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Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities: The Outside (2022)
People want different things out of horror, I guess
I shouldn't be surprised to see all the low ratings... But this episode was incredible!
Like many anthology shows, this has been hit and miss for me but I was generally underwhelmed with the series so far...and then this little gem came on. Wow!
If you like slow burn atmosphere, under your skin body horror, dark comedy, social satire, great acting, retro feels and great direction, then this is the episode for you!
If you're looking for generic tropes, CG monster and a ton of gore, well, there lots of that on Netflix for you.
Ana Lily Amirpour is exactly what this show needed to shake it out of genericland.
Nope (2022)
NOPE gives me Hope
This film delivers on everything I want from a big budget movie. It is spectacular in the truest sense of the word. Shot in glorious IMAX by Hoyte Van Houten a, it is easily Jordan Peele's best looking film to date. But it is also moody, atmospheric, takes it's time, doesn't spell everything out for you... Things I am not used to seeing in most big budget modern movies.
There is definitely a lot to unpack thematically and if you are someone who wants all lose ends tied up by the end of a movie, this will not be for you. I don't mean that in a condescending way. Not every movie is for everyone. Personally, I enjoy films that give me a little extra to chew on after they're over, so long as the symbols and metaphors are not a requirement to the enjoyment of the film. Many people will surely feel this was the case with Nope but for me, I was on board with the world and characters the whole way through so all that metaphorical allegory stuff were just bonus for me.
It seems silly to compare everything Jordan Peele does to Get Out as this is a very different film. I don't think it's better than Get Out. But it's damn close...
Children of the Corn (1984)
Chilling opening... Too bad it's all downhill from there
This movie needs to be remade. The premise, music and mood established in the opening scene are really great. Everything else? Not so much. Terrible storytelling and inept filmmaking male this one of the worst King adaptations. Read the short story.
Candyman (2021)
Two Sides of a Coin
Finally, a sequel that stays true to the spirit of the original while giving us something new!
As a longtime horror fan, I have grown tired of seeing the same stories play out using a familiar bag of tricks (cough cough Conjuring) I have also grown weary of the onslaught of modern reboots which fail to understand the essence of their source material and what makes them special. As a longtime fan of the original, I was nervous...
Candyman 2021 is the perfect companion piece to the 92 original. However, instead of relying on nostalgia and repeated story beats, the film serves as an inverse to the story, right from its opening credit sequence. This time, instead of looking down at the Cabrini Greene projects, Nia Dacosta places the camera looking up at the beautifully melancholic high rises of modern day Chicago. This sets the tone for the film's artful descent into madness and ultimately, cathartic journey towards reclaiming a narrative.
Alot has changed since 1992, yet many horrors remain just as relevant. Candyman is wise enough to acknowledge this. Much like the original, this new film plays on the broken telephone effect of urban legends. It's a clever tool to expand the story and take things into new and interesting directions.
The gorgeous cinematography and unnerving new score (accompanied by the original theme from Phillip Glass) perfectly transpose the spirit of the original film into the modern day. There are no jump scares here. Instead, the filmmakers aim to get under your skin (literally).
There's a lot to unpack here but it's best to just let the film put you under its spell. It's a hauntingly beautiful journey that will surely warrant repeat viewings.
Nia DaCosta's Candyman is a masterfully crafted, intelligent horror film. There really isn't anything quite like it and in a genre full of oversaturated reruns, this is a real treat.
Don't listen to the angry neckbeards who are review bombing. This is the sequel we need and deserve.