Movie Review: Us

Directed by Jordan Peele, 2019

IMDb listing

Pros: psychological horror, fantastic acting, great twists

Cons: some of the backstory doesn’t fit if you think about it too much

It’s the start of a family’s summer vacation and the mother reluctantly returns to the beach where she had a terrifying encounter as a child. That night a strange family of doppelgangers shows up at their house.

This is a very scary movie. While there’s some blood and gore, for the most part it’s psychological horror, the kind of horror that will have you jumping at shadows while you wonder what’s going to happen next.

There are a few inconsistencies with the backstory that makes up the deeper plot, but you’ll think of those after the film’s over not while you’re watching it, trying to figure out what’s going on.

The actors are brilliant in their roles. Each does their human and doppelganger’s parts. I was particularly impressed by Evan Alex who played the son, as his doppelganger seemed especially challenging to play.

I expected the film to play out on a small scale - with only their family affected - so I was surprised when things branched out. There were several twists I didn’t see coming.

If you haven’t seen it and like to freak out, this is a good film.

Movie Review: Vivarium

Directed by Lorcan Finnegan, 2019
IMDb listing

Pros: creepy, psychological horror

Cons: some annoying parts, very slow moving

A young couple are trapped in a strange subdivision and told they’ll be released once they raise a mysterious child.

I watched this film knowing nothing about it ahead of time and rather enjoyed it. It’s a slow moving horror film, with some great anxiety producing moments and a claustrophobic feel. There are also some science fiction elements.

After I finished I was surprised to find it advertised as a sci-fi triller. It’s not a thriller, by any stretch. It’s psychological horror dealing with the uncertainty of what’s going on and the growing horror that the child they’re raising isn’t human.

The cuckoo reference at the beginning was a bit heavy handed, but definitely primes you for the creepiness of what’s coming.

I think the film would have benefitted from having a bit more set up with the couple, perhaps seeing them check out another house together before getting trapped so we see more of how they interact when times are good. While I thought Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots did a great job over all of making things seem off, I didn’t feel they had much chemistry as a couple. I felt like their relationship was already falling apart before the film started so their drifting apart during the film didn’t impact me that much.

Senan Jennings, the actor who played the younger version of the boy, was brilliant. He’s unsettling and the right kind of slightly off in performing human actions to be creepy and alien. Though his screaming did get on my nerves and I couldn’t understand why the couple didn’t try to discipline him in some way to stop that. At the same time you can see that they’re trying to maintain a detached attitude towards the boy by only interacting with him as much as they have to.

The ending was a bit trippy and open to some interpretation.

Not sure I'd see it again but I'm glad I saw it.

Movie Review: Bird Box

Directed by Susanne Bier, 2018

IMDb listing

Pros: great acting, tense moments

Cons: some difficulties glossed over

When unknown entities start appearing, those who see them turn violent and kill themselves. Amid the mayhem this causes, a small group of people, including the pregnant but distant Malorie, hole up in a large house.

The film combines aspects of zombie horror with apocalyptic infection films. If you liked 28 Days Later, this is for you. There are some great tense scenes and while the film doesn’t dwell on it, there is the question of whether it’s worth helping others if there’s a risk you - and/or others - will die doing it.

The actors are great. John Malkovich plays the paranoid a-hole white man, who, while I didn’t like, I could at least understand the motivations for. Sandra Bullock did a brilliant job as Malorie. But for me the standout was Trevante Rhodes as Tom, who kept the idea alive that life isn’t meant to be endured, it’s meant to be lived. The film made me tear up a few times, which showed the actors did a great job of making me sympathize with their characters.

There were a few difficulties the movie hinted at and then completely glossed over. Like how the group loaded groceries into the car and what happened on the boat at night (did they sleep on the water or pull over to the side)?

There’s a little gore but it’s mostly a psychological horror movie. It’s a Netflix original, so if you’ve got the service, it’s worth checking out.

Movie Review: Get Out

Directed by Jordan peele

IMDb listing

Pros: great acting, shows systemic racism, psychological horror

Cons: 

Rose Armitage is bringing her new African American boyfriend, Chris, home to meet her caucasian family. They seem nice, if overeager to prove they’re not racist, but as the weekend progresses, something just feels more and more off to Chris.

I remember a few years ago Cabin in the Woods got a lot of praise for taking horror movie tropes and turning them upside down. Get Out ignores the tropes completely and creates a subtle atmosphere of unease and a truly horrifying reveal. I’m surprised more people aren’t talking about this film, as its reversal of stereotypes makes it unique.

There’s very little blood and gore, depending instead almost entirely on creeping you out in a more psychological way.

I thought the performances were excellent. Daniel Kaluuya as Chris really sold what was going on and his own confusion and uneasiness over seemingly benign encounters. Allison Williams as Rose was also great, especially in the second half of the film. Marcus Henderson (Walter) and Betty Gabriel (Georgina) were amazing. They had to show no emotion for most of the film and the moment when Georgina cries was heart-wrenching.

There’s an underpinning of subtle racism that adds to the horror. Seeing situations from Chris’s point of view it’s hard to ignore the subtext of what’s being said and done, from the cop asking to see his ID to the guests at the party bringing up their ‘black’ connections.

As someone who prefers psychological horror over body/slasher horror, this was terrifying and provocative. It’s highly worth seeing. 

If you have seen the film and want a fantastic breakdown of what's going on, Wisecrack's got you covered.

Movie Review: Psycho II

Directed by: Richard Franklin, 1983

IMDb listing

Pros: interesting story

Cons: some overacting

Norman Bates is released, cured, from psychiatric care.  He meets a young woman at his new job at a diner who’s having boy trouble and invites her to stay with him.  Meanwhile, he starts getting phone calls and notes from his dead mother, making him question whether he really is sane now.

This is a film about how to drive someone mad, and it’s terrifying to watch.  Because you’re seeing the film from Norman’s perspective, you know the notes and calls are real, but it’s easy to see why Norman questions his sanity when things start going wrong.

It’s the sort of film that makes you wonder what could have happened had the people tormenting Norman left him alone.  Would he have stayed sane and been a good citizen or would he have slowly fallen into madness anyway?

Anthony Perkins, reprising his role as Norman Bates, does a brilliant job, though some of the other actors tried too hard, especially towards the end.

Like the original, it’s not a terribly scary film, the interest is in the humanity of the characters, and their madnesses.

Book Review: Psycho by Robert Bloch

Pros: great writing, unique twist

Cons: if you've seen the movie, you know the story (including the twist ending)

When Mary Crane's boss hands her an envelope containing $40,000 to bring to the bank she thinks her troubles are over.  She impulsively drives to her boyfriend's town, intending to use the cash to pay off his debts so they can finally get married.  But heavy rain makes her miss a turn and she ends up spending the night at the Bates Motel.

If you've seen the Alfred Hitchcock movie you know the story.  There are some differences, particularly with regards to Norman Bates, who in the book is 40, overweight, and converses more with his mother than he does in the film.  Mary's also given more motivation for stealing the money.  Mrs. Bates is quite horrifying, especially given how Norman covers for her.

It is a highly suspenseful book, with a great twist ending if you haven't seen the film (and even if you have, the skill with which the author makes Norman's home life bizarre but plausible is wonderful).

With such a great story it's no wonder Hitchcock thought it would make an excellent film, and kept the plot so close to that of the book.  It's short (just over 200 pages) and a very quick read.

New Author Spotlight: Rhodi Hawk

New Author Spotlight is a series designed to introduce authors with up to 3 books in the different SF/F subgenres.

Today's spotlight shines on Rhodi Hawk!

She has written:

Here's the cover copy for A Twisted Ladder:

Psychologist Madeleine LeBlanc has spent her whole career trying to determine the cause of her father''s schizophrenia. She always felt that if she could unravel the disease's origins, she could cure the man who left her and her brother, Marc, to practically raise themselves on the Louisiana Bayou. When Marc takes his own life, Madeleine embarks on a shocking journey into her family's history-fraught with dark secrets, conjured demons, and a powerful relative who puts Madeleine's own life and property in peril. The only way to she can save herself is to face the ghosts of the past, the dangers of the present, and the twisted ladder that links them all together.

Check out her books if you enjoyed any of the following:

The Hollow City by Dan Wells (Tom Doherty Associates)

Audrey's Door by Sarah Langan (HarperCollins)

Those Across the River by Christopher Buehlman (Berkley Trade)

Movie Review: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Das Kabinett des Doktor Caligari)

Directed by: Robert Wiene, 1920  

IMDb listing   

colour tinted black & white, silent film

Pros: suspenseful, good use of shadows, clever ending

Cons: music was sometimes out of place

The version I saw was reconstructed by the Bundesarchiv-Filmarchiv of Germany with a musical score by Rainer Viertblock (1994) and English subtitles by Kino International (2002).

After hearing that a man sees ghosts, Francis (Friedrich Feher) tells the terrifying tale of recent events that affected himself and his fiancee Jane (Lil Dagover).  Francis is dragged to see the travelling fair by his friend Alan, who insists they see Dr. Caligari's somnambulist show and asks about his future.  Meanwhile several murders take place in the town.

This is a masterful film.  The director makes great use of shadows, making characters look sinister just by darkening the eye sockets and lips.  At times the music is used to advantage, heightening the suspense.

Having said that, there were other times when the jazz inspired score seemed out of place, using synthesizers and beets that thrust this viewer out of the scene.

The subtitle plates were up longer than necessary, but had a nice gothic look to them.

As with the other silent films I've seen, the acting was overdone with grand gestures and melodrama.  Given the horror aspects, the overacting actually works here, giving the drama a boost.

The ending's quite clever.  If you've wanted to try seeing a silent film, here's a good one to start with.

It's also in the public domain, meaning you can find it for free online.  You can find the version I saw here.

Book Review: The Thirteen by Susan Moloney

Pros: psychological horror, good set-up for a creepy climax

Cons: more swearing than I like

Paula Wittmore's mother falls ill after the death of a friend in the close knit community of Haven Woods.  Another friend, Izzy, notifies the young woman and suggests that she and her daughter, Rowan, return to visit.  But a special sisterhood there needs both Paula and Rowan in order to regain their number.  And be their sacrifice.

This is my kind of horror novel, where you're given hints of what's really going on and your imagination is left to fill in the blanks.  Rather than dealing in depth with all of the sisterhood, Moloney focuses on a few - keeping the novel tight and encouraging sympathy in surprising ways.  Paula and Rowan are immediately sympathetic (if not immediately likable), but I hadn't expected to like Marla, Paula's childhood friend who's trapped in a life that's becoming ever more distant from the perfect life she was promised when she joined the sisterhood.

And while I'm definitely a cat lover, this book managed to show the darker side of the animals, making me cheer for the dogs in the book (and I don't generally like dogs).

The only thing I wasn't keen on was the amount of swearing.  The characters cuss easily and often.

The climax is suitably long and dark, given the lead up, but not gratuitous or overbearing.  In other words, if you like psychological horror, this is a good book.