jacobbriscombe

This film is what happens when fun meets a ball of galactic cuteness! It's very similar to the original animation but the live action adds and changes enough to feel fresh and offer something for fans of the original and newcomers to the series! It doesn't take itself seriously, it's sweet, silly, and bursting with colour, just 90 minutes of pure joy. If you somehow haven't seen the original (we can't be friends) the story follows Lilo, an orphaned girl being raised by her struggling older sister. One night a fugitive alien lands on earth and befriends her. Think Spielberg's E. T., but less phone calls and a lot more intergalactic mischief. Sure it won't leave you questioning your existence or meaning of life (unless your life's been lacking in small blue aliens) but it'll definitely put a smile on your face and a warm feeling in your chest. Sometimes that's all a film needs to do.

I think anyone can enjoy this film whether you're a fan of Stephen King's books or not! Making $40 million from its budget of $10 million in the opening week is an impressive feat. Following the success of his previous film Longlegs (2024), Osgood Perkins proves once again to be more than just the son of renowned actor Anthony Perkins, he is a name to remember in the horror genre. The story itself is simple: A drum-playing toy monkey is passed down to identical twins Bill and Hal, the toy has supernatural properties that when its key is turned it will kill an unknowing victim in a comically gruesome way. The deaths are always explained as freak accidents in a similar fashion to the Final Destination franchise. After losing all their close relatives to the monkey's powers they throw it away down a well. Decades later 'freak accidents' Hal and his son Petey must find the monkey and bring an end to the deaths at the hands of the person turning its key. This simplistic narrative works well because it allows Perkins to home in on character growth and use dark humour to address heavy topics such as grief, rejection and masculinity. Theo James gives a phenomenal dual performance of Bill and Hal when they have grown up. Their mannerisms, posture, cadence and tonality all harmonise to create an eerie dichotomy between the two estranged twins. The only real issue the film presents is the cliche trope of a killer inanimate object/monster. However, through using monsters, horror's always allowed audiences to explore more mature themes and express shifts in societal and political issues. I would argue the toy monkey is a monster and the deep-rooted issue The Monkey is interrogating is our loss of human connection and relationships from phones and technology in our digital age. What seems harmless and seemingly innocent on the surface, actually creates anxiety and holds such a suffocating control over our lives, but can also bring people together when used correctly. The creative decision for the supernatural ending was also an interesting choice as it felt quite disjointed. Up until that point the film had been grounded in a somewhat 'realism', so it did take me out of the film's world slightly. The ending however, leaves you with an unanswered question that adds nothing to the narrative no matter how one interprets it. Overall, I would strongly recommend you watch this film whether a fan of Stephen King, Osgood Perkins, or just want to be shocked, laugh and be entertained for 90 minutes.

This film was a fun and riveting watch that left me feeling gripped with the rich storytelling and engaging performances from Elba and Swinton. It is an Aladdin-esque film about a djinn who gets released from his imprisonment in a jewelry souvenir by a socially distant and reserved professor of storytelling. In return the djinn grants her 3 wishes of her choosing. That's the basic premise but for me the actual film is not about the wishes she will be granted but in fact it is the stories of previous wish users and the deep connection Elba and Swinton share through those stories. It also is a lesson into humanity, what it is like to be alone and want to be loved by someone. The deep connections we have with eachother that make stories so enjoyable.

Visually this film is very appealing as the visual effects are stunning to look at. The performances were also believable and I felt invested in their relationship.