Thereโs not much to talk about.
Presentation:
The film looks good. Many mainstream horror films these days really look nice and this is one of them. Some of the special effects and make up are really clever, though i wasn't blown away as this movie is overhyped. You don't need to be worried as this film isn't really that scary, it falls within the art horror genre with moody lit scenes as opposed to terrifying.
Analysis:
This film was boring. The gen Z dialogue putts along and is pretty much carried by the only likable characters, the protagonist and kid. She's charismatic, but the script didn't deliver for me as when we do find out the source of her trauma it's not impactful given how she goes on about her life on a daily basis. I didn't truly buy the internal suffering and the climax wasn't rewarding. In some ways this film feels full of fluff, maybe because the producers have already planned for this to have a sequel. Ultimately, there may be a drug metaphor in here somewhere, but it still feels weaksauce, though I can see it setting up for a potentially wicked sequel.
Conclusion:
This film was not scary at all, and the scares themselves are pretty weaksauce with just a lot of blood and screaming. If you're going to go the art horror route, maybe have a more appropriate setting instead of with adolescents and mundane dialogue. I kept waiting for something interesting to happen but in the ending nothing about this film spoke to me. Younger audiences could enjoy this one.
Recommendations
Watch this film long enough it stares back at you.
Quirkiest metaphor of the decade.
Warm, nostalgic melancholy.
A fresh coming of age story disarming the biggest skeptics.
Denis Villeneuveโs artistic validation.
No civil war, just a massacre.
A unique horror/slasher that focuses on story as opposed to the scares.
When the underdog is actually overhyped.
A film that may truly make you believe in blackmagic.
If Fincher made a slasher.
A stressful film that gets you emotionally invested.
A dark marriage of comedy.
This is why A24 makes some of the best movies.
Everything a Black Mirror episode strives for.
A romance transcending destiny, built upon unstable foundation.
Gorgeous drama with powerful performance by everyone except the lead.
You'd have to be in a particular mood to appreciate this one.
Definitely a good time.