Speak No Evil (2024) | REVIEW

James McAvoy and Aisling Franciosi in James Watkins’ SPEAK NO EVIL — PHOTO: Universal Pictures (Still image from trailers).

Directed by James Watkins — Screenplay by James Watkins.

James Watkins’ Speak No Evil is an American remake of Christian Tafdrup’s Danish culture clash horror-thriller of the same name. The remake stars Mackenzie Davis and Scoot McNairy as Louise and Ben, an American married couple, who are, at the start of the film, on vacation in Italy alongside their young daughter Agnes (played by Alix West Lefler). On holiday, the family trio meet and befriend a particularly self-assertive British couple, Paddy (played by James McAvoy) and Ciara (played by Aisling Franciosi), who are also on holiday with their youngest, their son Ant (played by Dan Hough). When the Americans return home from their holiday to their normal lives, the couple receives an invitation from their new vacation friends, who want them to come stay with them in the British countryside. So, Louise, Ben, and Agnes soon decide to visit and stay at Paddy and Ciara’s home. However, not everything they thought they knew about the British couple is exactly how it was first presented to them, and soon they start to question if they’re actually people that they can trust or if they’ve put themselves in danger. 

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REVIEW: Turning Red (2022)

n Disney and Pixar’s all-new original feature film “Turning Red,” 13-year-old Mei Lee “poofs” into a giant panda when she gets too excited. “Turning Red” is available exclusively on Disney+ right now. – Photo: Disney/Pixar.

Directed by Domee Shi (Bao) – Screenplay by Julia Cho & Domee Shi.

Turning Red, the 25th feature-length film from Pixar Animation Studios, takes place in Toronto, Canada in 2002 and follows a 13-year-old Chinese-Canadian girl named Meilin Lee (voiced by Rosalie Chiang), who thinks of herself as a grown-up and who dedicates a lot of her time to honoring her parents. However, things are about to change for Meilin. She both wants to take care of her family’s Chinese temple and go to a boy band concert with her supportive best friends, even though her mother doesn’t trust her friends and despises the boy band. Over night, something changes for Meilin, and when she wakes up she has turned into a huge red panda. She finds out that she can turn back into her normal self, but every time she has a strong feeling she goes right back to being this mythological panda, which obviously freaks her out.

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REVIEW: Domino (2019)

Release Poster – Saban Films etc.

The following is a review of Domino — Directed by Brian De Palma.

Brian De Palma’s Domino is a crime-thriller that takes place all over Europe. The film follows Christian Toft (played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, “Game of Thrones”), a Danish police officer, as he tries to bring a criminal to justice. After forgetting his gun at home, Christian inadvertently puts his colleague and father-figure, Lars Hansen (played by Søren Malling, “Borgen”), in harm’s way. When, due to the fact that he has misplaced his own firearm, Christian borrows Lars’ gun to investigate a domestic disturbance, Lars is killed by a handcuffed assailant (played by Eriq Ebouaney, “Femme Fatale”). When the, as of yet unidentified, assailant appears to have escaped, Christian and Alex Boe (played by Carice Van Houten, “Game of Thrones”), Lars’ heartbroken and vengeful mistress, leave Denmark to find and apprehend the man responsible for Lars’ death. Continue reading “REVIEW: Domino (2019)”

REVIEW: 22 July (2018)

Release Poster – Netflix

The following is a review of Netflix’s 22 July — Directed by Paul Greengrass.

Paul Greengrass’ latest, 22 July, is a film about the 2011 Norway attacks set in Norway, starring Norwegian actors who are all speaking English. Greengrass’ feature film is not to be confused with Norwegian director Erik Poppe’s 2018 film about the 2011 Norway attacks, Utøya 22. Juli (sometimes referred to as U: July 22), set in Norway, starring Norwegian actors who all speak in their native language. Continue reading “REVIEW: 22 July (2018)”