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Monster (2022)
Much more than just a horror story
Dahmer = 10/10
Positive:
Evan Peters as Dahmer is great. He embodies the role of the killer with perfection and manages to capture the creepy aura and facial expressions of the character. The blank stare, the look and even the way he talks brings Evan Peters across brilliantly.
Contrary to expectations, the plot is extremely complex and is not just your average killer horror story.
All aspects of Dahmer's life are examined in detail and his development into a killer is analyzed from his birth onwards. But his family, the victims and other characters from Dahmer's life not only serve as accessories but are also complex characters, especially Dahmer's father, and have their own plot.
The story tells a lot more than just about the murders, but also asks some moral questions and deals with the impact of this man on society. Topics such as racism, religion and good and evil are covered.
But the series also has a lot to offer in terms of production. The murders are brutal, gruesome and keep you glued to the screen. The dark aura of the apartment, the helplessness of the victims and Dahmer's cruel and disturbing actions are conveyed in a horrific way.
Negatives: /
Baby Reindeer (2024)
Different than expected, but actually better than expected
Baby Reindeer = 9/10
Positive:
Richard Gadd embodies himself really well and conveys all the emotions and moments perfectly with his good acting.
The plot of the series is incredibly interesting and, above all, profound. Above all, everything is very unexpected, in the first few episodes you think it's a simple stalker thriller, but the plot quickly develops into a profound character study that deals with sexuality, trauma and love in a very exciting way.
The series does one thing right and that is it is not forced. The characters are all deeply human and the themes are dealt with in a unique, sometimes sarcastic but also deeply touching way.
The series perfectly tells that everything has two sides. Everyone has their dark backstory or secrets, but everything only gets worse if you keep it all to yourself, because the series also calls for you to be more open and move forward in life and to break away from the things and people that hold you back.
Episode 4 is the highlight of the series because it shows what the series wants to be.
Negatives:
You only experience the story from one perspective and don't get any insight into the inner life of Martha or other characters, which is sometimes a bit problematic since the series is based on real events.
Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire (2023)
A lazy script, but an overhated movie
Rebel Moon: Part One = 6/10
The film has great visuals and conjures up some beautifully staged and filmed images on the screen.
Ed Skrein as the antagonist plays his role great and with a lot of charisma. The General is an absolute scene stealer and a really good bad guy.
Kora also works well as a protagonist and has an interesting backstory and an exciting relationship with Nobel.
The film has some very creative approaches, especially when it comes to the backstories of the various characters, it is clear that the film has a lot to tell.
The film has a lot of good action. The fights are well staged and are extremely fun and have a certain brutality to them.
Unfortunately, the plot is all back and forth until the end and simply doesn't find a point. The entire plot only builds up what is supposed to be completed in the sequel. It's just rushing from planet to planet without leaving time for deep scenes.
The characters also barely function and each character barely gets to say more than three sentences in the entire film. There isn't a character who doesn't fulfill a cliché or even has a hint of depth.
The CGI is typical of Zack Snyder but is unfortunately rather weak.
Split (2016)
Interesting but not perfect
Split = 6/10
Anya Taylor-Joy is a great final girl and plays very convincingly. Her sad backstory and her quiet and introverted nature make her a great protagonist.
James McAvoy embodies all of his characters brilliantly and shows all of his acting abilities.
The plot is really exciting. The constant fear, the many escape attempts and the different dialogues with McAvoy are brilliant. The flashbacks to Casey's uncle are also shocking and the sessions between McAvoy and the Doctor are interesting.
Unfortunately, apart from Anya Taylor-Joy, there is no character to sympathize with and the other two girls in particular are hateable.
The plot should have gone into a lot more depth in some places. Be it Kevin's backstory or Casey's backstory.
Unfortunately, in the end there is a rather uneven plot with too many unanswered questions.
The Midnight Gospel (2020)
Beautiful
The Midnight Gospel = 9/10
The drawing style and the many characters and animations are all very creative and beautifully done. The animation is almost artistic and is not just a means to an end but has a deeper meaning and is an important part of the plot.
The dialogues between the characters are brilliant and incredibly human, as real podcast material is used as inspiration. The series builds a beautiful plot around the discussion of the podcast episodes.
The topics the series deals with are great. It's about death, about religion and about life and it all makes for a captivating, clever and, above all, educational story.
Due to the podcast format the series is based around, there is often a bit too much talking and it becomes difficult to follow at times.
X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
Better than everyone says
X-Men: Apocolypse = 7/10
Positive:
-All mutants are well cast and are coolly implemented. Everyone gets their own role and the film has many teasers and tells many stories of characters in the original films.
-Charles Xavier in particular gets good character development in this film and slowly becomes the Professor X we know from the originals.
-The plot is exciting and takes up many exciting elements from the X-Men franchise and works as a good prequel to the originals. Be it Phoenix and her powers or some new students like Scott.
-The action is a lot of fun and all the mutants and their powers enrich the fight scenes excellently and are well implemented. There is a brilliant QuickSilver scene that is beautifully staged.
The finale in particular is pretty fun and the fight between Charles and Apocalypse in their minds is really cool.
Negative:
-Apocalypse as an antagonist is not well written and is probably the weakest villain in the X-Men series. All of his followers also get far too little attention and Magneto in particular doesn't get enough dialogue and screen time in this film.
-The plot has some tonal and plot weaknesses. Many things are quite lamely staged and therefore appear ridiculous, or some characters and plot development are given far too little time.
Conclusion: This film isn't as strong as the prequels, but works really well as a standalone X-Men/superhero film and is a lot of fun.
X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
The Perfect X-Men Movie
X-Men: Days of Future Past = 10/10
Positive:
-The entire cast delivered great performances and both the old and new line-ups of mutants work great and are well written.
-The film has a complex and multi-layered plot and incorporates a lot of themes such as racism, discrimination, fear and morality.
- Above all, the different moral views embodied here by the different characters are implemented interestingly and brought to a good conclusion.
- Above all, the eternal conflict between Erik and Charles is beautifully told here in the two scenes. Both the beginning of the argument in the past and a conciliatory end in the future.
-The action is great and just a lot of fun. Be it the brutal fights against the Sentinals in the future, as well as the bitter conflicts between the mutants.
-The time travel plot and simply the entire plot is simply incredibly creative and unique and this film is really a uniquely good superhero film.
Negative:/
Conclusion: The perfect X-Men film that gives each character plenty of time to develop, tells a clever and fun story and creates good superhero action.
X: First Class (2011)
Fassbender and McAvoy make this movie brilliant
X-Men: First Class = 8/10
Positive:
-The entire cast is amazing and every actor embodies their character convincingly.
-James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender in particular are absolute scene stealers and play their roles masterfully. Their dynamic and moral conflict is fascinating and their relationship is the best thing about the whole film.
-The film builds an interesting story and tells a deep story. Like the other X-Men films, the plot goes deeper than it seems at first glance. It's about discrimination, racism, bodies and morals.
-The different powers of the X-Men are coolly integrated into the plot and each character has their own conflicts.
Negative:
-Sebastian Shaw is unfortunately not a good antagonist. He's very over the top and his grand plan is pretty cheesy and cartoony.
-In general, especially when it comes to the antagonist's plan, the plot often becomes quite flat and childish. Politics and governments are portrayed in a very childlike manner and war and the military are portrayed in an extremely simplified manner.
Conclusion: A great prequel that tells the story and characters of the X-Men universe almost better than the original. Magneto and Professor X are absolutely brilliant and their dynamic carries the film. Even though the film has its cheesy elements and a bad antagonist, it is still a great X-Men film.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
A shame
X-Men Origins: Wolverine = 3/10
Positive:
-Hugh Jackman as Wolverine is an absolute scene stealer as always and saves this film for the most part.
-The action is mostly fun and especially the fights between Wolverine and his brother are really brutal and entertaining.
Negative:
-The CGI and green screen are terrible and no action scene looks remotely realistic or at least aesthetically pleasing.
-The plot is absolutely lazy and lovelessly written. Everything is so constructed and no character or storyline seems neatly told.
-All the twists and ideas that are supposed to build tension can be seen miles ahead and, especially in the end, there is one stupid twist or one unnecessary plot device after the other.
-All characters except Wolverine don't work. Nobody gets enough screen time and especially the interpersonal relationships, be it between Wolverine and his brother or his wife, don't get enough time. The remaining supporting characters like Deadpool and other mutants are written into this film so pointlessly and serve no purpose for the plot.
-Not only is the film bad in itself, it also destroys the continuity of the other X-Men films by ruining so much with stupid dialogue or small funny moments.
Conclusion: An unworthy origin for Wolverine. Except for Hugh Jackman, everything is bad about this film. Lazy script, annoying characters, strange twists and ruins the continuity of the franchise.
X2 (2003)
Better than the previous one
X Men 2 = 8/10
Positive:
-The entire cast works well again, as in the predecessor, and have a great dynamic with each other.
-As in the predecessor, there are some legendary performances again, like High Jackman as Wolverine or Ian McKellen as Magneto.
-Stryker as the antagonist is menacing and well-written.
-The plot manages to continue and expand on the themes of the predecessor. Again, it's a lot about discrimination, racism and fear.
-The film manages to expand on the mutants and their myth and build up some interesting conflicts again.
-The action is good and fun especially the fight scenes with Wolverine.
Negative:
-The film has its problems in the script. Charles Xavier seems very powerless and weak in this film and the ending where Gene sacrifices himself also seems very constructed.
Conclusion: A strong sequel that even partially overshadows its predecessor. Hugh Jackman steals the show and the film manages to tell another deep and clever superhero story. Even if the film, like its predecessor, has small weaknesses in the script, it remains a really good film.
Napoleon (2023)
People who hate this movie just yap
Napoleon = 8/10
Positive:
-Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal of Napoleon is wonderful to watch. He fits this role perfectly and is already iconic with this role.
-The relationship between Napoleon and Josephine is interesting and complex, but works very well as a ramen for the film's plot.
-The film is a masterpiece in terms of staging. Be it the magnificent noble houses, the huge battlefields or the violence. Everything looks beautiful.
-The battle scenes are masterful. They are brutal, captivating and beautiful to watch. What stands out is the scene at the frozen lake. Every action scene simply gives you goosebumps.
-The plot does not perfectly fulfill its purpose in the artistic context of this film. The various locations and most important events in Napoleon's life are dealt with and are also beautifully worked out. Even the overarching ramen, the relationship between Napoleon and Josephine, works well.
Negative:
-The film seems quite rushed at times. In some parts the film jumps from location to location and so naturally leaves out large parts of Napoleon's life. You can tell that the many characters and events would have benefited from more time to develop.
-There's just a lack of sympathy for the characters. The film doesn't give itself enough time to become fascinated by the characters. Aside from Napoleon and Josephine, there is no character that you get to know well. This doesn't do the film any good, especially in its battle scenes. The emotional anchor is often missing in many scenes.
Conclusion: A brilliantly made film, with unique images and wonderfully staged battles that travel with you.
Joaquín Phoenix shows his talent at all times in this role and the film tells an interesting romance and story of a legendary man. The film would have benefited from more time; it sometimes jumps from scene to scene and leaves out entire sections of Napoleon's life. Even if the film lacks depth, it remains a great epic with beautiful production, great acting and an exciting story.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)
What the hell was that Disney?
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny = 3/10
Positive:
-It's nice to see Indiana Jones again. Especially the first 20 minutes of the film, in which you see the young Indiana Jones with great aging, are great.
-Mads Mikkelsen as the antagonist is an absolute scene stealer and is one of the best Indiana Jones villains.
-The story about the wheel of time and the time traveler is fun and creative. Especially in the finale with the journey to 214 BC is brilliant and incredibly creative.
Negative:
-The film seems so incredibly loveless. No character seems sophisticated or likeable. Even Harrison Fort seems bored and unfortunately his character no longer works at all. All the sidekicks like Helena are also horrible and don't work for a second.
-The CGI and action are terrible. Everything seems incredibly cheap and cheesy. The fight scenes are over the top like in the predecessors, but unfortunately they are exaggerated and lose their charm.
-Unfortunately, the plot as a whole is also terribly stupid. Be it the characters, the exhausted clichés and simply the loveless script. There's nothing more behind it here. Indiana Jones is like every other adventure film, only a lot stupider.
-The film is also too long. Some parts are extremely boring and in general there is often not much happening and, above all, nothing new.
Conclusion: A bad conclusion to a legendary film series. Unfortunately, this film is a disgrace for the character Indiana Jones, he degenerates into an old useless grandpa and gets a few sidekicks that are even harder to bear. Even if the film has its bright spots and good ideas, everything is lost in a film that is far too boring and loveless.
Air (2023)
Ben Affleck should make more movies
Air = 8/10
Positive:
-The film brings together a great cast, everyone of whom delivers. Matt Damon is incredibly symphonic and a great protagonist. But Ben Afflek in particular steals the show with a very funny and brilliant performance.
-The film builds a surprisingly exciting and well-told plot around the Air Jorden. The story is told quickly, but still pays attention to the characters and puts them at the center. The result is a charming and heartfelt story about love for basketball and that willpower and dedication matter most.
-The film has some awesome dialogues and lines that stay in your head. The good dialogue brings a certain fire to the plot and makes some scenes better than they actually would be.
-You can tell the love for the subject in the film. He is super colorful and full of joy. The film deals with the topic with a lot of passion for both basketball and the individual characters.
Negative:
-The film is damn cheesy and exaggerates reality in some scenes. The film is very "Hollywood-like". Whether it's cheesy dialogues or exaggerated characters, sometimes it's annoying.
-The music selection is a bit annoying at times and makes the film seem strangely loud and colorful. Sometimes a pop song from the 80s is played in scenes that don't actually require music. This makes the film unnecessarily annoying.
Conclusion: A super charming and fun film with a lot of passion about basketball and the story behind Nike. The characters are great and especially the actors, who convey the brilliant dialogues beautifully. Even if the film sometimes falls into kitsch and in some scenes it simply overdoes the music and exaggerated dialogue, it remains a great film.
X-Men (2000)
A Classic
X Men = 8/10
Positive:
-All the X-Men are well cast and the individual characters are well written and all have a story.
-Magneto is a great antagonist. He's not evil, he just despises people. At no point does it seem stupid or illogically written.
-The dynamic between Magneto and Xavier is brilliant and very human. They don't behave like the classic comic opponents and argue all the time, no, they respect each other and have normal conversations.
-The plot is simple, but sets a tone for all superhero films we know today.
-Despite the simple concept, the film manages to integrate many emotional, political and other important themes into its plot. Above all, the way the topic of racism and discrimination and the different ways of dealing with it are dealt with is great.
-The action and how each superpower is used in these scenes is great and a lot of fun.
Negative:
-Magneto's big plan is stupid, even if his views and character are well written, his big plan to turn everyone into mutants remains stupid and is too over the top.
-sometimes the film is a bit cheesy and doesn't give some characters and ideas enough time to develop.
Conclusion: A great film that really made the superhero genre big and creates a good general package with its exciting and deep plot. Even though the film is partly cheesy and a little stupid, it remains a classic of the genre and a fun experience.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
The movie where Hitler gives Indiana Jones an autograph
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade = 9/10
Positive:
-Indiana Jones, once again superbly portrayed by Harrison Fort, gets more depth in this film than in any other film in the series.
-The relationship between Indie and his father is a fun and beautiful one
It gets really emotional towards the end.
-The antagonists are really fun and cool. The SS General Vogel in particular is great and perfectly over the top.
-The story of the film is fun, interesting and a really clever and creative scavenger hunt. There are also some twists between good and evil and how Elsa switches sides was really surprising.
-The film finds a great balance between being over the top and being creative but still serious and emotional. He manages to capture the magic of the first part and forgets about the strange second part.
-The action is awesome and this film once again offers a bunch of chase scenes, be it in the air, on land or in the water. These are all incredibly fun and creative.
-There is an awesome scene with Hitler that is super surprising and iconic.
Negative:
-The finale is a bit contrived and in general the film is not as well-rounded as the first part.
Conclusion: A great conclusion to a trilogy. All the characters work well, Indiana Jones in particular gets a lot of depth and has a great dynamic with his father. The story is fun and clever and the small mistakes are easy to overlook.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
The strangest Indiana Jones movie
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom = 6/10
Positive:
-Harrison Ford is great again in his role as Indiana Jones and brings a lot of charm and his special nature to the character.
-The Sidekick Short Round is a fun and cute new sidekick
-The action scenes sometimes even surpass those of the predecessor and are incredibly creative and funny. It's just a lot of fun to watch the characters fight their way through the temple's traps and mines.
-The entire finale is absolutely over the top and impressive. It jumps from one action set piece to the next and the final fight on the bridge is really fun.
-The film has some iconic scenes again and is significantly harder in its dark scenes than the first part. One of the most impressive scenes are the ritual scenes where, for example, a victim's heart is ripped out.
Negative:
-Unfortunately the squad of antagonists is not good. In contrast to its predecessor, the bad guys here are absolutely not charismatic and the actors' acting is terrible.
-Generally the characters don't work as well as in the predecessor. Be it Kate Capshaw or our antagonists.
-The plot of the film is not only much more boring and stupid than its predecessor, it completely lacks substance.
The film seems much more aimed at children and is too over the top and colorful.
-The entire film is so strangely cheesy and full of slapstick. It just doesn't suit Indiana Jones if he survives a plane crash with a rubber dinghy.
Conclusion: The film is just too strange and doesn't fit into the overall picture of the Indiana Jones series at all. It just lacks the dirty and seriousness. Harrison Ford is great and the entire action is flawless and sometimes even better than the original. Unfortunately, with the strange and childish story and the annoying characters, all the shine doesn't help.
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
A perfect Movie
Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark = 10/10
Positive:
-Harrison Ford plays Indiana Jones with a unique and iconic style, giving the character a certain charm.
- Also worth mentioning is Ronald Lacey who plays the Nazi Toht. A great antagonist that is menacing, over the top and a funny satire of Nazis.
-Dialogues and humor are all great. Be it Indiana Jones' oneliners or the satirical attitude of the Nazis.
-The action and fight scenes are great and all of them stay in your head. Be it the duels or the chases, all of these scenes are incredibly entertaining and well done.
-The plot is fun, clever and iconic. It is a model for many other adventure films and a good mix of the supernatural, action and a lot of charm.
-The film combines everything good about adventure films and is not an icon of film history for nothing.
Negative:/
Conclusion: The role model of every adventure film and an icon of film history. The film that made Harrison Ford a legend and creates a charming and fun adventure film that is so much better than it should be. A perfect film.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Truly disturbing
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre = 10/10
Positive:
-The film is incredibly brutal and every scene of violence is haunting.
-All the horror scenes are well staged and really make you feel fear and paranoia. The escape scene through the forest in particular is nerve-wracking and you think it's over every second. You feel drawn in and the scenes are so haunting and relatable.
-Generally the film has a great look. The grainy and realistic look fits well with the horror that this film wants to convey.
-Leatherface is an awesome slasher villain. His costume is frightening and iconic and the sight of it strikes fear into one's heart.
-The plot of the film is simple but brilliant. The horror slowly builds and one friend after another is slaughtered. How they repeatedly meet the murderers (gas station) over the course of the plot and think nothing of it is subsequently frightening. But the film is not a normal slasher, it has a vibe that is indescribably disturbing and disgusting. You feel like you're part of the action the whole time, like you're being followed all the time and you're nowhere safe.
-The finale at the cannibals' dinner table is one of the scariest and most disturbing scenes in film history. How the family makes a game out of the murders and how normal they seem is absolutely disturbing.
-The ending of the film is brilliant. The way Sally's screams turn into a shrill laugh is scary and represents the trauma and her disturbed mind that she suffered from.
-The film is more than just a slasher. It's a story about the sickness of the human mind. The film is a symbol of pure violence.
Negative:
-The protagonists are all assholes and unsympathetic. Since this fact doesn't matter for the message of the film, you can ignore it.
Conclusion: The film is without a doubt the best slasher ever and has had a decisive influence on pop culture. Every slasher that came after this film has to compete with this legend of a film. The film is more than a slasher, it is disturbing, thrilling and brutal.
Ahsoka (2023)
Why doesn't Star Wars manage to write good plots anymore?
Ahsoka = 6/10
Positive:
-Finally the Star Wars lore is being expanded properly again. The series introduces a bunch of new ideas, locations, items and characters.
-The characters are all well written and each of them works well.
-The antagonist side in particular has some great characters. Be it the two new "Sith" who are very mysterious and morally ambivalent. The biggest scene stealer is Thrawn with his thoughtful and clever manner.
-The series has a lot of action and fights, but above all a lot of creativity and fun in staging settings and fights.
Negative:
-Unfortunately, the series often has a very cheap look. Be it the inappropriate cuts, bad CGI or strange costumes. The characters from the series "Rebels" in particular look terribly cartoony.
-The script is pretty mediocre. It does have its moments, but for the most part the series is told so slowly and predictably. Characters come and go, things happen because the script wants them to and a lot of things are so predictable and cheap.
-The entire plot goes around in circles. The series starts with the journey to Ezra and the journey to Thran in Peridea. In the end everything is simply reversed, the characters who were in the normal galaxy at the time are now on Peridea and all the characters who were on Peridea are in the galaxy. This results in an action that ends in nothing and sets everything back to 0.
-The series would have needed more time for characters and their development. There are too many characters in too little time:
Conclusion: A series with incredibly creative and great ideas that really makes you want more. Unfortunately, the script is so incredibly lame and poorly written that the entire plot goes around in circles. The series seems so cheap and you often notice how much more time the series would have needed to tell what it wanted to tell. So once again we're left with a mediocre product that's fun but no more.
Hellraiser (2022)
Hellraiser was never intended to be a franchise
Hellraiser(2022) = 4/10
Positive:
-The Cenobites are designed very creatively and spookily. They have been heavily modified compared to the original, which gives them a new and interesting touch. Their godlike and thoughtful nature now comes to the fore even more.
-The violence is brutal, explicit and creative. Each violent scene captures the Hellraiser vibe and introduces new torture methods.
-The lore is continued well and you get to know many facets of the Cenobites. Every scene involving cenobites is brilliant.
Negative:
-Unfortunately the characters are terribly written. They are stupid, unpleasant and quite annoying. None of their dialogue or interpersonal scenes work and you don't root for anyone.
-Unfortunately, the Cenobites have hardly any screen time and little dialogue. The fact that they only show up after 1 hour of the film is also a disgrace.
-The plot isn't even remotely as clever or interesting as the original. Everything seems like standard stuff. Everything in this film has been seen somewhere before.
-The film has a lot of annoying exposition and everything is solved like a puzzle. Characters explain everything to each other and the dialogues are not natural.
-The film hardly has any horror/jumpcare scenes, so for the most part it's boring and not really scary.
-The film is just lame. Too little horror, too little plot and too little suspense.
Conclusion: The film has a big problem standing out from the crowd. The original was bold, creative and different. This movie is so normal. The exposition is annoying, the characters are rubbish, there are little to no real horror scenes and the Cenobites have too little screen time.
Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992)
Cheesy
Hellraiser 3 = 5/10
Positive:
-The new protagonist is sympathetic and an interesting character. Her traumatic backstory with her father (fallen soldier) and her visions and close bond with the Pinhead are exciting.
-The Pinhead has never been written as deeply and interestingly as in this film. Not only does he get a backstory, he also has a lot more screen time and more exciting dialogue and confrontation with his past self.
-The designs of the Cenobites are once again great and scary.
-The violence is again bloody, disturbing and creative.
Negative:
-The film has a major tonality problem. It's far too light and cheesy for a horror film and seems unintentionally funny in some places.
-The plot isn't the best. Everything happens as usual for the Hellraiser films, just not so clever. Why things happen is never explained much. Things happen because the plot needs them to.
-The Cenobites, while coolly designed, are ridiculous and inappropriately written. They all have strange abilities (shooting CDs) and they all seem like clowns. Even the Pinhead just laughs around and no longer seems as cool and thoughtful as in the predecessor.
-The film simply seems like a parody of itself at times with inappropriate oneliners, bright colors and over-the-topness.
Conclusion: It's Hellraiser, but only at first glance. The Pinhead gets more depth, the violence and the designs are great, but it all seems so cheesy. The movie just isn't scary. Everything seems like a parody of its predecessors and when the Cenobites act like clowns, the whole horror and vibe is missing. Despite its strengths, a disappointing end to a trilogy.
Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988)
Doesn't come close to the original
Hellbound: Hellraiser 2 = 6/10
Positive:
-As in the predecessor, the gore scenes are bloody, brutal and look really good.
-The animatronics and designs of the cenobites and violent scenes are great.
-The story is interesting and follows on directly from its predecessor. It's not just about Kirsty having to deal with the trauma of the first part. The lore is being expanded properly with new characters and the hellish labyrinth.
-The characters are well written and each character goes through their own psychological traumas and experiences. Be it the violent romance between Julia and the Doctor or Kirsty having to deal with the loss of her father and the mother who came after her.
-Also the sexual elements like the relationship between Doctor and Julia. This gives the film the vibe of the original.
-The film is simply a good sequel. The lore is expanded, the characters are counted and the plot of the first part is finished.
Negative:
-The film is written in an unnecessarily complicated manner. He barely gives scenes time to breathe, the whole time is cut to random flashbacks and visions and no storyline is brought to a satisfying conclusion.
-The Zernobids seem to be pushed into this film and get little screen time and are rather left off. They get their entire backstory explained in a minute and then they become people. So they become supporting characters in their own franchises.
-The problem with the film is its overloaded and fast-paced narrative style. Nothing is explained, suddenly they are in hell and suddenly things happen because the script wants it that way, it usually doesn't make much sense.
Conclusion: A mediocre sequel. It takes up many facets of its predecessor and tries to expand the lore and characters as well as finish telling the original. Unfortunately, the film fails due to its mediocre and twisted script. Things happen suddenly, unexplained and the film is significantly more unclean and unfocused than its predecessor. Nevertheless, he has his strengths and remains in your mind.
Hellraiser (1987)
Iconic but not perfect
Hellraiser = 7/10
Positive:
-The effects and animatronics look perfect. The flesh, blood and design of the various corpses and creatures is realistic and creepy.
-The Cenobites as antagonists are iconic. Not only their unique and creative design, but also their calm and powerful nature instill fear
-The plot is simple but exciting. Through murder, Julia can bring her love Frank back to life, which raises a very exciting topic and also moral questions.
-The relationship between Julia and Frank and how she slowly commits murders due to her psychological addiction in order to bring him back to life is fascinating. This mix of violence, horror and love is terrifying and clever.
-The lore surrounding the cube and the Cenobites is cool and brings another exciting component to the story as the film progresses.
Negative:
-The characters are all together for the ton. The murders that Julia commits for Frank are never questioned morally and she also becomes evil for no reason over the course of the film. There's no attempt to give the remaining characters any depth.
-The poor acting performance of the actors only makes the characters all the worse.
-The film remains simply incredibly trashy. Although it has exciting elements in its plot, it doesn't do much with it. Things happen simply because they have to happen for the script, be it character actions, exposition, or other cheap clichés and coincidences.
Conclusion: An effective horror film with iconic monsters, brilliant animatronics, exciting plot and just some cool scenes. But the film remains quite mediocre, be it the poorly written characters, the trashy scenes or the thin plot. It lacks finesse, but it's still a brutal, fun and iconic film classic.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Why evil fascinates us
The Silence of the Lambs = 10/10
Positive:
-Hannibal Lector is one of the best movie characters ever. He is so incredibly interesting and the cruelty and nature of Hannibal captivates you. The character shows that evil fascinates each of us and that's brilliant.
-The relationship and dialogue between police officer Clarice Starling and Hannibal are captivating and psychologically very interesting.
-The entire plot is masterful. The suspense is perfect and an incredible atmosphere builds towards the end.
The story is clever, captivating and scary.
-The film shows the evil and cruelness in people really well with the two antagonists. There are deeply disgusting worldviews that are shown and thus show the horror and the abysses in the human mind.
-The main antagonist Buffelo Bill is incredibly disturbing and the disturbed and repulsive manifests itself in him.
-The finale at Buffelo Bill's house is one of the scariest and most captivating scenes in film history. The way our protagonists climb through the dark corridors and find one corpse after another makes you hold your breath.
Negative:/
Conclusion: An absolute masterpiece. A film that was a milestone in writing good villains and portraying evil. The film captivates, disturbs and inspires at the same time. It is a perfect film with brilliant characters, interesting psychological themes and captivating story.
Gisaengchung (2019)
Good but absolutely overrated
Parasite = 7/10
Positive:
-The premise is incredibly exciting and builds up a great game with the double lives of the protagonists in the first half.
-The film has an incredibly ingenious plot. The premise alone is captivating. As the film progresses, a funny comedy becomes more and more of a thriller/splatter, which brings a great twist to the plot.
-The dialogues are surprisingly interesting and funny. Above all, the dialogues between the two families and the gap between rich and poor that arise are captivating.
-Not only the dialogues but also the entire game and the building of emotions is perfect. How the hatred of the rich family slowly increases and the disgusting behavior of the upper class is explained is fascinating.
-The socially critical commentary that is repeatedly interspersed into the film is clever and gives the film another level.
-The twist halfway through the film that the housewife's husband lives in the basement was a shock and brings a huge and surprising turn to the story.
Negative:
-Unfortunately, our protagonists are not likeable. It is a group of losers and impostors who end up committing cruel acts.
-The ending isn't perfect and the film would have needed more time to process the events. The characters commit terrible acts. The film doesn't glorify this behavior but still portrays them as the good ones, which is reprehensible. In the end they are still the victims, but the film forgets that they got themselves into this situation because they wanted quick money.
All the deaths, both within the family and the murders they committed, are never dealt with.
-The film does criticize society but in a very weak way. In the end, the poor are the good victims and the rich are the vain evil ones.
Conclusion: A good and clever black comedy. Unfortunately, parts of it are too black, so in places it forgets to shed light on the morals of the characters and never discourages bad deeds such as murder. Still a good and exciting film. But unfortunately overrated.