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HORROR

Son (2021) | Film Review

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Son opens with a really strong scene that immediately grabs your attention, in fact it demands your attention. We see Laura (Halloween’s Andi Matichak) driving frantically away from something. We don’t quite know what she’s running from but against the heavy downpour of rain and the empty streets we see Laura giving birth in her car. The film then flashes forward a few years and picks up with Laura’s son now a young child. This bleak, dreary opening sets the film up really well but unfortunately Son doesn’t quite manage to reach this level of fear again until towards the end of the film.

After the opening scene the film picks up with Laura’s son David now eight years old and one night a mysterious group of people break into their house in an attempt to kidnap him. Laura runs to call the police and to get help from their neighbour but once the police arrive they find no sign of forced entry or of anyone else ever having been in the house. And thus the creepy atmosphere of the film starts to build as we begin to realise that something’s not quite right with David or Laura. Or both of them. Nonetheless, the detective played by Emile Hirsch (The Autopsy of Jane Doe) believes Laura and shows some sympathy towards her.

Not long later, David starts to get very sick and he starts throwing up blood so Laura takes him to the hospital and just as you might expect in a horror film like this, the doctors don’t quite know what’s wrong with David. All this mystery building up and the atmosphere carries a sense of foreboding but there is always this sense of familiarity and of feeling like you know where the film is going to get to by the end of it which does take away from the fearful feeling that the filmmakers would want you to have.

It’s not just David that’s not well either as Laura is afflicted with horrific nightmares and dreams about the cult that she escaped from before David was born. Laura fears that the hospital staff are a part of this cult too and so she takes David and the two go on the run in search of safety. The two are on their own now as David becomes increasingly ill, suffering from psychosis and convulsions and Laura starts to do whatever she can to protect her son.

Now that the two are on the run from the police and trying to get to safety, again, it has that sense of familiarity and despite the film’s potential, the problem is you know exactly where the film’s going and the ending feels very predictable. There are some strong ideas in there and there are definitely some gnarly scenes too to really put you at unease but ultimately it doesn’t feel particularly fresh or new.

There’s enough gore and thrills in Son to keep you entertained and Andi Matichak and Luke David Blumm both give excellent performances, which elevates the film, and is particularly praiseworthy for such a young actor. But despite a few very tense and chilling scenes, overall there’s nothing too daunting.

★★★☆☆

Son is streaming exclusively on Shudder now.

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HORROR

The Boogeyman | Official Trailer | 20th Century Studios

The Boogeyman is an upcoming American supernatural horror film directed by Rob Savage from a screenplay by Scott Beck, Bryan Woods and Mark Heyman, based on the 1973 short story of the same name by Stephen King.

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Genre:

Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Release Date:

June 2, 2023

Director:

Rob Savage

Cast:

Chris Messina, Sophie Thatcher, David Distmalchian

Plot Summary:

The Boogeyman is an upcoming American supernatural horror film directed by Rob Savage from a screenplay by Scott Beck, Bryan Woods and Mark Heyman, based on the 1973 short story of the same name by Stephen King.

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Entertainment

Olivia Cooke to Play a Nun in Horror Film ‘Visitation’

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Horror has been one of the most profitable genres in recent years due to its low cost to produce scary pics while constantly drawing in audiences. Pair that theory with a fresh star like one from HBO’s House of the Dragon and you might have a hit on your hands. That’s exactly what director Nicolas Pesce (The Grudge, Eyes of My Mother) aims to do with his latest horror film as Deadline is reporting that Olivia Cooke (House of the Dragon, Ready Player One) will lead Visitation

Visitation will follow a 14-year-old girl named Maria who is sent away to live with nuns while her mother is dying of an illness, however, her stay at the monastery quickly takes an eerie turn as one of her caretakers starts to be enamored with her for all the wrong reasons. Cooke is set to play a nun who is central to the story, but further character details are under wraps for now. Cooke will be joined in the film by other cast members Isla Johnston, Alfie Allen, Penelope Wilton and Stephen Rea.

Cooke is best known for her role as Alicent Hightower in the new hit HBO fantasy/drama House of the Dragon. She has also appeared in supporting roles for indies such as Me and Earl and the Dying Girl and Sound of Metal as well as supporting roles in blockbusters such as Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One. Cooke will next appear in the thriller, Mother’s Milk alongside Hilary Swank and Jack Reynor. Alfie Allen is also no stranger to the Game of Thrones universe as he starred as Theon Greyjoy in the HBO series. He most recently appeared in the MGM+ show SAS Rogue Heroes. While Johnston played the younger version of Beth Harmon in Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit and Rea most recently appeared alongside Emily Blunt in the Amazon series, The English but is best known for his Oscar-nominated role in 1992’s The Crying Game.

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HORROR

Renfield | Official Trailer | Universal Pictures

Dracula’s henchman and inmate at the lunatic asylum.

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Genre:

Comedy, Fantasy, Horror

Release Date:

April 14, 2023

Director:

Chris McKay

Cast:

Nicolas Cage, Nicholas Hoult, Awkwafina

Plot Summary:

Dracula’s henchman and inmate at the lunatic asylum.

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