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fairfaxv
Reviews
Desolation (2017)
And this is why you carry a gun..
Firstly, don't be put off by my headline. It's true that you may run into some crazies on the trail. Perhaps not.. gut you like a pig-crazy, but crazy nonetheless. I.e. The young man who took a machete to numerous hikers on the Appalachian Trail earlier this year. Bear spray helps, but a gun tops all. Without cellular service and much help nearby, it's really the only solution when put in a bad situation.
Anywho,
This movie wasn't as terrible as I expected it to be. The mother and son team striving for survival worked well. Acting was surprisingly great. Writing, not terrible. Directing and editing were also decent. Probably not for everyone though. Maybe my love for the outdoors and horror in general pushed me toward having a bias.
I don't quite understand why the tag line for the film is "Never go off trail" because from what I've seen, them going off trail saved them. Pretty silly. But in general, yes, when hiking stay on the trail. A lot who don't can get lost and die of exposure. These two did just fine. Those trusty, old-fashioned maps are a godsend.
I'll watch out for these actors and this director in the future. This film was exciting and kept me engaged throughout. Maybe others will say differently and I understand completely.
The only part I personally had issues with is that they didn't do much to fight back against the killer/hiker. I'm sure in these situations it's incredibly hard to think clearly. And maybe I'm just that reckless person who would take my knife and lunge after the dudes internal organs. The kid spraying the guy with bear spray compensated a little for this. I've inhaled bear spray and it'll take ya out for a few minutes. But nothing like a good ol' knife to the chest.
Overall, storyline was pretty cool and kudos to that! Did they ever get to scatter the husband's ashes? Did I miss that? 😂
Into the Forest (2015)
Excellent film. Empowering and thought provoking.
If you didn't care for this, that's good. Because it probably wasn't made with you in mind.
But me, I loved it. I've seen reviewers state that this gives women a bad image, and that it gives men an even worse image. I find all of that funny, because I found it to be quite realistic in terms of what two young women would do and experience in the case of a technological meltdown. Honestly, in reality I'm sure things would've been a lot more horrific. These two actresses really showed their talents in this. The emotions surrounding the rape and father's death were so raw and real, it's hard not to be captivated by the intensity.
I've read reviews saying that these two young women are weak because they couldn't think practically or logically without dad. I think it was the opposite. These two prevailed and conquered after losing the father. These two barely 20-somethings living in an ultra modern world managed to not only take care of themselves but ration their gasoline, grow and forage for their own food, and take care of one another without killing each other. (Unlike what I could say for some men) The character of Eva even has a child with not so much as an aspirin to soothe the pain. Ask any mother or woman, that scene was hard. Many of these scenes were. But that's life.
I've seen many reviewers criticize the decision to burn the house down at the end of the film. After watching this a few times, I notice that they lay things out for us quite neatly. That house was already falling apart at the seams before pops died. The roof was caving in a week after the power went. There would've been mold inside pretty much from the get-go.
For a new mom to walk in and see the watered-logged, moldy, mess of a home and say, I can't stay here, is not irrational nor is it post-partum depression. It's her intuition, senses, and knowledge working at full speed. An environment like that would give that baby respiratory problems, if not kill it, relatively swiftly.
When it comes to deterring further unwanted guests (looters, squatters, attackers) burning the house down may have been the best idea. Especially when you think about how (even with the rain) it may have created a signal fire, leading to their rescue.
The actors in this film did such a phenomenal job. The directing, writing, and cinematography were top notch from the usual BS I see in the theatres. If the people with such negative responses had taken the time to open their minds to what art can be and not have felt personally attacked by a film about women persevering and building by themselves, this may have made it much further. We're just not there yet. But we are close.
Be smart, be present, rebuild. Survive.
Zero Hour (2016)
Can't get enough of Huber's brilliance!
Karl Huber never ceases to impress with his short films. This one has to be my favorite.
Anja Akstin and Ellah Durliat as the young, dreamer-of-a-mother and her beautiful, ultra-well-behaved daughter act in this short wonderfully. The film gives the perfect amount of information to keep the viewer committed to every second.
Zero Hour isn't just nicely shot, but it promotes such an evocative subject that helps us to imagine, what if? Does Earth have to be our final resting place or is there a way out from the destruction humanity has caused.
Huber also captures the essence of motherhood in a nice way. Miranda (Akstin) is comforted by the fact that her daughter and herself will be sheltered from the chaos of war, only to have her world turned upside down by her longest companion, Baxter.
I love films that evoke thought. Imagining where these characters are now; if young Emily may ever make it back to Earth. It's fun to contemplate and I'm glad Karl Huber went in this direction.
Highly recommend his other films and keep an eye out for more in the future!
The Sacrament (2013)
Who doesn't love a Jonestown remake?
Alright, I may be biased because I'm a big fan of Swanberg and West and anything that they touch but I really dug this film. I still look back at it fondly. It had all of the suspense and thrill that I look for in good entertainment and who doesn't love a good movie about hundreds of people being manipulated into drinking the juice? I've always wanted to make film and I think this one was probably a fun one to build.
This is my first review; it's probably painfully apparent. Had to on account of a lot of these bad ones I've read.
Gotta say, Gene Jones as the father KILLED it. The dude has this sort of eerie intimidation that lingers after the credits roll. Joe Swanberg is always gold in my eyes and I'll always seek that dude out. Ti West impressed me. Especially for a guy who's just a little older than me to create something so unsettling. I'm excited for more.
Keep it up, guys. The dedicated fans like me have our fingers crossed for more fun.