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Merlin (2008)
Most binge-worthy series I have ever seen
Despite being a huge fan of fantasy I'm usually a bit wary of this type because they are often just about epic battles and power struggles. But I was instantly hooked by the storylines and great characters who are both likeable and interesting. Whilst there are some who are traditionally heroic and good, they are so in an interesting way. There are also some who are ambiguous-Uther for example is not a tyrant but has many moments where he lacks compassion.
It also does a brilliant job of balancing drama with comedy-despite someone's life being in danger in almost every episode, it still manages to have a light hearted feel. I think it's this combination that makes it so appealing. I have only ever seen this achieved so effortlessly in M*A*S*H. It's so addictive that I can easily watch 4 episodes in one sitting.
Dracula (2020)
A genius twist on a classic
There are those who will complain at some of the liberties taken with the original story, but given that we've had umpteen remakes of this story I was delighted at this unique retelling. You would think that there would be no new angle to take but you would be wrong. The first episode takes place in Dracula's homeland and is suitably deliciously creepy. But the real twist of originality is Dracula himself. The series makers have expertly crafted a Dracula who is both terrifying and likeable. Not in a brooding, Anne Rice sort of way but with the large doses of irreverent cheekiness and wit he dispenses, even while in the process of killing someone. Even as a victim is begging for their life he will reassure them in friendly tones that it just isn't possible, but not to worry because it probably won't be as bad as all that, similar to the way a doctor would calm a patient before major surgery. I have never seen anything quite like this but all I can say is it that it works!
Behind Her Eyes (2021)
If you like twisty thrillers you'll love this
The promo synopsis makes you think that it's just about some complicated affair and nothing more than a soap opera plot, but the image of a dark, brooding house in the thumbnail made me think twice and decide to watch it. There is a great sense of mystery and suspense, not so much because of the affair and whether it will be discovered, but other things in the character lives and the secrets from their past. It keeps you guessing who the 'bad guy' is right until the end. I was very pleased that the whole thing was wrapped up and concluded with a very satisfying ending that was clearly explained. I can't stand it when shows and films leave you guessing. The ending also has a brilliant twist although it does feel a little lacking in credibility as if the writers thought of it at the last minute as a way to really end the show with a bang. However, it still worked very well and I really enjoyed watching this.
Level 16 (2018)
Great film overall but one thing annoyed me
Overall I did love this film but its very annoying to see yet ANOTHER portrayal of older women worried about ageing as evil villains who would do anything to look younger, no matter how immoral. This is incredibly hypocritical since Hollywood is also infamous for insisting that actresses never age. I have never once seen a depiction in film or TV of an ageing woman wanting to look younger being portrayed in a positive light. I think this endless demonisation of such women just adds to the harsh judgement that they get in real life, despite the fact that they are nothing like the evil selfish monsters they are always portrayed as. I wish Hollywood would stop being so hypocritical. Pick on someone else for a change!!
Alien Worlds (2020)
Would have been a 10 if it wasnt for the padding
The positives: I was super excited to see this and I genuinely loved the weird creatures and alien worlds-especially the one where half is in perpetual day and the other half is perpetual night with a twighlight land in between. The creatures are a little fantastical and sci fi and look like something from Dr Who, Star Wars and The Dark Crystal all rolled into one. The worlds look like something from Avatar or other sci fi/fantasy rather than the green beauty of earth. However, this is not a negative in my view, more of an observation that they have deliberately made the creatures a bit weird to make it more interesting.
The negatives: Probably only 30% of the footage is about life on other planets, the rest is segments about how life on earth could inspire ideas about what life on other planets is like. Interesting as they were, these segments were tenuously linked to the alien material and comprised far too much of the run time. They also repeated sections of the alien CGI worlds, which makes me wonder if the covid pandemic somehow interfered with production and they had to make do with far less alien footage than originally planned. They should have built up more sophisticated stories for the aliens and perhaps even done it in the same format as Walking with Dinosaurs where a presenter is spliced into the CGI so it looks like theyre actually with the creatures.
Kadaver (2020)
Beauty and the Feast
I think they kind of ruined this by giving it the title of Cadaver because it gives a big clue as to what might be going on. However, as the showmaster says, 'all is not what it seems' and there are many moments where you don't know whats fantasy or reality. Although it seems easy to guess what the big nasty twist could be, there are many moments which make you wonder whats really going on-is it all some big misunderstanding, is it all in the protagonists head? There are many films where the premise seems obvious, only for there to be a big twist at the end, and there was enough intrigue with this to keep me guessing and doubting my original suspicions, or at the very least, wanting to know the details behind the premise.
The film is visually appealing-the grim, grey of the outside world contrasting with the opulent luxury of the hotel so that guests feel as though they have stumbled on an escape from their harsh reality that's too good to be true. Much of the hotels interior is a deep, luxurious red as is characteristic of many theatres, which simultaneously portrays the elegance of the surroundings while symbolising the buildings darker, true purpose. If you like the genre of horror that combines beautiful imagery with terror such as Midsommar, you may enjoy this film.
Paradise Hills (2019)
Stunningly gorgeous with a good storyline
I don't really understand why this is getting such bad reviews. Yes the first part is slow moving and you wonder if there is going to be a proper storyline, but the first half is really more about providing a visual feast with gorgeous costumes and sets. The pace picks up in the second half with a really good twist that wasn't what I was expecting. The ending has a slightly confusing detail but good other than that. If you liked Alice in Wonderland and the Fifth Element you may also like this as the costumes and sets look like they've been designed by Alexander McQueen or a similar designer.
The one thing I do object to is that yet again a woman who wants to remain looking young and beautiful is portrayed as morally bankrupt and evil. I cant get over how hypocritical the film industry is when it insists that you cannot age and then ridicules/demonises anyone who tries to comply with this demand.
Death in Paradise (2011)
Sun, sea and a suit and tie (Series 1&2 review only)
I realise Im a latecomer to this, only having just discovered it on Netflix. This is such a feelgood show despite the grim subject matter. I love crime thrillers but with so many being dark, this made a lovely change with the sunshine, reggae beats and beautiful location, all served up with a generous dose of humour. It even follows the 'Agatha Christie' format, where all the suspects are confined to a small group and whose lives and secrets are revealed, ending in the classic scenario where they all gather in a room while the detective explains how they solved the case.
The main character is an uptight, very English Englishman who hates the sun yet insists on wearing a suit and tie, and will make up any excuse to get out of a social situation so he can go home and talk to his pet lizard.
At first he comes across as arrogant and aloof, but as the episodes progress you begin to understand him better, even seeing a vulnerable side. The man who has few friends finally finds a confidant in his colleague Camille, and opens up about being bullied in his previous workplace.
I don't know if they writers intentionally gave him Aspergers, but he certainly has a lot of characteristics that match- social awkwardness, preferring his own company, being mistaken for being rude. In fact, the last thing he ever did was to read a book at a party! Seeing a portrayal of a character with a hidden disability was really fantastic for me. As someone with mild Aspergers myself, I could identify with this character (except I love the heat and the beach!)
He is so geeky that at first you don't notice that he's actually pretty gorgeous-as soon as you realise this, you find that you only have a few episodes left in which to enjoy those delectable hazel eyes.
I was pretty devastated to find that they killed the character off because the story was developing so well-they could have done a lot more with the blossoming romance between him and Camille-all the more endearing because he probably never thought a woman would ever be interested in him.
I think the new guy looks pretty funny-a bit like Boris Johnson-but I might just need a little time to get over the loss of such a brilliant character first!
A Cure for Wellness (2016)
Another one of those wonderful 'institution hiding a dark secret' films that Netflix seems to specialise in.
This is reminiscent of Eli and Welcome to Mercy, and little like Apostle. Although not especially gory, there are some pretty nasty scenes which have earned it its 18 rating.
The pacing is a little slow, but it nevertheless builds the tension nicely and creates a sense of menace within the otherwise beautifully serene surroundings. The mystery is well wrapped up and explained in a satisfying way, although most people will have probably figured out some of it before its actually explained. Some people have taken issue with the sci fi/fantasy element of it, but I personally prefer my thrillers with a bit of the supernatural.
Be warned though-there are some unpleasant scenes involving animals suffering which are quite hard to watch, and the sexual content is quite disturbing. But I guess that's the whole point-the film intends to be dark and disturbing and it succeeds.
The only downside is that it was rather long and could have been cut down a bit.
Kaze no tani no Naushika (1984)
Please tell me those are leggings shes wearing!
I love the amazing weird and wonderful creatures so iconic of Japanese anime, but I just cant get past the fact that it looks like the heroine is in a very short skirt with nothing underneath. I know this was made in the 80's when women in films were often oversexualised, but it doesn't make it any less offputting. If they are meant to be leggings then they didn't try very hard to make them look like it. How can you have a strong female lead and then just objectify her. Sorry, its kind of ruined the film for me so I don't have much else to say.
The Endless (2017)
Great storyline with a satisfying ending
It gets off to a bit of a slow start, but this does serve to build the tension because you know that any story dealing with a cult is going to have something nasty beneath the surface. The storyline was a nice surprise-not what I was expecting and quite original and the sound track was equally fitting. Pretty much everything was explained satisfactorily and it wasn't very violent or gory like many sci fi/horrors, which was a nice change. It's a bit long but overall very enjoyable if you like mind bending mysteries.
The Tunnel (2011)
Good but also a little irritating
I didn't mind the found footage, Im used to that now since pretty much every other horror film seems to be doing it, but I thought the documentary style interviews were pointless and irritating interruptions to the action. They simply repeated what was happening in the film and were completely unnecessary. It feels as if they put them in there as a way to add a twist to the rather overdone found footage genre, but it works about as well as when people try to make Shakespeare more edgy by making the cast dress as Stormtroopers or something else totally ridiculous.
I did like the monster-at least we got to see a bit of it, but I hate it when the mystery surrounding these things isnt explained -I cant tell if it's a crazy human, a science experiment gone wrong, an evolutionary freak, and neither do we know why the government is trying to cover it up instead of just sending in the army to sort it out. We aren't told anything about the monster so once again, Im left with an unsatisfying ending, but at least Im lowering my expectations now because every other film seems to think its acceptable to do this. And with that, Im off to watch some X files.
Annihilation (2018)
Pretty Decent Sci fi
This reminds me a little of HP Lovecrafts 'The colour out of space' where a strange, shimmering light wreaks havoc on its surroundings. This carried a great sense of mystery and suspense, although I would have liked to have seen more weird creatures, and to have seen the expedition team mutate into weird creatures in ways that were more dramatic than what we actually got. Having said that, it is beautiful and trippy, with the strange mutations pieces of art in themselves. Overall it was a pretty decent sci fi film.
Apostle (2018)
Even more brutal than Midsommar
For once a film with a satisfying ending! The synopsis promised to tell a tale of a seemingly idyllic community hiding a sinister secret, and it certainly delivered! The weirdness and mystery builds until all is finally revealed and explained in a horrible but satisfying conclusion. Fans of Midsommar should like this as it is in a similar vein, only I would warn that some of the scenes are even more violent and horrific.
Ares (2020)
I loved it until the end
This is beautifully dark, sinister and intriguing and does a great job of creating an unsettling atmosphere within a secretive society hiding a truly terrifying secret. But I feel like the ending let it down. Perhaps because they wanted to move away from what we were expecting, but I feel like not enough of the mysteries were explained. It felt like it was building up to a huge explosion, only to get a tiny fizzle that didnt even make much sense. I cant wait until writers move on from this new cliché of building up the suspense only to downplay the whole thing at the end. I feel quite cheated when they promise so much and deliver so little. I think Ive said too much, hence the spoiler warning.
Zone blanche (2017)
Beautifully dark crime thriller with a hint of the supernatural
This series is reminiscent of the X files in its setting and execution, the story taking place in a small backwater town on the edge of a brooding pine forest in what I believe to be France, but it has a distinctly American feel. A newcomer with a rather 'Mr Bean-esque' appearance arrives and begins to ruffle feathers as he vows to investigate the towns high death rate. Each episode has a well paced, self contained mystery with plenty of suspense, while adding to several longer running sub plots, one of which is fairly well wrapped up by the end of season one. We are given just enough info on one of the others to be somewhat satisfied at the end of series two, but this info also creates more questions which leaves the doors wide open to a third series. I for one cant wait!
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019)
A lavish treat for fans and newbies alike
This series is self indulgent in the best possible way. The extended format allows the content creators to develop the themes from the original film, from the sumptuous landscapes and weird and wonderful creatures, to the lavish costumes, architecture and culture of Thraa. This gives us a much longed for peek into this beautiful and mysterious world. The architecture is gorgeously organic- youd be hard pressed to find any angles or straight lines, and the buildings look as if they are actually living things. The state carriage pulses and even its wheels are giant millipedes rolled into balls.
The 'acting' is exceptionally good, the puppets faces being so expressive that their movements fit perfectly with the dialog, so much so that you forget that they are puppets.
The plot isnt particularly complex but theres just enough mystery to keep you intrigued, and it does an admirable job of exploring the consequences of misplaced trust in leaders, something which makes it particularly relevant for today and adds a touch of intellectual sophistication.
A word of warning though-don't watch this while you're eating-the Skeksis are truly revolting! You have been warned!
Temple (2017)
It had so much potential (but on the plus side Ill be able to sleep tonight)
This is one of those films that ended with me staring at the screen in frustration saying 'huh?!'
The initial premise was promising-a horribly disfigured stranger being questioned about a traumatic experience they'd had in a remote mountain village. The story then cuts to five days earlier where three friends are traveling through Japan, their nights interspersed with the occasional chilling apparition, which served to build up the anticipation for a truly horrific and scary climax (this is Japanese horror after all-the same country that brought us The Ring.) Against the advice of the locals, they decide to visit a temple that is supposedly haunted. They are told stories of missing children and mysterious monks, again building up the expectation for a satisfying explanation and climax. So I was terribly confused and disappointed when this mysterious storyline wasnt explained or concluded in any satisfactory way at all. The ending didnt even make any sense. It was as if they threw in a twist at the last minute without any thought as to whether it was even congruent with the overall story line.
I am used to the pacing of many horror films where the first two thirds are a gradual build up, leaving the full on horror element to the last third. This was no different but it felt like I sat through a lot of unnecesarily long scenes only to be faced with monsters that werent in the least bit scary. Oh well, at least Ill be able to sleep tonight.