Brahms: The Boy II (2020)

O familie noua se muta la Heelshire Mansion, intr-o incercare de a se reface dupa experiente traumatice, dar evenimentele locale noi si vechi inca prezinta urme ale trecutului.

Un film de groaza destul de standard, urmarea lui The Boy. Primul film ne-a pus pe urma supranaturalului pentru ca apoi sa ne trezeasca cu un deznodamant mult mai natural, pe cand filmul de fata ne confirma ca aveam dreptate de la inceput. Interesant ca schimbare de 180 de grade de gen si stil, dar ca executie, Brahms duce lipsa de multe si se bazeaza prea mult pe clisee ale genului (i.e.: asa-zisele "jump scares").

Regia:  William Brent Bell   

Cu: Katie Holmes, Christopher Convery, Owain Yeoman, Ralph Ineson

Rating: 6/10

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Brahms: The Boy II (2020)

A new family moves to Heelshire Mansion in an attempt to recover from traumatic experiences, but new and old local events still show traces of the past.

A fairly standard horror film, the sequel to The Boy. The first film put us on a thought trail of the supernatural kind and then abruptly woke us to a much natural outcome, while this film confirms that we were right all along. Interesting as a 180-degree change in genre and style, but when it comes to its execution, Brahms lacks much and it relies too much on genre tropes (i.e. the much dreaded "jump scares").

Director:  William Brent Bell   

With: Katie Holmes, Christopher Convery, Owain Yeoman, Ralph Ineson

Rating: 6/10

The Order (2019–2020)

Un tanar dornic de razbunare se inscrie la o universitate dominata de o societate secreta, unde supranaturalul face parte din viata cotidiana.

Un serial despre supranatural si adolescenti si vraji si varcolaci. Destul de comun in zilele astea, mai ales in lumea atator obsesii dupa carti de tip Young Adult. Si totusi The Order merita mai mult. Cu un personaj principal oarecum antipatic si o echipa de productie ce nu pare constienta de principiul de retake (multe scene par filmate si pastrate de la prima incercare), serialul nu pare sa promita prea multe, dar dialogul istet si in zeflemea, restul personajelor ce sunt mult mai captivante si bine puse in valoare precum si interactiunea distractiva a acestora fac rabdarea unui inceput oarecum incet sa fie rasplatita in mod neasteptat. 

Daca Netflix (sau scenaristii) si-ar fi dat seama din timp pe ce sa puna accent, poate The Order nu ar fi fost anulat dupa doar 2 sezoane.

Regia:  Leslie Hope si altii  

Productie:  Netflix  

Creator:  Dennis Heaton, Shelley Eriksen    

Durata:  2 sezoane a cate 10 episoade (45 de minute fiecare)   

Cu: Jake Manley, Sarah Grey, Adam DiMarco, Louriza Tronco, Katharine Isabelle, Thomas Elms, Devery Jacobs, Max Martini

Rating: 7/10

Also read in English

The Order (2019–2020)

A young man eager for revenge enrolls in a university dominated by a secret society, where the supernatural is part of everyday life.

A series about the supernatural and teenagers and spells and werewolves. Quite common these days, especially in the world of such a strong Young Adult books mania. And yet The Order deserves a bit more. With a somewhat unlikeable main character and a production team that doesn't seem to be aware of the principle of retakes (many scenes seem filmed and wrapped up from the first try), the series doesn't seem to promise much, but the clever and bantery dialogue, the rest of the much more captivating and well developed characters as well as their fun interaction make one's patience over a somewhat slow start damn worthwhile.

If Netflix (or the screenwriters) had figured out in good time what the focus of the story should be, maybe The Order wouldn't have been canceled after only 2 seasons.

Director:  Leslie Hope and others  

Production:  Netflix  

Creator:  Dennis Heaton, Shelley Eriksen    

Duration:  2 seasons of 10 episodes each (45 minutes long)   

With: Jake Manley, Sarah Grey, Adam DiMarco, Louriza Tronco, Katharine Isabelle, Thomas Elms, Devery Jacobs, Max Martini

Rating: 7/10

Escape Room (2019)

Saze indivizi primesc o invitatie misterioasa pentru a participa la un Escape Room popular, dar jocul devine serios.

A fost o mare de filme in ultimii ani bazate pe ideea de Escape Room cu un twist, majoritatea de o calitate indoielnica. Filmul de fata adera oarecum mai tarziu la aceasta moda, dar le da clasa la toate. Este inteligent, captivant, amintind adesea de un Cube timpuriu, si cu toate defectele ce sunt intr-adevar totusi prezente, este un succes in ceea ce priveste entertainmentul si suspansul garantat privitorului.

Regia:  Adam Robitel    

Cu: Taylor Russell, Logan Miller, Jay Ellis, Tyler Labine, Deborah Ann Woll

Rating: 9/10

Also read in English

Escape Room (2019)

Six individuals receive a mysterious invitation to participate in a popular Escape Room, but the play turns serious.

There have been a  variety of ​​horrors in recent years based on the idea of ​​an escape room gone wrong, most of a questionable quality. The current film adheres somewhat late to this fashion, but could teach all of those a lesson. It is intelligent, captivating, often reminiscent of an early Cube vibe, and even with all its flaws which aren't exactly missing, it's a real success when it comes to entertainment and suspense that ate guaranteed to the viewer.

Director:  Adam Robitel    

With: Taylor Russell, Logan Miller, Jay Ellis, Tyler Labine, Deborah Ann Woll

Rating: 9/10

The Hole in the Ground (2019)

O mama traieste cu fiul sau intr-un satuc in Irlanda si incepe sa creada ca acesta nu este fiul ei.

Inca o poveste de groaza ce implica copii cu schimbari de comportament. Ideea de changeling a devenit foarte comuna si desi filmul prezinta cateva atuu-ri in ceea ce priveste atmosfera, calitatea imaginii si cinematografia, povestea e atat de obosita ca acestea nu prea ajuta in a ridica filmul din mediocritate.

Regia:  Lee Cronin   

Cu: Seána Kerslake, James Quinn Markey, Kati Outinen, David Crowley, James Cosmo

Rating: 6/10

Also read in English