Two quick ones on the same post. Don't want to pile up a backlog and get stressed about it.
The House of the Devil (2009) N
A retro horror that emulates the 70s. It looks very beautiful and manages that old feel nicely. It's really, really slow paced trying to stretch its minimal content to full feature film length. I don't usually mind slow pace in horrors but this would have worked better in 60 minutes format.
Acting is very good and I like how it builds the characters in the beginning. After Sam is left alone the film doesn't know what to do with the remaining time. The brutality of violence comes as a surprise (the first death is brilliant - I totally expected it but not in such a graphic manner) and I like that. The last scene is totally unneccessary.
Good concept and technical execution but far too little content for full length film. You could probably edit a really good episode for some horror anthology from it though.
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The Dirt (2019) N
A biopic of Mötley Crëw that's been advertised with all sorts of vice and moral degradation. I've never liked the band but I've been expecting this movie for a while now. The Dirt is definitely better than Bohemian Rhapsody but even it fumbles a little towards the end. Especially the part from Vince leaving the band to the reconciliation feels extremely rushed.
The story itself is the same old: sex, drugs and rock 'n roll with the emphasis on the first two. It starts light and comedic but gets darker and darker as the drugs and alcohol take the wheel. I liked the actors (but like I said, I'm not into this band so can't really comment how much they feel like them) and everything felt somehow more honest than in Bohemian Rhapsody.
The Dirt breaks the fourth wall on multiple occasions and while I usually don't like it it kinda works here. Early parts with drunken parties are probably the best, drama would have needed little more depth (e.g. Skylar's death felt like it was included just to be a tear jerker). Mostly quite entertaining film still.
The House of the Devil (2009) N
A retro horror that emulates the 70s. It looks very beautiful and manages that old feel nicely. It's really, really slow paced trying to stretch its minimal content to full feature film length. I don't usually mind slow pace in horrors but this would have worked better in 60 minutes format.
Acting is very good and I like how it builds the characters in the beginning. After Sam is left alone the film doesn't know what to do with the remaining time. The brutality of violence comes as a surprise (the first death is brilliant - I totally expected it but not in such a graphic manner) and I like that. The last scene is totally unneccessary.
Good concept and technical execution but far too little content for full length film. You could probably edit a really good episode for some horror anthology from it though.
--
The Dirt (2019) N
A biopic of Mötley Crëw that's been advertised with all sorts of vice and moral degradation. I've never liked the band but I've been expecting this movie for a while now. The Dirt is definitely better than Bohemian Rhapsody but even it fumbles a little towards the end. Especially the part from Vince leaving the band to the reconciliation feels extremely rushed.
The story itself is the same old: sex, drugs and rock 'n roll with the emphasis on the first two. It starts light and comedic but gets darker and darker as the drugs and alcohol take the wheel. I liked the actors (but like I said, I'm not into this band so can't really comment how much they feel like them) and everything felt somehow more honest than in Bohemian Rhapsody.
The Dirt breaks the fourth wall on multiple occasions and while I usually don't like it it kinda works here. Early parts with drunken parties are probably the best, drama would have needed little more depth (e.g. Skylar's death felt like it was included just to be a tear jerker). Mostly quite entertaining film still.