Travelers (2016–2018)

Agenti dintr-un viitor trist sunt trimis in trecut, in constiinta celor pe cale de a muri, in incercarea de a repara soarta.

'Travelers' e un serial SF cu o idee ce are ceva merit. In genere se axeaza pe stilul "cazul saptamanii", dar din cand in cand incearca sa revolutioneze audienta cu continut original in variatiuni pe tema de paradox temporal. Interesant pana la sfarsit, chiar si cu finalul grabit de anulare.

Regia:  Andy Mikita si altii   

Productie:  Netflix   

Creator:  Brad Wright  

Durata:  3 sezoane a cate 10-12 episoade (45 minute fiecare)   

Cu: Eric McCormack, MacKenzie Porter, Nesta Cooper, Jared Abrahamson, Patrick Gilmore

Rating: 8/10

Also available in English

Travelers (2016–2018)

Agents from an apocalyptic future are sent into the past, into the consciousness of those about to die, in an attempt to repair humanity's fate.

'Travelers' is a sci-fi series with an idea that has some merit. It generally goes by a "case of the week" style, but from time to time it tries to revolutionize the audience with original content in variations on the theme of temporal paradoxes. Interesting until the end, even with the rushed (by cancellation) finale.

Director:  Andy Mikita and others   

Production:  Netflix   

Creator:  Brad Wright  

Duration:  3 seasons of 10-12 episodes (45 minutes each)   

With: Eric McCormack, MacKenzie Porter, Nesta Cooper, Jared Abrahamson, Patrick Gilmore

Rating: 8/10

You Are Not My Mother (2021)

Mama depresiva a lui Char dispare temporar si se intoarce cu diferente evidente pentru fiica ei.

'You Are Not My Mother' e un amestec de drama sociala si horror inspirat de fantezie folk cu changeling inversat. Foarte bine jucat, filmu;l e realizat cu dibacie regizorala si inspira un mix de tensiune si anxietate cu interpretare dubla.

Regia:  Kate Dolan   

Cu: Hazel Doupe, Carolyn Bracken, Ingrid Craigie, Jordanne Jones

Rating: 7.5/10

Also available in English

You Are Not My Mother (2021)

Char's depressed mother temporarily disappears and returns with differences that are obvious for her daughter.

'You Are Not My Mother' is a mixture of social drama and horror inspired by folk fantasy with a reversed changeling theme. Very well acted, the film is made with directorial skill and inspires a mix of tension and anxiety with a double interpretation.

Director:  Kate Dolan   

With: Hazel Doupe, Carolyn Bracken, Ingrid Craigie, Jordanne Jones

Rating: 7.5/10

Yellowjackets (2021– )

O echipa de fotbal feminin ramane blocata in muntii canadieni dupa prabusirea avionului ce le transporta la un meci.

'Yellowjackets' e un serial foarte original ce combina foarte eficace drama, horror si mister. Intr-un stil ce imbina evenimentele din salbaticie cu realitatea supravietuitoarelor 25 de ani mai tarziu, serialul reuseste sa creeze curiozitate si intriga atat pentru trecut precum si pentru prezent. Aminteste de 'Alive', 'Lord of the Flies' si reuseste sa ofere credibilitate deplina si talent pe masura intr-o actualizare moderna si egala.

Regia:  Eva Sørhaug si altii   

Productie:  Showtime, Paramount   

Creator:  Ashley Lyle, Bart Nuckerson   

Durata:  2 sezoane a cate 10 episoade (1 ora fiecare)

Cu: Melanie Lynskey, Tawny Cypress, Sophie Nélisse, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Steven Krueger, Liv Hewson, Christina Ricci, Ella Purnell, Kevin Alves, Courtney Eaton

Rating: 9/10 (s1-10, s2-7)

Also available in English

Yellowjackets (2021– )

A women's football team remains stranded in the Canadian mountains after the plane carrying them to a match crashed.

'Yellowjackets' is a very original series that very effectively combines drama, horror and mystery. In a style that combines the events of the wilderness with the reality of the survivors 25 years later, the series manages to create curiosity and intrigue both for the past and for the present. It reminds one of 'Alive', 'Lord of the Flies' and manages to offer full credibility and talent to measure in a modern and equal update to those ideas.

Director:  Eva Sørhaug and others   

Production:  Showtime, Paramount   

Creator:  Ashley Lyle, Bart Nuckerson   

Duration:  2 seasons of 10 episodes (1 hour each)

With: Melanie Lynskey, Tawny Cypress, Sophie Nélisse, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Steven Krueger, Liv Hewson, Christina Ricci, Ella Purnell, Kevin Alves, Courtney Eaton

Rating: 9/10 (s1-10, s2-7)

Mortal Kombat (2021)

Cole Young is cauta camarazi campioni care pot sa invinga fortele din Outworld.

'Mortal Kombat' este un film bazat pe jocul celebru, nu primul de felul sau. Plin de actiune dar nu cu cea mai satisfacatoare si completa poveste, Mortal Kombat reuseste sa mentina ceva interes, dar este slab comparat cu efectul jocului.

Regia:  Simon McQuoid    

Cu: Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Joe Taslim, Hiroyuki Sanada

Rating: 6/10

Also available in English

Mortal Kombat (2021)

Cole Young is looking for fellow champions who can defeat the forces of Outworld.

'Mortal Kombat' is a movie based on the famous game, not the first of its kind. Full of action but not the most satisfying and complete story, Mortal Kombat manages to maintain some interest, but it is weak compared to the excitement of playing the game.

Director:  Simon McQuoid    

With: Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Joe Taslim, Hiroyuki Sanada

Rating: 6/10

The Vatican Tapes (2015)

O tanara este ajutata de o echipa de exorcisti dupa ce arata semne de posesie demonica.

'The Vatican Tapes' este un film de groaza despre exorcisme cu implicarea Vaticanului. Departe de a fi original, filmul este decent si reuseste sa imbina sensibilitatea si fragilitatea umana cu violenta posibilitatii existentei demonilor.

Regia:  Mark Neveldine       

Cu: Olivia Taylor Dudley, Michael Peña, Dougray Scott, Djimon Hounsou

Rating: 7/10

Also available in English

The Vatican Tapes (2015)

A young woman is helped by a team of exorcists after showing signs of demonic possession.

'The Vatican Tapes' is a horror film about exorcisms involving the Vatican. Far from being original, the film is decent and manages to combine human sensitivity and fragility with the violence of the possibility of the existence of demons.

Director:  Mark Neveldine       

With: Olivia Taylor Dudley, Michael Peña, Dougray Scott, Djimon Hounsou

Rating: 7/10

The Age of Adaline (2015)

Adaline incepe sa nu mai imbatraneasca dupa un accident de masina si isi traieste viata reinventandu-si identitatea.

'The Age of Adaline' este o drama cu elemente romantice fantastice. Fara a contine o poveste complicata sau teribil de adanca, reuseste sa induca un pic de sentiment si in mod ciudat intelegere. Bun pentru o seara linistita de iarna.

Regia:  Lee Toland Krieger   

Cu: Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman, Harrison Ford, Kathy Baker

Rating: 7/10

Also available in English

The Age of Adaline (2015)

Adaline stops aging after a car accident and lives her life reinventing her identity.

'The Age of Adaline' is a drama with fantasy romantic elements. Without containing a complicated or terribly deep story, it manages to induce a bit of feeling and strangely understanding. Good for a quiet winter evening.

Director:  Lee Toland Krieger   

With: Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman, Harrison Ford, Kathy Baker

Rating: 7/10

Cobweb (2023)

An 8-year-old boy is curious about the knocks in the wall of his room.

'Cobweb' is a horror film that chooses some unexpected paths. Elements of the story are predictable but the final explanation is a surprise that can be received in various ways, depending on everyone's personality and their love for an unusual use of imagination. The technical methods used are modern and it is very refreshing and encouraging that the modern horror era takes the genre seriously in terms of budget, acting talent and direction. The current film is no exception.

Director:  Samuel Bodin     

With: Lizzy Caplan, Antony Starr, Cleopatra Coleman, Woody Norman

Rating: 8/10

Cobweb (2023)

Un baietel de 8 ani este curios despre ciocaniturile in peretele camerei sale.

'Cobweb' e un film de groaza ce alege cateva cai neasteptate. Elemente ale povestirii sunt previzibile dar explicatia finala e o surpriza ce poate fi primita in mod variat, depinzand de personalitatea fiecaruia si de dragostea lor pentru uzul neobisnuit de imaginatie. Metodele tehnice sunt moderne si e foarte refreshing si incurajator ca epoca horror moderna ia genul in serios in ceea ce priveste buget, talent actoricesc si regie. Filmul de fata nu e exceptie.

Regia:  Samuel Bodin     

Cu: Lizzy Caplan, Antony Starr, Cleopatra Coleman, Woody Norman

Rating: 8/10

Also available in English

The Outsider (2018)

In Japonia imediat dupa razboi, un fost soldat isi gaseste locul in mafia japoneza.

'The Outsider' e un thriller dramatic interesant. Aduce personajul tip John Blackthorne (Shogun) intr-un context japonez qvasi modern si in vremea onorii Yakuza ce pastreaza cat de cat traditia veche de samurai. Bine realizat, filmul nu are mult dialog, si cat are apartine in general personajelor antipatice, si reuseste sa atraga interesul prin mister si portretizarea sentimentelor umane de prietenie si loialitate.

Regia:  Martin Zandvliet     

Cu: Jared Leto, Tadanobu Asano, Kippei Shîna, Shioli Kutsuna

Rating: 7.5/10

Also available in English

The Outsider (2018)

In Japan immediately after the war, a former soldier finds his place in the Japanese mafia.

'The Outsider' is an interesting dramatic thriller. It brings the John Blackthorne type of character (Shogun) in a quasi-modern Japanese context and in the time of Yakuza honor that preserves somewhat the old samurai tradition. Well made, the film doesn't have much dialogue, and the little it has generally belongs to the unlikeable characters, and it manages to attract interest through mystery and the portrayal of human feelings of friendship and loyalty.

Director:  Martin Zandvliet     

With: Jared Leto, Tadanobu Asano, Kippei Shîna, Shioli Kutsuna

Rating: 7.5/10

Reminiscence (2021)

Nick e un investigator ce foloseste memoria clientilor cu o tehnologie speciala.

'Reminiscence' e un film noir SF. Interesant ca idee, dar nu primul de felul sau (Strange Days, The Final Cut),  Reminiscence reuseste sa readuca stilul noir la suprafata cu o intriga demna de legenda genului. Povestea de dragoste e un pic generica si predictiva dar nu strica efectul total.

Regia:  Lisa Joy      

Cu: Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Ferguson, Thandiwe Newton, Cliff Curtis

Rating: 7.6/10

Also available in English

Reminiscence (2021)

Nick is an investigator who uses the memory of his clients as prime material with a special technology.

'Reminiscence' is a sci-fi noir film. Interesting in terms of idea, but not the first of its kind (Strange Days, The Final Cut), Reminiscence manages to bring the noir style back on the table with a plot worthy of the genre's legend. The love story is a bit generic and predictable, but it doesn't spoil the overall effect..too much.

Director:  Lisa Joy      

With: Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Ferguson, Thandiwe Newton, Cliff Curtis

Rating: 7.6/10

War On Everyone (2016)

Doi politisti corupti si ingnoranti incep sa investigheze un criminal ce pare a fi mai periculos decat ei insisi.

'War On Everyone' e o comedie atipica. Fara a fi parodie, e totusi plina de situatii exagerate si reuseste sa distreze vizionatorul foarte eficient prin oferirea unui cuplu de antieroi cu care nu trebuie sa fii de acord. Umorul este evidentiat la tot pasul, aproape pasiv dar nelipsit.

Regia:  John Michael McDonagh     

Cu: Alexander Skarsgård, Michael Peña, Theo James, Tessa Thompson, Caleb Landry Jones, David Wilmot, Paul Reiser

Rating: 8/10

Also available in English

War On Everyone (2016)

Two corrupt and ignorant policemen begin to investigate a criminal who seems to be more dangerous than themselves.

'War On Everyone' is an atypical comedy. Without being a parody, it is still full of exaggerated situations and manages to entertain the viewer very effectively by offering a couple of anti-heroes with whom you do not have to agree. Humor is highlighted at every step, almost passively but everpresent.

Director:  John Michael McDonagh     

With: Alexander Skarsgård, Michael Peña, Theo James, Tessa Thompson, Caleb Landry Jones, David Wilmot, Paul Reiser

Rating: 8/10

American Horror Story 10: Double Feature (2021)

Un scriitor si familia sa se retrag intr-un orasel cunoscut pentru efectul de muza.

Un grup de prieteni studenti descopera ca sunt insarcinati dupa o excursie de camping. 

'Red Tide' este prima povestire (feature) din sezonul 10, un sezon special, realizat ca o combinatie de 2 genuri, si are 6 episoade.

Merge pe un trope horror axat pe prezenta vampirica, dar stilizata un pic diferit. Vampirismul este prezentat ca o dependenta de a fi cunoscut si apreciat, dar "calitatea" devenirii este conditionata de prezenta de talent. Cu adevarat o problema si caracteristica deplin umana dar cu efecte si consecinte foarte nefaste si greu de reparat. Seria este realizata eficient, cu talentul vizual bine cunoscut, si se bazeaza pe o echipa de preferati, inclusiv Evan Peters, Lily Rabe si Frances Conroy. De asemenea, este feature-ul ce merita atentia cea mai multa.

'Death Valley' este titlul celei de-a doua povestiri (feature), cu doar 4 episoade. Se bazeaza pe teorii conspirationiste despre extraterestri si foloseste idea de 'body snatchers' intr-o poveste foarte bogata in evenimente cat de cat mai colorate si exagerate, incat ironia se pierde undeva pe drum si seria sufera de sindromul "style over substance".

Regia:  John J. Gray, Loni Peristere   

Productia:  FX Network   

Creator: Brad Falchuk, Ryan Murphy   

Duration:  sezonul 10 de 10 episoade (1 ora fiecare)   

Cu: Sarah Paulson, Billie Lourd, Leslie Grossman, Evan Peters, Lily Rabe, Frances Conroy, Finn Wittrock, Angelica Ross, Macaulay Culkin, Ryan Kiera Armstrong

Rating: 7/10

Also available in English

American Horror Story 10: Double Feature (2021)

A writer and his family move to a town known for its muse effect.

A group of student friends discover they are pregnant after a camping trip.

'Red Tide' is the first story (feature) from season 10, a special season, created as a combination of 2 genres, and has 6 episodes.

It follows a horror trope focused on vampiric presence, but stylized a little differently. Vampirism is presented as an addiction to being known and appreciated, but the "quality" of becoming one is conditioned by the presence of talent. Truly a fully human problem and characteristic, but with very negative effects and consequences that are difficult to repair. The series is efficiently executed, with the well-known visual artistry, and is based on a team of fan favorites, including Evan Peters, Lily Rabe and Frances Conroy. It is also the feature that deserves the most attention.

'Death Valley' is the title of the second story (feature), with only 4 episodes. It is based on conspiracy theories about aliens and uses the idea of ​​'body snatchers' in a story that's very rich in colorful and outlandish events, so much so that the irony is lost somewhere along the way and the series suffers from the "style over substance" syndrome.

Director:  John J. Gray, Loni Peristere   

Production:  FX Network   

Creator: Brad Falchuk, Ryan Murphy   

Duration:  season 10 of 10 episodes (1 hour each)   

With: Sarah Paulson, Billie Lourd, Leslie Grossman, Evan Peters, Lily Rabe, Frances Conroy, Finn Wittrock, Angelica Ross, Macaulay Culkin, Ryan Kiera Armstrong

Rating: 7/10

Anti Matter (2016)

O cercetatoare descopera o forma de teleportare si incepe sa aiba idee despre ce anume ne formeaza fiinta.

'Anti Matter' e un film dramatic SF ce are cateva idei interesante aduse la viata cu un buget redus. Incepe incet, dar eficient si cu un progres natural si apoi strecoara subtil cateva episoade ce pot frustra temporar dar explicatia finala e intriganta de ajuns.

Regia:  Keir Burrows    

Cu: Yaiza Figueroa, Philippa Carson, Tom Barber-Duffy, Noah Maxwell Clarke

Rating: 7.5/10

Also available in English

Anti Matter (2016)

A researcher discovers a form of teleportation and begins to have an idea of ​​what exactly forms our being.

'Anti Matter' is a dramatic sci-fi film that has some interesting ideas brought to life on a low budget. It starts slowly, but efficiently and with a natural progression and then subtly slips in a few episodes that can be temporarily frustrating, but the final explanation is intriguing enough to make it still worthwhile.

Director:  Keir Burrows    

With: Yaiza Figueroa, Philippa Carson, Tom Barber-Duffy, Noah Maxwell Clarke

Rating: 7.5/10

Bodies (2023)

Four London detectives from 4 different periods find the same body, in the same place.

'Bodies' is a miniseries with an interesting concept. The plot and the explanation of the mystery are copied from the Doctor Who manual, but without the original's ability to make nonsense make sense and have appeal. However, the 4 perspectives of the same case offer an interesting opportunity to create relevant and believable characters that interact with what surrounds them in an interesting way and that is worth watching.

Director:  Marco Kreuzpaintner,    Haolu Wang

Production:  Netflix   

Creator:  Paul Tomalin   

Duration:  miniseries of 8 episodes (~55 minutes each)  

With: Amaka Okafor, Kyle Soller, Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, Shira Haas, Stephen Graham, Greta Scacchi, Synnove Karlsen, George Parker, Michael Jibson

Rating: 7/10

Bodies (2023)

Patru detectivi londonezi din 4 perioade diferite gasesc acelasi corp, in acelasi loc.

'Bodies' e un miniserial cu un concept interesant. Intriga si explicatia misterului sunt copiate din manualul Doctor Who, dar fara abilitatea originala de a face nonsensul sa aiba sens si appeal. In schimb, cele 4 perspective ale aceluiasi caz ofera o ocazie interesanta de a crea personaje relevante si credibile ce interactioneaza cu ceea ce ii inconjoara intr-un mod interesant si care merita vazut.

Regia:  Marco Kreuzpaintner,    Haolu Wang

Productie:  Netflix   

Creator:  Paul Tomalin   

Durata:  miniserie de 8 episoade (~55 minute fiecare)  

Cu: Amaka Okafor, Kyle Soller, Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, Shira Haas, Stephen Graham, Greta Scacchi, Synnove Karlsen, George Parker, Michael Jibson

Rating: 7/10

Also available in English