The Ricochet Reviewer: Books, Movies, and Comics

  HALLOWEEN REVIEWS 2022 Director: Masayuki Ochiai Writers: Masayuki Ochiai, from a story by Ryoichi Kimizuka Stars: Michiko Hada, Mari Hoshino, Tae Kimura, Yoko Maki, Kaho Minami, Moro Morooka, Shiro Sano, Koichi Sato A confusing, muddled horror film about a terrifying  night in a Japanese hospital.   There's malpractice and a conspiracy to cover it up.  There's some kind of disease that seems to be spread psychically and affects the perceptions of anyone who catches it, so that they don't know whether they are hallucinating or not.   The problem is that the viewer doesn't know either.  There were a couple of points where I thought I had a workable explanation for what was happening, but then something would happen to contradict it, especially at the end.   I'm forced to conclude that director Masayuki Ochiai just decided to throw everything in and, if he had any idea of what was going on, he sure didn't convey it to me.

  HALLOWEEN REVIEWS 2022 Writer/Director: James Gunn Stars: Nathan Fillion, Elizabeth Banks, Michael Rooker, Tania Saulnier, Gregg Henry, Don Thompson, Brenda James A meteorite releases a disgusting alien parasite among  the populace of a small town, turning the townsfolk into ravenous zombies.   Writer/director James Gunn largely succeeded in his goal of producing a horror comedy that pays homage to the many films that could share the above summary.   He understands that there is a lot of humor to be gleaned from the reactions of everyday folk to extraordinary events.   When things are happening on screen, this film is quite entertaining.   However, there is too much of a slow build-up as we watch the gradual transformation of patient zero (Michael Rooker).   We already know where this is leading, so I found myself impatient to get there.   In addition, I was often put off by the disgusting parts.  I can appreciate gore as much as the n...

  HALLOWEEN REVIEWS 2022 Director: Gore Verbinski Writers: Ehren Kruger, from the novel by Koji Suzuki Stars: Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, David Dorfman, Brian Cox, Jane Alexander, Lindsay Frost, Amber Tamblyn, Racheal Bella A Seattle reporter (Naomi Watts) tracks down the  truth behind a cursed videotape that kills those who view it within seven days.   The strength of this film is its creepy atmosphere, which is quite skillfully achieved.   However, it just seems to drag on after a while and does not improve on the Japanese original.  Having seen both versions, I was struck by the way that needlessly expensive special effects, however well done, can have the effect of distancing the viewer from the potential horror of the image.  Although the Japanese version was clearly made on a much smaller budget, each of the creepy set pieces packs more impact than this over-produced American remake.

  HALLOWEEN REVIEWS 2022 Writer/Director: Julia Ducournau Stars: Garance Marillier, Ella Rumpf, Rabah Nait Oufella, Laurent Lucas, Joana Preiss, Bouli Lanners, Marion Vernoux A primal hunger for flesh awakens within a French  veterinary student (Garance Marillier), setting her on a path of confusion, horror, and enlightenment.  This is an extraordinary film.   The mingled sense of shame, terror, and compulsion that engulf Justine as she embarks on a frightening path of self-discovery is rich in metaphor.  The film’s title not only refers to the uncooked meat she craves, but the rawness of her emotions as she and her sister are stripped down to her primal, essential selves and exposed to the world.  The final shot is jaw-dropping.   This is a great debut from director Julia Ducournau.

  HALLOWEEN REVIEWS 2022 Director/Writer: David Lowery Stars: Casey Affleck, Rooney Mara, McColm Cephas, Jr., Kenneisha Thompson, Grover Coulson, Liz Cardenas, Barlow Jacobs A young man (Casey Affleck) dies, then returns as a  ghost to haunt the house that he shared with his wife (Rooney Mara).   This is not so much a film to enjoy as it is one to deeply appreciate.  Director/writer David Lowery has succeeded in making a film that poses questions to which it has no answers without seeming half-baked or poorly thought out.  This purposeful ambiguity shows respect for the profound mysteries of death and our varying beliefs regarding it.   There are a few key points that I don’t understand, but they feel consistent with the flow of the narrative, so rather than feeling cheated, I find them stimulating to contemplate. Spoiler alert!!! End of the movie!!

  HALLOWEEN REVIEWS 2022 Director: William Friedkin Writer: William Peter Blatty, based on his novel Stars: Linda Blair, Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Jason Miller, Lee J. Cobb, Kitty Winn, Jack MacGowran, William O'Malley A little girl (Linda Blair) is possessed by a demon,  prompting her mother (Ellen Burstyn) to arrange an exorcism.   This film had audiences lining up around the block for admission and bolting to the restrooms for emission, nauseated by scenes that were unprecedented for their time and still pretty powerful today.   Many argue that this is one of the greatest—if not the greatest—horror films of all time, and I, for one, think that’s pretty close to the mark.   Much of the film is presented in a grounded style that borders on cinema verite, which makes the scary parts land that much harder.   I was about 10 when it was originally released, so I couldn’t see it in the theater, but I have a clear memory of being totally freaked out by heari...