Reviews

In spite of an amazing cast, the kind of casting only superhero movies get these days, this movie drags terribly in huge sections. But if you utilize the fast forward and skip the slo mo beginning, the majority of the mother's dates and that kind of extraneous stuff, there are some really good parts. Basically, if you recognize an actor, that part most likely is worth watching. Especially Mark Ruffalo's part, and her at the police station. I guess I see now why Ruffalo gets the big bucks, he can save a movie from completely dying. I expected more from Matt Damon, or I missed it from fast forwarding.

This seems foreign because it IS. I think this is the Asian version of Hades or Purgatory. A beautiful version of it, in parts. Out of time and odd motions, and especially the mindless sycophantic obedience of the women all push the Asian "envelope" of acceptable stylisms in modern culture. We Americans occasionally forget others think quite differently, have different aims, dreams and iconography.

---Many cultures regard loud clapping and certain chanting scares away evil spirits.

---Women are brought up to believe they should not look directly into the eyes of a man or a camera but I saw a few really try to do it. That's really BRAVE.

--- These Evil Spirits are Portrayed to show lack of membership in an approved clan or group. To be without a clan is a kind of Asian hell on earth, ultimate punishment. Individualism is frowned upon.

The characters in the loose "mummy" wrappings are GHOSTS. This is what kids have nightmares about. Also the body horror mannequins whose "skin" lifts out. That's what provokes an Asian night terror.

This is all meant to start a conversation about what frightens and provokes another culture. And starting the conversation is what ART IS FOR. Yes, it's sloppy in parts, I think he ran out of money, time or permits. Or covid season was approaching.

This deserves at least a 6 for Noble Attempt.

Excellent premise, really great actors. Unfortunately it appears that Amazon believes it only has to tick all the right boxes to make money hand over fist. The plot is handfed to us as though this is also for kids as young as 8 or 10; the action effects are certainly NOT for anyone under 14 or so. Not unless you are in the business of starting your own delta force of psychopaths.

Amazon, pay your writers a living wage and put more quality in your products.

The beginning does drag a touch, but once she's on the train and the characters start coming out of the woodwork, it is Game On. Tuppence is great, Tom Hughes is dishy, and best of all the plot shows EXACTLY how high handed doctors were right up into the 70s, Especially to women. Hysterical my left foot!! It's worth it just for the look at a time we should be very grateful to be done with.

The production does an excellent job with set design and costumes and if the story makes you feel frustrated I suggest it is your empathy to the character, not the story.

If they'd only paid a bit more for someone over age 15 to write a script this could have been amazing. The actors 10, scenery 9, edgy noir setting 10. The most haunted city in North America 11. The prettiest dress I've ever seen Lake Bell in 9. Dialogue 2. Plot needed layering and subtlety 4.

It coulda been a contender.

Really cute, engaging, well worth while. I don't know about Lovecraft stories at all, I am just saying from a story point of view. It should have been twenty year old kids instead of forty year old men though, that gave it a bit of a creepy old man vibe, but maybe it's supposed to be an aged geek thing that I don't understand.

This is a good enough movie, ignore grumpy detractors who simply wish it was Star Wars New Hope or Harry Potter from the pre-racist days. That ship sailed, folks.

The movie has a new concept which is rare enough, and the special effects were genuinely special and not overwhelming. And actually very pretty. The story concept and world building ideas were good enough that I'd like to see more from the settlement of this New World.

However, because the books were much longer, detailed and likely had much more convoluted plot lines, many things were simplified, left out, or otherwise shifted around so there would be a complete enough movie that nonreaders could still enjoy. I state the obvious because it is clear many reviewers don't understand the difference in the abilities of a book v movie to convey length and breadth of meaning. From this aspect the movie has succeeded admirably.

Very watchable, and Tom has been working out, so it's got that going for it too.

Its true, there are some lackluster moments here, but also some beautiful moments that shine. Don't miss the good parts. In part 3, the son is in his photography dark room and puts Joy Division's "Love will Tear us Apart ". He really looks like Ian, in that moment. And he's suddenly all boys who self destruct one way or another. It's a Heartbreaking moment.

American movies could stand a lesson or two from the BBC

Dull as dishwater and just as boring. Not sure what the point of this is. Belushi must have been good friends with someone to appear in this, or they asked him on a slow Friday night. When did it become ok to do movies without a plot and good script? Certainly it's great to step outside the norm and try new things but this is not that. Move along, nothing to see here.

Completely lacks dynamism, the characters are wooden and the entire movie is shot with one camera in two rooms. Should have been a play. I love indie movies but this was torture.

Its hard to produce comedy movies these days, most efforts go unappreciated and this is no different.

Go into this microbudget movie with low expectations. Maybe skip the first ten minutes as I did. I started with them waking up that morning and that was fine. It's a darling movie and a good distraction from Covid19 etc. Because they have worse problems than we do.

And the lead actress will end up a star, I'll bet anything.

OHY. Still a great movie. If you saw it back then, see it again freshly. All our heroes are young again (some of them are pretty HOT!)

Two thirds of the cast are stars and you will NEVER see that in Hollywood again. Some of the cast play super creepy characters so well, I wonder why they never did anything like it again. Buscemi is really chilling in this. Malkovich always does crazy well.

Great for lockdown boredom.

Yes there are drawbacks to the quality of this movie in places, but if you JUST APPROACH IT AS AN INDIE THRILLER, YOU WILL BE PLEASED. If all movies looked like big studio products, how very vanilla they would be after awhile.

I thought the portrayal of his PTSD episodes were really quite good; and the feeling of confusion that is generated throughout the film is likely a deliberate plot device to make the viewer feel the main character's own confusion, pain and puzzlement.

Depending upon your sound system, some of the dialogue is muffled, probably because the desert wind buffeting sound had to be canceled out. Just put on your channel captioning, you'll be fine.

If this movie isn't for you, you will know at the 25 minute mark. Maybe you'll come back to it one day when you're snowed in like me, maybe you won't.

Overall I really liked this, it's definitely worthwhile for something different during lockdown. Sometimes it's just nice to remember that the U.S. is bigger than one type of climate, and movies can have more than one style of presentation.

Yes the writing could be better in a few places, but that's most productions these days, watered down. HOWEVER! There are some really original and creative plot details scattered here and there through out this series that are TOO GOOD TO MISS. And there's an overall great atmosphere, excellent effects, and some good acting and some really good actors that make this well worthwhile.

Besides, if you find it a bit boring after a few episodes maybe just save this dark vampire series for another time. P.S. Probably too scary for kids and people who have trouble sleeping.

It actually felt quite authentic for the most part. I had to skip some bits that were too savage and bloody, but even that felt reasonable compared to what little I know of the mob or gangs. I thoroughly enjoyed the Mexican perspective and customs (his niece's quinceanera preparation) I'd like to see more of that in movies. We Americans will get too stale with just our own culture fed back to us in movies, it's refreshing to see how other families celebrate and the things that matter to them. The mom's comment about seeing the Mexican Kardashians at the dress store was HILARIOUS.

Certainly this is a woman's opinion and this is more of a guy's genre movie, but some guys might have girlfriends or wives and they might enjoy watching it with them.

Shia's best role in a long time!

Here are some things you are not hearing from other reviewers: this movie does what sci fi dystopian fantasy is meant to do and more. Change one or two things and show how characters deal with it. In addition, other worthy topics are bravely touched on: PTSD, fallout from broken families, the feeling of pointlessness at what is taught in school when competing with inordinate pressures in real life. Racial bias from police and others. Disrespect between police and the people they are meant to be saving. Different factions of law (local v FBI or CIA etc) difficulty working together. I found these additional topics to give this movie a taste of authenticity I don't think I see often enough, especially after the disgusting reality of George Floyd's murder. Very timely!

Great effects, amazing actors. Netflix may want to turn this into a series, but I suggest it be a very limited run as much further dilution of the subject will bore.

P.S. other reviewers compare it to Limitless. Maybe it's like Push too. But it's also it's own thing.

Everything you want in a geri action film, EVEN HAS A PLOT! SERIOUSLY! And you know how often you find those!

One thing kept it from being a ten, none of the characters are women or minorities. It's not terrible to sit through with your boyfriend, as I said it has a for real plot. But having someone to identify with would have helped.

Great movie otherwise

Such a cute movie! First of all the lead actor is the spitting image of Rachel Weisz, if she'd been born in New Zealand with a different life. Same talent and cheeky humor.

It's a ghost story in an old house, great fun, dont read the spoilers!.

Why my cable company didn't pick this up I don't know. Actually I do know, they weren't very bright which is why I don't have them anymore. Ha!

Essentially a long episode of black mirror so not a bad thing, a nice sharp pair of scissors in the director's hands would have been a good thing. Santa Claus are you listening? Well, next time.

Good acting, metaphors, twists, turns, etc. Note that the robots he's built are all ersatz wives.....

There aren't many rom coms out there anymore, certainly not enough. Just silly murder movies. Date night has Real Laughs, not just Cringes. It's got Tina Fey quality with Levy action.

She really tries! This movie has heart, and is a rom com that really tries. It is well shot, technically proficient in sight and sound and even the outfits are kinda cute so I gave it a six and wondered if it should be a seven. I'd rather watch a decent rom com than one of those bloody zombies flicks. Anyday. Does anyone wonder why there's violence on the streets?

Excellent movie night selection. And I'm pleased to see a woman get top billing for a change.

Loved it. Luc Besson almost always does great movies, this is one of the best. I enjoyed the layered plot, the twists and turns. The fight scenes are like dance, similar to Kings man. Long takes with perfect timing. It looks skilled. That is truly the best kind - I really dislike fight scenes that are done with tons of short takes and blurred figures.

Worth seeing more than once.

The story is well told; especially good is that they SHOW you about various aspects of the story, and dont just TELL you key points. You are SHOWN that the parents have a complicated relationship, and as such hers is likely going to be. Characters are well fleshed out with interesting foibles, tics and characteristics. I don't know if this is the work of the scriptwriter? The director? Or if the book was just that good that it inspired everyone to great heights.

I dont like stories about teenagers very much typically, but I'm VERY glad I watched this. It's probably the best Australian movie I've seen in many years.

I think this series might have continued if theyd included more science or even pseudoscience about the parallel universe, how it was created, anything. I loved it as it was but I think it could have picked up more audience with a few FRINGE effects.