It Follows - 8 stars out of 10

It Follows - 8 stars out of 10

“It Follows” is a surprisingly good horror film.  The premise seems a bit silly, centering around a curse that is passed from person to person by having an “adult” encounter.  The supernatural entity then slowly follows you until it either kills you or is passed on to someone new by the same means.  The synopsis is a headscratcher until you watch it and understand its symbolism.  If you’re catching on, the film can be an allegory for several different things including AIDS and STDs.  It is pretty genius to incorporate this into a horror film since the lifelong consequences of these diseases are scarier than any slasher film.  The most clever part of the film is that you can’t get rid of “It” – once “It” catches someone, “It” starts working “Its” way back down the line until “It” gets to you.  You can buy yourself some time but it will eventually catch up to you, similarly to how you cannot escape the physical and emotional toll of these diseases.  I hesitated to watch this film because I knew that there would be a lot of adult content but director David Robert Mitchell focuses on the consequences of the action instead of the action itself.  That being said, the content is too extreme for kids or teens and the R-rating should be observed.  The acting is quite good for such a young cast, particularly Maika Monroe and Daniel Zovatto whose characters really popped off of the screen.  The most impressive part of the film is its portrayal of the entity.  It catches you off guard because it takes different forms, sometimes normal and sometimes frightening (and particularly gross at times).  Perhaps the scariest thing about the entity is its slow speed.  It enhances the sense of dread that you can get away but you will have to run and be alert for the rest of your life.  I appreciate the amount of restraint shown throughout the film, first making us wonder if the entity is really capable of much and then magnifying the fear factor each time that the characters encounter it.  This is one of the few times that I’ll ever say that I would love to see a sequel.  There are so many layers of this story that could be unwrapped if the main character started going down the line to discover the origin of the curse.  Then again, maybe we should learn from “The Ring” series and remember that the unknown is always scarier than what we know.  “It Follows” is an original concept that stands out in a genre that often suffers from repeating the same story over and over again.  It is important to be aware of the premise and the content that comes with it but the story at the heart of this film is fascinating and perfectly executed.

[Pictured: The entity moves so slowly that it is unnerving]

Black Panther (2018) - 10 stars out of 10

Black Panther (2018) - 10 stars out of 10

“Black Panther” is more than just another Marvel movie.  It hits all of the right notes in different categories from production design and special effects to acting and a topical social commentary.  It has also been praised for its diverse cast but I hope that people see that this is a bonus and not the main reason that it should be celebrated.  The Marvel Cinematic Universe has had its high and low points in regards to acting and storytelling, though most maintain that classic superhero film feel.  The layering of this story is more akin to a critically acclaimed drama told through the lens of superheroes.  I also found it refreshing to have a standalone film, compared to every other recent Marvel film that necessitates a strong presence of Stark Industries to strengthen its story.  I understand that this is what has made the MCU unlike anything that the film industry has ever seen but it’s been a long time since we saw a superhero film that stands completely on its own legs.  And that is why I believe that this is the first superhero film to have a legitimate shot at some Oscars outside of special effects - it is a complete package.  Writer/Director Ryan Coogler has crafted a script that perfectly fits into a superhero universe while drawing parallels to the modern headlines of refugees, building a wall around your borders, and countries keeping to themselves instead of helping those who are in need.  Coogler’s political stance is very clear and he uses the film as an allegory to shine a light on his concerns, much like George Orwell before him.  The cast that brings this story to life is a “Who’s Who” of Hollywood’s biggest stars.  You know that you’re doing well when Forrest Whitaker and Daniel Kaluuya are around sixth and seven on the cast list!  Chadwick Boseman drives the entire film with his conflicted character who does not know how to be both a good person and a good king.  Michael B. Jordan put knots in my stomach every time that he appeared because I empathized with his circumstances but hate his actions.  His intensity helps the dichotomy of the film since his L.A. personality doesn’t feel like it belongs in Wakanda, which is exactly the point.  He makes an amazing villain.  Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira make amazing warriors in these empowered roles and Martin Freeman brings some important comic.  Perhaps the most underrated performance comes from Andy Serkis.  He steps beyond the curtain of motion capture to show that his live acting can be just as chilling and intense without the help of computer graphics.  Speaking of computer graphics, this film is a visual masterpiece.  The technological/woodsy world of Wakanda is vivid and feels like it could exist in a hidden corner of our world and the cinematography supersedes what you’d expect from an action film.  The soundtrack perfectly compliments the story’s dual African and superhero roots and the sound editing captures every sound from fantasy flying ships to the simplicity of a museum.  “Black Panther” is the complete package and sets a new expectation of what a superhero film should be.

[Pictured: The incredible hero/villain combo of Boseman and Jordan is one of many amazing aspects of this film]