This week's Top Movies on the Telly

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol - (Film Four Monday 16th April 21:00)
Serving as a refresher before the release of the latest installment later this year, this stylish and fast paced action thriller has all the exciting and high octane action sequences we've come to expect from this series as is silly over the top fun that simply entertains!

Trainwreck - (RTE 2 Wednesday 18th April 21:00)
The network TV premiere of this hilarious comedy written by Amy Schumer and directed by Judd Apatow which appeals largely due to it's unorthodox approach to the romantic comedy format, together with some superb comedic writing and great performances (with the celebrity cameos almost stealing the show). Highly enjoyable!

The Other Guys - (Comedy Central Thursday 19th April 21:00)
Another comedy cracker sees Will Ferrell link superbly with Mark Wahlberg in a clever cop movie parody that soars due to the high class action sequences and excellent comedic chemistry between the two leads. This buddy cop parody movie is full of high octane action sequences and lots of big laughs to keep it's audience entertained throughout.

Review - A Quiet Place - A terrific tense horror thriller that will haunt you for days!

With the recent critical and commercial success of films such as  Get Out, It Comes at Night and The Witch, the horror genre has enjoyed a rebirth in our cinemas with audiences flocking to see a new wave of more thought provoking and understated horror films that not only rely on the jump scare but are more reflective and multi-layered and as a result leave a much more resounding effect one the viewer.
John Krasinki's A Quiet Place is a prime example of this new wave of  film and one that sits comfortably in the company of the strong thrillers that have follwoed before it.
The premise of A Quiet Place is quite simple - in this modern horror thriller, a family of four must navigate their lives in silence after mysterious creatures that hunt by sound threaten their survival. If they hear you, they hunt you!
In a world where even the faintest sound can get you killed, director Kraskinski relys on the camera to build the tension and he does that superbly with silence the perfect ingredient to build tension throughout (during the screening I attended you could hardly hear a pin drop from start to finish).
With minimal dialogue, the film is completely reliant on strong performances from it's cast and in this case they all deliver emphatically with Emily Blunt and Millicent Simmonds in particular contributing to what is a nerve shredding ninety minutes of superb cinema.
As frightening as this film is (you will not feel comfortable in your plush cinema seat - even for a second!) it is the drama, heart and unconditional love at the centre of the story that elevates this feature from one that is simply a shock fest to one with that resonates long after the end credits roll.
Not being a huge fan of the horror genre and despite shifting uncomfortably in my chair throughout , I have to admit that A Quiet Place was a lot more than a simple scaremongering exercise. It is similar in many ways to Jordan Peeles Get Out which was a huge hit last year, insofar as, despite an incredulous and implausible premise with the help of a sharp score, some high quality performances and a director that throttles the audiences attention A Quite Place may just turn out to be one of this years best. Highly recommended!
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What movies to watch this weekend?

In the Cinema:

Michael Inside
Compelling and thought provoking social prison drama written and directed by Frank Berry, this IFTA winning feature has received rave reviews and continues the trend of high quality film produced in this country currently.




Streaming: 

Nightcrawler (Netflix)
This dark and thought provoking thriller written and directed by Dan Gilroy includes a top notch performance from the always dependable Jake Gyllenhaal. Tense, gritty and compelling with a strong social message attached this was one of the better films on show throughout 2014. Recommended!



On Telly

Swingers (BBC Two Saturday 14th April 23:45)
The film that began the careers of Vince Vaughan and Jon Favreau and announced Doug Liman as a director to watch, this sharp scripted witty ensemble comedy has gathered a cult following over the years and holds up well to repeated viewing!

Review: Annihilation - strong follow up by a film maker on the rise

The two sides to the long running debate about whether Netflix is a killing cinema (I have written a previous piece on this very topic which can viewed here) are never more prevalent than in Alex Garland's follow up to this masterful directorial debut Ex-Machina, Annihilation.
Based on Jeff VanderMeer's best-selling Southern Reach Trilogy, Annihilation stars Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Oscar Isaac and  and follows a group of military scientists who enter "The Shimmer", a mysterious quarantined zone full of mutating landscapes and creatures.
With a look and feel somewhat resembling Denis Villeuneve's Arrival, I can't help lamenting what this visually incredible production would have looked like on the big screen, but alas due to lukewarm screen testings with the production company Paramount claiming that the feature may be "too intellectual" for audiences it was decided to sell the movie to Netflix (a move that disappointed director Garland who claimed that the film was shot for the big screen).
The other side of this argument, would state that due to the interest of Netflix in the production that it has brought this film to a larger audience, albeit not in the format it deserves.
The film itself is a thought provoking, eerily haunting and visually stunning sci-fi horror but comes with the warning that it may not be for everyone. Similar in tone and generating an aura that resembles Jonathan Glazer's 2014 feature Under the Skin, this is a film that evokes feelings of unease and unrest yet compels it's audience ,who simply can't look away. It's frightening in parts but always interesting and while it may not have that immediate desired effect of instant gratification that most modern features have it stays with you for days afterwards.
Sci-fi fans will love it's thought provoking themes and fans of horror will revel in the unease it brings throughout and whilst it may not quite match Ex-Machina for universal appeal it is another strong addition to what is becoming a formidable directorial portfolio by Alex Garland.
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Why the Horror film is set for another bumper year!

The horror genre was always one that, like comedy, tended to be greeted by film snobbery referencing the cheap tricks of tension filled scares as it's main source of entertainment. Usually following a list of rules that would make no sense in the "real world" - i.e don't enter a haunted house alone, never go looking for the killer etc the horror film was one that tended to get a bad rap critically as it was seen as low brow entertainment, attacking the senses in the most obvious way possible. The evolution of horror genre however with existential dread replacing jump-scares  has seen a reemergence of the horror film with 2017 being a highly successful year commercially as well as critically with Get Out becoming the first horror Academy Award nominee for Best Picture since Black Swan in 2010.
Not only do we now have the "freak out" moments within the horror genre but we also have this long lasting feeling of unease that stays with it's viewer throughout and has a much more long lasting effect. Driven by a list of auteur film makers, these horror films have us not only covering our eyes and ears but also tap into longer reaching emotional issues and leaving it's viewer with that sense of dread, shock and edginess that only a good horror film can.
With the release of A Quiet Place, Annihilation, Hereditary and Ghost Stories coming our way in 2018 the horror genre is at it's strongest shape in years at it appears that as cinema goers we are not quite ready to get comfy in our seats just yet.

5 Modern Horror Film Classics: 

5. A Quiet Place
Husband and wife pairing John Krasinksi and Emil Blunt both star (with Krasinski making his directorial debut in this modern horror thriller feature where a family of four must navigate their lives in silence after mysterious creatures that hunt by sound threaten their survival. If they hear you, they hunt you! Yikes!

4. Get Out
Chilling and highly original horror film from Jordan Peele that would correctly be the "movie of the year" choice of a lot of the cinema going public. This is a film that will haunt you for days after viewing! Read my full review here.

3. It Comes at Night
Post apocalyptic and minimalistic horror film that shows that you can stir up as much fear with the unseen that with anything that may appear on the screen. Anchored by a solid performance by Joel Edgerton this one is sure to unsettle!

2. The Witch
Slow building and thought provoking horror written and directed by Robert Eggers is one that has become a highly praised piece of work and one that will haunt it;s viewer thoughout and after the 92 minute running time!

1. Don't Breathe
Tension filled home invasion horror written and directed by Fede Alvarez and starring Stephen Lang and Jane Levy that is smart, chilling and stylish with Alvarez's unique take on a tired premise the perfect tonic for those who like a good scare!

Tralee Omniplex Tuesday Treat - What movie deserves your €6 this week?

There are three new releases for your consideration for this weeks Tuesday Treat at Tralee Omniplex. No less than two horror movies and an unwanted action thriller remake. Plenty of variety available this week with lots of quality programming still available at Tralee Omniplex this week with the added bonus of  all shows today just €6!

A Quiet Place
The first of two horror films at Tralee Omniplex this week and the currently scoring 97% on RT at the moment the husband and wife team of John Krasinski (who also directs) and Emily Blunt bring this frightening tale to the big screen and almost guarantee sleepless nights for it's audience!

Death Wish
The remake that nobody wanted shows another sad slide in the career of Bruce Willis as the old Charles Bronson film gets an updated remake. Has more than a whiff of should've been straight to DVD about it and may not be the best movie on offer this week!

Ghost Stories
The second horror entry this week, this British horror feature written and directed by Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman contains three spine tingling tales in what is a return to old school horror films. Be very afraid!

This weeks Top Movies on the Telly

Speed- (Film Four Tuesday 10th April 21:00)
The perfect popcorn thriller, this action packed feature works well largely due to the high octane action sequences and strong performances from Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock and the late great Dennis Hopper. Movie escapism at it's best!

Some Like it Hot - (Sky Arts Thursday 12th April 21:30)
Despite being nearly sixty years old this Billy Wilder directed classic still holds up as one of the best farcical comedies ever made thanks to a sharp script and some memorable performances from Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe.
A classic!

Jackie Brown - (Comedy Central Extra Friday 13th April 22:00)
One of Quentin Tarantino's lesser lauded features (not quite sure what it's doing on the Comedy Channel though!) is nonetheless in it's own right a fantastic film and one that sits comfortably among his superb back catalogue thanks to strong writing and some stellar performances from his all star cast with Pam Grier and Oscar nominated Robert Forster in particular standing out.