donkeycity

Almost a modern reimagining of George Romero's Martin meets Let the Right One In - both of which are referenced by name in the film - this goes real deep into childhood trauma and poverty through the lens of being a young Horror movie fan. I think a lot of Horror fans relate to the genre to deal with the trauma of the world, to some degree, and this is a moving exploration of that (as well as themes of self-loathing and social isolation).

I went into this blind, and I'd suggest doing the same, as it never lets you really get a handle on where the unorthodox story and genre structures are going, which keeps it highly engaging. Dark black humor, some real Horror, and great performances. I'm surprised this didn't get more attention, as it's very well made, and lives up to its name on a few levels. It kind of reminded me of Garth Ennis's early Preacher comics in tone, even moreso than the TV adaptation of that does.

While I was unfamiliar with the manga, I do have a generally good impression of Adam Wingard, but this was just awful. Very similar to the excellent book Lullaby (which I see predates the comic), and trying to coast by on being kinda Final Destination-y, its far ranging plot never congeals into anything entertaining or particularly comprehensible. Easily the worst film I saw in Oct. 2017 (even though Willem Dafoe was fun, as ever).