James! You wrote, "Yet the movie is directed in a way to make everything about Grant’s house horror-movie-creepy." It *is* a horror movie!
Also: I know a lot of people who are really interested in religion who aren't necessarily atheistic. I thought Grant came off as someone who used to be a seeker. His questions and insights show someone who takes it all seriously. The problem with him is that he found a horrible way to answer all his questions.
I think you need to watch this film as it is intended. It's a mad scientist film. Someone comes to a house for "reasons" and they unwittingly become part of his experiments. I loved that the film didn't do the usual thing.
I did have a problem with the women he had trapped before. There were too many. How do you hide that? But this is an issue I have with many films. I've come to see it as a trope and something I just need to ignore.
I get ya. I just thought the characters should have noticed how creepy everything looked and demanded immediately to leave. (LDS safety protocols say to do so.)
If that was the only logical flaw, I'd let it slide. Or if the movie was fun. But it's not fun, for me. And the speeches Grant gives are not very illuminating. This isn't a terrible concept for a movie, it just didn't work for me. I did think the "crazy John Goodman traps people" movie was way better.
You're right about the hiding being impossible. We know who real serial killers prey upon; society's outcasts. There would be a massive police investigation if characters like this disappeared, and they'd find him.
I love Sweeney. She really knows how sh***y SNL is. Her biggest role on that show was "Pat." And she's so much better than that!
When I looked at your review, I saw one for Hidalgo -- I'll have to watch that again! I remember really liking it. And I really like Mortensen.
Hidalgo is a real problem for me because I know I have twice purchased it on DVD and yet I cannot find it! It certainly isn't a great film but it's a lot of fun -- a modern Gunga Din. On the other hand, there are things to dislike. For example, the opening with the high society horse racer. I mean, really?! But if you look at the film as being based on a comic book, you're fine. And I do wish all the superhero films were a tenth as good as this. Of course, most of that is just that the main character doesn't wear spandex!
I completely agree about Sweeney. "Pat" was an annoying character. I get the idea. There are people who are androgenous. And it can be difficult (or certainly was in the past) to know how to react. But like so much of SNL, it was a one-note concept. It wasn't until I originally saw Letting Go of God (well, listened to, actually) that I was impressed with her. And it made me think, "All those SNL people could be doing something good instead of the inspid stuff the show is famous for.
It's weird how easy it's been (for those of us who aren't obsessed with other people's sexual identities) to get used to androgyny, now. When you meet someone you can't clearly categorize one way or the other, you just don’t, and you realize how unimportant it really is to do so. It can be a little confusing at times! But it's no skin off our noses to be a little confused.
James! You wrote, "Yet the movie is directed in a way to make everything about Grant’s house horror-movie-creepy." It *is* a horror movie!
Also: I know a lot of people who are really interested in religion who aren't necessarily atheistic. I thought Grant came off as someone who used to be a seeker. His questions and insights show someone who takes it all seriously. The problem with him is that he found a horrible way to answer all his questions.
I think you need to watch this film as it is intended. It's a mad scientist film. Someone comes to a house for "reasons" and they unwittingly become part of his experiments. I loved that the film didn't do the usual thing.
I did have a problem with the women he had trapped before. There were too many. How do you hide that? But this is an issue I have with many films. I've come to see it as a trope and something I just need to ignore.
You can see my capsule review here:
https://psychotronicreview.com/short-takes/h/#heretic
Here is Julia Sweeney in Letting Go of God on YouTube for free:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uE59PtBGqus
It really is excellent. I saw one of her other shows and it was just as good. This is the venue for her!
I get ya. I just thought the characters should have noticed how creepy everything looked and demanded immediately to leave. (LDS safety protocols say to do so.)
If that was the only logical flaw, I'd let it slide. Or if the movie was fun. But it's not fun, for me. And the speeches Grant gives are not very illuminating. This isn't a terrible concept for a movie, it just didn't work for me. I did think the "crazy John Goodman traps people" movie was way better.
You're right about the hiding being impossible. We know who real serial killers prey upon; society's outcasts. There would be a massive police investigation if characters like this disappeared, and they'd find him.
I love Sweeney. She really knows how sh***y SNL is. Her biggest role on that show was "Pat." And she's so much better than that!
When I looked at your review, I saw one for Hidalgo -- I'll have to watch that again! I remember really liking it. And I really like Mortensen.
Hidalgo is a real problem for me because I know I have twice purchased it on DVD and yet I cannot find it! It certainly isn't a great film but it's a lot of fun -- a modern Gunga Din. On the other hand, there are things to dislike. For example, the opening with the high society horse racer. I mean, really?! But if you look at the film as being based on a comic book, you're fine. And I do wish all the superhero films were a tenth as good as this. Of course, most of that is just that the main character doesn't wear spandex!
I completely agree about Sweeney. "Pat" was an annoying character. I get the idea. There are people who are androgenous. And it can be difficult (or certainly was in the past) to know how to react. But like so much of SNL, it was a one-note concept. It wasn't until I originally saw Letting Go of God (well, listened to, actually) that I was impressed with her. And it made me think, "All those SNL people could be doing something good instead of the inspid stuff the show is famous for.
It's weird how easy it's been (for those of us who aren't obsessed with other people's sexual identities) to get used to androgyny, now. When you meet someone you can't clearly categorize one way or the other, you just don’t, and you realize how unimportant it really is to do so. It can be a little confusing at times! But it's no skin off our noses to be a little confused.