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Reviews
Hellbender (2021)
Great witchy movie!!
Usually movies where everyone is involved with everything aren't good.
Ex: the movies where the writer, director, producer, and main actor are all the same person.
This appears to be an exception to that rule
This is a movie that needs a bigger budget treatment. If mixed with some 60s or 70s European horror, it would have been an EASY 10.
THINK Suspiria. As I was watching I was getting those vibes. These people need more funds because they used minimalism and made it work. I'm hungry for more!! (but only the berries please)
If you want a minimalist witch movie with great music, this is it!
'Twas the Fight Before Christmas (2021)
Documentary? Feels like a sitcom. SPOILERS?
Someone PLEASE make this into a dark, dark, dark, DAAAARRRRRKKKKKK comedy!!!!!
I sit through this documentary and it feels like an episode of the Office or Modern Family.
I could easily see that faux documentary style mixed with Deck the Halls and Christmas Vacation with perhaps some American Psycho mixed in for good measure.
Now the review:
Documentary wise, it's a good movie. Entertainment wise, it's a GOOD movie.
The movie starts off with this guy you just feel for! We all know or hear how absurd HOA's are to deal with. I was feeling the "let the guy have his lights and SURE a couple extra cars might swing by...what's the big deal".
Then it got to the details and when he mentioned the camel... ya knew the guy puts the cray in crazy.
After that you begin to REALLY see this guy that has some issues. Only child syndrome? Narcissist? Egomaniacal?
When his dad(Great mustache btw!!!) said he became a lawyer to basically feed his bullied inner child....*RED FLAG!!!!!*... after that the guy starts to almost become a Christmas themed Batman villain.
The question remains: why does he NEED Christmas so badly!?!!??? It's not because of religion and warm fuzziness. This guy has some DEEP seated trauma that he uses decorating to resolve. I FEEL he's recreating/seeking a lost childhood of sorts through these grandiose displays.
Everyone who does huge displays doesn't have issues but this guy definitely has some ticky ticky going on.
I ended up actually LIKING the neighbors!! The lady with the dyed hair....omg...I wish she was my neighbor!! And the cute blonde...her energy tells volumes without saying a word. Love them!!!
Poor Dolly though! Who does that to a person!?!?? He became the Grinch in the end for sure.
This should be a seasonal favorite just like Rudolph and Frosty.
But SERIOUSLY...SOMEONE make this into a DARK comedy!!
Grave Intentions (2021)
Tired of stitched together horror
This movie has great potential and a few noted faces but the stories are empty.
If a bigger studio saw this and gave it the Hammer treatment it COULD be easily an 8 or 9.
It irked me how nothing connected. I wanted the characters to come into the shop! They don't. Plus, seriously, these stories have no ending!
They need to get more into the consequence horror and resolve them better.
Just Beyond (2021)
1990s meets 2021 to absolute perfection!
Perfect example "consequence horror" in 8 episodes.
It reminds me of many TV shows from So Weird, Goosebumps, Twilight Zone, Wizards of Waverly Place, and who knows what else.
Its the perfect blend of entertainment and "wokeness" or really moral.
I hope this gets enough love for a second season then a third.
Just Beyond: Which Witch? (2021)
Disney CLASSIC!
On episode 3 and have to share my love.
This series(so far) is giving me some nostalgia vibes. It's like So Weird meets Goosebumps meets who knows how many others.
Episode 3 ALONE needs to be a series to itself!!
Hope this gets picked up IMMEDIATELY.
Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021)
CGI killed it! (Again)
Overall enjoyable.
Two criticisms:
1. Too much CGI!! Totally killed the usual Muppet charm.
2. A bit too meta.
Ghosts (2021)
SOMEBODY CALL AN EXORCIST
This show is as charming as a wet sock.
I was really looking forward to this! It IS SOOO nice to not have another cop/detective/firefighter show!!! Totally admit, we need variety. I love the main actress (Rose) and love the British version. However, N America cannot seem to grasp what makes a Britcom work. Nuance!
From the introduction, I hated the warm tones of the lighting. Then, they introduce the couple and, I must agree, they lack any chemistry or believability. They come off like they're doing a stage play with their cheery, chirpy over exaggerated acting. Next, we get to meet the ghosts. I love the assortment! Totally hate the portrayal!! I get it, it's 2021. One example: the show would be lambasted if the Native American was a throwback to the 60s western or F Troop (look it up).
It takes talent to create a stereotype and not be stereotypical (offensive). It's a talent the writers are completely missing. Admittedly, it's a VERY thin line to walk but it can be done.
The rests of the ghosts are no better. They took what was great about the UK ghosts, threw them in a blender, and created some American "meh" version. All the ghosts talk and act like they're in 2021, but the writers also play with the 'fish out of water(time)' ignorance aspect. If ghosts evolve, let them evolve. Picking and choosing when a character knows something or doesn't is poorly written.
It's a challenge to create characters from different periods that are funny AND aren't offensive. It can be done! America is SUCH a melting pot of culture and changes with each time period. They, the ghosts, could have had a well of character to draw their humor. That said, why not let the main actress use her real accent. America=melting pot=diversity.
This feels like it would have made a better Summer filler than a Fall premiere. I'll be surprised if this gets a second season. Also, go watch the British version. This version is community theater and is WAY overwritten. It could have been so much more saying/doing so much less.
Black as Night (2021)
Lost Boys meets Candyman(the original)
Wow! This movie has some hate.
Is it going to be the best movie you've ever seen? No. Is it enjoyable? Yes.
Anytime a movie deals with "issues"....for whatever reason it gets so much hate. This movie does touch on that but isn't heavy handed in the way it handles it.
But like the title says, it' feels like a Lost Boys movie mixed with everything the newest Candyman COULD have been...throw in some Buffy for good measure.
You aren't going to be annoyed with music. The effects are OK. The vampire mythos leaves room to expand for a continuation.
I HOPE there's a sequel. I need to see more Fabrizio Guido!!
Just go into this for the ride, not to be scared.