Change Your Image
drake_evan
Reviews
Onus (2020)
Rough around the edges, but not bad
I don't understand the low score for this one. Sure, the editing could have been more aggressive here and there, and I didn't love the way the actor playing the mother delivered her lines, but neither of those things were bad enough to ruin it.
The story was quite good, the themes were clear without being clunky, and they did a good job building tension and dread.
If you need jump scares, or if you can't get past typical low-budget-movie problems (like sound or lighting issues) then this one probably isn't for you - but I liked it, and I'd like to see what the creator could do with more cash.
Soft Lad (2015)
Very Good, and not just "for a gay movie"
Soft Lad is a surprisingly good little relationship/family drama. I say "surprising" for two reasons; the first is simply that the dearth of movies centered on gay characters means there just aren't going to be a lot of good ones. The second is that, on paper, the plot (and even a few plot details) really lends itself to ridiculous and soapy melodrama, so I was expecting the sort of movie you might catch on Lifetime in the middle of the afternoon. Against huge odds, the acting and directing kept the whole thing grounded in reality and delivered a really engaging and thoughtful story about a group of people who find themselves in an almost absurdly complicated and emotional situation.
It's not perfect and it's definitely not a feel-good movie, but it's a well-made movie that left me with lots to think about without being heavy-handed or clumsy with its themes.
I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from this writer/director and cast.