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The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020)
The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020)
2020 | Comedy, Horror
Brilliant film!
Where do I start, I personally don't have a problem with low budget films, especially qwerky comedy/horror's like this one. It all started when a young man stayed awake to see what his babysitter got upto whilst he sleeps, turns out the hot fun babysitter called Bee (better known as samara weaving who played a brilliant rill in the comedy horror ready or not!) is part of a blood cult, a deal with the devil and tries to perform a ritual but this scared kid reeks havoc as he tried to escape them because no one is to know what happened that night.

With this well made film, 2 years later it goes back to see how his life is now since then, no. 2 offers good twists and I was happy to see they used all the same actors! In this sequel there is plenty of blood gore and comedy to keep you entertained. Definitely one to watch if you enjoyed the first one this will not disappoint.
  
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Dean (6927 KP) Sep 14, 2020

I found it very disappointing, not a patch on the first one.

Miss Sloane (2016)
Miss Sloane (2016)
2016 | Mystery
9
8.0 (3 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Elizabeth Sloane (Jessica Chastain) is one of the most sought-after lobbyists in Washington, D.C. In Miss Sloane, she represents clients on both domestic and international issues ranging from environment and ecological concerns like palm oil to more volatile topics as 2nd Amendment issues.

At a point, Elizabeth sees a crossroads on the horizon and leaves her prestigious firm to take up the fight for gun control with a much smaller firm with less resources, money, and personnel. She is not necessarily “fighting the good fight,” rather, she wants to prove that she can win.

Winning, to her, is all that matters. It matters more than the issues and clients she represents. It matters more than any relationships that she could foster throughout her career. Winning, and her legacy as a winner, is what matters.

The film is a simple approach to something that is sorely needed in the film world outside of the realm of sci-fi: a strong female lead character. Elizabeth is a cut throat lobbyist who is focused on her end goal. In pursuing her outcomes, she sees people as obstacles that she must either maneuver around or go through.

She presents an image that she is a cold, calculating megalomaniacal individual. When behind closed doors, the audience is able to see who she really is: human. Elizabeth finds herself stuck in a world of deception, power, and money. She doesn’t know how to escape in one piece. In fact, she doesn’t know how to escape. Her identity is wrapped up into her profession.

Her reputation is what draws people in and keeps others at bay. When she undergoes a congressional hearing about regulations violations, she finds out how easily this empire that she built could crumble down, or, at least, that is what she lets others think.

The film is strong in its approach to a world that much of the audience is only familiar with during election years as candidates rail against lobbying or are exposed for their close connections to these organizations.

It is not overly ambitious nor does it dumb down the material and dialogue to offer a sense of “universal appeal.” The intrigue will keep audiences fully focused on speculating as to what her next move will be in trying to outmaneuver everyone who seems to be opposed to her.

Her rivals, as well as the audience, will be captivated to the end. Miss Sloane is a political thriller that rivals films like All the President’s Men and The Candidate. It doesn’t disappoint.
  
Tell Me How it Ends: An Essay in Forty Questions
Tell Me How it Ends: An Essay in Forty Questions
Valeria Luiselli | 2017 | Philosophy, Psychology & Social Sciences
10
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
A human portrait of child migrants
With the world being shaped by migration, this essay comes at a timely fashion. Exploring the nuances of this reality, Valeria Luiselli, a skilful and gifted Mexican writer knows the migratory experience first-hand having travelled across the globe. This compassionate, short book finds her in a head-on confrontation with daily reality.

Based on her experiences working as an interpreter for dozens of Central American child migrants, she speaks to those who risked their lives crossing Mexico to escape their fraught existence back home. To stay in the US, each must be vetted by the Citizenship and Immigration Services, a vast, impersonal bureaucracy. It's her job to help these kids, but in order to do so, they must answer 40 questions that will determine their fate.

The truth about the crossing may be much more brutal in reality, with 80% of women and girls who cross from Mexico to the US being raped, hence some of the children appear evasive when answering questions. But this book is fueled, in no small part, by Luiselli's bottles up shame and rage. She's aghast at the gap between American ideals and the way they actually treat undocumented children, yet her writing is measured and fair-minded.

Luiselli takes us inside the grand dream of migration, offering the valuable reminder that exceedingly few immigrants abandon their past and brave death to come to America for dark or nasty reasons. Fantastic read.
  
Halloween (2018)
Halloween (2018)
2018 | Horror
Not bad, but another unnecessary sequel
The biggest question I had about this film, was did we really need another Halloween sequel? The answer is sadly a no.

They’ve at least had the common sense to completely erase all references to the other sequels, which was definitely a smart move. And getting Jamie Lee Curtis back was another good choice. I’m not going to lie, hearing the original Halloween theme music back on the big screen gave me the creeps, but in a good way. It’s just a shame that the majority of this film is a bit cliched and formulaic. It was easy to predict how the film was going to progress and who’d survive at the end, and having Michael escape in a prison bus transfer is so cliched it was painful.

There are some creepy moments in this, mainly for me around Michael's willingness to kill anyone in sight and a few jump scares. There’s also a fair amount of blood and gore too which was very much welcome. It was good to see some strong female characters in this and the subject of PTSD raised as well. The most overwhelming feeling I had watching this film was boredom. Apart from when Michael was on screen, which didn’t seem to be often enough, I found a lot of the other scenes a bit tedious and boring and the ending seemed rushed and was a bit of a letdown.
  
Show all 5 comments.
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Lee (2222 KP) Oct 24, 2018

Just leaving the cinema. Really enjoyed it! ?

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Andy K (10823 KP) Oct 24, 2018

Glad to hear it!

Saw (2004)
Saw (2004)
2004 | Horror
The first Saw film has become tarnished over the years, due to the relentless shit filled wave of increasingly torturous (both for the audience and the characters) sequels, when really, Saw is a relatively low budget but super tight thriller.

The premise of a serial killer who kidnaps people who don't appreciate life itself, puts them in a dire situation, but gives them a chance to escape if they fight hard enough for it, is one that is intriguing, and captured the imagination of thousands - Jigsaw has since become an iconic horror antagonist.
The unlucky victims first time around are played by Cary Elwes and writer Leigh Whannell.
The two of them are situated in a very minimalist setting. It's grimy and nasty. Director James Wan works wonders with what little he has in that respect.
The cast also includes Danny Glover, which is always a win in my book.

The gore on show in Saw is pretty minimal compared to what's to come, but what we do see is effective and was just right - coupled with a plot that keeps the audience guessing until the final minute, it was enough to get everyone talking back in 2004.
And that ending absolutely shattered me on first watch. An iconic 'Gotcha!' moment for the ages.

Saw is a genuinely decent horror thriller and a rewarding experience for those that like a good twist. Just a shame about those sequels!