aronharde

This movie is best described as just another generic horror film. The concept is not very original, although the idea involving the paintings was somewhat intriguing at first. Unfortunately, the film fails to build any real tension or establish an atmosphere strong enough for the scares to be effective. The visual effects were also underwhelming and turned what should have been frightening moments into unintentionally laughable attempts to scare the audience.

With a major studio like Blumhouse attached, this could have been more enjoyable and better in quality, even though many of their recent releases have also become quite formulaic. Just imagine if Mike Flanagan had directed it. He could have turned the story into a powerful supernatural horror film. As it stands, the movie is forgettable and lacks anything that sets it apart from the flood of horror content released these days.

The acting is decent, and the overall production quality is fine aside from the effects. However, that alone is not enough to make the movie entertaining. It is certainly not a terrible watch, but it does not offer much to look forward to. Sadly, that makes it pretty forgettable overall, which is one of the worst things a movie can be. [4.9/10]

Honestly, I absolutely love post-apocalyptic survival movies, and the cover for Survive looked cheap but intriguing, so I lowered my expectations and hoped for the best. We follow a family of four who are stranded on the ocean floor after all the water from the ocean vanishes due to a magnetic pole reversal. They receive information that the poles are going to reverse again and that they must seek shelter from the massive wave that will follow.

That concept is actually quite interesting and unique, even though it is a little silly. To enjoy this movie at all, you need to be willing to overlook some major logical flaws. Unfortunately, beyond the logical gaps, the characters are also rather unlikeable. They make irrational and foolish choices, and it is genuinely hard to root for them. A family stranded after a global catastrophe should be easy to sympathize with, but their behavior makes it difficult.

However, not long after they realize the danger they are in, they start facing threats beyond just the looming wave, and I actually enjoyed that aspect. It fits the kind of movie I like. The CGI was mostly fine, though occasionally poor. The acting was decent, nothing outstanding, but passable. The characters, as mentioned, were flat and often irritating.

In all honesty, the movie has quite a few flaws and is certainly not going to win any major awards. But for fans of this very specific subgenre, it might be a small enjoyable gem, provided you can overlook its weaknesses. I personally enjoyed the movie overall, even though I fully recognize that it is definitely not for everyone.

[6.3/10]

It is really hard to find the right words to describe how I feel about this movie. I absolutely loved the two previous films, and like many other fans, I waited years for this sequel to arrive. When the spectacular trailer was released, I was beyond excited to see this new addition to the franchise.

The movie has some interesting ideas and starts off with a strong opening sequence. While it is not quite as great as the one from 28 Weeks Later, it is still enjoyable. After that, we meet the main characters, who are fairly engaging and definitely well portrayed by their respective actors. The film also introduces some striking night shots in red featuring the infected, which looked absolutely terrifying in the best way possible. However, it also includes strange camera movements whenever a protagonist hits a target with a bow and arrow. While this may be an attempt at creative camera work, it ends up feeling unnecessary and somewhat distracting.

The plot felt messy at times, with many things left unexplained and several narrative threads going nowhere, which was disappointing. Although the film has some great shots and enjoyable moments, it never quite reaches its full potential. With such a rich setting, strong cinematography, a solid narrative structure, and the evolution of the infected, the movie could have been a new high point for the zombie subgenre. Unfortunately, the uneven tone and disjointed storytelling really hold it back.

In some ways, the film retains the franchise's signature style with shaky camera work and close-up angles, but in others, it includes choices that just do not fit. Some scenes felt entirely out of place, as if two different movies were being mashed together.

The music choices were also a major issue. Many scenes were accompanied by tracks that felt completely out of sync with the tone, which is especially tragic given how iconic John Murphy's In the House - In a Heartbeat has become in horror film scoring. I had hoped that piece would return, but instead we got unfitting music that often ruined the atmosphere. It feels like Garland and Boyle were trying to create something more artistic than just a sequel, but that is not what fans were hoping for. Fans wanted a proper continuation of the story, with the signature tone and maybe a few fresh ideas.

While I respect the ambition to make something bold and memorable, I ended up feeling mostly disappointed. The movie is still fairly enjoyable, and I had a decent time watching it, but it was frustrating to see so much potential go to waste. The final scene in particular was extremely underwhelming. I had heard it ends abruptly and that many viewers were unhappy with it, but I was not prepared for just how disconnected it would feel.

At this point, I am not even sure if I am genuinely excited for the next installment. However, I am curious to see how a rewatch will feel once the sequel is released. Maybe my opinion will shift, but for now, even though this film had its moments, it ultimately failed to deliver what it was supposed to.