Nerve (2016)

 

**This post contains spoilers**

The Story- Living in Staten Island, Vee (Emma Roberts) wants to take a risk and step outside of her comfort zone, so she decides to join Nerve, an online game where players take their chances with dangerous challenges to win money. Vee quickly outshines her best friend, Sydney (Emily Meade) as one of Nerve’s popular players, while her friend Tommy (Miles Heizer) and Vee’s mother, Nancy (Juliette Lewis) worry about her safety.

Another player named Ian (Dave Franco) forms a duo with Vee, as the dares become more dangerous. Nerve’s watchers throw their support behind Ian and Vee as the flavor of the night. But the it team will have to deal with Ty (Machine Gun Kelly), Nerve’s most dedicated and fearless player, if they want win and escape the game. 

My Thoughts- Vee is a simple and relatable character. She’s young, she’s scared about going out into the world on her own, and Vee doesn’t want to leave her single mother alone after her brother’s death. Vee is at that stage in her life, where it’s time to take that big leap into the real world. Emma Roberts delivers a believable performance, as a nerdy kid, who’s still stuck in her shell, going through the growing pains of transitioning into adulthood.

The friendship and dynamic between Vee and Sydney is one of the bigger storylines in Nerve. Vee is frustrated with being Sydney’s sidekick. Sydney is noticeably jealous, as Vee’s popularity continues to rise. Sydney resents Vee, because Sydney craves attention and validation. Vee is stealing her spotlight, but Vee doesn’t see it that way. She’s just trying to have fun, breaking away from her usual safe and predictable lifestyle. 

Of course, you know at some point there’s going to be a big argument between Vee and Sydney. They’ll angrily hurl deeply personal insults at each other, and that’s exactly what happens at the party. It’s a predictable step by step process, leading up to the moment where Vee and Sydney decide to bury the hatchet.

Emily Meade really nailed Sydney’s outbursts at the party. You can buy into the anger and heartbreak, as she’s tearing into Vee, because she’s upset her best friend vented to someone else (Ian), who’s basically a complete stranger. Solid execution for playing out the drama between Sydney and Vee, but as soon as Vee decides to join Nerve, and you see Sydney’s reaction to it, it’s easy to see where everything is going. 

Dave Franco delivers a solid performance as Ian. He’s charming and ambitious, and Ian is someone Vee can trust. Franco and Roberts share good chemistry as a duo, with Ian being the guy, who helps bring Vee out of her comfort zone. 

Tommy having a crush on Vee is hinted at and teased, but ultimately Vee and Ian fall for each other. Roberts and Franco did a good job of playing off of each other, with their opposite personalities. Their relationship easily had more of a spark. Going the route of putting Vee and Tommy together would’ve been the more cliched and boring choice, because Vee and Ian were a more entertaining impromptu duo/couple.

My biggest problem with Nerve is, I never believed the main characters were in any real danger. Nerve is supposed to be this extremely dangerous game, where ANYTHING can happen. Sure, some of the dares are nail-biters. The ladder dare, and Ian needing to hit 60 mph on his bike blindfolded, while Vee guides him are a few good examples. Yeah, they showed a highlight reel of failed dares, and the one tragedy, where a player fell to his death during one of Ian’s old games. But Nerve leaned too heavily on the side of teasing that something bad could happen, instead of actually showing a truly disastrous outcome in the current storyline.

The final challenge? Ty shooting and “killing” Vee just wasn’t believable. Vee faking her death as a ruse to help shutdown Nerve for good was way too obvious. I get the idea behind Vee wanting to sacrifice herself to put a stop to Nerve, and scaring all the watchers into believing they’re accessories to murder. They tried to throw in another curveball, with Vee leaving Ian in the dark about her plans to make her death feel more realistic. I could’ve actually bought into Franco’s devastated reaction, if Nerve was more convincing about death being a serious possibility throughout the movie. 

Nerve was released in 2016, but the social commentary is still relevant today. I’d go as far as saying it’s more relevant today than it was eight years ago. Whether it’s TikTok, Twitter/X, or any other social media platform, the urge to go viral is something that continues to escalate. 

There’s definitely a lot of realism with people feeling the need to record themselves doing absolutely stupid things, hoping they’ll possibly turn their fifteen minutes of fame into a career. Add in the fact that Nerve players receive a bigger payout for bolder and more riskier dares, and you can easily see the connections to modern social media influencers or content creators.

Ty and Sydney are two perfect examples for real people that you would expect to play Nerve. Before she acknowledges her mistakes, Sydney is obsessed with the little bit of fame that comes from Nerve. She was willing to get suspended from school for flashing her butt, but Sydney didn’t care that much, because she gained more followers. Ty? He has the openly narcissistic and cocky personality that you’d expect from someone, who lives for the thrill of being watched and showing off.

There’s a happy ending all around, with Tommy and his hacker friend, Kween (Samira Wiley) working together to shutdown Nerve. Vee decides to go art school with her mother’s blessings, and Ian and Vee are officially together. 

New York was the right setting for Nerve. The bright lights, and the idea of the city that never sleeps, fits perfectly with Nerve’s non-stop and lively characteristics. There’s also a connection to Wu-Tang. Vee is a big fan of the legendary group. There’s a scene, where Vee raps along to C.R.E.A.M. as a distraction to help her get through the tattoo challenge, easily the perfect choice for a Wu-Tang song. 

Nerve is a vibrant and fun thriller, that moves at a fast pace. Roberts and Franco are two likable lead characters, and taking an interactive POV approach throughout the movie was a nice touch. It fits with Nerve’s theme to give you the impression that you’re apart of the game, or you’re at least watching everything unfold in real time. Some decent laughs every now and then, and there’s a handful of unanswered questions, but Nerve has a definitive ending, without any cheap cliffhangers.

Rating- 6/10

Takers (2010)

 

**This post contains spoilers**

The Story- A tight crew of professional bank robbers contemplates accepting a high stakes job from Ghost (Tip Harris), a member of the gang, who just finished a five year prison sentence. Thomas (Idris Elba), John (Paul Walker), Jake (Michael Ealy), and A.J. (Hayden Christensen) all have their doubts, but the money is just too tempting to resist. 

The gang questions Ghost’s motivations, but John, A.J., Thomas, Jake, and his younger brother, Jesse (Chris Brown) execute their plans to follow through with the heist. The crew is pursued by Detective Jack Welles (Matt Dillion) and his partner, Eddie Hatcher (Jay Hernandez). Risks are apart of a bank robber’s life, and a betrayal from within the group threatens to jeopardize the mission.

My Thoughts-They’re bank robbers, but the crew in Takers are also presented as likable characters. Thomas is struggling to help his sister, Naomi (Marianne Jean-Baptiste) with her drug addiction. Jake is serious about caring for and protecting Jesse, and Jake loves his girlfriend, Lilly (Zoe Saldana). Thomas and A.J. are just two cool and easygoing  guys, who are dedicated team players. There’s nothing sleazy about the crew. They’re not into blowing all their money on drugs and women. It’s a gang featuring efficient professionals, a close family willing to die for each other, if things go south.

The opposition? Matt Dillion’s Jack is a burnt-out detective trying to juggle work and his family life, often prioritizing his duties as a detective over his own daughter. Eddie stole money from a drug bust, but he did it to try and help his family, because he’s drowning in debt. To cap off a sad ending for Eddie, he drops his guard during a face-off with Jesse, allowing Jesse to shoot and kill him.

Outside of just doing their jobs, there’s really not a strong conflict between both sides. You can look at the majority of the characters in Takers, and easily find redeemable qualities. I was hoping for a stronger blood feud, but it’s more of a simple “they’re bad guys, and we have to stop them” mindset from Jack’s side.

One big score! The job, where everything could possibly go wrong…and that’s exactly what happens. Ghost is a traitor, playing both sides. His plan involved pitting his crew and Sergei’s (Gideon Emery) gang against each other, allowing Ghost to take all the money for himself after everyone else is dead.

Okay. I get that, but did they REALLY have to make it so obvious? You can easily tell Ghost is still bitter about being caught on old job, that cost him five years of his life in prison. Ghost also resents Jake for stealing Lilly away from him, while he was locked away. The snide look Ghost gave Lilly before the heist, his constant smart remarks throughout the movie, and he’s very open about how resents the gang for forgetting about him. And to make matters worse, the crew openly acknowledges Ghost is someone, who can’t be trusted.

They could’ve tried to throw a curveball? At least make an attempt at a believable swerve, or tease the possibility of Ghost being a true team player. Ghost’s impending betrayal kills a lot of the tension in Takers. You know it’s coming eventually, so it’s just a lot of waiting around for the moment, when he officially turns on the gang.

T.I. delivers a solid performance. I could easily believe and buy into his character. Ghost has a skeevy personality, an irritating and cocky jerk, who only cares about himself and punishing his friends. Idris Elba always brings a strong presence to his characters. Thomas is a leader, and Elba does a good job of showing frustration and anger, as he tries to help Naomi through an agonizing rehab process. 

There’s a lot of showing off in the early stages of the movie. The crew lives a lavish lifestyle. They wear nice suits, a fancy club is their hangout spot, and it’s a cool all-star team of bank robbers. 

The opening heist provided a good spark for the movie. The action and the thrills picked up again after the chaotic fallout from the final heist. And the shootout scene at the hotel really worked, as the violent and intense turning point before the big standoff at the airport. Takers had a lot of potential. It’s predictable, but Takers is still a decent and entertaining heist film, that delivers a solid adrenaline rush during the home stretch.

Rating- 5/10

Jumper (2008)

 

**This post contains spoilers**

The Story- After a failed attempt to impress his crush, Millie (AnnaSophia Robb), and a run-in with his pesky bully, Mark (Jesse James), a young David Rice (Max Thieriot) accidentally discovers he has the ability to jump. A Jumper can instantly teleport to any place on earth, and David uses his powers to escape his strict and abusive father, William (Michael Rooker).

Years later, David (Hayden Christensen) has mastered his powers, using jumping to rob banks, so he can live a luxurious lifestyle. David finds Millie (Rachel Bilson) working at a bar. He convinces Millie to travel with him to Rome to see the Colosseum, fulfilling one of Millie’s childhood dream vacations. 

But the trip is disrupted, when David runs into another Jumper named Griffin (Jamie Bell). To make matters worse, David and Griffin are hunted by Roland Cox (Samuel L. Jackson). Roland leads the Paladins, a secret group fiercely dedicated to capturing and killing Jumpers. David will need Griffin’s help to stop Roland and protect Millie. And David’s situation takes a bizarre turn, when his estranged mother, Mary (Diane Lane) reappears.

My Thoughts- Samuel L. Jackson and Jamie Bell easily deliver the two best performances here. Jackson is a mean and relentless jerk, and he does a fantastic job of selling Roland’s hatred for Jumpers. You really believe Roland is genuinely disgusted by Jumpers, and he will do anything to exterminate them. Also, the obsessive religious fanaticism tied into the Paladins and Roland’s character truly helps solidify his status, as a clear-cut villain throughout the movie.

Jamie Bell plays the angsty tough guy type. He’s closed off and refuses to open up to David about his past, and Bell brings believable intensity to Griffin. Griffin can be a loose cannon, but he still has enough common sense to be responsible, when it matters.

The dynamic and the relationship between Griffin and David hits all the right notes. David is reckless and greedy with his jumping abilities. His lifestyle draws too much attention. Griffin? He quietly lives in a cave. Sure, you could say Griffin is a bit unhinged, but he’s careful and far more disciplined than David. 

As the story progresses, we learn that Mary is a Paladins. That’s why she abandoned David and his father years ago, because as a Paladins, she had to make a choice: leave the family, or kill her own son. It’s kind of a somber ending, when David realizes his mother simply moved on and continued living her life without him. She lives in a nice house, and David has a sister named Sophie (Kristen Stewart).

I wouldn’t say they reach eye rolling levels, but Jumper is loaded with a lot of familiar cliches. As a kid, David is shy and socially awkward. He has a crush on his dream girl, but his bully Mark is one of the dark clouds hanging over his life. 

William? He’s the typical verbally abusive drunk father, but it’s possible to have sympathy for him. Mary bailed on the family, leaving William to raise David on his own. That’s a lot of stress and heartbreak to deal with alone, but William changes as David ages. You can see he wants to have a relationship with his son. He wants to understand him, and William lies to Roland in a failed attempt to protect David.

Jumper delivers some good thrills, but they kind of went overboard with showing how cool it is to be a Jumper. David eating on top of a Sphinx’s head in Egypt is one moment that sticks out, and Griffin showing off his advanced skills to steal a Mercedes, jumping through the dealership at full speed without breaking the glass. Early on the movie, it’s easy to understand what jumping is and how David and Griffin do it, so some of the “jumping is so cool and awesome!” scenes were unnecessary. 

Jumper features a solid cast, and it’s a movie that moves at a quick pace. The runtime flies by with consistent action and a good sense of urgency, as David and Griffin figure out their next moves. 

Jumper is a decent and fun action/sci-fi film, but it also feels incomplete. David and Mary accepted they’ll always share an awkward relationship, and they’re also on opposite sides of the never ending war between Jumpers and Paladins, so that’s a cliffhanger. Millie finally accepted David for what he is, and they end the movie with David and Millie in a seemingly happy relationship. Griffin? David left him trapped in the wires (large amounts of electricity hinders a Jumper’s ability to jump) in another country. Will Griffin trust David again? Or is he looking for revenge?

Roland is still alive, stuck in the Grand Canyon with no help to escape. And we don’t know what happened to William after David dropped him off at the hospital. A lot of loose ends, but we’re in 2024 now, and Jumper was released all the way back in 2008. I still haven’t seen it, but the Impulse series has two seasons. The problem is, Impulse is a stand alone series, so it’s not connected to this movie.

They planted enough seeds to lay the foundation for a sequel, and Jackson could’ve been an excellent villain. Jumper wasn’t perfect, but the potential was there, and the premise definitely had more roads to explore.

Rating- 5/10

The Baker (2022)

 

**This post contains spoilers**

The Story- Peter (Joel David Moore) hits the jackpot, when he stumbles across a bloody and botched drug deal at the airport. Peter has big plans to cash in, and start a new luxurious life with his mute daughter, Delphi (Emma Ho), but he’ll need his father’s help. Pappi (Ron Perlman), living a quiet life running a bakery, reluctantly agrees to look after Delphi, while Peter plans to unload a bag full of heroin. 

But Peter runs into a bigger problem, when Vic (Elias Koteas) surprises him at home. Vic is the main enforcer for The Merchant (Harvey Keitel), a powerful drug lord. The Merchant wants his product, but unbeknownst to Peter, Delphi switched out the heroin in the bag with her clothes.

Pappi goes on a mission to find out what happened to Peter, while being pursued by Vic, his cronies, and Detective Petra Weintrager (Samantha Kaine) and her partner, Detective Luca Rispoli (Paolo Mancini). Will Pappi be able to keep Delphi safe?

My Thoughts- Ron Perlman plays the old grizzled tough guy role with ease, but Pappi is also a man, who’s haunted by his past. The intense bouts of PTSD, and you can tell Pappi wishes he had a better relationship with his son. Perlman does a fantastic job of nailing Pappi’s whirlwind of emotions, and he easily delivers the best performance here.

The relationship between Pappi and Delphi is the driving force behind The Baker. There’s a point, where Pappi offers money to Peter’s neighbor to look after Delphi, because he believes he’s just not cut out to raise her, if Peter is dead.

The uneasy grandfather and granddaughter dynamic between Delphi and Pappi is executed to perfection. Pappi is the old and grouchy man, who doesn’t like showing his emotions. And Delphi is the frustrated young brat, who desperately needs a father figure, especially after her mother’s death.

Delphi is mute, but Emma Ho does a great job of conveying her emotions through facial expressions and body language. There’s some good laughs between the two, as Delphi tries to have fun with Pappi throughout the movie. On the other side of the comedic moments, there’s also a believable emotional layer for their relationship. Peter might be dead. Delphi is upset, and Pappi might’ve lost his son. Pappi and Delphi truly need each other. You can clearly see the ups and downs, while they’re trying to form a bond, and considering the circumstances, it’s a tough process for both of them.

Elias Koteas is always reliable for a solid performance. Vic is cold and efficient, but a life full of murder and crime is starting to take a toll on him. He’s serious about his job, but he’s also tired of living in fear of what The Merchant might do, if he doesn’t get the job done. Vic is moved by Peter’s love and devotion to his daughter. It’s a heavy burden for Vic, because the father/daughter relationship plays a big part in changing how he views his current situation.

Harvey Keitel’s appearances are limited. It’s an approach that really works, because it feels like a big deal, when The Merchant appears, and Keitel still brings the strong presence of a veteran actor. Joel David Moore looks like a goof during his brief screen time. He’s kind of a klutz, but he’s also a man who loves his daughter. Moore showed a lot of emotion, when he was facing certain death. Peter was beaten and bloodied, but all he could think about was leaving his daughter behind without a mother and father to raise her.

It’s a somber ending, when Vic shows Pappi the location of Peter’s body. Pappi decides to spare Vic’s life, while Vic seemed content with being put out of his misery. A good emotional moment, where Pappi knows comforting Delphi after her father’s death is more important than revenge. There’s a flashback, where Pappi remembers how he almost lost Peter in the woods, when he was a kid. The flashback meshes together, with Delphi eerily standing in a similar position that mirrors a young Peter, and it’s enough to snap him out of his rage.

The Merchant and Papi coming face to face is a big scene that’s rightfully saved for the final moments of the movie. It’s supposed to be a special moment, with two strong characters coming to a peaceful resolution for both of their problems. 

The Baker does provide some joy during the ending. Delphi finally speaks. She was traumatized after witnessing her mother’s death in a car accident (mom wasn’t wearing a seatbelt), so it’s a sign that Delphi trusts her grandfather, and she’s ready to move on. I wouldn’t call it a happy ending. It’s more of a start for new beginnings, while Delphi and Pappi try and figure out their lives together.

Who killed The Merchant? There’s a mid-credits scene that shows The Merchant’s death, but we never see the gunman. It had to be Vic? The Merchant is not the kind of man that tolerates failure. Vic knows he was on thin ice, so he had to kill The Merchant, while he still had the chance.

There’s a lot of mystery surrounding Pappi. He obviously faked his death, so he could have a chance at a normal life. But we still don’t know all of the fine details about his character, and that’s a good thing. I’m glad they didn’t turn Pappi into an invincible killing machine. Yes, he has the lethal skills, but Pappi is also an old man. He struggles in some of the fight scenes. Pappi having to really work to defeat some of the bad guys adds a touch of realism, because he’s at an age, where he can’t just easily tear through his opponents.

The Baker is a solid action film, featuring a good emotional story. They could’ve settled on taking the easy way out with a comedic approach. The old man, who’s a baker, with military training protecting his granddaughter from thugs? It sounds completely ridiculous. But the premise still worked for a more serious film, and that’s an impressive accomplishment.

Rating- 7/10

Character Spotlight- Corey Cunningham- Halloween Ends

 

**This post contains spoilers**

We’re finally here! It’s time for the final showdown between Michael Myers and Laurie Strode, but what about Corey Cunningham? Corey becomes the number one outcast in Haddonfield after accidentally murdering young Jeremy Allen (Jaxon Goldenberg) during a disastrous night of babysitting. It’s a horrific sight, with Jeremy’s body laying in a pool of his own blood. Jeremey’s mother Mrs. Allen (Candice Rose) is frantically screaming for a response from Jeremy, while Corey helplessly stands at the top of the staircase with a knife in his hand. 

The tragedy was an accident, and time is supposed to heal all wounds, right? Corey tries to keep to himself. You can tell he wants to keep a low profile, but Terry (Michael Barbieri) and his gang of hooligans are determined to make Corey’s life a living hell after he refuses to buy them beer.

Little by little, you can see it. Corey is going to snap. He’s angry. Corey is tired of taking the abuse, but there’s still hope! Laurie (Jamie Lee Curtis) introduces Corey to her granddaughter, Allyson (Andi Matichak). 

The relationship between Corey, Laurie, and Allyson starts off well enough. Laurie sees this poor guy, who’s become a villain in Haddonfield. Laurie knows EXACTLY how that feels after the tragic fallout from being one of the main figures, who inspired a lynch mob against Michael Myers in Halloween Kills. Allyson is lonely after the death of her parents and her friends, and she’s one of the few people, who can say she fought and survived Michael Myers. Allyson can be the emotional support system that Corey needs, while Corey helps her recover from the heartache she had to endure in Halloween and Halloween Kills.

So Allyson takes Corey to a Halloween party. He’s having fun, dancing, and Corey is finally coming out of his shell and starting to enjoy himself. But things take a turn for the worst, when Mrs. Allen (Candice Rose) viciously berates Corey about Jeremy’s death. You can see that look of rage on Corey’s face, when he’s leaving the bar.

After another run-in with Terry and his gang, Corey comes face to face with Michael Myers. It’s an eerie scene, where Michael has Corey by the throat, and you see the flashbacks piecing Corey’s story together. This is the big moment, where Corey looked into Michael’s eyes and gave into all the anger and bitterness boiling up inside of him. Michael Myers is not someone to let his victims go free. It’s an unprecedented moment for Myers, because you have to believe he could feel the evil in Corey’s heart. 

Corey’s first kill? Well, you could say Corey murdering the deranged homeless man, who wanted Michael’s mask was self defense. Corey’s visibly upset and shaken up after the murder. But it’s only a matter of time before Corey crosses that fine line for standing up for himself and choosing vengeance. 

You’ll notice the pattern, when Corey takes a more sinister path for setting a trap for Officer Mulaney (Jesse C. Boyd). It’s the first kill, where the odd partnership between Michael and Corey truly starts to materialize. Corey officially gives up on trying to turn his life around, as he encourages Michael to kill Mulaney. The duo team up to beat and slaughter Mulaney. Corey wants Michael to show him how to kill, as Michael regains his strength, and Corey’s bloodlust gets stronger after this scene.

Corey increasingly becomes more brutal and smarter, with how he chooses to approach his murders. The trap he sets for Terry and his gang, and how he calmly slithered into the radio station to kill Willy The Kid (Keraun Harris) and his receptionist (Diana Prince), are two good examples of seeing how things escalate during Corey’s transformation into a cold- blooded killer. 

The big scene where Corey and Michael team up to kill Dr. Mathis (Michael O’Leary), and Deb (Michele Dawson) perfectly encapsulates Michael and Corey’s relationship and Corey’s story. Corey killing Dr. Mathis? It was sloppy and over the top. On the flip side of that, Michael’s approach to murdering Deb was clean and quick. Also, Michael looks at Corey before he stabs Deb to show him how to do it the right way. 

The master teaching the apprentice is a key moment during Deb’s death scene, but there’s a lot more going on here. There’s a look of admiration on Corey’s face, when he witnesses Michael murdering Deb. He’s clearly in awe of Michael, as he unwraps the bandages on his injured hand, another strange and ironic connection to Michael. Remember, Michael’s hand is severely injured after Laurie blew parts of it off with the shotgun in Halloween 2018. Corey was already too far gone, so he gravitated towards Michael. Corey sees Michael as a father figure, a role his stepdad, Ron (Rick Moose) failed to fill, no matter how hard he tried. 

Corey slowly becomes The Shape, mimicking Michael’s movements and mannerisms. There’s a great callback to the original Halloween film, when a stoic Corey is standing outside near Laurie’s house. He’s waiting for Allyson, and the shot with Corey standing behind the bushes is similar to Laurie seeing Michael standing outside of her house in the 1978 film. Seeing Corey in Michael’s mask was strange. If we’re going down the road of someone directly following in Michael’s footsteps or at least teasing it, you’d have to go all the way back to Halloween 4 and Jaime, and Laurie in Rob Zombie’s Halloween films. 

Corey’s mother, Joan (Joanne Baron) undoubtedly played a role in his troubles. Joan was overprotective and had an unhealthy obsession with her son. It’s a twisted mother/son relationship, because Joan couldn’t stand the thought of Allyson taking her sweet baby boy away from her. Corey murdered Joan after she slapped him. Unbeknownst to Joan, her innocent son had already reached a point in his life, where he was determined to punish anyone who disrespected him. 

“If I can’t have her, no one will.” Corey’s final words before an attempted suicide to pin his death on Laurie, driving a bigger and more permanent wedge between Laurie and Allyson. Corey and Allyson loved and trusted each other as the only two people in the world, who could make each other happy. Corey knew Allyson was frustrated with Laurie before he stabbed himself. That was his backup plan to punish Laurie with a life of misery and loneliness, if he couldn’t have Allyson. Luckily, his plan backfired, when Allyson came to her senses.

There’s some strong irony with Corey being Michael’s final victim and his final kill. Of all the people in this world, how can you be so stupid to betray Michael Myers? But Corey’s buffoonery after he failed to kill Laurie proved he was reckless, and he was a little bit too cocky for his own good. 

Corey could’ve left Haddonfield for good with Allyson. He could’ve had a happy and romantic life with Allyson after he killed the homeless man. That should’ve been his wake up call, but Corey chose vengeance over love and happiness. He wanted to light the match and burn it down. 

Early on in the movie, before she realized what he was turning into, Corey had support from Laurie. Laurie was actually willing to help Corey. As the story progresses, Laurie offered professional help for his “infection,” combined with the nonnegotiable condition of staying away from Allyson. He had a strong support system with Allyson, and Hawkins (Will Patton) believed Corey deserved a second chance after Jeremy’s death. The scene after the disaster at the Halloween party with Allyson is one to remember. Corey didn’t want Allyson to waste her time trying to fix him. Allyson had her hands out, with tears in her eyes, basically begging Corey to allow her to comfort him.

Rohan Campbell did a wonderful job capturing all of Corey’s emotions. You can see the rage, the confusion, and the conflict within Corey, and Campbell nailed the more geeky and innocent side of Corey’s character.

Corey made the choice to worship at the altar of Michael Myers, but there’s a chance Corey always had evil in his heart. He didn’t have to kick the door THAT hard, when Jeremy locked him in the room upstairs. It’s an incident that makes you think about what Jeremy’s father, Roger (Jack William Marshall) told Laurie. Roger wanted to forgive Corey for Jeremey’s death, but he saw a different person, when he looked into Corey’s eyes after he murdered the homeless man. It wasn’t the same nerdy kid who mowed his lawn. This version of Corey made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, so maybe the darkness inside of Corey was always there.

Halloween Ends features two boogeymen, and who knows, maybe Michael would’ve eventually succumbed to his injuries and old age in the sewers, if he never crossed paths with Corey. There’s also the babysitter connection between Laurie and Corey. Laurie was a hero for protecting Lindsey (Kyle Richards) and Tommy Doyle from Michael in the 70’s, but Corey became a villain after his dreadful night of babysitting. 

Laurie sums up evil, and Michael and Corey’s stories with that final line in her book: evil never truly dies, it just changes shape. For a brief period, Corey was The Shape. There’s almost no chance for another evil infection spreading throughout Haddonfield with Michael and Corey dead, finally bringing peace to a small and quiet town that desperately needed it. 

Coming Attractions- Abigail (2024)

 

**This post contains POSSIBLE spoilers**

Directors- Matt Bettinlli-Olpin, Tyler Gillet

Cast- Alisha Weir, Angus Cloud, Giancarlo Esposito, Melissa Barrera, Kathryn Newton, Kevin Durand, Dan Stevens

Release Date- April 19, 2024

Welcome to Coming Attractions! In this new post series, I’ll give my thoughts on upcoming movies and TV shows that I’m interested in, so I’ll start things off with Abigail.

Abigail is supposed to be a reboot or a reimagining of 1934’s Dracula’s Daughter. Just going by the title of the 1934 film and knowing Abigail is a vampire, it’s not hard to put two and two together to figure out who her father might be. They’re intentionally keeping the identity of Abigail’s father a secret in the trailer, so it’s easy to guess they’re setting up a big reveal for Dracula, possibly in a mid-credits or post- credits scene?

Going by the trailer, you get the feeling this won’t be an overly serious movie. Hopefully a good balance of humor and horror, and they’re really putting a lot of emphasis on Abigail being a “ballerina vampire.” You can also see this is going to be a bloody and gory horror flick. The bodies floating around in that underground pool, and Abigail dancing with a headless corpse are two scenes that really stick out in the trailer.

And the kidnappers were obviously lured into a trap? The house is clearly designed to trap Abigail’s prey inside. Giancarlo Esposito possibly orchestrated the setup, because the no names and no cell phones rule is just too fishy. It’s also worth pointing out that Melissa Barrera has a son, and she makes an effort to form a connection with Abigail. 

Maybe this whole ordeal is a test for Abigail from her father, or it’s some kind of sick and twisted training exercise, but Abigail looks good so far. Maybe we’re looking at one of the sleeper hit horror films for 2024, and the introduction of a new character that could possibly have some longevity.

Universal’s Dark Universe had some potential. Sofia Boutella brought a refreshing spark to The Mummy. Dracula Untold was a promising film, and Luke Evans played a solid and strong version of Dracula. It’s just a bummer that everything completely fell apart, before they had any kind of chance to build up some momentum with the Dark Universe.

Going forward, standalone films are probably the best option. The Invisible Man is a good example for a success story. Universal has a gold mine loaded with storied horror icons and characters. Maybe it’s best that each character has their own film or films for more breathing room and a bigger showcase, without having to worry about connecting everything for a shared universe.

 

Coming Attractions- Longlegs (2024)

 

Director- Osgood Perkins

Cast- Maika Monroe, Nicolas Cage, Alicia Witt, Blair Underwood

Release Date- July 12, 2024

We’re clearly getting a darker version of an unhinged and nutty Nicolas Cage in Longlegs. It’s an ambiguous trailer, where you have to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Maika Monroe is the detective that’s chasing Cage, and she’ll have to outthink him and play his game, if she wants to catch him. 

I’m sure Cage will deliver a phenomenal performance. He’s an actor that doesn’t have a comfort zone, and he’s always willing to take chances on something different. Monroe should be a good fit for her character, playing the sharp and resourceful detective, who realizes she’s truly dealing with a monster. 

Longlegs has a lot of mystery surrounding it so far, and they did a good job of providing an intriguing trailer without giving away too much. 

Coming Attractions- Imaginary (2024)

 

Director- Jeff Wadlow

Cast- DeWanda Wise, Pyper Braun, Tom Payne, Betty Buckley, Taegen Burns, Dane DiLiegro, Veronica Falcon, Matthew Sato

Release Date- March 8, 2024

So it looks like Chauncey is a conduit for evil spirits or demons, and the teddy bear is targeting Alice. The retro Chauncey The Bear commercial is a nice touch for the innocent kid’s toy with a sinister dark side approach they’re clearly going for. My only problem with the trailer is, it looks like Imaginary will rely on jump scares too much.

Blumhouse is usually reliable for decent and solid horror movies. A few surprises, because I never expected M3GAN to be as good as it was. Imaginary looks like a balanced horror flick, delivering the shocking irony of a seemingly harmless teddy bear orchestrating a diabolical scheme to corrupt a little girl. 

Evil toys or evil doll horror movies can be tricky, because there’s always a chance the movie can wind up being too silly. Chucky usually takes a more comedic path with dark humor, and more often than not, Annabelle got it right on the more serious side.

DeWanda Wise’s Jessica is obviously hiding something about her childhood that ties into Chauncey. I have a feeling Imaginary will end with a cliffhanger to possibly set up a franchise, or things will end in a way where the door is open for a sequel. I just get that feeling every time I watch certain horror trailers, and there’s always the chance Imaginary could be a sleeper hit.

Coming Attractions- Love Lies Bleeding (2024)

 

Director- Rose Glass

Cast- Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian, Ed Harris, Jenna Malone, Anna Baryshinikov, Dave Franco

Release Date- March 8, 2024

Everything about this trailer for Love Lies Bleeding is just perfect. The music, the scenes with Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian together, and you can see there’s a strong possibility for Ed Harris to deliver a show stealing performance. 

Yeah, the trailer shows a lot, and maybe they gave away too much. But it’s still the kind of trailer that’ll get you pumped up for the movie. You get the feeling there’s not going to be a happy ending, and Kristen Stewart’s Lou has already chosen Katy O’ Brian’s Jackie over her own family. High expectations for Love Lies Bleeding, a presumably brutal and violent love story featuring top notch acting.

Coming Attractions- A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)

 

Director- Michael Sarnoski

Cast- Lupita Nyong’o, Joesph Quinn, Alex Wolff, Djimon Hounsou, Eliane Umuhire

Release Date- June 28, 2024

They’re going the prequel route, so no John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, or Cillian Murphy. Lupita Nyong’o and Djimon Hounsou should lead the way with strong performances, and Nyong’o is seemingly taking the spot for the main character here.

A Quiet Place Part II was a solid sequel, but overall it lacked the strong emotional depth in the original film. It looks like they’re going with a more grandiose blockbuster approach for Day One. It makes sense, because we’re seeing all the extreme chaos on the first day of the invasion.

Post-apocalyptic horror is one of my favorite sub-genres, because depending on how it’s done, it always feels real.You have to wonder how people and different governments would react, if we faced a catastrophic worldwide disaster. Would we unite for the future of humanity? Or would selfishness and primal survival instincts triumph over unity? 

We’ll get to see exactly how it all began in Day One, and I have high hopes for the prequel. 

Coming Attractions- The Strangers: Chapter 1 (2024)

 

Director- Renny Harlin

Cast- Madelaine Petsch, Froy Gutierrez, Rachel Shenton, Gabriel Basso, Ema Horvath, Ella Bruccoleri

Release Date- May 17, 2024

The Strangers: Prey At Night had some crisp visuals. The cat and mouse games had more room to breathe, because the protagonists weren’t restricted to running around in circles at an isolated house out in the middle of nowhere. But The Strangers 2008 is the superior film, truly a good old school slasher with a lot of tense thrills. 

Chapter 1? Eh, I have a lot of mixed feelings about what I’m seeing so far. In certain parts, it looks like a shot for shot remake. Hopefully, they’re just giving little nods to the 2008 film, because it’s almost impossible to ignore the similarities.

It’s the first chapter in a story with three total chapters, and Chapter 1 is a prequel. Maybe we’ll learn more about the Man In The Mask, Dollface, and Pin-Up Girl, and their backstories and motivations. Is the small town aware of The Strangers and what they’re about to do? There’s strong “outsiders are not welcome here” vibes, when the couple arrives at the diner.

I’m always in favor of more mainstream slashers. I’m also glad they’re going with a standalone approach to all three films. I just can’t imagine stretching this one story across two sequels, without everything feeling stale. A lot more potential with three different versions and perspectives, and it’s nice to see the return of a horror series that always had a promising future.