Bria Lou Reviews

  I hadn't heard of this film before the bucket list, and the premise was a bit vague so it felt like going in blind. Unfortunately I didn't love this one. This is a 1973/4 movie, but even for the 70s, everything feels old-fashioned. And it doesn't seem that this was a stylistic choice; it wasn't set further in the past. If I had to guess the time period I would have said much earlier. We're thrown into the story with not much context. We don't know who we're following or why, which is a positive and negative. On the one hand, we're able to understand the main character's frame of mind because she's also in a new place with no context for what the town is. But on the other hand, it makes it harder to get into the story. And for me it was hard to get into for quite a while. The film is at its best when it really leans into the horror. Sometimes subtle horror really works, but for this one in particular I would have preferred much more overt horror...

  When podcast host Evy (Nina Kiri) is sent recordings of a couple's paranormal encounters, she soon discovers that the encounters mirror her own. Horror movies have been getting great word of mouth lately, there are at least four that I've heard great things about, this being one of them, so it was immediately on the to-watch list. I liked this movie, but there are definitely some issues with it. It's really interesting to have a horror movie focused so much on sound. A lot of the atmosphere is created from what we can hear rather than what we see, which makes things incredibly unique. That being said, the shots also do a good job of creating this unsettling feeling that's present throughout the movie. Filming from afar and behind works really well for a film like this, with a single location. It means that, even though we're mostly in one room, it never feels claustrophobic or boring. The varying lighting changes also help with this. Having both a single location ...

  I'd seen this film a few times before this re-watch, but it had been a good few years so I was looking forward to seeing it again. I liked this film. The cast of the film is great. Gregory Peck and Lee Remick are fantastic in their roles, but Henry Spencer Stephens is fantastic as Damien. The film rests on his performance and it really works because of how authentic he feels in the role. I loved the feel of the film. You could watch two minutes of any scene and know that it's a 70s movie. In an era where a lot of films look the same, it's great to watch older movies and see how distinct they feel to their decade. It's really well written - the way things are teased out slowly is really impactful. As the viewer, due to how iconic the movie is, even on a first watch we know exactly who and what Damien is. But the fun of the film is seeing the people around him, particularly his parents, figuring things out. The horrors are created really well. The scariest thing about t...

  Trying to deal with an impending divorce, Alex (Will Arnet) develops a new hobby as an amateur stand-up comedian. It took me a little while to watch this one. The premise seemed somewhat interesting, and I'll always have time for anything Bradley Cooper directs, but I didn't really feel like it would be for me. The movie is fine, but I didn't like it as much as I wanted to. One of the best things about the film is how authentic all the comedy scenes feel. The dialogue between the comedians feels really realistic, which in part may be because it seems like most of the comedians are actually comedians. These scenes are some of the best and what keeps the film interesting. Alex isn't the most entertaining or endearing main character, and I'd actually say that about all of the main or supporting characters. I didn't care about any of them enough. It was hard to work out what the audience is supposed to be feeling, which is mainly because I felt absolutely nothing ...

  I'd heard of this film in passing but didn't know much about it - and even then it was probably the remake that I was hearing about, so this version wasn't really on my radar. I liked this film. One of the first things that stands out is how good the writing is. The dialogue works so well with the individual characters, and you're invested almost immediately. This is the second film on the bucket list starring Vincent Price, who is clearly a horror icon, and it's not hard to see why. He was the best thing about 'The Masque of the Red Death' and 10 minutes in, he's already one of the best parts of this movie too. I really want to check out more of his movies. The characters are really fun. The film makes a point of saying that the host picked people specifically for their differences, and while we don't explore all of the characters as much as we'd like to, it's great to have the mix of personality and mentalities, particularly when it comes...

  Three friends on a road trip suddenly find themselves in danger when they witness a murder inside a gated community. I was looking forward to this movie. I saw the trailer ages ago and thought it looked really interesting, but then it seemed to never come out until it was quietly released on digital, so it felt like it came out of nowhere. There were definitely good and bad things about this film. I enjoyed it, but there were a lot of issues. But it started well. We get right into things from the very beginning, and even though we can see what's going to happen a mile away, it's still fun to go on the journey with them. The film is incredibly plot-driven, which makes sense when you get into it because the characters are all either bland of unlikeable. This does get better the more you watch, and the more time they're given to develop, but even thinking back on the film, I couldn't tell you a character's name or any distinct personality trait beyond the stereotypic...

  I had heard great things about this film for years but just never got around to watching it, so I'm really glad that it was on the bucket list to give me the excuse to finally check it out! I knew very little about the film before putting it on, so the first 10 minutes were intense. And it doesn't really let up. The film mixes psychological horror and bloody gory violence really well, when usually we'd expect one or the other. It elevated the film from just being a revenge story, to being a story about trauma amongst a host of other themes. One of the best things about the film is the friendship between Lucie and Anna, and the way this is depicted. You get to know them by seeing how they interact with each other. Both actresses did an amazing job with these characters. They really allowed the audience to understand their complexities and why they make the decisions they do. It goes in an interesting direction. I had no idea how the story would move on after the 50-minute ...

26 years after escaping a masked killer - Cindy (Anna Faris), Brenda (Regina Hall), Shorty (Marlon Wayans), Ray (Shawn Wayans) and their kids are hunted by a masked killer once again. I'm a fan of the Scary Movie franchise, so while I wasn't hugely excited to see this one, I was looking forward to it. I had such a weird experience with this film. The first time I saw it, I really liked it. I think this was down to the atmosphere and the surprise of the parodies and cameos, because going to see it again less than a week later, I disliked it so much I could almost say I hated it. So I'm gonna go down the middle and say this film was fine - but there will definitely be polarising opinions because there's some great things about it, but also a lot of bad things. The way this film was being promoted, the filmmakers kept saying that it was made to offend, it pokes fun at everything, it pushes boundaries, and even the tag line on the poster is 'every line will be crossed...

  I'd never heard of this film before it was on the bucket list, but after seeing that it was a black vampire movie I was looking forward to seeing it. I ended up having mixed feelings about the film. It took a little while to really get going, and in that time I didn't feel like we got to know the characters as well as we could have. It's shot in a really interesting way. It feels like a product of its time, and very 70s, but the grainy footage also gives everything a sense of authenticity and realism. One of the things about this film that really works is the dialogue. The characters feel extremely authentic and that's down to the way they speak and the conversations they have with each other. At times, when the plot isn't focused on the fantastical, it feels like watching a documentary. I can't say this is the most entertaining movie. While the characters are great, not much happens, and there's often a while between events. So when something of note does...

  After getting out of prison, Kenna (Maika Monroe) is desperate to reconnect with her young daughter. But when she's forced to face the consequences of past mistakes, she builds a connection with a bar owner (Tyriq Withers), who has unexpected ties to her former life. I think it's normal at this point to go into Colleen Hoover-adapted movies with scepticism. I've only read one of her books but I'd heard about this one, so I knew what I was getting into. But for some reason, this one took me by surprise! The plot was what I thought it would be, but I didn't expect it to have as much heart as it did. Part of this is because of how great the actors are. Monroe and Withers have great chemistry and play these characters so well. They are both 100% committed, which makes the material so much better. The relationships in the film, from romantic to familial to found-family, are all really sweet and created with an air of authenticity that just works. All of the actors work...

  This is a re-watch that I was really looking forward to. I've seen all of the Final Destination movies countless times and really love the franchise as a whole, so any time I have an excuse to watch one of them, I'm always down! This one in particular, while not my favourite of the franchise, is iconic as the one that started it all, and certainly earns the 'classic' title. First of all, we have to talk about the originality of the story. It's an idea that allows the audience to put themselves in the characters' situation in a way that's both fun and genuinely scary. But this one in particular, starting off on a plane, was a great way to capitalise on real common fears. Even if you're not someone who's scared of flying, seeing the plane scene definitely sends a chill down your spine. And then on top of that, you realise it's a vision, and you're forced to think about what you'd do in that situation. The actors are all great, whether pla...

  After breaking into a stranger's (Lorenzo de Moor) villa during an impulsive trip to Italy, Anna (Halle Bailey) pretends to be his fiancée to get herself out of trouble with his family. But she faces a huge problem when she begins to develop a connection with the stranger's cousin, Michael ( Regé-Jean Page). I was really looking forward to seeing this. Not only am I a fan of the main actors involved, but we just don't get enough romcoms, especially black ones, so I was here for this! Thankfully, I really liked the movie. It starts in a really classic way, and is reminiscent of a lot of the romcoms that came before it. It's fun and Anna is a great main character to follow. You like her instantly. Italy is always a great setting, but especially for a romance movie. One thing I was worried about before starting the film was Bailey and Page's chemistry, but thankfully this worked well. They had a believable attraction and it was so lovely to watch them together as the...

  Justin and Emma are cursed. Every person they date goes on to find their perfect match immediately after dating them. So surely, if they date each other, just for the summer, their curses will cancel out, right? But when they both have to deal with life-changing issues, and face the possibility of actually falling for each other, their summer fling becomes a lot more complicated. Like quite a few of the books I read, this one came directly from a Book-Tube recommendation. Romance tends to be a bit hit-or-miss for me, so I definitely had some scepticism when I picked it up. But thankfully, I loved the book. The first thing that pulled me in was the characters. While reading this I realised that I don't often read dual pov, but I really loved being in both of the characters' heads, and seeing the story from both of their perspectives. Plus, they're both as interesting as each other, so when I was in one person's head I wasn't itching to get back to the other. They...

  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...