Re: The Films of 2026
Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2026 1:06 am
black&huge wrote:I actually had no idea it wasn't being discussed! well here we go:
Spoiler
I don't have much of a groundbreaking comment I actually came to get some opinions on a certain stylistic choice in the movie that I'm not sure is bad or not. Throughout the entire film the use of music cues accents literal physical hits or to signal moments where Nikki manages to snap out of the entity's grasp. I could see this working if used 2-3 times but it's almost everytime. I however am still unsure about it. I don't dislike it but it's the most critical thing I have to say about the movie so far. Is it cheating the audience? is it overused? If you guys are confused by my dilemma I am too
Spoiler
I might need to watch it again (and I have to say this is the first film I've seen in a long while that I really want to see again in the theater, maybe since Zodiac, unless I'm forgetting one) but I don't recall it being that bad, and I seem to recall the music being effective in general, and kinda offbeat. I remember two music hits when Nikki was trying to get out of it (the make out scene and the one at the party), the one where she smashes the car window, and then another that I think was played for a laugh. Otherwise, I seem to remember it being generally low key. But I'd have to see it again. I seem to remember it being more atmosphere and not relying on jumps like that.
I think I got lucky seeing this before it took off, because I'm not sure how I would have felt about it after how much it"s been built up since. But I found it very effective. Not scary, really, but unsettling I guess? The last moments were quite good, with Nikki trying to change herself to what she thought Bear wanted (to a disturbing degree). It does a decent spin on the Monkey Paw/"careful what you wish for" trope. I was expecting a version of that Tales from the Crypt episode with Andrew McCarthy and Mariel Hemingway, and I guess it's that to an extent, but takes the idea in a more interesting direction with how it explores how Nikki's autonomy has been taken away, dependent/abusive relationships, and makes Bear something of an antagonist once he learns what's happened (a coward, too). I also liked that it didn't feel the need to explain what is actually happening and the lore around the One Wish thingy (I fear a sequel would feel the need to dig into that, which I think would ruin it). I did love there was a help line, which leads to a hilarious exchange. The trinket shop scenes were funny, too.
I don't know much about the director (a YouTuber according to my son and daughter) but I thought this was very well made; visually interesting without coming off showy. But I'm curious to revisit to see if its success is him or if Navarette is possibly carrying more of the weight than I first thought.
I think I got lucky seeing this before it took off, because I'm not sure how I would have felt about it after how much it"s been built up since. But I found it very effective. Not scary, really, but unsettling I guess? The last moments were quite good, with Nikki trying to change herself to what she thought Bear wanted (to a disturbing degree). It does a decent spin on the Monkey Paw/"careful what you wish for" trope. I was expecting a version of that Tales from the Crypt episode with Andrew McCarthy and Mariel Hemingway, and I guess it's that to an extent, but takes the idea in a more interesting direction with how it explores how Nikki's autonomy has been taken away, dependent/abusive relationships, and makes Bear something of an antagonist once he learns what's happened (a coward, too). I also liked that it didn't feel the need to explain what is actually happening and the lore around the One Wish thingy (I fear a sequel would feel the need to dig into that, which I think would ruin it). I did love there was a help line, which leads to a hilarious exchange. The trinket shop scenes were funny, too.
I don't know much about the director (a YouTuber according to my son and daughter) but I thought this was very well made; visually interesting without coming off showy. But I'm curious to revisit to see if its success is him or if Navarette is possibly carrying more of the weight than I first thought.