dweston-38669
Joined Feb 2019
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Reviews229
dweston-38669's rating
I really wanted to like this more. I REALLY did. It has all the ingredients that make a spy thriller-tension, uncertainty, a sexiness, spacious expensive London houses, great costumes (Fassbenders clothing is lush!) and a nifty run time of 90 mins.
The issue is a complex and confusing storyline that doesn't really catch fire. It would better be either a stand alone TV show where the themes and complexities can be ironed out or a stage play. The double crossing, verbose script may put some off.
However, it is a mature , well acted by all piece of work (both Blanchett and Fassbender have great smouldering chemistry) and there are some effective set pieces - the surveillance room break in is particularly tense as it the river boat scene.
Director Steven Soderburgh clearly is trying to emulate Tinker, Taylor and Smiley's People, the spy game isn't always James Bond but those who sit behind screens all day.
I'll certainty watch it again, as it doesn't follow the usual chase, chase, bang , bang of most action films and that should be applauded.
The issue is a complex and confusing storyline that doesn't really catch fire. It would better be either a stand alone TV show where the themes and complexities can be ironed out or a stage play. The double crossing, verbose script may put some off.
However, it is a mature , well acted by all piece of work (both Blanchett and Fassbender have great smouldering chemistry) and there are some effective set pieces - the surveillance room break in is particularly tense as it the river boat scene.
Director Steven Soderburgh clearly is trying to emulate Tinker, Taylor and Smiley's People, the spy game isn't always James Bond but those who sit behind screens all day.
I'll certainty watch it again, as it doesn't follow the usual chase, chase, bang , bang of most action films and that should be applauded.
What starts as a would be Dead End/Twilight Zone first half deteriorates into a confusing mess that had us scratching our heads.
The setting is perfect for a horror-old backwoods roads in spooky fog infused England and the story set up is unusual in it's telling. Nic Frost gives a committed performance for a horror though not the usual comic (though there are some comic timings) and it certainty isn't his fault he looks like Jon Hill with a beard.
As a horror it isn't that scary as a thriller it isn't thrilling but if you want a film where you just let the visuals wash over you and not think AT ALL then this is a formulaic and forgettable fare!
The setting is perfect for a horror-old backwoods roads in spooky fog infused England and the story set up is unusual in it's telling. Nic Frost gives a committed performance for a horror though not the usual comic (though there are some comic timings) and it certainty isn't his fault he looks like Jon Hill with a beard.
As a horror it isn't that scary as a thriller it isn't thrilling but if you want a film where you just let the visuals wash over you and not think AT ALL then this is a formulaic and forgettable fare!
It begins well with a suitably creepy opening with a zoom call between two girls, there is an ambient ' Silent Hill' small town vibe (and the town looks lush) which always appeals to me in any horror film.
Rather than the usual blood/gore this acts as a quiet sometimes reflective horror about dark past secrets. It reminded me of Ti West's ' The Innkeepers' and John Irvin's Ghost Story.
It has a few effective creepy scenes-the piano scene being one of them.
What lets it down is I couldn't take the character ' Isabel' looking way older than she is. She clearly looks mid 20s tops, so when he brother asks her how she is getting on at school I just laughed.
The scares, although well done, were signposted way too soon. The creepy doll (Mia lookalike!!) was put into frame once the camera panned either left or right and a movement by the ghost in the background was an ill judged piece of mis-direction.
The various POVs were unsubtle and added nothing to proceedings as a whole and the ' teenage' love interest was the usual tedious ' tick box' exercise so prevalent in movies nowadays- and they had zero chemistry.
It's one of those films that could have been better and shows how old I've become in seeing where and when the scares come along; however if either Elsie and Molly want a old fashioned ghost story I would recommend.
Rather than the usual blood/gore this acts as a quiet sometimes reflective horror about dark past secrets. It reminded me of Ti West's ' The Innkeepers' and John Irvin's Ghost Story.
It has a few effective creepy scenes-the piano scene being one of them.
What lets it down is I couldn't take the character ' Isabel' looking way older than she is. She clearly looks mid 20s tops, so when he brother asks her how she is getting on at school I just laughed.
The scares, although well done, were signposted way too soon. The creepy doll (Mia lookalike!!) was put into frame once the camera panned either left or right and a movement by the ghost in the background was an ill judged piece of mis-direction.
The various POVs were unsubtle and added nothing to proceedings as a whole and the ' teenage' love interest was the usual tedious ' tick box' exercise so prevalent in movies nowadays- and they had zero chemistry.
It's one of those films that could have been better and shows how old I've become in seeing where and when the scares come along; however if either Elsie and Molly want a old fashioned ghost story I would recommend.