A Quiet Place film review Chris Hembury

A Quiet Place ****

Real life Couple Emily Blunt and John Korsinski, who also writes and Directs star in the quietest horrors you’ll see all year… A Quiet Place.
In the not so distant future the world has been overrun by monsters that use noise to hunt and kill. In the midst of this nightmarish world a family are trying to survive.

That’s basically the story, there’s no overruling goal or MacGuffin it’s gently paced mature Horror that works harder than most others in the genre to deliver this fresh narrative spin. Not unlike Don’t Breathe where teenagers had to evade a blind killer here it’s a filmmaking experiment of making noise scary and it works.

In a world that any noise could mean your sudden gruesome death you know A Quiet Place

may be a quiet film but that’s trick the silence is almost intermittently erupted into a multitude of jump scares that keep things from getting dull. The jump scare tradition has become a bit of a Hollywood reliance where as here I think the film could have got away without based on the strong script.

The script (which nearly joined the Cloverfield universe apparently in it’s original pitch) was also co written by Krasinski it keeps things tight and has some nice horror moments and a very good third act ties things up. The attention to detail with the monsters is also well done as they are genuinely gruesome and not something you want meet in an ally.

The film starts with a shock which sets the tone making it apparent that anyone could be for monster lunch which keeps tensions high. Potentially the three writers behind this may have social services checking on them after watching the film as the children are really put through the mill from word go from peril to peril. And with Emily Blunt’s Character heavily pregnant a prime target there’s really no end to the danger with the stakes high.

The story focuses on the human survival element entirely with very little on the background of the story in other films it works well but here it almost feels like a loose end aside from the odd newspaper clippings we have don’t get much information on the origins of the downfall of global society which seems incredibly vague. It’s also bewildering to conceive with the might of the world’s military technology that no one could make a good enough attempt to stop these creatures. It actually never ever pops up in conversation (Or should I say Sign language) what happened, how and where the human is heading which with such a high concept back story seems a little unrealistic.

These are little points within a film that ultimately is a great success which brings freshness and originality to the horror genre that should be celebrated and Krasinski has done that here with gentile and precise direction showing his skill behind the camera as well.

Ghost Stories Film Review by Chris Hembury

Ghost Stories **

A host of British Talent are getting their scare on in this Brit Ghost Flick.  

A investigator is summoned by a dying fellow professional to take over three cases that he could never solve during his career and convinced him of the existence of the paranormal.

The biggest problem for the film is the ghost stories aren’t actually that scary or memorable.  

 The film never really elevates past jumps or shocks that haven’t been much better executed in the likes of modern horrors like The Conjuring or stylish TV horror’s like Sky One’s TV series The Enfield Haunting .

This is a play adaption which explains the simplistic plot structure investigating three horror cases, each bigger than the last until a twisty ending. That in the Theater as originally intended would have been satisfying, this adapted for British Television could have been equally as successfully formatted.

 There simply doesn’t seem to be enough original groundbreaking content to elevate this above the massive horror competition out there.

Ghost Stories is no Exorcist or Blair Witch but in terms of Brit Horrors it’s neither The Wicker Man, 28 Days Later or The Woman In Black it fails to rise above the competition.

A good cast in particular Martin Freeman give their all but it’s not enough to raise the bar here with a twist ending that’s no Sixth Sense nor that satisfying to make the film that memorable.  

Ready Player One *****

In 2045 the world has become cramped with people living in mass slums but there is an alternative to the depressing reality called The Oasis a virtual reality where you can be or do whatever you want.

The creator of The Oasis has passed away and in his wake left three keys in the virtual reality that can be obtained by winning games and solving glues. Once someone has all three keys The Oasis will be there’s to control and run.

An epic battle ensues between a large corporate ruthless company and a young player from the slums to win the game and save The Oasis.

The story and characters are engaging and sfx wise you truly do not get much more cinematic than Ready Player One. If you are only to watch one film in the cinema this month catch this.

If there was such thing as Spielberg Magical Glitter it’s been poured all over the screen bringing fantasy, comedy, adventure and excitement into a futuristic action film that oozes 80s nostalgia in a truly joyous way.   

In fact the way the film draws so many references from the 80s and incorporates them into the story is remarkable effective vibe to the coolness of driving the DeLorean from Back to the Future to scary interaction from The Shining one of the craziest sequences. 

Original, epic and Spielberg who’s about to become is own genre.  

Mom and Dad Review by Chris Hembury

Mom and Dad **

Nicolas Cage and Selma Blair star in this deeply dark Black Comedy about a wide spread epidemic that causes parents to murder their children.

The film moves round themes starting with zombie style like spread set up that builds tensions, then relocates to a simple horror house set up, then zig zags into a middle age melodrama then back to horror.

The parents trying to kill their loving children is a darkly bizarre comedic exercise that is so crazy it provides originality to the format but the film also provides touching black flashes indicating that real life unconscious resentment and mid life depression of missed opportunities.

One thing is certain Nicolas Cage acting in this resembles that of a untied balloon zooming across the room in any and every direction with no restraint, rhythm or coordination. The saving grace is it fits the film but still this is lunacy acting to bizarre new heights.          

The back flashes are tender to a point and start to mold the story to a deeper level but the script ultimately doesn’t land all the punches or really land a decent outcome worthy of the set up. 

Red Sparrow Film Review Chris Hembury

Red Sparrow ***

Jennifer Lawrence stars as the Russian Dancer forced into the spy world and most undergo the ruthless training to become a Red Sparrow.

Red Sparrow is similar to Spectre in terms both are very big full blockbusters, Spectre felt like it was based on book and could have used a good hour chopping off. Red Sparrow however was based a book and very loyally adapted for the screen which does create a long running time but certainly fits in a considerable amount.

In order to become a Red Sparrow the training is intense, demanding and requires using your body as a tool for seduction of whatever sex to psychological and psychically infiltrate your target.    

Jennifer Lawrence gives her all in the physical intensive part showing her skills as a actress and reconfirming her popularity as the face of this Blockbuster.

It’s a film of two halves which the first a origin story of her rise from dancer to hard core spy and the second is the mission that drives the story as she most dig out a American spy to find a Russian Mole whilst trying to escape her own new life she’s been forced into.

The attention to detail is nice in the film but the run time is some what of a slog dragging the plot in many different directions but a very tidy finale with twists and turns neatens the proceedings leaving you with a satisfying conclusion to the film. 

I, Tonya *** Film Review Chris Hembury

I, Tonya ***

I, Tonya tells the true life story of the American Ice Skating champion Tonya Harding, her raise to fame and her downfall.

The film is really, proudly and unapologetically true grit story telling. Tonya Harding (Margot Robbie) is a product of her environment and that environment is toxic because of the hard hitting, abusive, chain smoking, drinking Mother (Allison Janney) who’ll stop at nothing to push her daughter into becoming a ice skating champion.

The film told in flash forward interviews inter cut with the back story of Harding’s whole life is directed with huge amounts of energy and passion keeping the scenes flowing seamlessly in a ambitious stylized cinematic effort that pays off.

The performances are really career bests from the lead Margot Robbie who lives and breathes her part moving through various moods, emotions, hardships, confusions, time lines and issues handling all this with ease captivating a world of emotion through her face as if it was a second language.

Allison Janney almost scene steals every frame chewing up her foul stinking dialogue of this detestable Mother and gives a performance that should see her walk off with a Supporting Oscar this year.

The film provides great retelling of a event of 90s that most of the new generation would have totally been oblivious to and gives traumatic and very often comedic insight into a story that’s hard to believe but that’s what makes it great entertainment.

The film is truly loyal to series of events that really happened but in consequence the film’s narrative struggles in the third act with a concluding a story structure which instead has the free flowing nature of a true life story that isn’t going to have the same predesignated story beats that ultimately complete a neat payoff.

Hard hitting story, acting and directing produce a loyal account to crazy real life event worth witnessing to believe, with Robbie proving she’s a leading actress on the road to greatness.  

Finding Your Feet **** Film Review Chris Hembury

Finding Your Feet ****

Finding Your Feet is British Romantic Comedy Drama telling a mature love story of life, starting again and discovering yourself.

The story see Lady Abbot a high class socialite who discovers that her Husband of 34 years has been having a on going affair and is forced to stay with her free spirited poor sister.

The film delivers on all sides of it’s mixed genre format perfectly blending the comedy the romance and a healthy dose of Drama that cements the story and various points is spot on.

The rarity of a mature Rom Com being made is totally capitalized on by the amazing array of talent they have in the cast. Everyone involved smashes their lines and relishes the scenes which they most know do not come along that often in the mainstream for their age.

Imelda Staunton and Celia Imrie as the sisters work very well together whether they are arguing, bonding or crying there is a chemistry that hits the screen.  

Timothy Spall as a leading love interest is not something ever associated with the actor and yet fits the part superbly gritty, heart felt, comedic and tender.  

The first hour shoots bye with a well paced scripted story that delivers not only the laughs but the dramatic moments as well.

The care that has gone into the characters is refreshing with almost everyone having a back story, with them all being tragic with works in contrast to the happiness they put out.

There’s a slight halt in pace at the mid way point which is not long lasting and replaced with tidy third act that delivers a beautiful story that should leave the audience with a smile.    

A love story that looks at life with a such a over view it begs the question of not just love but the meaning of happiness that only occurs in such overview until older years. To pull off that maturity in the Romantic Comedy genre whilst still hitting all the right beats is a real achievement and a wonderful additional to famous British Rom Com collection.