Author Archives: kaist455

Freud’s Last Session (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A fictional meeting of two minds

Posted on August 22, 2024 by kaist455

Any good two-hander movie should trust its characters and performers, but “Freud’s Last Session” does not do that much. Here are two fascinating real-life figures who might have an interesting conversation if they had really had a private meeting in … Continue reading →

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In a Violent Nature (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): From a killer’s viewpoint

Posted on August 19, 2024 by kaist455

When I started to become fascinated with movies during the early 1990s, “Friday the 13th” (1980) and its countless sequels naturally drew my attention whenever I spent some time in local video rental shops. Because of my young age, I … Continue reading →

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The Devil’s Bath (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): A woman’s nihilistic descent into madness

Posted on August 19, 2024 by kaist455

“The Devil’s Bath”, which was recently selected as the Austrian submission for Best International Film Oscar in the next year, made me seriously conflicted about whether I can recommend it to others. Here is a well-made psychological horror period drama … Continue reading →

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Daughters (2024) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Imprisoned fathers reconnecting with their daughters

Posted on August 17, 2024 by kaist455

Netflix documentary film “Daughters”, which was released a few days ago, presents an aching human story of a bunch of prisoners trying to reconnect with their young daughters. As frequently alternating between these two different groups, the documentary lets us … Continue reading →

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Skywalkers: A Love Story (2024) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A couple of thrill-seekers

Posted on August 17, 2024 by kaist455

Good documentaries engage us and then let us get to know more their subjects, but Netflix documentary film “Skywalkers: A Love Story”, which was released in last month, feels rather and hollow in my trivial opinion. Sure, there are a … Continue reading →

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Twisters (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): There will come more tornadoes, you know

Posted on August 14, 2024 by kaist455

Lee Isaac Chung’s new film “Twisters” serves us as much as expected, and it did a fairly good job on the whole. While not going that far from the story formula established in its predecessor “Twister” (1996), the movie provides … Continue reading →

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Alien: Romulus (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): A well-mixed entry of the 45-year-old series

Posted on August 14, 2024 by kaist455

“Alien: Romulus” surprises me as showing that there are still enough fun and thrill in the series which was started 45 years ago. While there are nice old stuffs to be appreciated, there are also refreshing new stuffs to be … Continue reading →

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I Saw the TV Glow (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): Obsessed with an old TV show

Posted on August 13, 2024 by kaist455

Jane Schoenbrun’s second feature film “I Saw the TV Glow” is a disorienting but compelling piece of work to admire for mood and style. While it feels rather thin in terms of story and characters, it is at least filled … Continue reading →

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We’re All Going to the World’s Fair (2021) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): An elusive horror drama of online dysphoria

Posted on August 13, 2024 by kaist455

Jane Schoenbrun’s first feature film “We’re All Going to the World’s Fair” alternatively baffled and fascinated me. On one hand, I was fascinated with its interesting storytelling approach which clearly shows its director’s distinctive personality and talent. On the other … Continue reading →

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Jules (2023) ☆☆(2/4): The Old Man and the Alien

Posted on August 12, 2024 by kaist455

My late mentor/friend Roger Ebert hated, hated, hated what he usually called “the Idiot Plot”, and here is his own definition: “A story in which every problem and conflict would be resolved in five minutes, if not for the fact … Continue reading →

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