Speak No Evil (2024)

Streaming Service: Amazon Prime
Movie Name/Year: Speak No Evil (2024)
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Length:  1h 50min
Rating: R
Director: James Watkins
Writers: James Watkins, Christian Tafdrup, Mads Tafdrup
Based On: A 2022 Danish-Dutch movie of the same name.
Actors: James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Scoot McNairy, Aisling Franciosi, Alix West Lefler, Dan Hough, Kris Hitchen, Motaz Malhees, Jakob Højlev Jørgensen

IMDb Blurb: A family is invited to spend a whole weekend in a lonely home in the countryside, but as the weekend progresses, they realize that a dark side lies within the family who invited them.

Selina’s Point of View:
I’ll be the first to admit I didn’t love the original version of this film. I felt they were going for slow tension, but it ended up feeling more like drama. I mentioned that critics loved the film, but that audience scores were probably going to reflect something else.

It looks like I was right, since the 2022 version of Speak No Evil is sitting at 84% for critics and a mere 58% for audiences.

The one thing I did like was the ending. It was bleak and horrifying. Everything you could want from a psychological, slow-burn horror. It was memorable, to say the least. In fact, it makes me remember the entire film as better than it actually was. Going back to my old review confused me, because my 1.5 rating definitely should have been slightly higher just for the impact of that ending. I think it should be more of a 2.5.

That brings us to the 2024 version.

I’m fairly certain that Americanizing this film ruined it.

Speak No Evil (2024) felt more like the slow-burn the 2022 version was going for. The acting in both was infallible, but the direction and production quality of those small off-putting moments that raised the tension throughout the film hit harder. I knew what was coming, and I still felt tense. I’m assuming that’s when some producer butted their nose in and reminded the director that Americans don’t love down endings and need action.

They replaced that memorable, lasting, bleak ending with an action sequence—the big battle. Took the bite right out of it and made it as forgettable as any other film.

With the upgrade in quality of the majority of the film, having the same brutal ending would have made it a near-perfect horror offering. It would have catapulted the 2024 version of Speak No Evil to the top of my list. I’d be praising it to anyone willing to listen and throwing it on at Halloween parties for years to come. Instead, they pulled out all its teeth and made it a joke. Padding that ending means that I won’t remember Speak No Evil (2024) by next week.

Shame.

Cat’s Point of View:
I remember rolling my eyes and asking “why?” out loud when I learned that Speak No Evil (2022) had been remade. I had enjoyed the original, which is also currently available for streaming as well (just don’t forget to turn on your subtitles unless you speak Dutch or Danish). We had reviewed the original movie when it premiered on Shudder at the time of its release.

Before watching for this review, Speak No Evil (2024) was one of the 2 final hold-outs from the movies in my top 10 of September2024’s Top 20 list. This one was a solid #6 on my must-see countdown. The only reason I had waited this long to watch it was so that I could have a fresh experience for this review, so that Selina and I could compare the two films together. I reasoned that if I let time lapse after watching, I likely could have gotten the movies mixed up. Now that I’ve seen the newest iteration of Speak No Evil, I am positive there would be no mistaking one for the other; even though they do follow a lot of the same points within the plot.

Selina and I were of two minds about the 2022 movie. I felt that the slow burn and awkward drama precursor to the horrific sharp left turn in the final act caused the film to have a more lasting impact. The bleak nature of the story left me staring at the screen with my soul weeping.

I didn’t know at the time, but I’ve since read that the original writer/director wanted the finale of the first Speak No Evil to be inexplicable in order to stand out from films where everything gets spoon-fed to an audience and tied up with a bow by the end. While I understand and applaud that decision, it would probably be the root of why there has been such a kneejerk reaction to the abruptness of the change in tone for the final act of the 2022 film.

The new Speak No Evil handled the pacing a little more deftly, though managed to maintain the slowly building awkward and sinister tension that permeated the story.  I applaud the changes that tweaked the fresh vision of this horrific scenario of wolves masquerading as sheep and the inevitable outcome.

I also discovered that some of the differences between the original movie and its remake were specifically created to gear the newer telling of the story to American audiences. The finale of the original Speak No Evil was intended as a satirical reflection on Danish culture; which, it seems, they felt wouldn't have resonated as well with the target audience. With that frame of reference, I understand why they made some of the changes.

The production team was absolutely brilliant in casting James McAvoy (Glass, The Sandman, The Book of Clarence). When he has embodied an antagonistic role, he is absolutely terrifying. This is about as far away from Narnia as you can get. His range is phenomenal. For that reason, I would have watched the new iteration of Speak No Evil even if I didn’t have a vested interest in seeing if making an “American remake” of the story would screw everything up or not.

I also liked how this new story ‘flipped the script’ between the parent of action and their more milquetoast counterpart. The ending is brutal and horrific for different reasons this time around, and the haunting aftermath was palpable as the credits began to roll.

Out of the pair, I’d have to say that I prefer the remake. Both, however, are fantastic at accomplishing exactly what they set out to do.

If you enjoy a psychological, twisty, and thrilling horror tale maybe check this new Speak No Evil out – even if you didn’t vibe with the first one… and maybe even if you did.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 83%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 83%
Metascore – 66%
Metacritic User Score – 6.9/10
IMDB Score – 6.8/10

Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 1.5/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4.5/5

Movie Trailer:

The Kitchen (2024)

 

 

Streaming Service: Netflix 

Movie Name/Year: The Kitchen (2024) 

Genre: Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi 

Length: 1h 47min 

Rating: R 

Directors: Daniel Kaluuya, Kibwe Tavares 

Writers: Daniel Kaluuya, Joe Murtagh

Actors: Kane "Kano" Robinson, Hope Ikpoku Jr., Henry Lawfull, Reuben 'Trizzy' Nyamah, BackRoad Gee, Cristale, Alan Asaad, Rasaq Kukoyi, Demmy Ladipo, Jedaiah Bannerman, Fiona Marr, Ian Wright, Teija Kabs, Rania Chakir, Tiarnae Fearon-Spencer, Olivia-Rose Colliard

 

IMDb Blurb: In a dystopian future London where all social housing has been eliminated, Izi and Benji fight to navigate the world as residents of The Kitchen, a community that refuses to abandon their home. 

 

 

Cat’s Point of View: 

My impression of The Kitchen was complicated.

 

First, I don’t necessarily feel entirely misled by the trailer because all the promised elements were within the film. It was, however, presented at a different pace than teased in the promotional material. There was less of a thrilling aspect and more of a slow-burning family and societal drama unfolding, instead. I also question that The Kitchen was labeled as an “adventure.” It was dystopian and subtly sci-fi, but all too close to current reality in everything other than some aspects of the setting and the technology displayed.

 

 

On one hand, I appreciated that there was no long-winded explanations spoon-feeding me the story of how the world – or, more specifically, London -- had come to this state of being. The flip-side of that, though, is that there needed to be a significant amount of context within the story and visuals of the movie to build the background for what wasn’t said outright.

 

When I read the synopsis for The Kitchen on sites such as IMDb before sitting down to write, I had an “Oh!” moment because aspects of the plot became clear only then. I am pretty sure I was glued to the screen the entire runtime of this film and I simply did not pick up on some of the facts. I understood the element of gentrification at play against the residents of the housing block where the primary characters resided, but not the political aspect behind it. I still have so many questions that the abrupt ending didn’t resolve for me.

 

 

On the other hand, The Kitchen was a powerful and emotional story about community and the building of a paternal bond between a reluctant, perhaps unsuspecting, man and a young boy. The Kitchen really shined through these story elements and how they struggled to find common ground and their own right paths. The whole housing situation played a role, but that and the dystopian and futuristic aspects of this tale took a backseat to the dramatic search for family and connection in the wake of grief.

 

In spite of the fact that I was lacking answers to some aspects of the world this story was set in, the subtlety of how life in future London was portrayed was rather impressive. It was more realistic and believable than huge leaps of technology as we often see with the flying transportation, holograms everywhere, and cybernetics galore. It helped ground everything with a sense that it was believable and could actually happen – rather than disconnecting the audience as a clear work of fiction.

 

 

I was impressed to learn that this was the feature directorial debut for Kibwe Tavares (Robots of Brixton, Jonah, Robot & Scarecrow) and Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out, Judas and the Black Messiah, Nope). This was a visually stunning opening foray for this pair and I am looking forward to seeing what they bring audiences in the future, as they refine their craft.

 

I’m not sure that The Kitchen would be my go-to recommendation if looking for an adventurous sci-fi film on Netflix. If you were, however, looking for a significant drama with a sci-fi flair, then this might be something up your alley.

 

 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 86%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 55%

Metascore – 68%

Metacritic User Score – None 

IMDB Score – 5.3/10 

 

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 3/5 

 

Movie Trailer:

The Wonder (2022)

 

 
Streaming Service: Netflix
Movie Name/Year: The Wonder (2022)
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Length: 1h 48min
Rating: R
Production/Distribution: Element Pictures, Element, Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland, House Productions, LSG Productions, Netflix
Director: Sebastián Lelio
Writers: Emma Donoghue, Sebastián Lelio, Alice Birch
Actors: Florence Pugh, Ciarán Hinds, Toby Jones, Abigail Coburn, Brían F. O'Byrne, Carla Hurley O'Dwyer, Darcey Campion, David Wilmot, Dermot Crowley, Elaine Cassidy, Josie Walker, Juliette Hurley O'Dwyer, Kíla Lord Cassidy, Niamh Algar, Ruth Bradley, Tom Burke
 
IMDb Blurb: A tale of two strangers who transform each other's lives, a psychological thriller, and a story of love pitted against evil.

 
Cat’s Point of View:
Let me tell you, it pained me that The Wonder didn’t make it onto my Top 20 Movies to Look Out for this month. It was by only the narrowest of margins, however. When I watched the trailer, I was captivated by the fact that it appeared to be a period piece set, and filmed, in Ireland. Oh how I do love the lilt of an Irish accent. When I got into the actual movie, I found they were actually speaking Gaelic occasionally. I was quite giddy. I digress…
 
I probably should mention, before I continue further, that I have not read the novel upon which this movie was based. Alas, for that reason I am unable to advise how true this screen adaptation was to the source material. Considering that it appears that the book’s author seems to have been involved in writing the screenplay, It would probably be safe to say it’s probably a fair version.

 
Another factor that drew me to The Wonder was the cast. With Florence Pugh (Outlaw King, Midsommar, Don't Worry Darling) as the lead and the likes of Toby Jones (Atomic Blonde, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, A Boy Called Christmas) and Ciarán Hinds (Woman Walks Ahead, The Terror, Belfast) also involved, I felt that this would be a quality production, at the very least.
 
I wasn’t disappointed.
 
The opening and closing of the film were odd, and seemed out of place with somewhat of an intentional 4^th-wall break of sorts. Once I got past that slight oddity and experienced the story in the middle, everything sorted itself out.

 
While The Wonder bears the genre label of ‘thriller,’ I think it should be pointed out that it is not an action-packed thrill-ride. This narrative is rather a slow burn and full of suspense as the mystery unfolds on-screen. I’m not sure that I agree with the ‘psychological thriller’ moniker, either. Either way, I was fully invested in the plight of the young girl being observed for lack of eating – and the nurse tasked to keep watch over her.
 
When everything came to a head at the film’s climax, I had to pick my jaw up off the floor a bit. I didn’t see the twist coming – and yet, I did catch a bit of the foreshadowing. I just didn’t connect the dots until I needed to facepalm.
 
As the weather starts to turn ever colder, The Wonder is a great dramatic movie to enjoy snuggled up with blankets and a hot beverage. It was a great movie on the part of Netflix releasing it in November. If you have a subscription, The Wonder is absolutely worth a shot if you enjoy period dramas. 

 
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 85%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 74%
Metascore – 70%
Metacritic User Score – None
IMDB Score –7.1/10
 
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 3.5/5
 
Movie Trailer:

Ominous October - Significant Other (2022)

Streaming Service: Paramount+
Movie Name/Year: Significant Other (2022)
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Length: 1h 24min
Rating: R
Production/Distribution: Paramount Players, Quay Street Productions, ITVX, Paramount+
Directors: Dan Berk, Robert Olsen
Writers: Dan Berk, Robert Olsen
Actors: Maika Monroe, Jake Lacy, Teal Sherer, Loudon McCleery, Dana Green, Matthew Yang King
 
IMDb Blurb: Follows a young couple who take a remote backpacking trip through the Pacific Northwest and face sinister events leading them to realize that everything about the place is not as it seems.

 
Cat’s Point of View:
This October has been cram-packed with movies I’ve wanted to see. There were so many that I had a really hard time narrowing down to my personal Top 20 list for the monthly article. There were quite a few that looked great that just couldn’t make the cut. Significant Other was one of them. (It did land as #17 on Selina’s list.)
 
I was intrigued by the trailer when we watched during our stream, and earlier works from this writing and directing team had impressed both Selina and I. I had so many questions at the outset of watching Significant Other, yet thought I had the general gist of where this movie was going.
 
I was so wrong. That’s also not a bad thing.

 
One point I do have to mention upfront, however, is that there was a bit of a slow burn going on with character development at the beginning of Significant Other. It could have easily fallen into many other “couple camping in the woods” tropes. Then the whole thing turned on its head.
 
I was waiting for something significant to happen to shift the gears into the sort of tension the trailer depicted. When the moment came, it earned a gasp from me as if it had punched me in the gut. All of my earlier theories went flying out the window in one split second. The switch from romantic drama to sci-fi thriller was so abrupt it was fairly jarring.
 
Significant Other didn’t let up from that point forward.

 

I will admit that once the big reveal happened, some elements were slightly predictable. I didn’t mind that, however. I was down for the premise. In fact, I wouldn’t mind seeing a sequel or series to follow up and show what happened next. I just wish it didn’t take quite so long to get to the ‘good part.’ Even so, I think Significant Other will stick with me for a while due to the combo of the twist and its exploration of emotional trauma.
 
If you have a subscription to Paramount+, Significant Other might be an interesting pick for a night in. It’s not the sort of flick, though, that I’d encourage anyone to subscribe over. (There are quite a few titles that are worth it, but that’s neither here nor there for the purposes of this article.)

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 69%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 63%
Metascore – 57%
Metacritic User Score – 5.5/10
IMDB Score – 5.7/10
 
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 3.5/5
 
Movie Trailer:

Watcher (2022)

Streaming Service: Shudder
Movie Name/Year: Watcher (2022)
Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller
Length: 1h 31min
Rating: R
Production/Distribution: Imagenation Abu Dhabi FZ, IFC Midnight, IFC Films, Shudder
Director: Chloe Okuno
Writer: Zack Ford, Chloe Okuno
Actors: Maika Monroe, Karl Glusman, Burn Gorman, Madalina Anea
 
Blurb from IMDb: A young American woman moves with her husband to Bucharest, and begins to suspect that a stranger who watches her from the apartment building across the street may be a local serial killer decapitating women.
 

Selina’s Point of View:
Very often it will seem like I just don’t like slow burns. Many of my reviews featuring them lean to the negative side. I have ADHD and I need to be stimulated by what I’m watching. I’ll admit, that makes it difficult for a slow burn to really hold my attention. There has to be something truly special about a slow film if I’m going to come away from it feeling what the creators want me to feel.
 
Watcher was the perfect example of a slow burn done right.
 
Every single second of Watcher is infused with a loneliness and isolation that you can’t help but feel. It creates a twist in the stomach that almost triggers a hypervigilance. Like the way you feel when you walk into a dangerous neighborhood, or a room where the vibe has turned south. You know something’s wrong, but you can’t put your finger on exactly what it is.
 

Even the main character’s allies feel off. For instance: her husband seems to be attempting to support her, but he has that inherent ignorance that people have when they’ve never actually gone through what they’re trying to sympathize with. It’s infuriating to watch, but it makes complete sense.
 
The ending filled me with a sense of dread that I don’t think I’ll be able to fully shake for a bit.
 
Watcher was expertly crafted and performed. Chloe Okuno’s (V/H/S/94, Slut, Full Circle) script and direction was top notch. Everything flowed naturally, which helped my immersion. Maika Monroe (It Follows, Honey Boy, The Scent of Rain & Lightning) sold the terror and uncertainty in every scene. Burn Gorman (Torchwood, Imperium, Layer Cake) I was already very familiar with, but I almost didn’t recognize him as he embodied his character.
 
I absolutely recommend Watcher. It premieres on Shudder August 26th.
 

Cat’s Point of View:
Watcher’s trailer was highly effective in drawing me into the story and getting invested in the characters without giving away too much. When I learned we’d get a chance to screen it in August, I was pretty excited.
 
Overall, I enjoyed Watcher. It was a slow burn, effective with its steady buildup of tension. For those that have seen this sort of movie before, it might be easy to guess where things are headed, but the ending was satisfyingly unexpected.
 
The fact that the production was filmed in Bucharest rather than somewhere else, was also a great plus. They got a lot of mileage out of the interesting architecture and facets of the neighborhood where the story was set.
 

Maika Monroe initially got my attention with It Follows (2014), and she didn’t disappoint with her strong, and memorable, performance in Watcher. Her character’s stress, fear, and frustration were palpable, even when she didn’t say a word. Speaking of words, I appreciated that Watcher lacked subtitles for the Romanian dialogue. It put the audience in the same position as Monroe’s character, with a bit of a fish out of water feeling.
 
Burn Gorman also delivered a creepy performance that had my skin crawling as events unfolded. It’s usually hard for me to see past his memorable role in the Pacific Rim (2013) movies when he’s on screen, but Watcher had its hooks in me deep enough that I only saw this character.
 
I was surprised to learn that this was the full-length feature film debut for writer and director Chloe Okuno. I am definitely looking forward to watching more of her work in the future.
 
Knowing how everything turned out, I wouldn’t mind viewing Watcher again, and I certainly wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 88%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 67%
Metascore – 70%
Metacritic User Score – 6.3
IMDB Score –6.3/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 4.5/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4/5
 
Movie Trailer:

A Banquet (2022)

 

Streaming Service: Shudder
Movie Name/Year: A Banquet (2022)
Genre: Horror
Length: 1h 37min
Rating: Unrated
Production/Distribution: Tea Shop Productions, Riverstone Pictures, Reliance Entertainment Productions 8, IFC Midnight, Front Row Filmed Entertainment, HanWay Films, Shaw Organisation, AMC+, Shudder
Director: Ruth Paxton
Writer: Justin Ball
Actors: Sienna Guillory, Jessica Alexander, Ruby Stokes, Lindsay Duncan, Kaine Zajaz, Richard Keep, Deka Walmsley, Rina Mahoney
 
IMDb Blurb: Widowed mother Holly is radically tested when her teenage daughter Betsey experiences a profound enlightenment and insists that her body is no longer her own, but in service to a higher power. Bound to her newfound faith Betsey refuses to eat, but loses no weight. In an agonising dilemma torn between love and fear, Holly is forced to confront the boundaries of her own beliefs.

 
Cat’s Point of View:
I am frustrated with A Banquet. It had the potential to be a visual feast for horror fans, but the fare was underseasoned.
 
That being said, let me focus on the positives from this movie before I get into the rest.
 
A Banquet took good advantage of an interesting setting. I loved the house the family resided in. It was architecturally fascinating. There were some stunning visuals offered to the audience here. I particularly enjoyed the shots of the moon. Had this production gone better, overall, I would be giving kudos that its release was timed on the heels of a very real blood moon lunar eclipse event. Eerie coincidence, perhaps, but because the night sky was little more than window dressing in the story, it amounts to naught.

 
The acting performances were all solid. Everything felt believable. No one was too dramatic or over-the-top. I bought in on every emotion conveyed by the grieving and strained family, and it all seemed visceral and genuine.
 
There were even moments when I really identified with the characters. Those blips in time where the characters spaced out from everything because they were simply overwhelmed were completely relatable for me. It was also easy for me to step into the mother's shoes. I have been on a rollercoaster with my own daughter, and it's definitely hard to try everything in your power to help your child and, yet,  feel helpless when they continue to struggle. 

Unfortunately, then A Banquet lost me.

 
When we watched the trailer to consider A Banquet for the February 2022 Top 20 article, I was generally uncomfortable with what I saw in the trailer. I held out hope that the story would work out and justify these choices, but alas there was no payoff.
 
It’s a seriously tricky thing to toy with eating disorders in a movie – especially these days. You don’t want to send mixed messages or mishandle the portrayal. In the case of A Banquet I can’t really decide whether or not it would be effective as a cautionary tale. I was relieved that anorexia was not glorified or treated lightly. The family reacted appropriately – for the most part. 
 
Another issue that made A Banquet problematic for me was its pacing. Things progressed so slowly that I struggled to stay tuned in to what was going on. I had to replay a few scenes because I started nodding off. My ADHD was acting up and as soon as my attention started to drift, fatigue tried to set in. I managed to make it all the way through, but it was not a small effort.  

 
I was left with so many questions as the final credits rolled following the strange and unsatisfying ending.
 
A Banquet had the potential to take this story in a different direction, and unfortunately meandered away from its more redeemable qualities. As a horror story, this was certainly successful – it was a shockingly horrific experience… especially watching from a parent’s perspective. It is not, however, something I would seek out to watch again or steer others towards. 
 
Shudder will be releasing A Banquet for members of their streaming service on Thursday, May 26^th.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 54%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 50%
Metascore – 59%
Metacritic User Score – 5.010
IMDB Score –4.7/10
 
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 2/5

Trust the Dice: Parental Guidance Rating – R
 
Movie Trailer:

High Life (2019)

 

 
Streaming Service: Showtime
Movie Name/Year: High Life (2018)
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Horror
Length: 1h 53min
Rating: R
Production/Distribution: Alcatraz Films, Andrew Lauren Productions, Arte France Cinéma, BFI Film Fund, Canal+, Ciné+, Madants, Pandora Filmproduktion, Polski Instytut Sztuki Filmowej, The Apocalypse Films Company, Wild Bunch, Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen, A24, ADS Service, Against Gravity, Bir Film, Elevation Pictures, Front Row Filmed Entertainment, Imagine Filmdistributie Nederland, Interior13 Cine, Maco, Madman Films, Movies Inspired, NOS Audiovisuais, Pandora Film Verleih, Polyfilm Verleih, Russian Report, Spentzos Films, Thunderbird Releasing, Transformer, Ukrainian Film Distribution, Wild Bunch Distribution, Alive Vertrieb und Marketing, Karma Films
Director: Claire Denis
Writers: Claire Denis, Jean-Pol Fargeau, Geoff Cox, Andrew Litvack, Nick Laird
Actors: Agata Buzek, André Benjamin, Claire Tran, Ewan Mitchell, Gloria Obianyo, Juliette Binoche, Lars Eidinger, Mia Goth, Robert Pattinson, Scarlett Lindsey
 
IMDb Blurb: A father and his daughter struggle to survive in deep space where they live in isolation.

 
Cat’s Point of View:

I have been struggling to put coherent words together to describe my experience with High Life.
 
The TL;DR is pretty straightforward: It’s uncomfortable, slow, triggering, brutal, bleak, and boring.
 
Here’s the thing. High Life was generally well made. The production value, on the whole, was decent. Most of the acting was on point. Robert Pattinson (Queen of the Desert, Waiting for the Barbarians, The Devil All the Time), who I maintain is tragically underrated as an actor, was absolutely fantastic. He gave an epic performance here – especially all things considered. If nothing else, I bought every nuance he was selling.

 
The plot was out-there… really out there, however. It was a little hard to suspend my disbelief in some instances. I felt I pretty much needed an astrophysics degree to really appreciate some of the story.
 
The pacing was so slow, that it made a sluggish but violent crawl over my last nerves. It was extremely hard to stay invested in what was going on. I have a confession – this wasn’t my first time to attempt to watch High Life. I had been intrigued by the trailer when we put our April 2019 Top 20 list together. I listed High Life as my #13 entry, while Selina had it at a lofty #5. After it hit a streaming service I had access to, I attempted to watch. I fell asleep. More than once. I gave up and chalked it up to being a victim of my chronic fatigue. Oh, how wrong I was. Regardless, it didn’t matter then because it wasn’t on the schedule. I meant to come back to it eventually so I actually got a little excited it came up for review this month.

 
It took copious amounts of caffeine and sheer stubborn determination to keep myself watching this whole production.
 
I was ultimately disappointed.
 
High Life came across as a situation of ‘inmates running the asylum’ in a tediously long episode of prison rape and babies in space – as an art film. If you think that sounds wild, grotesque, and unpleasant; then High Life may not be the movie for you.
 
Further, High Life dances on the razor’s edge between Rated R and NC-17. This is absolutely not anything you want to be anywhere near a child while watching. Hell, my husband interrupted me while I was watching to ask me a question and I didn’t even want to have to discuss what I was watching with him.
 
While the violence within High Life wasn’t egregious and unfounded, given the circumstances within the story, it still wasn’t my cup of tea. My rating is based solely on my personal entertainment factor. Take that for what you will, and watch at your own risk, if you dare.
 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 82%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 42%
Metascore – 77%
Metacritic User Score – 6.3/10
IMDB Score –5.8/10
 
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 2.5/5
 
Movie Trailer:

Windfall (2022)

 

Streaming Service: Netflix
Movie Name/Year: Windfall (2022)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Length: 92 minutes
Rating: R
Production/Distribution: High Frequency Entertainment, Mutressa Movies, Netflix
Director: Charlie McDowell
Writers: Justin Lader, Charlie McDowell, Jason Segel, Andrew Kevin Walker
Actors: Jason Segel, Jesse Plemons, Lily Collins, Omar Leyva
 
IMDb Blurb: A man breaks into a tech billionaire's empty vacation home, but things go sideways when the arrogant mogul and his wife arrive for a last-minute getaway.

 
Cat’s Point of View:
Windfall was both exactly what I expected; and, at the same time, took a route I didn’t see coming.
 
Fans of pure drama and nail-biting tension would be head over heels for the atmosphere that steeped this production. Windfall was a slow burn, though. If you’re into action and faster-paced thrills, this might not be something that would hold your interest.
 
I was worried that my squirrely attention level would make parts of Windfall hard to watch. Somehow, I managed to remain riveted to the screen and afraid to tear my eyes away lest I miss some sudden burst of plot that might unfold. The whole movie felt like that. It kept you on the edge of your seat, fairly holding your breath because the shit might just hit the fan in the next second.

 
Windfall took great advantage of the property they filmed on. It both illustrated the characters’ lifestyle and the disparity with their perceptions of the ‘antagonist’ intruder. I was immensely relieved that they didn’t keep everything confined to one small set of rooms. I believe this cast could have handled something like that, but it would have made it harder to swallow.
 
As I mentioned in my #18 entry in March’s Top 20 list, this is one of the rare instances that the character who would normally be ‘the antagonist’ – namely, the home invader – was someone I was actually rooting for. I was literally crossing my fingers for the thief. Jason Segel (Despicable Me, This Is the End, Dispatches from Elsewhere) really drove his character home, even within the constrained circumstances available. I appreciated the intelligence and emotion the character was afforded within the story and how Segel evoked every nuance of it.

 
I have a lot to say about the other characters and their respective actors. Unfortunately, every time I begin to write something, I found myself dangerously skirting the line with spoilers.
 
Windfall wasn’t one of those movies that I’d want to revisit at another time. While I thought it was well done, and delivered what it had advertised in the trailer, that much-prolonged tension without action or more levity to break it up is just hard for me to do. Especially once I already know what’s going to happen. The payoff would lose most of its sting on a repeat viewing.
 
All told, however, I don’t regret watching this new Netflix release at all. 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 64%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 73%
Metascore – 51%
Metacritic User Score – None
IMDB Score – 5.6/10
 
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 3.5/5
 
Movie Trailer: