I didn't really expect anything going into this, just with the knowledge of the MCU going into more of the "horror" stuff that coincides with the Halloween season. To my surprise, they really committed in doing it, albeit maintaining the jovial tone of the MCU that fits with the whole aesthetic this movie has to offer, which is quite campy and over-the-top.
One thing I really like about the plot is how simple and straightforward while also offering some character insights with such a short running time, which Gael García Bernal and Laura Donnely perfectly conveys. So, even though some of the other characters are just as a means to further the plot, we care about what's going to happen to them, especially in the last 20 minutes which will come to viewers as a shock not knowing how violent things get.
Kudos to Michael Giacchino for his directorial eye since he knows how to place great shots that even some of the more experienced would envy, not to mention this is his debut! There are some really clever color grading and lighting that adds to the horror ambience this movie's going for. So, although it's mostly monochromatic, it's still pretty dynamic all around. Some CGI work in certain shots are pretty wonky, but overall adds to the campy nature of the story.
The only minor gripe I have is how some of the stuff could be fleshed out a little more, just to give the side characters a clearer motivation as to why they'd do all of this. Thankfully, it doesn't detract much from the main conflict.
I would say overall that this is a great homage to black-and-white, old-fashioned, Universal Monsters-type horror films of the last century, that doesn't feel gimmicky at the very least. I really appreciate the experimentation from the current MCU phase, and this installment just adds to the flavor, especially to what's in store for the future of this franchise. Hopefully we'll get more big swings like this and I'd happily put it up there with some of their best efforts.
One thing I really like about the plot is how simple and straightforward while also offering some character insights with such a short running time, which Gael García Bernal and Laura Donnely perfectly conveys. So, even though some of the other characters are just as a means to further the plot, we care about what's going to happen to them, especially in the last 20 minutes which will come to viewers as a shock not knowing how violent things get.
Kudos to Michael Giacchino for his directorial eye since he knows how to place great shots that even some of the more experienced would envy, not to mention this is his debut! There are some really clever color grading and lighting that adds to the horror ambience this movie's going for. So, although it's mostly monochromatic, it's still pretty dynamic all around. Some CGI work in certain shots are pretty wonky, but overall adds to the campy nature of the story.
The only minor gripe I have is how some of the stuff could be fleshed out a little more, just to give the side characters a clearer motivation as to why they'd do all of this. Thankfully, it doesn't detract much from the main conflict.
I would say overall that this is a great homage to black-and-white, old-fashioned, Universal Monsters-type horror films of the last century, that doesn't feel gimmicky at the very least. I really appreciate the experimentation from the current MCU phase, and this installment just adds to the flavor, especially to what's in store for the future of this franchise. Hopefully we'll get more big swings like this and I'd happily put it up there with some of their best efforts.
Tell Your Friends