Log: week 29 / 2025
Talk to Me was a bit overrated, but the Philippou brothers redeem themselves with Bring Her Back. The horror bits in particular are way more effective, and there are some properly gruesome and memorable scenes here. If the drama had been a tad more consistent, this could've been one of the best horror films in years. The performances are solid, the setup is interesting, and everything related to Oliver's character is fantastic. Hawkins' character, on the other hand, was somewhat annoying, and her backstory didn't add much. A shorter runtime and slightly more pointed dramatic angle would've done this film a lot of good, but that doesn't erase all the lovely gruesomeness on display. Horror fans rejoice!Read all
Vincent Gallo, the movie. I'm not entirely sure if this is part of the mumblecore scene, even so, I advise you to watch this one with subtitles, regardless of how well you speak English. Gallo's character is a quiet introvert, and while he has some dialogue, most of the information comes from his body language. The cinematography is a mixed bag (I like the idea, the execution needs some work), the performances are solid but an acquired taste, and the score could've been better. I didn't have any issues with the intimate scene at the end, but some might find it too blunt. Not a bad portrait of a broken man, but it didn't really hold up over time either.Read all
This series is made for someone like Keita Amemiya. Crazy fantasy with fantastical creatures, high octane action, and some typical Japanese folklore mixed in. The budget was limited, but Amemiya is used to that, and he is skilled enough to work around those limitations. The result is pure entertainment. That said, the segments on the train are the highlight of the film, but they come relatively early. The later scenes are still fun, but not quite as weird or polished. The drama could've been toned down a little, and the runtime is a bit long for silly fodder like this, but I still had a good time with this Garo film. It does help to be familiar with the franchise, but it's not a necessity.Read all
An Indian film where the Bollywood elements were toned down a bit. There's still a plethora of genres and some big, sudden mood swings to deal with, but overall, it felt more like a coherent piece of cinema. There are some strong scenes here, but 150+ minutes is still a bit too much. The cinematography was slick, and the soundtrack had some proper highlights. The drama was overdone though, and the middle part could've used some trimming. The ending is better, the film never takes itself too seriously, and there were some memorable bits scattered throughout. Proper Bollywood cinema.Read all
Normally, I'm not the biggest fan of time loop films, as they all follow a very similar structure, but Araki's Penalty Loop throws everything upside down. The first loop is perfection, after that, everything starts getting more and more unhinged. It's an interesting take on a familiar niche, and one that is executed with the proper flair. Strong performances and meticulous styling choices turned this into a very cool and refreshing thriller.