Movie reviews

WHISTLE

Watchable. A good story where you learn how each character would die if they lived long enough, fantastic music, of varying genres, but always matching the action on the screen. The whole thing is moderately scary. What ruins the finale is the nonsensical death of the young pastor as well as saving each other through reanimation to cheat death ripped off another horror flick.  

Reviewed from the distributor's screener, cinematic reception might differ.

PILLION

Recommended. Alexander Johan Hjalmar Skarsgård, who also co-produced this gay flick, is perfect as the domineering partner. His subservient counterpart sings like an angel - the fabulous choir and the rest of the soundtrack are another strong point about this comedy drama. The story is original, unusual, told with a pinch of salt. A unique experience.

Reviewed from the distributor's screener, cinematic reception might differ.

유령 (PHANTOM)

Watchable. You have to watch this noir espionage thriller very carefully. About an hour in I had to go back and see it all over again from the start. Twice. And then I went back places every now and then. While it's totally engaging, as you keep solving the puzzle, those numerous details make it possible to follow only when you can rewind. Brilliant performances, especially both secretaries' as well as the cat owner's. Visually it offers memorable noir-style shots and use of colour, e.g. when blood splashes on a Mt. Fuji painting during the attempt to assassinate the Japanese governor. The finale's truly brutal, as expected in a Korean movie.

Reviewed from the distributor's screener, cinematic reception might differ.

UN TUEUR SI PROCHE: ANN RULE ET TED BUNDY (THE STRANGER BESIDE ME - ANN RULE AND TED BUNDY)

Recommended. It's not the woman's discovery of who her friend is, though her difficulty in accepting the truth is intriguing, that's shocking, it's the serial murderer's ease of manipulating others that's mind-boggling. On the screen his eyes are ice cold and his smirk revoltingly false. How come he managed to lure the 37 women he claimed he had murdered? It's also frightening where Ann Rule and Ted Bundy met - what's not mentioned in the documentary is that what inspired him to murder women was the agony he heard in their voices while working in the crisis centre. My background knowledge made the film even more frightening.

The documentary was available on Arte TV.

SACRE COEUR: SON REGNE N'A PAS DE FIN (SACRED HEART)

Switched off. This documentary is boring for two reasons. Firstly, converts' stories are the norm for religious true-life films, as is commentary about a nun's vision, so it feels tedious to hear some again, over and over, also told in monotonous voices. Secondly, the Sacred Heart devotion is limited so a film solely about that feels sectarian, unattractive to a non-follower.

Reviewed from the distributor's screener, cinematic reception might differ.