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Reviews
Stuck (2022)
Oddly insubstantial
The new sitcom from "Black Books" co-creator Dylan Moran gives an air of sophistication, but ultimately has very little to say. This seems to be a result of the episode length - at 13 minutes each, the credits roll as soon as the story seems to pick up the pace. It's almost as though full half-hour episodes were written, but sliced in half with unsatisfactory conclusions as a result. An even greater disappointment is the lack of funny moments peppered in throughout the admittedly well-written dialogue. Even strong performances from Moran and Morgana Robinson are unable to save "Stuck" from falling into inevitable obscurity. Sadly, it just isn't good enough.
It Chapter Two (2019)
Formulaic Horror sequel saved by its comedy
As a fan of the source material, the 1990 miniseries, and the 2017 film - "It Chapter Two" manages to deliver unexpectedly well considering its plot was based on the unanimously agreed 'weaker section' of King's novel.
Whilst CGI remains at the forefront, with it being used so frequently that it can prove distracting in many instances (along with some intense strobe lighting near the finale prompting my theatre to post an epilepsy warning on the door) - it's sort of what you're buying into when choosing to watch a film like this. You're never going to be particularly intellectually stimulated - but it provides a much higher level of enjoyment than many other recent horror films (although perhaps overstaying its welcome at almost 3 hours in runtime).
Interestingly, many of the "scares" in the film are almost instantaneously followed by humourous moments - which occasionally presents the scenarios as being quite jarring, the payoffs tending to be much more satisfying than the CGI-ridden creations that come before. This in my view saves the film from a trap it could have, and very infrequently does, fall into - taking itself too seriously.
Whilst by no means being a masterpiece, nor even the best "clown" film of 2019 - "It Chapter Two" is well worth a watch for fans of the novel and the first film; I doubt they'll be too disappointed.
Get Out (2017)
A neatly-made thriller
Clearly incredibly well thought through, "Get Out" proves to be a breath of fresh air in a climate oversaturated with poor horror films over reliant on CGI and 'edgy' marketing.
I tend to roll my eyes when I hear of "Political Satire" in films, especially so in such a modern context; but if anything - I found all present here to be extremely delicately handled and well executed, with the overall message of the film being put across with the upmost style and tact.
Does what it says on the tin - severely exceeding already high expectations. A great film.