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mlbach
Reviews
Outlast (2023)
Good Premise, Horrible Contestants
I love these Alaskan-type survival shows. However, the contestants, especially on the Alpha team, most notably, Jill, but Amber as well, are downright disgusting. I think Jill is a psychopath. She may need police protection when more people view this series. I see a public doxxing in her future! I'm very disappointed that producers and cameramen did not reprimand her and her group. I mean are you really going to allow theft of sleeping bags in the wild with sub-freezing temperatures? Many contestants dropped out early who saw the writing on the wall, good for them! I would have done the same. If by any means this psychopath is among the winners, I will not watch another season. There's too much craziness and back-stabbing in the real world to waste time on this.
Dark Places, Deadly Illusions (2021)
Quite a good film if somewhat campy
I think many of the low reviews are a result of misunderstanding the film's point. On first viewing, the ending can be very frustrating. If time is spent thinking about the plot and perhaps with a second viewing (I know! I know!), I think more viewers would find much less fault with the film. There are a few hints throughout that point to a logical conclusion (or two).
I believe the entire film is just Mary's book plot. We see evidence to support this theory. THis does not imply, however, that Mary is a well-adjusted author; she is not. Towards the Deadly Illusions ending, a close-up of Mary's storyboard with many things that happen in the film are noted. For example, her fight with Tom is mentioned there. The police officer also states that many events that have happened in real life are in her manuscript as well.
When we learn Elaine is Mary's therapist, her notes say that Mary loses time and she's worried about her mental state. Elaine also comes to see Tom to talk to him about Mary's mental state. We also have various quotes from Elaine implying that "Grace" isn't real. Elaine's worrying about Tom's infidelity with "Grace" could easily be Mary projecting her fears of Tom being unfaithful with Elaine in her fantasy conversations with Elaine.
Mary continues to lose grip with reality, resulting in her murdering Elaine and using the nefarious "Grace" from her novel to take the blame. Personally, I think It seemed way too easy for Mary to leave the police station, so I don't believe she did. I believe she's arrested for Elaine's murder, tried, and sent to a psychiatric ward.
The best proof, I think, that the plot is novelized is the scene that plays out late in the film with Grace getting angry after applying for a job at the nanny agency, then we see a do-over with her being calm about the rejection. That's Mary rewriting the scene in real time. She decided the angry and cursing depiction didn't fit Grace's character, and, thus, rewrites the scene.
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Mary admits, on more than one occasion, that she gets messed up while writing and often can't tell fact from fantasy. This phenomenon is what makes it so confusing to viewers. How are we expected to know when she doesn't know herself? If she were, indeed, hospitalized after her arrest for Elaine's murder, then everything that happens afterward is imaginary-> Mary and Grace have merged.
Session 9 (2001)
Once you understand that this is a psychological thriller and not horror, you will appreciate it more
'Session 9' follows a seemingly simple plot where professional asbestos cleaners take on the nearly impossible job of disinfecting an old, abandoned mental hospital. Tension arises between the two leading crew members of the group, Gordon and Phil, baiting viewers in an attempt to ascertain who is the real antagonist, what is real-what is imagined, and is the supernatural involved, and, if so, to what degree. Upon completion (and, perhaps, some deep reflection), viewers should come to the conclusion that the premise isn't supernatural at all. It may appear to contain supernatural elements to us, the viewers, in that the objective is to take us along on a wild ride of Gordon's descent into madness, which, for a mentally healthy individual would seem supernatural indeed! 'Session 9' isn't your typical psychological movie; the creators ask a lot from their viewers. Some people simply won't "get it" the first time around (explaining the 1-3 star reviews). For the most part, it draws its scares from the complexity and interactions of its characters, oftentimes, leaving viewers hopelessly lost. Although it is very well-constructed, the complications in its premise can be difficult to comprehend, especially after a single viewing.
Next in Fashion (2020)
Review by Veastwood is Right On + a few other observations
I agree with everything already stated by veastwood's review. I would only add that I felt winners of each challenge should have won something- immunity, money, media coverage, etc. It seems the lack of "perks" (as well as any well known guest judges) gives this show a somewhat "budget" feel.
Viewers, of course, will not always agree with elimination (or winning) decisions by the judges. I do disagree, however, with the reviewer that stated a concerted effort was made to eliminate the dual African-American team (Kiki and Farai). This couldn't be further from the truth. These ladies were in the bottom two for several episodes. Previous to the streetwear episode, they deserved that positioning IMHO. However, being placed in the bottom two for the "streetwear" challenge was wrong, wrong, wrong! I thought, personally, this was the winning look. Even as a mid 50s, white, somewhat conservative "suburban" professional, I could really appreciate their look and would absolutely have worn the woman's look if I were several decades younger. I was very happy that one of the guest judges (Kerby Jean-Raymond) stuck up for them by walking off stage and refusing to change his vote to make it the desired unanimous decision. Kudos to Jean-Raymond) for sticking to his guns.
I don't understand the appeal of the "dragon princesses" fashion style. With a few exceptions here and there, their style is "not ready for prime time," as they say. As Veastwood and other reviewers have noted, this show needs to obtain a higher caliber of guest judges for the next season. By the time we get to the Tommy Hilfiger episode (9th episode, I believe), it's just too late.