Predator: Badlands Review

 

The film follows Dek, a young Predator who is considered an outcast in his tribe due to his small size. So in order to get his father’s approval and prove himself as a great warrior, he goes to the deadliest planet in the galaxy to kill an “unkillable” creature. Along the way he teams up with a robot (played by Elle Fanning) who is missing her legs to get the creature and fight another mysterious group on the planet.

So this is the first Predator film where an actual Predator is the main character, so we get to explore the Predator (or, as their species is known, “Yautja”) civilization and society, which, as a pretty big fan of the Predator series, was my favorite part.

Dek is a solid protagonist to follow. He lives up to “Predator” status, being obsessed with hunting and being the strongest and having a ruthless determination that makes Predators such fun characters, but he’s also very sympathetic with wanting to prove himself and his worth, and his story goes in some very interesting and sympathetic directions that I found quite engrossing.

It’s not getting as much attention as everything else, but I was really impressed with the soundtrack. The main predator planet theme had a very “low humming, guttural, throat singing” sound (like that one scene in Dune when all the soldiers are getting ready and that one dude’s doing the crazy throat singing); it’s like that, which adds a very alien field to the world but also enforces the tribal theme of predators.

Whoever was behind designing all the different aliens on the deadly world deserves a raise because there was an astonishing amount of creativity, distinct detail, and variety with all the different creatures. Like, if you’re an astrobiologist, you’re going to have a ball watching this movie.

I really appreciated how resourceful Dek was and how he would like to learn from the planet and use different elements to create his weapons.

The CGI in this is very impressive; now you can tell when something is CGI and when it isn’t, but it is so incredibly well detailed and has such strong texture that it is very impressive to look at.

There are some other franchise elements brought in (if you’ve seen the trailer, you know), but I thought they were well integrated and were a good way to do “fan service” without it overwriting the story they were telling.

The movie pacing is pretty lean and efficient. And I really appreciate the color grading on this; everything was very bright and well color graded, but even in the sunset scene you got a lot of different colors from all the cool landscapes.

I appreciate how deadly the planet is; like, when a Predator says it’s bad, you expect some really brutal stuff, and it definitely lives up to that title. Like even the smallest things like flowers or grass could seriously mess you up, so again, I appreciate the creativity from the filmmakers when it came to all that and the strong stakes that added to the story.

Elle Fanning plays two characters in the movie: Thia, the helpful legless robot, and Tessa, the main villain of the movie. Elle does a great job of making both personalities for each character very distinct with their own little quirks.

Tessa is a very ruthless villain, but there’s just enough backstory that you feel a little bit bad for her and it gives her a little bit of gray as a character, which I always appreciate.

This It’s much more fun and has more community character, which I personally enjoyed for the most part. Now I will say her character does feel straight out of the Pixar movie, like I wouldn’t be surprised if Elle Fanning used this movie as an audition for Joy in a live-action Inside Out movie. But I found her character likable enough, and she and Dek have some funny interactions together. With Dek being so serious and ruthless, he makes a great straight man to her bubbly personality.

Now there is something that the trailers are not showing you that I can see some fans not being thrilled with. It’s not too bad, and I think for the most part people won’t be bothered with it; even I found myself enjoying certain moments with it, but without spoiling anything… You can definitely feel the “Disney influence” with those parts, and I think it is an unusual element to introduce as part of a Predator movie. It also leans into some current thematic trends that, personally, I feel like are being used way too much. This one really leans into them, so how much you enjoy it will depend on how much you enjoy the trope. Again, for most people I’m sure it’s going to be fine, but I am a nitpicky dude 😅😂, and I wasn’t too crazy about where that stuff took the story.

There was one really fun and creative fight scene towards the climax that involved Thia's legs that was pretty creative and original-feeling, so that was a nice highlight.

Overall, I liked the Predator mythos stuff and Dek as a protagonist. The story is pretty straightforward and easy to follow, and while there are some more lighthearted community elements that I think clash with the darker tone of Dek’s story, I think general audiences will click with it more, and the story does go in the direction where I do want to see what happens next, so if that isn’t an endorsement, I don’t know what it is.

I give Predator: Badlands four stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. It’s a real… Killer flick 😂

Bugoina Review

 

A conspiracy theorist (Teddy) and his cousin (Don) kidnap a CEO (Michelle) because they believe she is an alien and trying to destroy bees… Dark comedy and thrills ensue.

I know this may sound redundant after that plot synopsis, but I do have to reiterate… This is a very strange movie. I mean, the movie starts with the kidnapper shaving off the CEO’s hair because they think she could use it to contact her mothership, so logic isn’t the biggest factor here. But I think that’s an intentional choice by the director to help put you in the mind of Teddy, which is a creative decision. But the movie tone will go back-and-forth from comedic to intense to creepy to disturbing and back to comedic. Personally, I think for the most part, it pulls off its tones, but I could see more regular viewers being thrown off by this, so just be aware.

The big standoutof this movie is everyone’s acting, especially from Jesse Plemons’s character. I found it interesting how the movie went back-and-forth in making Teddy somewhat sympathetic at times, but mostly he’s crazy with a capital WTF, and you don’t know what’s going to set him off or what he’s going to do to Michelle, so the filmmakergot a lot of tension out of those scenes but also added a dark comedy element that I thought was an interesting element to the film.

Emma Stone gives a solid performance; it’s interesting how her character throughout the film tries to speak to her captures with this very “corporate delegation” type dialogue, like “I can understand your frustration; let’s take a deep breath and have a dialogue about this.” There were a couple moments where I saw her character was doing things that were against her own self-preservation, but by the end, they did wrap it all around and give it some sort of explanation.

I really like the color grading/cinematography in this; everything just looks so colorful but also greasy at the same time. It really gave the film this strong texture feel.

A standoutfor me was Stavros Halkias; he had a very natural and low-key sense of humor, and he and Jesse Plemons have this funny awkward chemistry between them.

The pacing was quite brisk, and for a movie that’s almost 2 hours, you don’t really feel the time, so that’s always a big plus.

I thought Aidan Delbis as Don was an interesting character. He clearly isn’t the smartest tool in the shed, and when Teddy is the brains of the operation, you know you’re in some serious trouble. But there was a heart and “down-to-earth realism” that he brought to the film, which I appreciated.

There are small little touches in the sound design or lighting that the film never really acknowledges, like they’ll happen in the background, but they really add to the tension of “is this woman an alien or not?” It was a sole detail, which I thought was pretty impressive.

I’d say 80% of the film takes place on a farm, and for mostly one location, I think they used it well and were able to explore in new ways from scene to scene, which I always appreciate.

Alicia Silverstone has a small role in this, and it's always nice to see her pop up.

Put intermittently throughout the film are these interesting art sequences that I thought were an interesting touch and were integrated well throughout, especially considering how totally different they can be from the rest of the movie.

The ending might leave people mixed; I thought it was OK. I give it points for creativity, but it did leave me wanting some and had a lingering feeling of… “OK, I guess that’s it.”

I will say, with that shaved head and pale white lotion skin, Emma Stone makes a pretty good Gollum. lol

Overall, Bugonia is a well-crafted film with strong performances and an interesting tone and style, but the lunacy of the characters and situation might be hard for people to connect to, and while I do think the ending is impressive from a creative standpoint, it’s not the most satisfying and sort of ends the movie on a “huh,” but it’s all subjective, and I think that’s more of a me thing. I give Begonia three stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you’re into good performances and good filmmaking, you’ll enjoy the film, but it’s nothing that will blow you away.

Shelby Oaks Review

A group of YouTube paranormal hunters goes missing, and then 12 years later, the sister of one of the missing girls receives a very startling clue that could lead to finding out what happened to the team and who… Or what is behind their disappearance.

Disclaimer… I actually gave money to this project a while back when it was on Kickstarter. The film was made by Chris Stuckmann, a YouTube reviewer who I’ve been watching for a very, very long time. So no matter what my final thoughts are, I’m happy he got to go live his dream and make a film. He’s proud and happy with… Good for you, Chris. 😊

My favorite part of the movie was at the beginning when they present the movie like a documentary about the paranormal team and all the media surrounding their disappearance; that was set up very interestingly and felt very authentic in capturing the look and feel of “The Internet in 2008.” I’m sure Stuckmann’s time on YouTube was quite influential and helpful with this part.

I was impressed with Chris Stuckmann’s direction; he’s very good at setting mood and building tension, not to mention getting some interesting and unique shots. You can tell he was influenced by M. Night Shyamalan & The Blair Witch Project, but he still manages to give the film his own style and feel.

I liked both actresses who played the sisters, Mia and Riley. Their sisterhood was the real heart of the film, and both actresses were really strong and convincing at being scared. I spent most of the film looking freakishly paranoid, so props to them for the work they put in.

The cinematography was very cool and impressive for such a low-budget film. I also really like the filming location. I’m not sure if they actually used an abandoned town like the one seen in the movie, but if so, it’s a really creepy and unique location that really adds a unique feel to the film.

Keith David has a cameo; I'm always happy to see him pop up.

There is a husband character that Mia has that felt a little underdeveloped; the characterization made sense for his purpose in the movie, but I do feel like it could’ve been fleshed out more and added a bit more dimension, but I think that’s more of a nitpick on my part than an actual gripe.

So I would divide this movie into three parts, and I’ve already said how much I like the first half. The second half goes more into Mia investigating clues and following leads, and this part can get a little repetitive. It’s still entertaining and keeps my attention, but after a while of watching you, Mia, walking around creepy quiet places, looking scared, and investigating strange noises, you start hoping she finds another clue soon.

I was really surprised with Robin Bartlett’s performance as Norma; she plays a creepy old lady in the woods. She takes what could be a very stereotypical role, and with the help of Stuckman’s unique direction, they’re able to make this character stand out amongst other creepy old ladies you’ve seen.

So the third act… I’m seeing a lot of people are mixed on it, and I kind of am too. You can tell Stuckmann has a lot of ideas, and while they’re interesting and I like the final ending, it feels like too many ideas that should’ve gotten more development and kind of leaves the third act feeling too overstuffed.

I have a weird nitpick… At one point a character gets blood splattered on their face, and we cut to hours later, and they still haven’t washed it off… Like, I don’t know anyone who’s gonna get somebody else’s blood on their face and be like, “Nah, I’m cool.” 😂

Another big theme of the movie is motherhood, which sort of works into the film, but I thought could’ve been a little stronger. I’m going to see what he was going for, but he didn’t connect with the rest of the story as strongly as I thought he could.

The special effects were quite effective, and without swelling anything… I liked the look and how Stuckman shot a particularly creepy thing.

So here comes the hard part, my rating… Because I like this guy, I want to see him succeed, but I also have to be honest with what I saw. So my honest take… I think Stuckmann is a strong visual director. He’s obviously very creative with his ideas and presents them in unique ways in some sequences. But his writing could use some improvement, not necessarily with characters, but more with plotting and pacing. But you don’t have to hit a home run your first time up at bat, and I can say Stuckmann at least gets on base a few times with his scares and storytelling. I give Shelby Oaks three stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️. But again, I’m happy he got to make the movie he wanted to make, and if he gets another chance, I’ll definitely check his next film out.

And before anyone asks, yes… I was Stuckmannized. 😂

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) Review

 

After making sure one of their grandfathers’ graves wasn’t disturbed, a group of friends falls victim to a family of cooky Texan cannibals.

One of the biggest elements that makes this film such a classic is the overall tone and feel of the movie. It’s shot on such a low budget and has such a greedy, scrappy feel that it feels like you’re almost watching old family movies that went horribly wrong.

The group of friends may seem stereotypical by today's standards, but you can definitely see their influence on future character archetypes in slasher films. Interesting characters, our brother and sister Sally and Franklin Sally may seem stereotypical at first, but when things start getting wild, she really knows how to sell the fear and must’ve needed a lot of cough syrup to soothe her mouth after all that screaming. 😂

Franklin may come off as a bit loud and overly talkative to some people, but I feel kind of sympathetic for him, and I understand his loneliness, and he is the only character who seems to think something creepy is going on.

But let’s talk about the most iconic thing about this movie, Leatherface himself… I like this movie. He’s not a surgical slasher, like going around trying to get teenagers; he’s really just trying to get food ready for his family, and you can kind of feel his frustration and nervousness about lying to not upset his family… It’s an interesting take for a character who wears people’s skin as his own face; it’s just something you didn’t expect and adds an interesting wrinkle to him as a character.

For a movie with the title “Chainsaw Massacre,” there isn’t a whole lot of blood and gore for the film.

The rest of the cast is good and strong for unknowns; my favorites are the father-son team of “The Cook” and “The Hitchhiker.” They’re so authentically cooky and creepy, while also being kind of funny in a sitcom way. Plus, at the climax, when things are really going off the rails, their almost “Sanford and Son” banter adds an uncomfortable aftertaste to two already insane scenes.

I love the cinematography; I can’t think of another movie that captures the hot and sizzling feel of heat like this movie does.

I saw a behind-the-scenes documentary that they went to a local veterinarian and slaughterhouse to get the bones for all the crazy furniture and art pieces, and whoever put them together was really creative.

The soundtrack is very odd, but in an intentional way that really helps emphasize the craziness of the situation and the characters.

I quite enjoy the pacing; it had a good buildupand quite the explosive payoff.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a true “lightning in a bottle” film; it captures a true feeling of insanity and wildness unlike any other film, it has enjoyable heroes and fun and iconic villains, and it has an ending that will stand the test of time. I give the film five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. It works too well; there’s a reason I’ve never been to Texas… I mean, cannibals are one thing, but that heat—now that’s too much. 😂

Creepshow (1982) Review

 

Written by Stephen King and directed by George Romero, we get six short horror stories told in an anthology in a tribute to EC horror comics of the 1950s… I’ll review each segment on their own.

Wrap-around story: nothing too complicated about the story, but it’s got Tom Atkins just being the most “Tom Atkins” he can be, and that’s a lot of fun. Plus, I also appreciate how between each story we get these little cartoon vignettes that look like you’re reading the pages of an actual Creepshow comic, and all the little ads and details are very much on point and are a nice touch to the film.

Father’s Day:

A rich eccentric family gets together on the anniversary of their great aunt murdering her father, unfortunately… Dad’s coming for dinner.

I think the segment has the best directing in the whole movie. I really like how George A. Romero plays with angles, colors, lighting, and even different shots in the same screen… Not to mention one of the coolest-looking zombies I’ve ever seen, I just love how sticky and stretchy he is, while also being very decomposed but well designed in an almost cartoonish way.

The yuppie family are pretty over-the-top, but in a fun, winking kind of way. Plus, Ed Harris in an early role is there as the niece’s new husband, and he brings a grounded element to the segment, and he’s a good “POV” character for the audience.

Another standoutis Viveca Lindfors's performance as great aunt Bedelia. She’s very cranky and bitter as she drives around like Mr. Magoo, but there’s a vulnerable sadness and hollow regret to her that makes her very sympathetic, while also having this dark sense of humor to her… And did I mention she probably has like five minutes of screen time? She definitely does a lot with her short time, which is very impressive.

I’ll use this opportunity to mention how throughout the movie at certain parts they’ll make the background look more like a comic book panel when someone is scared, and it could be surprising at first, but it’s actually pretty effective at recreating the tone of reading a comic, and it’s just a strong visual in general that I enjoyed.

The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill:

A farmer finds a meteor, touches it, and then has a strange green grass-like fungus grow on him.

Now this is either people’s favorite segment or least favorite segment, and it’s for the same reason… Stephen King’s performance. Look, I admit the first time I saw it, I thought it was very over-the-top and silly. The way he bugs out his eyes and plays the most broad hillbilly you’ve ever seen in your life… But the more times I watch it, there is, like, a simple charm to it that is fun and an intentionally winking, silly kind of way.

It’s a very straightforward story, mostly played for laughs, but when it gets serious, it’s actually pretty effective, so I got points for pulling off that total turn.

Plus the way they made grass scary was actually kind of effective, and I liked the color of the grass, very bright and vibrant.

Something to Tide You Over:

A sadistic millionaire confronts the man who he believes is having an affair with his wife.

I can never pick if “Father’s Day” or “Something to Tide You Over” is my favorite segment of the movie. This segment is definitely the most grounded and probably the most disturbing, mostly about what happens and how awful that would be, but what really makes this segment is Leslie Nielsen’s performance. For me, I grew up watching him in the “Scary Movie” sequel, where he’s a very silly and buffoonish character, so it was quite a surprise watching him in this and seeing how threatening and intimidating he is, despite his character always staying calm and charming. He takes his “straight man” skills that are so effective for his comedy and is able to use them for a very chilling performance, playing just one of the biggest scumbags you’ve ever seen in a movie.

Ted Danson plays the wife’s lover in an early film role, and he is very good at playing not only scared but also trying to figure out how to deal with this crazy madman… His character does make some pretty dumb decisions, like, why would you ever do that, but it’s for the story, and I have to admit there is a very nice payoff, so it all worked out in the end.

I use this opportunity to mention how Tom Savini did the special effects for this movie, and it’s probably some of his best work. All the different creatures, gore, animatronics, and all that stuff are top-notch and some of his most creative work.

The Crate:

A college professor gets mixed up in a dangerous discovery of a creature… And decides to use it to help solve his marital problems.

I do think this segment could’ve been trimmed; for me personally, it runs a bit too long and could’ve easily cut 10 minutes out of it, but it still has a lot going for it.

I like the creature design; it rides that line between a brutish monster and kind of cute perfectly, so it is sort of intimidating when you see it, but you could also see it being turned into a plushy 😂.

Hal Holbrook He’s always solid and brings a lot of gravity to the role.

Adrianne Barbeau as Billie is one of the more broad characters in the movie; like, they go so out of their way to make her annoying and rude that it feels a little much and can definitely lean into cartoonish at times… I do think Barbeau’s overall performance is good, but the writing could’ve been better.

I will use this opportunity to say I overall think Stephen King did a very good job at making a fun, spooky, and nuanced story, but man, he swears worse than a drunk sailor in Vegas… Maybe that’s why he writes so many books and options so many movies; he must owe a fortune to the swear jar. 😂

They're Creeping Up on You!:

A greedy, germaphobic business mogul must do battle with cockroaches in his high-rise apartment.

E.G. Marshall plays Upson Pratt, and he is just the most bitter miser you’ve ever seen; like, he makes Ebenezer Scrooge look like Mother Teresa 😂. His character is just so slimy. You just can’t wait to see him get his, so it’s a very effective performance.

There are some surprising camera choices in the segment that I thought worked in an interesting way.

I do have to say, if you have a thing with bugs and especially cockroaches, and you can’t deal with them… Do not watch the segment, like at all; this will give you nightmares for a couple months lol.

Overall, this film goes with Halloween a lot like Halloween candy… It may not be good for you and is stuffed with excessive calories, but when you have it during this time of year, it just hits the spot perfectly. Not to mention, as an adaptation of something from a different form of media (book to movie), this is one of the better adaptations I’ve seen as far as honoring the source medium while also adapting to the screen.

I give Creepshow a very high four stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Also, I didn’t know where else to put this, so let me just say to end on a positive note… Ed Harris is a very funny dancer 😂.