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Vivarium (2019)
Brilliantly Executed Thriller
Vivarium - at first glance - looks like an intriguing thriller film with an interestingly unique premise. On reading the summary, I at first wondered how such a basic idea could form the basis of an entire feature-length (1h 30min) film. However, the sense of horror and fear is derived much less from the actual plot (although the mystery surrounding this does contribute), and much more from the tension which is built up due to the excellent cinematography and acting.
The film is unique in that it only uses a total of 4 (main) actors for most of the scenes - however, this does not stop the film from feeling big-budget and 'blockbuster' level, due to the amazingly convincing and genuinely terrifying acting on behalf of the main 4/5 characters.
As the film progresses, it gets darker and darker - this culminates in a strange ending sequence which left me wondering what exactly I had just watched. However, this is one of the films which will stay with you long after you have watched it. It provides a unique commentary on human nature and psychology, civilised modern life, and being 'trapped' in a web of expectations and ideals.
Tl;dr:
An excellent film, with stunning visuals and brilliantly convincing spine-chilling acting from the main leads. Definately worth a watch for a thriller film which is unique and different, but one which you will also think about long afterwards.
Love Never Dies (2012)
Lots of emotion, but totally different from the first!
As you might know, this is the sequel to Phantom of the Opera (2004), and so after watching POTO and seeing the West End show, I must admit that Love Never Dies itself is a bit of a let-down. To be honest, the only people who would really be suited to watching this is super die-hard fans that want to see an ending where the Phantom and Christine end up together.
One thing I will say is that the Phantom was absolutely excellent, and really portrayed the emotions very well. Made me cry more than a few times, and not just a little! I loved his portrayal of such a complex character. The music is also absolutely beautiful, albeit a little haunting at times - however this only serves to strengthen the Phantom's character and make it more emotional. It is very deep in this respect, with more emotional details than POTO (in my opinion).
On the other hand, the style of the whole show/film is totally different from the original POTO, and I'm not sure whether the storyline is really very developed. To me it seemed like every single character (except the Phantom) were doing things that were quite out of character. The storyline is very bizarre and doesn't really link at all. Best watched as a standalone show/movie definitely.
In conclusion, this should definitely be watched either for the beautiful acting and character development of the Phantom, or just to say you've seen it. However, I've found that the best way to treat it is to think of it as an amateur 'fan-fiction' not written by the original producers - this accounts for its slightly 'wild' or 'off-topic' storyline, and clear standalone nature.
Note: Be aware that the actors in LND are not the same as in POTO, and that whilst POTO (2004) was a film, this LND 'film' is actually a recording of a stage production of LND, and not a studio-produced film. This means you can see things like the face microphones, and occasionally the set/scenery is not the same standard as you would see in a normal, proper film - It's more like a hybrid between film and stage production, as the close-up shots are views that obviously would not be seen in a production, but the film is, in the end, a recording of the production.
Stranger Things (2016)
Brilliant TV show, with plenty of suspense!
The suspense really does keep you hanging on the edge of your seat, and though I have heard some people say they found the first episodes of season 1 'boring' or have said that 'nothing happens' in these episodes, it's well worth taking the time to watch these episodes and at least reaching the season 1 finale until making a judgement.
I, myself was convinced that I would never watch anything of the sort, but everyone now knows that Stranger Things has quickly turned into one of my all-time favourite TV shows!
The characters are so relatable, and it really does keep you hanging on your seat, longing to know more.
A fantastically made TV show - if I'm totally honest, as Stranger things is a Netflix original, I hadn't initially thought that it could be quite as well made as 'proper' or 'independent' groups, however I am extremely surprised as to how wrong I turned out to be! I certainly won't hold back now when I see a Netflix original that looks up my street!
Although some sites (eg. Google) list Stranger Things as 'horror', I really would like to amend that. The TV show is a mix of Sci-Fi, Mystery and Thriller - perhaps 5 minutes or so out of the entire 3 seasons so far is Horror.
So many people will look at the poster and assume that Stranger Things is targeted at mainly young adults and teenagers. How wrong they are - I am a 17 year old girl, but have managed to get my mum, who is closer to 50, to watch Stranger Things, and at every single season finale, she has been just as excited as me to see what happens next! She swore on her life that she would never watch a Sci-Fi, Thriller, Mystery, TV show. However, After an extremely long period of nagging and trying to persuade her to watch it, my mum finally got just as enthralled in the drama as me! It just goes to show, that no matter what age, Stranger Things does make for a great hour of quality entertainment that leaves you literally hanging on the edge of your seat!
In conclusion, there's something for everyone. Perhaps for my mum, it was the appeal of the retro 80s setting that meant it was relatable for her. Perhaps for me it is the brilliant actors that make the TV show a rare gem of brilliantly high quality entertainment. For my friends, it is the Sci-Fi suspense that always leaves them wanting more.
What will it be for you?