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Firestarter (2022)

Girl tries to control and live with her ability to set things on fire, but evil people make her loose her cool

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
05-06-2022
5

Left me cold (that punchline is probably taken)

One of those movies that, on the face of it, looks quite solid and adept, and makes you wonder why you're not enjoying it more. I think her parent's additional paranormal abilities get in the way of an already uninspired and even boring story that fails to ignite. (That's probably also taken.)
5

The Soul (2022)

Prosecutor dying of cancer takes on a murder case that reveals dark secrets and transplants of more than just cells

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
29-05-2022
5

Probably a brillant story but failed in presentation

I can appreciate the deep, well thought out story that stacks several layers of twists on each other, providing a real thinker of a crime story with perhaps a dash of horror. But it is presented so slowly en depressingly that I struggled to notice or care - and to stay awake too.
5

Everything Everywhere All at Once

Woman struggling to manage her store, marriage, tax audit and daughter, suddenly gets access to skills of her self in other parallel dimensions

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
26-05-2022
8

Completely bonkers yet keeping it real

Probably the craziest, most out-there, outrageous, over the top movie ever, that still - impressively - manages to keep it together, bring it with humor and have it resonate on an emotional level. It's too bizarre to really reach inside, but I am just so glad that stuff like this gets green-lighted.
8

Svart Krabba

In a fictive war, soldiers are send into the night on skates, to cross a lake for a world saving mission

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
26-05-2022
7

Decent little war movie that does things differently.

Overall it doesn't feel very plausible, and some of the combat feels slightly tame and lacking suspense. But it's different, varied and builts up to a unexpectedly large finale and plot twist. An amusing watch for sure.
7

The wHole Truth

When their mother is hospitalized, a sister and brother stay with their grandparents, where a hole in the hole reveals an evil past

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
25-05-2022
7

Original and clever, but drops some balls

Down to the very title, the story and is pretty clever and there's a nice vibe which sets it apart from the norm. The horror is a bit lightweight though, and some of plot twists are brought simply by the characters explaining them to each other standing in circles.
7

Cycle

Astronaut (?) wakes up in a place and needs to find a way out before a fog runs over it.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
21-05-2022
4

Fascinating AND yawn inducing

This could have been a bomb, with it's absolutely unconventional and puzzling story, trippy scenery and remarkable animation that I took for real footage. Unfortunately, many scenes and conversations are way too long, vague and boring, and without a clue on what's going I had to fight to stay awake.
4

Choose or Die

Girl gets caught up in a mysterious vintage game that makes people make horrible choices

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
21-05-2022
6.5

Some entertainment, but not great

For a horror it doesn't really scare much, and overall execution is a little underwhelming. The way the game interacts with the real world seems inconsistent and not very well thought out. But well, there are some new ideas and it does provide some basic amusement value.
6.5

Battle Royal

A class of students are placed on an island, and the game is that only one survives

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
12-05-2022
5

A bloodfest turned into snoozefest

I was curious because it was listed somewhere as a real shocker, but the gore is not that bad - less so than many splatter horrors around. Furthermore I don't think I will ever get used to Japanese overacting and drama. The scholars are boring, annoying and their contemplations uninteresting.
5

Kickboxer: retaliation

Once again an underdog partipates in a fighting match to take on the evil champion

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
12-05-2022
4

You may skip this

I'll admit that I didn't see it in it's entirety, but I am pretty sure what this is: A dorky cardboard white hero doing bizarre over the top fighting, his pretty girlfriend looking worried in the sidelines, and some painfully awkward appearances of Van Damme and Lambert.
4

Windtalkers

Marines are reluctantly tasked with protecting native american soldiers and their ability to transfer indecipherable messages

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
10-05-2022
5.5

Did not age well

I think it made an impression as a war movie in the day, but I fear it has aged poorly. The acting and dialogues can be quite corny, the emotional scenes induce cringe, and the action is almost laugable with the hero shooting from the hip and all bad guys instantly drop dead.
5.5

High Life

Survivor on a spaceship tries to take care of a babygirl. Slowly we learn what preceded this situation, and what comes after.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
19-04-2022
6.5

ok as a slowburning, artistic scifi, but hardy delivers a payoff

The decor hardly reminded me of a spaceship, but I presume the creators thought this was irrelevant to the sophisticated story they wanted to tell. And while I was interested and enjoyed this 'alternative' scifi, it was also arrogantly slow and even the word pretentious came to mind.
6.5

X

Group rents an old barn to shoot an adult movie, but the old landlords hold sinister secrets

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
17-04-2022
7.5

"fucked up horror" seems like a good way to describe it yes

The 70s vibe is spot-on, the interaction between sexy and horrific scenes works surprisingly well and there are some intense moments. It is especially adept in making the elderly terrifying. So overall this is quite good - an interesting result of skilled filmmakers creating a slasher.
7.5

The Northman

When his father is killed, a young viking grows up with nothing but revenge on his mind

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
17-04-2022
8

Great as a spectacle, but average in involvement

A big, brutal, sweaty and intense historic epic, that I was spectating and enjoying rather than feeling. Perhaps because all characters continuously speak in this these articulated, poetic, over-dramatic phrases, which kind of dehumanizes them. It worked in Lighthouse, here it alienates.
8

Ultrasound

Due to a flat tire man is forced to spend the night at strangers, but it marks the beginning of his entire reality falling apart

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
14-04-2022
7

Intriguing but executed a bit dull

It is hard to follow, but in a nice, mindfuck twisted way, and it is carried on a diligent synth ambient track as well. But something about it is a bit simplistic and uninspired, like the creators were more interested in the idea itself that the presentation of it.
7

Don't Look Up

Scientists discover a planet-killer meteorite heading for earth, but the real shocker is the difficulty of finding anyone interested

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
07-04-2022
7.5

Good satire with an undertone

It's basically an amusing political commentary that is is exaggerated and sensational on the one hand, but uncomfortably recognizable and realistic on the other.
7.5

Kill List

Ex military (?) but now homebound man accepts a hitjob, but it drags him into an occult nigtmare

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
30-03-2022
7

A mood different than others, but lacks involvement

There's a plain, non-sensationalist vibe in the atmosphere and acting, which I liked and which sets the movie apart. The builtup and climax are also shocking enough. But making the main character is such a nasty, hollow, emotionless man works against the movie and the impact it could have had.
7

Climax

Party with dancers goes haywire when all of them appear to be drugged by something causing really bad trips

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
22-03-2022
7.5

Masochism

All the dancing in the beginning was almost too much for me, but slowly the Gaspar Noé camerawork, shocks and nausea unfold, making this an intense and courageous 'experimental horror' indeed. I am beginning to think watching this kind of stuff could be a form of masochism.
7.5

A Banquet

A mother tries to handle a daugther who, after a visit to the woods, no longer eats and feels she now has a higher purpose

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
21-03-2022
7

A modest horror with it's own style, but a bit thin on substance

This is a nice, modest mystery with a dash of horror but nothing hysteric. The atmosphere is moody and the central theme of eating and food is lain out well. However, it is dangerously close to being rather uneventful, and can feel kind of improvised as it tries to reach the end.
7

Irreversible

Told in reverse order, a guy is out for revenge when his girlfriend is brutally raped

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
15-03-2022
8

Very distrubing and very well done

Why do people make movies like this? Why do I watch it? Why do I rate it favorably? It's hard to understand, but somehow it made sense. The audacious cinematography, the sickening feeling it evokes, and the acting in very long (albeit unbearable) shots are just unique and a a class apart.
8

The Requin

Couple with issues hires a luxery villa on poles in the sea to get away from things, until a storm rips it off and drift them onto open sea. With sharks.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
15-03-2022
4.5

Too many issues

It's usually nice to view these disasters from the comfort of a lazy chair, but this one has too many issues. Fake effects, cheap and obvious use of stock material, subpar acting, overall implausible events and a really skewed sense of distance, depth and location in the sea.
4.5

Immanence

Scientists go on a boat to sea to investigate possible extraterrestial phenomena.. or is it divine phenomena?

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
06-03-2022
5

The story was there, the rest was not

I usually dig science babble, but coming out of the mouths of these guys it sounded ridiculous. And while the story had potential, I am afraid the execution fell short in many other fields as well. Confusing and weird, in a bad way. Clearly not filmed on sea, disguised by pitch black surroundings.
5

House of 1000 Corpses

Two couples on a roadtrip take detour to find the infamous Dr. Satan, but wind up in a house where a terrible fate awaits

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
06-03-2022
6

Disturbing in an unpleasant and lazy way

Much of the unease comes from the nasty music and color-inverted imagery. It feels a bit like cheating. The rest still holds plenty of shock value, but somehow it felt like that was the sole purpose instead of telling a story. Like Rob went 'Oh look how shocking this is", "Just look at this scene!"
6

The Matrix 4: Resurrections

Neo, living in the matrix again as a guy who made a matrix game, goes back into the matrix to save Trinity, who is in the matrix.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
28-02-2022
5

This time, the mindbender is the movie itself

I am not sure how a 4th sequel could have worked or what I wanted from it, but surely it wasn't this. I hate the lazy self aware 'meta' approach and the revisiting of classic moments. Nothing really works anymore, I cringed multiple times. An odd misfire, which makes you wonder how this came to be.
5

Arctic Void

Televisioncrew on a boat in the Arctic tries to keep their sanity (and stay alive) after all passengers dissappear in an instant

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
27-02-2022
7

Sweet little mystery

It could be said that the content is fairly minimal, but this didn't bother me at all. It is wonderfully mysterious, the slowness just adds to atmosphere and feeling of desolation, and they were really able to get the most out of the awe inspiring scenery and mystical abandoned town.
7

Orphan

After a miscarriage a family takes in an orphan, but they take in a lot more than they bargained for

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
20-02-2022
7

Adult enough to avoid horror pitfalls, but doesn't add much either

For the most part it stays away from cheap scares, and has enough confidence to slowly but surely built up the tension and story, and reach a fairly creative reveal. But it fails to get under your skin as it remains slightly tame and suffers from some implausibility.
7

The Deep House

Couple tries to score youtube visitors with a movie about a submerged house. But when they dive into it, stuff happens.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
13-02-2022
6.5

Unable to cash in on the fantastic concept and visuals

This is an awesome idea and the underwater footage looks fantastic and bone chilling, and must have been tricky to film. It is almost incomprehensible that they still managed to make this NOT scary - but the banal horror story and robotic underwater conversations did the trick. A rewrite, please.
6.5

We Are the Flesh

In an apocalyptic ruin, siblings mingle with a man offering them perks, but also descending them into nightmarish sexual depravity

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
13-02-2022
7

A trip for some of us

Perhaps it is not fair to rate this without having had subtitles, but I doubt it would have made more sense with them. Being uncomfortable, strange and vile, it's hard to rate movies like this. But in the end,I think I appreciate the vision, the boldness and the tripyness about it.
7

Archive 18

Video repairman gets a myserious gig to restore some tapes, and the footage drags him into the supernatural and occult

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
12-02-2022
6.5

Not quite

It started of well, with a nice blend of horror and mystery, and I liked how the 'found' footage was alternated with 'real' footage. Unfortunately, it was let down by really unrealistic, strangely behaving and talking characters, a onedimensional lead actress and well, it's failure to become scary.
6.5

The Unholy

Fallen journalist accidently stumbles across a woman performing holy miracles in a small town, but how benevolent is she?

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
06-02-2022
5.5

Fair story just not exectuted well

The story used as a framework is decent enough, but unfortunately didn't quite take off. Everything is a bit uninspired and doesn't seem to connect well (man dies under a burning cross, everyone just goes to the next scene). So we're left with some lackluster scare jumps and unscary horror.
5.5

A Dark Song

Grieving woman isolates hersef with an expert to perform a dark ritual so she may see her diseased son one more time

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
05-02-2022
8.5

Elevated and unique horror

I love the concept of how they are real, fallible human beings meticulously trying to get this ritual to work over the course of weeks, getting more frustrated, breakable and delusional in the process. The supernatural elements are subtle and open to interpretation. Fantastic.
8.5

Dark City

Man wakes up in a city where the sun never seems to shine, is suspect of murder and he is hunted down by mysterious men

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
05-02-2022
7

A decent sci-fi-noire puzzler, but without real impact

The blend of film noir, sci-fi and mystery is my cup of tea, and I did enjoy it. But it also felt dated, it never was really scary or intense, and there was something almost childish and artificial about it. It somehow struck me as a clip they play to set the mood for a roller-coaster ride.
7

The Room

Lisa is about to marry Johnny, but loves his friend Mark instead.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
30-01-2022
3

If you can reach the right state of mind, it could be mind blowing

I knew what I was getting into, and was ready for the abysmal to turn into laughter, fascination and/or admiration. But I started to realize you probably need some friends and beers to reach that state, but on my own I wondered why the hell I was doing this to myself.
3

Lake Mungo

Mockumentary about a a family grieving for their diseased daughter, and the strange occurences in their house afterwards

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
30-01-2022
7.5

Well rounded and chilling

It really knows how to play the 'something unexpected appeared on the footage' effect, resulting in plenty of chill inducing moments. It ties it together with a convincing and well acted documentary and even has a few plot-twist to keep it interesting.
7.5

The Silent Sea

In a water-deprived future, a team flies to the moon to retrieve a mysterious sample from an abondened base that may hold the key to a sollution

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
24-01-2022
6

Some baseline enterntainment but full of problems

As a scifi fan I could get some enjoyment out of this, but it wasn't easy. We have another unlikely crew handling everything rather unprofessionally, the dialogue has oodles of 'naaaah' moments, the story felt broken and actress Doona sucks the life out of it with her apathetic and depressing style.
6

The Night House

After her husband commits suicide, the widow starts to experience strange things in the secluded house he built

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
24-01-2022
8

A subtle but very satisfying horror

Wow, this really worked for me. The horror elements are subtle and tasteful, the evolving mystery is enticing and the element of grief is mixed in well. But mostly, I was quite stunned with the lead actress, who totally nails it and makes everything work beautifully.
8

El páramo

Fleeing war, a small family lives in a desolated farm. But there, a myserious entity lurks

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
16-01-2022
7.5

Moody and dark

This horror is carried almost exclusively on atmosphere, darkness, a deep sense of desolation and fear within. It is done wonderfully, it looks very moody and is acted well. At around 3 quarters through I felt a slight yearning for some twist or acceleration, but perhaps it is best without it.
7.5

Mother / Android

When all butler androids turn roque against mankind, a pregnant woman and friend embark on a journey to a safe place

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
14-01-2022
7

Good, misses some opportunities

A more than decent survival and motherhood story, but it could have been denser and nerve-wrecking in places. Also, there's a twist near the end that could have been huge, but it's almost like they didn't really follow up on it, and went with a rather swampy emotional ending instead.
7

The Shawshank Redemption

A banker is send to prison unguilty, where he slowly makes new friends and uses his skills to be going places

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
09-01-2022
8

Yes it's good (But not that good)

Finally I saw this endlessly lauded movie. I agree that it is good and very gripping. I can't remember a recent movie that I was this much 'into'. But the best movie ever made? Perhaps I am just not that into prison movies, and the idea that only super smart will make it is hardly inspiring, is it?
8

Finch

Survivor of some world apocalyptic event builts a robot to take care of his dog when he dies

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
09-01-2022
6.5

A nice tale that had slightly more potential

It's a sympathetic tale of human friendship and it works for the most part, growing on me as it went on. However, I think the robot's progress in learning, behavior and humor could have been more subtle, interesting and refined, and making him sound like Borat was part of the problem.
6.5

The Witcher season 2

The witcher is training the princess he protects, but her powers become more and more concerning

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
09-01-2022
6

It's now soap

I still like the Witcher atmosphere, and sure there are some memorable moments to be found. But mostly I found season 2 remarkably tedious and empty. The main culprit is the oddly soapy style of storytelling, with endless conversations between people doing bizarre strolls through hallways.
6

Tetsuo: The Iron Man

A bad trip about a man who is slowly turning into metal scrap

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
02-01-2022
6.5

A good bad trip, but too pointless to be a satisfying movie

What if those creepy black and white 'art student movies' you see in horror films were a full length experience? Maybe it would be something like this. I was quite intrigued at first; it is effectively unsettling. But after while I wondered where it all was going and I lost my curiosity.
6.5

Malignant

After the brutal death of her husband, a woman starts to experience equally brutal murders in other people's homes

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
02-01-2022
7

Uninspired horror saved by a pretty cool twist

For the first half I was just sad, fearing that James Wan has nothing more to offer than formulaic cliches and boring movie characters. And while this IS a big problem of this movie, I have to say the reveal/plot twist was great, put things on it's head and managed to redeem some of the movie.
7

Candyman

Artist gets fascinated by the urban legend of the lethal Candyman, who can be summoned in front of a mirror

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
02-01-2022
7.5

A classy horror

A higher tier horror, which proves painfully clear how many others are just brainless scarejump pulp. This is more more interesting, well done and well told throughout. I do feel though that some scenes could and should have been more hair-raising.
7.5

Encanto

All members of a family living a magic house receive special magic talent, except one

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
31-12-2021
6

Objectively great, subjectively exhausting

With whopping graphics, a tasty Colombian vibe, sparkling colors and scenery, and wholesome life lessons, objectively it is a marvel. But it is trying too hard - too much hysteric humor, constantly restless and hectic, and too much loud songs. The few simple dialogue scenes form oases of serenity.
6

The Kill Team

A soldier situated in Afghanistan comes into conflict with himself and his squad when they appear do unprovoked assassinations.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
31-12-2021
6.5

Wish I felt it more, but adept

I am not sure how realistic this was, and found the sergeant a little too wacky to be credible. But overall the story kept my attention and did a reasonable at depicting the dilemma of loyalty versus morals - although I do think they could have hit harder.
6.5

Black Swan

Ballet dancer pushed over the edge to portray the black Swan

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
28-12-2021
7.5

Slightly overated but still good

A dark movie that offers some acting fireworks and I loved how the insanity and hallucinations slowly creep in. However, I cannot back up the the high appraisal it received entirely; for that I would have needed it to go deeper, further and darker.
7.5

Jungle Cruise

Woman charters a captain to take her into the jungle to find mysterious healing plant

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
27-12-2021
7

Fun adventure let down by the CGI fights

A lively adventure movie with a 'classic' atmosphere, and fun performances of the main characters and their constant quarrels. Like many other CGI-heavy movies, I found the combat scenes hard to follow, unpleasant and ultimately not very exciting. I wish they kept them more 'classic' as well.
7

Home Alone 3

This time the kid has to defend the house from a bunch of criminals who are after a microchip he unknowingly has

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
27-12-2021
6.5

Different enough to exist, familiair enough to please?

With none of the original cast available, and with the original story already been told twice, I commend them for doing a slightly different setup whilst still maintain the core features. Without Christmas it looses charm though. Should please the fans and youngsters, of which I am neither.
6.5

Them That Follow

A woman of a secluded religious community, that does snake handling to prove their faith, has a secret

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
27-12-2021
7

Slow, but something is growing

The movie has a very serene atmosphere in which the slow daily life in the woods is portrayed very well, so much so that in fact halfway I almost started to long for some action. But there's a constant under the skin buzz that keeps it mysterious and kept me watching, with memorable performances.
7

Benedetta

Nun in Monastry developes sexual feelings for another nun. And stigmata, too.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
25-12-2021
7.5

The mix works

Lesbians nuns would seem like a recipe for disaster, but I don't think it is. The mystery of her divinity and stigmata is interesting enough, the religious habits give it some weight, the supernatural elements give it some spice, and well - it can be sort of erotic. Interesting package deal.
7.5

Death Valley

Contractors are hired to rescue a scientist from a secret lab in a forest where horrible alien experiments took place

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
20-12-2021
4

Uninspired and stolen

A drab and shameless collage of stuff we have seen a million times before, delivered by subpar actors doing annoying characters.
4

Dos

Man and woman wake up in a strange hotelroom, with their belly's sewn together

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
20-12-2021
6.5

Tasteful, but ultimately doesn't make the impression it could

Despite the horrible premise, it stays away from torture porn or excessive gore, focusing instead of the story and mystery of how this came to be. It certainly kept me keen to find out, but performances, the story or big reveal all were a bit mellow to me, leaving me slightly underwhelmed.
6.5

Prisoners of the Ghostland

A convict is chartered to rescue a woman from a mysterious group that is held captive by ghosts. If not he explodes.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
16-12-2021
5

Weird is not always good

Some pretty colors and scenes aside, this is mostly uncomfortably odd and confusing. You could argue that is to be commended for being different and broken free from the mainstream, but not in a way that I found pleasing.
5

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

During the familty vacation to Florida, the kid accidently ends up alone in New York - as do his nemesis crooks

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
12-12-2021
6.5

Faithfully more of the same

I'd say it successfully manages retain the same atmosphere, jokes and story line as the original. So if you are in need of more of the same slapstick humor, and warm family friendly Christmas vibes, this will do.
6.5

The Last Duel

Story behind the last official duel of the middle ages, when there were almost no colors

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
11-12-2021
7

Well made and interesting, but know it's basically lengthy love drama

What a great idea to explore what was behind these duels: Who were these people? What were they fighting for? And while the movie is made with much class and great acting, it still felt like a love-triangle-jealousy kind of thing which almost is a bit soapy at times.
7

Reminiscence

When the future is bleak, people instead relive past memories with a machine. The operator running that facility gets involved when a femme fatale shows up

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
06-12-2021
5

half decent idea failed

The opportunity to do something cunning with the central idea gets lost in dull, pseudo film-noir kitsch, and the plot twist comes way too late to redeem it. But the real problems are inexcusably crincy Hollywood dialogue, audience pampering, poorly choreographed fights, among others.
5

The Head Hunter

Medieval solitary warrior is combating demons and collecting their heads

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
29-11-2021
7

Nice surprise that dares to do things differently

I quite liked this little nugget. The way we see him going about his work without even seeing the demons, and without any pampering explanation, is pleasantly mysterious and makes us observers peeking into his life. It keeps it intimate and compact, and the visuals are nice.
7

The Other Lamb

A small cult with a single male leader herding only females lives in seclusion in the woods. Revolt looms.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
28-11-2021
7.5

Minimalistic but not

The cinematography is as sober and plain as the cult members live their lives. It's almost a collage of images and unspoken emotions instead of a traditional story, but you still can feel the revolution building up beneath the skin. Good.
7.5

Warning

A bunch of (related?) stories, with perhaps future technology and mankind as a central theme

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
28-11-2021
4.5

Vague unrewarding stories

Incomprehensible at first, I got some ease of mind when I realized it's just some vague ideas and separate stories glued together in a movie. In itself still a feasible concept, but in here it was just a bit pointless and directionless, without any payoff.
4.5

Mulholland Drive

Woman on her way to make it in Hollywood, finds a mysterious woman in her bathroom (probably not the best summary).

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
25-11-2021
6.5

Should have triggered me, but didn't

The Lynch-weirdness comes in late and it quite small doses, so mostly it actually felt like a movie of girlfriends going on an adventure. I love being puzzled by surrealism, but in here it didn't seem to trigger me, or the subjects and themes were just too plain.
6.5

Midnight Mass

A new priest comes to a small island with a deeply christian community. Alongside miracles, he brings something more sinister

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
25-11-2021
7.5

Reli horror story with pleny of class (and monologues)

Very atmospheric, with a calm but steady pace, a slow but addictive built-up of mystery and loads of interesting characters. Many tend to talk in long, long, monologues which impresses at first, then starts to feel unnatural, then slowly become too much and even get in the way of the finale.
7.5

Short Peace

4 short anime tales

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
22-11-2021
7.5

Puts some full-length anime's to shame

While they are too short to really have an impact, I quiet enjoyed these original and beautifully drawn anime's. They are a big step up from the usual, similar looking and sounding anime stuff and I am ready for more!
7.5

Brand New Cherry Flavor

Young movie director has her movie stolen in Hollywood, so she asks a witch to help her take revenge

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
22-11-2021
7.5

A remarkable and bold series that features quite a few novelties

A bit filthy and bizarre, somewhat reminiscent of Lynch/Cronenberg weirdness and I like it. It walks a remarkable line between strange humor (puking live kittens?) and gory violence. I also like the modern day approach to witches and witchcraft.
7.5

Kin Dread

Traumatized guy, confined to a room making soundseffectcs, discovers something strange in his apartment and about his past

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
14-11-2021
4.5

Could't follow or care

There might be a clever and interesting idea in here, but I am afraid it didn't quite come out for me. It was just to hard to follow, too vague to make sense and often got stuck like a car in a the mud.
4.5

Squid Game

Out of money and out of a future, a small-time hustler accepts an invitation to mysterious game that offers a great price

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
14-11-2021
7.5

Unique, dark and bright

While the viral success and hype it generated may seem a bit much, I would agree that it is a fresh, well made series that make you eager for the next episode. The bright colors contrast nicely with the dark theme, you get to like the protagonists and loathe the bad ones.
7.5

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Fox and friends engage in a war with local farmers when they steal chickens

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
13-11-2021
5

Did not push my buttons

It looks and feels artistically sound and could please Roald Dahl fans. Personally, I found the puppets not very pleasant to look at and I don't like the storytelling much. It's not outstandingly funny, exciting or clever, I did not know how to process it and even got a bit strangely agitated.
5

Wall-E

Humans have abandoned a badly polluted earth where one robot little tiresly tries to clean it up

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
12-11-2021
9

One of the best Pixarmovies

One of the best Pixar movies ever, rightfully praised for having almost no conversation and being about droids, yet still being a deeply touching, funny and engrossing. It is also dares to be a bit dark and cynical without ruining the mood. Brilliant.
9

The Spine of the Night

Animation about a power struggle involving witchcraft

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
12-11-2021
7

Plenty to like but not to feel

Overall a satisfactory experience for animation enthusiast like myself, with some imaginative action and storytelling. But with no background story and no real character to know or love, it's doesn't really hit you emotionally.
7

Lamb

Couple who run a secluded sheepfarm get a very special lamb one day

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
12-11-2021
8

Bizarre and modest at the same time

I think I'd call it horror, which is uncanny, bizarre and disturbing but at the same time very plain, pure and subtle and without ever becoming cheap. And I finally liked Noomi Rappace, who looks and acts fantastic here.
8

Zombie Lake

Small town is terrorized by zombies in a lake, eating mostly nude females

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
12-11-2021
6

Be ready for the worst and have a good time

Full of technical errors, non-existent effects, dodgy acting, among many other problems. Successful as campy nonsense though, with a plenty of unnecessary nudity. And that one zombie who starts to feel empathy is not something you see everyday.
6

Joker

How Joker, you know - Batman's nemesis, came to be

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
31-10-2021
8

Exactly what Joker's origin story deserves

It's done right. You can feel the man sliding off, the transformation is plausible and understandable, it's not simplistic right and wrong, and I sympathized with him. The movie also features beautifully lit scenery and of course world class acting.
8

Alien

On their way back to earth, a spaceship investigates a distresscall from a planet

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
31-10-2021
9

Redefining

I am going to rate it sky high for redefining (space)horror, design and science fiction in general. It is iconic, but I have to admit anno 2021 it is actually, finally, starting showing signs of aging. My son wasn't too impressed nor terrified. Some of that is a legacy from our memories.
9

Demonic

Woman is asked to communicate with her comatose mother in a 'simulation', but awakens demonic evil in doing so

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
31-10-2021
6.5

Fresh, but should have been better

It's a nifty combination of tech, occult and horror and I liked it. It's just unfortunate that it failed to really make an impression or become really scary. Like the story required some more twists and layers, and should have 'aged' more before making the movie.
6.5

Velvett Buzzsaw

A newly discovered range of paintings from a diseased, unknown artist, causes jalouzy, death and insanity within a high-class art community

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
29-10-2021
6.5

Too sterile to make me care

I guess this inside look into the world of art management and competition for the rich make it worthwhile, but the things going on later are not shocking, strange or thought-provoking enough to really take it to a higher level - They left me as cold as the characters themselves.
6.5

Cryptozoo

Animation about a zoo housing cryptoid creatures, bad people that want them dead and good people trying ot protect them

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
29-10-2021
6.5

Great for it's uniqeness, but utlimately a flawed trip

I wanted to like this more, with it's bold ideas, pleasantly strange story and willful drawings. I can see how people describe it as beautiful, but I could also make the case that it can look pretty crude an amateuristic at times. Everyone also seems a bit high and slow, making me sleepy eyed.
6.5

Forbidden World

Astronout lands on a base where an alien experiment get out of hand

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
17-10-2021
5

Didn't turn out to be a classic

I watched this old nugget for some nostalgic quirks and perhaps hidden gems, but I am not sure I found them. Sure it has some remarkable nonsense and campy effects, but it's mostly just a bit crappy.
5

Dune (2021)

Clans fight for control of planet Arrakis and it's resources, both with other clans and with the native inhabitans

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
17-10-2021
8

What the word 'epic' was meant for

Wow, this was quite an epic experience on all accounts. Incredible spaceship designs, compelling imagery, great music and overall an enticing story. Very very tasteful. On the downside, the sterile environments and characters meant it had only a limited emotional impact and didn't really stick.
8

The Guilty

Police officer must do 911 operator work as a disciplinary measure, when he takes a call that will keep him up all night

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
04-10-2021
7

A decent but not perfect single-person, single-location flick

One of those risky movies shot on a single location with a single actor holding everything together. It works - it is a thrilling watch. It lacks, however the craftsmanship or plot to really make it bite your nails, and would have benefited from more realism and a more likable lead character.
7

Cruela

How Cruela de Vil, you know the villain from 101 dalmatians, came to be

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
03-10-2021
6.5

Well made, just not much in here for me personally

This was received well and praised highly, and I can see the well made and well told story in it. Personally, I was hoping for it to be a bit more vile, more shock, more magic and a lot less about fashion. It has a bit of a happy musical vibe that is not my cup of tea.
6.5

I am Thinking of Ending Things

Woman takes a long roadtrip to meet her parents-in-law, but the jounrey and visit get darker and stranger as it goes

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
03-10-2021
7.5

A strange but tasty slowburner

A well-acted and mysterious flick that makes you sense something is wrong way before it is. It is slow and without a manual, but near the end you wind up so clueless that it leaves a slightly unrewarding feeling though.
7.5

Magellan

Astronaut on a lone mission to investigate signals suddenly coming from various locations in our solar system

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
23-09-2021
4.5

Unable to compensate for the little resources it had

An irresistible story and some of the space graphics are not too bad. But they contrast starkly with the amateuristic 'interior' of the spaceship, and the bizarre procedures of the space flight and handling of possible alien artifacts (plastic bag?). I also missed a point or clue to any of it.
4.5

Prey

Some guys just about to finish a hike through the woods, are hunted down by someone with rifle

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
23-09-2021
6

Needed more

The scenery is pretty, and the plain, no-nonsense execution gives it some purity. But it's hard to connect with the characters who are also having irrelevant work-related quarrels, and the plot is really a very thin succession of shot-flee-argue over and over. It misses some sort of twist or payoff.
6

Risen

Meteors crash on earth causing death among the nearby inhabitants. An xeno-astro-expert is called in to help.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
13-09-2021
5.5

Good setup undone by some unfortunate desicions

The setup is similar to "The Arrival", which is a good thing. The first half is also decent enough. But to make the expert such a depressed, lifeless character doesn't do any favors to the already slow-ish movie, and the plot twist is smothered in overblown flashbacks. Some poor CGI at places, too.
5.5

The Stairs

Boy and grandpa find stairs in the woods and go missing. Years later, a group of other hikers find them, unaged. And the stairs. And some demon.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
12-09-2021
3

Uninspired and unsuccesful horror

The opening gets by (barely), but the adult hikers are a rather annoying bunch (the metalguy is almost unwatchable) and so are the rather uninteresting and vague events they encounter. It's allover they place, like they just threw in some random horror things to fill it up.
3

Exodus

After the rapture (apparently), a guy tries to find his way to a mysterious door to a better place

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
12-09-2021
3

I am sure they mean well. Zzzzz.

It seems the that hardest thing to get right in these low-budget, low-tier movies is keeping the pace and keeping interest. It probably could have been a mysterious, symbolic, thought provoking journey, but it's just agonizingly slow, empty and emotionless journey.
3

A.I. Rising

For a long journey, a cosmonaut will be accompanied by a female android engineered to his taste

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
05-09-2021
6.5

ok, but would have benefited greatly from better writing

With just a some fairly modest modifications in the dialogue and story line, such as more profound elements of philosophy, existentialism, psychology and perhaps some horror, this would have been great. As it stands though, it still is a decent sci-fi tale.
6.5

Ralph breaks the Internet

Guess where they're heading this time?

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
05-09-2021
7.5

As good as you could hope for

A fine sequel. I liked how the visualized the internet. It doesn't, however, manage to overcome the sequel curse and bring back the magical atmosphere, or the refined and diverse story line from the first part.
7.5

Alien Warfare

Specialforces team is scrambled to investigate what happened to some lab. (it was aliens!)

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
30-08-2021
3.5

Almost abysmal

There is something about it that keeps it from being completely abysmal. Perhaps the borderline passable actors, the almost successful attempts at jokes, some slightly interesting moments, some semi ok action. But make no mistake, this is a pretty crappy movie. Those alien suits, gees.
3.5

Free Guy

Backgroundcharacter in a game becomes self aware and fights for his existence with the help of some gamers

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
29-08-2021
7.5

Not for everyone, but definitely for some

You'll need some knowledge of contemporary gaming, the Youtube subculture, and mental preparation for a barrage of restless imagery and hysteric jokes. But if you manage all that, you'll find that it has it's heart at the right place, is enjoyable and sometimes a good laugh indeed.
7.5

Old

People trapped on a secluded beach get old very quickly

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
28-08-2021
7

Attractive mystery let down by words and characters

I love Shyamalan's enticing and mysterious stories, as well as the way he floats the camera through them. So I will probably watch all of them, but unfortunately this one was let down by rather clunky dialogue, delivered unnaturally by odd characters. It felt like watching a play.
7

The Water Man

Boy travels into the woods to find the mysterious Water Man, for he may hold the key to healing his sick mother

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
26-08-2021
7

Pleasant and intimate modern fairytale

A pleasant modern day fairlytale with an intimate atmosphere and performances. Much more refined than big blockbusters, and the sickness is brought without sugarcoating. It's just that the twist at the end, although I can see the point of it, was somewhat abrupt and left me slightly unfulfilled.
7

Luca

Young sea monster like kid (mermaid?) secretly ventures above the surface where he finds new friends and adventures

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
26-08-2021
7.5

Just fine

A wholesome and warm feelgood movie that is hard to fault. The Italian setting and vibe is a nice extra touch which gives it some personality and validity. Can't say much bad about it really, although personally I would have liked a bit more edge and risk.
7.5

The Rebels of PT-218

During ww2, a cargoship is performs a heroic attack on canons on the shoresline

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
22-08-2021
4

Unsuccesful attempt to make a warmovie with little resources

If you have no budget, should you make a movie about something complicated as naval combat? While some scenes actually get by, the constant black or white surroundings are suspicious. What's more: the movie is not about a PT-218 (torpedo boat) at all, and everything else is a bit meh too.
4

Bad Biology

Nymphomaniac with multiple clitori crosses path with a guy who's overgrown penis has a mind of it's own. Not porn. I think.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
22-08-2021
6.5

Weird filth that does what it wants and I commend them for it

This was sort of rebellious and liberating in a way, but perhaps that's just because I watched too many generic and formulaic Hollywood movies lately. Sure it is bad, trashy and bizarre, but somehow it doesn't care and I sort of enjoyed the audacity of it.
6.5

Anon

In a future where everyone's vision is recorded, interpreted and exchangable, a detective tries to solve a murder by a hacker

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
21-08-2021
7

Decent but cold future crime story

With some interesting tech and sober atmosphere, it has a decent film noire crime-story atmosphere going on. But everything and everyone is so lifeless and emotionless that it left me slightly cold as well. Everyone constantly checking their readouts makes it quite static and sluggish, too.
7

Embrión

Attempts to tell a story about (mulitple?) people that went missing or weird after an alien encounter

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
09-08-2021
3

A hot mess

My god. A messy, incoherent and incomprehensible mixture of found footage and a 'real' movie , it jumps allover the place to new locations and years (almost with each cut!), pacing is weird and feels made-up as they went along, and I did not understand most of it. Poster art is fake.
3

Orbita 9

Woman on a long solo space mission gets a visit from a mechanic, after which she learns the true nature of her mission

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
08-08-2021
6.5

Nice scifi with a twist. One twist - early on.

With a plotline that it's impossible to describe accurately without ruining it, this is a pleasant scifi done just fine. It's just that, after the big twist it's, sort of de-energizes a few notches. When the big reveal is almost at the beginning, it's harder to keep us hooked.
6.5

La Nuée

Woman can barely support her family with a grashopper farm, until she finds out they yield better when fed blood

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
07-08-2021
7

A sober animal horror that fails to push through

In a way, this is the eighties animal swarm horror movies re-imagined in a much more realistic, restrained and adult way. It works for the most part, but the same simple and slow atmosphere also had me yearning for some more excitement.
7

Tides aka The Colony

Space colonists return to see if earth is habitable again, but get caught up in tribes competing with each other

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
03-08-2021
6.5

Promising beginning, so-so rest

Initially the wet, misty landscape sets an moody atmosphere, and the story manages to pull you in. As it progresses though, the madmax shenanigans are okay but felt a bit anticlimactic, and as a whole it looses some energy and mystery.
6.5

A Mother of No Destination

First, people that discover the immenent end of the world are hunted down, then the remaining people on a space ark are terrorized

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
03-08-2021
2

Let's call it art

Listen, I really tried to look at this as a completely homemade, completely amateur movie, but even then I did not find any redeeming qualities. Maybe it's deliberately trying to be as bad as can be, so that it becomes art or intoxicating. I must admit I felt weird after watching it.
2

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