90s Movie Review - Scream 2

Director: Wes Craven
Genre: Horror/ Thriller
Runtime: 120 minutes
Year: 1997
Starring: Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courtney Cox, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jamie Kennedy, Laurie Metcalfe, Jerry O’Connell, Timothy Olyphant, Liev Schreiber, Jada Pinkett Smith, Rebecca Gayheart, Portia de Rossi, Omar Epps

Description: Two years after the first series of murders, a new psychopath dons the Ghostface costume and a new string of killings begins.

Review: Halfway through the nineties a successful scriptwriter stands out. Kevin Williamson brought in the big bucks after “Scream”, the movie that brought the horror genre back to life. Off course a sequel had to be made, something the characters in the first movie referred to. Williamson wrote it in only three weeks and Wes Craven directed it again.
“Scream 2” starts on the premiere night of “Stab”, the movie based on the Woodsboro murders. A couple gets murdered and soon it’s clear that a killer is on the loose. Sidney is in danger again and the past still haunts her.
Craven and Williamson form a good team again and like “Scream”, this flick shouldn’t be taken too seriously. This script is also filled with references to the genre, this time focused on sequels. It follows the same path as its prequel, but sadly the ending isn’t as strong. “Scream 2” isn’t surprising and then ending is a bit improbable.
If you don’t take this sequel too serious, you are in for a good horror movie night.

Rating: 3/ 5

Movie Reviews - Toy Story 4

Director: Josh Cooley
Genre: Animation/ Adventure/ Family
Runtime: 100 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, Tony Hale, Keegan-Michael Key, Christina Hendricks, Jordan Peele, Keanu Reeves, Jay Hernandez, Joan Cusack, Bonnie Hunt, Kristen Schaal, Wallace Shaw, John Ratzenberg, June Squibb, Carl Weathers, Don Rickles, Jeff Carlin, Estelle Harris, Laurie Metcalf, Mel Brooks, Timothy Dalton, Betty White, Bill Hader, Carol Burnett, Flea

Description: When a new toy called “Forky” joins Woody and the gang, a road trip alongside old and new friends reveals how big the world can be for a toy.

Review: Promises are meant to be broken. At least for Disney and Pixar. Because they had sworn that “Toy Story 2” would be there only sequel. Because mostly sequels aren’t as successful. Not for this series. So far, the third film was their best. But will the fourth (and final) film be better too.
“Toy Story 3” was such a perfect film. It touched all the emotions and was so well created. And in the end all of Andy’s toys were handed over to Bonnie. And although the story continues with her in part 4, we start the movie with a prologue in the form of a flashback.
Toddler Bonnie loves her toys and is very creative. But she also leaves some of them behind sometimes, which frustrates Woody, because he is one of those toys. When she goes to school for the first time, she is anxious. It’s hard for her to connect with other children, but Woody helps her a bit after he smuggled himself into the classroom. He tosses Bonnie some old crafty supplies and she creates: Forky. Bonnie and her new friend are inseparable and he comes to life and joins Woody’s gang. And because Forky is new to this world, he wants nothing else but to get away. Woody dedicates his life to keeping Forky safe, for Bonnie.
When Bonnie and het family are going on a roadtrip, the toys come along. And a new adventure begins. When old and new friends come together.
Visually, Pixar knocks it out of the park once again. But also the characters. The ones we were familiar with are back, but we also get to meet new characters. Like a bright colored chick and bunny, doll Gabby Gabby and stuntman Duke Kaboom.
The story is a little bit behind when it comes to the other three movies. It’s pretty straight forward and doesn’t have many surprises. I still loved the movie, but I think this should really be the end of the series.

Rating: 4/ 5

TV Show Review - Mindhunter (Season 2)

Season: 2
Genre: Thriller/ Crime
Number of episodes: 10
Year: 2019
Starring: Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, Anna Torv, Stacey Roca, Joe Tuttle, Lauren Glazier

Description: Set in the late 1970s, two FBI agents are tasked with interviewing serial killers to solve open cases.

Review: If you really want to know what drives a serial killer, “Mindhunter” is a recommendation. When you learn the creepy stories behind these serial killers, you start thinking if they are real or fictional. But they are all real and they are scary as hell.
“Mindhunter” is inspired by the a book written by FBI agent John E. Douglas and it’s a psychological crime series. Douglas, in the series named Holden Ford, has worked for the FBI from 1970 till 1995. He interviewed the most infamous and dangerous serial killers, like Ted Bundy, Dannis Rader and James Earl Ray. The show gives a beautiful look into the brains of these so-called monsters.
The first season was really good, it fascinated me. It never has jump scares or spectacular chases, but it has creepy dialogues and disturbing images.
The difference from the first season is there is more room for the leading characters Bill Tench and Holden Ford, but also Wendy Carr. And the cases they work on are spread out over multiple episodes, instead of a new case each episode.
“Mindhunter” still isn’t a series for people who like crime sensation. It’s slow paced, but it works perfect for this show. If you’re interested in the mind set of serial killers, this is your show. And a third season will happen, if I have to believe the ending of season 2.

90s Movie Review - Scream

Director: Wes Craven
Genre: Horror/ Thriller
Runtime: 111 minutes
Year: 1996
Starring: Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courtney Cox, Rose McGowan, Skeet Ulrich, Matthew Lillard, Jamie Kennedy, Drew Barrymore, Henry Winkler

Description: A masked killer begins murdering teenagers in a small town, and as the body count rises, one girl and her friends contemplate the "rules" of horror films as they find themselves living in a real-life one.
Review: Director Wes Craven has been a specialist in the horror genre. Classics as “The Last House on the Left”, “The Hills Have Eyes” and “Nightmare on Elm Street” are some of the movies that shine on his résumé. Half way through the nineties, he decided to mock his favorite genre, by making “Scream”. This film is unique in its genre, because it manages to scare the viewer, but also make you laugh. “Scream” was an unexpected success and later more movies in the subgenre of so called ‘slasher movies’ followed.
“Scream” has an almost classic opening scene, where we see student Casey Becker preparing for a movie night. She gets a call from a man who apparently dialed the wrong number. Soon Casey realizes it’s a psychopath who wants to play a morbid game of life and death. When she and her boyfriend get killed, all the students at the high school are interviewed. The attentions goes out to Sidney Prescott, whose mother was murdered a year ago. Sidney is eventually the target of the killer.
The great thing about “Scream” is, that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. The characters talk about all the clichés horror movies have and with that Wes Craven separates himself from other horror directors. “Scream” is in my opinion not really a horror movie, it’s not scary enough. But it’s very entertaining and fun.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

00s Movie Review - The Descent

Director: Neil Marshall
Genre: Horror/ Thriller/ Adventure
Runtime: 99 minutes
Year: 2005
Starring: Shauna MacDonald, Natalie Jackson Mendoza, Alex Reid, Saskia Mulder, Nora-Jane Noone, Oliver Milburn, Molly Kayll, Leslie Simpson, Mark Smith, Mark Cronfield, Stephen Lamb, Craig Conway, Sophie Trott, Tristan Matthiae, Stuart Luis, Justin Hackney, MyAnna Buring

Description: A caving expedition goes horribly wrong, as the explorers become trapped and ultimately pursued by a strange breed of predators.

Review: “The Descent” is a real shocker. It tells the story of a group of female friends, that meet each other again after a traumatic accident. The ladies go on a caving adventure, where not only darkness and tight spaces are an enemy. Something is lurking in the dark as well.
“The Descent” has a good buildup. Before it becomes bloody, director Neil Marshall managed to build up the tension. You get a claustrophobic feel and the darkness surrounding the women is also frightening. It’s a very dark film, which makes it even scarier.
Dark and claustrophobic are the two keywords for “The Descent”. And if those two elements aren’t scary enough, there is a certain paranoia amongst the characters. The stress factor is building and everyone’s fear is growing. The transformation of the friends is interesting to see, how each of the women deal with their fear.
The movie mixes psychological horror with standard thriller elements, to eventually turn into a shocker. And this movie is anything but predictable and it’s very original. It’s a thrill ride filled with surprises.
“The Descent” is definitely one of the best horror movies of its decade.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

10s Movie Review - Free Solo

Director: Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Cahi Vasarhelyi
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 100 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Alex Honnold, Tommy Caldwell, Jimmy Chin, Cheyne Lempe, Mikey Schaefer, Sanni McCandless, Dierdre Wolownick, Peter Croft

Description: Alex Honnold attempts to become the first person to ever free solo climb El Capitan.

Review: Warning: to watch “Free Solo” you gotta have nerves of steel. This documentary follows the young climber Alex Honnold during his preparation to climb the mighty El Capitan. This steep, granite cliff is set in Yosemite National Park in California and has been popular with many adventurers. So what does Alex Honnold’s climb makeit so special? Simple: he wants to do it free solo, which means with no ropes or safety equipment.
Before he can do this, Alex has to train a lot. The climb to the top is divided in to different stages and all have challenges. Each segments asks for a different technique and Alex shows us the many ways he an climb it. He climbs it several times, with ropes, and he makes mistakes. If he does it free solo, one little mistake can be fatal.
What is it that makes someone want to do this? “Free Solo” starts with exploring the mindset of Alex. Alex ambitions have nothing to do with being macho, but it’s his exorbitant spirit. He has to climb El Cap free solo. And his lifestyle shows t. He lives in a van, which he has converted to a camper. He mainly eats canned food and his whole life is dedicated to his passion.
This lifestyle has it’s downsides. Alex finds it very difficult to open up to other people, which can mainly be seen in his relationship with girlfriend Sanni. When they buy their first house, he seems to be a little lost. Alex belongs in the wilderness.
When we get to the actual climb, the films is a true nail-biter. The way they filmed everything is amazing, no 3D-glasses needed. This final act of the film is the most spectacular one and you’re on the edge of your seat. It’s that exciting. The Academy Award for best documentary is very well-deserved.

Rating: 4 / 5

Movie Reviews - Tell Me Who I Am

Director: Ed Perkins
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 85 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Alex Lewis, Marcus Lewis

Description: What if every memory that haunts you could be erased? What if something truly horrific had happened to you and the person who loves you most could wipe that from your mind? Would you want them to? This is the ethical dilemma that 18-year-old Marcus Lewis faced when his identical twin Alex awakened after a motorcycle accident and Marcus was the only person Alex recognized. With no memories at all, Alex relied entirely on his brother as he tried to understand who he was. Working from an autobiography by the twins, Perkins and the Lewis brothers craft a powerfully cinematic adaptation that helps the audience explore their incredible story and remarkable 35-year post-accident journey. It's a profoundly moving examination of memory and trauma, personal responsibility and, ultimately, love.

Review: “Tell Me Who I Am” is a touching documentary that tells the story of two brothers and a dark family secret.
Marcus and Alex are twins. Alex gets into a motorcycle accident at age 18. When he wakes up, Alex has no memory. He doesn’t know who he is, who is family is, what happened in his life. The only one he instantly recognizes is his twin brother Marcus. He asks Marcus to give him back his memories.
Marcus tells him everything is great and how they went on summer vacations as a family. What Alex doesn’t know, is that the truth is very different. Out of protection of his brother, Marcus decides to tell Alex only the nice memories and not tell him about the painful and dark past. But this act of love has consequences.
Alex tries to build his life back up, but it’s based on lies. What if Alex finds out the truth and what does this with his identity? “Tell Me Who I Am” brings up a lot of questions from a psychological perspective. Themes like lies, trust, dark family secrets and start your life over after a trauma are all present. Was it okay for Marcus to lie to his brother? What would you have done? What happens when Alex finds out the truth? And what will it do to their relationship as brothers?
The film is told from three perspectives. It starts with Alex side of the story. Then we switch to Marcus. And the third act features both of them, confronting each other with their past. Especially the third act of the film is really strong. The documentary is no feel-good film, but definitely worth your time.

Rating: 3,5/ 5