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Reviews
The Little Hours (2017)
Enjoyable, misunderstood indy comedy
I think the harsher reviews are coming from people who are maybe taking this film a little too seriously. It's not the most finely executed or lovingly-written indy film, true enough. It's a loose film adaptation of a small piece of a medieval period work of literature, and there was no real script. According to the IMDB trivia, the lines were basically all ad-libbed. A lot of people complain about the speaking and the script or lack thereof, but to me that fact makes it all the more impressive that it wasn't a worse movie. I think the cast and crew were essentially having a lot of (sexy) fun making this movie, and weren't concerned about making an ambitious or great work here. They didn't take themselves - or the movie - too seriously. To me, that energy shines through if you don't set your expectations too high, and if you come to this movie out of the curiosity of the unusual plot material, and/or if you're the type who likes to see occasional improv comedy and you're okay with the fact that not every moment is hilarious and some shows will be better than others.
Some bright points: the plucky and fun performances from the three main nun characters, including the always-adorable Kate Micucci. The film has irreverent fun at the expense of the cloistered life and the upper-class society in medieval times without getting weary or shoving an anti-religion or social justice message down the audience's throat. Some pleasantly lusty scenes and some nudity of the pretty female actresses, if you're into that. Those scenes, by the way, are erotic enough to slightly titillate, while brief and light-hearted enough to avoid boring or making the watcher uncomfortable or distract from the comic atmosphere, which I feel shows good work from the directors and the actors. I for one liked the modern American English spoken in the film; I found it refreshing that they just decided to speak naturally and not resort to that tacky and worn-out breathy faux-British English movie-makers usually use to try to convey a false sense of authenticity in fantasy and period pieces even when it wouldn't make sense. I think that made the movie much more enjoyable, and the movie would have been almost unbearable if they had tried to go that route.
Some weaker points? There are a couple of oddly placed, long shots where there just isn't much going on, which seemed like an awkward attempt to make filler for length. I'd say the humor here is more for chuckles than long, loud laughter, so if you're looking for riotously funny comedy, this movie is probably not for you. And let's face it, not everybody's going to be into a movie about medieval nuns gone wild, so if the tagline or synopsis doesn't grab you, you're probably not going to enjoy this that much.
There are better, more captivating indy comedies you can see, but if you enjoy something a little unusual once in a while and have some time to kill and you're tired of binge-watching your favorite shows, you might find this worth the watch.
Seven Stages to Achieve Eternal Bliss by Passing Through the Gateway Chosen by the Holy Storsh (2018)
Thought provoking, well-acted low budget indy comedy
Really enjoyed this. Watched this on a rainy, lonely day, and it gave me more laughs than I expected, and I'd say it made me feel better despite its dark, morbid undertones. Kate Micucci gave an incredible performance as the adorable and energetic heroine/anti-heroine Clare. The other actors also did a great job. I'd imagine from the look of this movie that it was very low budget, but the clever plot and good acting made it shine.
The Shrine (2010)
Interesting and effective aging horror film
This movie really impressed me, I felt this was one of most effective horror films I've seen of the last 10 years, and I kind of wonder why it hasn't get more attention than it has. Some of the things going on in the beginning had me shaking my head, the kind of things where you laugh and want to yell out to the characters, "Why? Wow, you're stupid." But that's nothing new to horror movies, and by the second half, none of that matters anymore and you're absorbed in what's going on now.
Castle Rock (2018)
Keep your expectations in check
First, know that Stephen King seems to have little or nothing to do with this show. He may be getting royalties for rights to use some of his ideas, but he doesn't seem to be involved in the writing or production here. Apart from some place names, there is only anecdotal mention in passing by characters of people and incidents in his "classic" horror stories.
Also, if you're looking for serious scares or ghoulishness, you'll be very disappointed. Twin Peaks has more horror than this show. This is more of a slow-burning dark drama/mystery with some supernatural or psychological horror undertones. The biggest horror here is Scott Glenn's hair, and the biggest mystery is why he doesn't get it cut.
I don't think it even warrants it's TV-MA rating, there's nothing here that an average modern 10-year old couldn't handle, just some swearing and soft-core drug-use. And one totally unnecessary, inexplicable, and uncalled-for display of male buttocks that had zero bearing on the story (sorry guys, no female nudity). Also, the music is terrible. Hideously painful songs that don't make any sense for the situations they're played over. They certainly didn't blow the budget on the soundtrack for this show; be warned, you WILL have to mute the show while they let songs play out.
On the positive side, the characters are mostly engaging, if not always likeable. At first, at least, there's enough mystery and intrigue going on to keep you interested if you're willing to accept this show as a mystery rather than a horror. For me, by the 9th episode I could see that I didn't care for the directions this show was taking and decided to let it go. But many people here seem to be giving this show high marks, so you might like it better than I do.