Bria Lou Reviews

  I hadn't heard of this movie previously, and it wasn't until I put it on that I actually looked at the premise. I love traditional horror and this seemed like it was going in that direction, so I immediately wanted to get into it. I have mixed feelings about this film. For me, one of the most underrated forms of horror is hauntings, especially haunted houses. The ideas can be quite simple, but there's so much to play with and explore. There are so many amazing movies that use this concept, some of which I've really loved. I also liked the mystery element. It's really engaging to watch the characters try to solve the mystery of the house, especially because we want to find out the truth too. The movie itself is quite slow. Things take a while to happen, and the instances of hauntings start small. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but if your attention isn't captured at the beginning of the film, it may take a while to really gel with the story. Though the...

This last three months have felt really long for some reason. When I was going over things to add to this post there was so much to choose from! Favourite Movie (1): Obsession I loved this movie. I reviewed it here  and I really really loved it. I've only seen it once, so I hope I love it as much on second viewing, but it's definitely as good as everyone's saying it is! Favourite Movie (2): Voicemails for Isabelle This one came out on Netflix recently and I knew I would love it as soon as I read the description, so it's no surprise that it's here. I'll be reviewing it properly but I really loved it - definitely worth a watch if you're looking for a new romance movie! Favourite Movie (3): You, Me & Tuscany And the last one on the list that I still need to review. This is more rom-com than romance, and I had a really great time with it. I loved the leads, the story was great and it's a light easy watch. I definitely recommend it. Favourite TV Show (1):...

After wishing for his crush to finally love him back, Bear (Michael Johnston) is delighted when the wish comes true. But as his crush, Nikki (Inde Navarrette), falls deeper, Bear begins to realise that his wish has sinister consequences. The way this film completely took over social media, there was no way I couldn't see it. As much as I was excited for it, I was also kind of sceptical about all the praise. Thankfully, it was all warranted because I loved the movie! There's a lot to say about this film. While watching it, the first thing I noticed was the sense of unease. Even before you know what's really happening there's a feeling of discomfort and unease through the entire film. It was actually quite a stressful watch. We have no idea what's going to happen, we don't even understand fully what is happening. But without giving anything away, anticipation was what made up a lot of the scarier parts of the film, and this is what keeps you on the edge of your se...

  I'd never heard of this film before seeing it on the bucket list, but I absolutely loved the premise so I was looking forward to watching it. I loved this movie. I loved that the film was broken down into distinct stories. Not only does it make the story as a whole easier to digest, but they're short stories that are allowed to be fleshed out without needing to know about the backstories of the characters. I love that the film uses horror to explain and explore a lot of poignant political issues. In fact, I think horror is the perfect genre mix with politics, and this is an example of how to do it right. But let's get into the individual stories. The first story completely caught me off guard. I didn't know what the individual stories would be about, and this one started from a place that was so timely and uncomfortable and political, and it really set a tone for the rest of the film. And then it went in such an interesting direction. I didn't expect it to be as t...

After the death of her best friend, Eleanor (June Squibb) moves to New York. Desperate for community, she accidentally tells a lie that spirals out of control. I had been looking forward to seeing this film for such a long time. When I first saw the trailer I thought that it looked like such an interesting concept that could really pack a punch if it was done in the right way. I liked the film, but unfortunately it didn't pack the punch that I needed it to. It started in a great way. We get to know Eleanor really quickly, which is essential for a movie like this where we have to sympathise with her for it to work. The plot is genuinely insane, and I had a hard time working out whether or not it was in bad taste. I still don't really know, but an argument could definitely be made that it is. The cast is absolutely the best thing about the film, and they're all great. In particular, June Squibb is phenomenal in the role, but Erin Kellyman is almost equally fantastic, and is t...

  I'd never heard of this film before seeing it on the bucket list, but the fact that it's directed by Guillermo Del Toro made me very intrigued about it. I have mixed feelings about this one. It starts in an interesting place. We don't know anything about the characters at all but we're instantly invested in Carlos's story. He's easy to follow and sympathise with. The pacing feels slow and quick at the same time. The story itself is moving quickly, but a lot of time is spent setting the scene and allowing us to get to know the characters, which is great. The actual horror elements start slowly, which allows them to ramp up over time. But it does end up feeling longer than it is. There are definitely parts in the middle that don't feel 100% needed to tell the story. The horror elements are also quite few and far between, at least for the first half of the movie. The most interesting thing about the film is the characters. The story itself is somewhat interes...

  20 years after leaving her job at Runway, Andy (Anne Hathaway) is back. But after reuniting with old friends, old adversaries, and her old boss Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) she discovers exactly how much can change in two decades. The first movie is iconic, and absolutely one of my favourites, so I was really sceptical about this one from the very beginning. A sequel wasn't necessary, and there were so many ways that it could fall flat. And unfortunately, it did. I don't even know where to start. After getting back from the cinema I wrote down what I could remember, and a lot of it just ended up being things that I found really odd while watching.  So let's start with the reason for the sequel. When I love a sequel, especially if time has passed, it's because the filmmakers hit the sweet spot between giving me the characters I loved, but also making them develop enough that I feel like they've grown. That's what I needed from this film. And in some ways thi...

  I'd never heard of this film before, and the premise was quite vague, so I definitely felt like I was going in completely blind. This one wasn't for me. The best thing about short movies is that you don't have to wait long to get into the action. There's no time to make any initial judgments because you're quickly wrapped up in the story. The score gives the film more of a comedic undertone, and I don't know if that worked for me. I probably took it less seriously than I should have because of that. I found it really hard to stay interested in the story and characters. There was nothing that initially peaked my interest, so trying to find interest further down the line proved quite difficult. The story didn't really draw me in and I felt nothing for the characters. Despite the short runtime, the film feels longer than it is, mostly because the filmmakers make the most of their runtime. A lot happens, there's a lot of dialogue, it feels like it goes on ...

  This is another re-watch that I was really looking forward to seeing again. I've seen this a few times, but not for about 7ish years, so as well as I know the story, it still felt like I could come to this again with a somewhat fresh perspective. I like this film a lot. Re-watching this, it's clear how much it has influenced modern horror. There are so many iconic moments, scenes and lines that you'd know of regardless of whether or not you've actually seen the film. I loved that the film gets right into it. Less than 5 minutes in, we're seeing Carol Anne at the TV, and the horrors never really slow down from here. While the visuals are outdated when viewed from the lens of a modern audience, they were really original and inventive. Even ideas that have been used before and since this film, like clown dolls, feel extremely unique in the film. Some of the acting isn't great, but a lot of the actors do a good job and are really committed to their performances - ...

  As he gets closer to finally being released from prison, Taylor (David Jonsson) is given a new cellmate (Tom Blyth) that puts everything he's worked for in danger. I tend to quite like prison dramas, but a few of the ones I've seen have either hit me so deeply or been so average that it's not a genre I go back to with excitement. So I went into this one with a bit of trepidation. I liked this film, but I did think it would be a bit better than it was. One thing that stood out immediately was the found footage element. These clips were great and really added to the realism of the situation. From their first moments on screen together there was great chemistry between the leads. Jonsson and Blyth played off of each other really well and their relationship felt authentic. And they were both great in these roles. That being said, all of the actors felt authentic and added to the overall tone really well. The movie is shot in a unique way, there were so many interesting angles...

  This is a re-watch that I was really looking forward to. I watched it for the first time last year and really enjoyed it, so I was glad it was on the list! As with my first watch, I really like this film. It's great that the mystery was held for as long as it could be. The audience are in the same position as the characters, trying to work out what's actually happening, and as this is teased out to us, it is also teased out for them. As someone who's not always the biggest fan of sci-fi/horror, this film is the perfect blend of both genres. The visuals are so great. Not only do the creatures look unique and original, but they also look genuinely scary. They're really well designed and, at times, hard to look at. Outside of the horror aspect, it's really interesting to watch the group dynamics. To see the way their relationships change and they start to lose trust in each other as the events continue. Most of the characters get the chance to develop and it's re...

  When a family's chimpanzee becomes rabid, a group of friends has to fight for their survival. I can't lie, I love cheesy horror and creature features, so even before the film started I was feeling really positive about it. And thankfully I had such a good time! It's kind of exactly what you think it would be, in the best way. It was interesting that the film actually let us get to know the characters a bit. Usually in a film like this, the horror of the 'creature' is the most important thing and everything else falls to the side. While I don't think we necessarily needed as much information on the characters as we got, it was still nice to see. That being said, as much as we know about them, they're not as developed as they could be. This film is stupid decision central, which will have you rolling your eyes in frustration but is also actually quite fun to watch. It was a lot more tense than I thought it would be. This aspect of the film was done really we...

  I decided to watch and write about these films together due to them both being quite short, as well as the second being a direct sequel. Plus after watching The Bride!, I was really in the mood for more Frankenstein content! I liked these movies. First up is Frankenstein. As short as the film is, I was surprised by how long it took to really get into the story. It was interesting to get the background, but after watching so many adaptations, I just wanted to see where it would go. The film spends time letting us get to know the characters, and as great as this is, it takes a while to see or get to know the character we're actually here to meet. But when we do get to meet the creature, it's definitely worth the wait! The design of the creature is great. Simple for today's standards but it really works. It's an iconic image. But what makes it work so well are the movements and actions. The creature is played amazingly by Boris Karloff. If I had one criticism of the char...

  In 1930s Chicago, The Bride (Jesse Buckley) is created as a companion to Frankenstein's monster (Christian Bale). I'd heard mixed things about this film, most of it on the bad side, but I'm a fan of the Frankenstein story, and the actors involved were great, so this was always going to be on my watchlist. I understand the mixed reviews because my thoughts on the film are also mixed. The first word I wrote while reviewing this was 'weird'. That's not unusual for a Frankenstein movie, but this was weird even for Frankenstein! I really loved the character of Frankenstein's monster, or Frank, played by Bale. He's such a well written, interesting, actually quite sweet character and I loved watching him. Weirdly, as this film is about The Bride, this is probably my favourite depiction of Frankenstein's monster to date. And in contrast, I didn't feel much for the character of The Bride. She's not the one I remember when thinking about this film, a...

  Alone in her new home, Eve opens the door one night to a man with his family, claiming that he grew up in this very house, asking to look around for old times sake. As a people pleaser, Eve obliges. But once the family enter, strange things start happening, and Eve starts to lose her grip on reality. I feel like every book-tuber mentioned this book last year, and as I'm trying to get more into horror books, it was definitely high on my list. I loved this book. It felt scary from 3 pages in. We get right into the story from the second we open the book, and it pulls us in so well that we become invested immediately. I really liked Eve as a main character. Particularly at the beginning, she's somewhat easy to relate to, and her reactions feel authentic. Not that most people would do what she did in the first place, but you can sympathise with her and root for her. The author makes things feel scary effortlessly. Things are teased out really well, and the overall unsettling atmos...

  I'd never heard of this film before seeing it on the bucket list but the premise was really interesting. I liked this film. It took a while to get going, particularly knowing what the film is actually about. But it was great that this time was used to develop the characters and have the audience become really acquainted with them. Getting to know the characters really helps in terms of how interested and engaged the audience is, but even without knowing the main character that well this film is really engaging, particularly after about 30 minutes when we really get into it. There are some really interesting shots and techniques used here, particularly the split screen to show exactly how much time is passing. It allows the audience to build frustration and eagerness, which again adds to how engaging it is. I didn't expect the film to be so timely - it could be made today and be at least as relevant as it was at the time, if not moreso. The characters are great. Not only are t...

  A thief (Chris Hemsworth) and an insurance broker (Halle Berry) team up to pull off a huge heist, while being pursued by a detective (Mark Ruffalo). I was looking forward to this one. It took me a while to actually see it, but even though the premise seemed quite generic, the cast was interesting enough to generate excitement. I think the film was fine, nothing really special, but I definitely had fun with it, so it's worth a watch. At the start there was too much going on in quick succession. The audience doesn't get a chance to breathe, which is an interesting way to mirror the main characters' emotions, but it also makes your head spin. As mentioned, the cast is great. But I did feel about halfway through that it may have suffered from having too many power players fighting for the spotlight. I personally would have liked to have more depth from both Berry and Ruffalo's characters, I didn't get to know them as well as I would have liked. I found the first 40 mi...

  I hadn't seen this film in years before this re-watch, but I had seen the remake more recently, so I was looking forward to watching this one again. I liked this movie. Before you even get into the film itself, the concept of the film is so unique and engaging. It's a simple idea that's expanded on to the point that it becomes truly scary. The idea of most of the horror taking place in dreams means that the filmmakers can take many creative liberties involving the design of Freddy. He can look as fantastical as possible. And the design is truly iconic. Freddy is one of the most visually recognisable horror villains and it's not hard to work out why. While all of the acting wasn't amazing, the actors were great! I particularly loved seeing Lin Shaye in such an early role (particularly as it's been announced that a new Insidious movie is coming out this year!). But Heather Langenkamp was also great as Nancy, and of course Robert Englund is iconic as Freddy. It...

  I think everyone has probably heard of this movie before, but I'd never seen it so I was glad it was on the list. Despite being on the bucket list, the film wasn't really on my radar to watch until I saw a video recently where someone commented on how amazing the ending was. So after I saw that, I wanted to watch it as soon as I could. I loved this film. The premise is such an interesting one. The audience has an outsider's perspective, which makes things that much more intriguing because we have no idea who these characters were before the film started. We have to take everything at face value. It's so well written - a lot of the horror elements of the film come directly from the dialogue. The idea in itself is scary, but seeing and hearing the reactions of the characters makes it even scarier. The pacing is great - at 1/2 an hour in, so much has already happened. Things are teased out really slowly, and the situation escalates in a way that has you completely glued ...

  Ella McCay (Emma Mackey) struggles to balance her family relationships and marriage with her job as governor. I heard really bad things about this film when it came out, which felt weird for a film that seemed quite simple and inoffensive. But it definitely made me more intrigued to see it. In fact, I don't know that I would have seen it without hearing the negative reviews. I thought the film was fine. I didn't love it, but it definitely wasn't as bad as the reviews suggested. I was surprised by the cast, though - there were, oddly, some great people in the film, and I do wonder why they all said yes to it. It's not exactly original or ground-breaking. I found the time jumps at the start of the film too significant, considering that all of the actors looked exactly the same in all time periods. The biggest problem of the movie for me was that it was more a collection of scenes than an actual movie. Some of them didn't even feel connected to each other. The charac...

  This was a first-time watch. I'd heard of the film in passing, but not enough to know the general public consensus of it, or what it was actually about beyond the one major plot point. This was a weird one for me. I liked the film, but I also had a hard time engaging and connecting with it. It took a little while for the film to grab me. I was interested in what was happening but I felt like I was having to force myself to be interested, rather than this happening naturally. It also could be that I just wasn't in the right mood to watch it, which isn't something I experience that often. Because while I could enjoy what was happening, I struggled to stay engaged. The relationship between Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant) and Eli (Lina Leandersson) is the best part of the film. The actors play their parts amazingly well, especially because they were so young when they made the film. And it's the thing that makes the film stand out from other vampire movies - there's something ...

  American actor Phillip (Brendan Fraser) takes an unusual gig with a Japanese agency, playing stand-in roles for strangers. But he soon finds himself becoming too invested in his clients' lives, building relationships that blur the lines between personal and professional. I really liked this movie. The concept is really really interesting. I didn't quite get what it would be based on the description alone, but seeing the idea play out is fascinating, and I'd love to know if the job really exists. Brendan Fraser plays this character perfectly, and with complete authenticity. You become invested in the story so quickly because of this character, and how connected you feel to him. I really empathised with him and loved following him on this journey. But all of the actors are so great and play their parts so well. They have great chemistry, in particular, Fraser and Shannon Mahina Gorman, who plays Mia - their relationship was so special and powerful. One underrated thing that...