I Used to Be Funny

No quote this time, just *insert Phoebe Bridgers song* to make it more emotional

That being said, I need a list of all movies with a Phoebe Bridgers needle drop, because that almost to a certainty means the movie was made for me. I threw this movie on because of Rachel Sennott who was great, but I don’t think I was ready for how heavy this was. Yes, it has its comedic parts as Rachel is very funny, but definitely was not the point. This movie did a great job of creating an environment that let you empathize with what she was dealing with, even if you didn’t ultimately know why. Mental health is not something easy to portray, but I think this film did a good job of showing its many faces. I did sadly find it somewhat predictable and did guess where it was going much before the film intended. Along with that, the ending seemed to find a resolution in about 2 minutes, when the rest of the film was a slow burn letting you be fully engulfed in what she was going through. Despite these issues, Rachel was great and it was good to see her in a different role from what she plays in Shiva Baby, Bottoms, and Bodies, Bodies, Bodies. Despite the fact this movie may not be an A-Film, I think it does let her demonstrate her range and how naturally funny she really is. Ultimately, I Used to Be Funny is a raw and honest exploration of mental health. Rachel Sennott’s performance is undeniably captivating, showcasing her range as an actress and that we will be seeing her more and more as time goes on. While it has a predictable story and rushed conclusion dampens its impact, it's a great take on such a heavy topic. I Used to Be Funny is a reminder that even the funniest people carry their own burdens, and it’s okay to not always be okay and surround yourself with people who care.

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 7.5

~ZEJ 7.5

Deadpool 2

Oh Deadpool 2 - did we judge you too harshly? Yes, yes we did. E & I’s opinions of Deadpool 1 & 2 have completely reversed after the re-watch, as the sequel has aged like a fine wine and the original like a blue cheese that isn’t supposed to age and just gets moldier but not the good kind. Deadpool 2 is better written, has a better story-arc, is funnier, has better action sequences, better villain(s) and unlike the first one, has Josh Brolin, who thanks to being pre-MCU, got to double dip in this Fox production as another Marvel character, Cable, and as he did with Thanos, just puts on a master-class. There are still a few carryover LOL-random and sex jokes, but they’re done with more class and timeliness here. Zazie Beetz as Domino is brilliant character in her finite screentime, and Ryan Reynolds continues his perfect embodiment of Deadpool. Early critic reviews for Deadpool & Wolverine are pretty mid (we’ll see it on Thursday so stay tuned for the ZEJ review), so tempering my expectations for that, but so glad we watched DP2 again.

-Z

Z 8.5
E 8.5
J n/a

~ZEJ 8.5

Twisters

"You Don't Face Your Fears – You Ride 'Em." -Tyler

‘Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma,’ the main song of the movie and I think it does a good job hitting both the positives and negatives of the film. First, there is almost only love from me for this movie. It’s a fun popcorn flick and hits all the right notes for me. It is a well acted romance with high action scenes and a dash of over the top corny. I think the important thing to me is that it doesn’t go too over the top in the corny department. I would say that having a big name actor in Glen Powell along with a growing actress in Daisy Edgar Jones helps this a lot. I think both played their characters extremely believable. Along with that there was obviously some romantic tension, but it played that line somewhat uniquely too. Like I said, I mostly only have love for this movie as it seemed to hit almost all the right notes.

The biggest note I think it missed was the music in some instances, pun intended. I have listened to the soundtrack daily since I saw the film, but the issue is that it has so many good songs. This then makes a need to play all of them within the movie. I think it does get somewhat overwhelming at times and takes away from the film when they go soundtrack over score. Beyond that I really have very little issues. My last nitpick though comes from the tornadoes themselves. I am not sure if they wanted tornadoes to be scary or fun? Maybe it's the fact I am from Iowa and have some knowledge of them and they handle them very interestingly throughout. The more important thing though is that they look amazing throughout. Overall, Twisters is a blast. It's exactly what you want from a summer movie: thrilling, funny, and full of heart. Sure, the music might get a little overbearing at times, and the tornadoes themselves walk a strange line between terrifying and oddly delightful. But that's all part of the movie's charm. Twisters is one wild ride that I wouldn't want to miss.

-J

Having recently re-watched and reviewed Twister, I can confidently say that Twisters does not live up to the original. HOWEVER, the heart, and just all-around fun that the first one brings is heavily present for this standalone sequel. Glen Powell’s moment continues, and he had a moment in this film, dawning a cowboy hat that rivaled the pool scene from Austin Butler’s Bikeriders. If you know, you know. If you loved Twister, I have no doubt you’ll love this, as it checks all the boxes:

-Unnecessary and unlikely romance (✓)
-Ridiculous physics (✓)
-Questionable decision making in the face of danger (✓)
-Awe-inspiring depictions of tornadic potential (✓)
-A ragtag team of loveable underdogs (✓)
-A hateable team of capitalistic nerds (✓)

A heartily-recommended 7.75 from me, one to enjoy with a bucket of popcorn and an ice cold lime Coca-Cola.

-Z

Z 7.75
E 7.5
J 8.5

ZEJ 7.92

Deadpool

The re-watch heading into Deadpool & Wolverine was illuminating, as I’m afraid to say it hasn’t aged well. Having not seen it for probably 6-7 years, my memory of it being this edgy genre-altering borderline masterpiece was nearly erased, as perhaps the edgier side of the superhero world is just better done all-around by something like The Boys or Invincible. Both of which are post-Deadpool, of course, but upon re-watch, much of the humor is actually just kind of teenage LOL-random or sex-based, and neither are done particularly cleverly. Maybe E and I are different now that we’re in our thirties, or maybe comedy just ages poorly sometimes. That said, I do not consider this a BAD movie by any stretch, and still enjoyed the action sequences, and general vibe of the character, and I firmly believe that Ryan Reynolds was BORN to play Deadpool. I am very curious as to how the sequel holds up by comparison, which in my memory was worse than the original, and we’ll likely watch that tonight.

-Z

Z 8.0
E 7.5
J n/a

~ZEJ 7.75

Scream

“What's your favorite scary movie?” -Ghostface

Maybe this one now? Time will tell for sure but this is at least for sure up there. I always think it's interesting watching an iconic movie that has been copied over time. I always have to remind myself that it isn’t something every movie does, because this is what started it. Scream established the blueprint for modern slashers, and even today, most movies in the genre seem to be chasing its shadow. It is just a perfect blend of comedy and horror. At no moment was I overly scared or overly cringing, and I think any movie lover could find their own enjoyment in the movie. Hearing that and you’re still skeptical, there is also a mystery aspect, so I can’t imagine you couldn’t enjoy it. The cast brings so many levels to the movie. You have your more established and some that are looking for that big break. They bring the world's personalities to this back road town, and everyone has to have their favorites. A horror movie making fun of horror movies then becomes one of the more iconic horror movies? What a wild concept and I am so glad I watched it and don’t own a home phone. 

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 8.75

~ZEJ 8.75

The Nice Guys

“So you're telling me you made a porno where the point is the plot?” -Holland

Some of my favorite actors right now in this, Ryan Gosling and Margret Qualley, what could go wrong? Final verdict: not much! A fun mystery movie with a lot more humor than I thought there was going to be, which made it extremely fun. First off, what role can Ryan Gosling not play? Hard to say that he wasn’t perfectly casted for this role. I think his relationship with Holly (Angourie Rice) was extremely genuine and moved the plot in a great way. It could have been easy to just focus on the action and mystery, but I think this added a nice heartwarming element. Reading other reviews, it may seem like a lot of people would disagree but I stand by what I said. Lastly, my surprise was Russel Crowe, who played the perfect mix of badass and clueless detective. I just loved watching these three on screen together.

Along with great acting, I thought the plot was unique enough. While the film is an action-comedy, there were a few moments where the humor felt forced and over the top. Despite these minor scenes, the overall comedic tone is undeniably entertaining. Along with that, I think the porno reveal was a surprise, but I was craving a little more weight to what this was building up to. I am sure I am looking at it wrong, as it is meant to be fun, but I was left wanting a bit more. Ultimately, The Nice Guys is a wildly entertaining ride with a fun duo at its core. Gosling and Crowe share undeniable chemistry, and their on-screen banter is the obvious highlight. Despite a few over the top comedic moments and a somewhat anticlimactic central mystery, The Nice Guys is a fun, action packed film that is sure to leave a smile on your face.

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 8.75

~ZEJ 8.75

Coherence

"There is another theory: that two states continue to exist... separate and decoherent from each other, each creating a new branch of reality... based on the two outcomes. Quantum decoherence ensures that the different outcomes... have no interaction with each other." -Hugh

Low budget films absolutely need more recognition. I still am not at the age to have many straight dinner parties, but this definitely has me second guessing if I ever really need to. What a unique idea that kept me on my toes the entire run time. I felt like I knew what was going on, then as time goes on I realize I know less and less. I love how they made it easy enough to understand but not so much you have no idea what's going on. I surprisingly did not need an ‘ending explained’ Youtube search after. If you like escape rooms or puzzles, this is the movie equivalent. Most mystery thrillers have horror elements which can turn off a lot of people, but somehow I think this does a great job of being more of a puzzle than thrill ride. 

The big issue I have is that the acting is a little poor at times. This is going to be expected with a low budget film, but it is a tough watch at times. I think all other low-budget aspects are fine, I just wish they could have a little better acting. Coherence is like a mind-bending puzzle box you can't put down. Sure, the acting might be a bit rough around the edges, but that can be expected in a movie made for $50,000. Coherence is a must-watch for anyone who enjoys a good brain bender. 

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 8.75

~ZEJ 8.75

Longlegs

“Is it scary being an FBI agent?” -Ruby

“.........yes” -Harker

Is it scary following an FBI agent from a safe theater? Yes. What an anxiety and dreadful atmosphere that you live in for 101 minutes. You get to actually experience terror with the characters and feel it, and not just a jump scare every ten minutes. You really feel it to your core. I don’t make movies, but I feel like if you accomplish that as a director, you have to feel like you have done your job. The sound, colors, and filming style all works perfectly together making a magical song and dance. From her first lines, I found myself on the edge of my seat waiting to see what Maika Monroe, who plays Lee Harker, says or does. A lot of people will talk about Nicholas Cage, and I will get to that soon, but this movie was entirely based on the shoulders of Maika in my opinion. She carries the load and makes you feel dread, confusion, worry, or all of it at once. She has been what the kids call a ‘scream queen’ for a while now. I really think this is her coming out party and I think we will see her a lot more in the future, and not just horror.

Now to Nicholas Cage. He was everything you want him to be. Unhinged and unpredictable. He was unrecognizable both physically and audibly (for the most part). He played the role great and created the antagonist this movie needed. Now, talking antagonist, that's where my only real issue with the film comes. I think he helps in creating some smoke-in-mirror situations to drive this plot. The ending has some holes that I think stretch the story thin. Other than a few plot issues, I think the movie was great and has been on my mind almost daily since I watched. Longlegs is a disturbing and thought-provoking experience that will stay with you long after the credits roll. It's a must-watch for horror fans seeking a film that prioritizes dread over cheap thrills.

-J

POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD
As a marketing major, calling your horror movie “the scariest movie of the decade” was a brilliant move, as everyone I talked to about this movie had either heard that or said that to me, and that not piqued my interest but set a certain expectation going into the theater. J, E and I saw this with a group of our friends who are horror aficionado fans, and while we all came out loving it, it was universally a disappointment on the scare factor, which again, may have been propped up by this claim from Longlegs marketing. It was intense, to be sure, though that dissipated at a crucial juncture with Nic Cage’s character, which I can’t disclose without spoiling it, although that in itself may be a spoiler, so whatever, I’ll put a tag above. Some couldn’t get over Nic Cage’s Nic Cage-ness, or his recognizability in this, and maybe I’m too big of a fan of his to be critical enough but I found him utterly unfamiliar, as the prosthetics and framing of him kept him rightly mysterious. His performance was pitch perfect, in my opinion, and I found him wonderfully unnerving. Maika Monroe did excellent as the lead detective, convincingly pulling off the socially awkward savant investigator of the Longlegs killings. The film takes a direction at the end, which did not work for me, it was not a satisfying explanation to all the work we put in to get to, and ultimately was a disservice to Nic Cage’s character, I felt. There were also some elements that felt a bit trope-ish, such as the coded alphabet Longlegs uses at the beginning and in the end felt somewhat disconnected to the larger story. Nitpicking aside, it was a super fun ride, and the performances and intensity make it one of the better movies of the year thus far, and only bested by Late Night with the Devil in the Horror category, which has a ZEJ rating of 8.92.

-Z

Z 8.75
E 8.25
J 9.0

ZEJ 8.67

Oldboy (2003)

“Laugh and the world laughs with you. Weep and you weep alone.” Oh Dae Su

Oldboy isn't your typical night at the movies. It's a rollercoaster ride that will leave you breathless and questioning everything. I want it to be known that I want to leave no spoilers. I was lucky enough to go into this movie without knowing anything about it and I want to let others have that luxury. This was one of the most insane movies I had seen! This 2003 masterpiece isn't just a story; it's a visual feast. A world where fight scenes are balletic and flashbacks have a dreamlike quality. Be warned, Oldboy is a brutal film, not for the faint of heart. But for those seeking a genre-bending experience that will stay with you long after the credits roll, it's a must-watch. Prepare to have your jaw-drop, and to avoid any potential spoilers I will leave it at that.

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 9.75

~ZEJ 9.75

Kung Fu Hustle

“You gave him your life savings?” -Sing’s Sidekick

“Yes. I was saving to become a doctor or lawyer... but this was a chance for world peace.” -Sing

Unhinged in movie form. A movie that starts with me being a bit skeptical that leads to laughing out loud and rounds off with me cheering. A rollercoaster that is guaranteed fun for any movie lover. I had no idea what this movie was, but I was excited for some high level Kung Fu. I had no expectations on the story, but what the story ultimately landed on was a total surprise. More Hundreds of Beavers than Goodfellas. With that being said, I may have been turned off initially, but I came completely full circle. The story arc of Sing and his sidekick makes me giggle along with the Ax Gang’s dance moves. These may be some of my favorite things in recent history. (I may or may not find myself doing that little jig randomly).

With genuine funny scenes along with high level Kung Fu, how could you not get wrapped into this film. The last Kung Fu movie I watched could have been over a decade ago, and even as a kid it was not my favorite type of action. If I had my hands on this in my formative years, I think my taste would have been much different, but I got it in my 30’s! Even though what they do is incredible and I do laugh, they really push the line of going too far and sadly I do think it bleeds over some. Maybe it is because of the age of the film or maybe it’s just not my humor, but I still did cringe more than you want in a film. Overall, this is a groundbreaking film that I can even see leaking into today’s films. It is a hilarious, action packed blend of the unexpected. If you're looking for a wild ride filled with stunning fight scenes and laugh out loud moments, Kung Fu Hustle delivers. Just remember, sometimes world peace is worth more than your life savings, even if it means joining a group of dancing gangsters.

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 8.5

~ZEJ 8.5

The Greatest Hits

“Well Harriet, are you coming?” -Max

Some will see this movie and think, who is this made for? I am who it is made for. I really prefer these kinds of corny lovey-dubby indie movies. I usually get an itch for one of these every now and then, and this scratched it. As I said, it is corny and the writing is tough at times, but I do think Lucy Boynton and Justin Min do their best to limit its damage. It is well acted and I thought the concept was interesting. Is it realistic, not really, but I appreciate that I do believe the interaction with the world around her. A lot of movies can ignore the world around the main characters, but this does a good job of keeping it together.

Beyond a compelling story and good acting, the thing that this movie does best is it nails the music. Every situation I feel has the perfect song to accompany it. I have found myself listening to the soundtrack daily since I finished it. Lastly, I will say through the traditional emotional parts of a romance like this, I did find my heart strings being pulled. Usually I have no problem, but maybe it was the mixture of good music and how they portrayed it, but it worked. For a lot it won't resonate. The sentimental tone and moments of clunky dialogue might not be for everyone. However, for those seeking a heartwarming, music-infused romance, it delivers.

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 7.75

~ZEJ 7.75

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

“I'm In Town, But I've Been Arrested. Hello?” -Axel

Having watched the originals just this year didn’t give me much of a chance to miss Axel Foley in Beverly Hills, but once this movie started I think I finally understand the magic of these films. It is crazy that for a 4th time and at 63 years old he can completely carry a B written movie to be genuinely funny. I stand by what I said, all of these films are definitely B movies that have gotten A attention. The story in this is cookie cutter and I have seen it a million times. The villain is extremely predictable and at no time am I worried about how it will end. Along with that, when a movie is released immediately to Netflix only, you create a certain expectation: Corny, poorly written, and low cinematography. Let me tell you though, it absolutely does hit all of those points hard, but it comes back to how I started the review. Eddie Murphy is simply unreal. He makes all those shortcomings into a fun summer or family watch and wasn’t just an obvious money grab, but a great addition to the franchise. This is a much better ending than Beverly Hills Cop 3 and with that being said, it’s time to be done with it and all can be good in Beverly Hills!

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 7.5

~ZEJ 7.5

MaXXXine

“I will not accept a life I do not deserve” -MaxXxine

But will I accept a movie I do not deserve? The movie is the third of the X trilogy, and the first two were some of my favorite films of 2022, so anticipation was high. Sadly, despite another master class from Mia Goth who has championed the entire series, I think this film falls short. The first issue that it runs into is that the story isn’t there. At times, it feels like the story is going a few different ways, but it seems TI West didn’t know exactly where he wanted to go. The route it ends up taking is predictable. Z even said he figured the twist out in the opening credits, and I figured it out about halfway through. The joy of the original two is that even if you have a good idea of what is going to happen, you are ultimately surprised on your journey there. The last disappointment is how corny the dialog becomes. It obviously is a nod to the 80s aesthetic it's going for which can be known for some questionable acting, but this is tough to swallow. In Pearl, it has one of the greatest monologues I have ever heard, so we know he can write at an elite level, but it was absent here.

It may seem like I am painting the picture for a ‘bad’ film, which it isn’t. The movie does have a lot of redeeming qualities, but for me it was wildly disappointing. A big reason the original movies are so acclaimed is that they are able to essentially make a period piece. This falls right in line. The 80’s feel and setting is great. It feels like you are not only watching a movie based in the 80’s but that it was also filmed then. Along with that, it has some of the better needle drops of a film this year. I found myself tapping my toe and logging songs to my playlist for the ride home. Overall, MaxXxine isn't the thrilling conclusion to the X trilogy it craves to be. While the cinematography is elite, the narrative stumbles, the surprises are absent, and the dialogue feels forced. Mia Goth remains a true star and will continue to be one of my must watch actresses, but even she couldn’t elevate this film to live up to the brilliance of the original 2. Just like MaxXine knew she deserved better, I think we sadly did too.

-J

Jord was the one to get E and I to watch X and Pearl to begin with, and though X fell into the genre of mindless slasher, Pearl was something special, and made me much more interested in Ti West’s future work. But MaXXXine gave me mixed feelings about his taste, as the writing and story were laughably bad. The performances are top notch though, as Mia Goth is given yet another vehicle to showcase her abilities, but she was upstaged every moment Kevin Bacon’s deliciously greasy New Orleans private detective surfaced. If you’re a fan of Kevin Bacon his work here may be the one reason to give MaXXXine a watch. Otherwise, it’s a disappointing end to a trilogy that had some truly soaring peaks. Predictable, unoriginal, and also like, not a horror movie? More of a barely noir faux-thriller? It was a mess.

-Z

Z 6.25
E 6.5
J 7.0

ZEJ 6.58

Kung Fu Panda 4

"Skadoosh isn't a word.” -Zhen

“Oh, and "Skablam" is?” -Po

It has been years since I have watched Kung Fu Panda, but I love me some Dreamworks animation. With that being said, this did not scratch my itch. With Dreamworks being known for being able to play to both kids and adults, the quote I chose really shows the humor this film went for. The once witty humor takes a backseat to slapstick gags and the story feels predictable. Now, the animation was as good as they all have been and they have a stellar cast of voice actors, so it wasn’t all bad. The biggest fall that it has is that the story seems run out with a lack of laughs. Due to that, this movie really doesn’t recapture the joy that the original hits. It’s trying to do what a lot of films are doing right now and leaning on nostalgia without its best qualities. The film tries to hit those notes while also adding a new character that seems like it will take over the franchise, but I don’t know if they are going to make itl. Sadly, I think the fox missed as it is more of an anti-hero story arc instead of Po’s likable fool story arc. If you golf, there is nothing more frustrating when you lay-up to be safe but still hit it out of bounds. You did what you’re supposed to do and got punished, and this is what happened here. Usually, the complaint is ‘do something different, I don’t want to watch the same thing,’ which they are doing here, and sadly it’s not for me. If you want to watch an animated film that is good for the family or play in the background, you got it! If you are wanting to watch an animated film that has depth and layers, try a different flick.

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 6.5

~ZEJ 6.5

Kinds of Kindness

“Do you think we can watch just 5 minutes of the video?” - Daniel

In some ways, I wish there was a fourth of the anthology, and in others I wish we just focused on one for the entire run time. I haven’t watched many anthologies, but I think it is safe to say that this isn’t your typical one. If you like the Black Mirror series, I really think you are bound to have a fun time with Kinds of Kindness. It is pretty well known that I am a huge fan of this cast, and they do not disappoint. The star power of Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, and Jesse Plemons is undeniable, and when you combine that with Lanthimos' vision, you get high level cinema. His signature blend of dark humor and unsettling stories shines through, prompting viewers to question the lengths we go to for connection and acceptance. The film unfolds into three stories, each following a different lead but follows the overlying theme. There are laugh out loud moments in all three that sneak into shock, and the fact you never know what is coming next is the true masterpiece of it all.

Now, as stated at the beginning, this is an anthology of three different stories. If I had to order them from my favorite to my least favorite, it would go like this: The third story is what I would say is the best. Emma Stone would be the lead actor on it, and with its interesting cult the story captivated me the most. Next, it goes to the first story. This was championed by Jesse Plemons and William Defoe and gave a great start to the theme that each story will be diving into. The second story takes a more unconventional approach. While having the most laughs, its narrative is the most cryptic and potentially too cryptic. While it might not be as clear-cut as the others, it still contributes to the film's overall exploration of kindness and acceptance. Lanthimos doesn't offer easy answers and always makes you wonder what you just watched. If you're seeking a traditional movie, you won’t find it here. For those willing to embrace the weird, Kinds of Kindness offers a darkly comedic and thought provoking journey.

-J

Yorgos Lanthismos cemented himself as one of my favorite directors with Poor Things, as I have previously been delighted with The Favourite, and The Lobster is one of my favourite movies. So naturally I had high hopes for Kinds of Kindness, but unfortunately, it did not reach the heights of the formerly mentioned. This is probably Yorgos’ most experimental film in the sense that it was actually three separate stories told using the same cast, and certainly experimental in the sense that I think Yorgos’ may get a sick pleasure from getting people to watch some just truly bizarre cinema. The three separate stories aspect makes this hard to review in a sense, as in my opinion, the third story, was far and away better than the first two. I was thoroughly engaged the entire time, but a lot of this movie felt like Yorgos was just being weird to be weird, when normally his movies are weird but it totally makes sense and is plot driven or earned. I did like this movie better than Killing of a Sacred Deer, which was another of Yorgos’ movies that was more on the side of the continuum of weird to be weird, as the third story of this particularly made the watch worth it, whereas I did not feel Killing of a Sacred Deer was necessarily worth watching. Par for the course from Jesse Plemons, Margaret Qualley and Willem Dafoe acting-wise, no notes there, but this was yet ANOTHER master class from Emma Stone, who shows off her chameleon-ness once again. Running with Jord’s Black Mirror comment, I think this would have done NUMBERS as a 3-part Netflix series, that could have been carried forward with a new cast every season type thing, but something tells me that’s too basic for Yorgos, who loves nothing else but to keep us guessing. Don’t particularly recommend this unless you just absolutely LOVE Yorgos, or are just trying to get weird with it. For what it’s worth, E did fall in between Jord and I here on rating, as she does tend to love the more experimental side of film, per her highly educated film background and there’s plenty of that here.

-Z

Z 8.25
E 8.75
J 9.25

ZEJ 8.75

A Quiet Place: Day One

“You Can’t Have A Cat In Here.”

Did not expect one of the biggest stars of the movie to be a cat. Along the line of good acting, I thought two growing actors Lupita Nyong’o and Joseph Quinn got to show off some talents. Just like the past movies, there is limited dialog in a movie where if you talk you die. Despite that lack of dialogue, both were able to shine and despite being unlikely friends through the plot, I did buy their growth with a great conclusion. Beyond acting though, I was pretty disappointed in the story. Since the first movie, I think each movie has the story fall off some. I do think the addition of Samira's backstory created interest, but how the movie was marketed, I was hoping to get a little more background on the invasion and got none.

My biggest issue with this though comes from the need for it to be a ‘horror’ film. It wants so badly to be a horror, but I just don’t think it is. Because of this, it has to lean hard into jump scares which I think is beyond annoying. After about the 5th one in the first hour, I was over it. I know a lot of people were surprised at how good it was, but I had some decent expectations and it was very much below them. While A Quiet Place: Day One boasts strong performances and maintains the series' signature silence, its predictable jump scares and lack of substantial world building leave it feeling like a forgettable entry. For those seeking the chills of the original film, this prequel might leave them wanting more.

-J

As a fan of A Quiet Place and A Quiet Place Part II the origin movie was not unwelcome, but after being hammered by the trailer for the better part of a year, we all had a bit of angst towards this film, and with all the plot that was also given away by said trailer, I was more worried than anything about its quality. As low as my expectations were, they were slightly surpassed, as I was fully engaged for the duration of the movie, and John Krasinski successfully delivered another profitable blockbuster horror movie onto his resume. Horror generally has a low bar for what’s considered passable, and this is certainly that, passable, but that’s about it. Other than providing a tiny bit of additional lore for the invading alien organisms, the plot here felt somewhat pointless to the franchise at large and was wholly an underwhelming origin. Lupita Nyong’o and Joseph Quinn were both great, though both of their characters felt somewhat random. I am excited for Joseph Quinn to get more roles in the future and already dreading the trailers that are about to be released for the fourth entry into this franchise, A Quiet Place Part III.

-Z

Z 7.25
E 7.75
J 7.0

ZEJ 7.42

The Love Witch

“All my life I’ve been tossed in the garbage except when men wanted to use my body. So, I decided to find my own power. And I found that power through witchcraft. That means that I take what I need from men and not the other way around!” - Elaine

The Love Witch is a seductive and unsettling story that follows Elaine after a recent heartbreak. The film bathes in a technicolor dream from the opening scene, and it is almost unbelievable that it was filmed in 2016. Cinematography wise, it's hard to say that it could be any better. Along with how it's filmed, Samantha Robinson as Elaine was captivating from the opening line. Without her, the intoxicating and seductive themes would hardly be seen. She absolutely needs to be in more films!

Now, if you are still reading and somehow missed all that I said above, if you are looking for a modern movie to watch with the family, you are in some trouble. The pacing at times is slow, but it is what the story is trying to tell. An indie film in every way, that a ‘cinephile’ will absolutely appreciate, but a casual film watcher would ask ‘why would anyone ever watch that?” It pushes the boundary of a seductive movie that you would want to be conscious of who you are watching it with, but does it extremely artistically. From the first relationship Elaine is in, you can see the blending of comedy and horror, but does fall into an issue with over the top corny dialogue. Everything included in this movie is deliberate from the director, but that doesn’t necessarily mean great. As I stated, it does drag at times and is limited by the story it's trying to tell. Overall, for cinephiles with a taste for ‘weird cinema’, The Love Witch is a cinematic treasure. It's an amazing nod to classic cinema with a dash of classic horror. The film's deliberate pacing causes the film to drag some, but it lets you really engage in what it is trying to tell. It might not be for most, but for those who appreciate a film that pushes boundaries, it's a must-watch.

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 8.0

~ZEJ 8.0

The Thing (1982)

“We're not gettin' out of here alive. But neither is that thing.” -MacReady

The Thing puts you right in the base with the crew, so much I caught myself wondering, am I really me? I decided recently that I am going to watch the Alien series since Alien: Romulus comes out in August, but Z and E told me to start with The Thing. Now, this is actually a product of Alien, as it came out 3 years after, but if this movie has any connection to Alien, I think I will be in for a treat. I really only knew The Thing was critically acclaimed, but that's about it. I will be honest, most old horror movies don’t scare me much, and this sadly didn’t. It actually one upped being scary by creating a suspense rarely found in films for me. I found myself on the edge of my seat almost the entire movie. Kurt Russell as MacReady was great. I have missed a lot of classics, and I have seen a very limited amount of Kurt, but he sold me on this. I think it falters a little as the movie made it clear that he was almost immune to the thing, but it does make sense as he was the only military trained part of the staff and he would be the natural leader.

The film's themes of paranoia and deception resonate perfectly with games like Among Us, making it even more relevant today. I think if more of our younger generation watched this film today, it could have a huge comeback. Along with the paranoia this creates, I think the addition of this being an isolated area creates that cabin-fever vibe. By being trapped, it makes a more believable story arc for each character, which helps add to its masterclass of suspense. Lastly, on top of a compelling and suspenseful story, the true star is the use of old practical effects. It looks amazing in comparison to CGI and I would love to see it more prevalent in today's films. It creates something that is real and I can get on board with and creates a magic to the film that just isn’t seen as much today. Overall, I left this movie really glad I watched it. It has been something I have thought about almost daily since and I think the ending is something more movies need to go for and forget about sequels. So, is The Thing scary? Traditionally, not so much for me. But will it make you question your co-worker and contemplate setting up a blood test station at the office? Absolutely. This film is a wild ride with amazing practical effects, and frankly, it is a masterpiece.

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 9.5

~ZEJ 9.5

The Bikeriders

“I’ve been thinking, I can’t run this club forever. I built this from nothing. This is our family. You and me, kid” - Johnny

This quote from The Bikeriders hints at the film's look into loyalty and brotherhood. While the trailers showcased thrilling motorcycle sequences and battles between clubs, I will say I was surprised by the actual product. I was expecting a lot of Austin Butler and Z and I agree, every second that wasn’t used showing Austin Butler riding was a wasted second of the movie. This movie was definitely not what I expected. The film focused on the story within the story, where I went in expecting it to be an action thrill ride. Now, I can’t say there wasn’t action, but sadly if you saw the trailer, you saw basically all of it. Along with that, I did not expect it to follow the writer of a book in the 60’s instead of focusing on the story of Johnny, Benny, and Kathy. The grainy, documentary style cinematography adds to the film's authenticity and I think it does work, but you have to be expecting that type of movie to enjoy it to the fullest.

As stated above, Austin Butler from the moment he is shown leaning against a pool table had me fully… engaged… but the movie went a route that almost wrote him out at times. It leaned on Jodie Comer, who I did think was great, but left me wanting more of Butler. I think they also had two great performances from two great actors, but decided to tell us about the love between them instead of letting us experience it. Maybe I am focusing on the wrong things, but I know what I want! It may seem like I hated it, but I definitely didn't. I thought the story did captivate me at times with the changing dynamic of the Vandals. I also hate motorcycles, so the fact I am saying anything positive means the movie had to do something right. Despite my initial disappointment at the lack of action, I did find myself invested in the story of the Vandals. Period piece and motorcycle lovers will undoubtedly enjoy The Bikeriders, and fans of slow-burn character studies with a historical twist may find themselves surprised and engaged, but overall I was left wanting.

-J

The trailers had E and I pretty hyped for the Bikeriders, but as it turns out the marketing geniuses managed to shove every single action sequence, of which they were only about 4 or 5, into that trailer. That meant what we were left with to fill in the rest of the movie was, frankly, just a whole lot boring nothingness. A rather tame tale of a romanticized bike club. This tale’s pacing was strange too, as it was chopped up repeatedly by Jodie Comer’s character, who is being interviewed and is the one telling the story. So you have this kind of slow burn of disappointedly few action scenes, that is constantly interrupted by this interview that just really did not work. Aside from that, Tom Hardy and Austin Butler were phenomenal, as expected. It’s not every day you get two of your “Must Watch” list actors in the same movie, and they did NOT disappoint. As Jord mentioned, Austin Butler was criminally underused, and we got surprisingly little of Butler on a bike? Like that’s what we were here for people. If this had been marketed a bit differently, I may have been a little more generous to this movie, but even giving it the benefit of the doubt, it disappointed.

-Z

Z 7.5
E 7
J 7.75

ZEJ 7.42

Suspiria (2018)

“Love and manipulation, they share houses very often. They are frequent bedfellows.” -Dr. Josef Klemperer

This unsettling quote perfectly captures the atmosphere of Suspiria (2018), a visually stunning and psychologically disturbing film. Going into this movie, I had been told 3 things. My buddy Austin likes it, it's messed up, and there are things that you have never seen in a horror movie before. That went three for three. From the moment the film opens with the anxiety-filled coaching from the mothers, the use of vibrant yet unsettling colors throughout creates unease. Even with all of that, you do notice right away that this is going to be somewhat of a slow burn which I was not expecting. I found myself wondering, beyond the artistic cinematography, what was so captivating about this film? Then all the sudden some of the most brutal and unexpected scenes showed up on screen and I don’t think that I will ever be able to unsee them (if you have seen it you know exactly what I am talking about). I will say, that scene brought me back, but overall you are left with what I believe is too much dialogue. Dakota Johnson does deliver a captivating performance, which we at ZEJ have never said before. She showcased the transformation of her character Susie with depth and believability, while aiding the mystery of the story.

Now, I have never seen the original, but I will say that this is not a typical horror film. The movie leans towards being an overly confusing horror movie that goes for a lot of shock value instead of jump-scares like traditional slasher horror. I understand why it is adored by viewers, due to the incredible visuals that will give you chills and being terrifying not due to jump scares, but due to the eerie vibes it gives off. With all that said, I personally do not love this kind of movie and had to do the “ending explained” Youtube route when it finished just to realize I did understand the film, it just added so much to make it seem deeper than it is. Horror fans it's a must see, but the regular fan can skip.

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 7.5

~ZEJ 7.5