See? Last week wasn’t so bad. You have to trust the process. I rip the bandaid off, then put on healing cream, and finally wait for the scar.
This week we have more of the movies I have enjoyed even if some are completely goofy.
Let’s get into them.
Bone Tomahawk (2015)
Written by S. Craig Zahler
Directed: S. Craig Zahler
Where do I even start with this movie?!
Here’s the simple synopsis: wife of a prominent man gets kidnapped while trying to save a man’s life who has been shot. A group of men go in search of said woman but run into a few speed bumps. When they find out who kidnapped her, they wish very quickly they would have just stayed home, and the man find a new wife.
(Let me do a disclaimer: I am a Zahler fan through and through. There isn’t a movie or other art form he does that I can’t love except for Brawl in Cell Block 99 but you have to wait to read that one. OK, on to the review.)
The brilliance of this movie may have pissed off western fans let alone typical movie watchers (I’m not typical by any means). Zahler shows us the “boring” part of hunting down kidnappers and the woman you love while the last 1/4th of the movie is anything but “boring”. It’s not all action and Indians and whatnot. No, it’s men thrown together for a common goal and the trials that they must go through to get to her.
Let’s not skip over the commentary of sexism, racism, and religion. It’s all there and it’s intense. I especially honed in on female representation and trust me, that is a thesis waiting to happen.
Stellar. 10/10.
Brawl in Cell Block 99 (2017)
Written by S. Craig Zahler
Directed by S. Craig Zahler
What the hell was this movie?
Vince Vaughn? That was the casting choice? I’m going to have to speak with the manager on this one.
Simple synopsis: Guy kills people goes to prison and then people want to kill him. Boom, you’re up to speed.
If you could have seen how many times I shook my head and laughed while I watched it, you would think I had whiplash after. I think it was supposed to be serious but I’m going with it was an intended B-movie. The casting, color choices, dialogue, etc just felt over the top and cheesy, which made it fun after I made that decision.
I mean, it’s goofy and I hated to love it. But it’s Zahler so I am 100% sure he was trying to make a statement. What that statement was is still not clear.
If you want goofy and the most terrible fighting scenes I have ever witnessed, this is the movie for you.
Silly goose rating 9/10.
Milk & Serial (2024)
Written by Curry Barker
Directed by Curry Barker
Found footage is my jam (you will notice I will be reviewing quite a few of them) and cheap found footage is even better. The rumor is they made this one for $800 or so.
Simple synopsis: a friend has a party for his birthday and things get weird. Oh, and the friends host a prank channel. Nothing can go wrong with that, right?
I am obsessed with this. The character depth is outstanding, and the plot is even better. I really hope you have health insurance because this gives you whiplash from beginning to end. You start gaslighting yourself through the whole movie. It’s insane. And one of the main actors also wrote AND directed it. When you watch it, it becomes even more impressive.
Perfection. 10/10.
Late Night With the Devil (2023)
Co-Written by Cameron Cairnes and Colin Cairnes
Directed by Cameron Cairnes and Colin Cairnes
WAH. People don’t like slow burns. Then don’t watch this one, pal.
Simple synopsis: a late night tv host needs to make a big splash in Sweeps week or else he may be done for. But the problem is, he’s dealing with the death of his wife and the show being on Halloween. I mean, bring on the band, am I right?
It felt campy for all the right reasons. Plus, it has a found footage feel. 70s tv hosts were over the top so this movie was, too. The pacing was as if we were in the audience witnessing this all firsthand and I LOVE when movies do that. By forcing you to participate at THEIR pace. It’s one of my favorites in movies.
Not scary but unnerving 9.5/10.
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