward. This was such a wonderful exploration of how we perceive the parts of ourselves that don’t serve us but still shape us and how those things can be tools for empathy and kindness, turning them from scary and self destructive to tools for interpersonal growth and relatability until we’re able to part with them reverently. A genuine, sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking film with fun, well done practical effects and interesting depth in its character development.
It has Kyle Gallner acting his ass off and looking real pretty while he cries, so if nothing else it succeeded in achieving what I expect out of a Kyle Gallner film.