lark91773

This was some hard-hitting filmmaking! Director David Zonana has convinced me to check out any film he makes in the future. Cinematically it's just so beautiful while horrific. A combination I tend to go for.

Luis Numez has just joined the Mexican military. The new recruits are referred to as colts. Like with any military industrial complex, these "boys" are meant to be broken down and destroyed until they become "men" or as one family member excitedly tells Luis, "a machine with money". That's the hook you see, when options are minimal the military provides a path, but at what cost. Luis's mother is diabetic and depends on his military insurance. At the very suggestion that Luis drop out she tells him, "you don't care about me". Luis is trapped. The powerlessness of not being able to control your destiny without grave consequences is palpable. Are the soul crushing acts one must do enough to push one out if you have a shred of humanity.

Enter Sergeant Eugenio Sierra, a truly diabolical menace to the pure hearted Luis. Siera repeatedly tells Luis, you have to become like me, which is the last thing Luis would want. Sierra is a waking nightmare to aspire to. Speaking of which, after a friend of his goes missing, Luis begins to have vivid night terrors. Some have already compared HEROIC to FULL METAL JACKET, but I was also reminded of another Kubrick film, THE SHINING. The military base is on the site where Aztec gods were worshiped. The shots of surrounding sculptures are stunning to look at especially in contrast to the fascistic military drills. This setting adds an otherworldly feel making both the nightmares and waking ones visceral in a way Kubrick did. The camera is so fluid as it follows and witnesses the loss of self. The sense of trauma that has likely occurred here even before the Mexican military made it an academy is keenly felt.

The societal othering of the Indigenous is felt throughout the film. In one scene a general tells Luis in the native language of Nahuat that the uniform gives authority to the powerless. *It's better to join the oppressors and let the uniform destroy your identify. This is of no help to Luis. No one not his girlfriend, family and certainly not men in authority can show him a way out. If only Luis could stay awake, but the hand he's been dealt wants him to sleep. To follow a role. To be a killing machine whose existence is solely for Mexico or rather the military state of it. The only way he can confront these barriers is in dreams. His nightmares vividly represent the tug of war going on in his mental state. The violence that is infecting him.

I'm not sure if HEROIC will get distribution. I certainly hope so. It's powerful both cinematically and in substance. The images tell the story and conveys the feelings as much as the dialogue. The sound design is eerie and reminded me of THE SHINING. It's such an impressive and confident film for a relatively new filmmaker. Best of all it's less than 90 minutes. Yet it gives so much if you're on its wavelength. The film never feels rushed or overstuffed despite the multitude of themes covered. I didn't even get into the power dynamics involving sexuality. Maybe I'll save that for another review.

*As I wrote that I couldn't help to think what happened in Memphis with the murder of Tyre Nichols by police. If you know the details of the case and the identities of the police officers you can imagine why I made that analogy. It's a bit too raw and sensitive for me to get into here but wanted to acknowledge the parallel. Whether right or wrong it's what came to my mind.

*Just a warning there are a couple scenes where I had to remind myself I was watching a movie to keep from breaking down. Though that reminder was no small comfort knowing they reflect reality.

I randomly came across this own Hulu. I've always been drawn to the subject of cults. Here we have a unique premised as the leader is a woman. She has bleach blond hair and expect all her "children" to appear in her image.

The opening starts with a kidnapping. We see how the cult tries to indoctrinate her but she's not having it. This causes all sorts of issues. Another thread of the series is a single mother, who after hearing about the kidnapping is terrified for her son, named Bilbo*. It's clear there must be a connection between her and the cult. I look forward to finding out more.

*I love the Bilbo name, which I assume is from "The Hobbit". Miranda Otto from The Lord of the Rings has a major role here adding another Tolkien connection.

DaCosta does an amazing job at reflecting the original. This is evident by the opening credits which instead of looking down on Chicago we're looking up. Such a great touch. Like Helen in the original, our protagonist Anthony becomes obsessed with uncovering the legend of Candyman. If you know the original well you'll know who Anthony is as soon as you hear his full name. I really like his connection to the original.

There are several excellent set pieces including some mean girls cluelessly summoning Candyman in the school bathroom. What Nia DaCosta does with s compact mirror had me grinning ear to ear. If there's one flaw I wish maybe we had a little bit more at the end with Brianna (Anthony's girlfriend.

There was an opportunity to further mirror the original regarding her character and Helen but I don't want to spoil anything. Like the best horror this reflects the times we live in. Police brutality cannot be ignored. Some have complained that it's too on the nose. Others have said it doesn't go far enough. As a a horror fan and film lover I was very happy with the brisk journey into Candyman lore the film provides. And with Coleman Domingo telling Candyman stories you can't go wrong.