#NotThatScary – Movie Pub

Us (2019) – Movie Review

They are Coming!

Us is a horror thriller film written and directed by Jordan Peele, the director who is known for his excellent work in Get Out (2017).

The film follows the family of four, Adelaide (Lupita Nyong’o), her husband Gabe Wilson (Winston Duke) and their children, Zora (Shahadi Wright Joseph) and Jason (Evan Alex), where they head to her family’s beach house in Santa Cruz. Soon their peaceful vacation turns into a nightmare when they are confronted by their doppelgängers (double of a living person).

There are some things in a storyline which are never explained or are just illogical, which may get you out of the film or may feel boring. The film also has a really nice screenplay and direction, along with a spooky musical score. The performance-wise, all the actors have done a good job. The concept of encountering doppelgängers is really fresh and interesting topic. Like his previous film, Peele once again addresses the theme of the oppressed and the oppressors in the society. The film also has some American cultural references and nuances which may not be understandable for the outsiders while watching it.

This is not an ordinary horror film which nowadays heavily relies on the jump scares; it is an unconventional horror film like The Witch (2015), Hereditary (2018), and The Babadook (2014). I liked the way, the director chose not to spoonfeed everything to the audience, rather he had given the little details and hints throughout the film. Although there are some reveals towards the end of the film, still it makes the audience keep on guessing all the time.

Verdict : An unconventional horror film, maybe not everybody’s cup of tea.

Rating : 3.5/5

Check the trailer here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNCmb-4oXJA

The Nun (2018) – Movie Review

None is scary about ‘The Nun’.

The Nun is a supernatural horror mystery film directed by Corin Hardy and written by Gary Dauberman and James Wan. The film is a spin-off of The Conjuring 2 (2016), and the fifth installment in The Conjuring Universe.

The film sets in 1952 Romania, wherein the opening scene, two Roman Catholic nuns living at the Cârța Monastery are attacked by a mysterious demonic entity appearing as a nun. When the Vatican learns about this unusual situation, to investigate this the Vatican sends Father Burke (Demián Bichir) and a nun in her novitiate, Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga) to travel to Romania. Unaware of a malevolent force waiting for them at the abbey, the two must uncover the deadly secret behind unusual deaths and activities at the abbey and must prevent living from the demonic nun.

The film explores the origin story of the character “The Nun”, from The Conjuring 2. In that film, the character has frightened the audience with its impacting screen presence, mysterious backstory, and engaging screenplay, but this film lacks it all. I have watched this film in IMAX, and undoubtedly, the atmosphere, the picturization, the performances and the background score of the film is powerful and effective. The main problem with the film is its weak narrative and its over-reliance on jump-scares. Nowadays, the jump-scares have become the crucial part of the horror films, but in this film, it is just too much, and feels like “been there, done that”. Apart from this, some of the moments in the film were supposed to be super scary but actually turned out to be funny.

Verdict : Supposed to be the darkest chapter in the Conjuring universe, but turned out to be stereotypical and not that scary one.

Rating : 2.8/5

Check trailer here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzD9zGcUNrw

Insidious: The Last Key (2018)

Scream before it Silences you.

Insidious: The Last Key is a horror thriller film directed by Adam Robitel and written by Leigh Whannell. It is the fourth installment in the Insidious franchise following some of the characters from previous films with a separate plot.

The film continues after the events of the previous film Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015), the paranormal investigator Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye), visits her family’s home in New Mexico, a house in which she used to live in her childhood, to investigate the recent supernatural activities and disturbances which have been resurfaced, sinking her deeper into her past hauntings.

The film has a really good plot with a compelling opening prologue but as the story progresses it loses its path. Lin Shaye single-handedly with her performance has made the film gripping, and it is not every day happens that a 74-year-old woman is leading a whole film. In a first half, the film promises so much but fails miserably to deliver any. The horror element in the film completely depends on the jump-scares, sound effects, along with some really good techniques. The demon (key face) is just wasted. Overall it’s an average horror film, which is not as good as any of the previous Insidious films.

Verdict : Not that bad but not that scary. A one time watch for horror genre lovers.

Rating : 2.8/5