September 14, 2024
Director: JT Mollner
Writer: JT Mollner
Between 2018 to 2020, an serial killer who began a killing spree from Denver, Colorado, now in Hood River County, Oregon. In the midst of that atmosphere of dread, a man (Kyle Gallner) and a woman (Willa Fitzgerald) decide to spend a night of kinky role-play sexy time together at the Blue Angel Hotel. Later, the woman was running away then was driving off in a red car, as the man was chasing after her in his pickup with a rifle in hand.
Writer-director JT Mollner decided to divide his story into six chapters and then present them back and forth in an unusual order -- 3, 5, 1, 4, 2, 6. In this way, the viewer sees only one point of view first, before he can piece the full story together only much later. This jarring non-linear style of storytelling created a more riveting viewing experience with a much stronger jolting effect than a simple twist reveal could achieve in a traditional style.
Mollner's disturbing interplay of sex and violence evoked an indie Tarantino vibe, and may not be an easy watch for mainstream audiences. Lead actors Fitzgerald and Gallner give their all to their physically and emotionally exhausting roles. The only familiar names in the cast for me were Ed Begley Jr. and Barbara Hershey, who played peaceful retired hippies who got involved when their house got in the way of the hot bloody cat and mouse game. 7/10
Director: James Watkins
Writer: James Watkins (based on the 2022 Danish film by Christian Tafdrup)
The Daltons -- Ben (Scoot McNairy), his wife Louise (Mackenzie Davis), and their daughter Agnes (Alix West Lefler) -- were on vacation in Italy. There, they met the British Feld family -- Dr. Patrick Feld (James McAvoy), his Ciara (Aisling Franciosi) and their mute son Ant (Dan Hough). As the Daltons were still having a tough time getting settled in London, the Felds invited them over to take a break in their farm out in the countryside.
This film was a study in contrast about two men who had starkly different personalities. One was a charismatic extrovert (Paddy) and the other was a pushover introvert (Ben). The Daltons were already noting red flags about the Felds even back in Italy, yet they still allowed them to take control. Pretty soon, it was evident that they were trapped in a very bad situation in the Feld farm, but by then, it was not easy to get out of there anymore.
The ending of this Hollywood version chose to totally deviate from the bleak and brutal ending of the original Danish film. What we got in the third act was a typical, audience-pleasing action thriller sequence that sapped the sinister psychological horror of the first film. James McAvoy was a magnetic Paddy, so new viewers will consider this Blumhouse version a very good film. However, those familiar with the first version will find this remake lacking.
Speak No Evil (2022): 7/10, Speak No Evil (2024): 6/10
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