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Reviews
Obliterated (2023)
Work Hard Play Hard
The title of this series is perfect, given it matches the entire theme of season one. The audience is introduced to a special ops team that decides to celebrate their successful mission in Vegas, and they all get Obliterated on drugs and alcohol. Unfortunately, their party gets interrupted, and they get called back in. What could possibly go wrong? Everything. Literally everything will go wrong when a teams pilot unknowingly ate an entire bowl of guacamole that was laced with psychedelics, their bomb tech sampled so much of everything that he put himself in a coma, and 3 members of the team took MDMA with shots.
Everyone is either tripping or coming down from something right through the end. This is what makes the series a perfect action comedy for adults to watch. I can honestly say I've never seen anything like it. It was like watching the part the characters from the movie Hangover blacked out on, but with a special ops team on mission, despite the circumstances.
The Killer (2023)
A Sophisticated Killer
At first I thought I was hearing an inner monologue that has already been done through the series You and Dexter, but I found myself pleasantly surprised with his sophistication and insight. It differed from the two series in that he is driven by the rules of the job, and not a mental ailment. This inner monologue provided a proper introduction into the mind of this assassin. I wonder if they all think this normally?
A cleverly placed plot twist occurs at almost the precise moment a viewer begins asking questions, and before they are impatiently waiting for answers. This has to do with empathy. He speak of it as if it is unfamiliar, but I soon learned a lack of empathy was reserved for those he kills. Not for those he loves.
They certainly made the wrong assassin angry, and, no, it wasn't over a puppy and car. There are no pencils either. It has a more realistic feel to it. He may not be the biggest, but his skillet and experience have made him the perfect killer. How he exacts his revenge is uniquely twisted, and all of those lingering questions are answered along the way.
I found myself supportive of this man with many names, and any revenge he sought out. This is due to the fact that, despite his career choice, he is just like anyone else. This film was like watching someone normal doing the right thing within their range of skills. His simply happens to contain the capability to kill. This isn't like most assassin, or hitmen movies. Where it differs is what makes it unique.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (2023)
The Universe Got Bigger
I was reluctant to start another series from The Walking Dead universe, but found myself pleasantly surprised with this one. Many people have been curious as to how the rest of the living are doing on a planet ridden with zombies, and I'm one of them.
Killer nuns, gladiator style fighting, castles with motes, a new messiah born from death, and new monsters is what has been happening where Daryl washes ashore. How did one person from North America end up there was obviously my first burning question, but this new story distracted me from it almost immediately. It's well balanced with new characters, and well written flashbacks that add to the character development.
Just when I thought The Walking Dead universe couldn't come up with anything new or different, production surprised me. They've gone global, and I'm ready for more.
Elevator Game (2023)
Playing With Fire
A group of influencers, who operate as paranormal investigators, enter a twisted dimension where the paranormal becomes reality. The characters are the stereotypical types of people a viewer would expect, which made little room for character development. As a result, I felt no attachment or empathy for any of them. However, it is intriguing that they somehow created a unique piece of fiction built entirely around a game played in an elevator.
This paranormal team learns a valuable lesson the hard way. Don't play with fire by messing with things you don't understand. By finding what they seek for a cheap sponsorship meal ticket, they epically lose at life itself. Life is not a game, but they willingly hand over theirs in a game of cat and mouse where the ride is never truly over.
The Fall of the House of Usher (2023)
How a House Falls
While the tale was slow to start, I'm happy I proceeded past the first episode. This is one of those series you can't judge based off of episode one, which isn't uncommon with anything good nowadays.
As a fan of Edgar Allan Poe, I found myself excited to see a screen adaptation of his works. It's his work that provided the tone and theme, and I wasn't disappointed. The poetic value of each episode played Homage to a great literary artist work. It is very 18th century Poe-like to take something seemingly insignificant and incorporate it into the plot of a great story. Nearly every detail was significant, because a lot of those details came from one of the best writers of all time. Poe had a way of making the most horrifying events poetic, and they kept that element in this series.
It was in the second episode that I finally found myself intrigued by a mystery woman that kept me going until the end, because the secret of who she is was the biggest mystery. Of course, a viewer must sit through a maddening display of horrifying behavior from the children of The House of Usher, before discovering this long kept secret.
I call this a modern day version of how a house falls.
Twisted Metal (2023)
Twisted Fiction
I found myself pleasantly surprised with this adaptation of a post apocalyptic world, and the comedic value it has to offer. This implemented a change in the usual theme of doom and gloom that most post apocalyptic films and series provide. Most... not all. While there is still doom and gloom, the comedic value the series has to offer balances the scales with the action that goes along with surviving the apocalypse. I would later discover this series is based off of a video game. Apparently, that is where most of the characters, plot, and theme originate from.
I thoroughly enjoyed the optimistic outlook one of the main characters has, and how that level of naiveness clashes with his pessimistic traveling companion. I found myself wondering which type I would be in the apocalypse. It's still surviving, and finding a silver lining in life is important. The characters in this series found it just as important. Although, you have to be paying close attention to notice it.
I found myself growing more and more attached to the characters, and how they came to be who they are. I usually find myself bored with flashbacks, but never found myself bored with theirs. Providing intriguing flashbacks isn't easy. I felt the pain, loneliness, and horrific struggles along with the characters. Getting an audience to feel the emotional struggles of the lives illustrated happens only with something well written and portrayed. I applaud them for doing such a wonderful job with this piece of twisted fiction. It brought something new and original to my screen worth watching.
As I look back on where the tale began, I smile, because where it begins and where it ends is precisely what made this unique. After all, who are we without each other? An even better question would be, what will season two bring the audience?
The Continental (2023)
Origins
The tale begins with an explosive introduction into the history of the famous assassin hotel John Wick stays at many years later. I found myself a bit lost with the messy plot line, but it tied together nicely in the end. There was extreme emphasis on how decrepit the city used to be, and it came off as a little too post apocalyptic for my taste.
The parts I found intriguing were the unanswered questions I had about the hotel from the John Wick movie franchise, which are minor details in the grand scheme of things. With assassins combating assassins there was very little room for these minor details I personally desired, and it left my screen ablaze with action packed sequences.
I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Mel Gibson in this role. He played the part well, and made it worth watching for me. Seeing how things used to be managed at The Continental provided an epic origin story for Winston and the hotel, and why he manages the it the way he does later in time.
Utopia (2020)
When Dreams Come True
A bunch of superfan comic book nerds have their biggest dream come to life, and immediately learn it's a living nightmare. Need I say more? Yes, because I'm working with a character limit.
The series is a conspiracy theory wrapped within a conspiracy theory, which is twisted and darkly ironic given its time of release in 2020. It offered a little comic relief from the doom and gloom reality of a global pandemic I found myself living in.
Until I saw this, I didn't think it was possible for comedy, drama, action, inspiration, horror, gore, and romance to exist in one storyline, which makes it an intriguing rewatch. I found myself pleasantly surprised with the amount of plot twists, which rendered the entire tale unpredictably entertaining.
Legit (2013)
Legitimately Hilarious
This comedy series brings viewers something new and refreshing. Jim Jefferies plays himself in a fictional narrative where his comedy act comes to life. I found the characters comedically relatable as they go through the trials and tribulations of their unique lives. A struggling comedian with commitment issues, his slobbish roommate, a brother with muscular dystrophy, and an old hospital roommate with down syndrome all living life as it is meant to be lived. This alone brought something packed with realistic value, the type of inspiration that has never been seen before, and the comedic insight makes the story less dark and depressing.
Unfortunately, due to low ratings, the show was cancelled. Any streaming network willing to pick up where FXX didn't want to continue would benefit from what this series brings to the screen. To this day, I haven't been able to find anything else like it.
The Outsider (2020)
Things that Go Bump in the Night
Stephen King didn't disappoint when it came to The Outsider. The storyline is full of plot twists, horror, jump scares, and unique surprises. The character development is well written, and well portrayed. The series left me hungry for more. Unfortunately, it was cancelled, because they didn't think the second season could be better than the first one. That's fair, but would be easier to let go if I hadn't grown so attached to the characters.
The series plays on the element of how all legends come from somewhere. Legends passed down from different cultures throughout the world is something that becomes more intriguing, when played out in a screen adaptation, because it offers something most others do not... history. Where did this legend come from? I found myself diving into my own research along with Holly Gibney, because I know El Coco as the bogeyman. In fact, it goes by many different names, and dates back to mythology, so I applaud production for bringing the audience face to face with something we have all heard of and possibly feared as children.
While I am disappointed that there won't be any answers as to whether or not El Coco will have Holly's abilities, I can understand their reluctance to continue past that cliffhanger ending. Still, I am forever left hanging on this one, and can't find anything else similar to satisfy the type of craving this one left me with. There aren't a lot of options out there for well written horror and mystery wrapped into a crime drama.
The InBetween (2019)
Supernatural Crime Drama
The character development of this series is well written, but cut short. I will forever be curious about where the story was taking the audience, and there is so much mystery that remains unexplained. The lack of closure is impossible to shake, and you won't know why until the final episode.
This crime drama offers the audience a unique twist through a psychic. While I'm aware there is another series with a psychic thrill, it pales in comparison to what goes on in The InBetween. This series offered a more realistic temperament of a psychic plagued by devious, horrific dead things, while helping her foster father with his cases.
Unfortunately, the series was cancelled after just one season, and the audience is left with a cliffhanger of psychic proportions. Whether or not our specialist of The InBetween has dealt with something like it before is an unknown. The series was definitely leading the audience to a better second season, but didn't get the chance to provide.
Hannibal (2013)
Sliced and Diced
The cancellation of the Hannibal series makes a lot of sense in the production world, but doesn't make it any less irritating. The slicing and dicing of production have been historically poetic given the project's journey and context. This is a truly visually dynamic adaptation of the book and movie franchise, and it's disappointing that the series remains cancelled, despite the main characters still willing to come back for a new season. Until someone decides to help with production, the viewers are left staring over the cliff where Will and Hannibal disappear. How's that for a cliffhanger?
It was intriguing to see the relationship between Hannibal and Will Graham grow into something somewhat like love. Somehow, Hannibal fooled everyone into thinking he wasn't a murderous psychopath, and took advantage of Will's abilities under the nose of the best FBI profilers. Graham was the perfect person for Hannibal, because he felt empathy for sociopaths and psychopaths with his innate capability to see things from their point of view. The two shared an unparalleled bond I had never seen before. Since then, I have been on a cinematic search to find some sort of replacement for one of my favorite series, but none of them offer the same intriguing qualities. It's worth noting there hasn't been a single crime drama that can compete with the Hannibal series to date.
Bullet Train (2022)
The Best Ride of the Year
I laughed. I cried. I felt the ride. A truly immersive experience with incredible visual effects. The storyline was unique, and well written. I didn't watch it when it first came out, because the basic premise of the story seemed bleak. The trailer didn't do it justice. Therefore, I found myself pleasantly surprised that the cast and crew successfully created an entertaining piece of fiction based entirely on a bullet train. There aren't a lot of productions that engage an audience with the scenes set in one place. The action and comedy was well balanced, and the characters were ironically relatable, which added to the comedic element. Come on, man. A bullet train full of relatable assassins has never been done before. This makes it worth watching.
Rabbit Hole (2023)
Going Down the Rabbit Hole
The series was unique and offered a significant amount of mystery that kept me interested. The cliffhangers never failed to leave me excited for the next episode. I liked the leading character in other productions I have seen, and he definitely didn't disappoint. It is enjoyable to see conspiracy theories shown in a fictional sense, while including important elements that people see and here about today. The best part about that particular detail is how it didn't directly apply, which will prevent future viewers from feeling a sense of distaste for the political drama. Being as people sometimes find themselves irritated with political drama in the real world, keeping present day issues separate from the series' fictional narrative maintained a proper state of originality.
I found myself going down a rabbit hole with the characters in each episode, which holds true to not only the name of the series but the title of each episode. It is an entertaining viewing experience that left me hungry for more.
Workin' Moms (2017)
Get to Episode 3 Before Judging
Workin Moms is a series that can be watched over and over again, while always remaining entertaining. The first time I decided to give it a try, I didn't get passed the opening scene. I have never breast fed, and immediately assumed it would be all about babies. Finally, I decided to give it another try, and am happy I did. While there are children, it's all about the parents, who are relatively normal. That's meant to be a compliment, because every other series with this kind of set up contains unrealistic parents. A lot of us swear, have our adult conflicts, mishaps, trials, tribulations, and continue to grow throughout life as individuals and parents... Just like our children do.
Sidenote, I found myself a little jealous for not having a mom group to hang out with, and talk about adult problems with. Yes, it is that good, and not primarily for women, as one could assume, so I introduced it to a few of my male friends, who all had the same reaction as I did with the opening scene. By episode 3 they were laughing as hard as I was the second, third, fourth, and fifth time.
Having a well written script with a relatable cast makes this series stand out as one of Netflix's best productions. Just like Jonathan Ames in Bored to Death, Catherine Reitman wrote, produced, and played her own role in this production. That's dedication, and worth a person's time.
Tucker and Dale vs Evil (2010)
A Yearly Must Watch
Funniest parody I have ever seen. It's full of social stigmas, and stereotypes that remind the audience to never judge a book by its cover. I dislike excessive gore in movies, but this movie managed to make it funny. I couldn't help but laugh as a stereotypical college student dove headfirst into a wood chipper. One can't exactly save someone after that, but Dale tries, while saying it's going to be okay. Ultimately, he finds himself holding the only part of the body left... the legs, and why the kid dove into the wood chipper? Tucker and Dale's theory is hilarious. They believe these college kids have made a suicide pact of some kind. These college 'party kids', who clearly watch too many horror movies, think they are rescuing their friend from two 'hicks', because that's what they immediately assume at the gas station, while Tucker was eating pickled eggs trying to get the courage to say hello to a pretty girl. One of my favorite parts involves a beehive and a chainsaw. Unique. Before another kid speared himself on a fallen tree, a split second passes between him and Dale where he realizes he wasn't being chased. The perceived lunatic with a chainsaw was running right passed him with a swarm of bees in a full on air raid attack. Tucker and Dale get hit with a lot of insulting perceptions, due to their appearance and circumstances. The college kids would have been alright if it hadn't been for their lunatic friend filling their minds with his own insecurities. He does not take rejection well, axe and all... Axe body spray pun.
Day Shift (2022)
Monster Hunting Made Funny
The Jamie Foxx and Dave Franco duo provides a memorable performance accompanied by a new change with the usual production cliques. There are a significant amount of comedic puns towards pop culture, and the system in which society exists. Monster hunting made funny, while maintaining the suspense included in adequately perfected fight scenes with the addition of somewhat relatable, real life problems that arise on the side isn't an easy feat. The well balanced cast maintained credibility through this realistically written every day monotonous 9-5 union work income lifestyle tied to vampire hunting. Not to mention, a good music soundtrack connected to the supporting cast provided an extra layer of meaningful entertainment.
The First Purge (2018)
The Most Memorable Purge
By far the best of the franchise. It was interesting to see how this horrible decision to legalize crime upon the ringing of the alarm once a year began. Also shed some light on a lot of things. Kind of like why robbing the ATM doesn't turn out well, and how 'saving money' isn't the reason this horrific law was passed. A good use of real life societal issues portrayed in the franchise's notorious capability of shining light on how much the disenfranchised suffer at the hands of unrealistic expectations. I thoroughly enjoyed how the main characters stood by one another, and the gangs feared before the alarm became the solution for safety. As Rich Kid's 'Plug Walk' came on, I got goosebumps, because they were defending themselves against gangs that were not a part of their territory. It highlighted how intense discrimination can fuel hate, and how those discriminated against are more than capable of stepping it up for the right reason. After all, the most important thing in life is the respect for life itself.