Broil (2020)

A dysfunctional family gathers for a dinner with the head of the family, only to uncover secrets and conspiracies in an attempt to steal the family's power and wealth.

'Broil' is a mysterious horror film with sinister family drama. Made intentionally cryptic, with a slow story development and a focus on multiple characters with different intentions and hidden motives, Broil can be misinterpreted and perceived as unpleasant, but in essence it is intelligent and very interesting, the revelations and the ending being effective in keeping one's interest and to satisfy one's infinitely piqued from the beginning curiosity.

Director:  Edward Drake      

With: Jonathan Lipnicki, Avery Konrad, Timothy V. Murphy, Corey Large

Rating: 7/10

Color Out of Space (2019)

Viata unei familii ce traieste la o ferma izolata trece prin schimbari apocaliptice dupa aterizarea unui meteorit intrigant.

Un film SF netraditional, cu elemente comune cu un alt clasic ca The Thing, Colour Out Of Space se bazeaza pe o povestire scrisa de H.P. Lovecraft. Foloseste efecte vizuale foarte bogate si impresionante ce adancesc efectul artistic asupra privitorului, cu o simbolistica interesanta asociata culorii preponderente si anume movul, obtinut din rosu si albastru in anumite circumstante, cele doua culori fiind asociate in general cu binele si raul, movul sugerand lipsa de substrat malefic sau chiar opus, concepte necunoscute fortei extraterestre din film. Lipsit de logica in anumite momente, filmul este totusi impresionant, jocul actorilor este de prima mana (Nicolas Cage aminteste de rolul sau din Vampire's Kiss) si este placut de vizionat.

Regia:  Richard Stanley     

Cu: Nicolas Cage, Joely Richardson, Madeleine Arthur, Elliot Knight

Rating: 8/10

Also read in English

This Is Where I Leave You (2014)

Four very different siblings are required to spend a week together under the guise of a religious ritual triggered by the death of their father.

A family movie but a dysfunctional family one. Pleasant to watch and well written, it may seem a little slower for those who are not fans of the genre. With the typical topic of a life lesson learned at a rather late adult stage, this film contains enough elements and currently popular actors to appeal to various types of audience.

Jason Bateman and Tina Fey are already veterans of the comedy with meaning genre and Adam Driver is best known to current audiences from the latest Star Wars series, although he does a really good job in many less commercial films. Jane Fonda needs no introduction.

Corey Stoll and the gorgeous Connie Britton will look familiar from The Strain and from American Horror Story respectively.

Directed by: Shawn Levy
Screenplay: Jonathan Tropper
With: Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Jane Fonda, Adam Driver, Rose Byrne, Corey Stoll, Kathryn Hann, Connie Britton, Timothy Olyphant, Dax Shepard