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Reviews
Skinamarink (2022)
Disappointing and overrated
Resubmitting: I was so excited and looking forward to seeing this because I am a very picky horror fan, not the gory type with jump scares but something that is ingenious and atmospheric. So when the Globe and Mail reported that this is a viral sensation, that some people claim that it's the scariest film that they had seen, that in terms of ROI, it could be compared to the Blair Witch Project ($15,000 budget, $1.5 million in box office); that in terms of pace and technique, it could be compared to Wavelength by Michael Snow - I was expecting this to be clever and original, despite its low budget. It was a disappointment. Other than some Surreal moments, almost abstract cropped shots, and flipped points of view (nothing that I had not seen before), the film is just made up of repetitively similar visual compositions, audio effects, dialogues, and crudely edited transitions. There was nothing that led to any original or unique interpretations or truly scary moments. If it is to be compared to an art film, it is not; and if it's to be placed as a bone-chilling, scary, supernatural horror flick, it is not either. What it is though could have been the result of a well-timed, manipulated viral promotional technique, i.e. A meme. It was sadly a waste of my time and I doubt if I would change my opinion years later, realizing that I had missed the ingenuity and artistry of a brilliant idea.
Die Hölle (2017)
This movie grows on you
This is no Ben Hur or Lawrence of Arabia but I find myself watching this movie again and again when I don't know what I want to watch that night. I believe I must have watched it 10 times already and I know that I'll still watch it again. Based on this phenomenon alone, I have raised my rating to 9. The editing is quite good too and the art direction is well planned especially the colours. The main characters are not perfect but they both have guts and a softer, finer side. The more I watch this movie, the more I realize that I'm drawn to the characters' authentic personalities and the chemistry between them. They don't fit the Hollywood "handsome" or "gorgeous" moulds but I find them attractive and charismatic. And what can I say, I just love movies where the women can fight back!
Bug (2006)
Horror works
This movie does not rely on jump scares, visual or sound effects, or a formula that is used in most regular horror movies. It does not need to. It is based on a play by Tracy Letts, a Pulitzer and Tony Award winner, and directed by William Friedkin, who directed The Exorcist. I appreciate the movie in the same way as reading a good book or watching a good play in acts and scenes that unfold. It's best to watch it with CC on so as to appreciate the writing. It develops and unfolds at the right pace with convincing realism. It is at the same time a horror story and a tragedy. The characters have conditions and backgrounds that are real and relatable, making this movie/story even more powerful as it captures the horror of the zeitgeist. The acting by Judd and Shannon is superb. The set and the cinematography, both the interior shots of the motel room and the aerial shots zeroing in on the motel, support the theme of insularity of the mental state really well.
Le guide de la famille parfaite (2021)
Simple yet touching story
This story faced by so many modern families seems to be commonplace and not worth making a movie out of. Yet the art direction is beautiful and there are some moments that brought a lump to my throat. This is a near tragedy with a glimmer of hope.
Morok (2021)
Very amateurish
The rating of 7.5 when I saw the movie is not consistent with those generally accepted on IMDB. I realized early on in the movie that it was inflated. It's very slow-paced and the scenes do not transition well. Acting is amateurish and the overall flow does not work well.