The big new release this week is Five Nights At Freddy's, which seems to be similar to the completely bananas Nicolas Cage film Willy's Wonderland.
That was memorable because Cage didn't utter a single word of dialogue throughout the whole movie. FNaF follows the exploits of a troubled security guard, who realises during his first night on the job that he may face a whole series of challenges he hadn't bargained for. It looks like silly fun from the trailer, and I'll report back next week.
In the meantime, I've been to see Miracle Club and was surprised at how busy the cinema was. A special mention to the audience member who not only answered the shrill ringing phone in her lap, but proceeded to have a conversation about why she couldn't speak right now! Cue much giggling from the rest of us.
Not many belly laughs to be had in the film itself, unfortunately. However, Kathy Bates and Maggie Smith certainly outacted a fairly medoicre, plodding script, as a group of ladies head on a coach trip to Lourdes hoping for a miracle to turn their lives around. It reminded me of the sort of film you could watch on the sofa on a Sunday afternoon, whilst leafing through the papers. Pleasant enough to while away 90 minutes for sure.
Themes of friendship, redemption, and faith are all covered, albeit fairly superficially, but Maggie Smith at 88 is sharp as a tack when it comes to delivering her lines with aplomb and timing. Not one to rush to watch on the big screen, but it certainly seems to have found an audience. A bonus point for being short too. I haven't brought myself to watch the new Scorcese yet, chiefly due to its duration of three and a half hours!
Meanwhile, It Lives Inside is fairly decent, until you see the monster. I couldn't help thinking the hunched-over creature with bulging eyes wasn't all that scary once sighted. The story is sharp enough, although borrowing elements from other horrors I've seen over the years. I liked the fact it brought something different to the table with the addition of Hindu mythology. It tapped a little into social and cultural isolation, and the challenge of fitting in, and I'd like to have seen that side explored a little more.
Sam (Megan Suri) is creeped out by her estranged friend Tamira (Mohana Krishnan), who is carrying round an empty mason jar and generally seems spaced out all the time. She is convinced that the vessel contains a demon, capable of inflicting all sorts of harm on anyone who stands in its way. She tries to feed it meat and keep it happy inside the jar, until Sam smashes it in a moment of conflict and unleashes it. There follows a race to contain it and rescue Tamira, before she becomes the demon's TV dinner. It's fortunate that a helpful teacher is on hand, plus Sam's parents once she wins them round.
I'd give this three stars out of five and it's certainly a worthy addition to the religious horror genre. Not many jump scares, and the demon reminded me a bit of the Chewits monster in the end, but a good watch overll. The ending was pretty neat too. Halloween-worthy.
