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DragonTwoSeven
Reviews
Inheritance to Love (2024)
Sucker for romcoms like this!
Really enjoyed this adorable romcom. The movie takes place in a cabin in the beautiful wilderness, which adds to the atmosphere and ambience. Very green, beautiful, and good vibes. This is a Hallmark type of situation and story. The leads Tabitha Hanks and Jasen Wade really pulled at my heart strings with that chemistry between them. The match maker was also quirky and fun. If you're looking for clean content and a fun story, this one is for you, especially if you're a sucker for romcoms like me. And because it is family-friendly, a lot of the passionate moments come from body language and highly effective chemistry. I'll be watching again!
Saltburn (2023)
Gothic twisted artsy sinister castle dance
Many films leave you saying, "If only they had taken it further," and this is certainly not one of them. One cannot help but notice the gothic bloody homage to Bram Stoker's Dracula (you will know the scene I am referring to). And that castle dance of a finale is the icing on the cake to this unique and boundary-crushing movie.
Every single performance from the characters is mesmerizing, even when there is a slow and subtle buildup.
Emerald Fennell is quickly becoming a favorite director: unafraid to take risks, a flair for beauty, and the willingness to take you places you've never been before cinematically.
Cobweb (2023)
Fun, original horror
I am a huge fan of movies such as Hereditary and Insidious. So this one is right up my alley. It starts out creepy enough; stepford-wife-style mom and creepy AF father. You know there's something off about them from the very beginning. Fantastic performance by Lizzy Kaplan. The nervousness, anxiety, and emotional dread ooze from her character.
Then it starts to get really fun. I am all about shadows and things crawling on walls, contorting, vanishing a reappearing. What I love about this is that there is a lot of mystery but then you actually get to see the creature. These days that's pretty rare. I'll definitely be watching again to see all the foreshadowing and Easter eggs that I missed the first time.
Algea: God of Pain (2023)
Haunting, atmospheric but with a message
Algea are Greek gods of sorrow and pain. What this movie does with that is pretty clever. We all have demons, and in this cold world, people rarely are forced to face their own. What if.....instead of death row, the most horrible criminals are sent to be judged by an ancient deity called Algea in a hell-like place.
The 7th terrace.....Algea's playground. If you've hurt good people willingly, if you've caused others needless pain, Algea will find a way to make you pay tenfold. But if you're innocent and wrongly convicted, he'll find that out also. You can't fool a god; he is a lie detector test and executioner all in one. So what would this look like in our justice system?
This movie is really beautifully done but also makes you think long after it's done. A+ on the cinematography, performances, and direction. Really atmospheric and darkly haunting also. Looking forward to seeing it again.
My Animal (2023)
Ethereal, Sapphic Romance
There are so many good things about this movie, which premiered at Sundance 2023. This is a story of becoming - and there are so many layers to uncover about identity, sexuality, and societal expectations. It's a sapphic tale directed by a female, for one. And all sensuality is focused on facial expressions and real connections between the characters, not gratuitous scenes for shock value. Not to mention the chemistry between the leads.
The creatures are not in-your-face either; more psychological with transformations demonstrated in visions and colors. As a whole, with a beautiful nostalgic score, ethereal cinematography, superb performances, and a deliberate color palette to demonstrate passion, this is an impressive feature debut from Jacqueline Castel.
She Will (2021)
A transformative experience
This movie floored me. From the beginning, the fish out of water take is not something unfamiliar. However, between the haunting visuals, meaning of the woman's ashes as part of the moss and land, and Alice Krige's transformative performance, I was absolutely swept up into a world of alternate realities, oneness with nature, and intent-based revenge. I also enjoyed the less narrative, more visual way to tell the story. Such a different way to go about storytelling, and it really worked here. Watching this movie reminded me that enlightenment and transformation often requires going through the deepest depths of the shadow self, through pain and suffering, and facing your own demons, before you can emerge as a whole and different person. Another movie that does this less narrative, more visual transformation well is Rite of the Shaman. It's nice to step out of the norm and allow oneself to become immersed.
See You Next Tuesday (2022)
What a hoot
Saw this at the Utah Film Festival this evening. I didn't know what to expect! Seriously from start to finish, I was roaring with laughter. And so was the audience! The acting, pacing, and comedic timing was superb. Not to give too much away, but the big reveal at the end made it all the more hilarious. An excellent Grimstone debut from Zepstone. Can't wait to find out what's next.
Emergency (2022)
Excellent college movie
I saw this for the Sundance premiere. It has glorious cinematography, coloration, storyline, directing, and acting performances. There is beautiful camera work by Michael Balletore. The vibe is very nostalgic and reminds me of movies that were made in the 2000s that combined genres. There is a little of everything here: drama, comedy, and a bit of thriller. Intense, likeable, relatable, and kept me glued to the screen. Very well done!
The Shoebox (2022)
An emotional rollercoaster
This short is extremely well done. PTSD is very real, and oftentimes veterans are already experiencing it when they go into the service. This story jumps back and forth between what soldiers are going through on the front lines, mixed in with memories from past events, and weaves into the clever ending of this framed narrative. I won't give too much away, but I left the theater crying. A must see.
Rite of the Shaman (2022)
A little kindness goes a long way
I saw this tonight for the Utah Film Festival and it'll take some time to process what I've seen. I may add more later. This is a gorgeous film with fantastic cinematography, acting, storyline and oh THAT SCORE. More than anything though it touched me deeply in ways I thought it wouldn't. The world is full of such negativity these days and when people are depressed, they push others, even their loved ones, away. But what would happen if we got the call to do the opposite? What would happen if we took the time to leave positive reviews instead of negative ones? What if our small acts of kindness made the biggest difference in people's lives? This one really made me think and probably will for some time.
Lore (2017)
Folklore library
I absolutely love this series. As a person obsessed with folklore and storytelling across cultures, this one really holds my attention. Some of the dramatization is a little cheese, but other than that it's a fantastic series.
Never Seen Again (2021)
Kidnapping happens every day
This independent movie hit close to home for me as a parent. Kidnapping can happen anywhere, and oftentimes the predator is someone known by the family. There are some really solid acting performances here also. Overall it was an interesting study on how kidnappings can happen and the hurt that victims' families go through.
Midnight Mass (2021)
A beautiful Buddhist message
I wasn't expecting a series like this to make me cry, but it did. It's an intelligent critique of religion and how humans forget that there is heaven and hell in life itself. This series is incredibly well done in every way. There is a Stephen King-style campiness to it that makes it a fun horror. But it's so much more than that. The monologues are long, but I promise you - there is a message there that is worth listening to and comes together at the end as a beautiful nod to existence.
Malignant (2021)
Everything I love about horror
This had so many elements that remind me if why I love horror movies. Too many things have come out lately that are mis-marketed as horror but are really mediocre psychological or "woke" thrillers.
All I want is a good original horror film that is atmospheric, campy, gory, fun, and above all - doesn't take itself too seriously. I haven't been this thrilled by a movie since Evil Dead 2.
Thank you, James Wan and team.
I'll add this to my regular watching list.
Centigrade (2007)
Mind-blowing performance
This short blew my mind. It certainly takes you on a ride from start to finish, metaphorically and literally. Colin Cunningham's performance is extraordinary and raw. The way he freaks out sent chills down my spine. Looking forward to the feature-length version!
The White Lotus (2021)
Visually groundbreaking, quirky, raw
This series is top notch on so many levels: the writing, cinematography, performances. All very well done. I appreciate the dark comedy vibe and character development. Alexandra Diddario's performance especially stood out.
Into the Soul (2020)
Visually beautiful film
I really enjoyed this film - especially the cinematography and actor's performances.
Even in Dreams (2021)
Really fun indie film
This is one of those movies that you'll want to watch to uplift you. I really liked the feel good, humorous vibe. Pretty cool music also! I think my favorite was the Methodical Lobsters. Watch to see what I mean. Hilarious!
My Octopus Teacher (2020)
A message for future generations
It's been a long time that I've like a film this much. Beautiful imagery, a wonderful message, and quotable one-liners that should be passed down to future generations. It made me choke up with its beauty and respect for the wild.
"She taught me that you're a part of this place, not a visitor. And there's a huge difference."
It definitely deserved the Oscar!!!
Avocado Toast (2021)
Atypical Fun
Awesome jokes & characters. Cool editing. A good comedy. Definitely did not disappoint. Kept watching!
In the Earth (2021)
A psychedelic ride for the senses
There was so much I loved about this art haus horror film. I appreciated the plot and call-out to alchemy, shamanism, and the forest as a deity who is desperate to send a message to humans. The cinematography was beautiful and captured what can be described as the "brain" of nature, with flashing synapses both ephemeral and eternal all at once, combining cyclical nature with the man-made flashes of photography. I loved the air of mystery and dread behind it, and the sound design certainly added to that. My critique is that the film felt a little drawn out; it could have been cut down. However, I saw this at Sundance, so it could have been a rough cut. With some tightening up, this visceral and psychedelic slow-burn horror shows quite a bit of promise.
Promising Young Woman (2020)
Me-Too Metaphor
Really good cast and held my interest. Cinematography was excellent. Mulligan's performance was spot on as usual. While the film felt inconsistent at times, by the ending I felt like it was a huge metaphor for the Me-Too movement. As much as you want to bury the "dead past," it'll still come back to haunt you. Given the dark nature of the ending, I found myself smiling when it all tied together.
The Girl in the Closet (2018)
Atmo and that sound design
This one is weird, creepy, and the sound design is killer. I jumped a couple of times. Really enjoyed the acting and intensity also.
Quaestio (2018)
Red high heels
There are very few movie scenes that really stick with me forever. The end scene with the high heels is one of them.
They Live Inside Us (2020)
Nostalgic Halloween Film
This film has a vibe - a Halloween nostalgic charm that keeps you wanting more. The cinematography is superb. Acting and score is impressive. I look forward to watching this every year..... I haven't appreciated a modern Halloween movie this much since Trick 'r Treat.