A Quiet Place Part II

A Quiet Place was one of the best movies of 2018. John Krasinski surprised us with a powerful, thrilling and moving story about a family who survived the apocalypse by living their lives in complete silence. Now, after 2 years of waiting for this sequel, A Quiet Place Part II finally arrived in theaters all over the world.

If you forgot how living in the world that Krasinski created felt like, don’t worry. The movie’s first scene is indeed a flashback that kind of explain how everything began, but Krasinski quickly returns to the current time. The story starts right where the first one ended, with Emily Blunt’s character ready to leave the family house.

The deadly atmosphere that surrounds the world of A Quiet Place comes back stronger than ever and the stakes are much higher this time. Yes, the family has an advantage against the monster (that very clever hearing aid), but the monsters are extremely dangerous, and the film makes you aware of that. Every single sound becomes a death sentence in this world, and Krasinski makes us, the audience, participate in this twisted game. Try eating your popcorns without feeling anxious.

Now, while the first film was smaller in scope than this sequel, it had an emotional side to it that I really liked. The cast succeeded in created a bond between us and these characters, and that made the ending of Part I a rollercoaster of emotions.

Part II is a more traditional apocalypse if you ask me. An amazing one, no doubt, but traditional. You have new survivors, more action and more worldbuilding. And I can confidently say that John Krasinski nails every single aspect. The ending definitely sets up a third part, but it also manages to open a world of possibilities in terms of possible spin offs.

The cast does an amazing job, just like they did last time, and the new additions are great even though they don’t have a lot of screen time. And yes, this family, especially the kids, keep making a lot of stupid decisions, but without them we wouldn’t have a story, so we should thank them I guess.

Horror fans must watch this movie, but I’m sure that anyone can enjoy it. Even if you didn’t love the first film, give this sequel a chance. And let’s hope Paramount doesn’t take years to make a third one.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Season 4

The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina come to an end. Even though this show started in 2018 and became a huge hit for Netflix, the streaming service decided to cancel it last year, giving it a fourth and final season to conclude the story of Sabrina Spellman.

Is this final season worth-watching? The short answer would be yes. If you are a fan of the show, the characters and everything that makes CAOS special, you will enjoy these new episodes. Are they as good as the first ones? Is the ending any good? Let’s discuss.

CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA KIERNAN SHIPKA as SABRINA IN CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA. Cr. DIYAH PERA/NETFLIX © 2020

Season 4 of CAOS is great. As a said before, fans of the show will definitely enjoy it. It’s on par with season 3, so it means that, unfortunately, it’s not as good as the first two parts.

The story this time revolves around the Eldritch Terrors, powerful and ancient entities that are eager to destroy the world. Each episode focuses on one of these terrors, which made the show feel a bit episodic, instead of creating a huge plot line that develops throughout the season. This is not something bad per se, it just means that some episodes will be easily forgotten once you finish the show. However, I will admit that episode 7 was the best episode of the season, and probably one of the best of the series.

The Terror are quite interesting, but some of them are more developed than others. In the end, they feel like means to an end, which is bringing back certain characters and the big bad of the season: The Void.

The cast is, as usual, incredible. If CAOS has something special that will make you forget the not-so-good aspects of the show, it’s definitely its cast. Kiernan Shipka, Michelle Gomez, Miranda Otto and Skye P. Marshall are the best part of this season, mainly because they have the more interesting plot lines.

The rest of the cast does a great job every time they are on screen. Luke Cook, Tati Gabrielle and Lucy Davis are wonderful, especially in this season. However, the special guest stars of episode seven are probably the greatest addition to this show and this season.

CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA (L to R) LUKE COOK as LUCIFER and MICHELLE GOMEZ as MADAM SATAN inCHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA. Cr. DIYAH PERA/NETFLIX © 2020

The ending was ok. You can definitely see how rushed it was, and that creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa had more stories to tell with this cast. However, Netflix canceled it, and at least, they didn’t leave the story open. It’s not a bad ending, but I wish we could have gotten a final season, or a special episode to wrap things up in a better way.

As Tony Stark would say, “part of the journey is the end”, and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina was quite the journey. Maybe it’s not the greatest show ever created, but I will always remember it. The good outweighs the bad, for sure, and these characters will always be remembered.

And who knows, maybe someday Netflix decides to bring back CAOS for one last adventure.

CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA (L to R) MIRANDA OTTO as ZELDA and LUCY DAVIS as HILDA in CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA. Cr. DIYAH PERA/NETFLIX © 2020

The Haunting of Bly Manor

The Haunting of Hill House was one of the most interesting shows of 2018, and thanks to its successful debut, Netflix announced a second season which will focus on a different haunted house. With The Haunting of Bly Manor, creator Mike Flanagan takes us to England, where a young American au pair is hired to take care of two orphans who reside at Bly Manor, a huge mansion with lots of secrets.

This new season of “The Haunting” series is as strong as the previous one, at least in terms of characters and story, but it’s definitively not as scary or creepy. Is this a bad thing? It depends on you, to be completely honest. If you were looking for a traditional horror story, similar to Hill House, with lots of jump-scares, I think you would be disappointed with Bly Manor. However, if you enjoy a good story with a complex and deep story behind, you will love what Flanagan has created.

Yes, The Haunting of Bly Manor is not very scary. There are some good scares, and the ghosts Easter eggs that made Hill House so interesting are back. Some episodes are actually scary, or have good horror sequences, but not as much as some people (myself included) hoped. Plus, I think that the ghosts in Hill House were creepier and more terrifying than the ones we have in Bly Manor. However, that doesn’t mean that this season is, in any sense, bad or forgettable.

So, why is The Haunting of Bly Manor such a good show if it’s not that scary? The answer is simple: the characters, the story and the atmosphere are excellent, and sometimes even better than they were in The Haunting of Hill House.

THE HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR (L to R) T’NIA MILLER as HANNAH, BENJAMIN EVAN AINSWORTH as MILES, RAHUL KOHLI as OWEN, AMELIE SMITH as FLORA, and VICTORIA PEDRETTI as DANI in episode 101 of THE HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR Cr. EIKE SCHROTER/NETFLIX © 2020

First of all, the story is incredibly well-written. Mike Flanagan and the rest of the writers have created one of the most powerful gothic love stories I’ve ever watched. The stories behind Bly Manor, the ghosts and the main characters are deep, emotional, romantic, and so well constructed that, by the end of the show, you’ll be completely satisfied. This is one of those shows where the ending is actually good and doesn’t disappoint. Yes, some people could argue that the pacing isn’t perfect, and I would agree. Sometimes The Haunting of Bly Manor is very slow. But the show is a slow burn, and the best episodes are towards the end, where everything starts to make sense and you can finally put together all the pieces of the puzzle.

The characters are probably the most interesting element in this show. Every single character has an interesting backstory, and the show takes its time to explore them. Bly Manor is the kind of show where all the characters are so well written, that they feel like real people. Maybe the pacing wasn’t as good as one would have hoped, but I appreciated the fact that Flanagan and the other writers took the time to create interesting and realistic characters.

But the writing isn’t the only thing that made these characters the strongest element in this show. The cast is fantastic, and they deserve all the attention they’re getting. Victoria Pedretti, T’Nia Miller, Amelia Eve and Oliver Jackson-Cohen are, in my opinion, the strongest members of the cast, and their characters carry the show. However, both Benjamin Evan Ainsworth and Amelie Bea Smith, who play Miles and Flora, the orphans, deserve to be mention in this review, because they did an incredible job with their characters. And even though I never want to hear the sentence “perfectly splendid” again, I can’t say enough good things about those kids and the cast in general.

So yes, The Haunting of Bly Manor is quite different from its predecessor. It’s not just a ghost story. As they say at the end of the show, it’s also a love story. And a very good one, by the way. If you can, give Bly Manor a chance, and try to finish the show (if you haven’t already). You won’t regret it.

THE HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR (L to R) AMELIE BEA SMITH as FLORA , BENJAMIN EVAN AINSWORTH as MILES, and T’NIA MILLER as HANNAH in THE HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR. Cr. EIKE SCHROTER/NETFLIX © 2020

Ratched

Ryan Murphy and Sarah Paulson are teaming up again, but this time it’s not for another season of American Horror Story. At least, that’s what it looked like at first. Murphy and Paulson bring us Ratched, the new Netflix series that explores the origin of one of the most interesting characters in movie history: Mildred Ratched, the nurse that treated Jack Nicholson’s R.P. McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

Ryan Murphy is a very special producer. No one can deny that some of his shows are outstanding pieces of art, like the first season of American Crime Story. But we all can agree that he doesn’t hit the jackpot every single time. However, despite his many flaws, Murphy always delivers good entertainment for those like me who tend to enjoy his work.

Ratched is definitely a Ryan Murphy show in every single aspect. From the gorgeous locations and shots to the amazing cast (including Sarah Paulson, of course). And the show has the potential to become the next Bates Motel. But even though this first season is strong on its own, and I’ve enjoyed it a lot from the very beginning, there are certain elements that don’t quite work.

The first thing that bothered me about Ratched was the season finale. The show ends with an amazing cliffhanger, which leaves us begging for season 2. But the problem isn’t that. At the end of the final episode, Sarah Paulson’s Mildred Ratched is, without a doubt, a totally different person than the Ratched we know from the movie. Now, I understand that Murphy really wants to continue with the story and, as I said, the show has potential, so maybe in a couple of seasons, we’ll end up getting the real Ratched. However, I feel like Netflix’s Ratched is a completely different character and it would be really difficult but interesting to see how they can unite both stories.

Does that mean that Paulson’s interpretation of the iconic character is bad? Not at all. Sarah Paulson is one of the best actors working on TV these days, and she is the best element on the show. Her Ratched has what Louise Fletcher’s didn’t: a backstory that justifies and explains how she acts. Of course, Ratched is a series and she is the main character, but sometimes protagonists are bland and the shows must be carried by the side characters. This isn’t that kind of show.

I loved Paulson’s Ratched: the way she dresses, her ability to manipulate everyone, and, especially, how well she adapts to every single situation. I can’t wait to see how she evolves in the next season and (hopefully) how she ends up being the Mildred Ratched that Nicholson hated so much.

The rest of the cast is also great. Finn Wittrock is a very convincing serial killer and Judy Davis’s Nurse Bucket is a delight throughout the series. Charlie Carver is surprisingly good, even though he doesn’t have much screen time and even Sharon Stone has her moments. And Sophie Okonedo is a force of nature. She shines every time she’s on-screen, and even when her character reminds us of James McAvoy in Split, her Charlotte is one of the most amazing elements on the show.

Ratched story is very interesting, and I think that’s one of the strengths of this show. The episodes never feel too long or too crowded. There aren’t unnecessary subplots that complicate the story too much, which is something that Ryan Murphy tends to do and even though the show is very similar to his other creation, American Horror Story, Ratched is more similar to the best seasons of that show and not the worst ones.

In general, I think Ratched is a very good show. If you like Ryan Murphy, American Horror Story, Sarah Paulson, or asylums, this is your show. And if you’re a fan of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, I think you can enjoy the series if you understand that this is a different take on the character and the world that movie portrayed.

I hope we get to see more of Murphy’s Ratched, and as they did with Bates Motel, I think it would be interesting to see if the final season for this show recreates the events of the movie. We’ll have to wait.

Locke & Key

After many years of announcements, cancelations, and ordering pilots, Locke & Key is finally a reality thanks to Netflix. This new TV show based on the popular comic book series created by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez is a very intriguing and enjoyable adventure that hooks you right after its first episode. Now that the show has been out for more than a week, it’s time to discuss both the good and the bad elements of this show, WITH spoilers.

The story and the mysteries

One of the strongest aspects of Locke & Key is its story and the way it handles the many mysteries that appear during this first season.

If you like fantasy worlds, comic books, and magic, this show is perfect for you. Every single magic element that we got in this season was absolutely amazing, especially the keys. To be honest, these magical objects are what make the show so interesting and binge-watchable. Every time a new key was introduced, I was eager to see what it could do and how they were going to use it. In fact, one of the coolest things you can do when you watch Locke & Key is thinking about how you would use the keys. And believe me, there are a lot of things we could do with them. Even their design was incredibly interesting.

There are also a lot of mysteries around the keys, the house and some characters (Dodge!) that keep us hooked. However, one good thing about this show is that when you finish season 1, you actually get some answers. Of course, by the end of episode 10, there are still some questions that remain unanswered and new mysteries that I’m sure we will explore in season 2. However, the main enigmas, like Dodge’s identity, Rendell’s past or what was behind the Omega Door, were solved. That was good because when I finished the season I didn’t feel like I wasted my time in a story with no real answers.

Also, the story never felt slow and I never thought that we were going nowhere. The screenwriters did a very good job handling so many storylines and characters, and they always move the story forward. And even though there are some Netflix shows that can’t handle 10 episodes, that was not the case with Locke & Key. In fact, I would say that 10 was the perfect number of episodes for the show: we had time to get to know the characters and their personalities, explore Key House, dig into the past and even laugh a bit.

Bode, Dodge, and the rest of the characters

Yes, Locke & Key has a very strong story, but the characters in the show are a bit bland. The problem with most of them is that they make a lot of dumb decisions, which sometimes I could understand because if it weren’t for them, there would be no show. However, there were some moments where I really felt like the characters did something or acted in a certain way just because they had to do it, so the story could continue, and not because it was the best thing to do or the right way to act.

There are two exceptions though. Bode Locke and Dodge. Jackson Robert Scott, who stole every minute he had on-screen in It: Chapter One is the star of this show. His character, Bode, is not only the best and most coherent Locke but also the funniest, bravest and most intelligent character in the whole show. He is the one who discovers the keys and how to use most of them, and even though he is the youngest of the siblings, he understands the danger they are facing and could have avoided some of the things that happened in the final episode.

Alongside Bode, Laysla De Oliveira’s Dodge was definitively the most intriguing character. She is a very deadly, dangerous and competent villain, who even murdered a child in cold blood by pushing him into a subway rail (that was scary and shocking). But even though she is the villain, I really enjoyed every time she was on-screen. De Oliveira did a very good job with this character, which honestly could have been a very typical and insipid bad guy.

Tyler and Kinsey were the ones who made some of the dumbest decisions. Now, I have to say, Connor Jessup and Emilia Jones are great actors because even when their characters did the stupidest thing imaginable, I still rooted for them. They had a very nice brother-sister relationship, which the writers handle very well, and both Tyler and Kinsey had good moments during some of the episodes. But they really need to start listening to Bode, or they will end up throwing their mother through the Omega Door.

The rest of the cast is ok. Most of the characters were there for plot-devices reasons, but the actors did a nice job. Some of the secondary characters that I really liked were Rufus, Gabe (who we will need to keep an eye on in season 2) and Joe.

A great show in general

Locke & Key, as I said is very enjoyable and intriguing. It’s not a perfect show by all means, but it has the potential to become one of Netflix’s greatest. They have great production designs, great VFX, a good set of writers and a very nice cast. Season 1 ended with some mysteries still unanswered and raising new questions, so I really need to see where we are heading.

The producers have already said that they are working on season 2, so it’s just a matter of time that Netflix confirms it. And I’m really excited to see more of this world: more keys, more magic, more demons, and more Bode. If you like fantasy, magic and a good mystery, go ahead and watch Locke & Key, you won’t regret it.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Season 3

Rejoice, witches! Our favorite witch is back! And this time, we are going to Hell.

The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina became one of Netflix’s most popular shows soon after its release, back in October 2018. Since then, we’ve had two seasons and one Christmas special (something that I hope they do again), and now Netflix has released the third season, and it’s already preparing the fourth one.

Is Part 3 of the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina worth our time? The short answer is simple: absolutely yes! However, I’d like to talk a bit more about this new season, which overall, I thought was really good and introduced a bunch of new and cool stuff that we can discuss right now.

Before we begin, I warn you: this review is full of spoilers, so if you haven’t watched every single episode of CAOS Part 3, go ahead and do it. What are you waiting for?

Great, but not perfect

I will begin with the not-so-good elements of this new season because, as I said, Part 3 was great, but not perfect.

I love musicals with all my heart. I love Glee and High School Musical: The Musical: The series. I simply love it when the characters of a movie or a tv show start singing and dancing spontaneously. Up until this point, I’ve even enjoyed CAOS‘s musical moments, especially in season 2, when they did that Masquerade in front of Lucifer. However, I think that they’ve gone too far in this new season. Sabrina and Roz’s cheerleading was cool, but the pre-recorded music didn’t fit at all, and Theo, Harvey and Roz’s band was pointless. I did like the episode where the cheerleaders performed at the Academy and the witches used their energies to power up, but that was a very good idea and the musical number was very well integrated within the context of the story. Overall, I do think they need to stop introducing random musical numbers if they don’t fit in with the story. It’s just a waste of our time.

I’m also tired of Blackwood. I think he’s served his purpose, and now he’s just there for the sake of being there. I understand that he is going to be a crucial part of season 4, and I’m kind of intrigued about that, but I don’t care about his character anymore. To be honest, Prudence and Ambrose should have killed him when they had the chance to, because now that he bears the Mark of Cain, he’s practically immortal, so I guess he’s going to be around for a while.

Finally, and this is more of a request for next season, I need more powers. This season was great in terms of Witches using their magic, but due to the fact that Lucifer decided to punish the Coven (I can understand why) taking away their powers, we’ve had a season where the main characters were facing a lot of dangers, and they couldn’t do much about it. Now, as I said, I’m ok with what we got, especially in that final episode when the Coven defeated the Pagans. However, after seeing Sabrina flying and killing angels with infernal fire, I was hoping to see more of that. And I still think they can give that to us in Part 4, now that Sabrina is Queen of Hell. At least, one of the two Sabrinas we have now.

Why CAOS is a good show

Every time I finish watching any season of CAOS, I say to myself: I want more. And that’s a good sign. Netflix’s adaptation of the comics is really special, and if you think about why this show is so good, you find the answer easily: the cast and the story.

CAOS is not Game of Thrones. It doesn’t have the biggest budget of all times. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy this show, because we do.

The cast is probably the greatest aspect of this dark and satanic series. Starting with Kiernan Shipka, she was born to play Sabrina. She is incredibly charismatic, and she makes us love Sabrina and we root for her even when she makes mistake after mistake. But she is the main character, so making dumb decisions is in her nature. Without them, the show would be very boring. Plus, Shipka really sells her spell casting, which is not an easy task.

Shipka’s Sabrina is not alone in this show, and, even though she is the star and main character, the rest of the cast is just as great as her. Michelle Gomez is not only my favorite character but also a very complex one. Her relationship with Sabrina is one of the most interesting aspects of the show, and I really hope they explore it even more in Part 4. Gomez’s Lilith is not only funny and charismatic but also a very powerful character, who’s willing to do everything to survive. Her future with Lucifer and the son they are expecting is very intriguing, but I want to see how she handles the two Sabrinas situation when she discovers the truth. And she will because as Ambrose said, she notices everything.

Hilda and Zelda continue to be great characters, and their storyline in this season was very good. Zelda’s new love interest is promising and I’m very happy to see Hilda being happy. As for Ambrose and Prudence, they had some really good moments, and they are great characters overall.

And last but not least, let’s talk about Roz, Harvey, Theo, and Nick. Out of these four characters, I honestly think Theo is the best one. His role in the show has evolved a lot since season one, and his relationship with one of the new characters, Robin, was a key element this season. Roz and Harvey are good characters, but they don’t have much to do. Roz’s cunning is an amazing gift, but I didn’t understand why she never said anything about what she saw at the Carnival. I mean, a lot could have been avoided if she had said earlier to everyone that she just saw a weird half-human, half-goat creature with her powers. As for Nick, I just don’t like him very much. I understand he’s been through hell (literally), but the way he treated Sabrina, even after they got rid of that Lucifer’s essence he had inside, was really despicable. Besides, he didn’t have much to do this season.

Now, even though I don’t like some of the characters of this show, I still think they are the most important and interesting aspect of it. The way the writers handle all of these characters and storylines is truly amazing, especially in an 8-episodes season. I said it last week when I talked about Sex Education, and I’m saying it again: Netflix shows are popular because they have great characters and stories, but they are also good because the writers know how to develop interesting storylines and relationships between the characters. In a world post Game of Thrones Season 8, I really appreciate when writers develop good and coherent characters.

The new additions

Part 3 not only deals with our favorite characters as usual, but it also introduces some new ones. And I have to say, all of them are refreshing and exciting new additions to this show.

Sam Corlett’s Caliban could have been a very annoying Hell demon because his main goal is to get the throne and rule Hell, so his aspirations are a problem for our main characters. However, Caliban is not only funny and charismatic but also intriguing. The dynamic he develops with Sabrina was very cool and kind of sexy, and even though he betrays her a lot, something tells me that Sabrina will need his help in Part 4. Maybe their relationship could grow into something more. We’ll see.

Skye P. Marshall’s Mambo Marie is also a very powerful new addition to the Coven. I’m ready to see more of her Voodoo magic and, what’s even more important, her relationship with our favorite High Priestess, Zelda.

Finally, I really enjoyed Jonathan Whitesell’s Robin Goodfellow. His relationship with Theo was very cute, and the fact that he is a hobgoblin makes for a very interesting dynamic between him and the rest of the group. I do think that his storyline was a bit cliché at first, but I’m looking forward to seeing how he grows as a character.

The Pagans ended up being great adversaries. Their powers were very cool, and I really felt that the Coven was in real danger. I knew that all of the killings that happened during the final episodes of the show weren’t going to last forever, but I thought that the Pagans could hurt the Witches pretty badly because they had the power to do so. But the Witches didn’t have their powers when they were facing them, and once the Coven recovered and regained their strength, it was really easy to get rid of those old gods. They were good characters, but I won’t miss them a lot.

Give us more, please

Season 3 was great. The story of the Pagan gods and the competition to see who would rule over Hell were two very interesting storylines, but they’ve ended. Now we have two Sabrina, and one of them is Queen of Hell. However, having two Sabrinas is probably not a good thing, and I’m sure that both of them will realize that sooner rather than later.

Furthermore, Blackwood and his twins have released something that will cause trouble for the Spellmans, and even though I don’t want to see more of Blackwood, I’m actually intrigued by that mysterious creature and how it’s going to fight the Witches.

In general, I think that Part 4 is going to be as wicked and enjoyable as Part 3. I know they are already filming it, but there are a couple of things I really want to see.

I want to see more of Sabrina’s dark side. Now that she is Queen of Hell, I want to see what she can do, and she has both Lilith and Lucifer to teach her some cool stuff. And I want more of Lilith plotting against Satan.

I also want to see how they develop the twins, especially how they interact with Zelda and Prudence. I don’t know if they are supporting Blackwood because they want to, or because he cast a spell on them. Knowing Blackwood as we know him, the second option is not a crazy idea.

And last, but definitively not least, I want more of Salem. I don’t know how, but they need to find a way to make that cat talk, and he has to begin showing up more frequently. Otherwise, what’s the point of having him there?

The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is probably returning later this year, so until then, let’s enjoy this third season, witches, and let’s hope we don’t have to wait long to see the story continue.

Praise Sabrina, Queen of Hell. 

Nosotros / Us

Adelaide (Lupita Nyong’o) y Gabe (Winston Duke) van a pasar el fin de semana con sus hijos en una casa cerca de la playa. Sin embargo, lo que en un principio parece una escapada familiar tranquila se convierte en una locura sangrienta cuando la familia es atacada por sus dobles. 

Si Jordan Peele demostró algo con “Déjame salir” fue su enorme talento como guionista, gracias a una historia que no solo le dio un Oscar, sino que cautivó a todo el mundo, rompiendo varios récords en taquilla. Con “Nosotros”, Peele vuelve al género que tan bien domina, creando una historia original e interesante que nos dejará pensando incluso al salir del cine.

El talento de Peele es indiscutible. Los primeros cuarenta minutos de “Nosotros” son una auténtica maravilla, tan impresionantes como la también aclamada “Un lugar tranquilo”. Esta primera mitad de la película lo tiene todo: intriga, suspense y terror en estado puro. Realmente lo pasas mal viendo cómo los dobles de la familia atacan por primera vez. Los dobles están muy bien desarrollados, y es interesante ver cómo se comportan en relación con los miembros “originales”, por así decirlo.

Sin embargo, durante la segunda mitad de la cinta, “Nosotros” se convierte en algo completamente diferente. Peele deja a un lado el terror y se centra más en crear una película de suspense y acción, con más dosis de comedia. Ahora bien, la comedia no es un problema hasta este punto. De hecho, durante la primera parte de la película hay algunos momentos cómicos y frases sarcásticas que casan bien con el tono general de la historia. Sin embargo, en la segunda parte se descontrola. La comedia roza niveles que no terminan de encajar con la terrorífica y seria primera mitad. El problema no es tanto que la comedia sea excesiva, sino que no parece formar parte de la misma película que veíamos al comienzo. Por así decirlo, es como si “Nosotros” fuera la mezcla entre una primera parte más parecida a “Un lugar tranquilo”, y que después se convierte en “Scream”. Por separado ambas son películas increíbles, pero juntas no terminan de encajar.

Aun así, “Nosotros” se disfruta mucho, especialmente gracias a la increíble actuación de Lupita Nyong’o. La ganadora del Oscar no solo demuestra el enorme talento que posee, sino que hace suya la película. Nyong’o hace un gran trabajo interpretando a Adelaide, pero cuando realmente brilla es cuando se convierte en su doble, Red. La forma en la que se mueve, habla y mira es perturbadora e inquietante, y es algo que se nos quedará en la memoria incluso después de haber dejado la sala.

El maravilloso papel de Nyong’o suple un poco otro de los fallos de la cinta: el giro final. El guion, como dije, parece estar partido en dos. Y tras ver el final me pregunto si habría sido mejor no explicar algunas cosas. A pesar de esto, el problema con el gran giro final es que es predecible. Es cierto que sigue siendo inquietante, pero durante el primer acto se puede deducir fácilmente, y eso le resta un poco de valor al final de “Nosotros”.

En general, creo que la nueva cinta de Jordan Peele es mejor que “Déjame salir”, al menos en lo que a tensión e intriga se refiere. Sin embargo, creo que, aunque Peele tiene un gran talento para crear historias, no parece que cerrarlas se le dé tan bien. Aun así, “Nosotros” tiene una primera mitad tan increíble que solo por verla en la gran pantalla, merece la pena.

A family’s serenity turns to chaos when a group of doppelgängers begins to terrorize them.

Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” was one of the most interesting and intriguing films of 2017, and it was the movie that got Peele an Oscar. Now, the director returns to the genre he loves with “Us”, a movie that will leave you thinking about everything you have watched even after you have left the cinema.

Peele is a wonderful screenwriter, and the first half of “Us” proves how talented he is. The first 45 minutes are at the same level of quality as another huge hit, “A quiet place”. They are intriguing, scary and breathtaking, and you really feel bad for the family that is being attacked by their doppelgängers. They are also very well developed, and it is amazing how they are similar, but at the same time darker and more brutal than the originals.

The problem comes with the second half of the movie. “Us” leaves the horror element aside and becomes something completely different. The movie turns into a very high-quality thriller, with a strong comedic aspect that doesn´t fit with the first part. “Us” starts being a horror movie and ends up being something similar to “Scream”. And I´m not saying “Scream” is a bad movie. In fact, I love “Scream”, but I love it for what it is: a very “meta” slasher movie. This combination of elements makes “Us” seem like two different movies piece together. The comedy is what really makes the difference. Even though there are some jokes during the first half of the movie, I would say that the horror element is stronger. In the second half, the horror aspect disappears, and that is the problem. The rest of the movie is still good, but it is not as good as the first part.

The strongest aspect of “Us” is, without a doubt, Lupita Nyong’o. Her performance is amazing and disturbing. When she is playing Adelaide, she is good. However, when she is playing the role of “Red”, Adelaide’s doppelgänger, she becomes the star of the movie. The way she moves, talks and looks is not only really weird, but intriguing and scary.

The other element I didn´t think was well developed overall, was the script. Peele tries to explain everything, or at least, most of the things we have seen in the movie, but it doesn’t work. Sometimes leaving things unexplained is better than giving them an unbelievable explanation. The director also creates a final twist, in order to leave the audience shocked, that doesn´t work either. In fact, you can see it coming without problems from the first 20 minutes of the movie.

Jordan Peele’s “Us” is very good, but not perfect. There are some elements that could have been better and others that don´t make sense at all. However, the first half of the movie is amazing, scary and intense, and it is worth seeing on the big screen.

Feliz Día de tu Muerte 2 / Happy Death Day 2U

Después de descubrir qué causó el bucle temporal que la mantuvo atrapada durante el mismo día hasta descubrir quién trataba de matarla, Tree Gelbman vuelve a dicho bucle de nuevo. Sin embargo, las cosas son distintas esta vez, y Tree debe averiguar qué ha cambiado para dejar de vivir el mismo día una y otra vez. 

“Feliz día de tu muerte” mezclaba dos elementos que a simple vista parecen no tener relación alguna: el género slasher y los bucles temporales. Una versión moderna y sangrienta del clásico “Atrapado en el tiempo” podría decirse.

Con esta segunda parte, Christopher Landon, director y guionista, nos lleva de vuelta al mundo de Tree, la joven que tuvo que revivir el mismo día varias veces hasta encontrar a su asesino. Sin embargo, esta secuela deja un poco de lado el misterio y la sangre para centrarse mucho más en las maravillas de la ciencia ficción.

Si con la primera entrega explorábamos los bucles temporales, “Feliz día de tu muerte 2” juguetea con las dimensiones alternativas y el multiverso. Y digo juguetea porque si hay algo que caracteriza a ambas entregas es el hecho de que ninguna explora a fondo los conceptos que presenta. Esto no es algo negativo, sino más bien una aclaración para aquellos que esperen ver un desarrollo total y riguroso de la teoría del multiverso.

El hecho de que la protagonista, Tree (Jessica Rothe) acabe en una dimensión alternativa, en la que ciertos personajes son completamente diferentes y algunos eventos sucedieron de forma distinta, fomenta uno de los elementos que ya estaba presente en la primera entrega: el humor.

“Feliz día de tu muerte 2” es tremendamente divertida, mucho más que su predecesora. Esto puede sonar raro, puesto que estamos ante lo que parece una cinta de terror. Sin embargo, y como dije antes, esta película pertenece mucho más al género de la ciencia ficción que al de terror. Dependiendo de lo que busques, este cambio te resultará más o menos negativo. En lo personal, creo que es una grata sorpresa que ayuda a mantener el interés por la historia, que funciona perfectamente y que justifica el hecho de que haya una secuela.

Jessica Rothe y Rachel Matthews (Danielle) son las estrellas de esta cinta, y sin duda alguna protagonizan los mejores momentos de la misma. De hecho, Rothe nos sorprende con una interpretación realmente buena, que se aleja de la típica protagonista de las películas de terror. Incluso cuenta con una interesante y emotiva trama secundaria que ayuda a darle mucho más realismo y profundidad a su personaje.

En lo que respecta al guion, no hay mucho que decir. La historia es bastante similar a la primera cinta, cambiando algunos elementos para no hacerla igual. Sin embargo, el misterio sobre quién es el asesino queda completamente relegado a un segundo plano hacia la mitad de la película. La historia se centra en Tree como personaje, y deja a un lado dos de los puntos más importantes de una cinta slasher: las muertes violentas y el asesino. Siendo justos, hay varias muertes a lo largo de esta segunda entrega, pero también hay que decir que la mayoría son suicidios de Tree. La gran revelación final no parece importante, puesto que el guion no hace el esfuerzo de desarrollar a este nuevo asesino en ningún punto.

En resumen, “Feliz día de tu muerte 2” mantiene la esencia de la primera, e implementa nuevos elementos para hacerla fresca. Sin embargo, pierde uno de los aspectos más importantes y característicos de este tipo de películas: el terror. Aun así, es una cinta entretenida y divertida, con una trama secundaria bastante interesante y una protagonista perfecta.

After the events of the first movie, Tree is living a peaceful life. However, something goes wrong, and she ends up trapped in a new time loop. But this time, some things are different, and she is going to need some help to find out what happened and who is the new killer.

“Happy Death Day” was a nice surprise. A movie that mixed the slasher genre with time loops was something really interesting. A modern and bloody version of Bill Murray’s “Groundhog Day”.

Christopher Landon takes us back to the world of Tree, the young woman who died several times until she found out who was trying to kill her. However, even though there is a new killer in this sequel, Landon focuses more on the science fiction aspect of the story than the mystery itself.

The first movie explored time loops. Now, with “Happy Death Day 2U”, we are going to explore parallel universes. However, just like in the first one, we are just going to scratch the surface of this concept. Landon keeps the story simple, which is good, because he wants as many people as possible to understand the plot of this movie. By doing so, he isn´t able to explore the infinite possibilities of the multiverse.

The fact that Tree is trapped in a parallel universe where some of her friends are completely different persons and some events didn´t happen creates very comedic and also emotional situations.

“Happy Death Day 2U” is very funny. This may sound weird because we are talking about a horror movie. However, as I said before, this sequel abandons most of the slasher aspects of the first film, and as a result, it becomes a science fiction movie, more than a horror one. I personally think this was a very interesting and refreshing change that justifies the existence of this sequel and makes it even funnier.

Jessica Rothe and Rachel Matthews are the two standouts of this movie. Both actresses are very funny, and they have the best scenes in the film. In fact, Rothe really surprised me as an actress. She has a very interesting and emotional subplot, which is related to his mother and makes her a more real and deeper character.

There isn’t much to say about the script, mainly because it’s very similar to the first film’s script. The mystery is not as relevant as it was in the first movie, and the story focuses more on Tree’s personal journey than on the person who is trying to kill her. There is nothing wrong with that, but most people were expecting a horror movie, and maybe they won´t be very happy with how this sequel turned out to be.

The Prodigy

Una joven madre comienza a preocuparse por el comportamiento agresivo y extraño de su hijo Miles. Después de probar diversas terapias sin resultado alguno, la idea de que un ente sobrenatural haya podido poseer a su hijo es la única que queda sobre la mesa. 

Nicholas McCarthy dirige “The Prodigy”´, una inquietante cinta protagonizada por Taylor Schilling y Jackson Robert Scott. La historia sigue a Miles, un chico cuyo cuerpo es reclamado por otro espíritu, el de un terrible asesino en serie que murió minutos antes de su nacimiento.

Aunque la premisa y el desarrollo de la película no es para nada novedosa, “The Prodigy” destaca en dos aspectos principalmente: la gran atmósfera que crea y el sorprendente giro final que nos regala.

Como digo, la cinta no está sobrecargada de sustos y jumpscares, sino que se encarga de construir poco a poco una inquietante atmósfera que acaba perturbándonos hasta el final. El mérito de que dejemos la sala con mal cuerpo lo tiene el joven Jackson Robert Scott, cuya interpretación de “chico poseído” es lo mejor de la cinta. El actor consigue que su personaje dé miedo con solo unas simples muecas. Y sí, el hecho de que sea un niño de poco más de nueve años ayuda a crear una situación tensa y espeluzanante, pues el espíritu aprovecha la compasión y ternura que muchos sentiríamos por los niños para llevar a cabo sus oscuros planes.

Junto con Miles, el guion también es bastante interesante. La historia avanza a un ritmo perfecto, y sabe equilibrar los momentos de pura tensión con los más relajados. El tercer acto es quizás el punto más interesante de la historia, tanto por cómo los personajes se han desarrollado hasta entonces como por el increíble giro final que concluye la cinta.

“The Prodigy” sorprende, pero queda lejos de ser una increíble cinta de terror como esas a las que nos hemos acostumbrado en los últimos años, con títulos como “Un lugar tranquilo” o “It”. Sin embargo, es una buena forma de pasar cualquier tarde o noche, y disfrutar de una historia de miedo de esas que te quitan un poco el sueño, y las ganas de tener hijos.

A mother concerned about her young son’s disturbing behavior thinks something supernatural may be affecting him.

“The Prodigy” is a really creepy and scary movie, directed by Nicholas McCarthy, and starring Taylor Schilling and Jackson Robert Scott. The movie follows Miles, a young boy whose body seems to be possessed by a brutal serial killer, who died just before he was born.

The story could look like something we have seen before. And we have. However, the creepy atmosphere and the brilliant performance of Jackson Robert Scott as Miles are the two elements that make going to see this movie worthwhile.

There aren’t many jump scares in this movie. McCarthy builds a very intriguing and scary atmosphere that makes us uncomfortable while watching the movie. As I said, Jackson Robert Scott is the real standout of this film. He creates a creepy and terrifying character, with the ability to scare us even when his face is hidden. He is really capable of selling the fact that his character is possessed by a serial killer. And the “villain” of this movie takes advantage of the fact that children are usually seen as these cute little beings that wouldn´t hurt a fly and uses that to accomplish his plans.

Along with Miles, the script is actually quite interesting. The pacing of the movie is great, and McCarthy really knows how to handle the suspense and the scary scenes very well. The third act is very well made, and it is indeed surprising. There is a big plot twist at the end of the film that really caught me off guard, but it was very good and terrifying.

“The Prodigy” is not a perfect movie. It isn’t one of those amazing horror movies that we’ve been watching recently, like “It” or “A quiet place”. However, it is a good way to spend the evening with your friends or family and enjoy a pleasant film about a supernatural being that is obsessed with mums.

Velvet Buzzsaw

Después de que una serie de pinturas realizadas por un artista totalmente desconocido sean descubiertas, una entidad imparable comienza a eliminar a aquellos cuya codicia se interpuso en el camino del arte. 

“Nightcrawler” es quizás uno de los thrillers más interesantes, entretenidos y bien dirigidos de esta década. Dan Gilroy realizó un excelente trabajo como director, y Jake Gyllenhaal interpretó uno de los mejores papeles de su carrera, acompañado por una también fabulosa Rene Ruso.

Ahora, Netflix ha vuelto a reunir a este equipo con “Velvet Buzzsaw”, una cinta que, a pesar de no estar a la altura de “Nightcrawler” en muchos aspectos, tiene suficientes elementos buenos como para resultar una experiencia entretenida y, a ratos, muy interesante.

Como director, Gilroy vuelve a demostrar que tiene una magnífica capacidad para crear tensión y una atmósfera acorde con la trama. Sin embargo, el principal fallo de “Velvet Buzzsaw” es su guion. El misterio que nos plantea Gilroy es interesante, y la premisa es cuanto menos atractiva, pero no consigue mantener nuestro interés de forma constante. El director y guionista se desvía varias veces, abandonando la búsqueda de explicaciones al misterio que propone y que debería de ser el eje central de la película. Aunque el misterio no sea precisamente el punto fuerte de la película, creo que Gilroy tiene buen ojo para captar ideas. Quizás solo necesite un poco de ayuda para desarrollarlas, puesto que la premisa de esta cinta no termina de ser explotada al máximo.

Las que sí resultan interesantes y están bien elaboradas son las escenas de mayor tensión y las muertes de los personajes. Gilroy utiliza muy bien la idea del arte contemporáneo como “recurso asesino”, y estoy seguro de que los amantes del género del terror disfrutarán bastantes de muchas de las muertes que aparecen en pantalla. En estos casos sí puedo afirmar que Gilroy sabe manejar esas ideas, demostrando que tiene futuro dentro de un género que podría explotar más en el futuro.

El reparto está repleto de conocidos. Jake Gyllenhaal y Rene Ruso son los auténticos protagonistas de la cinta, y aunque sus actuaciones son tan buenas como de costumbre, ninguno de los dos realiza una interpretación tan radical e interesante como en “Nightcrawler”. El resto de actores y actrices cumplen con su cometido. Toni Collette es quizás la única que destaca por encima del resto, a pesar de que ninguno de los secundarios tiene mucho tiempo en pantalla. El personaje de Zawe Ashton es, sin duda, el peor de todos. Por una parte, su personaje no está diseñado para caer bien, pero ,además, Ashton no consigue conectar en ningún momento, y su actuación es la que más frío nos deja.

En general, “Velvet Buzzsaw” no cumple todas las expectativas que podríamos tener, pero acaba siendo una cinta entretenida y bien hecha. Una sátira moderna sobre el mundo del arte acompañada por un misterio que no acaba de desarrollarse al máximo. La nueva cinta de Dan Gilroy está hecha para ser vista en cualquier momento y pasar una buena tarde/noche. Desde luego, no todos disfrutarán la película, pero a quiénes os gustara “Nightcrawler”, “Velvet Buzzsaw” es de visionado obligatorio. Simplemente, rebajad un poco vuestras expectativas.

After a series of paintings by an unknown artist are discovered, a supernatural force enacts revenge on those who have allowed their greed to get in the way of art.

“Nightcrawler” is one of the most exciting thrillers of the last decade. Director Dan Gilroy created a fantastic movie with a very interesting story and a stellar performance by Jake Gyllenhaal.

This original Netflix movie, “Velvet Buzzsaw”, reunites the team once again in a good and entertaining film that is not as good as “Nightcrawler”, but it still has some good elements that make the experience very enjoyable.

Gilroy is a good director, and he proves it again creating a very intriguing story with a great atmosphere. However, the script is the main problem I have with this movie. The mystery that Gilroy is trying to create is based on great ideas, but he is not able to go beyond them. He throws those good ideas into the story but doesn´t develop them as much as he could. Besides, Gilroy usually draws attention away from the main story and focuses too much on other elements of the film that are not as important as the mystery we are discovering.

Gilroy is very good, as I said, creating an amazing atmosphere. The death scenes are also one of the most interesting things to watch, mainly because Gilroy uses contemporary art as a murder weapon in a very creative way. He has a future in the horror genre, and I think he could do very good in that world.

The cast is quite impressive. There are many known actors and actress, but Jake Gyllenhaal and Rene Ruso are the standouts. Gyllenhaal’s performance is not as bold or interesting as the one he gave us in “Nightcrawler”, but he still is a great actor, and one of the most amazing elements of the movie. Toni Collette has also some great scenes, but her role is very small and she doesn´t have much screen time. Zawe Ashton’s character is probably the worst one. Her role is not designed to please the audience or to be likable, and her acting is also quite bad.

“Velvet Buzzsaw” is not what I expected. However, even though the movie is not at the same level as other thrillers, I enjoyed it. It is a very well-made film, with good performances and directing. Horror fans will enjoy the movie as much as those who loved “Nightcrawler”. Just remember, it is not as good as other similar movies, so keep your expectations low.