Reviews

Solid little historical gore filled zombie romp

I love a good zombie film and this ticked two of my personal niche favorites; zombies in World War II. Set during the Japanese invasion of the then Kingdom of Thailand in 1941, the resistance was shortlived lasting only a few hours before the ceasefire was called. This movie adds in the 'zombie' element. While not a new story, as the WW II human experimentation angle ending in a zombie outbreak, is a somewhat well-worn trope (Dead Snow, Outpost, Overlord), Operation Undead does have a unique take on how the undead operate, eating the flesh of the living while trying to keep their humanity but ultimately failing and the world burns around them.

As a fan of paratical zombie effects I was delighted by the ultra gore. Some solid limb ripping, and eviscerations, the plot had be guessing where they were headed right until the end.

As a history and horror nerd I was very much the target audience for this one, and if you like me enjoy a good zombie watch, I recommend.

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Good concept, meh execution

Firstly, I think the whole Akina livestream subplot was incredibly redundant. Especially once they revealed that Mei and Hibiki's family had a connection to the jukai curse and the box for at least 13 years, I just felt like Akina and her whole deal had no place in the movie. It would've been fine without it since the box and the jukai curse are interesting and feel unique. They probably only added Akina cuz she was in howling village and ox-head village so they needed to add her in for the last movie of the trilogy.
Next, It's a shame they didn't explain why the box ended up in the house the couple moved into, and just used it as an excuse to kill a bunch of Mei's friend group. Compared to the other two movies, this one holds last place (although I wouldn't say it's a terrible movie).
The english name also sucks incredibly hard. Sure, it's a reference to Aokigahara forest, but just omitting the word "suicide" would make it fit the movie better in my opinion, since the topic of suicide isn't really explored in it and just focuses on the curse making people do things against their will. Also why the hell did Mei and Hibiki's mother sacrifice herself to save their kids when the stupid box will try to take them 13 years later anyway? Makes her death feel useless.

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Unresolved Fates

The movie had some great action scenes, a clever heist plot, and a talented cast, but the ending just didn’t work for me. It felt weird and unsatisfying, lacking the resolution I expected. The unresolved fates of characters like Zampano, Yenicall, and Macao Park left me with too many questions and loose ends. I wanted more closure, especially after all the twists and betrayals that kept the story so gripping. While the buildup was exciting and filled with tension, the ending felt chaotic, rushed, and incomplete, which kind of ruined the overall experience for me. It left me wondering what could have been.

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"Cheer up"

Ophelia is a short film by Celina Mae Medina. It was not only her thesis but also a result of “two years of personal crisis and research.” The film was dedicated to her friend Allen. While this film is important, if the discussion of suicide is a trigger you may want to avoid it. **

Lia is a college student suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts. Scattered throughout her bedroom are sticky notes with positive messages. Her parents try talking with her and at her. “Cheer up.” Always helpful advice when a loved one is having a mental health crisis. They blame her girlfriend and each other. Lia wants to see a psychiatrist, feeling she can no longer go on. Her parents are convinced the problem is spiritual and resist sending her to a psychiatrist, using alternative treatments.

The film did not glorify suicide nor ridicule anyone needing mental health help. Lia’s family was financially well off. Her parents loved her even if they were clueless. But clinical depression and suicidal thoughts don’t care about any of that. Willing them away or praying them away is like trying to put out a four-alarm fire with an eye dropper of water. Director Medina made her short film available on YouTube during the pandemic to start conversations and to help people who are struggling to not feel so isolated. Ophelia showed how devastating and destructive it could be to hear platitudes from people who did not or could not understand the depth of her anguish/and were in denial about how deeply it ran. The running time for Ophelia may have been short but this gut punch of a film will be remembered much longer.

10 December 2024

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Spoilery Trigger Warning Below


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Suicide

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A bus ride you will not forget

Many of the short films I’ve watched have been heartwarming, life affirming, or poignant. Bus 44 blew those sentiments up in 11 minutes of dismal human nature with a series of shock and awe.

Bus 44 travels through a rural area of idyllic lined trees and farm lands. The female bus driver stops for a young man who innocently flirts with her. At the next stop, two men enter the bus with evil on their minds. They rob the bus and make a decision that will prove fateful for everyone.

Director Dayyan Eng squeezed every minute out of this film imbuing the two leads with enough emotions to make them feel real. He managed to hit the Goldilocks Effect with the film not running too short nor too long. Without a whit of compassion, he also demonstrated the dire consequences of the Bystander Effect.

Bus 44 was short, horrifying, and satisfying in a grisly and perverse way. If you are looking for a feel good film, this is not it. Bus 44 showed the dark side of criminal behavior and group passivity. This well made film earned the film festival awards it won.

10 December 2024

***Spoilery trigger warning listed below***

Trigger warning: It’s listed as a spoiler in the tags, but for some people this needs to be more prominently displayed-Rape

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Revenge and Broken Minds

The film shows how the mind can be both scary and unreliable, changing the way characters see the world. What’s even scarier is how the people we trust, especially family, can hurt us more than anything else. The real villains aren’t strangers, but those who should care for us. The film plays with the idea that the mind can be both terrifying and unreliable, as it twists and distorts reality under enough pressure. It also explores what people are willing to do to get revenge or save their loved ones, pushing them to make unimaginable choices. It’s a film that leaves a lasting impression due to its strong performances, gripping storytelling, and unforgettable plot twists.

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Beautiful romance!

Such a beautiful love story, the acting is excellent and the story is so interesting. The romance and the action part is evenly distributed what makes this movie even more perfect! The ML and FL has so much chemistry even without much physical contact you can see their love and care being developed. The only thing is that I wish the story would be more developed and it would show their happy ending a little longer. I think the ending was a little poor compared to the rest of the movie. Would love to see this being made into a few episodes show.Such a beautiful love story!

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"Rider" is described as a mix of cuteness, comedy, and horror.

Visuals and Atmosphere: The movie is described as having a colorful cast of characters, with the "Rider gang" and a "ghost gang" contributing to the visual and thematic diversity. The horror elements are present but seem to be tempered by the comedic timing and performances.

Freen Sarocha makes an impression with her stunning beauty and acting prowess, especially noted for her ability to convey emotions effectively, which was crucial in an emotional scene with Mario Maurer. Her performance is described as both cute and lovable, contributing significantly to the film's appeal.

Audience Reception: From posts on SNS, there's an evident excitement among fans, particularly those of Mario Maurer and Freen Sarocha. The film's release date was set for December 10, 2024, which indicates it's a much-anticipated project. The general sentiment seems positive, focusing on the actors' performances and the unique genre blend.

In summary, "Rider" appears to be a film that leverages the likability and chemistry of its lead actors, Mario Maurer and Freen Sarocha, to deliver a unique cinematic experience that combines humor with horror elements. It's poised to be a fun watch, appealing especially to fans of the actors and those interested in the Thai film industry's creative output.

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GREAT MOVIE

The movie is so good. It is mixed of Horror, Comedy and Romance. There's a lot of jumpscare. P'no's character is very funny, I love his character. I also love the chemistry between Pai (Freen's character) and Nat (Mario's character) I'm giggling while watching them in the screen together, they have an oozing chemistry. I hope there's still a sequel soon. I really want to see them again in a movie together. Also freen's acting is so good. Her backstory made me cry. She's such a best actress. She's also cutee all of her scenes are so cute especially the flirting scenes with Nat. Overall it's a 10/10 for me. I really love this movie

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