Directed by Karyn Kusama. Written by Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi. Starring Logan Marshall-Green.
Plot: an ex-husband (Green) is invited to his ex-wife’s for dinner, but she and her new husband may have sinister intentions
First of all, I wanted to like this movie. I love Logan Marshall-Green. I think he’s very talented and I don’t think he’s in enough stuff. So, just know that I was going in with a clear and open mind, if not a little persuaded to actually like it.
Second of all, DJ didn’t watch it with me. He knows he doesn’t like films like this, but again, LMG persuaded me otherwise.
Third of all, they killed a dog – excuse me, a coyote – in the first 2 minutes of the film. I knew that was not a good omen for the rest of the movie, but LMG got me to push on and it is very unfortunate that I did.
I hate this movie. I mean, I really hate it. The end was the best part. And not because it was a twist worth talking about.
****************SPOILERS AHEAD*****************
In the movie, poor LMG gets an invitation from his weird ass ex-wife to dinner. See, his ex-wife and her new hubby have been “missing” for a while and they want to tell all their “friends” where they’ve been. Well, as it turns out, they’ve joined a cult. And this isn’t even really the spoiler. You understand this bit of news pretty early on.
This cult nonsense is enough to get any rational human being out the door, but in the movie, only LMG wants to go. Even his new flame talks him out of it though. Poor LMG.
Now for the spoilers, this cult wants everyone outside the cult DEAD! Yup. And they have to do this at dinner. People are supposed to be poisoned, but that goes to shit when LMG goes off, so it ends up being a fight to the death. A fight that LMG and new flame win, but OH…………..
I forgot to mention that LMG’s ex-wife and hubby have lit a red candle outside during the process of the night. While watching it, I had a creepy-eepy feeling that this was to let whomever know they were starting the dinner death scene, but oh, there was more to it than that. See, when LMG and flame walk out of the death house alive, they look around the city and see nothing but red lights. Red lights are lit up everywhere. Now, LMG and flame are going to – in the words of The Warriors – have to bop their way back to some hopefully safe place that exists somewhere. But at the end, we’re not sure there is such a place anymore.
Points for the cast. Aside from LMG everyone does their job and more. I believed every silly word of it. I’ll give it ending, too. And points for atmosphere cause the movie is tense as hell. But everything else – likable characters, motive, realism, Freddy Claws, story, etc. – it fails for.
If you want to do it, I can’t stop you, but don’t. I give it a 15/100.
I suppose I could list my favorite movies here, but instead I'll give you a strange glimpse into what makes me TaraRomero.
1. I met George Romero. He was the kindest and sweetest man. He talked to me for longer than he should have with the line getting longer. He also held my hand. And when he noticed the ladybug I have tattooed on my wrist, he said he liked it and asked me it's name. Till then, it had not had a name. Now, I call him George.
2. I love stickers. All stickers. I just adore them. I even ask for stickers for Christmas! As a matter of fact, the birthday that just past, every member of my immediate family gave me sticker packs as gifts. Affordable and extremely appreciated.
3. I have never put much stock in astrology or horoscopes, but I LOVE the magic of the MBTI. Omg. I am an INFP and it actually sounds just like me. Introverted mostly. Creative always. Heart before head and not the most logical. Totally me! For better or worse.
4. It's no surprise I count horror so high up on the list of things that make me, me. However, it's so within my soul that I was part of the Horror Club in college. Interesting bunch. And even took a Horror Lit class as an elective. I got an A.
5. Coffee always makes me happy. Always. I'm particularly fond of caramel macchiatos. But I'll drink black coffee if it's the only thing available.
6. I hate shock for the sake of shock and endings that depress me. I always mention the movies Within (2016) and the Eli Roth produced, written and starred in, Aftershock (2012), as proof of this distate I have. I abhor the idea that just because I like horror, some people think I'd actually praise a movie that lets you think the "Final Girl" just made it through the night, only to slap her in the face with a tsunami.
7. We are big time animal people. I mean, if I could, I'd have an elephant, a bear, a zebra, a penguin, an otter and a meerkat, living with me. Seriously though. We have 2 dogs right now and 2 cats. Both cats we picked up when they each came to our front door hungry. And both dogs we got from 2 different sets of neighbors. Both who, unfortunately, don't know how to care for pets long-term. But they're happy and healthy now!!
8. Revisiting my love of horror, one of the above cats, my cat, is a little black guy named Church. Because Pet Sematary. His middle name is even Pascow. To give credit where credit's due, the name was DJ's idea. But he loves horror too!
9. I'm big into art. Along with movie posters and an Anne Frank quote, I have some actual paintings on my wall. I really think Dali paints beautifully when he wants to. And if I don't get to see Michaelangelo's Pieta in person some day, I will be very disappointed.
10. Lastly, I find Emily Dickinson's poetry intriguing. I took an elective course about her as well. But do you know I injected horror even there? I was given a poem to dissect and I picked one on death, of course. Then, I researched old "Death Photos" and even printed out copies for everyone in the class. They were so interested in looking at them that it stopped them from all looking at me, and I was able to deal quite well with my stage fright. Haha
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