Watched 23 Apr 2026

This was a 3.5/5 until my new fav film reviewers in 2026, Fish Jelly, revealed stuff I had missed or not considered. Even so, my big quibble is with the secret twist that comes in the first act, and I'm hearing a lot of that. I, however, don't mind that it is what it is, but I think it isn't a deep enough exploration of this touchy subject for a plot device that could have been any mcguffin. The film is about secrets *in general*. Good acting, though, and smart use of editing as storytelling.

Watched 23 Apr 2026

I'm only docking a half star for plentiful plot holes, even though I'd almost argue that they can be reinterpreted as a commentary on plot holes in slasher films. As a plot synopsis, this movie is trope central, but like Scream and Cabin in the Woods, it's the twist that works. In this case, it's not the script but the cinematography, which is MASTERFUL. Wouldn't work without the excruciating gore (which earned it a rare Unrated rating from the MPA). The tension is thick, harrowing & entrancing.

Watched 23 Apr 2026

Having now seen this infamous, now 50-year-old Italian film, I get why it's a classic, why it's in the Criterion collection, and also why it's frequently on disturbing media lists year after year. It's egregious, but its philosophical self-awareness is dead right. In the wake of Epstein, Pasolini warned us about his ilk long ago, but many of us took it to be hyperbole when, well, I guess it isn't. In a post-Human Centipede world, though, shock value is not what it was, so Salo is a real slog.

Watched 23 Apr 2026

I was going to say that this should have been a tight 90 minutes, but it turns out it basically was, at 95 minutes. Due to the repetition and non sequiturs, it felt much closer to 120. That's really my main complaint, since the rest is rather good. Given what was a bare bones casual indie game with no lore whatsoever, this adaptation builds out a thoughtful story and new characters that use the liminality of its premise to exceptionally good effect. Fans of J-horror and anime should love this.

Watched 23 Apr 2026

I guess I align with many of the criticisms lobbed at this one. Squibb is fantastic, of course, but the script is patchy, the themes are inconsistent, the direction is nondescript, and the takeaways are dubious. For the first time since putting reviews on LavishMade here some 20+ films ago, I really don't have more to say. Just a middling meh that's an easy skip to prescribe.