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Reviews
A Wrinkle in Time (2018)
Disappointing
I was so excited for this movie. I loved the book as a kid, the cast seemed solid, and the visuals looked awesome. Unfortunately, it was far below my expectations. While the movie is visually stunning with the pops of color and interesting landscapes, the story is disjointed and the acting seems forced or somehow oddly directed.
I mostly was bored and confused with the movie. It seemed very much all over the place. The major plot lines were poorly explained. This seemed like it would be a slam dunk since Disney has a reputation for adapting stories, but they fell short here.
The Surface (2014)
Kind of a Snooze
I had high hopes from this movie based on the description and I also enjoy Sean Astin as an actor so I thought it would be pretty good. I was wrong. First of all, it didn't really have any sense of adventure or suspense like I thought it would. While it did explore topics that I feel are important to delve into, it just wasn't done in a manner that was effective enough to capture interest or elicit emotion.
The movie is very dialogue heavy and that dialogue is just not engaging in my opinion. I kept waiting for more to happen, but more never came.
They Look Like People (2015)
Not What I Expected But I Loved It
This movie surprised me in that it went in a different direction than what I anticipated. I ended up really enjoying it though. The chemistry between the main characters is great and the movie delves into some serious topics and does it in a very effective manner. I felt for the characters and also still had no idea how the movie would end. There were some suspenseful scenes for sure. This is not a traditional horror movie as it initially seemed, but it was certainly worth the watch.
Devil in the Dark (2017)
The Only Scary Thing is the Dialogue
This movie was just not interesting to me at all. Many people are calling it a slow burn. I like slow burn movies, but this movie just never really gets off the ground. Much of the movie focuses on the strained relationship between two brothers. Their dialogue and lack of chemistry however just serves to make the viewer not invest much in either of them. I just didn't care what happened to them.
The scares are limited and ineffective. I never once felt true tension or eerieness. As a plus though the scenery in the movie is beautiful.
Save yourself the time and skip this one.
Desolation (2017)
Decent
This definitely isn't the best film out there, but it wasn't terrible. It had some good tension and I got a good creepy vibe from the antagonist throughout the movie. There is really no explanation for him, but I didn't mind that. Who knows what kind of creepy people lurk in the woods in the middle of nowhere after all?
The acting is decent though the characters make some painfully questionable decisions. This is probably the most irritating part of the movie. I liked that it has a short running time so they don't keep drawing out the situation. This helps the movie.
It's not winning any awards, but it's definitely not the worst movie out there.
Reaper (2014)
No Idea Where the High Reviews Come From
I honestly only got through about a half hour of this dumpster fire of a movie. The acting was awful, the scenarios were just so ridiculously unrealistic, and the story to this point was not even interesting. Maybe it gets better, but I honestly don't see how. The characters were all pretty much garbage so I couldn't see myself caring about what happened to any of them. Save your time and avoid this one.
Evil Genius: The True Story of America's Most Diabolical Bank Heist (2018)
Interesting True Crime Documentary
I was a big fan of Making a Murderer as well as The Jinx so I was excited to give this series a watch. It's not quite as engaging as the others, but still a very interesting story. It's only 4 episodes, but I like that it was concise and not overly drawn out though another episode or two might have been interesting.
As you watch, you're constantly trying to figure out the outcome of this crime and "whodunnit". When it wrapped up, I was left questioning a lot of the aspects of what happened. It definitely kept me interested and was a good series for those who are a fan of the true crime genre.
Lavender (2016)
Not Bad, Not Great
Lavender has a fairly interesting, though not entirely unique premise. While it tries to create an eerie atmosphere and engaging story, it just kind of misses the mark. Nothing is particularly terrible about it. The story resolves neatly and there are a few effective scary moments. It's just not very memorable. I personally didn't find the acting very impressive and just felt bored at moments. The reveal at the end was unexpected, but not all that satisfying.
If you're considering checking out the movie, it's worth a casual watch.
Verónica (2017)
Great Horror Find
I decided to check this out on Netflix and it was well worth the watch. This genre has been done many times and often not well, but this movie nailed it in my opinion. The atmosphere remained tense and creepy through the film. The acting was also good. I relied on the subtitles, but still really felt for the characters and was drawn in by their reactions. I was really rooting for the characters through the entire movie.
The movie was not overly reliant on jump scares and the ones present work well. There's a feeling of dread maintained from pretty much beginning to end. This one is worth checking out!
Let Me In (2010)
A Pleasant Surprise
I went into this uncertain as I found it on Netflix and horror movies on there can be very hit or miss. This one is definitely a gem. This movie combines horror and childhood love in a way that is captivating and very well done.
The acting is great; the two child stars really stand out and keep you engaged throughout the movie. The film explores themes such as bullying and loneliness in a very powerful way. There are scenes that are legitimately creepy and then scenes that tug on your heartstrings.
The running time is perfect. The movie never really lags and ties everything up very well. I really enjoyed it and would recommend giving it a watch.
The Vault (2017)
Not Great, But Not Bad
The premise of this movie sounded different than most so I figured it was worth a watch. The story starts out pretty good and the acting is decent. It got sort of rushed and clumsy towards the middle though and the ending left something to be desired.
I would have liked to see more background on the main characters; their stories just seemed sort of hollow to me. There is a good, creepy vibe throughout a lot of the movie which is a plus.
I'd say it's worth a watch. It wasn't bad compared to many of the movies in the genre, but I don't need to see it again.
Jungle (2017)
Interesting Movie with Good Acting
I really enjoyed this film. Daniel Radcliffe did a great job as the lead character. I'm a huge Harry Potter fan and wondered if I'd be thinking of him as Harry throughout the movie, but that was not the case. I was engaged in the character he was playing. The other actors in the movie did a great job as well.
The plot moves along at a good pace. There are a few parts that drag here and there, but overall I was interested through the entire movie. I felt for the characters and really was rooting for them. After finishing the movie it led me to read more about the true story.
I would say definitely give this movie a watch.
Beyond the Gates (2016)
Nostalgia Couldn't Save This One
This movie seemed to have potential at the beginning. They seemed to be going to an 80s vibe and the basic premise sounded unique and interesting. Unfortunately, it was not executed well.
From ridiculous gore effects to idiotic character decisions, this movie just did not do it for me. There was no sense of dread or really care for what happened to the characters. The ending is anticlimactic and silly.
I would not recommend wasting your time on this one.