Brooklyn 45 – Shudder

Horror

Friday, December 27, 1945. Five military veterans gather in the ornate parlour of a Brooklyn brownstone. Best friends since childhood, they’ve reunited to support their troubled host – but when his invitation for cocktails turns into an impromptu séance, the metaphoric ghosts of their past become all-too-literal. Trapped in their host’s lounge, the Greatest Generation now finds themselves put to one final test…with their only route to freedom being more bloodshed.

I thought I knew what this movie was by the description, but I was wrong. It took a sharp left and did not stop. I’m not giving away anything here. This movie is about the horror of doing what you have to in wartime and then bringing those horrors home afterward. Very well done and worth seeing, especially if you love horror.

Excellent and unexpected. 5 stars.

 

 

Necronomicon – Tubi

Horror

From the mind of HP Lovecraft comes the story of a book made from human flesh and written by Aleister Crowley during his visit to the depths of hell.

I don’t have anything positive to say about this movie. At best the plot can be described as a convoluted mess. I always think it’s me—I’m somehow not understanding. I’m not following. But after watching two other movies twice for the same reasons and coming up just as confused, I decided not to put myself through this movie again and go with my initial feelings. It’s not me.

The movie opens with a monologue over-laying a looped computer-generated car chase. A “devil car” or car being driven by the devil —not clear on which—leads the police on a high speed chase in the middle of a city. Video game chaos and destruction. The monologue is a philosophy word salad about good and evil. It made little sense, just like the rest of the movie.

Once this nonsensical chase is over, the movie begins. In short, a publisher tasks a writer to write a story about the Necronomicon. It’s origins involve a convoluted tale about Aleister Crowley. The writer goes to New Orleans to dig up background for the book. He meets a bunch of characters who draw him deeper and deeper into this Satanic mess.

It sounds interesting but unfortunately, nothing made sense. As a cherry on this less-than-tasty sundae, the movie was lit and shot poorly. Most scenes were barely visible—in one memorable instance Michael Madsen was being filmed through a gauzy gap in some curtains for no discernible purpose.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a movie with so many problems. 1 star.

 

The Device – Tubi

Sci-Fi · Thriller · Horror

Two estranged sisters reunite at their family cabin to spread their mother’s ashes, only to make a horrifying discovery in the woods.

Two sisters and one sister’s husband meet at the family cabin to spread their mother’s ashes. Sister one seems to have her shit together, she’s newly married with a great job. Sister two is troubled, seems she was kidnapped as a teenager and has no memory of the incident. The relationship is strained because of the past.

They find something out in the woods one day. A wreckage of some kind. Sister two is freaked and wants nothing to do with it. Sister one brushes off her concerns and brings a piece back. Seems she was compelled. The compulsion spreads to her husband who becomes obsessed with it.

Shortly after they arrive home, Sister one finds out she’s pregnant. Sister two comes clean, she does have memories of what happened to her. She has memories of being impregnated by something that wasn’t human. Sister one might not believe her until it’s too late.

I expected supernatural/haunting, I got aliens. Not complaining. It was just as creepy, just as disturbing. Kudos to the actor who played the husband. He was making my skin crawl.

Alien abduction, without an actual abduction. 3.5 stars.

 

The Therapist – Tubi

Thriller · Crime · Drama

A married couple seeks professional help in hopes of fixing their marriage, but things turn as their therapist becomes obsessed with the husband.

A couples therapist with a habit of obsessing over the husbands and boyfriends of the couples she serves, finds a new man to fall in love with. Coincidentally, she and this new couple went to college together and were peripherally aware of each other back in the day.

In a breach of professional etiquette, she insinuates herself into their lives, turning what was a past acquaintance into a budding friendship. In order to get closer to the husband, she dates the husband’s best friend. She jogs the same trails, shows up in places she knows he will be, etc. She eventually drugs and sleeps with him, then throws up a woman from a past infidelity as a smokescreen for the wife.

I both liked and didn’t like this movie. At 2 hours, it was too long. For all the intrigue and manipulation, there was little tension. They fell back on the “my mother made me crazy” trope, which they didn’t need. A lot of the dialogue was awkward and the acting was stiff and unnatural. The movie would have been better served with a tighter script, less locations, and a smaller cast.

While this movie was a great idea, the money could have been better spent on a shorter, tighter, script. 2.5 stars.

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That’s it for this week. As usual, if you’ve seen any of these, let me know what you thought.

Until next time.