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Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism (2023)
Makes you think
If you only want a cliché horror that relies on sex, gore, and jump scares, you'll be disappointed.
Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism is grounded by brilliant performances from both Georgia Eyers (the possessed - or is she?) and Tim Lock (the exorcist). Based on true events and inspired by multiple real exorcisms, this film focuses more on the process and consequences for the people involved and raises questions about what's right.
There is very little blood and gore, which makes it more impactful in the few instances it occurs. There is also a mystery element and some clever foreshadowing. While all the important things are explained, it's ultimately left up to the audience to decide what they believe.
A beautifully shot and overall well executed film recommended to fans of psychological horror.
The Current War (2017)
I wanted to leave
I saw this in a free preview and if I wasn't with my family I would've walked out.
The story went all over the place, from person to person, year to year, with sporadic editing that lacked any character depth. Considering it's a film about the invention of electricity, they could've experimented a bit more with the lighting.
It could've been a good story, it was just badly told. I kept zoning out. And why does Benedict Cumberbatch keep being casted in American roles when his accent is so blatently terrible?
Please don't waste your money on this.
Instant Family (2018)
Better than expected
I saw this at a preview screening without having seen the trailer or having any prior knowledge about the film. Just from the title and poster, I thought it would be another crude, silly slapstick comedy. I was pleasantly surprised.
It certainly still has its fair share of slapstick (unecessarily, in my opinion, although others found it funny), but interwoven within the absurdities are references to the serious probelms and prejudices that foster kids have to face. It tackles the difficulties of the fostering process, proving that the intended 'instant family' isn't actually that 'instant'. Overall, it is a touching film that whole families can enjoy.
Dead in a Week (Or Your Money Back) (2018)
Surprisingly funny
After failing to commit suicide seven times, "10 if you count cries for help", William (Aneurin Barnard) enlists the help of aging assassin Leslie (Tom Wilkinson) to do it for him. Complications arise when William begins to doubt whether he actually wants to die, and Leslie is adamant to fulfill his contract within the week no matter what. This bizarre summary doesn't sound like it could successfully make an entire 90-minute movie, and yet, surprisingly, it did.
As you would expect, the film is full of dark, dry humour: from William's failed suicide attempts, to choosing the way he wants to die, to casually accepting his fate. Despite this, it never borders onto being offensive. If you've suffered from depression, you will probably sympathise with William and often find yourself thinking "I really shouldn't be laughing at this, but I am". After William, a failed writer, has signed his death contract, he gets offered a meeting with a publisher; everyone can probably relate to this kind of irony, if not to such an extreme extent.
As well as William, the film also follows the life of Leslie, who has to fill in one final quota in order to keep his job or else face retirement. His home life is relatively normal, and the juxtaposition of Leslie's family life to his job as a hitman is amusing to say the least. While his wife is worrying about winning an embroidery competition, Leslie is considering the best way to kill someone.
Leslie's boss, Harvey, is played by Christopher Eccleston, who is almost unrecognisable to those of us who know him from his days in Doctor Who. He nails the gangster-like voice so well that I began questioning if I was actually watching the same actor. The confrontation scenes between him and Leslie have the look of a crime thriller but the dialogue of a comedy, making for an interesting dynamic.
There's also a slight love story aspect when Ellie, interested in turning William's work into a book, comes into his life. Again, this could've gone terribly wrong - not wanting to die anymore because you've fallen in love? So cliché. Yet this isn't the focus of the movie, and it doesn't become overwhelmingly romantic.
Perhaps some people may think the subject matter inappropriate; maybe you have to have suffered from depression to be able to appreciate the irony and humour. The film could have easily gone into cheesy or cringe-worthy territory, but it manages to avoid that and still keep an overall suitably serious tone.
With good performances all round, the film nails the tone: sombre, but still humorous, with a nice amount of action too. Overall, a very British comedy.