I'm Dating a Woman in Horror Pt. 2 (WiHM 2020)

I'm Dating a Woman in Horror Pt.2

By Theresa Dillon

In case you missed Part 1, I decided to try something a little bit different for Women in Horror Month. Thanks to YouTube channel Girlfriend Reviews (go subscribe now and thank me later), I decided it would be fun to sit down with my significant other, Josh, and ask questions about our relationship as a way to break some stigma around female horror fans. (Go back and read the article when you get a chance.)

Part 2 I’m diving into our favorite horror films and if my passion for female storytelling has left a mark on Josh. Has he noticed current female struggles and issues in horror films? Does he think females create strong films and who are some of his favorite female horror characters?

Once again, I thank Josh for being a willing participant. All of his answers (albeit short because he is a man of few but powerful words) are 100% from his mouth. I told him not to hold anything back and to be completely honest, even at risk of hurting my feelings. What you read is 100% us.

And if after reading this, you feel like you’ve missed out on celebrating Women in Horror Month, you’re in luck! We’ve got our last film, SEA FEVER, showing this Friday. It’s a slow-burn, sea creature horror film that reminds a bit of THE THING. I really enjoyed screening it and can’t wait to watch it with an audience.

So come join us Friday, Feb. 28^th, at 8 p.m. at FilmBar. I look forward to seeing you there!

_________________

Part 2:

Theresa Dillon (TD): Okay babe, it’s time for Part 2 of our interview series. You ready to get started?

Joshua Anderson (JA): Yea, let’s do it.

TD: Alright.

Question 1: What has been one of your favorite horror movies I’ve shown you?

JA: The Ryan Reynolds one. 

TD: Voices? The one I was terrified to show you?

JA: Yea. It was good and entertaining. Plus, I thought it was cool that I had never heard of it.

TD: Good to know. I’ve got more you haven’t heard up my sleeve. 

Question 2: What’s your favorite female-directed horror film?

JA: Definitely, American Psycho. I think it fits the style of female-directed horror by critiquing the male patriarchy. It was ahead of its time.

TD: Good pick! Classic. It’d be hard for me to choose one since there continue to be so many great new stories being told on screen. That’s one of the main reasons I look forward to February and hosting Women in Horror Month.

JA: Yea, it’s been a lot of fun over these last four years.

Question 3: You’re into sci-fi and fantasy which tends to have very strong female characters. Do you think female horror characters are equal to the sci-fi/fantasy females or does horror need to step up its game a bit?

JA: I think horror is doing pretty good. Hilariously enough, my favorite sci-fi heroine, Leeloo (played by Milla Jovovich) is also a horror heroine later on in the Resident Evil series. And Ripley is an amazing character. There’s a lot of good sci-fi cross-over which is what I really like with some horror.

TD: Ripley is a badass and I’ve loved her character since I was way too young to see the Alien series.

Question 4: Have any female-directed/written horror films helped change your perspective of the female voice or female struggles in any way?

JA: Going back to American Psycho, it has made me realize just how much of a man driven world we live in. 

TD: Yes, we do. Not going to lie, it is a struggle but I appreciate that you recognize it and try to make a difference in your own small ways.

JA: Well, thank you.

TD: You’re welcome. Now on to the last question.

Question 5: Do you think the female-directed films you have watched stories have been stronger or as strong as the male-directed films?

JA: I say it’s pretty even. There are very good stories from both perspectives. 

TD: I do think women tend to write about female issues a bit stronger but some of my favorite male directors (John Carpenter, Ari Aster, Robert Eggers, Wes Craven) have created some amazing female characters that viewers continue to root for. 

Well, thank you again for doing this fun sit down interview! I can’t wait for our movie shenanigans to continue this year. Next up, I’m going to finally show you, Martyrs.

JA: Alright, I’m ready.

Jessica Forever Review

By Emery Snyder @leeroy711

Director: Caroline Poggi & Jonathan Vinel

Starring: Aomi Muyock, Sebastian Urzendowsky & Augustin Raguenet

Shudder Original – February 20, 2020

Jessica (Muyock) is the matriarchal leader of a group of orphaned boys in a post-apocalyptic, dystopian world that hunts and kills them. They train together, eat and nap together, always moving to keep from being caught by the “special forces” of weaponized drones that shoot on site. They live in a world of clinical ugliness and marvel at anything pretty. Throughout their journeys, their isolation and loneliness manifests itself in angst, materialism, jealousy, greed and all types of insecurities typical of young, undisciplined masculinity. Jessica replies with only love, constantly attempting to maintain a safe place for these lost and damaged boys.

Like most post-apocalyptic visions of the future, this film certainly seems to be making an earnest attempt at warning us of the future of our logical progression. There is a lot going on here. And I’m unfortunately unconvinced that this story ever achieves the focus required to properly convey anything that could be considered a thesis. Elements of fascism, Marxism, consumerism and anarchy all seem to take rather insignificant turns, coloring a world that was never sufficiently contextualized by the film’s setting.

We get some glimpses and ideas about why these young men are on the lamb but only Lucas (Raguenet) is given a full back-story. Our titular character, Jessica is the vaguest of the lot. She unfortunately ends up feeling like a purely reactionary character less than a driving force for our story. I won’t always find fault with these types of indistinctions in a film, but when the rest of the film seems satisfied with tossing together a smorgasbord of thematic elements, I end up unfulfilled with the result. The story could have, at any moment, taken the momentum built from one of its many plot points and expanded. The filmmakers chose rather, to stall out and change pace and directions. This constant exploration gives the film the imprint of ambiguous morals, at best.

But I digress, I will always concede that it is not the film’s fault that it did not satisfy what may very well be my subjective impression of what I expected it should be. I am in no way suggesting that the filmmakers were in any way, promoting any sort of hateful ideology. If anything, the film was attempting to promote unconditional love, redemption and forgiveness. This is what Jessica gives to her boys and maybe this would have been more evident had she played a larger role in the film.

The technical aspects on display are a bit of a mixed bag as well. All of the performances work well, specifically those of Muyock and Raguenet. Marine Atlan’s cinematography is crisp and does a great job at capturing the beautiful locations and contrasting them with the heinous acts of violence. The music was a mix of a Ulysse Klotz score with contemporary rock soundtrack.

There is also a healthy dose of CGI used here, dangerously set over the top of some of the film’s slow-motion scenes. This typically doesn’t mix well but I although the effects were far from great, I didn’t find them distracting. I think the finishing editor did a great job of mixing the colors, so it didn’t end up looking too fake. I credit the overall evolution of this technology as much as anything else.

All in all, I can’t fault this film too much. I appreciate its ambition. I just think its lack of focus and thesis kept me from buying in all the way. It’s a beautifully shot concept that you could have probably pulled three or four compelling stories out of. Just not all at once.

Emery’s Rating

2.5 out of 5 Stars

Follow us on Twitter @CodaReviews

I'm Dating A Woman In Horror (WIHM 2020)

I'm Dating A Woman in Horror Pt.1

By: Theresa Dillon

Okay, so this year I decided to try something a little bit different for Women in Horror Month. Thanks to YouTube channel Girlfriend Reviews (go subscribe now and thank me later), I decided it would be fun to sit down with my significant other, Josh, and ask questions about our relationship.

This may sound corny but I love our relationship. I love that we’re independent individuals who appreciate and support each other’s interests. Mainly, I’m a horror fan and he’s a sci-fi/fantasy fan. We’re both nerds in our own ways but there is a stigma around female horror fans. And since Josh has indulged in my horror tendencies for 5 years, why not ask what it’s really like dating a female horror fan. Is it dark and vile like some in society think? Is it overbearing and weird? Or is it something special?

This is a special 2-parter feature because I don’t know how to ask short, easy questions. Thank you, Josh, for being a willing participant. All of his answers (albeit short because he is a man of few but powerful words) are 100% from his mouth. I told him not to hold anything back and to be completely honest, even at risk of hurting my feelings. What you read is 100% us.

And if after reading this first part you feel all twitterpated, come spend your Valentine’s Day weekend with other horror fans at our first screening for Women in Horror Month – Knives and Skin. It will be playing Saturday, Feb. 15th at 7:30 p.m.

We’d love for you to join us!

-------------------

Interview between Theresa Dillon (female horror fan) and Joshua Anderson (male sci-fi/fantasy fan)

Theresa Dillon (TD): Okay babe, are you ready to do this?

Joshua Anderson (JA): (Laughs) Yeah, I think so.

TD: Okay, don’t stress and just be 100% honest. Take a deep breath.

Question 1 - What’s it like dating a female horror fan?

JA: Well, I get to enjoy being introduced to good movies I’ve never seen before.

TD: Yes, it’s really fun to show you some of my favorites yet to get your opinion. And I still have so many to show you!

Okay, Question 2 - What are some of the qualities you like and dislike?

JA: I like that you’re willing to try new things often.

TD: True, I’ve tried some sci-fi that was definitely different but some that really opened my eyes too.

JA: I dislike going to events or conventions.

TD: I knew you were going to say that! (Laughs) I do appreciate it when you do come even though it’s not your favorite.

JA: You’re welcome. I like supporting you.

Question 3 - Do you ever feel intimidated by me?

JA: No, you’re not very intimidating. You’re very gentle and sweet.

TD: Aw, thanks, babe!

Question 4 - Do you think I’m weird with some of the horror I like to watch?

JA: No, not at all.

TD: Good answer, now go tell my mom you feel that way. (Laughs)

Question 5 - The first movie I remember watching with you that I was like “Uh-oh, let’s see how this goes” was VOICES. After watching that film together, what was your initial reaction/thoughts about me?

JA: I thought it was really exciting and very enjoyable. It was out of my normal realm of interests and that was a good thing.

Question 6 - What’s it like attending conventions or events with me?

JA: I enjoy seeing all the interesting people. It’s not something I would’ve ever gone to on my own but I enjoy watching you do it.

TD: I do really enjoy doing events and panels. It’s the people in the horror community that are just some of the nicest, most fascinating people I’ve met.

Question 7 - Not that I want to pigeon-hole women in categories in any shape or form but, out of the society-based dating categories for women, how would you rank women horror fans? What are some of the common characteristics you’ve noticed?

JA: You’re sweet and tender. You’re not creepy like society sometimes claims.

The last question, are you ready? Overall, do you feel like a happy, confident man in our relationship?

JA: Yea, of course.

TD: Great answer. I feel like a confident woman in our relationship and I think we’re awesome. Thank you for answering my Part 1 questions babe. We’ll dive into Part 2 next week.

Downhill Review

Downhill

Dir: Nat Faxon and Jim Rash

Starring: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Will Ferrell, Zach Woods, Zoë Chao, and Miranda Otto

Take a moment the next time you are on vacation, at the amusement park, the beach, or any place where families gather to relax and partake in fun, and look through the crowds of smiling faces for that one family that is in the midst of a bad day. Where the kids are having complete meltdowns, and mom and dad are barely holding it together as years of unresolved past arguments and quarrels rise slowly to the surface. If it’s not happening to you, it’s a fascinating sight to see.

“Downhill”, a remake of the 2014 Swedish film “Force Majeure” from director Ruben Ostlund, takes a look at a vacation-from-hell scenario for a family on a skiing trip in a foreign country. Directors Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, who last helmed the 2013 film “The Way Way Back”, compose this version of the film with a lesser emphasis on mechanisms like masculinity, the line that divides fear and cowardice, and relationship inadequacies. Instead, the writing and directing team focus on the surface situation of ‘flight versus fight’ and allow the strengths of their actors, Will Ferrell playing more reserved than normal and Julia Louis-Dreyfus controlling the tone with her anxious and irritated demeanor, opportunity to control the blending serious dramatic themes with awkward comedy moments.

Billie (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and Pete (Will Ferrell) are taking their two young kids on a skiing trip in Austria, they are staying at a luxury resort tailored for adults. Pete, from the moment they arrive, seems distracted by his phone while Billie is doing her best to make the vacation fun for everyone. While eating lunch at an outdoor restaurant, a controlled avalanche is initiated by the resort; as snow rolls down the mountain it begins to look more and more threatening to Billie and Pete, just as the snow crashes into the restaurant, Pete grabs his phone and runs away from Billie and the children. Once the white dust settles, Pete returns as if nothing happened while Billie is holding her children and trembling with fear.

Faxon and Rash pace their film with a swiftness, moving into the primary conflict of the movie with ease and then focusing on the ramifications of the event between Pete and Billie with a string of interesting and amusing scenarios. While this helps keep the narrative moving it also stifles some of the thought-provoking interactions and internal conflict that Billie and Pete are experiencing about themselves individually and one another collectively. “Downhill” doesn’t pursue the depth that “Force Majeure” explored, instead it examines the superficial emotions, the surface anger and frustration that Billie feels and the outward denial and selfishness that Pete exhibits. While it doesn’t ruin the experience of “Downhill”, it does display a lack of emotional connection between the married couple. 

Julie Louis-Dreyfus is very good throughout the film, her comedic timing works well when her character is annoyed but also adds a nice bit of charm as things begin to progress more complicated. Will Ferrell pleasantly provides some restraint in his needy and selfish portrayal of Pete. While Ferrell is good, though there are few moments that don’t work for the character, such as a long scene involving Pete recalling his time as a single man after being offered a drink from an attractive onlooker. 

“Downhill” isn’t interested in finding pathways to deeper intellectual topics, however, that doesn’t mean it isn’t any less interesting watching two people struggle to patch the worn pieces of married life amidst awkward encounters and cringe-worthy scenarios.  

Monte’s Rating

3.00 out of 5.00

Sonic the Hedgehog Review

Sonic the Hedgehog

Dir: Jeff Fowler

Starring: James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Ben Schwartz, and Jim Carrey

♪ SEGA ♪

It was the early 90’s and the next-door neighbor kid had a birthday party. As he tore at the wrapping paper the words “Sega Genesis” was revealed underneath, along with a small box featuring a blue hedgehog named “Sonic” pointing one finger up in the air. The kids rushed to find an adult to hook everything up and quickly the video game was ready to go, with a long line of neighborhood kids patiently waiting for their turn. The moment I pressed start, the addiction was immediate. Go fast, collect those rings. 

“Sonic the Hedgehog”, directed by Jeff Fowler, takes the little blue hedgehog out of the video game, away from the cartoons, and into the real world with this live-action crossover that finds an animated Sonic escaping from his world and onto Earth. However, it hasn’t been an easy journey for the video game icon; as the first trailer dropped almost a year ago the internet reaction towards the composition of Sonic was met with negativity, persuading Paramount Pictures to redesign Sonic before the film release. Bigger eyes, shorter legs, less human qualities…the redesign was a return to something closer to the original video game. Did it make a difference? Who knows? But the internet flexed their opinion and filmmakers answered. That part might not be so good for the artistic process but we’ll save that conversation for another article. 

Sonic (voiced by Ben Schwartz) is looking for a place to call home after being forced to leave his planet. Earth is where Sonic resides now, living inside a cave and near a small city policed by Tom Wachowski (James Marsden). Sonic, still learning and developing abilities, creates an energy burst that calls the attention of the government and their contracted scientist Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey). Quickly, Sonic is being hunted by the villainous Dr. and his robots and is forced to work with Tom to find a way out of trouble and off of planet Earth. 

For all the work done to redesign the fast hedgehog, equal time should have been paid to finding something new to do with the story. Instead, “Sonic the Hedgehog” is a cliched, formulaic combination of ideas that tries to impose elements of new friendships, embracing uniqueness, and standing up for something/someone you believe in. While these narrative elements are easy to find throughout the movie, cue the change to soft music and the closeup camera work of cartoon eyes welling with water, the emotion behind it just feels generic. 

Still, there is fun to have in this film. Sonic is mischievous and while his antics can be frustrating they are also somewhat entertaining, such as an ultra-slow-motion fight scene that has Sonic manipulating every little element to get the upper hand amongst the chaos. Also, and perhaps the primary reason to watch this film, is the return of Jim Carrey to the style of comedy that made him a star in the ’90s. Carrey’s manic, wild-eyed, arrogant, rubber-faced Dr. Robotnik is fantastic throughout the film. 

“Sonic the Hedgehog” is fun if an altogether fleeting weekend family film that will provide a few chuckles for parents and enough laughs and amusement for younger viewers. They might even pay their parents a few more minutes of attention when they dust off the old Sega Genesis for a family fun night. 

Monte’s Rating

3.00 out of 5.00

Horse Girl Review

By Emery Snyder @leeroy711

Director: Jeff Baena

Starring: Alison Brie, John Reynolds, Debbie Ryan, Molly Shannon & Paul Reiser

Netflix Original – February 7, 2020

Sarah (Brie) is a young, nervous and awkward woman that spends her time crafting, hanging out with her horse, impending mental collapse and/or being abducted by aliens. In the meantime, she sparks up a new romance with Damien (Reynolds) while still navigating her semi-tumultuous relationship with her roommate (Ryan). When her hallucinatory dreamscape starts to intrude on her real life, she dives down the investigatory rabbit hole into her family history. Results vary...

“I have the rainbow sprinkles with the cone. Every time I talk it’s a fucking poem…” – Actual rap lyric from Sarah’s roommate’s boyfriend (Jake Picking)

The first half of this film really had me invested. Sarah was a well-conceived and well-

written character that I felt for. I can easily identify with the type of person that religiously pauses whatever they’re watching when others enter the room. Seriously, I’m not trying to be rude. I just want you to leave me alone now… She’s sweet and goofy, awkward but not reclusive or abrasive in the least. I think my favorite moments were the organic and clumsy courtship scenes between her and Damien. The film was at its best when it was being silly, hinting at more. But every bit of positivity shown in the earlier parts are tainted by an unsettling and heartbreaking sense of dread.

The overall construct of the genre bends here is quite unique. The comedic elements don’t do much to soften the tone because the sense of impeding doom is so strong. The supernatural/sci-fi/psychological thriller aspects of the film reminded me of things like Panos Cosmotos’ BEYOND THE BLACK RAINBOW, with a tiny dash of Glazer’s UNDER THE SKIN. This is especially true in the constantly shifting score. From scene to scene, we range from bouncy synth-pop to ominous strings. Rather than inform, these shifts sometimes seem only to confuse and conflate the tone. A lot of films are ambiguous about how literally we’re supposed to interpret what we see. But here, it’s hard to tell how seriously we’re even supposed to take the story. The aforementioned doom that we’re dreading is always present, but often undercut by the films humorous tone. But by the third act however, this playfulness between themes begins to tread into very uncomfortable territory.

As Sarah’s grip on reality becomes increasingly loose, the story dives deeper into her paranoia. Always shrewdly switching between the hints of supernatural and mental health explanations.  Brie’s performance is more believable, the less seriously I take her. She’s a fantastic comedic actor. But I found she had trouble expecting the audience to follow her mood shifts. To be clear, although I had trouble with this, I think this may actually be specifically what the film is going for. On one hand, it may have been making the case to take a more realistic look at the still overused ‘manic-pixie’ character. Unfortunately, it may have simultaneously undercut the significance of real mental health issues.

In its cleverness, I am a bit concerned that this film lacks the sensitivity and nuance that may be required to tackle this type of topic. At times, I was seriously bothered by how glib the entire first act was in setting up what was supposed to be a heavily weighted conclusion. But even as I write this, I’m not sure if I’m properly arriving at the filmmaker’s intention. And maybe that’s my point. As much as this film has going for it, I was disappointed that it seemed much more content in endlessly circling multiple interpretations, loosely wound around mixed themes and genres, than it was in expressing any sort of tangible truth.

In summary, there’s plenty enough good here to outweigh the bad. But don’t be surprised if it leaves a sour taste in your mouth.

Emery’s Rating

3 out of 5 Stars

Birds of Prey Review

Birds of Prey

Dir: Cathy Yan

Starring: Margot Robbie, Rosie Perez, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Ella Jay Basco, Chris Messina, and Ewan McGregor

When you think of iconic superhero villains it doesn’t take very long to recognize the clown prince of crime, The Joker. Immortalized throughout cinema by actors like Cesar Romero, Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger, Jared Leto, and Joaquin Phoenix, The Joker is chaos, carnage, comedy, and cream cosmetics wrapped into one complicated bad guy. 

Perhaps it’s time to clear some space for another villain, or even better a villainess, painted in the vein of The Joker. Harley Quinn made her first appearance in the DC Comics movie misstep “The Suicide Squad”, but Harley, played by Margot Robbie, was the highlight of the entire film, even overshadowing a new performance from Jared Leto playing The Joker. 

“Birds of Prey” or “Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)” lets Margot Robbie loose with a zany, messy, comical, clumsy comic book movie that relishes in its cinematic mayhem. What transpires is less a superhero quality and more a straightforward action film with a group of tough-as-nails ladies standing up to a world dominated by loathsome men. 

Harley (Margot Robbie) has a story to tell, one that only she can tell, and it involves bad breakups, murderers, new friends, and a lost diamond. Harley is moving on from Mr. J (her pet name for Joker), trying to make a new path in Gotham City but not realizing how many bridges she has burned while living freely in love. Now, she’s a wanted woman, specifically by a new bad guy in Gotham named Roman Sionis (Ewan McGregor).  Harley, being hunted by every person she wronged while dating the Joker, is forced into finding a young pickpocket named Cass (Ella Jay Basco) who has stolen something very valuable.

“Birds of Prey” is an R-rated romp in overindulgent style and over-the-top comic book antics. It’s cluttered in parts, specifically during the chaotic back-and-forth storytelling style where Harley narrates her version of the events leading towards the finale, but also exceptionally fun, like when Harley unleashes her fighting flair with a baseball bat or chats cute with her pet hyena. 

Margot Robbie seems tailored for the role of Harley, she composes a playful sensibility from the beginning, almost shedding the villain quality completely in favor of a powerful woman who will not be told what to do and how to live. Whether giggling maniacally, screaming obscenities or spouting big intellectual psychology comments, Ms. Robbie completely owns the character. 

The supporting cast helps the sloppy narrative. Rosie Perez, tough and showing wonderful attitude, plays an underappreciated cop who is chasing all the loose ends perpetrated by Harley. Jurnee Smollett-Bell is a welcome addition playing a lounge singer with a powerful voice and Mary Elizabeth Winstead does a great job of being nervously awkward as a crossbow-wielding assassin. Ewan McGregor plays the big bad with a confident quirkiness, while it doesn’t always work it seems Mr. McGregor is having lots of fun with the role.

The film, at times, feels too deliberately wacky and purposefully cartoonish, but the madcap quality does have its benefits in keeping the tone very lighthearted and focused on creating something of a crazed carnival of scenes. This movie feels like an appropriate transition, or side story, for the DC Films brand that has composed a more serious atmosphere for their superhero stories. 

“Birds of Prey” thrives best when Harley has a team to work around and with. Margot Robbie holds the film together even when it becomes too frenzied for its own good. Still, the charm of the eccentric characters, the amusement park of hectic action, and the playfulness found in almost every scene make this a must-see for comic book fans.

Monte’s Rating

3.00 out of 5.00