September 2018 - Cinematic Insights

A Simple Favor Review

(3 / 4)

A delightfully crazy cocktail of crime thriller elements and knowing winks makes A Simple Favor a wildly entertaining parody of past domestic mysteries Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train.

A Simple Favor is the latest mystery thriller adapted from a bestselling novel featuring the unreliable narrator storytelling technique and taking place in the false security of the suburbs. Watching the trailer and reading the synopsis, it would be easy to write off the story as a second-rate version of Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, as the influences from this smash hit are readily apparent. Interestingly enough, the 2017 Darcey Bell novel’s similarity to the 2014 smash hit was the very reason movie studios were clamoring to obtain the film rights prior to the book’s publication. With funnyman Paul Feig at the helm though it becomes clear that much like the central mystery of Emily’s disappearance, there is more to this tale than meets the eye.

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The Predator Review

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(1.5 / 4)

Writer and director Shane Black’s signature whip-smart dialogue and nuanced camaraderie are MIA in this brainless attempt to reinvigorate the Predator franchise.

The Predator franchise is in an interesting predicament. Much like the Alien series, the iconic creature’s image has been left in tatters after how poorly he came off in the much reviled Alien vs. Predator crossovers. With it being 8 years since a new installment featuring the intergalactic hunter, the franchise was in desperate need of a new angle to reignite interest and kickstart a new series of stories. Enter director and co-writer Shane Black to breathe some life into this once captivating monster. Between Black himself having a supporting role and helping with the screenplay of the original Predator, as well as his success in applying his subversively sharp wit to big budget spectacles like Iron Man 3, this seemed like a recipe for success. Unfortunately Black’s phenomenal track record hits a bump, as The Predator fails as a re-imagination of the franchise lacking any of the traits that made Black’s past work so manically enthralling.

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The Nun Review

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(2 / 4)

The Nun’s action and adventure focus falls flat for casual horror fans, but it’s downright blasphemous for loyal fans of the franchise.

The Nun is the latest installment in the ever-growing Conjuring cinematic universe, which brings the standout theological specter from The Conjuring 2 into the spotlight. Spinning off new stories from existing franchises is nothing new, however, the biggest obstacle these types of films face is the pressure to create something that is distinct from its predecessors, and is also a tale that warrants being told in the first place. The rather astounding solution to this quandary that The Nun employs is to shift away from the horror genre altogether and veer heavily into the action and adventure genre instead. With courageous characters physically battling ghouls and zombies for the sake of the greater good, The Nun has far more in common with 1999’s The Mummy with Brendan Frasier than the likes of The Exorcist or even Annabelle for that matter. While The Nun is indeed something different than any other Conjuring film, the paper-thin plot and emotionally bankrupt character development prevents the film from being memorable or even slightly frightening.

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