"Hush" (2016)

The Trailer:

Director: Mike Flanagan
Writer: Mike Flanagan & Kate Siegel
Cast: Kate Siegel, & John Gallagher Jr.
Plot Summary: Deaf author, Maddie (Kate Siegel), living in the woods to write her new novel must use her quick wit to fight against a masked killer (John Gallagher Jr.)

You know, home intruder/invasion films might be some of my unwitting favorites within the thriller genre. It's rarely a type of film that I ever desire to watch (not like how I desire to watch atmospheric, suspenseful, psychological horrors), but when I do I am always completely fulfilled and entertained. And isn't that all that matters? Anyways, most home intruder films possess a tight-string of suspense that almost always works: there is the question of whether or not the protagonist is going to survive, and not only will they survive but will they have a true prey-becoming-the-predator transformation that us viewers root for, and why did the intruder pick this home? Though, not all questions will be answered,  most home-invasion films end with some kind of happy resolution (save for films like The Strangers). Recently, though (I'd say since the early 2000's) there has been and influx of home invasion films, and with that comes overused tropes and clichés. The spark that made them great originally, is now a common, highly used formula that becomes boring, albeit still entertaining. So I was intrigued, as was the entire horror-lovers community, about this film that utilizes the protagonist's deafness as a way to up the ante of Hush, a film that could've otherwise been just another "boring" movie in a stagnant film genre.

First let me talk about the acting, because if the acting had been terrible the movie would've failed completely. Since there are only two characters, each of them have to have a strong credible air about them in order for us to be fully engulfed in their world and I'd say that Kate Siegel and John Gallagher Jr. did a far better job than I could've hoped for. Kate Siegel playing Maddie, an author struggling with writer's block, is amazing. Right off the bat we discover that not only is Maddie smart, but she has a quick wit, and she is capable: if need be, she can handle her own. I instantly knew that she'd be a total badass and be a real threat to the masked killer. John Gallagher Jr. as the masked killer (who I will henceforth refer to as The Man) is just as amazing. There is this aura of controlled instability about The Man that Gallagher so easily portrayed. I was afraid. With his actions we were enlightened to the probable fact that this is not The Man's first time doing this: he is patient, skilled, and without remorse for his actions. Throughout the film, their relationship grows increasingly intimate (not in a romantic way, but personal): both of them are set on survival and become well acquainted with each other's weaknesses as well as their strengths. Chiefly, this is what I appreciate most about Hush: the strange dynamic between prey and predator and how sometimes that line becomes blurred with the threat of death. Amazing acting leads to great characters which leads to a great story.

Now for the actual story. Overall, I love the movie but that doesn't mean it's without it's hiccups. There are a few plot devices used that in the end seem a bit too convenient for my taste. And generally, as with all horror movies, there are a lot of stupid decisions made throughout the film (i.e. Maddie making the MOST FUCKING NOISE during one of her attempted escapes! Like, girl, he can hear you!!!). But all that aside, Hush  is a solid thriller that genuinely terrified me. You know, there's always that part in a horror film where the killer/stalker/predator is standing literally right behind its next victim and you're wondering how on earth can this person not hear the killer/stalker/predator walking towards them, breathing, etc.? Well here in Hush the anxiety builds from us knowing that The Man is right behind Maddie, knocking on her window, walking over the gravel outside her home and she as no idea that he's there because she literally cannot hear. You don't know how many times I yelled at the screen "Girl, turn around!! He's right behind you! Satan, how do I sign "there's a fucking killer behind you" in sign language?" I mean her being deaf not only brought a minority character (it's rare for a protagonist in a film to be deaf) to the front and center and give the deaf community their visibility. but it actually worked as a detail in the film to catalyze more scares. I am truly impressed. Also, Maddie is not invincible. Too often in films the protagonist can be shot, stabbed, knocked out, whatever, and will continue on throughout the rest of the movie as though nothing happened, but not in Hush. Maddie gets hurt at one point and the effects of her injury start to weaken her and not only does she recognize this as a problem, but we witness it too: we see how she begins to waver in and out of consciousness, how it is a real struggle to stand/walk/fight, how she just generally loses a bit of the strength that she originally possessed. I was genuinely scared for her.

If there's one home invasion film that you should see, it's Hush. I was entertained and completely enjoyed it through and through. It's different and fresh and creative. It features a badass protagonist and a creepy, but strong antagonist. What more could you want from a thriller? Watch it, watch it NOW!!! Would I watch it again? Most definitely!

"Pontypool" (2008)

The Trailer:

Director: Bruce McDonald
Writer: Tony Burgess (screenplay and novel)
Cast: Stephan McHattie, Lisa Houle, & Georgina Reilly
Plot Summary: A radio talk-show host, Mazzy Grant (Stephan McHattie)— along with his sound engineer, Laurel-Ann Drummond (Georgina Reilly), and his producer, Sydney Briar (Lisa Houle)— is broadcasting live when a deadly virus breaks out in their small Ontario town, affecting all the residents.

Hey y'all, it's been a while since I've posted anything here: life's been hectic. But, hopefully I'm back in the game for a good while before life comes stomping it's destructive foot down on my impeccably kept lawn of plans. Anyways, without further ado, the review:

Yes, I realize Pontypool was released a few years ago — eight to be exact— but I've come to find that not many people have seen it. That's a shame, because this film has what is so rarely seen in horror nowadays: originality. Admittedly the concept of zombies (in case yo didn't know, Pontypool is a zombie flick... of sorts) isn't new, in fact the whole zombie sub-genre has been completely beaten to death in all mediums of creativity (i.e. movies, books, tv shows), yet here is this film that took that zombie concept and created an amazing film. It has it all, a great story, fantastic acting, suspense, terror, and a great director. What more could you ask for?

Let me first say that this film, though filled with suspense, is a bit of a slow-burner. There's little action throughout, though that's not a bad thing. In fact I am one hundred percent on board with that. As of late, the horror genre seems to think that there needs to be loads of stage blood and gruesome deaths to incite fear in its viewers, but I say nay to that. Although I do love a gorgeously shot blood bath, I much prefer a film that has depth within an actual story. The blood and all that should be an extension to a story and not the star of a story, you get what I'm saying? And this is where Pontypool truly shines. The entirety of the film is shot in a radio station within the basement of a church, therefore we never see the outside. The only connection our characters have to the outside world are from listeners calling in detailing the disturbing things they're seeing and/or hearing, and the radio station's weather guy, Ken Loney (Rick Roberts) who reports from the "sunshine chopper". With such little visual aid, us viewers are left to fill in the figurative blanks and try to paint a picture with the descriptions we're given from the listeners calls.  But the listeners can only tell so much, consequently making the virus a sort of enigma: what is the virus, what does it do to its victims, is it contagious, how does it spread? These are the sort of questions that our vast and endless minds can concoct all sorts of answers to. Usually with grisly results. That, for me, is some of the best kind of storytelling: not showing too much, resulting in triggering the imagination of the viewers to participate in the storytelling as well. Ahh, refreshing isn't it? So A+ for that Pontypool creators!

The acting is phenomenal. Having so few characters in the film allows for the writers to fully flesh out each one, giving each depth, personality, and characteristics that shine through in every moment of the film. And the writers did just that in Pontypool. Mazzy Grant, though obnoxious as he is, he isn't intolerable. Actually, he is the life of the bunch with his quick wit and no-nonsense attitude— he doesn't like to sugarcoat anything, much to the chagrin of his producer Sydney Briar. Stephan McHattie pulled off this character so well that I almost believe there is a real radio DJ out there named Mazzy Grant. Balancing Mazzy Grants off-the-cuff antics is Sydney Briar who constantly has to reel him in with little help from Laurel-Ann Drummond. She's takes her job seriously, but not so much so that she is overbearing: she simply wants things to go according to plan and having someone like Mazzy Grant doesn't always allow that to happen... not without a fight, that is. But she is also kind and compassionate and genuinely cares about the people she works with. Lisa Houle is perfect for this role: she's got the air of a caring, mother who wants the best of her kids which truly works with this character. And then there's young Laurel-Ann Drummond, the town's hometown hero— though young, she is an army veteran who fought in Afghanistan—, who encourages and finds humor in Mazzy's spontaneity. But because of her military background, there is an aura of alarm around her as the calls start coming in regarding the virus: she is on alert, ready to take action against whatever is happening. And though her character doesn't get as much screentime as Stephan McHattie and Lisa Houle, Georgina Reilly does just as good a job as they do. So bravo to the writers for writing such compelling characters and bravo to the actors for bringing these characters to life!!

I truly do admire much of the originality of the film, however there is still something that bothers me. !!!Spoiler Alert!!! After all the suspense and mystery surrounding the virus, it is simply explained that somehow it's being spread through infected words in the english language, particularly words of endearment (i.e. honey, sweetie, baby, etc.): once the word is said, the person's brain starts to malfunction and then they turn into a zombie-like creature that eats humans. And while, yes this is a completely new idea in horror, it has this sort of gimmicky quality to it. After all is said and done and a cure is found, it just seems kind of silly to think that an infected word would lead someone to become a cannibal (though they express characteristics of a zombie, all infected persons are still alive, so they're technically not a zombie). I can't wrap my head around it. I guess I wish that there had been a little more explanation as to how the words got infected in the first place and why only terms of endearment. Perhaps the book explain it. Oh yeah, did I mention this film is based on a book? Well it is. !!!Spoiler Alert Over!!!

In the end, I still totally love this film. It's intriguing and new and not like anything that has come out in recent times. And there probably won't be anything like it any time soon which is both a shame and a good thing. A shame because the horror genre is perpetually being tossed under the bus by terrible films. And a good thing because if more movies were to be made with the same non-conforming hand as Pontypool, this film would lose it's spark. And so I wrote this review (can we even call what I write 'reviews'? I feel like I just talk about movies, not necessarily review them, you know?) to let anyone know who hasn't seen Pontypool to watch it. Would I watch it again? Yes is no and blue is red.