Monday, December 28, 2015

Unfriended


This was one I was not looking forward to at all since rarely does a found footage movie with unknown actors succeed. This however, was pleasant surprise. When I first read that the whole movie would consist of the characters on Skype it seemed like a desperate ploy to be different. Surprisingly enough, this is one of the movie's strengths as I can't see it succeeding as well as it did without the viral environment. Due to the movie taking place fully over the internet, it provides a claustrophobic, almost cave-like atmosphere adding a layer of menace considering you can't see what's fully going on until it's too late. Even though I doubt anything like this will ever occur over the internet anytime soon, I loved how this movie emphasized the evils of the internet and how easy it is for a good person to be something completely different when not face to face with the person they are tormenting. Even though the movie does feature a few bloody scenes, the tension mainly relies on internal menace. What will you do to stay alive? Even if someone is your friend, does that matter when you are in the face of danger? Unfriended realizes that sometimes the deadliest threat comes in the form of a close friend, not just a deadly, pissed off spirit hellbent on the emotional trauma that she received through social media.


3/4

Sunday, December 27, 2015

The Gallows


Yeah, no. I'm just not sure who this movie was intended for, certainly wasn't me. Completely obnoxious, needing to die characters, awful script, unnecessary, handheld camera shooting that just made me even more nauseated then I already was. Add in a last minute, "BOO" ending and you have a movie that literally tied its' own noose to die.

1/4

The Final Girls


This one took me by surprise. The term "Jack of all trades" seems to used with mild distain but for a movie to achieve success in several different genres I think it something to be admired. What I love most about this movie is underneath all the killings & 80's comedy schtick is that this really is the story of a daughter getting over the loss of her mother. And it's great, Taissa Farmiga & Malin Akerman have such a natural chemistry it's heartbreaking when you realize the direction the movie is going in. And it's rare that a movie's two best scenes both involve strip teases for two very different reasons (seriously if your eyes aren't watery by the second one, you're a monster). Easily one of the most underrated horror movies of the year.

3/4