Plot: A foreign couple’s visit is disturbed by the house they rent.
Runtime: 1 Hour 33 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: The Unsettling starts when Abena (Idoko) and Kwame (Bamba) move into a new home to start a fresh life. they are moving away from their own trauma, as Abena is still haunted by the events. As they start to get comfortable in the new home, Abena starts to believe they are not alone in the home.
Kwame continues to push forward with a new life, however, Abena doesn’t want to forget her past. Abena continues to feel a lingering presence around her and is willing to try anything to solve the problem.
Verdict on The Unsettling
The Unsettling is a mystery horror following a couple starting a fresh life after a tragedy. It sees them trying to get used to their new life, only the tragedy still haunts one of them whether she goes.
This is a slow-moving horror, showing the effects that tragedy can have on someone. However, the build-up is plenty of uncertainty, it doesn’t deliver enough by the end of the movie. Trying to capture the magic ‘His House’ had with somebody new moving into a home. This ends up feeling like too much is rushed and not enough is delivered in the larger horror aspects. In the end, it feels like we could have had one more big sequence, instead of rushing the final outcome.
Final Thoughts – The Unsettling is a horror that lacks the disturbing outcome it could have.
Plot: Two playwrights, George and Charlie, are tasked with the challenge of creating the next “avant-garde, surrealistic, mind-bending neo-noir thriller”. As they write, the story comes to life in real-time. However, their own emotions and arguments also begin to manifest on film, creating sharp twists and turns that affect the entire movie. Filled with hilarity and chaos, Murder, Anyone? is a comedic play-within-a-play-within-a-movie that contemplates the complexities of language, art, theatre, film and more.
Runtime: 1 Hour 20 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Murder, Anyone? Starts as two playwrights George (LaMarche) and Charlie (Howell IV) are putting together their next play. The pair bring the characters to life, as we follow their writing process and creative changes.
Inside the play, we meet Bridgette (Stineman) and Cooper (Andrews) as they become the pawns in the writer’s hands. Each scene offers up a discussion about which direction the play should go.
Verdict on Murder, Anyone?
Murder Anyone? Is a comedy mystery taking us back behind the curtain to the creative process. It follows the two writers as they look to get their latest idea onto paper, leading to them trying to create twists and turns along the way. The pair discuss what they want to bring to the play and listen to both sides’ points of view.
This is a very clever comedy, that dives into the creative process. It shows us how characters and scenarios can be created and spiral out of control. Leading to a lot of fun as we see the different situations the characters find themselves in. throughout the process, we get wakey turns that don’t always make sense. Deep down, this seems to have a little dig at studio interference in movies and taking the writer and director’s creative visions away. It is a lot of fun and doesn’t hold back the laughs. The performances are strong too, with them needing to have the ability to do the ‘wink, wink, nudge nudge’ moments in the film.
Final Thoughts – Murder, Anyone? Is a lot of fun and brings plenty of laughs.
Plot: Two children wake up in the middle of the night to find their father is missing, and all the windows and doors in their home have vanished.
Runtime: 1 Hour 40 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Skinamarink starts as the two children of the household, Kevin and Kaylee wake up in the middle of the night. They can’t find their Father and notice all the doors and windows have vanished. As they explore the pitch-black house, they question what is in the dark.
This sees them hearing strange voices and seeing shadows. All, while they play like it is daytime. Something doesn’t feel right but the kids continue to search for answers.
Verdict on Skinamarink
Skinamarink is a strange horror movie. It uses an old-school film technique to make it feel like we are watching an old-found movie. Fills us with the darkness going on in the home, as children communicate with something in their home.
This movie is going to be one you could see audiences loving or completely hating. It has a lot you could easily look to unpack to see a bigger story. However, if you saw it another way, it is a movie without much going on. It is a movie that is very difficult to explain what is going on and by the end, you might not get everything either. This is all about the style of filming that carries a unique approach throughout the movie.
Where to Watch: Skinamarink is coming to Shudder on the 2nd of February.
Final Thoughts –Skinamarink is an oddly unique horror journey.
Plot: A realtor pursues a new career as a Dolly Parton impersonator.
Runtime: 1 Hour 36 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Seriously Red starts as Red (Boylan) finds herself being embarrassed once again by her work. She is forced to attend a work party as her idol Dolly Parton. However, this opens a connection with Teeth (Barber) in an impersonator career. After Red quits her job, she decides to chase her dream.
Red finds herself touring with Kenny Rogers (Webber), Elvis (Byrne) and other impersonators. However, this sends her down a path of being uncertain about herself, while enjoying the spotlight she has gained.
Verdict on Seriously Red
Characters
Red is known as a clumsy friendly woman, she tends to take things too far being seen as a clown in the office. She has a massive Dolly Parton fan and dresses up as her idol in her free time. When she performs a song as Dolly, she gets recruited for an impersonator music tour. Red’s life is changed as she gets to perform the songs of her favourite singer and her life changes in ways she never imagined.
Kenny Rogers is the most popular member of the act, Red must win her approval before getting into the act. He can wow the crowds but finds himself getting caught up in the middle of being this performer.
Teeth is the lady that runs the acts, she recruits the newest talent and makes the most of what she sees. She sees something in Red and pushes her into becoming the latest act. Teeth has funny stories to tell along the way, bringing laughs when needed.
EP is an Elvis impersonator that is on the circuit, she sees something in Red too. However, she sees more fear in what is being offered from potentially being replaced by Dolly.
Performances
Krew Boylan writes and leads this movie. She is wonderful to watch, as she brings the vulnerable side to her character. As well as bringing the confidence she needs to perform.
In the supporting cast, Daniel Webber, Rose Byrne and Celeste Barber are all great to watch. They bring everything they need to make an impact in the movie.
Story
The movie follows a Dolly Parton impersonator that gets a dream to travel around performing as her. She sees her life change and become a major name in the circuit but she starts to question herself in this world.
This is an enjoyable musical comedy taking us into the impersonator circuit. It shows that people can chase their dreams and get caught up in the changes, as well as needing to learn what is the most important thing. You will get a lot of fun in this movie and the different performers all shine. The comedy in the movie gets laughs throughout the film.
Where to Watch: Signature Entertainment presents Seriously Red on Digital Platforms on 13th February.
Final Thoughts –Seriously Red is an enjoyable musical comedy.
Plot: On a starry night, Jack and Jill separately meet a fortune teller who predicts they will meet the love of their life before the end of the year, which happens to be only five days away.
Runtime: 1 Hour 34 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Ask Me to Dance starts as we meet Jill (Evigan) who has been searching for love before her best friend’s wedding. She gets sent on a string of dates that go wrong, despite being told she would find love before the end of the year. Elsewhere, Jack (Malloy) has been going through the same problem, going through disastrous dates too.
As the wedding comes closer, Jill and Jack find themselves almost meeting, leading to them getting frustrated by love. They question whether the fortune-telling was just making things up to make them feel more loved.
Verdict on Ask Me to Dance
Ask Me to Dance is a romantic comedy following two people looking for love in a busy world. It sees them going on a string of bad dates as they look to find love, leading up to a wedding they are both attending.
For a romantic comedy, this does everything you expect it to. There is plenty of time to watch the dates go wrong, giving the movie the laughs, it needs. Some of the laughs are situational, while others focus on the awkward situation the characters are put in. You can see where this movie is going from the first moment and relies on the idea both characters want to find someone who can dance.
Briana Evigan and Tom Malloy are both great in the leading roles. They show frustration but openness to meet new people in their characters. While the supporting cast gets much-needed laughs with the situations they find themselves in.
Where to Watch: Ask Me To Dance will be available on Digital Download from 13th February.
Final Thoughts –Ask Me to Dance is a good time romantic comedy.
Plot: When Jessica’s stalker surprises her in New Mexico, she must seek help from beyond the grave to get rid of him for good.
Runtime: 1 Hour 12 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Jethica starts as Elena (Hernandez) is hiding out in New Mexico, when she bumps into an old friend Jessica (Robinson). The two look to catch up before Jessica reveals why she has been on this trip, a stalker, Kevin (Madden).
Things take a twist when Jessica reveals she has been transporting Kevin’s dead body. Now, she is faced with a new challenge, his ghost following her and wanting to be with her. The two friends must figure out how to stop Kevin’s ghost before he gets too close again.
Verdict on Jethica
Jethica follows two friends that find themselves dealing with the ghost of one of their stalkers. They must work together to try and figure out how to get rid of him from her life as he has continued to stalk her from beyond the grave.
This ends up being an odd dark comedy thriller. It looks to expose the lasting effects of stalkers, using the idea of them being a haunting presence in the victim’s life. While this does make Kevin feel like a pathetic figure with how he longs after Jessica. It turns to the idea of him being no threat. This gets to create an odd story you could hear from someone, which gives everything a more haunting feel about it.
The performances in the movie create a distant existence for the characters. One that makes us feel like we could be part of the empty world that the characters have been forced into.
Final Thoughts – Jethica is an oddly dark comedy filled with a bleak emptiness.
Plot: Married couple Maya and Jamie escape their urban nightmare to the tranquillity of rural Ireland only to discover malevolent and murderous goblins lurking in the gnarled, ancient wood at the foot of their new garden.
Runtime: 1 Hour 44 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Unwelcome starts an urban couple Maya (John-Kamen) and Jamie (Booth) see their perfect moment ruined by a violent act. A few months later they discover Jamie has inherited a rural Irish house. The pair jump at the opportunity to start a fresh life before their first child is born.
After moving into the home, they get a warning from a local Naeve (Cusack) to leave a blood offering every night. They also find a rough family led by Daddy Whelan (Meaney) to fix up their home, creating another nightmare for them. However, as things start getting difficult Maya learns that the legends of goblins might actually be true.
Verdict on Unwelcome
Characters
Maya learns she is pregnant and is preparing for the next chapter of her life before the attack in their home. She is looking forward to the new start offered to them and promises to complete the blood offerings. However, the home isn’t as prepared as she was expecting and finds moving home a lot more stressful than expected. She doesn’t believe in the myths until she sees them first-hand.
Jamie wants to celebrate the news of his first child, but unfortunately for him, he clashes with local thugs. He gets attacked in his apartment, leading him to spend most of the baby cycle questioning his own masculinity. Jamie shows plenty of stress and trauma in the aftermath of the attack. This only escalates as things become more difficult.
Daddy Whelan and his children are hired to help the couple set up their new home. He lets them run riot, being known as the troublemakers in the town. Daddy and his family create added problems for the couple.
When it comes to the rest of the characters, Daddy’s children are troublemakers in different ways. Maeve is a local trying to warn and help the couple adapt to life, filling in the legends they need to be worried about.
Performances
Hannah John-Kamen diving into the mythology of her character is great. She gets to play into more of the horror involved in the movie. Douglas Booth must bring a more realistic traumatic experience to his character. This is done well, as we see how it has been tearing him up. The supporting cast is excellent too, getting to play into the stereotypes for added tension in the movie.
Story
The story follows a married couple who look to escape their urban nightmare when they inherit a rural home. However, they learn that the home is covered in mystery and they must follow tradition to keep themselves safe. As they learn more about the myth, they learn more is true and they could use them to help them.
This story gets to mix a couple of big horror movies. First, Straw Dogs, with a new couple dealing with aggressive locals. Second, Gremlins, the creatures that are lurking in the woods. They are kept secret for a large part of the film, so don’t expect cute little teddy bears. Outside of those two themes in the story, we get to explore dealing with lasting traumatic events.
Themes
Unwelcome is a horror mystery that gets to use two completely different locations to show the same problems for a couple. This comes from the home invasion side of the story. Elsewhere, in the horror we get the creatures in the woods, they are kept secret and bring a mild sense of comedy to the chaos.
One of the biggest standout inclusions in the movie is the use of colour. The countryside has such a beautiful bright vibrant colour pallet. While entering the woodland area maintains the darkness on the ground level, but has glimpses of the vibrant colours on the outskirts.
Final Thoughts – Unwelcome is a visually beautiful and vibrant horror movie.
Plot: In the late summer along the Australian coast, Bosch, a young father goes on the run for drug dealing with his surf gang. In tow is his son, Rockit, who believes he is on a magical holiday.
Runtime: 1 Hour 46 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Ocean Boy starts as drug dealer Bosch (Hemsworth) must go into hiding. A bushfire exposes his business on the coast, and he must take his son Rockit (King). Rockit believes they are going on a vacation, unaware of his father’s dealings.
As the two spend time together, Rockit gets to see more of the country for the first time. Meanwhile, Bosch must keep his secret from his son, as they go off-track for safety.
Verdict on Ocean Boy
Characters
Bosch is a drug-dealer operating outside of a small town, he lives close to the bush on the Coast. He keeps his business relaxed and keeps everything feeling comfortable. Bosch lives with his son and tries to teach him life lessons. When a bushfire exposes the business, Bosch is forced to go on the run with his son. He continues to keep the truth from Rockit as he looks to tie up loose ends while in hiding.
Rockit is the teenage son of Bosch, he loves to surf and struggles at school. He loves being out on the ocean and when his father promises to take him on a holiday he jumps at the opportunity. Rockit meets new people and gets to see more of the country until he learns the truth about his father.
In the supporting characters, we get to meet a few people that will help Bosch. The cops who once worked with Bosch are now looking to tie up loose ends before getting exposed themselves.
Performances
Luke Hemsworth is a lot of fun in this movie, giving a natural performance throughout the film. Rasmus King is great too, as the teenager seeing the world for the first time. The whole cast in the movie is great to watch, as they get to bring these characters to life.
Story
Ocean Boy follows a father and son that must go on the run after the father’s drug business gets exposed. It starts out like a holiday before turning into a coming-of-age adventure for the teenage son Rockit.
This is an enjoyable story based on real events as the teenager learns to adapt to his changing life. There is a big message about how difficult Rockit’s life became because of his father’s actions. It also shows how that moment of freedom opened up the life of the teenager to see he could make more of his own life, if given the chance.
Final Thoughts – Ocean Boy is an enjoyable drama about a teenager finding himself in life.
Plot: Sophie reflects on the shared joy and private melancholy of a holiday she took with her father twenty years earlier. Memories real and imagined fill the gaps between as she tries to reconcile the father she knew with the man she didn’t.
Runtime: 1 Hour 42 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Aftersun starts as Calum (Mescal) goes on holiday with his daughter Sophie (Corio). They are staying in a family hotel, where they can meet other families on holiday, as Sophie records her trip.
The whole trip represents calm in their lives, while Sophie knows her parents aren’t together. They use this time together to make the most of their time together. However, as an adult Sophie looks back, she remembers how much her holiday with her father meant, as she is trying to reconcile with him.
Verdict on Aftersun
Characters
Calum is Sophie’s father, he has taken her on holiday to give the pair a chance to spend some time together. He is happy to be away from his own normal life, being the typical embarrassing parent. Calum does show signs that not everything is going well in his life but he wants to remain strong in front of Sophie.
Sophie is Calum’s daughter, she is looking back on her holiday as an 11-year-old with her father. She is trying to remember the best times from it and understand what saw her fall apart. Sophie as a young girl is filled with joy and curiosity, she wants adventures and asks the typical children question. She for lack of a better word is like every girl her age.
Performances
Paul Mescal is brilliant as Calum, he makes his character feel natural throughout the film. Portraying everything you would imagine a father to be, brave in front of his daughter vulnerable alone.
Frankie Corio is fantastic in her debut film role. She brings all the joy to her character, on the holiday where she is always curious. The two work so well together, feeling like father-daughter who are slowly drifting apart.
Story
The story follows a father and daughter holiday, through the eyes of the daughter looking back on the trip 20 years later. It shows the bond they have and what is meant to them both, despite seeing the distance growing between them.
The story gets to show the difficult life someone has being a parent and living with crippling depression. A bond between father and daughter as well as the importance of enjoying the small moments in life. This is a reflection piece showing how memories can blur and life changes. It is told in such a beautiful way even if the moments of uncertainty only help understand the older Sophie’s mind.
Final Thoughts –Aftersun is a beautiful painful drama on life’s difficulties.
