Josie - Tentazioni pericolose

Wasn't too thrilled with this mainly because I thought it was overly simplistic, like a Lifetime movie or something made for TV. It's nothing too original, and it's not believable in any capacity. It's like they took some half-baked plot and just executed the thing for a payday. The production quality and acting were ok - it was really just the plot that didn't satisfy me. People mention this movie has a twist - well to me that was mostly just a gimmick because it didn't seem suitable or compatible with the characters. Something that was an aside, I believe the turtles in the movie were unhealthy. Their shells show a condition known as "pyramiding" which happens if they are malnourished. It doesn't mean they are starving but they don't have enough calcium or vitamin D which promote healthy bone growth. The shell should be flat and smooth but when they don't get the right diet, the keratin production gets affected and the pyramiding can happen.

Sophie Tucker is very good. While she comes across as a rebel she's actually very nice. Or seems to be. Given the reality of her situation, which she never explains until the end, giving people different stories, Josie is an amazing actress. I didn't find her all that pretty but she's always wearing short shorts or a swimsuit and trying to be flirty, though she's very subtle. She is quite intelligent and I see a career in her future, if she can just get past all her obstacles and get an education. Well, at least that's what I would have said. I can't say why but Tucker gives very different performances in her final scenes from what we have seen so far.

I didn't recognize Dylan McDermott, and that's a good thing. At one point I realized he looked familiar. I'm not a fan, but that's not important. He was either Eric McCormack or Dylan McDermott or just looked like one of them. The fact I didn't know shows how good an actor he is. He never really gets angry, and while he's not very social, Hank is a gentleman and he will open up to those he feels comfortable with. It just takes a while.

Kurt Fuller is familiar for some reason. He's kind of a jerk and occasionally suggests he's one of these Trump supporters who wants to keep America great, but he's not overdone.

Robin Bartlett is really likable when you think she's just being friendly, with kind of an Edie McClurg personality and a "Fargo" accent, but she also shows a nosy side. She comes across really differently when she is genuinely concerned and not just meddling.

There is a variety of music. Amazingly, Josie likes country music, meaning the real stuff. Knowing what I know about her now, maybe not. But Hank likes it and while nothing is familiar, the country music here is a hundred times better than what is played on the typical FM "country" station in 2021. The young people like heavy metal. With the closing credits there are two songs. One is loud alternative rock with a talented female lead but not metal. The other ... I don't know what to say about it. It sounds like blues rock that was meant to be played at 33 but was played at 16 instead through a speaker designed by aliens. It's absolutely terrible and I was grateful I record everything so I could fast-forward.

It goes without saying this isn't family friendly. As is usually the case, I saw a version where all the bad language was taken out, and it appeared there was a lot of it. A little girl sees something she's not supposed to see, but we don't actually see it. We just know what is going to happen and wonder why a little girl would be there. And then there is a dramatic plot twist that includes something so violent it was blurred on my TV screen.

Other than the ending, this seems like a formula movie, but one that would seem better than average because of the lead actors. Some people say they saw the ending coming. I'm not good at that, and that helps me enjoy movies like this more. I certainly didn't want it to end like that, but ... Wow, the final final scene was amazing.

Don't expect too much and you won't be disappointed.

Looks like I'm in the minority here and I know it's not for everyone, but I did find this indie rather engaging and clever, that is if you don't think about the premise too much which is preposterous for sure.

Why is a very sexy teen (Sophie Turner), who has just moved in to a motel, coming on to her new neighbor (Dylan McDermott), who is much older than her and quite shy and lonely, with his best friends being two pet tortoises?

As the movie progressed, I pretty much figured out why, but that didn't prepare me for its most violent finale. I found this film kept me interested throughout its duration and wondering where it all was going to end up.

To note, there were no subtitles on my DVD copy obtained at Redbox, but I was able to access them through the closed captioned option on my remote.

Yes, the performances are decent (Sophie Turner acts better than she even did in Game Of Thrones and Dylan Mcdermott shows, once again, that he's a hugely under-rated actor) but it's rather slow and uninvolving and the 'big twist' is so blindingly obvious...

(Quote by Emilie Autumn)

Honestly, I don't understand why this movie got such negative reviews, I full-heartedly enjoyed it, from start to finish. I feel this film has been wrongfully reviewed and, as such, decided to dedicate it my first ever movie review, so understand that I am not a Movie Critic or connoisseur, I merely enjoy them.

To me, watching this movie was very much like reading a book: the passing was excellent, the introduction of the characters was fluid, the environments were scarce, yes, but they were well structured in the narrative, all good things that came together with a very curious story.

To put it in simple words: the story surrounds Hank, a lone man who likes fishing and only wishes to live a quiet life with his two tortoises. The only people he interacts with are some of his neighbours: an oldish couple, Gordie and Martha, and Romero, only because they try to talk to him and open him up to the community.

Hanks' dull life transforms when Josie, a transplanted high school student, rents the house right across from his and enters his life very suddenly, shedding light all around.

As the story progresses, you learn more about Hank and the people in his life, and how high school kids will always be insufferable, and how strange human relationships are, and then... The twist!

You see, there is a reason why Hank is the way he is, there is a reason why Josie went to that Southern town, and there is a reason I really enjoyed this movie...!

I will not spoil it for any of you because I feel I don't need to in order for you, the reader, to be interested in this movie - but I will tell you that I was NOT expecting that twist, damn! It was phenomenal!

What I thought the story was about, it derailed me and left me speechless, I was completely blown away, something that doesn't happen in most movies nowadays. Maybe I'm not as smart as the other reviewers, but I was pleasantly surprised with the ending.

And the actors were terrifying in their performances, they lived their characters' stories so well, Sophie Turner and Dylan McDermott were perfect for their role, as well as all the other minor characters - I specially enjoyed Robin Bartlett's character, Martha.

In short, kudos to all involved with the making of this movie, I truly enjoyed it, I really did. Incredible storytelling, performances, setting, the music is great as well, there is so much to love! Thank you.

"But then, why only rate it eight stars?" Well, although I really enjoyed the story and the characters, there were minor things that bugged me and although the ending was astounding, I felt it was rushed, a bit. One can argue that, contrasting with the slow place of the film, suddenly having the final minutes of it jumping in your face like that, causes a bigger impact - I suppose maybe that's why the ending is still so vivid in my mind?

And - talking about the ending, again - I would have preferred if it had been Josie talking in the end instead of Hank, I think it would have suited the story best, for various reasons (watch the movie and tell me if I'm wrong!). But maybe that's also why Hank's voice was chosen. In the end, who is this story about?

Give this movie a chance, please, if you like good storytelling and complex characters.

I'm telling you right now, you will not be disappointed!