Tag: Dominic LaPerriere

RUN SWEETHEART RUN (2022)

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Directed By: Shana Feste
Written By: Shana Feste, Kellee Terrell and Keith Josef Adkins 
Cinematography: Bartosz Nalazeek
Editor: Dominic Laperriere 

Cast: Ella Balinska, Pilou Asbaek, Clark Gregg, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Dayo Okeniyi, Betsy Brandt, Amar Sotomayor, Amanda Jaros, Amy Doyle, Ava Grey 

After what seems to be an innocent date, Cherie now faces a night of terror when her date hunts her down and tries to kill her. She now must run for her life throughout the city and escape his grasp.

This is another blumhouse thriller production and like most production companies the film can go either way.

I really had some hopes for this film as it stars Ella Balinska who I remember from CHARLIES ANGELS and was impressed with her in that film. So I was looking forward to her playing the lead in this film.

Now coming from Blumhouse, I already expected a thriller or slasher or horror of some kind. This film went way over the top and instead of it being all the more impressive for it. It went the other direction and was more ridiculous.

It has a message and plenty of ideas and tries to show a woman overcoming oppression and the male gaze shown in examples but basically personified in one character. Who instead of being just one man who seems impossible to kill. Is not only the personification of misogyny but also supernatural. 

So In other words it’s impossible to kill no matter how hard she tries and he seems to be aided and abetted by various males around him. As he allows them to always stay ahead and keep their power over females. 

Though truthfully once she meets him And her being on her period she is dripping blood and he bends over to put his fingers in the drops on the floor. That should have been all she needed to know to avoid him.

The film is lower budgeted so there are some effects but a lot of telling and reacting but not exactly showing. Like when he takes on a gang of her friends we hear the fight but are only privy to the aftermath.

The film also has scenes where characters who would seem to be important to her and the story are killed pretty quickly and senselessly for shock value. Which seems to want to give the message that no one is sacred and that this film is willing to break rules and expectations. Unfortunately not in a good way.

The film overall just feels like a waste of time. A nice premise but definitely needed to be filled out a bit more or at least added some subtlety or even humor.

Grade: D

NIGHT TEETH (2021)

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Directed By: Adam Randall 
Written By: Brent Dillon
Cinematography: Eben Dolter
Editor: Dominic LaPerriere 

Cast: Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Debby Ryan, Lucy Fry, Raul Castillo, Alfie Allen, Megan Fox, Sydney Sweeney, Marlene Forte, Ash Santos, Jaren Mitchell 

A college student moonlighting as a chauffeur picks up two mysterious women for a night of party-hopping across LA. But when he uncovers their bloodthirsty intentions – and their dangerous, shadowy underworld – he must fight to stay alive.

This feels like a film that is more interested in being cool and having street credentials. Rather than being good or at least entertaining.

Even when it is good, which is rare, it feels like it wants to be stylish over everything. One of the film’s few saving Graces is that style. Not to mention a likable cast.

Which includes a familiar cast as well as two cameos for no real reason but pads the cast list with some more recognizable names.

The story tries to do modern updates and add action. While also having a dive-read cast that makes it become more urban and offers an Us Vs. Them outlook. As the vampires are usually European in lineage and caucasian. Also, the differences seem more upper crust and prejudice against others, not of their lineage.

Whereas the vampire hunters are more people of color but also made more to look like gang members. Even though they are more the heroes of the film.

The film’s story is kind of a horror movie version of the film COLLATERAL. While the film is heavy on the action at times that seems more focused on the horror aspects. The film also feels more inspired by BLADE overall but not quite as good or original as that film. Maybe trying to offer one for a new generation of sorts to claim as their own.

The villain of the film played by Alfie Allen seems more like a brat and not as dangerous. Due to us more being told how bad and dangerous he is but rarely seen. Especially as he barks orders and threatens. Rather than take any Action.

The film seems to show more strength for a character who can only come with power overall. As it plays into too many Hollywood and nightlife cliches of hipness 

In the end, the film feels like a time waster with barely a point other than everyone looks good. While also planting an obligatory love story.

Grade: D