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Film reviews

Drop Review

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The title describes the action I would take with this film. The setup is predictable, and the entire movie is filled with flaws. Directed by Christopher Landon, this thriller had ample chances for improvement, however the sloppiness kept the film from establishing any form of suspense for its audience. Drop is one of the most poorly written thrillers I have seen this year. Given the various puzzles and moving parts in the fight for someone’s life, there are far too many hats in the air to allow this film to succeed.

The film is set in Chicago, and is focused on a widowed mother, Violet (played by Meghann Fahy).  She is going on a date with a man named Henry (played by Brandon Sklenar). They are in a fancy high-rise restaurant where the ambience would be the perfect setting for an unforgettable date night. All that changes though when Violet receives anonymous texts and finds herself in a situation involving blackmail. Her date, Henry, and her youngest son are at risk. Many threatening messages continue to come through her phone, and she draws unwanted attention to herself. The writing tries to build anxiety, but the execution fails to produce the desired result. 

Throughout the film, the on-screen chemistry seems silly. The characterizations are a joke because their minds are not on par with the detrimental elements set up in Drop. One bad move leads to another bad move and one bad message sends another bad message. It is a cat-and-mouse game via text with no hope of achieving something more intense. The film is probably supposed to frighten audiences with all the eerie text messages, but that is an epic fail when it comes to Fahy’s performance. Overall, the time spent watching this movie created a mental roadblock that I could never get past. 

Now if there was any redeeming quality in this flawed film, it the dynamic that Violet and Henry have occasionally in some limited scenes. While their chemistry is humorous in the moments where Violet keeps freaking out at her phone, it is not really believable. The direction is simply messy and never improves during the entire film. 

The whole experience was a massive blur which started with the lack of context for why these threats are happening on a date night. There is some evidence of Violet’s harsh past and loss of her husband, but her history is not set up to correlate to other outcomes. The whole film does not have any big revelations. It just continues down a path that starts with a date, some eerie issues, an unlikely surprise, but all forgettable. It is such a poorly written thriller that I felt my eyes were sore as Ianxiously waited for the whole thing to be over. The credits rolling made me feel sorry for the long list of film and production workers who could have devoted their time to a suspenseful adventure that delivered more than what Drop has to offer. One out of four stars for Drop.

Film reviews

The Amateur Review

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With Rami Malek taking on more diverse roles with classic components, he displays his intelligent side with a mind for revenge. The Amateur is one-of-a-kind and Malek plays the role of an individual with a strategic mind that crosses the line. It is a dazzling thriller that is filled with espionage that makes for a spy adventure with realms of uncertainty. Malek delivers a mind-boggling performance as do Laurence Fishburne and Holt McCallany.  All three play characters that can be either good guys or bad guys—at the same time. Malek’s character uses his skills because he is determined to get back at what was taken from him.

Malek plays Heller, a decoder for CIA operations. He seems to have a happy life with his wife Sarah (played by Rachel Brosnahan). She is on a trip to London when Heller receives the news that his wife has been killed in a terrorist attack. When the news is delivered from Director Moore (McCallany), Heller tries to find every technical avenue to put together the political pieces to explain why his wife was attacked. He also tries to determine the intent. A world of espionage is exposed that pushes Heller to the brink as his life expands to a whole different level.

The film weaves together a complicated tango between the emotional side and the political side of the situation. To an extent, there is a layer of uncertainty that fuels the film’s fire. With spy tactics in the mix, there are elements of surprise that are subtle and unexpected. I found these elements to be quite enticing in The Amateur. The intriguing politics combined with layers of technology create an interesting evolution that can open puzzles of possibilities. Deep down, however, flying below the radar is a recurring challenge in The Amateur.

The film is full of a new level of performance by Malek. He displays a level of a genius during the technical attacks, but not so much when physical altercations are involved. That is, in fact, where Fishburne’s performance as Henderson shines. His character tries to walk Heller through the steps of what it takes to be a killer and defend yourself. In the end, Heller is in a situation where he still feels that the world around him is two-faced. The film’s writing plays up this two-faced vibe which sends chills due to the political tension and uncertainty. The film tackles an interesting set-up for a thriller that succeeds by establishing engrossing patterns.

It is not an amazing movie, but it keeps viewers thinking. What has Heller’s wife done to be killed? What corruption is present in the government that is blocking Heller from putting the pieces together? What are the espionage factors related to the death?The film’s writing which highlights politics, spies, and vengeance with a mix of technical and psychological components is more effective than the combat motive in The Amateur. The result is a vivid and exciting ride, but it requires patience. Two out of four stars.

Film reviews

Wolf Man Review

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There is terror hidden below the surface that flows through the mountains of Oregon. The backdrop features misty foggy weather and gloomy lighting that makes the howling feel real. Wolf Man has a calm layer to its horror setup, and it is executed in a slow manner. Directed by Leigh Whannell, a transformation involving larger conflicts takes place during the film. Wolf Manis not a typical horror movie or scary flick. Instead, this storyfuels the humanistic side in which the one who is infected is also the one who is fueled.

The setting of the film is the present and focuses on a family. Blake (played by Christopher Abbott) and his wife Charlotte (played by Julia Garner) have a young daughter named Ginger (played by Matilda Firth). Blake and Charlotte are looking for a getaway. They decide to go to Blake’s father’s farm in the mountains of Oregon. Once they begin this journey into the mountains, bizarre signs start showing up in this secluded placewhere the forest has a haunted aspect to it. Then, a creature bitesBlake, and he slowly turns into a wolf man. However, he still has the determination to fight for his family, but his time may be limited.

The story of Blake becoming a monster while still trying to protect his family before his symptoms worsen is an essential part of the genius factor in Wolf Man. The way this storyline is handled in this film is not commonly done in other suspensemovies. It leads to a climatic ending and lots of fearful moments along the way. It is a two-sided danger because of the fear of what is dangerous in the forest as well as the limitations of Blake’s protection since he is infected and growing into a rising creature. The film is faithfully directed with the focus on the infection causing time to be of the essence. As the darkness lingers, the growth of a monster keeps evolving while theminutes to find a cure slip away. And there may not even be a cure, but instead they could be fighting for their lives in a forest with no resources or help. For Charlotte, the concern is that her husband Blake may not ever be able to be go back to normal. Can he save his family from the dangers encountered in the forests?

There are moments filled with gruesome scenes, yet the film is not as creepy or suspenseful as some may anticipate. Overall, the movie is classy and has qualities which make it a real gem. The story makes the audience think about what could potentially happen if certain measures are not considered. Wolf Man thrives due its suspenseful pacing which creates a surreal experience. The film is unique in the ways it stays on a path that makes itfeel realistic. It is not mesmerizing, but it does a stellar job of using a different track to create memorable intrigue. Three out of four stars.