Do All Things With Love.

2024 Horror Challenge: [10/?]

↳“You can't kill it, you can't let it out.” Baghead (2024) dir. Alberto Corredor

Plot: A young woman inherits a run-down pub and discovers a dark secret within its basement - Baghead - a shape-shifting creature that will let you speak to lost loved ones, but not without consequence.

Starring: Freya Allan, Jeremy Irvine, Ruby Barker, Peter Mullan & Anne Müller

And I'm officially caught up with what I remember I've watched this year so far even tho I'm pretty sure I'm missing something because I haven't really been consistent with my reviews as I hoped to be. I keep getting behind but oh well. lol Anyway, I watched this one partly out of boredom, partly out of curiosity when I saw Shudder had added it the other day. I didn't really go in expecting much with a name like that but it was something to watch, you know? I did recognize Freya Allen from The Witcher so a familiar face is always nice in any compacity. I think she did fine in her role considering but it doesn't feel as though we really get to know her character Iris or at least enough to fully care about her. Or any of the other characters for that matter. The script is gonna get those inevitable comparisons to last year's Talk to Me even if this story is older than that one, having been made into a short in 2017. I do appreciate that it's the same director who came back for the full feature. That's nice. But the story feels limited here with it being essentially set in one location and the gimmick of the creature feels incredibly repetitive when you consider the movie's length isn't that long. I tried to give it a chance but it wasn't that good imo. But hey, it's at least a little better than both the trainwrecks of Night Swim & Imaginary combined so there's that at least. lmao

2024 Horror Challenge: [9/?]

↳“Every culture has a name for it, we call them imaginary friends.” Imaginary (2024) dir. Jeff Wadlow

Plot: A woman returns to her childhood home to discover that the imaginary friend she left behind is very real and unhappy that she abandoned him.

Starring: DeWanda Wise, Taegen Burns, Pyper Braun, Betty Buckley & Tom Payne

Did I need to subject myself to this truly awful movie? No. Did I? Yep. Out of sheer morbid curiosity if it was as bad or worse than Night Swim. The verdict? The jury's still out on that one because omg, this was beyond cringe from start to finish. The beginning was maybe the only show of promise (I mean, I'm being really generous here because even that was weak but at least they started it off with some action stuff) but it quickly goes downhill from there. First off, this concept was not the greatest but I don't know if Blumhouse even cared tbh when they greenlit this story. Between this & Night Swim, it feels like they've truly maybe given up on giving 'quality over quantity' content anymore, which is pretty sad for such a big name production company to say the least. But oh well. Now I watched this expecting it to be bad so it's not as if I can pretend I went into it with an open mind that they could prove me wrong but you go in hoping that will happen, you know? But I don't really know if there was any redeeming qualities for me. I feel for the actors because even if that aspect was cringey too it's not like they had much to go on because the script was horrendous. There's lines in here that are beyond laughable. People do NOT talk like this in the real world. Nobody gelled together in the cast to make this believable either. And the cliches, goodness they were everywhere. It was predictable the whole time. Basically, yeah, I hated it. lol So, I'll stop now. Anyway, what's a challenge without a really bad dud to make it really feel like a proper challenge, right? XD

2024 Horror Challenge: [8/?]

↳“God saved me for a reason but I'm still searching for what that reason is.” Immaculate (2024) dir. Michael Mohan

Plot: Cecilia, a woman of devout faith, is warmly welcomed to the picture-perfect Italian countryside where she is offered a new role at an illustrious convent. But it becomes clear to Cecilia that her new home harbors dark and horrifying secrets.

Starring: Sydney Sweeney

Man, oh man. Another one I wanted to like more than I did BUT (and this is a big one) that's because I truly did appreciate it for what it was & wanted it to be even stronger. But I do get why Sydney wanted to make this movie. I admire her for being so instrumental into it getting finished and she gave a wonderful performance. People may be doubtful all they want about her as an actress but she has depth. This was a perfect part for her to show her range I think. If nothing else, this movie's best asset was her. A certified scream queen that more than earned her title imo. The script could been a little stronger & maybe take its time a little more. Like even with the jumpscares, I appreciated that they didn't force them completely but they could played them out a little differently too. Truthfully, it felt like the movie was too short and the ending was the strongest part (as well as the beginning). I will not be forgetting that ending, kinda crazy how they went for it there. The movie gets surprisingly gory at parts but I do appreciate how they handled that scene considering it will probably have the audience feeling divided about it. Also wanna note that the movie was lovely to look at so that's another positive. So, ultimately, maybe not quite the horror movie of the year that I was hoping for since it was so hyped up for me but I do think it might still be a lowkey fave of the year that'll get a mention on the list at the end of the challenge at least because I enjoyed it. I do think it's worth a watch for sure. I think I will rewatch it once it's available just because.

2024 Horror Challenge: [7/?]

↳“Such a morbid imagination, bringing dead things to life.” Stopmotion (2023) dir. Robert Morgan

Plot: A stop-motion animator struggles to control her demons after the loss of her overbearing mother.

Starring: Aisling Franciosi, Stella Gonet, Tom York, Therica Wilson-Read & Caoilinn Springall

Another movie I wanted to like more than I did but I didn't really know what to expect beforehand since I didn't watch the trailer. I thought maybe the whole thing was going to be in stopmotion animation tbh. I will say, the concept felt original enough with how they handled it so that's a plus. It was kinda cool how they showed us the process of the main character's work. The actress did a nice job imo. And well, it's gotta be said I think people who are coming into this thing for the gore won't be disappointed. I can't quite tell how extreme it felt in comparison to some other stuff but it did have me feeling a little squeamish at certain parts cuz like I said, I wasn't sure what to expect but yeah, it goes there enough. Some creepy enough moments, some interesting camera choices throughout. I don't really know what I needed to like it more but it was watchable. Won't be forgetting it just yet so there's that going for it at least.

2024 Horror Challenge: [6/?]

↳“You gotta admit, you brought this on yourself.” Night Shift (2023) dir. The China Brothers

Plot: While working her first night shift at a remote motel, a woman begins to suspect that the property is haunted.

Starring: Phoebe Tonkin, Madison Hu & Lamorne Morris

The fact I keep getting behind on my reviews for this thing this year. Prob the most I've been posting them out of order of watching them for one because I keep forgetting to do it afterwards. Oh well. lol Anyway, I know this movie doesn't have the greatest rating on IMDB or Rotten Tomatoes but it has Phoebe Tonkin who I adore cuz of my CW watching days and I miss seeing her in stuff so I was sold regardless. I saw Lamorne Morris from New Girl was in it too (Justice for Winston!!) so I was extra intrigued. I vaguely remembered Madison Hu being in last year's The Boogeyman so another familiar face. So, cast-wise this seemed pretty solid. It's definitely a movie made on a modest budget but that's fine because I don't think it needed any more than it got to be effective. It certainly could have been better but I don't think it was the worst either. It was more average for me than a dud. It had its moments. I think its downfalls were the pacing and maybe not making the most of the side characters. Phoebe did shine, particularly in the later half where it mattered, but she was kinda forced to underplay her part in the beginning so there needed to be more than her just reacting to stuff. I definitely wanted more Lamorne Morris than we got because he did what he could to sprinkle in the humor needed during his parts but otherwise felt wasted in his role. And the rude married couple they had briefly show up was memorable but totally felt random considering they didn't add anything to the plot at all. I do appreciate that the people behind the movie used their single location of a motel pretty well and there are some creepy moments too, even if quite a few of the "jumpscares" are a little lame. And you know, I can appreciate the plot twist towards the end cuz I think I was wondering if something was up but wasn't sure. I don't know if it totally landed as expected but I do think the last act is the most effective part of the movie. But as I've seen other people point out, it does take its time to get going, which is kinda sad considering it's only just a little over an hour. I wanted to like it more than I actually did but as I said before, it had its moments. If nothing else, I don't regret watching it for Phoebe. So, there's that.