Movie Review - The Killer

Director: David Fincher
Genre: Action/ Crime/ Thriller
Runtime: 118 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, Charles Parnell, Arliss Howard, Kerry O’Malley
 
Description: After a fateful near-miss, an assassin (Michael Fassbender) battles his employers, and himself, on an international manhunt he insists isn’t personal.

Review: After a job gone wrong, an assassin must take more and more victims to escape from his self-made mess.

Director David Fincher is a favorite of mine. He made some of my favorite thrillers ever: “Seven”, “Fight Club” and “Gone Girl” are movies I will never stop recommending. It’s clear the crime-thriller genre is what Fincher excels in.  

That Fincher feels comfortable within this genre is abundantly clear. Everything is clearly portrayed, with the editing and soundtrack effectively contributing to the visuals. Michael Fassbender does a solid job as the cool killer, but his stoic demeanor solidly gets in the way of the film.

The unnamed killer is a man of few words, whose thoughts are conveyed via voice-over. Fassbender conveys everything rather monotonously, perhaps appropriate for an assassin, but it makes it a bit boring to listen to at times.

The story suffers from the same problem, it lacks a compelling plot. The killer travels from place to place, sometimes claiming a victim. It is too little to get invested in. the sporadic outburst of violence are brief, but beautifully crafted. There is especially one fight scene, that is so well-crafted. A hand-to-hand fight that really stuck with me. The film could have used more such moments to ramp up the tension, as you are otherwise never on the edge of your seat.  

“The Killer” is technically a well-made film that just passes by without doing anything to you. The film feels detached, perhaps intentionally, but without any emotional involvement. Still a good film, but not David Fincher greatness.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

TV Show Review - The Fall of the House of Usher

Season: Mini Series
Genre: Horror/ Drama/ Mystery
Number of episodes: 8
Year: 2023
Starring: Bruce Greenwood, Mary McDonnell, Carla Cugino, Henry Thomas, Kate Siegel, Zach Gilford, Samantha Sloyan, Michael Trucco, Mark Hamill    

Description: To secure their fortune (and future) two ruthless siblings (Bruce Greenwood, Mary McDonnell) build a family dynasty that begins to crumble when their heirs mysteriously die, one by one.

Review: Many filmmakers have a bond with the actors they work with. Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro, or Tim Burton and Johnny Depp. Director Mike Flanagan does this with his series and films as well. In his newest show, “The Fall of the House of Usher”, we see a lot of familiar faces, like Bruce Greenwood, Carla Cugino, Zach Gilford, Henry Thomas, Samantha Sloyan and his wife Kate Siegel. I was very excited for this show, I’m a huge fan of Mike Flanagan’s work.

“The House of the Fall of Usher” is (very loosely) based on the Edgar Allan Poe short story of the same name. The story is about 40 pages long, so creating an 8-part TV-series around it is quite the challenge. Flanagan also took it to modern time. And I believe he did an excellent job.

The Usher family has amassed enormous wealth, but is mostly known for theur major crimes they get away with time and time again. Until one day, Roderick Usher’s six children are killed one by one in bloody accidents in a short period of time. Roderick invites hi judicial adversary to confess it all, because he knows full well who is targeting him.

“The Fall of the House of Usher” is marketed as horror, it is not a show just for the horror fans. I see it mostly as a dark, gothic mystery thriller with horror elements in it. The show has some really strong and effective scares, that would be stated horror.

The characters are diverse, but I can say that you will hate them all. They are all so unlikeable, but extremely interesting. The series only downside is that it has some predictability, because you know when which sibling will die. Because it’s set I a way that one person will die per episode. The way they all kick the bucket is not predictable, because some of them are very original, and all gruesome.

The cast is fantastic, but Carla Cugino and Bruce Greenwood (who previously both starred in Flanagan’s “Gerald’s Game”) are the ones that impress the most. Cugino is a literal chameleon in “The Fall of the House of Usher”.

I don’t think this is a show for everyone, whether you like horror or not. I highly enjoyed it and jumped a few times because of the scares Flanagan so well added. And the conclusion of the whole story was very strong.

Book Review - The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James

Title: The Book of Cold Cases
Series: -
Author: Simone St. James
 
Description: In 1977, Claire Lake, Oregon, was shaken by the Lady Killer Murders: Two men, seemingly randomly, were murdered with the same gun, with strange notes left behind. Beth Greer was the perfect suspect – a rich, eccentric twenty-three-year old woman, seen fleeing one of the crimes. But she was acquitted, and she retreated to the isolation of her mansion.
 
Oregon, 2017. Shea Collins is a receptionist, but by night, she runs a true crime website, the Book of Cold Cases – a passion fueled by the attempted abduction she escaped as a child.  When she meets Beth by chance, Shea asks her for an interview. To Shea’s surprise, Beth says yes.
 
They meet regularly at Beth’s mansion, though Shea is never comfortable there. Items move when she’s not looking, and she could swear she’s seen a girl outside the window. The allure of learning to truth about the case from the smart, charming Beth is too much to resist, but even as they grow closer, Shea senses something isn’t right. Is she making friends with a manipulative murderer, or are there other dangers lurking in the darkness of the Greer house?  
 
Review: If you enjoy crime thrillers with a hint of supernatural to it, “The Book of Cold Cases” by Simone St. James might be just the book for you. It’s just the right amount of spooky if you are not a big fan of ghost stories.
 
Shea is the main character in the book. She works at a receptionist at a doctor’s office. But he true passion is her website: The Book of Cold Cases. Where she writes about true crime cold cases. When she meets Beth Greer, a woman who was accused of murder in the 70s but was acquitted for the crime, Shea wants to interview her. And to her surprise Beth says yes.
 
I loved Simone St. James’ book “The Broken Girls”, which I read earlier this year. It was a perfect thriller for me. And “The Book of Cold Cases” did exactly the same for me. I love how St. James build her stories. Dual timelines, a crime that happened in the past, linking it to someone in the present. And a supernatural element added to is as well. I love her writing as well and I can say that Simone St. James might become a favorite author for me. She is definitely one that I will auto-buy from.
 
Even though the story isn’t filled with major surprises or twists, I could not put this book down. I was super invested in the case, in the characters in their backstories. I loved the dual timelines and how the book switches perspectives. And the big reveal was actually pretty early on in the book, but still I wanted to keep reading.
 
If you have read from Simone St. James before and enjoyed her books previous books, you will “The Book of Cold Cases” probably like this as well. I know I did.
 
Rating: 5/ 5

Book Review - The Family Game by Catherine Steadman

Title: The Family Game
Series: -
Author: Catherine Steadman
 
Description: Harriet is a novelist on the brink of stardom; Edward, her husband-to-be, is seemingly perfects. In love and freshly engaged, their bliss is interrupted by the reemergence of the Holbecks, Edward’s eminent family and the embodiment of American old money. For years, they’ve dominated headlines and pulled society’s strings, and Edward left them all behind to forge his own path. But there are eyes and ears everywhere. It was only a matter of time before they were pulled back in.
 
After all, even though he’s long severed ties with his family, Edward is set to inherit it all. Harriet is drawn to the glamour and sophistication of the Holbecks, who seem to welcome her with open arms, but everything changes when she meets Robert, the inescapably magnetic head of the family. At their first meeting, Robert slips Harriet a cassette tape, revealing a shocking confession which sets the inevitable game in motion.
 
What is it about Harriet that made him give her that tape? A thing that has the power to destroy everything? As she ramps up her quest for the truth, she must endure the Holbeck’s savage Christmas traditions all the while knowing that losing this game could be deadly.
 
Review: I’m always in for a creepy thriller about a toxic family, with loads of drama and secrets. Harriet is about to be married into one, after meeting Edward. Their seemingly perfect happiness gets disturbed when meeting the Holbecks, Edward’s family, with whom has had broken ties with. His family is really eager to meet Harriet.
 
Edward is the heir of the family and the life the Holbecks are living, impresses Harriet. They seem to welcome her with open arms. But everything changes when she meets Robert, Edward’s father, and he hands Harriet a mysterious cassette tape.
 
The book is very reminiscent of the successful TV-show “Succession” and the movie “Ready or Not”. Both about a dysfunctional family with enormous wealth. Harriet is the new girl, the one marrying into this family. But she’s not your typical innocent woman. She has her own secrets and never told this to anyone, not even Edward. Creepy and deadly games follow.
 
It’s fun to read about family drama. I did not like a single character in this book, but they were all very interesting to read about. The pace of the book picks up when Harriet meets the Holbeck family. But it’s only towards the end that it really gets fast-paced and action-packed. It’s all a bit messed up, those games this family like to play. There are only a few minor surprises, in the sense of finding about things about certain characters. But none of them mind-blowing or groundbreaking.
 
I really liked the concept of the story and loved that final part of the story. If it wasn’t for this, the book would have been just okay. It’s a solid, enjoyable thriller.  
 
Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Review - The Pope's Exorcist

Director: Julius Avery
Genre: Horror/ Thriller
Runtime: 103 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Russell Crowe, Daniel Zovatto, Alexandra Essoe, Franco Nero, Peter DeSouza-Feighoney, Laurel Marsden
 
Description: Follow Gabriele Amorth (Russell Crowe), the Vatican’s leading exorcist, as he investigates the possession of a child and uncover a conspiracy the Vatican has tried to keep secret.

Review: Gabriele Amorth died in 2016 and left behind several books in which he wrote at length about his encounters with possessed people. The priest claims to have exorcised 30,000 demons, but most of the cases involved victims with mental problems. In two percent of the cases, he actually saw an inhabitant of hell control a human being. “The Pope’s Exorcist” is about such an encounter, but soon throws truth into the trash.  

Russell Crowe once starred in Oscar-winning films, and “The Pope’s Exorcist” certainly doesn’t belong in that list. Despite this not being one of his better movies, Crowe does his best to give Garbiele Amorth a warm look, with a raw edge. For example, he drinks alcohol before every exorcism and makes lame jokes, because demons hate them. Director Julius Avery probably also saw the fun in having the Crowe’s Amorth ride around on a Vespa. That was my highlight of the film anyway.

“The Pope’s Exorcist” has little subtlety and transforms in the second half not an outright bad horror movie. The Spanish home of the American family is an overtly haunted house, and the demon who takes over the boy has clearly seen “The Exorcist”. All the clichés pass by and even his confrontations with Amorth feel stale. At the same time, there is a lot surrounding a dark secret of the Vatican, which is definitely the low point of this film, because it feels unnecessary.

Enjoyable, yet pretty bad.

Rating: 2/ 5

Movie Review - The Boogeyman

Director: Rob Savage
Genre: Horror/ Thriller/ Mystery
Runtime: 98 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Sophie Thatcher, Chris Messina, Vivian Lyla Blair, David Dastmalchian
 
Description: Still reeling from the tragic death of their mother, a teenage girl (Sophie Thatcher) and her younger sister (Vivian Lyla Blair) find themselves plagued by a sadistic presence in their house and struggle to get their grieving father to pay attention before it’s too late.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2023 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 44: A HORROR MOVIE
 
Review: Horror movies come in all shapes and sizes, but the ones that really like to scare you often follow the same pattern: in the first half a series of terrifying scenes and in the second half figuring out the mystery and defeating the evil. Usually there is some breathing room to recover from the tension. “The Boogeyman” refuses to follow this pattern and keeps the horror in until the very end. the pauses in between are very short and that works.

Sadie’s mother has recently died, and despite the fact that she and her younger sister Sawyer are very eager to talk about it, their father, himself a noted psychologist, sends them to an outside therapist. He himself gets a man at the door who tells them that his children have been murdered by a monster in the closet. Shortly thereafter, strange occurrences begin to take place in Sadie’s house as well, especially around Sawyer.
That brief conversation between Sadie’s father and the help-seeking intruder is all that matters in Stephen King’s short story. The makers of this film use it as the basis for a plot and build on it. King’s 1973 story has been made into a short twice before, and a stage play. For this new adaptation, with a runtime of over and hour and a half, a lot has been successfully made up.

First, it’s about more than just a monster under the bed. The boogeyman symbolizes the dark, consuming power of grief. The harper family is immersed in grief that the sole remaining parent does nothing about, because he is not yet ready to fully face the truth. That festering infection is displayed in the form of a creature that can even mimic the voice of the deceased mother. Until the very end, this theme is present.

Secondly, it’s just creepy. All the cheap tricks are skillfully used to sink viewers deeper into the chair. They are not given rest to recover from that. This causes the unpleasant experience that a horror film is supposed to produce.

Besides unnerving shots of dark corners and corridors, the monster’s voice is highly disturbing. It is a kind of demonic impression that varies between flawless imitation of someone who knows the characters and animal sounds from the deepest caverns of hell. The idea of hearing such a sound in the darkness of the bedroom is pure horror. And it’s what you can’t see that scares the most.

Where the story has that extra layer, the characters are a bit flatter. The younger sister is just a little girl who likes to sleep with the light on. Fatherly love is a little more complex, but isn’t focused on that much. Sadie is the teenager who has no desire to be seen at school as “that girl whose mother died”. And some of her friends act so antisocial towards her and her situation that it feels implausible. But Sadie is the only character that gets a but more depth.  

“The Boogeyman” is definitely a contender of the most scary film of the year, because scary and effective it certainly is.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Review - Pain Hustlers

Director: David Yates
Genre: Crime/ Drama
Runtime: 122 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Emily Blunt, Chris Evans, Andy Garcia, Catherine O’Hara, Brian D’Arcy James
 
Description: Liza (Emily Blunt) dreams of a better life for herself and her daughter. Hired to work for a bankrupt pharmaceutical company, Liza skyrockets with sales and into the high life, putting her in the middle of a federal criminal conspiracy.

Review: In “Pain Hustlers”, we see the opioid crisis unfold through the eyes of stripper and sinle mother Liza Drake. Through a combination of perseverance and luck, she manages to bring a new cancer drug to market. Although the film is based on the (fiction) book of the same name, that was based on a New York Magazine article.

Director David Yates seems to be inspired by “The Big Short” (unpopular opinion, but a movie I really hated), a film about the financial crisis in which seriousness and satire are perfectly intertwined. This movie was very successful, but Yates fails to establish a similar or at all consistent tone. It’s fast paced, flashy and promising, but never fully delivers.

Most interesting is the dichotomy in Liza. After a tough existence as a single mother, she blossoms when she begins to understand the sleezy lobbying game of the pharmaceutical industry. Liza herself does virtually nothing illegal. Her mail companions (played by Chris Evans and Andy Garcia) are the cartoonish villains of profiteering capitalism. For some extra dollars, they easily look away from an overdose. Typically, though, the film pays regular attention to victims but avoids any kind of systemic criticism.

The film is an easy watch as a sensational drama, but its concluding message (greed is a mortal sin) turns out to be a bland one. It’s unfortunate that “Pain Hustlers’ did not make that underlying aspect a main issue. If you’re interested in this theme, a mini-series called “Dopesick” is definitely better at it.

Rating: 2,5/ 5