A young man and his three younger siblings, who have kept secret the death of their beloved mother in order to remain together, are plagued by a sinister presence in the sprawling manor in which they live.
Genre : Thriller/Drama
Country : Spain
Cast :
George MacKay : Jack
Anya Taylor-Joy : Allie
Matthew Stagg : Sam
Director :
Sergie G. Sanchez
My opinion on “Marrowbone”
“Once you cross that line, there’ll be no memories.
Our story begins here.”
Do you like a decent ghost story? And does the subject about a traumatizing experience that affects the human psyche of an individual, stimulate your curiosity? I guess “Marrowbone” is a suitable film for you. Don’t let let the label horror scare you, because it certainly isn’t a horror. For me there was only one moment that startled me a bit. The rest of the film is a successful portrait of emotional pain, the processing of the loss of loved ones and a heavy past full of abuse and shame. And this immense suffering is softened by a young fledgling love. In the end, you are wondering which ghost is haunting Jack and makes his life miserable.
A slow burner.
I’m not going to elaborate any further on this film, as I’m sure I will give away the final denouement in one way or another. No, I suggest you give this film a chance and decide for yourself whether or not it’s successful. What this film truly excels in is the way in which important facts are gradually revealed. It all remains mysterious until the end. And more than once you are guessing what’s really going on. But if you watch horrors on a regular base and you have seen some similar movies, you will soon figure it out. Perhaps for some the pace will be a bit too slow. I, on the other hand, think that such a peaceful build up is magnificent.
Beautiful framework.
What also stood out was the beautiful framing of the film itself. This dilapidated house in which the family has withdrawn itself, after the revelations of the terrible and horrific deeds of their father, is beautifully portrayed. An old, abandoned house full of dark, dusty places and ominous, scary sounds. A real haunted house, as it were. Not as beautiful and majestic as the imposing house in “Crimson Peak“, but it feels the same. The outdoor shots also look beautiful and idyllic.
Admirable acting.
The renditions are admirable. First of all, the acting of Matthew Stagg may be called impressive (even if it’s limited to portraying childish wondering and fear). George “How I live now” MacKay shows in a convincing way how he, as the eldest, takes responsibility and at the same time we see the suffering of a tormented and haunted soul. Until the moment he’s together with Allie (Anya Taylor-Joy), the modest, lovely girl next door, who has been charmed by this youthful head of the family from the start. Anya Taylor-Joy is all mysticism and mystery. Those big staring eyes would also confuse me. And apparently this actress loves films (such as “Split“, “Morgan” and to a lesser extent “The VVitch“) where the suspense is killing you.
Lets say “Marrowbone” is ominous.
You can’t really call this film simplistic. Every time you think you know what it’s all about, there’s another twist and everything seems different again. This in combination with the slow build up may well be too much for some. And those who saw the trailer, also had different expectations I guess. However, I found it a fascinating film with some exciting moments (I was hoping for a sort of movie like “Oculus” after seeing those covered mirrors) and immersed in a creepy atmosphere. It certainly isn’t a groundbreaking film, but still worth a look.
The following piece was written during the 2023 Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie material being covered here wouldn’t exist.
Genre: Horror
Release Date: 6 October 2023 in theaters / 27 October 2023 on Shudder
Director: Demián Rugna
Writer: Demián Rugna
Distributed by: IFC Films & Shudder
Production Companies: Shudder, Aramos Cine & Machaco Films
Thanksgiving | Official Trailer — In Theaters November 17, 2023
After a Black Friday riot ends in tragedy, a mysterious Thanksgiving-inspired killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts – the birthplace of the infamous holiday.
The following piece was written during the 2023 Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie material being covered here wouldn’t exist.
Genre:
Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Release Date:
November 17, 2023
Director:
Eli Roth
Cast:
Patrick dempsey, Rick Hoffman, Gina Gershon, Addison Rae
Plot Summary:
After a Black Friday riot ends in tragedy, a mysterious Thanksgiving-inspired killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts – the birthplace of the infamous holiday.
The following piece was written during the 2023 Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie material being covered here wouldn’t exist.
Plot
When a group of friends discover how to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill, until one of them goes too far and unleashes terrifying supernatural forces.
Sophie Wilde as Mia (A24)
Movie Review
The movie starts off with quite a shocker, leaving you with a few questions. It doesn’t take too long to get into the action and soon you realize you are in for quite a scare. In a nutshell, the movie is about a group of friends playing a timed game where the communicate with the dead using an embalmed hand, and allow the dead to speak through them, with the emphasis on timed. However, as with all rules, some end up broken, and when the game goes on a little too long things go south, resulting in far reaching consequences. The main protagonist in the story Mia plays this game of talking with the dead, while at the same time working through the loss of a loved one as well. As a viewer I experienced her feelings of grief and it felt real because her performance was just next level.
Both Sophie Wilde and Joe Bird‘s performance as Mia and Riley really grips you, making the feelings of fear on-screen real for the audience. The make-up and effects throughout the movie was really done brilliantly. The ending delivers a unique twist making you hungry for more action and story. The cast really brought life in a horror story focusing around the dead.
Talk To Me (A24)
There is no post-credits scene, so no need to wait to the end. Trailer is amazing and delivers an even greater scare and doesn’t spoil any important parts of the movie. My rating for Talk To Me is 5 out of 5. Talk To Me is a bone-chilling supernatural horror that delivers a real scare on-screen, hands down. I’m all for seeing a possible sequel of Talk To Me one day, or even a prequel where the origin of the embalmed hand is unpacked. But the movie is still brilliant as a stand-alone movie.
Make sure to catch it at a cinema near you or watch online.