Best.Worst.Weekend.Ever.: Season One EH/OK
New Netflix series which I didn’t think had much potential
during the first episode but thought could get better so I reluctantly
continued. Well, by episode three I
could’ve stopped but figured since it was only 8 episodes all under 30 minutes,
I’d stick it through since my mind would consistently nag at me for not
finishing. It involves three friends
(two boys, one girl) that plan to attend Comic-Con in town during their last
weekend before high school. One thing
after another goes wrong for them, but trust me, this series isn’t as fun as
that may sound. I just wasn’t feeling
it. It kind of has a Disney Channel vibe
but more of a Nickelodeon series vibe, which wouldn’t be a bad thing at all,
but I ultimately felt like I was too old for it and that’s never a good sign,
especially for someone that enjoys all-ages entertainment. I didn’t hate it by any means, but count me
out if any more seasons are released. 10/23/2018
Down a Dark Hall OK/G
A “troubled” girl is forced to attend a boarding school in
the middle of nowhere along with four other “troubled” girls. She is warned by the headmistress (played by
Uma Thurman) not to enter a specific room because it’s dangerous. Clearly I don’t have to tell you that
something is in that room and eventually one or more of the girls are going to
enter it. The girls are there for a
reason and the reasoning was very clever (albeit familiar) and should’ve been
expanded upon or introduced earlier. It
begins very much like a gothic thriller (staying that way for a while), becomes
very bizarre for a bit, then finishes on a sappy note. Credit is given for not knowing what to
expect. I also did not know it was based
on a book by Lois Duncan, the late author of many young adult thrillers like Summer
of Fear, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and Killing Mr. Griffin,
so I am a bit curious to read it now and compare. 10/19/2018
Halloween EH/OK
Of course I’m going to think John Carpenter’s Halloween made 40 years ago is going to
be better than any Halloween film
ever released (as will hardcore fans).
Not only is it one of the best slasher movies, but it’s one of the best
horror movies. It might even be fair to
say it’s one of the best movies period, although that’s a very subjective and
difficult analysis to make, especially if you love movies. Bottom line, the original Halloween is great. Although I always hate hearing about sequels
and remakes (the latter infinitely more than the former), I actually thought
this sequel disregarding any of the sequels after 1978 could’ve been feasible
since it was a realistic continuation of the original Halloween universe. It sure
felt like a subpar sequel though (I didn’t have too much fun with this). John Carpenter (the original director) even
provided the score, which was the best part of the movie; I think he should’ve
directed it as well considering he is still alive. This movie is full of people doing stupid
things in which I mentally yelled at them for, even Jamie Lee Curtis’s
character at one time. The majority of
the kills were nothing special either, most of them predictable since we
basically knew when and where someone was going to get it. I know, typical slasher film right? Right, but back in the Seventies and Eighties
when they were popular and didn’t yet have years of films to compare to. In 2018, they could’ve made it a little more
unique with distinctive kills and suspense.
And do you think Michael Myers is finally defeated? Do I really need to tell you that he’s never
going to be destroyed no matter what, now or ever, whether it appears so or not? Was this sequel good? Not really.
Was it bad? Not exactly. (My favorite parts were an offscreen kill
involving a flashlight and the last 20 minutes). Was it unnecessary? Kind of.
10/20/2018
Haunted: Season One OK/G
New six-episode Netflix series that very much reminded me of
Amazon’s Lore in that documentary
techniques are interspersed with narrative re-enactments. Whereas Lore
dealt with mythological tales/legends, Haunted
deals with people telling their first-hand experiences with otherworldly
beings. Before every episode, it is
stated that the following is a true story; not based on a true story, is
a true story. Whenever I hear about
“real” ghost stories, I always take it as hearsay since I myself didn’t see
what they saw. I’ll believe when I see. I’ll be scared as shit if I ever see a ghost,
but it would also be nice to know there’s something else outside this mortal
coil. Now, just because I may not
believe in ghosts, doesn’t mean I don’t like to see or read about them; they
are fun and very chilling if done right.
The title of this docuseries refers more to the memories and experiences
these people still face; one episode involves aliens and another is a mixture
of a backwoods slasher and satanic possession.
I personally would’ve preferred a narrative anthology series, but this
approach is fine…I guess, and very much the same way I felt about Lore.
For this series, I think the first three episodes were good and the last
three were just okay (episodes 4 and 6 being the weakest), hence my divided
rating. The aliens from episode five
(“Alien Infection”) were pretty fucking cool though, which we could use more of
in visual entertainment. Overall, not a
bad series to check out; all the episodes are short too despite some still
feeling longer than they actually were, which is not a plus, but none were
exactly a waste of time. And if you’re
easily spooked, you might want to steer clear.
10/22/2018
Hotel Transylvania
3: Summer Vacation OK/G
I did enjoy Hotel
Transylvania. Hotel Transylvania 2 was decent for a sequel. Aside from not understanding why you would
watch part 3 first, you kind of have to be familiar with the franchise as there
are no formal introductions here; it’s assumed you know everyone (that isn’t
new) already, so watch them in order (have a marathon while you’re at it). It does contain the same-old, albeit potent
and always relevant, message about overlooking everyone’s differences, but it’s
a decent addition to the series for anyone even somewhat fans of the first two.
This entry is generally fun and harmless
for everyone, even containing parts specifically for the young’uns. There’s also, what I thought was, a fairly
worthy nod to Aladdin in one
scene. Why did they have to use the
“Macarena” of all songs in another scene though? 10/27/2018
The Legend of
Halloween Jack EH/OK
This is one of those movies I disliked but almost kind of
liked too (I’m still not recommending it).
If only it had a better budget, better acting, less talky scenes, and
violence that wasn’t mostly offscreen; the violence we did see was horrendous
which proves the budget wasn’t there---one scene in the beginning, the blood
appeared to be CG before instantly disappearing?! It is very much set up like a slasher film
but more of a revenge-beyond-the-grave body count film in the vein of The Crow and Dark Night of the Scarecrow.
I would’ve been okay with the simple plot if there weren’t too many
flaws as mentioned above. The
resurrected killer with a “scarecrow” mask was acceptable, but he appears much
less than those many aforementioned talky scenes (apparently they couldn’t properly
fill out a barely 83-minute film). About
that terrible acting---it was so appalling at times; one scene in particular
occurs at a Halloween dance at the end in which it was almost hilarious at how
awful it was, but more cringe-inducing instead.
There were clips of “classic” horror films shown in the beginning (I
hate using the word classic because it’s subjective and socially instilled) and
I’m not sure why because I don’t see this film ever becoming a “classic.” 10/24/2018
Mr. Mercedes: Season One OK/G
Latest Stephen King adaptation as a ten-episode series (all
episodes close to an hour) involving a retired detective bringing himself back
into a case in which the titular killer ran down several people at a job
fair. At least there was no beating
around the bush as to the killer’s identity since it was revealed in the first
episode. The killer manages to evade
those around him for the majority of the series, including the detective played
by Brendan Gleeson, whom he taunts with computer videos and random items to
indicate he knows where he lives, possibly putting those around him in danger. Like much of King’s work, we see the
mundanity of these people’s lives but never bore of them, which is one thing
Mr. King excels at---characterization; but since it’s a King-based work, we
know everything is eventually going to go to shit and it’s just a matter of
when, where, who, and what? The who (as
usual) is fairly obvious and the when/where/what wasn’t exactly grand, but most
of the characters, even the vile ones, were once again made lovable enough to
make you continue watching. Of course if
you’re a hardcore King fan like me, you’re going to watch it anyway. It’s not one of his better adaptations, but
not exactly a waste of time either. I
haven’t read the book yet (I own it but it’s on my long list of titles to read)
so I had nothing to compare to. A second
season was already made, but unless it contains more action and equally good
characterizations, I already think it overstayed its welcome. Knowing me though, I’m probably going to
watch it anyway. Hail to the King! 10/24/2018
Occupation EH
It’s Independence Day,
but not quite, only in Australia. There
are alien invaders, not tentacled, and they’re passable, concealed or not. I actually thought it was going to be a
pretty decent alien invasion film at first, despite looking like a low-budget
direct-to-video release. At two hours
though, it felt like two movies, and I couldn’t wait for the “second movie” to
be over. 10/26/2018
Three Identical
Strangers G
They say that everyone has a twin. Well, imagine finding out you are a twin one
day. Better yet, imagine finding out
you’re a triplet. That’s the dilemma the
three identical strangers, separated at a very early age from an adoption
center in New York, faced in this documentary.
Apparently they became fairly famous when they all met in 1980, even
owning a restaurant called Triplets at one time. I was born in 1982 so of course I wouldn’t
remember hearing about them, but I wonder if my parents or older relatives
remember. I’m sure it happens every day
where people not only find out they were adopted, but at least a twin as well,
so initially I didn’t understand what made their story so special. Well, their story is definitely unique all
right, seemingly straight out of a sci-fi or Twilight Zone tale. I was
surprised at how dark and depressing it actually became. I don’t want to reveal too much in case you
don’t know the actual story (like I didn’t beforehand). This is compelling stuff indeed that might
make you think twice about adoption agencies as well as bring up the nature vs.
nurture debate and whether certain conditions may be hereditary. It made me wonder if it would’ve been better
as a narrative film, which might’ve worked or will work if made in the future,
but presenting it as a documentary might’ve been the more effective route considering
this truly bizarre tale involving a dark conspiracy actually happened. Sometimes, at least here, truth really is
stranger than fiction. 10/20/2018
Unfriended: Dark Web OK
In-name sequel only as it bears no connection to Unfriended, which makes me wonder why it
wasn’t simply titled Dark Web? I remember thinking Unfriended was decent for what it was worth and involved a girl haunting
her tormenters online after she killed herself.
This one is filmed the same way as if viewed by one or more people
online and involves a guy getting mixed in with dangerous activity after
stealing a laptop from a lost and found.
He’s given ultimatums or else people will die and now all his friends
he’s chatting with online are involved.
The format may not be so novel anymore, but it somehow still keeps you
glued to the screen---some parts you actually have to lean forward or squint to
read the Facebook messages which the filmmakers should’ve worked on enlarging
somehow. I ultimately didn’t think it
got as dark as it could have and I’ve seen this all before (format and content), therefore making it an
undistinguished entry. 10/18/2018
---Sean O.
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