Daly_Reviews Reviews

Pulse (2001)

Creepy and atmospheric

[7/10 · 29 August 2022]

Two groups of people begin experiencing ghost invading our world through technology and the internet.

While at times slow and confusing, Pulse is a creepy and atmospheric movie that really captures the horrific loneliness of technologically induced social isolation.

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Orphan (2009)

Decent horror.

[6/10 · 26 August 2022]

A husband and wife who recently lost their baby adopt a 9-year-old girl who is not nearly as innocent as she appears. Orphan touches on dramatic family themes of marriage, loss and adoption; has some great horror moments; but it may be a bit too long and doesn't quiet live up to it's potential.

The Old Ways (II) (2020)

Not an engaging experience

[4/10 · 25 August 2022]

A journalist returning to her origins to do research in Mexico finds herself captive by the locals who claim she has been possessed.

This Mexican themed witchcraft and possession film failed to make an engaging experience.

Orphan: First Kill (2022)

Thriller prequel

[6/10 · 25 August 2022]

This prequel to Orphan follows the ordeal of Esther as she breaks out of an insane asylum and tries to pass herself off as the missing daughter of a North American couple.

Orphan: First Kill is a well paced thriller that diverges from the dramatic themes and horror of its predecessor.

Kodachrome (2017)

Unsurprising but perfectly orchestrated

[7/10 · 1 June 2021]

A famous photographer roadtrips across the country with his estranged son as his dying wish to develop a roll of film. While Kodachrome is unsurprising and everything you would expect, it is perfectly orchestrated, has suburb acting and is emotionally powerful.

Made You Look: A True Story About Fake Art (2020)

Movie to pass the time.

[6/10 · 15 April 2021]

Made You Look is a time passing movie which gives a window into the strange world of art deals through the question of how could a multi-million dollar international art fraud occur?

The Switch (I) (2010)

Surprisingly sweet

[7/10 · 15 April 2021]

Surprisingly sweet and touching for a film with such a crude premise. The Switch is a fun comedy with perfectly blended elements of romance and drama.

Greta (2018)

Engaging genre picture

[6/10 · 15 April 2021]

A young woman becomes embroiled in the life and obsession of a seemingly innocent lonely woman. An engaging watch with all the hallmarks of the genre, Greta, is only original in its twist on the villain.

Hillbilly Elegy (2020)

Strong drama with weak emotion.

[5/10 · 15 April 2021]

Hillbilly Elegy tells the American tale of struggle and hardship through the return and reflection of a young man coming home. Directing and acting talent and a great story were let down by the failure to impress any real touching or powerful emotional moments.

Pieces of a Woman (2020)

Great performances but lacking in power

[6/10 · 15 April 2021]

Pieces of a Woman is a portrayal of a journey of grief. It had a strong first act, great performances throughout but lacked the emotional power in the latter half to leave a lasting impression.

Housewife (II) (2017)

Disappointing due to acting.

[5/10 · 24 March 2021]

A woman is confronted with her childhood trauma of her mother murdering her sister and father through an encounter with a dream walking occult leader. Visually beautiful and a film with all the elements to make a good psychological thriller, Housewife falls short due to the unnatural dialogue and poor acting performance.

Vivarium (2019)

Intriguing but not for most.

[7/10 · 18 March 2021]

A young couple while looking to buy a house become literally trapped in a sickeningly perfect suburban life. Well crafted, weird and at time disorienting, Vivarium is a film with intriguing social and nihilistic ideas but will not leave every viewer entirely satisfied.

Possum (2018)

Unsettling and bleak

[8/10 · 15 March 2021]

Unsettling and bleak, Possum evoke a terror in the psyche for viewers who can enjoy the slow and creeping ride.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

It is masterful and genre defining but not the most enjoyable watch.

[7/10 · 24 February 2017]

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is the story of the horrific crimes that befall four unsuspecting teenagers on their way out into the country to visit the grave of one of their grandparents.

For such a brutally terrifying and gritty slasher it is surprisingly lacking on explicit gore or sex which became staples of the genre. While the reason for this toning down was to try and get a non-R rating it was handled masterfully. By hiding the gruesome parts just outside of direct eye view we become the voyeurs of the hideous crimes. Tobe skillfully has us step foot into the position of the terrorized victim.

The relatively tame first half builds a sense of dread that beautifully accents the second which is an absolute assault on the senses trying to elicit the sense of terror that the main protagonist felt.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is remarkably sparse on music and did not rely on it to build suspense, rather we get blasts of sound after moments of silence as if to emphasize the shock in scenes such as Letherface's first reveal. There was fantastic use of diegetic sound in building a nightmarish sense of realism. One particular scene was very striking with its use of sound when one of the female characters stumbles into the sitting room where bits of human bone and skin are strewn on the floor and attached to the furniture and a hen is inside a cage. The cackling of the hen transformed into sadistic laughter at the horror of the girl which is mirrored later on in the film in the dining scene.

There are problems in the film with its immoderate attack on the senses. The bombardment of audio visuals in the latter half of the film is jarring at first but becomes excessive to a point of annoying. For what seems like an hour we are presented with images of a terrified woman and just ear splitting screams meshed with the roar of a chainsaw which creates a very un-enjoyable sensory experience.

The characters of the family and particularly Leatherface stalked the imagination of generations to come. The frenzied hulking monstrosity chasing the hapless victim which became iconic was matched by the unrelenting second half of the film. The genre's villain has always evolved from monster movies to man being the monster. But since the advent of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre we are presented with a new icon of horror - the silent hidden faced maniac. This spawned a plethora of like minded movies to come but the originality of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre will cement it in the annuals of B-Movie film history.

Texas chainsaw massacre changed the name of the game in horror. Once the reveal of the main antagonist the director did not try to hide his monster in the shadow, there was no haunting or stalking. It was a pure frantic chase with not much pause dementing the viewer. A beautiful moment was the apparent ray of light from the gas station owner, this faux end of the tunnel was merely the conduit to the deeper level of this nightmare. With the hope of escape that flight provided now quashed you are forced into a chair bound in bone to be driven mad by the helpless realisation that this is the time you will die, tormented by a sadistic family and completely alone.

Interestingly this film is very light on character elements. While we are introduced to the story and the some-what hippy characters we are not presented with people we should care about or fully fleshed out identities. This does detract away somewhat from the horrific violence that is about to befall these unfortunate holiday makers. What the film is successful at is allowing us to set foot into the position of the victims. We become the unwilling participants in this massacre, getting lost in the dark, chased by a maniac and tormented in the house of Gein.

The Founder (2016)

A nuanced tale of the American dream

[7/10 · 21 February 2017]

The Founder is the fascinating true life story of Ray Kroc the man who built up McDonald's from a small family run restaurant to the most successful fast food franchise of all time. Based on true events the film dramatizing the rise of McDonald's and effectively chronicles Ray Kroc's progression from mediocre salesman to business magnate.

This is not the standard rags to riches tale which trumps out the usual notions that persistence and hard work will see a man through. While The Founder certainly trots out those virtues too it also portrays a protagonist who indiscriminately drives towards greatness which is a refreshing change. It is a nuanced film about the American dream but it does not skimp on the sour side of that American pie, that is the ruthless ambitions in the business world where nothing is ever enough.

The film is well acted with a charming and comic performance by Michael Keaton as the try hard Ray Kroc. The narrative and direction is uninspired but ultimately entertaining. All together The Founder well made film with an interesting story but it does not really hit home intellectually or emotionally and leaves you with nothing more than some fun facts on the foundation of McDonald's.

Without Name (2016)

A solid psychological horror for the directorial debut of Lorcan Finnegan

[6/10 · 18 February 2017]

The Irish horror film "Without Name" is a great first effort for director Lorcan Finnegan. This low budget feature stars Alan McKenna as the middle-aged man Eric contracted to survey a dense woodland known by locals as gan ainm, translated from Irish as: without name. Leaving his apathetic wife and troubled son he sets out to escape his life in the city for a short while to engross himself in work and his love affair. Unfortunately for Eric the classic escapism of Irish folk tales which helped inspire the film are riddled with mischievous creatures, dark forests and malevolent forces. The shifting light of the mysterious forest and unsettling land begin to disturb his mind as he is haunted by a silhouette through the trees.

The direction and visual style of Without Name is great, drawing you into the paradoxical claustrophobia of a dense wood, where light can trick the eyes and the cold and decrepit bark of the trees form the bars of a cage. While more of a psychological thriller than the classic horror similar to films like Bergman's "Hour of the Wolf" Lorcan really shows a knack for the genre skillfully rendering a mans slow descent into madness. The film is not a scary one nor does it seem to try to be one. Lorcan never uses cheap tricks and seems to understand that the true fears of man lay in the shadows and in the recesses of the mind which in my opinion should be at the roots of all great horror films.

The acting at times was fantastic and at other times a bit stale however Alan McKenna managed to round out the film with a spectacular performance throughout. A standout for me was the incredible sound design. While not fully polished the score and sound effects beautifully draws you into the dizzying and chilling world in the woods. The special effects were simple which is expected for a film of this budget yet they along with the music were effective in portraying the impression of paranoia and mini-Spoiler: a mushroom trip. The film has many references to Irish fairy tales including a short description of the fairy circles which cause men to get lost in the woods forever walking in circles, which I loved even if for nothing more than nostalgia of my childhood. These elements on top of the beautiful fauna make this a uniquely Irish film.

While Without Name did touch on some ideas including a Terence McKenna like philosophy, which were visually told throughout the story through the diary of the enigmatic William Devoy, the film to me really did not seem to say anything particularly interesting or artistic. The story and writing was good. It was a slow burn but the build up and ending was fantastically crafted. The story and themes had this unique Irish tinge but overall it did not seem wholly original. The narrative and twists have been done before and it felt very familiar at times.

Without Name as a film was very solid and an haunting watch. It looked and sounded great at times but it failed to truly say or do anything original. It is a must see watch for fans of Irish film and those tired of the usual tropes of jump scares and gore of contemporary horror film. As a lover of psychological films I thoroughly enjoyed it and I have great expectations for the future projects of the director.