Cuckoo (2024)(Minor Spoilers)

 **This post contains MINOR spoilers**

The Story- Gretchen (Hunter Schafer) reluctantly travels to a quiet resort community in Germany with her father, Luis (Martin Csokas), her stepmother, Beth (Jessica Henwick), and her mute sister, Alma (Mila Lieu) to start a new life. Luis is handpicked by his new boss, Herr Konig (Dan Stevens) to build a hotel. 

She receives a job as a receptionist courtesy of Koing, but a series of odd events worries an already suspicious Gretchen. To make matters worse, Gretchen is constantly pursued and stalked by a mysterious woman, or a “mother.”  Gretchen, shunned by her family, turns to Henry (Jan Bluthardt), a detective, for help. Gretchen and Henry work together to put a stop to Koing’s plans and his bizarre experiments, but the situation becomes more complicated, when Koing sets his sights on Alma.

My Thoughts- During the early stages of the movie, you’ll probably notice Gretchen comes off as a bratty and rebellious teenager, an edgy punk kid, with a dark sense of humor. She flat out refuses to acknowledge the fact that Alma is her sister, and Gretchen refers to Beth as her “father’s wife,” completely ignoring the stepmother label. 

Gretchen is the black sheep in her family, but it’s not that simple. She’s a young kid, who’s still heartbroken over her mother’s death. Hunter Schafer does a good job of being convincing as the typical angsty teenager. But as the story progresses, Schafer switches gears to show a more emotional and vulnerable side of Gretchen, reminding you she’s still a scared kid, who just wants her father’s love and support. Schafer also shows Gretchen can be a gritty fighter, when her character is put through the wringer after the car accident.

Dan Stevens plays a fantastic villain, brining a noticeable mix of creepiness and a menacing aura to Herr Konig. Koing, a highly intelligent man, has a charming presence, but it’s also easy to see how he’s the perfect example of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Gretchen is an ideal adversary for Koing. She’s the scrappy teenage rebel, who, unlike her father, has the guts to stand up to Koing, and Gretchen’s not afraid to ask the crucial questions for topics that are supposed to be off limits. 

The mother character really works as a pesky and menacing threat. I absolutely loved the irony of her appearance. Just looking at her old fashioned clothes, the sunglasses, and how everything is put together, you’d think the mother is just some harmless old lady. But the mother’s appearance is also terrifying, with her palish sickly skin and the glowing red pupils, bolstered by her feral movements and the ear splitting shrieks. 

Family drama plays a big role in Cuckoo. Luis doesn’t mind berating his own daughter, but he turns into a pushover and a complete wimp around Koing. Beth just gives off vibes of being a phony, and more often than not, she’s cruel and cold towards Gretchen. Add in the fact that Gretchen is an outcast in her own family, Luis and Beth’s obvious favoritism for Alma, and it’s no real surprise Gretchen is usually miserable. 

Cuckoo has its high points, but it’s hard to ignore how everything just drags along in certain spots. I understand the slow burn approach, but more than once, I was hoping they would just get to the point with the mystery behind the reasons for Koing’s experiments.

Also, at some point you have to realize SOMETHING is off with Koing. Towards the end, Gretchen bluntly points out how “weird” everything is, how nothing about Koing and what he wants makes any sense, and how Koing can’t give a straight answer for all the bizarre events (e.g. women puking left and right) at the resort. Why is Beth allowing the nurses at the hospital to giver her strange medication? Why are Luis and Beth allowing Koing and his people to treat Alma, when it’s clear that whatever they’re doing isn’t working?

Sorry, but I’m not buying the idea that Koing is this charismatic guy, who’s capable of charming anyone into doing what he wants, no matter how crazy it sounds. I won’t go as far as pointing the finger for stupid horror movie cliches and moments, but after while, common sense has to kick in, because all the signs are clearly there. 

I had high hopes for this one, and there’s a big question mark for Luis and Beth’s future, but Cuckoo mostly delivers. Writer/director Tilman Singer cleverly works themes about motherhood, strained family bonds, and nurturing into the story, while tying everything together with the lifestyles of cuckoo birds. And a cuckoo clock makes an appearance for good measure.

It’s also refreshing to see a movie, where almost every character plays a crucial role in the story. Whether it’s Gretchen’s co-worker and fellow receptionist, Trixie (Greta Fernández), or the enigmatic Ed (Astrid Berges-Friseby), a guest at the hotel, who shares a brief fling with Gretchen, everyone with a decent amount of screen time outside of the core characters serves a purpose, moving the story forward step by step.

I’ve always been a big fan of horror films placed in an isolated setting. The resort is basically out in the middle of nowhere. The peaceful sounds of nature, it’s quiet, but the hypnotizing countryside in Cuckoo holds a dark secret. Another great case of irony for a supposed paradise simultaneously functioning as a house of horrors. And Gretchen can’t easily run to anyone for help, while Koing controls everything with an iron fist.

Cuckoo features a handful of genuinely creepy scenes, some occasional thrills, and I absolutely loved the nighttime chase scene, where Gretchen is trying to escape the mother. Two strong performances from Hunter Schafer and Dan Stevens, and the supporting cast is rock-solid. Cuckoo ends with an excellent finale that’s packed with real tension and emotions, a mix of an offbeat happy ending and a violent struggle. Loaded guns, Alma being conflicted about who, she can trust, the shrieking mother’s calls, and luckily, Gretchen had her trusty butterfly knife! 

Rating- 8/10

Cuckoo (2024)

 

**This post contains spoilers**

The Story- Gretchen (Hunter Schafer) reluctantly travels to a quiet resort community in Germany with her father, Luis (Martin Csokas), her stepmother, Beth (Jessica Henwick), and her mute sister, Alma (Mila Lieu) to start a new life. Luis is handpicked by his new boss, Herr Konig (Dan Stevens) to build a hotel. 

She receives a job as a receptionist courtesy of Koing, but a series of odd events worries an already suspicious Gretchen. To make matters worse, Gretchen is constantly pursued and stalked by a mysterious woman, or a “mother.”  Gretchen, shunned by her family, turns to Henry (Jan Bluthardt), a detective, for help. Gretchen and Henry work together to put a stop to Koing’s plans and his bizarre experiments, but the situation becomes more complicated, when Koing sets his sights on Alma.

My Thoughts- During the early stages of the movie, you’ll probably notice Gretchen comes off as a bratty and rebellious teenager, an edgy punk kid, with a dark sense of humor. She flat out refuses to acknowledge the fact that Alma is her sister, and Gretchen refers to Beth as her “father’s wife,” completely ignoring the stepmother label. 

Gretchen is the black sheep in her family, but it’s not that simple. She’s a young kid, who’s still heartbroken over her mother’s death. Hunter Schafer does a good job of being convincing as the typical angsty teenager. But as the story progresses, Schafer switches gears to show a more emotional and vulnerable side of Gretchen, reminding you she’s still a scared kid, who just wants her father’s love and support. Schafer also shows Gretchen can be a gritty fighter, when her character is put through the wringer after the car accident.

Dan Stevens plays a fantastic villain, brining a noticeable mix of creepiness and a menacing aura to Herr Konig. Koing, a highly intelligent man, has a charming presence, but it’s also easy to see how he’s the perfect example of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Gretchen is an ideal adversary for Koing. She’s the scrappy teenage rebel, who, unlike her father, has the guts to stand up to Koing, and Gretchen’s not afraid to ask the crucial questions for topics that are supposed to be off limits. 

The mother character really works as a pesky and menacing threat. I absolutely loved the irony of her appearance. Just looking at her old fashioned clothes, the sunglasses, and how everything is put together, you’d think the mother is just some harmless old lady. But the mother’s appearance is also terrifying, with her palish sickly skin and the glowing red pupils, bolstered by her feral movements and the ear splitting shrieks. 

Whoa, a four-way standoff! A strong and tense ending, with Koing and Henry holding each other at gunpoint, while Gretchen and Alma are stuck in the middle between them. On one hand, you could understand why Henry was so desperate to put an end to Koing’s experiments, especially after what happened with his wife. Koing is a madman, and there’s no telling just how far he’s willing to go to preserve the species.

There’s also a lot of emotion, with Gretchen apologizing to Alma, Gretchen risking her life to save Alma, and Alma using her shrieking abilities, or her “song” to protect Gretchen. The big kicker happens, when Gretchen finally acknowledges Alma as her sister, something she refused to do throughout the movie.

Cuckoo closes with a whirlwind of nail-biting moments, including Gretchen’s cat-and-mouse fight with the mother, ending with Gretchen managing to kill her by taking away her voice, the one deadly weapon that constantly caused so much trouble. My only question about the ending is, what happened to Luis and Beth? Koing is presumably dead, but it’s clear Beth was next in line as a test subject for Koing’s experiments.

Family drama plays a big role in Cuckoo. Luis doesn’t mind berating his own daughter, but he turns into a pushover and a complete wimp around Koing. Beth just gives off vibes of being a phony, and more often than not, she’s cruel and cold towards Gretchen. Add in the fact that Gretchen is an outcast in her own family, Luis and Beth’s obvious favoritism for Alma, and it’s no real surprise Gretchen is usually miserable. 

Cuckoo has its high points, but it’s hard to ignore how everything just drags along in certain spots. I understand the slow burn approach, but more than once, I was hoping they would just get to the point with the mystery behind the reasons for Koing’s experiments.

Also, at some point you have to realize SOMETHING is off with Koing. Towards the end, Gretchen bluntly points out how “weird” everything is, how nothing about Koing and what he wants makes any sense, and how Koing can’t give a straight answer for all the bizarre events (e.g. women puking left and right) at the resort. Why is Beth allowing the nurses at the hospital to giver her strange medication? Why are Luis and Beth allowing Koing and his people to treat Alma, when it’s clear that whatever they’re doing isn’t working?

Sorry, but I’m not buying the idea that Koing is this charismatic guy, who’s capable of charming anyone into doing what he wants, no matter how crazy it sounds. I won’t go as far as pointing the finger for stupid horror movie cliches and moments, but after while, common sense has to kick in, because all the signs are clearly there. 

I had high hopes for this one, and there’s a big question mark for Luis and Beth’s future, but Cuckoo mostly delivers. Writer/director Tilman Singer cleverly works themes about motherhood, strained family bonds, and nurturing into the story, while tying everything together with the lifestyles of cuckoo birds. And a cuckoo clock makes an appearance for good measure.

It’s also refreshing to see a movie, where almost every character plays a crucial role in the story. Whether it’s Gretchen’s co-worker and fellow receptionist, Trixie (Greta Fernández), or the enigmatic Ed (Astrid Berges-Friseby), a guest at the hotel, who shares a brief fling with Gretchen, everyone with a decent amount of screen time outside of the core characters serves a purpose, moving the story forward step by step.

I’ve always been a big fan of horror films placed in an isolated setting. The resort is basically out in the middle of nowhere. The peaceful sounds of nature, it’s quiet, but the hypnotizing countryside in Cuckoo holds a dark secret. Another great case of irony for a supposed paradise simultaneously functioning as a house of horrors. And Gretchen can’t easily run to anyone for help, while Koing controls everything with an iron fist.

Cuckoo features a handful of genuinely creepy scenes, some occasional thrills, and I absolutely loved the nighttime chase scene, where Gretchen is trying to escape the mother. Two strong performances from Hunter Schafer and Dan Stevens, and the supporting cast is rock-solid. Cuckoo ends with an excellent finale that’s packed with real tension and emotions, a mix of an offbeat happy ending and a violent struggle. Loaded guns, Alma being conflicted about who, she can trust, the shrieking mother’s calls, and luckily, Gretchen had her trusty butterfly knife! 

Rating- 8/10

Abigail (2024)

 

**This post contains spoilers**

The Story- Tasked with kidnapping, Abigail (Alisha Weir), the young daughter of a wealthy crime lord named Kristof Lazaar (Matthew Goode), a team of six criminals successfully abducts Abigail from her home. 

Lambert (Giancarlo Esposito), the organizer for the operation, issues Rat Pack inspired nicknames for the crew to avoid any problems. Joey (Melissa Barrera), Frank (Dan Stevens), Rickles (Will Catlett), Dean (Angus Cloud), Sammy (Kathryn Newton), and Peter (Kevin Durand) all have one simple mission: “Babysit” and secure Abigail for twenty-four hours, and each member of the team will receive their equal share of the ransom money. Sounds easy enough, right? But the crew encounters a deadly surprise, when Abigail reveals herself as a ballerina vampire!

My Thoughts- Smart, devious, and a remorseless calculating mastermind, Abigail is a uniquely layered character. Sure, she’s been around for centuries, but Abigail still has the appearance of a little girl. Alisha Weir does a wonderful job of switching between the mannerisms of a scared and helpless kid to taunt or deceive the crew, to the vicious vampire, with a demented sense of humor, who enjoys torturing her victims. Mixing the ballerina moves in with Abigail’s attacks works as a quirky approach for some good laughs. It’s not just a game for Abigail. She’s also putting on a performance as a ballerina for her own amusement. 

Yes, you could say Abigail is pure evil, but it’s rooted in heartache. When she’s not having fun tearing apart her prey, Weir can be vulnerable, humanizing Abigail, because she’s a child, who feels neglected by her father. All the killing, eliminating his enemies, people, who betrayed him, or others who made costly mistakes. No matter how hard Abigail tries, it’s never enough to truly impress her father for the seal of approval that she desperately wants from him. 

The Rat Pack is loaded with polarizing personalities. Peter is an oaf, but be careful, because he’s a big guy, with a mean streak, if you push him too far. Sammy is spoiled and bratty. You’d have to drag Sammy kicking and screaming to work a nine-to-five, or a regular job. Dean, the wheelman and a carefree stoner, likes to joke around, and he’s more focused on his botched attempts at flirting with Sammy. And Joey pointed it out, but Dean has sociopathic tendencies. Rickles? He quickly realizes, when something’s wrong, the silent professional, who knows how to keep his composure.

One of the more intriguing conflicts throughout the movie involves a power struggle of sorts between Joey and Frank. Going back and forth to decide, who’s the best choice to lead the group, the bickering between Frank and Joey provides some funny moments. Dan Stevens is a good fit for the slimy and hard-nosed jerk. 

Melissa Barrera’s Joey is tough, but she’s smart and patient. Frank initially tries an aggressive approach to dealing with Abigail, preferring a guns blazing style attack that fails miserably, but Joey is more levelheaded and strategic. Joey, a recovering addict, also realizes she’s made a lot of mistakes, but she’s motivated by a chance to possibly reunite with her son. 

The kill count is high, but the bloodshed and the attacks from a seemingly unstoppable Abigail never feels tedious. The non-stop in-fighting within The Rat Pack, Dean’s shenanigans, Frank losing his cool, Peter taking one hit after another, because he’s an easy target to make fun of, and Joey struggling to keep everyone on the same page. The calamity to figure out a solution to defeat Abigail or survive her attacks, mixed in with a good variety of entertaining characters with depth really works, because Abigail never hits a dull stretch. 

Lambert is working for Abigail? He’s basically her slave? Not too surprising, because it’s obvious Lambert was hiding something. Although, Abigail previously turning him into a vampire did catch me off a guard. 

Frank double-crossing and killing Lambert after he was turned by Lambert? Yeah, not too shocking. It’s also not a surprise that Frank wanted to use his vampire powers to control a bitten Joey, forcing her to kill her own son. Frank was always a power-hungry scumbag, and Joey bruised his fragile ego. He was pissed, because Joey wasn’t a pushover, and she wasn’t scared of him. 

Kristof Lazaar finally appears! Matthew Goode brings the necessary imposing presence for Lazaar. Goode’s also a bit goofy, when he interacts with Joey, resisting the urge to feed, because it’s getting close to “dinner time”. It’s heavily implied that Lazaar is Dracula. Remember, Abigail started out as a reimagining of Dracula’s Daughter (1936), and Lazaar himself told Joey that he’s gone by many names throughout the years. Simply going by Dracula obviously draws too much unwanted attention in the criminal underworld, so it makes sense to use aliases to protect his true identity. 

Saving Lazaar’s only appearance for the aftermath of the big final battle makes perfect sense. Lazaar is supposed to be this mighty evil figure, stacking up a list of dastardly deeds for an urban legend. A man so terrible and powerful it’s almost hard to believe he actually exists. His only appearance should really mean something.

Joey and Abigail have a full circle moment together after teaming up to defeat and kill Frank. Joey honored her pinky promise to Abigail. The image of Melissa Barrera, soaked in blood, sitting in the van alone, with the lollipop in her mouth perfectly encapsulates the absolute hell she endured to escape as the sole survivor.

My only real complaint about Abigail is, it’s predictable. You know who’s going to be the sole survivor, and the attempted swerves were easy to predict. I understand marketing, and the need to promote a movie, but I really wish they never revealed Abigail was a vampire in the trailers, because it could’ve been a great surprise in the movie.

Still, Abigail is a fun and bloody horror comedy. Quick! We need garlic, wooden stakes, and crosses. Then, we can stop Abigail! Or maybe not? I love the one scene, where Frank, Sammy, and Peter ambush Abigail, planning to use some of the usual traditional weapons to fight a vampire. And what happens? The garlic has no effect on her, and she uses the cross and the makeshift wooden stake as weapons against the trio. Great stuff, and a playful approach for toying around with a few vampire movie cliches. 

Abigail is consistently funny, loaded with some good gruesome humor. Abigail dancing with Dean’s headless corpse, and Abigail puppeteering Sammy with her powers, when Sammy attacks and kills Peter are two of my top picks. A solid supporting cast, and Alisha Weir is outstanding in the leading role. 

Completely bonkers and over the top, it’s a vampire movie about a little girl, who’s basically a brat and acting out, because she feels neglected by her father. Lots of carnage, gallons and gallons of blood, EXPLODING vampires, and a satisfying finale. Abigail checks off just about every box you can possibly think of for an offbeat vampire flick, easily one the best horror films of 2024.

Rating- 8/10

Abigail (2024)(Minor Spoilers)

 **This post contains MINOR spoilers**

The Story- Tasked with kidnapping, Abigail (Alisha Weir), the young daughter of a wealthy crime lord named Kristof Lazaar (Matthew Goode), a team of six criminals successfully abducts Abigail from her home. 

Lambert (Giancarlo Esposito), the organizer for the operation, issues Rat Pack inspired nicknames for the crew to avoid any problems. Joey (Melissa Barrera), Frank (Dan Stevens), Rickles (Will Catlett), Dean (Angus Cloud), Sammy (Kathryn Newton), and Peter (Kevin Durand) all have one simple mission: “Babysit” and secure Abigail for twenty-four hours, and each member of the team will receive their equal share of the ransom money. Sounds easy enough, right? But the crew encounters a deadly surprise, when Abigail reveals herself as a ballerina vampire!

My Thoughts- Smart, devious, and a remorseless calculating mastermind, Abigail is a uniquely layered character. Sure, she’s been around for centuries, but Abigail still has the appearance of a little girl. Alisha Weir does a wonderful job of switching between the mannerisms of a scared and helpless kid to taunt or deceive the crew, to the vicious vampire, with a demented sense of humor, who enjoys torturing her victims. Mixing the ballerina moves in with Abigail’s attacks works as a quirky approach for some good laughs. It’s not just a game for Abigail. She’s also putting on a performance as a ballerina for her own amusement. 

Yes, you could say Abigail is pure evil, but it’s rooted in heartache. When she’s not having fun tearing apart her prey, Weir can be vulnerable, humanizing Abigail, because she’s a child, who feels neglected by her father. All the killing, eliminating his enemies, people, who betrayed him, or others who made costly mistakes. No matter how hard Abigail tries, it’s never enough to truly impress her father for the seal of approval that she desperately wants from him. 

The Rat Pack is loaded with polarizing personalities. Peter is an oaf, but be careful, because he’s a big guy, with a mean streak, if you push him too far. Sammy is spoiled and bratty. You’d have to drag Sammy kicking and screaming to work a nine-to-five, or a regular job. Dean, the wheelman and a carefree stoner, likes to joke around, and he’s more focused on his botched attempts at flirting with Sammy. And Joey pointed it out, but Dean has sociopathic tendencies. Rickles? He quickly realizes, when something’s wrong, the silent professional, who knows how to keep his composure.

One of the more intriguing conflicts throughout the movie involves a power struggle of sorts between Joey and Frank. Going back and forth to decide, who’s the best choice to lead the group, the bickering between Frank and Joey provides some funny moments. Dan Stevens is a good fit for the slimy and hard-nosed jerk. 

Melissa Barrera’s Joey is tough, but she’s smart and patient. Frank initially tries an aggressive approach to dealing with Abigail, preferring a guns blazing style attack that fails miserably, but Joey is more levelheaded and strategic. Joey, a recovering addict, also realizes she’s made a lot of mistakes, but she’s motivated by a chance to possibly reunite with her son. 

The kill count is high, but the bloodshed and the attacks from a seemingly unstoppable Abigail never feels tedious. The non-stop in-fighting within The Rat Pack, Dean’s shenanigans, Frank losing his cool, Peter taking one hit after another, because he’s an easy target to make fun of, and Joey struggling to keep everyone on the same page. The calamity to figure out a solution to defeat Abigail or survive her attacks, mixed in with a good variety of entertaining characters with depth really works, because Abigail never hits a dull stretch. 

My only real complaint about Abigail is, it’s predictable. You know who’s going to be the sole survivor, and the attempted swerves were easy to predict. I understand marketing, and the need to promote a movie, but I really wish they never revealed Abigail was a vampire in the trailers, because it could’ve been a great surprise in the movie.

Still, Abigail is a fun and bloody horror comedy. Quick! We need garlic, wooden stakes, and crosses. Then, we can stop Abigail! Or maybe not? I love the one scene, where Frank, Sammy, and Peter ambush Abigail, planning to use some of the usual traditional weapons to fight a vampire. And what happens? The garlic has no effect on her, and she uses the cross and the makeshift wooden stake as weapons against the trio. Great stuff, and a playful approach for toying around with a few vampire movie cliches. 

Abigail is consistently funny, loaded with some good gruesome humor. A solid supporting cast, and Alisha Weir is outstanding in the leading role. Completely bonkers and over the top, it’s a vampire movie about a little girl, who’s basically a brat and acting out, because she feels neglected by her father. Lots of carnage, gallons and gallons of blood, EXPLODING vampires, and a satisfying finale. Abigail checks off just about every box you can possibly think of for an offbeat vampire flick, easily one the best horror films of 2024.

Rating- 8/10

Coming Attractions- Cuckoo (2024)

 

Director- Tilman Singer

Cast- Hunter Schafer, Dan Stevens, Jessica Henwick, Jan Bluthardt, Marton Csokas, Greta Fernandez, Astrid Berges-Frisbey, Konrad Singer, Proschat Madani, Kalin Morrow

Release Date- August 9, 2024

The trailer for Cuckoo shows a lot, but there’s still some unanswered questions to ask. The only thing that’s presumably confirmed is, Dan Stevens has to be the bad guy. But what’s so special about Gretchen (Hunter Schafer)? Why is she a target? Why does her family need to stay at an eerie place, that’s seemingly out in the middle of nowhere? 

Cuckoo’s trailer cleverly builds anticipation for a promising movie, without spoiling any major plot points. There’s a genuinely creepy and unsettling vibe here, so hopefully Cuckoo makes some noise, as one of the under the radar hits for horror this year. 

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.

 

The Guest (2014)(Minor Spoilers Review)

This review contains MINOR spoilers

The Story- Laura Peterson (Sheila Kelley) receives an unexpected visit, when David (Dan Stevens) shows up on her doorstep one day. David introduces himself as a former soldier, and a friend of Laura’s son, Caleb. Caleb was killed in action, but David’s presence brings comfort, as he shares Caleb’s messages and final words. At first, David is reluctant to accept the invitation to stay with the Peterson family, but eventually he accepts the offer, and Laura allows David to sleep in Caleb’s old room.

Laura’s husband, Spencer (Leland Orser) and her teenage son, Luke (Brendan Meyer) quickly embrace David, as Spencer  confides in and vents to David about his troubles at work, and David teaches Luke to stand up for himself as a big brother figure. For Laura, Spencer, and Luke, David is a breath of fresh air, but Laura and Spencer’s twenty year old daughter, Anna (Maika Monroe) refuses to buy into David’s goodwill mission.

Anna takes matters into her own hands, when she quietly decides to dig up more information on David. Meanwhile, David’s erratic behavior and his nasty mean streak are on full display, and at first, David’s actions are seemingly noble. A group of bullies torment and harass Luke, so David takes matters into his own hands. Anna’s friend, Kristen (Tabatha Shaun) has a tense run-in with her pushy ex-boyfriend, but David steps in to manhandle him.

David’s peculiar behavior raises more red flags, and unbeknownst to the Peterson family, a potentially fatal collision course threatens their lives, when Major Richard Carver (Lance Reddick), a man from David’s past, and a group of armed men arrive at the Peterson’s home. Laura, Spencer, Luke, Anna, her boyfriend, Zeke (Chase Williamson), her friend, Craig (Joel David Moore), and Kristen are all caught in the crossfire, as the mystery surrounding David unravels. Is David a misunderstood knight in shining armor? Or, is David hiding a shocking secret?

Review- The Petersons are a broken family. Laura is devastated over Caleb’s death, Luke is a target for a group of pesky bullies, and he’s an outcast at school. Spencer is an alcoholic, and he’s frustrated with his situation at work, and Anna is stuck in a crossroads dilemma. In the early stages of the movie, you might get the impression Anna is stuck in the rebellious teenager phase. She wants to have a beer before she turns twenty-one, and she chooses to date the sketchy boyfriend against her parent’s wishes. But as the story progresses, you’ll clearly see that’s not the case with Anna. She works  a hard job, she’s saving money for college, she loves her family, and she’ll do anything to protect her brother. Anna has a lot of heart, and Monroe really nails the character with a solid performance.

David is charismatic and charming, with a soft southern accent, so of course you WANT to believe he’s the one to fill Caleb’s void, right? Dan Stevens knocks it out of the park with a convincing and good performance as David. He is the driving force behind the conflict surrounding the character. You want to believe David is this good guy, who showed up on the Peterson’s doorstep to lend a helping hand in their time of need. After all, David single-handedly eliminates the group of bullies during the fight at the bar, he steps in to stop Kristen’s ex-boyfriend after he refuses to take no for an answer, and he steps in to save Luke from expulsion after he gets into a fight with one of the bullies at school.

The Guest is a hard-hitting, bloody, and brutal action horror-thriller. The soundtrack is excellent, The Guest has an undeniable 80’s nostalgic vibe to it, and The Guest is more than a run-of-the-mill bloodbath, with an ordinary screenplay. There’s a good balance between the crisis within The Peterson Family, the thrilling and tense action sequences, the question marks surrounding David, and The Guest features characters with real depth, and they’re characters you can actually care about.

The slow burn approach to carefully and slowly unravel all the details in David’s mysterious past really works to set up an intriguing guessing game for David’s motives, because everything is not 100% clear until the tail end of the film. Stevens’ presence brings a natural cool factor to certain scenes (the events leading up to the big brawl at the bar, David giving Anna a little lecture after the party, etc.) throughout the movie, and the cliffhanger will surely annoy some people with complaints of absurdity, but I have to believe The Guest is on its way to earning a strong and indisputable reputation as a genuine cult classic with more time.

Rating: 9/10

The Guest (2014)(Spoiler Review)

This review contains spoilers

The Story- Laura Peterson (Sheila Kelley) receives an unexpected visit, when David (Dan Stevens) shows up on her doorstep one day. David introduces himself as a former soldier, and a friend of Laura’s son, Caleb. Caleb was killed in action, but David’s presence brings comfort, as he shares Caleb’s messages and final words. At first, David is reluctant to accept the invitation to stay with the Peterson family, but eventually he accepts the offer, and Laura allows David to sleep in Caleb’s old room.

Laura’s husband, Spencer (Leland Orser) and her teenage son, Luke (Brendan Meyer) quickly embrace David, as Spencer  confides in and vents to David about his troubles at work, and David teaches Luke to stand up for himself as a big brother figure. For Laura, Spencer, and Luke, David is a breath of fresh air, but Laura and Spencer’s twenty year old daughter, Anna (Maika Monroe) refuses to buy into David’s goodwill mission.

Anna takes matters into her own hands, when she quietly decides to dig up more information on David. Meanwhile, David’s erratic behavior and his nasty mean streak are on full display, and at first, David’s actions are seemingly noble. A group of bullies torment and harass Luke, so David takes matters into his own hands. Anna’s friend, Kristen (Tabatha Shaun) has a tense run-in with her pushy ex-boyfriend, but David steps in to manhandle him.

David’s peculiar behavior raises more red flags, and unbeknownst to the Peterson family, a potentially fatal collision course threatens their lives, when Major Richard Carver (Lance Reddick), a man from David’s past, and a group of armed men arrive at the Peterson’s home. Laura, Spencer, Luke, Anna, her boyfriend, Zeke (Chase Williamson), her friend, Craig (Joel David Moore), and Kristen are all caught in the crossfire, as the mystery surrounding David unravels. Is David a misunderstood knight in shining armor? Or, is David hiding a shocking secret?

Review- The Petersons are a broken family. Laura is devastated over Caleb’s death, Luke is a target for a group of pesky bullies, and he’s an outcast at school. Spencer is an alcoholic, and he’s frustrated with his situation at work, and Anna is stuck in a crossroads dilemma. In the early stages of the movie, you might get the impression Anna is stuck in the rebellious teenager phase. She wants to have a beer before she turns twenty-one, and she chooses to date the sketchy boyfriend against her parent’s wishes. But as the story progresses, you’ll clearly see that’s not the case with Anna. She works  a hard job, she’s saving money for college, she loves her family, and she’ll do anything to protect her brother. Anna has a lot of heart, and Monroe really nails the character with a solid performance.

David is charismatic and charming, with a soft southern accent, so of course you WANT to believe he’s the one to fill Caleb’s void, right? Dan Stevens knocks it out of the park with a convincing and good performance as David. He is the driving force behind the conflict surrounding the character. You want to believe David is this good guy, who showed up on the Peterson’s doorstep to lend a helping hand in their time of need. After all, David single-handedly eliminates the group of bullies during the fight at the bar, he steps in to stop Kristen’s ex-boyfriend after he refuses to take no for an answer, and he steps in to save Luke from expulsion after he gets into a fight with one of the bullies at school.

But as the story progresses, it’s clear something is off with David, and it’s clear he’s hiding something. The final pieces of the puzzle fall into place, when Major Carver finally tells Anna the truth: David was apart of a top secret military project, and he faked his death to escape, and David will kill anyone, who comprises or threatens his cover to protect the project. The friendly helper is a ruthless killing machine, and he murders Spencer, Laura, and Kristen in cold blood.

Stevens’ ability to quickly switch gears between the kind and caring David, and David The Assassin is impressive. He’s showing remorse before he does what he knows he has to do before killing Sarah and Spencer, and the fiasco in the Halloween maze and on the dance is something else, with David luring Carver into a trap, Anna turning the tables on David, luring him into a trap of her own, and Luke saving Anna’s life with David’s butterfly knife (a gift from David). And David’s reaction to Luke literally stabbing him in the back was priceless. He wasn’t mad, and he didn’t feel betrayed, because Luke did the right thing.

After the smoke clears, Anna and Luke are sitting together in the back of an ambulance as the sole survivors, a limping fireman emerges from the crime scene…..and it’s David. On one hand, I had my doubts about Luke finishing David off for good (the guy did survive an ambush from a group of armed men), but David surviving the two on one assault/last stand from Anna and Luke is still a great cliffhanger, because when you think about everything David endured (the attacks, the car crash, etc.), watching him limp away from the madness is truly shocking.

The Guest is a hard-hitting, bloody, and brutal action horror-thriller. The soundtrack is excellent, The Guest has an undeniable 80’s nostalgic vibe to it, and The Guest is more than a run-of-the-mill bloodbath, with an ordinary screenplay. There’s a good balance between the crisis within The Peterson Family, the thrilling and tense action sequences, the question marks surrounding David, and The Guest features characters with real depth, and they’re characters you can actually care about.

The slow burn approach to carefully and slowly unravel all the details in David’s mysterious past really works to set up an intriguing guessing game for David’s motives, because everything is not 100% clear until the tail end of the film. Stevens’ presence brings a natural cool factor to certain scenes (the events leading up to the big brawl at the bar, David giving Anna a little lecture after the party, etc.) throughout the movie, and the cliffhanger will surely annoy some people with complaints of absurdity, but I have to believe The Guest is on its way to earning a strong and indisputable reputation as a genuine cult classic with more time.

Rating: 9/10