10s Movie Review - The Final Girls

Director: Todd Strauss-Schulson
Genre: Comedy/ Horror/ Thriller
Runtime: 88 minutes
Year: 2015
Starring: Taisa Farmiga, Malin Akerman, Alexander Ludwig, Nina Dobrev, Adam Devine, Alia Shawkat

Description: A young woman (Taisa Farmiga) grieving the loss of her mother (Malin Akerman), a famous scream queen from the 1980s, finds herself pulled into the world of her mom's most famous movie. Reunited, the women must fight off the film's maniacal killer.

Review: “The Final Girls” is a horror comedy that mocks slasher films, but not in the ridiculous way “Scary Movie” did. And it’s not as predictable as most slashers. The story movie within the movie isn’t original, but the story of this film is. And it’s very entertaining.
The term ‘final girl’ stands fort he girl that makes it to the end of a horror movie and manages to kill the person hunting her. Max is a teenage girl still mourning the dead of her mother Amanda, who was a 1980s actress who got her fame due to a bad slasher flick. Max and her friends go to a showing of Amanda’s most known film “Camp Blood”. When a fire breaks out in the theater, they are somehow sucked into the movie, having to live it themselves.
The killer, Billy, is a bad copy of Jason Voorhees. The premise is a bit like “Last Action Hero” and “Groundhog Day”. And it all somehow works, because it’s a super fun watch. With excellent leads Taisa Farmiga (Vera Farmiga’s younger sister) and Malin Akerman, it does even a bit better in the acting department then a lot of slasher films.
I really enjoyed this slasher, it’s really funny and it mocks the genre in a very original way. Without ever becoming over-the-top.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Reviews - Rampage

Director: Brad Peyton
Genre: Adventure/ Action
Runtime: 107 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Naomi Harris, Malin Akerman, Joe Manganiello, Marley Shelton

Description: When three different animals become infected with a dangerous pathogen, a primatologist (Dwayne Johnson) and a geneticist team up to stop them from destroying Chicago.

Review: When albino gorilla George gets infected with a genetic substance, primatologist David Okoye has to try and protect his friend.
“Rampage” is based on an arcade game from 1986. In this game, you would go through a city as a giant gorilla, lizard or wolf and try to sabotage the army. A simple concept and perfect for an entertaining monster movie.
There is a little more context here. It’s explained why the animals grow to be so big. And we are introduced to human characters that we should sympathize with or hate.
“Rampage” is a destructive monster movie, with not enough of the monsters. It look good, the animals look great. Dwayne Johnson does what he does best. Being a damn charming action hero.
Fun and entertaining, that’s all.

Rating: 3 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 9: Wanderlust

Director: David Wain
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 114 minutes
Year: 2012
Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Paul Rudd, Justin Theroux, Malin Akerman, Alan Alda, Kathryn Hahn, Michaela Watkins, Linda Lavin

Description: After George (Paul Rudd) is downsized from his financial firm and Linda's (Jennifer Aniston) depressing documentary is cancelled, they can no longer afford their overpriced 'micro-loft' in New York. They find themselves with just one option - to pack up their lives and head south to move in with George's brother and his wife. George and Linda stumble upon Elysium, an idyllic community where the only rule is to be yourself.

Review: The last years producer Judd Apatow made some funny comedies. I wasn’t sure if “Wanderlust” would be as loved as “Bridesmaids” and “Knocked Up”. Some of the actors you know from his previous films and they make this movie very entertaining.
The plot doesn’t have many layers, but I don’t think that will bother anyone: Two yuppies from New York end up in a hippie community. Although they had a ton of chemistry in “The Object of My Affection”, they don’t seem to find it here. At least not as much. And they don’t shine either, because Alan Alda and Justin Theroux steal the show. I did like Jennifer Aniston going nuts. Although there are a lot of hippie clichés ( a nudist, free love), they know how to make it funny.
“Wanderlust” is a comedy that made me laugh, but it’s not very special.

Rating: 2,5/ 5