20s Movie Review - Malignant

Director: James Wan,
Genre: Horror
Runtime: 111 minutes
Year: 2021
Starring: Annabelle Wallis, Maddie Hasson, George Young, Michole Brianna White, Jacqueline McKenzie

Description: Madison (Annabelle Wallis) is paralyzed by shocking visions of grisly murders, and her torment worsens as she discovers that these waking dreams are in fact terrifying realities.

Review: James Wan is one of the best current horror movie directors. Because after “Saw”, ‘Insidious” and “The Conjuring”, he shows with “Malignant”again how well this genre suits him.

When the pregnant Madison loses both her husband and her inborn child in an unexplained attack one night, her life falls apart. Yet things don’t get much better after that, when she starts having visions of similar killings, which are completely consistent with what is happening in reality at the time. And I’m stopping here, because it’s best to not know too much about the film before you watch it.

From the very first shot it is clear that “Malignant” is a horror film, but Wan leaves the viewers guessing to what kind of horror movie is exactly is. These days it’s somehow very difficult for director to create an original horror movie that is unpredictable. But James Wan did it. “Malignant” is one of the most original and surprising horror movies I’ve seen recently. With an ending you could never predict.

Rating: 4/ 5

90s Movie Review - Deep Blue Sea

Director: Renny Harlin
Genre: Action/ Horror/ Thriller
Runtime: 105 minutes
Year: 1999
Starring: Thomas Jane, Saffron Burrows, LL Cool J, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Rapaport, Stellan Skarsgård, Jacqueline McKenzie, Aida Turturro
Description: Searching for a cure to Alzheimer's disease a group of scientists on an isolated research facility become the bait as a trio of intelligent sharks fight back.

Review: When it comes to shark movies, “Jaws” is the only masterpiece out there. “Deep Blue Sea” is one of the better shark films, but don’t pay any attention to the logics. Turn off your brain and just watch it, it’s a lot of fun.
While trying to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, a group of scientist is working on a laboratory in the middle of the ocean and testing on sharks. This makes the sharks smarter. And more unpredictable and dangerous. Soon the people in the lab are the hunted ones.
The makers did find some inspiration with “Jaws”, but also “Jurassic Park”. The film is fast paced and entertaining from beginning till end. And it’s not as predictable as you would think, because it’s quite surprising who will die and who won’t.
Not all the actors are that good, it’s mostly the men who shine. Thomas Jane is the hero of the story, as Carter Blake, a diver with a dark past. Samuel L. Jackson hardly ever disappoints and he even has an unforgettable speech in this film. Unforgettable for so many reasons. LL Cool J has a fun supporting role, as the cook. Both Saffron Burrows and Michael Rapaport only show us how annoying their characters are.
The special effects are pretty good, sometimes it’s too obvious it’s a computer animated shark. But all in all “Deep Blue Sea” is not one of those terrible shark movies. It’s fun and entertaining, with some surprise elements here and there and enough excitement for a fun movie night.

Rating: 3,5/ 5