FILM REVIEWS:
HIM (USA 2025) **
Directed by Justin Tipping
HIM arrives with the Jordan Peele tag. Peele is a renowned director of horror hits, breaking into international horror cinema with GET OUT, his best film , followed by US nd NOPE. It should be noted that HIM is not directed by Peele, so watch it. HIM is priced by Peeke under his Monkeypaw production company.
Cameron Cade (Tyriq Withers) was destined for football glory until an attack by an obsessed fan threatened to end his career before it began. Just when hope fades, his idol, legendary quarterback Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans), invites him to train at his private compound. But what starts as the opportunity of a lifetime soon twists into something far more dangerous, as Cam discovers the true cost of chasing greatness.
The film unfolds in chapters, from Day 1 to Day 6, according to the training schedule of the hopeful greatest player of all time, Cam (short for Camron). Unfortunately, the film is all over the place, not making much sense, and with a let-down climax, which is a violent blood fest, that makes little sense. Each chapter from Day 1 to 6 has a title like Leadership, Vision, Sacrifice, and so on. Unfortunately, each title has nothing much to do with each title except for the last title sacrifice when Cam is confronted with the choice of sacrificing everything for fame or bearing the consequences, an offer he cannot refuse. Actually, he can, but with dire consequences.
HIM is neither scary nor suspenseful, but bloody and violent. The premise of sacrifice for the ultimate gain is simple enough and moves towards a climax with new characters, while not making much sense.
HIM opens in theatres on Friday, the 18th September.
Trailer:
THE HISTORY OF SOUND (USA/UK 2025
Directed by
(to be posted weekend)
JUST BREATHE (USA 2024) ***
Written and directed by Paul P. Pompa II
When the advice “Just breathe” is given to someone, that someone is either:
- suffering from some panic anxiety
- lost it and needs to cool his or her temper.
The title JUST BREATHE refers to the latter, as when the film begins, the protagonist Nick has just been fired from his job for punching up his supervisor (not seen on screen). This causes problems with him and his girl, Mel. Nick intends to propose to her and sets up an expensive dinner date at a posh restaurant, only to overhear two servers laughing at their country bumpkin ways in the bathroom. Nick beats one of them to a comatose state, resulting in his arrest and imprisonment. In the meantime, Mel loses her apartment, and they break up. But Nick pursues her and pursues her despite his angry temperament.
The above scenario is a perfect classic case study for anger management. Nick knows better but cannot control himself. So what can he do?
JUST BREATHE aims at being a tense crime thriller that combines raw intensity with profound emotional depth, resulting in a compelling narrative that lingers long after the credits roll. The film follows Nick Bianco (Kyle Gallner), who plans to rebuild his life and win back the love of his life after a year spent in prison for assault. Upon his release, Nick learns that the target of his affections has another admirer, Chester (Shawn Ashmore), his no-nonsense parole officer. Nick soon finds himself caught in a gripping rivalry that threatens not only his second chance at love but also his chance to stay out of prison.
JUST BREATHE works during the first half of the film when the audience is unsure where the story leads and when the premises are set up. Once done, the film falls into cliche territory (during the second half), so that what transpires is expected with little surprises after, though the ending is neatly closed.
The film covers issues like anger management, father and son relationship, a couple’s relationship amidst insurmountable troubles, and a fate that does not good to anyone in the story.
Actor Kyle Gallner is sufficiently credible in the title role, playing a character that one both loves and hates. The villain of the piece is Chester, Nick’s parole officer, who is also involved with shady activities in the clichéd storyline. The casting of a clean-cut Ashmore aids in the storytelling.
There is hardly any action or suspense in what is basically a story of the redemption of a guy given the bad hand of fate, as well as a destructive personality. It is a hard sell for a movie, and it is a surprise that the movie got the go-ahead.
JUST BREATHE is entertaining enough as a low-budget film for undemanding audiences. The difficulty of rooting for such a choleric protagonist who is self-destructive and uncontrollable is another flaw in a film where it is generally the case that a protagonist is a likable one.
JUST BREATHE will hit on-demand & digital on September 16, 2025.
SAME DAY WITH SOMEONE (Thailand 2025) **
Directed by Rangsima Aukkarawiwat and Yanyong Kuruangkura
Definitely a first in the time loop genre, SAME DAY WITH SOMEONE combines the romantic comedy genre with the time loop premise in this new Thai film opening on Netflix this week.
Mesa, when a child asks the Red Ribbon Goddess for wishes like happiness and romance. The Goddess seems to accommodate her requests so that she is at present, grown up, totally happy with everything. When questioned about her success, she says that there are good days followed by bad days, and that makes life what it is. But for Mesa, there are no bad days. Until…..
Same Day With Someone is a Thai romantic comedy / magical realism film (on Netflix) about a museum curator named Mesa who ends up stuck in a time loop. Mesa is living what seems to be a perfect life—good job, relationship, social standing—but one day everything goes wrong. On that disastrous day, a priceless artifact, the Sirir Stone she was supposed to protect in her new museum, is broken, and her fiancé breaks up with her. After wishing to forget that terrible day, she finds herself reliving it over and over. The stone is supposed to be a bridge between Chinlin and Thailand.
For information: Chinlin or Kim Lin ('golden/wealthy neighbour) was an ancient political entity in modern lower central Thailand that existed from the 9 CE to the 3rd century. In the film, when the Sirisila stone is broken, the visiting Ambassador of Chinlin storms out of the museum’s opening day, causing a rift between Chinlin and Thailand. Which Mesa needs to mend? Also interesting to note is that he location of Chin Lin remains unclear. It was first mentioned around 9 – 22 CE during the late Western Han period
As in all time loop movies, as the cycle repeats, Mesa must figure out how to break free of it. Along the way there are romantic elements (notably with a character named Ben), comedic moments, and personal growth. One slight variant is that Mesa tells her friend Ben about the time loop, and Ben manages somehow to be in Mesa’s time loop together with her. A romance begins.
How does he time loop originate? After Mesa experiences the worst day in her life, after her fiancée, Pue, broke up.
With her and the disaster at the museum opening, she wishes that the next day would never come. Mesa is then stuck in a time loop of the same day. This is before all the misfortunes happen, so Mesa tries to prevent them.
The film is not that interesting for a time loop film, unable to reach the heights of GROUNDHOG DAY or any of the other time loop films. It does not help that the main character, Mesa, is totally annoying, getting what she wants half the time.. Giggling or sulking, Mesa is one spoilt child, to put it mildly.
SAME DAY WITH SOMEONE opens for streaming this week on Netflix.
Trailer:
SHE SAID MAYBE (Germany 2025) **½
Directed by Buket Alakus and Ngo The Chau
A German-raised woman named Mavi learns of her Turkish noble heritage and enters a world of luxury, challenging her relationship as she navigates her newfound identity.
SHE SAID MAYBE is a romantic comedy. As far as romantic comedies go, there is always an obstacle to a happy ending. In the new Netflix German comedy, the obstacle is taken to extremes.
Mavi and Can appear at the film’s start to be a perfect couple. Both are very good-looking. Can is a successful lawyer in his father’s firm, while she is a talented architect just gaining recognition in s top architecture magazine. After two years, Can intends to propose to Mavi.
The first proposal goes haywire on a zip-lining mishap, so Can is tempted to propose to her in Istanbul.
There are family secrets that translate to obstacles in a romantic comedy. This comes in the form of Mavi’s new wealthy family in Turkey, which she does not know about. Yes, the problem of thrice and famous!
The rom com is light ok entertaining with lots of scenic sights of Istanbul. This is a rich couple that spends time mostly on yachts and in expensive restaurants, where the reality of the ordinary folk is totally ignored. Throw caution to the wind to enjoy this one.
Trailer:
THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 2 (USA 2025) **
Directed by Renny Harlin
Horror movies are easy and cheaply produced, and usually make a good profit. The evidence can be observed by franchises like FRIDAY THE 13th, HALLOWEEN, SCREAM, and the recent CONJURING, just to name a few. At the bottom of the list is THE STRANGERS. Studios shamefully milk the successes to the hilt. But who can blame them? The films all make a good buck. The latest CONJURING movie is a prime example. Lionsgate, the company that is now under the dumps, used to be the King of franchises like the TWILIGHT and DIVERGENT series, and is now hoping to get on the bandwagon with THE STRANGERS. (Personally, I hope they do well, as I do still hold their stock.)
THE STRANGERS film series consists of American psychological horror films. Based on an original story by Bryan Bertino, the plot centres around three masked psycho-sociopathic home invaders who prey on the innocent owners. Though the first film was marketed as "based on a true story", this was a slight misdirect as the filmmaker stated that he wrote the concept from a series of break-in burglaries that took place in his neighbourhood when he was growing up, as well as borrowing elements from the Manson Family Tate murders. Continuing this marketing technique, a "based on a true story" tag was also included at the beginning of the sequels. Talk about abuse and misleading statements.
The only common element in all the franchises is the trio of 3 masked home invader killers. The victims change. The locations change. All this makes one wonder about the connection among the different films.
If one is really fixed on THE STRANGERS series, then stay till the end of the closing credits. There are clips of what is to come. What can be seen is cheesy, but fans might be thrilled.
Renny Harlin is a well-known Hollywood director of hits such as Sylvester Stallone’s CLIFFHANGER. He is desperate for a hit, despite his old age, and some of his zest can be observed at several points in the film.
THE STRANGERS: Chapter 2 is the second installment in a new Strangers trilogy (after Chapter 1). The protagonist, Maya, wakes up in a hospital after surviving the brutal attack at the end of Chapter 1. But she soon realizes the masked killers (the Strangers) are not done with her.
The killers, wearing masks (Dollface, pin-up girl, scarecrow), knowing Maya is still alive, begin to pursue her again to “finish what they started. This film takes Maya outside the home setting, to the hospital, and about town.
Director Harlin hs Maya escaping and is rescued by car by other strangers, causing her to wonder if her rescuers are the masked killers. This tactic is used twice in the film, but the film still fails to generate any surprises or wonder. The magic question is whether audiences will say enough is enough after Chapter 2.
Lionsgate is hoping big for THE STRANGERS. But judging from the competition of horror films out there and the ease of competition entry, Lionsgate should be prepared for contingency plans.
Trailer:
