The nature of films, and indeed all media, means that comparisons are almost inevitable and it’s important to remember that just because a film isn’t as good as a similar films, that doesn’t mean it itself is a bad film. Case in point, Pilgrimage comes across as a mix between Valhalla Rising and Silence, without the visual trip of the former or the heaviness of the latter, but still within it’s own rights is an enjoyable and interesting examination of faith.
I’m gonna take some cues from Walter White and tread lightly on this review, part of what makes Killing Ground so great is how it utilizes a unique narrative technique in order to tell its story. In doing so, allow itself to hit some really disturbing and sickening moments that other horror films wouldn’t go near. This is gonna be a must for genre fans, but go in blind to get the full effect of what the film wants to put you through.
At the time of writing I’ve sat on The Dark Mile for just over a full day trying to work out my thoughts on the film. Not that I didn’t like it, in fact, it’s probably the best film I’ve seen at this year’s Festival so far. It’s an experience that I guarantee will piss a lot of people off and trying to recommend it is going to prove difficult, due to the film’s own encouragement that “the less you know the better.”
With TV currently in it’s Golden Age, a lot of genres have proven to work better with a long-form series rather than a one-off entry; case in point, crime thriller with the likes of Fargo and Twin Peaks making the most of their extended run-time. I bring this up because while it’s very easy to tell when a movie needs to be cut shorter, new Alaskan thriller Sweet Virginia is one of those rare films that could benefit from being longer.
God’s Own Country has been described as Yorkshire’s answer to Brokeback Mountain which I think is doing both films a disservice. Brokeback was more of a period piece, dealing with the love of two men in a society that hated them, whereas God’s Own Country tackled a much more personal story about the love between two men when one of them hates themselves. It tackles self-destruction with a deft hand that evokes Mike Leigh’s work, but with a modern sensibility towards homosexual sex and romance.
Cinephellas 