Letterboxd Recap: March!

Take a look at what intrigued me during the month of March!

The Batman (2022)

”All everyone wants to do is unmask you but they’re missing the point. You and I both know I'm looking at the real you right now."
The Batman is probably my favorite Batman film since The Dark Knight. It provided the darkness and grit I’ve been missing from comic book adaptations. Don’t get me wrong, I like the MCU but it’s too… happy. LOL. I’ve grown quite tired of Marvel, and I wasn’t that fond of Spider-Man: No Way Home. It’s just not my jam. I’ve been yearning to see the Big Bad Bats back in action for a while now. Despite my reservations, Robert Pattinson was a decent Batman. It will be interesting to see him grow into the Cape Crusader we all know as his role progresses in future films. It’s clear in this story that Pattinson’s Batman is a younger, inexperienced vigilante. Also, Zoë Kravitz’s Catwoman, Paul Dano’s Riddler and Colin Farrell’s Penguin were all great additions to the cast.

This film actually felt like it was taken from the pages of a Batman comic. Batman is one of the world’s greatest detectives, but I feel like this is rarely shown on the big screen. Directors opt for more flashy action sequences. They show playboy billionaire Bruce Wayne, but they don’t always show a sleep-deprived Batman hunched over at his computer with blood shot eyes, wracking his brain for any clues that will solve the current predicament Gotham has been put under by a certain villain. The Batman is definitely inspired by The Long Halloween (1996) and Zero Year (2013) as both these comic series chronicle the early years in Batman’s career and his transition from fighting mobsters to Gotham’s most dangerous supervillains.

There is also a horror element to The Batman that I love. This film has been compared many times to Se7en and Zodiac because of its somber tone and heinous depiction of the The Riddler. He’s actually more terrifying in this film than he appeared to be in Zero Year, when I read the graphic novel (ironically) for Secret City a few months back. Overall, I really have nothing to complain about when it comes to this film, which is shocking because Batman is my favorite superhero of all time and I have no problem airing any grievances I have about any big screen portrayal of the Bat. I’m looking forward to the future of this franchise.

Fresh (2022)

“You know how I knew you were special? 

Cause you’re fucked up too.”
Fresh depicts exactly what I would have imagined happening to myself if I hadn’t reconnected with Danny and was forced to try dating apps. I don’t care if you think that’s dramatic. If you watched as much true crime as I have than this plot line doesn’t seem too far fetched.

I still don’t know how I feel about about this film, and it was quite strange to watch Sebastian Stan in such a devious role. It’s clear this movie is supposed to be social commentary on the modern dating world as the plot transitions from a sweet rom-com to a horrifying body horror. I admit, I was disappointed because it was alluded that this film was shocking and quite heinous, but upon viewing the movie I found that to be a gross exaggeration. I don’t know what that really says about me. My threshold for terrible content is quite high these days. I found the reviews on Letterboxd to be hilarious though. Most comments were about the 38 minute intro, Sebastian Stan, and ass jokes. “I could fix him” sent me. However, the description of this film being the white woman’s Get Out was the most accurate.

Titane (2021)

“Watch out for any neurological signs. Motor function, coordination, diction. As you know.” 
“Could the plate move in her head?”
“No. Not without violent impact. It's very solid. It's titanium.”

The best way I can describe this film is… what the fuck?! I go into most horror films completely blind, but no one could have prepared me for what I was about to witness. The plot line continued to get stranger and stranger as the film progressed. At some point you have to accept there is no logic to what you’re experiencing in this movie, and you just have to go with it. A lot of people emotionally connected with the more humane aspect of this film, but I initially felt nothing once the end credits started to roll.

Although, in absorbing and analyzing other peoples interpretations of the film, I can appreciate the underlying themes and metaphors at play in Titane. This film was definitely meant to be more than just body horror. The main character’s childhood trauma leads her to developing a connection to cars and titanium over human relationships. Alexia exhibits a cold and antisocial persona in her adult life that leads to her committing atrocious acts. It’s not until she finds herself running from her crimes that she discovers what unconditional love is, ultimately leading her to become more human. I find the themes revolving around gender, body autonomy and chosen families quite interesting. I think now I can understand the high praise this film has been receiving within the horror community.

Dishonorable Mentions:

Deep Water (2022) - An erotic thriller that was neither erotic nor thrilling as most put it. Some have described it as Gone Girl in reverse, but certainly not in a good way.

Halloween Kills (2021) - I still hate it…