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angiedaylewis
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The Shack (2017)
Two hours of Christian propaganda
Well I wasn't expecting this when I started watching! The film begins with a tragedy at a family getaway when Mack (Sam Worthington) takes his three kids to a lakeside campsite. During the drama of a boating accident where the son almost dies, the youngest daughter goes missing. All the evidence points to her abduction and murder by a serial killer but her body is not recovered, only her bloody dress is found at an abandoned shack in the woods near the campsite.
Fast forward a few years and the family are still dealing with the aftermath of the incident, when Mack finds a hand delivered note in his mailbox from someone calling themselves Papa. The note is an invitation to meet at the shack. A note from the serial killer? But there were no footprints evident in the snowy area around Mack's home, and Papa is Mack's wife's name for God. What is going on??
So far, so intriguing.
Mack decides to make the trip to the shack, armed with a handgun, to confront his daughter's killer. However he finds instead a young man who invites him to accompany him to his home. This man is Jesus, and waiting at home is God (Octavia Spencer) and the Holy Spirit.
From this point on this film basically becomes an advertisement for the Christian church; espousing the importance of faith in God, and explaining away all the evil in the world as being done by those who do not have God in their lives.
I found all this rather crass and have to say I didn't appreciate the proselytising turn the film took.
Other negatives are Sam Worthington's whispering (with occasional lapses into his native Australian accent) delivery, an unexplored back story where Mack may or may not have murdered his father, and the underuse of Radha Mitchell's character (Nan, Mack's wife) who seems to serve simply as one dimensional representation of a person who finds peace in faith.
I was expecting a thriller with a twist, and I certainly got a twist, but I didn't enjoy the journey into a fantastical, schmaltzy hour or so of Christian propaganda.
Scintilla (2014)
Not impressed
This was really poor on so many levels. I was dubious about this at around 15 minutes in, both the script and the acting was sub-par but I thought I'd persevere to see the alien hybrids in the cellar!
It wasn't worth the wait. An alien which can be disguised by a pair of dark glasses, does not a terrifying alien make.
Thought the alien birth might be worth seeing...to see the "purer" form of alien.... but it didn't happen. Maybe the budget didn't stretch to an alien baby!
And the final scene is just ridiculous....the only reason the protagonist would not kill the alien is to allow for a sequel! Made no sense at all.
I am struggling to think of a positive, but can't come up with anything. Shame, it was an interesting idea but badly executed.
The Battery (2012)
Loved it!
I love a zombie film and this is not just one of the best zombie films I have seen, but also one of the best films I have ever seen. I loved the relationship between the two main characters, I loved the beautiful rural setting, I loved the soundtrack, and I loved the ending. It had some great scenes, such as Ben's drink-fuelled dancing, Mickey's (unseen, only heard) forced zombie confrontation,and the final moments in the car. I know this is a film where not much happens, unlike the majority of zombie films, but I was engaged throughout. I was on the edge of my seat waiting for Mickey's return at the end....I thought that scene would never end. Loved it.
Preservation (2014)
Don't turn your back!
Well I thought this was a promising film until I found myself shouting at the screen, "Don't turn your back on him", not once, but twice! Really ridiculous and inexplicable behaviour from the protagonists, especially the jump leads/tree section. A novel method of dispatch, granted, but really, if you have a selection of guns at your disposal....just shoot him already! And why didn't she just call the police at the end instead of riding off into town, bloodied and injured, on a kid's bicycle? I did actually find it quite entertaining though and rather liked the anti-gun and video game/tech age theme! Poor doggy though-knew he was a goner from the first shot of him😢