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quinnlikesmovies · 5 years

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SAW AND HELLRAISER ARE ON HULU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM SO HAPPY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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quinnlikesmovies · 5 years

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The Shows The Shaped Us: The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy (2001-2007)

The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy (GABM) was a Cartoon Network show that followed the strange adventures of two friends Billy and Mandy accompanied by their enslaved companion, the Grim Reaper. On the surface, this is a silly kid show that might be likened to SpongeBob SquarePants due to its loud characters, bright colors, and “random” humor. However, I consider GABM to be my introduction to the world of horror. Rewatching the series now, I realize the method to its madness. Yes, the show had imaginative minds behind every episode, but for a large majority, GABM was a parody show of horror/ pop culture references molded into a child-friendly context.

The most in-your-face example of this is one of the shows main characters, the Grim Reaper. While typically depicted as a hooded skeletal being that us mortals cower from, GABM flips the script by enslaving Grim to Billy and Mandy’s will, forcing him to be friends with them forever. We watch as characters scream in fear when they see him (particularly Billy’s Mom), but we the viewers know that the true evil lurks within Mandy, as she plans to use Grim’s powers for world domination. Not to mention, the possibilities of you getting frightened by Grim drastically decrease after you watch him bake cookies. This holds true for most of the show’s antagonists (not that Grim is an antagonist), no matter how scary they might be, Billy and Mandy always find a way to belittle or mock them. By making a monster vulnerable, it’s stripped from its previously frightening aspects, allowing the child audience to feel power over what’s hiding underneath their beds.

Personally, the character that sticks out to me the most is Pinface, who makes his appearance in season 7 episode 1 “The Show that Dares Not Speak its Name”. From the slight variation of the main characters name to the puzzle box that connects our world to the depths of hell, I knew the basic plot of Hellraiser before I knew who Clive Barker was! Once I got a little older, I become more interested in the horror genre and was drawn to Hellraiser specifically because of my previous exposure to the stories parody.

While doing research, I discovered that the writers of this show were die-hard horror fans and included characters and quotes for other die-hard fans to recognize. I’ll admit, not all the humor holds up for an older audience, but there are more than enough pop culture references scattered around the show to make for a fun game of I Spy.

For the sake of brevity, here is a list of some of the most memorable horror-themed characters or plot references made by The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy that I could find along with their context:

* Atrocia (S1E8 “Grim or Gregory”)- Elvira

* Hoss Delgado (first appeared in S1E10 “Hoss Delgado: Spectral Exterminator”)- Evil Dead’s (1981) Ash

* Eris & the Apple of Discord (first appeared in S1E10 “To Eris Human”)- Eris the Greek Goddess of chaos

* “Little Rock of Horrors” (S1E13)- Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

* Mr. Voorhees (S2E9 “Grim for a Day”)- Friday the 13th ‘s (1980) Jason Voorhees

* Jack (S2E15 “Billy & Mandy’s Jacked-Up Halloween”)- The Headless Horseman

* “Dumb Luck” (S3E2)- Contains classic superstitions such as spilling salt, stepping on cracks, black cats, and lucky objects.

* The Boogie Man (S3E7 “Bully Boogie” and TV movie Billy & Mandy’s Big Boogey Adventure)- The Boogeyman

* Wishing Skull (S4E6 “Wishbones”)- The Monkey’s Paw, a short story by W.W. Jacobs

* “Billy Idiot” (S4E13)– similar plot to Suspiria (1977)

* Dracula (first appeared in S5E7 “Home of Ancients”)- Count Dracula, people speculate that he is a specific reference to Blacula (172) and the actor Redd Foxx

* Dora (S6E7 “Pandora’s Lunch Box”)- Pandora’s Box

* Billy says, “it rubs the lotion on its skin, or else it gets the hose again.” (S6E13 “Billy & Mandy Begins)- Silence of the Lambs (1991)

* Pinface (S7E1 “The Show That Dare Not Speak Its Name”– Hellraiser’s (1987) Pin Head

* BONUS: John Kassir voiced Pinface along with the other GABM iconic character, Lord Moldybutt. Kassir is most known for his voice work for the Crypt Keeper in TV show Tales from the Crypt (1989-1996)

* Lionel Van Helsing (S7E10 “Dracula Must Die”)- Van Helsing, a vampire hunter from Bram Stoker’s novel, Dracula

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quinnlikesmovies · 5 years

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SERIES: Into The Dark (2018-2019)- The First Four Installments.

Into the Dark is a collection of 12 horror movies being released once a month on Hulu. Each movie takes place in the month of its release and since this series began in October, each movie centers around the specific holiday of that month (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years). Instead of giving each movie it’s own long review, I figured it would be more convenient to make it one post with four much smaller reviews.

OCTOBER- The Body

Effortlessly combining comedy and horror, The Body follows a hitman’s attempt to deliver the body of his latest victim on Halloween night. A routine night turned into chaos for this man when three people invited him to a crazy party because they thought the dead body he was carrying was all part of some killer costume. There's some over the top acting and cliche moments, but it all adds to the fun of a movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Whenever there is a break in the goofiness, however, we get our fill of gore and thrills! If you watch The Body with a group of pals or by yourself, you’re in for a fun time!

I give The Body a 7 out of 10!

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NOVEMBER- Flesh & Blood

A simple plot really, after the mysterious murder of her mother, a girl develops agoraphobia (the fear of going outside) and finds sanctuary in the only place she feels safe. However, home sweet home has a bitter aftertaste once a few secrets are revealed. Presented with an unreliable narrator, you’re left constantly second-guessing everything you previously believed. Flesh & Blood had me at the edge of my seat the entire time. The balance of fast action and slow tension building was pulled off by great actors playing believable characters. The set was also really nice! Even though the entire movie takes place in their home, I never felt claustrophobic or tired o seeing the same living room over and over again.

I give Flesh & Blood a 7.5 out of 10

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DECEMBER- Pooka!

Are you naughty or nice? Let Pooka decide! This hot new Christmas toy has a personality of its own, but if you're not too careful, it might start taking over yours too! Personally, I feel like Christmas horror movies are hard to pull off without the whole thing being kind of cheesy, but Pooka! really delivers on the thrills. Another movie with an unreliable narrator, we see the dangers of Pooka! and how one man slowly starts to lose his mind after he takes an acting job in which he has to dress up as Pooka!. This movie gives us some awesome twists and turns and creepy imagery that’ll take you right out of the Christmas spirit! While Some parts felt a little long, Pooka! was still a great watch and will leave you saying “what the fuck just happened!?”

I give Pooka! a 7 out of 10!

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JANUARY- New Year, New You

Seeing your old high school friends after a long time apart can be kinda awkward, especially if one of your friends went on to become a famous lifestyle influencer. While the last two movies were more on the serious side, New Year, New You brings the humor back once more as we watch this group of life long friends reconnects on New Year's Eve, only to cover up their real plan to murder their more successful friend. I went into this movie kind of skeptical but in the end, it proved to be my favorite out of the first four flicks! The acting was great, the comedy wasn’t over the top, the atmosphere was filled with tension, and the plot was oddly relatable! New Year, New You is an incredibly fun movie, just uh, maybe don't watch this one with your friends..

I give New Year, New You an 8 out of 10!

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quinnlikesmovies · 5 years

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The House That Jack Built (2018)

A serial killer recounts five of, what he would deem to be, his most iconic murders that helped him develop his craft.

When I heard the news that The House That Jack Built caused 100 people to walk out of the theater at the Cannes International Film Festival, I immediately put it on my watch list. It was probably just the hype that built up in my own head that caused me to expect tons of gore, and while the film definitely had it’s fair share, I was a bit lost as to why so many people felt the need to leave in the middle of the movie. With a quick search, I found that the controversy was over the fact that Jack (Matt Dillon) mostly killed women and even featured a scene in which him and Verge (Bruno Ganz), a mysterious presence Jack speaks with throughout the film, discuss their stupidity. It’s a shame how numb I am towards this type of behavior, especially in horror films, that at first I didn’t see too much wrong with this. The reason I’m putting this in the beginning of my review is to give viewers a heads up and allowing those who choose not to encourage this type of narrative to skip this film a bit easier.

That being said, I kinda liked the movie!

The way The House That Jack Built was filmed and edited was the most interesting aspect of the film. At points, the shaky camera work reminded me of a documentary or a found footage movie. This helped create an unnerving feeling of these murders actually happening in front of you and added tension to the scenes.In an interesting turn, towards the end of the film, we lose a lot of the realness and shift into a more abstract art style that is both beautiful and helps reel the interest of the viewer back towards the screen.

There was also some editing that, while awkward, I really enjoyed. The best way I can explain these cuts are that the first take of a line wasn’t good enough to put in the movie, so they spliced it out and included the second take. The actors tone or position would change in a split second, again creating an unnerving feeling that something isn’t right or that you’re missing something. Since this is Jack’s narrative, one could possibly argue that this is him changing the story somehow.

Speaking of narrative, the way this story is presented is also interesting. Jack is telling his story to the previously mentioned Verge, who, in between each one of Jack’s five “incidents”, Jack has a long conversation with. They discuss a range of topics, such as Jack’s murderous tendencies, comparing rotting grapes used in wine to rotting bodies, and the meaning of ‘icons’. The audio track of these conversations sometimes play over videos of Jack, but they typically are accompanied over classical paintings, historic footage, or pages from a text book. Since Jack calls himself an artist throughout the entire movie, these conversations also revolve specifically around the artistry of the matter at hand and how it inspires him.

These conversations can sometimes drag on and seeing how the movie is two and a half hours, I found myself waiting until it was over so we could just move on to the next murder.

While Matt Dillon did a great job acting, I don’t think Jack is really a compelling character. This sort of goes back to the conversations between him and Verge dragging on a bit too long, but Jack reminds me of every “edgy” narcissist masquerading as a misunderstood genius. The House That Jack Built is the same old story that’s just told a little differently.

This is the first Lars Von Trier movie, but from what I’ve read, this movie makes a lot of references to his previous works. Obviously, these references went over my head, but it seems like people either appreciated Triers call backs or thought they were too self-indulgent.

Overall, the movie was watchable, even if it was a bit too long. Jack himself probably won’t keep your attention, but the sprinkle of dark humor and stylized choices made are interesting enough to latch onto. Since the tone of the movie does make a few different shifts, you can get drawn back into the story.

I give The House That Jack Built a six out of ten.

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quinnlikesmovies · 5 years

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Most Likely to Murder (2018)

The once king of high school comes back to his hometown for Thanksgiving only to realize his old shenanigans aren’t as cool anymore. Will he reign king again when revealing the school outcast murdered his mother or will it only be seen as a sloppy attempt to get back together with his ex-girlfriend?

I didn’t have too high hopes for this movie; it went straight to iTunes and didn’t get really any promotion, but I’m a big Adam Pally fan so when the Most Likely to Murder dropped on Hulu, I thought I’d give it a chance and holy shit I’m so happy I did! This movie comes with some amazing characters, laugh out loud moments, and a solid plot that always kept you guessing.

Billy (Adam Pally) was a great character that made me feel a whole range of emotions throughout the movie. There were points where I was laughing at this dude that peaked in high school who’s still trying to be the shit but also moments that you can identify with his douche bag facade he puts on while his life is hitting rock bottom. You want him to loose so bad because he can remind you of the terrible people you went to high school with, but you also know he just needs this one win to help turn his life around. This was a really fine line that was being walked on throughout the movie, I give a lot of credit to the writers (Dan Gregor & Doug Mand), director (Dan Gregor), and Pally himself for making Billy so terrible but so likable.

The surrounding characters helped color the world around us and seeing who cast is made up of, it’s no surprise how hilarious Most Likely to Murder came out. Rachel Bloom, Billy Eichner, Hasan Minhaj, and John Reynolds to name a few are some of the actors that really stand out, but my personal favorite was Doug Mand, who plays the character Duane, Billy’s high school best friend, and was also a writer on the movie. The way he still worshiped Billy and the fact that he posts drumming tutorial videos on YouTube (which has a large fan base in the Philippines) always made me laugh.

Another quick note, and something I don’t think I comment a lot on, is how fun the music was! The fun, upbeat and bouncy tunes was a real reflection of the plot. Sometimes it sounded a bit cartoonish and that’s exactly what this movie as a whole reminded me of. From the quirky characters to the absurdity of the story at times, I just thought the music was spot on and wanted to give it a little bit of love.

I know I’ve harped on the humor in this movie too much so let me also add that there are some pretty touching moments along with a heart racing scene towards the end. If you’re looking for a fun movie to enjoy by yourself or with a group of friends, I think Most Likely to Murder is totally one to keep in mind!

I give Most Likely to Murder a seven out of ten!

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quinnlikesmovies · 5 years

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Cam (2018)

After discovering her cam show account has been take from her by an exact look alike, Alice has to find a way to regain access all while juggling the many obstacles in her way.

I’ll be the first to say that any movie soaked in neon lights will catch my attention, but Cam has really earned every bit of praise I’m about it give it. After hearing about this movie over the summer when it was making its way through the festivals, I was so excited to see it streaming on Netflix! While I was expecting a cool looking movie that’ll please fans of the show Black Mirror, I was genuinely moved while watching this story play out.

Alice (Madeline Brewer) , or her camgirl name, “Lola”, is a sex worker who, after her account has been hacked, watches as this strange look alike takes over her identity and preforms her webcam show for her. Ranging emotions from joy, confusion, torment, and lust, Brewer executes each one perfectly. Her pain and struggle was palpable throughout the movie as we watch her grow more and more hopeless.

Yes, this movie is a horror thriller with potential splashes of science fiction in the mix, but what made it so gripping was the real life parallels sex workers experience in their everyday life. Alice’s problem wasn't taken seriously by the police and instead of helping her, she was asked inappropriate questions about her work and made to feel extremely uncomfortable. Some fans grew unhealthily attached to the Lola character she portrays online. Her family is harassed due to her profession and Alice is made to feel ashamed of what she does even though this is something she enjoys doing. While these are just a few examples portrayed in the movie, there are also even more terrible truths that come along with sex work in the real world.

There is one scene in particular I really loved. Alice is watching “Lola’s” live cam show off her giant tv screen she uses while streaming and it shows us that Lola is in the “same” room as Alice. While Lola is surrounded by bright pink lights, Alice’s surroundings slowly become darker and take on a bluer light as she gets more distressed by what she is seeing. Alice is looking at herself from an outside prospective and is not liking she sees.

Cam isn’t a movie about Alice “finally seeing the errors in her ways and getting out of sex work”. I think it has a few different metaphors that come together to tell us a story about independent entertainers struggling to make a name for themselves but once they do, their name, face, and personality no longer belongs to them, but to an industry that only cares about profit.

Before I continue to gush about this movie, I want to talk about the biggest complaint I’ve seen people have with Cam. Everything isn’t wrapped up in a perfect little bow, I understand how frustrating that can be and it can sometimes seem like the plot wasn’t thought all the way through. However, considering Alice’s motivations in the movie, the ending is fine. Remember, characters sometimes want different things than the audience.

Cam is a wild ride that you should totally go one. I was glued to my screen the entire time watching just waiting for what twist or turn would be thrown my way. I laughed and I cried. I was creeped out and I was grossed out. But I was never disappointed. This movie really has a lot to offer, even if you think it’s just an hour and a half of beautifully shot scenes, it’ll be worth it.

I give Cam a nine out of ten!

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quinnlikesmovies · 6 years

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31 Nights of Halloween Movie List!

Watch along with me as I *try* to watch a horror/ Halloween themed movie every night of October! If you’re too afraid to watch alone, follow me on Twitter @ QuinnLikesMovie !

1. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)

2. Ghost Stories (2017)

3. Suspiria (1977)

4. Frankenweenie (2012)

5. The Lost Boys (1987)

6. Brain Dead (1990)

7. Child’s Play (1988)

8. Hellraiser (1987)

9. Trick ‘r Treat (2007)

10. Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988)

11. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

12. Monster House (2006)

13. The Witch (2015)

14. The ABC’s of Death (2012)

15. House (1977)

16. Candyman (1992)

17. Tucker vs. Dale Vs. Evil (2010)

18. A Cure for Wellness (2016)

19.Let the Right One In (2008)

20. House of 1000 Corpses (2003)

21. The Devil’s Rejects (2005)

22. Carrie (1976)

23. Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)

24. Raw (2016)

25. Poltergeist (1982)

26. House on Haunted Hill (1959)

27. May (2002)

28. The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)

29. Creepshow (1982)

30. Terrifier (2017)

31. Halloween (1978)

(These are all movies I have either not yet watched or am willing to watch again due to the spooky nature of the season. Feel free to adjust the list as you wish, I’d love to hear what movies you’re planning on watching!)

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quinnlikesmovies · 6 years

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Murder Party (2007)

In this horror comedy film, an overly anxious man stumbles across a Halloween party invitation, whats the worse that can happen, right? Well, he soon finds out that the “murder party” he chooses to go to is as literal as it sounds.

Murder Party is a pretty funny movie! Taking place on Halloween night, we follow a group of characters that are in over their head’s. First, we have Christopher Hawley (Chris Sharp), who is taking a leap of faith and going to this party that he knows nothing about. After he bakes a delicious looking pumpkin bread, he puts on his looking costume made out of cardboard and took a chance. Who knew this chance he was taking would be one of the deadliest decisions he’s made? When arriving at the empty warehouse that was addressed on his invite, he is met with five crazy artists who are looking for their next inspiration in his murder.

I loved the use of practical effects in this movie. It really made the horror of the film shine through all the comedy that was presented to us in the first and second acts of the movie. For real, this movie starts off very fun but once the violence kicks in, its full fucking throttle! While the movie does drag during some parts, the violence at the end is our reward. We get some super tense moments and some seriously disturbing gore. It’s great!

Like I just said, some of the story drags on and if the comedy doesn’t land for you, you’re in for a long hour and 19 minutes. However, I personally really liked the characters and the weird situation they’ve all found themselves in. During these slow moments are when we as an audience get to know these characters and become familiar with their intense need for approval. While they all share this in common, they are all very much their own character and have distinct characteristics.

Overall, I enjoyed watching this movie! It was fun, gross, and entertaining; it even deserves a few bonus points for taking place on Halloween night. However, I fear Murder Party might be a bit forgettable in the long run.

I give Murder Party 7 out of 10 stars

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#murder party #netflix #2007 movie #horror #chris sharp #jeremy saulier #comedy #horror comedy #drugs #gore #gory #halloween #Quinn Likes Movies #early 2000s movie #movie review #review #Movie Rating #r rated movie

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quinnlikesmovies · 6 years

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Follow me on Twitter!

Hi everyone!

Sorry I haven’t been posting in a while, been a bit busy...

But I started a twitter account, in which i talk all bout different shows and movies and really want to hear your thoughts and opinions!

Follow me on Twitter.com/Quinnlikesmovie

Yes! That’s quinnlikesmovie, so close to my original name, except singular!

Thanks for following. Talk to you soon. Bye bitch

#movie review #movie rating #quinnlkkesmovies #twitter #twitter account #follow for more #behind the scene info #personal #more infor #tweet #other account #movie #netflix #blog #hbo #amazon prime #2018 movies #masterpost

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quinnlikesmovies · 6 years

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Candiland (2016)

After a new couple decides to isolate themselves from the rest of the world, they create a new world for themselves called “Candiland”. In which, their fun relationship slowly ascends into madness.

This movie is... interesting. I don’t really know how I feel about it, I didnt love this movie but I didnt hate it. Candiland was able to keep my attention because Peter (James Clayton) and Tess (Chelah Horsdal) are doomed characters from the start and I wanted to see how they declined.

From the first scene, the audience can tell that these characters have something psychologically wrong with them. While it’s not specifically specified what mental illness Peter is suffering from (my best guess is schizophrenia), we follow them as they fall deeper into this delusion, resulting in folie a deux. Candiland does a great job in making mental illness seem scary (not a good thing). While I’ve never suffered from this specific illness, there are many people who have that can live normal lives. However, because Peter is untreated and Tess is catering to his delusions, they worsen as the movie progresses when Peter starts to truly believe he is a god. He does some disturbing things and, because she is suffering from her own past trauma, Tess is unable to take a step back and realize how toxic this relationship is. Candiland is basically a worst case scenario movie for both romantic and parental relationships.

This movie is split into three different time frames, when Peter and Tess meet/ their early relationship, their slowly declining relationship, and when their apartment is infested with police investigating their death. We jump back and forth between these different timelines, but it always seems to come out of nowhere with no transition. This might be a good time to mention that this was previously a book by Elizabeth Engstorm. While the transition points would be the end and beginning of a new chapter, we’re met with a total tone shift and confusion (at least in the beginning). We get more context as the film goes on and are able to put pieces of the puzzle together, but I think this could have been done better.

The more I think and try to critique Candiland, the more I wonder how much of it was purposeful. From the beginning I didnt like Peter because I thought he was fake or could sense something was off. Looking back, I realize he was just in a manic episode. Later in the movie, I hated when they were speaking in one to three word sentences, but later I realized it was because they spend so much time around each other they can easily understand each other.

After all the negative things I’ve said about Candiland, I want to touch upon one of the true highlights- James Clayton. Clayton plays the role of Peter and put 110% into this role. From start to finish, he looks like a totally different person. He had to lose so much weight for this role and catapult his mind into a deeply dark place, I cannot imagine how this process was for him. While Chela Horsdal and Gary Busey were great, Clayton was a serious stand out actor in this movie and I will be seeking out some of his other work.

Candiland was ok, it kept me interested, was thrilling, and had amazing lead actors, but does the good outweigh the bad? Some corny jokes, awkward transitions, triggering content, and demonizing mental illness.. I dont quite know. I left a lot of plot points out in my review because I think the best way to watch this movie is to get swept up in the confusion, however there is a lot of triggering content in this movie, like demonizing mental illness, so i’d say proceed with caution. Candiland isn’t a fun movie to watch with friends, definitely more of a solitary movie to watch alone.

I give Candiland a six out of ten.

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quinnlikesmovies · 6 years

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Dave Made a Maze (2017)

One weekend, an artist who’s never finished anything has finally decided to complete a project, even if it kills him. After getting lost in the seemingly tiny cardboard maze he built in his living room, Dave’s friends journey into the maze to try and rescue him.

For a lot of movie fans Dave Made a Maze might have flown under their radar and seeing as it bounced from movie festival to movie festival, there might not have been too many opportunities for the mass public to watch this movie. I really enjoyed watching this movie and I think the story will captivate a large audience, especially the self doubting millennial's that’re trying to find their place in the world. Being in my early 20′s, I’m caught between needing to find a job and taking on more adult responsibilities and still wanting to maintain my child like wonder. If I wanted to get analytical, I could say that the maze is a metaphor for this period in all our lives and the booby-traps Dave (Nick Thune) put in the maze represents self doubt/ self sabotage, but I wont get into all that.

Dave Made a Maze was so creative and beautifully shot, I felt immersed in the same cardboard world our main characters found themselves in. With Dave’s creations coming to life, I was always excited to see what unexpected place the maze would take me next. While the movie is fun, imaginative, and funny, it never lets the audience forget that our protagonists are in real danger. Among the beautiful imagery is also some disturbing moments, in which we realize the maze has taken on a life of its own. There were a lot of moments I found myself sitting at the edge of my seat and fearing the death of one of our beloved characters. While there are some character deaths, don’t worry I wont tell you who dies, none of it was gory. I found this to be really refreshing and it helped the movie remain on the same child-like-wonder-gone-wrong theme.

Before I go into what I didn’t like about the movie, I want to highlight one specific scene that happens towards the end between Dave and his wife, Annie (Meera Rohit Kumbani). Early on in Dave Made a Maze, we can sense that there’s a lot of tension between the couple, however, this journey reminds each other why they fell in love. Using the same dialogue each time but with different inflections, the two preform three scenes in which they discuss coffee and their upcoming plans. While the first scene is cold and tense, the next two become more playful as they begin to understand each other and their struggles. Annie used to think Dave was lazy, she now realizes how he feels like a failure but is still trying to show how much he care for her through little acts of kindness. I just thought these scene was so cute and worth mentioning because it shows how multi layered this movie is in its ability to depict how struggles one person goes through can impact those around them.

Now for some of the not great parts of Dave Made a Maze. I don’t have much to complain about but wouldn’t hurt to mention. Firstly, some of the dialogue is cringey. Not all the jokes landed and there were moments i thought to myself “who would say that in real life?” You can find this complaint in almost every movie so don’t let that stop you from watching the movie. Another thing is from a review from IMDB that I read and even though I dont necessarily agree, some of you might! Basically they just said that this movie wasn’t going to be good to anyone besides millennial's and that the movie is just catering to their perspective (or something along those lines). Since I am a millennial and I did like this movie, partially because of the reliability, maybe I can’t tell this person they’re wrong. I think Dave Made a Maze can be enjoyable to everyone, but if you watch the trailer (posted below) and think you might agree with what that person commented, I warned you.

Dave Made a Maze is a fun movie full of imagination while still managing raise your heart rate. I found it to be relatable story about coming of age and relationships that’ll still be a great watch for your next movie night!

I give Dave Made a Maze an eight out of ten!

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#Quinn Likes Movies #dave made a maze #2017 movies #horror movie #thriller #dark comedy #maze #labyrinth #nick thune #meera rohit kumbani #bill watterson #steven sears #adventure #cardboard #livingroom fort #fort #surreal

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quinnlikesmovies · 6 years

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Obvious Child (2014)

Being in your twenties is hard enough, but between struggling to make rent and dealing with her recent break up, Donna’s now faced with an even bigger reality check. On stage doing stand up, she’s an open book, but when she finds out she’s pregnant she has to open up to a more difficult crowd. Obvious Child tells a story that’ll hit home for so many women while making its audience laugh along the way.

Obvious Child is a honest look into what it’s like to be a woman today and for that I’m so grateful. Donna (Jenny Slate) reminds me of myself, she’s silly, honest, and just trying to navigate her way in life. While the movie’s sometimes vulgar humor isn’t for everyone, it reminded me of how real people talk. Her two friends, Nellie (Gaby Hoffmann) and Ryan (Paul Briganti), love and would do anything for her, resembling friends I’m sure we all have. All this combined with Donna dealing with her unwanted pregnancy makes for a very relatable and heartfelt movie. You know all the characters because you know them in real life and you know the story because either you or someone you know has gone through at least a variation of it.

All the characters have great chemistry but when Donna and Max (Jake Lacey) are on screen is when the sparks fly! I thought they were a great couple, even though I would have liked Max to be less funny seeing as he’s not a comedian. Some people might also complain that Max is portrayed as the perfect man (I know I rolled my eyes at times), but it’s a romcom, what do you expect? It was a sweet movie without hitting you over the head with romance. Donna and Max have a very silly relationship from the first drunken night they met and they keep that same fun vibe throughout the movie. I know romantic comedy’s are best watched when it’s almost Valentines day (especially since this movie takes place around V-Day), Obvious Child can be enjoyed no matter the calendar date.

I read a few reviews that slam this movie for its take on abortion saying the movie “glamorized” it and I just want to take some time to rant about how wrong they are. For this reason I’m giving you a minor **Spoiler Alert**. Ok, where to start.. First of all, just because Donna knew she wanted to have an abortion doesn’t mean the decision was “nonchalant.” The idea of having an unwanted pregnancy is something most, if not all, women think about, so it’s not unrealistic that she didn’t already have her mind made up on what she wants. She emotionally isn’t ready to have a child nor is she financially able to take care of her pregnant body. Are there scenes where she’s making light of it? Yes, because she’s a comedian and using comedy as coping tool is very common. However, we also see Donna struggling to tell others about her decision. Abortion is a very touchy topic and she knows that she might be met with very strong differing opinions. But, no matter how scared she is, she tells people anyway. She has conversations about it Donna didn’t face any serious negative repercussions for having an abortion, but that’s because she had a support system by her side. If all this makes Obvious Child seem like a “propaganda” film, who am I to tell you what to think. I’d still encourage you to see the movie because this might be a perspective you’re unfamiliar with. **Spoiler Alert Over**.

Currently on Netflix, Obvious Child was a very entertaining movie. It made me laugh and was definitely relatable, I just don’t know how memorable it’ll be. I’m not a huge romance genre fan, but the jokes and Jenny Slate made it all worth watching. Watch it with a significant other or with your close friends, you’ll have a fun time.

I give Obvious Child a seven out of ten!

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quinnlikesmovies · 6 years

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Hell House LLC (2015)

Mixing interviews with found footage, Hell House LLC is a documentary styled thriller determined to exposed the the truth behind the tragedy that occurred on this haunted house tour’s opening night. We follow these five friends/ coworkers who share a passion for Halloween and all the scares that come along with it, but when they try to transform this abandoned hotel into a haunted house attraction, they realize some places stay abandoned for a reason.

I know people have grown tired of found footage movies and while the gimmick can get old fast, I don’t know how else Hell House LLC could have been made. I really liked the documentary approach they went with here. We jump from multiple interviews, to news headlines, to footage uploaded to YouTube from a tourist, to the day by day footage shot by the friends responsible for creating the haunted house. The jump cuts and edits were jarring and kept me on edge through out the entire movie, there was rarely any unneeded footage being shown (meaning nothing repetitive or shots that didn’t add anything to the story), and the chemistry between our five main characters seemed organic and natural.

Personally, I don’t mind found footage (I liked Blair Witch Project (1999), As Above So Below (2014), Ghost Team (2016), and others that I’m forgetting) and maybe that’s why I liked this movie. Like I said, the moments were the characters were screaming in contrast to the silence of the next scene or when the camera is turned of and they’re talking about a noise they just heard is what kept me interested and kept me scared. We’re experiencing events not only at the same time as our protagonists, but we also experience a lot of the horror before them considering we know they’re doomed from the beginning. That’s I think where some of this Hell House LLC’s criticism comes from, them deciding to stay in the hotel and continue to put on the haunted house despite all the scary things going bump in the night. Yes, there are also some annoying shaky camera scenes, but I think those are nicely balanced out with the interviews that are spliced in throughout the movie. These interviews include some first hand accounts of the tragedy and some “experts” talking about the case and how little the public knows about the events that went on.

The characters are also great. Paul (Gore Abrams) is the one holding the camera and possibly my favorite character. He’s a lot of the comedic relief and the one who drives the horror in the movie. Alex (Danny Bellini) and Andrew (Adam Schneider) are the two that are really pushing for this haunted house to be completed and because of this, there’s a lot of tension between them and Paul. The acting is really great, I could see how all of them can be friends and work together while still understanding the frustration that comes along with collaborating with multiple personality types. There reactions felt real and that’s really what made this into a great movie, you know what their future hold but you’re still rooting for them. While this isn’t a true story, I got caught up in all the realism that I though at one point “how did I miss this news story?”.

I will say, that Hell House LLC really sets the viewers up for an amazing conclusion, and whether or not you think they delivered will be up to you, but at parts I found myself nervous that they were hyping everything up too much. While I’m not going to say much, this might be a minor **Spoiler Alert**.. Since this is a found footage movie, we only see what someone records and as it turns out, they didn’t record enough to provide the audience with all the answers. For the most part, everything will make sense, don’t worry, but like I said earlier, they were really hyping up this tragedy and while I thought the ending was still satisfying, I just wanted to see a little bit more. I think this decision was made because they wanted to maintain to horror while still remaining semi realistic. Ok, **Spoiler Alert Over**.

While watching Hell House LLC will you have to suspend disbelief? To that I have to say, maybe? If you’re a horror movie fan, you know that, for whatever weird reason, people have no problem staying in a haunted house (like for real, how many movies have you seen that by the midway point you knew you would be out of there?), and this is not much different. My advice when people ask this is usually my advice for any movie: it’s a movie, It’s supposed to be fun and take you outside of your real life. If you expect every movie to be realistic, it’d be a pretty boring movie. Go and have fun, you should never expect any movie to be fully realistic unless that’s the main selling point.

I liked Hell House LLC a lot. I recently found out about it through Reddit and even though a good amount of people were giving it high praise, it didn’t set the standards too high. I was on edge and to be honest, I even covered my eyes at one point! This should definitely be on every horror movie fans list of movies, it’s bound to become a cult classic!

I give Hell House LLC an eight out of ten!

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quinnlikesmovies · 6 years

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The Belko Experiment (2016)

What started off as an average work day got flipped upside down when employees of the Belko corporation are notified over a loudspeaker that if they do not kill three of their fellow coworkers within the next few minutes, the ominous voice tells them that he will kill six of the workers. What follows is the classic tale of human survival as the events continue to escalate.

Going into The Belko Experiment I already had low expectations due to a review I watched by Chris Stuckman a few months ago. I didn’t really remember everything he said, but I know he basically just thought the movie as a whole was underwhelming and could have done much more with the movie’s premise, and after watching the movie, I totally agree.

Lets start with some of The Belko Experiment’s high points, shall we? I have no complaints about the acting, there were a few shots that gave me that sweet sweet dose of neon light aesthetic, and this movie did make me think more about the ethical predicament of doing harm in the name of the greater good. That last point is basically the crux of the whole movie. We watch these characters argue over whether it’s immoral to kill their coworkers and friends, despite the fact that if they don’t even more people will die, and how do they decide who should live and who should die. There is no clear answer and, depending on how you view the issue, there is no clear protagonist and antagonist.

Exactly like the trolley problem, this movie will make you consider what your actions would be and possibly spark a lively debate between you and a few friends. And that’s the problem with this movie. The Belko Experiment is just a retelling of the same old story. Personally, there was nothing too shocking about this movie because everything you expect basic humans to do, they do. When you play a game that has no rules, you’d do anything to survive.

Maybe I’m looking at it the wrong way. Maybe this movie is supposed to serve as a terrifying look into the mirror and show the audience what they are all capable of, no matter how much they’d like to deny it. The Belko Experiment is rated R and for a very good reason, it does not shy away from the gore and torment that these characters are faced with. I rarely have too much of a problem with gory scenes, as I’ve mentioned in a previous review, I really love the Saw franchise and those movies basically coined the term “torture porn.” However, instead of focusing too hard on the shock value of the violence, it emphasized the anguish each character was going through in a very heart wrenching way.

I know I’m sending some mixed signals here so let’s go back to what I said earlier in my review. This movie could have been really great, but it just ended in an underwhelming way. If you decide to watch this movie you’ll either agree or disagree with me. Some people might really like the way it ends but it just didn’t do it for me. I don’t want to give any spoilers so I wont say anymore on that.

Overall, the movie was fine. There were some amazing stuff in it and there were some not so amazing stuff in it.

I give The Belko Experiment a five out of ten

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quinnlikesmovies · 6 years

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Birthmarked (2018)

Taking place in the late 70′s, Birthmarked tells the story of two married scientists, Catherine (Toni Collette) and Ben (Matthew Goode), who embark on a 13 year experiment to prove that nurture is stronger than nature. By raising their one biological child and two adopted children, they try to go against the children's genetic grain in teaching them to be either a “brain”, “pacifist”, or “artist”. As we watch the experiment go downhill, what will be more important to the scientists, receiving their predicted results or providing a healthy and loving living environment for their kids?

Birthmarked is interesting. I really liked the story, the actors, and overall vibe/ aesthetic of the movie. I’m a big fan of Wes Anderson, and while he didn’t direct this movie, I think the director, Emanuel Hoss-Desmarais, was influenced by his style. We have a charming narrator, quirky characters, and dry humor, all that was missing was his usual symmetric set design and an appearance by Adrien Brody or Jason Schwartzman.

The acting was good, I especially liked watching the three kids, Luke (Jordan Poole), Maya (Megan O’Kelly), and Maurice (Anton Gillis-Adelman), and I think most people who’ve seen this movie can agree that they really stole the show. Seeing as Catherine and Ben are manipulating the children in being something they don’t necessarily want to be by creating an environment that is centered around their development as either a brainiac, pacifist, or artist, it can be sometimes hard to fully care about their relationship or future. There are moments that you can really feel for them, like when they show their love for their kids. However, these kids are very dynamic throughout the movie. I wanted them to succeed, I wanted them to have fun, I wanted them to basically do whatever they wanted to do and I was excited to see what the future had in store for them. I think the kids will also be very relatable for some viewers due to their frustration in trying to become the geniuses their parents want them to be. While I would have loved if the three kids got more screen time so we could really see how their lives were growing up and try to understand the inner workings of their minds, I think the movie gave us just the right amount of information to help the audience imagine what their day to day life is like while still moving the plot along.

Despite not being alive in the 70′s, I think Birthmarked did a great job depicting that time frame. The costumes, set, and soundtrack helped push this idea. I liked how cluttered the rooms were at times, giving it the illusion that these characters really have been living in this isolated cabin for over a decade. The music was always very fitting for the scene at hand and, for the most part, it was fun familiar music, like “Kids in America” by Kim Wilde (even though that song didn’t come out until 1981).

Some things I’ll complain about, which really aren’t even complaints just my own personal preference, is that I was hoping for there to be more psychology to be discussed. But, this is a movie and not a true story, so I guess I cant really complain that it didn’t try to teach me anything.

The other thing that bugged me is that it’s labeled as a comedy. Yeah, there are some funny parts for sure, but I think they should also throw “drama” in there for good measure. All the humor is dark/dry, and while I have no problem with that, I think a number of people are going to go into this movie expecting laugh out loud moments and leave disappointed. Personally, I found it funny, but only laughed maybe once or twice. If you’re a huge fan of dark comedies, you’ll love this, and if you aren’t, I still recommend the movie, just know what you’re getting yourself into.

Personally, I liked this movie! Briefly while doing a quick Google search of the movie, I saw it’s not doing too well on Rotten Tomatoes, I think it has a 13%, and on IMDB it has a score of a 5.5. I didn’t read any of those reviews so I don’t know what their beef with the movie is, probably the comedy issue I discussed earlier, but I really enjoyed my time watching it.

I give Birthmarked a seven out of ten!

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quinnlikesmovies · 6 years

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Calibre (2018)

In the Netflix original movie, Calibre, two best friends reunite by going on a weekend long hunting trip in a remote Sottish town. After the accidental killing of a child, the two men must do whatever it takes to maintain their innocence.

Calibre is a great movie that makes its audience wonder how far they would go when faced with a moral dilemma such as this one. Many of us would probably assume the best in ourselves and say that we could never commit a heinous crime, that’s exactly what our protagonists thought too.

In Netflix’s newest thriller, Calibre, we follow Vaughn (Jack Lowden) and Marcus (Martin McCann), two ordinary people who live ordinary lives. Watching these two young adults interact, you could probably imagine you and your best friend interacting after not seeing each other for a while. Vaughn is a husband whose wife is expecting to have a baby and, at least from my perspective, Marcus planned this trip for the two of them to reconnect before the baby comes and consumes Vaughn's time for who knows how long. The connection between them is obvious as they drink and recount the good ol’ days. The movie does a great job setting these characters up as relatable characters that you want to see succeed.

The events after the killing occur is when this movie shines as a true thriller. Vaughn and Marcus have to navigate through normal conversations with the towns people while the guilt of their actions is eating them alive. With long silences and our main characters fumbling over excuses made on the spot, the tension grows as we wonder when they’ll be found out and what will happen to them. Things start to snowball out of control for our two protagonists, leaving us with an unforgettable ending that, in my opinion, makes the movie what it is and helps it stand apart from the rest.

I really enjoyed this movie! It had great acting, a suspenseful plot, and nice scenery. I totally recommend this movie for thriller fans. I give Calibre a 7 out of 10!

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quinnlikesmovies · 6 years

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Upgrade (2018)

From the creator of Saw and Insidious comes a sci-fi movie about a man named Grey Trace (Logan Marshall-Green) who becomes a paraplegic and watches his wife die during a violent mugging. When a state of the art piece of technology called Stem gets put inside him, Grey is not only able to walk again, but can also communicate with Stem and allow the computer to take over his body. With the help of the super computer inside him, Grey goes on a mission to track down his wife’s killers and take justice into his own hands.

I’m a big fan of the Saw franchise and Leigh Whannell’s work as a whole, so when this movie was first announced I was totally on board and even went to go see it the same weekend it came out. All that being said, I’ll try to be as unbiased as I can in my review.

Although this isn’t Whannell’s directorial debut, it is only the second movie he’s ever directed and has shown a huge improvement since his first attempt in Insidious 3. One of the biggest things that drew me to Upgrade was the trailers aesthetic (trailer can be found below). I absolutely love the grimy neon soaked light world we the viewers are transported into and I think Whannell made an excellent choice in maintaining a believable futuristic world that didn’t overload our senses with new technology.

Upon first glance, this movie looks like a total sci-fi nonstop action movie, and at times, that’s exactly what it is, but Upgrade is so much more. It takes its time to show the viewers how devastated Grey is and doesn’t shy away from the depression and anxiety that takes hold of him in his new life. Grey doesn’t have a one track mind, yes, he want’s to avenge his wife’s death, but he also knows what’s right and wrong. There’s a lot of dialog in this movie that really helps Upgrade round its self out from an emotionless action movie and transform into a tale of moral dilemma. While this aspect will attract many viewers, it’ll also take some people by surprise and possibly bore members of the audience that just wanted to watch the fight scenes.

However, I do have to say that the fight scenes were pretty awesome. In sticking to the productions low budget and the movie’s 80′s inspired vibe, all the gore seen in the movie is done with practical effects (meaning no CGI). This made the movie so much more fun and kept me more focused on the movie instead of being distracted by cheesy or obviously fake special effects. Making the most of its R rating, Upgrade doesn’t shy away from finding gross and inventive ways we’ll want to commit murder in the future.The camera work is also done masterfully and really just makes the experience as a whole interesting to look at.

Logan Marshall-Green did an amazing job playing Grey. Not only is he just an incredible actor and did a great job portraying a wide variety of emotions, but he also did amazing body work during the scenes in which Stem takes over Grey’s body. Marshall-Green’s actions were sharp and robotic while still maintaining the humanity in his face and voice, which provide Grey’s reaction to the events unfolding around him. Another thing worth admiring, is that Marshall-Green was the star without taking the attention off any of the other characters. The cast as a whole did a great job and characters were, for the most part, well rounded.

While you might be too late to see this movie in theaters, Upgrade is coming to DVD and Blu-ray on August 28. This movie did not disappoint and will definitely be a fun watch with a group of people. When I went to see it in theaters, people laughed, gasped, and said “oh shit” at the end of each fight. I give Upgrade a nine out of ten!

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