Movie Roundup #3

Hypnotica - Tubi

Thriller · Horror

After a young psychiatrist tries hypnotism to save an unstable patient, neither finds themselves prepared for the revealed dark secrets.

You know how you go into a movie thinking “this is gonna be good!” And you hope, and hope, and it never quite makes it?

Yeah.

This movie wanted to be a possession movie, but it fell short. It was disjointed and made little sense. The hypnosis was a perfect vehicle but the sessions went nowhere. Instead of leaning into it and really making the psychologist question everything, & try to deal with the possession by going to an exorcist (or similar) it pussyfooted around until the end. At that point the demonic reveal was not only inevitable (hello, end of movie!) but less interesting because the physiologists defeat was also inevitable. There was no tension, no tug of war as both sides fight to win. It was just roll over dude because you have no choice.

I like to at least pretend there’s a chance at success. 2.5 stars.

Majic - Tubi

Sci-Fi · Thriller

A blogger who debunks conspiracy theories becomes a believer when she meets a man claiming to have worked for a covert spy agency involving UFOs.

I really liked this. Our heroine was delightfully skeptical, and grounded as she goes about investigating the claims of this mysterious guy. I felt that she started to believe a little prematurely, though. There really was no reason for her to start leaning toward believing this guy until she had proof—which she does get, I just would have pushed it a bit more. That being said, once things start to unravel, the bending of reality was as creepy as expected. The ending was on point.

I’d watch it again. 4 stars.

Alien Abduction - Tubi

Sci-Fi · Action

Four friends lose consciousness when they are kidnapped by alien creatures. They awaken in a US Government facility for observation. That is when the nightmare begins.

Ever watch a movie and have a hard time trying to understand the point? Yeah.

So these folks get kidnapped by aliens and they somehow end up in the hands of the government/military who then torture them for information. What? Something something national security.

These kids have been lobotomized and trapped in this facility that resembles an imagined mental institution from the 50s.

I had my suspicions about what was going on, which I was right about.

I won’t spoil it, but the script and the film’s subsequent execution didn’t support that conclusion. 2 stars.

Capsules - Tubi

Drama · Sci-Fi · Thriller

After experimenting with mysterious substances, four chemistry students find themselves addicted in the worst way: they'll die unless they take more.

Bad decision after bad decision. Selfish decision after selfish decision. For me, that was the horror. How these seemingly “regular” kids threw away their humanity at the slightest hint that they were in trouble. I can’t even say it was because of addiction - they weren’t jonesing for the drug, but trying to avoid the withdrawal.

The ending was such a cop out. It really bugs me when stories set up a horrible consequence and then go sike! and the little shits get to walk away into the sunset, narrowly avoiding their fate, lessons learned.

Yeah no, fuck that. I call bullshit—people died! They caused all their problems, and compounded them. Why did they get to walk away from that?

This movie pissed me the fuck off. 3 stars

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That’s it for this week. Until next time.