In the Earth

I was pretty stoked for this movie after seeing the trailer. Figured it'd be a solid arthouse horror picture a la A24 type deal. This is coming from a guy who mostly prefers the B stuff but i enjoy me a good arthouse indie flick now and again.

But gee the two main characters were so flat and boring. Like, they couldn't add banter? Find interesting things to talk about while traveling through the woods. I miss the days in horror, and maybe this still happens from time to time, where characters have these very interesting attributes. An example, in del toros chronos, ron pearlman's character was obsessed with the size of his nose and getting a nose job. It was such an interesting tid bit. In this film there was none of that. The characters just flatly said things that were part of the plot. No banter. No conversations. Just "this is why i'm here". "this is what i'm doing". "why are you doing this?" "oh that's why".

Then a bunch of weird plot stuff, indecision in what the movie is supposed to be. Wicked cool trippy cinematography type stuff that was completely ruined by the entire plot of the movie. A bad explanation about why everything is the way it is.

Also the movie alludes to some kind of quarantine at the beginning. Not the one we're in rn i don't believe. But i think the writer thought that this would give it an air of mystery and apocalyptic dread. I think a movie like Monster, a sorta apocalyptic monster film that sorta followed a few people roaming through the forests did this concept well. In The Earth, however, did not. Just felt meaningless and pointless and was just an excuse for non-dialogue that thes indie filmmakers like so much.

The last 20 minutes was kinda coool. But not worth what you put into it. I really wanted to walk out of this one.

The world is in the midst of a deadly virus, scientist Martin Lowery is joined by park ranger Alma, the pair head into a forest looking for equipment, where they encounter Zach.

I was really looking forward to this, a good cast, an interesting script, and a relevant theme, as it was made during the Covid 19 pandemic.

Very atmospheric and visually quite appealing, it had some plus points, including the acting, Squires and Fry were good, Reece Shearsmith was particularly zany as Zach.

Very much out of that arthouse style, it's very avantgarde, a style that will appeal to some, and equally irritate others.

It's slow in parts, and does seem to take an age to get going, but when it does, it's actually quite entertaining, Zach makes for a good villain, and there's enough intrigue and suspense to keep you entertained.

Weird, but entertaining, 6/10.

In the Earth can feel dull at times and it's lack of answers is extremely unsatisfying but it has enough individual parts that work to make it a good and unique horror movie. Joel Fry, Reece Shearsmith and Ellora Torchia all give great performances. There are some extremely disturbing moments and oddly funny parts. Ben Wheatley's direction is really good even if some of his stylistic choices really don't work. The music by Clint Mansell is amazing.

Great idea, executed poorly.

I'd like to think the jarring and choppy way the dialogue was written, was intentional, giving the first half of the film an uncomfortable thriller air about it.

We were totally on-board with this weird ride, with the proviso that there would actually be some pay off at the end, where unfortunately there was not.

Mild spoilers: Like many others have said, the film goes downhill once the pair escape their tormentor. The use of lights and sound could have been effective but they were over used, making it impossible for most, to actually look at the screen for a larger portion of the 3rd act. Then there is simply no ending, with so much build up, this just leaves you feeling unsatisfied.

1st problem: The virus has nothing to do with anything in this movie other than giving a reason why the cast are in masks.

2nd problem: one could have not paid attention for a moment and have no idea what the point of any if it is.

3rdproblem : the acting was average and the script didn't offer enough to make up for it.

Good thing :some cool psychedelic scenes if you and your buddies get stoned and stuff.