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Film reviews

Parvulos Review-Fantastic Fest 2024

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This film is about an apocalypse during a pandemic. The setting involves survivors in a forest. There is breathtaking cinematography and lighting that keeps its audience frightened due to uncharted territory and irreparable circumstances. Parvulos is terror with class and pushes the limits to extraordinary levels. Directed by Isaac Ezban, Parvulos is one of these rare and unexpected astonishments. It truly belongs in Fantastic Fest, because it filled with “FANTASTIC” surprises. The forest setting in a pandemic that has caused damage to many lives works. The survivors are striving to do what they can, until they reach the other side.

The film takes place in Mexico. The lighting includes toned colors where the light does not brighten up. Expect dark elements as the film progresses. The survivors are three brothers. They are Salvador (played by Farid Escalante Correa), Benjamin (played by Mateo Ortega Casillas), and Oliver (played by Lenardo Cervantes). Salvador is the oldest and the main guardian. He is also disabled as he only has one arm. They are living in a world where a virus broke out and turned many humans into zombie-like creatures. They have fought for their safety in this dangerous environment and even have creatures locked in their basement. Their daily routine includes finding food, creating shelter, and always praying for survival.

The theme of outsiders is where Parvulos is monumental as a spellbinding motion picture. Salvador does all he can to protect his brothers, but because of their ages they do not fully understand the dangers outside their home lives. In Parvulos,one wrong move or action can put everyone’s life at risk. No spoilers, but what is in their basement is related to them, and they want to keep it safe until there is a trustworthy cure for the virus. Imagine the Covid era but in a more detrimental and fictional setting that feels like a Parasite topped with a whole lot of Dawn of the Dead. The writing has connection and empathy. The strong feelings the writing evokes fuel the hopes of finding ways for the brothers to live a longer life.

The mission to create normalcy in an apocalyptic environment is what makes Parvulos an inspiring thriller. It makes its audience think and holds them in suspense as it explores many aspects of the resources available. No one is safe, but the brotherhood vibes keep them strong. Parvulos creates brilliance in a harsh reality that cinematically highlights the power of sacrifice. The pandemic is detailed as is scarcity in an intriguing fashion. There is a deep and detrimental trail for these brothers with difficult obstacles to near its end. One of the best films of Fantastic Fest. The achievement lies within. Four out of four stars for Parvulos.

Film reviews

The Draft! Review-Fantastic Fest 2024

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This is one of those rare experiences in which the creative mind is boggled. The audience feels all the shifts of someonestruggling with writer’s block. At the same time, they are faced with all the terror that arise. The Draft! is part of Fantastic Festand perfectly blends comedy and horror in a flick that is fantastic! Directed by Yusron Fuadi, the film is set in Indonesia, a primitive setting where the scares are abundant in the writer’s mind.

The story takes place in a forest on a weekend getaway. There are five characters taking part in the adventure. They are Iwan (played Adhin Abdul Hakim), Wati (played by Anastasia Herzigova), Ani (played by Putri Anggie), Budi (played by Haydar Salishz), and Amir (played by Winner Wijaya). They are all staying in one getaway cabin that has some historic value. However, the characterizations and personalities begin to shift. Some of the characters begin to start injuring themselves andtalking strangely. When this happens, the film transitions back to its screenwriter occasionally. The switching between scenes of the getaway and the screenwriter is a reference to the movie’s title and plot.

The forest where the cabin is located puts everyone out in the open with no signal for calls, no signs, and no one in sight. The characters even talk like the danger they face is in a horror film. Ironically, they are, but the interesting part is the fact that thewriter is trying to put the pieces together along with the characters he created. This movie is a two-sided adventure of comedy and horror where the elements shift repeatedly in a fascinating matter. It is a classy film due to the many assumptions it raises. How dangerous is the situation in the cabin’s setting? Who has the worse writer’s block? The writer or the characters? The Draft! is an imaginative thriller from themind of the imaginative writer.

The movie is sparky with misdirection and blind corners which create a recipe for a mesmerizing resolution. What makes theterror effective is how grotesque scenes are highlighted forshock and entertainment value. The film’s screenwriting causes its audience to think. The thoughts generated are in tune with the parts of the film that include many horrific moments in The Draft!

The Draft! is a bit like Shaun of the Dead (2004) meets Parasite (2019). It is a tale where horror explores its roots and turns out to be more comedic than disturbing due to a clever case of poetic writing. Creativity emerges slowly and densely in The Draft! Three out of four stars. 

Film reviews

Transformers One Review

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It is nice to see a Transformers movie that is not in the direction of Michael Bay. Transformers One is animated and directed by Josh Cooley. Transformers One begins with a fresh foundation around the franchise with a backstory of faithfulness. Transformers Onedoes have a direction of animation of coolness. Therefore, the storyline keeps many ages in tune. Instead of all the moving factors of enemies and science (all the Bay films had this), the early days of Optimus Prime (voiced by Chris Hemsworth) and Megatron (voiced by Brian Tyree Henry) are the biggest dynamic of focus.

The film goes in the routes of Optimus Prime and Megatron. They sense the peril ahead of them. It loops in many important characters as well. The characters range from Elita-1 (voiced by Scarlett Johansson), B-127 (voiced by Keegan-Michael Key), Starscream (voiced by Steve Buscemi), Alpha Trion (voiced by Laurence Fishburne), Sentinel Prime (voiced by Jon Hamm), and more. The threat is Sentinel Prime. The planet Cybertron is at risk. This is because there are mixed messages between all the different sections. Transformers One loops in the storyline of a proper puzzle. The Quintessons, Decepticons, and the leaders of the good and the bad are all in their lanes.

The writing boils the point of power with a context of understanding. Authority of presence is what boils in Transformers One. It does so in tune with the animation of its (correct) futuristic setting. The world of fighting robots finding their place to conquer is where Transformers One rules.

Its moving parts are where audiences will be impressed. That is because the film finds its corners and evidence to loop in the teams. They find the components of when good turns to wrong. Optimus Prime and Megatron’s friendship is put to the test. As the forces of power and control grow. Authority is tested truly.

The friendship and enemy’s setup (between Optimus Prime and Megatron) is steady. There are cues of questioning aspects towards how the doors of betrayal are bound to come. Who protects their destiny? Who wants to feel power for good? Who wants to feel power for evil? It takes two to tango around the components of Optimus Prime and Megatron.

The technology behind the power of immersion is an unexpected grandeur in Transformers One. The universe of the Cybertron planet has keys to many invigorating doors. It is the entrance to a new beginning with the franchise itself. It is interactive with understandings for many ages to find connective joy.

The teamwork side is where there is more than meets the eye. Transformers One has one of the most solid forms of a new beginning. The nostalgia is back with the components of its setup to bring in one robotic adventure of a fight. It may not have tons of CGI (like the Bay films), but it knows how to be thorough of importance and when to loop the good and the bad to find their turmoil. Three out of four stars for Transformers One.