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Film reviews

Black Phone 2 Review

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Black Phone2 intensifies the suspense and horror. Directed by Scott Derrickson, the film meets the high expectations set by its predecessor. The first installment was only the beginning. This time, the phone calls target both Finn and Gwen. Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw reprise their roles as brother and sister. Ethan Hawke returns as The Grabber. The new storyline adds more detail. I felt more scared than in the first film.

With the film moving forward, Finn’s nightmares carry a lot of weight into this sequel. Especially with the tones of a belittling attitude, and also the much horror he has experienced, he carries on with him. The visions of The Grabber have not left, but this time, Gwen is having her own nightmares. This brings them to realize that a place called Alpine Lake may have answers to the terrors of their dreams.

What electrifies Black Phone 2 is its spiraling momentum, pulling viewers deeper into a maze of recurring nightmares and lurking mysteries. The eerie phone booth at Alpine Lake becomes the epicenter of their fears. When it rings, reality and nightmare blur, unleashing supernatural horrors that thrive at the camp. Here, Finn and Gwen piece together the cryptic patterns from their visions, each nightmare a vital clue in their search for the truth.

The writing delves into the depths of evil lying in wait, layering the sequel with fresh, unexpected scares. The film is a labyrinth of campfire terrors and shadowy histories, each piece fitting into a larger, sinister puzzle. The Black Phone 2 masterfully maintains its surreal continuity, always hinting at new horrors to come. The Grabber’s chilling voice and twisted motives remain unforgettable, and Hawke’s wicked grin steals every scene.

Overall, The Black Phone 2 is vivid. One that still has a promising continuation. I adored all the extra evidence to maintain momentum. I will also say that I felt it had a heartfelt side with the brother and sister dynamic battling horror . Especially with one that is bound to continue. Three out of four stars for Black Phone 2.

Film reviews

Nobody 2 Review

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The first film was just an introduction, but Nobody 2 brings a new level of explosions and mayhem. Fuming with funniness is Bob Odenkirk as the center of attention. It is a sequel in which action and humor work together to please audiences. The party in Nobody 2 results from the problems of the first film being multiplied when the main character in this sequel goes on vacation with his family of four. What can go wrong? What more can explode? Nobody 2 is unique while remaining slightly silly because it is infused with an enthralling magic touch.

The plot of the sequel involves Hutch (Odenkirk) recovering from the events of the first film. The life of being a dad in the suburbs has not been an easy adjustment for him because his sense of mayhem still lingers. He tries to be in dad mode, but it does not come easily. Therefore, he decides to take his family on a vacation. He is accompanied by his wife Becca (played by Connie Nielsen) and his kids, Sammy (played by Paisley Cadorath) and Brady (played by Gage Munroe). They also bring Hutch’s father David (played by Christopher Lloyd). The vacation dynamic is dominated by Hutch trying to repeatedly dismiss his assassin side. In addition, they discover that his son may have the same type of personality as he does. The stages of getting overly angry and violent do not fly well when they’re trying to enjoy their family vacation in Nobody 2.

The film feels slightly redundant since many moments from the first film feel like they are repeated within the second. Because this is an action and comedy sequel, that is kind of expected. However, the approach used in the sequel is the main problem. During the second film, the nemesis characters are looped in as well. Hutch’s wife has a bad past of her own, and that addselements of bad karma. The result is that there are some bad people after Hutch, his wife, and the entire family. 

As Hutch navigates the challenge of keeping his assassin-side intact, the new enemies make his urges harder to resist. This is especially the case when it comes to a questionable police officer. That individual is Abel (played by Colin Hanks), and he follows Hutch and his family to unravel some of the hidden dangers that exist for this family. Additionally, there is the head criminal, Lendina (played by Sharon Stone). With this cast of characters, there is a rough, powerhouse dynamic where funny can be deadly, but which also struggles due to the redundancy in its writing.

With Odenkirk, Hanks, and Stone playing out the good guys versus bad guys dynamic, Nobody 2 felt a bit simplistic. These characters are right for the roles and are able to keep the generic yet silly tone that works for this film. Fortunately, the comedy vibe mixed with evil is faithful. In the end, Odenkirk still rises as a suburban dad with a bad attitude to take on all kinds of cinematic mayhem. Two-and-a-half out of four stars for Nobody 2.

Film reviews

Jurassic World: Rebirth Review

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Dawn of the dinosaurs may be upon this respected franchise, but this time around it is lacking a storyline. Throughout the years, I have loved the Jurassic Park films by Steven Spielberg. However, the many different directions taken by the Jurassic World franchise continue to struggle to attain a memorable achievement. Jurassic World: Rebirth is a film in which some scenes are surreal, but then the conclusion seems to always bethe predictable running away from dinosaurs.

In some parts of the movie, there was a level of clarity especially in the captivating scenery that surrounds Jurassic World: Rebirth. The background serves a bigger purpose than the storyline. With Gareth Edwards as the director, he tests the limits of CGI with futuristic approaches. Disappointingly, his skills do not hit all the right spots in Jurassic World: Rebirth. While Edwards creates a modern environment that starts strong, the suspense comes marching in slowly via the dinosaurs and island adventures as the film progresses.  

The premise of the film focuses on DNA samples which are the primary mission. The main characters are Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson), Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey), Martin Krebs (Rupert Friend), and Duncan Kincaid (Mahershala Ali). This group teams up in their adventures. Dr. Henry Loomis is a genius facing hardships at the museum where he works. However, the scientific background is what Zora and Martin come to the table with. They present the idea of new and evolving discoveries. In order to find their new extinct dinosaurs, the team must go on a brave expedition into uncharted territory. The territory, though, proves to be exactly what viewers will expect.

As the film progressed, my mind kept shifting to the question, “How much more?”  I kept feeling that I was seeing the exact same outcome with every continuation in Jurassic World. Spielberg’s Jurassic Park was original. In comparison, the dinosaurs in this new film are just combined components which are rushed in the hopes of more success. On some level, it is still entertaining, but in the end, it all comes down to experiencing the chases.

In some parts, the directing goes on a deeper path when capturing the underwater creatures and interesting parts of the island. I liked it when the film explored an era that seemedmodern but with an out-of-focus timeline. Overall, the age of extinction does not mix well with the velocity or depth in Jurassic World: Rebirth. This film flew below my radar. Although it tried to go in a new direction, it didn’t succeed. 

The foundation attempts to build off WHOA DINOSAURS! Other than that, this film is the most overrated Jurassic World film yet. It just falls down the slippery slope by relying on CGI tactics for amazement. This is a tactic which has been overused at this point. Yet, there are some solid moments and a few captivating surprises. In the end, looking at the entire picture, the result is a catastrophic mess. Two out of four stars for Jurassic World: Rebirth.