Greetings again from the darkness. As a lifelong lover of cinema, I tend to latch on to the works of those who so obviously feel the same. Among those who have achieved some level of mainstream success are Martin Scorses, Quinton Tarantino, Steven Spielberg, and Christopher Nolan. Another filmmaker who definitely belongs in the group, and it may surprise some, is Guillermo del Toro (an Oscar winner for PINOCCHIO, 2022, and THE SHAPE OF WATER, 2017). Other gems in his oeuvre include CRIMSON PEAK (2015) and PAN’S LABRYNTH (2006). The esteemed director has long claimed that his “dream project” is a film version of Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel, “Frankenstein: Or, The Modern Prometheus”.
The dream is now a reality, and what a thing of beauty it is. The visuals here eclipse all expectations, and the only caution I would offer is that the tone and themes are a bit of a twist from traditional takes on the story … and we all know there have been many previous takes. All of this confirms what a remarkable source material Mary Shelley’s novel is. That’s not to say del Toro’s version is ‘new’, yet it’s certainly an oddity and an outlier to what we’ve come to expect from Frankenstein movies.
Setting the film in 1857 (nearly 40 years after the novel) affords del Toro some benefits of advancements, as well as audience familiarity to the times. It may seem strange, or even contrary, but to me, this film’s central theme is humanity – how we use it and how we sometimes work against it. An opening in the Arctic where creature (Jacob Elordi) and creator (Oscar Isaac) cross paths yet again – after chases that only become clear later in the film – and it’s horrifying and stunning. Pivotal to the sequence is Captain Anderson’s (Lars Mikkelsen, “House of Cards”, and brother of Mads) ship and crew.
Victor Frankenstein, the human God/creator, is played with enthusiastic ambition that often drifts into mania. He’s a man of science whose vision refuses to be contained. Even in success, his need to control override his accomplishments … meaning the creature is truly born into misery and pain, resulting in confusion and a need to find where and how he belongs. Is it possible for a laboratory experiment to be a tortured soul? Director del Toro clearly believes this … as did James Whale in those early versions. It’s in these moments where Elordi truly shines as the creature – it’s a terrific performance through prosthetics.
Two-time Oscar winner Christoph Waltz and Mia Goth (a dual role) are both terrific in supporting roles, and it’s best if nothing further is disclosed about their characters as each are key to the story. Beyond the fascinating, tragic, and heartbreaking story is a film with such stunning visuals that it stands alone as a work of art. Guillermo del Toro’s talented crew includes cinematographer Dan Laustsen, Production Designer Tamara Deverell, Oscar winning Set Decorator Shane Vieau, and two-time Oscar winning composer Alexandre Desplat, who delivers an incredible score (one certain to be nominated). Of course, as previously stated, this was the “dream project” of Guillermo del Toro, and he has delivered one for the ages … dreams really do come true!
Posted by David Ferguson 
Greetings again from the darkness. Horror films are a dime a dozen (meaning there is no shortage from the genre), so it’s a revelation when a filmmaker has a legitimate feel for psychological horror – the kind that creeps us out and (likely) causes a nightmare or two. Such is the case for writer-director Paul Bickel. The scariest place on Earth is between our ears, and Bickel attacks the space by keeping us guessing as we attempt to solve the mysterious events occurring on screen.
Greetings again from the darkness. Raise your hand if you were once a kid. Well then, you likely had some experience with a monster under the bed or in the closet. You may have even had an imaginary friend. It no longer matters how your parents handled scary bedtime for you during childhood, but writer-director Bryan Fuller offers a fantastical tale on what could happen if you don’t believe your kids! Mr. Fuller is best known as the creator of the terrific (and dark) TV series “Hannibal”, and he once again collaborates with Mads Mikkelsen, the titular star of that show.
Greetings again from the darkness. My apologies for this review posting months after it should have. The tardiness of the post has nothing to do with the quality of the movie, which I found quite entertaining and creative. It might be best described as an innovate storytelling approach to an age-old tale … with some very cool twists and turns. Ryan Coogler previously directed BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER (2022), BLACK PANTHER (2018), CREED (2015), and FRUITVALE STATION (2013); however, this is his first fully original film as writer-director, and it certainly doesn’t lack ambition.
Greetings again from the darkness. Every one of us wants to look good and feel good. But how far will we go? What if our livelihood depended on looking young? There is no denying that societal pressures favor those who are pleasing to the eye, and of course, Hollywood is the poster child for rewarding beauty and youth … and penalizing, or at least ignoring, the other end of the spectrum. The second film from director Max Minghella (his first was TEEN SPIRIT, 2018) features a screenplay from Jack Stanley (THE PASSENGER, 2023), and it likely pays a price for coming on the heels of last year’s THE SUBSTANCE (2024), a body horror film with a similar theme, but one that was far more extreme.
Greetings again from the darkness. Here is my PSA (Public Service Announcement): This is not a “Football” movie. If you are expecting FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS or ANY GIVEN SUNDAY, you will be disappointed. This is a Psychological Horror film (think BLACK SWAN) featuring a couple of football players, and it’s produced by Jordan Peele, he of NOPE and GET OUT fame. Writer-director Justin Tipping (KICKS, 2016) and co-writers (co-creators of “Limetown”) Zack Aker and Skip Bronkie serve up few X’s and O’s, and plenty of commentary on fame and the quest for greatness.
Greetings again from the darkness. In the Mother Goose nursery rhyme, Jack and Jill not only went up the hill together, they also tumbled down. This latest from writer-director Samuel Van Grinsven and co-writer Jory Anast spin a Jack and Jill yarn that’s not nearly as cutesy, yet does involve some emotional tumbling … and one creepy spirit.
Greetings again from the darkness. Make sure you have your popcorn ready because there’s no warmup for this one. It starts quickly. Lena awakens in the back of a trailer that’s speeding down the road. She’s battered and disoriented. I’ll admit to not being familiar with writer-director Brock Bodell or lead actor Dakota Gorman prior to watching this, yet both left excellent impressions.
Greetings again from the darkness. I’ll admit to being braced for a low-budget horror movie that would have more in common with SHARKNADO than JAWS. This genre film from director Sean Byrne and screenwriter Nick Lepard is neither of those films, but certainly holds its own as terror on the open sea.
Greetings again from the darkness. As one who watches twenty-plus movies every month, it’s a bit of thrill when one offers something out of the ordinary – a unique viewing experience. Such is the case with this short film from writer-director Matteo Burani and co-writer Gianmarco Valentino. Of course, we’ve all seen stop-motion animation and claymation films … just last year, WALLACE AND GROMIT: VENGEANCE SO FOWL was outstanding. But Burani’s film from Studio Croma is something altogether different (and likely influenced by the great David Cronenberg).
Movie Reviews from the Dark 