Tag: Elsie Fisher

CHRISTMAS EVE IN MILLER’S POINT (2024)

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Directed by: Tyler Taormina

Written By: Tyler Taormina and Eric Berger

Story Editor/Editor: Kevin Anton

Cinematography: Carson Lund

Cast: Matilda Fleming, Maria Dizzia, Ben Shenkman, Francesca Scorsese, Elsie Fisher, Michael Cera, Gregg Turkington, Tony Savino, Steven Alleva, Grege Morris, Sawyer Spielberg

On Christmas Eve, a family gathers for what could be the last holiday in their ancestral home. As the night wears on and generational tensions arise, one of the teenagers sneaks out with her friends to claim the wintry suburb for her own.

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this film is the epitome of an ensemble film as there are no real stars. Every character plays their role essentially in each other stories, and there is no real complete story as everything is told more and snippets and scenes, but never quite from beginning to end in a complete way. 

As the film is largely plotless, but plays out over a families holiday traditions, and party as they all get together where many individual things happen some smaller some greater but nothing really happens except for this celebration.

it seems like the filmmaker wanted some more evoke, the emotions of the holiday or any holiday gathering with your family where the story is told purely at this celebration where you get updates about their lives away from one another, always wanting to showcase the best and you get a sense of the family history and their relationships with one another, but nothing is ever clearly defined 

The drama that happens as well as the comedy is more lived in and isn’t as random as everyone knows each other and because they know each other and their habits nothing is quite shocking to one another. 

The film works and its own artistry that might be frustrating to some members of the audience as it takes its time telling the story it wants to, but again the story is never told in a complete way it’s more told segments that seem like they go nowhere endless that more evoke moods as there is an inherent sadness throughout as they adults are realizing they’re getting older and how much they have in the past but also the ones who raise them are slowly deteriorating and they want to take care of them. It might be too much for them to take on

And that would also celebrates the happiness of seeing long lost family members who you grew up with who now other than these types of get together rarely ever see as those family members you never really want to see, but are forced to and have to play nice with 

The tons of cuisine and food that you can board yourself on and share with family 

As well as issues that certain family members have with one another that everyone seems to know about, but either or not acknowledged or not talked about, but clearly seen and felt 

there is a section of the film where it more focuses on the younger characters the teenagers and their wild night out though even though there’s more adventure and the film seems to have a little more energy and spirit to match the characters. It also is more told in segments whereas anytime the film comes close to anything happening, especially any kind of action or excitement it seems like it cuts to something else or another character and then we see the aftermath of the action.

As even the biggest names in the cast, who is also a producer, Michael cera barely has any lines and isn’t in much of the movie nor anal part of it, but is appearance does add a certain prestige into the film

this is a film that might be challenging for some and truly you’re either going to get into its wavelength or not.

Though as an audience member one cannot say they were totally down with everything about the film. I applaud it for its artistic choices and the mood and can identify with the material as the film presents highs and Lows joys and defeats, but isn’t meant to leave the audience depressed, but also isn’t the typical holiday movie where it’s all smiles and happiness for the audience, though the film does end with a lot of smiles for the characters.

Grade: B-

TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (2022)

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Directed By: David Blue Garcia
Written By: Chris Thomas Devlin 
Story By: Fede Alvarez & Rodo Sayagues
Based on characters created by: Ken Henkel & Tobe Hooper
Cinematography: Ricardo Diaz 
Editor: Christopher S. Capp

Cast: Sarah Yarkin, Elsie Fisher, Jacob Latimore, Mark Burnham, Alice Krige, Moe Dunford, Olwen Fouere, Jessica Allain, Neil Hudson

After 48 years of hiding, Leatherface returns to terrorize a group of idealistic young friends who accidentally disrupt his carefully shielded world in a remote Texas town.

It does live up to its title and as long as you are in the mood not to think and just want violence with little reason or build up.

It’s Meant to be a direct sequel to the original film. It doesn’t even work on that level. While bringing back some aspects and characters of the original film but not as much or with real Meaning but more symbolic.

I have followed this franchise since the beginning as the original first film is one of my all-time favorites horror films. The first sequel has been the only one close to satisfying since. As each following sequel has had their strength but has shown more weakness than anything and this sequel is by far one of the more disappointing. As even the films before at least tried for Some originality or tried to bring something new to the table. Even if just a stylistic vision. This offers next to nothing new in fact it could easily be a stand-alone horror film, not one attached to any particular franchise. 

This film is just ugly and I say this as a fan of some of the previous films. Even the last one which was a prequel at least offered some inventiveness along the way. To keep you invested. 

This is updated &  by the numbers but really even though a reboot could have been any horror film that just offers up something more excessive. Not to mention a built-in history and knowledge of the monster that lies at the heart of the tale. 

As most of the characters are disposable. They are dispatched before we really get to know them we are told their source is nothing to really make us care other than the decency of not wanting another human being to perish.

This seems like a slasher movie made more for an audience who wants to see violence and asks little of reason or correlation for it.

Not to mention throw in some next-generation women and diverse characters to set up to be slaughtered in an entertaining fashion In which it is made to mroe look more like revenge or an audience fantasy. A kind of stick it to those who really annoying in society.  As their best defense is to just film him And somehow throw in school shootings. So it saws through so-called wokeness. 

The director and script Seem more invested in kills and laying on gore than being inventive in any other way. There are a few impressive shots thrown in but by the time you see them you are already in the middle of a mess. 

What truly is mysterious is that these sequels have a wealth of material as well as the franchise has plenty of resources to be used and it seems other than the main. Characters that whenever a new film comes forth seem to be disconnected from one another. Trying to do something different that seems more random than anything. 

This film is not like any of the other films. Just because it’s different, doesn’t make it bearable. Where actually it felt typical of more modern horror films. The last film which tried to add lore and a mystery or guessing game to the formula seemed like it was trying. This film seemed more designed or planned than any other. Just as the more modern reboots. 

It’s not a film that would seem rewarding to even be seen in theaters. 

Grade: F

MY BEST FRIEND’S EXORCISM (2022)

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Directed By: Damon Thomas
Written By: Jenna Lamia
Based On The Novel By: Grady Hendrix
Cinematography: Rob Givens 
Editor: Brad Turner 

Cast: Elsie Fisher, Amiah Miller, Rachel Ogechi Kanu, Cathy Ang, Christopher Lowell,  Clayton Royal Johnson, Cameron Bass

Teen best friends Abby and Gretchen grapple with an otherworldly demon that takes up residence in Gretchen’s body.

First off let me say that I have read the book and I am a fan of it. 

Next, let me say that this film is pretty faithful to the material. It is also quite different. As the movie plays drier and less spirited than the book.

It’s like the film followed the recipe but seemed to skip some ingredients. I don’t know if this was on purpose or because of the budget. A nice attempt that never quite cuts to the heart. 

As while it does count as a horror film. It also feels more to stay in the safe realm of Pg-13 because it wants to appeal to a younger female audience. As it feels a bit disconnected from other audience members.

The cast is fairly unknown for the most part which works. As it leaves everyone open to being a victim or being taken out and not safe because of their stardom.

Through the film. Betrays them by making most of the characters so stereotypical or one-sided that again we never really get to know or feel anything for them except for the two leads. Even in some dramatic moments for the supporting characters it never reaches the level of emotion it could because you barely know them. 

It’s nice to see a film with a cast so diverse and Christopher Lowell as one of the lemon brothers is energetic and hilarious. Even though he is not in the film nearly enough. He is truly what helps keep the film afloat. As he is the only one here who seems to provide those qualities which the film heavily lacks most of the time. Making it come off as more workman-like and less caring.

It might also be that until Christopher Lowell’s character shows up the movie has no sense of humor. It seems set at playing it straight. Which kind of sucks the air out of the room instead of keeping your interests fully. As it comes off as bland as sugarless gum. Sure a hint of flavor, but for the most part you are just chewing your own backwash.

Elsie Fisher is the lead and makes for a truly memorable heroine as she does most of the heavy lifting throughout.

The film also shows the screenplay principle of constantly introducing something as minor and it coming back to be a major point or detail later in the movie. 

It’s not a horrible movie but a movie that needed maybe a draft or two more before the endeavor was taken into production. As there are the bones of a good movie here.

Can give it credit as trying to be for a certain audience and not ever going for exploitation and trying to stick strictly to its story. Even if it feels a little more cut and dry for it. 

For a film about possession. The film seems to lack a spirit of Its own. Yes, I read the original book which had plenty of it. It stays faithful in following the recipe but seems to be missing many vital ingredients

Grade: C