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This was an awesome and very effective horror movie. It has been a long time since a horror movie genuinely got under my skin and in my head like this one did.

While, I will agree that the plot is a little predictable, the ride up to the reveal, and after, was the definition of spooky. This is a spooky ass movie through and through. The atmosphere was perfect, the performances were outstanding, and even the cinematography finds ways to get under your skin.

I have only two complaints about this movie. I wanted more scares. Even though the ones in the movie were extremely effective and executed damn near perfectly, it left me wanting more. I don't mean that in a bad way, but in a way that the scares were SO good and enjoyable, that I want more of them. There was one scare in this movie that gave me actual goosebumps and tingle my spine. I can honestly say that hasn't happed since probably the birthday party video tape scene from Signs, which I saw during its opening weekend. My second complaint is that I feel as though this movie could've been a smidge longer and fleshed out. I would've liked more depth to the relationship between to the two sisters. And, even though I was satisfied with the ending, it could've been much more satisfying.

All said, I give this movie a solid 8.5/10 and can definitely say this is my favorite horror movie of 2024 so far (nice try, Longlegs) and one of the spookiest I've seen in years.

Let me preface this review by stating that Rise, Dawn, and War might be one of my favorite trilogies of all time. So, I was VERY skeptical when Kingdom got announced. Skeptical enough to not see it in theaters because I was honestly expecting it to be bad. I happily stand corrected.

Set several generations in the future from Caesar's story, Kingdom lays the groundwork for what looks to be a very promising continuation of his legacy. We are introduced to new apes and a new human character, all of whom are intriguing and well written. Kingdom does slow down at parts, but a lot of that time is spent wisely with development of the new characters, world building, and Caesar's imprint on this world.

A lot of reviews are saying this movie should've shaved some of its runtime, and while I respect those opinions, I disagree. These movies aren't meant to be 90 minute summer blockbusters with no real meaning. Kingdom's runtime is more than justified and I hope the next entry is even longer because I could spend hours in this world.

All in all, Kingdom surprised me and, while I regret not seeing it in theaters, I'm so glad I finally watched it. I'm excited to see where this storyline goes from here and to learn more about Noa, his tribe, and Mae.

Good job, Wes.

...a revenge movie that isn't just a cash grabbing action flick.

Monkey Man is a revenge film unlike any I've seen. Dark and tragic subject matter, brimming with culture and importance. A movie that doesn't just demand your eyes and ears, but your brain, your heart, and your soul too.

I can't praise Dev Patel enough for his work with this movie. From the acting, to the writing, to the direction, he went all out. Through suffering multiple injuries during filming and production hell spanning 4 years, he made damn sure this movie got released and I will forever be grateful to him (and Jordan Peele) for that.

My only ask of you is to not go into this movie expecting a clone of recent revenge flick movies. This one is a whole different breed and raises the bar. Watch it.