trevontm Reviews

Uncut Gems (2019)

candy flavored chaos

[10/10 · 17 January 2024]

Bubbly, energetic, frantic, and sexy, Uncut Gems is a diamond from the pile of gems that was 2019. Paced murderously, relentlessly manic, there isn't a modern movie that matches aside from Safdies' good time. That's not to say this movie is a reworked clone.

You root for everyone. You want everyone to get theirs, without bloodshed. However, there are points that may seem impossible to avoid. There's an imminent doom throughline and it can be tough to reconcile with.

This movie is an experience. I saw it in theaters on New Year's Eve. I got high in the theater parking lot and pranced my goofy ass in there expecting a movie, not a challenge. It's a memory and a feeling I hope I never forget. Uncut gems is captivating from the jump. 2019 was incredible for movie theaters. Maybe it's gone forever. But Uncut Gems remains.

Carnival of Souls (1962)

Cold, empty, and dreamy.

[10/10 · 4 January 2024]

There is a hypnotic element to this movie. It's a paranoid high inside of a nod off inside of a nightmare. It's heartless, cold, pointless and empty.

Maybe she's dead, maybe she's not, maybe you're dead, maybe you're not, this movie doesn't know. It does however feel like the emptiness between sleep and wake. Unconscious yet vibrant.

Carnival of Souls doesn't speak too much politically or socially or in any sort of pointed manner. It's simply a sad daydream and a collage of dreary, washed visuals.

That's not to say it doesn't tell a story- the point here is that this movie exists between pointless and everything and alive and dead. It slides into a realm indecipherable from reality. Maybe it's so real it's fake. Maybe it means so little that it means everything.

Maybe it means nothing and Carnival of Souls is the perfect trick- it looks like everything and means absolutely nothing.

Thanksgiving (I) (2023)

Your Next Fall Memory

[10/10 · 5 December 2023]

Please watch this movie, and go in a group if you can. Try to fill up the theater. This movie reminds me of Conjuring, You're Next era theater screams. Nothing wrong with traveling solo either. Your only mistake could be NOT watching this movie. Once it's VOD and if you missed out, sit down with some people, I don't care if it's your grandparents in-law, and WATCH this movie. It's THAT memorable.

Disclaimer: it's memorable because it's shocking. But, that's a good thing? Roth is back in his most presentable, approachable, and concise film. Getting through his discography can be a challenge- and such a task is wholly unnessary to enjoy this movie.

Dark, humorous, grotesque, and masterfully crafted with practical horror that 80s genre purists will swoon over, every aspect of this film is categorically perfect for the horror realm. Paced wonderfully, artfully designed, and brutally shocking with a strong humorous twist, there's not much you can say isn't enjoyable about Roth's Thanksgiving.

Say your thanks, make your grace, and get your a** to this movie ASAP.

The Dead Don't Die (2019)

Unbelievably Surreal.

[10/10 · 6 August 2023]

The dead don't die is a masterclass in unafraid, modern, post-scream self-referencing horror. Horror is cliche. Self-referencing cliches in horror is also cliche. Here that shell is broken. The references are clean, memorable and polished.

The cameos are beautifully and purely 2019. Much of this movie's aesthetic is derived from a a very particular group of young minds and their creative direction. Luka Sabbat, Selena Gomez and RZA encapsulate that fact.

Context is important and I believe this movie perfectly takes advantage of its rich sense of genre-referential humor. Direct, yet still with a deep sense of indirect edge, this horror-comedy-zombie banger stands out in a crowded 2019 field.

Halloween (1978)

damn I mean what can I say

[10/10 · 2 July 2023]

(insert a ton of synonyms to "amazing") is what Halloween is. It's a classic.

But what it means to me is beyond that. I feel like this movie has been with me at every stage of my life. One thing remained constant: the movie is perfect, and scary, really scary.

I've felt my life unfold watching this slasher. It is incredibly nostalgic, especially to a Halloween holiday season loving human, and carries significant emotional weight for a really memorable experience.

I miss many of my life's moments surrounding when I would watch this movie. Family halloweens, lonely halloweens, really lit ones too. I think any movie that finds its way into association of favorite memories in my head is a perfect one.

For that, in conjunction with the actual quality of the film, Halloween is perfect.

Fargo: Fear and Trembling (2015) Season 2, Episode 4

the beginning of the end

[10/10 · 3 June 2023]

One of the more tense moments in television history. We knew early there is an inevitably harsh future ahead for more than a few characters. This is when these things begin to happen. A turning point in the 4th episode out of 10. A true cascade of terror.

The sense of dread begins here, in a potent, upsetting, heartless, sick, way. Like you just know something terrible is going to happen. And you're going to have to watch it in the soulless yet comical Fargo style way. Which can be a difficult style to watch.

This episode just falls off a cliff of unending suffering. I feel bad for all characters- brutal and scary, yet scared themselves, characters.

A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985)

underrated horror masterpiece

[10/10 · 28 April 2023]

While the sequel is wholly dissimilar in plot to the entry, nightmare 2 is equally phenomenal. The characters are enjoyable, relatable, and not as objectively annoying as other horror teens of the 80s (13th series).

Incredible special effects, practical, stop motion, cgi, explode over a truly horrifying story. The main character truly depicts the body containing a brain-turned-on-itself. The fear, paranoia, and true suffering behind many of the movie's sleep deprived moments exist at extreme levels.

I truly view this sequel, independent of the original, to cast large shadows over the 80s slasher genre. There are 10s, and then there are these classics. Perfect genre exploration, perfect character type exploitation, and dynamic universes of truly horrific origin.

1 & 2 are among horrors most original, explosive, and early-to-be-aware horror masterpieces.

Blood Simple (1984)

strangely horrifying

[10/10 · 22 April 2023]

This is one of those movies that slowly but surely spirals out of control, in a destructive and horrifying cascade of coincidence, hate, and deceit. From the jump, there isn't truly a likable character. I do refrain from saying there is a character i felt deserves an immediate and painful death. Here however, the coen brothers had different ideas.

More of a thriller than a horror, i still find myself more horrified than thrilled. And this is one of the all time thrillers. Therefore, does that make this one of the all time horrors?

Hey. Maybe i have an argument to make. Maybe, i don't. I find the latter more likely.

Blood simple is beyond simple. True to the name in one sense and false in the other, blood simple is bloody. Merciless at times. Raging fast with development, lightning quick to capitalize on missteps and purely catastrophic, blood simple will leave a sickening stain on any brain willing to extrapolate the implosion of the character's lives to their own. Are we all just one hateful act committed against us to losing all ability to withhold ourselves from impulsive reactions, impulsive self destruction, impulsive hate?

The coen brothers might say we are.

Blood simple is a staple, a classic, and a pure thriller with the ability to horrify through its 80s lens and sytlized framework. This feeling would not be replicated until "Until the devil knows you're dead." blood simple is blazing fast to tear you apart.

The Fog (1980)

Halloween? Yeah, nice. The Fog? YES.

[10/10 · 19 April 2023]

Carpenter clearly knew how to make horror. He showed us that in the 70s, yeah. Good movies. Cool. Alright.

Then came The Fog. Imagine the atmospheric capabilities of Carpenter to the max, with the same threatening, looming idea of being shredded by blade- or hook- that we saw in the genre's arguably most iconic figure debut nearly half a decade before.

"Hey. There's a fog bank out there."

Immensely eerie, deeply gruesome and inevitable in its terror, the ideas of chaos that lurk in the floating mass cloak an entire town in bloody waters.

The opening scene with the pirate ship, and bodies jumping overboard, knowing that someone was coming- so intense.

This masterpiece defies the genre expectations of the 80s and stands alone as one of the strongest horror stories of the decade.

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)

banger.

[10/10 · 17 April 2023]

Yeah so this is far and away, cut and dry, seamlessly, the best Friday entry. Good lord, everything about this movie places it near the top of all 80s horror productions.

Similarly to the prowler, this 80s cult slasher employs Savini's effects and lovely 80s camp. The characters aren't entirely terrible, and a few I hated seeing get chopped to pieces.

Again, if you've seen any 80s slasher, you've seen this framework. Horny teens, sexual dissatisfaction, aggression, weed, beer, and blood. In this case though, we see some of the best versions of each.

This entry should not be forgotten, and the experience this far into the franchise is worth waiting for. Skip the first 3 entries, honestly. The Final Chapter stands alone, and stands tall - a collection of the nastiest and most annoying components of the 80's slasher archetype approaches near perfection.

3 from Hell (2019)

the finest RZ creation

[10/10 · 17 April 2023]

There are some movies that are just so horrific, so disturbed, so graphic, so maligned, so destructive, that they deserve a 10 on IMDb and a text box full of *shy* high praise for one of the most sinister runtimes ever.

Stick with me. Each of the previous two versions of this despicable group of humans follows a particularly linear path. This blurring of the journey and focusing on the stylistic bloody shots remind you that RZ is still RZ here.

Almost unbearable (hostage scene) and immediately jarring (the nurse scene) the conclusion to the 3 part chaotic journey through despair is still demanding of your eyes.

With a focus on practical effects and finer details like makeup and incredible wardrobing, 3FH is a cult closing to an explosive cult tale.

The Prowler (1981)

best of the 80s

[10/10 · 17 April 2023]

Is it a cliche to call this movie one of the best slashers of the 80s? Or to call out Savini's effects as incredible? Is that a cliche too? Help.

Regardless. This entry is by far, among the best of the 80s. It is a complete culmination of the most memorable elements through the earliest slasher frameworks.

Absurdist camp, sexual aggression, horned up teens- wrapped up in practical effects that may be among some of the best ever. That's a combustible combination you say? Because it is.

I don't want to sound like the "oh you didn't see this in real life in the 80s, it was such a cultural thing" type person. Because I'm not that old. But can you imagine seeing this movie with its cultural context and within the true era?

I liken that experience to my trips as a middle schooler to see things like "You're Next" and "the conjuring."

I think this movie deserves a new ranking in horror, with a contextual approach to what was true enjoyment for a select crowd on a weekend screen.

The finest entry and approaching the pinnacle of 80s slasher horror.

She Dies Tomorrow (2020)

thinking is believing

[9/10 · 14 April 2023]

2 years ago, I trashed this movie. Dropped it a 5 on imdb and forgot about it. Recently, this movie popped in my head before going to bed. I said you know what, ima watch this tomorrow morning.

So, 730 am arrives, and I load up a free copy of this movie and WOW. Seriously, such an incredibly claustrophobic and contagiously depressing movie.

As a young man who thinks of his own demise all too frequently, this movie hit all the right spots. I cannot get over how well this movie conveys a feeling of dread and anticipation of despair.

Obviously these feelings are explicit in the plot and title, but there are more implicit tones that truly weave in so much more than a linear sort of fear-of-death tale.

Shocking, fearful, anxious and dreadful, this is a post 2010s horror movie that CANNOT be missed.

Annihilation (I) (2018)

I got a few things to say.

[10/10 · 18 March 2023]

Watch this movie. Yeah, just watch it. I've seen it a bunch of times. Could I tell you what it meant? Probably not. Have I thought about it more than any other movie, really? Probably.

I think this movie has something to do with life, and cancer, self harm, maybe love. It doesn't really overtly tell you it means any of these things. But I think the interpretation aspect makes it memorable, and consequently, thoughtful.

The end does, in my opinion, stretch the limits of the movie's focus. Maybe it blurs the lines that might've been helpful to walk away with something tangible, or structured in thought. But I appreciate the potential randomness or meaningless in the bizarre images this movie presents.

One of my all time favs.

The Last House on the Left (1972)

A bitter movie to swallow

[10/10 · 13 January 2023]

It is nasty, tense, bitter, and overall a challenge to sit through. Should that not define a horror movie? I think it should. Craven rips the cheeky soul out of the classic 70/80s horny teen slasher model and replaces it with demonic intent. There isn't really a horror movie as empty as this one. For its lack of heart and a sense of compassion, The Last House on the Left resides in this digital space approaching near-oblivion- but forever spikey, forever harsh and infinitely depraved. The soundtrack presents an route to the emptiness as well with its live but dead instrumentation. Worth the pain in every sense, this 70s sleeper will stay on your mind if you allow it within your peripheral.

Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

decade highlight

[10/10 · 12 July 2022]

I've never watched this movie and not cried. Matt & Jared are on different levels here. Method acting to die for it's beautiful what they did with their bodies. I love most of the characters silhouettes- lean - and the wardrobe to match their frame is hotter than fish grease. This movie slaps me absolutely silly, tears and all that shit. Incredibly powerful.

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

So charming <3

[10/10 · 12 July 2022]

This movie is so charming and delightful and dopamine filled and lovely and sad and uplifting and- I'll stop. It's so many things but above all it truly is a lovely, lovely lovely romantic tale.

My only issue is that this story can't last forever. I wish I could freeze time within this movie and watch these two adventurous in-love souls pitch tents and dance to records for eternity.

My favorite Wes Anderson and my favorite romantic tale. I just can't get enough of this movie's charm I get giddy just thinking about how soothing and enjoyable the story is!!!!

Elysium (I) (2013)

Funky. Memorable. Jarring.

[8/10 · 30 June 2022]

Guess what. I hate Crypto-era Matt Damon. He sucks.

But guess what. He's really good in this movie. And this becomes before the crypto era. So I let this one slide.

This film is particularly jarring. It's violent, shocking, mentally exhausting but seriously salient.

This movie isn't some predictive dystopian social commentary gem. It's a couple levels below that. It makes up for mixed messaging with SERIOUSLY stand out visuals. It's a delightful visual nugget with an all around intense perspective.

The runtime is perfect and it packs all the essentials and more in the visuals department. For myself, this film separated itself very quietly. While it lacks a web of developing characters and sprawling idea development, this film elevates itself through an air-tight look at a few relationships and very personal explosive experiences.

Barry: starting now (2022) Season 3, Episode 8

Incredibly bleak

[10/10 · 16 June 2022]

This is probably the darkest tv episodes I've ever seen. Like, this episode hits hard. Kinda reminded me of the house that jack built. A mix of supernatural and real life in a dark but still humorous way. Crazy blend of extremes. Ep7 also ramps up the darkness but this finale here pack a whopper punch in the darkness category.

Carrie (1976)

Wacky, weird, wild, wonderful

[10/10 · 7 June 2022]

This movie on its face is beautifully shot. I thoroughly enjoy the filter- it's saturated and flat but still bright along the edges. Soft lights make this movie so easy on the eyes too. Sharp edges often hurt my eyes especially in newer films. But here the palette is PERFECT and muted just enough to really blend some scenes together well without jagged cuts and abrasive scene switches.

So obviously this movie is wacky. There is some overt sexualization of some extremely young women that at times can be awkward, but this is horror anyways. The ending is pretty bleak. There is resolve, but a painful type of resolve.

Visually this movie rocks. It's fun to see such a pleasing eye for film contrasted by really horrific themes. This movie is effective. I went to bed high and sad. I'm usually only going to bed high. But this one got to me a slight bit.

Too Old to Die Young (2019)

Yeah it's good

[8/10 · 6 June 2022]

So I know this review is short proportionate to the show runtime. I've smoked too much marijuana to indulge in saying as much as I should to be legitimate.

But this show is fu***d up. Like so badly that when I attempted to rewatch it I literally said nahhhh hold up I'm not putting myself through this again.

It's brutal and.... Brutal. And all those other "brutal" synonyms. I mean seriously- it's graphic stuff. Potentially severely off putting. Topic wise, also incredibly disturbing. It is extremely dark, and for me, I commend its effectiveness. But these are awful topics and really find ways to disturb.

I'll bring up Drive. Yeah its good too. But better. One of these episodes runs movie length anyways. And when you consider them next to Drive, there's a cool consistency. Worth the shocks, but definitely shocking.

It Chapter Two (2019)

Ah!!! Spooky fun!!!

[8/10 · 6 June 2022]

Ok ok ok ok ok okay!!!

LOVE this movie. And I usually don't say that about CGI movies!!! But the practical effects blend soooo well with the CGI effects that I can't resist the temptation of these surreal and spooky visuals!!!

BILL HADER!!!!! He's so funny in this. His character reminds me a lot of his Barry character but with even more humor!!! He stands out in this movie for real.

ALSO. The casting!!!! The grown up characters are PERFECT!!! Some you even believe were actually the younger characters!! The looks are spot on but the character demeanor is also perfectly in line for literally every actor. It's so awesome.

I think the runtime is backed up by a seriously engrossing environment and wonderful performances by all. There are some corny moments (kiss scenes in particular) but that's to be expected with a blockbuster horror!

This is actually my favorite entry of the IT saga. I find myself laughing as often as I am spooked!!! For me that combo is rare.

But for realllll this movie is SO fun and just a wonderfully juicy little horror number!!!

Gremlins (1984)

Just a wonderful little number

[9/10 · 1 June 2022]

This lil baddie right here I SWEAR is SUCH a fun movie. The animatronics (or however you spell it) are succulenttttttttt

It's so whimsical and silly and sweet but dark and sharp at the same time it's just a BLAST. I loved this for its cuteness as much I loved it for its bloodier moments.

It was also the first "horror" type movie I ever saw!!!!

Also the "after midnight" loophole is pretty funny.

Ugh so yeah the movie is sick af and a classic.

I wish I could watch it for the first time over and over again!!!

The Hills Have Eyes (1977)

Brutal - one of Cravens outlier movies

[7/10 · 26 May 2022]

I feel like in Cravens catalog there are two movies that stand out as particularly brutal: The Last House on the Left and The Hills Have Eyes. These two movies.... Are B. R. U. T. A. L.

Like scary brutal. It is really hard to watch parts of this movie. I'm sitting there like my god this lil flick here is nastyyyy. The initial trailer entry scene is ahhhhhhh HARD to watch.

Also the 2000s remake isn't the worst of all the corny remakes out there of vintage horror. Matter of fact it too is pretty shocking.

This movie really stands out alongside Cravens Last House. The sexual violence found in both movies can honestly be incredibly upsetting to watch. In a way, one may argue that makes it effective and therefore justifies the usage of some pretty horrific sexual acts. Or one could also honestly argue that it's horrifying and poor art. Either way Craven summons something sinister here anybody can recognize. But not all should watch.

This thing right here is a tough one. It is scary- but it can be repulsive in its attempt. There is zero mercy in the relationship you might formulate with your screen watching this mf. Craven name somehow makes the worst look good.

After Hours (I) (1985)

I polished visual exercise

[10/10 · 22 May 2022]

Yeah this movie is absurdly slick. I saw it two winters ago. I watched it this past winter again. I broke it free from its snowy context last night (summer) and it's just as good. Like this movie is a winding story that just contorts itself so far beyond repair that this complete dysfunction is embraced as the true function of the movie- nonsense with visual appeal.

That's not to take from it. The women are beautiful, the men striking, sleek sexy shots with picture perfect lighting cut faces in half with red and blue. It. Is. SLEEK.

It looks like a music video- the soundtrack is desolate and hollow to match a seriously twisted vibe. Sometimes violent, this movie has energy that morphs by the second. It goes from sad to horrifying; from happy to inspiring. It's a ride. I left it feeling kinda sad. The movie looks sad enough to inspire the same emptiness upon its viewers. If you stick around for the nonsense. One of the best ever I swear to everything.