The ghost of Princess Diana Spencer will forever be inspiration for conspiracy documentaries, tribute documentaries, fictional accounts made by filmmakers inside and outside of the UK. But this Norwegian dramedy about a dysfunctional couple’s marriage seen through the eyes of their daughter is at least a refreshing take and in some very small way, a homage to Diana.
Full review over at Filmhounds HERE.
M Night Shyamalan‘s name has become synonymous with a ‘twist’ or lacking that, a big reveal at the end of his films, whether he writes, directs or producers or all of the above. But with his latest film, Old, there is no expected ‘twist’. The mystery is played out over the course of the film and we are in fact presented a horror story with a thriller shell.
SPOILERS
For those who have seen the trailers for the film, you will already know what the premise is. For those who haven’t seen any marketing about the film, stop reading now. A family, with their own problems, arrive at an exotic resort and health spa to enjoy a holiday together before, as we find out, the parents separate. They are told about a secluded beach by the hotel manager who organises a bus to take them along with another family. Everything seems normal, the water is inviting and the beach is big enough so everyone has their own space. But soon everyone starts to notice something odd happening, especially to the children. Everyone starts to age.
As a thriller, there is little to go by as the hotel guests on the beach try to work out what’s happening but then just try to survive each other and then old age. Despite being set on an idyllic beach, the story is confined to one location for the majority of the film and even manages to create a claustrophobic feeling. This is ramped up when one of the guests is revealed to be suffering from schizophrenia as he ages and becomes violent. The notion that ‘horror is other people’ could be the moto of this film, not only because we can become unpredictable put in impossible situations but as we age, we don’t what will become of us and how it will affect others. In the grander scheme of things, the fact that everyone was brough to this beach by the hotel, other people led them here on purpose for a purpose. People are cruel. The disappointing aspect of the film is that because we spend all the time on the beach, we never really get to see behind the curtain, it is merely touched upon. This is shame because what we do see is fascinating. If the film has been split between the two, I think the mystery element would outweigh watching a group of people slowly aging and being helpless.
Like most horror films, there is the final person, be it girl or boy but here we get to see a final family which is actually quite uplifting. They experience a lifetime in a day, go through all the arguments that could come up and forgive each other for things they end up forgetting. There is touching scene with all of them huddled on the beach that is a rare beautiful moment, not including the location that lingers in the mind after the credits roll.
Despite the very obvious plot point marking and moments where you can clearing see, ‘this will be important later’ glaring at you on the screen, the film has some very amusing comedic lines and does have some human emotion, even if the characters weirdly talk about what they do for a living all the time and only talk in the narrow confines of their characters. This is still probably the best film Shyamalan has done since The Village, which eerily shares some similar vibes.
Lastly, the cast is superb. Where else would you get a see a multinational cast come together for a horror thriller except at one set at a holiday resort. If you enjoy M Night Shyamalan‘s films, you won’t be disappointed, but if you’re looking for something of a high calibre, you might want to check out and try the next beach.
Love stories between two lost souls, set adrift by their own doing can feel as if they are all cut from the same cloth of the sweeping romance. Dirt Music tries to be slightly different with its cast, location and even the characters themselves, but you can’t help but feel that is like another story you’ve seen played out before. Except this one come with an amazing view.
Full review over at Filmhounds HERE.
There seems to be a standard British film set just before, during or just after the Second World War that is released each year without fail. Sometimes these films are sent straight to digital platforms, some enjoy a stint in cinemas and others are swiftly given a DVD only release. It’s difficult to tell the fate of Six Minutes to Midnight as it is slightly unusual central plot, has an impressive cast list, has some beautiful shot of the English coastline but there is something lacking from the entire film.
Full review is over at Filmhounds HERE.
We’ve seen a thousand and one different love stories portrayed on screen from all over the world. The obstacles that make these tales of love overcome tragedy, adversity and prejudice, but there has yet to be a story played out like Jumbo.
Full review is out in Issue 27 of Film Stories - or your copy HERE.
Set in 1989, Anna is trying to catch a break in the fast-paced world of television. Having worked 4 years as an assistant at a television station featuring African-American music artists, she almost gets her chance to shine when she impresses the new head of programming, Zora. But Zora wants to change the image that the channel projects gently enforcing that Anna get a weave, hiding her natural hair. At first Anna’s new hair makes an impact in her work and life until her hair starts drinking blood and taking over her body. But she’s not the only one experiencing these terrifying changes.
Full review over at Filmhounds HERE.
We’ve all seen many a body swap film, whether its family members swapping, different genders swapping, younger selves returning, random strangers but we actually haven’t seen a sweet mild mannered teenage girl swap bodies with a serial killer played by Vince Vaughn, that’s new.
When Maddie, shy quiet teenager and sport team mascot is chased down and stabbed by the town’s notorious serial killer, the Blissfield Butcher, things take a horrific and dramatic turn. Waking up in each other’s bodies, the Butcher has murder and mayhem on his mind, while Maddie and her friends desperately try to track him down in order to reverse the curse, with a lot of blood and death along the way.
Paying homage to the horror films of the dark comedy variety that came before it, Freaky doesn’t shy away from its very obvious influences, which makes for familiar story beats but also expectant of the bloody gore to come. The opening scenes play out exactly how you’d expect from this genre when a group of teens in a big house are brutally and inventively killed off. No final girl here. This is also where the ‘MacGuffin’ of the story is conveniently introduced, an ancient knife called La Dola, in one of the victim’s parents’ collection. This is the knife that has the ability to switch two people’s bodies but apart from the Aztec alter appearing when the knife is in play, there isn’t much else about the magical knife. I found this fascinating but this is not the film to go antique investigating.
Of course, the film goes for the blood, chaos, the terrible attitudes of some of the teenagers but seeing the two actors swap and be completely different was highly entertaining. Vince Vaughn, although playing his teen girl to the campest he can, was still very funny, taking every opportunity to exaggerate his character. Baby faced Kathryn Newton was also very impressive as switched into 50-year-old man killer mode. Playing heavily on Friday 13th vibes and Freaky Friday twists, there is a feeling that Freaky could have pushed things further but overall, it is a ridiculous fun distraction and strangely alternative Summer escape.