(film review) - Final Destination: Bloodlines

It is not very often that I would come straight home after the cinema and write my review of the movie I just watched. I mean it happens, but sometimes I'll wait a day, you know, sleep on it, wake up fresh and then write my review once I've had some time to think about what I have seen and how I am going to review it. This will also be, quite possibly, the first time I have started a franchise, stopped, then gone back to it, having missed other movies in the franchise. For example, I watched Final Destination, and the movie was messed up. I really enjoyed it, but it was messed up. I remember coming out of the cinema and not knowing what to do because everything felt like a hazard around me. Seeing how Death was picking people off was wild. With that said, the second movie, no one will ever forget the logs at the back of the truck on the highway. The films were great, I might have even seen the third one, I cannot remember, but I got bored with the gimmick. So, ok, Death is coming to kill these people in random and creative ways, yeah, cool, meh. So with that attitude, why would I watch Bloodlines? Because the trailer was good, and it pulled me in. But was it good? Did it live up to the trailer? Yes, yes, it did!

Iris is on a date and has a premonition that people will die at her location. Having saved people, she manages to also save herself from death until a relative comes knocking, talking about these dreams she is having, only to realise, her family line should not be alive, and it is quite possible that Death is coming for them all.

I only have one negative about the movie, and that is (maybe I need to see it again), I thought Death came for people in a linear fashion? So, the order people are supposed to die, Death will come for you in that exact order. It just seemed as though there may have been a death or two that was not linear, but other than that, this film is unnecessary at times, but really enjoyable, especially if you are a fan of the franchise.

The first set piece and death scene is absolutely wild. There is a character I hated at the very beginning, and you knew they were going to die, the nature of the movie, right? But as the scenes play out, the gruesome deaths will definitely have you screaming or yelling out. The number of times I swore out loud, covered my eyes, and laughed out loud! Yes, this film is very funny too. If you have anxiety, I would not recommend it. It is weird to me that I came out of the franchise because I felt it was getting stale, only to come back and Death is feeling fresh to death killing people with a pep in his step! Because Death feels like a faceless character in the movie who likes to play practical jokes just for shxts and giggles. Like Death cues a death up by elaborately laying out the plan, only to not take a life the way you thought, or take a life unexpectedly.

The special effects were great. As I said earlier, really gruesome in places, but not too over the top with it. Very creative, especially the premonition scene and the hospital scene. Actually, all the deaths were superb. The music is hilarious, and if I remember correctly, the earlier movies did this too. Going back to how funny this movie is, there is a moment one of the characters realises that they are next, but the scene before and after them finding out was absolutely hilarious, because the characters were written so well and the dialogue felt realistic.

But before I close out, I will say, it was very bitter/sweet to see Tony Todd, the original Candy Man, who passed just before this movie came out. Seeing him in the movie AND he looked sick in the movie as well, was really sad to see, but I think the writers did a wonderful and touching job with his character and what they did for Tony Todd himself as I am sure he has been in ALL the movies and he will live forever immortalised on film. R.I.P. to Tony Todd. He carved out a lane for himself, and he served us well as he was excellent in his craft.

(trailer review) - Final Destination: Bloodlines

Ok, so I am going to keep it real with you like I always do, and I'm going to start off with one of the highlights or the main key point I was making in my last review for the teaser of this movie, and say and repeat, who asked for this movie? Nobody asked for this movie. No pun intended, but the franchise is dead. Death came and took it away. With that said, I would be lying if that first death scene in this trailer did not let me yell out "God damn!". What I really appreciated in this trailer was the suspense it built up with the glass shard, only to 'Emily Blunt' it from 'A Quiet Place'.

So the trailer starts with a family barbecue and a celebration. Not minding what he is doing, one of the boys accidentally drops a glass and it shatters, leaving a shard of glass in the "bucket" of ice. We are then led on this "who is going to choke on this glass shard?" (because it could quite easily be mistaken for ice) trail of thought while we wait and watch all these other "elaborate" things happen only to have the shard be stepped on, where an lawnmower had been knocked and moving by itself to end up chopping the head/face off of the dad! Superb. I'll eat that one. Although this was not asked for and the studio is trying to revive and resurrect a dead franchise. If well written, maybe, just maybe, we can get back on board with this franchise. Also, tying this to someone who had a premonition and thwarted death's plan, not only is it interesting, but I wonder if she finally dies at the end like a "Drag Me To Hell" Sam Raimi movie scenario. I am partially interested, partially. Maybe a second trailer will fully sell me. One last thing: I do not know how or why Tony Todd made it back into the franchise, but he is the king, and we give thanks for his work. R.I.P.

(film review) - Candyman

The first trailer for this movie came out in February 2020 and due to world changing events such as the Corona Virus Pandemic, trailers started popping up again around June 2021 and whilst this film have been on the shelf waiting for a release date and eventually a release, I couldn't wait to tuck into this movie.  I saw the original Candy when I was younger and I liked it.  Tony Todd is definitely a house hold name and if you don't know the name, you know the voice. I believe I saw Candyman 2 and no others, if there were any others.  So this movie seemed to be a continuation from the previous movies, a franchise reboot or both and I'm guessing you are wondering if I thought it was worth the wait, well sorta.

Anthony McCoy is a struggling visual artist trying to get his work well recognised and out there.  He lives with his girlfriend Brianna Cartwright an Art Gallery Director and during a get together with Brianna's brother Troy and his partner Grady, troy tells a haunting story of the legend of Helen Lyle.  Captivated by this story, Anthony checks out the area to gather information and visuals but becomes obsessed with Candyman's Legend and people start dying.

First of all, this is not a terrible movie, nor is it a bad one, but i had a few gripes with the storytelling and some of the things that occurred in the movie.  Without going into spoilers, I just feel that certain things would not have transpired the way they had in the movie due to real life elements of people's behaviours.  For example, if I fell over after stubbing my toe whilst wearing flip-flops and my toe was paining me or looking a little weird, I'd go to A&E, you know, or at least my girlfriend/partner or whomever I live with would bang on about me going to seek help.  I also felt that there should have been more media or police interference in the movie for it to be somewhat realistic.  Although a 90's film and dated now, the original Candyman had tension and evoked a lot of fear.  I don't know ANYONE who saw the first movie that would say Candyman in front of a mirror NOW, due to watching the first movie.  Having watched this, I feel you could say it every other word whilst eating an ice-cream in front of a mirror no problems, I just feel the horror element of it all is just not there.

Other than that, Nia DaCosta did a wonderful job directing this movie.  The Music was great, the visuals were even better.  There were a few tracking shots (and you know how I LOVE ME A TRACKING SHOT) in there and generally, the direction in this movie is simply phenomenal because the acting was also great.  I did find some of the comments/dialogue with specific characters were not really universal, so some of the jokes fell a little flat for me and as well as it being a little bit of a slow burn at the beginning, this movie was indeed a good watch although banging you over the head with talks of gentrification.  But the Police Brutality of it all is soo much more relevant than gentrification at this point, so having these things highlighted is great, but just a touch overboard for me.  Expanding the lore on Candyman was also a great touch and going forward if this movie can get a sequel, maybe we can get more into the supernatural of it all, which would be great.  The ending scene was great and I'm hoping this can be expanded on or it will just feel redundant.

Slasher films often make me laugh and this film is no exception. I can't remember if the original made me laugh but the kills in this film were visually creative in places and in others, just great! I do feel the lack of tension in some places do not give some of the kills the depth they deserve, but the you know when someone said Candyman 5 times, people were going to die, you were just sat there wondering how.  This movie was missing the creep element the first film had.  You want to feel creeped out and that if you did say Candyman, you honest feel that is the only time you are going to say it or you would get to a fourth time and then stop.  Like I said earlier, this movie is not terrible and i'm sure a lot of people will like it/love it, I just felt I needed just a little more from the story.  What I will say for Marvel fans out there, Nia is directing The Marvels (Captain Marvel 2) and going by how visually stunning this movie is and the use of camera movement, The Marvels has the potential to be visually great...a lot like Ryan Coogler's Black Panther.

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(trailer review) - Candyman

(Trailer 1)

I'm not sure how old I was when I first watched the first Candyman film from the 90's.  I know, I enjoyed it and I wasn't scared.  What I will say though, and it bares repeating since I said it in my last review, I will not and would not say Candyman 5 times in front of a mirror, folk tale or not.  This trailer is infinitely much better as it shows more scenes, more actors/characters and more of the film.

I stated in my last review that Yahya's character is more of a researcher but in this trailer I got journalist vibes.  I also got vibes that he wasn't turning into Candyman himself and that Tony Todd is back, but then there's this skin thing so maybe Candyman will be reborn through Yahya's character going forward.  What ever it is, this looks like a treat.  By the way, those puppets look creepy.

Directed by Nia DaCosta and Starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Teyonah Parris, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Colman Domingo, Vanessa Estelle Williams, Tony Todd

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