Endless_01

The last time I felt such dread, such inquisitive curiosity about what was going on, and felt desperate at each and every twist of the plot, was when I watched Noroi for the first time. Ever since, only a few selected horror films have managed to evoke such feelings. I am glad to say that The Medium absolutely nailed every important aspect, and it was a rewarding, dreadful experience that creeps on you slowly.

Direct by the creator of Shutter, you can start to get an idea about the style of the film and the ambience it tries to achieve. It captures masterfully the rural life on a low-class family in Thailand, showcasing the beauty and connection of the family living in a forsaken town in the middle of a mountain valley, as well as the rituals and customs they partake in. Like a proper found-footage, the narrative is structured in a way that feels grounded and realistic to the audience; in no moment are you truly pulled out of the experience from sudden jumpscares or silly turns. Each seconds feels carefully crafted to immerse you in the story and feel the stakes slowly grow.

When I compared this film to Noroi, I did so both as a very accurate representation of what the film is, and how well it executes its story by creating a fantastically creepy plot that involves rituals and shamans. It feels like a mystery film at times, showing you the clues but leaving just enough for the imagination. The editing asks you to stay still and pay attention, but it rewards you greatly.

The performances are very heartfelt and touching. The pain and sadness is captured really well as well as the fear that they experience. At no time did this feel amateurish or cheap.

Despite being rather long for your average horror movie, The Medium uses every minute well. At no point did I feel bored or like I was wasting my time. Maybe if you prefer very fast-paced movies then you won't enjoy it as much, but if you are a fan of found-footage and Asian horror, this one is a must.

The story of the Von Erich family, and their so called "curse" by the wrestling world. If follows the lives of four brothers and their father, as they battle the hardships of live to obtain glory among the legends of US wrestling, while being haunted by what seems a terrible streak of luck.

There is not a lot of movies out there that manage to capture both a wholesome, yet realistic depiction of the struggle of life and death, while portraying the honest ups and downs of being alive. The Iron Claw manages to create an inspiring, yet haunting story that captures you with its beautiful cinematography and absolutely perfect cast of characters. The performance by Zac Efron is an absolute highlight, and he delivers a nuanced portrayal of a caring and strong man that's emotionally hanging on a thread.

The camera work of the movie is incredibly good, plus a great soundtrack that knows when to play and when to keep quiet, it creates an immersing atmosphere that transports you to the Texas of the 80s and 90s. It masterfully crafts the setting while also keeping a strong focus on the family.

This is an incredibly entertaining film that checks all the right boxes. It moved me, made me laugh, and made me cry. The ending in particular, is what a landslide of sentiment feels like.

So, considering the raving reviews this film got, I was actually going into it with quite some expectations, yet ultimately I found myself thorn with what I felt, was, just a decent film that seemed to struggle to assess what it wants, or maybe I struggle to see what it tries to do.

It is a film about finding yourself (a concept I personally find a little cliché if not done properly) during your 30s, and looking for a greater reason in life, yet the film doesn't really try to show you a way into that. It is raw in the sense that the lives that it portrays, are those of people that talk the big talk but barely do any work to actually achieve what they wish for. The protagonist is pretty much this. Julie, at times, feels like a closeted narcissist, incapable of accepting guilt or accepting that she's not as special as she thinks she is. She feels lost and wanders around life trying to find meaning.

Yet, that's exactly what I didn't quite like about this film. Julie keeps doing just that, wandering and wandering without any clear goals, she doesn't know what she wants and she doesn't even seem to try to take the moment to actually reflect upon it other than by impulsive decisions.

But I guess that's the whole point, is it no? This movie is not about the success of the character, or about actually finding a meaning or reason for you life, and while she is definitely not the worst person in the world, she's a lost woman in her 30s that seeks validation where there is none, betrays her closed ones, and herself in the process, to get all the way back to the starting point, all for nothing.

The first half of the film I found to be very boring and insipid. It's hard to pay attention to a protagonist that has no personality at all, and while the secondary characters are more entertaining, they are not the focus of the film.

The last half improves a lot more. While the crazy shots and editing adds some flavor to it, I couldn't but feel that the director wanted to add them just as a way to enhance the film visually, rather than be an actual essential part of it; it feels superfluous. On the other hand, the conversations and dialogue gets more interesting, and the stakes are higher, emotions feel stronger, and we start seeing the actions of Julie take shape into consequences.

I guess it's a decent movie. I wouldn't call it a masterpiece, but if you are interested in a movie that portrays the angst of a 30s woman lost in life, without ever actually achieving what she wants, then you can have this one.