James Mendonca

I heard a lot of great things about The Substance, so I went out of my way to go watch this film. This may just be my favourite film of 2024. I did not think the film would go as insane as I would anticipate. Saying that Demi Moore gave a brave performance would be an understatement, playing a faded movie star who is desperate to revitalize her career. She comes off as sympathetic at first then grows unhinged over her younger doppelganger to the point where you are really scared of her. Like, that is a performance that deserves a lot of recognition. As for her doppelganger, Sue, played beautifully by Margaret Qualley was very provocative, yet just as fanatical in her performance. I also have to mention Dennis Quaid as Harvey, the sleazy businessman who is just so watchable whenever I see him on screen. This is the breakthrough film of director, Coralie Fargeat, and she may just be the next David Cronenberg after seeing this film. How most of the film was shot had this sense of morbidness and disorientation that made you sick, even in simple scenes like eating or applying make-up. The camera work is so explicit that you noticed right away from the close-ups of Dennis Quad eating like slobs or the thorough shots of Moore's aging body. The film maintained the theme of balance between the two characters being the one individual, up until the other starts taking over the other and going out of control, which is the point of the narrative. Then there is the body horror aspect that just shocked me in ways that made me repulsed me yet made me want to see more and where it goes from there. The make-up and special effects are extraordinary, especially since I have not seen Moore go into full prosthetics before. This is just as insane as the 1989 movie, Society, if you know what I am talking about. My favourite scene from the film, which is a spoiler, is when the two main characters actually interact with each other near the end. The Substance did not just exceed my expectations, but it went even further with how grotesque it went to break boundaries as far as horror and satire can go. I love the performances in the film and I really hope act in more unique movies like The Substance. I did not know the film would go any crazier until the last fifteen minutes came. This is a must watch.

This film is a masterpiece. Brandon Lee is the Crow. He was awesome in the part in every way. He has the charisma, physical capacity and the gravitas to pull him off. I just wish that accident on set never happened because I would have love to see him have a great acting career. I also love Ernie Hudson as the down-to-earth cop, who also acts like Eric Draven’s Commissioner Gordon. Michael Wincott as the main villain, Top Dollar, is ingenious. Being notable for playing bad guys, his character in the Crow is memorable for being the most psychotic, yet calm, and he also has that gravelly voice. There are also the secondary villains; Grange played by Tony Todd and the gang members who attacked Eric and his fiancé, who individually stand out, despite being minor bad guys. Director Alex Proyas did a phenomenal job making the film. I like how Eric Draven’s backstory is told in flashbacks and minor hints all throughout the film rather than in chronological order. The production design is just incredible. It was said that the story was set in Detroit, but the city looks otherworldly, like this is hell on earth. I like how they use miniatures for the overhead shots of the city. I like the use of lighting all throughout the film, especially since the film takes place mostly at night and in dark places. The music by Graeme Revell incredible it is a mix of Arabian and classical genres. The use of violins and choir in the tracks is just breathtaking. I did not care much for the songs in the film. My favourite scene is when Draven storms into the bad guy’s hideout and has to take out a whole gang of criminals just to get to one of Top Dollar’s thugs. There is just so much action in the scene and the use of camera angles, lighting, choreography and of course, weapons. That is one of my favourite one-man army fight scenes in movies. The Crow is an amazing film that should never be remade or sequelized like it was. Some people out there call it a horror film for its atmosphere and graphic content, but I say it is a hard thriller at best, or worst, however you see films in this context. This film is sacred to a lot of people out there. You should watch The Crow if you have not yet, and if you have, go watch it again.

I thought people were exaggerating when they said that this was going to be Brandan Fraser’s best performance of his career. I am so glad to be wrong. He gives a hard-to-watch performance, and not just because he is wearing a sweaty fat suit. Fraser portrays a heavily overweight man in constant pain, not just physically, but also mentally and emotionally. Hong Chau is also great as Liz, the concerned nurse with her backstory about being the black sheep of the family and how she lost her brother and Charlie’s lover. Sadie Sink was good as the daughter, but her character comes off as bratty and unsympathetic all throughout the film. She verbally attacks everyone and is always ready to run out the door, instead of talking about it. I am relieved that Fraser did not went method for this part, since I imagine it would be hazardous for the actor’s health and probably cause death. The prosthetics done for Fraser’s body suit is pretty good, which I was afraid of how it was going to look, especially when we see him naked.. Practically, the whole film takes place in the main character’s apartment, which gives you this sense of confinement and loneliness. With Darren Aronofsky, he will make severe moments for those characters really intense or at least cringe at their disposition. Whenever we see Charlie eating, the music gives off a morbidly horrifying vibe, even when you just hear him chewing makes you worry about him. My favourite scene was when we see Charlie caught in the middle with Liz, his daughter and ex-wife about all the money he has been keeping for his daughter. Everyone had a moment to act out in the best way and how it brought Charlie to a new low. I love Darren Aronofsky’s films when they are these performance-driven films, like Requiem for a Dream and The Wrestler rather than the allegory heavy films like Noah or Mother!. The Whale, like Aronofsky’s other films delves into the sorrow and torture of Charlie, and how its these ill-fated journeys that is too late to turn back. I am happy to see Brendan Fraser get the full recognition he deserves and am glad to see Darren Aronofsky making films I love again.

I love The Shining. It stands out from many other films in the horror genre. Even if Stephen King did not particularly liked it, this is still a classic among many. Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrence is one of my favourite performances from him, and I am talking top 3. At first we see him as a witty, approachable regular man that gradually devolves into insanity as an unhinged violent killer. Shelly Duval is a also great as Wendy Torrence while acting against Nicholson’s character while conveying genuine fear. If the film got the recognition it deserves, they would have got some Oscar nominations. Scatman Crothers was notable as Halloran who helps explain Danny’s Shining ability. Even the Overlook hotel is considered a character as far as influence and distinctive features can show, especially during the climax, when all the ghosts start appearing out of nowhere. There is even the documentary, Room 237, that talks about the interpretations of the 1980 film, which I highly recommend you to watch if you like the film. Stanley Kubrick gives a great deal of quality to this film. He sets up meticulous long shots like Danny riding around the hotel on his tricycle or the overhead shot of the maze. The cinematography is very accurate, and a lot of times is beauteous, even during the opening There were changes from the book when interpreting the story to the screen that helped elevate it. Like the hedge maze, instead of the hedge animals that comes alive. The music is haunting, and I do not mean it is catchy or bombastic like the score in most horror movies are. This is legitimately scary to listen to. Kubrick hired Avante-Garde or arthouse composers for The Shining. It used synthesizers, blaring horns and loud chorus to emphasize the horror that occurred in the film. This is the best horror film of all time in my opinion and you should watch The Shining whenever you can at least once if you have not yet. This is a masterpiece, even among Kubrick’s work.

The Conjuring is an excellent horror movie revolving around supernatural activities that haunt the Perron family. I like the paranormal investigating couple, the Warrens played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. The chemistry meshes so great with each other and you believe them to be a husband and wife that really cares for each other, especially when they are doing theirs jobs. The only problem I have is with the Christian overtones from Ed Warren can get a little annoying. How they portray the Perron family in the film makes you care and really get to know them. You have notable actors like Ron Livingston and Lili Taylor playing the Perron couple and Joey King as one of the daughters starting out in her acting career. There are jump scares and moments of horror that are very effective that never feels cheap or awkward. The only issue that brings down this film is that most of what happens in The Conjuring is fiction. Therefore, a lot of what you see in the film may not happen. Director James Wan has had great experience with experimenting with horror elements back when he made Saw and Insidious. And with The Conjuring, he has certainly advanced it. I love the long shot early on in the film, where the camera starts off from outside the front of the house, tours around the interior and exits through the back all they way to the lake shore while playing Time of the Season. That sequence reminds me of the long shot from Goodfellas. The Conjuring is a great horror movie that is reminiscent of films back in the 70s and 80s with a story and characters that keep you captivated to the end. I would watch this film whenever Halloween comes around.

From Dusk Till Dawn is a really awesome horror vampire film. It starts off as a crime-thriller movie of two criminal robbers who takes a family hostage to evade the authorities. Next thing you know, you are trapped in a bar fighting vampires in a genre twist that you do not see coming without doing prior research. George Clooney was perfect casting as Seth Gecko. He gives a cool, suave and very watchable performance as the professional thief, nailing practically every scene he is in and making every line quotable. Harvey Kietel as Jake Fuller was just as interesting to watch as the former priest and caring father, who gets the Marlon-Brando treatment with top-billing, despite not having the most screen time. Kietel give intensity to his performance when the scene needs it; either when he is dealing with border patrol or a horde of vampires. Quintin Tarantino is considered hit and miss in this film, but I still like his performance here as the sick-minded Richie Gecko. This film has a really fascinating cast. There is Juliette Lewis as Kate Fuller, Make-up effect artist, Tom Savini as Sex Machine, Fred Williamson who is notable for being in blaxploitation films, Salma Hayek doing a strip tease with a snake, Cheech Marin playing multiple roles in this film, Danny Trejo as Razor, Tarantino’s favourite Michael Parks playing his trademark Earl McGraw, pre-oscar nominated John Hawkes giving a memorable performance as Pete Bottoms, and John Saxon and Kelly Preston appearing in newscap cameos. The make-up and special effects is gruesome yet meticulous in execution from the appearance of the vampires to how they get mutilated and also killed. You can tell the crew behind the work did not held back. I do not care for strip clubs, however, I admire the aesthetic design of theTitty Twister club Written by Tarantino as his first paid job, he wanted to incorporate some western-crime elements into the film without dissuading from the main concept. He even adds a lot of pop culture references like the Wild Bunch and the bit about Peter Cushing with crosses, which I thought was funny. He got Robert Rodriguez to direct it, since he knows how to make over-the-top action scenes look great while maintaining the horror aspect. You have vampires ripping heads, vampires exploding, vampires morphing into rat-hybrids, just all kinds of repulsive, yet captivating stuff to look at. Rodriguez is like Tarantino in the sense that he makes B-looking movies with quality, drawing influences from exploitation movies he had watched. So this is very close to being the best vampire film out there. I like watching it during the Halloween month. This is a fun movie that should not be taken too seriously and can be watched at anytime with friends that love gory action-horror movies.