Tag: James Ransone

BLACK PHONE 2 (2025)

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Directed By: Scott Derrickson

Written By: C. Robert Cargill

Based on the Short Story “THE BLACK PHONE” by: Joe Hill 

Cinematography: Par M. Ekberg 

Editor: Louise Ford 

Cast: Mason Thames, Madeline McGraw, Demian Bichir, Ethan Hawke, Miguel Mora, Arianna Rivas, Jeremy Davies, Maev Beaty 

As Finn, now 17, struggles with life after his captivity, his sister begins receiving calls in her dreams from the black phone and seeing disturbing visions of three boys being stalked at a winter camp known as Alpine Lake.

When I was younger, I remember going to the movies with my friends to go see the conjuring. It was a movie. I really was not at all that hyped or really that interested to go see, as at that time, I felt like I was a film, know it all, and had superior taste almost like a cinematic insider in my own mind, but they all were going with or without me and being a movie fan and wanting to hang out and not go home. Ended up attending with them gave the movie a chance, ended up, loving the film and the experience.  it was pretty much story wise what I expected, but the film in itself was a surprise for me how enjoyable and entertained one was by the end. Please don’t ask me about the sequels or the franchise in general, but that first one remain a special memory for me.

These days it’s very rare that I am surprised by a movie. I don’t get to go out to the movies as much with friends and their whims anymore to go see films that I didn’t necessarily plan to in the first place. The first black phone movie might have been one of the last of those types where I didn’t overwhelmingly not want to see it, but had limited interest where I felt. I could wait by the end. I truly enjoyed the film as it felt like a film of the time period that it was sat in as it wasn’t cookie cutter. It was brutal. It was violent. It wasn’t looking for sympathy. It was a matter of fact with not necessarily likable characters, though some of them didn’t deserve the fate that was doubt, and it only had a hint of the supernatural.

Now, while the sequel is a continuation of this seems to focus more on the supernatural aspects of the character, story and film, where the formula seems to be

Take 1 part STRANGER THINGS, 2 parts A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET , mix in a little of THE SHINING and you get BLACK PHONE 2. The sum of its parts. It Feels like the filmmakers took what they were fans of and what they were watching at the time. As well as what was popular and made this film. Which has great style but is a bunch of build up. Yet feels rather thin and stretching. It feels like it was obligated and this is the best they could do with the time. It’s somewhat creative but ultimately disappointing. Especially compared to the first film. While being a sequel and prequel of sorts 

The film isn’t bad. It’s just disappointing and less than the original I guess living up to it being a sequel. This film stays more remote in its location and feels more like a production because of it with limited amount of characters. Who seemed to just be there for dressing as they are small pieces of the puzzle there to represent certain emotions or ideas rather than being true characters like the ultra religious lady who works for the camp who seems only to be there to accuse characters and just generally be a deterrent so that later in the film when she’s abused and the constant verbal abuse that one character gives her seems well warranted, and her husband just seems to be there. He doesn’t really play that much of a role.

Even their father returns for the film, but he seems just as ineffective as before. 

As I presented before and what it feels like the formula for this movie, there is a more Freddy Kruger element for Ethan Hawke’s character who comes back to haunt, and it works as a sequel and a prequel, as it is a continuation of the character from the first film, but it also gives us a look into the past of the villain from the first film. 

With the characters being haunted and psychic and teenagers being the main characters is where you get the nightmare on Elm Street, but also the Stranger Things elements.

The film is stylish as ever and that’s one of it saving grace as the rest of the film does feel as of the time. Period but it also fails as it just feels like it’s a very thin and stretching. I don’t know if it’s meant to be a continuation or another piece in a franchise, but while it might offer some scares, it doesn’t offer much of an interest for the audience and last doesn’t feel like it really needs to be made if anything more feels like fan service that comes out of nowhere as I doubt anyone was thinking there was much more to the story to be made, but we’re glad to come back and be reunited with the characters. It’s not a horrible movie and maybe it’s just me and fans of the first film we love this or at least like this film, but while it offers a different type of horror and scare, it just doesn’t feel like it was ever needed.

Come back and watch it if you must as it doesn’t lessen the strength or power of the first film, but this while it doesn’t come across as a get rich, quick scheme idea it does make one question what was the intention in ideas behind this sequel otherwise?

Grade: C

IT: CHAPTER 2 (2019)

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Directed by: Andy Muschietti

Written by: Gary Dauberman

Based on the novel “IT” by: Stephen King Cinematography: Checco Varese

Editor: Jason Ballentine

Cast: Jessica Chastain, Bill Hader, James Mcavoy, Jay Ryan, Isaiah Mustafa, James Ransone, Bill Skarsgard, Jack Dylan Glazer, Finn Wolfhard, Sophia Lilis, Jaeden Martell, Xavier Dolan, Jess Weixler, Peter Bogdanovich 

Defeated by members of the Losers’ Club, the evil clown Pennywise returns 27 years later to terrorize the town of Derry, Maine, once again. Now adults, the childhood friends have long since gone their separate ways. But when people start disappearing, Mike Hanlon calls the others home for one final stand. Damaged by scars from the past, the united Losers must conquer their deepest fears to destroy the shape-shifting Pennywise — now more powerful than ever.

While the film is certainly entertaining. This is barely a film as it does love up to it’s Title. As it feels more a continuation or Second half. Rather then a movie of It‘s Own merits that could stand up without part one. 

As there is information to let us know about the characters and their motivations. It really more helps if you have seen the previous films

The film feels repetitive. As each of the characters faces their defeats or are terrorized individually. They each go through a horrifying adventure. Then the film moves onto the next character and this takes up a good amount of running time.

It also seems to still treat the character of like who stayed in town and is the only African American character with short change. He gets them all to come back and has theories but has little else to do. As he is haunted but we barely see him or what exactly he is haunted by as much. 

The stars are all here to play the Adult characters. They all do good with the characters though Bill Hader is the one who stands out the most and gives off the strongest impression. As well as a kind of unrequited love story and a deeply held secret that it seems no one else knows nor is really revealed to any of them.

While certain aspects are left out of the film from the book that serves as motivation stronger in the book but not in the movie. Bill’s wife is majorly Absent from the film and she plays a big part in the finale of the book. Though she seems Removed to give more romantic tension between the characters of Ben and Beverly

Though it is funny when the movie is filled with all these stars and one of the lesser-known acting leads played by Jay Ryan is actually the one who has the more traditional movie star looks and is supposed to be the grown-up version of the overweight character.

The film is more scary and terrifying then violent though the few times there is violence it is shocking especially when towards children who are dispatched in rather shocking yet similar ways.

The opening scene of the movie seems random And unneeded though does give the film. A certain ugly reality and informs us of it feeding off of fear, anger, and hatred. Though it still makes the opening hard to watch.

Director Andy Muschetti is certainly able and good with visuals but while the film feels rich but seems to lack a proper structure. So that whole it feels freewheeling and random and sticks to a story. It allows itself to jump around. Which is convenient but might confuse the audience.

There is no three-act structure and even when absent that this film tries to get off on atmosphere which gives a scary vibe that quickly becomes repetitive and even if it has art film Aspirations it would generally be about something. This film is supposed to be about endings. Though it stretches them out until it seems more about making cheap thrills then General quality entertainment. It feels like entertainment that tries to seek itself overwhelmingly towards agreeability and worse feels somewhat manipulative trying to make the audience get forget the points it is skipping. Instead of trying to make them even feel constantly in a challenge or a game. Forgetting This is a film and we are supposed to be watching a story.

It’s a continuation. It doesn’t feel like a film of it’s own. That can be enjoyed and understood independently. It needs the previous film to be a whole. So even as a sequel, it can’t stand up on it’s own two feet. So while entertaining it is never it’s own entity. No matter how it’s Presented or forced to be

In the end, this is a fun horror film to watch that whole gruesome still feels more mainstream, but luckily has stars to distrAct but also achieves the mood and scares it tries for.

Grade: B-

GEMINI (2018)

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Written, Edited & Directed By: Aaron Katz
Cinematography By: Andrew Reed 

Cast: Lola Kirke, Zoe Kravitz, John Cho, Greta Lee, Ricki Lake, Michelle Forbes, Reeve Carney, Jessica Parker Kennedy, James Ransone, Todd Louiso, Nelson Franklin 


A heinous crime tests the complex relationship between a tenacious personal assistant and her Hollywood starlet boss. As the assistant travels across Los Angeles to unravel the mystery, she must stay one step ahead of a determined policeman and confront her own understanding of friendship, truth and celebrity.

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