Cube (1997)
3.00 out of 4stars
“Six complete strangers with widely varying personalities are involuntarily placed in an endless maze containing deadly traps.”
A great sci-fi horror thriller with a Kafkaesque/Twilight Zone premise that is intellectually engaging and consistently gripping. The expansion of this claustrophobic survival concept is done well with intelligent choices, solid tension, and good turns. There are sprinkles of commentary and meaning throughout, especially social and existential, but I don’t think I’d say there are any thoroughly specific themes in this aspect, just ideas. This film has had a notable influence directly or indirectly on many “survival-game/puzzle” horror films and franchises, including Saw, albeit Cube is more cerebral and Saw is more visually and emotionally focused. The saddest part of it all in this movie, its conclusion gives no answers and ultimately its initial premise ends up with no purpose. If that was corrected and some of the dialogue was a bit better fleshed out this movie could have been something very special, albeit it’s still great.
Pearl (2022)
2.90 out of 4stars
“Filmmaker Ti West returns with another chapter from the twisted world of X, in this astonishing follow-up to the year's most acclaimed horror film. In 1918, trapped on her family's isolated farm, Pearl must tend to her ailing father under the bitter and overbearing watch of her devout mother. Lusting for a glamorous life like she's seen in the movies, Pearl finds her ambitions, temptations, and repressions all colliding in this stunning, technicolor-inspired origin story of X's iconic villain.”
A great drama horror with touches of surrealism that’s foremost an excellent showcase for Mia Goth’s talents, as well as being a slightly twisted origin of a murderer tale. Quite a different style of movie compared to X, this being more of a slower building character study/evolution drama and X being more of a carnal/slasher adrenaline pumping thrill fest. And again with Ti West films, it’s an ode to older movies/past-genre films and is incredibly meta on numerous levels. Here, Goth’s ability to create sympathy for such an impulsive psychopath is impressive. The plot’s about dreams being so close yet so far away given the circumstances one has been dealt with in life. There’s one point in the movie where Goth delivers a multi-minute monologue that could kill the momentum, but instead deepens the main character and our appreciation of Goth’s turn here. And the final scene is pitch perfect.
Orphan: First Kill (2022)
2.70 out of 4stars
“Esther, a 31 year old dwarf with a glandular disease that makes her have the physical appearance of a child, orchestrates a brilliant escape from an Estonian psychiatric facility. Afterward, Esther travels to America by impersonating the missing daughter of a wealthy family with thoughts of robbing them or worse.”
An overall great horror thriller with a strong 2nd half that solidly delivers. The first half of the movie is creepy and threatening enough albeit a bit redundant/cliche-even of the original film (as are a couple aspects of the second half). Midway through the film there is a great twist that is carried out well in a darkly comedic, absurdity upping, and fun way, which some would even call campy. Throw in a couple great performances along with some clever filmmaking decisions and you have a surprisingly enjoyable “sequel” prequel. Interestingly enough it’s all around a solid success, the movie has a production budget that’s under $500K and has already amassed a $12million worldwide box office to go along with its Paramount+ release and mostly favorable reviews, including a strong 74% critics/76% audience approval rating on rotten tomatoes as I am writing this.
The Gray Man (2022)
2.55 out of 4stars
“When a shadowy CIA agent uncovers damning agency secrets, he’s hunted across the globe by a sociopathic rogue operative who’s put a bounty on his head.”
I know I’m late to the party, but a good action thriller whose existence and final product is confounding at $200million and a Netflix release. Don’t get me wrong, it is good mindless dumb fun, or “good enough” popcorn entertainment with some obvious weaknesses and cliche filled parts. Problem is, this exists in a genre soaked with proven superiority over the past 10 to 15 years. If you don't want to hear a mini rant on action thrillers, stop reading now
. The Mission Impossible Franchise imo is at the peak of the mountain, John Wick a one off and close 2nd, your average Daniel Craig James Bond next I’d suggest, Matt Damon Bourne movies of similar enjoyment/quality but that franchise may be dead, and of course there is the Fast and the Furious, while nothing of similar quality of the above listed films, but has a different appeal of way over the top/cheesiness/car-centric joys. I’d put this film a tier to multiple tiers below almost every franchise listed above save for Fast and Furious. And I can’t think of 1 film aspect that Gray Man has where it does as good or better than any of the above listed franchises but F&F, at minimum for attraction and justification for it to become a multi-movie franchise. And this isn’t even getting with me getting into standalones or the oversaturated Marvel universe films which have their own action adventure appeal and “supernaturally imaginative” draw. As far as this summer big budget blockbusters go, I’d say Top Gun: Maverick was easily more fun/enjoyable. Although, this is mindless popcorn joy, so maybe this is overanalysis. . As I’m reading the backstory on this, Netflix’s Red Notice was also a $200 million film also? Big budget movies don’t necessarily have the shock and awe or worldbuilding like they used to out of expectation.
3.00 out of 4stars
“Six complete strangers with widely varying personalities are involuntarily placed in an endless maze containing deadly traps.”
A great sci-fi horror thriller with a Kafkaesque/Twilight Zone premise that is intellectually engaging and consistently gripping. The expansion of this claustrophobic survival concept is done well with intelligent choices, solid tension, and good turns. There are sprinkles of commentary and meaning throughout, especially social and existential, but I don’t think I’d say there are any thoroughly specific themes in this aspect, just ideas. This film has had a notable influence directly or indirectly on many “survival-game/puzzle” horror films and franchises, including Saw, albeit Cube is more cerebral and Saw is more visually and emotionally focused. The saddest part of it all in this movie, its conclusion gives no answers and ultimately its initial premise ends up with no purpose. If that was corrected and some of the dialogue was a bit better fleshed out this movie could have been something very special, albeit it’s still great.
Pearl (2022)
2.90 out of 4stars
“Filmmaker Ti West returns with another chapter from the twisted world of X, in this astonishing follow-up to the year's most acclaimed horror film. In 1918, trapped on her family's isolated farm, Pearl must tend to her ailing father under the bitter and overbearing watch of her devout mother. Lusting for a glamorous life like she's seen in the movies, Pearl finds her ambitions, temptations, and repressions all colliding in this stunning, technicolor-inspired origin story of X's iconic villain.”
A great drama horror with touches of surrealism that’s foremost an excellent showcase for Mia Goth’s talents, as well as being a slightly twisted origin of a murderer tale. Quite a different style of movie compared to X, this being more of a slower building character study/evolution drama and X being more of a carnal/slasher adrenaline pumping thrill fest. And again with Ti West films, it’s an ode to older movies/past-genre films and is incredibly meta on numerous levels. Here, Goth’s ability to create sympathy for such an impulsive psychopath is impressive. The plot’s about dreams being so close yet so far away given the circumstances one has been dealt with in life. There’s one point in the movie where Goth delivers a multi-minute monologue that could kill the momentum, but instead deepens the main character and our appreciation of Goth’s turn here. And the final scene is pitch perfect.
Orphan: First Kill (2022)
2.70 out of 4stars
“Esther, a 31 year old dwarf with a glandular disease that makes her have the physical appearance of a child, orchestrates a brilliant escape from an Estonian psychiatric facility. Afterward, Esther travels to America by impersonating the missing daughter of a wealthy family with thoughts of robbing them or worse.”
An overall great horror thriller with a strong 2nd half that solidly delivers. The first half of the movie is creepy and threatening enough albeit a bit redundant/cliche-even of the original film (as are a couple aspects of the second half). Midway through the film there is a great twist that is carried out well in a darkly comedic, absurdity upping, and fun way, which some would even call campy. Throw in a couple great performances along with some clever filmmaking decisions and you have a surprisingly enjoyable “sequel” prequel. Interestingly enough it’s all around a solid success, the movie has a production budget that’s under $500K and has already amassed a $12million worldwide box office to go along with its Paramount+ release and mostly favorable reviews, including a strong 74% critics/76% audience approval rating on rotten tomatoes as I am writing this.
The Gray Man (2022)
2.55 out of 4stars
“When a shadowy CIA agent uncovers damning agency secrets, he’s hunted across the globe by a sociopathic rogue operative who’s put a bounty on his head.”
I know I’m late to the party, but a good action thriller whose existence and final product is confounding at $200million and a Netflix release. Don’t get me wrong, it is good mindless dumb fun, or “good enough” popcorn entertainment with some obvious weaknesses and cliche filled parts. Problem is, this exists in a genre soaked with proven superiority over the past 10 to 15 years. If you don't want to hear a mini rant on action thrillers, stop reading now
. The Mission Impossible Franchise imo is at the peak of the mountain, John Wick a one off and close 2nd, your average Daniel Craig James Bond next I’d suggest, Matt Damon Bourne movies of similar enjoyment/quality but that franchise may be dead, and of course there is the Fast and the Furious, while nothing of similar quality of the above listed films, but has a different appeal of way over the top/cheesiness/car-centric joys. I’d put this film a tier to multiple tiers below almost every franchise listed above save for Fast and Furious. And I can’t think of 1 film aspect that Gray Man has where it does as good or better than any of the above listed franchises but F&F, at minimum for attraction and justification for it to become a multi-movie franchise. And this isn’t even getting with me getting into standalones or the oversaturated Marvel universe films which have their own action adventure appeal and “supernaturally imaginative” draw. As far as this summer big budget blockbusters go, I’d say Top Gun: Maverick was easily more fun/enjoyable. Although, this is mindless popcorn joy, so maybe this is overanalysis. . As I’m reading the backstory on this, Netflix’s Red Notice was also a $200 million film also? Big budget movies don’t necessarily have the shock and awe or worldbuilding like they used to out of expectation.
