Annabelle

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Tyler, Amberly, Jordan

The Conjuring was a great film. And now they've rushed out this spin-off and given the cinematographer a chance to direct, presumably because all the other creative partners were doing better things. This one doesn't really hold together. There's a handful of jump scares but it's really laking the script and character that it's originator succeeded in fleshing out so well.

Our leading couple here is just meh. I don't care about them. They can die or be cursed or whatever is going on. And seriously what is going on? Possessed doll is all well and good, why do we need a demon as well? Strikes against for wise old black lady cliche too.

Yeah it's just not very good. I wasn't expecting it to be, but I think it was still worse than I was hoping for.

Gone Girl

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Tyler, Jordan, Amberly

David Fincher's latest is a delightful thriller, a simple pulpy drama with all the twists and turns you could hope for that is immensely elevated by virtue of a master working at the top of his game, stunning turns from the cast and a neat display of technical and artistic prowess. I can see this same story being made into a really average daytime tv movie. And it would still be a fun watch, but with this team involved it just makes it really sing.

As you'd expect from anything Fincher adapts, the story has a pretty scathing and cynical world view, this time focusing on the horrors of married life. It's a grim and amusing look at the institution and despite the long running time is completely captivating, from the subtly off-kilter opening titles to the quietly unnerving closing frames.

And for some reason everything Neil Patrick Harris does in the film made me giggle.

Really fun story coupled with amazing cast and technical artistry equals a great cinematic experience. Go check it out! Probably not a good date movie.

Dracula Untold

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

Well it's not terrible. But it really wasn't that interesting either. Actually it had some cool stuff in it. I think Charles Dance makes a great vampire. We really didn't need an origin story for Dracula or to see him sympathetically. But they tried to make it matter, and added in a 3 day of no blood drinking and you won't be cursed clause to up the stakes (no pun intended) but the unfortunate thing is that everyone already knows how it's going to end up so it's all for naught.

The was a great unintentionally hilarious scene involving Vlad sneaking around a monastery desperately trying to appear normal whilst avoiding shafts of light. The rest of the film is all dreary and serious, there's some cool fighting stuff at the start that soon gives way to big cg bat particle systems.

And then there's a questionable modern day coda. I don't know what they are going for there. are they rebooting dracula. Do they think we needed that scene for closure to the romantic plot line that didn't really work in the first place? Who knows.

There's some okay stuff here but it's pretty forgettable.

Detention

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Tyler, Tamara, Erin

Write Up.

The Boxtrolls

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Amberly, Tyler

Write Up.

So much fun, just had to see it again!