Tag: 2017

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Movie Review

Kidnap (2017) Movie Review

Kidnap – Movie Review

"Kidnap" is a gripping thriller about a mother racing to rescue her abducted son, showcasing her relentless determination and courage.

First Reaction – Kidnap is a tense, edge-of-the-seat thriller.

Where to Watch

Kidnap is available on Digital Platforms 3 February. Distributed by Signature Entertainment.

Director: Luis Prieto

Writer: Knate Lee (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A mother stops at nothing to recover her kidnapped son.

Runtime: 1 Hour 35 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Kidnap starts when single mother Karla (Berry) looks to have a day with her son Frankie (Correa). Her work runs late but once they are out for the day the biggest nightmare of her life happens, someone kidnaps Frankie. It leads her on a daring chase to follow the kidnappers to save her son.

Frankie goes on a daring chase where the kidnappers test her as she proves she will do anything to save her son. However, the questions spiral through her mind about why her son was picked and whether it was random or not.

Verdict on Kidnap

Recap

The movie follows a single mother whose biggest nightmare becomes a reality. Her son is kidnapped and she races after the kidnappers, she chases them down in hopes of saving her son but knows the time is short and she will do anything to save him.

Best Parts

The movie uses a real-time narrative to drive the story forward. It builds the tension as we know the danger Frankie is in and it shows how far a mother will go to save her child. The fact we get an everyday person in an action movie helps because it helps people know how far they will go in the same situation. Hally Berry is always going to be a great lead and this is no different. It is a real edge-of-the-seat thriller that never gives you a chance to take a breath.

Worst Parts

Some of the dialogue is more questionable but otherwise, this does everything you need for a late-night action movie.

Final Thoughts –Kidnap is a great thriller and a perfect late-night action movie.

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Movie Review

Do You See Me (2017) Movie Review

Do You See Me – Movie Review

"Do You See Me?" depicts a woman's struggle against a mysterious clown stalker, intensifying her paranoia while others dismiss her fears and concerns.

First Reaction – Do You See Me Creates a brilliant sense of paranoia.

Where to Watch

Corbin Timbrook’s DO YOU SEE ME? Is set to tap into that same fear, debuting this Friday, January 17, across all major on-demand and digital platforms.

Director: Corbin Timbrook

Writer: Harel Goldstein, Charles Morris Jr, Corbin Timbrook (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: Emily is being stalked by a rogue clown. He’s everywhere…including her closet.

Runtime: 1 Hour 25 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Do You See Me starts when Emily (Meyers) believes she is getting stalked by a clown. Her ex-husband Randy (Boyd) wants to sell their home and Emily’s friends and family are trying to help her. However, nobody else sees what she believes and the police don’t seem to be able to figure out who is behind the messages.

Emily turns to her sister for help when the messages become more intimidating. However, the internet uncovers a series of incidents with disturbing outcomes. Can Emily solve the mystery before she becomes the latest victim?

Verdict on Do You See Me

Recap

The movie follows a woman who believes she is getting stalked by a mysterious clown. However, nobody else sees what she does and her paranoia takes over. She must figure out what is going on before she becomes the latest victim of the killer.

Best Parts

The movie creates an amazing sense of paranoia in Emily. It shows how easily something can consume somebody and cause long-lasting effects. The clown’s costume is very creepy and would scare anyone who doesn’t like clowns.

Worst Parts

The biggest weakness in the movie comes from friends and family reactions. Nobody takes anything too seriously and come off selfish in Emily’s time of need. Elsewhere, the overuse of dream sequences becomes repetitive for the bigger story, holding back too many scare moments.

Final Thoughts –Do You See Me uses paranoia to make the movie more intense.

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Movie Review

State of Mind (2017) Movie Review

State of Mind – Movie Review

Read a fascinating review of 'State of Mind', a film that explores the lives of three paranoid schizophrenic patients who believe they are Jesus Christ.

Director: Jon Avnet (Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe)

Writer: Eric Nazarian, Jon Avnet (Screenplay)

Writer: Milton Rokeach (Book)

Cast

Plot: Three Christs follows Dr. Alan Stone who is treating three paranoid schizophrenic patients at the Ypsilanti State Hospital in Michigan, each of whom believed they were Jesus Christ. What transpires is both comic and deeply moving.

Runtime: 1 Hour 49 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: State of Mind starts when Dr Stone (Gere) states working at a State Hospital in Michigan. He is working with paranoid schizophrenic patients who all believe they are Jesus Christ. Joseph (Dinklage), Clyde (Whitford) and Leon (Goggins) are the three patients that Dr Stone has decided to treat.

He wants to step away from the more traditional aggressive methods and embrace the three and who they believe they are. However, this becomes challenging as they show signs of aggression, which could put their lives and others at risk.

Verdict on State of Mind

State of Mind is a drama following a doctor trying to think outside the box when treating three patients who believe they a Jesus. It follows his methods which challenge the normal treatment to connect in a way nobody else has ever managed before, risking his own career to do so.

This shows the challenges that need to be overcome to improve life for people in state hospitals. It shows the treatment that works the best despite others going against them. We have seen many films like this before, even if this doesn’t quite hit the same level of impact. It has strong performances from the whole cast involved.

Where to Watch

JustWatch

Final Thoughts – State of Mind is an interesting look at evolving treatment methods.

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Movie Review

Bus Party to Hell (2017) Movie Review

Bus Party to Hell – Movie Review

Discover the horror-filled chaos of Bus Party to Hell, a thrilling ride with sexy young adults, Satanic worshippers, and non-stop action.

ABC Film Challenge – Horror – K (Sadie Katz)

Director: Rolfe Kanefsky

Writer: Rolfe Kanefsky, Michael Mahal, Sonny Mahal (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: When a party bus on its way to Burning Man filled with a bunch of sexy young adults breaks down in the desert and in the middle of a group of Satanic worshipers, all hell breaks loose.

Runtime: 1 Hour 21 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Bus Party to Hell starts when a group of partiers are heading to Burning Man. They have rented a party bus with Joan Starrett (Katz) as their driver. However, on the journey they come under attack from a host of different satanic worshipers.

The partygoers must work together to escape, forcing them to deal with various threats. However, they are outnumbered and defenceless against the numbers outside. It becomes a battle to survive the nightmare outside.

Verdict on Bus Party to Hell

Bus Party to Hell is a horror comedy following a group of partygoers who get lost in the desert and attacked by a satanic cult. They must band together to survive a night of terror which is filled with sex crazed demons trying to get their latest victims.

This movie plays into the chaotic nature of over-partying and satanic cults. When the two come together, we see how wildly out of control the night becomes. The movie embraces the practical effects and the brutality of what we see and doesn’t hold back on sex and nudity. It feels like it fits a perfect audience and could easily have a great following. However, the overall story can feel a little empty, as most of the focus is placed on the violence and nudity the movie thrives on.

Where to Watch

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JustWatch

Final Thoughts – Bus Party to Hell is a raunchy, chaotic movie.

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Movie Review

The Forgiven (2017) Movie Review

The Forgiven – ABC Film Challenge – Thriller – F – The Forgiven – Movie Review 

Forgiven

Director: Roland Joffe

Writer: Michael Ashton, Roland Joffe (Screenplay)

Cast

 

Plot: After the end of Apartheid, Archbishop Desmond Tutu meets with a brutal murderer seeking redemption.  

Runtime: 1 Hour 55 Minutes  

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review 

Story: The Forgiven starts in the aftermath of the independence in South Africa. Desmond Tutu (Whitaker) is helping discover what happened to multiple victims of the war in the country. His latest person is Piet Blomfeld (Bana) a known war criminal and brutal murderer.

While the two clash to start with, Desmond is determined to learn the truth about so many victims. He wants to give the families a chance to mourn their lost loved ones and Piet has many of the answers.  

Verdict on The Forgiven

The Forgiven is a drama thriller following two men from different sides of a civil war who must understand the world has changed. However, one’s crimes are covered up and the other needs to learn the truth to bring peace to the victim’s families.

This is a hard-hitting drama that doesn’t shy away from the horrors put on families during a civil war. It shows how not knowing can take so much away from the lives of the ones left behind. This gets to show an unusual relationship between a religious figure and a murderer who holds the answers. It turns into a grim reality of what happened that shows the violence put on innocent people. Though the biggest question is whether people can be forgiven to help bring about a new world. 

Final Thoughts –The Forgiven is a hard-hitting drama on the horrors committed in war.

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Movie Review

Canaries (2017) Movie Review

Canaries – Movie Review

Read our review of the movie Canaries, a thrilling sci-fi film set in Wales. Join a group of friends as they face an alien invasion on New Year's Eve.

ABC Film Challenge – Set in the UK – W (set in Wales)

Director: Peter Stray

Writer: Peter Stray (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: The first wave of an alien invasion coincides with a New Years Eve party in a Welsh valley.

Runtime: 1 Hour 24 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Canaries starts when a group of friends look to celebrate New Year’s. It is a chance for them to come together for the first time in a while as they return to a small Welsh Valley town. However, their celebrations end short when they come under attack from aliens.

They must figure out what is going on as they learn about the bigger conspiracy going on. It has a connection to wider things where one of the visitors knows more than they are letting on.

Verdict on Canaries

Canaries is a sci-fi comedy following a group of friends trying to survive an alien invasion. It follows them believing it is a small incident before things spiral out of control leading to them needing to find unusual ways to survive.

This movie feels like it wants to grab the same magic ‘Grabbers’ did with the small group dealing with an invasion. However, it doesn’t seem to collect as much magic and ends up playing the same ideas again. The wider connection to a known incident is interesting and works well for the story. When it comes to the alien creations, they are not the most interesting, which can also hold back the film at times. It all ends up feeling like a solid late-night sci-fi film with a few laughs and wacky action.

Where to Watch

JustWatch

Final Thoughts – Canaries is an enjoyable late-night sci-fi movie.

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Movie Review

Daphne (2017) Movie Review

Daphne – ABC Film Challenge – Set in England – D – Daphne – Movie Review

Daphne – ABC Film Challenge – Set in England – D – Daphne - Movie Review

Director: Peter Mackie Burns

Writer: Nico Mensinga (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: The vibrant character portrait of a young woman on the threshold of a much-needed change.

Runtime: 1 Hour 28 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Daphne starts as we meet the Londoner Daphne (Beecham). She works in a restaurant and enjoys to a party but is starting to find her life feeling empty. As she tries to navigate her life and find more of a purpose, she deals with her overly involved mother Rita (James) and the changes in modern society.

She continues her life after a life-changing experience that could give her a new direction. However, it leaves her in an unstable, uncertain and lost in her own life.

Verdict on Daphne

Daphne is a comedy-drama following a young woman living in London. She has a plain life that starts to spiral out of control after seeing a violent crime. However, she struggles to adapt and finds things getting out of control extremely quickly.

This is a drama that shows that life can come at you very fast. It can have things go wrong and learning to adapt to the change is the hardest part. Emily Beecham is brilliant in the leading role of the movie. The movie shines in the moments that show the everyday routine life offers. It shows that not everything is going to be exciting and the little things are what are most important.

Where to Watch

JustWatch

Final Thoughts – Daphne is a drama showing the difficulties of the small moments in life.

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Movie Review

The Children Act (2017) Movie Review

The Children Act – ABC Film Challenge – Set in England – C – The Children Act – Movie Review

Children Act

Director: Richard Eyre

Writer: Ian McEwan (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: As her marriage crumbles, a judge must decide a case involving a teenage boy who is refusing a blood transfusion on religious principle.

Runtime: 1 Hour 45 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Children Act starts as we meet judge Fiona Maye (Thompson) who deals with some of the most sensitive cases in UK law. Elsewhere, her marriage with Jack (Tucci) is crumbling because of her career. Fiona gets most of the cases completed in a fair manner.

However, her latest case sees her needing to make a decision about a teenage boy who is refusing a blood transfusion. The case is incredibly sensitive and sees her making a drastic decision to meet the teenager. She knows that religious beliefs make things even more complicated and she gets close to the patient before making her decision.

Verdict on The Children Act

The Children Act is a drama following a judge who takes on a sensitive case involving a child refusing medical treatment under religious beliefs. However, her decision will have a lasting effect on everyone’s lives.

This is a drama that gets to show the difficult decisions a judge is left to make. It shows both sides of the argument before the decision is made. However, it would have been a lot more interesting to see more of the case discussed. Rather than focusing on the aftermath of it. While the performances are wonderful, it is the fact we don’t get into the more sensitive subject matter for a long period of time that holds things back.

Final Thoughts – The Children Act has an interesting subject matter being discussed.

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Movie Review

The Rider (2017) Movie Review

The Rider – ABC Film Challenge – Female Directors – Z (Chloe Zhao) – The Rider – Movie Review

The Rider – ABC Film Challenge – Female Directors – Z (Chloe Zhao) – The Rider - Movie Review

Director: Chloe Zhao

Writer: Chloe Zhao (Screenplay)

Cast

  • Brady Jandreau
  • Tim Jandreau
  • Lilly Jandreau

Plot: After suffering a near fatal head injury, a young cowboy undertakes a search for new identity and what it means to be a man in the heartland of America.

Runtime: 1 Hour 44 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Rider starts as Brady is recovering from a serious head injury from his rodeo. His father Wayne is struggling for money and Brady is struggling to discover what to do next. If Brady gets back on a horse and has another accident, it could leave him in a worse position, but he doesn’t have the qualifications to start a career elsewhere.

As Brady looks to find a meaning to his life. he must first find peace in the accident. It shows that he thought he had everything but now must rebuild.

Verdict on The Rider

The Rider is a drama following a young man who is recovering from a serious head injury after an accident falling off a horse. It is his world working with the horses and he struggles to adapt to finding a new life. However, he is willing to risk it all to get back to the life he loves.

This is based on the real-life of most of the cast. It shows the struggles someone faces after being involved in a serious accident and how that previous life can be taken away from them. This is told in a way that makes it feel part documentary and part live story. This shows how in life people always face difficult decisions in life, even if some are thrown at them.

Final Thoughts – The Rider is a moving drama showing how life can change quickly.