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Reviews
Dark Nature (2022)
Mabye this movie was meant for someone who can appreicate it ...
So the first 25 minutes of this movie is dedicated to making us understand the trauma and victim status of some of the characters. There is actually one point in the film where one character tells another the equivalent of "you're no kind of real victim, if you only knew my story". In short, trauma for dummies and how to deal with it. Unfortunately, by the time the horror show actually begins, I'm ready for the monster to kill and eat all of them, just so I don't have to hear anymore incessant whining about their problems.
Then there is the "Therapist Professor" who dishes out such cherished lines as "In order to obtain consciousness ..." when talking to one of the camping massacre attendees. I thought: "What the heck - I'm looking at her and she is clearly conscious.". That is indicative of the caliber of the writing.
I'll grant you: a monster that makes you relive your trauma in order to break down your defenses sounds rather novel. I guess it might have been, if I wasn't so busy already hating the characters, and cheering for their early demise.
The Winchesters (2022)
Is this intended to fail?
I decided to give this show a try, and binge the first six episodes. I was somewhat disappointed, and that grew to an even greater disappointment. The only things this show has common with the original series is the subject matter encompassing "monsters" and "hunters", and the Winchester namesake. Other than that, its not remotely comparable.
Characters seem stiff and totally indifferent. They seem to go about monster hunting the way I might go to the grocery store - its just something I have to do. The writing seems to be in the mode of discover monster, find monster, kill monster. And, even the monster doesn't seem to care if he / she lives or dies.
I decided to "click off" the series because of the way in which it portrayed its gay character. Nope - there is nothing wrong with having gay characters in a show. But there is something wrong when you make that character a "parody" of being gay. He chases every hunk in the show and speaks in a manner (both in his dialect and the subject matter of his discussions) that portrays his only purpose to being in the show is to profile his sexual preferences.
Think about it - when you think of this character, what do you think of? His monster hunting, or his sexuality? When this character opens his mouth to speak - what are you expecting to come out of his mouth - some contribution to the theme of the show, or some remark about sexuality? In the end - why is this character in the show? It seems to me that its because the producers wanted to showcase his sexuality.
Law & Order (1990)
Law & Order Fan from the beginning ....
... but no more. I can't shake the stench of the political propaganda that NBC bakes into the show any longer. So, I decided to give this season a go, and started to watch Episode 2. What I found was a plot written around the death of the daughter of the governor of Texas who had traveled to NYC to get an abortion. Poor, poor girl wouldn't have died if only abortions were allowed in Texas. So, "click" to change channels.
Then I tuned into Episode 3 and found it involved an active shooter event in a NYC subway with evidence indicating it was perpetrated by "white supremacists". Interesting, since the only recent mass casualty event in NY City's subway system was the opposite extreme. So, "click" to change channels.
I suppose I could give the show another try next season, but honestly - the acting has gotten so bad (because after all, the aim of the show is propaganda, not entertainment it seems), that I can't stomach it.
The Hoot Owl (2022)
No. Just no.
There is absolutely nothing in this movie for the first 53 minutes other than people doing what people do: moving to a new house, getting acquainted, partying, telling stories, and yes, finally fishing. Since the credits start rolling at 67 minutes, that leaves about the last 15 minutes of the movie for everything else including a large portion of blood and chasing, and yes - more blood. And since what's with the title "Hoot Owl". Since when does a guy running around in a cow skull look anything like an owl? Least, that's what it looked like to me. A more appropriate title should have been "How to kill off most of the cast in 15 minutes or less".
Gateway (2021)
Another candidate for fast forward.
I could have given this movie a 3, but I gave it a 2 for making me stay awake through the first half hour. After that it was fast forward to find something, anything that was happening, and any trace of interesting. Granted, I could have missed something along the way, but I don't regret not knowing. The acting in this movie was decent, but that's where any good news stops.
The Eden Theory (2021)
Another No
I honestly can't tell you what happens in this the last 98 minutes of this movie. After watching a man by himself boarding windows, looking for food and staring blankly into space in a single location for the first 30 minutes, its time to close your browser and move on.
The Summoned (2022)
Nope
Sadly, everything interesting about this movie could have been accomplished in a half hour episode of outer limits, without the boredom and wasted time.
October Faction (2020)
I have no idea ...
.... if this show is any good. In the second five minutes of the first episode, the family pulls into a gas station, asks for gas, and the owner looks at the wife, who is black, and says "her kind is not welcome here". I'm done.
The show might be worth its 6.2 rating, but I just won't go there anymore. It has absolutely nothing to do with any kind of plot maneuver, simply a white gas station owner and a black actress.