Film Review: Longlegs (2024)

 

Several factors related to Longlegs and the way Osgood Perkins directed the film are simply fantastic. These include photography and frame composition, but also the glorious fact that this work again forced (or enticed) Nicholas Cage to show the world his true talent. Unlike a range of B-class films he made in recent years, Longlegs is a true work of art. Maika Monroe, as the lead character of the confused but driven FBI agent Lee Harker also provides a very impressionable psychological study.

Finally, the initial atmosphere and narrative mood hint at the film being inside of the New Weird genre, here Harker gets a hypnotic FBI test that determines whether or not she might be a psychic. All of these fit perfectly into a generic story of a series of horrific crimes where a mysterious being, known only as Longlegs, somehow forces families to murder each other. Here, the plot is reminiscent of things like the Southern Reach trilogy from the writer Jeff VanderMeer or video games like Control. In the first half of the film, Perkins wants to tell the audience that horrible things can and will happen, while forces committing these, just as the forces opposing those, might be unknowable to us.

But, as the film breaks into the second half, all of that synergy is somehow lost. The mystery shifts into occult and satanism but does so in a bland, stuttering manner. The focus of the characters is lost as seemingly all of them suddenly fall into some kind of unclear family drama buried deep in their past. Even Cage appears to be questioning his approach to the role of an intensely deranged person, finally reverting to bizarre impressionism that is again, kind of silly. As the end and the culmination draws near, the events get bloodier, but everything gets unintentionally funnier as well.

The finale itself is more akin to the forest critters from South Park who engage in blood orgies and exclaim “Hail Satan” than a thought-through New Weird horror story. The film does tie all of its loose ends and provides closure to the mystery, but that closure ends up more comical than scary. With that, Perkins managed to make a work of art that feels more similar to a Tales from the Crypt episode than one of the most cerebral horror films of 2024, which Longlegs so very much could have been.

Review of Le Grand Vide

 

Le Grand Vide, the latest feature film from Jessy Dupont, surprises with its sobriety and minimalist approach. This film, which sits at the crossroads of a road movie and an introspective drama, immerses us in the story of Elliot, a man broken by the weight of his past, who sets off in search of his missing son. This quest, which could easily have slipped into heavy-handed drama, is instead handled with an almost unexpected lightness. Dupont focuses on moments of introspection, where silences and landscapes speak as much as the dialogue.

The strength of Le Grand Vide lies in how the storyline around the search for Elliot's son works so well. Far from stagnating in waiting, the story moves forward smoothly thanks to a well-structured script. Every step of Elliot's journey feels natural and inevitable, with the encounters and obstacles along the way serving to advance the plot without ever slowing the pace. The underlying tension of this quest is skillfully maintained throughout the film, engaging the audience in a narrative progression that is both emotional and dramatic.

Visually, the film manages to capture the raw, authentic beauty of the maritime landscapes. The images, though simple, are marked by an efficiency that serves Elliot and Bourk's story very well. Le Grand Vide could have benefited from greater technical resources, allowing for more elaborate cinematography. However, this visual modesty does not detract from the emotion it conveys; the simplicity of the shots enhances the human dimension of the film. Dupont's direction keeps the focus on the characters without unnecessary distraction. Still, it would have been interesting to see more financial resources at play, especially knowing that this is a small-budget production.

Jean Drolet's performance is full of restraint. He never tries to overplay his character's suffering but lets the pain of a man who has lost all hope subtly show through. Alongside him, Marc Lamontagne in the role of Bourk provides a more eccentric and vibrant counterbalance, bringing a welcome energy.

Despite these undeniable qualities, Le Grand Vide may leave some of the audience behind. The pacing, at times slower, may occasionally feel repetitive. Additionally, some viewers might find the musical score overwhelming or even abrasive, though the quality of the music itself is undeniable. Jessy took a high risk with his bold musical choices, but in my opinion, they are just right.

In summary, Le Grand Vide is a film worth seeing. 3.5 stars out of 5.

Review by Mark Harris

Film Review: Late Night with the Devil (2023)

It’s always great to see a particular film genre go through a big evolution. I’m not a big fan of the found-footage genre, but with Late Night with the Devil, it is clear that the film moved the entire domain of this type of moving-making. The premise involves a double layer of found footage, seen in a special episode of a late-night talk show from the 1970s, where a single guest apparently managed to summon the devil.

The film, directed by Cameron and Colin Cairnes, uses the two-fold approach in a really novel, but narratively very suitable manner. The first layer is the 1970s color (and 4:3 format) show that was broadcast live decades earlier, while the second layer is a regularly framed but black and white behind-the-scenes footage. Both blend perfectly in a modest runtime of an hour and a half.

The last element of this extraordinary film is David Dastmalchian as Jack Delroy, the late-night show host who has fallen to his lowest point in both life and career. Dastmalchian is fantastic in presenting the multi-faceted Delroy, where many elements of personal motivation and drive, motivation, guilt, grief, and regret all mix with the insatiable need to be the number one in his field of business.

It’s a shame that the film generated an aura of controversy due to its incredibly minor and trivial use of AI-generated images for a couple of still shots. Beyond the issue of AI art use, Late Night with the Devil is a fantastic and innovative horror film that does for its genre what few have managed in many previous years.

This Christmas Chance - Romance Comedy about Second Chances

This year's holiday season might be some months away, but a good Christmas movie can touch its audience at any time. Thanks to that fact, classic holiday films endure in our hearts for years, even decades, mainly thanks to their characters and a meaning that goes deeper than merry Christmas decoration. This Christmas Chance is a movie that offers the exact same thing, mostly because it uses the holidays to tell a resonating story about making poor decisions and getting those rare, but crucial second chances in life and love. Here is how the film describes itself:

Chance Philips is a successful entrepreneur with a bright future and a dark past. While trying to build his business and right his wrongs, he meets Gabriel Dupree, a beautiful doctor who has a few secrets of her own. The two hit it off but everyone isn’t rooting for the new couple to succeed. The bitter, the broken, and the bad have aligned to destroy the couple’s chance for love and a joyous Christmas season.

The film was directed by William Collins and written by Leah Pride. It stars Benny L Andrews Jr. and Ashley Forrestier, alongside Ali Siddiq, who plays himself. Siddiq, whose unique style of stand-up got its start behind the walls of incarceration and later blossomed into a booming career. In 2022, Ali released a two-hour special called THE DOMINO EFFECT on YouTube. To date, THE DOMINO EFFECT four-part series has over 20 million views, ranking it in the top five most-watched comedy specials of all time. Like the film, Siddiq proves that second chances miracles happen every day.

He, along with the entire crew and cast, makes This Christmas Chance a truly unique film. The same is further enforced by the clear productional quality that puts the film on the same level as a big Hollywood release. But, ultimately, the key aspect of This Christmas Chance lies in the way it tells its story about giving love another chance, even when that chance seems a very distant possibility.

The entire film is available for free on YouTube and Tubi. Watch it right now, right here, and enjoy the holiday spirits in what is certainly going to become a classic Christmas movie!

Movie Review: Rebel Ridge (2024)

There’s no doubt that Jeremy Saulnier can deliver a mean and unusual thriller. Blue Ruin is borderline brilliant, while Green Room does a good job at keeping you interested past its exploitation-level punks vs nazis premise. But, at the same time, Saulnier’s films tend to pay a price for their unique vision. Hold the Dark is a perfect example of this notion and now, Rebel Ridge is likely taking the same bold but faulty formula even further.

The concept of his latest film is very straightforward - a former marine martial arts expert, Terry, goes via bicycle to a local courthouse in a backwater southern US. He wants to bail his cousin Mike out of jail and do it fast, as his life might be in danger inside. That is why Tery feels that he has only a limited time to do the same before potentially deadly harm comes to Mike. But, a chance encounter with a police patrol derlails the entire plan and puts him on a crash course with the entire local law enforcement.

Some have hailed Rebel Ridge as a thinking man’s modern version of Rambo. But, while the main character, played exceedingly well by Aaron Pierre, has the charisma to pull it off, the rest of the cast does not. What’s worse, the script also doesn’t have the fuel needed for a Rambo-like experience.

There is a huge focus on the police and court procedures, which should likely shine a light on the US system’s terror of those with the wrong color of skin or insufficient bank accounts. So, the entire script from start to finish is rooted in some kind of police procedural setup. To make things worse, these procedures take over nearly two and a half hours over the course of the film’s run time, which was completely unnecessary as well. Due to this, the constant but lackluster attempt at social commentary falls short and is more of a burden to the film than anything poignant or meaningful.

Rebel Ridge is a well-crafted film with a clear artistic design behind it, as well as a cast that gave it its best shot. But, Aaron Pierre alone cannot carry the faults that Saulnier embedded in the film’s script before the first shot was even filmed.

Beauty Grace Malice - Powerful Drama about Personal Change and the Empowerment of Growth

Anyone's life is a story of decisions and half-chances, some good, some bad. In the case of the independent film Beauty Grace Malice, the same life belongs to Grace, a woman down on her luck who risks losing the thing she loves the most. However, in the same dark, dangerous, and even violent chapter of her life, Grace also finds a chance to change herself and not just overcome her issues, but grow as an empowered woman who takes over control of her future. Here is how the film describes itself:

Starring TaJa Brittaney as Grace and Marlon Ladd as Elijah, Beauty Grace Malice tells the story of a resilient single mother, Grace, whose life unravels after being framed for a crime by her best friend and lover. As Grace fights to clear her name and reclaim custody of her son, Logan, she seeks the help of Elijah, a private investigator. But Elijah isn’t the stereotypical hero; instead, he serves as a mentor, teaching Grace how to regain control of her own life. Together, they navigate the treacherous world of deceit and betrayal, with Grace emerging not just as a survivor, but as an empowered woman determined to take control of her destiny.

The film, produced by Kris Young at 19 Artists Development and directed by the veteran movie maker, Terry Spears, Beauty Grace Malice dares to look behind the veil of everyday, regular society. Here, it finds and showcases a scene of broken families, crime, addiction, escorting services, and wanton violence. Sadly, these things are also commonplace in the modern reality, but often too disturbing for artists. For the crew in front and behind the camera of Beauty Grace Malice, there is a sense that these topics had to be explored and presented to the audience. Check out the film's trailer right here.

Through a multitude of characters and several developing plotlines, Beauty Grace Malice is clearly a powerful film that blends genres of thriller and drama to great effect. That in particular reverberates with anyone who also desires to see growth and change happen in their lives. At the same time, great art is always bold and there is little doubt that this film strives for the same ideal. The film is distributed by Indie Rights Movies and set for release on Amazon and Google Play October 2024. After the premiere the film will also make its way to Tubi and Indie Rights Movies' YouTube channel. For more information follow 19ArtistsDevelopment.com and once Beauty Grace Malice comes out, be sure to watch it!