Dark Tide

Tags

2010's, Action, Dark Tide, Halle Berry, John Stockwell, Luke Tyler, Mark Elderkin, Olivier Martinez, Ralph Brown, Thoko Ntshinga, Thriller

What attempts to be a tense action thriller ends up not the sum of its parts in Dark Tide. While it does feature some great underwater photography, good cast and a few thrills, it unfortunately isn’t all that  memorable and falls very flat.

Kate Mathieson(Halle Berry) is a marine biologist and shark whisperer. She’s one of only a handful of people to have swam with sharks outside of a cage and been relatively safe while doing so . Kate is married  to documentary film maker Jeff(Olivier Martinez) and they are beginning to film something about sharks in South Africa. Aided by wise cracking engineer Tommy(Mark Elderkin)and marine lover Themba(Thoko Ntshinga), all seems to be going well . But things take a truly grisly turn when on one such dive, her friend Themba is brutally killed by a shark . Devastated and completely shell shocked by this traumatic event, Late shuts off and it breaks apart her relationship with Jeff . A year later, the bank is going to take Kate’s boat away as she isn’t making enough money and is struggling to make ends meet. Jeff comes back into her life again with an offer that could help her out. Arrogant millionaire Brady(Ralph Brown)wants to take him and his son Luke(Luke Tyler) to swim with sharks, specifically outside of the tank. Kate is reluctant to do this as she knows the potential dangers of doing such a thing . She agrees to this on the condition that she decides what is safe to do and if anyone will get out of the safety cages to interact with the sharks . After agreements are made and the fee of one million is paid, Kate and the visitors head to the boat for this journey. Things start reasonably well, but cocky, Hooray Henry Brady soon puts events in jeopardy as he flaunts his wealth and bullies all. Mounting tensions and many hungry sharks have mayhem in mind for Kate and company and chaos soon ensues when a storm hits the boat. 

John Stockwell has an affinity for water in his movies it seems and ehile his other aqua based movies aren’t exactly stellar, they look like works of art next to Dark Tide. He just can’t make the film flow or have any cohesion The big problems with Dark Tide are the length and it’s inability to fully decide what it wants to be. It wants to have its cake and eat it by being an action thriller/ drama, yet it never settles onto any real form of trajectory . I’m usually a big lover of films that are somewhat of a slow burn, but Dark Tide is a slog and a half; not understanding that you have to put some oomph into a film to make it enjoyable. The scenery and the underwater photography provide a little respite and has a lot of beauty to it it has to be said, which is a big shame as the rest of the movie around it flounders like an ill at ease fish. It’s probably one of the good things to come out of this shipwreck of a movie and helps generate at least a few jolts of action. The music score is not exactly stellar and I believe could have been better and more effective. The last half an hour is when the pace picks up during the storm, but it is just too little to late to justify what has come before it and the boredom that has been inflicted upon the viewer.  But like so many things in Dark Tide, it falls very short in terms of greatness. 

A competent cast does good enough work with the thin material they have been given. Halle Berry in the lead is just fine as the wounded shark expert having to face her fears and trauma once more with a blend of attitude and vulnerability. Berry is thankfully one of the good parts of this dud of a movie and truly makes it at least passable whenever she’s on screen. She also has great chemistry with Olivier Martinez, who would later become her partner in real life. Martinez is given a lot to work with but is nonetheless smooth and charming. Ralph Brown plays the rich man with a big mouth and deep pockets very well, almost too well for a movie like this that seems rather beneath his talent. Mark Elderkin has some fun as the engineer who seems to always have a witty line, but Luke Tyler is left stranded as the sulky son of Brady. Thoko Ntshinga plays the catalyst of the story but he is poorly served here and though effective in his short screen time, is not really memorable which is a bit like Dark Tide itself.

A truly messy film that should be exciting but is sorely lacking, Dark Tide is a film best left forgotten as it doesn’t really often anything of interest, despite some good acting. None of that can save this true train wreck. 

Jackie

Tags

2010's, Billy Crudup, Biographical Drama, Drama, Greta Gerwig, Jackie, John Hurt, Natalie Portman, Pablo Larraín, Peter Sarsgaard

A rather revealing and surprising drama centred on Jackie Kennedy in the days following her husband’s startling assassination, Jackie boasts a strange intimacy courtesy of splendidly immersive direction from and an impeccable performance from Natalie Portman.

A week after President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, his wife and First Lady Jackie(Natalie Portman) reflects on the days from before and after her husband’s murder to an Unnamed Journalist(Billy Crudup) . She goes through a varying range of emotions following such a trauma; like the fact that her whole life is now changed, how to cope and how she is to be perceived by the shocked general public . The main thing that weighs on her mind is that her husband won’t be remembered and will be forgotten in history. She makes it her mission to ensure his legacy and uphold a sense of tradition, while dealing with the huge emotional fallout of losing her husband. Jackie finds some comfort in the presence of a Priest(John Hurt) and secretary Nancy Tuckerman(Greta Gerwig), plus some conflict with her almost broken up brother in law Robert(Peter Sarsgaard). Plus there is also the government who have their own views on how best to do Kennedy’s funeral, which don’t run in line with Jackie’s. Along the way, she reveals herself to be a lot more than just the glamorous wife of the President and a woman who could be a truly powerful force. The Reporter who interviews gets a lot more than he bargained for as Jackie is a lot more complex than he ever thought she could be.

Pablo Larraín jumps straight into the sorrow of grief and the impact of it; clearly not afraid to go to the dark places of such an event. He pulls no punches with how deep he plunges us into one woman’s mind and his direction is striking in its close proximity. A swirling camera that penetrates with slow, uncompromising close ups of The First Lady and places us firmly in the kaleidoscope of grief and chaos that hits with full force. I also appreciate the cinematography that goes from dark to highly lit and has moments of old news grain to make it authentic. Things like this always impress a review such as myself and I think it adds to the experience of Jackie as a whole. I think what Jackie really accomplishes the most is shedding light on a particularly famous figure and making us see them in A mournful and deeply moving score from Mica Levi fits the film exquisitely; capturing the upheaval of grief and the vacillating personality of its titular subject with a sense of grandeur and palpable intimacy.

Front and centre of Jackie is a truly astonishing and totally believable performance from the always committed Natalie Portman . She plays Jackie as a lady who knows that every eye is on her and has grown to know when to put on a smile and when to behave. Portman delves into all facets of this icon; from the grace and decorum to the anger and steel that are rarely glimpsed by the general public. A lot of it is in the eyes that showcase such deep feeling in this time of confusion and the on point voice that is truly a marvel to hear with its hushed refinement and low sense of authority that slowly comes through . It’s a truly complete performance that sheds new light on an iconic figure. All of the impact is all down to the fine work of Natalie Portman, who delivers one of her finest roles. Peter Sarsgaard is effective as the devastated Robert Kennedy whose mood changes in mercurial fashion and look out for Greta Gerwig as a secretary who provides support to the grieving titular lady. John Hurt, in one of his last performances before his passing, brings out a stately yet approachable quality as a priest . With his authoritative voice, he is a confidante to Jackie and though he can’t provide any absolute answers on the quickness of life and harshness of death , he provides an authentic and warmly sage rumination to the grieving widow at the centre of the film. Hurt was always an impeccable performer and his turn here may be small, but it packs an impact. Billy Crudup provides the eyes and ears of the piece as the journalist getting a lot more than he expected from his interview. The supporting cast is well assembled with talent but Jackie is truly Natalie Portman’s show and she more than rises to the occasion.

A striking and impactful drama that studies grief, tradition and one of the most famous women to grace the planet, Jackie is extremely fascinating filmmaking from Pablo Larraín with a stunning central turn from Natalie Portman.

Killing Eve Season 1

Tags

2010's, Darren Boyd, David Haig, Fiona Shaw, Jodie Comer, Killing Eve, Killing Eve Season 1, Kim Bodnia, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Owen McDonnell, Sandra Oh, Sean Delaney

Wickedly engaging and thrilling executed, Killing Eve twists what you think of a spy thriller and it emerges as a morbidly funny, intense and addictive show that constantly surprises.

Eve Polastri( Sandra Oh) is a security officer in MI5 who has a good marriage to the lovable Niko(Owen McDonnell) , but she’s grown restless at mainly having a desk job. Although she has a great confidante in the experienced co worker Bill(David Haig)  and free speaking colleague Elena(Kirby Howell-Baptiste) , Eve wants something more. Her mind is constantly working and she has a knack for knowing a lot about female killers. This comes in handy when she is called into a briefing about a high profile Russian politician who was murdered and the sole witness is his current lady friend . Head of the MI6 Russia Desk Carolyn Martens( Fiona Shaw) is interested in this as the witness fled to British soil. Eve speaks the idea that the killer was a woman but no one pays much attention to this. Stifled by her job that provides no satisfaction and belittled by slimy superior Frank Haleton(Darren Boyd) , Eve can’t help but get involved in the case even though she’s been warned to leave it alone. After her investigation ends in brutal tragedy for many, she along with loyal best friend Bill are fired from MI5. Not long after this, she is secretly recruited to an MI6 operation headed by the icy Carolyn  . Eve jumps at the chance of this as she has always wanted to be a spy, and though this hunt is a clandestine and off books one, she’s thrilled to liven up her life and brings along Bill and Elena . They are also aided by computer whizz kid Kenny(Sean Delaney ) and operate from a disused building that’s basic but essential to their search. Her suspicions about the killer being a woman turn out to be very true indeed. The killer in question is Villanelle(Jodie Comer) , a skilled Russian assassin with a high level of psychopathy and a taste for the expensive things in life. She’s a prolific killer working for a mysterious organisation known only as ‘The Twelve’ and handled by the crusty but almost fatherly Konstantin(Kim Bodnia)  . Seemingly remorseless and savage , she’s been operating for years but lately has started to get more outrageous with her methods of killing. This draws attention to her but when Villanelle gets wind that Eve is investigating her , she becomes entranced and somewhat besotted with the idea of being tracked . For the two women have briefly met without realising the identity of the other , igniting a strange spark that sizzles. Everything starts to mysteriously link as the body count rises and it would appear that a certain conspiracy is going on . What neither woman has counted on is the growing obsession that builds between them in a game of cat and mouse that is lethal, dark and very unexpected.

Killing Eve is a thriller with a difference; shot through with an absurdist and jet black humour that’s engagingly off kilter and flying in the faces of grim and serious spy yarns. That isn’t too say that Killing Eve doesn’t have high and deadly stakes at its centre, it definitely has those in moments that truly shock( like the guy punch of Bill’s murder that caught me off guard )and pull you back to the dangers of being in the spy world. But it has these moments of quirky humour to it that makes it stand out amidst all the outrageous brutality often on show, courtesy of the prolific, big statement kills enacted by Villanelle . Watch out for inventive use of a hair pin and a shocking emasculation for shocks. I will say that Killing Eve is one of those television shows that will be either love or hate with viewers. My advice is to go with the bizarre yet scintillating narrative at play and see what you make of it. The balance of strange but darkly impressive humour with genuine shock and thrills is handled beautifully and in its own unique way here.

The big centre is the cat and mouse game of it all, though in many cases the roles switch to being both cats and both mice as Eve and Villanelle become inextricably linked . The scripts from a talented group of writers , mainly headed by the series show runner Phoebe Waller-Bridge, are crackerjack and have you wanting to see the next episode every time it hits the credits .  Special mention has to go to the episode ‘I Have a Thing About Bathrooms’ . It features a simply stellar scene as the two women size each other up after Villanelle breaks into Eve’s apartment and they go through varying emotions. From a curiosity, underlying tension and even it would seem a semblance of understanding, it’s a fine face to face for and once more lights the fuse of an already intensely unusual relationship that is escalating with unpredictable results right up to the finale. The visual style and editing of Killing Eve is cleverly used to emphasise the escalating tension and attraction between the principal women; framing them in shots that mirror each other and also giving us some beautiful locations where murder and mayhem ensue . A pretty eclectic soundtrack of country hopping songs  add a moody ambience to the proceedings with a certain 80’s feeling to it that still suits the contemporary setting.

Sandra Oh is simply marvellous as the eponymous Eve, who undergoes an unusual awakening as the episodes continue and her obsession builds. Eve is impulsive, emotional and bored yet this is what makes her relatable and down to Earth. Blessed with an animated and expressive face, the talented Oh is marvellous at getting us invested in Eve’s growing desire and evolving from minute to minute with nuance that’s astonishing.  And complimenting Oh and truly burning across the screen with a multi-layered performance is the wonderful Jodie Comer. Essaying a variety of personas, accents and walking the tightrope between vicious, outrageous killer and strangely lovable young woman, Comer is nothing short of a revelation as the assassin who does things her way regardless of consequences. Funny, often frighteningly intense and slowly revealing what’s concealed within a truly twisted mind, Jodie Comer is simply a marvel and deserving of every award going. It’s the crackling chemistry between the two ladies at the heart of Killing Eve that make it so fascinating . One can understand why each woman is obsessed with the other and that is down to the work from Oh and Comer which crafts an ambiguous and curious relationship between the most unlikely of characters. And it’s interesting considering they don’t actually spend a lot of time so far on screen together( apart from a brief but powerful encounter early on that starts the powder keg ) until later on in the episode run where they finally face off a few times. But the palpable feelings and vacillating motives between Eve and Villanelle have been built up so strongly that you know when they do finally confront the other, it’s going to be something special. 

The ever reliable Fiona Shaw knows how to throw in the odd curveball to surprise us while retaining a chilly outer persona that screams ruthless from every pour. She’s cold yet complex and you don’t know what you’ll get with her. That’s why I find her character of Carolyn so fascinating to watch and its all down to the subtle nuances that it works. Although he is essentially playing someone villainous, like Villanelle, there is a level to which you can’t help but love Kim Bodnia and his portrayal of handler Konstantin. Plus he’s dryly humorous when the occasion calls for it and Bodnia plays to that so well that you never know whether to laugh or be slightly fearful when he’s around . Sean Delaney has necessary smarts and a slightly awkward manner for the part of computer whizz kid Kenny, and there’s Owen McDonnell as Eve’s hangdog looking husband who grows deeply worried about her escalating obsession. Kirby Howell-Baptiste is witty enough though I don’t find her character the most compelling. And despite only being in a few episodes David Haig and Darren Boyd are both effectively memorable as very different men. Haig is avuncular and at times unexpectedly witty and Boyd is oily and smarmy arrogance personified.

Defiantly unexpected, darkly funny and above all compelling, Killing Eve is a stylish first season of thriller with two standout performances from Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer. I must say I’m very intrigued to see what follows in the next season.

Crawl

Tags

2010's, Alexandre Aja, Barry Pepper, Crawl, Horror, Kaya Scodelario

A simple premise of two people against a vicious pack of creatures, locked in a fight for survival, Crawl does what it says on the tin and is all the better for that. Well acted and suspenseful, it’s a decent little horror flick.

In Florida, Haley(Kaya Scodelario) is an aspiring young swimmer, who nevertheless feels like a letdown as she hasn’t had much success. A lot of this stems from her father Dave(Barry Pepper), who coached her and pushed her very hard as a child. Haley has never felt good enough and is not dealing with her parents divorce very well. While she is estranged from him, she still gets a call from her out of town sister who is worried. Dave hasn’t responded to any of her calls, even though Florida has been warned of an approaching Category 5 Hurricane. Haley decides to check in on her father, despite the warnings of others and the harrowing weather conditions. When she arrives at his place, she can’t find him at first. With the guidance of his dog Sugar, Haley discovers her father in the crawl space, where he lies injured from a vicious bite that has broken his leg. While attempting to move her incapacitated father, Haley is menaced by an alligator that forces her to find what she can of safety in the crawl space. When her father comes around, Haley must work with him in an attempt to escape. It becomes apparent that there is more than just one alligator with them, as they got through via the storm drain . Trapped in the house that is beginning to flood and being terrorised by the vicious predators that are patient but can spring out at any minute , it’ll take all of Haley and Dave’s strength to make it out of this. But with flooding becoming more rapid, hopes of help dashed when looters meet a violent end and the alligators gaining momentum, surviving this hellish ordeal is not going to be so easy for Haley and David.

Alexandre Aja is well known for his films in the horror genre and Crawl fits in nicely with his capabilities. It’s not going for revolutionary horror, but Aja constructs immense suspense throughout, with the dual threats of catastrophic weather and killer alligators proving both a terrifying prospect for the main characters . Setting the film in predominately one location, mainly the crawl space and flooded interior of a house, was a very deft move that lends something claustrophobic to Crawl. Sometimes a simple premise can be successful through entertaining execution. Crawl certainly does that with some added bite, from the direction of Aja and an unexpectedly effective script. It has moments that do make you scratch your head and suspend your sense of logic,  but is largely a tense exercise in thrilling horror that is purely there to give you a thrill. The bleak visual style conveys the terror of a hurricane and the damage, added to with a slimy green and moody blue in the crawl space moments that are mightily impressive. Point of view shots crank up the feeling of dread as Haley has to make her way through the crawl space in hope of escaping and saving her father. The effects for the alligators are rather good too, never becoming overly reliant on obvious CGI to create these brutal creatures that feast with ferocious glee, particularly on a group of unsuspecting looters nearby. The running time of just under an hour and a half benefits Crawl as it leaves no space for any excesses or superfluous ideas. It’s a lean, mean horror that boasts good suspense and scenes of bloody terror. Added in is the underlying drama of family that thankfully doesn’t overstay its welcome; rather it allows for something grounded to emerge between who are more alike than they’d care to admit. The fact that Crawl isn’t traversing anything newfangled doesn’t matter because it proves intense and is done with a level of style. A score laden with pervading doom and bubbling atmosphere lends itself well to Crawl; soaking events in a dark and menacing sphere of growing panic, while also putting forth music that has an unusual emotional depth to it for a horror flick.

In what is essentially a two hander , save for other fleeting characters who are mainly there to be food for the alligators, Kaya Scodelario and Barry Pepper give it their best as the fractured daughter and father. Kaya Scodelario is especially good at navigating a character who isn’t the easiest to warm to at first but who earns our sympathy as she refuses to give up in the horrific situation she finds herself stuck in. Scodelario exhibits a troubled and spiky demeanour that’s tempered by ingenuity and depth that you don’t expect. is required to be both emotional and immensely physical, which she roses to with great energy . Barry Pepper is also a reliable presence as an injured, cranky man who is nevertheless someone who when out to the test, can rise above it. Pepper plays the part greatly, showing a man desperate to survive and eventually reconcile with the daughter from whom he is estranged. The characters aren’t given the biggest arcs ever, but what we have proves good enough as we watch their relationship starting to heal amid the carnage before them.

Entertaining, thrilling and filled with tension, Crawl is a suspenseful horror movie that takes advantage of a limited setting and good cast to craft an exhilarating film with snap.

Kidnap

Tags

2010's, Chris McGinn, Halle Berry, Kidnap, Lew Temple, Luis Prieto, Sage Correa, Thriller

An intense but often ridiculous thriller about a mother attempting to get her son back after he is taken, Kidnap at least has Halle Berry doing her best with what she’s given and some good action

Karla Dyson(Halle Berry) is a hard-working single mother who makes ends meet by working as a waitress in a New Orleans diner. She deeply cares for her young son Frankie( Sage Correa) , but is currently going through a custody battle with her soon to be ex husband. One day after finishing a shift, she takes Frankie to the park. After taking a call from solicitors speaking about her estranged husband wanting custody, she can’t find Frankie anywhere. Scared out of her mind, she begins frantically searching for him. Then she sees a man and woman( Lew Temple and Chris McGinn)bundling her son into their car. She attempts to stop the car but falls and loses her phone. With adrenaline kicking in as well as panic, Karla jumps in her Minivan and tails the kidnappers across the highway. Without access to a phone, Karla attempts to get the attention of people passing by, but this doesn’t register much so she’s seemingly in a desperate chase on her own. After an altercation with the kidnappers who try to mislead her and them switching cars, Karla attempts to get some help from authorities that she finally passes. But when this takes too long and seems fruitless, she gets back in her minivan and vows to get her son back, no matter how long or how desperate her search could be. Because Karla’s not giving up on her mission and nothing is going to stand in her way as the determination and fire within her starts to rise.

Director Luis Prieto starts well enough with brief exposition before going headlong into the action, which is done rather effectively. It all just falls apart afterwards as it tries to be and surely knows that it can’t be that, stranding Kidnap as not exactly stellar work from Luis Prieto. There are some intense sequences to be found in Kidnap amid the often boneheaded events happening(such as Karla causing just as much destruction as she can in her chase to find her son and the fact that we have no real mystery of who the kidnappers are). The short running time at least makes things move along quickly and a little tension can be gleaned in fast moving sequences of pursuit that have something to praise. It’s the execution that renders quite a lot of Kidnap to be incomprehensible and laughable. The camerawork and visuals try to be arty but it comes off as headache inducing and jarring. I’m all for quick cuts and some polish, but not when it happens all the time and at the expense of my eyes. Kidnap is definitely a B-movie/exploitation movie on the road with the attempted gloss of a higher effort. It could have been a trashy little schlock fest of the guilty pleasure kind, but it can’t even sustain or manage that as it aims for status of an unreachable kind. The music score is all over the place which seems in keeping with the diminishing results of the movie.

The main thing that Kidnap has going for it is Halle Berry. She turns in a committed turn with force and verve . The character she plays makes some bad decisions, but Berry makes the part still have its moments of greatness as she plays both the terror and the sheer will to continue of the part. Berry previously starred in another film about a kidnapping , The Call, which while nothing brand spanking new, was miles better than this. Still Halle Berry throws herself into the part and at least remains watchable as a crusading mother discovering her inner fury and maternal strength. It’s not her finest work, but her star quality and acting chops sure elevate a pretty lacklustre movie. It’s just sad to see someone of her talent in such a bad movie but at least she represent some of the glue that holds it precariously together. Lew Temple and Chris McGinn don’t fare especially well as the kidnappers, primarily because they don’t have anything to work with. There’s no sense of depth, or suspense with either because the characterisation is so lazy. Sage Correa plays the kidnapped son and is mainly required to be scared, which he does as effectively as he can. 

Preposterous and as it may be as a thriller, Kidnap has Halle Berry at the centre that counts for something and makes Kidnap watchable.

The Call

Tags

2010's, Abigail Breslin, Brad Anderson, Halle Berry, Michael Eklund, Michael Imperioli, Morris Chestnut, The Call, Thriller

The Call may not be original and while predictable, it’s a tense, high concept thriller from the get go. For a nail-biting time that incorporates action and a game cast, The Call is just the ticket.

Jordan Turner( Halle Berry) is a seasoned 9-1-1 operator working for the Los Angeles Police Department. She’s very good at her job, until she is left shaken by one particular night. A terrified young girl by the name of Leah calls telling Jordan that there is someone breaking into her house. Jordan advises the girl to hide from the intruder but keep the phone on so she can help. Unfortunately, interference causes the call to end. Scared of what might have happened, Jordan calls back the number. By calling back, the madman is alerted to Leah’s whereabouts. He snatches the girl and her body is found a day later. Jordan is left suffering nightmares of immense guilt as she tries to cope with feelings of culpability and a sense of responsibility that won’t let her rest.  Months later and Jordan no longer works an an operator following the botched operation, instead she trains those going into the job. She is still traumatised by what happened but is going to be brought back into the fold once more. Teenager Casey Welson( Abigail Breslin) is kidnapped while in the parking lot of a mall. She manages to contact emergency services which puts her onto Jordan. The problem is that Casey is using a disposable phone that belongs to a friend who left it when they were out shopping. With it being very difficult to decipher the whereabouts of Casey, Jordan has to keep her on the line and hopefully alive long enough for help to get to her. The man who snatched Casey has dark motives for doing so and as we see throughout, is not above committing more murder to cover up his plans. We discover his name is Michael Foster(Michael Eklund) and that he’s been kidnapping blonde girls in particular to murder over the past few months. With this knowledge, Jordan summons all of her wits to help Casey as best she can. The question is can Jordan save from an almost certain death against the odds and finally have some closure?

Brad Anderson, who I know from directing the much underrated and sinister Session 9, is on fine fettle with his efficient touches to this fast moving thriller. It ratchets up the suspense early on and doesn’t really let up, thanks to Anderson’s exciting and crisp direction which mainly takes place in claustrophobic spaces. Most effective are the scenes of Jordan guiding Casey through attempts of escaping the car she’s been locked in the boot of. The final half is somewhat flawed and isn’t quite in keeping with the rest of the film, but The Call by that point has generated a lot in the way of suspense and action that it’s foibles can be forgiven. proves to be quite a nail-biting film. While it’s hardly reaching for anything deep, The Call does what it says on the tin and thrills. Fast cuts, intense close us and occasional freeze frames heighten a adrenaline induced atmosphere. This is most effective in the opening of tracking shots and overlapping voices displaying the tough work done by operators on a daily basis and later as Jordan keeps a trapped Casey talking  in what escalates into a nerve wracking game of potential discovery and terror. It’s a predictable film but one that still has you on edge with unease and tension. A pulsing score is a good little element that accretes this movie as atmosphere increases as the search goes on.

The reasonably small cast is something that lifts The Call higher than it would be otherwise. Halle Berry heads things with a good mix of grit and vulnerability that makes her sympathetic to the audience. We feel for her and it’s a good showcase for Berry, who has been in some bad movies and who I’d love to see get more roles to show off her skills. Thankfully, The Call provides her with a good role and she more than rises to the occasion with a strong performance that adds a certain weight to proceedings. Abigail Breslin does very well too, even if her main function is too panic and look terrified as the kidnapping victim. What makes her stand out is her rapport with Berry, even though they aren’t actually together for a lot of the film. Her resilience begins to build and Breslin really shows that. Both ladies compliment the other and it proves mutually beneficial in the long run. As the main antagonist, Michael Eklund really stands out by making the part so eerily creepy and repellant. He has this intense state going and the kind of look that sets your nerves on edge, crafting a palpable sense of menace that goes a long way. In short, Eklund was perfect casting for the role of serial killer with a deeply twisted modus operandi. Morris Chestnut appears as Jordan’s boyfriend and cop, though he’s not really given much material to work with. Standing out in a supporting turn as a rather unlucky passer by who attempts to help Casey and soon gets into an ill-fated situation, Michael Imperioli makes his mark here.  

So it has its flaws and is not going to be seen as some masterwork of the thriller genre, The Call has its great moments that make it a sinister and effective movie. Add in skilled direction and Halle Berry once more showing off her talent and The Call is definitely entertaining viewing for an audience looking for a tense time. 

Crimson Peak

Tags

2010's, Charlie Hunnam, Crimson Peak, Guillermo del Toro, Horror, Jessica Chastain, Jim Beaver, Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston

Guillermo del Toro indulges his love of old Gothic chillers and ghost stories with the visually sumptuous Crimson Peak. It’s not one of his finest movies, but is still one that has a level of pizzaz and a well appointed cast.

In the late 19th Century in New York, young Edith Cushing(Mia Wasikowska) lives with her businessman father Carter(Jim Beaver). She has been tormented by ghosts since childhood, the first being a spectral visit from her deceased mother warning her “Beware of Crimson Peak” . Edith is a forward thinking woman when we rejoin her as a grown up and about to experience great changes in her life. The primary one is her meeting with Thomas Sharpe(Tom Hiddleston); an English baronet visiting America with his piano playing, all seeing sister Lucille(Jessica Chastain). Though Edith is a woman who chides at society’s placing of woman as just objects to be married off, she can’t help but be intrigued by the dark, handsome yet immensely charming Thomas, who we learn has a title but who has not much in the way of money. Her father disapproves of this match and has a detective do some digging. He learns something sinister, but the audience doesn’t know what. Brutality intervenes when Carter is gruesomely murdered, leaving Edith the heiress to his fortune. At this point, she decides to impulsively enter a whirlwind romance with Thomas . This results in marriage, which crushes the hopes of local doctor and family friend Alan McMichael(Charlie Hunnam). He has been in love with Edith as long as he can remember and was close with her father, so he’s naturally left feeling despondent by Edith’s rejection. Thomas brings Edith over to his large house in the English countryside. Although a grand house, it is dilapidated with a hole in the main roof that. The fact that the house is built atop a clay mine, which causes the substance to appear red against the wintery surroundings and often it leaks through the walls. The foreboding and decaying house also houses Lucille, who is regularly icy towards Edith and warns her not to wander around the house as there are areas deemed ‘unsafe’. With the house being so mysterious and a certain uneasy tension in the air with regards to the relationship between Thomas and Lucille, it’s not long before Edith begins seeing ghosts throughout the house. She’s understandably terrified, yet determined to figure out why they are haunting her new residence. Upon learning that the house is often referred to as Crimson Peak , she begins her journey even as she seems to be suffering in terms of physical health and emotional instability not helped by Lucille’s cryptic nature and how enigmatic Thomas is. Soon the history and secrets of the eerie house begins to surface gruesomely and things get more unbalanced for everyone involved, especially the increasingly tormented Edith. But what will the old house known as Crimson Peak reveal?

Guillermo del Toro is in the directors and writers seat and his style is evident from the get go. Even though it’s not one of his finest films and doesn’t quite have the power we usually expect from his output, del Toro still has a cinematic touch that can’t be denied. Crimson Peak isn’t exactly an out and out horror movie( as del Toro has stated numerous times in interviews), though it involves ghosts and much in the way of grisly and thrilling events. It owes quite a lot to Gothic romance and atmosphere of old school chillers of which del Toro is evidently a fan. And that isn’t to say, it just isn’t creepy in parts( it delivers on crafting something eerily lurid and unsettling). From the opening of Edith being tormented, there’s something unusual and on edge about it. Crimson Peak just isn’t your standard horror film in the conventional sense of the word even though it seems it is. It is in the horror genre and that is evident from its influences, yet its more of a ghost story with horror elements and dashes of twisted romance vibe going for it that’s very del Toro. There’s a level of almost fairy tale darkness and dramatic feeling to parts of it, mixed with Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre esque ambience with the house becoming a looming and haunting presence throughout. This is something del Toro is known for, as well as splicing both beauty and brutality side by side. Both shock and ravishing visuals are present in Crimson Peak, with production design and simply bewitching cinematography that takes us into this creepy world of darkness and ghostly happenings. The special effects are used amazingly to craft the ghosts; often red and with what’s left of tissue flowing away like leaves in the wind. There’s a disquieting nature to the spectres and they sure are very spooky to behold. Plus when you’ve got the mind of del Toro working, you know you’re in for something unusual and lavishly baroque. If Crimson Peak was judged purely on its visual content, it’d be heralded as a Fantasia and cinema at its best. Sadly, there is more to a film than just what we see. It’s just a shame that sometimes the elements don’t mingle together as well as they could and some parts are left very vague. I think the sometimes predictable parts and how it can get long winded are what stops Crimson Peak being in the illustrious company of del Toro’s impactful masterworks. It just falls short of reaching those heights, but the score is one of cool atmosphere and melancholy refrains that suits the tone of the movie. 

The cast adds strength to the uneven film, with the three principal stars all excellent. In the lead, Mia Wasikowska , with her arresting face and air of strength blended with vulnerability, is ideal casting as the young lady finding herself haunted by her surroundings. Yet Wasikowska wisely makes Edith not a shrill victim, in fact although she’s put through the emotional wringer, the character is determined and has agency despite the confusion surrounding her. Tom Hiddleston is all moody yet troubled soulfulness and Byronic charm as the husband who is clearly involved in something, we just aren’t sure how on board he is with it which adds to the ambiguity. 
However it’s Jessica Chastain that provides the true acting standout in Crimson Peak. Alternating between icy, knowing and ultimately unbalanced, Chastain navigates this terrain with verve and really gets into the part. It’s through Jessica Chastain that Crimson Peak kicks into high gear in the layer stages as she’s so amazing to watch as her character goes off the deep end and then some. It’s obvious that she’s enjoying playing such a layered and unbalanced character and she truly delivers. As the noble and honest doctor pining after Edith, there is Charlie Hunnam. He probably has the least developed part but he does what he can with such scant material in the way of growth. An entertaining appearance comes courtesy of Jim Beaver, exuding wisdom and fatherly concern. 

A ravishingly beautiful Gothic horror film influenced by the genre of old school horror, Crimson Peak has that going for it as it does have del Toro at the helm and a fine cast. I just felt that it did get a tad predictable and long winded for me and that stopped it from being in league of del Toro’s other films. Saying that, there is much to enjoy here I’ll give it that.

Krampus

Tags

2010's, Adam Scott, Allison Tolman, Comedy, Conchata Ferrell, David Koechner, Emjay Anthony, Horror, Krampus, Krista Stadler, Michael Dougherty, Stefania LaVie Owen, Toni Collette

A seasonal horror comedy , Krampus provides a respite from the overly cheesy and schmaltzy stuff that gets dished out this time of year. Not perfect by any means, but very fun and creepy enough, with a good message at the core, Krampus is a dark Christmas delight. 

It’s just before Christmas for one family and it’s going to be one to remember. Young Max(Emjay Anthony)still believes in the magic of Christmas and Santa Claus, though he’s struggling with the knowledge that he’s going to have to endure the dysfunction of his extended family over the holidays . His parents, Tom(Adam Scott) and Sarah(Toni Collette) are good people who work hard and do their best and even they are sort of dreading this family get together at Christmas as they believe they know the outcome. Arriving at their house for the holidays are gun-toting arrogant spitting Uncle Howard(David Koechner) , his put upon wife Linda(Allison Tolman), their four kids, and drunken, foul mouthed Great Aunt Dorothy(Conchata Ferrell) . Also in this family are Max’s sullen sister Beth(Stefania LaVie Owen)and the knowing Eastern European mother of Tom, referred to as Omi(Krista Stadler). Tensions rise over dinner when the bratty, nasty children of Howard and Linda read aloud Max’s letter to Santa Claus. Feeling embarrassed and that everyone has lost their spirit, Max renounces his joy at the holiday and storms off to his room. He tears up his letter and throws it into the wind. Quickly, a blizzard arrives and knocks the power out at the house and the entire neighbourhood. The squabbling family panic with what to do. Beth goes out to see if she can find her boyfriend who lives nearby, but she doesn’t return. This puts everyone into desperation as horror begins. are attacked while searching for people by a strange creature from underground, a mysterious sack of presents comes to life and there’s something sinister lurking in the attic. And to top it all off, a demonic being with hooves and horns seems to be controlling this. He is Krampus, a sort of anti-Santa who punished those who don’t believe in the spirit of Christmas. When , he inadvertently summoned the demon which is now enacting its brand of retribution to what he sees as ungrateful people. Now it’s a battle for survival as Krampus and his minions lay siege to the house and death begins to envelope the dysfunctional family inside. It may not be a Holly Jolly Christmas for all if they can’t make it through.

Michael Dougherty keeps the atmosphere building well and the humour present( watch for a hilarious opening sequence of frenzied shopping and scrapping between customers portrayed in slow motion to the sound of ‘It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas’) as we enter the story with a message of togetherness after much horror and how it’s navigated. Krampus isn’t necessarily insanely terrifying and bone chilling as it could be, but it’s undeniably tense and boasts a sprightly, creepy nastiness to it once chaos begins to rain down. The humour parts work, the characters are mainly archetypes but I think that is the main point of them as it adds a level of familiarity to the proceedings. The family in question actually learn quite a bit once they come under attack and Dougherty has a good understanding of this and the way that often in times of hardship or shock, pulling together is the only thing to do in order to make it out of the situation. Events are played lost entirely straight, which allows both the creep factor and underlying biting humour to nestle next to one another. Plus, I enjoyed the mythology  surrounding Krampus( who can be discovered by looking up Ancient European folklore) where it stems from. From my research, it’s something very intriguing and the film fills us in too via Omi who recaps her own experience and it’s displayed quite strikingly in stop motion. This sequence took me by surprise and really made an impact on me, while also clueing the audience up on the scary creature that’s on screen. 

And speaking of visual effects, the ones used in Krampus are a fine mix of practical and CGI, though the majority are practical and boast a certain old school appeal while being immensely creepy. There’s an army of viciously vindictive gingerbread men who take it upon themselves to terrorise eveyone, a spine tingling Jack in the box that boasts a multitude of fangs. Then of course there is the titular demon who we are wisely shown little of until near the end. A little sighting here and a bit of a reveal there is enough to keep us on the edge of our seats and entertained in this Christmas horror comedy. And for a film with bad 5ings happening, it’s refreshing to see that Krampus doesn’t really on blood and gore for chills. There’s hardly any blood to speak of, but that doesn’t mean that horrible things don’t happen in an atmosphere that grows more tense as it continues. The film does feel a bit stretched in its run time and parts of it sag for no apparent reason, this is especially present in the middle half which meanders. But the opening build up showing us just how dysfunctional this family is and the latter stages that show them truly understanding that their bickering actions have caused this horror, is very well executed and should be praised on that score alone while making up for the parts that don’t work. The ending is a divisive point which I won’t spoil. All I’ll say is that I’m on the fence regarding it and how it capped off Krampus. I’ve not made my mind up on whether I think it’s a satisfying and open ending or a cop out. Time will eventually tell no doubt I’m sure about that, but I feel like it’s growing on me as I write this review. A score of devilry and mischief compliments the film very well by being so strangely cheerful at the start then switching it up as horror engulfs.

A game cast is a big plus in Krampus. Adam Scott and Toni Collette are excellent as the stressed out parents who have to do battle with horror as they attempt to reconnect once more. It’s nice how they actually come across like genuine people too, instead of just overly cliched. Most of the characters in Krampus are by and large familiar but that doesn’t detract from what the cast does with them which is rather entertaining.Young Emjay Anthony stands out as the kid whose faith in the holiday is tested and whose actions accidentally lead to the arrival of Krampus. Anthony is a likeable kid and this transfers to us as we can sympathise with his feelings of alienation from family and how he just wants a nice Christmas. David Koechner gets a lot of the laughs as the boorish uncle who puts the red in redneck; though he comes in  useful as the gravity of the situation hits home. He undergoes a convincing transformation as does Allison Tolman as his much neglected wife, evolving from doormat to fierce. Conchata Ferrell gets some of the best moments of the movie and the best lines. Playing the slovenly, trashy and acidic Aunt with a major attitude problem, Ferrell is evidently having a total blast. She’s both despicably funny and capable as the story intensifies, showing a strength that is unexpected but welcome. A quiet yet haunting presence is found in the hands of Krista Stadler. Essaying the part of the wise old Aunt who knows more than she’s initially letting on, her sagacity and eventual revelation about the creature allow her to really strut her acting stuff beautifully and have probably the most emotional arc of Krampus. Stefania LaVie Owen is saddled with an uninteresting role as eye rolling sister who goes into the blizzard and never comes back. 

So while it’s got issues of its own that stop it from being truly excellent and a Christmas horror classic, Krampus should satisfy fans of horror comedy at Christmastime with its humour and dark chills. And I for one found it to be a surprise and mostly a positive one I must say. 

The Shape of Water

Tags

2010's, Doug Jones, Fantasy, Guillermo del Toro, Michael Shannon, Michael Stuhlbarg, Octavia Spencer, Richard Jenkins, Romance, Sally Hawkins, The Shape of Water

The winner of four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, The Shape of Water throughly merited this acclaim with its imaginative and universal story, beautifully haunting direction from Guillermo del Toro and top notch performances from an outstanding cast of actors. Plus, it stands as one of Guillermo del Toro’s finest films put to screen.

The year is 1962 and in a coastal area of Baltimore, Maryland, Elisa Esposito(Sally Hawkins)lives above a picture house that screens old movies to a pretty absent audience. She has been mute since childhood when she was found by the river with marking on her neck. An orphan who lives an ordered, almost ritualistic life, Elisa’s forms of companionship are closeted gay artist Giles(Richard Jenkins) and wise cracking and loyal co-worker Zelda Fuller(Octavia Spencer). Elisa and Zelda work in a government facility as cleaners, where they are expected to make things tidy and not ask any questions about the goings on within their workplace. One day, the facility has an arrival of a humanoid creature(Doug Jones) that comes courtesy of the finding of nasty government agent Colonel Strickland(Michael Shannon). He is head of the operation regarding investigating the creature, which mainly involves torturing it as he sees it as unholy, yet who himself is a self righteous hypocrite. Elisa becomes curious about the creature and begins to spend time with it. The creature responds to her and though it doesn’t talk either, they find a way to communicate with one another. Over time, a genuine love forms between them. This places her in danger as the people higher up than Strickland want to vivisect the creature and an enigmatic scientist by the name of Robert Hoffstetler (Michael Stuhlbarg) has his own motives for studying the humanoid. Elisa, feeling emboldened by her newfound love and understanding, decides to help the humanoid escape. Though this is not going to be an easy operation and Strickland has grown suspicious of her and the consequences could be deadly for Elisa if she does not succeed in saving her lover. 

From the moment The Shape of Water opens with a submerged dream sequence involving Elisa’s water filled apartment and with narration from Giles, you know it’s a film by the masterful Guillermo del Toro. His strong presence and boundless imagination are on full display, twinned with a sensitive story of acceptance, love across the boundaries and understanding of what is deemed different. He was rightly rewarded with an Oscar for his poetic direction of this dark yet endearing movie that pays homage to monster movies of the 50’s, old Hollywood and Cold War intrigue, all wrapped in the confines of his exceptional vision. The Shape of Water is many things that it can be difficult to classify it as it mixes intense thriller suspense, socially aware drama and budding romance. His script, co written with Vanessa Taylor, grounds fantasy in a historical prism, exploring prejudice within the narrative. The main players in the story are all deemed outsiders;Elisa is mute, Giles is having to conceal his sexuality and Zelda faces adversity due to her skin colour. By featuring this aspect, it seems wholly appropriate that Elisa would find solace in the arms of a humanoid creature, who himself is tortured for being different at the hands of the ignorance of others. The message of accepting everyone’s differences and uniqueness is rendered excellently into the fantasy realm with a very human touch that’s simply irresistible. The Shape of Water is a beautifully engaging and unusual fairy tale, that retains a sense of almost childlike curiosity and wonder but is definitely a fantasy for mature audiences owing to violence, brutality and sexuality displayed in the story. This is aided by amazing, award winning production design that captures a darkness of the 60’s in terms of historical context and the ravishing cinematography( blue, green and red feature heavily) that transport us into the distant past via a fantasy romance that’s not afraid to be strikingly adult or daring. Alexandre Desplat earned his second Oscar for his sublime score that captures a wistful, romantic longing and sense of dreamlike joy, coupled with darkness and action when events start to deepen and the stakes of the story increase. 

One of the strongest aspects of The Shape of Water is the sensationally talented cast it boasts. Front and centre is the talented Sally Hawkins, who never lets me down when it comes to convincing acting that feels so true. She’s required to not speak a word, but displays a silent symphony of feelings from quiet delight, aching sadness and growing, admirable bravery in an exquisite anchoring portrayal. You buy all of this because of just how darn good Sally Hawkins is in this part. Hawkins injects Elisa with a deep humanity and sense of authenticity that it stands as one of her finest performances that truly shines in this romantic fantasy. She’s the beating heart of The Shape of Water and it simply wouldn’t be the same without her layered performance of dazzling emotion and winning, hopeful clarity. Hawkins is supported delightfully by Richard Jenkins and Octavia Spencer as the two people closest to her. Jenkins, who has been one of the most reliable character actors in what seems like forever, gives life and pathos to his acting as the artist having to suppress his sexuality in a world of ignorance. He’s something special here it must be said with his notes of humour and sympathy splendidly telegraphed. Octavia Spencer also brings her A-game as the loquacious best friend with attitude and conviction. You feel the energy of Spencer and also her understanding of the part, which shows her as tough but deep down longing, hurting yet extremely loyal to those closest and willing to defend them until the end. All three actors were rightfully nominated for Oscars for their respective performances here and they were much deserved.

As the Amphibian creature, Doug Jones, although covered entirely in a scaly suit and make up, brings out a curiosity and sinuous movement in his role. It’s a credit to him that we see the soul of the misunderstood creature and that’s high praise indeed. Although the humanoid is seen as the monster in the story, that title actually the fits the part of the vicious Strickland, played by the incredibly reliable Michael Shannon. He’s excellent as the bible spouting, bullying government agent who always needs to be in control. Shannon is fine when giving voice to Strickland’s frustrations and nastiness, but it’s often when he is silent with emerging rage and intensity that he’s most riveting to watch. Not to say that he’s better at one than the other, he’s amazing at blending both but there’s just something about the way he uses body language and his face that really sells it. Michael Stuhlbarg displays his skills as a secretive scientist with more going on that it seems behind the appearance of studious investigation. He’s nicely understated with his subtle turn as a man who ends up conflicted on what to do with regards to the creature. 

A beguilingly unusual but very touching fantasy romance about acceptance, love and bravery, The Shape of Water is a different but enthralling film that knows how to move the audience with its story, compelling craftsmanship by Guillermo del Toro and simply stellar cast, headed by the sublime Sally Hawkins.

The Conjuring 2

Tags

2010's, Frances O’Connor, Franka Potente, Horror, James Wan, Madison Wolfe, Patrick Wilson, Simon McBurney, Supernatural Horror, The Conjuring 2, Vera Farmiga

A successful spine chilling sequel to the first hit film, The Conjuring 2 continues with genuine scares, atmospheric events, inspired by the investigations of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. This time it’s the Enfield Haunting that is explored and it delivers on both the scare front and having a depth that can often be missing in horror movies.

It’s 1977 and in a council house in Enfield, London, the Hodgson family lives hand to mouth. There is harried single mother Peggy(Frances O’Connor) , who tries to do her best and her four children. When not contending with poverty or ridicule at the hands of either school kids or others, something strange begins for them. Following Janet( Madison Wolfe) playing with a makeshift ouija board, seemingly supernatural things begin to happen. She begins sleepwalking and communicating with something angry that claims to be a former occupant of the house. This is followed by objects being thrown about the house and terrorising the family in an abundance of ways. Terrified, the family flees to their neighbours and away from were the haunting originates. Meanwhile, paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren( Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) are taking a break from their jobs, following their encounters in The Amityville house a year before. Lorraine was put through the mill when conducting a seance and terrorised by a demonic nun figure who predicted the death of Ed. Still reeling, Lorraine has taken time away to spend it with her husband and young daughter. Yet it’s not long before news of unexplainable events in Enfield reach across the pond thanks to a media circus in England. The Warrens being experts in the field of the supernatural and haunting are asked to assist in investigating the unusual phenomena. After her experience a year prior, Lorraine is very reluctant to get involved in another case. Eventually, she and Ed travel to Enfield to act as observers and possibly help. Though they said they’d just observe, it becomes clear that Ed and Lorraine will have to really take on this force of evil as it gets more menacing. Upon entrance into the residence, Lorraine senses something deep and dark. The second oldest child Janet,seems to be the one most affected by the supernatural occurrences out of the family, leading to Ed and Lorraine investigating why the entity is using her as a conduit. The Warrens realise that they are up against an immensely evil being that seems to take pleasure in torment and may in fact be something relating directly to both of them. It’s up to Ed and Lorraine to fight this malevolent spirit that threatens to terrorise all in its path with no end.

Horror maestro James Wan is directing once more and his imaginative flourishes and ability to really generate fear in an audience is in huge supply once more. Wan is gifted in how he blends real feeling for characters and putting them through all manner of terror. An attention to characters and suspense building is what I really dig about this movie. Among all the scares, there is depth to be gleaned and relatable moments, especially pertaining to Ed and Lorraine. They are a fantastic couple whose open minds and devotion to each other is really amazing to watch as they compliment each other so well. The Conjuring 2 ups the stakes by making the main form of terror feel more personal towards the Warrens. There is the dual threat of a figure that takes the form of a nun that predicts bad things and the seemingly evil spirit of an old man who once lived in the Hodgson house. Both are the stuff of nightmares and really get under the skin whenever they appear. The nun especially has one very goosebump inducing scene in which she toys with Lorraine and it’s a doozy of a moment as it gradually begins to really unnerve the dedicated medium. Plus some sequences really stand out, in particular Janet sick at home and experiencing the full force of the ghost and Ed conferring with a possessed Janet in a one shot that obscures her. This visual trick is a nifty one as even though our view is blurred, you can see little differences as the demonic possession carries on and begins taunting Ed with inhuman glee. It doesn’t show us everything, but knows the trick of showing us enough to keep you on edge. It’s old school horror style at its finest. And speaking of style, the cinematography of moody blues and unusual camerawork really help us feel unsettled yet fascinated as we join this investigation. The colour scheme really highlights the period and setting, with the Warren’s providing the light that is unwavering through the darkness of their discoveries. And people may being skeptical about how true these events are, which is interestingly portrayed here as if it knows they’ll be naysayers. Amusingly, there are areas of the film that actually examine this in the form of investigator Maurice Grosse( Simon McBurney) and skeptic Anita Gregory( Franka Potente) but regardless of your belief or disbelief in the supernatural , you can’t deny that it isn’t one eerie and chilling film. The main flaw with The Conjuring 2 is that it does feel a bit overlong. Mind you, with that being the only real niggle with the film, I can’t find much fault with anything else on display. The score is appropriately nerve shredding in the best way there is, with low sounds and sudden jolts the order of the day. Plus, you get great periods of silence that truly maximise the tension and force you to keep your ears peeled for anything changing. 

Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga head proceedings with commendable and believable performances. Wilson is dependable, amiable yet equally as adept in bringing home the serious nature of the job, while Farmiga is graceful, quietly forceful and tenderly beautiful as the gifted Lorraine. The chemistry is a big highlight and what makes us truly care for these people who are clearly devoted to each other and stalwart in their belief to do the right thing. Frances O’Connor is subtly devastating as the vulnerable single mother going through hell with her children; she truly comes alive with fear and terror as events spiral against her thanks to the great acting from O’Connor. Madison Wolfe really gives it her all as the besieged Janet and it’s amazing to watch such a young performer really hold the attention with a performance. She manages to be both very sympathetic and very alarming depending on whether she’s herself or possessed. Whichever side she’s portraying , Wolfe truly delivers fine work that is very memorable. Simon McBurney and Franka Potente, although assigned more supporting roles, at least get great moments as people on opposite ends of the believer spectrum.

Mixing creepy horror and human drama, The Conjuring 2 is an excellent sequel that features fine acting, eerie scares and a classy sense of horror that doesn’t go for hack and slash( instead opting for psychological terror). You won’t be having sweet dreams following this chiller.