Category Archives: Horror

Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi

A QUIET PLACE – DAY ONE (2024): New Trailer From Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolffe, Djimon Hounsou…

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The time for the second trailer for A Quiet Place – Day One has arrived.

Directed by Michael Sarnoski; the key cast includes Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Djimon Hounsou and Alex Wolffe.

‘It’s the end of days. No more people. No more New York. No more nothing.‘

Before the above words were said, I was perfectly calm and emotionally balanced while watching this trailer. Now, I’m… I’m okay, thanks to some focused deep breaths.

The story, performances and special effects have my attention. I’m also unexpectedly curious to see how the authorities will be deployed to react strategically; besides simply telling people to shelter in place.

Lastly, will the cat make it out alive? Now, that is the question.

Jennifer Woodward, Mark Khan, Zay Domo Artist, Alexander John, Elijah Ungvary, Jonathan Sparrow and Cain Aiden also star.

A Quiet Place – Day One Release Dates: June 28th, 2024 (US & UK)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

Crime, Horror, Mystery

TRAP (2024): An Unexpected Roller Coaster Of Emotions While Watching The New M. Night Shyamalan Trailer, Starring Josh Hartnett, Hayley Mills…

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The latest crime/horror/mystery starring Josh Hartnett and Hayley Mills is a movie with a possibly very promising trailer.

I saw this trailer within 10 minutes of its release several days ago. At first, I wasn’t sure where it was going, but then I started to get excited because it was looking pleasingly different; which is always welcome. Particularly for myself and others who have seen plenty of movies and a plethora of premise types many times before.

Sadly, however, something extremely disappointing happened at exactly two minutes and fifteen seconds into the trailer; specifically for me, the revelation of who the director is.

I would truly love nothing more than to be wrong about the extent to which I’m likely to enjoy this movie, but I’ve been disappointed too many times. As such, I’ll probably wait to see what the first reviews say before investing time.

What are your thoughts about M. Night Shyamalan’s latest? Perhaps you’re more hopeful than I am after watching the above trailer.

Hayley Mills, Marnie McPhail, Vanessa Smythe, Ariel Donoghue, Malik Jubal, Jonathan Langdon and Peter D’Souza also star.

Trap Release Dates: August 9th, 2024 (UK)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi

A QUIET PLACE – DAY ONE (2024): New Trailer Starring Lupita Nyong’o, Djimon Hounsou, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff…

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A Quiet Place - Day One (2024), Djimon Hounsou, Lupita Nyong'o, Paramount Pictures
A Quiet Place – Day One (2024), Djimon Hounsou, Lupita Nyong’o, Paramount Pictures

A Quiet Place – Day One follows writer/director John Krasinski’s drama/horror/sci-fi hits, A Quiet Place (2018) and A Quiet Place Part 2 (2020).

Co-written by Krasinski and directed this time by Michael Sarnoski; we finally get to learn about what happened the day the world went quiet.

I love that I had absolutely no idea this was on the way, let alone that it would star an actor as magnetic as Nyong’o.

I may end up terrified, but I’m ready for the action, story, visual effects, and hopefully answers to questions many A Quiet Place fans have had since the first movie.

Also, it’s still only month two, but 2024 is looking good for the volume of movies I’m excited about this year. Will you be watching to see if Nyong’o’s character makes it through?

Alexander John, Elijah Ungvary, Jennifer Woodward, Mark Khan, Zay Domo Artist, Jonathan Sparrow and Cain Aiden also star.

A Quiet Place – Day One Release Dates: June 28th, 2024 (US & UK)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

Horror, Thriller

ABIGAIL (2024): New Trailer Starring Melissa Barrera, Kathryn Newton, Angus Cloud, Dan Stevens, Alisha Weir…

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A rather rude awakening is what happens to a group of criminals who decide to kidnap a powerful underworld figure’s ballerina daughter.

Starring Kathryn Newton, Dan Stevens, Angus Cloud, Melissa Barrera, Alisha Weir and Giancarlo Esposito; the criminal group retreats to an isolated mansion, while fully unaware of what’s just around the corner.

I want to say that I’m going to watch Abigail because this trailer amused and surprised me, but I can’t promise anything since I love a peaceful nightmare-less sleep. Still, that was quite the turn, wasn’t it?

What do you think of this trailer? I’d actually like to meet the rest of Abigail’s family (only onscreen, of course).

Also, why do I suddenly think that Giancarlo Esposito’s character knows something the rest of the criminals don’t?

Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett; Giancarlo Esposito, Kevin Durand and William Catlett also star.

Abigail Release Dates: April 19th, 2024 (US)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

Comedy, Fantasy, Horror

RENFIELD (2023): New Trailer From Nicolas Cage, Nicholas Hoult, Ben Schwartz, Awkwafina…

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Starring Nicholas Hoult, Nicolas Cage, Ben Schwartz and Awkwafina; the trailer for director Chris McKay’s comedy/fantasy/horror Renfield is here.

The very promising story follows Renfield, the tortured aide to Dracula, history’s most narcissistic boss. 

After centuries of servitude, Renfield is now ready to see if there is life outside the shadow of The Prince of Darkness.

I like this angle on the Dracula story, especially considering that it’s a comedy. 

As for Hoult’s involvement, first he was ‘R’ in Warm Bodies (2013) and now he is Renfield. I just realised that, for me, there’s something about Hoult in ghostly face makeup that makes his characters that much more intriguing. I’m sure it’s more about his prowess at portraying vulnerability, or his facial features rather than the white face paint that draw me in. Either way, I’m excited and ready for the fun dialogue plus action that Renfield is promising to serve up. 

It will certainly be interesting to see the clever solution that Renfield settles on to end this unpleasant phase of his working life. Let’s collectively wish the poor chap a lot of luck, along with thoughts and prayers.

Shohreh Aghdashloo, Ben Schwartz, Brandon Scott Jones, Jenna Kanell, Caroline Williams, Adrian Martinez, Joshua Mikel, Choppy Guillotte, Dave Davis, Gissette Valentin, Taylor Shurte and Bess Rous also star.

Happy Film Loving

G

Comedy, Horror, No Spoiler Reviews, Thriller

THE MENU (2022): The Things I Liked…

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There are many good things about director Mark Mylod’s comedy/horror/thriller, The Menu. 

The cast is fantastic, and the performances faultless, which makes sense since one can hardly go wrong with John Leguizamo, Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Feinnes, Hong Chau, Janet McTeer and Nicholas Hoult on the same call sheet. Especially considering the delightfully rhythmic dialogue plus the unexpected twists and turns.

Mylod’s story about a young couple who travel to a remote island to eat at an exclusive restaurant, but end up faced with shocking surprises is fun and will leave you with plenty to talk about afterwards.

The topics I had to discuss immediately once the end credits rolled included Anya Taylor-Joy’s Margot character being my favourite. I enjoyed Margot’s disposition and every word that came out of her mouth. Hong Chau’s Elsa is also fun for similar reasons to Margot, but undoubtedly in part because of her memorable outfit.

The Menu (2022), Anya Taylor-Joy, Searchlight Pictures
The Menu (2022), Anya Taylor-Joy, Searchlight Pictures

The Menu does well at keeping the audience far from comfortable from the beginning because of the mystery surrounding what the evening has in store for both the audience and the characters. Yet, the part-horror characterisation is not nightmare-inducing. What it is, is a memorable movie experience.

I’m convinced that The Menu might have benefited from being a mini-series rather than a feature film. Specifically because some moments felt inadequately fleshed out, resulting in my inability to buy into a handful of the decisions made by some characters.

Admittedly, I also eventually tired of Feinnes’s Chef Slowik character, distinctly how his pretentious and subsequently unlikable qualities manifest when he demands the attention of his guests.

Watch The Menu because it’s fun. Lastly, the things it gets right will probably leave you feeling glad that the movie exists. 

Happy Film Loving

G

Horror, Mystery, Thriller

KNOCK AT THE CABIN (2023): New Trailer From M. Night Shyamalan, Starring Dave Bautista, Kristen Cui, Ben Aldridge, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Jonathan Groff…

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Knock At The Cabin (2023), Kristen Cui, Paramount Pictures
Knock At The Cabin (2023), Kristen Cui, Paramount Pictures

Dave Bautista, Kristen Cui, Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge and Nikki Amuka-Bird are the cast of Knock at the Cabin, the latest horror/mystery/thriller from M. Night Shyamalan.

At the centre of the story of a young family taken hostage by armed strangers. Strangers who demand the family decide what they believe, in order to make an unthinkable decision.

I’ve seen this trailer approximately four times now, and the one thing that has stayed consistent regarding my thoughts is how wonderful a young actor Kristen Cui, the young girl in this movie, seems to be.

Another thing that hasn’t changed with each viewing is how promising it all seems. That is until towards the end when Bautista’s character says: ‘…Your family has been chosen to make a horrible decision. If you fail to choose, the world will end.’

After all that engaging mystery, I’m sad to say that I find myself disappointed by this seemingly simplistic and somewhat underwhelming turn of events. I’m very likely judging far too soon, of course, and I may just have tired of the ‘or the world will end.’ However, there is Shyamalan’s reputation, which most certainly precedes him.

What are your feelings about this trailer? Is it time for a good Shyamalan movie? Fingers crossed that I’m way off – and Knock at the Cabin turns out to be great.

Abby Quinn, Jerry Lobrow, William Ragsdale, Clare Louise Frost, Kat Murphy, Debbie Lay, Satomi Hofmann, McKenna Kerrigan, Mike Wilson, Michael J. Kraycik, Scott Vogel and Brian Foreman also star.

Knock at the Cabin Release Dates: February 3rd, 2023 (US & UK)…

Happy Film Loving

G

Drama, Horror, No Spoiler Reviews, Thriller

NANNY (2022): The Things I Liked…

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Nanny (2022), Anna Diop, Prime Video
Nanny (2022), Anna Diop, Prime Video

Sometimes you watch a movie that tells its story so refreshingly well, that you want to talk to someone about it immediately. You want to discuss the parts that thrilled, delighted and surprised you. But then you remember that you watched the movie all by yourself, which means that unless you want to strike up a conversation with the stranger next to you once the credits roll, you cannot. You also remember that you write spoiler-free movie reviews; meaning you still can’t mention the most fun specific details.

Written/directed by Nikyatu Jusu; the film in question that proved to be a rather pleasant surprise is Nanny; a drama/horror/thriller starring Anna Diop, Michelle Monaghan, Sinqua Walls and Leslie Uggams.

Nanny tells the story of Aisha, a Senegalese immigrant who takes care of the child of an Upper East Side American family. As Aisha goes about her days working and trying to piece together a life of her own in New York City, she starts having some not-so-easily explainable experiences.

I’ve mentioned a few times before that I don’t typically watch scary movies, particularly since a peaceful nightmare-free sleep is one of my favourite things. The great news here is that Nanny is more creepy than scary. It features well-executed special effects that I appreciated, even more, when the impressive reveal at the end came to light. There are beautiful shots, great lighting and a generally well-structured story to enjoy. One that hints perfectly at what is to come, but without spoiling the very worth-it ending.

I say give Nanny a chance and let the story surprise you. Though not perfect, mostly because of the rushed last five minutes, it’s certainly in the top two of my favourite movies I watched at the BFI London Film Festival this October.

Nanny Release Dates: 23rd November 2022 (Limited theatre release, US); 25th November 2022 (Limited cinema release, UK); Amazon Prime Video release, 16th December 2022 (US)…

Happy Film Loving

G