notsomighty

I'm not a massive horror fan, but I love a good scare every now and then. Having said that is this a horror movie? It's certainly horrific. I never, ever turn movies off no matter how bad they are because I've had some brilliant final act turn arounds in movies that have nearly sent me to sleep. Having said that this movie isn't bad. Me wanting to turn it off was because what it was trying to do (whatever that was) it was doing really well and then some. My nerves were shredded, my stomach was turning and my patience was dwindling as the protagonists (I think we can call them that because it weren't Roth or Watt's characters) did such a good job of making me hate them that my finger was literally floating over the 'off' button pretty much from the off, yet my urge to see how it played out and see some kind of redemption for the family was stronger. What I found most disturbing was the majority of the physical torture and brutality is done off screen and the physical torture comes a strong 2nd to the mental torture which really makes you feel for the couple and especially thier child (who is very convincing). I came out of this movie drained, somewhat confused, I was in a bit of disbelief, I kind of enjoyed it but hated it at the same time. The run time both flew by yet dragged and I am fully aware that these descriptives are somewhat contradictory but I'm sure this is what the movie is aiming for so I strongly advise approach this movie with caution. Dont be fooled (like I was) by the Hollywood names attached to it (whom might I add put in sterling performances) as this gives the viewer a perception of 'i liked him/her in xyz, how grim can this be' as they only make the story 'if you can call it that' more believable and amplify the inevitability of what's coming. There are even a few moments of 4th wall breaking. One in particular which invites you the viewer into the room to ask who you are rooting for (really!!!). I gave this movie a 5 because I went right in the middle. I couldn't go 10 although as brilliant as it was at doing whatever it was trying to do I will 100% never have a desire to watch it again, yet it's been on my mind for over a week now. I can't give it a 1 even tho I've never been so close to turning a movie off in my Adult life and still question that that is nearly 2 hours I'm not getting back. So, am i commending the movie? I don't think so. Am I saying it's bad? I don't think so either. I think it depends what your looking for. But absolutley approach with caution. Its not a jolly watch.

I've held off for long enough, here's my two cents. Somewhere amongst the drivel script, awful characters, shoddy acting, contradictory star wars lore, questionable make up and its tiny sets, there's a decent story aching to get out but it's trying so hard to tick so many boxes by not ticking any boxes but ticks all the boxes that 'any true star wars fan' doesn't care about anyway it fails miserably on all fronts, and we're left with a very loosely and poorly researched and abysmally executed 'version' of something star wars-ish I would have ordered better from wish. I'm stunned I got past episode 3 to be fair. There was a glimmer (a very, very tiny speck of light in a very deep,dark chasm) of hope at the end of episode 6, when Osha (or Mai, I don't really care) did the thing with the mask giving me a shred of interest for episode 7, when boom! We're pretty much back to episode 3 in a cringe-fest flashback episode with that awful 'immaculate conception witch tribe voodoo narrative'. Terrible, absolutley terrible.

Now, I love pre-Disney Star Wars as it ran through my family's blood growing up, im quite fond of 'some' of the extended galaxy content (Clone Wars, Mandalorian, Jedi/Empire tales) but please, please, please whoever is responsible for commissioning this churned out slop of late, get a grip the world is crying out... (like a great disturbance in the force) it's awful!!!! I am woefully dubious about what the future might bring.

Note. Bring on the hate but I still prefer it to Andor.