Tag: Kyle Gallner

THE CLEANSING HOUR (2019)

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Edited & Directed By: Damien LeVeck

Written By: Aaron Horwitz and Damien LeVeck

Story By: Aaron Horwitz

Cinematography: Jean-Philippe Bernier 

Cast: Ryan Guzman, Kyle Gallner, Alix Angelis, Chris Lew Kum Hoi, Daniel Hoffmann-Gill, Emma Holzer, Joanna David, Ionut Cristian Grama 

Another successful “exorcism” streamed online – or so it seems. Can the “exorcist”, producer and their team bring the ratings up? Ratings skyrocket, when a real demon gets involved.

This film Stays entertaining enough  throughout. It offers twists and turns though for any savvy viewer I beleive they will be able to see where it is headed. It will Keep you guessing throughout. Though by the end feels a bit predictable 

The film sets up the audience early to not believe everything that they see as truth. So it tries to keep that mood of guessing throughout. 

Though the movie has some roles that feel useless and only there to add to the bloodshed and kills. The cast still managed to make you care and believe what happens. So that it keeps you engaged. As it seems relevant with today’s times and online atmosphere. 

It has very impressive special effects for the most part. Especially for a film that you can tell had a limited budget.

It might have an opinion on social media but it doesn’t beat you over the head with it oir try to act like it’s above it or smarter. Which is what makes is all the more charnong and actually clever. 

One will admit Kyle Gallner being in this film is what Initially peaked the interest. Another film where he is pretty much one of the leads and is phenomenal. In the rare chance to play a more likable character.

Grade: B- 

SMILE (2022)

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Written & Directed By: Parker Finn

Cinematography: Charlie Sarroff

Editor: Elliot Greenberg

Cast: Sosie Bacon, Kyle Gallner, Jessie T. Usher, Kal Penn, Robin Weigert, Rob Morgan, Judy Reyes, Caitlin Stasey, Gillian Zinser 

After witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, a psychiatrist becomes increasingly convinced she is being threatened by an uncanny entity.

It took me a while to watch this film as seeing the trailer repeatedly when it first came out, it seemed more run-of-the-mill. They feel more built on jump scares that you feel like you’ve seen 1000 times.

Eventually decided to give it a chance and found that it reminded me of a 1990s horror film that you discover after finally deciding to give it a chance so it was a bit meta 

 What’s surprising is that it’s quite solid and its own way. it’s better than expected even if at times is a bit predictable. Can see why he gained an audience and became successful.

The film is much more realistic than expected with a surprising amount of violence. Manages to stay grounded in a certain reality. Times one of the original Candyman, as far as a kind of folklore with a female lead character who seemingly is losing her mind.

The film relies on an unseen enemy and entity, like FALLEN with a mix of a curse like THE RING and also a bit of FINAL DESTINATION  thrown in. 

The film could easily have been a character study of someone, losing their mind through their eyes and hallucinations creating a conspiracy. Only this film acknowledges its truth and reality so it can’t exactly go down that route.

The film has equal parts jump, scares violence, and melancholy mood but manages to stay mainstream and audience, friendly. It’s nasty, but not over the top or spirited. However, it does have quite a few memorable scenes, especially the kid’s birthday party.

A good alternative title for this film would have been Psychosomatic.

The actors seem to have a fair amount of contortion to get that freak factor which is becoming common in films involving some kind of possession.

You can see the film’s influences and inspiration as there are quite a few. Which works especially as the film is far from original.

Even those who are not big film watchers will recognize different familiar recent horror films it borrows from like a recipe that calls for huge mixtures and plenty of ingredients

Grade: B-

THE PASSENGER (2023)

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Directed By: Carter Smith 

Written By: Jack Stanley 

Cinematography: Lyn Moncrief 

Editor: Eric Nagy

Cast: Kyle Gallner, Johnny Berchtold, Liza Weil, Kanesha Washington, Sue Rock, Lupe Len, Mariah Benoit, Brooks Anne Hayes 

A man is forced to face his fears and confront his troubled past. He must find a way to survive when his co-worker snaps and goes on a violent killing spree.

This film passed any expectations that I had going in as it seemed like it was going to be pretty much a crime spree movie that might have gotten off on its violence.

Instead, we get a film that is not a deep character study, but a character study nonetheless where the two leads and part of the cast of characters are all dealing with past trauma that they seem to have dealt with, but didn’t necessarily get past and the different ways in which they’re dealing with it.

While the whole cast rises to the occasion, as usual, I have the shout-out actor, Kyle Gallner who is the character actor who I have seen in many different films, and recently has been playing more leads, and he seems to always rise above or Fitz right in and more makes the movie his.

The film starts off with what looks to be mundane before a shocking act of violence gets you out of that mindset And keeps you on edge throughout. You truly never quite know what’s going to happen next, as we are taken along with the psychopath and the boy he takes hostage and a sort of accomplice, determined to understand and cure him.

Along the way we did into both of their pasts one is clear, the other not quite, but leaves us to figure it out and doesn’t spell it out yet we believe we know.

Separates this from other criminals on the run films in that the lead character the psychopath isn’t stupid but while at first he seems like he has a plan and knows what he’s doing along the way the film does it make him necessarily a hero, or a stand-in for any certain subject or new story he’s a human being, a person dealing with rage And just as most of us acting like he has an altogether but underneath he’s just going through the motions and trying to do what seems right to survive.

The film actually, while being violent isn’t as violent as it would make you believe it’s more psychological than physical, and is quite chatty rather than action-oriented.

There are ways in which the material could’ve been different or dealt with but the way it is is fine and it still manages to be a genre film yet makes it and definitely deserves to be seen and talked about.

It wouldn’t have taken away from the film if maybe it had more of a homoerotic theme throughout which it seems to flirt with, but never goes that far as it has bigger fish to fry and other issues and it wants to convey.

Grade: B- 

STRANGE DARLING (2024)

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Written & Directed By: J.T. Mollner

Cinematography: Giovanni Ribisi

Editor: Christopher Robin Bell

Cast: Willa Fitzgerald, Kyle Gallner, Ed Beglely Jr., Barbara Hershey, Steven Michael Quezada, Madison Beaty, Bianca A. Santos, Denise Grayson, Sheri Foster

Nothing is what it seems when a twisted one-night stand spirals into a serial killer’s vicious murder spree.

This is a warning this review has spoilers and is best experienced fresh and going in blindly. So this is your warning.

This movie is beautiful and will remind the audience of movies from the 1970’s. As that is the aesthetic, look, and where its heart lies. As the film clearly states in the beginning it was shot on 35mm film. 

This is a film by design. It tells a non-linear story and that is how it unravels. Which works best. As it differs that element of surprises, as well as shocks throughout. 

Some might take away points or call it pretentious because of these reasons. Which would be justified if that was all there was to the film. There is a good story and performance. it’s indebted to a certain style and types of films. It comes through with its own identity. It offers up something original and can tell passion and thought went into it. 

What is noteworthy about the film is how it is put together. it says so much with very little dialogue or just in certain shots.

It has a relatively small cast but feels gripping and bigger than it is. Especially with the vivid shots from cinematographer Giovanni Ribisi (yes the actor).

Kyle Gallner is always great in whatever film he is in. Always feels believable and never over the top. He is in fine form in this film.

Willa Fitzgerald our other lead, will be honest this is the first time one has seen her in anything and she is great in this film. Switching from victim to psycho. Innocent to seducer and plain old crazy, but you believe her in each moment and beat. 

This is a film you watch in observance and amazement then tell your friends all about and want to go with them. So you can see it again but see their reactions to certain scenes and shots and want to discuss with after. 

Even if they don’t admire it as much as you do or at all. You want to see how they digested and dissected it for themselves. In other words a conversation starter 

One of the most memorable and engaging opening shots and scenes in quite some time. Throwing you in the middle but Presented as the beginning. 

Grade: B+

THE CLEANSE (2016)

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thecleanse

Written & Directed By: Bobby Miller
Cinematography: Michael Fimognari
Editor: Josh Crockett 


Cast: Johnny Gaelecki, Anna Friel, Angelica Huston, Oliver Platt, Kyle Gallner, Diana Bang, Kevin J O’Connor, Loretta Walsh 


A heartbroken man attends a spiritual retreat to cleanse himself and fix his broken life. There he meets a fellow lost soul, and together they discover that “the cleanse” releases more than everyday toxins…a lot more.

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A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (REMAKE) (2010)

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nightmare-on-elm-street-025

Directed By: Samuel Bayer
Written By: Wesley Strick & Eric Heisserer
Story By: Wesley Strick
Based On Characters Created By: Wes Craven
Cinematography: Jeff Cutter
Editor: Glen Scantelbury 

Cast: Jackie Earle Haley, Rooney Mara, Connie Britton, Clancy Brown, Kyle Gallner, Katie Cassidy, Thomas Dekker, Kellan Lutz 


Death stalks the dreams of several young adults to claim its revenge on the killing of Freddy Kruger. Chased and chastised by this finger-bladed demon, it is the awakening of old memories and the denials of a past of retribution that spurns this hellish vision of a dreamlike state and turns death into a nightmare reality.

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