Directed By: Kirill Sokolov
Written By: Kirill Sokolov and Alex Litvak
Cinematography: Isaac Bauman
Editor: Luke Doolan
Cast: Zazie Beetz, Myha’la, Patricia Arquette, Tom Felton, Heather Graham, Paterson Joseph, Willie Ludik, Angus Sampson
A woman takes a job as a housekeeper in a NYC high-rise, unaware of the building’s history of disappearances. She soon realizes the community is shrouded in mystery.
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Zazie Beetz is clearly a star and hopefully this leads to not only more roles but more action leading roles. I wish I could say a star is born, but she has been working for quite a while and always had the talent. Though here she has finally gotten a role to show it and prove it.
This film Reminds one of the director Kirill Sokolov previous film WHY DON’T YOU JUST DIE! (Which I was a big fan of) though not as good. This one has a bigger budget, cast and star power.
It has the Same contained action and single location though working with a much bigger canvas and the space offering more inventiveness.
While Not as action packed as expected. It still has thrills all through the film and it feels like a rollercoaster ride. So that it stays fun for the audience.
The film’s first half is awesome then it calms down. it keeps trying to stay captivating but seems to run out of steam halfway through. it stays entertaining but seems to Keep saying or presenting the same thing. Even as we learn more about characters and motivations through flashbacks.
The film is Obvious in its Quentin Tarantino influences. Especially when it comes to his movie KILL BILL. As it does feel like a combination of other movie influences. Director Sam Raimi’S EVIL DEAD films come to mind also. As well as his film CRIMEWAVE, Though making itself an original.
The film is Very over the top violent. As Each new scene adds some layers to the film. As we get flashbacks that fill in the background. Though it has layers they aren’t as deep as expected and pretty much presented. Luckily unlike the recent READY OR NOT 2. The film isn’t dragged down by siblings reuniting and working through issues. Where each conversation is therapy. Here they get it and the bond is eternal.
We need to get more films like this, that are genre mixed but also have an excitement about them that you can tell by the filmmaking. That audiences are hungry for that feels Familiar but original and not an extension of a franchise. That can also have some depth to back them up and be more than artistic genre exercises. Though also adds some fun into it all while having a craft
It feels like a film made for film fans and general audiences alike and both can appreciate fo various reasons.
Watching the film it. Makes me kick myself for not taking to Zazie Beetz or at least acknowledging I knew who she was and saying hello to her in the comic book store FORBIDDEN PLANET years ago right around the time she was announced to be in DEADPOOL 2, As the character Domino. She is as beautiful and awesome Im Person as she is on screen. Her and Nathalie Emmanuel are needed in more leading roles stat.
Extra Points: for the Playing Ryan Gosling’s band DEAD MAN’S BONES song LOSE YOUR SOUL on the soundtrack, Still hoping they do another record, love the album.
GRADE: B-
