Seagull Review: A Mysterious Thriller That Doesn't Quite Soar

Release date: September 27, 2021
Running time: 84 minutes
Written and Directed By: Peter Blach
Writers: Jessica Hynes, Gabrielle Sheppard, Adam Radcliffe, Miranda Beinart-Smith, Rosie Steel, Paul Forman

In a rundown seaside town, Geoff looks after his partner Janet, her daughter Violet, and his beloved 8-year-old granddaughter Lily. One day Geoff is confronted by Thorn, an aggressive stranger, who runs away leaving a note from Janet's other daughter Rose, who has returned after disappearing 8 years ago. Thorn pushes Rose towards violence and, as her campaign of intimidation intensifies, Geoff’s measured life spirals out of control. Why has Rose returned and what is Geoff really scared of? As the seagulls settle for the night, the 8-year-long rift between Rose and Geoff is about to be settled – once and for all.

Seagull has a mysterious start with a brief introduction to the main character and her predicament.  The film doesn't just start mysterious, it keeps plenty from you as the story progresses, causing the viewer some confusion as it goes through the mystery.  And the film has a definite indie feel, with a small town mystery and predicament.  And although the film has a sense of dread, it just doesn't have enough dread to make this a horror movie or a mystery. 

But Seagull just isn't that interesting.  There is a mystery that becomes pretty obvious after about the first half.  By the time that there is a big reveal, you have already figured out what is happening.  And overall the writing and storytelling just aren't that compelling. It seems like the production did what it could with the budget and time that it had, but for me it just wasn't something that held my interest.  And the investigation into the psychological aspects, while noble, just didn't do much to enhance my enjoyment.  I will say that the antagonistic entity in this film is well done; it looks like an evil corruption of one of the main subjects of the film; but it also is just not that scary.  And despite the film being named The Seagull, the connection to the bird and the title is not concrete.  Overall, I wanted to like this film but it didn't have enough in it to make it a compelling experience.  

Seagull has a mysterious setup and exploration of grief and psychology, but the mystery and story do not do enough to hold the viewer's interest. 

Pass on it.

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Seagull is available in digitally and on demand on September 27, 2021.  

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The Crickets Dance Review: Some Charming Leads But An Inconsistent Story

Release date: October 26, 2021
Running time: 91 minutes
Director: Veronica Robledo
Starring: Kristen Renton, Maurice Johnson, Bill Oberst Jr, Sandra Ellis Lafferty, Bobbie Eakes, William Mark McCullough, KateLynn Newberry, and Kevin Mikal Curry

A southern attorney discovers a lost diary, one that changes her life and helps her find true love after she’s nearly killed in a brutal attack, in a new film starring Sons of Anarchy’s Kristen Renton.  If Angie Lawrence, an attorney, and southern beauty, ever hopes to find love she needs to do two things: let a man walk her to the door and let go of the past. She sadly gets the opportunity to do both when she inherits a stunning southern antebellum mansion. While moving in, she discovers a diary hidden in the attic. It dates back 150 years. She becomes entranced with the diary’s history of slavery, brutality and how the bounds of time and injustice were overcome by love. 

The Crickets Dance starts with a cute opening that lets you get to know Angie and her dating predicament.  It shows a few things about her character: that she has a plan, is prepared, and is in control of the situation.  And I enjoyed Kristen Renton as Angie with her charm, understanding, and relentless pursuit of what she wants.  And I also really liked seeing Johnson alongside Renton, as he also had a good demeaner.  And the two had chemistry on screen, making for some fun interactions.  And the setting of the Cricket's Dance does allow for some beautiful scenes of Georgia as the pair explore to try and follow the 150 year old journal.

However, the Crickets Dance has a lot of issues.  For one, the acting is hit or miss.  Renton, Johnson, and several others are good and fun to watch, but there is some pretty bad delivery and dialogue in this film.  The story cuts back and forth in time, causing you to meet and follow characters that get into dramatic situations pretty abruptly.  It also means we don't get to spend much time with the characters that we have become invested in.  And the story is scattershot, jumping around a lot and not quite allowing the viewer to follow along.  The film also has pretty poor effects that draw you out of the film  There are not that many of them, but the ones that are used just don't look that natural.  And overall, the story just isn't one that will grab you.  I found myself looking at my watch multiple times, not a good sign for a movie that is only an hour and a half.

The Crickets Dance has a charming cast and some beautiful locales, but the inconsistent delivery and effects, as well as a story that feels long despite the short run time, might make you want to wait until the next song.

Pass on it.

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The Crickets Dance is available digitally and on demand on October 26, 2021.  

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Foundation S1E7 "Mysteries and Martyrs" Review: An Interesting Reveal Has Some New Flaws

Release date: October 29, 2021
Running time: 49 minutes

The Anacreons and their hostages board the fabled Invictus warship. The bond between Brother Dawn and Azura intensifies.

Now we are starting to barrel towards some interesting territory but it still feels like Foundation is setting up the world.  This episode is similar to others we have seen, though I will say the reveals seemed to happen more evenly throughout.  Rather than the previous episodes that seemed to have a big reveal at the start and end, this has a few spaced out.  There were a few key plot points that help to flesh out several of the stories, and I really liked some of the personal crises that this is introducing.  We get to see one of the Emperor's vulnerability, we get to see a big reveal from Gaal, and Salvor is put in very difficult position.  And I really liked he evolution of both Brother Dawn and Gaal, both of which had big story segments in this episode.  I have not been a fan of Brother Dawn, but with these new insights his overall story has become that much more interesting.  

And although Foundation is starting to come together, I still feel like this episode is building building building.  I guess that is just what this series will be, a slow intrigue setup for later episodes, but I do wonder when the payoff will happen. Don't get me wrong, I'm still enjoying the characters, but the slow pace and lack of definitive movement is starting to bother me.  Still, I will keep watching as this episode showed that there is still plenty of enjoyment left in this story.

Foundation S1E7 has some big reveals and a return of some of our favorite characters, but still feels like the series is all preparation and no execution.

Rent it.

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Foundation is available to stream on Apple TV+ with Season 1 Episode 7 "Mysteries and Martyrs" available on October 29, 2021.

The Spine of Night Review: A Unique And Ultraviolent Animated Adventure

Release date: October 29, 2021
Running time: 93 minutes
Written and Directed By:  Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King
Starring:  Richard E. Grant, Lucy Lawless, Patton Oswalt, Betty Gabriel, and Joe Manganiello

In THE SPINE OF NIGHT, an ultra-violent fantasy epic, ancient dark magic falls into sinister hands and unleashes ages of suffering onto mankind. A group of heroes from different eras and cultures must band together in order to defeat it at all costs.

The Spine of Night is just a film that doesn't get made anymore.  An ultra violent fantasy epic in animated form, but also one that uses the rotoscope animation process from the 1970s.  The film feels like a video game come to life, with a similar type of computer generated but also hand drawn animation that evokes Dragon's Lair and its ilk.  It is straight out of some of the more extreme, violent animated films from the 70s like Heavy Metal and the Lord of the Rings animated films.  And The Spine of Night has an epic cast, with some very big names attaching themselves to this quirky animated film.  The names associated with it are those that I would have expected to be in a video game type nerd film, and I am very happy that they all signed onto this. And the writers really fleshed out this world, with a full backstory, entities, and power dynamics at play. You get the sense that there is more planned for this and that The Spine of Night is just an introduction.  

However, despite the Spine of Night being an interesting project--and to be clear, one that I am very glad was made--the film itself is not that entertaining.  The ultraviolent aspect of it is intriguing at first, but quickly wears thin as it goes on.  And despite it having some beautiful, stylistic animation, the speed at which it happens is not very fast.  It is strange because the animation feels like it could have gone faster, but goes at a slower pace for whatever reason.  I wonder if it is simply the result of the rotoscope animation style, but it does feel like it could have been faster.   And with the world being a fully fleshed out world, there is a lot of backstory that is just not explained.  You can appreciate just how much work went into this film, but overall, the story is confusing to follow because it goes through various worlds and eras.  But that being said, I am very happy that this movie exists.  The labor of love and effort that went into this is impressive to say the least.  And it revives a look and style that is just not made anymore, one that instantly gave me flashbacks to some movies from my childhood.

The Spine of Night is a unique, ultraviolent animated epic, with an all star cast, a deep world,  and a style that highlights just how much of a labor of love this film was.  

Watch it.

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The Spine of Night is available in theaters, on demand and digital October 29, 2021.  For showtimes, click here.  

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What to Watch This Weekend: Halloween 2021 Edition

For An Understated, Atmospheric Horror Experience: Antlers (Theaters)
Antlers will hook you with its understated tone, fantastic music and setting, and unsettling use of light and gore to create an atmospheric creature feature with a slow burning, but very unsettling story.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Stylish Film With A Darker Message: Last Night in Soho (Theaters)

Last Night in Soho is a time trip, with a stylish format and some amazing 1960s music to aid this thriller that explores some darker themes than you initially expect.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Unique, Violent Animated Experience: The Spine of Night (Theaters and Digital)

The Spine of Night is an unique, ultraviolent animated fantasy epic, with an all star cast and a style that you just don't see made anymore. 

For A Twisted Aging Story: Old (Redbox)

Old has a mysterious story, some very nice performances and small touches, and a trademark M. Night Shyamalan twist ending, but the quirks and odd dialogue might cast some shadows on this beach vacation.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Meaty Horror Film: Broil (Free Streaming on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Vudu)
Broil is a feast for the senses, with meaty characters, a savory simmering style, and an accompaniment of sharp writing and full bodied music.  For more information, check out our review!

For Those Who Want A Virtual Haunted House: Haunt (Shudder)

Haunt's combination of atmospheric, impactful sound, tense and gruesome horror, and unsettling villains makes this a haunted house you will want to explore.  For more information, check out our review!

For The Kids: Paranorman (Netflix)

Paranorman's beautiful art and kid friendly content makes this an artistic and enjoyable way to spend spooky season with the kids.

For The Kids Part 2: Muppets Haunted Mansion (Disney+)

Muppets Haunted Mansion hits Disney+ today and it is a great, family friend way to get your kids into the holiday spirit!

Antlers Review: An Understated And Perfectly Constructed Creature Feature

Release date: October 29, 2021
Running time: 101 minutes
Directed by Scott Cooper
Produced by Guilermo del Toro, David S. Goyer, and J. Miles Dale
Starring: Keri Russell (Julia), Jesse Plemons (Paul), Jeremy T. Thomas (Lucas), Scott Haze (Frank), Amy Madigan (Principal Ellen), Rory Cochrane (Daniel Lecroy), Graham Greene (Ex Sherriff Warren), Sawyer Jones (Aiden)

From the visionary world of acclaimed director Scott Cooper and horror maestro Guillermo del Toro comes ANTLERS.  In an isolated Oregon town, a middle-school teacher and her sheriff brother become embroiled with her enigmatic student whose dark secrets lead to terrifying encounters with a legendary ancestral creature who came before them.  Based on the short story “The Quiet Boy” by Nick Antosca. 

Antlers is all about the slow build up and an understated tone that really helps to elevate this horror film.  What I loved most is how this film doesn’t try to do too much but does everything exceedingly well.  The lighting and cinematography are top notch. The movie has some brilliant scenes using light to keep you on edge, especially when people go into dark spaces.  The unease of not knowing what is in there, coupled with the rush of breath as they fully are engulfed in darkness is the perfect way to build up tension.  But it’s not just the darkness, the film also uses the flashing lights of police cars and the utter endless night of the Oregon wilderness to great effect.  Some of my favorite scenes were with police lights flashing in the fog, an unsettling and perfectly constructed effect.

The understated aspect also translates to the music, where you have this wonderful classical soundtrack.  It uses a lot of solo instruments to both emphasize the emptiness and loneliness of this place, and also to give a sinister tone to the film.  You don’t have full, boisterous musical arrangement, just a singular instrument playing against the darkness.  The film also has really great effects.  There isn’t a ton of blood and guts, but what is there is well done and looks unsettling and realistic.  Nothing breaks your suspension of disbelief in this film.

And the characters are also really well done.  They have a lot of mystery that you don’t really understand until later.  My favorite was Lucas, who again, does a great job by not doing too much.  His character is quiet, scared, and strong, and he does an amazing job of projecting an unsettling persona from the experience that the has endured.  And Keri Russell and Jesse Plemons also add a lot by not doing too much, with characters that don’t get overly emotional but still have plenty of unsettling baggage to contend with.

And this film wouldn’t be much of a creature feature without a creature, and thankfully this film also does that quite well.  It doesn’t show much, and when you finally see the monster it is unsettling but also smartly portrayed.  You don’t get a great view of it and when you do it does look otherworldly.  If there are downsides to this film, it is that the pace is quite slow, though I didn’t mind it at all.  Additionally, the film touches on the subject of abuse, but not quite with the care I would have hoped for.  Still, these are minor issues in an otherwise fantastically done creature feature.  

Antlers will hook you with its understated tone, fantastic music and setting, and unsettling use of light and gore to create an atmospheric creature feature with a slow burning, but very unsettling story.

Watch it.

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Antlers is available in theaters on October 29, 2021.  For showtimes, click here.

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Screening: See Clifford The Big Red Dog Early And Free

We have partnered with Paramount for an early screening of Clifford The Big Red Dog!  The film is coming to theaters and Paramount+ on November 10, 2021, but you can see it early and free!!  Details and entry form are below!

Clifford The Big Red Dog

Synopsis: 

When middle-schooler Emily Elizabeth (Darby Camp) meets a magical animal rescuer (John Cleese) who gifts her a little, red puppy, she never anticipated waking up to find a giant ten-foot hound in her small New York City apartment. While her single mom (Sienna Guillory) is away for business, Emily and her fun but impulsive uncle Casey (Jack Whitehall) set out on an adventure that will keep you on the edge-of-your-seat as our heroes take a bite out of the Big Apple. Based on the beloved Scholastic book character, Clifford will teach the world how to love big!

 Screening Info:

CLIFFORD

Saturday, November 6th

11:00am

AMC Georgetown

Washington, DC

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Last Night in Soho Review: A Stylish Film With An Underlying Darker Message

Release date: October 29, 2021 (DC Area)
Running time: 116 minutes
Director: Edgar Wright
Writers: Edgar Wright and Krysty Wilson-Cairns
Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Thomasin McKenzie, Matt Smith, Terence Stamp, Diana Rigg, Rita Tushingham, Michael Ajao, Synnove Karlsen

In acclaimed director Edgar Wright’s psychological thriller, Eloise, an aspiring fashion designer, is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s where she encounters a dazzling wannabe singer, Sandie. But the glamour is not all it appears to be and the dreams of the past start to crack and splinter into something far darker.

Last Night in Soho is a very different experience than I expected.  After the shock of what was happening wore off, I really did like the style of this film. It goes from modern day London to an idealistic, 60s London and seeing those back to back was a treat.  I also really loved McKenzie in this meatier role, where she has to a variety of characters throughout this film.  And Anya Taylor-Joy was a revelation as Sandie, with a cool confidence and style that made her instantly stand out from everything else on screen.  

But this film also feels very unique.  The melding of the 60s style with an exploration of some of the darker themes that underlie that style was an interesting take.  I loved the jarring nature of some of this, where you see beautiful bright lights and classic, safe feeling locales only to have that shattered with later revelations.  I also really loved the music and how Edgar Wright used that for storytelling.  You will have these classic songs that you associate with a golden age of music or better times, only to have them playing over some sinister experiences.  It really was something that was stylistically impressive.  

And although Last Night in Soho does so much right, the ending does leave a little to be desired.  It kind of flips some of the themes on their head, and changes some of the conclusions and preconceptions that we have learned about before.  If I'm being honest, I really didn't like the ending and thought it was a little clumsy and too interested in shock value.  This was a surprise given how interesting and careful the film had been up until that point.  But thankfully, it didn't soil the overall experience, it just left me scratching my head for a bit. But after I got over the annoyance of the ending, I kept going back to how unique this whole film felt!

Last Night in Soho is a time trip, with a stylish format and some amazing 1960s music to aid this thriller that explores some darker themes than you initially expect.

Watch it.

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Last Night in Soho is in theaters on October 29, 2021.  For showtimes, click here.

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Screening: See The Eternals Early And Free

We have partnered with Disney for an early screening of Eternals!  The film is coming to theaters on November 5, 2021, but you can see it early and free!!  Details and entry form are below!

Eternals

Synopsis: 

Marvel Studios’ “The Eternals” features an exciting new team of Super Heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, ancient aliens who have been living on Earth in secret for thousands of years.  Following the events of “Avengers: Endgame”, an unexpected tragedy forces them out of the shadows to reunite against mankind’s most ancient enemy, The Deviants. 

The outstanding ensemble cast includes Richard Madden as the all-powerful Ikaris, Gemma Chan as humankind-loving Sersi, Kumail Nanjiani as cosmic-powered Kingo, Lauren Ridloff as the super-fast Makkari, Brian Tyree Henry as the intelligent inventor Phastos, Salma Hayek as the wise and spiritual leader Ajak, Lia McHugh as the eternally young, old-soul Sprite, Don Lee as the powerful Gilgamesh, Barry Keoghan as aloof loner Druig, and Angelina Jolie as the fierce warrior Thena. Kit Harington was cast as Dane Whitman. Directed by Chloé Zhao, who helmed the critically acclaimed Sundance film “The Rider,” and produced by Kevin Feige, “The Eternals” opens in U.S. theaters on Nov. 5, 2020.

 Screening Info:

ETERNALS
Wednesday, November 3rd
7:30 PM
AMC Tysons Corner

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Every Last One of Them Review: A Missing Person That Might Need To Remain Missing

Release date: October 22, 2021
Running time: 82 minutes
Director: Christian Sesma
Writers: Alistair Cave, Matthew Thomas Edwards, Chee Keong Cheung, Christian Sesma
Cast: Paul Sloan, Jake Weber, Taryn Manning, Mike Hatton with Michael Madsen and Richard Dreyfuss

Ex-Black Ops soldier Jake Hunter (Sloan) is desperate to find his missing daughter. As Jake uncovers the terrifying truth surrounding her disappearance, he goes on a merciless quest for revenge, bringing those responsible to justice in this gripping thriller.

Every Last One of Them has a strong opening in Jake's quest to find out what happened to his daughter, and a brutal set of circumstances for him to overcome.  The film chronicles this journey and the lengths that he had to go to get the truth.  I liked the main character and some of the supporting folks and the journey that Jake went on was brutal.  It required him to confront more than he anticipated and thankfully he has the training for this.

However, Every Last One of Them has a story that is not that exciting, despite the dire consequences of what he is trying to accomplish.  And even with there being some decent action sequences, often the action feels staged with less than stellar effects.  The effects are hit or miss, with some of the later sequences being much better done than an earlier one.  And there is a gunfight that feels like it progresses in slow motion, definitely not the speed of a special forces soldier.  And through this all you have a story that is both overly complicated and too simplistic.  It has several set pieces but also has some convenient conclusions and insights from Jake that seem almost clairvoyant.  

And most of all, Every Last One of Them has a fairly generic overall structure.  There wasn't a lot to pick out that it did very well, from the setting, to the action, to the overall story.  It is not bad, just doesn't do anything very memorable.  The characters are fine, but some of the lines and delivery sound forced.  The action is serviceable, but some of the effects are off or the speed is off.  And the story provides enough interesting situations and structure, but it just doesn't excel in any respect.  Overall, this is just not a memorable film experience.

Every Last One of Them has a dire situation and a skilled protagonist, but the film's overall structure and inconsistent action make this a missing person that you don't have to find.

Pass on it.

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Every Last One of Them is available in theaters, digitally, and on demand on October 22, 2021.  For showtimes, click here.

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Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy Review: A Subtle, Brilliant, and Layered Relationship Drama

Release date: October 15, 2021
Running time: 121 minutes
Director: Ryūsuke Hamaguchi 

An unexpected love triangle, a failed seduction, and a chance encounter with the past. Propelled by coincidence and imagination, and guided by love’s gentle current, acclaimed director Ryūsuke Hamaguchi (Happy Hour, Asako I & II) returns with an enchanting triptych that spins mundane encounters into a world of infinite possibilities. In Episode 1: Magic (or Something Less Assuring), a young woman is startled when she realizes that her best friend’s new flame might just be her ex; in Episode 2: Door Wide Open, a disgruntled student plots to trick his college professor, using his friend-with-benefits as bait; and in Episode 3: Once Again, a girl’s college reunion leads to an unanticipated run-in with an old friend, and awakens feelings long since forgotten. Playfully inspired by life’s tiny miracles, and bound together by memory, regret, deception, and fate, Hamaguchi leaves no stone unturned in his quest to chart the ever-deepening mysteries of the all-too-human heart.

Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy is not going to be for everyone, in fact it will likely not be for many people.  But for those that stick with it, you get a brilliant, layered relationship film that explores some unconventional friendships and some topics that Japanese cinema normally avoids.  The three stories were slow but they had plenty of depth in their characters and the dialogue.  And they do give some interesting insights into relationships and people's need for connection and love.  I really liked seeing how the different stories evolved because it was never the same as what you would expect.

And through the three, I think the middle story is the strongest.  I loved the conversation between the professor and the lady, their conversation was nuanced and charged with a ton of great imagery.  But each of these stories has something to offer and by including all three, the viewer is able to experience very different, discrete situations all dealing with one overarching idea.  Despite some of the stories seeming to have unnecessary setup, they each offer something different and unique.  And in the end, you are left with a sense of wonder and sadness, which is what the film goes for.  The conclusory story, however, also gives you a sense of hope.

Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy uses its three distinct stories to give insights into love, relationships, and our need for connection by discussing topics that are not normally looked at in Japanese cinema.

Watch it.

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Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy is available in virtual cinemas.  For showtimes, click here. 

Silent Hours Review: A Long And Confusing Hunt

Release date: October 8, 2021
Running time: 120 minutes
Directed By: Mark Greenstreet 
Writen By: Aharon Keshales, Kai Mark, and Navot Papushado
Starring: Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey),  Indira Varma (Game of Thrones), Susie Amy, Tom Beard, Annie Cooper, Elizabeth Healey, and James Webber Brown

When three women are brutally murdered in four nights, private detective John Duval, ex-lieutenant commander in Naval Intelligence, finds himself the prime suspect in a police hunt for the sexual killer stalking Portsmouth's silent hours.

Silent Hours has a complex, mysterious story and a sinister, noir vibe.  The film's main protagonist, a private detective, is tasked with watching and stalking individuals; so the main theme of a serial killer who is also watching victims is a symbiotic one.  And the voyeuristic aspects are interesting, with the private detective watching some very intimate details, presumably for his job.  The film also has a decent amount of intrigue and mystery as you try to solve these murders, and decent practical effects for the murders themselves.

However, Silent Hours is a long, convoluted story and part way through it just did not keep my interest.  The film is far too long, with many arcs, some reveals, and a whole other segment after the main one.  The story is mysterious but also the mystery is intentionally obfuscated.  The protagonist is a good type A personality, but the story eventually devolved to women throwing themselves at him.  I'm not sure if this was part of the story or just a riff on the old noir films that inspired this, but either way it just felt manufactured.  And although the practical effects are well done, there are certain body parts that just look off.  And the non practical effects are not well done, mainly a flashback that the main character experiences that really broke my suspension of disbelief.  

Silent Hours is not a bad way to kill time, but the long story and overly complicated case might make this a mystery you don't want to solve.

Pass on it.

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Silent Hours is available in theaters, digitally, and on demand on October 8, 2021.  

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Escape From Mogadishu Review: An Exciting Unbelievable True Story

Release date: October 19, 2021
Running time: 117 minutes
Writer/Director: Ryoo Seung-wan
Cast: Kim Yoon-seok, Zo In-sung, Huh Joon-ho, Koo Kyo-hwan, Kim So-jin, Joung Man-sik, Kim Jae-hwa, Park Gyeong-hye

Dramatically constructed based on a true story: as civil war rages in Mogadishu, rival North and South Korean diplomats are left trapped. With no aid from either government, their only shot at survival may require uniting with bitter adversaries to escape.

Escape From Mogadishu takes a while to get going as it establishes the situation and the main characters very well.  You get a good sense of who these people are and how much distrust they have for each other.  But you also get a sense of how similar they are.  They speak the same language, eat similar food, and have similar mannerisms.  The film also does a good job of putting them in similar situations to highlight this.  And the film is part drama, part action, and when the action ramps up it can become hectic and exciting.  You get a sense of danger as the country falls apart around them.

And what was also very impressive about the film is that it was able to really highlight the distrust these countries had for each other.  Their dislike is palatable on the screen and you can completely see just how much deep seated emotion and distrust is there.  I really liked some of the extreme measures both countries took as a result of this distrust and it really does help to lay the groundwork for how crazy of a situation this was.

However, as entertaining as Escape From Mogadishu is, there are a few issues.  First and foremost, the film is based on a true story but afterwards there is not additional information about these characters or the situation.  I am not sure if that is just because it was not needed or if so many liberties were taken that there isn't much connection to the real event.  I would like to have known what actually happened to these people and if it was really this dramatic of an encounter.  Additionally, the film has a few CG moments (mostly involving dogs) that definitely look out of place.  And the most exciting scene involving a massive car chase also seems very unrealistic given everything that happened.  It seems like an instance of movie magic over reality that hurts the overall experience.  But that being said, it was a very impressive scene.  

But that being said, Escape From Mogadishu tells a dramatic story with a great cast, plenty of intrigue, an unbelievable true story that is excitingly brought to life.

Watch it.

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Demigod Review: A Good Setup That Does Not Finish Strong

Release date: October 15, 2021
Running time: 95 minutes
Directed by: Miles Doleac
Starring: Rachel Nichols, Jeremy London, Yohance Myles, and Elena Sanchez

Upon the death of her grandfather, a woman and her husband return to her birthplace in Germany's Black Forest, only to find a terrifying secret awaits them.

Demigod has a mysterious start that will hook you, while the setting will keep you intrigued.  They both are perfect for a horror film, a mysterious past and an isolated wood cabin.  Having a couple go into a strange, deserted woods is the perfect recipe for terror.  And the film keeps the tension high with a slow build up to emphasize this great start.  You don't really know what is happening until a little ways into the film, and even then you don't know much else.  When the film uses practical gore effects, they look well done.  And I really liked the cast, specifically Rachel Nichols.  Her character is strong and mysterious, making for a compelling main character.  But I think my favorite character was portrayed by Yohance Myles, who adds a sense of heart and humor to the cast.  

But Demigod has some aspects that make it feel budget.  For one, the final monster / entity just does not seem that scary.  It appears to be someone in prosthetics and the overall power that it has is not fully explained.  It also has eyes that look like laser pointers, which doesn't strike fear in me when I saw it.  And the film, despite having a good initial start, just feels like not much happens.  Even with its exciting premise, there is never a good sense of unease or urgency after the initial few scenes.  It is strange as this film has all the components of a good horror movie, along with a strong headliner, but it just does not come together.  

Overall, despite Demigod's with a good mysterious setup and characters, it does not finish strong and is let down by a story without much drive and a confusing overall premise.

Rent it.

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Demigod is available in theaters, digitally, and on demand on October 15, 2021.  

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