Halloween Kills Quenches Fans Thirst For Blood But Fails To Recapture The 2018 Films Thunder

"Evil Dies Tonight!" 

      A foolish chant from an angry mob in David Gordon Green's latest fright fest Halloween Kills. Released after a year long delay, the latest sequel to John Carpenter's 1978 horror classic continues from where the 2018 Halloween left off with escaped serial killer Michael Myers continuing his reign of terror on the citizens of Haddonfield. The previous Gordon-directed sequel proved enormously successful in revitalizing the franchise with him helming a new trio of films with Jamie Lee Curtis in the main lead. Whereas 2018's Halloween worked as being a franchise restarter, Kills dives into full slasher mode with a follow-up that's entertaining, yet lacks a sizable chunk of the previous films power.

      Picking up where the previous Halloween left off, Kills continues the saga of Michael Myers and Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) with the latter recovering in a hospital, convinced that she killed Myers in a fire. Upon discovering that he survived and is heading her way, she joins a mob determined to end the murderous saga. Kills plot builds off the ending of Halloween with the sequels story exploring the citizens of Haddonfield's reaction to the news that Myers has returned. Whereas 2018's film re-established the characters and introduced newer faces who've become integral to the franchise, Kills dives straight into the mayhem with a ridiculous bodycount. The film delivers the vibe of a traditional 80's slasher flick that's less concerned about storytelling, and more about giving fans of the series the hardcore horror violence they desire.

      As far as performances go, Kills benefits strongly from its main cast with everyone delivering solid work. Jamie Lee Curtis once again commands the screen as a battle wounded Strode, although her character takes a backseat in this film compared to the presence she had previously. Judy Greer also shines as Laurie's daughter Karen with her being fully aware of the dangers Myers poses this time around. Andi Matichak continues to impress as Karen's daughter/ Laurie's granddaughter Allyson with Will Patton returning as Deputy Frank Hawkins, the officer who arrested Myers in 1978. Anthony Michael Hall stands out as Tommy Doyle, one of the kids Laurie babysat in 1978. Hall plays a more angry and vengeful Doyle, who helps motivate the town to take action against Myers. The rest of the cast serve as welcomed returning faces to series with Kyle Richards reprising her role as Lindsay Wallace from Carpenter's Halloween, along with Charles Cyphers as Haddonfield former sheriff Leigh Brackett, who lost his daughter to Myers in the original, and Nancy Stephens returning as Marion Chambers, a retired former assistant to Dr. Loomis. The returning faces strengthen Kills connection to Carpenter's masterpiece while bridging the timelines together.

      Continuing his directorial duties once again, Gordon returns and crafts an even more brutal and gorier sequel with a body count which ranks as the highest in the series. The film is not only darker than its predecessor, but is filmed with cinematography that gives it a vicious feel. The deaths are gruesome with the kills steadily stacking on top of each other throughout the films rapid 105 minute running time. Composing the film again is Carpenter, who gives the film a highly-effective score. Despite the new film being stacked with kills, many lack a proper building up of suspense with the deaths continuously piling up to the point of feeling random with not much variation behind the methods other than the typical stabbings. In crafting a meaner and more violent film than its predecessor, Gordon delivers horror fans the goods  while drawing clear inspiration from the now obsolete 1981 Halloween ll.

        Kills writing comes across as feeling uneven with the script placing heavy emphasis on Myers committing numerous murders with Laurie's character experiencing a reduction in screentime much like Halloween ll. Whereas that film had Laurie sedated for most of it, Kills follows a similar pattern with her character being bedridden at a hospital that hosts an angry mob, who become the focus of the stories middle act. The script brings back old faces from the first Halloween, but doesn't give them much to do here other than remind audiences of their past connection to the series (Sheriff Bracket and Marion). If audiences found frustration with characters actions and decision-making from the previous film, they'll feel the same here as the mobs stupidity is in full swing. Most of the people who fall victim to Myers receive very little development, making them feel like disposable additions to the formers killing spree rather than people the audience can connect with. The script further explores Will Patton's character to mixed results with the film showing him capturing Myers in 1978, then revealing him to be a former lover of Laurie's which is odd considering Carpenter's film never mentioned it. While the sequel stays true to its intention of wanting to be a straight slasher flick in a style similar to Halloween 4 and 5, it robs key characters of their chance to receive further development. The rise of the mob also lacks build up with the audience not caring much when they chant the films key quote "Evil Dies Tonight!". 

      As for the films shocking end twist, it feels forced in a Red Wedding/Game Of Thrones way. While it certainly proves effective in generating shock from the audience, it also underscores the stellar buildup the 2018 film delivered. Halloween Kills is less concerned about further developing its story and more about delivering relentless amounts of murder with it borrowing heavily from the sequels it helps its predecessor erase. As a sequel to Halloween 2018, it's not terrible but it feels like a disappointing step back for the series. Those looking for endless amounts of brute kills will find satisfaction with the newest follow-up, though it doesn't offer any significant change for the overall franchise narrative outside of the films divisive third act. Hopefully Halloween Ends regains some of the franchises lost momentum as Kills offers up a serviceable yet disappointing entry.

Final Verdict: Stream It On Peacock

No Time To Die Gives Daniel Craig's Bond A Flawed Yet Fitting Finish To His Tenure As 007

      When looking at film franchises, few are as revered and long-lasting as James Bond. Beginning in 1962, the series has spawned 25 films with six different actors playing the title role from Sean Connery to Pierce Brosnan and currently Daniel Craig. First appearing in 2006's Casino Royale, Craig has played Bond over the course of fifteen years with his latest entry, No Time To Die, being his big swan-song. After being delayed numerous times, No Time finally lands in theaters and provides fans with a flawed yet fitting closure to Craig's tenure as 007. 

      No Time's plot has James Bond (Daniel Craig) being forced out of retirement and placed back on assignment after being informed that a project he thought was defunct has fallen into the hands of a diabolical villain (Rami Malek), seeking revenge against the woman (Lea Seydoux) 007 currently loves. No Time's story serves two narratives: The first being to extend the subplot involving Bond's romantic life that was introduced in Spectre with the second concluding his entire arc as the character. The story works at fulfilling both while establishing itself as being the most emotional Bond film ever. Though not as explosively entertaining as Royale nor as compelling as Skyfall, No Time generally pleases with its biggest defect being its excessive length. Despite that main issue, the film has enough sleek action and character development to pass as a strong finale for Craig's Bond who undoubtedly goes out with a bang. 

       Besides No Time's action, the performances are a key strong point with Craig giving 110 percent in playing a more human, angry, and vulnerable Bond that ultimately results in a well-rounded performance. Rami Malek is terrific as hyper-intelligent adversary to Bond, Lyuysifer Safin, with his character being a worthy adversary. Lea Seydoux gives a strong performance as Bond's love interest Dr. Madeleine Swann with both her and Craig sharing solid chemistry. Lashana Lynch impresses as a new "00" agent who gets assigned Bonds original 007 number, along with keeping the latter on his toes. Ana De Armaa steals the show with her brief role as the bubbly yet tough CIA agent Paloma who assists Bond. The rest of the cast consist of returning faces from previous Bond entries with Ralph Fiennes once again playing M to Naomie Harris as Moneypenny and Ben Whishaw as Q, supplier of Bond's field weapons. Other noteworthy performances include Jeffrey Wright and Christolph Waltz reprising their roles as Bond's friend and CIA field officer Felix Leiter, and Waltz as Bond's arch-enemy and foster brother Ernst Blofeld. As far as performances go, No Time's cast all bring their A game to the story and make it believable.

      Replacing Spectre director is Cary Joji Fukunaga, who aims to give Craig's 007 an action-packed and romantic finish. He ensures that the story allows Bond to exit on a powerful note with the films love story being connected to Royale, while being influenced by On Her Majesty's Secret Service. The film carries the same breathtaking cinematography which beautifully captures all of its exotic locations with a thrilling score from composer Hans Zimmer. The action sequences are well-choreographed and shot with a wide variety of set-pieces ranging from typical fistfights and shootouts to stunning car chases such as the films opening scene. The films biggest downfall lies with its 163 minute length, making it the longest film of the series. Whereas the first half is well-paced, the stories momentum stalls within its second half with the film feeling overlong despite its brilliant climax. In terms of directing, Funkunaga nails the look and atmosphere of a Bond flick with him building up the stories emotional stakes while delivering the goods in terms of the films action.

      No Time's writing aspires to explore a more emotional side of Bond than what fans are generally accustomed to. Along with being action-driven, No Time's plot is one about relationships and family with Bond being shown to be struggling in dealing with his role as a '00' agent with the world of espionage changing around him. The subplot between him and Lynch effectively drives this narrative as both see themselves as 007. The female characters are written as being more strong-willed and independent than the typical Bond girl (Agent Paloma for example). Malek's Safin is shown to be more dangerous than anyone Bond has ever encountered, making him a worthy adversary. The love story between Bond and Madeline continues from where it left off in Spectre, adding surprise twists and turns that build on Bond's human side. The script goes to admirable lengths in bringing Craig's entire timeline of films to a close with the return of Felix's character from Casino Royale, along with Spectre's Blofeld whose still pulling strings while being imprisoned. The film not only shows the pain that Bond still feels after losing Vesper at the end of Royale, but also draws major inspiration from On Her Majesty's Secret Service in showing Bond trying to live a life post retirement and falling in love again. No Time is ambitious in the story it wants to tell while drawing on the past for inspiration.

      No Time isn't the best Bond film ever nor does it rank as Craig's best (Casino Royale holds that crown), but it works as being a strong emotionally-charged finale for Craig's 007, that feels respectable and fitting. The film certainly could've gotten closer to his previous franchise highs had it not been frustratingly long and carried a more tightly-paced plot. As a film that was designed specifically to be a farewell to Craig's Bond, No Time To Die has all the action and excitement that fans expect while providing an effective curtain closer. For a story which emphasizes that life is all about leaving something behind, Craig leaves behind a Bond legacy that positions him as being the best since Sean Connery. Though an imperfect finale, it serves as an honorable one for the type of Bond that Craig brought to the screen.

Final Verdict: Stream It When Available

Images Courtesy of MGM

Venom: Let There Be Carnage Leans In On The First Films Silly Nature And Delivers A More Enjoyable Follow-up

      

 

      Back in 2018, audiences were treated to a questionable spin-off of the Spider-Man franchise with Venom. Whereas that film was a mixed bag, it was Tom Hardy's performance that saved it from being a complete misfire while attempting to give its main character a more likeable backstory. Three years later, audiences get a continuation of that story with Let There Be Carnage. The sequel not only introduces Carnage to the mix, but carries a sillier tone in comparison to its predecessor with the experience ultimately being better for it. Despite still carrying the same key issues from the previous Venom, Carnage marks a sizable improvement over the previous effort that's greatly attributed to its talented main leads.

      Let There Be Carnage's plot picks up from where the first left off with Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) struggling to adjust to life as the host of the alien symbiote Venom, while serial killer Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson) escapes from prison after becoming the host of Carnage, a chaotic Spawn of Venom. Carnage's plot is one that's pretty straight-forward and doesn't require a great deal of thought to it. What it does right is allowing the sequel to fully embrace its goofy side while building off the phenomenal dynamic between Eddie and Venom, which won fans over previously regardless of that films faults. The sequel is funnier, fast-paced, and more action-packed than its predecessor with Carnage's inclusion into the mix bringing satisfaction for comic book fans with both the human and host side of the character being handled right. Although its storytelling isn't as strong as other comic book films, Let There Be Carnage works as being popcorn-filled entertainment that often feels like a fun throwback to 90's style superhero movies. 

      The films main saving grace are the charismatic performances from its main cast. Hardy once again demonstrates himself as being a performer, who rises above the material to deliver a performance fueled with fan-focused devotion in playing Eddie Brock. He is one who understands the material, and gives his all in playing the character regardless of the rest of the films quality. Woody Harrelson does a terrific job of playing psychopathic serial killer Cletus, with him proving to be a worthy foe for Brock. Both Hardy and Harrelson work great together and make the film exciting to watch with their duo. Naomie Harris also shines as Cletus disturbed love interest Frances, who can manipulate sound energy. Though her role is smaller this time around, Michelle Williams does well as Eddie's ex-fiance Anne. The rest of the cast churn out noteworthy performances including Stephen Graham as detective Patrick Mulligan, who hopes to use Brock in finding the remains of Kasady's murder victims. Reid Scott gives both a surprisingly fun and likable performance as Weying's new fiance Dan along with Peggy Lu as Brock's friend and convenience store owner Mrs. Chen. Carnage's cast plays a significant role in the movie being genuinely fun to watch with everyone bringing a strong level of enthusiasm to the film.

      Taking over the reins of Ruben Fleischer from the first Venom, director Andy Serkis impresses with his skill in crafting a fast-paced thrill ride that's powered by stunning visual effects which bring both symbiotes to the big screen in the most stunning fashion. Seeing Carnage brought to life in live-action form is a dream come true for fans with Serkis not disappointing in his execution. He demonstrates an impressive handling of VFX with the films eye-catching action sequences thrilling audiences. As someone who knows how to give great performances via both motion picture and CG, Serkis feels like the perfect choice to direct with him making the symbiotes look realistic. The films sound effects are also top-notch with Carnage's roar being loud and intensely frightening. On an atmospheric front, the film boasts a darker tone than the previous Venom with the violence pushing the boundaries of PG-13 with its worst moment shown in animated form.

      The writing is where Carnage embodies many of the previous films issues with the story feeling bland. The script excels when focusing on Brock's struggle to balance his life with his symbiote now apart of him. The audience has a blast watching Eddie wrestle with controlling his symbiote with the back and forth bantering between them being hilarious. The screenplay has moments where the laughs are cleverly induced such as the bathroom scene involving both Eddie and Venom speaking to each other with a terrified bystander listening in the next stall, or downright goofy moments such as Venom professing to a crowd of people at a rap club about his disappointment with Eddie. Both are moments which add charm to the film. The main characters are fairly well-established with the audience being given enough opportunity to connect with them despite the stories rapid pacing. Despite boasting a bleaker tone than the previous Venom, Carnage's plot feels like a predictable 90's comic book story that feels cheap. If audiences weren't treated to both Venom and Carnage as the main characters, the film would be totally forgettable given how shallow the story feels.

      Like the previous Venom, Carnage struggles with creating its own separate franchise from the Spider-Man universe. It becomes apparent to those watching both movies that much of their good fortune is mostly attributed to the talent of its main cast with Hardy giving the material more dedication than it deserves. As for Carnage, the film doesn't take itself too seriously and relentlessly aims in entertaining it's audience while making for a reasonable improvement over the first. Serkis makes the story tightly-paced while wrapping it around the effective duo of both Hardy and Harrelson as the leads. It's an experience that never takes itself seriously, which is the best way to view it given the films target audience are those who enjoyed the originals odd couple chemistry. If it's quick fun-thrilled entertainment that fans are looking for here, then Carnage satisfies along with carrying an end credits scene that'll generate excitement among fans

Final Verdict: Worth Watching But Stream Only

Images Courtesy Of Sony Pictures

Escape Room: Tournament Of Champions Delivers Killer Puzzles But Falls Short Of Its Predecessor

      The benchmark for any sequel is matching the level of quality that the previous film holds while also managing to be surprising. The first Escape Room was enjoyable with how it took a Saw style concept, and threw its own clever spin on it. While the premise didn't earn points for inventiveness, it provided enough excitement to give audiences a thrilling diversion from reality. With Tournament Of Champions, the sequel aims to turn things up a notch with providing a fresh batch of new traps, along with surprise twists and turns regarding the story. The end result is a reasonably entertaining sequel which offers much of the same in terms of being enjoyable, though fails to improve upon its predecessor despite the extended cut's newly added subplots involving the revealing of the puzzlemaker.

      Tournament Of Champions plot picks up where Escape Room's left off with another batch of six people finding themselves locked in another series of deadly traps. As they fight to get out, they slowly uncover what they have in common to survive and discover that they're all survivors who've mastered the game previously. The sequel carries the same plot structure as the first with it revealing the masterminds behind the traps. In keeping consistency with the original, the escape puzzles remain the films main attraction with the story focusing on the aftermath of the previous game with surviving characters Zoey and Ben attempting to figure out the masterminds behind them. For fans who've enjoyed the original and have been wishing for a sequel, Tournament Of Champions delivers more of what they want in terms of thrills, even if it doesn't offer a superior film. 

      As with the previous film, the sequel's cast stands as being one of its main highlights with everyone delivering performances that come across as being believably convincing. Taylor Russell once again impresses with her performance as sole survivor Zoey Davis from the previous film with her character once again being the brains of the group. Logan Miller also returns as survivor Ben Miller with both him and Russell keeping their characters engaging. The rest of the cast deliver solid work with Holland Roden, Indya Moore, Thomas Cocquerel, and Carlito Olivero all giving serviceable work as members of the group who unwittingly find themselves trapped in the escape rooms. Depending on which version one watches, the extended cut features Isabelle Fuhrman and James Frain turning in strong work as puzzlemaker's daughter Claire with Frain as the former in a newly added subplot. The acting for both Escape Room's have much to do with why audiences find them so suspenseful to watch with the sequel proving to be no exception.

      Returning as director is Adan Robitel who takes things to the next level with adding more murderous puzzles, ultimately enhancing the stories intensity. Like the first, the traps are visually impressive, well-thought-out and brilliantly executed with Robitel making each new puzzle more advanced. He doesn't rely on jump scares to terrorize audiences, but builds the tension with them being left guessing on whose going to survive each trap. With the films pacing, the theatrical cut wastes no time in diving straight into the action with the extended cut giving more insight to the masterminds behind the traps. Like the original, the sequel retains an almost blood free atmosphere with its PG-13 rating. The violence presented is pretty strong for its rating with scenes involving people being electrocuted, drowned, and burnt to death in acid. In terms of directing, Robitel succeeds in making the sequel look more intense than the first with the traps shown being more deadly. There's no denying that much creativity went into making the traps distinctive from those previously shown with them fueling the films level of suspense.

As visually stunning as the films puzzle set-pieces appear, the main issues rests within its writing despite the extended cut expanding on the overall plot. The scripts biggest issue is the lack of character development between the newest members of the puzzles with them often feeling disposable. The audience doesn't receive much backstory regarding them like the first film gave for the previous players. The latter showed them prior to entering the game and gave quick flashbacks exploring the personal events that led them there. The script does well with keeping the audience connected to Zoey and Ben with the former caring about their friendship, which evolves over the course of both movies. Although it became one of the first films biggest mistakes in revealing the masterminds behind the traps, the extended cut builds on that revelation by exploring the puppeteer behind the escape rooms along with his family tree. The added subplot succeeds in differentiating the follow-up from the original, although it feels a tad distracting and ultimately pulls the narrative away from the puzzle aspect of its story. Despite the additional making the story feel fuller, it still doesn't compensate for the shortage of character development outside of the films main returning characters. 

      Looking at both the theatrical version which feels more like a cut and paste version of the first, and its extended one that provides answers regarding the origins of the traps, audiences will find the latter version to be the stronger film although neither manages to outdo the original. The strength of both Escape Room films rests within the franchises intriguing concept, although it's execution feels more like a knockoff of both the Saw and Hostel franchises than anything else. The first was effective because its story felt like a puzzle within itself with characters that had just enough development to maintain your interest. Tournament Of Champions gives audiences more of what they enjoyed previously, though loses much of the mystery surrounding the traps that drew audiences to the story. The sequel won't win over any new fans and will gives audiences more impressive set-pieces involving deadly traps. However, the follow-up serves as being a prime example that going bigger doesn't always mean better. 

Final Verdict: Worth a watch for those who enjoyed the first Escape Room. 

Images Courtesy Of Sony Pictures