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Wilko52
Reviews
Ennemi public (2016)
Dull and duller.
I watched series one when it originally aired on Sky in the UK, although by the time I noticed series two was on Netflix I had to read a recap as I'd forgotten everything that had happened; that's how much of an impression it made.
Series two is an absolute disaster; it's snail-paced and contains some of the most dysfunctional police officers ever. The whole series is just filled with them making stupid decision after stupid decision to the point where my eyes were rolling in my head like in a cartoon.
The most egregious example? When a man is killed in the woods by a cult member, the police don't immediately start a search of the surrounding area to find the compound/farm they're looking for. I couldn't take it seriously after that. And don't get me started on the monks.
It could have been good, but ten episodes that had four episodes worth of interesting content within was a chore to watch.
Scream (2022)
Terrible, absolutely terrible.
This film takes place in the most deserted town in America; someone gets killed in broad daylight after a sheriff's car turns up with sirens blaring and lights blazing, and there's no one on the street to see it. No one appears to work in the hospital overnight, leaving the killer to roam free and do what killers do.
One of the killers is obvious from the start, despite the attempts at misdirection, and the other couldn't act her way out of a paper bag; the third act is particularly hilarious as they try to act psycho.
Worst of all is the dedication to Wes Craven at the end; if an energy company wired up his coffin to the grid, they'd solve the world's energy crisis due to the amount of spinning he'll be doing.
Insânia (2021)
A mixed bag of a series.
The premise of Insânia is a good one; what is real or a dream? What is madness?
Unfortunately it becomes weighed down by its own ideas. The dream sequences get tiresome, and the plot becomes more ridiculous and, strangely, more predictable as it goes on.
The acting on the whole is pretty good, but the lead character's constant screaming and crying is enough to drive you, well, insane.
The ending means that there's another series on the way (probably). I won't be rushing to watch it.
Nisser (2021)
Terrible.
Right from the off the main family are some of the most annoying characters I've ever seen. I spent the series wishing the elves would kill them; sadly, they survived. There's no reason for it to be set at Christmas either.
Midnight Mass (2021)
Midnight Mass-ive snorefest
Started well, then the 'action' moved to the island where we are introduced to some of the blandest characters ever to appear in a television show. Alarm bells rang when some of the cast were in ageing make-up that would be an embarrassment to an amateur dramatics society.
The dialogue mainly consists of interminable monologues that say everything and nothing. What sixteen year old girl would spout off so much nonsense to the man that accidentally shot her? Get her to say "I forgive you, but I still hate you," not have her go on a five minute quasi-religious rant.
There's also far too much exposition; for example, what happened on Father Pruitt's trip to Israel is told by Pruit himself in confession to God for what seems like forever. I thought God was all-seeing. Why not just show us instead of us making us suffer all the religious psycho-babble he spouts?
I gave up after four episodes. Life's too short.
Boss Level (2020)
Shoddy, cheap-looking and dull.
The best thing about this film is that I only have to watch it once. To call a film about a time-loop repetitive seems stupid, but it really does get annoying very quickly. The special effects are anything but; some of the greenscreen work is atrocious.
The biggest flaw of the film is the tone; it can't decide if it wants to be a comedy or a serious action flick. It falls in-between and as a result falls flat.
Those giving it a high rating are easily amused is all that I can say. Two stars because I made it to the end.
Behind Her Eyes (2021)
Terrible
Starts well then descends into ridiculousness halfway through episode five. The ending does explain all those shots from above in Louise's flat though, and the repeated dream sequences (which get annoying very, very quickly).
I'll be angry at myself for watching this nonsense for quite some time.
Monster (2017)
Dreadful attempt at Nordic Noir *SPOILERS ALL THE WAY*
There are so many things wrong with this series that I could fill a one hundred page A4 notebook with them. Here are some of them:
- A cop walks into a mortuary and fires bullets into a corpse to cover his back. The pathologist doesn't notice this. This is after the same cop walked into a hospital and changed his urine sample. Conclusion; hospital security in Norway is awful.
- A man fires an automatic machine gun at two police officers AND ISN'T EVEN ARRESTED.
- The same man is shot twice in the back, is in a critical condition yet is up and about days later. Conclusion: Norwegian doctors are miracle workers.
- A girl burns down a whole village AND DOESN'T EVEN GET ARRESTED. In fact, she joins the cult members in their search for a new home.
- The "dramatic" fight scene between two naked men is, in fact, one of the funniest things ever put on screen despite the score trying to convince us that it is exciting. Fair play to the actors for having the balls to do it though.
- The two naked men spend the night unconscious in the snow and show no signs of hypothermia the morning after.
Lovecraft Country (2020)
Goes downhill fast.
The first episode was excellent; great characters, an interesting premise and some good SFX. By episode five it's turned into a children's show with added sex, violence and swearing.
Ofrenda a la tormenta (2020)
Too long, too predictable, no suspense.
I enjoyed The Invisibile Guardian for what it is; a serial killer thriller with a supernatural undertone. I rate it 6.
I'd forgotten The Legacy of the Bones after I'd finished watching it. I rate it 4.
This, however, is a stinker. The judge being the bad guy was obvious from Legacy, and even if you didn't pick it up from that film there's a massive signpost in this. There are plot holes aplenty; what happened to her FBI friend? We hear he's gone missing, then nothing. Why did Flora wait until twelve months later to reveal Anna (a murdered girl from the first film) was her daughter. Why did the priest disappear from the film? Why did I waste over 2 hours of my time watching this?
All films in the trilogy are overlong and flabby, but this is by far the hardest to watch because so much happens, yet nothing really does.
Watch only if you feel you need to complete the trilogy is my advice.
The Old Guard (2020)
Dull.
An interesting premise, poorly executed; even the action scenes are dull. It feels like nothing but a set up for a franchise. The cast are fine in their roles, but aren't really given much to chew on. One exception; Harry Melling as Merrick the bad guy obviously thought he was in a spoof and plays as such. Try not laughing whenever he is on screen.
There are many, many plot holes too; I won't go into them to avoid spoilers, but watch the film and they are glaringly obvious.
Overall it is a disappointing experience that will be lucky to get the sequel it craves.
Nadie Sabe Que Estoy Aquí (2020)
Not bad, could have been better.
A beautifully photographed and well-acted drama from Chile that ultimately disappoints.
The story of Memo, a quiet giant of a man living in seclusion with his uncle in southern Chile. In his youth his dreams of fame were taken from him by his greedy father and an unscrupulous record producer. When he starts to interact with modern society his secrets come tumbling out.
There's a lot of silence in this film, and plenty of lingering shots of the stunning Chilean scenery that eventually make the film drag. Jorge Garcia is good as the hurt Memo, though at times he comes across as a petulant child. Maybe this is because his childhood was stolen from him, I don't know. Luis Gnecco is excellent as always as his loving uncle.
My biggest criticism is that Memo's secret has been kept quiet for so long, particularly after a pivotal flashback halfway through the film shows just how famous (or infamous) he was. That spoiled it for me.
Overall, it's a quiet, thoughtful drama with a title song that will stick in your head for days afterwards.
Contratiempo (2016)
Interesting, twisting thriller
I enjoyed The Invisibile Guest, but I think I'd have enjoyed it more had I not known the twist before starting to watch it. The photos on here give away the twist far too easily. Having said that, it doesn't take much working out; the film is as much about the howdunit as the whodunit.
Midsommar (2019)
Overrated and over hyped
I settled down to watch this in anticipation of being creeped out by a brilliant film (according to some critics). Instead I was bored senseless, and actually amused to the point of laughing in parts.
It starts well enough; the sense of dread and panic as Dani struggles to contact her family is beautifully done, and her grief at their deaths is palpable. Then the action moves to Sweden (actually Hungary) and the film falls apart.
Every action is signposted, the shocks shocking only for the amount of gore. Not one character is likeable, not even Dani whom we are meant to feel sorry for. It's like a teen slasher where characters make bad decisions and everyone just shrugs. Two people jump to their deaths because "it's what we do". Oh, that's ok then.
It's two-and-a-half hours of beautiful looking tedium that meanders to it's obvious conclusion. From the moment Pelle tells Dani about losing his family, you know she is joining the cult as a way of making up for her loss. And for those who say the haters "don't get it", I went through a spell of defending bad films as art. I eventually grew out of it.
Side note; the wailing and singing and dancing of the cult members gets very annoying very quickly. Get through it by watching some of the extras overacting as though their lives depended on it.
Babylon Berlin (2017)
Starts well, then plummets
Season one is terrific, capturing the glamour of the Weimar Republic and the squalor underneath that lead to the rise of the Nazis. It makes you forget that you're basically watching a standard cop procedural drama with a ludicrous McGuffin.
Season two became more political, which was to be expected given when it is set, but it is still a great watch.
Season three, however, is just awful. It's the 4th Indiana Jones film of television shows; satanic rituals, mediums and psychics make it ridiculous. Worse is the reveal of the villain and the way the whys and wherefores are revealed. I was both cringing with embarrassment and laughing at it. I've never seen a more bizarre way of using exposition before.
All seasons suffer from some very dodgy green-screening too, which given the budget is remarkable.
Overall, seasons one and two would be a solid eight, but three drags it right down and I feel I'm being generous giving a 5 rating.