Category Archives: Mystery

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, Mystery, Thriller

FAIR PLAY (2023): New Trailer Starring Phoebe Dynevor, Alden Ehrenreich, Eddie Marsan…

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A cutthroat hedge fund is the setting of new Netflix drama/mystery/thriller Fair Play, and what’s at stake is plenty, including a young couple’s engagement. 

From writer/director Chloe Domont; Fair Play stars Alden Ehrenreich, Phoebe Dynevor (Bridgerton (2020) and Eddie Marsan.

The part-mystery categorisation has me wondering about the games at play here, and precisely who is playing them. I’m looking forward to the performances and how it all unravels.

Also, considering the age of the couple in question, it’s unlikely they’ll communicate as well as they ideally need to, for a relationship predicament as tricky as this one.

Lastly, how good does this look as an example for HR departments to share with staff to deter inter-office relationships? 

Rich Sommer, Sebastian De Souza, Sia Alipour, Brandon Bassir, Jamie Wilkes, Geraldine Somerville, Patrick Fischler, Laurel Lefkow, Buck Braithwaite, Jim Sturgeon and J. Pace also star.

Fair Play Release Dates: October 13th, Netflix

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, Mystery

GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S CABINET OF CURIOSITIES (2022): New Trailer Starring Ben Barnes, Sofia Boutella, Geena Davis, Andrew Lincoln, Rupert Grint…

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Celebrated horror writer/director Guillermo del Toro has a new offering for us; an anthology of sinister stories. Stories told by some of today’s most revered horror creators, including the directors of The Babadook, Splice, Mandy, and many more.

Drama/horror/mystery, Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities stars, to name just a few, Ben Barnes, Sofia Boutella, Geena Davis, Andrew Lincoln and Rupert Grint.

The fact that I liked quite a few things about Crimson Peak (2015), the last Guillermo del Toro film I saw is the reason I’m most interested in Cabinet of Curiosities. I’m equally curious about the very promising visual effects.

However, the main reason my viewing of Cabinet of Curiosities is likely to start and end with this trailer is due to the fact that horror is not one of my go-to genres. You know, since I enjoy a restful night of sleep. The other reason is I’m not interested in being fully grossed out, which, based on the visuals above, is a more than likely event.

How curious are you about Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities? Perhaps nightmares are fun for you, yes?

Ismael Cruz Cordova, Ish Morris, DJ Qualls, Tim Blake Nelson, Ben Barnes, Nia Vardalos, F. Murray Abraham, Lize Johnston, Kevin Keppy, Martin Starr, Kevin Keppy, Lize Johnston and Megan Many also star.

Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities Release Dates: October 25th, 2022 (US & UK)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

Horror, Mystery, No Spoiler Reviews, Sci-Fi

NOPE (2022): The Things I Liked…

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Nope (2022), Daniel Kaluuya, Brandon Perea, Keke Palmer, Universal Pictures
Nope (2022), Daniel Kaluuya, Brandon Perea, Keke Palmer, Universal Pictures

I would love to say that Nope is one of my favourite movies of 2022, but that wouldn’t be true. Director Jordan Peele’s third film, following Get Out (2017) and Us (2019), truly tested my patience so much that I came close to giving up on it.

It wasn’t until the fifty-five-minute mark that things changed. I was finally fully engaged and excited about what was happening in Peele’s horror/mystery/sci-fi film about the uncanny, chilling and undoubtedly alien events in an inland California gulch.

The cinematography of Nope is one of its key highlights. Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer’s performances were two more high points. There was a point or two when I wanted Palmer’s character to speak less. Still, what I loved most about Nope is the sibling connection between Kaluuya and Palmer’s characters. A pleasing dynamic that happens to shine through even more after the aforementioned fifty-five-minute mark

As for the question of whether to watch Nope or not, that depends on your patience levels. It also depends on how big of a Peele fan you are. And, lastly, your curiosity about everything that happens after fifty-five minutes. 

I can’t say I completely forgive Peele for the slow half of the movie, just because I enjoyed the second half a lot more. But, I can say that I am somewhat less mad. 

Have you seen Nope? If so, what did you like most and least about it?

Happy Film Loving 

G

Horror, Mystery, No Spoiler Reviews, Thriller

US (2019): The Things I Liked…

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What to say about Us? It had its moments, several that were perfectly engaging. However, there were some scenes I wish had gone differently. 

Starring Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss and Tim Heidecker, I enjoyed much of the mystery in Jordan Peele’s horror/mystery/thriller about a family whose beach holiday takes a terrorising turn, thanks to the arrival of their doppelgängers. It’s just unfortunate that a little bit of that enjoyment disappeared when I realised I’d guessed a crucial element of the story within the first ten minutes.

Other moments that convinced me I’m not enjoying Us as much as I did Get Out (2017) include the feeling that Nyong’o’s doppelgänger has far too much dialogue. Another is the taking of young Evan Alex’s character towards the end. Now, I’m sure that parents get distracted in extraordinary circumstances. Nevertheless, that specific taking felt as though it happened far too conveniently for my liking.

Even with the above considered, there’s no taking away from the brilliant performances by the entire cast. I especially found Winston Duke’s character quite entertaining. 

For me, Peele is still great at creating a perfectly uncomfortable atmosphere that’s very difficult to look away from, even if, in the case of Us, the social commentary doesn’t quite land as neatly. 

You’ve probably already watched Us, but if you haven’t and you’re curious. Plus you enjoyed Get Out, then give Us a chance. 

Happy Film Loving

G

Horror, Mystery, Thriller

NOPE (2022): New Trailer From Jordan Peele, Starring Daniel Kaluuya, Steven Yeun, Barbie Ferreira, Keke Palmer…

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Read my spoiler-free movie review of  Nope (2022).

Isn’t it great when a promising trailer from one of your favourite directors lands when you weren’t expecting it?

The director is Jordan Peele and the movie is Nope. A scary but fun-looking horror/mystery/thriller starring Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun and Barbie Ferreira.

The question going through my mind right now is ‘What kind of terrifying ride, likely involving aliens is this story about to take us on?’ I want to find out. I’m in for the special effects and to discover whether we’ll even get to see the entity causing all the terror.

‘What’s a bad miracle? They got a word for that?‘

I just love the above words and the way Kaluuya’s character delivers them, with that perfectly placed pause in the middle.

Jennifer Lafleur, Brandon Perea, Michael Wincott, Donna Mills, Terry Notary, Sophia Coto, Ryan W. Garcia, Andrew Patrick Ralston and Gloria Cole also star.

Nope Release Dates: July 22nd, 2022 (US)…

Happy Film Loving

G

Horror, Mystery, Thriller

SCREAM (2022): New Trailer From Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, Jenna Ortega, Marley Shelton…

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Director Wes Craven’s 1996 horror movie hit Scream has a new instalment.

Directed this time by Matt Bettinelli-Olpinand Tyler Gillett, Scream 2022 sees the return of Courtney Cox, Neve Campbell and David Arquette, along with new faces including Jenna Ortega and Marley Shelton.

This new story has Sidney Prescott (Campbell), one of the survivors of the original Scream movies returning to her home town; a place where a masked killer has been committing a fresh batch of vicious crimes.

Scream is one of the movies that made me realise that slasher horror films are the kind of scary movies that don’t give me nightmares. As such, I’m watching this, in part for the nostalgia and to find out if this too feels as ‘made for me‘ as the original.

I plan to get happily lost in the story, and hopefully not end up missing all the great characters in the first film. Especially those played by Matthew Lillard, Skeet Ulrich and of course, Drew Barrymore, in th eperfect blond bob.

Will you be watching this new Scream movie, rewatching the 1996 Scream or both?

Melissa Barrera, Dylan Minnette, Jack Quaid, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Sonia Ammar, Mikey Madison, Mason Gooding and Kyle Gallner also star.

Scream Release Dates: January 14th, 2022 (US & UK)…

Happy Film Loving

G