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To Be Continued (2017)
As the Title Implies
When I first heard that my friend and colleague Matthew Hoobin was working on another documentary, I must admit that I was quite excited. However, when he enlightened me on the film's subject matter, namely sequels and other things of the sort; I became a bit skeptical. I could see how easy it would be to create a 5-minute cynical diatribe of Hollywood's profit-seeking, self-destructive nature.
Thankfully, this wasn't the case. In a smoothly edited, loose "sequel" to his prior entry, Monster Vision, Hoobin rides the line between the sequels, reboots, and remakes that have brought us cinematic masterpieces and, well, those that have regurgitated the same old idea over and over again across the silver screen.
The biggest thing this film has going for it is Hoobin's clear passion for cinema. There's a carefully assorted batch of clips here, with which you can tell Hoobin is intimately familiar, that accompany his thoughts. In fact, this point is so clear that at times it feels as if the film's sole reason for existing is simply to indulge Hoobin's desire to place these works together under the umbrella of a single project.
Incidentally, it appears Hoobin has worked extensively with a speech coach to diminish the effects of his thick Canadian accent that plagued Monster Vision. However, like Monster Vision, the film suffers from some inconsistent audio quality, though to a lesser degree than its predecessor.
The biggest gripe I have with Hoobin's new entry is its lack of vision and focus. While it is certainly evident that Hoobin has something to say, it's hard as an audience member to pinpoint what exactly we're meant to take away from the experience. It's neither an endorsement nor disavowal of sequels, and the pussyfooting analysis we're left with is a bit limited. Ultimately, I found myself staring at the film's title, "To Be Continued," feeling the same sense of incomplete longing one would find upon seeing those same three words linger in silence across the small screen. It's a saturnine feeling, one that tells me that there's more to be told here.
I hope there is.
Monster Vision: A History and Analysis of Horror Cinema (2016)
An Interesting Tribute to the Cinema of Horror
In Matthew Hoobin's documentary debut, a widespread wealth of cinematic history is put on display that studies the evolution of horror films closely.
The editing throughout the documentary is quite good, as is Hoobin's narration; though one should be forewarned that this director is of Canadian descent and his heavy Canadian accent and colloquialisms may be distracting to some viewers. Furthermore, at times the voice-over is noticeably subpar in its recording, and a few of the jokes presented in the narration fall a bit flat.
While Hoobin's primary call to action leaves the viewer with much to consider regarding horror films and their evolution as a whole, the overall message seems a bit unclear. Moreover, the sheer volume of information being told to the audience leaves the viewer feeling a bit too passive, as opposed to feeling as if they are actively participating in a dialogue with Hoobin himself.
Ultimately, the film is solidly edited, well-narrated, and is laudably accurate in its depiction of the history of horror. While the film does suffer from some uneven audio and hit-or-miss jokes, the overall product is quite solid.
7/10