Letterboxd Friday #4

Published on 10 / 25 / 2024

It is almost Halloween! Hope everyone is doing well. I haven't been up to much! I did some pumpkin painting (which you can read about on this blog) and hung out with some new friends. Spooky week is next week! I should really get on my costume...

No Hard Feelings (2023) for a second time

I. LOVE. THIS. MOVIEEEEE! I watched this for a second time to observe product placement for a class project, but I have been wanting to rewatch it anyway. I expected to just casually watch this movie when I first saw it on a billboard and rate it as average, but I was so wrong.

No Hard Feelings deserves a chance from every romantic. It is unexpected, unconventional, and awkward. Whether you were the most anxious, rule-following kid in high school or a laid-back, "romance is dead" kind of person, you will relate to one of these characters.

The directing isn't anything crazy, rather it is the acting that solidifies its high ranking. I wish I could've seen this in the theaters. What I would kill for that!

Go watch this movie. You will be singing "Maneater" and looking at your future love life differently.

Rating:

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)

I didn't have any insane feelings about this movie, but It had an intriguing plot. Many of my friends told me they had "sexual awakenings" from some of the scenes in this movie. It was interesting for sure, but genuinely did not have any outstanding thoughts from this.

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Woman of the Hour (2024)

Woman of the Hour is Anna Kendrick's directional debut, and I love my girl in Pitch Perfect! Jokes aside, Kendrick is a great actress with many powerful roles. Woman of the Hour was a little spotty at times, as the plot jumps around the timeline. I understand the point of switching between the past and present, but I do not think it was necessary to convey the message. You know there is a serial killer from the start, so it wasn't all that crucial.

I did not love the casting in this film either. I love Kendrick, don't get me wrong, but the other actors/actresses were so bland. I think this film could've greatly benefited from a star lineup. Especially the serial killer, I felt he was wrongly cast.

Besides these critiques, this was an entertaining film. It was more violent than I expected from Kendrick. This piece was nothing too extraordinary for me. I am excited to see what is to come next from her!

Rating:

Outside (2024)

Being a zombie film, a representation of family relationship dynamics, and a new Netflix original release, this movie was an easy choice. The zombies in this were genuinely disturbing, as they could repeat their last words before turning, which isn't a feature most directors chose to give zombies. Nevertheless, I would HATE to run into zombies like these. They are fast, bloody, and frightening.

When I was reviewing this on Letterboxd, someone wrote a review that said “Family generational trauma with a side of zombies,” and this couldn’t be any more accurate. Some argue that this film tries to haphazardly mesh two concepts together that shouldn’t be connected and therefore appear messy. Yet, I think the two horrors perfectly combined for a stress-inducing thriller.

This movie started off very strong, but as it continued, I got more disappointed. It becomes infuriating and disastrous pretty quickly by the end. I was hoping for more out of this film.

I also found a humorous parallel to the plot of Hellraiser with the family adultery aspect (I do not want to spoil anything more, iykyk).

Rating:

Fleabag, Season 2 (2019)

This was actually insane. After the show ended, that's when I started bawling. The symbolism in this piece is so good. I love the non-classical ending. It makes complete sense why this won so many awards.

This show was thought out to each minor element, creating the masterpiece that it is. For example, I read some articles theorizing that the fox that follows the priest represents celibacy, which is why the animal comes and goes at various times when the priest faces temptation or doubt. These articles also analyzed how Fleabag looks at the camera less and less as the series progresses to demonstrate her overcoming her addiction and insecurities. Additionally, most of the characters do not have names by the directive decision to increase the "fleabaggy-ness" of the main character. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is a genius. This show is unlike anything I've ever watched. Watch it, now.

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Terrifier 2 (2022)

Literally what did I just watch. “So if I give you candy you’ll leave?” Bro has never gone trick or treating before.

This movie makes no sense. Critics who argue this move is gore porn are RIGHT. It is a two hour compilation of dramatic, bloody torture. Sienna, our final girl, gets gaslit by her friends, then continues to gaslight her own brother? I think there was some religious symbolism when Sienna was getting whipped in a church in an angel costume, weeping, and falling? If she knew that the clown was going to reappear, why did she still choose to get drunk? This is a Freevee/Tubi-level movie with a crazy high budget, as it contains the dumbest plot and actors with quality cinematics and props.

Also, why are there so many stripes? The Sienna wears that striped sweater almost all of the movie with her overly dramatic eye makeup. She also drinks out of a striped paper cup. What does this mean?

This was so bad. I hope this review steers you elsewhere.

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