Change Your Image
johnalagoz
Reviews
Late Night with the Devil (2023)
Just Cut Already!!!
Late Night With The Devil is a psychological horror that revolves around late show host Jack Delroy. That, in a way to preserve his rapid decline, brings guests that slowly increase the supernatural atmosphere that he presumes is all good fun... For roughly 30mins.
A brilliant callback to nostalgia, Late Night With The Devil certainly has a lot going for it's short runtime and makes do by providing diabolical tension that grips you as soon as these events are not all of it seems. David certainly brings one hell of a performance here along with the rest of the roster that adds all the spooky factors.
But I'm not even reconciling of what actually makes this film good. Sure the acting is exquisite, something that the franchise struggles on, but tension is what increases this film to a must see standard. I have never felt so tense for a horror in a while so seeing this slowly building up without violence, gore nothing. This film breaks your expectations and tarnishes your senses till the credits role, and considering it's masterful direction that really has this energy that boiling at every turning point, I can see this has that potential I had going forward to be a film developing a cult.
Overall, original premise and more than solid performances make Late Night With The Devil a thrilling viewing long before going live on air.
Grade: A+
Superbad (2007)
Superbad, No Introduction.
The critically acclaimed teen comedy that provided the breakthrough of stars Michael Cera, Jonah Hill and Christopher Mintz-Plasse. While on paper it sounds pretty rudimentary of other films (take American Pie for example) it certainly isn't I can tell you that!
It was just so enjoyable that not even the loud laughs can fulfill the satisfaction of gratitude I had watching. I wasn't to keen on it at first... but this is probably one of my biggest regrets of a film not seeing earlier, I don't know what was up with me not seeing it beforehand... do I not want to enjoy a great teen comedy??
Fogell is something else, he has to be one of the most coolest characters ever put to a motion picture! Mclovin is just built different and oh the cops, viscerally adequate!! I also kind of like how the length is, it never feels too short, and too long it just hits a perfect runtime that feels hard to achieve nowadays.
It's also not let down with cliché jokes as well, I think as a teen comedy it establishes itself as the acquired taste of a good time, and that's all we want with comedies, or any film regardless. Also after viewing, it leaves a great aftertaste that's so rewarding after any hard days work... like a Oreo's and milk if you get what I mean.
Overall, it did it's job, I think we can all agree that the relevancy of other films like it have worn off in favour of a new generation of comedy, but I think we can all collectively agree with that Superbad will stay relevant for a while.
Grade: A+
Your thoughts?
You Were Never Really Here (2017)
It's hammering time!
You Were Never Really Here was a 2018 thriller directed by Lynne Ramsey (We Need To Talk About Kevin) and starring Joaquin Phoenix as a contract killer who goes on a mission to find a missing girl, but slowly loses his sanity in doing so.
I thought the film was not necessarily about the girl, but a character study of a man succumbing to his manipulative consciousness that he inherited when he was a boy. Then as the film progresses in it's short 90 min time, he gradually becomes even more unstable to the point of collapse towards the end.
Very well acted, decent intensity build-up and a plot that, while familiar, brings a bit more about the actual character development rather than other brilliant films like it which makes it different.
Overall, while not for everyone, You Were Never Really Here makes do of what it has with it's disturbing, but tense viewing with believable acting that differentiates itself from others.
Grade: A+
Back to Black (2024)
Another Music Themed Biopic Awaits!
Back To Black is a 2024 musical drama featuring Marisa Abela in her breakout role as the music legend herself.
As a person who doesn't know much about Amy but rather films, this is a decent watch... for the most part. Let's discuss what it got right: 1. The singing was on point and definitely added that layer of realism to a tee, 2. Blake was very well played and had me chuckling quite a bit but he also had this warmth combined the latter that made him alone worth price of admission and 3. The shots and angles are very vibrant and pack that bright punch Priscilla once had (check my review for it on rotten tomatoes, account: The Great John A).
Cons: 1. Acting wasn't exactly great but could of been worse from the director of fifty shades of grey, 2. Marisa doesn't look anything like Amy but take that aspect with a pinch of cranberry sauce and 3. The worse bit, THE START it is really unnecessary that a random scene is spoiled which I won't go into detail but you'll find out at the beginning.
Overall a good attempt at a biopic but can't live up to the expectations that fans, and for me Priscilla, But thanks to affective deliverence and new info for the non brainers, doesn't make it disappear Back To Black.
Civil War (2024)
Non Spoilers!
Civil War Is a 2024 A24 Action Film (rhymes!) set in a very different America past the brink of war, whilst being navigated by our protagonists that serve the press.
Part road trip, part thriller and part drama pretty much make up the usual A24 differentiations for a film like this. Now just a heads up that this film is VERY loud at the cinema so I suggest that if you don't like "BANGS" followed by: "BANG BANG BOOM POW" you can sleep properly.
The film itself, while hard to give away due to spoilers, embodies a hard to master trait for big blockbuster war films: "realism". Now with this trait accomplished it also adds even more additions that really make you feel empathy for not only the characters (which are beautifully acted like all A24 films), but beautiful viewing.
Overall, Mr Garland has done it again, from his smart final frame (hint: look at the blurs that Lee has around her) to a thought provoking story, this is the best film of 2024 so far and it's a Civil War that's as entertaining, as it is frightening.
Grade: A+