What To Watch in December!

[I review "Conclave," "We Live in Time," "Emilia Perez" and the documentary "Carol Doda Topless at the Condor."]

Conclave (2024)

An inside look at how a Pope is chosen - with some conspiracy and mystery thrown in.

The Pope has died so the College of Cardinals goes into seclusion for a papal conclave (that's what the process is called for choosing a new Pope) led by Cardinal-Dean Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes). And we get to be there as flies on the wall to an ancient and mysterious process that few know about.

The four men vying for Pope are Aldo Bellini (Stanley Tucci), an American liberal; Joshua Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati), a Nigerian with socially conservative views; Joseph Tremblay (John Lithgow), a Canadian mainstream conservative; and Goffredo Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto), an Italian traditionalist who wants to go back to the old ways - you know, services in Latin, no birth control, fish on Fridays, all of that.  But there is also a newcomer, someone unknown to the Cardinals - Archbishop Vincent Benitez (Carlos Diehz) of Kabul, who claims the late pope secretly made him a cardinal.  His arrival is strange because no one knew about him but particularly strange because Benitez is Mexican.  How did he end up as the Archbishop of Kabul?

There is mystery and drama afoot.

Bellini and Lawrence are the two leaders of the Church's liberal wing, but neither claims to want the papacy but it becomes clear that is not really true. As Lawrence leads the conclave, he learns about a mysterious medical appointment the former Pope made for Benitez in Switzerland that was later canceled.  He also learns that the pope demanded Tremblay's resignation hours before dying.  However, when confronted, Tremblay vigorously denies this. Then a secret is revealed about Adeyemi and Head nun, Sister Agnes (Isabella Rossellini), plays a pivotal role, sharing a secret with Lawrence.  And there is more - a bribery for votes allegation, a suicide bomber attack on the Vatican, and a huge twist you won't see coming!

Who knew there was so much drama around electing a Pope?

Drama, indeed.  Based on the book by Robert Harris adapted for the screen by Peter Straughan, this is one of the best dramas of the year and one could say it's an allegory for the world's current political climate, conservative vs. progressive.

I have been in love with Ralph Fiennes ever since "The English Patient."  No one broods like Ralph.  And he has lots to brooder over here. He is also surrounded by an ensemble cast of wonderful actors and the film is highlighted by brilliant cinematography thanks to Stephane Fontaine. Directed by Edward Berger, this movie has Oscar written all over it.

Rosy the Reviewer says...who knew a papal conclave could be so riveting and exciting, but it is and with that a huge twist at the end, I was speechless, something I rarely am, but, when it was revealed... Kaboom!  Mic drop!  This film is not to be missed! One of the best of the year! (Streaming for free on Peacock and also available for rent or purchase on various other streaming platforms)

We Live in Time (2024)

Tobias (Andrew Garfield) and Almut (Florence Pugh) "meet cute" and fall in love... and then she gets sick.

On his way to sign divorce papers, Tobias is hit by a car driven by Almut, an up-and-coming chef. They fall in love but then Almut discovers she has ovarian cancer.  But she gets treatment, the cancer goes into remission and she and Tobias are able to have a child.

A few years later, Almut is now head chef at her own high end restaurant, and Tobias and Almut are living in the countryside with daughter, Ella, but then Almut's cancer returns.  She doesn't want to undergo treatment again, wishing to live "six to eight amazing months" rather than months of chemotherapy, but when Tobias proposes marriage, she decides to undergo treatment. At the same time, Almut is invited to participate in the Bocuse d'Or, a prestigious cooking competition, a challenge that conflicts with her treatment and her wedding and, when confronted about this by Tobias, Almut says she wants her daughter to remember her as an accomplished chef rather than a sick and dying woman.

Written by Nick Payne and directed by John Crowley, the film weaves together the past and present in flashbacks and flashforwards that could be confusing to some viewers - Tobias and Almut meeting "cute," if being hit by a car by your future love interest could be considered "meeting cute;" their romance before her cancer diagnosis; the birth of Ella; and Almut's career as a chef and participation in the Bocuse d'Or cooking competition. So there is something here to satisfy those who like love stories; something for those who like drama; something for those who appreciate good acting; something for you foodies out there; and plenty of tears to be jerked if you are hooked on tearjerkers.

But this is not a movie wallowing in sadness. Yes, this is one of those "dying woman love stories," but what sets it apart from most is that Almut refuses to be defined as a dying woman and instead continues with her life right up until the end.

I couldn't get over how much Florence Pugh reminded me of Kate Winslet. Not just in looks but in getting her kit off (that's Britspeak for taking off one's clothes) as did Kate (she was even kind of known for that). I have always been a Florence Pugh fan but not so much Andrew Garfield, probably because I wasn't that into Spiderman but then he did "tick, tick...boom" and I was in.  And here he does a good job as a charismatic romantic lead. Pugh and Garfield have chemistry and are great together.

Rosy the Reviewer says...despite a cringey birthing scene in a gas station toilet, this is a poignant love story about living your life fully right up until the end. (available to rent on Amazon Prime and Apple+) 

Emilia Perez (2024)

The story of four Mexican women who are each seeking to find their own happiness: Emilia Perez (Karla Sofia Gascon), an ex-cartel leader who fakes her own death; Rita Mora Castro (Zoe Saldana), an underappreciated lawyer who gets caught up in Emilia's life; Jessi (Selena Gomez), Emilia's ex; and Epifania (Adriana Paz), a once abused wife who enters into a relationship with Emilia - and it's a musical!

Against her conscience, Rita defends a prominent media figure's wife accused of murder, arguing the death was a suicide.  Soon after winning the case, Rita is asked by cartel kingpin Juan "Manitas" Del Monte to help him fake his own death after having sex reassignment surgery so he can start a new life as a woman.  Rita finds him a doctor and he pays Rita a huge amount of money.  Meanwhile, his wife, Jessi, and his children are moved to Switzerland for their own safety. After the surgery, Manitas begins a new life as Emilia Perez.

But wait just a minute.  This is not going to be one of those happily ever after stories. Think of this as a telenovela (even though this movie is very French), one of those over-the-top Latin American soap operas, but with music. 

So four years later, Emilia's and Rita's paths cross in London...and not by chance.  Emilia misses her children, so Emilia once again asks Rita to help her by arranging to bring Jessi and the children back to Mexico City to live with Emilia, telling Jessi that Emilia is a distant cousin of Manitas and Emilia wants to help Jessi raise the children. Jessi is skeptical but acquiesces because she wants to reunite with Gustavo Brun (Edgar Ramirez), an ex-lover.  Unbelievably, Jessi doesn't recognize Emilia (but, hey, this is a telenovela).  All goes well for a time when Emilia wants to reunite with her family and make restitution for her life as Manitas, using her connections for good by setting up a nonprofit to help find "the disappeared," and to identify bodies of cartel victims. Through that, Emilia meets Epifania, a woman whose abusive husband's remains were identified and the two begin a relationship.

But then all hell breaks loose! It doesn't end well.  But you knew that.  

As I said, this is a sort of telenovela with an original plot, excellent acting, lush cinematography (thanks to cinematographer Paul Guilhaume), music and even some humor! The scene where Rita interviews a sex reassignment doctor in Bangkok is a hoot! 

Does everything work? No, but I have immense respect for movies that try to do something new and to take risks.  This is like something you have never seen before. 

Karla Sofía Gascón is amazing, playing both Manitas and Emilia.  You would never guess it was a woman playing Manitas. And Gascon herself is transgender, beginning her transgender transformation in 2018. Selena Gomez is everywhere these days, starring in the popular series "Only Murders in the Building" as well as this, and she has a single coming out that her over 700 million followers on social media will no doubt embrace.  And did you know she is a billionaire? But this role as the horny ex-wife of Manitas will surprise everyone.  It's a departure for her.  No more the young Disney star. Adriana Paz is also good in a smaller role, but Saldana dominates as she is in almost every scene and is the character that connects everyone. She is outstanding. These four women won the Best Actress Prize as an ensemble at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and the film, loosely based on the book "Ecoute" by Boris Rason and adapted and directed by Jacques Audiard, won the Jury Prize.

Rosy the Reviewer says...Wow!  A unique and poignant musical film experience, a feast for the eyes and ears, not to be missed.   (In Spanish with English subtitles on Netflix)

 

Carol Doda Topless at the Condor (2023)

A documentary about Carol Doda, who in San Francisco in 1964 became the first dancer to go topless. She became a tourist attraction as famous as The Golden Gate Bridge!

I moved to San Francisco in 1970, the day after I graduated from college in Michigan. I knew I had missed the Summer of Love, but after seeing this documentary, I realized I missed way more than that.  San Francisco was hopping starting in the early 60's when it was the center of the Bohemian movement and free love.

So there I was, a little virgin Michigan girl...well, a virgin when it came to living in a big city...and as I explored San Francisco's famous North Beach neighborhood, I couldn't avoid Carol Doda. A billboard highlighting her "assets" decorated The Condor Club on the corner of Broadway and Columbus (and it's still there).  North Beach was, and still is, a happening place.  It was where all of the nightclubs were but also the Italian restaurants, comedy clubs and Lawrence Ferlinghetti's famous book store, City Lights. 

So who was Carol Doda? 

She started out as a waitress but she also liked to dance and then Rudi Gernreich invented the topless bathing suit and that opened the flood gates. Doda was the first dancer to appear topless in the United States, and "Topless" became a thing. Everything was topless including topless ice cream shops and topless shoe shines (back when there actually were shoe shines). And Doda embraced it. Doda had said "I want to be in show business and I don't know any way except to show my boobs."  And so she did. Her act at The Condor became the place to go. 

  

And who said size doesn't matter?

Carol was a beautiful woman, but her breasts were not gigantic by any means so she set about making them so through silicone injections. Not recommended today.  Silicone injections were outlawed in 1992.  But for a time, it worked and Doda's breasts were the stars of the show at The Condor. She also danced "bottomless," as in totally nude until that was outlawed in 1972.  She retired from stripping in the 1980's but continued to entertain into her 70's. Little known factoid: Doda Dome in Yosemite National Park was named for her.

But for all of the titillation (sorry), there is a feminist twist here.  Doda said she was one of the original "bra burners"...wink...wink...but at the same time, she did take control of her life, did what she wanted with her body and there was a certain empowerment in that.

Rosy the Reviewer says...written and directed by Marlo McKenzie and Jonathan Parker, this is an interesting little tidbit in the history of San Francisco. (Amazon Prime)

                                      See you next time!

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to like it and share it on Facebook, X, or other sites; email it to your friends and/or follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rosythereviewer where I share short reviews about TV shows I am watching, books I am reading and all sorts of other fun stuff that doesn't appear here!

And next time you are wondering whether or not to watch a particular film, check out my reviews on IMDB (The International Movie Database). Go to IMDB.com, find the movie you are interested in.  Scroll over to the right of the synopsis to where it says "Critics Reviews" - Click on that and if I have reviewed that film, you will find Rosy the Reviewer alphabetically on the list (NOTE:  IMDB keeps moving stuff around so if you don't find "Critics Reviews" where I am sending you, look around.  It's worth it)!

What I Watched in November - Movie Picks and Pans

[I review the new movie about SNL - "Saturday Night" - as well as the documentary "Child Star" and two comedy specials: "Jim Gaffigan: The Skinny" and "Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval."]

The following isn't really all I watched in November.  I was on a horror kick earlier in the month so in case you missed my post "Giving Some Respect to Horror Films - Some New Ones You Might Enjoy!" - here it is again.

Now on with the rest of the month!

Saturday Night (2024)

Can you believe it's been almost 50 years since "Saturday Night Live" came on the air?  Well, it wasn't called "Saturday Night Live" at the beginning and it almost didn't happen.  Here is the story.

It's October 11, 1975 and producer Lorne Michaels (Gabriel LaBelle) is worried about the first episode of his show "Saturday Night," which is supposed to air on NBC that night. There is 90 minutes until air time, and there is all kinds of dysfunction behind the scenes. Michael's boss, Dick Ebersol (Cooper Hoffman), warns him that NBC executive, Dave Tebet (Willem Defoe), who has no faith in the show and would rather play a "Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" rerun, has brought other executives from across the country to watch the show and there is an NBC censor on hand trying to cut the sketches. But despite the chaos, Michaels is determined to make this show happen because he believes it is historic, the first show created and produced by the first generation of TV watchers.

There is also dysfunction within the cast, The Not Ready for Primetime Players.

Garrett Morris (Lamorne Morris), whose background is opera and musical theatre, wonders what he is doing in a comedy show; John Belushi (Matt Wood) hasn't signed his contract, is hard to get along with and storms off, threatening to quit; Jim Henson (Nicholas Braun) doesn't like how he is being treated by the writers; Paul Shaffer (Paul Rust) is getting high; Chevy Chase (Cory Michael Smith) is already showing signs of his soon-to-be-well-known arrogance and gets into it with Milton Berle (J.K. Simmons); Dan Aykroyd (Dylan O'Brien) tries to be helpful; Gilda Radner (Ella Hunt) is, well, Gilda Radner, though she is downplayed a bit here and Andy Kaufman (also played by Nicholas Braun) is, well, Andy Kaufman; Laraine Newman (Emily Fairn), Jane Curtin (Kim Matula) and Billy Crystal (Nicholas Podany) are hanging about with not a lot to do;  and host George Carlin (Matthew Rhys) just thinks the show is a mess. Thank goodness Lorne's wife, Rosie Shuster (Rachel Sennott) is on hand to help calm him down (and it's good to see her get some credit for her creative contributions to the show).

Is the show going to be a hit?  Is it even going to get on the air?

For you younger folks out there, early "Saturday Night Live" was very different from today. First of all, it was called "NBC's Saturday Night." I think the show was also much edgier and stranger than it is today. I mean there were killer bees, land sharks, aliens and the dark humor that head writer, Michael O'Donoghue (Tommy Dewey) brought to the show.  In the first episode, he plays an English-language teacher, trying to teach John Belushi's character to speak English by repeating the phrases, "I would like to feed your fingertips to the wolverines. We are out of badgers. Would you accept a wolverine in its place?" and "Hey! Ned exclaimed, Let's boil the wolverines" before suddenly dropping dead of a heart attack. O'Donoghue also cultivated the persona of the grim "Mr. Mike," a coldly decadent figure who told comically dark "Least-Loved Bedtime Stories" such as "The Little Engine that Died."  And later, there was "Mr. Bill," a claymation figure created by Walter Williams, who went through various indignities and torture at the hands of "Mr. Hands" and Bill's "best friend," Sluggo. When Mr. Bill would get dismembered he would cry, "Ooooh, nooooo" in a falsetto voice. Some very strange but fun stuff. 

I have a very fond affection for SNL.

I watched it from the very beginning.  I had just gotten my first professional job as a librarian and was living and working in a very rural area of Northern California, and let's just say, I'm not much of a rural girl. There was no stop light in the town, not even a McDonalds! Watching SNL with it's offbeat, sophisticated humor gave me the bright lights of the big city that I needed. 

The ensemble cast are mostly unknowns but they channel the original Saturday Night cast well, and the film, written by Gil Kenan and Jason Reitman and directed by Reitman, despite some missteps (there is a strange bit about a brick floor) captures the behind the scenes ups and downs and the stress and excitement of an opening night in real time, until finally, Chevy Chase announces "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night."  The rest is history. Saturday night would never be the same again.

Rosy the Reviewer says...it's a chaotic, often fun romp, but perhaps not for everyone as it might not resonate with those who don't remember the original cast members. But for those of us who were there from the beginning, it brings back memories. (In theatres and for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime)  

Child Star (2024)

What being a child star does to you.

Directed by Nicola Marsh and former child star, Demi Lovato, this documentary examines the trials and tribulations of some of our most famous child stars: Lovato, Drew Barrymore, Raven-Symone, Christina Ricci and others.  I was particularly interested in Kenan Thompson.  I kept wondering what he was doing in the film.  I knew he was a "Saturday Night Live" cast member but didn't realize he had been a child star before that, starring in Nickelodeon's "All That" and "Kenan and Kel" as a teen. 

Many child stars have not fared well.  Shirley Temple, one of the most famous child stars ever, never really made it as an adult actress.  Jackie Coogan was a child star in silent films, often with Charlie Chaplin, and grew up to discover his parents had spent all of his money, resulting in the "California Child Actor's Bill," aka the "Coogan Law," which protects the earnings of child actors.  And several child stars, like Dana Plato who starred on "Diff'rent Strokes" and Rusty Hamer, who starred on "Make Room For Daddy," have had tragic deaths.

This film weaves historical background and interviews with the now adult stars together to paint a picture of the highs and lows of being a child star and, though there are definitely some benefits to fame as a child, the lows can be very low. Some of them had a very rough time, dealing with eating disorders, drug addiction and financial pressures from their families. We hear their personal journeys and experiences in the film industry. Director Chris Columbus, who produced "Home Alone" and the first two Harry Potter movies, also weighs in, sharing details about castings and the impact that fame has on the lives of young actors.

Since this is Lovato's film, she is the focus, sharing her life experiences as a child actor on "Barney & Friends" and on the Disney Channel. Drew Barrymore is also highlighted, and it's good to see she has done well with her talk show, though how she ever got a talk show, I will never know.  For some reason, she has always annoyed me.  Perhaps it's her earnestness which generates a self importance that is off-putting, but I know she had a rough childhood with parents who let her smoke dope with them at 10 and dragged her to clubs.  So I know I shouldn't be so judgmental about her.  But being a child star isn't all bad either. The interview with Christina Ricci is particularly poignant as she shares her story of her abusive home life and how going to the set each day and acting was actually a haven for her.

Written by Dani Sloane, this is an earnest film that perhaps goes on a bit long with no new revelations - I mean, we get it, show business can be brutal, especially for children - and the film can be a bit precious at times - it's obviously a passion project for Lovato who seeks to help others - but all-in-all, some interesting insights about growing up famous and, let's just say that Nickelodeon and Disney don't come out looking very child friendly.

Rosy the Reviewer says...for all of us, who as a child yearned to be a star, perhaps we dodged a bullet! (Hulu)

Jim Gaffigan: The Skinny (2024)

Taped at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston comic Jim Gaffigan gives the "skinny" on everything from his weight loss to raising teens to beards.

Known as a "clean" comic, Jim Gaffigan has been making people laugh for over 25 years with his self-deprecating and observational humor ranging from food to topics of the day to his wife and five kids, and this comedy special is no exception.  It made me laugh. 

Gaffigan addresses his dramatic weight loss at the beginning of the set. “I don’t know if you know, I’m normally a fat guy,” he says. “But since I’ve lost all this weight, now I’m just arrogant.”

Food has always been a hot topic for Gaffigan but now he has lost weight and don't accuse him of being on Ozempic....he's on Mounjaro!  But he is keeping his fat clothes because he says he's not a fool.  He sees the clothes in the closet and they taunt him "You'll be back!"

He also riffs on Viagra (it started as a blood pressure medicine until it's...uh...side effects became known); the difficulty of coming up with an acceptable password (he gets writer's block trying to come up with the letters, numbers and symbols that will be accepted passwords); how he doesn't understand the stock market even though he majored in finance in college; and why beards are important (a man looks in the mirror and says "I need to hide this!").  

But his main material is his wife and five children. 

"Children are the only thing we remove from our bodies... and then keep!"

"My kids' friends see me as an Uber driver and they have requested a silent ride."

"Being a Dad is like being a back-up quarterback.  When you are brought into the game people are nervous."

But with Gaffigan, it's not just his jokes. It's also his delivery that makes them funny.

Gaffigan is everywhere these days.  He played Tim Walz on SNL, he has starred in the movie "Unfrosted" and is touring with Jerry Seinfeld.  And he deserves this success. There is a reason he is my favorite comedian. He is a very funny guy.

Rosy the Reviewer says...a fun 60 minutes that will take your mind off of your troubles. Did I say he is a very funny guy? (Hulu)

Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval (2024)

Ellen performing at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, August 2024, in a comedy special that she has stated will be the end of her public career as a comedian...and sadly, this one wasn't funny.

First of all, I have to say I have always been a huge Ellen fan.  I loved her dry, dead-pan humor and her talk show, though I could do without her dancing in the audience. I thought she was hilarious and she always made me laugh.  Not this time. Calling this a comedy special is a huge overstatement. Too bad she isn't going out with a lot of laughs.

Remember how Ellen would always end her show with "Be kind to one another?"  Well, when she was accused of being a bully by members of her talk show staff, it ended her show and, according to her, she was "kicked out of show business." She clearly hasn't gotten over what happened and has a major bone to pick. This is less a comedy stand-up and more of a rant about what she has been through and how unfair it all was.  She spends most of the 70 minutes going over those 2020 bullying accusations and, though she was trying to be funny, there wasn't a laugh to be had. If she hadn't already been "kicked out of show business," after this, she surely would have been.

Don't get me wrong, I feel for her, but you know the old saying, "Where there's smoke, there's fire?"  Though I don't think she is a mean person, she herself admits she is a perfectionist and has OCD, so I think it's fairly likely there were some on her staff who might have felt bullied or at least put upon. 

But you know what, Ellen? The show must go on.  I don't think it's over for you.  Someone who had to do what you did to make it in the world of stand-up isn't likely to sit on the sidelines.  I wish you well and I think we will see you again.

Rosy the Reviewer says...but cringeworthy.  Sorry, Ellen, I didn't approve. (Netflix)

See you next time!

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to like it and share it on Facebook, X, or other sites; email it to your friends and/or follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rosythereviewer where I share short reviews about TV shows I am watching, books I am reading and all sorts of other fun stuff that doesn't appear here!

And next time you are wondering whether or not to watch a particular film, check out my reviews on IMDB (The International Movie Database). Go to IMDB.com, find the movie you are interested in.  Scroll over to the right of the synopsis to where it says "Critics Reviews" - Click on that and if I have reviewed that film, you will find Rosy the Reviewer alphabetically on the list (NOTE:  IMDB keeps moving stuff around so if you don't find "Critics Reviews" where I am sending you, look around.  It's worth it)!

Giving Some Respect to Horror Films - Some New Ones You Might Enjoy!

[I review the horror films "The Substance," "Abigail," and "Night Swim"]

I think I have mentioned this before but in case you missed it, I enjoy the occasional horror film, and I don't feel that the horror film genre gets the respect it deserves. 

Did you know that only one horror film has ever won an Oscar for Best Picture and that was "The Silence of the Lambs," way back in 1992, and one could argue that is really not a horror film. Yes, some horrific scenes but not a horror film in the classic sense.  Likewise, few horror films have won awards for acting and only three for visual effects.  Even with wonderful visual effects, horror films are often written off as low art and second-rate, when in fact, they can be thought-provoking, cathartic, funny even, and often explore important themes such as mental health and racism and the sometimes scary thoughts that we have to deal with in our everyday lives, like what if you run into a zombie or your mother-in-law?  I kid.

But horror films fill a niche. Sometimes we just need a few jump scares to get us out of our comfort zones, shake us up a bit, and get us thinking.  Believe it or not, horror films often have a moral to the story that makes us go "Mmm."

So I am here to share with you some horror films that are worth watching for just those reasons.

The Substance (2024)

Not looking as youthful as you would like?  Well, why not make a younger version of yourself? Literally.

I think that Demi Moore has been one of our most underrated actresses.  Yes, she has starred in acclaimed movies like "Ghost" and "A Few Good Men," but no one has really raved about her acting.  And I don't think it helped that she was an early member of "The Brat Pack," a dismissive term coined by a journalist to put those upstart young actors in their place.

But now Demi gets her moment and what a moment it is, albeit a bit disturbing.

Elisabeth Sparkle (Moore) is an Oscar-winning actress with a star on Hollywood Boulevard.  Her acting career has waned and now she is the star of a long-running aerobics TV show (remind you of anyone?), but that star is also fading, and on her 50th birthday, she is unceremoniously fired from her show and Harvey (Dennis Quaid), her boss, makes no bones about the fact that he is firing her because she is OLD. 

While driving home, Elisabeth is in a major car crash. At the hospital, a young male nurse gives her a flash drive advertising "The Substance," a black market serum that generates a "younger, more beautiful, more perfect" version of oneself. After some deliberation, Elisabeth orders "The Substance" and injects the single-use activator serum, resulting in a much younger version of herself that emerges from a slit in her back in what I would say was one of the most disturbing film moments since that little creature burst out of John Hurt's chest in "Alien."

So now there is Elisabeth and her younger version, Sue (Margaret Qualley).  For this to work, Elisabeth must transfer her consciousness between the bodies every seven days without exception, while the inactive body remains unconscious. The other self also requires daily injections of a "stabilizer" to prevent deterioration. 

Wouldn't you know, Elisabeth's "other self," Sue, gets Elisabeth's old aerobics TV show and the new TV show skyrockets her to fame, and she is eventually selected to host a major New Year's Eve show. Sue enjoys a confident and hedonistic lifestyle, while Elisabeth becomes more and more reclusive.

And Sue wants to continue her happy life so she is more and more reluctant to play by the rules and one night gives Elisabeth extra stabilizer fluid to keep her asleep longer.  When Elisabeth awakes, she finds that her finger has aged.  When she calls the supplier to complain, she is warned that staying as Sue longer than the seven days will result in rapid aging of her original self.  And even though the two entities are supposed to be one, both personas see themselves as separate and start to resent each other.  

You can see where this is going. All hell breaks loose in what could be described as gut wrenching - again, literally.  If you have a squeamish stomach, the blood and guts that ensue might upset you.  But, hey, it's a horror film.

All kinds of horror films are referenced here from Sue being a sort of Frankenstein's monster to a bloody moment reminiscent of "Carrie" to a long hallway that keeps showing up reminding us of "The Shining" to Elisabeth's body aging as Sue gets stronger, hints of "The Picture of Dorian Gray."

All of this and more is thanks to the gifts of Coralie Fargeat, who wrote the screenplay and directed this in-your-face reminder of how women are objectified and told "Pretty girls should always smile," and when they reach a certain age and are no longer considered "pretty," especially in the world of show business, they are often invisible and discarded. And when I say, in-your-face, the close-ups Fargeat chooses are mesmerizing and add to the horror.  More and more, this kind of camera work is being used to create tension in films and it works.  

As for Demi, I couldn't help but wonder what she was thinking making this film as a no-longer-young movie star herself, dealing with the same issues as Elisabeth. Though she still looks great, she is no longer the young in-demand ingenue she once was as fewer and fewer roles are available to women of a certain age in Hollywood. She also lost her much younger husband to a much younger actress, so I couldn't help but wonder if playing this role was liberating or depressing?  But I give Demi credit for letting herself "age" in the film, and I would say her fantastic performance is her revenge, and I hope an Oscar nomination is in the cards for her. Margaret Qualley, the daughter of Andie MacDowell, is also wonderful in this.  She has never looked more beautiful.

I have to say that the film is a bit too long and the ending is horrifically over the top - kind of lost me - and I think I said out loud, "Oh my God!"  But hey, it's a horror film. And speaking of Oscars, the make-up people should get nominations.  When you watch the ending, you will know what I mean.

So what's the moral? There is an obsession with youth and beauty and women are held to a standard they can't live up to and trying to stave off aging by making a deal with the devil can be a horror story.

Rosy the Reviewer says...if you like psychological horror, this is for you because it will definitely get in your head (but brace yourself for some stomach-churning scenes). (For rent of purchase on Amazon Prime or Apple+)

Abigail (2024)

Be careful who you kidnap!

Young ballet dancer Abigail's (Alisha Weir) father is Kristof Lazaar (Matthew Goode), a powerful crime lord.  She is abducted by a band of baddies consisting of Joey (Melissa Barrera), a former Army medic and recovering drug addict; Frank (Dan Stevens), a former NYPD detective; Sammy (Kathryn Newton), a hacker born into money who is just into crime for the thrills; Rickles (William Catlett), a former Marine; the not-too-bright Peter (Kevin Durand); and psychopath, Dean (Angus Cloud).  They take Abigail to a creepy, secluded mansion where they meet Lambert (Giancarlo Esposito), the mastermind behind the plan to ransom Abigail for $50 million.  You might make the connection between the baddies names. No one is supposed to know each other's real names so Lambert names each of them after members of Sinatra's Rat Pack.

Joey is chosen to watch over Abigail. She feels sorry for Abigail and bonds with her, promising Abigail that she will protect her. Abigail shares that her father doesn't really care about her and will not pay the ransom. Joey no longer likes the kidnapping plan because she didn't realize that Abigail was a child.  Uh-oh. There is also something else about Abigail she didn't realize.

When Dean is attacked and Sammy finds Dean's decapitated corpse (and it's not pretty), the group realizes that their hiding place has been discovered and they think that Lazaar's famed enforcer, Valdez, is inside the house (he was famous for mutilation and decapitation). Rickles decides he is outta there but when he tries to leave, they realize they are trapped.  

And then Abigail reveals her real self and her revenge plot.

Let the vampire violence and mutilation begin!

Alisha Weir's face is soulful and poignant until it's not. Each member of the ensemble cast has a different role that provides drama as well as comic relief and you mostly care as each one is killed off in a creative way a la Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None" plot device.  Well, almost all of them are killed off.  It's fun to see Dan Stevens who was my favorite "Downton Abbey" character (he was Matthew Crawley). He seems to have made a career for himself playing villains and in this - geez - he is about as far from Matthew Crawley as one could get.

Written by Stephen Shields and Guy Busick and directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the film is slow to get going by horror movie standards, but once it does get going, it's non-stop scary moments and over-the-top blood and gore for the next hour. Though the plot gets very convoluted, the ballet theme mixed in with the blood and guts is fun and the film provides tense moments and solid production values that make for a satisfying, if grisly, experience that fans of vampire horror films will enjoy. But it was intense. I actually put my hands over my face a couple of times and when the first body blew up into blood and guts, I said "Ick" and when the second one did the same thing I said, "Oh my God" out loud, and I was all by myself. But I definitely had a bit of catharsis!

So what's the moral?  Sometimes good deeds are rewarded and some exploding bodies can provide catharsis, especially in these challenging times.

Rosy the Reviewer says...if you like your horror with some blood and gore as well as funny banter, this is for you! (Peacock)

Night Swim (2024)

A new thing to worry about.  Murderous pools!

In 1992, a young girl, Rebecca Summers (Ayazhan), goes out to her family pool one night to retrieve a toy boat belonging to her sick little brother. While she tries to get the boat, something in the pool pulls her underwater.

Flash forward to the present day, the Waller family—Ray (Wyatt Russell), Eve (Kerry Condon), and children Izzy (Amelie Hoeferle) and Elliot (Gavin Warren)—move to a new neighborhood after Ray has been forced to retire from his baseball career due to MS. They decide to purchase a house with a swimming pool in the backyard, especially after hearing that the pool would be good for Ray’s condition. Gee. Do you think it's the same pool where little Rebecca was pulled under the water and died?

Duh.  

As he spends more time in the pool as part of his therapy, Ray seems to be getting better, but at the same time, Ray's personality is changing and he is acting strangely and there also seems to be something scary in the pool attacking the children. At this point, I would think Ray and Eve should have a conversation about moving. Instead, they have a pool party, that, well, doesn't go well. And then they learn about little Rebecca. 

Tracking down the Summers family, Eve meets with Lucy (Jodi Long), Rebecca's mother. Lucy reveals the pool's malevolent history.  

So what will happen? 

This is your typical "family in jeopardy" horror film, but it's also a sort of "Jaws" but for pools.  And I thought I was afraid of water because I couldn't swim. Never worried about murderous pools.

Written and directed by Bryce McGuire and produced by my favorite horror producer, Jason Blum and his crew at Blumhouse Productions, whose films run the gamut from glossy, high budget scary films starring big names ("Get Out") to comedy horror ("Happy Death Day") to low-budget films starring relative unknowns like this one (though Russell is Goldie Hawn's and Kurt Russell's son and Condon was an Oscar nominee for her performance in "The Banshees of Inisherin"), this one is 99 minutes of suspense, fun jump scare moments (you might never want to play Marco Polo again) and great underwater photography. Blum is a genius at producing films that turn the normal, everyday lives of people into horror stories.

So what's the moral?  Sometimes you have to make sacrifices for those you love...big ones.

Rosy the Reviewer says... if you can't stomach children in jeopardy, this one might be a difficult one for you, but hey...it's a horror film...you are supposed to be creeped out!  And now here is something new to be scared of.  Demon pools! (Amazon Prime)

See you next time!

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