CinemaClown

The third & hopefully the final entry in Eddie Brock saga, Venom: The Last Dance is terrible even from the low standards of its predecessors. Amusing in bits but still forgettable for the most part, this latest chapter is convoluted in tone, bland in execution, suffers from a myriad of issues, and remains a largely uninteresting ride from start to finish.

Written & directed by Kelly Marcel in her directorial debut, the story follows Brock & Venom who find themselves being hunted by forces from their respective worlds. Lowering the expectations with the insipid prologue that opens the narrative which would've worked better if it was placed somewhere in the middle, this sequel only gets more tedious as it progresses.

Packed with cringe moments, lifeless characters & awfully rendered visual effects, the film is as silly, goofy & campy as the previous chapters and is barely held together by the lame chemistry between the disgraced journalist & his alien symbiote. Tom Hardy's performance is as fidgety & chaotic as before, there are unnecessary subplots in here and its lame attempt at humour often fall flat.

Overall, Venom: The Last Dance asks its viewers to turn their brains off one last time to deliver another mediocre outing that concludes this action-adventure trilogy on an uninteresting note. An utterly boring addition to a dreadful franchise that may still provide some unabashed thrills, fun & amusement to those select few who vibe with its ludicrous aspects, this finale is more or less an eyesore for the rest.

From the director of The Shape of Water & Nightmare Alley comes another gorgeously rendered fantasy about man, myth & monster that exhibits both his strengths & limitations as a storyteller. Visually appealing yet dramatically inert, Frankenstein has been a long-gestating dream project for the Mexican filmmaker but suffers from the same set of issues that plague most of his works.

Written, produced & directed by Guillermo del Toro (Crimson Peak & Pinocchio), the story follows an egotistical scientist whose obsession with overcoming death ultimately results in a monstrous creation that leads to his undoing. The film is crafted with care, plus del Toro's passion for the source material & affection for the creature is apparent throughout but the story as a whole is missing the necessary goods.

The director gets so carried away with getting all the technical details right that he forgets that his script deserves the same intimate treatment. The imagery is beautiful to look at but the narrative suffers due to half-baked execution. Also, what even is the point of making real sets & shooting it all on camera when everything looks computer-generated in the finished product anyway? Performances are good but not always convincing.

Overall, Frankenstein does benefit from del Toro's artistic touches yet fails to offer a compelling enough ride to keep us invested and also lacks the thematic richness of James Whale's versions. The picture isn't without merit and is emotionally resonant at times but more work was required on the fundamentals for it to at least flow right. Far too preoccupied with the technicalities than the story at hand, Guillermo del Toro's latest is a letdown.

A twisted retelling of the classic fairy tale Cinderella that's tragic & disturbing in equal measure, The Ugly Stepsister (Den Stygge Stesøsteren) is a wicked blend of sharp satire, dark comedy & body horror that's sprinkled with a hint of fantasy and features an increasingly unhinged performance from its leading lady. Definitely not for the squeamish, it is the most harrowing offering of the year.

Written & directed by Emilie Blichfeldt in her directorial debut, the story follows a young woman who takes drastic measures in a bloody battle for beauty against her stepsister in order to woo the prince. Blichfeldt brings to life the fantastical world that gives folkloric vibe from the get-go and is patient with the premise, offering brief doses of extremity every now n then before going all-in during the final act.

Through the brutal ordeal that our protagonist is subjected to, the film attempts to critique the body image perceptions, unfair beauty standards & unrealistic patriarchal expectations that's still prevalent in society today. The cold colour tones, elegant camerawork & rich visuals uplift the imagery some more while Lea Myren's demented showcase is the highlight of the film that evokes both empathy & discomfort.

Overall, The Ugly Stepsister is a neatly crafted, intelligently narrated & brilliantly acted horror fantasy that delivers the visceral thrills with provocative commentary. A promising start for its debutant filmmaker by all means, the film amuses, disgusts, shocks & entertains with nothing held back and skilfully juggles all the different genre elements to deliver a nightmare that can push its viewers to the point of retching. Don't miss it.