MOVIE LIST #4 : Everybody dislikes it, I don't

After writing an article about (almost) overrated films, I am also interested in writing about films that could be called underrated, overlooked, or under-appreciated (as of my taste, btw). My article might be a lesson that you don't always have to believe what critics say. They don't like it, but that doesn't mean you don't like it either.

(Note: Contains spoilers)

1. The Skeleton Key (2005)

A New Orleans hospice nurse who begins a job at a Terrebonne Parish plantation home, and becomes entangled in a supernatural mystery involving the house, its former inhabitants, and Hoodoo rituals and spells that took place there. To be honest, this film was not panned by critics, it's just that the praise they gave was still not enough for me. This film is very good, and absolutely creepy. I enjoy it. It's a shame, almost everyone praises the twist in Get Out (2017) when this film already used it 12 years before Get Out released. Even though it has a very different storyline, I think the twist is the same, but The Skeleton Key is still the best at presenting that twist.

2. 2012 (2009)

The story is about the Mayans' prediction which states that the world will ended in 2012. As a brainless movie, this film succeeded in satisfying me. In fact, I still wonder why so many people hate this, even though the premise alone invites lots of plot holes, right? The visual effects also look very good, even better than mega budget films in this era.

3. The Final Destination (2009)

A man had a vision that a bad thing would happen. When his vision became real and saved many people, the survivors still had to die, no matter what. I have to admit, this is indeed the weakest installment in the Final Destination franchise. I understand why many people don't like this film. Awful CGI, boring plot, and almost all the death scenes are nothing memorable (Hunt, you save this movie). But I like this film, whatever people say. Entertaining, excited, and satisfying. The suspense in every scene makes me tense, even though it's fake suspense.

4. Anaconda (1997)

A group of film crews search the Amazon river looking for a tribe, but they don't know that a big Anaconda is there along with them. I love it not because my childhood. This film is still entertaining if you watch it now. The action sequences are very great and scary for me who has a phobia of snakes. One small thing that I have to praise is the way the director shows how the Anaconda devours its victims. I saw Gary being swallowed whole by Anaconda, but I didn't see how he swallowed Gary. At that moment, I could only fear imagining the way the Anaconda would swallow Gary. At the climax, Serone was swallowed whole too but I WAS SHOWN THE PROCESS OF THE ANACONDA SWALLOWING SERONE. This scene feels like a punch and feels scary. When I was a kid, seeing this was a full of nightmares. And of course, critics still hate it.

5. Air Terjun Pengantin (2009)

A group of friends go on holiday to a waterfall that is said to be able to grant wishes. I'm not kidding for sure lol. I like this movie. Besides how hot Tamara Blezynski is, this film has pretty good entertainment value. Stupid, but that's what I expected. Especially when watching this with friends who have little experience watching horror, it will certainly be a fun viewing experience. I just don't like the scoring which is very noisy, even though some parts are better to sound quiet.

It's all about taste. I'm sure you also have a stupid film as your favorite. You guys can let me know in the comments. Thanks for reading.

MOVIE LIST #3 : Everybody likes it, I don't

 

We need to agree that every film has its fans. They love these films objectively or subjectively. There are those who like the film because it is good, there are also those who like the director or the cast (even the movie was bad). However, every film definitely has haters. If they don't want to be called haters, just call them people-who-wonder-why-that-film-is-liked. I also often come across several films that I wonder why people are obsessed with them, and somehow critics praise them too much.

This time I will write about several films that have been praised by many people, but I didn't find anything special about these films. I can't call them all overrated because some are very good but just don't make me obsessed like the fans.

(Note: Contains spoilers)

1. Fight Club (1999)

A man meets another man and begins a friendship. Then, they created a secret fight club. In the midst of their many plans for life, they meet a mysterious woman who seems to have a secret. I won't mince words, I'll just mention this film because this is the first thing that came to my mind when I was writing this article. While I realize it's a good film (I even gave it 4-star on Letterboxd), I don't know why it's so popular. Moreover, many people said that this film changed their lifestyle and made them very manly. That's so cringe for me.

2. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

A man was sentenced to prison for allegedly killing his wife who was cheating on him and the story only got bigger while he was in prison. This is also a good film, but I felt empty after watching it. I don't feel what other people feel about this. The ending does feel very satisfying, but that's all that makes me very satisfied. The rest is not. I don't even remember the last shot of this film, sorry.

3. It's Such A Beautiful Day (2012)

Just an animation about a man living his life. I had quite high expectations because I saw that the animation was anti-mainstream and the duration was less than 70 minutes. When 10 minutes into the film, I felt bored. I suspect that this film was praised because the story relates to the situation of many people, and ended up having a bad impression of me because I didn't (or haven't... maybe?) felt connected to the story. From the 10th minute, I immediately pressed skip very often, even until the end. Too bad.

4. Shaun Of The Dead (2004)

Typical zombie film. A man finds his town infected with a virus that turns many people into zombies and tries to survive with a friend. Many praises for this film for its perfect comedy timing. I, as a good and sensible human being, don't know where the comedy they say is funny is located. This film looks stupid to me (in a bad way). Maybe this film's comedy has references to a culture that I don't understand, so when the characters made jokes about it, I didn't laugh. But I didn't bother, I immediately labeled this film as an unsatisfying film.

5. Barbarian (2022)

A girl rents a house and finds out that a man is already inside, and you can guess that the house holds a secret. I swear, at first this film was good and caught my attention. I was so excited to watch it until... Justin Long appeared on the screen. It's a shame, after the tension was so good and made me excited, the story had to change by focusing on new characters and had to do orientation once again. After that, my mood changed so badly. The film is no longer interesting. Maybe if the new character is likeable and can be given sympathy, I will like it. But the new character is really annoying, especially when the climax takes place. Goddamn it!

6. Moonlight (2016)

The story is about a man who was cornered by his environment since childhood because of his sexual orientation. Initially I had quite a lot of expectations, especially since this was the Best Picture winner in Academy Awards. However, for some reason, my mood to watch this disappeared when the main character became an adult. I was very interested in the stories from childhood and adolescence, but I lost the mood when the stories from adulthood appeared. In fact, I immediately finished the film and had absolutely no idea what the ending looked like. My next confusion was Mahershala Ali's performance, which I thought was mid, but strangely he won Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards. A bit overrated.

To be honest, there are many more, but right now I can only write this. Maybe next time I can make a list like this again. Thanks for reading!

MOVIE LIST #2 : Home Invasion Movies

Every night or every time someone is alone at home, they definitely paranoid that someone will invade their house. This kind of thing is scarier than thinking that there is a ghost in our house. Therefore, horror or thriller films that include home invasion elements have a creepiness that feels more real.

This time, I will write some of the best home invasion movies that will make you edge on your seat.

(Note: Contains spoilers)

1. Don't Breathe (2016)

The trio of friends attempt to steal $300k from a blind man's house in a very quiet Detroit. Looks very easy, right? However, they never expected that stealing in that house was not as easy as they had imagined. A great minimalist thriller. I love it. Definitely my favorite one.

2. The Strangers (2008)

A couple intends to have a dinner at a house. At one point, a woman knocked and asked for an unknown name. After that incident, the atmosphere was even more terrifying when a trio of masked killers tried to kill them both. If you like thrilling movies but don't have a lot of blood, this is a must watch.

3. Hush (2016)

For this one, the story is very simple. A deaf woman is terrorized by a masked man who tries to kill her. Almost the same as Don't Breathe, this film relies on its silence. I was terrified at the start of the film where the man is walking around in the house and the woman hears nothing. Creepy.

4. Kidnapped (2010)

A family is terrorized by three masked men. It's even simpler than what I've mentioned before, but has the most stressful story. The ending still haunts me. What a disturbing way to end a movie.

5. The Collector (2009)

This time we are put in the perspective of someone who invaded a house. A man is a worker in a house. One night, he tried to break into the house. But it turned out that there was a stranger in the house. The house is filled with many deadly traps. If you like the Saw franchise, you should watch this.

6. The Purge (2013)

America in 2022, has a night where all crimes such as stealing, raping, and even murder are legalized. A rich family reconciles with the night, until their son tries to help the injured man and lets him in. The man was targeted by an armed masked group and invaded their house. Even though it has a fantastic premise, I admit that this film is quite disappointing in executing the story. However, as a thriller film, this film is still recommended for you.

Are you sure that your doors and windows are locked?