gabriel_sanchez

Though one could argue that The Conjuring franchise is one of the most successful horror universes out there, and Last Rites already high grossing within a week of release, the last entry in the series raises mixed feelings.

The story follows our beloved Warren family on what is supposed to be their last adventure into the realm of the demonic and damned. Avoiding new cases, Ed and Lorraine try to live a normal life, but as their daughter Judy starts seeing things ever so often, and a great ancient evil tied to the Warrens seem to grow in Pennsylvania, it is not before long that Evil finds their way to draw the Warrens back into the spotlight.

On paper, the premise, and the slogan "the case that ended it all" raises expectations, especially considering all we have experienced so far in the franchise. What evil could be so evil that would have ended the Warrens journey? What terror is lurking in the dark to get them all? Well, turns out evil might have a number of faces, but their features are more or less the same. At best, The Conjuring: Last Rites is the same ol'-same ol' but done by skilled professionals.

First of all, the title is a bit off. Last Rites? I would have expected something at large scale involving satanic summonings and the likes. Turns out last rites has to do with these being the last time the Warrens perform some expelling rituals or that stuff, so it seems. A little disappointing.

Remove the wrapping ending, and Last Rites could easily be just another average The Conjuring entry. Remove the Warrens, and you would have your average 2020's haunting and demon possession movie. If you are a horror fanatic, which by watching what is supposed to be the 9th or 10th movie in this universe you probably are, you should easily predict the plot points for Last Rites with acceptable accuracy as the story progresses. It is full of the same old clichés and it is also as linear as it gets.

Now, by this point you might think that Last Rites is a miss, a movie to ignore. Well, the context here is important: Last Rites advertisement was that it would end the franchise on a higher note with the case that made the Warrens stop their activities. Even though we know most of the events are just based on the Warrens's accountings, Last Rites enticed the premise that it would be the nail in The Conjuring coffin, at least for the time being, so expectations are super high. Last Rites, at best, delivers an acceptable story.

The scary factor is below par though. My wife hates these types of movies and she watched this one just fine. She said "this one was OK, watchable. I thought it would be worst in the scary department." I guess this is a good summary on this subject.

As a whole, Last Rites is alright, and the ending and closure is beautiful and a tribute to the Warrens, sure. But consider all its context, Last Rites is average with a predictable, all-of-the-same type of story and a villain that has no personal connection to the Warrens other than just being generically evil.

Along Game a Spider (let's shorten this to AGS) is a thriller about the kidnapping of the daughter of a low-profile Senator and how the forensic psychologist Alex Cross solves the case-based on the homonymous James Patterson's novel. Simple and effective for the most part.

If you are just a movie fanatic, you might notice this Cross dude is super similar to the Cross on the movie Kiss the Girls (1997) and you wouldn't be wrong: they are the same character based on Dr. Alex Cross from Patterson's novel series. However, the order is reversed in the cinema: Alonge Came a Spider released later in movies; in the book series, AGS comes first.

Anyhow, considering the movie alone, Dr. Alex Cross is thrown into an investigation over the kidnapping of Megan Rose when the kidnapper calls Cross with some cryptic BS. Pairing with Jazzie Flannigan, the Secret Service's agent tasked with protecting Megan, Cross and her needs to unravel a eerie case that defies the usual kidnapping schematics.

AGS is 24 years now and you feel its age. It has that early 2000's vibe and pacing, and cinematography. Nostalgia should surround you, but also a feeling of cliché.

Nothing to do with Morgan Freeman, though. He is God.

Overall, AGS works as intended, but expect no masterpiece. It is a simple movie that provides a simple experience and it works for the most part.

In a sea of mediocre to mostly average Hollywoodian horror films, a good amount adaptations from interesting Eastern cinema, comes Timo Tjahjanto, acquainted to the genre, with the above-par May the Devil Take You (MDTY) from 2018. Delighted in good Eastern traits, MDTY delivers a solid experience with minor flaws.

The story follows Alfie, a young woman coping with the loss of her mom and the ever-increasingly distance with her father, that until he falls into a weird coma and his other family wants to make sure they get their hands on his late rural house before he dies. The rural house used to be Alfie's home, thus the new family needs her signature to sell it, so she decides to go there too out of pure nostalgia and to settle things, but she and the new family uncovers an old secret that might doom them all.

You need to look away at some of these plot conveniences because they happen sometimes throughout the film. Alfie's motivation to go into the house are unclear: in a weird scene, she has a dream, wakes up, and decides she wants to go there. Other conveniences include dumb decisions by characters, like clearly dismissing obvious danger or taking too long to realize it. And, of course, in pure cliché, a trait from the early introduction of Alfie pays off in the climax.

Now, you take MDTY as a whole, and you get a decent Indonesian horror flick. The scenery is atmospheric and chilling. The acting is convincing and acceptable. The story itself is simple and effective.

Lots of jumpscares, in full Eastern tradition. Lots of questionable CGI too, but somewhat unnerving too, so it pays off.

The ending is a bit convoluted but I guess that is because it is full of their folklore and legends. I think it worked, but casuals might feel a bit overwhelmed with the happenings. It is definitely acceptable, though.

MDTY delivers on its premise: a chilling story about grief and greed, and the Devil itself. Considering recent releases, I believe it is a refreshing gem amongst average rocks and stones. Somewhat terrifying, honestly, and definitely chilling if you are watching it alone in your flat. I suggest don't do that-have a buddy or people that like Eastern horror and give it a go.