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Jacob's Ladder

War veteran starts seeing demons and jumps between alternate realities... what is going on?

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
31-07-2023
7.5

Dark and interesting

Not as horrific as I remembered it, but nevertheless a well done, interesting and gloomy thriller/drama about war trauma with satisfying depth.
7.5

Honeymoon

Things aren't the same after a husband finds his newlywed standing half naked in the woods in the middle of the night

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
11-01-2015
7.5

Good one

A pleasing mystery horror that builds well on the intimacy and isolation of the couple, and reels you in as the mystery increases but hardly resolves.
7.5

Eden Lake

Couple goes to a lake to have a romantic time, but a gang of youngsters turn it into hell

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
09-07-2022
7.5

Unpleasant weekend trip

Things really go south, and you really feel for the couple as it goes from spoiling to terrorizing and worse. Making the gang all kids makes it all very uncomfortable, as you want them to smash their heads against a rock but they sort of can't.
7.5

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

The Lodge

Two children wind up alone in an isolated lodge with the mysterious, former-cultmember new girlfriend of their father

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
16-09-2022
7.5

A very decent if not somewhat inplausible mystery/horror

When I thought about this movie afterwards, I started feeling the story was rather far fetched in places, but this didn't bother when I watched it. Instead, I rather enjoyed the ominous mood, the tasteful reli-creepiness and the cold scenery.
7.5

Ted

A boy's teddybear comes to live and they become best friends.... which becomes problematic when he is an adult

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
25-02-2013
7.5

Should have been even funnier

The whole idea is so outstandingly funny that I couldn't help feeling somewhat disappointed. But it IS funny.
7.5

The Conjuring 2

A haunted house, based on a true story

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
30-01-2017
7.5

Very fine horror that is just a bit too long

A good horror that impress with plenty of scares accentuated by great camerawork, and refrains from too much cheap jump scares. Like it's predecessor though, I thought it went on for too long so my 'get scared' supply ran out and I was just taking it in. Too bad.
7.5

Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence

An investigation into pleasure robots that start to kill their owners

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
10-06-2018
7.5

Not for everyone, but a joy for some

Once again it will test your endurance for coping with long, poetic, endless metaphors and contemplations about technology. And once again it will reward you with a fabulous combination of drawn and CGI graphics and a fascinating atmosphere. A bit too low an action maybe, but worth it.
7.5

Escape from Tomorrow

Familyman slowly looses his mind in Disneyland

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
14-09-2014
7.5

Succesful absurdity

Successfully achieves an uncanny atmosphere without over relying on effects, instead setting an ominous mood with black and white tones. I also dig the usage of a superhappy place for something twisted to evolve. Quite exciting.
7.5

Parasite

A poor family finds ways to infiltrate in the household of a rich family

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
13-09-2023
7.5

Varied, interesting and entertaining

A well-rounded and well made movie that has a little bit of everything, and remains fresh by taking multiple new directions. I liked it, but do not fully feel the 'masterpiece' status it has. People applaud it's 'social commentary' - but if they mean rich and poor - then well duh.
7.5

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Hobbit is asked to join midgets and a wizard on a journey to regain access to a castle taken by a fire dragon.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
13-02-2013
7.5

Awesomeness, but did not leave me in awe

It's a beautiful grandiose piece of work. But somehow I was looking at it more than I was experiencing it. And why are these whining hobbits the chosen one? And why didn't Gandalf summon those giant birds earlier, to get them there immediately? WHYYY.
7.5

Rogue One

How the rebels stole the plans for the Death Star

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
18-12-2016
7.5

Staying loyal to the franchise has it's drawbacks

Despite exquisite action scenes and many memorable Starwars moments, something felt tired. How many dramatic Vader entrances must I care for? How many nameless (and still incompetent) stormtroopers killed? How many shields disabled just in time? How much dangling in high shafts?
7.5

Baskin

Turkish movie about a police squad ending up in a devilish mansion

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
02-04-2018
7.5

Original, effective and hellish

While the actors may not be very likable, at least their character are unique and distinct, and we are given the time to get to know them. The finale is truly hellish, the atmosphere is ominous and there's some interesting stuff going on in the time line as well.
7.5

Gone Girl

One day, a guy's wife is gone. The search that follows reveals many noire twists to this event

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
04-10-2015
7.5

Mostly a satisfying mystery crime story

Gloomy and very Finscher indeed. I liked it, but I thought the girl was too alien and the guy too earthlike to make much sense of their relationship in the first place.
7.5

The Judge

Succesfull lawyer tries to help his estranged father, who is a judge and suspected of murder

RockmeNow
RockmeNow
02-02-2015
7.5

Not bad for a movie about lawyers and judges

Solid acting performance by the cast, but no big surprises in the plot. Overall, a pleasant movie.
7.5

Skyscraper

Man is going to save his family from the highest skycraper in the word. On fire. With one leg. With crooks inside.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
27-01-2019
7.5

The fun to be had!

No doubt we could make a long list of things that are dumb or preposterous about this movie. But I thought they nailed that lovely vibe of action-disaster movies of yesteryear, and I honestly can't think of a recent movie that made me enjoy myself and sit on the edge of my seat like this one!
7.5

Destroyer

Worn out, dead tired female detective is haunted by a criminal from her past

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
21-08-2019
7.5

Looks and feels unique

I didn't want to keep dwelling in the extraordinary make up and looks of Kidman, but it is so powerful that it radiates onto everything in the movie, lifting it to an intense, hot and muggy experience.
7.5

Prometheus

Team sets out on a spacejourney to a investigate a distant location indicated by ancient cave drawings

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
27-05-2013
7.5

Beautiful failure

Shattering beauty in an exciting alien universe - badly damaged by an unlikely crew doing unlikely things in a scenario full of WTF-moments.
7.5

Altered Carbon: Resleeved

In a world with interchangable bodies, a man looks after a girl who is hunted down by just about everybody. But why?

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
09-04-2020
7.5

A fine anime

A fine anime with sweet, non-standard animations and drawings, an interesting story and a couple of very intense action scenes with wicked ninja's.
7.5

Suzume

Girl is on a mission to stop doors from releasing sky worms that cause earthquakes, together with her friend - who turned into a chair.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
11-10-2023
7.5

Why minds should be set free

Go see it if you don't buy that description. I really appreciated this wildly imaginative story backed up with spectacular animation. It is a testimony for what may come from unrestricted, unbound filmmaking... even if the result may be difficult to connect with emotionally.
7.5

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

65

Astronaut crashes on some planet and must face the dangerous creatures living on it

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
09-04-2023
7.5

Simple but highly enjoyable

I guess it's guilty of doing some dinosaur cliche's, and perhaps we won't ever be impressed by them again as we once did. But I liked seeing them in a different scifi context, and I also thought the movie was a simple but very solid and amusing ride. Adam manages to elevate it far above pulp.
7.5

The Favourite

Maid elbows her way into the personal circle of the queen

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
06-07-2019
7.5

Quite unique

I tried this because it was hyped as the costume movie that, because of the vile play and firework between the female rivals, was also suitable for men. And indeed, I did enjoy the acting, the beautiful decors and camerawork people making their way through the castle. It has quite a unique vibe.
7.5

The Innocents

Girl and autistic sister find new friends when they move to a new appartment, with whom they develop by paranormal abilities and games, but not all in a good way

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
11-09-2022
7.5

Intriguing childrens' horror

The semi-relaxed atmosphere, mysterious but never sensationalist, together with telling the story mostly form the perspective of the children, makes this a a slow but unique and satisfying watch. I was bit puzzled what drove the evil one, though.
7.5

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 Road

Father and son try to survive in a ravaged world, where all life has died and the last humans have resorted to cannabalism

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
25-02-2024
7.5

Moving but very comfortless

A very bleak and depressing affair, almost excessively so. You start to wonder if there ought to be some kind of payoff for enduring all of this, but I am not sure there was. But I have to say, I was moved by it.
7.5

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

Vivarium

Couple do a house sighting of a strange sterile house in a neigbourhoud where everything seems the same.. and then can't seem to leave the place

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
23-05-2020
7.5

Refreshingly and pleasantly weird

Sometimes non-standard oddball movies that do something different, mysterious, bizarre and thought- provoking are just so refreshing and satisfying. Like this one.
7.5

Pleasure

A young woman in pursuit of a career in the adult movie industry

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
19-03-2023
7.5

An intense and probably revealing inside look full of contrasts

I found it especially good at creating contrasts: how the atmosphere changes before, during and after a shoot, and how she continues to pursue her ambitions despite the demeaning and sometimes brutal treatment. The clean, observant, non-dramatic style makes it feel like a documentary.
7.5

The Visit

Brother and sister document their first a visit to their grandparents. Including what happens with them after 21:30.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
29-05-2016
7.5

Evolves into something good

What starts of somewhat doubtfully as yet more mockumentary by cute rapping teenagers, gradually evolves into a rather dark, vile, nasty and scary movie indeed. It's slow pacing and lack of gore/fx only make it stronger.
7.5

Triangle

Shipwrecked friends climb onto a passing ship, but it is hardly an improvement....

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
16-08-2015
7.5

An great story, executed slightly dull

Direction and performances are a bit uninspired, contrasting with a really nifty and clever story that keeps your attention all the way. Even my wife stayed awake for this one.
7.5

Dark

Inhabitants of a small German town get entangled in time paradoxes spanning generations

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
07-03-2021
7.5

Deep and interesting, but it's darlings start to annoy

A profound series with a unique atmosphere and just enough lifelines to help you through the complexity. Problems: It dwells badly in the same concepts and 'darlings', the characters communicate in an unacceptably vague way, and everyone seems to have just one overacted facial expression.
7.5

Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters

When space survivors find no habitable planet, they have no choice but to return to the earth they fled because Godzilla was on it.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
15-07-2018
7.5

Bad ass

Godzilla is only showed sparingly, instead building up mystery and an ominous atmosphere surrounding his presence. It has gorgeous drawings of awesomely designed space warfare in it. So all in all, despite the usual hysteric acting, I thought this was rather successful and was quite impressed.
7.5

The Mandalorian

A solo adventure of Star Wars' Boba Fett-like dude, who dedicates himself to protecting a mysterious youngling he picks up on mission.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
05-04-2020
7.5

An excellent fix of starwars, mostly good, some bad

I liked it best for it's utter love and understanding of star wars memories, old and new, brought on screen beautifully. Unfortunately, it also retains the utterly useless storm troopers by the dozens, leading to 'authentic' but ultimately unexciting combat. I also found the story very linear.
7.5

Exception

The printed crew of a spaceship on a mission to terravorm a planet for humans, encounters sabotage endangering the mission

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
19-02-2023
7.5

Kitchy, unique and atmospheric

I almost could not get over the heinous, ridiculous way the crew looked (especially Mack!), but realized it matched with the oddly unique, kitschy interior of the spaceship, creating a unique vibe. I really liked this show, with an interesting story, a great finale and fantastic music.
7.5

American Sniper

About the 'legend' sniper who killed over 160 people in Iraq missions

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
29-03-2015
7.5

Very good war movie, even moreso if you like Texan cowboydreams.

I wasn't too keen on the Texas-cowboy-American-hunt-with-your-son-patriot-there's-always-vacant-pretty-girl-just-sitting-at-the-bar elements. Not overly successful as a war commentary either. As a war movie though, is filmed with class, sincerity and restraint and hits hard.
7.5

Dogtooth

A tale of adult children that may not leave their house and loving parents until they loose their dogtooth

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
22-12-2023
7.5

nasty and cold, but quite interesting indeed

A cold and surreal affair, the kind that pulls of showing rather expliciet sex scenes without being arousing in the slightest, with peculiar acting and dialogues that alienate even further. I found it quite intriguing.
7.5

The Midnight Sky

Amidst a worldwide cataclysm, a man at a northpole research station attempts to warn a spaceship not to come back to earth

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
03-01-2021
7.5

Nicely done, but minimal

It's lovingly made and compelling throughout, but it is suffering somewhat form the minimal story. Sometimes this leads to a pleasant slowburn pace, but at other times it is struggling to fill up time, with events that seems irrelevant for the overall story.
7.5

The Secret Life of Pets

When humans leave their pets at home during work, the pets start their second live and embark on an adventure

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
21-08-2016
7.5

Fun and heartwarming

Another original, joyful, colorful and funny animation that is hard to fault. Pet owners will get some extra laughs out of the recognizable pet quirks shown. These animation movies are constantly of such a high quality that they will have to come up with something new to stand out.
7.5

The Invitation

Introvert man is invited to a party, at which something feels not quite right

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
03-06-2018
7.5

Party sucked, movie did not

One of those movies that plays out in a single place with a single group of people, and a good one at that. The main goal of slowly building up a feeling of discomfort and anxiety to resolve what's going on is successfully achieved by the fine actors, story and no frills.
7.5

Tomorrowland aka Project T

A rebelious teenage girl is the chosen one to glimpse into a future world - and save it too

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
27-05-2015
7.5

Gorgeous but Disney

For younsters, this is a splendid and exciting space adventure with a great spirit. Grumpy old men like me need to deal additionally with the miles thick morals, and the over-smart main character and her indifference towards the amazing things she encounters.
7.5

Prey (2022)

A Commanche girl isn't taken seriously as a hunter, but it is up to her to take on a new kind of alien menace (Spoiler: a predator)

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
07-08-2022
7.5

I mostly agree with the ecstatic reception it got

The native American setting makes it fresh, performances and action are pretty neat, and they wisely kept it simple and pure. But I did think it it was a bit predictable, and the overall tension was good but not exhilarating as might have been. I was sitting upright, but not on the edge of my seat.
7.5

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

Ad Astra

Astronaut sets off on a journey to make contact with his father, who was last seen at Neptune.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
07-10-2019
7.5

Works as a trip

Upon first viewing, I was put off by the apathetic Brad and a bunch of dissonant shenanigans in the story and space tech. But if you manage to just drift along with this dreamy, peculiar and beautiful space adventure, it can be quiet absorbing.
7.5

The Raid 2

Martial-arts wonderboy goes undercover to infiltrate the local mafia and gets involved in quite a bit of brawls and the powerstruggle between and within clans

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
02-02-2015
7.5

Ouch

Loaded with an insane amount of painful fighting, with faces cracked and banged against walls, bones snapped, and knives, hammers and bats smashing and hacking away. It gets you nauseous and uncomfortable. But my my, it is also expertly choreographed and shot.
7.5

Skyfall

This time it's an inside job aiming for M and MI6 headquarters

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
09-11-2013
7.5

Dark Bond

A solid, slick and quite dark episode. Something remains, however, that keeps Bond films from rising above being good.
7.5

À l'intérieur (inside)

A woman has a baby inside her belly and a stalker inside her home

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
01-01-2024
7.5

A very trilling home invasion flick, but not for the fainthearted

It's a unpleasant, painful, violent and - especially towards the end - quite gory movie that is probably too much for the most of us. But I have to say, as a home invasion movie it was very tense en gripping, and the feeling of desolation and hopelessness was very well done.
7.5

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation

The IMF team, suspended by the government, still carry on to take down a secret terror organisation

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
16-08-2015
7.5

Another solid episode

As always, these movies guarantee plenty of really solid slick and tense action. This one starts to lean towards a James Bond vibe, skimping on the outrageous impossible stunts. It's still fab, as long as you can take in the endless layers of "HAHA it was all part of some amazing plan!"
7.5

The Girl Next Door

The (sadly true) story of a girl under custody of an evil aunt, who tortures her to death in a basement, with many of the local kids joining in

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
26-10-2022
7.5

A painful story that needs to be told

This harrowing story is hard to watch, is made well and made me read into the backstory for sure. It feels inappropriate to even criticize it, but somehow it looses a few points because it really felt and experienced like a movie adaptation, creating some distance/shielding from the true horror.
7.5

Katla

In a small Icelandic town situated next to an active volcano, people that already exist or existed rise from the ashes

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
15-01-2023
7.5

Moody en interesting mystery

It can be a tad sluggish, and I sometimes became frustrated with the incomplete and vague way people talked. Mostly though, the story is intriguing, and the easy going pace combined the Icelandic setting created a lovely, mysterious glow.
7.5

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