toni-corelius Reviews

Tin & Tina (2023)

Crime against film-making

[1/10 · 4 June 2023]

A childless couple decides to adopt creepy albino twins who are straight from The Village of the Damned. And criminally insane.

The kids are really into the whole fire and brimstone reading of The Bible and "cleanse" the family dog by disemboweling it. Also, when the couple unexpectedly conceive, the newborn must be (nearly) drowned aka baptized in the swimming pool. And the school bully also suffers divine retribution from the murderous twins.

What I found most disturbing was the fact that the formerly atheist mother becomes a fervent Catholic in the end because of the killer kids! What kind of message does that send? Was this movie backed up by The Vatican?

I wonder whether the crew were forced or black-mailed into making this garbage? The director should be prosecuted.

From (2022– )

Like Lost but without the beach

[9/10 · 14 May 2023]

This comes from the guy who brought you Lost. So expect a lot of flashbacks, long monologues of confession and having no idea what is going on. Where Lost was set on an island that (almost) no one could leave, here we have a small rural town that no one can leave. And that is not it: there are monsters in the woods surrounding the hamlet (like The Village!). No explanation or even an inquiry on the nature of the situation is provided but we have lots of soap opera type drama and some gruesome killings. Most of the residents of Creepyville are resigned to their fate but a set of new people stirs up action! Since this comes from the guy who made Lost, I expect it to go on for at least 20 seasons unless the network cancels it. Choose your battles. I might give up after season 2.

Ps. Harold Perrineau is on form, it's good to see him again.

Marie Antoinette (2022– )

Total fiction but enjoyable.

[9/10 · 15 January 2023]

This should not be categorized as Biography but Romance Drama History. It is almost complete fiction. As someone who actually reads history books, I had to suspend all disbelief to enjoy it. And so I did once I accepted its true nature. One must understand that when dealing with history, there are facts. Take this as fiction and enjoy the production design, the cinematography, the costumes, the hair and makeup and most of all Emilia Schüle's joyful and effervescent perfomance!

I also enjoyed the other actors, James Purefoy is brilliant as the "lecherous" Louis XV and Jonas Bloquet as Joseph II is fun to watch. The fact that France had heavy participation in producing this and the state allowed filming at Versailles, says a lot. Not many get that privilege.

The Banishing (2020)

A low point for Mr Smith WARNING SPOILERS

[5/10 · 11 May 2022]

I had some hopes because I love Triangle. This film though was boring, muddled and derivative. I had no sympathy for the characters, I could not connect to them in anyway. Jessica Brown-Findlay really does her best but her character and all the others are shallow cardboard cut-outs. It isn't really acting, just pacing around the manor looking anxious and/or scared. What I loved about Triangle was Melissa George and her character: I really rooted for her in the beginning and finally it's revealed that she was an abusive mother and the loop is her Purgatory / punishment. Ms. George delivers a visceral performance. There is a similar theme here but not as well delivered.

Here, the actors are lost in a maze constructed by the insipid script and somehow unsure direction. Also, the shaky photography looks like it was shot with an iPhone. With a period ghost story, a more standard mounted camera approach would have worked better. There are some interesting visuals and ideas that could have been developed further. Also, it isn't scary one bit.

Brightburn (2019)

Interesting horror take on the supervillain genre

[7/10 · 23 September 2021]

MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD: Not going in the plot here except an alien is brought up by two people somewhere in the Dust Belt. He turns out not to be Superman but rather Thanos.

The problems I had with this were that after realizing he's a psychopath, the parents were willing to kill the boy without ever confronting him about his powers. Also, the love parents have for their only child does not simply go away if they learn he's a bad seed. The dad is ready to take him to the woods to kill him right away and the mother is not even trying to turn the kid through motherly love, it's straight for the knife.

A perfect example of a mother's real love in somewhat similar situation is Rosemary's Baby where Rosemary accepts his son is the spawn of Satan and thus, end of the world. These people deserved to die for the lack of love and belief in their son. Sure, parents kill their children for less but I would have loved to see Tori bringing up Brandon knowing that he brings about the end of the world. What would you do?

The Grudge (2019)

The best part were the end credits

[4/10 · 27 July 2021]

The vengeful ghosts are supposed to tragic, even sad figures. Ok, they're vengeful but not ooze dripping monsters like here. It had no atmosphere buiding, slow burn dread only cheap jump scares which not belong to the Ju-On universe. Muddled with too many timelines and characters. Not scary at all. So many good actors wasted in this movie. I liked the end credits rolling over the peaceful suburb because it gave some contrast and depth in the sense that horrible things happen even in peaceful middle-class suburbs.

The Shining (1980)

A landmark in film making

[10/10 · 24 September 2018]

I actually wrote an essay on this film in high school and got an A. I never saw it as pure horror, psychological or otherwise. To me it represents the implosion of the nuclear family. The hotel just gives the setting for the tragedy to occur. Sure there are ghosts but is it cabin fever or real? Kubrick lets the viewer decide. He uses the hotel like the Minitaur's labyrinth. The floor plan doesn't make any sense. It's all intentional. Also contrary to many horror films, all action happens in lighted rooms. No dark corner or creepy shadows that is a common trope. Kubrick wanted the film to be as plausible as possible and bad things happen in daylight, too. There are so many details in this film it's good to have some knowledge about it to enjoy all the clues. But you can also enjoy it as a well made, effective horror. Moreover, the acting is suberb. Jack is well... Jack Nicholson but Shelley Duvall gives her all. She actually suffered a breakdown during filming because of the intense shooting and Kubrick's infamous perfectionism. The result: a lasting classic that after 38 years still holds it's place as not only one of the best horror movies but as the best films ever made as well.