Hush (2016) - 8 stars out of 10

Hush (2016) - 8 stars out of 10

“Hush” is an interesting take on the slasher film genre.  Rather than frightening the audience with a series of graphic murders, this film frightens its audience through anticipation and suspense.  This indie-film-meets-classic-horror combination will keep your heart pounding from start to finish.  The entire movie is dark, as any moment that may seem pleasant is overshadowed by the stalker that is moving around behind the deaf main character.  It is simply a never-ending series of suspenseful moments.  While a lot of horror films give you a fear of being shot or a fear of being stabbed, this one creates a fear of being deaf.  The writers create one of the most helpless situations imaginable and exploit it.  The narrative of the story is impressive as it gains our attention and quickly creates connections to a character who cannot speak.  It quickly engages us in a mystery but if you want answers at the end, this is not your movie.  The story’s lack of clarification reminds me of J.J. Abrams’ Mystery Box theory, in which discovering what is inside of “the box” is always less exciting than the mystery of what could be in inside.  It doesn’t matter who the murderer is or why he is there.  What matters is his psychological rejection of morality and the resulting situation.  So much of the film is disturbing because of the murderer’s seemingly random selection of this victim.  Moreover, he inflicts psychological torture on her by frightening her until she can no longer handle being trapped.  There is very little blood for the first hour of the movie.  And then the entire movie busts open and things get completely out of control!  There is no big twist because the story doesn't need one; it is frightening enough in its very concept.  I didn't know if director Mike Flannigan could ever reach the same level of creativity and suspense that he attained with "Oculus," but he has proven himself by generating the same amount of psychological terror, only in a very different way.  Every minute of the film is well-acted with Kate Siegel telling most of her story through facial expressions and body language as well as John Gallagher Jr.’s merciless game of cat and mouse.  In an homage to "Torn Curtain," the film emphasizes the human will to live and the amount of brute human strength necessary to kill someone with your bare hands.  Those are the moments where these actors transcend the screen and become so real that it is uncomfortable to watch (particularly the part with her hand…)  “Hush” succeeds because it goes beyond the blood and makes a statement about the psychology of murderers.  If you want answers, you aren’t going to get them.  But if you want suspense, this film will fulfill your quota for the next two months.

[Pictured: This story comes up with the creepiest ways to exploit the inability to hear]

The Escapist (2008) - 7 stars out of 10

The Escapist (2008) - 7 stars out of 10

“The Escapist” is a complex thriller that details the planning and execution of a prison escape.  The complexity of the film comes from its non-sequential timeline which intermingles the scenes of each narrative.  Both parts of the story occur in chronological order but their simultaneous presentation enhances the incredible twist ending.  With this movie’s unique script, odd musical score, and raw portrayal of prison life, it screams “indie film.”  The setting also breaks the mold of big-budget prison films, favoring an old stone jail over a high-tech, maximum security prison.  It also has the high quality acting that we have come to expect from the indie film trend.  I find Brian Cox to be an underrated actor and this role (that was specifically written for him) gives him an opportunity to shine.  Amidst all of the naked butts that appear throughout the film, he plays his character with a consistent intensity that drives the film to its shocking conclusion.  He is surrounded by a handful of those talented actors that you recognize from other films but you can’t remember their names.  As a unit, his crew becomes a character of its own.  This “character” grows throughout the film as it deals with the internal conflicts of its diverse set of personalities.  The film is above average in many respects but its only earth-shattering quality is its final four minutes.  It is something that you just have to experience.  It may be better to wait until you are an adult, as the content of the film has a lot of grit and is beyond the comprehension of younger audiences.  “The Escapist” twists your mind with its unconventional timeline, but it all adds up in its final recapitulation which will have you rewinding to make sure that you understand what actually happened.

[Pictured: The unique prison setting creates all sorts of cool shots like this one]

Dirty Pretty Things - 7 stars out of 10

Dirty Pretty Things - 7 stars out of 10

"Dirty Pretty Things" is a well-acted film with a very odd plot.  This bizarre story of love, illegal immigrants, and organ harvesting will keep you curious from start to finish.  You really never know what might happen next in this one.  The driving force behind this entire plot is Chiwetel Ejiofor in the lead role.  This is the performance that brought him into the spotlight and he has continued to grow since he played this role at the age of 25.  He is complimented by Audrey Tautou, fresh off of her success in the critically-acclaimed “Amélie.”  Their meager love story is completely unmemorable, but I believe this to be the director’s intention in order to keep the film’s focus on the exploitation of immigrants.  The entire film has a deliberately disjointed feel through its odd musical score, rapid cuts from shot to shot, and frequent moments without dialogue.  The end effect is an edginess that makes the entire film feel slightly uncomfortable.  The disjointedness results in a film that isn’t really that “fun” to watch but it leaves an impression.  “Dirty Pretty Things” is a unique film that delivers a disturbing story with an unexpectedly satisfying resolution.

[Pictured: The strongly portrayed emotions of these two is reason enough to watch the film]

Minions (2015) - 5 stars out of 10

Minions (2015) - 5 stars out of 10

“Minions” is precisely what we thought it would be.  This spin-off of the “Despicable Me” franchise creates laugh out loud comedic moments with its sight gags but lacks the heart and compelling story of the original.  I will be the first to admit that it is nothing short of amazing that these writers were able to create an entire movie with three main characters that speak a combination of gibberish, Spanish, and… Pig Latin?  They are paired with a few characters throughout the film whose comprehensible dialogue helps to advance the plot, but the majority of the story progresses through the visual cues of the Minions.  Still, the story is very superficial.  The ending of “Despicable Me” had me in tears but this one is just a long string of sight gags that, funny as they may be, never reach us on an emotional level.  The opening sequence of the Minions throughout history is genius and the interpretation of 1960’s Queen Elizabeth II is hilarious; unfortunately, the film takes a few too many steps over the line between appropriate and inappropriate.  We don't need to see a minion in a thong, at least a dozen jokes about butts, the minions eyes inside of the woman disguise, and the British guards certainly didn't need to dance around in their underwear while slapping each other’s (you guessed it) butts.  Too much of the humor is aimed at adults with its intentional edginess but the movie is too childish for adults to watch on their own.  Maybe I’m becoming more sensitive in adulthood, but it feels like many of the gags in this movie go beyond what parents want their children to watch.  It is certainly a far cry from "Zootopia," which was a perfect balance of entertainment for children and adults.  My other issue with this film is that it praises villainy without delivering the message of its predecessors that it is better to be good than bad.  This movie doesn’t actually have any message other than “The Minions like to follow bad guys but accidentally ruin their plans.”  My issues with the story aren’t meant to take anything away from the impressive animation, the voice talents of Pierre Coffin (as the Minions) and Sandra Bullock as Scarlet Overkill, the creativity of the 1968 setting, or the many comical moments throughout the film.  “Minions” capitalizes on the popularity of these characters and their slightly off-color humor, but it also brings about a realization that the Minions work better as comic relief than they do as star material.

[Pictured: It's a ton of fun to watch The Minions get placed into a ton of hilarious historic situations throughout this film, but the story just lacks the heart of its predecessors]