Succubus

I didn't have high expectations but the movie turned out to be quite good. It kept me on the edge of my seat and wasn't bored at all.

The actors were all good. Rachel Cook's performance was great. I was really surprised by it because after watching her previous movie (Kill Shot) I wasn't sure if she had much acting skills. But she was awesome in this one.

While the majority of the film was great, it completely fell apart in the final act. What an anticlimactic conclusion to an otherwise great little horror story.

Because of the stereotypical horror cliffhanger I would love to see a sequel especially if it doesn't pick up 6 months later but 20 years later or something like that. I think there is a lot of potential there.

(And just a sidenote: Was the full.frontal male nudity really necessary?)

Written and directed by R. J. Daniel Hanna, the movie follows Chris (Brendan Bradley), a separated new father, creating an account on a dating app and finding himself lured by a mysterious girl he matched with named Adra (Rachel Cook).

Succubus is a movie that has a decent beginning where what is seen is mostly through the screen as the protagonist is video calling with his best friend while swiping right on the dating app. You can feel where the story is heading as he comes across Rachel Cook's profile. A profile that screams scam in every single way where to proceed would require a suspension of logic and sense, but nonetheless she is real, and from then on strange things start to happen. Brendan Bradley is good playing the struggling father, and Ron Perlman as Dr. Orion Zephyr is definitely a strong presence on the film. However, the story loses its steam in the second half where the turn of events departs from what came before and goes for the paranormal. It is one of those cases where it probably would have worked better if the story never left the initial setting and the realm of the real.

It could be said the movie is an allegory for monogamy since many times the decisions the protagonist takes, ultimately putting himself in danger, are always related to finding the fulfillment of desire outside matrimony. It would seem Succubus is preaching that pleasure should only be sought between monogamous normative relationships, and everything outside its realms is deemed a one-way path to doomland. In any case, it is a movie with a good idea that sadly was not translated to the screen.

Chris is in a strained marriage. His friend Eddie is divorced. The two of them chance upon an online dating site where they become helplessly enamored of an irresistibly seductive young woman who nurtures their deepest desires.

Unfortunately, appearances are terribly deceiving....

A professor knows the gruesome truth and tries desperately to intervene before it's too late.

Let's stipulate that this movie would go nowhere without a spectacularly beautiful siren to addle the minds of its principal characters. Her acting isn't exactly Shakespearean, but, really, who cares? The rest of the cast steps up reasonably well to backstop the homewrecker; hence, the movie's still an entertaining take on demonically induced, all too palpable mirages and their effect on stressed out family men.

All that's missing is a public service announcement.

In this 2024 erotic-horror-thriller, we follow a man who joins a dating app after his marriage falls apart. His life is a complete mess, and he keeps finding himself in awkward situations, ultimately swiping right on a dating app on the wrong woman. The movie starts off clever and fun, introducing us to the main character, Chris (Brendan Bradley), his estranged wife Sharon (Olivia Grace Applegate), and his best friend Eddie (Derek Smith), who is kind of a douche. Chris is still in contact with Sharon even though they are separated, and she's currently at a bachelorette party. Instead of enjoying the evening, she keeps checking the baby monitor, only to witness some really weird things.

There is also Chris's mom, who is constantly worried about him, played by Rosanna Arquette, the exposition-heavy Ron Perlman, and Adra (Rachel Cook), the mysterious woman from the dating app. Chris is home alone with the baby and keeps video calling with the different character's which added some dynamic interactions and gives the audience the chance to get to know the different characters.

The acting was convincing, especially from Brendan Bradley and Olivia Grace Applegate, who delivered great performances as Chris and Sharon. Rachel Cook looked stunning and portrayed her role really well too. The concept was a little cheesy but undeniably fun, and the movie had some interesting ideas. However, the execution lacked in several areas, and the pacing felt uneven.

The story began intriguingly, but as it progressed, it became awkward and weird at times. It felt like the filmmakers ran out of ideas halfway through and needed filler material to extend the runtime. At one point, you think the movie is over, only to discover there are 15 minutes left, during which they throw in a final twist. While I liked the ending, it felt out of place and added to the movie's uneven tone.

On the plus side, the movie featured some nice special effects and a dreamy atmosphere that were enjoyable. The comedic aspects were unexpected but well-executed, with plenty of awkward moments stemming from the seductive Adra and the clumsy Chris.

Overall, the movie was fine but could have been much more enjoyable with some adjustments to the story and post-production. [5,2/10]

If you thought this movie will be full of sexy demon scenes, you are dead wrong. Half of the movie is this guy going to Tinder while getting a separation from his wife and feeling guilty about it. There are some funny interactions there, but that's not the subject of the movie. Instead it's this demon lady who has an obsession with him, and which also influences people through screens. Meanwhile, the one who knows most about the demon is Ron Perlman, who mostly talks to our hero... you guessed it... via video chat. Yes, people on screens making films about people on screens which you watch on a screen. Human experience in a nutshell.

Trust me, stay away from this.