Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)

A young woman tries to reintegrate into normality after escaping from a dangerous cult.

'Martha Marcy May Marlene' is a psychological drama film. Elizabeth Olsen is magnetic and carries a difficult role easily and brilliantly. It is not an easy viewing, but it is intense and hard to ignore.

Director:  Sean Durkin    

With: Elizabeth Olsen, Sarah Paulson, John Hawkes, Christopher Abbott, Hugh Dancy, Julia Garner

Rating: 8.4/10

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

American Horror Story 9: 1984 (2019)

Five friends sign up as counselors at a summer camp in 1984.

Season 9 of AHS is based on the style of 80's slasher movies. In order to try and fill an entire season with something so mundane and usually short-lived, the creators mixed the style with a bit of supernatural, twists, and 3 different serial killers, each with their own agenda. More interesting than expected but not enough to make the season worth it.

Director:  Bradley Buecker, Jennifer Lynch and others

Production:  FX Network   

Creator: Brad Falchuk, Ryan Murphy   

Duration:  season 9 of 9 episodes (1 hour each)   

With: Sarah Paulson, Matthew Morrison, Billie Lourd, Leslie Grossman, Emma Roberts, John Carroll Lynch, Angelica Ross, Orla Brady, Zach Villa

Rating: 6/10

American Horror Story 8: Apocalypse (2018)

After a global nuclear attack, a chosen few retreat to underground shelters where the rules are unexpectedly changed.

Season 8 of American Horror Story sees some of the favorites from seasons 1 and 3 reunited in a story that mixes original content (full of apocalyptic elements and an expected Antichrist) with stories from previous seasons (1, 3 and 5). Maybe it's not as strong a season as the ones mentioned, but the continuity and the familiar faces, as well as the gift of a satisfying closure for all create a strong effect that has quite a weight to it.

Director:  Bradley Buecker, jennifer Lynch, Sarah Paulson and others

Production:  FX Network   

Creator: Brad Falchuk, Ryan Murphy   

Duration:  season 8 of 10 episodes (1 hour each)   

With: Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Billie Lourd, Adina Porter, Cheyenne Jackson, Frances Conroy, Leslie Grossman, Emma Roberts, Cody Fern, Kathy Bates, Connie Britton, Jessica Lange, Taissa Farmiga

Rating: 8/10

American Horror Story: Cult (2017-2018)

A couple going through turmoil due to anxiety and phobias during an uncertain political climate finds themselves in the middle of events caused by a cult.

'Cult' is the seventh season of American Horror Story. It follows the already well-known recipe in which a single story occupies the entire season, with the chosen theme belonging to a horror subgenre. The present case is a slasher type one with well-established real historical cult influences. As usual, the team is led by the very talented Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters, with a story that takes a while to find its voice, but towards the end it captivates enough. The ending is so and so, but liberating.

Director:  Bradley Buecker, Angela Bassett and others

Production:  FX Network   

Creator: Brad Falchuk, Ryan Murphy   

Duration:  season 7 with 11 episoade (1 hour each)   

With: Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Billie Lourd, Adina Porter, Cheyenne Jackson, Frances Conroy, Leslie Grossman, Emma Roberts, Mare Winningham, Chaz Bono, Alison Pill

Rating: 7/10

Glass (2019)

Glass, Overseer si Beast sunt adusi impreuna de circumstante externe pentru a putea fi convinsi ca impresia de a avea puteri speciale este o dereglare psihica.

Al treilea film dintr-o trilogie anuntata, Glass in sfarsit leaga intamplarile din Unbreakable si Split. Cu o premisa slabuta (convingerea ca abilitatile speciale sunt doar umane si nu mistice ar trebui sa distruga puterea celor trei...) ce contrazice primul film (David era "special" fara sa fie constient de asta), filmul se desfasoara oarecum rapid si se termina ca un balon dezumflat dezvaluind implicarea unui al treilea tip de jucator. 

Ca entertainment filmul functioneaza ok, ca o continuare pentru fanii unei capodopere (Unbreakable) este dezamagitor.

Regie/scenariu: M. Night Shyamalan

Cu: James McAvoy, Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Sarah Paulson, Anya Taylor-Joy, Spencer Treat Clark

Rating: 7/10

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