Tag Archives: Neon

Film reviews

It Lives Inside Review

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Religion and culture create a theme of terror in It Lives Inside. The title speaks for itself based on the foundation of the film’s setup. There is that eerie feeling of terror that shivers through the audience as they realize a spirit is growing. Sadly, it is not that surprising nor very innovative. It Lives Inside is based on a shared perspective of families celebrating a holiday based on their culture and the belief that their tradition keeps evil spirits out of their lives. In It Lives Inside the tradition brings the evil spirit to haunt its main character. Then, as the film progresses, there are some gems and wonders. However, it becomes a film which is about time being of the essence to fight off the spirit rather than the story working hard to be very interesting.

In It Lives Inside, the film focuses on Poorna (played by Neeru Bajwa). She is an Indian American teenager who is disconnected from the reality of her cultural identity. She struggles to practice religion with her parents in her home life. She also has had a falling out with a close friend, Tamira (played by Mohana Krishnan). As Poorna keeps distancing herself from Tamira, a demonic spirit begins to slowly arise and finds its way to Poorna. Suddenly, Tamira is missing, and the demonic spirit stays with Poorna. With the unexplained deaths of Poorna’s friends, she must find what is necessary to stop the demonic spirit from wrecking her own life.

Poorna’s loneliness is where the spirit finds its motive. The fascination of It Lives Inside is how solitude and disconnect are what target Poorna. She is disconnected from who she is as a person and questions her faith. The film’s writing lacks emphasis on the links to the terror caused by the demonic spirit. The film continues to be a bit of a trainwreck with typical horror film scares. The idea is somewhat creative and interesting, but the writing falls flat.

Poorna’s life of facing agonizing frustrations is where the film is invigorating. The fact that her relationship with her parents is in an odd place builds the haunting aspects more than the demonic spirit. Does Poorna want to be cool? Does Poorna hate her life? Is there a past scenario that leads Poorna to be more distant? Where is the logic to the demonic spirit bringing Poorna trouble? Many unanswered questions seem half-answered throughout the film. Perhaps it is because the film seems rushed.

There are many spiritual discussions and disagreements in the story. Even Poorna’s parents believe that being unfaithful is what causes the problems in her life. There may be some truth to that, but Poorna struggles to talk about the problem which is complicated. All of It Lives Inside is a disappointing drag that never finds a way to pick itself up as much as it should. This is somewhat upsetting because its plotline could have included more details, explanations, and a better understanding of why problems arise. What does arise is hatred within Poorna’s family and a demonic spirit appearing in strange fragments throughout the film. Two out of four stars for It Lives Inside.

Capsule Reviews, Film reviews, Revisited classics

Oldboy 20-year Anniversary Restoration Review

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In 2003, director Park Chan-wook brought the world Oldboy, an in-depth film full of psychological suspense and mayhem. Its presentation is rapid which is the result of a grandeur of revolutionary directing. With Oldboy restored and back in cinemas for its 20-year anniversary, audiences are in for a treatwhether they’ve seen the movie before or are experiencing it for the first time. The setting of South Korea is dark as is thestoryline in this thriller. Park Chan-wook’s faithful direction of every fragment of the film is excellent. The film focuses on a man named Dae-Su Oh (played by Choi Min-sik), who has been kidnapped and spends fifteen years being imprisoned by captors. He made a mistake which led him to be locked up for many years with no windows and fed only dumplings. Once he finds a way out, he must find the pieces to explain why he has been locked up for so long. The audience can feel the tension of Oldboy through the vast narration during Min-sik’s performance.It is said that the motto of his character, Dae-Su Oh, is, “Just get by the day quietly.” However, there comes a storm of unexpected vengeance.

The poetic art of portraying frustration is mesmerizing because of surreal directing. The storyline is spellbinding throughout Oldboy. Once Dae-Su escapes, the film is a montage of monumental revenge. It is like an orchesis of building climaxes with technological and cinematic effects. In the film it is said, “Vengeance is healthy,” but how healthy is it for Dae-Su to put together the pieces of himself which were locked up for many years? Oldboy is a masterpiece two decades later and its restoration is one that deserves appreciation. Four stars.

Chicago Critics Film Festival 2023, Film reviews

Sanctuary Review

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I had a hard time deciding what I thought of Sanctuary. A film from independent film company Neon is usually artistically brilliant, with twisted scenarios. Sanctuary, though, seems to be more predictability over artistry. It does have a twisted outlook, but the film is more like a play with a lot of dramatic irony, rather than the dark comedy that it is billed as.

Sanctuary’s two characters are Hal and Rebecca. Hal is played by Christopher Abbott and Margaret Qualley is Rebecca. It is a dominatrix scenario, with Hal being an extremely wealthy client who arranges the meets with Rebecca. He believes that aside from his relationship with Rebecca his life is a joke and not exciting. His bizarre, sexual escapades with Rebecca is to help him escape his mundane life. However, when Hal decides that he wants to end Rebecca’s services, the film takes an ominous turn. Rebecca makes Hal believe that she will ruin his life by blackmailing or exposing his many dark secrets. All this turmoil Rebecca creates is where Sanctuary goes downhill for Hal, but creates excitement for Rebecca.

The sexual escapade of Sanctuary is where it becomes predictable. Hal may be getting his desires fulfilled, but is there more to why he has these desires? Rebecca’s sexual escapades with Hal is to her advantage, but is it really benefiting her? The performances of Abbott and Qualley just seem to lack the characterizations for a believable trap. Rebecca really doesn’t sell her claim to own Hal by her threats to destroy his whole life based on his choices and experiences with her.

The title of the film Sanctuary comes from the safe word that Hal and Rebecca develop to let the other one know that the escapade is going too far. Ironically, though, no one is “safe” in Sanctuary. Hal and Rebecca have built a relationship that causes both of them to have all kinds of weird and obsessive thinking.

It seemed to me that the tensions between Hal and Rebecca was more about a clash of egos rather sex. There are no romantic ties or connection between Hal and Rebecca in Sanctuary. There is just an array of personal flaws, bizarre settings, and scandalous realizations. The focus of Sanctuary seems to be on the gaslighting between Hal and Rebecca. Rebecca’s way of gaslighting is one that remains quiet, yet effective. Hal on the other hand cries with fear and anxiety to manipulate Rebecca.

In my view Sanctuary is a very poorly written dark comedy. Is “sanctuary” truly a word to ensure safety in this film? Hardly. The misrepresentations of this film takes it in an ambiguous direction. The film lacks ambition or any form of artistic direction. The artistry certainly can’t be found in the the gaudy red lighting that surrounds the apartment of Hal. Sanctuary was just not a very satisfying experience. Two and a half stars for Sanctuary.