Day: July 27, 2022

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Movie Review

American Satan (2017) Movie Review

American Satan is the darker side of the rock music world. When the devil comes a calling.

American Satan Poster

Director: Ash Avildsen

Writer: Ash Avildsen, Matty Beckerman (Screenplay)

Starring: Andy Biersack, Booboo Stewart, Ben Bruce, John Bradley, Jesse Sullivan, Sebastian Gregory, Denise Richards, Mark Boone Junior, Malcolm McDowell

Plot: A young rock band, half of its members from England and half from the U.S., drops out of college and moves to the Sunset Strip to chase their dreams.

Runtime: 1 Hour 51 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: American Satan starts when rock band The Relentless. Johnny (Biersack), Vic (Stewart), Leo (Bruce), Lily (Sullivan), Dylan (Gregory) and manager Ricky (Bradley). As they look to make an impact on the Sunset Strip, learning the harsh reality of making it in the music industry.

When the band meets a mysterious stranger Mr Capricorn (McDowell). He offers them deal to be overnight success, with a producer Elias (Junior) recruiting them for his latest tour. With the Relentless being the most must see band in America.

Thoughts on American Satan

American Satan is a horror thriller following a rock band who make a deal with the devil. Becoming an overnight sensation building the controversial media created about them.

This story does offer the extremes people might find themselves going through to become the biggest name in music. Even if they do have talent on their side, they have failed to make the major impact they wanted. They don’t want to earn their position on top of the world.

This might well show the deal made, but it does show the same naïve reckless behaviour notorious for rock bands to fall into, throwing away their talent. The performances in the film are solid enough, with the ever-dark figure Malcolm McDowell stealing every scene he is involved in, despite the younger cast getting their chance to shine on stage. This is a film that will show how success can push people to the limits, making them slip off the success they should have had.

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Movie Review

Dawn (2022) Movie Review

Dawn – Movie Review

Dawn Poster

Director: Nicholas Ryan

Writer: Ryder Doupe, Dawson Doupe, Todd Tapper (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A unsuspecting couple get into a ride-share only to find out that they may have to fight for their lives as the deranged driver puts them through life and death situations.

Runtime: 1 Hour 25 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Dawn starts as a couple Oliver (Cohn) and Anna (French) are waiting for an uber, which never arrives. They search for another ride when Dawn (Moore) arrives to offer the pair a ride back to their motel.

Soon after the ride starts, the couple discovers Dawn has her own motives for picking them. Dawn has her own plans for the couple, planning on making them the latest victims on her dark web show.

Verdict on Dawn

Characters

Dawn is the driver that picks the couple up, offering them a chance to get to the motel. She comes off odd but offers what the couple needs. However, she has her own plans for the couple, having her own following on the dark web for her violence.

Anna and Oliver are a couple looking to return to their motel. Travelling they don’t know the area that well and have turned to the apps to help them. they are placed into the twisted game, where they must reveal their secrets to be punished for.

Performances

Jackie Moore does a great job as the twisted driver, she makes her comfortable feel odd while having confidence in the interactions. Jared Cohn and Sarah French as the victims have moments to shine, with their stories, but never feel as scared as they could be.

Story

The story follows a couple that get taken by a deranged app driver and placed into a twisted game for her audience. The pair must reveal secrets as they learn how much risk has been placed upon their battle to survive.

This is an interesting idea, as we have seen the taxi driver figure taking people hostage before. It works well and makes for an easy routine for the killer to pick up victims. The jarring rules getting revealed through the film make up most of the next chapters. Proving the killer is prepared for anything, having been part of this hunting process for a while now. There are plenty of moments that feel like ‘Creep’ including how calm it all starts out as.

In the end, the story doesn’t quite feel as intense as it could do. The victims have a twisted tale of why they could be guilty, that makes them feel targeted, not random. It is, however, a tidy story that puts the idea of the random app life riding service in the horror spotlight.

Themes

Dawn is a horror-thriller that uses the enclosed space of a ride-share to create the horrors of being trapped during the night. The escape could mean being shot, so they must remain calm in the car. The intensity isn’t as high as it could be, as it would feel like they are being forced into a twisted game. Which the other clips of previous encounters show. It never feels like life and death for the couple.

Where to Watch: Dawn is available on VOD from the 2nd of August

Final Thoughts –Dawn is a tidy thriller, with a twisted villain you want to see more from.

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Movie Review

Recurrence (2022) Movie Review

Recurrence – Movie Review

Recurrence

Director: Alejandro Montiel

Writer: Florencia Etcheves, Alejandro Montiel, Mili Roque Pitt (Screenplay)

Cast

  • Luisana Lopilato
  • Paulina Garcia
  • Malena Narvay
  • Ariel Staltari
  • Ines Estevez

Plot: Years after moving to a remote town, ex-cop Pipa is pulled back into the dark world she thought she’d left behind when a corpse appears on her property.

Runtime: 1 Hour 55 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Recurrence starts as Pipa (Lopilato) is trying to live a remote life after her police career fell apart. She is living in North Argentina with her family. When a corpse is discovered, Pipa gets turned to help investigate what happened.

As Pipa starts looking deeper into the case, she finds a bigger problem going on within the area. A deadly case that will start coming close to home.

Verdict on Recurrence

Recurrence is a sequel to ‘Perdida’ that brings Pipa back into the spotlight to solve a new crime. This attempted new quiet life will take a turn when the case becomes personal. It shows the different backgrounds clashing, with the racial tension within the area.

This story feels like many other detectives thrown into a new area, needing to step up and tackle a new crime. It has twists along the way as we are left to search for the truth about what happened. We get left with plenty of corruption going on, as well as bringing us a strong cop figure that does fight for the right thing.

Where to Watch: Recurrence is available on Netflix

Final Thoughts – Recurrence is a mystery-filled thriller that keeps us guessing.

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Movie Review

Rogue Agent (2022) Movie Review

Rogue Agent – Movie Review

Rogue Agent

Director: Declan Lawn, Adam Patterson

Writer: Michael Bronner, Declan Lawn, Adam Patterson (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: The extraordinary and chilling story of career conman Robert Freegard who masqueraded as an MI5 agent and fooled people into going into hiding, and the woman who fell for him, and then brought him down.

Runtime: 1 Hour 55 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Rogue Agent starts as Robert Freegard (Norton) has conducted his business in small villages. Where he gets people to help him solve crimes and go into hiding when things go wrong. Nine years later, Robert operates in a vintage car dealership, where he meets lawyer Alice Archer (Arterton).

As the two start a relationship, Alice starts investigating him more and learns more about his mysterious past. This leads to Robert revealing his past and why he needs to keep his identity secret.

Verdict on Rogue Agent

Characters

Robert Freegard is a con artist that has been making people go into hiding, after claiming to be an MI5 agent. He has been doing this for years, having many people manipulated into following his orders. Now, living in London, he can remain hidden in plain sight, meeting lawyer Alice.

Alice Archer is a litigation lawyer that has broken down the barriers to getting to the highest level in her company. She isn’t normally interested in dating until she meets Robert. This puts her into a relationship where she questions herself, after learning more about his mysterious past. Getting torn between helping victims or having love.

Sarah is one of the victims that has been in hiding for years, she is completely devoted to following anything Robert suggests. She has been left to fend for herself by the orders he gives her.

Performances

Gemma Arterton is great in the leading role of the film. She shows us the character that has been through the world and is now left with nothing. The career side of her character shows the incredible strength to prove everyone wrong.

James Norton is a con artist who has charming ways about him. He shows the character can get close to anyone, before turning everything around on them.

Story

The story follows a lawyer who gets her savings stolen from her new lover. She learns that he is a con artist and looks to learn about his past. This will lead to the terrifying truth about who he truly is.

When it comes to the con artist’s story, it comes down to how disturbing the act is. How Robert acted is horrendous to see, using people to get away with everything for decades. Where things are slightly confusing, is how easily a hard-working lawyer would fall for the tricks. Then adding in that we don’t see too much communication between her law firm, who would help solve the problem.

Outside of that issue, we get a tidy way to see how everything unfolds and how easily Robert manipulated people through the years. It does feel disturbing, but you feel like the true story could be even more disturbing to learn about.

Themes

Rogue Agent is a mystery thriller that explores the motivation of a con artist. It shows how he can draw people into his con and how he tricked people into believing his lies. This will feel too disturbing to have imagined being true.

Where to Watch: Rogue Agent is available on Netflix.

Final Thoughts – Rogue Agent is a disturbing thriller, that shows the shocking actions of a con artist.