The Boogeyman (2023)

After the death of the mother, a family becomes vulnerable to the sadistic influence of a demon who wants the children.

'The Boogeyman' is a new adaptation of Stephen King's novel. The appearance of the demon, the predilection for child victims and the suggested intensity of the dark's danger are deeply reminiscent of King's style. "The monster" is visually effective, but more so through movements and simple suggestions, the darkness in all its shades being an extremely effective tool. The typical horror effects are of high quality, and the story is also intense enough. A treat

Director:  Rob Savage      

With: Sophie Thatcher, Chris Messina, Vivien Lyra Blair, David Dastmalchian

Rating: 9/10

Doctor Sleep (2019)

Danny Torrance a crescut si devenit un aparator al copiilor asemanatori lui ce sunt in pericol de a deveni victimele unor supranaturali ce ii consuma pentru a-si prelungi existenta.

Un film de groaza bazat pe un roman de Stephen King ce e diferit de restul. Se indeparteaza frumos de The Shining dar ofera un context global pentru acest mit al stralucirii supranaturale. Elementele fanteziste arata darul lui Stephen King pentru a infiripa povesti fascinante si originale dar, ca de obicei, sunt insotite de suferinta inocentilor in diverse forme, adesea cea mai intensa sursa de asa-zisa oroare a genului de groaza. Multe idei sunt prezentate, multe actiuni au loc, si personaje dezvoltate ca la carte se perinda pe ecran, dar ceva ceva ii lipseste pentru a atinge un nivel cult de capodopera, poate atentia/obsesia pentru detalii este propriul obstacol. Foarte entertaining de altfel.

Regia:  Mike Flanagan    

Cu: Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson, Kyliegh Curran, Cliff Curtis

Rating: 8/10

Also read in English

In The Tall Grass (2019)

Atrasi de strigate de ajutor, o sora insarcinata si fratele sau patrund intr-un camp vast de iarba inalta fara vreun semn ca s-ar mai putea intoarce.

Un film in stilul de groaza al lui Stephen King bazat pe o nuvela scrisa de el si fiul acestuia - Joe Hill. Regizat de Vincenzo Natali ce este un maestru al genului (Splice, episoade variate din Hannibal, Locke & Key, Cube, Cypher si multe altele), prezinta toate amprentele acestuia, de la scenele foarte stilate de cosmar, finetea miscarilor ierbii si fluiditatea scenelor ce se pierd unele in altele pe nesimtite. Cu un final oarecum deschis, ce poate fi interpretat in functie de preferintele proprii legate de definitia paradoxurilor temporale, In The Tall Grass este cel putin interesant.

Regia:  Vincenzo Natali   

Cu: Laysla De Oliveira, Avery Whitted, Patrick Wilson, Will Buie Jr.

Rating: 7/10

Also read in English

1922 (2017)

Un fermier pune la cale omorul sotiei sale pentru avantaje financiare si isi convinge fiul sa il ajute.

Un film bine facut si bine jucat. Filmul arata consecintele nefaste ale unei asemenea actiuni inclusiv apasarea constiintei faptasului. Ceva ceva nu se leaga cum trebuie, si cred ca este legat de personajul principal ce detine trasaturi de caracter contradictorii. Simplitatea fermierului este evidentiata in diverse ocazii si nu cred ca poat aparea indoieli asupra acestui fapt dar in schimb luptele constiintei sale par neasteptat de complexe, ca o intelepciune pe care nu poti sa i-o atribui aceluiasi individ.
Nu este aproape in nici o masura horror asa ca nu trebuie urmarit ca unul.
Merita vazut totusi.

Regia/Scenariu: Zak Hildich
Dupa un roman de: Stephen King
Cu: Thomas Jane, Molly Parker, Dylan Schmid, Neal McDonough

Also read in English

It (2017)

In a provincial town with a record death rate, a group of old (and new) friends decide to find an explanation for the unusual way in which some  of the local children disappeared.

Another film based on a Stephen King book, this one is actually a remake of a now cult movie (the first half only actually, the sequel was just released this year). Far superior to the original,  it has the advantage of the times and the budget of big studios (the original was a TV miniseries produced long before the changes brought by Lost, Game of Thrones and Netflix).

It's labelled as a horror flick and it is really, but it's missing some of the necessary elements. It's more like a trip to a horror theme park, with much better special effects, but where you are so bombarded with beautifully choreographed "boo"s that you just don't have time to build up fear and mystery and be effectively scared. It works much better as an adventure movie, much like other classics like The Goonies or Stand By Me.

Screenplay: Chase Palmer, Cary Joji Fukunaga, Gary Dauberman, Stephen King
Directed by: Andy Muschietti
Featuring: Bill Skarsgård, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard