Reeker (2005)

A group of young people try to understand the incidents and morbid visions they experience during a roadtrip break at an apparently abandoned motel.

'Reeker' is a horror film dressed in slasher clothes. It is full of originality in terms of all the incidents and the clarification at the end does not have a damaging effect despite the quasi-predictability. It would have benefited from a modern cinematic treatment, favor given to similar titles only in the last decade, due to the growing appreciation of the genre thanks to what we call "elevated horror".

Director:  Dave Payne   

With: Derek Richardson, Michael Ironside, Arielle Kebbel, Eric Mabius, Devon Gummersall

Rating: 8/10

Reeker (2005)

Un grup de tineri incearca sa inteleaga incidentele si viziunile morbide in timpul unei pauze de drum la un motel aparent parasit.

'Reeker' e un film de groaza imbracat in haine de slasher. E plin de originalitate in ceea ce priveste incidentele iar clarificarea de la final nu are un efect daunator in ciuda qvasi-previzibilitatii. Ar fi beneficiat de pe urma unui tratament cinematografic modern, favoare acordata genului numai in ultima decada, datorita aprecierii in crestere a genului multumita a ceea ce numim "elevated horror".

Regia:  Dave Payne   

Cu: Derek Richardson, Michael Ironside, Arielle Kebbel, Eric Mabius, Devon Gummersall

Rating: 8/10

Also available in English

No Men Beyond This Point (2015)

Intr-o realitate alternativa, femeile dau nastere la femei fara ajutorul barbatilor.

'No Men Beyond This Point' este un mockumentary cu o idee interesanta. Construit inteligent, reuseste sa arate umorul si contradictiile mai multor puncte de vedere.

Regia:  Damian Kindler   

Cu: Patrick Gilmore, Bronwen Smith, Tara Pratt

Rating: 7/10

Also available in English

No Men Beyond This Point (2015)

In an alternate reality, women give birth to women without the help of men.

'No Men Beyond This Point' is a mockumentary with an interesting idea. Intelligently constructed, it manages to show the humor and contradictions of several points of view.

Director:  Damian Kindler   

With: Patrick Gilmore, Bronwen Smith, Tara Pratt

Rating: 7/10

3 Body Problem (2024-)

A high-level organization begins to make big plans after scientists from all over the world die under suspicious circumstances.

'3 Body Problem' is a sci-fi series based on a series of popular books. It includes innovative ideas and issues of ethics, morality and the value of humanity that deserve attention. As for the execution, it leaves something to be desired, whether intentional or not (in case the message is more important than the medium of transmission). It beautifully combines different genres, but in its pseudo-conclusion, it follows the path of many other productions, becoming a tad derivative.

Director:  Minkie Spiro and others   

Production:  Netflix   

Creator: David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, Alexander Woo

Duration: 1 season of 9 episodes (42 minutes each)  

With: Jovan Adepo, Liam Cunningham, Eiza González, Benedict Wong, Rosalind Chao, Jess Hong, Jonathan Price, John Bradley

Rating: 7/10

3 Body Problem (2024-)

O organizatie de nivel inalt incepe sa faca planuri mari dupa ce oameni de stiinta din toata lumea mor in conditii dubioase.

'3 Body Problem' este un serial SF bazat pe a serie de carti populare. Include idei inovative si probleme de etica, moralitate si valoara umanitatii ce merita atentie. Ca executie, lasa de dorit, fie ca intentionat sau nu (in caz ca mesajul este mai important decat mediul de transmitere). Imbina frumos genuri diferite, dar ca pseudo-deznodamant, urmeaza calea multor alte productii.

Regia:  Minkie Spiro si altii   

Productie:  Netflix   

Creator: David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, Alexander Woo

Durata:  1 sezon de 9 episoade (42 minute fiecare)  

Cu: Jovan Adepo, Liam Cunningham, Eiza González, Benedict Wong, Rosalind Chao, Jess Hong, Jonathan Price, John Bradley

Also available in English

Rating: 7/10

Desaparecer por completo / Disappear Completely (2022)

A photographer inherits a curse involving the loss of all 5 senses at a crime scene.

'Disappear Completely' is a horror with an interesting idea. The action takes place slowly, implacably and the ending does not surprise much.

Director:  Luis Javier Henaine  

With: Harold Torres, Tete Espinoza, Fermín Martínez

Rating: 7/10

Desaparecer por completo / Disappear Completely (2022)

Un fotograf mosteneste un blestem ce implica pierderea celor 5 simturi de la o scena a unei crime.

'Disappear Completely' este un horror cu o idee interesanta. Actiunea se petrece incet, implacabil si finalul nu prea surprinde.

Regia:  Luis Javier Henaine  

Cu: Harold Torres, Tete Espinoza, Fermín Martínez

Rating: 7/10

Also available in English

Lore (2017-2018)

Fiecare episod din Lore analizeaza originile reale ale unor povesti traditionale sau mituri urbane.

'Lore' este un serial antologic interesant, ce alege cate o poveste din folclor sau un mit urban diferit pentru fiecare episod si puncteaza prin dramatizare facpte istorice reale ce au stat la baza originii acelei povesti (de exemplu lupul din Scufita Rosie este doar un barbat ce ascunde obiceuri si gusturi sinistre). Bine facut, bine documentat, si este interesant cum a atras nume destul de renumite pentru a da viata istoriei.

  

Productie:  Amazon   

Creator:  Aaron Mahnke

Durata: 2 sezoane a cate 6 episoade (40 minute fiecare)   

Cu: Emmett J Scanlan, Jürgen Prochnow, Paula Malcomson, Robert Patrick, Campbell Scott, Colme Feore, Alicia Witt, Kristin Bauer

Rating: 8/10

Also available in English

Lore (2017-2018)

Each episode of Lore analyzes the real origins of some traditional stories or urban myths.

'Lore' is an interesting anthology series, which chooses a different folklore story or urban myth for each episode and punctuates through dramatization real historical facts that were the basis of the origin of that story (for example the wolf in Little Red Riding Hood is only a man who hides sinister habits and tastes). Well made, well documented, and it's interesting how it attracted quite famous names to bring history back to life.

  

Production:  Amazon   

Creator:  Aaron Mahnke

Duration: 2 seasons of 6 episodes (40 minutes each)   

With: Emmett J Scanlan, Jürgen Prochnow, Paula Malcomson, Robert Patrick, Campbell Scott, Colme Feore, Alicia Witt, Kristin Bauer

Rating: 8/10

The Northman (2022)

Un print Viking jura razbunare pentru moartea tatalui sau.

'The Northman' este un film de actiune .. artistic. Stilizat pana la satietate, reuseste sa tina atentia privitorului, fara a-l forta sa aleaga partea dreptatii, eventual doar sugereaza favoriti. Bine facut, cu o distributie cu nume surprinzatoare, The Northman este o alegere binevenita.

Regia:  Robert Eggers   

Cu: Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang, Ethan Hawke, Anya Taylor-Joy, Willem Dafoe

Rating: 8/10

Also available in English

The Northman (2022)

A Viking prince vows revenge for his father's death.

'The Northman' is an action film.. that's quite artistic. Stylized to the point of satiety, it manages to hold the viewer's attention, without forcing them to choose a side justice belongs to, merely just suggesting favorites. Well made, with a cast of surprising names, The Northman is a welcome choice.

Director:  Robert Eggers   

With: Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang, Ethan Hawke, Anya Taylor-Joy, Willem Dafoe

Rating: 8/10

Anatomie d'une chute / Anatomy of a fall (2023)

A writer must reveal hidden truths in the trial that follows the death of her husband through a fall.

"Anatomy of a Fall" is a dramatic film that does not waste dialogue. Every discussion and exchange of lines has meaning and participates to the impressive amount of intention, implication and emotional baggage generated by the film. Impressive but not pleasant.

Director: Justine Triet   

With: Sandra Hüller, Swann Arlaud, Milo Machado-Graner, Antoine Reinartz

Rating: 8/10

Anatomie d'une chute / Anatomy of a fall (2023)

O scriitoare trebuie sa dezveleasca adevaruri ascunse in procesul ce urmeaza moartea sotului sau prin cadere.

'Anatomie d'une chute' este un film dramatic ce nu iroseste dialog. Fiecare discutie si schimb de replici are insemnatate si participa la cantitatea impresionanta de intentie, subinteles si bagaj emotional generate de film. Impresionant dar nu placut.

Regia: Justine Triet   

Cu: Sandra Hüller, Swann Arlaud, Milo Machado-Graner, Antoine Reinartz

Rating: 8/10

Also available in English

The White Lotus - Season 1 (2021)

Tensions arise between a hotel's guests and its employees after mistakes that messed up the rooms escalate.

'The White Lotus' is a tragicomic series that deals with the situations of a group that's consistently followed during the entire season. The situations are human, based on more or less aggravated realities that are meant to emphasize critical possibilities without committing strong opinions. Interesting but a bit bland for a first season.

Director:  Damian Kindler   

Production:  HBO   

Creator:  Mike White  

Duration:  the first season of 6 episodes (1 hour each)   

With: Jennifer Coolidge, Connie Britton, Murray Bartlett, Alexandra Daddario, Jake Lacy, Steve Zahn, Sydney Sweeney, Lukas Gage

Rating: 8/10

The White Lotus - Season 1 (2021)

Tensiuni apar intre clientii unui hotel si angajati dupa greseli ce au incurcat camerele.

'The White Lotus' este un serial tragicomic ce trateaza situatiile unui grup consistent urmarit pe durata intregului sezon. Situatiile sunt umane, bazate pe realitati mai mult sau mai putin agravate pentru a sublinia posibilitati critice fara a comite opinii. Interesant dar cam fad pentru un prim sezon.

Regia:  Damian Kindler   

Productie:  HBO   

Creator:  Mike White  

Durata:  primul sezon de 6 episoade (1 ora fiecare)   

Cu: Jennifer Coolidge, Connie Britton, Murray Bartlett, Alexandra Daddario, Jake Lacy, Steve Zahn, Sydney Sweeney, Lukas Gage

Rating: 8/10

Also available in English