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59th Chicago International Film Festival, Capsule Reviews, Film reviews

Late Night with the Devil Review

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This is an interactive horror film that offers a different experience due to a vibe of twists. For those who love both talk shows and horror, Late Night with the Devil combines these two formats into a relentless ride that does not hold back. The writing is stellar, the continuity is obscure, and the scenes are a blur of enticing excitement. Late Night with the Devil is a film where the fun never ends. The Halloween theme in Late Night with the Devil is one to die for. Think about talk shows ranging from hosts such as Larry King, David Letterman, Jimmy Carson, and Jay Leno. Then imagine those shows and throw in The Exorcist. That describes the experience that audiences will get with Late Night with the Devil.

The film is set in 1977. The audience is introduced to a talk show host, Jack Delroy (played by David Dastmalchian). Jack has had many years of success followed by many years filled with tragedies. However, in his next talk show segment, he plans to make it his best one yet to help boost his popularity. His difficult upbringing does not serve him well for this segment which features guests ranging from June Ross-Mitchell (played by Laura Gordon), Carmichael Hunt (played by Ian Bliss), Christou (played by Fayssai Bazzi), and Lilly D’Abo (played by Ingrid Torelli). The concept of the show is to talk about demons, spirits, and reality. The setup may seem focused on entertaining shocks and awes, but as the show progresses, the nightmare for Jack and his guests evolves rapidly. Some feel like they are possessed, some feel like they are zombies, and some feel they must say, “The power of Christ compels you,” just for survival. Jack must figure out the backstory behind such demonic moments impacting his show. If he does not, it may be too late. During the film, the cinematography goes black when they go on station breaks. I liked this part of the film’s creative process, because it felt like color was a signal to get scared, and black and white meant the audience could take a break from being scared.

The karma surrounding Late Night with the Devil is where the haunts were most effective. It is a film where the scares will make viewers laugh, gasp, and think about what other surprises are next. Dastmalchian is brilliant as the lead and must not panic or break character. His performance is harrowing and his character is realistic and spellbinding. The film provides anexperience where the terrors have power which continue to grow. The talk show is doomed, the audience is scared, and the reality TV setting means all bets are off.

This is one of the best horror films I have seen this year because of an interesting premise and a set of clever surprises. It has anartistic side that is highlighted by a surreal galore of terror. There is no hiding from the unexpected in Late Night with the Devil. Three out of four stars.

Film reviews

Nyad Review

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Nyad is the true story of Diana Nyad, who at sixty years old decided to swim from Cuba to Florida, a distance of about 110 miles. The film is inspiring, passionate, and a powerhouse of motivation that will have audiences wanting more.

Swimming is an important life skill, but few people have the persistence and braveness to fulfill a dream like Diana Nyad. This film shows that dreams really can come true. Directed by Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Nyad is first and foremost a film of inspiration and courage. Featuring the incomparable Annette Bening (as Diane Nyad), Jodie Foster (as Bonnie Stoll), and Rhys Ifans (as John Bartlett), the film just shines. All three actors were excellent, but Bening’s performance in particular really stood out.

Although it was Diana Nyad who was actually in the water, teamwork is the emphasis in Nyad. At one point Diana’s friend Bonnie questions her commitment to her goal and the timing of the swim. The weather when she chose to make the swim was unpredictable and the currents were strong, making the conditions dangerous. But despite these issues, Diana shows that she is in fact fully invested in completing this task. Bonnie becomes her coach and sticks by her side to help Diana complete her dream.

There is a lot of trial and error associated with Diana’s mission, and their assistant John goes out of his way to help navigate the conditions. Diana is always learning something new in her quest to complete the task, but with something as difficult and dangerous as Diana is attempting, there are always delays and other barriers. She also had a lot of people trying to talk her out of trying to make the journey. But that only motivates Diana to work harder to condition her body for the dangers ahead, and to just keep moving forward.

In addition to all the other issues, Diana’s age is of course also a problem. But each time Diane hits a plateau she finds a new way to overcome the problem. The conditions are always harsh, but she keeps jumping back into the rough water. The route from Cuba to Florida is not going anywhere, and neither is Diana, Bonnie, or John. They are the dream team helping Diane to become a legend in the water. And for Diane, despite her age, this dream is not too late.

Nyad is a reminder to us all to never give up. And it shows that having the courage to make mistakes, and then correcting those mistakes, benefits us in the long run. One of the lines in the film is, “It looks like a solitary sport, but it takes a team.” Those words highlight the focus of this film. Diane followed her dreams, and Bonnie and John were her essential partners in crime. Nyad is a one-of-a-kind achievement with a positive attitude. Four out of four stars for Nyad.

Film reviews, Music Box Theatre coverage

Cat Person Review

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A film with Nicholas Braun (who played Cousin Greg in HBO’s Succession) is one in which I expected his shy side and quirky elements to be featured in spontaneous adventures. In Cat Person, his character, Robert, is like Cousin Greg with a few twists. Cat Person is a film where there is desperation for a relationship, and it has the right characters to do so. However, the film does not begin with Braun. Instead, it starts off with Emilia Jones (who plays Margot), an introvert who believes in love at first sight.

The film introduces its audience to Margo, a sophomore in college who works at a cinema as a part-time floor attendant and spends a lot of time working in her science lab. She has the normal life of a college student, but that all changes when Robert (Braun) comes into her cinema. He asks for an odd combo of popcorn and red vines every time he visits the concession stand. He is fascinated by movies and loves to watch the classics on the big screen. He feels a true connection to Margot, and Margot feels the same about him. They begin to date and click over their mutual love for movies. Margot is often infuriated by her mother Kelly (played by Hope Davis) and her stepfather Ernie (played by Christopher Shyer), but she feels that Robert is the one person in her life that brings her happiness. After continuous loving text messages and a few dates, the love vibe feels right for Margot. That is until she realizes much of what Robert says about himself is not true. Once she begins to question him, Robert’s behavior becomes stalker-like and highly bizarre.

The film explores the life of Margot as she tries to avoid her problems as well as those who try to convince her that Robert may not be who he says he is. Margot’s roommate, Taylor (played by Geraldine Viswanathan), tries to warn Margot that Robert could have dangerous qualities. However, Robert’s shyness causes her to ignore the warnings which lead to matters getting more stressful. An added stressor is Margot’s science professor, Dr. Enid Zabala (played by Isabella Rossellini). Enid oversees the lab that Margot spends her time in, and an incident with Robert in the lab puts Margot in an odd place.

With Margot desperate for companionship, she begins to make herself seem more sexualized for Robert. This is obviously a big red flag as it opens her up to more vulnerability. Of course, it causes an even closer connection with Robert and further denial of his dishonesty up until he violates her boundaries. Cat Person will cause viewers to ask themselves if Margot is doing what is right for herself.

The movie involves a bizarre trail of deceit and the exploration of an individual’s truth upon close examination. Cat Person is more of a dark comedy in parts than a true psychological thriller because even the dangerous moments are presented in a matter that seems jokingly strange.

The film features the chemistry of young love with a desire to not give up. It involves an experience that is twisted and a relationship that is questionable. The title has meaning, but it is not as sweet as it appears. Cat Person is about building a trail around those who open themselves up to others, and the negative outcomes that can result. Its presentation lacks seriousness, but it is still fun to watch. Two out of four stars for Cat Person.