Movie Review - It Ends with Us

Director: Justin Baldoni
Genre: Drama/ Romance
Runtime: 130 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, Jenny Slate, Brandon Sklenar, Kevin McKidd, Hasan Minhaj
 
Description: When Lily’s (Blake Lively) first love (Brandon Sklenar) reenters her life, her relationship with a charming, but abusive neurosurgeon (Justin Baldoni) is upended and she realizes she must learn to rely on her own strength to make an impossible choice for her future.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 51: A FILM FROM A GENRE YOU DON’T WATCH THAT OFTEN
 
Review: With more than twenty-million books sold, Colleen Hoover is one of today’s best-selling authors. No wonder Hollywood is eager to adapt her books into films. The first one is “It Ends with Us”.

Meet Lily Bloom, who decides to move to Boston after a traumatic childhood. There, everything seems to be going for her. Not only does she open her own flowe shop, on the roof of an apartment building Lily meets Ryle with whom all the boxes really can be checked off. Ruggedly attractive, sweet, solid job. The two start a romance that makes the sparks fly. But then Ryle turns out to have a dark side. And just then Lily runs into her childhood sweetheart Atlas.

If I have to believe Colleen Hoover fans, director Justin Baldoni (and also the actor portraying Ryle) was very faithful to the book. I never read it, nor will I ever read it. And after seeing the film, I’m sure I never will.

Even though I have nothing but praise for Blake Lively’s performance, the story just felt off. Somehow I saw red flags with Ryle from the start (not knowing the details of the plot yet). I have never experienced any form of physical abuse myself, but somehow I don’t believe that someone suffering from it herself, or at least witnessed it up close, would see signals of it earlier on in their relationship. And I don’t feel like Ryle is such a catch, even before his dark side really surfaces. I found him very creepy from the moment Lily met him. It’s also very clear from the start, that Atlas is actually the man Lily is supposed to be with. And even though I like Lily’s friendship with Allysa, the way they become friends feels very unrealistic.

Fans of the book will love this movie, and I’m so happy for them. It’s always a wonderful thing to see a favorite book being turned into a movie, that is actually following the book closely. I’m not the right audience for this film. I know Baldoni tried to make a film with such a heavy theme with a lot of respect. And it’s not his fault that the story feels so wrong, because it’s the source material. Which follows a very toxic relationship, a relationship you know is wrong. And this film was marketed poorly, selling it as a romance to go see with your girlfriends, when it’s actually a drama about domestic violence. The film hints at a sequel, since there is also a second book. But it does not look like there is going to be one.

Rating: 2/ 5

Movie Review - Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Director: Tim Burton
Genre: Comedy/ Fantasy/ Horror
Runtime: 105 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Michael Keaton, Catherine O’Hara, Winona Ryder, Jenna Ortega, Monica Belucci, Willem Dafoe, Justin Theroux, Danny DeVito
 
Description: After a family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), Lydia’s (Winona Ryder) life is turned upside down when her teenage daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega), accidentally opens the portal to the Afterlife.

Review: “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is the long-awaited sequel to “Beetlejuice” from 1988. Lydia Deetz has grown from melancholy goth-teenager to mother with her own television show in which she is a spiritual medium. The she receives word of her father’s death. Together with her stepmother Delia and daughter Astrid, she returns to her haunted house where she grew up. And Beetlejuice is fully aware of it.

Most sequels, that happen so long after the original, make the same mistake. The same story told a just a bit different. When there are some things that you might recognize from the first film, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is completely different from its predecessor.

Some characters we already knew from the previous film. Besides Beetlejuice and his trusty assistant Bob, we see Lydia and Delia Deetz again. But new characters are being introduced as well. Astrid, Lydia’s daughter, portrayed by Jenna Ortega. Ortega fits into Tim Burton’s universe like she was always meant to be apart of it. Her character might be a bit stereotypical, grumpy, rebellious teenager. But she is a nice addition, still. Justin Theroux, as Lydia’s new boyfriend, is also a welcome new character. Kind of a disgusting new-age attention seeker, but really funny. Monica Bellucci’s character Delores doesn’t really add anything. When she is introduced, in a dark but fun scene, she seems like a very important character. But at one point, when she enters a scene again, you realize you had almost forgotten she was also apart of the story. She is supposed to be a huge treat, but she doesn’t feel that way in the end. Willem Dafoe’s character is kinda fun though, an actor/ detective called Wolf Jackson. But his role is fairly small as well. Jeffrey Jones, who played Charles Deetz in the original, doesn’t return due to a scandal, but his character does return in a different form. And I thought Burton was quite clever with this. Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara are all really good, as they were in the first film.

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” did not disappoint. The cast, the jokes, the beautiful images and the physical special effects (including a bit of stop-motion) makes it an entertaining and fun film. But only if you have seen and loved “Beetlejuice” as well. Praise to Tim Burton to not recycling a plot, but actually giving us an original plot. With the characters we’ve came to love so long ago, giving them a new, crazy, creepy and funny adventure.

Rating: 4/ 5

Book Review - The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson

Title: The Christmas Guest
Author: Peter Swanson
Genre: Mystery
Published: 2023
 
Description: An American student in London is invited to join a classmate for the holidays at Starvewood Hall, her family’s Cotswold manor house. But behind the holly and pine boughs, secrets are about to unravel, revealing this seemingly charming Englisg village’s grim history.
  
Review: Ashley Smith is an American art student in London, who was planning to spend Christmas alone. But a last-minute invitation of fellow student Emma Chapman brings her to Starvewood Hallo, the country residence of the Chapman family. Ashely is mesmetized by the cozy, firelit house, the large family and the charming village of Clevemoor. But also by Adam Chapman, Emma’s brother. But he’s being investigated by the police over the recent brutal murder of a girl from the village. And there is a mysterious stranger who haunts the woodland path between Starvewood Hall and the local pub. Over thirty years later, the events of that horrific week are revisited, along with a diary from that time.
 
Peter Swanson is a hit or miss author for me. “The Christmas Guest” is a novella with less than a hundred pages, that you can easily read in one sitting. I was invested in the mystery and the eventual plotting of it. But I also found the story a bit predictable and I did not enjoy the ending. Particularly one element at the end, that felt like a last-minute thought of the author.
 
It's a quick and easy read, if you’re in for a Christmas mystery. The holiday vibes were very present, did enjoy the setting as well. But again, not the most surprising story and that ending was just not that good.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

Book Review - My Darling Girl by Jennifer McMahon

Title: My Darling Girl
Author: Jennifer McMahon
Genre: Thriler/ Horror
Published: 2023
 
Description: Alison has never been a fan of Christmas. But with it right around the corner and her husband busily decorating their cozy Vermont home, she has no choice but to face ti. Then she gets the call.
 
Mavis, Alison’s estranged mother, has been diagnosed with cancer and has only weeks to live. She wants to spend her remaining days with her daughter, son-in-law and two granddaughters. But Alison grew up with her mother’s alcoholism and violent abuse and is reluctant to unearth these traumatic memories. Still, she eventually agrees to take in mavis, hoping that she and her mother could finally heal and have the relationship she’s always dreamed of.
 
But when mysterious and otherworldly things start happening upon Mavis’s arrival, Alison begins to suspect her mother is not quite who she seems. And as the holiday festivities turn into a nightmare, she must confront just how far she is willing to go to protect her family.

Review: I’ve always heard great things about author Jennifer McMahon, but had yet to experience it myself. “My Darling Girl” follows Alison, who hates Christmas and has already had a troubled relationship with her mother Mavis, due to her being an alcoholic and being violent towards her and her brother. When Mavis is ill and doesn’t have long to live, Alison and her husband Mark decide to take her in. But strange things start to happen and Mavis doesn’t feel the same to Alison.
 
The character of Mavis is very well written. McMahon portrays her as a cold, heartless woman who physically and mentally abused her children. We learn about her in the past and how she is now. And How Mavis is different around Alison, then when she is with Mark or Alison’s daughters. And of course Mavis does everything to get them on her side, and against Alison.
 
I always hate reading about a main character, who suspects something and then nobody believes her. I hate it because it makes me anxious and mad. But it’s a good way of creating extra tension in a thriller or horror book. McMahon used this trope very well.
 
“My Darling Girl” is a creepy story, with tension, a dysfunctional relationship and a few surprising twists. There were some moments in the book I didn’t really like, like some of the motivations and actions of the main character/. But overall I enjoyed reading this book. I will try some more books by Jennifer McMahon.
 
Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Review - Speak No Evil

Director: James Watkins
Genre: Thriller/ Horror
Runtime: 110 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Scoot McNairy, Aisling Franciosi,  Alix West Lefler, Dan Hough. Kris Hitchen
 
Description: A family is invited to spend a whole weekend in a lonely home in the countryside, but as the weekend progresses, they realize that a dark side lies withing the family who invited them.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 50: A FILM FROM AN ACADEMY AWARD WINNING/ NOMINATED ACTOR OR ACTRESS

Review: Although the original “Speak No Evil” with a significant role for my country, is still fresh in our mind, for America it is already time for a remake. Hollywood has a habit of Americanizing successful films from abroad, but as many show, this is not always a success. Fortunately, “Speak No Evil” is a great remake.

Vacations are the ultimate time to relax. When the placid Louise and Ben take their daughter to Italy, they meet an eccentric family there. The lovely wife Ciara, their little son Ant, who has a disability and has difficulty communicating, and the dominant but enthusiastic Paddy. Things click between the two families. Ben and Louise are invited to spend a weekend at Paddy and Ciara’s country home in England. Although they have only just met the family, after a while they decide to visit.

A recurring theme is the discomfort created by certain standards and behavior. The tension that the film builds with this from the beginning gets stronger and stronger. There is this constant feeling of unease and questioning yourself if something going on.

The uncomfortable feeling also occasionally creates a black-comic tone, with Louise and ben getting into increasingly strange situations, but staying neat out of politeness. The film plays heavily on behavioral norms and cultural differences between people and charts in multiple layers.

There are many themes woven into the tension and story, such as gender inequality, parenting and cultural differences, but the most prominent is toxic masculinity. On one side James McAvoy as Paddy, is the ultimate alpha male: dominant, muscular and overpowering. On the other side is Scoot McNairy’s Ben, who has difficulty countering Paddy and, in the process, also experiences difficulties with his wife, who repeatedly asks him to intervene. Their characters complement each other perfectly, which enhances the poignancy of the situation.

James McAvoy is, without a doubt, the star of the show. In his acting, he manages to sublimely combine grandeur and nuance. With minimal looks, facial expressions and use of voice, he gives weight to each scene. Although McAvoy indicates no having seen the original, he manages to bring out and even transcend the scariest sides of Fedja van Huêt.

The tension is wonderfully built up, with many shots and dialogues foreshadowing the explosive final act. In it, many plot twists converge to a worthy conclusion.

Rating: 4/ 5

Book Review - The Darkest Night by Various Authors

Title: The Darkest Night
Author: Various authors
Genre: Horror/ Short stories
Published: 2024
 
Description: From some of the biggest names in horror comes an Advent calendat of short stories perfect for the darkest nights of the year.
 
Review: The anthology “The Darkest Night” is a collection fo 22 horror stories with a Christmas or Winter theme, each story written by a different author. I really loved this idea and decided to pick it up for the holiday season. With short story collections, you have so many stories to choose from. Most of these stories weren’t really scary and were just okay. Just a few of them stood out and I will spotlight them in this review.
 
The story “Cold as Ice” by Tim Waggoner follows a divorced man who is trying to date, but has no real desire. While driving home ins a storm he sees a strange creature running beside him. This story felt like a true wintery horror story, what I was expecting from this anthology. One of the stories that was actually scary.
 
Caly McLeos Chapman wrote the story “Mr. Butler”, which was a bit strange, but I loved this. A card board box shows up at a man’s house. The same card board box has once been his only friend, called Mr. Butler. It’s very different from the rest of the stories, but I absolutely loved it.
 
Nice by “Nat Cassidy” was probably my favorite, where we meet 6-year-old Mitchell, who has been very good this year and is sure Santa knows it. But when the Elf on the shelf comes alive and tells Mitchell he should be naughty, because otherwise the elves have to work too hard, the young boy takes it a bit too seriously. Surprising story, which takes a very dark turn.
 
The story “Eggnog” by Kristi deMeester didn’t really feel very Christmassy or wintery, other then the fact that part of the story was set at an office Christmas party, but this story somehow really grabbed me. And I felt very fulfilled at the end.
 
Probably the most ridiculous story, but also ridiculously good, was “Being Nice” by Jeff Strand. An eighteen year old receives nothing but a lump of cole for Christmas and he tries to make it right. But everything only gets worse. The story is pretty brutal, but I really laughed at it too.
 
Of these 22 stories, these were the only ones that really stayed with me, the rest was just okay and most of them were very forgettable. I probably would not recommend this book, but if you’re willing to pick it up, these are the stories you should be excited for.  
 
Rating: 3/ 5

Book Review - The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett

Title: The Christmas Appeal (The Appeal # 1.5)
Author: Janice Hallett
Genre: Mystery
Published: 2023
 
Description: The Christmas season has arrived in Lower Lockwood, and the Fairway Players are busy rehearsing their festive holiday production of Jack and the Beanstalk to raise money for a new church roof. But despite the season, goodwill is distinctly lacking among the amateur theater enthusiasts with petty rivalries, a possibly asbestos-filled beanstalk, and some perennially absent players behind the scenes.
 
Of course, there’s also the matter of the dead body on stage. Who could possibly have had the victim on their naughty list? Join lawyers Femi and Charlotte as they investigate Christmas letters, examine emails, and pore on their holiday production – for good.
 
Review: Janice Hallett has become one of my favorite mystery authors very quickly, due to her creative way of crafting her stories. She is a modern day Agatha Christie, because she presents her mystery stories in mixed-media form. This is a sort-of sequel to “The Appeal”, only now in a Christmas setting. Like the first book, the amateur theater group the Fairway players are raising money for a good cost by performing a play. And again someone ends up dead.
 
The evidence is presented to two lawyers, in the form of emails, text messages, news paper clippings, etcetera. And we can all puzzle along. Again, at the start, you have no idea who is the dead person. I liked the mystery, but I didn’t love it as much as “The Appeal”. That’s mainly because the ending was not at all satisfying. It felt a bit rushed and I expected a bit more. But for the rest, it was a great read.
 
Rating: 4/ 5

Book Review - Death on the Nile

Title: Death on the Nile (Hercule Poirot # 18)
Author: Agatha Christie
Genre: Mystery
Published: 1937
 
Description: The tranquility of a lovely cruise along the Nile is shattered by the discover that Linnet Ridgeway has been shot. She was young, stylish and beautiful, a girl who had everything. – until she lost her life.
 
Who is also on board? Detective Hercule Poirot is on holiday. He recalls an earlier outburst by a fellow passenger: “I’s like to put my dear little pistol against her head and just press the trigger”. Despite the exotic setting, nothing is ever quite what it seems…
 
Review: This detective novel by Agatha Christie, number 18 in the adventures of detective Hercule Poirot, is an exciting and ingeniously put together story. For example, the things you think are too obvious may not be, or are they? The so-called red herring is used well here, but not the way you think. Christie really played with that in “Death on the Nile”.
 
It takes some time to get to the actual death, Christi takes her time to introduce all the characters and give them motive or an alibi for the eventual crime that will be committed. Other than the wording sometimes, it’s really not that obvious the book was written in the 30s.
 
“Death on the Nile” is one of Christie’s most known books, but not my favorite. I loved it, don’t get me wrong. But for me, the time it takes to get to the mystery is a tad too long. My favorite part of her books is always the detective work. Trying to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. And this part of the book is flawless.
 
Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Review - Blink Twice

Director: Zoë Kravitz
Genre: Thriller/ Mystery/ Horror
Runtime: 102 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Naomi Ackie, Alia Shawkat, Channing Tatum, Christian Slater, Haley Joel Osment, Simon Rex, Adria Arjona, Geena Davis, Kyle MacLachlan
 
Description: When tech billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum) meets cocktail waitress Frida (Naomi Ackie) at his fundraiser gala, he invites her to join him and his friends on a dream vacation on his private island. As strange things start to happen, Frida questions her reality.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 49: A DIRECTORIAL DEBUT
 
Review: If you like a mysterious horror/ thriller with some female rage, Zoë Kravitz got you covered. In her directorial debut everything seems normal, but you know something is fundamentally wrong. Lots of red flag, but not sure why. It’s best to know as little as possible going in, because it will leave you gasping for air at the end.

Frida, a waitress at a gala hosted by Slater King (mocking Elon Musk, maybe?), can’t take her eyes of this charismatic man. She knows he has a dark side, as he went into therapy after an unspecified incident and apologized a thousand times. But Frida is ambitious and quite willing to get to know him. Fortunately, Slater also has an eye for her and, after some hesitation, he invites Frida and her best friend Jess to accompany him and his entourage to a Mexican island he just bought.

On site, Slater has all cell phones confiscated. A week of crazy fun begins. The guest enjoy the weather, the finest mansion with luxury chalets, a large pool, tasty dishes and champagne and drugs galore. Frida’s happiness is unstoppable, although she senses that another female invitee is jealous of Slater’s attention for her. This seems like a spring-break version for adults, but somewhere also the salutation of an impending plot from a mystery novel.

Kravitz takes her time. In doing so, she’s taking a risk, because except for Slater’s dark past and the confiscated phones, for a long time there’s no trouble. But little bizarre details nevertheless create this ominous tension and you are certain something is bad will happen. And you will never predict what it is.

“Blink Twice” is exciting, has occasional dark humor, has some satire to it, criticizes society very subtly and is really original. Nothing but praise for Zoë Kravits, who really succeeds with her first directing job. Same goes for Naomi Ackie, who carries the film on her strong shoulders. Her performance will hopefully launch her to the A-list in Hollywood. Channing Tatum, the all American boy, surprises in a role that is atypical for him,

Most of the other actors don’t stand out much, their characters are drawn very superficial. But it didn’t bother me, because in the and most do have a purpose in the film.
When the film starts, you have a feeling that something is wrong, but you can never predict the direction this film is heading. Such a good film, that will especially please female horror/ thriller fans.

Rating: 5/ 5

00s Movie Review - Michael Clayton

Director: Tony Gilroy
Genre: Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 119 minutes
Year: 2007
Starring: George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton, Sydney Pollack, Skipp Sudduth

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 48: A FILM FROM AN ACADEMY AWARD WINNING/ NOMINATED DIRECTOR
 
Description: A law firm brings in its "fixer" (George Clooney) to remedy the situation after a lawyer has a breakdown while representing a chemical company that he knows is guilty in a multibillion-dollar class action suit.

Review: “Michael Clayton” is the directorial debut of Tony Gilroy. It’s a prestige film that is praised by the American critics.

In “Michael Clayton”,  immoral selfishness of big companies is being dealt with. Michael Clayton is a fixer and the right man to stop those people, who do whatever it takes to keep their power and status.

“Michael Clayton” is good especially because of the acting. Clooney is fantastic in the title role, as well as Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson and Sydney Pollack. They paid a lot of attention to the development of the characters and that is pleasant. The story is somewhat conventional, it’s nothing like we haven’t seen before. In the end, the film doesn’t leave he impression you would have hoped for. But “Michael Clayton” is definitely a good film, mostly because of George Clooney.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Review - Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Director: Wes Ball
Genre: Action/ Adventure
Runtime: 145 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Owen Teague, Kevin Durand, Freye Allan, Peter Macon, William H. Macy, Lydia Peckmann, Travis Jeffery, Eka Darville
 
I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 47: AN ACTION OR ADVENTURE FILM
 
Description: Many years after the reign of Caesar, a young ape (Owen Teague) goes on a journey that will lead him to question everything he’s been taught about the past and make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.

Review: I did not even know that this film was in the works before I saw the first trailer. I wasn’t sure if I really wanted this film. But I’m glad I eventually watched it, because it’s a great film. Not as good as the others in the series, but still amazing.

We are missing Caesar in this film, time for a new hero. We meet Noa. The first half of the film is the setup of a young hero forced to accept a mission. And when you’re only a few minutes into the film, you are overwhelmed by the beautiful looks of it. Not only the surroundings, but also the emotions of all the apes.

Apes are the rulers now, and they are attacking their own kind. There’s more to this than just the film’s plot. Like humans, there are apes who show respect for each other and nature, and apes who crave power and like to place themselves above others.

Still, after many sequels, the “Planet of the Apes” franchise is standing strong. It’s one of the most solid franchises made to be honest. Go see it on Disney+ now.

Rating: 4/ 5

Book Review - Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

Title: Bright Young Women
Author: Jessica Knoll
Genre: Thriller/ Historical Fiction
Published: 2013
 
Description: January 1978. A serial killer has terrorized women across the Pacific Northwest, but his existence couldn’t be firther from the minds of the vibrant young women at the top sorority on Florida State University’s camps in Tallahassee. Tonight is a night of promise, excitement, and desire, but Pamela Schumacher, president of the sorority, makes the unpopular decision to stay home – a decision that unwittingly saves her life. Startled awake at 3 a.m. by a strange sound, she makes the fateful decision to investigate. What she finds behind the door is a scene of implausible violence – two of sisters dead; two others, maimed. Over the next few days, Pamela is thrust into a terrifying mystery inspired by the crime that’s captivated public interest for more than four decades.
 
On the other side of the country, Tina Cannon has found peace in Seattle after years of hardship. A chance encounter brings twenty-five-year old Rith Wachowsky into her life, a young woman with painful secrets of her own, and the two form an instant connection. When Ruth goes missing from Lake Sammamish State Park in broad daylight, surrounded by thousands of beachgoers on a beautiful summer day, Tina devotes herself to finding out what happened to her. When she hears about the tragedy in Tallahassee, she knows it’s the man the papers refer to as the All-American Sex Killer. Determined to make him answer for what he did to Ruth, she travels to Florida on a collision course with Pamela – and one last impending tragedy.
 
Review: We all know Ted Bundy, we’ve read the stories, we saw the documentaries, series and movies that were made about him. He was in the spotlight so many times throughout history. And he still is. But what about the women? The victims? The women left behind? That what author Jessica Knoll focuses on in “Bright Young Women”, without ever mentioning Bundy’s name.
 
True-crime is popular. People love hearing about horrendous crimes that happened to people. But have you ever thought about what impact this has on the people who endured these crimes or the people that were left behind? Every single time the wound is being ripped open again, just for the entertainment of others. And I’m guilty of it too. I watch true-crime shows and documentaries. Knoll criticizes this in the book, without pointing fingers or sounding pedantic.
 
How the women in the book are threated by law enforcement, judges, lawyers, men, after having to deal with a great loss due to a horrible crime. It’s frustrating and infuriating. But unfortunately very true. Knoll does such a great job in telling the story through these two women, who eventually find each other.
 
It’s nothing like any other book I have read, I love where Knoll puts the focus and how well she describes everything Pamela and Tina are going through. I feel like this is a very important book and I would recommend it to everyone who is interested in the other side of those crime stories.
 
Rating: 4,5/ 5

Movie Review - Longlegs

Director: Osgood Perkins
Genre: Horror/ Crime
Runtime: 101 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Maika Monroe, Blair Underwood, Alicia Witt, Nicolas Cage,
 
Description: In pursuit of a serial killer, an FBI agent (Maika Monroe) uncovers a series of occult clues that she must solve to end his terrifying killing spree.

Review: There is one every year. A movie that makes you go “WTF”. And the honor goes to “Longlegs” this year.

In the 1990s, Lee is an unremarkable FBI agent until, during a mission, she can intuitively pinpoint which house their target is in. her gift gains recognition and she is assigned to the search for a serial killer who has struck sporadically for decades. This turns out to be a wise choice, as Lee deciphers riddles that others have been pondering for longer without success. That is no accident, however, and Lee will discover why.

“Longlegs” is not for everyone. It’s an unusual film with a slow pace and much focus on atmosphere. The hunt for a serial killer will appeal to more people though. And horror fans will definitely not be disappointed. Director Osgood Perkins has an unusual approach and it promotes unpredictability. There is no way anyone can predict where the story is heading.

Maika Monroe, who we know from “The Guest” and “It Follows”, is fantastic in this film. She plays a completely different role in this, almost apathic. And then there is Nicolas Cage. A man that eithers brings it home or absolutely fails. Luckily for us his overacting works here. Super creepy looking, Cage’s performance is thrilling and entertaining.

Comparisons to “The Silence of the Lambs” are easily made. A rookie FBI agent is assigned to an ongoing case involving a lurid serial killer who leaves a puzzling trail. But in time, that feeling disappears and “Longlegs” becomes a totally different film. One that you really can’t compare to anything you’ve ever seen.

In the end, you’re left speechless and thinking “what did I just watch”. Not for everyone, but a must for horror fans.

Rating: 4/ 5

Book Review - Heartstopper: Volume 2 by Alice Oseman

Title: Heartstopper: Volume 2 (Heartstopper # 2)
Author: Alice Oseman
Genre: Romance/ Graphic Novel/ Young Adult
Published: 2019
 
Description: Nick and Charlie are best friends. Nick knows Charlie is gay, and Charlie is sure that Nick isn’t.
 
But love works in surprising ways, and Nick is discovering all kinds of things about his friends, his family… and himself.
 
Review: If you are open to trying graphic novels, but are not sure if it’s for you, the Heartstopper series is the perfect choice. Also if you want to read more books with LGBTQ+ representation. And if you want to meet your reading goal quicker, these novels are also a good pick, because you fly through them.
 
In “Heartstopper: Volume 2”, Nick and Charlie are still best friends. Charlie already had feelings for Nick, but he’s also sure Nick is not into guys. Meanwhile, Nick is struggling with his feelings and believes he might like girls ánd boys.
 
Nick is struggling to come out as bisexual and Charlie knows exactly how he’s feeling. Nick is not ready yet, but knows that he will eventually tell other people. It’s so lovely to see how much support Nick and Charlie get from the people that matter.
 
I already really enjoyed “Heartstopper: Volume 1”, but I absolutely loved the second book. Q very quick read, to make you feel happier within the first few pages.
 
Rating: 5/ 5

Book Review - The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

Title: The Villa
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Genre: Mystery
Published: 2023
 
Description: As kids, Emily and Chess were inseparable. But by their 30s, their bons has been strained by the demands of their adult lives. So when Chess suggests a girl trip to Italy, Emily jumps at the chance to reconnect with her best friend.
 
Villa Aestes in Orvieto is a high-end holiday home now, but in 1947, it was known as Villa Rosato, and rented for the summer by a notorious rock star, Noel Gordon. In an attempt to reignite his creative spark, Noel invites up-and-coming musician, Pierce Sheldon to join him, as well as Pierce’s girlfriend, Mari, and her stepsister Lara. But he also sets in motion a chain of events that leads to Mari writing one of the greatest horror novels of all time, Lara composing a platinum album – and ends in Pierce’s brutal murder.
 
As Emily digs into the villa’s complicated history, she begins to think there might be more to the story of that fateful summer in 1974. That perhaps Pierce’s murder wasn’t just a tale of sex, drugs and rock & roll gone wrong, but that something more sinister might have occurred. And that there might be clues hidden in the now-iconic works that Mari and Lara left behind.
 
Yet the closer that Emily gets to the truth, the more tension she feels developing between her and Chess. As secrets from the past come to light, equally dangerous betrayals from the present also emerge. And it begins to look like the villa will claim another victim before the summer ends.
 
Review: Emily and Chess, two best friends since childhood, decide to take a trip to Italy, staying in Villa Aestes in Orvieto. Both want to take time to write their books, but especially Emily doesn’t feel inspired. Until she hears about a murder that occurred in the 70s, at the villa the two women are staying at.
 
The story follows two timelines, the current one with Emily and Chess, and the one in 1974, about writer Mari, her rock star friends and step sister Lara. The story sounds interesting and I always enjoy reading dual timelines. But this book feels more like a historical fiction with a mystery element, than a mystery thriller.
 
I expected more twists, reveals and suspense, but there was one of that. I was still invested in the story, especially the mystery in 1974, but it was all very predictable. And I really did not like the conclusion of both the timelines.
 
It was just okay, I will probably forget most of this book withing a few days.
 
Rating: 2,5/ 5

Movie Review - Twisters

Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Genre: Action/ Adventure
Runtime: 122 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos, Maura Tierney
 
Description: Kate Carter (Daisy Edgar-Jones), a retired tornado-chaser and meteorologist, is persuaded to return to Oklahoma two work with a new team and new technologies.

Review: “Twister” came out in 1996, directed by my fellow Dutchie Jan de Bont. Even though it was never a masterpiece, the visual effects of the disaster film about a bunch of tornado chasers was groundbreaking at the time. I don’t know the details of how they decided to make a sequel so long after “Twister”. I don’t believe anyone was asking for it, nor did we need it. And it is not linked to the 1996 film either. But, surprisingly, I absolutely loved this film. “Twisters”: the sequel no one knew they needed.

After tornado-chaser Kate Carter lost her friends to a powerful tornado, she leaves Oklahoma for New York to work as a meteorologist in an office. Save, far away from the actual tornados. Five years later, fellow survivor Javi convinces her to get back on the road in Oklahoma anyway. In fact, he helped develop equipment in the military that can capture powerful tornadoes in 3D. Placing these instruments is quite an undertaking, though. Moreover, Kate still has plans for an experiment to pull the moisture out of the whirlwinds to kill the weather phenomenon.

In the original, the tornado-chasers were thwarted by commercially challenged cowboys. This time it’s YouTuber Tyler Owens. His crew seems to want to make money from the tornados that draw many tourists to the areas. But, there is more then meets the eye.

Scientifically this sequel is very good and so is the technical aspect. The actions scenes are and look spectacular, even in repeat sequence. Although this time there are now flying cows, the aerial parts look even more threatening and realistic.

The screenwriters efforts to add body to the story and characters also worked. It impresses when he is shown the unimaginable misery of tornado victims. The fact that Kate and her fellow chasers are not blind to this is significant, and furthermore, it also exposes the fact that not everyone is so humanitarian. As a viewer, you get to look at certain characters and their motives differently. And you would be surprised by some of them.

But, it’s still, for the most of it, a disaster film with a high entertainment level. A movie which I can see myself rewatching, probably more then once. Absolutely loved this movie, and I’m so surprised I did.

Rating: 4,5/ 5