vedvaghela Reviews

Three of Us (2022)

Indian indie cinema is not dead, long live Indian Indie cinema

[10/10 · 29 December 2023]

Words can't describe how happy I was when the credits of this film rolled in. Finally, an indie film from my homeland that respects the craft of filmmaking and tries to service it. A film that doesn't try too hard and a film that is actually Indian in its core. And Three of Us is that film.

There's a certain sort of comfort to be found in this film. This film inherently wants you to soak in India. It wants to immerse you in the culture and make you fall in love with it all over again. The long drawn shots, the conversations and the portrayal of the natural way of life, makes you fixated on the beauty of our land and the people. It's not just Shailaja who is rediscovering her hometown, but it's also us who get to look at it with a delicate set of eyes and rediscover what was once lost in the rush of life.

Avinash Arun's Three of Us is a harrowingly beautiful and a poignant tale of finding yourself after a diagnosis of one of the worst and most heartbreaking diseases known to man - dementia. This tale of trying to gather your memories before the disease overcomes you explores many facets of life and takes you on a journey that reminds you to slow down, sit, love and enjoy what you have.

Not enough could be said about the direction and screenplay. Sky was the limit after Paatal Lok for Avinash Arun, but with this film he not only touches the limit but goes beyond it. The atmosphere he manages to create makes it irresistible to not get lost in the town of Konkan.

What I think was one of this film's greatest feat is the thread of stories that unravel and reveal information that we are hearing for the first time and so is Shailaja. We get to experience the wave of emotions that the lead is feeling and in some way get to be part of her emotional sphere, further enhancing the immersion and draw of this film. I was looking at this film with the same eyes and mind as Shailaja and I think that filmmaking genius.

Speaking of Shailaja, played by Shefali Shah gives us a performance of a lifetime. Her approach to the character made the film what it is and this word which I keep using to describe the film, "delicate", come to mind. Because that's what it was, delicate and thoughtful portrayal. Another one of the shining stars of this film was Jaideep Ahlawat, who I absolutely fell in love with over the course of 100 minutes of this film, I want to commend the screenwriters for developing a healthy and effable Indian male model who is wholesome and respectful and it never comes across as too try hard, in fact it might just be one of the best portrayals on screen of a character such as his. Special mention to Swanand Kirkire, one of the most talented people to grace this industry. Singing, songwriting, screenwriting and acting, this man excels in all.

If I could, I would show this to each and every person working in the industry. It's a shining beacon of what Bollywood should stand for and strive for. Three of Us achieves something that I thought was unachievable. It has the same touch and the same way of delicate handling as a Satyajit Ray film. It reminisces of an era of Indian filmmaking long gone by and not only pays homage to but successfully moves the genre forward.

Needless to say, watch this movie and spread the word about it. We need more stuff like this and we have to let them know what we like.

Definitely worth watching, without a doubt.

Om Dar-B-Dar (1988)

Don't try to understand it

[13 March 2023]

I don't think there is any "getting it" to this film. I tried watching it more carefully on my second watch, with subtitles, rewinding and pausing it to ponder but I came out the other side with only a slight more understanding of what this film is portraying. There is no rating to this. It's a piece of art. Surrealist, absurdist art. Though "Oh my Freud, Oh my fraud" would disagree with the calling it "art".

I did enjoy it more on my rewatch. The film has stellar moments of dry humor that easily escapes the viewer, who is trying to still maintain sanity till runtime of the film.

I am glad I found this piece of absurdism from Bollywood. It really does go so far against the grain that it even challenges other, more popular, postmodernist works. This becomes even more appreciable seeing it was released in 1988, where the rom-com fever was high in Bollywood. Even on an extremely tight budget, Kamal Swaroop managed to make a highly invigorating and extrapolating flick that manage to influence likes of Anurag Kashyap and Imtiaz Ali to make some of the best films of modern Bollywood.

I hope this manages to capture a more and more viewers so that Bollywood once again dares to take leaps into more experimental formats.

Ugly (2013)

A well directed mess with poor sound mixing

[6/10 · 17 February 2023]

Please consider using headphones to watch this film or else you won't hear half the dialogues. The sound mixing is EXTREMELY poor. I made the mistake of watching this on my TV and I'm pretty sure I missed many dialogues that were important. Even at a sound of 30-40, I couldn't discern what they were saying.

Anyways, I am not a huge fan of this movie's storyline. It's too messy. One might even call it "ugly". There's too much going on, all very haphazardly none of which is made clear to us at any point. This isn't a murder mystery as much as it is a commentary of some sort? Or just a stylish flick showcasing the incompetence of bureaucrats and in signature Kashyap fashion, most people are evil.

Like I mentioned before, the direction is great and so is the cinematography. As expected with AK's flicks, films are can't-take-your-eyes-off visual art. He certainly does work magic on the screen, that everything becomes supremely immersive. Ugly is just like that and even more.

Good film, could've been better.

Black Friday (2004)

An infuriating yet essential watch for every Indian

[9/10 · 10 February 2023]

In many ways, this movie will manage to piss you off, irrespective of which way you lean. Especially given the current Indian climate and the never seen before polarization we are facing. While one would have hoped this movie would have become irrelevant and a cautionary tale, Black Friday has become the movie of the hour. It's never been more relevant and thankfully, it is still the perfect cautionary tale.

Black Friday chronicles the Bombay Bomb Blasts of 1993 and the events that preceded and succeeded that, adapted from the book of the same name authored by Hussain Zaidi. Mainly it discusses the topic of Hindu-Muslim communal violence that shook India and spanned over a decade. The tale it tells is equal parts harrowing and depressing, all amplified by the unmistakable fact that all of this actually happened and can still happen again if we are not careful.

Anurag Kashyap demonstrates with mastery on how to depict shocking real life events in movies. His bold choices in the film like using monochromatic lighting, having extended dialogue scenes without cutting off to show them and the unexpected dry humor, provides a flair that is unmatched and serves right for a movie such as this.

The movie shines in showcasing the conspiring and the police procedurals. The entire journey of how the criminals plotted this scheme to how they were found and arrested is very engaging. Black Friday provides a surprising amount of depth for its various antagonists which was quite unexpected to me seeing how we are usually fed one dimensional enemies, especially in a film that is based on real events. The film also touched on real world aspects, which are often entirely left out in movies. I reckon my main basis of comparison for this movie is the modern real life "biopics" that have littered Bollywood and, rightfully so, Black Friday clears every single one of them.

Another commendable aspect of Black Friday is its refusal to limit its perspective. This movie is vast and touches on so many extremely sensitive cornerstones of this tale that no matter what your opinions are, you won't be able to deny what you have witnessed as told to you by the film. Granted, the film might've taken some creative liberties for the nitty gritty, but largely this film is brutally honest to the core. A rare and daring step taken by Kashyap particularly so close to the time of the actual event. If not, for its storytelling, Black Friday deserves to be recognized just for this.

All in all, if you are Indian, you must watch this. Nothing more can be said about that.

"Arre mandir yeh chup hai Arre masjjid yeh gumsum Ibaadat thak padegi ho Samay ki laal aandhi Kabristaan ke raste Arre latpat chalegi ho Arre ruk ja re bande Arre tham ja re bande Ki kudrat hans padegi ho"

Qala (2022)

This movie could've been as good as it's music...

[3/10 · 9 February 2023]

The potential this movie has is so immense yet at almost every turn it misses to exploit that. Instead it heavily leans into combining two storylines with an element of suspense (I guess) that almost feels like one of the the worst use cases of chekhov's gun I've seen.

It tries to raise awareness against two extremely important social issues in the modern world yet fails to stick the effect with either one and they just feel empty and hollow. The storyline's progression is also quite messy and switching from past to future and back becomes tiring at one point. There's no character arcs getting fulfilled and the main character, Qala, seems to be an audience to her own life just as we are. Everything just happens.

Regarding the acting, it was under average. I feel that the actors could have explored so many dimensions that could have provided much needed depth to multiple scenes, yet there reaction seems almost plain in every aspect. Tripti in particular, has just one single mood throughout the film and the film makes no attempts to switch it. There's just sulking throughout. It leaves much to be desired.

The only saving grace of this film is the soundtrack which is soothing and ethereal, just like the cinematography and photography. Honestly, this film has some of the best cinematography Bollywood's seen in a long time.

Amit Trivedi once again proves to be the master of blending modern and contemporary music to create something that feels extremely unique yet so familiar. He never misses- Dev D, Aisha, Dear Zindagi, Queen, Andhadhun and now, Qala.

Is it worth watching for the music? Maybe. It upto you, but if it was me, I'd stick to the music and skip the film.

Fleabag (2016–2019)

Perfectly encapsulates what it feels like to live

[10/10 · 4 February 2023]

Fleabag might be one of the most honest shows that's ever been created. It's over the top at times but the perfect mishmash of ridiculousness, comedy and seriousness like never before, radiates what it feels like to live in the modern world. It doesn't even have to try to play into any tropes because this is what it is like every waking day for so many of us. Most of us are bottling down our emotions, trying to live in a world which is increasing starting to make less and less sense all the while attempting to make ends meet. This isn't just story about Fleabag, its about all of us. To categorize this title simply as a comedy would do a disservice to the creator and lead star, Phoebe Waller-Bridge. While yes, this show as made me laugh like crazy, it also managed to evoke a host of so many different emotions that I'm in awe of her writing and acting.

This is totally worth your time.

Dev.D (2009)

An excellent cautionary and introspective tale

[10/10 · 25 January 2023]

Never expected this from bollywood. Such a great film about lost ways and perceptions that leads to a life of vices and self righteous.

I think Kashyap has done a stellar job in showing us how we don't value things that we already have in the lust of chasing what we don't have. I think he also puts "love" under heavy introspection causing the viewer to come to terms with just how subjective love can be and how wrongly it can be perceived.

And the soundtrack accompanies this film almost perfectly. Amit Trivedi's work on this is beyond stellar. From psychedelic synths on Saali Khushi to the raw screaming on Emotional Attyachar, this soundtrack is filled with emotions and, in a shocking turn of events for Bollywood, isn't filled with love songs.

The only complaints I have regarding this film is the very quick cuts and the score sometimes feeling tonally out of touch with the scene.

Else this movie is a wonderful work that is quite different from what Bollywood usually produces and it deserves to be seen.

Chup (2022)

Tonally inconsistent and a tell don't show approach

[4/10 · 11 January 2023]

This film is not sure what it wants to be. It starts out as a whodunit, progresses as a romance story and then ends as a sob story. I'm not saying that a murder mystery can't be all of this, it definitely can be. But Chup fails to identify itself and find footing in any of these genres. It feels half assed and like many of the reviews here, the stakes aren't just that high. The film relies on shock factor and rather than having a "show don't tell" approach, this film shows you every little thing and dumbs down important plot points, assuming wrongly, as many other Bollywood films do, that audiences are stupid.

What could have been a great neo noir, murder-romance film with insights into mental state of a psychopath, ends up being a messy, cartoony and almost absurd whodunit who ends up giving itself too early.

Not the right way for Bollywood to go.

Aftersun (II) (2022)

A difficult film to review

[8/10 · 18 December 2022]

That 8/10 is a completely arbitrary rating because to be honest I'm not quite sure what is a correct rating for a movie like this.

Aftersun revolves around the relationship of a father and daughter. Calum, the father, is separated from Sophie's (the daughter) mom and it's the holidays so he has her for the time being and they both take a trip to Turkey.

The film is well paced, never once feeling boring even though much of what we see happening seems normal and simplistic. This film also takes the "show don't tell approach" and drives it to a hundred. This film has multiple different interpretations that goes to show that this approach worked wonderfully.

After finishing the movie, I was left with plethora of emotions and thoughts which I have trouble putting into words. It's a highly realistic portrayal of depression and how seemingly normal events have a sad undertone to them. How suddenly this movie makes you switch from having a smile on your face to tearing up is downright fascinating.

For a debut feature, this film is beautifully and intelligently shot. Some scenes that are vital to audience's understanding of the character or the story have been shot in a such way that has a flair to it. Also, this film makes excellent use of old time camcorder footage (which is integral to the story) by putting the viewer in the seat of the person who is recording this and get a sense of what they might be going through.

I think this is the only film that has made me feel uneasy and increased my heartbeat with simply the acting (no special sound or video effects) and in my view, it's a stunning achievement.

And the actors triumph in this film. Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio are absolutely amazing and are the driving force of this film. Mescal, in particular, has an articulate manner of showing rumination and sadness, that makes the film all the more complex and layered.

Overall, this is a highly recommended watch and definitely one of the top films of this year.

Triangle of Sadness (2022)

There's such a thing as too much on the nose

[3/10 · 16 December 2022]

I dislike this film. It's boring and random and one of the few films where I, personally, thought that the acting was stale. The overall movie is so much about "delivering the message" that plot nosedives and ends up becoming bland.

The story is not predictable, in a bad way. Just when you think that something interesting might take place or that an intriguing mystery will get revealed, the plot continues to move straightforward with the most obvious decisions. There's no subtleness nor any metaphors, this movie could've been shown as historical fiction docu-drama and I would've believed it cause the actual script reads like an edgy guy who just saw a couple of videos on different economical theories and decided to become Marxist or Socialist.

And the characters are shallow (which I guess was the point) and have almost no character development. Additionally, the actors themselves are just not feeling into it (especially the lead actors that play Carl and Yaya).

And the ending wasn't good too. Again, as I stated in the title, too on the nose and too hellbent on pushing the same message down the throat of the audiences, who I'm pretty sure will have gotten it by end of act 2.

Overall, don't know how or why this film is generating Oscar buzz, it certainly felt nowhere close to it. It's pretentious to its core and exhibits no sense of either fun or maturity, If you want to see a film that actually delivers this same message tastefully and with more fun, skip this and watch The Menu.

3 stars for a couple of chuckles here and there.

Not recommended.

The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)

Human emotions and cinematic metaphors

[9/10 · 14 December 2022]

Friendship is one of the basic human traits that have been cultivated in us ever since we as a species have step foot on this planet and losing it can sometimes cause a heartbreak even greater than any of the deepest romantic relationship a person can have, because true friendship is complex and an immensely rare thing to have and find. This complexity is put on the screen with vivid cinematography and expressive and eloquent acting in The Banshees of Inisherin by director Martin Mcdonaugh

Set against the usual precedent of fast paced films that dominate the modern cinema landscape, The Banshees of Inisherin is laid back and a calming viewing experience. Sit back and enjoy the delightful Irish landscapes and a pastural lifestyle accompanied with a pint and melodious violin. It's a shame that this had a limited theatrical run and only in select theatres cause oh what I would give to be able to experience this on the big screen.

Colin Farrell is the star of the show. He shines in every scene he is in and his splendid expressions are the driving force of the storyline. I would be surprised if he didn't win Best Actor because if there was ever a performance you could look at and say "That deserves an Oscar", it would be this. Apart from him, everyone does a near perfect job with other amazing performances include those of Barry Keoghan and Kerry Cordon.

Another key aspect of this film is the metaphors and parallels that are sprinkled thoroughly throughout this immersive cinematography and photography. The themes revolve around that of Christianity and the Civil War (the period where it's set) After reading through some post film discussions, I'm tempted to see those metaphors for myself. This film is recommended for a second viewing as well.

All in all, definite top 5 film of the year. Highly recommended.

The Menu (2022)

A relishing dish

[8/10 · 23 November 2022]

Coming out of the theatres watching this film, I couldn't put into words what I thought about it. But all that was coming to mind seem to point only towards how delicious this serving from Hollywood was.

Entirely delightful, never boring, enticing and sometimes edge-of-seat gripping, The Menu takes you on a small journey through the mystic extreme fine dining experience which you witness through the view of Margot, played by Anya Taylor Joy, who is the highlight of this movie.

This movie had fun with its characters and you can see it. Director Mark Mylod did say that several lines were improvised by the actors and you can see just how much joy they had with doing so. Ralph Fiennes and Nicholas Hoult, in particular stand out.

The Menu transcends so many genres, that titling it as "horror" does it a disservice. It is of my view that if you do go to watch this film, which you definitely should cause we need to support films like this, don't watch any reviews (or if possible even trailers). Go into this like I did, without knowing anything and you'll get to experience one of the best films of this year.

There doesn't come any specific criticism to mind, just that I wanted more from the movie. Like I didn't want the journey to end. But end it does, unfortunately.

All in all, solid 8/10, unique concept, excellent acting and a must watch.

House of the Dragon: The Princess and the Queen (2022) Season 1, Episode 6

Rushed... like a fire and blood chapter

[8/10 · 26 September 2022]

I think we all knew this type of episode was incoming. A time jump, a shake up, new alliances, new relationships and a set up to the climax for battle of the throne.

Let's just get this out of the way Emma and Olivia both carry the legacy of their younger counterparts excellently and at times even exceeding in it. Emma in particular perfectly portrays a troubled and prideful Rhaenyra.

But this episodes standout was definitely Larys "clubfoot" Strong. The central piece to Alicent's scheming but an independent agent of chaos showcases his powers in a great way.

As someone who's read Fire and Blood, I do indeed wish we got to see more of Daemon and Laena and Harwin and Rhaenyra but as it stands I don't know any other way they could've approached this.

I'm very happy with this show so far, and I can't wait for future episodes.

The Rehearsal (2022– )

I am not sure what's happening and I can't look away

[9/10 · 21 August 2022]

That's it. That's the entire show.

When I started watching this I had no idea what I was getting into. In fact, I didn't even know who Nathan Fielder was. But after the first 10 mins of watching the first episode of The Rehearsal, the show had looped me in.

It was fascinating, how something so awkward and offbeat could hold my attention for so long.

And Nathan Fielder is absolutely amazing in this.

Try it out, there's nothing like this on TV (as one reviewer said).

Better Call Saul: Saul Gone (2022) Season 6, Episode 13

He is Jimmy.

[10/10 · 16 August 2022]

This was like a love letter to all the fans of Breaking Bad universe. Full of callbacks and references circling back to the central storyline, with Saul at the central.

Every scene was perfect and every character in every moment encapsulated their entire personalities.

I'd argue this is the episode where we clearly see where the line between Jimmy and Saul lies. Jimmy will do the decent thing, Saul will look for personal gain. Jimmy yearns for respect from his brother and other people, Saul yearns for respect from no one. Jimmy needs money, Saul wants money. Jimmy is in love with Kim, Saul is not.

I'd like to thank Vince Giligan and Peter Gould for creating this amazing story and giving us such spectacular characters.

"It's all good, man!"

Morbius (2022)

Second reckoning of god himself

[10/10 · 29 May 2022]

This is what Rob Pattinson saw at the end of The Lighthouse, he couldn't handle it because it showed him the truth of life and universe itself. He like a mere mortal put on this earth saw what even cosmic being couldn't interpret.

Morbius changed my life. It opened my eyes to unknown secrets of life. The journey of Dr. Morbius is relatable and I could feel myself being him in those situations (of course when reality striked, I could never be him but it felt good to imagine being as great a person as Michael Morbius). If there were ever a renaissance to occur I believe this movie would start it, and arguably it already has.

So it's no surprise it instantly became the highest grossing movie of all time in the span of just 1 month. Everything about this film is surreal and artistic. Don't make the mistake of thinking that just because it's a comic book movie is generic because it's far from it. I can attest that no comic book movie would ever come close to Morbius, not even The Dark Knight.

One of the best scenes to ever grace the history cinema was Matt Smith's character, Milo, dance scene. It was encompassed almost everything that is right with 21st century cinema.

Words fail me now to describe the art piece I witnessed. It's a shame we had to wait 3 years for Morbius to arrive because I think if it had come before pandemic, it would've stopped pandemic from ever occurring because Morbius puts the virus to shame. It would be afraid to ever infect a crowd of Morbius devotees. Praise Morbius.

I don't read comics now, neither do I watch any other movie than Morbius. I have devoted my life to Morbius. Morbius you are and to Morbius you shall return.

Stay Morbin.

Friends (1994–2004)

It makes me feel comfortable

[10/10 · 15 May 2022]

There's something about Friends that other sitcoms lack and I can't express it in words other than that whenever I watch Friends I feel comfortable and at home (even though I don't live in US lol). It's not even the first sitcom I watched but whenever I sit down to watch an episode of Friends I feel as if I know these people.

No proper critique or anything because in my opinion this show doesn't require one, you love it or you don't. I love it.

Severance (2022– )

Hook, line and sinker

[9/10 · 2 April 2022]

Twin Peaks, Black Mirror and The Leftovers are just some of the shows that come to mind while watching this, though I can say with a firmness that none are as hooking as Severance.

Severance finds footing in familiar settings of normal TV shows and makes it easier for you to ease into this well established universe, but there's always something off. You always find yourself a stranger in this world even though you feel like you've seen this before. 'Uncanny' might be a neat way to put it though without the negative baggage of the word.

I can't tell you much about the story because it would become to spoiler-y. So let's focus on the absolutely stellar cast of Severance.

Brit Lower, Patricia Arquette and Tramell Tillman are the standouts. Almost each scene, any of the character they are portraying, they are in, they steal the spotlight. Each one of these actors deliver a stunning performance.

Adam Scott shows his great range as the lead of the show.

Ben Stiller's direction is sublime and the cinematography is some of the best I've seen on modern television.

This is a great TV show for fans of the shows I mentioned above and even otherwise I think most people would like it just based on the amazing performances, because the show is character focused.

Worth watching.

Foundation (2021– )

Borders between soap opera and masterful storytelling

[7/10 · 21 November 2021]

If you are a fan of the books and wanted an adaptation, then this is not for you and will probably leave you unsatisfied.

But if you love classic sci-fi and are a sucker for amazing visuals, this is definitely for you.

The reason I say classic sci-fi is because this show focuses mostly on world building and storytelling and not characters just like Asimov's novels.

Apple has done a good job in adapting the feel of a true sci-fi world, the set designs are completely on point and the visuals are ABSOLUTELY STUNNING. You've never seen space CGI this good on the small screen or one could even debate, the large screen. You might question some physics, but other than that it's a tight run ship.

Now there are three main storylines throughout the show that take place at 3 separate locations, two of which take place on Terminus and Trantor each. The other is spoiler-y so I won't reveal it. But these are two major places of events anyways. And this is where the show is WILDLY different. The Trantor storyline is hands down some of the best storytelling I have ever seen in sci-fi. It's about the Empire and it parallels on so many topics regarding morality, human psyche, religion and politics. It was best part of the show, period. It's worth watching just for that. And Lee Pace delivers emmy winning performance as Brother Day.

The Terminus storyline though is so wonky. It's bizarre and boring and just not well done. It felt like two different directors directed the show, because whenever you're on the Terminus storyline you immediately feel a change in the way characters behave or the way scenes are edited. And just overall the execution wasn't good and at times it made me want to quit watching/ skip it all together.

But in the end the show lands the finale and leaves a lot to be explored for in the next season. I really hope they become consistent with storytelling and I feel with that corrected, Foundation has a chance to become the next big thing.

CODA (2021)

Coda offers a new perspective and shines in it

[9/10 · 13 August 2021]

Coda is definitely one of those films that you want to keep coming back to. Its heartwarming, hilarious and wholesome. It has a small cast that absolutely smash it, especially the three actors that are deaf.

Coda innovates. It's a different coming-of-age story, one that offers a fresh perspective. Coda means "Child of Deaf Adult". Ruby is a member of a deaf family, in which only she is not deaf. She loves to sing but her family can't here her. And challenges rise from there.

One of the best things about Coda is that it never stops giving, every moment in the film is delivered perfectly. The emotions hit you in the right spot, the drama is intense and the comedy sticks the landing. Like the clever use of sign language to converse with someone who is not learned in ASL but gets what that person is trying to convey given the circumstances. Or showing the shortcomings of being deaf while simultaneously not making them seem less able than others. It perfectly shows you what it feels like to be a deaf person.

It is perfectly easy to understand sign language via subtitles but the way those actors deliver those signs makes it even more emotional than normal speaking lines.

Emilia Jones plays a fantastic role as Ruby. Ruby's story, although unique, is very relatable. I like how the film doesn't over-focus on school stuff and teen romance like some other films. This gave time for and space for Emilia to show her great talents as an actress.

Overall, Coda is definitely one of the best films of 2021 and I 100% recommend watching this.

Rick and Morty (2013– )

Mediocre at best with few standout episodes

[5/10 · 27 July 2021]

Honestly, the title. There's nothing much to say. All the hype that this show has been getting is due to few standout episodes (which you can find out google), rest all is OK.

Nobody (I) (2021)

It's John Wick on ecstasy and hard alcohol.

[9/10 · 19 June 2021]

Just watched the film, and I'm still smiling. Pure Madness and Chaos is the only way to describe Nobody.

Bob Odenkirk is amazing. I loved how people were scared of him in the movie. He really sells the impression of wolf in sheep's clothing.

This is one of those rare films that doesn't require character development (although there is a small arc). From start till end, it's just action. Mindless fun and great set pieces that payoff at end.

I had a blast watching this and I would love to see Odenkirk cast in other movies as well.

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)

Not Conjuring.

[5/10 · 19 June 2021]

The change of director is felt at the instant. Not saying that the direction was bad, per se, but it wasn't in keeping with what we've seen in the past renditions of Conjuring universe.

Let's start with the pros: I loved the leads as always. Both Vera and Patrick are great. I love seeing them as the demonic investigators and as a couple. Other side actors were great too. O'Connor as Arne played a good role of an innocent taken over by something haunted. It had a great premise.

And now the Cons: It wasn't scary. Not once was my heartbeat slowed while I was waiting for a jumpscare. Also, after the movie ended, it didn't follow me home. I guess this could be one of the downfalls of leaving the "haunted house" storyline. As said, the premise was solid but it wasn't built upon too well. I would've loved it if they actually showed the court proceedings of "the first case of trial of demonic possession", and they instead went with the usual horror movie tropes. And the tropes weren't that good. It missed the signature conjuring style. One other point that stinger me was that they left too many important details unexplored. Also too many things happened when needed.

Very few trilogies have all 3 strong movies. Conjuring had 2/3, but missed on the 3rd one. I'm hoping that more Conjuring movies come, and yes, I will definitely see them, but this was just not it. The devil made me do it definitely doesn't stand amongst the conjuring movies, and is barely gripping the above average generic horror movies category.

Mare of Easttown (2021)

Mare Of Easttown doesn't strive to be unique, but it does strive to be the best in an already overused genre.

[9/10 · 31 May 2021]

Mare Of Easttown doesn't reinvent anything. It follows the classic thriller tropes and sometimes even cliches. But the way it executes it is absolutely phenomenal.

Kate Winstlet does an absolutely perfect job of portraying an American detective, down to the American accent. While the lead does do great acting, other supporting actors also do amazing work. Evan Peters and Jean Smart in particular do great portrayals of each character.

And credit to the writers. The way they executed each episode, giving us perfect red herrings and hit-a-wall storylines, is phenomenal. Some thriller shows often run dry with cutthroat drama, but Mare of Easttown provides good breathing space and humour to keep audiences engaged and active . But don't let that stray you away. This mini series provides excellent dose of drama and emotion.

All in all, Mare Of Easttown is another hit mini series for HBO. Good to know that even after the introduction of HBO Max, HBO stays true to its roots and doesn't rush to provide quantity.

Mare of Easttown: Illusions (2021) Season 1, Episode 5

Exhilarating and thrilling!

[10/10 · 17 May 2021]

This episode got my heart rate so high! To be honest, Mare of Easttown is currently delivering one of the best thriller shows of all time.

Wow, that episode was awesome!