Tag: Ali Gallo

INCOMING (2024)

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Written & Directed By Dave Chernin & John Chernin

Cinematography: Ricardo Diaz

Editor: Josh Crockett and Elizabeth Praino

Cast: Mason Thames, Ali Gallo, Isabella Ferreira, Thomas Barbusca, Kaitlin Olson, Bobby Cannavale, Raphael Alejandro, Ramon Reed, Bardia Seiri, Scott Macarthur, Victoria Moroles, Loran Gray

Four freshmen navigate the terrors of adolescence at their first-ever high school party.

This is a raunchy teenage comedy that feels like it is more made for teenagers of today, but in its own strange way, it still has a kind of innocence to it.

It will feel familiar for those who have seen plenty of team coming-of-age comedies, but it feels like it belongs more to this next generation as a kind of passing along the lines.

It’s raunchy in language, but it never quite feels exploited of strange and it just feels like a generally fun time and offers to teach lessons and its own rough way.

It is mostly all talk, plenty of action, but very little play and luckily no sex scenes. It stays pretty woke and equilateral though there is a surprisingly little bit of nudity that seems to come out of nowhere and is shocking, but that is as raunchy as the film gets other than language and a brief surprising sex scene out of nowhere. 

That proves at certain points that the movie is more for shock and giggles.

The adult cast here is mainly the big names and full of pros with Kaitlyn Olsen and Bobby Cavale, who plays more of a comedic supporting character that he seems to be getting expertise. This at least seems to have somewhat of a conscience, and it’s just more lonely than anything. 

Even though for all of its juvenile humor, this film can be quite charming and keeps an innocence about itself that stays not only entertaining but interesting throughout and truly tries to push the envelope at times, but never as far as one would expect or put it truly over the top.

No, the storylines and character motivations will feel familiar as it feels like a mashup of different teen movies. I’ll put in one, but luckily, it’s not a spoof or parody of those films. 

Though with the Netflix sheen. It comes across at times as trying to fill a niche for an audience or making it feel so businesslike rather than with a heart. 

All in all the film is a good time.

Grade: B-

UNHUMAN (2022)

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Directed By: Marcus Dunstan 
Written By: Marcus Dunstan & Patrick Melton
Cinematography: Lyn Moncrief 
Editor: Andrew Wesman

Cast: Brianne Tju, Benjamin Wadsworth, Drew Schneid, Uriah Sulton, Ali Gallo, Peter Giles, Joshua Mikel, Lo Graham, C.J. Leblanc 

A group of high school students whose school bus crashes on a field trip. Relationships are tested once they realize they are being stalked by an attacker who intends to drive them out and straight into a horrifying fight to survive.

This might have been better off as an MTV original movie rather than an epic original release. Maybe even a television series to stretch it out and back itself up when it comes to plausibility. As it would explain thoroughly who the audience is more aimed at and would make more sense with the direction and twists.

As it tries to do something different or new with its premise in the zombie genre. Which works for it and against it depending on certain audience members. As it tries to do something original, that one can admire and probably helped it get made, but ultimately doesn’t exactly work.

Though the film can be quite entertaining. It remains that way only If you take it for what it offers and don’t try to think too hard. Then it is perfect popcorn entertainment with a twist. That you might be able to see coming. 

As the camera angles and shots are distracting as they are more used in music videos and make the film come off more as jittery. This is why it feels more like an MTV-style production. Other than most of the cast being teenage characters as the adults are taken out quickly 

As it goes for a THE BREAKFAST CLUB explanation of showing that the characters are more than Initially thought and are more well-rounded. While we see them break out of their so-called roles. 

Though ultimately the hero is the one who seems to have no identity through all of this seems to create one. Even though we are never quite sure she is the way she is. Though she does give us a hero who can be physical but is more defined by her quick thinking and ultimate smarts.

Luckily the movie isn’t as exploitive as it could be. It sticks To the genre rules and even has a  final girl of sorts. Though it is heavily edited like it has its own problems when it comes to attention spans and feels rather aggressive. 

This film reminds me of DETENTION directed by Joseph Kahn. Though that film is stronger visually and in theme. This feels like a more lighthearted and cleaner version.

GRADE: C