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Frozen 2010 ★★★★
One of those horrors that shows how you can make a lot from what like seems like very little. Sadly, also forever doomed to live in the shadow of its animated counterpart.
Three friends gets stuck on a skilift and have to find a way off before the cold and frostbite kill them. That's it. That's all there is to it. The set up is not really noteworthy, so it all has to come from this.
That said, it worked out well. What keeps me from going in and giving the full five stars? The story could not help but lag a bit sometimes and the heart to hearts between Parker and Joe were not all that captivating. You could tell they needed something to bridge the time until another action set piece. And the script did not really seize the opportunity to use props on hand to the extent that movies like Fall and The Pool did.
Does that mean it was poorly acted? I certainly would not go that far. The leads make the friction and unspoken tension between them believable. It's enough to make you care for them and what happens to them. And it has a Kane Hodder-cameo, which always adds to the fun.
What matters though, are the action bits and they certainly work. The gore is used sparsely, but effectively. Although I have never suffered from frostbite, the effects looked credible and the bit with Parker and her hand looked pretty damn painful.
The action bits, however... they keep you on the edge of your seat, biting your nails. Like when Joe tries to crawl over to the next pole. I sat on the edge of my seat, rooting for him to make it. Or them debating wether or not to let Dan jump off. Stupid decision, sure. But hey, every horror film is entitled to one, I guess. Or the bit when Parker finally reaches the ground. It's been a while a movie managed to do that and for that alone, I already recommend seeing it. Mostly for horror afficionados. But judging from the box office returns, this gem already found an audience. Deservedly.
And I cannot finish this without a quick mention for the production company. A bigger boat. With the yellow Jaws-barrel and everything. Ah yeah. Great stuff. Mark out moment.
Raw 2016 ★★★★
I went in for a rewatch and boy, did it not disappoint.
Would it be an understatement to place Raw in the pantheon of Euro horror classics? I think not. If [Rec] has its place there – and why the f*** not, really? – then this one has too.
From the very first shot, you are in this surreal, dreamlike state. Julia Ducournau immediately shows why she has the potential to become the new David Cronenberg.
I love how she uses the cannibalism as a metaphor for discovering yourself: who you are, your sexuality, your nature, your character,... As an example, there is the contrast between the mousy outfit in which Justine arrives in college and the dance in front of a bathroom mirror to a rap song I can only describe as French Peaches.
I wonder how much the hazing ritual was chosen on purpose. Knowing that the French language does not (really) distinguish between a hazing and a baptism, the metaphor for coming of age, rebirth and discovery are not difficult to see. But Julia Ducournau also manages to create an isolated atmosphere where Justine and Alexia live in a world completely different from the sheltered family life they are used to. And yes, this has to be the worst campus in the world, but okay. Fine.
Justine's discovery starts after being force fed a raw kidney. With her sister turning against her – wonder what Freud or other psychologists think of that. As someone who enjoys meat – and LOVES a good rack of spare ribs – I do find it striking how quickly her track goes. From shoarma to raw chicken and then... Well, what else is left but human meat? I mean, once you had the stuff that all other things taste like, where else is there to go? Lol.
Short answer: from chicken legs to human fingers. In a scene that genuinely made me squirm when I first saw it in a theater and still makes me unconfortable as hell. Great job, love.
Throughout all of this, she finds an odd kind of mentorship in both her sister Alexia and her roommate Adrien. Who is introduced with the kind of dialogue that would have a lot of other directors burned at the stake. Adrien is the closest thing to a friend Justine has at this campus. Both outcasts in their own particular way who somehow find solace in each other's company.
Justine quickly becomes isolated from the other students. Not that her own actions (the make green scene) or those of her sister are helpful either, but okay. And the one professor we see over the course of the film is the one who hates brilliant students. Gee, thanks. Tah muchly, professor.
The reveal at the end is a tad predictable. Once the father starts talking, you pretty much know what's coming. But it is well executed and the resultuing imagery is both beautiful and bewildering. Making for probably the most Cronenberg-esque shot of this movie, an image reminiscent of Crimes of the future.
Did I mention that this movie is awesome? And that you should really see it?
The Lonely Host 2020 ★★★½
An interesting short that uses modern day technology and possibilities to its advantage.
A woman rents an airbnb on her way to visit a friend. We never see said friend and all their conversations occur via text (with seemingly accurate spelling, mind you). She uses her phone as a light. Long story short: if you are annoyed by that kind of stuff, it's probably best to skip this one.
But before you do, consider this: if you manage to look past all ofthe technology, the story at the core and the dynamic between the two main characters is as timeless as any horror story. Olivia, torn between awkwardness and wanting to be nice. And her host, who for some reason reminded me of AOC. Well, the Cathy Bates Misery-version of AOC. So lonely and desperate to reach out to other people that it can very easily look threatening.
Fun stuff and it only takes up roughly 15 minutes of your time. Check it out.
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