Welcome to the first instalment for some time in the series of bad movies with something to like. Today’s selection all contain merit, and are all far from a waste of time given the right mood. For some or several reasons they just aren’t what you’d call “good”. See what you think, and let me know if you disagree.
I love the idea. I love the steampunk design the colours and the energy. Hera Hilmar looks great, and Umbrella Academy‘s Robert Sheehan brings at least some half decent acting to the blur and sandstorm of the woeful script. Hugo Weaving is largely wasted as the villain, sadly. And I couldn’t even properly tell you at this point, some months later, what the point of it all is. It has a feel of other kids movies such as City of Ember, which look and feel so much better than anything that is happening and why. No tension, no direction, just a lot of visual fireworks in the set, costumes and CGI set pieces. Kids are too smart to like it either – not that it is boring just that it neither goes anywhere interesting or ultimately means anything of worth.
Decinemal Rating: 62
If you were sixteen and had never contemplated the philosophical questions this interesting Spanish psycho-drama / horror poses, then it might blow your mind. Trouble is I am not sixteen, and it all felt like pseudo intelligentsia mixed with some dubious politics. It wanted me to be more impressed with the ludicrous premise than I was, which pissed me off to a degree. Saying that, there were some nice scenes and moments of tension in isolation. I was very much reminded of how I felt first watching Vincenzo Natali’s Cube: compelled to see where it goes, and oddly fascinated by the violence and gore, yet distracted by the B-rate actors and low budget shortcuts. With what it had to work with the production does a fine job of creating a believable atmosphere of this grimy microcosm. I just found too many issues with the premise and the script to be able to recommend it as more than a minor curiosity.
Decinemal Rating: 64
The incredible Jake Gyllenhaal reuites here with Dan Gilroy and Rene Russo, his director and co-star of the exceptional Nightcrawler. The ever impressive Toni Collette, and even John Malkovich join in the bonkers fun – trouble is the risk of something this quirky falling on the right side of genius just doesn’t pay off on this occasion. Satire and the world of High Art are two tricky places to work in successfully, and when combined here it all just becomes trite and dull rather than the desired effect of being smart and sassy. The joke is a big ask on the audience, and even this level of talent can’t save a doomed premise from falling flat. One or two moments of well judged darkness aside, this admirable failure is still very much a failure.
Decinemal Rating: 63
Thank you for reading. Did you love or hate one of these films more than I did? Comments always welcome, here or on the Instagram account thewasteland.reviews – see you there! Shantih Kx
The Wasteland 