ON-DEMAND REVIEW: The Sisterhood of Night

THE SISTERHOOD OF NIGHT
RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW (On-Demand)

RATED: PG-13

RATING: *****/*****

PREMISE: (via-IMDB) When Emily Parris exposes a secret society of teenage girls who have slipped out of the world of social media and into another world they've discovered in the woods at night. When she accuses the girls of committing sexually deviant activities, Emily sends the small American town into a atmosphere of hysteria and the national media spotlight. The mystery deepens when each of the accused girls upholds a vow of silence. 

 

THE PRO'S: Surprisingly deep story, exceptional acting and writing, very good social commentary, original, and most of all a great mystery.

 

THE CON'S: This movie has no cons. In fact I'd say everything about it makes it a MUST-SEE.

 

THE REVIEW:

The movie I am about to review may just be one of my favorite films of all time. I did not expect what I was in for when I finally sat down to watch it, but it looked great. But it ended up being more than great, it ended up being simply FANTASTIC.

 

The Sisterhood of Night tells the story of four girls: Mary, Lavinia, Catherine, and Emily. The former three are part of, and form a group known as "The Sisterhood of Night", while Emily is an outsider who desires to be a part of them. When a bitter Emily leaks the secret society to the town, it has startling effects of Witch Trial-porportions which sends their lives, and the lives of those around them into a chaotic tailspin.

 

Now I knew very little about this film going into it, never having read the short story it's based on, and only hearing about it here and there. But I am so glad this piqued my interest because it's just so good. First of all, the story is absolutely fantastic. It's presented very well and told in a way that both intrigued and fascinated me. And for a movie that definitely is not a horror film, it definitely created some fantastic suspense as well.

 

The performances that drive this movie are fabulous as well. I can see that each girl starring in this movie will most certainly have a long, illustrious career ahead of them if they keep this up. By far, I am stunned by Georgie Henley, who played Lucy in Narnia. Her performance here was by far the best in the movie, with her leading the group of actresses perfectly. She has grown into a beautiful young woman, and a force to be reckoned with acting wise. While Kara Hayward, Willa Cuthrell, and Olivia Dejonge all knock it out of the park as well. Bringing out performances that are both very real, and also very intense.

 

By far, the best part of this movie as I said before, however, is the sense of mystery. It's been a long time since I really felt so stumped about a movie as I was here. With each passing moment, I had a new idea of what The Sisterhood of Night may be up to in the woods. And when the answer is finally given, it was done so wonderfully, and shocked me on many levels. The pay-off for the mystery is fantastic, and well worth the journey it takes to get there.

 

But most of all, I want to applaud the writing here. It is by far a movie that really feels authentic with its teenage dialogue and characters. Never once did I find myself saying that a teenager wouldn't say this or do that, I felt like these were real kids that I could have gone to high school with. And I think that's a huge reason why this movie can resonate with everybody on some level.

 

Finally, I have to say that the message of this movie is one that truly needs to be put out there. It may be a simple message, but it's one that especially teens need to learn as they go into high school. And even some adults (if you ask me). And thus, if nothing else, have your teens watch this so they can hopefully absorb the message.

 

I could keep going, but instead, I'll wrap up my review by saying...

 

IN CONCLUSION: 

 

The Sisterhood of Night is a masterwork. Equal parts mysterious, sad, moving, and intriguing there is something for everyone to be found here. A great flick to watch, and definitely one that sends a good, well-needed message. If you get the chance, check this one out, you won't regret it.

5 OUT OF 5 STARS

MY HIGHEST RECOMMENDATIONS

DVD REVIEW: The Babadook

THE BABADOOK

RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW (DVD)

RATED: R

RATING: *****/*****

WORTH BUYING?: If you have the money, yes. If not, this movie is also on Netflix for your viewing pleasure. I recommend watching it there before buying, just in case you for some reason don't enjoy it.

SPECIAL EDITION?: There is a special limited edition BLU RAY out that has a slip case with a pop up page.

THE PRO'S: Extremely eerie and unsettling story, great acting and writing, superb use of its titular villain, genuinely scary movie. If you're looking for a movie scary enough to give you nightmares, this is the one.

THE CON'S: Some of the more disturbing subject matter makes this not a movie for everyone.

THE REVIEW:

So, by now, I'm guessing most people have heard of this movie. It's a little hit movie out of Australia that has made waves in the industry. And I'm here to assure you all that it is for good reason, and that this gem of a movie is without a doubt worth all the acclaim it can get.

The film focuses on a widowed mother, Amelia, who finds a disturbing children's book known as "Mr Babadook" among her son, Samuel's children's books. What she initially finds as just a twisted storybook, and casts aside, however, takes a sinister turn as mysterious things happen around her home. Could Mr. Babadook be as real as the book makes it out to be? If it is, it could spell doom for them both.

The movie plays out as probably one of the best "monster horrors" I have seen in a while. With a big reason being that unlike 90% of these movies, we never see the monster. A great deal of the movie's suspense actually comes from the fact that "Mr. Babadook" is shrouded in mystery, and it works very much in the movies favor. I don't think I've ever been so afraid of something I couldn't actually see in a movie, and this movie proves that is very possible.

On top of its scare factor, the acting and writing in this movie is TOP NOTCH. With an amazing performance from our lead - Essie Davis. She is probably one of the best actresses I've seen in horror in a long time, just knocking it out of the park scene after scene. Extremely big props also go to the little boy in this movie, Noah Wiseman, who turns out a great role (although admittedly not as great) as her son Samuel. 

But even moreso than the monster, or the acting, the fear factor is what sets this movie apart from anything else (and in the same category as "It Follows"). The sheer feeling of dread and fear this movie creates is absolutely astounding as much as it is unsettling. Even when the movie is not trying to be absolutely terrifying, it still manages to completely unsettle its audience and leave you just WAITING for something to happen.

But by far the best part about The Babadook is how "old school" horror it is. If you're tired of horror movies with tons of gore, or teens running around to their death, this is the movie for you. The Babadook features very little in the way of blood and gore, in favor of its eerie chill factor and keeping it's audience on its toes and on the edge of their seat.

My only warning with this little gem is that it goes into some unsettling and dark subject matter. So be cautioned that some of this might make it NOT a movie for everyone. Even if it's a film I recommend any horror fan watch.  

And so, there's not much more to say other than....

IN CONCLUSION:

The Babadook is the movie that nightmares are made of. If you're looking for a good, chilling old-school horror movie to make you not want to turn off the lights tonight, this is the movie for you. Grab a bowl of popcorn, turn on Netflix, and enjoy this horror gem to the fullest. And remember "If it's in a word, or it's in a look. You can't get rid of The Babadook."

5 OUT OF 5 STARS

MY HIGHEST RECOMMENDATIONS

THE VAULT OF HORRIBLE HORRORS: Home Sweet Home (1981)

And now for a new type of review. I have fun watching horrible horror movies. So I'm going to start giving these so-bad-it's-good movies their own little thing called "THE VAULT OF HORRIBLE HORRORS" where I will take a look at just HOW bad they are. Starting with...

HOME SWEET HOME (1981)

THE PREMISE:

A psychopath from the local insane asylum escapes, murders a motorist, and randomly makes his way to a family's home on the eve of Thanksgiving. There, he proceeds to cackle like a maniac, and murder a family played by people who basically with the exception of the little girl and father never acted again. (And there was a good reason for that to be honest)

HOW BAD IS IT?: Among bad slasher movies, this is king. If you want any more proof, all you need to know is that the killer spends 90% of the movie just cackling evily, there's literally a character named "MISTAKE" (No, I kid you not), but for some reason I just couldn't turn my eyes away.

NOTABLE FOR: Somehow managing to star a young VINESSA SHAW as the little girl in the movie. Yes, I'm talking about the girlfriend from Hocus Pocus. And also randomly stars the uncle of HAILEE STEINFELD (Yes, from True Grit) as the aforementioned cackling killer.

FUN LEVEL:  VERY HIGH

RECOMMENDED VIEWING METHOD: Get a couple of friends in a chat room, and Youtube it. You'll all have a riot.

MINI-REVIEW:

So a friend of mine and I make a point of watching bad horror movies just for the kicks. And the other night, we put this little gem on. Not only is it hilariously bad, but it also manages to bring some of the best unintentional comedy I have seen in a long time. Namely: "Mistake", I could tell you what Mistake is like, but that would ruin his amazingly hilarious entrance that left me laughing for at least a good five minutes.

Throughout this movie I wondered what it would be like if Hailee Steinfeld ever decided to look up her uncle's work. I can only imagine the look of horror on her face as she saw this opening scene and saw her uncle acting like this:

I found it especially funny that the ending is about fifteen minutes long, and in those fifteen minutes hardly ANYTHING happens. It is literally about ten minutes of them just sitting around to wait out the killer and talking to each other. Cumulating in maybe five minutes of action. During this time, I actually missed Hailee Steinfeld's crazy uncle and his amazingly generic, bad guy laugh.

And so I give this movie a five out of five on the scale of bad movies. If only because just LOL what the hell was anyone thinking greenlighting this film? I mean it was SO BAD that almost none of the cast ever acted again. That is really saying something, even some of the worst movies had more than two stars that did at least one other film in their careers.

DRINKING GAME RECOMMENDATION: Take a shot every time the killer cackles maniacally.

REVIEW: The Longest Ride

THE LONGEST RIDE

RELEASED: Out Now

RATED: PG-13

RATING: ****/*****

PREMISE: (via IMDB) Based on the bestselling novel by master storyteller Nicholas Sparks, THE LONGEST RIDE centers on the star-crossed love affair between Luke, a former champion bull rider looking to make a comeback, and Sophia, a college student who is about to embark upon her dream job in New York City's art world. As conflicting paths and ideals test their relationship, Sophia and Luke make an unexpected and fateful connection with Ira, whose memories of his own decades-long romance with his beloved wife deeply inspire the young couple. Spanning generations and two intertwining love stories, THE LONGEST RIDE explores the challenges and infinite rewards of enduring love.

 

THE PRO'S: A beautiful love story from both decades it's set in. Excellent acting. An engaging, and interesting story. Probably the strongest Sparks story I've seen yet. 

THE CON'S: Some minor cliches that it could have done without.

THE REVIEW: 

I have to be honest, I have never read one of Sparks books. But I have found all three movies I've seen by him (The Lucky One, Safe Haven, and this) enjoyable. So I am not entirely surprised to say that I really find The Longest Ride to be a great, if not somewhat-sad story.

The film tells two different stories. That of professional bull rider, Luke, who is in the midst of a comeback, and Sophia, a college student preparing to go to New York as they find love in each other. And that of Ira, a Jewish man before and after WWII who meets and falls in love with Ruth, the new girl in town, and an art lover. Both stories intersect when Sophia and Luke save an aging Ira from a car crash, and a bond between Sophia and Ira forms.

What I find most interesting about this movie is how seamlessly it intertwines the stories. Neither of them is rushed, rather, it takes its time to tell each one to its fullest. I personally found the story of Ira and Ruth the most engaging, as it was very interesting and the twists were great. But that is not to downplay Sophia and Luke's story, which, while not as touching, was very engaging and kept my interest constantly.

This is very much helped by the cast of the movie. Both Brittany Robertson and Scott Eastwood are extremely promising young actors that sold me on the story from the get-go. I never once felt with either of them that I was watching film characters, they really pulled me in. The same goes for Alan Alda, who plays older Ira, and his younger self, played by Jack Huston. And the love of his life, Ruth, who is played by Oona Chaplin. All four carry the movie so perfectly and sell their loves so well that you can't help but be invested. 

To that end, I feel like the characters were another strong point of the film. Not just because of the actors, but because of how human they all feel. Each has their strengths and weaknesses, and not once does the movie desert those to further it's story. It does a fantastic job of keeping the characters human, something I think each of his movies has actually managed to do very well.

The only complaint I have with the film is a few of the cliches it held. I can't say them without spoilers, but I will say for those who've seen it that I in no way mean the (AWESOME) ending. But sprinkled throughout were some cliches that I overall thought the movie could have done without. So therefore, this is my (albeit minor) complaint.

So...

 

IN CONCLUSION:
 

It's not the deepest love story out there, or most original. But The Longest Ride is an engaging, heartwarming, and well-written love story that managed to warm my heart. I definitely recommend it to everyone, Sparks fan or not.

 

4 OUT OF 5 STARS

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED 

 

 

HULU REVIEW: The Forger

THE FORGER

RELEASED: OUT NOW (On Hulu)

RATED: PG-13

RATING: *****/*****

PREMISE: (Via IMDB) Joshua, a teenager with a drugged-out mother on the run, wanders into the affluent community of Carmel, California. After getting himself into trouble, the authorities try to track down his mother. But in the meantime, a successful artist/businessman offers to take in Joshua and let him have a chance at a good life. His motives are questionable considering his line of business and how he plans to use Joshua's artistic talents, but Joshua has met a girl and he's not sure if the money is worth selling off his morals.

THE PRO'S: Extremely well written and acted. Some extremely well done messages placed throughout. Interesting and engaging storyline.

THE CON'S: None really.

THE REVIEW:

The Forger was another one that has been on my radar for quite some time. Not only because of it's awesome cast (Josh Hutcherson, Hayden Panatierre, AND Alfred Molaina, just wow!) but because the premise was so interesting. And thankfully, the three-year wait to watch this was well worth it.

The movie tells the story of Josh, a runaway who has been abandoned by his mother, a drug addict. Stopping into a small down, he breaks into the home of an art forger, and finishes a forged painting. Amazed at his talent, the man takes Josh under his wing, and leads him into his "world". A world which Josh comes to learn is even more dangerous than the one he left behind.

It's a fairly simple premise, but it plays out wonderfully. The story is told in a far-from-generic way, and each character seems to take on a life of their own. It's not always the most original story, but it does do a good job of keeping it engaging, and fascinating. The best part of the story being how seriously it seems to take the story it's telling.

As I said before, the acting here is also stellar. Josh Hutcherson, as usual, delivers an excellent performance for a young actor, as does Hayden Panettiere, who just continues to wow. While film veterans Alfred Molaina and the late Lauren Bacall also lead the charge from the adult side of things, and do it wonderfully. Though his role is small, a young Scott Eastwood also plays a role here and is memorable as Panettiere's brother.

What's more, it's actually a beautiful movie to look at. The scenery of the coastal town tends to be breathtaking, and all of the art in the movie is elegant as well. While only the latter is the focal point of the story, the former does provide good scenery eye candy and add something in and of itself. So I'd definitely count that among the pluses.

But what I love most about this movie is it's message. Both about love and honesty. Both are handled in a wonderfully realistic way, and treated with great care. Which is another thing this movie gets very right: the realism. I felt like any one of these characters are people I could walk up to on the street. With major props to the writer for the sheer realism both in their actions and their dialogue. 

So...

IN CONCLUSION:
 

The Forger is a wonderfully shot, written, and acted movie. It's definitely worth a look if you're looking for a fun, engaging drama and hopefully you'll enjoy it just as much. The performances, and story alone are worth it.

5 OUT OF 5 STARS

MY HIGHEST RECOMMENDATIONS

ON-DEMAND REVIEW: The Harvest

THE HARVEST

RELEASED: OUT NOW (On-Demand)

RATED: N/A (I'd put it at R though)

RATING: ****/*****

PREMISE: (Via IMDB) A couple who keeps their sick son in a secluded environment find their controlled lives challenged by a young girl who moves in next door. 

 

THE PRO'S: Engaging and disturbing mystery. Keeps you on your toes. Mostly good acting.  A terrifying villain. Good character development.

THE CON'S: By contrast, the movie at times has laughable acting. Disturbing content makes this not for the faint of heart.

THE REVIEW:

I've had my eyes on "The Harvest" for a while now, due to it's intriguing and mysterious premise. I will say I was not disappointed, but this unsettling movie is one of the hardest I've sat through. If not one of the best on-demand thrillers out there.

The film tells the story of Maryann who moves in with her grandparents after the sudden death of her family. There, she makes friends with Andy, a neighbor who is very sick, and in the care of his overbearing and shady mother Katherine. And somewhat mild-mannered, skittish father, Michael. But as Katherine's behavior becomes more unstable and disturbing, Maryann begins to wonder if there's more to Andy and his family than meets the eye. 

The movie, as one can imagine, is a very intense thriller. With some great suspense, and a fantastic build-up. To say the least, with every passing moment, you're left wondering what the dark secret this family is hiding may be. And though it's  not clear until the very end, it's an extremely well-done, and executed pay-off. If not a bit disturbing.

One of the things that both does and doesn't work well is the acting. Both child actors: Natasha Callis and Charlie Tahan are on-point and fantastic, as is the mother, who is played by Samantha Morton. Each brings a lot of life, and realism to their performance. And the Grandfather, who is played by the great Peter Fonda. In fact in Morton's case, she truly made me terrified of her. But there is a lot of weaker acting on the part of the Grandmother and Father. Who both play large roles in the movie, but  whose acting ranges from dull to rather over the top from scene-to-scene and somewhat takes away from the better acting of the other actors. 

But that's okay, because overall, it doesn't take The Harvest down at all. The story presented in this movie is not only compelling, but scary as well. I genuinely was gripping the edge of my seat every once in a while. And more than once found myself begging for answers. The more twisted the movie becomes, the better it becomes. And in general, it's an attention-grabber.

That said, this is NOT a film for everyone. The Harvest goes down some very dark roads, and if you're not a fan of overly dark movies, it's best to stay away. A lot of the content involves kids (though it's never anything graphic), and though it's handled well, anyone unnerved by them in danger should definitely stay away. 

 

But if you can get through it, The Harvest is an excellent suburban thriller. And overall, well worth the watch.

So...

 

IN CONCLUSION:

The Harvest is an exceptionally well-made, dark thriller. Though it may not be for everyone, and some of the acting is sub-par, it still is a satisfyingly interesting movie. And one I'd highly recommend to those who can handle it.

 

4 OUT OF 5 STARS

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

ON-DEMAND REVIEW: Annie (2014)

ANNIE (2014)

RELEASED: December 19th, 2014 (Theaters), OUT NOW (DVD & ON DEMAND)

RATED: PG

RATING: ****/*****

PREMISE: (via IMDB) Academy Award® nominee Quvenzhané Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild) stars as Annie, a young, happy foster kid who's also tough enough to make her way on the streets of New York in 2014. Originally left by her parents as a baby with the promise that they'd be back for her someday, it's been a hard knock life ever since with her mean foster mom Miss Hannigan (Cameron Diaz). But everything's about to change when the hard-nosed tycoon and New York mayoral candidate Will Stacks (Jamie Foxx) - advised by his brilliant VP, Grace (Rose Byrne) and his shrewd and scheming campaign advisor, Guy (Bobby Cannavale) - makes a thinly-veiled campaign move and takes her in. Stacks believes he's her guardian angel, but Annie's self-assured nature and bright, sun-will-come-out-tomorrow outlook on life just might mean it's the other way around. 

THE PRO'S: Very, very faithful to the spirit of the original movie while doing its own thing. Well acted, cast, and sung. A surprisingly fun performance by Cameron Diaz who also shocks with a great singing voice. Very, very fun overall.

THE CON'S:  Could have done with a less-rushed ending.

THE REVIEW:

Annie has come with a lot of controversy, from the change of her race (handled in a very funny way at the beginning of the film), to the change of musical style. But I am here to say my gut instinct was right from the get-go: Annie is JUST as fun as the original, and lived up to every expectation I had.

The story of Annie has gone through some changes from the original. Annie Bennet is an abandoned child in the foster care system, in the care of bitter Miss Hannigan (portrayed as far less evil here). When prospective mayor of New York City, and Daddy Warbucks stand-in Will Stacks inadvertently saves her from being hit by a car, she creates a media sensation. Stacks, seeing an opportunity, takes Annie into his home for publicity, but what neither suspect is that a warm bond that begins to form between them both, as well as Stacks's vice president, Grace. 

Let's start with the obvious: how well did they modernize this movie and musical classic? In my opinion, they did a GREAT job! It definitely keeps the same spirit of the original, and tells the same story in a new way. Some story beats are the same, while others are changed, moved around, or omitted. But overall, everything that needs to be there, is there.

The most impressive is that they don't handle the foster home exactly like the orphanage. Sure, Hannigan is still overbearing and bitter. But they also acknowledge the state of foster care is very different than that of a depression-era orphanage. And those who worried they wouldn't can rest easy, because it is handled very well with this being put in mind.

The acting here is really great. The young actress who plays Annie,  Quvenzhané Wallis, is a little bundle of energy. By the looks of it, considering how well she did with this, and from what I've heard, Beasts of the Southern Wild, she has a long and lucrative career ahead of her. And wow! Whta a voice too! She has the potential to be a powerhouse when she's older. For that matter, big shout outs go to Jamie Foxx, Rose Byrne, and Cameron Diaz, who all do exceptionally well. With Diaz surprising me with her excellent vocal talent from what little she gets to sing. 

Everyone's favorite tunes such as "Hard Knock Life", "I Think I'm Gonna Like it Here", and "Tomorrow" are all there. And, to my surprise, wonderfully modernized without ruining the originals in any way. The composer and songwriter both knocked it out of the park, doing a fantastic job of delivering a great blend of old and new styles. 

The only complaint I have with Annie is how quickly the ending is rushed into. Without spoiling it if you've never seen the original, a bit of history between characters is cut. And thus it comes off as sort of rushed, and is resolved very quickly. That said, the way it is resolved is clever, and thus, I could let it pass without it hurting the film too much.

So....

IN CONCLUSION:

Annie is a heart-warming, family-friendly, and enjoyable little film that is worth a look for fans new and old. It remains an inspirational and fantastic story, even though the times have changed. See this one with the kids too, as this has a great message every kids should hear.

4 OUT OF 5 STARS
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

REVIEW: Unfriended

UNFRIENDED

RELEASE: OUT NOW

RATED: R

RATING: ****/*****

PREMISE: (Via IMDB) While video chatting one night, six high school friends receive a Skype message from a classmate who killed herself exactly one year ago. At first they think it's a prank, but when the girl starts revealing the friends' darkest secrets, they realize they are dealing with something out of this world, something that wants them dead. Told entirely from a young girl's computer desktop, CYBERNATURAL redefines 'found footage' for a new generation of teens.

 

THE PRO'S: Chilling, well acted and written, VERY original, great use of suspense, great twists along the way.

 

THE CON'S: Underused character brings down the production for a short portion of the movie. The type of movie that is likely not to age well.

THE REVIEW:

Now this is a movie that surprised me a great deal. When I first heard of Unfriended, I honestly laughed at the premise and first trailer. It seemed so ridiculous to set an entire movie on a computer monitor, let alone a horror movie. Then the second trailer came out, and suddenly it was getting tons of reviews praising it, and my interest was piqued and I got excited.

It turned out, I had good reason to be.

Unfriended tells the story of Blaire, Mitch, Val, Adam, Ken, and Jess who on the one-year anniversary of a friend's suicide are in a video chat. While Blaire looks back on the online video, and cyber-bullying that lead to said-friend, Laura's suicide, an unknown user enters their video chat. Someone using Laura's account, someone who is determined to find out who put the video up, by any means necessary.

The original premise, and story are really the two best assets the movie ended up having. The movie is an unpredictable, chilling, roller coaster ride into the horrors of cyber bullying. And it's not one that lets you ever take a breath or feel safe either. Even though I had a small portion of the ending spoiled, everything that lead up to it, and took place was absolutely shocking. With every passing moment creating more tension not only for the characters, but for the audience as well.

The fact that the movie had great acting in it did help as well. Driven by a very well-written script that feels authentic, with very realistic dialogue and pacing, the actors do their job well. One of the actors, even though they were the weak link, and their character seemed so useless, was even able ot hold their own which said something. It's hard to really point out any "best" actor in this movie, but Shelly Hennig and Moses Jacob Storm, who play Blaire and Mitch both pull off excellent performances and are probably the main stand-outs of the movie.

Another fantastic thing about this movie is how generally unnerving the film is. Throughout the film, the villain is mostly unseen, creating a feeling of dread as to who goes next. As their numbers dwindle down, the atmosphere builds and builds and creates some of the best atmosphere in a found footage film in years. 

But what really stands out to me? Is the fact the story is told so perfectly. Every time I thought I knew where it was going, even knowing some spoilers, it would drag me in the opposite direction. It did a great job of presenting and pulling some fantastic twists and keeping you on your toes and guessing until the final credits at last rolled. Even so I suggest not reading anything going into this like I unfortunately did, even though it was still full of surprises there'll be even more insane moments if you don't.

That said, the main sad thing about this movie is that it isn't likely to age well. This is a very "modern" movie, and while it works well in the social media age there's no telling if this will be a thing in the future. Which is too bad because it's such a fantastic and well-crafted story. But even so, that's okay, it's here for now, and it's good enough that it doesn't really matter.

So....

IN CONCLUSION:

"Unfriended" is an exhilarating, and chilling roller-coaster ride. And while it probably won't stand the test of time, it is definitely worth checking out and watching now. If you only see one found footage piece this year, make sure this is the one you see! We need more horror films like this, It Follows, and The Babadook!

4 OUT OF 5 STARS

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

REVIEW: It Follows

IT FOLLOWS
RELEASED: OUT NOW

RATED: R

RATING: *****/*****

PREMISE: (Via IMDB) For nineteen-year-old Jay, Autumn should be about school, boys and week-ends out at the lake. But after a seemingly innocent sexual encounter, she finds herself plagued by strange visions and the inescapable sense that someone, something, is following her. Faced with this burden, Jay and her friends must find a way to escape the horrors that seem to be only a few steps behind. 

THE PRO'S: Absolutely terrifying. Great story, acting, writing, and suspense. Old-school, classic horror storytelling in a modern setting. AMAZING soundtrack.

THE CON'S: None really.

THE REVIEW:

It Follows is the kind of movie that will leave you looking over your shoulder as you walk out of the theater, and stay with you long after the end credits roll. There's a reason why this movie is getting so much hype, and that's simply because it is the most unique and well-done horror movie in at least a decade.

The story of It Follows follows Jay, who after having sex with a date, is given a dire, and disturbing warning. Through the intercourse, he has passed onto her an entity that only she and others like her can see. An entity that will follow her, and stop at nothing until she's either dead, or has passed the curse onto someone else. Pulling Jay, and her friends, into an unexpected fight for survival. 

To keep this review simple, this movie is a modern horror masterpiece in every way. I would like to praise the cast especially though, there was no weak link in the bunch to be found. None of them are big names, but if this movie is anything to come by, they all, especially Maika Monroe, who plays our heroine, Jay, have very bright futures ahead of them. It's very rare you see acting of this caliber in a horror movie, but this is one of the few times it truly is excellent in recent years.

But that's not the only thing that makes It Follows a great horror movie. The score and suspense are both amazing, with the former harkening back to the glory days of such horror movies as Halloween and Jaws. I don't think I've ever dreaded hearing a soundtrack in a horror movie this much since the first time I heard either of those themes. 

To add onto this, the movie is just flat-out terrifying. Every time that "It" shows up, I found myself gripping the seat extremely tight. And furthermore, just walking out of the theater, I genuinely looked over my shoulder to see if anyone was following me. This is the type of movie, like I said, that will keep you on edge long after the credits roll. And in my opinion will do for teenage sex what Scream did for caller ID if it gets any more popular. 

And for those who really don't like gore or constant nudity/sex, you're definitely in for a treat here. I was impressed that the movie gets by with very little gore and sex at all. The sex is only used when it furthers the plot, and despite one or two gory scenes at the beginning and endings of the film, it's relatively blood-free. The whole thing is handled very old school, and relies more on its scares then on constantly shocking the audience by how much gore and cleavage it can show in one movie.

 

So with all of this said....

IN CONCLUSION:

 

It Follows is the best horror movie of this past decade. Very original, terrifying, and suspenseful, this is a must-see for ANY horror fan. With a haunting soundtrack, excellent acting, and a great suspenseful story, this is going to make waves in the horror industry. And I desperately hope we will see more movies like it in the future.

5 OUT OF 5 STARS

MY HIGHEST RECCOMENDATIONS