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DAREDEVIL → “RESURRECTION” (EPISODE 1, SEASON 3) REVIEW:

Shattered physically and spiritually, Matt rethinks his purpose and place in Hell's Kitchen; Fisk puts a plan in motion from behind bars

It’s been more than a year since we last saw Matt Murdock, the crossover series The Defenders ended with a bang, literally, and our resident Daredevil stuck right in the middle of it.

Seasons of other Marvel Netflix Originals have come out since, but none were as marketed as Daredevil Season 3. It’s clear to see that Netflix values Daredevil as a series more than the others. It’s even more apparent now with the news of the cancellation of Luke Cage and Iron Fist just a week before.

The first episode of Season 3, titled “Resurrection” is directed by Marc Jobst. He does a fantastic job, the whole team does really. It’s a masterpiece, expertly constructed in such a way that it reflects on what the season is about. Something all good first episodes should do.

Now, I haven’t seen the rest of the season yet. But judging by just this episode, it’s going to be the best one yet!

The plot is really simple; there are no supernatural threats or ninjas in a cult, just Matt Murdock and recovery. It’s really a character study of an episode. It features some really exceptional camera work, lighting, coloring and cinematography. Episodes like these really allow the editor and the director to get creative and make it as beautiful as possible.

It’s a simple story, with only a few characters.

Matt Murdock is back in in the conventant where he grew up, recovering from his serious injuries, being back in square one with his disabilities taking over his abilities to be Daredevil. He’s feeling broken emotionally as well, ready to give up completely. He also has given up on God; Matt is a devote Catholic and his relationship with God is beyond repair, or so he thinks.

Sister Maggie is the person who is with him the most, she knows him well from childhood. Matt and Sister Maggie’s relationship and back-and-forth is fun and brings a hint of hopefulness to an otherwise grim episode.

In the end, we see Fisk, the villain from the first season, deciding to make a deal with the FBI. Hinting to him escaping prison and being the main villain in this season,

Overall, I thought the episode was a perfect introduction to the season. It gives you enough information but not too much, enough to want you to keep watching. The quality of this show always amazes me; every season just keeps getting better and better. This episode was the perfect first episode. Amazing!

Do I Recommend it? Yes!!

Rating: 5/5 Stars!

-- Mercedes

#daredevil #daredevil s3 #daredevil review #film review #review #netflix review #netflix originals #mercedes reviews

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Across the world, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is praised and loved by both audiences and critics. Now it seems like the movie industry is trying to ride off of the coattails of the MCU’s success and use the same source material or writing style that the MCU has used. It started with the Warner Bros. Pictures’ release of Justice League. They tried making a similar fast paced, epic movie with lovable characters and comic relief, but it fell flat. Now it has happened again with Venom.

Venom was released on October 5, 2018 as the first film in the Sony Marvel Universe adjunct to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It stars Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock, an investigative journalist who unwillingly becomes host to a destructive alien symbiote, aka Venom.

The character of Eddie Brock/Venom- with their inner turmoil of the violent Venom and the somewhat reasonable Eddie- has so much potential to be a dynamic anti-hero. Anti-hero characters, such as Tony Soprano, Walter White, and Tyrion Lannister, have gone down as some of the most iconic characters. Audiences love seeing a character with flaws, someone who feels the same dark thoughts that we do such as fear, temptation, and anger.

The potential of this character, however, is unfulfilled. With much of the film building up to when we actually get to see Venom fully formed, the character and plot remain boring for majority of the film.

The entire plot is lacking, the only thing carrying it is the acting chops of stars Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, and Riz Ahmed. Ahmed plays evil CEO, Carlton Drake. While Ahmed’s performance in the role is great, I couldn’t help but picture him as the lost and confused college kid that I got to know him as in his break out role in “The Night Of”.

My main concern with the film, however, was the tone. It couldn’t seem to make up its mind if it wanted to be a dark storyline, like The Dark Knight franchise, or a lighthearted action movie, like Guardians of the Galaxy. While both of Tom Hardy’s personas had some funny lines, there were other moments where I was laughing when I was pretty sure the writers did not intend to make me laugh.

In Venom’s defense, the MCU’s most recent movies have made big shoes to fill. Audiences comparing Venom to Black Panther, Thor Ragnarok, or Infinity War are destined to be let down. However, we shouldn’t forget that not all MCU movies are good. After all, hardly anyone liked Thor until after Ragnarok. Maybe Sony will be able to step it up and start churning out better and better movies.

If you go into this movie expecting a brilliant comic book movie, you will be severely disappointed. If you go in with low expectations, you will at least have a good time watching. Laugh at all of the ridiculous parts, even when they’re not supposed to be funny. When Venom is in his full form and sticks his preposterously long tongue out? I think that part was supposed to be scary, but it’s truly impossible to take it seriously.

Was Venom a good movie? No, definitely not. The character has lots of potential to have a great story yet the movie fell flat. The acting, however, is great and it’s entertaining and funny, despite it being entertaining and funny in ways that the writers probably did not fully intend. Would I see it again? Probably not, but at least I had a somewhat decent time in the theater.

Rating: ⅖ stars

Would I recommend seeing it? I wouldn’t say skip it all together, but you can definitely wait until it comes on OnDemand.

Would I see it again? Probably not.

-- Abigail

#venom #venom review #abigail's review #review

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Venom (2018) Review:

Investigative journalist Eddie Brock attempts a comeback following a scandal, but accidentally becomes the host of an alien symbiote that gives him a violent super alter-ego: Venom. Soon, he must rely on his newfound powers to protect the world from a shadowy organisation looking for a symbiote of their own.

With a 33% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, Venom has unfortunately gathered a lot of negative attention. Sony hasn’t exactly been known for its superhero masterpieces: Amazing Spiderman 2 and Fantastic Four are just some examples. But in contrast to those movies, people seem really divided on their opinions of Venom. It has a 88% score on the Audience vote in Rotten Tomatoes.

So, why is that? I’ll explain.

Let’s start off by saying that the marketing for this movie wasn’t the best. It felt as if Sony didn’t really try all that hard. Both Marvel (Disney) and DC (Warner Bros) both market their movie trailers to the ground on Youtube, social media and TV, especially when it’s close to release date. Sony didn’t seem to take the same approach; I didn’t even notice Venom was coming out so soon! So, that right there is mistake number one.

Now, onto the actual movie... It was hilarious. I loved it.

Now, I understand why critics didn’t like it. I totally get it! It’s not a good “film” but not all movies have to be. Critics tend to dislike anything fun from the superhero genre that isn’t made from Disney’s Marvel (You can clearly see it when the praise for Avenges: Age of Ultron came out -- that movie sucks and it’s not even fun, yet critics love it. Meanwhile Justice League got shit on. You see what I mean?). So, it’s no surprise they dislike how fun this movie is.

Do I think Venom is hilarious on purpose? Eh, most of the time. It’s definitely intentional with Tom Hardy. He makes this whole movie! If anyone else was casted as Eddie Brock, this movie would fall apart. Tom Hardy is what makes this movie so good. 

Eddie and Venom’s relationship and constant back-and-forth is priceless. Nothing was better than when these two had an interaction. It was always hilarious and amazing. I would argue that there’s definitely a sexual thing there and that the director was a coward for putting boobs and an hourglass silhouette on Venom when they kissed, but that’s not what this review is about. (if you DO want to read more on that though, here’s a link to an amazing article that I wish I had written)

Here are the negatives:

Michelle Williams was definitely wasted in this role because her character was unlikeable and one-dimensional.

The pacing in this movie is completely off! You feel it in the first 10 minutes! Everything moves way too fast. It was obviously to show us Venom faster, the thing we all came to see, but they could have handled it way better.

The villain is mediocre at best. Another fantastic actor wasted! Riz Ahmed is good, I have no doubt about that, but he’s so flat and one-dimentional, it’s boring.

There’s also barely any characters in Venom, and all of them except for Eddie (and Venom, I guess) are flat and boring. So, the movie ends up feeling more like a Made-for-TV movie than a major blockbuster.

Nothing technical really drew me in. I usually notice when there’s a good shot here and there or when the coloring looks really nice, but with this movie, it all seems pretty average. (Again, it’s not something Sony’s superhero movies are known for).

Overall though, I still really liked it. I had fun and it actually made me laugh out loud a couple of times. Enjoyable, but don’t expect high-art or anything. (Although, let’s be real, I don’t think anyone went to see Venom expecting an Academy Award winner. It did its job more or less. I still think the critics are being way too harsh, giving it such a low score) Plus, the actual Venom CG looked amazing! You can tell that’s where all the budget went!

(Oh and did anyone else get ScoobyDoo 2 movie vibes from that beginning? Because that’s all I could think about!)

I would totally watch it again... when it’s on Netflix... and I’d skip like the first half-hour or so until Venom comes in. 

Rating: 6.5/10 Stars

Would I recommend it? Yeah, if you want to have fun and laugh!

-- Mercedes

#venom review #venom #film review #reviews #mercedes reviews #sony #marvel

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DOCTOR WHO (SEASON 11, EPISODE 1) REVIEW:

The year is 2018 and as time goes on, inclusion and diversity become more and more important. We are beginning to see far more opportunities for women, the LGBT+ community, all races, and more. This is why it is only right that Doctor Who has finally had their first female doctor.

For those who somehow don’t know, Doctor Who, is a science fiction television show on the BBC. It follows the adventures of the doctor, a time-travelling humanoid alien known as a “Time-Lord”, and their human companion. Every few seasons, the main actor is replaced as the doctor “regenerates”, giving them a new appearance and personality. In the latest regeneration, the doctor was replaced by actress Jodie Whittaker, the first woman to ever play the doctor.

And what does this mean for girls across the world? It means that they can watch their favorite show and see a badass woman taking center stage.

As someone who has only seen a few episodes of the iconic show here and there, I did not know what to expect. From the moment she burst through the ceiling, however, I was charmed by Whittaker. Throughout the episode, she continues to excel. Watching her piece together a new sonic screwdriver from spare parts, watching her fight off alien species. It felt amazing seeing a powerful woman kicking ass the same way that we’ve seen men do throughout the series thus far.

It’s not just about the fact that she’s a woman though. She’s a superb actress. Her wit and energy fulfill the role and make the show entertaining and comedic. She still has the same type of witty liners as previous doctors and the character still has the same selfless protection of those who cannot help themselves. As showrunner, Steven Moffat, said “It strikes me that  Doctor Who fans are more excited about the idea of a brilliant actress playing the part, than the fact she's a woman.”

With the concept of regeneration, it makes the new season feel like a new series all together. While similar themes and nods to the olders seasons are present, there are new characters to get to know and new adventures to be had. Whether you’re a long time fan of the show or just someone looking for something new to watch, I whole heartedly recommend this. I’d recommend this if you’re a woman who loves to see other women kicking ass and I’d still recommend this if you’re a man who just enjoys quality television and good characters.

Doctor Who is a show for anyone to enjoy. This new casting fills the long-running show with a breath of fresh air. Whittaker amazes and I can’t wait to see where her, and the rest of the cast and crew, go with the rest of the season.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Would I recommend? Yes, definitely

Will I keep watching? Of course

- Abigail

#dw #doctor who #doctor who review #abigail's reviews #abigail review #reviews #dw review #doctor who s11 #13 doctor

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DOCTOR WHO (SEASON 11, EPISODE 1) REVIEW:

Finally, our female doctor is here!

Jodie Whittaker was first announced in July of 2017, and now a year and a few months later: she’s officially The Doctor! We get to see her in action!

Now, if you don’t know what Doctor Who is, I’ll explain: this show is about The Doctor, who is an alien that travels through space and time with human companions. The Doctor can change (or regenerate, as they call it on the show) when he dies, which is the main reason the series has been going for more than 50 years now. There’s been 12 previous main Doctors; Matt Smith, David Tennant and Peter Capaldi were the last three actors to play the main character.

Every first episode of a new Doctor is meant to be a starting point for new fans to start watching. It works as a pilot. There’s so many episodes that you might not know exactly where to start. This first episode is meant to do that. For example, my first episode of Doctor Who was “The Eleventh Hour” of season 5, which is the Eleventh Doctor’s (Matt Smith) first episode. And other than the actual pilot of the 2005 series, this is one of the best places to start loving Doctor Who. This episode, the first episode of season 11, wins over both of those other episodes.

“The Woman who Fell to Earth” is not only the best introduction for our 13th Doctor, but I think it’s the best introduction to Doctor Who period.

This episode not only introduced Jodie Whittaker as our new Doctor, but also our new companions and our new Series Runner/Writer Chris Chibnall. We said (a much needed) goodbye to our past show sunner Moffat, on season 10. I was really excited to see how a new writer can bring a new perspective to the Doctor. We’ve had Moffat for such a long time now, that we really needed this new fresh take.

I think Chibnall did a great job in the pilot, we didn’t get too much information on The Doctor. Which is great because we’re placed in the same position as the companions. We usually get one or two companions, usually girls, but this season we have three people! We have Graham, Ryan and Yaz! A very diverse group! The last time we had three people as companions was with the 5th Doctor in 1980s.

And I feel like we really got to know each of the companions and how they know each other, their interactions were fresh and something we really haven’t seen before. They’re just humans! Which is just perfect for the Doctor; a nice contrast.

The plot itself was pretty simple by the end, compared to other more convoluted storylines we’ve had in past seasons. But it was engaging enough where I didn’t end up guessing what the ending was going to be! The alien was something we haven’t seen before (which is impressive after 50 years), and we really ended up caring about the companions!

Whittaker brings such spirit to the role of the Doctor! She really reminded me of the Third Doctor a bit. The Third Doctor’s main plot was that he was stuck on Earth without a Tardis (his time/space machine) and had to MacGyver a lot of his tools with normal objects he found on Earth. This is totally something Thirteen did in her episode! We usually don’t see a lot of modern Doctors have Third Doctor qualities; there’s usually more influence from the Second Doctor and the Fourth Doctor. But I found it really fascinating that they brought some qualities from the Three and the plot is really similar too! I love that!

Something I noticed was how much less dialogue this episode had! I feel like we got so much dialogue and just endless talking from Moffat that this felt so refreshing! Moffat is famous for his “clever” lines and they were great at first but after so many years, he realied on that more than necessary. Sometimes you don’t need characters so much; the performance benefits from it. Instead of telling us, this episode SHOWS us. And if that’s the theme for the rest of the season, I couldn’t be more excited for it.

Would I reccomend it? YES

10/10 Stars (but maybe I’m biased)

-- Mercedes

#doctor who #dw #doctor who review #thirteen #thirteen doctor #13 doctor #dw review #mercedes reviews #film reviews #jodie whittaker #the woman who fell to earth

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On September 14, 2018, A Simple Favor was released to the public. It stars well known celebrities, Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively and tells the story of a vlogger trying to solve the mystery of her elusive best friend’s disappearance. When trailers were first released, I first thought to myself, “I do NOT want to see this mess of a movie”. Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively thrown into serious thriller roles? What seemed like lame attempts at comic relief and relatability? It was a no from me.

Until I started seeing the reviews. An 85% on Rotten Tomatoes is not what I expected from this movie. I was drawn into this movie based on the opinions of others alone, and I was not disappointed.

Blake Lively plays the role of Emily, a wealthy working mother of son, Nicky. She is secretive and mysterious, character traits that inevitably lead to the goose chase for her. Later in the film, her past is revealed to be traumatic to say the least. An abusive childhood which she was forced to run away and hide from explains all of her behavior. Victims of child abuse can often have a higher degree of perceived personal threat, leading Emily to take such extreme measures when put into danger. Trust issues is also extremely common among child abuse victims, explaining why Emily was so secretive.

Part of what made the movie so enjoyable was the performances because the casting felt so right for the roles. Blake Lively playing a beautiful charismatic girl who is mysterious and prone to disappearing? Sounds like we’re back in 2007 watching Serena van der Woodsen. Serena was such an iconic and beloved character that it felt so right watching Lively play a role with similar characteristics. Anna Kendrick, on the other hand, brought the same light heartedness and comedy that she brings to all of her roles. The combo of these two turned what could’ve been a standard dark thriller into something unique. A dark twisted thriller, but with relatable characters and laughs.

The characterization and performances are what carry this movie due to the somewhat lacking plot. While set up well and filled with twists and turns, it seems to fall apart towards the end. In the final moments it seems to veer into crazy, unbelievable, and somewhat disappointing.

The film seems to draw inspiration from many thrillers before. The credit styles and the music choices are taken from other known films, making it truly feel like a classic thriller, with the comedic undertones making it something truly unique.

The casting was perfect for the roles and the performances were lovable. I, personally, loved seeing the backstory of Emily and piecing together how that lead to her actions. With plot twists as well as laughs, this film kept me on the entertained throughout. The plot, the ending particularly, was somewhat lacking and disappointing, however. While this film certainly won’t be going down as the best thriller of all time, it was lovable and, if anything, entertaining.

-- Abigail

#A Simple Favor #a simple favor review #Film Review #psycho analysis #review #reviews #abigail review

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A Simple Favor, directed by Paul Feig, centers around Stephanie (Anna Kendrick), a mommy vlogger who seeks to uncover the truth behind her best friend Emily's (Blake Lively) sudden disappearance from their small town.

I first heard of A Simple Favor on a Youtube ad, and my first thought was: “What is this? Why does it look like a cheaper Lifetime version of Gone Girl?” So, I wrote it off as boring and didn’t think about it until the next Youtube Ad. Now, I’ve been intrigued by movies because ads before (One of the weirdest movies of all time, Thoroughbreds, I found because of a Facebook ad) but I wasn’t intrigued by this movie at all. I more rolled my eyes every time I saw the poster or the trailer.

Now when researching what film to review next for this blog, I thought about A Simple Favor simply because I hated the trailer and it just looked so bad. But then... I saw the Rotten Tomatoes score. Now, I don’t really consider Rotten Tomatoes, the website I go to in order to choose whether or not I want to watch a movie. Most of the time, I don’t agree with critics. Except this film has a critics choice of 84%... now, I’m intrigued.

Before going to see the movie, I was confused with the mood this film is trying to potray. Anna Kendrick is a mainly comedy actress and Blake Lively... is gorgeous? They don’t exactly scream chemistry. It’s supposed to be a thriller, mystery plot but the film is filled with bright colors, a.k.a no atmosphere. These two genres are complete opposites, they should not work.

Except they kind of do.

It actually works. This movie actually works.

All those plot twists in the story are nothing compared to this!

Paul Feig actually manages to expertly mix comedy with a thriller mystery. That’s the one thing I’m sure of when it comes to this movie.

I don’t know how to feel about the rest of it. I enjoyed myself but I can’t decide whether it was a good film or not.

I left the theater feeling deeply confused.

All of the actors were amazing; Anna Kendrick is a stand-out perfomance. And Blake Lively steals my heart by wearing all those pant suits. (She’s also great at acting, just FYI).

I’ve never seen a movie like it before. You can kind of compare it with Searching in that way; it’s new, something you’ve never seen before. Except, of course, Searching is better.

I don’t want to talk too much about it because I want you to experience it for yourself. So, you can understand my confusion.

7.8 out of 10

- Mercedes

#a simple favor #a simple favor review #mercedes reviews #reviews #film review

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For seven straight years, Ryan Murphy has been churning out seasons of American Horror Story. Each season, however, has gotten less and less support. The first season, “Murder House”, is the most beloved of all of the seasons. It features lovable anti-heros such as Tate Langdon (Evan Peters) and misunderstood relatable characters such as Violet Harmon (Taissa Farmiga). The dynamics between the characters and the quotable dialogue captured the love of many fans.

In the recent seasons, however, they have lost more and more viewers. The previous season, “Cult” felt as though they were trying too hard to do too many things. They were trying to make it relevant through the discussion politics, but there was too much going on. Crazy clowns, crazy cult leaders, a crazy paranoid woman, crazy neighbors, and the list goes on.

This is why so many fans got excited when the writers said they would be bringing back old characters into the show. Fans would again get to see their beloved characters from the first three seasons.

But are they going to do it as well as they did the first seasons, or are they going to fall into their newer techniques of overloading the viewers with shocks?

It seems as though it’s going to be a bit of both. The opening scene of the first episode was thrilling, especially because the threat (a nuclear bomb) is something that lots of Americans already do fear. The concept of the apocalypse is an interesting way to bring the storylines of the past seasons together. However, there is too much going on. Two characters saved from the apocalypse due to their “genetic perfection”, so many characters are witches, theres a character that’s the Son of Satan, AND a robot character?? Ryan Murphy and the other writers need to focus less on trying to pack so many storylines into the show and more on developing the storylines they have already included. Otherwise the viewer simply cannot fully emotionally invest. There’s a love story the viewer wants to see play out? Too bad it only has minimal screen time because instead the writers decided to focus on shock value material instead.

There still seems to be hope though. We’re only three episodes in and the last episode did end on a thrilling note. With the characters of season three, “Coven”, appearing, the same brilliant, supernatural energy could be felt. Maybe they’ll be able to achieve the same kind of effect that the first seasons had, but if they continue to overload the viewers, it simply will not be enjoyable.

My final decision thus far: I have none, to be honest. I am not sure if I’m going to be happy with the season or not. I am sceptical to see how it plays out, but am still holding onto hope that Ryan Murphy can achieve the same magic achieved in “Murder House”.

-- Abigail

#abigail review #abigail's reviews #ahs #american horror story #american horror story apocalypse #ahs apocalypse #apocalypse #review #tv reviews

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American Horror Story: Apocalypse

AHS is an anthology series centering on different characters and locations, including a house with a murderous past, an insane asylum, a witch coven, a freak show, a hotel, a possessed farmhouse, a cult, and the apocalypse.

American Horror Story: Apocalypse is the 8th season of this FX horror-themed tv show. With each season having different storylines, you never quite know what you’re going to get. Actos play different characters each season and none of them have anything to do with the other; every season is seperate. Except season 8!

From the beginning there was a lot of hype around this season online. Creator, Ryan Murphy teased in interviews that the upcoming season will combine the two most beloved seasons: The Murder House and Coven. Questions quickly surfaced from fans on how exactly this could be done, considering various actors played different roles in each season. But we could do nothing more than wait.

Now, after the first two episodes have come out, I feel like it’s finally time to dive in.

Apocalypse opens with one of the scariest scenes I’ve seen from the show, that just gave me so much anxiety right from the start: a Nuclear Bomb Threat. Modern day California, citizens get alerted via their phones and news that there’s a bomb incoming and to say goodbye to their loved ones. Our main character Coco (Leslie Grossman) is told by her parents via facetime that there’s a safe place for her and to head to their jet. This exclusive offer is just for the very rich and brings her assistant Mallory (Billie Lourd), her hairdresser Mr. Gallant (Evan Peters) and his grandmother (Joan Collins). As they fly away from the danger, we find out their plane was on autopilot and is driven by no one. Meanwhile, a middle class family is at home when they get news of the upcoming bomb when some secret agents enter their home and take the oldest son, Timothy Campbell (Kyle Allen) because of his “perfect DNA” to an underground prison with only one other person, Emily (Ash Santos) who was chosen for the same reason. Then, the apocalypse happens.

I’m not going to explain the rest of the episode in so much detail but basically they find themselves in an underground house taken over by the Cooperative, the organization tasked for maintaining humanity (or so they tell us), in a Victorian fashion and ideals.

That’s where I’m ending the recap because I really think you should see it. The first episode was a great setup and I really think it’s an original idea, scary for our current political climate. But the second episode is where shit really hits the fan.

Now, I have to say that I fell out of love with American Horror Story a while ago. The only season I’ve ever watched completely is the first one, The Murder House, and I was really disappointed when it didn’t continue (that ending was a real cliffhanger). But now… the second episode of Apocalypse really sets up the connection to The Murder House. And I could not be more excited for it.

I don’t think it’s smart of me to summarize the second episode because there really is no way of doing it without giving away spoilers. I mean, everyone who’s followed the development of the series thus far and has seen the first season will know what (or rather who) I’m referring to, but for those who haven’t…you’re just going to watch the first season and/or this one.

The second episode really was amazing. I was feeling kind of unsure after the first one, still feeling that anxiety from the first part of the episode. But the second one is so worth it!

The symmetry is shots in this episode as well as the coloring and lighting really sets up a mood. And as always, the clever Ryan Murphy dialogue is present. 9 out of 10 stars.

-- Merceces

#ahs #american horror story #ahs apocalypse #american horror story apocalypse #tv series #tv shows #tv reviews #mercedes reviews

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Searching (2018) Review

“After David Kim (John Cho)’s 16-year-old daughter goes missing, a local investigation is opened and a detective is assigned to the case. But 37 hours later and without a single lead, David decides to search the one place no one has looked yet, where all secrets are kept today: his daughter’s laptop. In a hyper-modern thriller told via the technology devices we use every day to communicate, David must trace his daughter’s digital footprints before she disappears forever.”

Oftentimes movies from the same genre can feel repetitive. We can feel as though there’s no point in going to the theater and spending that extra money to see a movie that’s going to follow the same exact template as every other one that we’ve seen. This is what makes it extra special when a different movie comes around. Something unique that challenges what has already been done.

This is exactly what Searching does.

Searching first premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January of 2018 and has been receiving praise ever since. It tells the story of a father, David, searching for his missing teenage daughter, Margot, through the use of technology. The entire film is shown through the screen of Margot’s laptop. While this technique has been used in films before, such as Unfriended, it has never been used so successfully to tell such an intriguing plot.

This technique has an strong effect on its viewers. Technology surrounds us in every aspect of our lives. Everywhere you turn you see screens and people staring at their screens. This makes the movie relatable. Viewers see David on a hunt through the use of social media. While on a smaller scale, that is something we’ve all experienced. Who has never instagram stalked an ex or went into a deep wikipedia dive to find an obscure trail of information?

The plot preys on the fears that most of society has already. As technology advances in front of our eyes, so does our fear of it. MTV’s Catfish introduced us to the fear of being tricked over the internet. Political events such as Russian hackers or Edward Snowden introduced us to the fear of our personal information being invaded online. Margot is catfished and stalked online leading us to emotionally connect with the movie further. We think to ourselves “What if this was my dad searching for me?”.

Oftentimes movies with twist endings lose their value after watching it once. Searching, however, has so much to unpack that it’ll make you want to watch it over and over again. There are little clues along the way that make the plot so intricate and well thought out. Going back to see all the ways the story comes together makes watching a second time almost better than the first.

Searching is incredibly successful in what it is trying to do. It earns points for creativity and earns even more for doing it well. It connects with its viewers and keeps them interested after they’ve emotionally invested themselves into the lives of David and Margot. It will keep you on the edge of your seat and I can promise that you’ll leave the theater satisfied, and wanting to watch it again and again.

-- Abigail

#abigail's reviews #abigail review #reviews #film #movies #searching #searching 2018 #searching movie #searching film #film reviews

[perspectivecinematic]

Searching (2018) Review

“After David Kim (John Cho)'s 16-year-old daughter goes missing, a local investigation is opened and a detective is assigned to the case. But 37 hours later and without a single lead, David decides to search the one place no one has looked yet, where all secrets are kept today: his daughter's laptop. In a hyper-modern thriller told via the technology devices we use every day to communicate, David must trace his daughter's digital footprints before she disappears forever.”

This film can only be described in one word: innovative. Right from the first scene, you can tell this movie is something special. Just like the summary suggests, Searching is told entirely by computers’ interface. Instead of it being composed of wide shots, close-ups and dolly-shots we learn in film school; Searching uses Facetime, Youtube videos, text messages and livestreams. The majority of the film uses an Apple interface, but for the first few minutes, they use Windows XP. It was the only indication that this scene took place a few years ago, in the early 2000s.

This new-wave storytelling technique in film is, what some critics call, “screen movies”. It started with 2015’s Unfriended, a low-budget horror movie told entirely via a girl’s laptop. And soon enough, with the wide success and critical praise of Searching, this technique will be a common occurrence. If used right, this could be a very helpful tool to replace the ‘found-footage’ genre. It’s essential because you don’t need Hollywood budget to accomplish it.

Back to the film. Using this technique isn’t just cool or a gimmick, but it has a purpose. Social media and text messages are the main way in which we get to know these characters, especially Margot. We’re piercing together the mystery alongside David, her father. We’re given all the clues that her father has found first hand, and we might even notice things that he hasn’t so that adds to the film in a special way. It becomes a community experience. The director, Aneesh Chaganty has said before in interviews that the first 15 minutes of the film are essential and the mystery can be solved all within those first few minutes. Which I think is completely possible. I definitely noticed a few clues here and there before and after the movie ended. This is definitely a film you want to see over and over again.

Speaking of the mystery, Searching really has a compelling one. It keeps you guessing until the very end. I can’t say much about it without giving it away, but it’s so good. You think you have it solved and then there’s a twist, then you think you’ve figured it out but then there’s a twist. It definitely keeps you at the edge of your seat. The mystery itself is so cleverly constructed, I don’t think I’ve seen a movie that has such a tight plot but is so open to easter eggs and theories. And it stands out because it actually has a happy ending, heavily contrasting to most blockbuster thriller movies.

While the mystery and the technique is good and essential, the performances cannot be left behind. John Cho’s performance stitches together all of these components to make this the excellent movie that it is. He really shines through and gives the character dimension other than just the typical desperate father in thrillers. You can actually feel his emotion. Meanwhile, Debra Messing is also fantastic. She’s lowkey enough that you don’t think much of her at first, but once you do, it’s great!

The theme of Searching is family, grief and how much one is willing to do for their loved ones. But it’s also about social media and how we use it as a tool to express ourselves, thinking it will stay hidden. The film shows that our cybernetic footprint is forever engrained.

I cannot begin to explain how good this film is. Everyone should watch it. I truly believe it’s the beginning of something great, both for the genre and for the director. 9/10 stars from me.

-- Mercedes

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