Author Archives: Dr. Tennyson

The Wrecking Crew

Posted on by

Vampire Owl: We have acted as wrecking crew of our vampire army before.

Vampire Bat: I thought you preferred the words, destruction and devastation.

Vampire Owl: I had also used the word, annihilation. But not anymore.

Vampire Bat: So, you are becoming more positive in your ideology.

Vampire Owl: As long as I do not see any human; they are too evil towards infinity.

Vampire Bat: Human evil in a particular form is also shown in this movie, I believe.

Vampire Owl: Humans can only elevate the evil; there is no escape.

Vampire Bat: Shadow demons once called them the true demonic ones.

Vampire Owl: Shadow demons, despite their strength in shades are lesser evil.

Vampire Bat: Human evil will always find a way, even better than the undead witches.

[Gets a pineapple cake and three cups of Vagamon tea].

What is the movie about? :: James Hale (Dave Bautista) and Jonny Hale (Jason Momoa) are step brothers who have been living apart for a long time, never really feeling the need to meet each other or even have a talk over the phone in the last few years. Jonny has moved to Oklahoma, and is working as a police officer with his girlfriend Valentina Silva (Morena Baccarin) a Portuguese-speaking immigrant from Brazil. After he makes a mess of things again as he has been doing for a long time, he gets suspended, and despite all the begging about him needing her and in spite of all the sweet talk about her being the most beautiful Latino girl he ever known, Valentina decides to leave him citing the lack of concern and talk he had with her in the last few months. At the same time, James is an officer in the United States Navy, and is living a happy and peaceful life with his wife Leila Hale (Roimata Fox) and his two children back in Hawaii, and takes his job very seriously. He is a much-loved figure in his town for his responsible and helpful behaviour, and the family has built quite a positive reputation.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: The death of their father by a car accident brings them together, even though they know nothing about him from the last few years, and have not seen him quite some time. Jonny decides to stay at Hawaii for some time to attend the funeral as well as investigate his death. The meeting with James and his family feels like a thought process, as they had not seen each other for such a long time, and never even called to know the other. Their cousin Haunani Palakiko (Frankie Adams) also arrives for the funeral, and she is one of the few people permanently settled in the area as she works for the mayor of the town, Peter Mahoe (Temuera Morrison). Jonny tells James that the death of their father was not an accident, as he was attacked by some Yakuza thugs at his Oklahoma home, and they were asking for a package which was sent by their father. James does not want Jonny to investigate and get into trouble as the police had already called it an accident, and their father was carelessly standing on the road while the car was speeding.

And what more would happening here as there is indeed a mystery to solve? :: James feels that Jonny just keeps getting into trouble for one reason or the other like the day when he had to leave home for a long time while being hunted by a local crime syndicate who still seeks vengeance. But James decides to go through the investigation just to make sure, and Jonny is already on the same, beating up people according to the need for information. As their paths converge to their father’s apartment, they find plans for a casino and resort. With their cousin’s help, they discover that the casino is to be built on the Hawaiian homes which are already occupied by the locals. It is to be built by an influential billionaire known as Marcus Robichaux (Claes Bang), and the brothers decide to crash one of their grand parties. There, they meet Monica Robichaux (Lydia Peckham), who is Marcus’ wife, and also the members of the same gang who launched an attack on Jonny. Monica tells him that she had hired their father to investigate on her husband. They realize that all of these are connected and there might have been some secrets which got out. But can they find out anything before they are hunted or the evidence is destroyed by money and influence?

The defence of The Wrecking Crew :: The movie works the best more due to its use of its leading cast, the two classic action heroes who do such a fine work. Dave Bautista, the Drax of Guardians of the Galaxy from Marvel and Jason Momoa, the Aquaman of Justice League of America from DC, manages to do deliver heavy punches as they did in those movies where they had superpowers, but this case remains much believable. The different characters which they have been playing in the past also helps in the purpose, and they genuinely look like they belong to one bloodline and fights together like a near-perfect team of two brothers. The hand-to-hand fight scenes are intensely physical and very much gory, with the fight between two brothers also adding to the same. Then there is Morena Baccarin who gets into the action so well, and that sequence with a helicopter chasing the car is too good especially with her around. Along with the rest, she also handles the humour really well. Morena transforms into an action star very soon, and the other female characters despite following well, just got to do the usual thing.

The claws of flaw :: The movie depends too much on the main characters and does not come up with anything different or special. The action and the journey itself never really leave the predictability as we look at the beginning and the initial situations. We should have also had more of Morena, as she seems to have come to leave her lover and drive a car away from a helicopter, and is not present during the rest of the movie at all. Lydia Peckham could have also had a bigger role here, as she looked stunning when she was there, and her character had a lot of scope too. Then the investigation could have also been as interesting as the action, as we wonder how this could have been made more of a suspense-filled search for a murderer and what lies beneath all of these. The final moments become predictable in nature as the bigger revelations happen too soon. The later moments of the movie after the big fights serve less than one would expect. This could have also used the beaches to a better advantage as we look closer.

How it finishes :: The Wrecking Crew goes through its action and a certain amount of humour without looking back at any moment. There are some stylish and classic action moments which would be remembered for how well it is shot with that humorous side, and never really moving away from that light-hearted side. The energy that the characters possess in unparalleled, and it is not just limited to the main protagonists, but also to their partners. As Dave Bautista’s serious strength and Jason Momoa’s wild-man energy matches each other, we watch it in the style of watching a computer game with wrestlers beating up the bad guys – with the case of WWE’s Batista, this would feel as perfect as it could be, as he and the Rock has provided the feeling that wrestling has come to Hollywood, and John Cena has also did it up to an extent. It is a privilege to have wresters who can act in action thrillers, as they make the whole situation better in a believable manner with that kind of a physique. After all, there is no better places to build performers for action that World Wrestling Entertainment which had some of the most classic scripts and on-ring works that we watched during childhood.

Release date: 28th January 2026
Running time: 122 minutes
Directed by: Ángel Manuel Soto
Starring: Dave Bautista, Jason Momoa, Claes Bang, Temuera Morrison, Jacob Batalon, Morena Baccarin

<<< Click here to go to the previous review.

<<< Click here to go to the biggest movie of last year.

<<< Click here to go to the most awaited sequel of the year.

@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

Project Hail Mary

Posted on by

Vampire Owl: I feel that this movie is a little bit too complicated for my liking.

Vampire Bat: It surely has some extra amount of science added to it.

Vampire Owl: I was wondering if I should connect Dr. Frankenstein to understand it.

Vampire Bat: Mr. Frankenstein has understood no real science so far.

Vampire Owl: Frankenstein was also nominated for Best Undead Scientist Award.

Vampire Bat: He used a fake recommendation letter from Uncle Dracula.

Vampire Owl: You are just jealous because he found the presence of aliens in your room.

Vampire Bat: I am pretty much confident that it was a cockroach from the human world.

Vampire Owl: Do you think that cockroaches can scare our vampire friends?

Vampire Bat: Well, it has been centuries since they saw one, and so they can feel a certain amount of scared confusion.

[Gets a gobi paratha and three cups of Yercaud tea].

What is the movie about? :: Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up from a temporary coma status in an interstellar spacecraft named Hail Mary, and suffers from memory loss, only slowly realizing that the year is 2032. Soon, Grace realizes that he is the only survivor of a three-person team of newly trained astronauts that was traveling towards a constellation known as the Tau Ceti system, about twelve light-years from Earth. This keeps him confused about what is next for him as memories come back to him slowly and steadily. As it goes on, he keeps enjoying his solitude while going back into flashbacks and he gets close to the destination. But soon, he is surprised to find an alien spacecraft docking with the Hail Mary despite him trying to evade it after disengaging autopilot. The spacecraft is made of a solid form of xenon, which Grace considers to be xenonite. The ship has only one occupant, and is revealed to be a rock-like, five-legged alien from what is known as Erid, a planet in the 40 Eridani A system that goes a long way further from their location.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: Grace recalls that scientists had discovered a line of infrared light stretching from the Sun to Venus and a substance running through the line, called astrophage which was getting on the Sun’s surface, dimming the Sun at a rate that could cause so much cooling within thirty years that human life would cease to exist. The head of the Petrova Taskforce, Eva Stratt (Sandra Hüller) had recruited Grace who was a middle school science teacher and a former molecular biologist to study the astrophage as she has seen his works and could understand his ability to think beyond the usual limitations. After a few days of work, Grace discovered that astrophage was full of certain unicellular organisms which absorb electromagnetic radiation from the Sun and expel it at great strength for propulsion, and he also figured out how to breed these organisms and create more of the same kind. Grace further remembers that he had joined Project Hail Mary, an international near-impossible mission to send a crewed spacecraft to Tau Ceti, the only star in Earth’s solar neighborhood not affected by astrophage, and is shining brighter than ever.

And what more happens here and complications are sure to come in space? :: Grace who was able to breed astrophage a lot, which was to serve as fuel for the ship, also helped the crew in learning to deal with the same. The flight to Tau Ceti was to be a suicide mission, as the ship could only carry enough astrophage for a one-way trip, and all findings were to be sent back inside smaller space probes. With most of his memory back, Grace names the alien as Rocky, and manages to communicate with it using a machine translation system which is able to convert Rocky’s strange noises into English. It is revealed that Rocky is a mechanical engineer, and the only survivor of the Eridians’ mission to save their world from astrophage infection. Grace understands that others from that spacecraft had died from radiation poisoning, while Rocky was unaffected due to being shielded by their astrophage supply, which was kept around Rocky’s workshop. Both starts working together towards that common aim of saving their stars and planets. But can they find what is different with this particular star and can the same be applied to their respective planets?

The defence of Project Hail Mary :: The movie’s best part, without doubt is the interaction between the human and the alien – the contact feels like happening in a more realistic manner than what we usually see in any movie with an alien around. The relationship between the two are beautifully depicted, and this is the kind of connection which humans would hesitate to have in our world of chaos and hopelessness. Then there are the stunning visuals, with a nicely detailed interior of the ship and the vastness of space giving a spectacle for us. The visuals of the Eridian homeland at the very end of the movie feels like a perfect example of creating something to remember just with the view itself. The final moments are not just visually satisfying, but also leaving us with a feel-good effect. Well, there are not many alien movies which can bring that effect, and not many space movies can be this kind of effective in multiple levels. Ryan Gosling’s performance makes sure that that the emotional side works with so much efficiency, and in a world which is almost all about him, he manages to come with that performance we would not forget with ease.

Positive and negatives :: The movie can feel a little bit too long, and the beginning itself is a little bit slow – the moments back on Earth feels like dragging, and one cannot stop oneself from feeling that there should have been less flashbacks, with everything happening at exactly the one place where the big action takes place. The science also goes a little too much forward for the common audience, but the movie cannot do without the same. Any more complication would have left the audience not interested in the movie, as most of us do not go for this kind of science anymore, and our knowledge about such things could mean a deep struggle, as evident from our visits to the different science cities and museums of natural science. But these are the kind of movies which will create fine science enthusiasts out of interested children who improve themselves at school. The fact that the movie also has some fine humour in there makes it more interesting for the young and keeps the light mood at a time when the world as we know could come to an end sooner or later.

How it finishes :: The movie becomes a classic on the lines of some big space movies, Gravity, The Martian and Interstellar, and this one proves that we do need all kinds of films set in space. As an adaptation of a book, the faithfulness to the original can only be spoken about by the fans of the original work. The emotional core and the visual splendour never really leave the movie, and this journey’s grandeur is not limited to one side. For the common audience, this is indeed a space triumph that one has been waiting for with great expectations. As it goes through that successful exercise of sci-fi world-building, there is no point that makes the viewer doubt its process. One would have loved to watch this movie on the big screen with all that we have as a spectacle, but we are so much past those days when we frequent the theatres – Amazon Prime Video has enough of this movie of us, and that should do. After all, we have come to that stage when no multiplex can raise our chances of watching anything on the big screen, but if there was a movie or two to be watched like that, this is one of them.

Release date: 20th March 2026
Running time: 156 minutes
Directed by: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, James Ortiz, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung, Milana Vayntrub

<<< Click here to go to the previous review.

<<< Click here to go to the biggest movie of last year.

<<< Click here to go to the most awaited sequel of the year.

@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

Mollywood Times

Posted on by

Vampire Owl: Are they looking for the best time for Mollywood?

Vampire Bat: I do not think that it works like that.

Vampire Owl: Dr. Frankenstein did not feel so either.

Vampire Bat: It does not matter what Mr. Frankenstein thinks about.

Vampire Owl: Frankenstein is the leader scientist whom we have always wanted.

Vampire Bat: That would be Uncle Dracula and not a fake scientist.

Vampire Owl: You do not believe that dead bodies can be animated through science?

Vampire Bat: Were you ever animated through science? I just came back from the dead.

Vampire Owl: Every creature does not come back from the dead just like that.

Vampire Bat: I think you are referring about dumb humans acting like zombies.

[Gets a poori masala and three cups of black tea].

What is the movie about? :: Vineeth Madhavan (Naslen) is a young man from Kuttikkanam area, who has developed a dream of becoming the greatest horror-movie director in the Malayalam cinema industry after reading the horror novels of Vaikom David (Jagadish). David, the best-known novelist of that time who has been writing novels, had scared even the most hard-hearted people. He carried this desire to become a director from the fifth standard to the eleventh standard when he succeeds with a short-film with the help of Sujithraj V (Roshan Shanavas) and the man in the local CD shop known only by the name of Sunilettan (Althaf Salim). His father K Madhavan (Prasanth Alexander), mother Sujatha Parameshwaran (Meera Nair) and grandfather who is known only as Appooppan (Balachandran Chullikkad) to everyone in the area do not consider him to be good for anything as he only somehow manages to pass all his examinations. But when he manages to come up with a movie, sends his atheist grandfather who does not believe in the supernatural right into coma with his ghost in the darkness, his father decides to send him to study cinema.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: Despite warnings from the people around him about the harsh realities of the cinema world which take him to chaos and oblivion, Vineeth remains determined to come up with something above the usual, and transform something bigger. But as another film-maker named Arjun Haridas (Sangeeth Prathap) gets the first prize for the short-film competition which had Vineeth’s movie more appreciated by critics and audience, he gets angry and frustrated like never before. Then he is approached by Sachin Vaikom David (Sharafudheen), the son of the reputed author of his favourite horror works. He tells him the harsh truth that Arjun has managed to win the grand prize which would give him a shot at being the director of a grand movie through influence and connections which Vineeth never had in a life spent with movies and not people. Hana Shahjahan (Gopika Ramesh) who had a crush on Vineeth had also become a superstar and leading actor with bigger roots in Tamil and also in Telugu – but she also becomes the new girlfriend of Haridas.

And what more is to follow as there is something to be gained and a lot more to be lost :: Vineeth is not bothered about Hana being with Haridas as cinema has always been his only true love, but this combination seems to hurt him as with the leading actress’ stardom, it was always going to be a superhit, and with Arjun having stolen content from him, it was always going to hurt him the most, as his next movie would become irrelevant. His attempt to work with Sachin also gets messed up as the producers backout due to the script being too reworked by Vineeth, even leaving out the main heroine in the process while changing the whole setting, which were already decided. Vineeth decides to wait for his first film and work on Sachin’s film, which takes some time to release due to the lack of funds, and by that time, Haridas’ superhit had brought his movie out which became a blockbuster. Sachin’s movie also flops despite a grand script being associated with it, and this separates him and Vineeth seemingly forever. This forces Vineeth to try for something even more different, but it is to be seen how it is going to work out, with people including Haridas, Arjun and Hana not being fond of him.

The defence of Mollywood Times :: The movie is surely the best of Naslen so far, and it is a fine deviation from the kind of roles he was doing since Thannermathan Dinangal came into the picture and became instant success. He plays a protagonist different from Vineeth Sreenivasan of that previous movie of a dark world, as this one is determined to go on his way rather than that one with a better probability of success, and yet this one is no righteous man either. While he manages to stay at the core, Sangeeth Prathap provides some fine support. Sharafudheen also has a character that we will remember more than the rest while Roshan Shanavas and Althaf Salim gets some fine moments. Gopika Ramesh plays the only female character of relevance, which is done remarkably well. The movie’s best advantage is that it never romanticizes the movie industry, and shows the struggles and the attempt of the influential people to get rid of true talents for nepo kids or those who are related to them. The negative impact of corporates, script theft, nepotism, huge egos and fake smiles are all shown here – these are not the elements which would surprise us that much, but are indeed shown in an effective manner.

Positives and negatives :: The movie does not hesitate to speak the harsh truth that the successful people are there more because of influence or luck rather than anything else as there are so many more tales of failure than success even with the most talented people. As shown by Mukundan Unni in that classic movie, good people rarely become successful, and the very few stories from motivational speakers that we listen to rarely make even 0.1% of a world. Mukundan Unni Associates actually did it better and showed how evil humans really are, and this one never comes close. The movie also seems to have that feeling of a nearly full male movie with the female characters coming in lesser numbers never really used to that advantage. As the style of Mukundan Unni Associates is repeated here, we feel that quality in divergence here too. The use of internal monologue also works in the movie’s favour. Yet, it takes a little too much time during its run, and some of the moments seem stretched and repeated, never trying to improve from the previous work. Then the working humour keeps raising the level, and the dark humour adds further.

How it finishes :: The fact that we are reminded about people becoming successful mostly because of luck, influence or cheating just feels too real, as we see who become success stories and who do not, right around us. When we look deeper, there might be no success without evil behind it. The reminder that there is no success in this world for good people, and that it is reserved for those who use their inherent evil for twisted path is the biggest horror in the world, but it is also the greatest truth that nobody will ever completely agree with. This also serves as the hate letter to cinema as was said some of the posters. The realization that if we desire something, the universe conspires to keep you away from it, is really a revelation that should not be left behind. This unyielding, cynical tone that treats another field as a corporate, ego-driven battlefield, we remember that no profession is safe from the same. When we hear about people becoming successful due to hard work, we will think again before taking that unnecessary life which ruin over life while trying to be someone else. It is strange that even nepo kids of different movie industries talk about their struggles, but as long as there are blind fans, they will also be around giving such fake interviews. Let us note none of them, and try not too chase too difficult dreams as more people have been unsuccessful in the same than one can ever think.

Release date: 5th June 2026
Running time: 167 minutes
Directed by: Abhinav Sunder Nayak
Starring: Naslen K Gafoor, Sangeeth Prathap, Sharafudheen, Roshan Shanavas, Althaf Salim, Gopika Ramesh, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Basil Joseph

<<< Click here to go to the previous review.

<<< Click here to go to the biggest movie of last year.

<<< Click here to go to the most awaited sequel of the year.

@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

Cheekatilo

Posted on by

Vampire Owl: So, another Telugu movie after quite some time in between.

Vampire Bat: There have been long gaps between movies except English and Malayalam.

Vampire Owl: I thought we had enough Hindi movies in there.

Vampire Bat: Yes, but due to some reason, these OTTs are more into series and not movies.

Vampire Owl: Any work should end in a few hours and should not be stretched.

Vampire Bat: Yes, we are forced to wait for an infinite time to have the next episode.

Vampire Owl: Keeping people waiting for so long. Absolutely ridiculous.

Vampire Bat: The wait is never worth it when we have other things do in life.

Vampire Owl: Still, the blind and dumb fans will have other ideas.

Vampire Bat: No wonder Uncle Dracula said no to any more humans turned into vampires. Dracula Castle has no place for nonsense.

[Gets a blueberry cake and three cups of Munnar tea].

What is the movie about? :: Sandhya (Sobhita Dhulipala) has been working as a journalist in one of the leading television channels in the city. She has been looking forward to report and talk about crime in the city and bring the less explored areas to light. But when the crime report which she was going to read is changed by her superior to bring a sexual and illicit relationship to the scene, she protests and submits her resignation, much to the shock of the Managing Editor and surprise of her co-workers. The intern who has been working under her, Bobby (Aditi Myakal), is still happy though, and she asks her to begin a crime podcast. Bobby finds Sandhya as a true journalist among TRP seekers and her role model in the field. Sandhya also asks Bobby to join her. But soon, Bobby is found tied up, raped and murdered while her boyfriend is also tied up and murdered in her apartment. Sandhya tries to solve this case with the help of her boyfriend Amar (Vishwadev Rachakonda) with whom her marriage has already been fixed by their parents despite him being two years younger than her.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: The police inspector in charge of the investigation, Rajeev (Chaitanya Krishna) does not like her and her boyfriend trying to poke their noses right inside his case file and crime scene. But Sandhya manages to find her own clues and points to a man through his podcast, but it turns out that he was only the man who stole Bobby’s earrings, and a phone call from the killer reveals that more murders are to follow soon enough. Another police officer named Ananditha (Isha Chawla) is assigned the same case, but Sandhya is not ready to leave the case and connect it to similar rape and murders which occurred in the villages on the outskirts of the city. As she seems to connect the dots, the police officers are not that impressed, especially after her previous framing of another man, and her podcast and hashtag campaign seem to make the killer angrier. Can the police or Sandhya stop the killer in time, or will similar incidents keep happening to keep the common people in terror?

The defence of Cheekatilo :: Here is another murder investigation that works, and at no point does the movie losses its strength. The twists are there to come, and the thrills are sufficient. Along with the same, the movie remains a thoughtful critique of how society and ratings-driven television handle crimes, with focus on the need for trauma, healing and empathy for victims. The focus on the past of the serial killer is also something worth mentioning. The mood is nicely built with the atmosphere as much as an initial scene which serves a time period much earlier as it lets us know what is to expect in a classic manner, and the sound effects and music used work really well. There is no attempt to overdo anything for the fans, and maybe the release on Amazon Prime Video helped the purpose – the Hindi dubbed version which we watched could also serve the purpose well. The movie is also not that long, staying at two hours, which would be the best choice. The film actually came as a pleasant surprise, as we had not heard about its release and were looking for a new thriller movies and this one just came out of nowhere.

Positives and negatives :: The movie does seem to drag a bit with many tales and some repetitions here and there. The romance is also almost completely lost in the totality of things. We keep trying to find the love, but we get the killings, and as it is a thriller, we say that it will do for now. The red herrings work, and they remain constant reminders of the extra effort being put in here, and the predictability is lessened right there. Even though the final revelation is effective and brings the surprise really well, the motive feels too quickly explained by a very fast backstory, thus making the climax giving the feeling of being prepared in a hurry. But the same surprisingly works, and it is because the willing suspension of disbelief never really leaves us, and the flow is still there towards that surprise and the motive. There is also the feeling that there is something missing on the side of the characters, with some of them never really keeping us interested. Some of them might be responsible for making us feel deviated from the main thing here.

The performers of the soul :: Sobhita Dhulipala delivers the best performance of the movie, with a certain command over the narrative. As she plays a true-crime podcaster who gets personally entangled in a murder investigation, this one becomes all about a grounded investigation that never goes out of her control as far as acting is concerned. We have seen he in her first movie, Raman Raghav 2.0, and therefore we know that she is no stranger to psycho killers and brutal murders happening around her character with a true psychopath on the hunt and a police officer also on a grand search. Her subtle facial expressions and body language nicely brings her internal conflict into the picture, as the character also has the trauma from childhood to go beyond. She blends is as the podcaster as well as the journalist with remarkable ease. Vishwadev Rachakonda as Amar makes the lover believable, but not without those shades which work nicely in the process. Chaitanya Krishna as Rajeev makes a fine police officer. Isha Chawla as Ananditha is the other police character, and that works well too. The rest also works along nicely.

How it finishes :: The movie stands strong with its core and the thrills and twists which follow, as we have something which goes well like Memories, Dheeram, Anjaam Pathiraa, John Luther, Forensic etc with its investigation. This is almost among my favourite Telugu movies, as there is no overdose of anything here, going on a path which never tries to satisfy the blind masala fans, as we have seen in many other Telugu movies. This one goes on a fine path which we can accept without much trouble, as the balance is maintained with the investigation always leaving something for us, even in the form of interesting red herrings. As we see that this movie released on Amazon Prime Video, one can be sure about the blind fans of the theatres never really creeping in, and the same might have helped the purpose a lot. With the movie’s atmosphere and the smooth journey, it feels like a movie made in the further south, and even with some predictability and seemingly strange deviations, there is the feeling that we have watched a fine murder investigation thriller with some messages to go with it.

Release date: 23rd January 2026
Running time: 126 minutes
Directed by: Sharan Koppisetty
Starring: Sobhita Dhulipala, Vishwadev Rachakonda, Chaitanya Krishna, Esha Chawla, Jhansi, Aamani, Ravindra Vijay

<<< Click here to go to the previous review.

<<< Click here to go to the biggest movie of last year.

<<< Click here to go to the most awaited sequel of the year.

@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

Predator: Badlands

Posted on by

Vampire Owl: They used to call vampires by the title predators.

Vampire Bat: Those times are over now, with a specific set of books and movies.

Vampire Owl: You should know that there is always a chance to reclaim that position.

Vampire Bat: As far as I know, predator is not really a position.

Vampire Owl: It could be the side title of a vampire.

Vampire Bat: You know that these predators are aliens, don’t you?

Vampire Owl: Dr. Frankenstein has told us that there is information which shouldn’t be revealed.

Vampire Bat: Mr. Frankenstein, in the form of a fake doctor, tells nothing of relevance.

Vampire Owl: You know that he inspired a book and so many adaptations.

Vampire Bat: That was the imagination that served, not the person.

[Gets a paneer puffs and three cups of Wayanad tea].

What is the movie about? :: Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) is the smallest member of his clan on the planet Yautja Prime, and is considered too weak to be among the predators. To prove that he is better than most of his kind, Dek plans to hunt a creature known as the Kalisk, an apex predator on what is often called the death planet – the world far away known as Genna. Kwei (Mike Homik), his stronger elder brother tries to prepare him for his battles as much as he can. But their father Njohrr (Reuben de Jong) appears all of a sudden and asks Kwei to kill his brother as he is a shame to the clan of fierce warriors. But Kwei refuses only to be killed by their father, but not before he sends his brother to the death planet so that he can prove his worth by hunting and defeating the feared creature. He reaches the planet, but realizes that this is no easy task, as the planet itself has that kind of flora and fauna which makes it very difficult to survive, as danger is hidden in almost every spot around there.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: As Dek losses most of his weapons and tech while fighting the forest, he comes across Thia (Elle Fanning), an advanced, but damaged Weyland-Yutani Corporation android, whose team of synthetic soldiers was destroyed by the Kalisk while on a mission. She had lost her body from the waist downwards and with the help of Dek, manages to free herself from her predicament and supports him against the incoming trouble, and guide him. He ties her to himself as she had no legs and faces the dangers while moving forward through the treacherous terrain. Soon, while on a hunt, they are joined by a friendly creature that Thia names Bud. The creature marks Dek with her saliva and accepts him as her clan as he defeats two creatures which were on their trail. But he tells them that the one thing that matters is the trophy, and that it can only be gained by killing the creature. Despite Thia telling him that back on Earth predators like wolves have the alpha that protects the pack, he remains adamant that he would be the alpha who kills the most and not the one who protects.

And what more could follow in this world of unmatched danger? :: Thia understands that Dek only understands revenge and is looking forward to prove that he is worthy against all odds. It is then that Thia’s twin android and the expert hunter Tessa (Elle Fanning) is found and revived by Weyland-Yutani androids and is repaired at their main base. She is warned that she would be decommissioned and replaced if she fails her mission. She finds out that she is with an alien creature that would remain a threat to their mission. With a new Weyland-Yutani team, Tessa begins searching for Dek’s group, and finds his crashed ship which has the arms and ammunitions which interests her including those which belonged to his brother. Thia who reaches the area where she was ambushed, finds enough of the technology to connect herself to her body parts below the waist. But at the same time, she understands that Tessa and her group is coming, and the creature is also nearby. A big fight seems to be on the cards. Now, who will survive and will the fight be worth it?

The defence of Predator: Badlands :: The movie surely has some good action, and fighting is all around, from surviving a dangerous jungle with strange flora and fauna to fighting android robots with advanced weapons. The battle against the apex predator and the final battle requires special mention along with that fight of Thia with her body separated into two especially of the waist below has an innovative as much as funny side to it. There are also some funny lines to go with the fight, but that does not bring the quality of the battles down, as we see the big creatures being destroyed and getting attacked by nature itself in all its grandeur. The movie never ceases to be a spectacle, as the scope is a lot, with alien planets including desert lands and dense forests – the creatures are nicely created and detailed, with the possibility of danger nicely felt. It would have been a movie more for the theatre than for Jio Hotstar as we enjoy the beauty of the worlds on the screen, as we would have in computer games like Mass Effect and Unreal Tournament, or Star Trek works.

Positives and negatives :: Elle Fanning as Thia stands apart as one of the best android robotic characters of all-time, something which we see this good only in the Alien movies – Prometheus, Covenant, Romulus etc have known this Weyland Corporation more than any other, and the cross-breed of franchises has been clearly shown here with this particular presence. Her other character in the form of antagonist pales in comparison as this one keep scoring all the time. Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi makes this particular Predator work well according to the situation, and the bonding works nicely. Other humanoids become rather irrelevant here. The movie also provides the message of being together and coming back strong as the underdog, but in the process, loss some of the qualities of Predator franchise, seemingly getting closer to the Guardians of the Galaxy, Thunderbolts and Suicide Squad. There seems to be the easy way taken at times, especially after that grand fight at human side in the end. The characters are still well-developed to keep us further interested.

How it finishes :: Predator: Badlands releasing on Jio Hotstar was something quick that we did not realize that the same had happened. This quick release was pretty much needed though, as we looked forward to watching another live-action movie featuring the classic alien or predator. There are those action sequences which justify its release, and despite the predator character undergoing a little too much of a transformation, works really well. The final scenes leave scope for a fine sequel, and we all hope that it will be served well. Until then, we enjoy being transported to a world of charm and danger, but certainly that of beauty in a planet far away. After all, when people were after Terminator, its sequels and others, we were the ones who stuck to Predator as the one classic science fiction thriller that we would remember. After all, we are all in a world of the hunted and the hunters. There is no escaping the same. The idea of hunters developing a conscience is never a bad idea despite changing a little too much of the core idea.

Release date: 7th November 2025
Running time: 107 minutes
Directed by: Dan Trachtenberg
Starring: Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, Reuben de Jong, Mike Homik, Alison Wright, Cameron Brown, Rohinal Narayan

<<< Click here to go to the previous review.

<<< Click here to go to the biggest movie of last year.

@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

Silent Night

Posted on by

Vampire Owl: We have always wished for silent nights in favour of vampire activity.

Vampire Bat: Vampires have always hoped for silence to keep on hunting, that too in a flash.

Vampire Owl: For vegetarian vampires, we do hunt really well.

Vampire Bat: We have hunted evil better these days.

Vampire Owl: Yet, humans consider us to be evil.

Vampire Bat: There will never be bigger evil than humans. Their evil returns every time and rises like a phoenix.

Vampire Owl: Well, we are yet to find a good human during our visits to their lands.

Vampire Bat: But serial killers are too easy to find, especially on the 11th day of terror. We are watching them at all times.

Vampire Owl: They call these people psychos, but this cruelty comes natural to them.

Vampire Bat: There are always much bigger modes of cruelty among humans. Just make a call on the vampire phone.

[Gets some tacos and three cups of taro tea].

What is the movie about? :: On a Christmas evening, a child is seen traveling by car with his parents from his grandfather’s place and their vehicle is seen as stopping on a remote road. A man dressed as Santa Claus arrives in another car and murders Billy’s parents in front of him. The killer, who is also stabbed, is revealed to be Charlie (Mark Acheson). As the child comes into physical contact with Charlie, an electrical surge appears to pass between them, and there seems to be something which has passed on from the dying killer. As the child grows up, known to the society as Billy Chapman (Rohan Campbell), he is seen as taking over the duty of committing murders while wearing the costume of Santa Claus during the Christmas season. The idea goes like this – during each Christmas, he begins hearing Charlie’s voice urging him to punish people who have been evil, and from then he would need to commit a murder for each day leading up to Christmas. There will be no failure to follow this particular procedure.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: After committing a quick murder at a motel, Billy escapes from the scene to avoid suspicion and arrives in the town of Hackett. There he becomes instantly interested in the beautiful, but angry lady of the town Pamela Sims (Ruby Modine) and her father Dean Sims (Lawrence Brown) who runs a gift shop. He gets a job in the same shop, and gets closer to Pamela, finally beginning an intimate relationship. But he never really losses his skill in murders as new victims is found and killed without remorse. A local police officer and Pamela’s abusive ex-boyfriend Max Benedict (David Tomlinson) is not happy about Billy being around her, and also develops suspicions about the new person moving into the town after which too many murders happen at the same place. But it is revealed that there is some other series of incidents happening in the same area, with little kids going missing one after another. There is a suspected abductor referred to as “the Snatcher”, but it is to be seen how the incidents go on as Christmas gets closer.

The defence of Silent Night, Deadly Night :: The slasher horror mode activated very quickly with this one, not really wasting that much time. The protagonist here is a tragic anti-hero who is forced to go through what he does, rather than the usual supernatural or psychotic villain, and that surely brings a change from the usual. There is time spent in exploring his trauma and motivations, which makes the character more relatable. To add to it the same, there is a mythology, supernatural elements and mystery involving missing children. The horror effects work well with the blood and gore, as one would expect from a slasher horror movie, and deaths become natural part of the film with ease. The killing are also justified for a change, instead of making the whole thing random or a case of revenge like some other flicks. The holiday mood can also be felt with the Christmas elements around, and the ending nicely supports a sequel which could have further variety with the kind of serial killer it develops with the finish.

The claws of flaw :: Silent Night, Deadly Night feels absurd even for a slasher horror movie with its content which does not innovate, or chooses not to bring some nice creative elements. There were many moments which it could have made more interesting, especially by adding usual elements of the genre which have been going through a classic path for a very long time. The question about what special elements this one brings or what it brings as part of the genre, would need better answers here. There is also a certain amount of extra complication that comes with some of these additions here, and the background tale with the mythology is not that much thought about. There is the slow pace and drag that comes in between, and the romance is also not going too deep, and never being emotional enough. The strange ideas are not that much explored, and we feel the need during regular intervals. Many viewers could feel that there is something missing around here, as the movie seems to just go on as it wishes to, and thinks not that much about connections.

The performers of the soul :: Rohan Campbell makes the main character memorable, and worth being the Christmas killer that we would need to follow. There is something more than a serial killer or a murderous psychopath about him, as more aspects of the character are nicely shown by him. A man with a deeply damaged childhood and never-ending emotional conflicts also with the trauma and violent impulses, remains safe in his hands while going through vulnerability and terrifying menace. Ruby Modine makes her character interesting, and there is something about the same all the time, and might have even more to contribute later in a possible sequel – there is a lot that a scream queen in a slasher can do. There are violence and darkness in her, which she manages to display with a charming ease. Her scenes bring some of the most emotionally grounded moments to the movie, and elevate the whole thing. Mark Acheson has a more unusual role, but contributes nicely to the film’s dark and supernatural elements.

How it finishes :: This serves as the second remake of the 1984 film with the same name, after the 2012 reimagining of the same. The audience who enjoys traditional slashers focused mainly on the brutal kills and other elements may find the added mythology and the strange emotional storytelling distracting, as deviation from the usual ideas is surely present here. This is not your classic old slasher of nostalgia and memories for sure. But those who are willing to accept its strange mix of genres are likely to find a surprisingly engaging work with a divergence. Despite not sticking to a classic tradition, it remains a solid Christmas horror film that will probably appeal most to a certain kind of audience. One would guess that making it interesting for all kinds of viewers was never really the idea with this one. Still, we are having the slashers in this world which is going after nonsense because it pretends to be funny, and that much is hope with feathers. Something more sinister might still be coming in a sequel.

Release date: 12th December 2025
Running time: 96 minutes
Directed by: Mike P Nelson
Starring: Rohan Campbell, Ruby Modine, David Lawrence Brown, David Tomlinson, Mark Acheson

<<< Click here to go to the previous review.

<<< Click here to go to the biggest movie of last year.

@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

The Running Man

Posted on by

Vampire Owl: I have been wondering why humans keep running so much in their lives.

Vampire Bat: They search for meaning in their lives, but finds nothing in the end.

Vampire Owl: You mean to say that there is no hope for humanity.

Vampire Bat: Well, humanity never really had any hope.

Vampire Owl: I remember watching that old movie with the same name.

Vampire Bat: Well, we had also read the book with the same name.

Vampire Owl: Stephen King movies have often struggled to make an impact in the last few years.

Vampire Bat: Yet, Doctor Sleep was one of the greatest among them.

Vampire Owl: There are always It, Pet Sematary, The Monkey, Carrie, Salem’s Lot and others too.

Vampire Bat: We cannot expected all such adaptations to be classic horror stories.

[Gets one M&M McFlurry and three cups of mint tea].

What is the movie about? :: In a not that distant future United States of America, an authoritarian media network takes control of the nation while focusing on patriotism and the need to keep the country safe from its usual and common enemies, some of the inside and the others from outside. Most of the citizens of the United States live in poverty with minimal access to healthcare which leads to a high infant mortality and most children not even born among the majority who lives with minimum low wages. Most people are busy with the meaningless and unreal violent game shows and absurd reality television. The most popular programme running in the nation is The Running Man, hosted by Bobby Thompson (Colman Domingo), which has three runners selected with a big opportunity to win a billion dollars by surviving 30 days while being hunted down by five hunters selected by the media team itself. They are led by the furious Evan McCone (Lee Pace) as they are allowed to take any step to end the runners, while citizens are also provided with opportunities which would bring them rewards.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: Starting with thousand dollars and a twelve-hour head start when they are not attacked by anyone, the runners are also required to video tape themselves and send to the media office or else forfeit their earnings and more viciously hunted with no rewards. The murder of the hunters would also bring rewards to the runners, raising their earning by a long way. This is where Ben Richards (Glen Powell) attempts to join, as he is not able to buy medicine for his little daughter after being blacklisted for union activism which had him standing for the other workers, leaving him jobless and not able to care for his family. He had planned to join a game with lesser risk, but was drafted into The Running Man with Jenni Laughlin (Katy O’Brian), a seemingly confident young woman in his neighborhood and Tim Jansky (Martin Herlihy), a nerdy character who seems nice to everyone. Despite trying to back down, Ben is made to agree to the offer by Dan Killian (Josh Brolin) with an amount which he had never seen in his life, despite his wife Sheila Richards (Jayme Lawson) warning him against it.

And what more can happen in this world of future chaos with no real hope for humanity? :: Despite giving a safe house to his family and also providing an advance, Ben is shown as an enemy of the state to the audience and his wife’s moral side is also questioned, much to his dismay, as he promises to be back and give them what they deserve. But he would have no time for anything, as his time started, with all three contestants keeping on running through their own paths. With the help of a disguise taken from a friend, he goes to New York City and manages to start there by staying in a hotel right in the middle of the city and blend among the crowd with his changed looks. He watches Tim wandering in the city as it is shown as part of the show in television, and as he just goes through a normal life, is shot dead by the hunters bringing excitement to the audience who call for the blood of the other two runners. Ben who gets scared about the situation, and not sure about his safety in the big city anymore, decides to escape to Boston. But would that save him from the hunt or will be able to finish the hunters instead?

The defence of The Running Man :: The dark and possible future of the world and with a feeling of Stephen King’s novel, this one makes us very much interested in the movie which also has some nice chase and fight scenes. The world has been very nicely created, and we see how will it suits the situation, and there is a certain amount of charm even to its dark side. The charisma and intense physicality of Glen Powell as the desperate hero of his family manages to keep the movie strong. He had to do something extra to match the original hero and he comes close. Josh Brolin becomes the true antagonist whom we will remember for that terrifying face within that visage. Colman Domingo’s energy makes this even more suitable for its premise and genre as that works so well. Among the ladies, it is Emilia Jones who scores the most, and she is that character whom the audience will fall in love and even brings a certain amount of humour here. They fit nicely into this dystopian society which is obsessed with the circuses of ultra-violent television while being told what to do and made to struggle by the ruling class with the help of the reality shows which reflects the world differently.

Positives and negatives :: There are some classic moments from Lee Pace, but that comes a little late for our liking. The fans of the original might not feel that this matches, due to the absence of Arnold as the man of unparalleled strength. There were still opportunities for more, as the other runners could have also had focus, especially that of the lady runner who was doing so well. The emotional side of the wife and kid works less here for some reason, and the wife role seems to be dismissed as an irrelevant one with Emilia taking over as the lady who decides to switch sides to save the hero. The 1987 version, despite its own deviations, had a more heroic version of the same, and it is only natural that people would prefer that Arnold version, as his work with the fights would also be more believable as he is provided with that kind of a past; the female lead in that movie also had that unparalleled presence in the film, but not anymore. The final battle in the flight could have also been bigger, and the lack of a huge spectacle makes sure that the movie struggles even further.

How it finishes :: Those who have watched that older version might wonder about the necessity of having this one around. There is the world that we have seen before, brought to the big screen again in a similar, but different form. There is the action and thrills in a fine world, and we are entertained enough to be interesting in the movie throughout its run. But when the familiar scenario keeps getting repeated, people will wonder if how much of the same returning to the screen and what all not being adapted from the novel would be the right thing for this kind of movies. The movie remains visually striking and adds to the Stephen King adaptations which have done a good job on the screen, but it was surprising to see it not going too good at the box-office – well, we never really go to know if the movie even released at this part of the world, and one has to guess that due to those lower quality imitations released in different languages in India, with even post-apocalyptic worlds cheaply imitated. This one is superior to those movies which ridiculously copies elements from Hollywood and other languages and presents them as their own, but does leave the audiences slightly wishing that the creative strength here had run stronger, but most of us would be happy with what is found here. Then there is the message against government control.

Release date: 14th November 2025
Running time: 133 minutes
Directed by: Edgar Wright
Starring: Glen Powell, William H Macy, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, Daniel Ezra, Jayme Lawson, Katy O’Brian, Sean Hayes, Colman Domingo, Josh Brolin

<<< Click here to go to the previous review.

<<< Click here to go to the biggest movie of last year.

<<< Click here to go to the most awaited sequel of the year.

@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

Pongala

Posted on by

Vampire Owl: I did not know about this movie being released then.

Vampire Bat: Well, just some movies take all the hype in this world.

Vampire Owl: Most of those hyped movies are like good for nothing too.

Vampire Bat: Unless those collections come down, there will always be such movies.

Vampire Owl: Such movies will never be hits in the vampire world.

Vampire Bat: You know that vampires will never create such big movies, but will have content.

Vampire Owl: Only in our world, there is quality about everything.

Vampire Bat: You know that even the smallest stone of Dracula Castle is shaped in quality.

Vampire Owl: Uncle Dracula is never known to make mistakes, you know.

Vampire Bat: The Vampire Elders have given assurances to him towards infinity.

[Gets a gobi paratha and three cups of Bandarawela tea].

What is the movie about? :: Aby (Sreenath Bhasi) is a man who had to go through a lot of crisis and trauma during his early life, as his father Joseph (Alencier Ley Lopez) had owed a lot of money to man named Lawrence (Sudheer Karamana). This man had come into their home to sexually assault his mother, he had to fight as the elder child, and the situation led to the intruding man getting killed, for which he had to go to correctional home life followed. From that day, his father had gone missing, and he had to take care of his family including his mother and younger sister from the moment he returned from the correctional home. It was not an easy task for him, and he joins the gang of Sabu (Baburaj) a local fish monger and gang lord who has his own violent ways of dealing things and maintaining his business over everyone else. Aby quickly proves his worth in street fights, as he rises through the ranks of Sabu’s goons to become his most trusted henchman. At the side of Sabu’s brothers Biju (Kichu Tellus) and Baiju (Indrajith Jagajith), he remains a force to reckon for. They maintain a iron-fisted monopoly over the harbour of Vypin.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: Despite things seemingly in a violent, but profitable manner, Aby remains a stoic young man who does not care about many things, and seems like a man without feelings for the people of the village. During this period of random fights, a woman from the neighbourhood named Linta (Yami Sona) keeps following him, and tells him that she is in deeply in love with him. Though Abhi remains to be stoic and focused on his responsibilities, Linta who does not stop following him becomes a part of his life, as she is the best friend of his sister and also keeps visiting their home. At the same time, one of Aby’s close friends, Martin (Surya Krish), has a hidden crush on Linta, which she never reveals to his friends or her. Things then take a further twist when Sabu attempts to sexually exploit the vulnerability of his former classmate, a woman who used to be his classmate. Sabu, Biju and Baiju also begin expanding their criminal enterprise into illegal drug trafficking which leads to further rift being formed with Aby, despite his effort to keep peace between him and his childhood friend Biju. Will there be peace or will everyone turn against Aby without mercy?

The defence of Pongala :: The movie’s natural backdrop of the Vypin fishing harbour within Cochin provides an authentic and atmospheric feel – the visuals support the same really well. The initial scenes which go longer with a few flashbacks could nicely bring the situation to the picture without much of a difficulty. In this world, the action also happens well, but in simple manner, despite the leading character’s heroics. There is no attempt to follow that absurd nonsense flying and slow-motion of the so-called superstars who look like balloons and rockets while getting claps from the dumb and brainless fans who celebrate their famous stars destroying SUVs, cars by trying to throw villains on them or out of them and enjoy broken vehicles. The songs are fine and the music remains effective, as the mood of the movie in that setting has been maintained well. The actors nicely get into situation and keep the movie going without any trouble. It is always good to see the less explored areas in the industry getting attention too. Even though it was not much known during its release, the OTT should do well for the movie.

The claws of flaw :: The plot seems to have been somewhat inspired from the predictable, pre-2000 revenge tropes with gang wars even though it is shown as happening much later at the same area. The dialogues also feel somewhat dated and uninspired for these times. There are also so many fights which the hero wins with unparalleled ease, and it is not something we would expect from a man fighting so many people at once and when battling terrifying antagonist who comes with such a build-up. The one-man army mode feels outdated even though the fights and more like a street fight and therefore more realistic than those infinite slow-motion fight scenes create for those superstars in the name of style or rather dumb nonsense created for the brainless fans. The romance also feels like not given the full strength and the focus there seems to be not on love, but a past and sympathy. The predictability in the movie can also be seen at times, with the movie going through what we expect on more than one occasion.

The performers of the soul :: Sreenath Bhasi leads the way in a convincing way here as he moves away from his earlier roles by a long way and delivers a committed, physically agile and intense performance as a stoic action hero who doesn’t show fear in his actions. He has surely come a long way, and the signs of the same were already visible in a few other movies which released earlier, and this one reiterates the same. There is something about Baburaj in this kind of movies and with similar roles which pose no challenge to him – this one is also a more controlled performance from him rather than the usual antagonists. Kichu Tellus also has a role which is familiar to him and leaves him any difficulty. Yami Sona is a lovely addition to the movie, and this feels like the first time I am seeing her in a movie, and she does her job really well, even though we do not see her that much as we wanted in the movie, and the romance should have had a better focus than just her forcing it upon the situation. Sampath Ram has a fine screen presence, but does not get that much to do in the movie other than talk, following by contact on mobile phone. Alencier Ley Lopez only has a limited role here too. But Sadiq Mohammed has a notable presence and it is a role in which we have seen him multiple times, as he shows no struggle with it.

How it finishes :: It is clearly seen that the movie does not try too hard, as it follows an idea which has been tried so many times. The action works well, and we enjoy this as another old model movie which never really tries too hard. The predictability will hold it back and repetitions will do the same, but it keeps us interested from the beginning to the end. The atmosphere of the Vypin coastal belt and harbour brings a breathing character of its own. Sreenath Bhasi as a stoic becomes a fine action hero too. This adds to his versatility and carries the movie’s action sequences almost entirely on his shoulders. The attempt at the revolutionary side would not work, but taking the movie back to the working class who are actually hardworking itself has been a tough thing, and the movie has made that happen without any character who is lost in the internet – such movies are rare when taken in a big city, and that much is achieved. But with a little bit more focus and a shorter length, this one could have done wonders as there were nice opportunities for a fine twist and one villain who could unleash himself in a grand manner.

Release date: 5th December 2025
Running time: 138 minutes
Directed by: A B Binil
Starring: Sreenath Bhasi, Baburaj, Kichu Tellus, Sampath Ram, Sadiq Mohammed, Alencier Ley Lopez, Yami Sona

<<< Click here to go to the previous review.

<<< Click here to go to the biggest movie of last year.

<<< Click here to go to the most awaited sequel of the year.

@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

Anaconda

Posted on by

Vampire Owl: So, we are back to having some snakes around too.

Vampire Bat: We have been the fans of some nice anacondas in the past.

Vampire Owl: Do you think that there can be a vampire anaconda?

Vampire Bat: We do not take snakes in the vampire team anymore.

Vampire Owl: What section of the vampire rule book says so?

Vampire Bat: The new set of rules will be coming up soon.

Vampire Owl: Dr. Frankenstein approves of such vampires for sure.

Vampire Bat: Well, Mr. Frankenstein is the only man who knows nothing.

Vampire Owl: Frankenstein is a man of great knowledge.

Vampire Bat: Uncle Dracula knows the man a little too well to allow him here.

[Gets a kadai paneer dosa and three cups of Peermade tea].

What is the movie about? :: Jeff (Terence Yin) is a poacher who has been going through hunting adventures for very long, and is looking for something bigger this time. He focuses on tracking the legendary Crimson Anaconda which would make him so rich that he would not have go on a hunt again any time soon. He arrives in a forest to find the snake. At the same time, a circus in China is failing like many others. Lan (Nita Lei) leads the show with her performance called Naked Escape which is a water-escape act supported by water-escape. She has an underwater escape routine inside a large glass tank where she is tied up and thrown, and her friendly pet python is also part of the act. Li (Xingchen Wang) wishes to be the leader of the show as she performs high-flying acrobatic acts along with some balancing stunts, and often follows a seductive mode to keep the audience interested. Jiao (Gang Wang) plays the strong man of the circus with some heavy lifting and a boy Peng (Zirun Wang) who performs in a monkey outfit. As the audience catches that the monkey is not real, they also find out that the strong man is not carrying that much weight as it falls on them.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: According to the audience, Li’s performance is considered to be not enough and Lan’s performance is considered to be cheating as despite being called Naked Escape, she is fully clothed. As the circus is sold and the new manager Jin (Shaohang Xu) takes over, he is revealed to be someone with a past of working with the crew earlier in a lower role. Li is quick to try and seduce him while Lan decides to leave the circus immediately. According to him, there is a new show set in Thailand, and they have to travel on a boat through the rainforests of the country. After a lot of discussions, Lan decides to return, much to the dismay of Li who had hoped to be the charming leader of the show. While on the river, she almost succeeds in being the face of the circus by providing sexual favours to Jin but is disturbed by Wei (Hao Wu) who has been added as a zombie surprise to the circus, and is forced to put her clothes back on. They are stopped on the way by the waterway facing a block with some strange crates in the river.

And what is to follow her in the world of humans and snakes that follow? :: The group would need to turn away from the path and take a much longer route, which would take them a few more days to arrive, but their new manager is completely against the same. He tells them that they need to reach there within the stipulated time or they will keep losing money, as the show really need to start when required. He still hides the truth that he does not intend to do have any show, but sell the organs of the performers as part of his deal with the traffickers, as it was how he had become rich after leaving the circus. They decide to destroy the crates using a dynamite, but as they destroy the same with an explosion, a number of snakes from the crates fall into the boat, and Li is almost killed with snakes fall on her and runs through her clothes, only to be saved by Lan using a hose. Jin who is chased by snakes is saved by Jeff, and it turns out that he is looking for his anaconda in this particular jungle only. He also saves Jiao who gets a tiny snake inside his ear. He earns everyone’s trust with ease, but Lan remains doubtful. Now, are they going to be hunted be anaconda or will Jeff get to the snake even if he has to go through them?

The defence of Anaconda: Cursed Jungle :: The movie delivers some simple fun which reminds us of some of those older movies dealing with the same kind of situations. There is a believable location nicely built here, and we realize the same quick enough. The humour here is very much working, and the two ladies lead the way very well. Nita Lei and Xingchen Wang plays two contradicting characters, and this adds to the overall comic side of the movie, and the character of the former makes her the perfect scream queen to face some unlimited horror. The scares work with a certain amount effectiveness, especially with the quick snake attacks. The feeling of danger can be felt throughout the movie as nothing other than snakes seem to have a say in the jungle or even in the river right in the middle. Terence Yin also makes a strong, sinister villain that never seems to step back from his mission. One keep feeling that the change of setting and characters from the Americas to the South-east Asia has only helped the franchise. This reboot of the movie can be said as something which has saved the franchise.

Positives and negatives :: The movie feels too short, but it is also its advantage as there is no dull moment in there. Along with the action and the use of snakes, the movie uses its fine greenery to the advantage. The snakes do not look that perfect all times especially with its movements and attacks, but it might be the best we have had with giant snakes in a long time; there are moments when the snakes look some extra believable, as we feel that China has used the budget much better than any other nation not just with this particular movie, but also with a few others. Then there is that scope for sequel too, and with the leading lady surviving as expected, the same would be a great watch. Still, we keep wondering why the movie did not use the special skills of the circus-based characters here, and at least the art of escape and acrobatics could have been put to the best use, even though not in the highest form. There are also those predictable ideas of horror happening around here, with some repetitions, especially as it seems to follow that usual horror formula – yet, the same remains entertaining as much as interesting.

How it finishes :: This movie is the first of its franchise which is not in English, and is also the shortest among those films. As it introduces new types of anacondas to the franchise, the young cast from China nicely adds some fine humour as much as the action. This world of the snakes is nothing less than realistic while staying within the world of horror. As the fear is generated effectively, we are only glad to see the Anaconda franchise back running as we keep wondering if Lake Placid will also return soon with the Jaws. This is that kind of movie which will also bring some nostalgia back to us, as the many movies of this franchise has kept coming to us through Times Now channel. Whenever we think about a creature movie, this might be the first thing that comes to our mind, unless it is full in water, as sharks often take the first spot. With the scope to wander through both water and land, this snake, with a team of many others, serves the purpose really well. Then you also remember that there is nobody better than the Chinese to come up with a surprise classic with so much grandeur, something which was done earlier with The Wandering Earth.

Release date: 23rd January 2025
Running time: 84 minutes
Directed by: Xiang Qiuliang, Xiang Hesheng
Starring: Terence Yin, Nita Lei, Xingchen Wang, Gang Wang, Zirun Wang, Shaohang Xu, Tat-Wah Lok, Paul Che

<<< Click here to go to the previous review.

<<< Click here to go to the biggest movie of last year.

<<< Click here to go to the most awaited sequel of the year.

@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

Fear Below

Posted on by

Vampire Owl: Things that we should fear would not come from below.

Vampire Bat: So, you are looking for the flying fears from above.

Vampire Owl: I feel that the dead below are less scary.

Vampire Bat: There can always be the shadow demons from the underworld.

Vampire Owl: The underworld does not qualify as from below.

Vampire Bat: They are surely located deep underneath us, and you can even see them as a warning.

Vampire Owl: Shadow World of underworld is technically another realm.

Vampire Bat: Well, they are here now, in a series of underworld tunnels, beyond the red door of chaos.

Vampire Owl: The tunnels only serve as portal to another world.

Vampire Bat: Well, vampires do not shadow walk, but we are able to go through their world – connects them to ours as one, doesn’t it?

[Gets a packet of pineapple cream biscuits and three cups of Peerumade tea].

What is the movie about? :: In the late 1940s Australia, a team consisting of Ernie Morgan (Arthur Angel), Clara Bennett (Hermione Corfield) and Jimmy Barriakada (Jacob Junior Nayinggul) are part of the Sea Dog Diving Company, which is going through a terrible financial crisis. They have had training in the military during the Second World War or had won medals for their diving performances, but are not able to run the business due to tough competition in the field, and with a lot of people ready to invest money, they struggle, and hope that they can buy a boat to further support their cause, while competing better. It is then that they are approached by a mafia leader named Dylan Maddock (Jake Ryan) to retrieve a sunken car from the bottom of the river which has some very valuable items which he recently lost due to some careless driving. He provides them with a deal which would involve a lot of money and gives them an advance, but warns them that this much of cash is given for no questions being asked.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: It is revealed that he cannot go to the authorities and get a crane service to lift the car due to smuggled gold biscuits being present inside – he would be just happy with the crates holding the gold biscuits being taken to the land, and nothing more. They had not reported the accident too, as any forced help from people would lead to the gold biscuits being discovered. The plan is to make the divers go in and get the crates, and after that, to just murder them. Ernie is overjoyed with the proposal of so much money without knowing the danger behind the same, and so are his crew members. They make detailed preparations for the big job which has come to them after such a long time. They reach the place, only to find Clara being attacked by a bull shark underwater, but manages to come out without that much of a problem. But now, the shark remains a major problem, and the mafia is also getting restless. Can they find a way to get out of this crisis? And who will get to keep all the gold under the river?

The defence of Fear Below :: The film nicely adds a gangster story with what seems to be a shark horror from the posters, as the attempt to recover stolen gold from a river where a bull shark is ready to attack anyone who sets foot in there. The combination would itself feel innovative enough, as the blending works well here. The 1940s feeling with post-war effect remains a fine addition to the overall movie which uses the style to the best effect. The movie never really moves out of that feeling, even when we look closer. The whole thing does have a realistic rather than exaggerated feeling, with nothing impossible being given a push. The effects also seem to have not much computer-generated imagery, which means more of a feeling close to life. The shark does not have too much extra around here, as the situation looks like a usual crisis, never going too much beyond. The urgency is never really found in the movie either, as the simple world and simpler people will also stay around.

The claws of flaw :: Even with a shorter run-time, the movie does seem to have too much of wasted time, where there is nothing much of interest. The pace of the movie is not much as we keep looking closely, and all these things could have happened within a few minutes without using one and half hours. The predictability factor is always present, pulling the whole movie downwards. The action is also low in quantity, with the shark being present only for a few minutes of time. This had felt more like a shark movie from all its posters, but we see it just for some time, and the shark attack is also not that strong enough to leave an impact. The scenes underwater seem to be more or less without clarity with the water itself being not clear – comparing this to movies like Deep Blue Sea and Underwater or even Under Paris which have clear water visibility of waterbodies will feel like a crime. The budget might have been a problem here, not just with water, but also with showing more of the shark which needed to go beyond what seemed to be a guest role of a different kind. There are some supporting characters who feel rather weak too.

The performers of the soul :: Hermione Corfield here is coming up more with the cuteness factor than anything else, and she surely nails that side, but does not get that much of an action as one would expect from the lady lead who plays an expert diver. Despite being only one of the main characters, she maintains a certain amount of charm throughout the movie, making sure that she is the one character whom we all wish to see having survived in the end, no matter what shark or even whale or dinosaur comes through for the prey. She plays a determined and confident young lady, who is also looking at an uncertain future, but never losses hope in the way. Arthur Angel adds further emotional weight as the older man who is determined to make things happen and help his younger colleagues survive too – this is also a character we love to see around. Jake Ryan plays the gangster who remains a threatening presence through the crime drama setup of the movie. The support that includes Maximillian Johnson, does just enough here.

How it finishes :: Fear Below, despite blending different sides, manages both, but is often confused in the process, as if someone who is trying to find oneself in a world which has chaos on one side and opportunities on the other. From the posters, it is a shark movie, but as one reads about it, the focus is more on a few gangsters seeking their gold – the balance is not exactly there, but both sides do the job well enough. For a low budget crime thriller having a shark around, the whole thing might feel enough, but we have seen bigger movies made out of smaller budgets in our part of the world; guess not with where the movie comes from. It would feel fine if you are not really looking for that grand shark with computer-generated imagery to support the same. Well, some of us are never really satisfied by this much, especially with Amazon Prime Video being the platform, and the other films recommended with this one are quite bigger and having a higher budget. In the end, it all depends on the viewer to go for it.

Release date: 15th May 2025
Running time: 85 minutes
Directed by: Matthew Holmes
Starring: Hermione Corfield, Jake Ryan, Jacob Junior Nayinggul, Arthur Angel, Josh McConville, Clayton Watson, Maximillian Johnson, Will Fletcher, Kevin Dee

<<< Click here to go to the previous review.

<<< Click here to go to the biggest movie of last year.

@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

3BHK

Posted on by

Vampire Owl: This is the first movie we are watching on a flight.

Vampire Bat: I do like the choices of movies which they have in Emirates.

Vampire Owl: Do you remember the last time we travelled on an Emirates flight?

Vampire Bat: Yes, the Airbus A380, the largest of them all.

Vampire Owl: This time, they were running a Boeing on the route instead.

Vampire Bat: Well, some vampires can fly. So, it is not really a problem.

Vampire Owl: They cannot watch movies when flying, can they?

Vampire Bat: If you can hold your mobile phone and fly, yes.

Vampire Owl: That would most probably cause an accident too.

Vampire Bat: You know that there is enough magic in our world to have a glided flight, right? As long as we do not cross over to the science-guided human world which has been drained of its magic with too many destructive weapons and wars.

[Gets some French fries and three cups of Yorkshire tea].

What is the movie about? :: Vasudevan (R Sarathkumar), his wife Shanthi (Devayani), their son Prabhu Vasudevan (Siddharth) and daughter Aarthi (Meetha Raghunathan) had moved into a rented house near St. Thomas Mount of Chennai, and from here, their dreams could begin to develop into a stage of determination focusing on buying a house as rent kept rising even for their small house as the city continued to develop and spread. The largest city in Tamil Nadu had become so huge that it was a long way ahead of the second largest city of Coimbatore and showed no signs of developing among the top five cities of India. People were continuing to flow into the city, and if the family had to move out of the rented home they were done, which led to a need for a home to change from dream to reality soon. The situation was the same for most of the big cities of India, but as the most significant town city on the east coast of India, and with people also from neighbouring states working in Chennai, the rise was only going to be quicker as time progressed.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: The family begins to plan for the same, and they understand they have to save quite a big amount of money per month, along with selling Shanthi’s jewelry to reach their goal, as they prefer to have a home inside the city itself rather than on the outskirts which would still require them to spend a lot of time and money to travel inside for a better future with a sustainable job. Vasudevan begins to work overtime to meet the demands which feel a little bit out of the equation while Shanthi sells snacks to make sure that the savings are maintained at the required level. Prabhu struggles in his studies, and Vasudevan is forced to spend a certain amount of money for his tuition per month which reduces the savings. With the help of this tuition and also with the support of his crush, Aishwarya (Chaithra J Achar), his scores somewhat improve increasing the hopes of the parents in him contributing to the final savings after joining an engineering college and getting a job as soon as he passes out. But unexpected expenses come on the way and Prabhu scores low, while the cost of the house increases. Can the family somehow buy the house they wish to have in the end?

The defence of 3BHK :: It can be seen that the movie realistically portrays the struggles of common middle-class family trying to buy their dream house by respectfully and honestly raise money, making it easy for many viewers to connect with the characters. It feels like more or less that problem faced by the common man who struggle to live in a city. There is not much of those unnecessary commercial elements and the melodrama is also kept at minimum with the focus clearly on family emotions and everyday problems which make one feel that a responsible generation will connection this more than those dumb movies which have its young protagonists under the influence of drugs and alcohol, taking risks despite warning by authorities or living irresponsibly in schools and colleges while beating up their own friends in campus – but we know that those movies will score more at the box-office, and the best examples are among the top grossing movies in Malayalam movie industry whose audience used to have better standards. The movie here feels genuine and believable from the beginning to the end and for honest and reliable people, will bring tears to the eyes. The visuals and music remain interesting too.

Positives and negatives :: The emotional side might be the strongest for the movie as sacrifices are given importance – not like those movies about fake friendships powered by drugs and alcohol, for this one is about family and how it remains important in a life of chaos and hopelessness in a busy city. Those among the new generation or those just past that; those who have not had any hardships in life would not prefer this kind of movies, but it would be strange if someone never had any struggle, if not financially, then with academics or when trying to do the best for the family. The movie can also be considering slow moving and sometimes a little too emotional, but this is that kind of a movie which tries to stay on in the memories and with realistic situations and never letting go of faith belief and hope, it works well. Still, we see that there are too many hardships which the family has to face out of nowhere, and some of them seems to be in order to make the situation more and more difficult as time progresses, as hope is the thing with feathers and it waits for none, while flying away with those beautifully feathered wings. The length might still be a problem for some and so would be the repetition of problems, and romance could have been expanded.

The performers of the soul :: The movie has Siddharth in a role which connects to most of us who go through a struggle in one way or the other; forget the financial struggle, the job itself is a crisis as getting one would require a lot of the same, with these the freshers not given job for quite a long time, but when we get a little bit older, people keep searching for the stylish new-generation youth who can go viral so that the company itself will get some boost – note that many colleges are now preferring such girls who can do well online rather than teach, and those with PhD and NET are left behind. Well, Siddharth shows the struggle to get a job, stay in one without being too exploited and keeping himself there so that the home can be bought – then there is the romance which he has to choose or avoid as his family might need him to go through his personal way in a specific way too. R Sarathkumar as the fatherly figure reminds us of many elders who have sacrificed for their children and family and it is a really touching performance from him too. Devayani plays the motherly figure with affection as much as a loving wife while Meetha Raghunath feels like such a talent. Chaithra remains lovely, and with a performance to remember for her too.

How it finishes :: 3BHK is that kind of a movie which every common man who remains close to the family can relate to, with love and compassion. It is also that kind of a film which anyone from that generation of job seekers who had to struggle as a fresher when they passed out and now stare at the void when the viral freshers are preferred over them in a world where looks matter more than degrees, knowledge and wisdom. It is a sincere and emotionally driven family drama that captures the aspirations, sacrifices and anxieties of the huge Indian middle class, and it is done with effectiveness without relying on those commercial ingredients. These financial struggles, family conflicts, disappointments and the little moments of happiness which becomes the bliss of solitude for the common viewer feel genuine, and we connect with the characters, live with them and never misses out on the empathy. Having heart at the right place and all the honesty matters, but the new generation might still not like it, and those who do not want deep family dramas told in realistic manner can grow dislikes especially as the movie often slows down and repeats a few things in the long process lasting near two and half hours.

Release date: 4th July 2025
Running time: 141 minutes
Directed by: Sri Ganesh
Starring: Siddharth, R Sarathkumar, Devayani, Meetha Raghunath, Chaithra J. Achar, Yogi Babu, Subbu Panchu, Vivek Prasanna, Thalaivasal Vijay, Aarti Desai

<<< Click here to go to the previous review.

<<< Click here to go to the biggest movie of last year.

<<< Click here to go to the most awaited sequel of the year.

@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

The Gorge

Posted on by

Vampire Owl: I know such a gorge at the end of the vampire world.

Vampire Bat: It is the border of the known vampire lands.

Vampire Owl: Where do we reach if we cross that?

Vampire Bat: They call it the whisper to infinity.

Vampire Owl: There is no infinity in this world. Everyone ends.

Vampire Bat: Our immortality is subject to market risks. It is not the same for everyone.

Vampire Owl: You are talking about the vampire elders.

Vampire Bat: There could be creatures lurking under the border gorge.

Vampire Owl: Yet we leave that area unprotected.

Vampire Bat: Well, if any zombie is going to fall into it, let it better be underneath rather than at the surface. The shadow demons have already crossed over to the surface from the shadow world.

[Gets a paneer samosa and three cups of Wayanad tea].

What is the movie about? :: Levi (Miles Teller) is former United States Marine Sniper who is recruited by a mysterious woman for a special mission which requires his special skills as a record-breaking sniper on the enemy lines. He is taken on a flight to a remote location where he gets down on a parachute in the middle of nowhere. There he meets Drake (Sope Dirisu), a former British Royal Marine corporal, who was in charge of guarding a tower on the west side of a gorge. He explains that the location is kept hidden from the outside world by powerful cloaking antennas and he is not supposed to talk to the outside world about it. He adds that both the west and east towers are armed to contain some strange, monstrous creatures within the gorge, which they have nicknamed “The Hollow Men”. There is also the warning about “Straydog”, an unknown emergency protocol. He talks about the towers’ history which had that battalions of soldiers sent into the gorge in the late 1940s and none of them had ever returned. Drake who leaves the gorge is picked up by helicopter, but is not taken home as he is shot dead.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: Drasa (Anya Taylor-Joy), a Lithuanian sniper who is involved in covert operations assigned by the Russian forces gets a special offer for a year. Her father Erikas (William Houston) who was once associated with KGB, is now dying due to cancer asks her to go on despite Drasa not feeling that good about so many sniping killings from a distance. The offer that she gets is the same as what Levi had received from the mysterious person whose name is revealed to be Bartholomew (Sigourney Weaver). She is given charge of the eastern tower opposite Levi’s tower, fully armed and meant to stop the creatures coming out of the gorge, a position which has been held by so many people throughout the last few years. Levi who suffers from nightmares coming right out of his trauma tries to live by the rules including the ban on having any contact with the person on the other side. But Drasa contacts Levi with a writing which tells him that she does not care and that it is her birthday. With a birthday wish and following contact, they keep fighting the creatures coming up from underneath along with a lot of continuous talks getting them close to each other. But the secrets of the gorge might be the end of them, or will they survive this?

The defence of The Gorge :: The movie’s world is the first thing that catches our attention, as it is really well-created. The feeling that the two towers with horror in between keeps us excited from the beginning itself. A certain romantic side and the feeling of danger keep making an impact from two sides, while there are many heart-warming sweet moments as well as the surprising terror, making the two sides of the coin work so well in balance. The first point of contact between the two snipers is one of the most charming moments that one would ever see, and the quick twist see the danger, and then we see some more of those lovely situations which stay in our minds. The on-screen chemistry between the two is something that lasts since the first point of meeting itself, through the dangers, between all the shooting and explosions and more. As this one blend sci-fi, horror, action, thriller and romance in an unusual way, there is so much of freshness added here and we keep feeling the same throughout its run. The mysterious gorge setting, visual effects and creature and underworld designs are nothing less than classic in nature. What lies beneath gets the best of design as much as the view of the top.

Positives and negatives :: The movie could have had more moments of romance, and the cuteness factor often leaves too early. But we see that the action scenes are so engaging with romantic possibilities never leaving either. The final moments seem to get to that end too early and the climax gets a little bit predictable with a quick finish. Even though the background tale is nicely revealed and remains strong, it is not something new or that innovative – yet, they have made the whole thing look so good and made in a way in which it will remain strong and interesting. The birthday and dance moments are the cutest moments of the movie, and there is also that satisfying lovely ending which would make you hope for a sequel with these two. The battle underneath definitely makes the whole world gain in strength, and such a world could not be made with such quality and style in another movie. The setting itself is the one thing which made this happen. If these protagonists of the movie are not the most likable ones around as they set new meanings for long distance relationships, one can only wonder what else can be.

The performers of the soul :: The movie thrives on its performances as the leading cast make the whole thing so lovely and believable. We have known Miles Teller from Divergent, Insurgent and Allegiant making a trilogy, and that version of Fantastic Four which is not remembered in compared to two other more famous ones. Here, he comes up with a performance to remember for very long. Meanwhile, Anya Taylor-Joy is so lovely in such a way that she stays in our minds like a beautiful memory of a lost world. She was someone who started so well with her first flicks, The Witch and Morgan, followed by being a part of Split and Glass, and she made Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga a movie known as much as for her performance as it was for the action and world building. We know that she is also part of the Dune series, and we are sure to have more of her around. She could be the perfect Resident Evil protagonist, but Umbrella Corporation’s people seem to have other ideas even with reboots. She could also be in an Underworld reboot with the action skills. These two protagonists share such an onscreen chemistry that it is the viewer who falls in love. The two are just remarkable also in the action sequences as they were with those cute moments of romance together.

How it finishes :: The Gorge is the one movie which comes out of nowhere to make a huge impact while blending its genres as it hesitates to be limited to one thing or even two. While the film’s mystery leads to some genuine suspense in the first half, the later revelations and action-filled climax keep the movie at the same level, while never losing the romantic side in the process. The blend of romance, horror, action, thrills and impressive visuals make it a worthwhile watch with some genre-bending science fiction. The combination of Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy is something that we will remember for a long time, as the movie keeps itself emotionally strong, with no dull moment at all. I would consider this movie as one of those rare flicks which appealed to us as part of all genres which it represented. The same is not an easy job, but it has been achieved with such ease, thanks to the performances. I would recommend this for fans of different genres and almost everyone, and I would have loved to watch this one on the big screen.

Release date: 14th February 2025
Running time: 127 minutes
Directed by: Scott Derrickson
Starring: Miles Teller, Anya Taylor-Joy, Sigourney Weaver, Sope Dirisu, William Houston, Ruta Gedmintas

<<< Click here to go to the previous review.

<<< Click here to go to the biggest movie of last year.

<<< Click here to go to the most awaited sequel of the year.

@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

Lockdown

Posted on by

Vampire Owl: Are we going to watch another movie about corona virus lockdown?

Vampire Bat: I do not think that this would have the lockdown at the core.

Vampire Owl: I thought so because it is too late for anything related to that.

Vampire Bat: Well, such movies have lesser chances of working with the audience now.

Vampire Owl: Yes, there are so many things to deal with other than the past.

Vampire Bat: The opportunities spread towards infinity itself.

Vampire Owl: I remember that Dr. Frankenstein had written an essay about.

Vampire Bat: Mr. Frankenstein is not educated to write that good an essay.

Vampire Owl: Frankenstein is a man of his word and the only one of his kind.

Vampire Bat: Even Uncle Dracula would not agree to that.

[Gets a butterscotch cake and three cups of badam tea].

What is the movie about? :: Anitha (Anupama Parameswaran) has been looking for a job since passing out from an engineering college. Despite being a bright student with good scores at college and in spite of her expertise, she was rejected at so many interviews that it affected her confidence beyond repair. Her father Suresh (Charle) has been working hard to make sure that his family have enough, and hopes that his two daughters do well in life, as he is always worried about his friend’s daughter who had eloped with a local goon and married him despite everyone begging her to stay. Anitha is determined to make her parents proud and will not stop until she gets a job. For the same, she has to stay close enough to home and also opt out of night jobs as her family does not approve of the same. At the same time, there are many local young men who are trying to win her love, but she is only focused on getting a job and earn enough to support her family which also includes her grandmother along with the younger sister and parents.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: Sudha (Nirosha), Anitha’s mother, decides to take special care of their children due to the news about the children of people they know not being happy ones. Anitha’s best friend is Swapna (Priya Venkat) who live in the same city. But as she goes to a party with another one of her friends where she meets a Human Resources Manager of a famous IT company, she ends up being drunk and passes out. She comes to her complete sense only after two days, and continues to search for jobs despite the assurance of an offer letter in a month. Two months later, she gets a call from the company asking her to join. But by then, some time had passed since the first corona virus case was reported in India. As she begins to join, more restrictions are applied, and soon, she begins to feel very unwell. She goes for tests at the hospital, but by that time, the lockdown related to pandemic was being applied, and she could no longer go out. Her health was getting worse, and she was slowly realizing what was happening to her. But with the lockdown enforced, it was too late for her to do anything. Can she survive this?

The defence of Lockdown :: The movie addresses significant issues of the present such as consent, bodily autonomy, unplanned pregnancy and societal judgment. These days, the messages are often not considered with the seriousness that it deserves, but not this time. This is dealt nicely with an emotional side that works so well, mainly due to the leading actress never staying behind with her performance, standing tall, and rising to every moment of relevance in the flick. She particularly excels in the final moments as she fights against all odds when hope seems to fly away from her. The character’s journey feels so real to us due to her memorable performance. The emotions only get deeper as the movie progresses, and the helplessness of the protagonist makes the stakes much higher. The significance of family in a person’s life is also asserted, as we are reminded that the worst can be handled in the family with their support. The music as well as the technical departments nicely work efficiently with the film’s emotional tone and dramatic moments, making sure that the feeling is never lost.

The claws of flaw :: The movie still remains slow, and sometimes provides the feeling that it is going through the same thing again and again. It seems to bring the same kind of solutions again and again that we feel that the protagonist just has that option which does not happen and therefore need to keep trying one option multiple times. A final answer to what really happened and the right solution is not really provided by the movie as a few things are just left unanswered. There is no real investigation into the same and there is no idea of justice, as the focus only seems to be getting rid of the trouble and move on like nothing happened. The unresolved mystery means that the suspense never gets the strength and a thrilling side never gets stronger than the emotional drama that never stops running underneath story, as it was already established with an elopement and marriage. Then there are also those scenes and dialogues which can feel overly message-driven and meant to preach about a few societal elements. Some of the subplots are also lost in the way as the movie keeps its focus only on the protagonist.

The performers of the soul :: This is a movie of Anupama Parameswaran who delivers an emotionally convincing performance and effectively carries the film. This one is surely all about her as we keep seeing her on the screen almost every minute, and the movie itself seemingly runs for her, based on her predicament from where she keeps trying to escape one way or the other, despite the corona virus and its lockdown affecting her attempts. One keep feeling that Malayalam cinema is yet to have the best of Anupama, as movies like the debut work Premam, then Jomonte Suvisheshangal and The Pet Detective are never enough for someone with her calibre, as she keeps reminding us how good she can perform. Priya Venkat who plays her friend supports really well, and has her moments, as she goes through as one of the best comrades that one could have, standing by her friend’s side against all odds. Charle who plays the father and Nirosha who plays the mother also come up with the emotional performances that we note down. The fatherly affection will be something that we particularly remember. George Maryan, Livingston and all contribute well to support too.

How it finishes :: If you think that this a movie about that nation-wide lockdown with happenings related to that, you are surely going to be disappointed, as it plays only a part, and affects the proceedings from a side, bringing difficulties to the protagonist – otherwise it is not the main thing or the central idea that runs right through the movie. This is still that kind of a work which deals with the main idea well with some messages to take home. It sometimes provides the feeling that it is going the preachy way, but returns to the main thing soon enough. This could have actually gone on to be a conventional thriller, but instead focuses on the emotional and social consequences faced by the protagonist and makes itself more of a drama – in doing so, some of the answers are not provided and the focus is in staying within the tradition and not to deviate too much from it. Considering the present situation of a new generation, it is not really a bad thing, but the level of deviation or divergence will always remain in question as generations pass.

Release date: 30th January 2026
Running time: 119 minutes
Directed by: A R Jeeva
Starring: Anupama Parameswaran, Charle, Livingston, Nirosha, Priya Venkat, George Maryan, Indhumathi, Rajkumar, Shamji, Redin Kingsley, Abhirami, Revathi

<<< Click here to go to the previous review.

<<< Click here to go to the biggest movie of last year.

<<< Click here to go to the most awaited sequel of the year.

@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

The Whisper

Posted on by

Vampire Owl: Have you heard about vampirism spreading through whispers in the wind?

Vampire Bat: Vampirism is supposed to spread only by biting.

Vampire Owl: Dr. Frankenstein knows about scientific vampirism.

Vampire Bat: Mr. Frankenstein does not know science or vampirism.

Vampire Owl: Well, we only have one scientist and he is Frankenstein.

Vampire Bat: It is a shame that we immortals are to trust a duplicate from another realm.

Vampire Owl: He is the original certified scientist who is also a half-vampire.

Vampire Bat: Still, you shall find the vampires of this movie as stranger.

Vampire Owl: I do not see why they would not be strange in comparison.

Vampire Bat: You cannot expect all vampire depictions around the world to be the same.

[Gets a thattu dosa and three cups of Ooty tea].

What is the movie about? :: Lucía (Ana Clara Guanco) has fled from her home with her young brother Adrian (Marcelo Michinaux) as the situation in their home with their father Victor (Luciano Cáceres) would need them to follow a family vampire tradition. Victor has always been telling them that Adrian is just like him and will turn into a vampire, but Lucia who cared for her little brother did not listen to the same. Leaving Victor behind, they arrive at a secluded mansion deep into the woods seeking refuge and hoping that one day, they will have normal lives. But this attempt to stay normal is shattered when a cat which lives in the area brings them a human finger, revealing the fact that there is something terrifying going on in the area. There are movements around the house at night and something keeps triggering the car alarms, while the switches and electricity are not working properly either. The night seems to be difficult to go through, but she keeps asking Adrian to keep the headsets in his ears and forget all of these, while a group keeps kidnapping girls to kill them on camera and then sell the snuff videos for financial gains.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: She finds the worst when they find a girl being killed by some masked people on the camera on the collar of the cat. She checks for information online and finds out that many girls have been kidnapped from the area and one of such incidents happened on the road that goes in front of their home. She feels that they could be attacked any moment, and as she takes a file out of the camera and plays it on her desktop computer, she realizes that the house has been entered and they had tried to take her, but her brother had gone missing. Desperate to save him, she goes out and finds the men killed by her brother who seems to have bitten them and even turned one of them into a ruthless vampire. As they try to escape from the rest of the members of the group, she finds herself and the boy kidnapped and tied up in a warehouse. As she is unable to come up with an explanation what had happened to the other gang members, the group focusing snuff videos, decides to make her their next victim as they strip her down to her bra and panties and chain her to a bed to brutally kill her on the camera. Can the siblings escape in time?

The defence of The Whisper :: The tale of a brother and sister escaping an ancient family curse while also fighting a group of criminals makes such an interesting premise with a lot of possibilities, often endless and most of time very interesting. The isolated home with woods creates a bleak, eerie atmosphere that keeps viewers engaged while being emotionally attached to the brother and sister. The abiding sadness which surrounds the character of Ana Clara Guanco will keep us emotionally attached to her. An air of melancholy surrounds her at all times, and the depth of the same is reflected not just on her face, but in her movements which feels more motivated by perpetual sadness rather than fear. A crime thriller, supernatural horror, family drama and mystery come together towards the same here. The visuals of the setting are nicely captured to increase the tension and the feeling of danger. One can also note how well the cat in the movie serves the purpose, and how the initial scenes had set things in motion. The darkness has been effectively used as the movie’s ally too.

The claws of flaw :: The non-linear path which is taken here does not serve the purpose that well. The psychological side does not work that well here, and the terror could have also been shown in a more detailed manner with the cruelty felt even more. The slowness of the movie could also be seen as a concern as the movie brings down its pace a lot in the middle, which basically makes us feel that nothing much is to happen here and there would be just some forced ending to follow. The multiple ideas and genres followed here, despite having something in each, might not satisfy everyone as it goes through all of them without full focus on anything. Some subplots could have also been better explored and some character development for the characters other than the protagonist would have been much appreciated. Even the other two clearly named characters could have had more focus, but as Ana Clara Guanco does a brilliant job, most of it is just forgotten and not claimed as a big problem. The fights could have also been shown in a better manner and the vampire attacks misses out on fangs and claws while there were so many opportunities for the same.

The performers of the soul :: Ana Clara Guanco as Lucía does that kind of a work which we will remember for her being that tragic heroine who is ready to make the ultimate sacrifice for her brother. For him, she is ready to leave her home and all possibilities of a better life, moving to the middle of nowhere with no assurance of doing any better for herself and she does not even care for her safety. She plays the sibling whom every little brother would wish for, and the same is done in a believable manner. It can be seen that she runs to save him when he seems to be in some kind of trouble and when there is some problem, she tries to protect him with all her life. This reluctance to bring any harm to the boy lands her under the knives of a butcher, stripped to her underwear and chained to be hacked to death brutally in front of a camera. In the end, she would have to make the ultimate sacrifice and as the tragic heroine, embrace the worst. It is a very emotional performance which is there to stay. Luciano Cáceres as Victor has more than what we think he has to do, as he brings a lot more as the movie goes towards the end. Marcelo Michinaux also plays some good work as the little brother. The rest just have to follow the flow.

How it finishes :: The idea of escaping a violent world, stumbling into a world of snuff films and confronting a terrifying family curse at the same time is an idea that had a lot of scope. This definitely works, but one cannot say that it is at his best of strengths, and losses the power at regular intervals in between. This is still another interesting vampire movie and the one movie which it reminds one the most is Byzantium, but that was a more superior movie in all aspects; this one can only follow with most elements. Throughout the movie, we are still reminded that vampirism is one of the lesser evil that we can encounter, and there is always the bigger evil, which comes from humans who might know no way to stop themselves from turning pure evil. We are reminded that evil always finds a way and being attacked by a vampire is the least of your problems as human horror is always ready to be unleashed as darkness becomes more of their ally than that of any known nocturnal creature from myth or reality. With an emotional side, this one brings that particular reminder well, as we watch this one Amazon Prime Video.

Release date: 22nd January 2026
Running time: 100 minutes
Directed by: Gustavo Hernández Ibañez
Starring: Luciano Cáceres, Ana Clara Guanco, Marcelo Michinaux, Darío Lima, Horacio Camandulle, Rasjid César, Joro Gorfain, Machu Gutiérrez

<<< Click here to go to the previous review.

<<< Click here to go to the biggest movie of last year.

<<< Click here to go to the most awaited sequel of the year.

@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.

Mr. X

Posted on by

Vampire Owl: I have heard about an entity known as Vampire X.

Vampire Bat: I doubt if the X here could be used for the vampires.

Vampire Owl: Dr. Frankenstein had successfully created such an entity.

Vampire Bat: Mr. Frankenstein couldn’t even create a cup of tea with his hands.

Vampire Owl: You underestimate the story of Frankenstein, dear vampire of the night.

Vampire Bat: Which Mr. X movie do you underestimate though? There have been many.

Vampire Owl: Sadly, I have seen none of them.

Vampire Bat: Well, you have been a fan of X-Factor in WWE, I think.

Vampire Owl: Yes, until I met the team of Evolution there.

Vampire Bat: I have to say that I personally like the cast of this particular movie.

[Gets a Chicken Masala Puffs and three plates of Strawberry Shortcake].

What is the movie about? :: Gautham (Arya) has been serving as an undercover RAW Agent for some time under Indira Varma (Manju Warrier), being assigned some small missions with his team mostly in the Chennai area, and rarely extending to other parts of Tamil Nadu. He is in love with Keerthana (Anagha Maruthora), a doctor working in a nearby hospital where he often goes when he gets injured. Gautham identifies as a businessman who often gets injured due to some reckless actions and Keerthana is not aware of anything more about the person. As their relationship crosses three years, they decide to get married, and Gautham who is not able to keep the secret about him being in the special wing for that long, decides to quite from his job, soon submitting his resignation to Indira. But at the exact moment when he says that they should get married as soon as possible, Indira arrives with another mission, something different from what they had been doing in the past, and it is a very significant one.

So, what happens with the events here as we just keep looking? :: It is revealed that Gautham’s father Parameshwar a.k.a. Mr. X (R Sarathkumar) has been a RAW Agent all the time, and he had managed to save a nuclear device from falling into the wrong hands, which would trigger a large-scale conflict or even a war, keeping it with him for quite some time while hiding in an undisclosed location. But he was captured by a group of Russian mercenaries, which had led to Indira sending a special agent Amaran (Gautham Ram Karthik) to Moscow. But soon, he joins the other side, and captures Mr. X with his group of mercenaries from Pakistan. A video with him is sent to Indian intelligence, warning that he is going to be sent to Islamabad with the nukes. This leads to the Indian military sending a group to Moscow to find and kill Mr. X and get the nukes, while Indira sends her own team to find him alive along with the nukes. Gautham is to be part of Indira’s team, but when they reach the place, they only find a woman who identifies herself as Mr. X’s daughter, Aditi (Athulya Ravi), but they are ambushed by Amaran who snatches the nukes and get ready for a nuclear attack. Can the team stop him in time?

The defence of Mr. X :: The movie has high quality written all over it, and unlike the Bollywood movies with superstars which spawns many movies and spin-offs and create unreal universes, this one surely brings more believability and also a certain amount of class with the same. The action scenes, chase sequences, multiple surprises and suspense ready to make an impact – everything is just there for the eyes with the support of some stunning visuals as the locations chosen for the movie are just perfect. The covert missions, conspiracies and problems of national security or even a possible nuclear disaster adds intrigue to the plot. The cinematography has a certain amount of style and quality which makes the whole thing rise above many other movies which claim to deal with a similar situation. The female characters are also given a lot of importance in the movie, and without them, the day is never really saved – the action also has a lot of them which also never gets overdone like in the high absurdity mode of Bollywood. There is also that fine ending and the promise of a sequel after a satisfying climax.

Positives and negatives :: It can be said that some plot developments may feel predictable to viewers who often watch similar spy thrillers. The emotional side is not that strong and some characters do not really have that much of development, but with so much to add here with a complex tale, such a thing would not be considered as a big deal. After all, we have some fine motives for even the antagonist, and some well-developed female characters here, with none of the two among them being the same; some of the best characterization variety among ladies’ roles. The final moments at the nuclear reactor are of Hollywood quality, and despite those initial moments when the movie takes some time to get going, the level is raised very soon. It seemed like some beginning moments except for the side of the nuke never really had the audience interested. But you will see that when you get going with the main mission here, things never get slow, as the pace could only get more and more. The feeling that the idea here is superior to many other movies, keeps us even more interested as its world moves forward.

The performers of the soul :: Arya leads the way here as the man who is responsible for too many things, but has to go on with it while dealing with his past which involves a lost father and sister, followed by a troubled childhood. He remains solid in his work as the one who has a tale of love on one side and the missions to save the world on another. He excels in fight scenes too, and the looks surely suit the same. Anagha Maruthora whom we had started so well in her first movie itself in the form of Rakshadhikari Baiju Oppu does a lovely job here as the one heroine of the film. She goes through the romantic and crisis moments well. Manju Warrier is solid in the action role, and it is great to see her in such roles; it remains a pleasure to see her in different types of works after her grand comeback. Gautham Ram Karthik remains a strong antagonist who also has so many moments for us to remember the character, and this is a strong one. Then there is Athulya Ravi who is a lovely addition to the movie, and she is also a character with secrets that we will remember. Raiza Wilson has a charming presence here with her own secrets of the character, while Tara Amala Joseph plays the next relevant female character who makes an impact. R Sarathkumar has a fine presence, but will have more to do in a possible sequel.

How it finishes :: It feels like Arya’s movies never really got the attention it deserved, even though there has always been talk about them in this part of the world. This is another movie which did not gain that much of an attention, and most of us never really knew that this movie released. We knew that the Bollywood movie with the same name existed, but not this one, which is a shame. After all, this is a stylish and engaging spy thriller that successfully blends action, suspense and twists with a certain amount of quality that stays on. The director needs a lot of appreciation for bringing this entertaining cinematic experience which feels mostly complete. The film also benefits greatly from the committed performances of the cast, as nobody lags with the work. Sometimes, one would feel that the lack of romance between RAW and ISI agents are just enough, and the absence of those dance numbers which come in the middle of nowhere would also be enough compared to the Bollywood spy universes which go on party mode. This needed to be a big hit, but does not seem to be so, and we will still hope for a sequel, as people will be appreciating this one on Jio Hotstar.

Release date: 17th April 2026
Running time: 153 minutes
Directed by: Manu Anand
Starring: Arya, Gautham Ram Karthik, R Sarathkumar, Manju Warrier, Athulya Ravi, Anagha Maruthora, Raiza Wilson, Jayaprakash, Kaali Venkat

<<< Click here to go to the previous review.

<<< Click here to go to the biggest movie of last year.

<<< Click here to go to the most awaited sequel of the year.

@ Cemetery Watch
✠ The Vampire Bat.