I still think that James Wan and “The Conjuring” universe still has a great villain in the demonic nun Valak, and “The Nun II” is on the right track to fully realizing her potential. Despite still being sorely under utilized, “The Nun II” still crosses the finish as a solid horror thriller with some great mystery and some surefire scary images that should earn its place in the gamut of “The Conjuring” movie series. I also quite enjoy how the movie just has a better grasp on its tone, allowing for a movie that’s definitely scary, and not too concerned with its dramatic tone.
Tag Archives: Mystery
Everybody Dies at the End (2022)
A filmmaker shooting his last film, his masterpiece, is followed by a documentary crew as he works on his horror film all done with practical effects, a bit too practical even.
The Last Voyage of The Demeter (2023)
It’s pretty good to see at least one studio investing in transforming vampires in to relentless monsters once again after so many years where vampires have been watered down and overly fetishized. The vampires in André Øvredal’s interpretation of “The Last Voyage of The Demeter” as well as—well—Dracula in general, are not empathetic, alluring figures. They’re blank, cold and vicious monsters controlled by Dracula who is reduced to his most primal state for this re-visiting of one of the most haunting chapters in Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
Dylan’s New Nightmare: A Nightmare on Elm Street Fan Film (2023)
I love a good fan film. On rare occasions they can offer up interesting ideas and concepts. “Dylan’s New Nightmare” is an ambitious and interesting fan film in that its concept works for and against the final film, in the end. While the whole concept of a follow up to “New Nightmare” is a good one, it’s problematic in that: it basically feels like a proof of concept for a sequel, and “New Nightmare” isn’t canonical to the rest of the series. With “New Nightmare,” Wes Craven was holding up a magnifying glass, stepping back to examine the overwhelming expectations and pains of success.
It was also not on the timeline of Freddy Krueger, as the monster in the film was not Freddy Krueger.
Here For Blood (2023)
Warning: Spoilers pertaining to the movie abound.
You really haven’t seen it all until you’ve seen a wrestler elbow drop a flesh eating zombie multiple times until its head explodes. That’s that thing about “Here for Blood.” It has a ton of good ideas and a great sense of humor about itself, but it gets lost in so much filler and narrative excess. What could have been a simple and fun home invasion thriller turns in to a convoluted survival film about cults, and sacrifices, and masked killers, and anointed prophets. It’s all a movie that could have been so much better with tighter editing and fifteen minutes trimmed down.
ShadowMarsh (2022)
Having to move back to their small hometown, Piper and her uncle Jacob go back to where memories of her mother await them as well as a mystery around the marsh nearby and its evil being.
DC Showcase: Blue Beetle (2021)
Director Milo Neuman’s approach to “Blue Beetle” for this DC Showcase is pretty fin as it watches like an incarnation of the old Hanna Barbera cartoons. Think “Blue Falcon” meets “Johnny Quest” and you’re there. “Blue Beetle” takes the often under used costumed hero known as Ted Kord and runs with his concept, turning him in to something of a quipping avenger who works off of the overly serious The Question, and it’s a fun preview in to what DC isn’t but should be doing with these overlooked characters.