alexanderliljefors Reviews

Disturbia (2007)

A bad mix of Rear Window and American Pie

[5/10 · 26 May 2024]

First when i read the plot i thought this was gonna be a modern verision of "Rear Window" from 1954. Because it definitely got inspired by it. But i was completley wrong.

It starts out pretty good, feels pretty realistic, well written and well acted.

But after 20 minutes or so i quickly realised this is more like a comedy/parody of that type of movie. And it was very different from waht i thought it was gonna be. I wanted a mystery/thriller, which this certainly applied from the first look of it. But its more a bad comedy, that isnt even close to "Rear Window" levels and its more like a "Rear Window" made for teen kids, with a bad mix with "American Pie".

However with around 1 hour to go, it gets abit better. Abit more thrilling. And the script gets better.

Pretty lame plottwists, but some good aswell.

It quickly changes the last 30 min, to those things you want out from a good psychological thriller and it gets a more suitable atmosphere for the genre, then earlier in the film.

Extremely disappointing, worth watching on a lazy sunday.

Oldboy (2003)

Not as good i thought it would be, not a masterpiece

[5/10 · 19 May 2024]

I so badly wanted this to be that masterpiece that so many talked about. Escpesially with that gorgeous soundtrack and that beautiful filming! But no i cant call this a masterpiece at all. Its exaggarated, over acted and very consfusing put together. It starts out pretty okey, but it quickly loose that red thread and some basic logic aswell.

The manuscrips gets worse and worse and gets abit too "crazy" and exaggarated for my taste, just like some Tarantino movies, kinda same vibe of exaggaration.

Overall its on IMDb top 250, worth to watch and give your view to it, but i would really recommend it.

As Good as It Gets (1997)

Worth a watch!

[6/10 · 18 May 2024]

I really love Jack Nicholson, so have wanted to watch this for a while. Aswell it has a very high rating.

This one is said to be really good, so i went in with pretty big expectations on this one.

A very interesting and deep film, that quickly get too much at some moments.

It pretty quickly gets slightly exaggerated, abit boring and slow.

It definitely has it funny moments, but not that many.

Jack Nicholson does a great performance as always!

I don't really understand the very high rating, sure its a good film and it has a good message, but nothing unique and nothing more then average. However it's definitely worth watching.

Carnage (2011)

Totally Unique and amazing performances

[8/10 · 17 May 2024]

EXCELLENT performances in a EXCELLENT drama! Something you havent seen before at all!

Every one of the actors does marvellous performances! One of the best i have ever seen!

This is genuinely son something Totally Unique and amazing performances.

Its both modern, fresh and realistic to that point of where human complexity of emotions, psychology and social boundaries that are broken and collides at its fundamental levels.

Amazingly filmed and directed!

It's extremely well weitten and extremely intelligent put together! Its a film that will make you stuck to it!

A very thought provoking film about our society indeed!

A must-watch if your into drama! I really recommend it!

Stockholm Bloodbath (2023)

Not realistic at all, wierd, poorly made, ridiculous, exaggerated. A historical parody.

[3/10 · 15 May 2024]

And thats how it goes if you try to mix Tarantino with historical drama/thriller aswell like bringing this historical event into "popversion"...

Wanted to see this for a very long time, but wow, havent got this disappointed for a long time. This isnt one of Håfströms best ones... how could this good director be a part of this bad film?

Firstly, very poor choice doing it in english which removes alot of the realism.

The manuscript is one of the worst ive ever heard. Extremely unrealistic aswell and does not fit the time period at all.

Very clear Tarantino inspired scenes, but also those fails with being ridiculously bad. But very badly made fights, with much exaggeration. Acting is also very bad by the majority of the actors.

Filiming is okey in some scenes but bad sometimes, editing is pretty bad though.

Very low quality on almost everything. At some times very ridiculous bad. It's just silly. Really thought it would be more serious and more authentic.

Too long aswell, with many unnecessary secenes.

Soundtrack is mostly good, except for that wierd "dancing part".

A Historical parody, not a historical docudrama.

A poorly made, wierd and poorly put together movie! Very unrealistic and exaggerated.

The Numbers Station (2013)

Unique and well made spy thriller

[7/10 · 12 May 2024]

First of all, i love spy thriller films. Secondly i love the actors!

And i have had a hobby for these real-life number station before. So this film felt almost like it was made for me!

Soundtrack is great!

Manuscript is also very good and pretty realistic! Also well written characters!

Its actually a very unique and a very well made and well put together spy thriller embracing the mystery behind number stations. I definitely like the atmosphere the film sets! It actually manages to feel realistic and authentic all the way through.

Malin Akerman and John Cusack makes really good performances!

I really recommend this great spy thriller!

Frankenstein (1931)

A must-watch classic

[6/10 · 11 May 2024]

Does it get more iconic then this in the world of movie and cinema?

This is a classic. A film that brought a new type to the horrorgenre. Heard and read throughout the years that this is a must watch. Wanted to see it for a long time.

First of all, love the intro, telling about the film embraces the mystery of creation and life!

And this is my first time i finally could watch it!

I can definitely understand why it took the world with storm when it came out in 1931. The filming and manuscript is very good!

Ofcourse it's difficult to give a rating with today standards. But its a film with very well performences and a very well put together film.

But definitely a must-watch classic!

Evil (2003)

Pretty good and intense drama

[7/10 · 11 May 2024]

This is said to be one of Swedens best films. So i finally watched it.

It has a good and interesting concept. I love it takes place in the 1950s and the time period is really well made in the film. And i love the character going against the old system and stereotypes at the school. It quickly reminded me of "Young Royals (2021-2024)". Based on the plot and the characters.

But it has the excuse same problem as "Young royals". It doesn't feel really authentic. I have no clue if schools was like this and if people actually talked like this in tge 50s, But it feels so incredibly contrived and not at all realistic, at some scenes.

The directing, soundtrack and filming is pretty good, except some shaky camera movements.

Acting is fantastic!

A very intense, grotesque and heavy film.

I definitely recommend it! A good film!

Come to Daddy (2019)

Could have been so much more

[3/10 · 6 May 2024]

First of all, i love Elijah Wood. Secondly i love mystery films and psychological thrillers like this. A perfect mix.

The trailer looked very promising and intriguing, so i got pretty high expectations from it. I think aswell it has a very strong plot and premise.

Starts out pretty good... Its very well edited, filmed and very well put together!

Pretty good soundtrack aswell that really fits the style of the film.

Wood does a really good performance!

However that premise pretty quickly fails and it tried with bad jokes, to be a comedy all of a sudden.

But it manages to save it and going back to that mysterious atmosphere it has in the beginning and balancing it with the bad jokes at the same time. Very poorly written.

Though very disappointed. It just landed in this wierd, boring and poorly designed story development. Extremely exaggerated though the end. Could have been something far better. Nor fun at all.

The Visit (I) (2015)

One of the best horrorfilms

[9/10 · 6 May 2024]

This is psychological horror at its best! Extremley well put together and extremley well acted! Its one of the best horrorfilms out there!

This film will stuck to you for awhile, because of its very good plotwist.

The manuscript is amazing, the use of "found footage"/the characters filming themself is a very clever move to this film. It makes it feels more authentic and genuine.

The acting is actually one of the better ones ive seen in a horrorfilm.

M. Night Shyamalan does a fantastic job!

DeJonge and Oxenbould does a fantastic job aswell, really a great team which makes a great genuine performence.

A must watch! I really recommend it!

The Hunt (2012)

Masterful made intensive Drama!

[7/10 · 5 May 2024]

Masterful made Drama! This is one of the more better Nordic dramas ive seen!

With a forceful driven story with a excellent manuscript and acting, this deep piece really manages to tell a story in a a intense way, without being exaggerated and being very well put together.

Mads Mikkelsen truly does one of his best performances ever!

Filming is really good!

Its not a surprise that this piece have a such high rating and its competition in Cannes.

I have mixed feelings about the end, but its a very deep movie, so i guess the open ending fits and makes you think if everything is over for him.

I really recommend it! Well worth watching!

Beetlejuice (1988)

One of the worst films ive seen. Childish. Not fun at all.

[1/10 · 4 May 2024]

I tought this was gonna be a comedy. Instead i was watching a childrens movie. Painfully boring.

At the start this remindeded me about the series "The good place" (2016-2020), so i was abit intrigued by the plot.

However... First of all, its a good concept that could turn out really fun. But instead they make it so it gets very childish and lame with extremley bad jokes and a lame manuscript, bad music and poor acting.

And I know it was made 1988, but the effects are really bad. Aswell the awful music in the beginning like its trying to be a live tv show or something. Really awful filming. Manuscript is awful.

Aswell large plotholes that just makes this film even wierder.

I can see how this film was good when it got released. But its not really a well made film, especially with this new generations watching this. One of the wierdest films ive ever seen, and not in a good way. Acting is also really bad.

I can't understand the high rating.

Not funny at all. I wouldn't recommend it. One of the worst films ive seen.

Saw (2004)

Intense, unique, grotesque clever mysterious. But both good and bad.

[6/10 · 4 May 2024]

To summarise: This film isnt that good. It isnt that bad. But its a pretty clever and intelligent, grotesque and unique horrorfilm.

Well put together and very clever made.

It manages to bring out a very intense mystery with nonstop thrilling storytelling.

The manuscript is pretty good. It has some scenes thats very realistic. But it also has some scenes where it gets too much and abit exaggerated.

The acting is one of the better ones ive seen in a horrorfilm. It feels extremely genuine and authentic. It doesn't let down at anytime at all.

Though it's definitely worth watching. Intense, clever mysterious. But both good and bad.

The Mist (2007)

A Unique sci fy

[6/10 · 1 May 2024]

Except for the bad CGI (the first ones), some exaggerated scenes and a very predictable storyline, "The Mist" totally sets the atmosphere right!

Definitely from the beginning i got abit of "Stranger Things" vibe from it.

It brings that mysterious and wierd feeling and atmosphere that you want out of a good sci fy apocalyptic thriller.

Its one of those movies, which some scenes feels very realistic and very authentic with a good manuscript and well done acting. And some feels extremely exaggerated and not realistic at all. Difficult to put a fair rating on it.

A extremely surprising ending.

It's definitely a unique film experience in many ways. Its worth watching.

Dream Scenario (2023)

Surrealism in its finest form. Something you havent seen before.

[7/10 · 27 April 2024]

Ive always loved Nicolas Cage. But this one actually drawn me into it, by reading about the plot. Sounded very interesting and intriguing. So been looking forward to this one for a while now.

Psychological surrealism drama/horror comedy in its finest form. A extremely dark, deep and philosophical film. Art! A very unique piece! Definitely something you havent ever seen before!

Cage with a brilliant, world-class performance as always!

It brings a very interesting perspective of our society.

Filming and cinematography is amazing! Same with the editing and directing! The manuscript is really good!

However it looses something the last 20 minutes. Didn't really like the way it was going towards the end. Great final scenes though!

I really recommend it! Something extremely unique! Love it!

Children of Men (2006)

Well made, intense, emotional, heavy, deep and extremely thought provoking

[8/10 · 26 April 2024]

Started out abit confusing, but after i whle i realised, without any doubt, this got to be one of the most realistic dystopian films ive ever seen. The acting (especially the two main characters) and the environment feels incredibly genuine.

A extremely thought provoking, emotional and intense film that really makes you think about our future, our society and about life itself! A very deep film!

One of those films that you directly get i to the story and gets explained throughout the movie.

The soundtrack is extremely good.

Another thing you will notice very early, is the amazing filming and cinematography that really manages to capture the atmosphere and emotions of the film perfectly. And it just get more and more intense and heavy.

Storytelling is really good!

Very well made and put together! I really recommend it!

Stolen (2024)

Good and important drama!

[7/10 · 15 April 2024]

A very beautiful and well told drama from the north. This is truly something unique, that you havent seen before. A very important film.

It's extremely well directed, with many beautiful shots over the Nordic parts of Sweden. Its very well put together!

The acting dosent fail at all and stays a very high level throughout all of the movie.

The manuscript fails sometimes with some abit unrealistic parts, but other then that its something the makes the film very good.

The soundtrack is very good.

A very well told story, with excellent performances of drama. Something really good and unique that i totally recommend!

The Rental (2020)

Pretty average

[6/10 · 14 April 2024]

Definitely succeds with it's purpose. A really good psychological thriller/horrorfilm that has some really horrifying scenes indeed.

It has a very intriguing plot, that really gets you stuck to the film.

It sure has some plotholes. But i really enjoy the creepy ambiance the film gives. The soundtrack is pretty classical and typical for the genre, but definitely works.

Its really building up a terrifying story and gives a pretty good plottwist in the end.

The acting is pretty average, but fails in some bits in some scenes.

Pretty average. Definitely not a bad horrorfilm.

If your into horror, i could definitely recommend it.

Drive (I) (2011)

Nothing new. A Useless thriller.

[4/10 · 14 April 2024]

Simply just another typical and useless American car-chasing/blood/guns//film as aswell involving revenge. Its not like you have seen these types of film hundreds of times before.

Sure Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan makes a good performance. But other them that a completely useless and boring story. Nothing unique at all nor nothing new.

Manuscript is average.

Extremely good soundtrack though, that really fits. I really like the ambiance it got the first 40 minutes.

A Useless thriller. Very exaggerated. Its also very slow sometimes.

I can't understand the high rating at all!

Good on a very lazy sunday, but do not expect more then that.

I don't really recommend it.

Swiss Army Man (2016)

REAL DEEP SURREALISM ART!

[8/10 · 12 April 2024]

What did i just witness?

Something you never has seen before! This is truly a surrelistic, extremley unique film!

I love those unpredicteble films that you really dont have a honest truth about the characters reality, or only if it is a fantasy of the charaters mind.

This is among the best authentic artistic films ive seen. Sure you could laugh about it sometimes, but its a very deep and touching piece.

Without a doubt, this a film you got to watch, you cannot miss out on it! Its a such wierd film, which makes it unbelivibly good!

Soundtrack is one of the best!

Amazing performences from both Paul Dano and. Daniel Radcliffe as always. I really recommend this one!

Awakenings (1990)

Thought provoking, emotional and deep

[8/10 · 11 April 2024]

Truly a beautiful, heavy, deep and a very emotional film!

Robin Williams, Robert De Niro and Max Von Sydow, along many others does performances. Absolutely a must watch!

With a very good soundtrack. "Awakenings" brings new perspectives of life and our freedom. Its a very important and thought provoking film, that really makes you think!

It really raises awareness how humanity wont give up and fights, until the very last. I think the film really does a amazing job, of displaying that horror of being trapped in your body and loosing your control. Extremely genuine acting and very well directed! I really recommend it!

The Godfather (1972)

Really good! A Iconic classic!

[8/10 · 7 April 2024]

Ive heard and read so many times that "The Godfather" is a must-watch classic, with a very large impact and reputation. And a very high rating on imdb. Aswell as it is one of the best films ever made. So i finally was able to give it a well deserved watch.

Starts out pretty good and gives that iconic first impression and the famous atmosphere you heard about.

And it manages to keep that all the way to the end.

Marlon Brando truly does a iconic, world class level, performance! Almost all of the actors does really good performances!

Soundtrack is really really good!

Cinematography and filimg is extremely impressive and well made! Extremely well directed!

Manuscript is truly amazing!

A movie you have to watch! I really recommend it! Really good! A Iconic classic!

However, Its not the best film ive seen. Atlest 20 films beat this one, in case of how good it is. But its still a very great film!

Dune (2021)

Good, but not THAT good. Very overrated. Disappointed.

[5/10 · 7 April 2024]

"Hey, lets make a dystopian movie where we put as many sci fy references, explotions and long scenes of war as possible, but without telling an actual compact story"

Ive been wanted to watch this for a really long time. And finally got some time for it. Ive heard say this is a very good film. And many great actors. It should aswell represent the high rating. So i was pretty exited for this one. But i got pretty disappointed.

Rebecca Ferguson is great as always. Really good performance from almost all actors. Aswell by Timothée Chalamet and by Stellan Skarsgård.

Starts out a bit confusing, but gets more sense better the longer into the film you get. Manuscript is pretty bed. It tries too hard.

However , it gets abit slow in the middle of it. Fails alot with storytelling. Definitely lacking structure.

I don't understand the high rating. Poorly directed.

I enjoyed the atmosphere in the film. But not really my taste of filmmaking.

Hurts to say, but even Hans Zimmer fails with the soundtrack on this one. Can't really hear his common themes. Sounds like it could be anyone who made the soundtrack.

To summarise, Sure its well made. But as many other sci fy, futuristic films, it gets abit too much. It tries too hard and failing to follow the red thread. Pretty badly put together. Good, but not THAT good. I thought it would be better. Too long aswell. Was expecting alot more. Very overrated. Disappointed.

Holy Spider (2022)

Very well made dark, heavy thriller/drama and true crime

[7/10 · 2 April 2024]

Wanted to watch this for a really long time, especially as it was the next Swedish selection at Cannes 2022. And because i loveed Ali Abbasis "Gräns" from 2018, which was a unique experience. Now i finally was able to watch it.

For the first minutes of it you will really notice its dark atmosphere. Its definitely not a easy movie to watch.

The Soundtrack aswell as the filming is outstanding!

Acting and manuscript is also really really good! Feels very authentic and genuine! Every one of the actors does fantastic performances!

It definitely manages to bring out a message in the film and Ali Abbasi certainly knows how to tell a story.

"Holy Spider" is very well put together, well directed and very well made dark, heavy thriller/drama and true crime, that i really recommend! A really well made work of crafted film!

The Ruins (2008)

Unique mystery/Adventure Survival

[7/10 · 2 April 2024]

The second i saw the plot on Netlfix i got Indiana Jones vibes. The question is if it could live up to those Indiana Jones qualities, especially when horror is involved, doubt it. But i started watching it.

A really intriguing plot indeed!

It starts out pretty realistic and pretty relaxed and its not being exaggerated with a manuscript. The acting also feels pretty realistic.

The soundtrack is really good!

It definitely got a unique twist of the genre thats pretty interesting.

Some plotholes, and a confusing first scene that dosent make sense.

A Unique mystery/Adventure Survival that i really recommend! Something new you havent seen before.