Letterboxd Recap: May!

Here's what I watched in the month of May!
Firestarter (2022)

”There are non so blind as those who will not see.”
I was excited to watch this film, because I was rather intrigued by the trailer. I had never seen the original film starring Drew Barrymore, nor have I gotten around to reading Stephen King's novel yet. However, the film turned out to be very lackluster. This movie looked like it was filmed as a television show. I felt like I was watching CSI or Law & Order. It literally took me out of the entire film because I was stuck wondering why the film didn’t look cinematic. I was theorizing that Blumhouse must not be doing well financially. LOL. The other factor that removed me from the film several times was the acting. The acting was very bland. Some actors sounded like they were just reading off the script with no emotion. I even felt Zac Efron was underwhelming in his role, which I did not expect. The entire film just had a very strange vibe to it. It was more like a made for TV drama… boring with no substance. I don't know why I thought filmmakers could produce a good Stephen King film. They rarely do. I’m just going to read the book. To hell with watching the original… 

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

“You break the rules and become a hero. I do it and I become the enemy. That doesn’t seem fair.”
Despite the mediocre reviews this film has gotten, it’s actually one of my favorite Marvel films. I was emotionally invested in Wanda’s journey back when I first watched Wandavision. There’s just something I love about Elizabeth Olsen in this role, and it was exciting to see her transition into the Scarlet Witch finally. I must admit I LOVE her as the villain. She’s was completely terrifying. Just this unstoppable force you could not run from. This movie was the closest Marvel has gotten to a horror film. I wasn’t expecting the uneasy nature, the jump scares, the body horror, the contorting body trope, Wanda looking straight into the camera, the mass slaughter… I was shocked at her sheer body count, and that they actually showed her annihilating people. I think Sam Raimi should direct more Marvel films. LOL. 

The horror her character unleashes is proof of how profound grief can really be. With the loss of Vision and the two children she created to cope with her despair, it demonstrates how far the mind will go to protect you from your unfathomable pain. Wanda’s affliction soon transforms her into a menacing villain. It shows how dangerous grief and an unstable mental state can be for one of the most powerful beings in the universe, and poses the question on whether such mutants should even exist at the expense of humanity. 

 
Hatching (2022)

“I hatched it.”
Hatching is probably one of my favorite horror films of the year so far. This Finnish body horror is grotesque, yet beautiful at the same time. The film is a horrifying coming of age tale of a 12 year old girl forced to seek perfection in every aspect of her life. The stress of keeping appearances with her not so perfect family, the anxiety of trying to achieve her mother’s approval, and the sheer coldness of her parental units all culminates into an abhorrent visual representation of a young girl entering puberty and womanhood with mental trauma and emotional instability. The ending of the film depicts the death of the girl’s innocence, and her harsh transformation into adolescence. It also could symbolize the negative impact childhood trauma has on us going into adulthood, and that one day we might mirror the very people that caused us our own mental anguish. I appreciate the haunting visuals and cinematography that brought these thematic elements to light. I love bizarre horror films that stick with you long after you have watched them.

The Sadness (2021)

“You are just like me… violent and depraved.”
The Sadness is a Taiwanese horror film that depicts a viral pandemic that turns people into sadistic killers and disgusting sexual predators. I’m not a fan of zombie flicks, but Asian filmmakers have really perfected this genre. Like Train to Busan, this film was WILD! I don’t think I’ve seen so much blood and depravity in a movie before. I mean, this film has a warning message to alert you of the horror you’re about to witness. It sure didn’t disappoint as this was one of the most disturbing movies I’ve seen since Midsommar. 

TV Shows/Documentaries 

Meltdown: Three Mile Island (2022)

I know the story of the Chernobyl accident, but I had little knowledge of the nuclear incident that happened right here in the United States. I mean, I was aware it happened, but I had no idea the extent of it. I was shocked to learn that the Unit 2 reactor suffered a partial meltdown, and that people in the towns near the facility were exposed to high levels of radiation. It was also appalling to know a whistleblower basically had their entire life ruined because they choose to disclose information to the public in order to deter a SECOND nuclear accident of greater destruction. Corporate leadership never cares about the safety of the public, it’s always about money. Maybe, if Chernobyl had happened before this incident, they’d be singing a different tune. 

 
The Circle (2022)

My favorite season of The Circle yet. I mean, can we talk about how they got the SPICE GIRLS to appear?! I love this show, and it’s the only reality television I can get Danny to watch voluntarily. LOL. 

 
Honorable Mentions 

Chip’ n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022) - A playful and hilarious take on what happened to the stars of a beloved millennial cartoon of the 90’s. 

 
Dishonorable Mentions 

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986) - I hate it. I don’t understand the comedic tone that everyone comments on. This film is not funny to me, just annoying. I’m perfectly fine with campy horror films, but this one just irritates me.