03 | May | 2021 | Movie Reviews 101

Director: Chino Moya

Writer: Chino Moya (Screenplay)

Starring: Johann Myers, Geza Rohrig, Michael Gould, Hayley Carmichael, Ned Dennehy, Tanya Reynolds

Plot: An otherworldly journey through a Europe in decline – a collection of darkly humorous, fantasy tales about ill-fated characters and doomed fortune.

Runtime: 1 Hour 31 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Undergods starts as we meet K (Myers) and Z (Rohrig) who collect dead bodies in an apocalypse filled world, here to pass the time, they look to tell each other stories of a life before the apocalypse, which will take us to three main stories.

The first follows a neighbour that turns up at door, which will see a life spiral out of control. The second is about an inventor that is desperately trying to get his inventions backing, while the third see Dominic (Rawlins) life turned upside down when his wife Rachel’s (Dickie) ex-husband reappear after 15-years.

Thoughts on Undergods

Thoughts – Undergods takes us into the world of short stories, with each story having an interesting concept for sure, but sadly it does take us away from what is the most appealing part of the film, learning more about K and Z’s roles in the post-apocalyptic world. This world looks haunting and you just want to learn more about what is going on with their role, we only get the fleeting glances, which is a giant disappointment, as the three stories we learn about could easily have been extended versions along the lines of a Black Mirror for mystery. This is a movie that is filled with more potential that it gives us, which will only end up leaving us feeling flat by the end of the film, just wanting more from everything we see.

Undergods will be in UK Cinemas & on Digital Download from 17th May

Final Thoughts – Undergods is a film that is filled with so many interesting ideas that just don’t get explored enough.

Director: Rasmus Kloster Bro

Writer: Rasmus Kloster Bro, Mikkel Bak Sorensen (Screenplay)

Starring: Christine Sonderris, Kresimir Mikic, Samson Semere, Adrian Heili, Salvatore Striano

Plot: Rie visits a tunnel-boring machine being used to construct the Copenhagen Metro. When an accident occurs, she must survive the claustrophobic conditions of an airlock with Ivo and Bharan whilst reconsidering their lives.

Runtime: 1 Hour 24 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict: Claustrophobic nightmare

Story: Cutterhead starts as reporter Rie (Sonderris) heads to a construction site, with a tunnel-boring machine creating a Metro in Copenhagen. She wants to meet the men working on the site to learn what brings them to this work, with Ivo (Mikic), Bharan (Semere), Adrian (Heili), Alfredo (Striano) and Datter (Knodrup) who are from different locations around the world.

After there is an accident in the tunnel, Rie, Ivo and Bharan are trapped in an airlock, one of the safest places in the tunnel, only the air is running out and does anybody know they are trapped in the tunnel.

Thoughts on Cutterhead

Characters – Rie is a reporter looking to do a story on the men working on the tunnel system, she is asking the important questions along the way, but she isn’t ready for what happens when the accident occurs. She doesn’t always listen to the advice of the experienced people around her which doesn’t help the situation. Ivo has been working in this tunnel and other systems for years, he knows how to stay safe during any situation and knows that rescue will come their way. Bharan is a refuge that works here to support his family back home, he will do everything he can, while keeping a lot to himself.

Performances – Christine Sonderris, Kresimir Mikic and Samson Semere are all strong in the film, they show different reactions to how to survive the situation and give their characters a human feeling about them.

Story – The story here follows a reporter looking to a do a story on a tunnelling digging team find herself trapped underground after an accident, needing to try and do the right thing to survive the situation. The story keeps the characters in one main locations, they are trapped, they look at ideas for trying to survive, whether it be waiting or looking for a route out, right down to the desperation to survive.

Thriller – This is a film that will look to keep you guessing to who will survive, or how, with the characters needing to make the difficult decisions if they are to make it out alive.

Settings – The film keeps everything inside the tight claustrophobic chamber, which could provide the safety they need.

Scene of the Movie – The start of the incident.

That Moment That Annoyed Me – Rie and her decision making.

Final Thoughts – This is a strong claustrophobic movie that shows just how contained the action is meant to be, it keeps us within the walls of the chamber, with little to nowhere to run.

Overall: Claustrophobic 101.