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Lee (2222 KP) rated Rose: A Love Story (2020) in Movies
Oct 14, 2020
Married couple Sam (Matt Stokoe) and Rose (Sophie Rundle) are living a quiet, simple life in a remote woodland farmhouse. While Rose spends her days indoors, tapping out a novel on a typewriter, Sam is out in the peaceful, snow-covered woods, setting traps and hunting animals. But, right from the outset, it’s clear that this is anything but a relaxing couples retreat.
As Sam cautiously goes about his work, rifle in hand, it’s obvious that he is alert and on edge, flinching at the slightest sounds that come from beyond the trees. Persistent, ominous music also informs us that something isn't quite right and succeeds in putting us quickly on edge too. And when Sam does return to the farmhouse, we learn that Rose has been locked inside, with all the windows boarded up, only the slightest slivers of light entering the gloomy rooms.
Sam and Rose are clearly a couple in love, their actions and conversations appearing genuine and normal. But occasionally the topic of conversation veers towards the unusual, and we continue to be drip-fed even more sinister clues as to what’s actually going on in their lives. When Rose cuts herself while preparing dinner, black veins pulse throughout her finger. Meanwhile, Sam heads off to an ultraviolet-lit room, where he attaches leeches to his body, casually sitting to read a book while they set to work, gorging on his blood. When the couple head outside for a walk one night, Rose wears a face mask while Sam doesn’t. And she talks of “a poison inside her”. You have a fairly good idea of what's going on, but the answers to any questions you have don't come easy, and we're constantly left guessing at which direction the movie is going to take.
Jennifer Sheridan’s feature directorial debut has a wonderfully claustrophobic feel to it, perfectly capturing the feeling of isolation against the beautiful backdrop of a Welsh forest in Winter. Questions hang throughout - how did Rose get this way, what kind of life did the couple lead beforehand, what actually is this illness doing or going to do to her? We're kept in suspense throughout and even when a young runaway called Amber stumbles across the couple, and stays with them overnight, the answers still don’t come easy. Amber just has to accept the fact that Sam is dropping his trousers in front of her in order to attach leeches to himself. And that she must sleep with the ultraviolet light on in her room...
As we neared the very end of the movie, I began to wonder if any of those answers would ever come, or if we would be left to make our own minds up. But thankfully a quick and frantic last-minute change of pace changed all of that, and still managed to end on something of a cliffhanger!
Writer Matt Stokoe (who also plays Sam) says of ‘Rose’ that while watching traditional vampire movies he was struck by the macabre, horror aspects of the vampire genre and the general avoidance of emotional depth shown in the figure of the ‘monster’. The result of his observations is a beautifully simple movie that focuses more on the love of a married couple than the monster that threatens to overpower their relationship. Sam shows that he will do anything for Rose as they struggle with her life-altering illness. Theirs is indeed a true love story.
As Sam cautiously goes about his work, rifle in hand, it’s obvious that he is alert and on edge, flinching at the slightest sounds that come from beyond the trees. Persistent, ominous music also informs us that something isn't quite right and succeeds in putting us quickly on edge too. And when Sam does return to the farmhouse, we learn that Rose has been locked inside, with all the windows boarded up, only the slightest slivers of light entering the gloomy rooms.
Sam and Rose are clearly a couple in love, their actions and conversations appearing genuine and normal. But occasionally the topic of conversation veers towards the unusual, and we continue to be drip-fed even more sinister clues as to what’s actually going on in their lives. When Rose cuts herself while preparing dinner, black veins pulse throughout her finger. Meanwhile, Sam heads off to an ultraviolet-lit room, where he attaches leeches to his body, casually sitting to read a book while they set to work, gorging on his blood. When the couple head outside for a walk one night, Rose wears a face mask while Sam doesn’t. And she talks of “a poison inside her”. You have a fairly good idea of what's going on, but the answers to any questions you have don't come easy, and we're constantly left guessing at which direction the movie is going to take.
Jennifer Sheridan’s feature directorial debut has a wonderfully claustrophobic feel to it, perfectly capturing the feeling of isolation against the beautiful backdrop of a Welsh forest in Winter. Questions hang throughout - how did Rose get this way, what kind of life did the couple lead beforehand, what actually is this illness doing or going to do to her? We're kept in suspense throughout and even when a young runaway called Amber stumbles across the couple, and stays with them overnight, the answers still don’t come easy. Amber just has to accept the fact that Sam is dropping his trousers in front of her in order to attach leeches to himself. And that she must sleep with the ultraviolet light on in her room...
As we neared the very end of the movie, I began to wonder if any of those answers would ever come, or if we would be left to make our own minds up. But thankfully a quick and frantic last-minute change of pace changed all of that, and still managed to end on something of a cliffhanger!
Writer Matt Stokoe (who also plays Sam) says of ‘Rose’ that while watching traditional vampire movies he was struck by the macabre, horror aspects of the vampire genre and the general avoidance of emotional depth shown in the figure of the ‘monster’. The result of his observations is a beautifully simple movie that focuses more on the love of a married couple than the monster that threatens to overpower their relationship. Sam shows that he will do anything for Rose as they struggle with her life-altering illness. Theirs is indeed a true love story.
Dean (6927 KP) rated The Handmaid's Tale - Season 1 in TV
Dec 18, 2017 (Updated Aug 14, 2018)
Disturbing vision of the near future
Finally got around to watching this series after seeing very high reviews for it. I haven't read the book and didn't know anything about the story beforehand. It's an interesting if dark and disturbing vision of western society being taken back a couple of hundred years. I did find some of the mid season episodes a bit slow and less dramatic at times. Overall though an excellent series.
Jason Smith (9 KP) rated Suicide Squad (2016) in Movies
Apr 29, 2017
New installment to the DCverse (1 more)
Lot of action
Too much too fast
I really wanted to like this movie but there was just too much going on and too much introduced too quick. I feel like this movie would have been a better movie a few years from now after a couple Standalone characters have had their movie. They tried to capitalize on the Batman v. Superman movie but ended up losing the point.
Mothergamer (1637 KP) rated Assassin's Creed Syndicate in Video Games
Aug 1, 2017
Good game mechanics with the battle system (1 more)
Good story
Free run still needs a bit of work (1 more)
A couple of missions are frustrating due to odd camera angles
Great Game
Great game. The game mechanics are much better here and the story is fantastic. Being able to switch between the two main characters makes it incredibly interesting. The story is pretty good as well.
Read the full Mother Gamer review here: http://lorrie28-mothergamer.blogspot.com/2016/01/assassins-creed-syndicate-and-jack.html
Read the full Mother Gamer review here: http://lorrie28-mothergamer.blogspot.com/2016/01/assassins-creed-syndicate-and-jack.html
Micah Ulibarri (79 KP) rated Greg Davies: You Magnificent Beast in TV
Apr 28, 2018
Funny, but filthy
I've never heard of Greg Davies before. I have been enjoying British comedians from Netflix specials so I thought I'd give it a go.
It is pretty funny if at times so filthy that it's hard to get really into it. To jokes about his mother's sexual experiences to a furry sight gag, the subject matter is pretty raunchy.
Granted he does have a couple decent attempts at positive motivational moments.
Generally speaking I lughed, but not a lot.
It is pretty funny if at times so filthy that it's hard to get really into it. To jokes about his mother's sexual experiences to a furry sight gag, the subject matter is pretty raunchy.
Granted he does have a couple decent attempts at positive motivational moments.
Generally speaking I lughed, but not a lot.
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated Industrial Magic (Women of the Otherworld, #4) in Books
Feb 15, 2019
While I liked Paige's previous book a tad better, this still offered a fun-filled trip with some past characters (and new ones!) and a good plot. I like that these past two books have been lighter fare than the first couple. Also, I like and relate more to Paige than Elena, so that's always nice. Overall, it's made me want to read again, even if it's just the others in the Women of the Otherworld books, and for that, I'm grateful.
Andrew Lucas (4 KP) rated What Do You Meme? in Tabletop Games
Mar 16, 2019
One of my favorite party games!
Played with some roommates and had a great time the first couple times we played. But after a few games the images got old and repetitive. We fixed this by printing out images of some funny pictures we had of ourselves and it was so much more fun than the first time we played!
Obsessed book reviews (49 KP) rated Alpha Men After Dark: Box Set in Books
Mar 31, 2019
fantastic read
This is a set of four books, 1. Splash, 2. Captured, 3. Steam heat and 4. Hot spices. This series of books are all extremely hot, intense, sweet and they have no cliff hanger endings. Each book is very well written with exceptional lovable characters. Each book will have you hooked from the first page till the end. Each couple have amazing chemistry between them.
Highly recommended box set
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book
www.obsessedbookreviews.blogspot.com
Highly recommended box set
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book
www.obsessedbookreviews.blogspot.com
Jeremy Riggs (7 KP) rated The Reckoning in Books
Apr 20, 2019
ArecRain (8 KP) rated Her Sexy Challenge in Books
Jan 18, 2018
ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I would be a liar if I said I didnt have a soft spot for firefighters. As cliche as it sounds, its a trope I typically enjoy. Her Sexy Challenge did not disappoint. Humourous, hot, and a couple with tons of chemistry, this novel as an enjoyable read the contemporary romance lovers wont want to pass up. A well rounded novel, I am already looking forward to more from this series.
I would be a liar if I said I didnt have a soft spot for firefighters. As cliche as it sounds, its a trope I typically enjoy. Her Sexy Challenge did not disappoint. Humourous, hot, and a couple with tons of chemistry, this novel as an enjoyable read the contemporary romance lovers wont want to pass up. A well rounded novel, I am already looking forward to more from this series.