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Reviews
Noblemen (2018)
NOT A REVIEW
Not a review but more like a response to all the hate this movie is getting.
I get why this wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, but it's really not horrible.
1. The Main Character- Possibly what confused a lot of people. I agree, the main character is confusing. But that's just how a person in that scenario would be in real life. He's a fifteen year old kid who's determined to remain in the play as it's a huge opportunity for him, but at the same time, he's being bullied brutally. He's torn between two sides.
2. Killing of the teacher- That's the ending. The killing isn't pointless. If the teacher was alive, the bullies wouldn't have to face harsh consequences. It's only because of his death that they got charged with murder. Also, it's a disturbing ending. Not horrible.
3. The TONE- It's a dark movie. Deal with it. Not every boarding school movie has to be about crushing on students and winning a race. It's grounded to reality. It's about bullying. It's disturbing. There's this one review which called this movie sadist. Sorry to say, not every dark movie is 'sadist'.
Jo and Jo (2022)
Not perfect but still
This movie has flaws, but I really don't care. Sometimes all you need is a good hearty laugh and a good feeling. This movie provides exactly that. The chemistry between the actors, the humour (for the most part) and the performances- all dope. The story wasn't all that great for me, but still issok. Like- it's relatable but not everyone's cup of tea from every perspective.
Minnal Murali (2021)
Wow.
Maybe four and a half stars might seem like too much from a 'future me' perspective, but I can't help it. When the trailers dropped, I was eagerly waiting. Like everyone else. I wanted this movie so bad. Is it worth it? Absolutely! I got everything I wanted! Compelling characters, good CGI, a great plot, dope music and scenes which induce goosebumps!
First of all, let me just mention that this is a very ambitious project in a way. A huge chunk of Malayalai audiences are often very divisive about superheroes and CGI and stuff. We did know that we would be getting Malayalam's first superhero here, but we also got a supervillain! With So, Basil Joseph is a very talented director and I love his style of directing. His movies mostly revolve around small towns and peculiar yet great characters. You get the same experience here.
One thing, I'm just glad that they didn't just try to make Minnal Murali like the other superhero movies out there. This is original stuff right here.
Yeah, there are a few superhero movie clichés but in a way, those are unavoidable.
The character development is also really on, and I'm glad that the villain and his arc recieved just about the same attention as the hero and his arc. Those are compelling arcs as well, so... Need I say more?!
Yeah, there were a few issues with the pacing, but y'know, I did mention that they focused a lot on character development here, so... Yeah. It just takes time to build up. Other than that, I seriously don't have an issue with this movie.
Tovino's Minnal Murali and Guru Somasumdaram's Vellidi Venkidi are brilliantly acted and written characters.
So, Minnal Murali is every bit worth the hype imo. If you want a great Malayalam film with a hell lot of passion visible, this movie is on Netflix.
93 %
The Dark Pictures: Little Hope (2020)
Good premise and all but...
There's no denying this- I had a fun time with this game. But seriously, it's not that great. I'm gonna get to that part after praising it for what it is. It's much better than Man of Medan, the previous Dark Pictures game. The premise is spooky. The game's got atmosphere. Gotta give it that. There's this fog which redirects you back (no way out basically), there's a missing bus driver, all this stuff from the past about witchcraft and just an overall sense of dread. As far as the scares go, a few of them did get me. There are tons of jumpscares in here. But they get very watered down and predictable after a point. I even liked these characters. I really did. But then, the ending sorta ruined a huge part of the game for me.
*******SPOILERS AHEAD***********
Now, when we get the big realization at the very end that we were playing as the bus driver all along and that Vince was the guy at the funeral at the beginning and that nobody really existed , that really works at the moment. A temporary sense of shock to be precise. A large part of the story gets all clear. But then, a huge chunk doesn't make sense. That demonic figure at the very beginning, the witchcraft part which eventually leads to the creatures. Nothing makes sense.
And then, it feels very pointless. If all these characters were destined to be non existent, what was the point of all we had to endure? All those jumpscares, fending against the creatures, the flashbacks.
But apart from the flaws it has regarding the way the storyline turns out, I think it's still a good game. The sound design is great. This game is visually good. Gameplay is decent. There is fun to be had here. It's creepy. If interactive games are your kinda thing, you might just like it. This game does give you a slightly cinematic experience.
60 %
Days Gone (2019)
Well...
This isn't quite my kinda game.
While the visuals, atmosphere and just the overall tone of it is worthy of praise, the story isn't just for me.
The gameplay is kinda dope. However, the game felt arguably clunky at times.
Still- for what it is, Days Gone is a pretty decent survival game.
Annaatthe (2021)
COME ON, NOW!
There was once a time when I actually used to think that the hype is real. I've heard crazy stories about how much worshipped Rajnikanth is, in Tamil Nadu. While his talent cannot be questioned, I really hate his films. Again, don't get me wrong! I hate the 'recent' Rajnikanth movies. To be precise, the ones which came out in the span of the last ten years or so.
The guy definitely can act. For his age, the energy and charisma he displays on screen is nothing short of wonderful. But lately, his films have been following the same formula.
Big shot who nobody dares to lay a finger on. He's got a weakness- mostly a love interest or a sibling. He's got rivalry with a politician who he either kills or becomes in good terms with later on. The story transforms from a masala entertainer to a 'regular' action flick with an equal dose of masala (often by changing locations). Annatthe is all that.
In short words, this formula is getting really tiresome. All that being said, Annatthe is almost torturous.
Sure, Rajnikanth shines in every scene. His performance is great. Keerthy Suresh's character is kinda off, but she's put forth a decent performance as well. Their chemistry is what forms the base of this entire plot. Even then, the chemistry feels ridiculously over the top at times.
The humour never works. It's really over the top as well. The dialogue is over the top (sometimes in a good way).
This movie is well-shot and good to look at, at certain moments.
But Annatthe on the whole is just ridiculous. An actual 'story' is non-existent, everything from the humour to the screenplay is ridiculous. But yeah, if you just want a brainless masala entertainer with over the top action and songs, watch this, I guess?
So, Annatthe is NOT my cup of tea at least. Devoted Rajni fans however might just have a blast with this movie because of his 'vibe' and 'energy' which are the two of the very few elements that can be called good.
35 %
Churuli (2021)
TAKES TIME TO GROW ON YOU!
LJP's latest science fiction horror film Churuli is...well... I don't have words.
First of all, let us appreciate the fact that the man has pulled this off. Shot in merely 19 days, this movie has a lot to offer as far as 'cinema' goes. The acting is great, the cinematography is great, the score is brilliant, the editing is decent, and the direction is great. This movie gets all that right. However, as far as telling a compelling story goes, it often feels that Churuli is missing out on that aspect. Needless to say, that feeling was but a deception. Like this entire movie.
If Malayalam is your language, do jot watch this movie with your family, for, he language here is crass and just downright explicit.
Regarding the climax, that's where the audiences were most polarised because that's just the nature of it. What progresses as a seemingly tame mystery ends with three characters in a jeep floating towards the moon with smiles on their faces. I was baffled at first, but then- that's LJP playing a small trick on us. When thungs get clear to you, I assure you-you will be glad that you experienced this film.
Silent Hill (2006)
ONE OF THE BETTER VIDEO GAME ADAPTATIONS.
First of all, the Silent Hill games are terrifying. You might just scream or give up altogether while playing them. However, if you're expecting 'fear' out of this movie, you might not necessarily get it. There are moments which induce tension. That's it. However, if atmosphere is your thing, don't miss this movie 'or' the game.
The first thing you might notice is that this movie has a negative critical reception. Well- this one just came out in the wrong year. Now, people love it for what it is.
There are flaws scattered around. The dialogues, writing. They all feel bland. This movie is also two hours long! A bit too long in my opinion.
Finally, the visuals are breathtaking at times albeit being a bit dated. This one came back nearly sixteen years ago, though.
Nevertheless, despite a few flaws, Silent Hill is still good to watch. If you want more scares, play the game. But if you just wanna a woman trapped in an alternate dimension full of creepy people and monsters- the movie is there on Hulu.
Bannerghatta (2021)
NO
I love supporting indie movies. Sure, this one does deserve support. However, the budget doesn't count as an excuse for this illogical mess. Sheesh.
Fear Street: 1994 (2021)
DOPE!!
A Surprisingly good slasher flick! I was surprised at the R-rating here, considering how tame the books are! Umm- I do not really know why the other reviews here are calling this film bad, because everyone else is loving it. It's a really fun movie with a 90's slasher vibe to it. I loved it. Oh, and my review is up on Letterboxd and Instagram as well. Just sayin.
Letterboxd- @thecrater
Instagram- @crater_film_reviews.
Dinosaur Hotel (2021)
It is what it FUDGING is
This is a completely disgraceful movie. But I had a genuinely good time with this movie, not gonna lie. 😂
Josie & Jack (2019)
AN INCEST DRAMA THAT'S NOT BAD
This movie is absolutely underrated. I am a person who gets creeped out by incest, but it's a totally different case here. The performances are strong and there's some chemistry between these two. The score ensures a feeling of peace to the viewer. It's also pretty gloomy and portrays how toxic this relationship is. But I remind you, this is not everyone's cup of tea.
Wrong Turn (2021)
Meh
Would keep the average Wrong Turn fan satisfied, I suppose. It was dark and violent enough. It was tense enough and it was dumb enough. But this is a franchise which should've died long ago. Nevertheless, unlike most other horror reboots these days, Wrong Turn is an 'ok' watch.
Don't Tell a Soul (2020)
A SURPRISINGLY GOOD THRILLER WITH A 'WHAT?!' ENDING
To be honest, I actually liked this film. More than I thought I would. I liked the performances, the simple plot, as well as the fact that they did pay attention to the portrayal of the damaging relationship between these brothers.
Yes, there were a few moments where we did feel some hate for a few characters, namely the 'older brother'.
However, the final act is the most whacked up thing in this film. There's a lot of things happening at once. The guy in the hole turns out to be a murderer and pushes the younger brother down the hole. The younger brother gets beaten up by the older one, and the older brother who hadn't hesitated to suffocate the younger one with a plastic bag suddenly apologizes, breaking down.
That was just too much to take in. Apart from 'that', Don't Tell a Soul worked for me. It felt tense and thrilling in equal amounts.
3/4
Come Play (2020)
MORE 'DRAMA' THAN 'HORROR'
Yes, this film doesn't entirely focus on the horror, but also on the characters and the bonds between them. Sometimes, that aspect of this film works more. A probably ancient creature from another dimension trying to enter this world by crawling out through a phone screen does sound creepy. But the portrayal is what matters. And the sad truth is, the monster doesn't offer much threat to the viewer apart from a few tense moments.
And by the end, the sensitive viewers may find themselves in tears at the death of the mother who sacrificed herself for her son who barely acknowledged her at all.
But despite there being a few flaws, Come Play is a 'fine', 'one time watch'.
2.5/5
Penguin Bloom (2020)
AN UPLIFTING FAM-DRAMA
Naomi Watt is praiseworthy in this family drama flick which happens to be uplifting, fresh and depressing at the same time. All while being visually appealing.
3/4
Simulacra (2017)
A GREAT HORROR GAME
This was definitely worth the play. This is a horror game which makes you feel very uncomfortable. The story is really tense and moderately unpredictable. When I understood what Simulacra actually is, I literally got chills down my spine. The one thing that didn't work is when they tried to merge jumpscares and stuff with the noir mystery horror tone.
Also, the performances aren't all that great. Especially some of those voicemails. And Simulacra talked in a really ancient way which was very strange and odd. But I suppose that such games aren't really that common a sight, and they did a great job with what they were aimed at.
I had a fun time playing this.
After We Collided (2020)
WORSE THAN THE FIRST
I'm gonna be honest. I loved After although I knew and accepted the fact that it was bad. There was something about that film which seemed to engage me. And yes, I was anticipating the sequel. I was terribly disappointed however, as, this film lacked the slight charm that was present in the first. What made this worse is that they tried to add a sprinkle of humour, which did not work.
I might have ended up liking this film more than any sane person should. That's because I'm a fan of the franchise no matter how bad it is.
Anyhow, this one is still pretty disappointing.
Nishabdham (2020)
An Exhausting Watch
Anushka Shetty was quite great in this one. Michael Madsen and R Madhavan were terribly miscast but still did their best with what they had.
Screenplay was illogical, torturous and boring. The music was quite aesthetic, that I must admit.
They even made the opening scene chilling, so that nobody would walk away from this mess.
Bulbbul (2020)
A WICKEDLY BEAUTIFUL TALE
I saw Bulbbul, expecting it to be a horror film.But it is not. It is in fact a well crafted period romantic drama with a 'chudail'or witch in it. The cinematography and visual effects are splendid, with the colour red visible almost everywhere. Amit Trivedi's music is excellent and out of the world. But on top of all this, the performances never go unnoted. Tripti rocks in every way. Parambrata happens to be a character which is not really much important..but even he is great. Everything in this film is praiseworthy apart from the climax portion which is very predictable. Do give it a watch. However, this film doesn't deserve a family watch, as there is a violent rape scene included which just isn't for kids. However, as far as only-mature audiences are concerned, this is one hell of a great watch.
Definitely recommended.
I rate it:7.4/10
Penguin (2020)
AN ILLOGICAL THRILLER WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN MADE WAY BETTER
When I saw the trailer of this film, I was really looking forward to it. Who knew it would turn out to be such a mess. The only things I loved was the cinematography and the musical score. Characterisation was really weak, Keerthy Suresh could've done way better. The whole plot is illogical, and it often feels like the scriptwriters didn't really care. Even the villain feels funny. Yeah, they could have ended the film in like 90 minutes, but they sort of elongated it to 132 minutes. A major dissappointment..
Limbo (2010)
A DARK, CHALLENGING, AND HAUNTING EXPERIENCE
Before I knew what Limbo was, I played a game called Miriam, which was horrible. When I saw the gameplay on youtube, I decided to give this one a try, and believe me, I wasn't dissappointed.
Despite there being no dialogues at all, you can easily grasp the storyline. Its about a seemingly little boy who enters Limbo, which seems to be an alternate version of our world, but filled with mysterious elements that possibly confuse or even chill you. At the end, the boy flies through the barrier which links both the worlds and finds the reason why he entered Limbo in the first place. His sister.
The most attractive thing I felt about the game is, the sounds that are so perfectly timed and vivid.
Being in black and white, obviously the game seems kid friendly. But believe me, it is not. It has got some really violent moments where you will see dismemberment and such stuff with the blood in black and white.
There are however, some really confusing moments throughout, and I had to check for solutions on Youtube. However, when you actually get the solution/ a way to the next level, you understand how visibly clever, the game is.
Do check this game out. It was an amazing experience for me, and worth the money too.
So, I rate Limbo, a much deserved: 8.1/10
The Woman in Black (2012)
A DARK, GLOOMY THRILLER
The Woman in Black is a great relief at times where blood and gore depends on whether a film is scary or not. Daniel Radcliffe delivers us a mighty fine performance. The best thing I felt about this film was, the atmosphere which remained dark throughout the 90 minute runtime. The first thirty minutes or so depend a lot on jumpscares that are somewhat effective but bland. In fact, the terrifying moments in this flick, are rare. It focuses on the content, and everything that makes a film perfect. However, the entire subject of children walking to their own deaths is rather unsettling. The film scares a person based on how they define 'scary'. If you are the person expecting a lot of gore and messed up faces and things like that, turn away, this film ain't for you. Watch this one for stellar performances, a great story, and fine scares that are actually the epitome of 'actual horror'
A good watch.(Moreover, this one is set in the early twentieth century. There is something extremely pleaseful about period horror, dont you think?)
So, I rate this film a much deserved-7.2/10