Alien: Romulus – Spoiler Free

25 Aug 2024 Leave a comment

by Debra Manskey in Biography, Movie Review, Writing Tags: , , , , , ,

Alien: Romulus (2024)

I’m old enough to remember going to see Ridley Scott’s Alien (1979) on first release and being totally blindsided by how such a simple Hitchcockian premise could deliver so much. It’s become one of my all time favourites and I watch it at least once a year. Aliens (1986) directed by James Cameron (the undisputed king of sequels) is an excellent war movie, though I don’t rate it as highly as some. Even Alien 3 (1992) had moments, though I’m sure David Fincher would disagree! Beyond that, it all turns to mush in my mind.

So, given my increasing disillusionment with recent entries into the franchise, I went into this with some reservations. However, there’s much to commend this film. The cast are good, particularly David Jonsson in the pivotal role of Andy, the sound design is excellent and director Fede Alvarez’s rule of using practical effects wherever possible really improves the visual aesthetic. While the cinematography from Galo Olivarez is mostly on point, at times the lighting is abysmal and it’s difficult to distinguish what we’re supposed to be focusing on. More than once, I found my eyes wandering away from centre frame and them scrambling to catch up with the action. This also served to diffuse rather than enhance tension.

There are the mandatory jump scares and plenty of Alienesque gore but in the final analysis, it’s the script that lets everything down, with too many incredibly cheap jump scares and even cheaper call backs to much better films.

I’ve heard Alien: Romulus described as a greatest hits album performed by a cover band. This is probably a little harsh but ultimately, I did find it a disappointment. Nevertheless, I always encourage people to go and see it yourselves and make up your own mind.

Alien: Romulus is currently in wide cinematic release globally

Longlegs – Spoiler Free

06 Aug 2024 4 Comments

by Debra Manskey in Movie Review, Writing Tags: , , , ,

It’s been a long time since I’ve uploaded a movie review. Ill health, different projects, life and other catastrophes have got in the way – but now I’m back! I hope you enjoy what I have to offer….

I love Nicolas Cage, particularly his recent films – Colour Out of Space (2019), the hilarious self-parody The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022) and the incomparable Mandy (2018), but I’m really unsure about his latest vehicle, Longlegs (2024).

It’s been promoted as the scariest horror movie of the year (mostly I suspect by the movie’s marketing department) but I just don’t buy it. Admittedly, I’m a huge horror fan, so perhaps I’m hardened to such things, but I feel Longlegs is a movie that promises much but falters at crucial points.

The main protagonist, FBI agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe) is immediately endearing through her extreme social awkwardness and I like her character arc throughout. Harker is brought in to assist with investigations into a series of murders and it’s obvious she has some kind of extra sensory perception and her own family issues. However, combining this strong police procedural with threads of the supernatural ,satanic practices, jump scares and slasher movie mentality, unfortunately makes for something of a mess.

Nevertheless, Longlegs has much to commend it. The sound design and score are excellent and the cinematography evokes a bleakness that is quite chilling. The first act especially is very, very good, full of tension that seems to fade as the film progresses. It was written and directed by Osgood “Oz” Perkins who has been very open about his struggles with his own family, and I feel some of that bleeds into this film. But Cage’s turn is so over the top, I struggled to stifle a laugh when the character is first introduced. Having said that, the character of Longlegs is scary but very much in an evil clown kind of way (full disclosure, I detest clowns). Covered in prosthetics and a wig, Cage is almost unrecognisable and plays it to the hilt, a deranged, burnt out, glam-rock nightmare of Tiny Tim. While I applaud his commitment, Cage has reportedly said he based his performance on his own mother, which speaks volumes!

Ultimately, this incredibly ambitions film is less than the sum of its parts but nevertheless, entertaining. Perkins is a director I’ll watch in the future with great interest, I’d far sooner watch something that pushes boundaries than plays safe.

And I still love Nicolas Cage.

Longlegs is currently in wide cinematic release globally.