Tag: Jess Weixler

TEETH (2007)

~ jbg ~ Leave a comment

Written & Directed By: Mitchell Lichtenstein 
Cinematography By: Wolfgang Held 
Editor: Joe Landauer 

Cast: Jess Weixler, John Hensley, Josh Pais, Lenny Von Dohlen, Ashley Springer, Hale Appleman  


Dawn grows up in the shadow of a nuclear power plant. In high school, while her biology class studies evolution, she realizes she may have a hidden curse, an “adaptation.” She lives with her mom, step-father, and hard-edged step-brother. She likes Tobey, a guy at school, and he likes her. She takes a pledge to remain chaste until marriage, so they date in groups, watch G-rated films, and don’t kiss, but the power of teen hormones is great, so temptation beckons. Dawn has an admirer in Ryan, and when when things have an unexpected twist with Tobey, she turns to Ryan for help. Will he be her mythical hero and rescue her? Or can she find her way as her own hero, turning the curse into an asset?

Not a blood thirsty violent horror film, not a fun look at the genre.

The premise of a midnight movie that has hints of horror but comes off as a brutal satire based in female sexuality and a vigilante tale all in one.

Jess Weixler is excellent in the lead role and makes quite the on screen debut.

The film isn’t as exploitive or sensationalistic as you might expect considering the premise. It and it’s shots are properly composed it feels off putting and isolated as everything is more matter of fact which makes it feel even more creepy. As in a David Lynch directed film where you wonder what dark intentions lie underneath this flaccid facade.

Not only the guilty are punished or become victims of this particular abnormality. Most of the male characters seem to be unlikeable or become that way. As they come across as predatory in some way. As the abnormality is not controllable as it strikes even when she is feeling comfortable and pleasure, but it seems to have an instinct.

As the film proves to be more complicated then at first thought. As it also includes a dysfunctional family melodrama but when her and her stepbrother played by John Hensley who seems intent on making her a victim in someway. The film does manage to surprise. As it seeks to be more then one note that It could have easily been or become.

The film is intense and punishing though chooses to take it’s time and be about more than it’s noteworthy premise.

One can see how some males would feel uncomfortable watching this film as it shows them being maimed, mutilated and disfigured usually in the genital region. Which allows the shoe to be on the other foot and see how some women might have problems watching films that seem to bask in or glorify violence against women.

Though director Mitchell Lichtenstein seems to over reach to try and make the film overly artistic though then again That could just be his style which gives the film an off kilter feel.

It’s an interesting film to watch but if expecting something over the top. You will be disappointed as or goes for something more textured.

Really hope there is a sequel. If anything his movie teaches us most teenage boys are dare rapists. I don’t know how true that is, but the cast is great, Jess Weixler cute bit in an ordinary way makes you believe her and her characters woes.

John Hensley is still A very peculiar looking man. Like a human anime character truly made me hate him and Lenny von dohlen. Great to see him alive always was a fan because of the movie ELECTRIC DREAMS but I haven’t. Seen him on anything since TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME.

So my final verdict check this out for a Friday night. Not a Saturday night

Grade: C+

AVA (2020)

~ jbg ~ Leave a comment

Directed by: Tate Taylor
Written by: Matthew Newton
Cinematography: Stephen Goldblatt
Editor: Zach Staenberg

Cast: Jessica Chastain, John Malkovich, Common, Colin Farrell, Ioan Gruffund, Geena Davis, Jess Weixler, Diana Silvers, Joan Chen 

Ava is a deadly assassin who works for a black ops organization, traveling the globe specializing in high profile hits. When a job goes dangerously wrong she is forced to fight for her own survival.

The film offers an interesting character where you wish she had a more exciting tale to go with it. So that it feels like you have a good lead character looking for a better film.

Jessica Chastain is full of energy here. Though the film and character strength are not too much of a challenge for her. 

The film soon gets to the point and stays there. Where you have no doubt what will happen. Even though for a film that is supposed to be an espionage tale it feels more small-town gritty. Like more of a mob tale

The filM comes across at times as mroe domestic drama and not as interesting as it thinks it is. With some action scenes that take place In Interiors particularly small rooms. Make the film more small scale yet fits the Netflix action aesthetic. 

The casting of Geena Davis playing the mother to a character similar to the assassin Charli Baltimore she played in THE LONG KISS GOOD NIGHT. Which makes it feel a bit like stunt casting. 

Unfortunately, this is another middling movie from director Tate Taylor that sounds mroe interesting and fun than it actually is.

The film includes a strange romance that doesn’t seem like it would hav been that exciting even if it had made it to theaters.

The film tries to be different by offering a mroe domestic story, but it feels like I needed melodrama. To make you identify snd care more about the characters. Especially the more supporting ones 

Nothing really sets this movie apart from average and familiar. Though it does leave itself open to sequels that hopefully would flesh it out especially the supporting characters. Who gets no chance to shine here it seem to be set up for greater things later in the film Only for nothing to really happen.

Sort of like the movie FASTER which left itself open to spinoff sequels but wasn’t quite as popular that was expected. So this is most likely a solo effort. Though a sequel Would help improve on the material.

This film seems like it could have been more fleshed out and given for room. Especially with it’s more recognizable cast. Who all end up here for a paycheck more than anything.

GRADE: D+

IT: CHAPTER 2 (2019)

~ jbg ~ Leave a comment

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-