ScorpioDog Reviews

Immaculate (2024)

Great Body Horror and Religious Themes!

[7/10 · 25 May 2024]

'Immaculate' is a great horror watch. It offers some horrifying body horror and religious commentary.

Sydney Sweeney did quite well as the main protagonist! She conveys a strong sense of panic and terror in the scenarios her character is thrust into. I also think Álvaro Morte gave a really good performance, and I hope to see more of him in the future.

There was some good editing choices in this. In particular, the continuous shot at the end was fantastic. It also obscures something from the viewer, which allows the audience to use their own twisted imagination. Furthermore, the costuming and props captured the Italian convent location so well! The convent is simultaneously beautiful and eerie. Check this out!

Challengers (2024)

A Phenomenal Character Piece!

[9/10 · 20 May 2024]

'Challengers' is such a well-made character piece! It has so many themes and messages to explore well after the film has ended.

The main three actors gave really good performances. Zendaya gives one of the best performances of her career, as she simultaneously portrays a sympathetic and devious character. Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist perfectly captured the antithesis characters that are oddly drawn to each other.

This film has one of my favourite soundtracks of all time! I have repeatedly listened to the film's soundtrack since watching it. Music and sound was incorporated so beautifully throughout the entire narrative.

There was some masterful editing and cinematography that expertly reflects the tense back-and-forth of a tennis match. As a viewer, you cannot help but be drawn into the tense matches.

Please check this out, as it is something special!

Madame Web (2024)

Just Bad...

[2/10 · 10 May 2024]

I went into this expecting an insanely poor film, but it was just a regular sort of bad.

There were some elements that I actually did enjoy, such as the main powers the 'Madame Web' character had. However, they could have used these powers in a more creative way or implement a unique visual style when these powers appear on screen. It is a shame, because Sony manages to do this with the 'Spider-Verse' films but not with the live-action ones. Some of the superhero costumes were quite good, but barely feature in the film.

The main villain's motivation was quite silly and did not make a lot of sense if you dissect the plot a bit. I don't know if there was an issue with the main villain's accent or possibly with dubbing, but there was something off about it. Every time he speaks in the film you can tell there is an issue with his audio. The dialogue was definitely one of the worst aspects as a whole.

I would not recommend this personally, but you may enjoy it in a 'so bad it is good' way.

Late Night with the Devil (2023)

Cult Classic In The Making!

[8/10 · 26 April 2024]

'Late Night with the Devil' is an aesthetically appealing horror flick that is destined to be a cult classic!

Having the 70s late night television style made this film so memorable. You can distinguish this film from an individual frame, which you cannot say about all films. Furthermore, the style was essential to the narrative so it does not just act as window dressing. There was some well designed costumes and special effects that will make you squirm.

Ingrid Torelli- the teenage actress- gave an eerie performance well beyond her years. The show host protagonist was expertly represented by David Dastmalchian, as he gives an almost detached but equally greedy portrayal. This film also gets bonus for having Michael Ironside do the opening narration! I highly recommend adding this to your watchlist.

Baby Reindeer (2024)

An Incredibly Personal Story!

[7/10 · 24 April 2024]

'Baby Reindeer' is a great mini series that delves into some dark but real life events. It is an incredibly personal story from Richard Gadd's life.

A lot of themes within this series are quite unique and not often represented well by other media products. Dissecting the idea of 'the perfect victim' and trauma responses, this mini series effectively represents a much more realistic depiction of sexual abuse and stalking. Furthermore, there is a lot of great LGBTQ+ representation throughout the whole narrative.

The lighting is one filmmaking element that captured my attention. It is used to reflect a prominent emotion or action being represented on screen. Also, the use of typing message transitions were very effective. Please check this out if you can handle a heavy story!

-Sent from my iPhone.

Anatomy of a Fall (2023)

Fantastic Narrative!

[9/10 · 23 April 2024]

Narratively, this film intrigued me right away! The on-going ambiguity over how a certain character died keeps you hooked as viewer throughout the entire story.

The whole cast gave a great performance, particularly the main family characters the film focuses on. Milo Machado-Graner effectively represented a blind child despite not actually being blind himself, which is super impressive for a child actor. Messi (the guide dog in the film) and the dog training accomplished behind the scenes was phenomenal. He became a much beloved character due to how realistic he appeared on screen.

There was some really good cinematography with the snowy location the main house is set at, as well as with the major fall incident that sets off the narrative. Also, there was a reveal towards the end that was so powerful! I cannot reveal what it is, but it is a must-see.

Kong: Skull Island (2017)

Great Visual Style and Action Sequences!

[7/10 · 10 April 2024]

'Kong: Skull Island' is a fun action experience that has a lot of effort poured into the film's visual style.

The CGI effects do look quite clean and polished in this! Additionally, there are some fantastic lighting choices that add some extra flair to these effects. There is a star-studded cast in this, but I wish they did a bit more with certain individual actors. It definitely emphasised quantity of A-list actors when there was not a massive amount of time to develop each character.

Furthermore, the film added some further thematic layers with how it related the Vietnam and past wars to the conflict going on with the oversized monsters. I always enjoy when monster features create parallels to human nature/behaviour in order to have a greater impact. Check this one out if you have the chance!

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)

Fun Monster Clashes!

[6/10 · 4 April 2024]

'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire' is not a perfect film, but for a blockbuster it delivers on the pure monster action it promises.

Oftentimes in monster features, you tend to get a massive amount of human character scenes and very little monster sequences as an attempt to build up tension. However, this film gives the viewer a lot of monster focused content which was actually quite refreshing. In particular, I really enjoyed Kong's major scene and how they chose to have no human characters explaining what is going on. Instead they allow the audience to look at the body language to interpret what is going on. It was definitely my favourite part!

Although, the human sequences in this bring it down a little. The first half an hour is a lot of exposition on what has happened in previous films and how characters relate to each other. Furthermore, some of the film's CGI needed more work. For such a CGI heavy film, the computer generated effects need to be as good as possible. I do recommend seeing this if you are a fan of monster action type films. You will get a massive amount of fun creature clashes!

Superintelligence (2020)

A Cute Romantic-Comedy, But It Needed Something More...

[5/10 · 23 March 2024]

This is a decent romantic-comedy, but I wish it executed many elements differently. It has an interesting concept, but needed some more interesting filmmaking choices to make it stand out.

Melissa McCarthy and Bobby Cannavale had a surprising amount of chemistry together as an onscreen couple. Their character's relationship and the romantic-comedy elements is when this film shines the most.

The voice of the super-intelligence could have been a lot better in my opinion. I really wish they picked a professional voice actor with a charming voice, like Keith David for example. Instead they use James Corden and shove in some 'Carpool Karaoke' jokes. Furthermore, the film's cinematography and editing could have gone for a more technological style to reflect the narrative.

If you are romantic-comedy lover, this is a sweet watch. If you are not, you will not get much out of this!

We Have a Ghost (2023)

Decent, But A Little Basic!

[4/10 · 15 March 2024]

This was a somewhat fun afternoon watch, but it is a little bit of a mixed bag!

There are quite a few clichés in this, but it does try to do its own thing with some of them. Having the ghost unable to talk was one of these unique elements that worked well. I did actually enjoy the social media aspect of this film. It was fun to see how the internet would react to someone discovering a ghost in their house and this film definitely has some good jokes with this idea.

I would have liked to see some more fun editing and cinematography. This just features the standard invisible cinematography, which is quite bland at points. The CGI needed a bit of improvement as well, considering that the film's premise is heavily dependent on it. Maybe check this out if it interests you!

One Day at a Time (2017–2020)

A Great Sitcom!

[7/10 · 9 March 2024]

'One Day At A Time' was honestly such a great show that just had so much bad luck. First it was cancelled early by Netflix, but it was fortunate to be revived by another company. Then sadly the reboot was cut short due to the Pandemic! It is such a shame that this series did not have the chance to carry on it deserves.

As a viewer, you grow to love the characters and the discussions they have as a family. It allows for a modern perspective on so many different areas, like culture, gender, age etc. For a sitcom, I was surprised how many different societal issues it tackles. Justina Machado has such a likeable energy as the main character. You cannot help but connect to her!

My only major problem with the show is the unfortunate production issues. The revived season leaves a lot of narrative threads left unanswered. Hopefully there can be a way to wrap up this series or even another continuation. Please check this series out!

Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

A Must-See Of 2023!

[8/10 · 8 March 2024]

'Killers of the Flower Moon' is just an amazing film! It gave me a deeper understanding of a part of history I knew very little about.

Lily Gladstone gave a really fantastic performance, particularly later in the film after a lot of the darker events had occurred in the narrative! For such a large cast, I honestly cannot say that there was any bad performance.

There were many examples of excellent cinematography and editing. In particular, the epilogue sequence was superb and very memorable. Furthermore, it is impressive how this film gives an incredibly detailed depiction of the Osage Nation in this time period. Scenes are filled with fantastic costumes, props, and film characters. This is a must-see of 2023!

Leave the World Behind (2023)

Interesting, But Missing Something...

[5/10 · 7 March 2024]

This is definitely an interesting watch, but there is just something missing for me.

The use of blue mise-en-scène towards the beginning showed a bit of effort put into the filmmaking, even if it was a little over-the-top at points. Most of the acting was quite good, even if a few characters are purposefully written to be a little frustrating.

In terms of mystery and tension building, this film excels. It really builds up the strange circumstances and makes you want to find out what is going on. On the other hand, I understand they were making a point with the film's ending. However, it still feels quite annoying with where in the narrative it chooses to stop. I would only recommend this if you are aware of the rather lacklustre ending going into it!

The Zone of Interest (2023)

Heartbreakingly Unique!

[8/10 · 6 March 2024]

A heartbreakingly unique way to represent one of the worst events in history. While never visually presenting the holocaust, you audibly hear the horrific crimes committed in Auschwitz.

The sound design in this film is some of the best ever in cinema. As an audience member, you are almost placed in the same position as the main German family. Instead of ignoring the suffering that is happening over the wall, you are forced into hearing it throughout the narrative. Furthermore, the film has one of the most unnerving pieces of music I have ever heard.

All of the cinematography and editing was perfectly implemented as well. The film has an almost cold and unsaturated tint which accurately represents the themes. There are inverted scenes that separate themselves from the main narrative for a clear purpose. I highly recommend this tough watch.

Wicked Little Letters (2023)

A Great Little Comedy!

[7/10 · 2 March 2024]

'Wicked Little Letters' is hysterically funny and unique. It takes a somewhat humorous true story and adds some great social commentary.

The narrative and themes within this are incredibly strong. By exploring how female behaviour was strictly controlled in a patriarchal and religious setting, the film emphasises the absurdity and hypocrisy in how 1920s women were treated. Jessie Buckley, Olivia Coleman, and Anjana Vasan make for an excellent leading trio!

Although, the cinematography and editing needed to be more adventurous. It could have visually reflected the personality of each of the main trio, such as having Buckley's character scenes having more unconventional visuals. This is only a slight criticism though. Please check this one out if you are not adversed to swearing!

Extraction II (2023)

Average, But Some Good Action!

[4/10 · 28 February 2024]

I do not have a lot to say about this film, but I will list a few positives and negatives.

Chris Hemsworth was good as a typical action hero, but I did not really register any of the other characters within my mind. The action is in this film is quite good! It does draw you in again if your attention starts to drift. Compared to usual Netflix originals, I will remember a few of the action set pieces.

It features basic cinematography and editing, but displays the action well. The plot was decent, as I found the imprisoned family idea to be tense at points. Overall, it is good for a light watch but you may not remember it in a few months!

Lift (I) (2024)

Bland!

[2/10 · 26 February 2024]

This is quite a basic and bland Netflix film! I will probably forget about this very soon.

The cinematography, editing and effects were super dull. Furthermore, the plot is quite unoriginal and does not add a lot of new material. Having the NFT heist at the beginning feels a little cringeworthy considering how NFTs have been widely criticised as a concept.

My only real positive is that Kevin Hart is fun as the renowned criminal character. If he was not the main protagonist, I feel like this would have received a worst rating. There is a largely decent cast for this, which makes it even more annoying with how bland it is. Maybe skip this!

Rise of the Footsoldier: The Heist (2019)

Terrible Dialogue!

[1/10 · 24 February 2024]

Take a shot every time a character swears in this and you will be dead in ten minutes! Cursing does not bother me, but there are very few sentences in this film without a swear word. It comes off as trying way too hard to be 'edgy' and 'tough'. It takes the power out of a character being so frustrated/angry that they end up swearing.

Additionally, this film feels a lot more like an extended television episode. Characters just hang around and talk to each other instead of having a strong narrative. I have a lot of trouble remembering what even happened in this film.

I would not recommend this, as it seems even fans of this film series were disappointed!

Wonka (2023)

Full Of Whimsy and Charm!

[6/10 · 17 February 2024]

'Wonka' was so much fun and is perfect watch for families! It perfectly balances the whimsy with musical elements.

The musical numbers in this are so catchy! You will be humming so many of the songs long after the credits have ended. They also fit very well into the on-going narrative instead of derailing it. Timothée Chalamet did a great job playing the beloved main character. Quite a few of the film's villainous characters worked as well. In particular, the chocolate cartel and chief of police characters had some fun chemistry!

While being a visually eye-catching film, the cinematography and editing could have been a little more adventurous. Additionally, I do think the Oompa-Loompa sequences should have been reworked. It seemed a little tacked on in order to have some more brand recognition instead of being a key part to the story. Overall though, this is a great family film!

Baghead (2023)

Awful Title and Possible Plagiarism!

[1/10 · 1 February 2024]

Award for the worst film title I have ever heard goes to 'Baghead'! Honestly there is so many other titles they could have gone for and it would have stopped the threat in this film feeling a little silly.

Also, this film is incredibly inspired by 'Talk To Me'. The main concept is almost identical to how the ghosts work in that film. 'Baghead' also loses the great exploration of grief, addiction, and drug use that its inspiration showcases.

There was a great sequence that utilises some good cinematography and lighting, but again it is another example of possible plagiarism from 'Talk To Me'. I'm afraid I cannot recommend this due to the awful title and stolen ideas. Just watch 'Talk To Me' instead!

Assassin (2023)

Dull!

[1/10 · 30 January 2024]

This film tries to take an interesting concept, but executes it horribly. Being able to take over innocent people to assassinate people is quite a good idea and it is a shame this film is not better than it is.

There is no interesting cinematography or editing, which could have aided in the transition between taking over someone else's body. The narrative is extremely dull as well, and attempts a twist which does not work. For being Bruce Willis's possibly final performance, it fails to use him in any fun or unique way.

Also, I thought the ending was going to include some LGBT+ representation. However, it chooses to cop out at the very last second. This was extremely disappointing. I would not recommend checking this out!

Priscilla (2023)

Intriguing!

[7/10 · 29 January 2024]

'Priscilla' is a good look into the titular woman's life. It was extremely interesting to learn a bit more about Priscilla and her relationship with Elvis.

The makeup, hair and costumes were handled proficiently. It is probably one of my favourite aspects of this film! Jacob Elordi's performance was very good, but I did have a bit of trouble distinguishing what he was saying at points. While he definitely captures Elvis's manner of speaking, the filmmakers should have made his voice a little louder or have gone for a less prominent accent when filming.

I was left wanting a bit more from this film. I'm not sure if it was the cinematography or the typical day to day narrative that left me feeling like this. However, I do appreciate that the real Priscilla had some involvement and this yearning for more is part of film's themes. While thematically relevant, it did leave me with the desire for something more.

If you are intrigued to learn more about Priscilla Presley or her relationship with Elvis, this is worth a look.

Sliding Doors (1998)

Modest Timeline Narrative!

[6/10 · 27 January 2024]

I really appreciate how this film tackles two different narrative timelines. It makes it such a unique romantic comedy, even if it could have gone further with the idea.

Seeing Paltrow's character tackle her husband's infidelity in two different timelines is quite interesting. You get to see her being suspicious in one universe and outright catching him in another. Furthermore, this film reflects late 1990s/early 2000s British culture well. You can instantly tell when the film was made from the actors to the technology.

There could have been more creative cinematography or editing between the two different timelines. They could have used more colour saturation in the happier universe, or even a black and white style in the darker one! It is decent watch, but could have done a bit more in my opinion.

Poor Things (2023)

Eccentric and Hilarious!

[10/10 · 25 January 2024]

'Poor Things' is such an exceptional film. Despite having a lot of sexual scenes, it effectively weaves them into the on-going narrative and even makes them humorous.

There are some fantastic performances here. Emma Stone had to capture some many different moments in her character's developing life and she absolutely nailed it. She adds a lot to the unconventional humour. Mark Ruffalo was also amazing and hilarious! You cannot help but chuckle at some of the strangely funny moments.

The cinematography and set design is so unique looking. I honestly cannot think of any other film that captures the same eccentrically beautiful style! All of the costumes are so gorgeous as well. Stone's character has so many different outfits that reflect how her mind is developing!

In my opinion, this is a must see for anyone who enjoys thematic elements and great filmmaking. I hope this gets some award recognition!

Oppenheimer (I) (2023)

Very Good!

[7/10 · 17 January 2024]

'Oppenheimer' is a great exploration of the titular physicist. While not my favourite 2023 film, there is a lot to appreciate about it.

Cillian Murphy was just fantastic! I do not think this film would have stood out as much if someone else played 'Oppenheimer'. The wider cast did quite well interacting with each other, despite having so many different characters.

One of my favourite scenes- which I will definitely revisit in the future- is the bomb test. It is so tense and gripping to watch. There was a lot of creative filmmaking techniques. I really loved the black and white cinematography segments. It also had a narrative reason, as it presents a subjective view of a different character.

I do think that I felt the length of the film a bit too much. Some of the court scenes towards the end could have been reworked to streamline the film. Also, I think this film is quite complex in a different way from Nolan's usual work. You definitely need a good understanding of the history behind this story before you watch the film. As a younger viewer, I found myself quite confused at points. Overall though, I do recommend watching this!