Tag: Tyler Burton Smith

BOY KILLS WORLD (2024)

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Directed By: Moritz Mohr 

Written By: Tyler Burton Smith and Arend Remmers

Story By: Moritz Mohr and Arend Remmers 

Cinematography: Peter Matjasko 

Editor: Lucien Barnard 

Cast: Bill Skarsgard, Jessica Rothe. Yayan Ruhian, Andrew Koji, Isiah Mustafa, Famke Janssen, Brett Gelman, Sharito Copley, Michelle Dockery 

Boy, a mayhem machine with a hilarious inner voice, has been trained from childhood by his mentor to assassinate the bloodthirsty Hilda Van Der Koy and avenge his family’s murder. Guided by his little sister’s mischievous spirit, Boy uncovers one stunning revelation after another as he barrels toward Hilda, leading to a shocking, carnage-crazed finale.

Though not quite a b-movie, this film would go well on a double feature with a hobo with a shotgun. As both films have their own extremes, but both feel more like a comic book or a video game watching them,  this one is less exploited and filled with more action and violence. However, the film does create quite a crazy world and builds somewhat from there.

Even if it still always feels a little bit like a Third World country. 

Ultimately, a revenge tale in a totalitarian land far off from any reality, the film combines all types of action, hands, hand weapons, and knives, and Wiley does have plenty of comedy and adrenaline impact action that is literally balls to the wall that can become ridiculous. It’s a film where so much keeps happening, and there are so many quick cuts that you kind of get used to it and it constantly tries to up the auntie though not quite to its best  advantage

It has quite an impressive cast, and Bill Skarsgård does his all to be an action hero, who literally is mute but is voiced by the narrator of his favorite video game, who gives voice to his thoughts, even though he can’t really talk. Though he comes more as an action character here than he did in JOHN WICK 4

It also costars Andrew Koji, who is almost unrecognizable, and his role, though is quite hilarious, handles his action scenes as usual.

It has the man Yayan Ruhian from THE RAID movies and he proves as usual to be just as dangerous and badass here as he was in those films and it’s just amazing in the action sequences. Even if more in a supporting role. 

The film is inspired. I heard the soundtrack before I saw the film which hyped me up for the movie unfortunately it doesn’t quite match.

this is a movie that is more about style and feels a bit long as one can appreciate them building the story in the beginning, but it didn’t need to take that long to get to the real heart of the film and what the audience came for just a bit too long it is worth your time

The action sequences are breathtaking and quite impressive as it is the film’s bread and butter. it’s quite imaginative and very inspired.

Though this might be a case where all that you wanted, and it’s not measuring up or being as magical as you had hoped or thought it  would be

This is definitely a film for those action junkies out there who will probably love it, though others might find it a little monotonous at times as it keeps seeking to impress the target audience

Grade: C 

CHILD’S PLAY (2019)

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Directed by: Lars Klevberg
Written by: Tyler Burton Smith 
Based on the screenplay “CHILD’S PLAY” by: Don Mancini, John Lafia & Tom Holland
Based on the “CHILD’S PLAY” Story By: Don Mancini
Cinematography: Brendan Uegama
Editor: Julia Wong & Tom Elkins

Cast: Aubrey Plaza, Brian Tyree Henry, Tim Matheson, Gabriel Bateman, Beatrice Kitsos, Ty Consiglio, Carlease Burke, Mark Hamill

After moving to a new city, young Andy Barclay receives a special present from his mother. a seemingly innocent Buddi doll that becomes his best friend. When the doll suddenly takes on a life of its own, Andy unites with other neighborhood children to stop the sinister toy from wreaking bloody havoc.

This film is still as ridiculous as the series but more like the later films rather than the originals where it was far fetched but still more of a thriller.

This time Chucky isn’t possessed by a devil-worshipping serial killer. Instead, he just is a doll that has artificial intelligence and has his safety protocols turned off due to a disgruntled factory worker. So the dolls friendly nature is taken to obsessive extremes here.

The ridiculous nature of the film actually works for the tone of the movie. As it never truly seems to know what it wants to be more of a horror or comedy or more a kind of horrific am lin film with young teens as the heroes of sorts 

Chucky uses tech more as his murder weapon or his control over it. That is his weapon of choice most times or as his accomplice, though he still does good old blades also especially when in doubt.

Chucky here is more obsessed with Andy as his best friend. As he and his mom just moved there and he has no friends and his mother is dating a jerk. Once Andy becomes more popular and Chucky is dumped to a certain degree, more because of his behavior. He chooses to frame Andy while simultaneously exterminating all close to him with a believable case against him.

One particular standout is when one character who throughout the movie is a victim ends up being killed multiple times. Mainly because he seems to be not that moral. 

One murder feels personal and mean. Even though also provides laughs. Though it kind of ruins the whole mood of the movie seems to put in there for that reason. To signal a mood change and for not all the victims to be bad people.

Aubrey plaza is given a more normal role here though is still left with little to do. Her sarcastic humor works here but is barely used. It is also hard to believe that she would be so gullible throughout. Yet her character stays always fetching.

The violence feels wackier. It seems like it’s there more to either be excessive and funny the more ridiculous the better,  it then wants us to treat it seriously or be shocking after a certain point.

The film lacks the original spirit of the first film whereas this goes more form comedy and Learning. About friendship with plenty of violence. That it feels more like a studio driven film

Where they try so hard to modernize it and update it that it is missing its own identity. Clearly made for more. This is why this is not a sequel and the creators of the other series of CHILD’S PLAY movies are continuing their own on television. While allowing this to be Its own separate entity.

Grade: C