Film 2497 - They Will Kill You

Intro: I was really curious to see this one, but when it came out in theaters, I didn't make it in time to go and watch it. Being 2026, the year of the horror renaissance, I couldn't possibly leave this one behind. So, a few weeks ago, I decided to give it a go.

Film 2497: "They Will Kill You" (2026), directed by Kirill Sokolov
Watched: From the projector
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: I think this movie is full of ideas, and some of them are really good, but towards the end, the story takes such a turn that it ruins the ending a bit for me.
I'll be honest, overall I enjoyed "They Will Kill You": it's bold and very creative, and it has the guts to tell a completely new story in such a unique way, combining elements from horror and thriller, sci-fi and comedy for an overall result that is a crazy ride. And if you like it, what an actual ride it is! It's not perfect, though. I think there is a tonal shift towards the second half of the movie that messes up the vibe a bit, but I appreciate the effort in delivering something new, especially in such a stacked year for horror films.
That said, the ending is where "They Will Kill You" lost me. The cult plot twist is fine -- I mean, not groundbreaking, but it's fun -- and when you mix this element with the fact that its members are immortal and keep on resurrecting... it's actually fun to watch.
My issue is the (real) villain of the story and the fight between him and our main protagonist: it's such a weird scene to watch and, without giving too much away, I think the visual effects are not up to par and, in general, this bit of the story is so over the top that it actually took me out of it. It looks so obviously computer-generated, and what's at stake is so out of the ordinary that I disengaged a bit. Not to mention that the skin part confused me a bit.
All in all, though, this movie surprised me. I went into it without knowing anything about it, with no expectations whatsoever and, yeah, I had fun. It's a combination of so many other movies blended together that it comes out the other side like something new.
Cast: Zazie Beetz, Myha'la, Paterson Joseph, James Remar, Angus Sampson, Tom Felton, Heather Graham, Patricia Arquette.
Box Office: $19.4 million
Worth a watch?: Definitely not a film for everyone, it's extremely violent and filled with dark humor. But if you enjoy films like "Kill Bill", "Ready or Not" and its sequel, or even "Rosemary's Baby", this one could actually work for you. Visually, it's very interesting, Zazie Beetz and Patricia Arquette banter off each other perfectly and, overall, the movie is such a crazy ride that, if you're into it, you end up having fun. For what it is, I enjoyed it.
Awards: /
Key word: Sister.
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Bengi

Film 2493 - Fear Street: Prom Queen

Intro: I was looking to extend the horror movie streak a bit longer, but had no idea what to watch. So I turned to Netflix, hoping its catalogue would save me. And, for the purpose of what I was looking for, it did.

Film 2493: "Fear Street: Prom Queen" (2025), directed by Matt Palmer
Watched: On the computer
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: When I was a kid, I was a huge fan of R. L. Stine's "Goosebumps". I had most of the books, I read them constantly - even re-read one or two a bunch of times - and it was such a beloved franchise to me. So when I was scanning through Netflix's catalogue looking for something horror-related to spook up my evening, finding out that "Fear Street: Prom Queen" was based on the work of the same author was 100% the decisive factor. And sure, it wasn't mind-blowing, but I had enough of a decent time.
I'll be completely honest: this is not a good movie, but there's a certain vibe to it that I resonated with: the nostalgia. I love the 80s and I love horror movies, so the two elements combined definitely worked for me. But - and it's a big but - the acting isn't great, the plot twist at the end is a weak payoff for all the mystery set up throughout the plot, and overall "Fear Street: Prom Queen" feels more like - you guessed it - a Netflix production than an actual movie that would hit theaters and justify its existence by having something to say rather than simply filling out the catalogue.
I was happy to see Katherine Waterston again, though, and Lili Taylor is always guaranteed to deliver in the horror genre.
Cast: India Fowler, Suzanna Son, Fina Strazza, Chris Klein, David Iacono, Ella Rubin, Ariana Greenblatt, Lili Taylor, Katherine Waterston.
Box Office: /
Worth a watch?: I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, but if you're looking for something silly and easy to watch that falls under the horror umbrella, then go for it and see if it sticks. I think the original "Fear Street" is so much better, but the 80s prom night vibe could be a turn-on for some(one like me).
Awards: /
Key word: Winning.
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Bengi

Film 2483 - Obsession

Intro: Still pretty much obsessed. One last time.

Film 2483: "Obsession" (2025), Curry Barker
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Steven
Thoughts: For a moment there, it felt like I was only going to the movies to watch "Obsession" and, yeah, it was kinda like that.
On my third watch, I have to admit that I still enjoyed this movie quite a lot. It didn't matter that I knew all the scary bits and where the story would go; this film felt fresh every time I watched it, which is an accomplishment in itself.
Pair that with an astonishing box office performance ($475 million worldwide on a budget of $750,000), Curry Barker's filmmaking career skyrocketing, and Inde Navarrette's and Michael Johnston's performances putting them on Hollywood's radar... You can't deny that "Obsession" is the movie surprise of the year.
Obviously I'm a huge horror film fan, so this movie was clearly my cup of tea to begin with, but the success behind this piece of media doesn't just rely on horror fans. The script is genius precisely because it isn't overly complicated compared to other similar outings in the genre: there's an enchanted object, a wish that leads to a curse, and protagonists who have to deal with the consequences. It's that simple, yet so effective. And the nuances this story presents are quite interesting and disturbing, possibly more so than the horror element itself: Nikki (Navarrette) is stripped of her agency and forced into a romantic relationship whether she likes it or not. Bear (Johnston) is shy and timid at the beginning, only to reveal his true colors as the story progresses and the abuse escalates. And he's not willing to stop. If anything, he's resentful that Nikki still won't love him back. It's tragic and terrifying at the same time.
So yeah, I do love this film. I think it's a great example of the heights the horror genre can reach when it's done right and, right now, "Obsession" is still my favourite movie of 2026.
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Cast: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, Andy Richter.
Box Office: $475 million
Worth a watch?: There is already Oscar buzz for this one, particularly for the Best Actress and Screenplay categories. Will these predictions come to fruition? It's way too early to say, but as the current movie landscape stands, there's clearly a chance (especially after last year's Best Supporting Actress Oscar win for "Weapons"). In the meantime, if for whatever crazy reason you still haven't seen "Obsession", do yourself a favour and go see it. I rest my case.
Awards: /
Key word: Cat.
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Bengi

Film 2481 - Hokum

Intro: Niamh came over for dinner a few weeks ago and we decided to give this movie a go after we missed it at the cinema. The renaissance of the horror genre continues!

Film 2481: "Hokum" (2026), Damian McCarthy
Watched: On the projector
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: It's not the most innovative horror film ever made and I agree with Niamh when she pointed out that they should have shown more of the witch, but overall I enjoyed "Hokum" more than I expected. To the point that a couple of jump scares actually worked on me.
I obviously resonated with the Irish setting of the story, having lived in Dublin for the past six years. I think there is definitely a spooky element that comes from the gloominess of the environment, both natural and manmade. The hotel, in particular, is such a strange combination of 'comfortable unfriendliness': there's everything you could think of for a comfortable stay, yet it doesn't feel natural or genuine. Instead, it ends up feeling more like a mix of clashing styles that doesn't really make sense and doesn't feel too welcoming. In addition to the environment, the characters are pretty shady themselves and that adds to the overall strange vibe of The Bilberry Woods Hotel.
"Hokum" also reminded me a lot of the hotel episode of "Widow's Bay": there's a supernatural force and we're stuck indoors, in the dark, trying to understand if the scary legends are real or not and whether the place is haunted. Additionally, the witch was giving me "Winchester" vibes and the Irish folklore elements of the story made me think of "The Watchers".
So, as I said, there are definitely many aspects of this film that don't feel new or innovative, but "Hokum" does a good job of delivering a solid horror film, perfectly carried by Adam Scott's cranky performance as the protagonist, Ohm. I also appreciated that the supporting characters actually had something to do with the overall plot and were not just casualties put there to be slaughtered by the 'evil force'. For a horror movie, the screenplay definitely takes its time to flesh the characters out and make sure they're an integral part of the story.
One thing I really didn't enjoy, though, was the beginning/ending part: it's disjointed from the rest of the story and doesn't add anything to it, and for me it really didn't work. The movie starts and ends in such a different tone from the rest of what you're shown that it's hard to wrap your head around it. I think it worked better on paper than it actually does on screen.
Cast: Adam Scott, Peter Coonan, David Wilmot, Florence Ordesh, Michael Patric, Will O'Connell, Brendan Conroy, Austin Amelio.
Box Office: $24.1 million
Worth a watch?: It's not gonna blow your mind, but it's an honest horror film and it does its job. There are slightly more storylines than there needed to be, but the scary moments and Adam Scott's performance are good reasons enough to give Damian McCarthy's movie a go.
Awards: /
Key word: Dumbwaiter.
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Bengi

Film 2478 - Obsession

Intro: On Niamh's birthday we went out for lunch to celebrate her. After that, on the bus to town, Debbi was saying that she wanted to go to the movies, and she expressed disappointment because Niamh and I had already gone to see this movie without telling her. So - as the good person that I am - I went back with her.

Film 2478: "Obsession" (2025), Curry Barker
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Debbi
Thoughts: Obsessed with "Obsession" #2.
It's no mystery I liked this movie a lot the first time around... and this time even more. I think mainly because I was able to focus on details I either didn't notice or register the last time. Knowing what to expect, and where and when the scary bits are, I was able to sit back and really pay attention to the rest of the story and characters.
One thing that felt different from the get-go was my perception of the main protagonist, Bear. When you watch this film for the first time, it's impossible not to feel sorry for him: you can tell he's lonely, shy as hell, and you can sympathise with him because we've all been in love with, or been taken by, someone who doesn't feel the same way. Reality is, though, Bear is a little piece of shit, something you only realise as you watch the story unfold. This time around, the minute I saw his face on the screen, this sense of hatred and disgust came up and I couldn't shake it for the entire film. So yeah, I guess I'm a huge fan of the movie, its main actor Michael Johnston, and a big, big hater of its main protagonist. On the other hand, it was great to rewatch "Obsession" and focus even more on Inde Navarrette's performance, especially now that it's become even more culturally relevant.

She does indeed steal the whole show here; hers is undeniably the performance that stays with you after you leave the cinema. And yes, of course it's because of what happens to her character, Nikki, but mainly because Navarrette's emotional and, at the same time, terrifying portrayal is a rollercoaster of feelings that's hard to shake. Nikki is trapped in her own body, her free will taken away from her (by a man, nonetheless), her whole life now revolving around Bear - who's only happy when Nikki behaves the way he expects her to - and the only desire of what's left of the real Nikki is to die. 

In the hands of a less capable actress, the portrayal of Nikki could have been disastrous, felt caricaturesque, or even undermined her story arc. So not only did Navarrette rise to the occasion and deliver an iconic performance, she also showed Hollywood the talented actress she is (and the industry took notice: "Obsession’s Inde Navarrette Met With MCU ‘X-Men’ Director").
All in all, this second watch solidified my love (and obsession) for Curry Barker's "Obsession" even more. Like last year with "Weapons", 2026 has another horror movie sitting atop my personal Movies of the Year list. There's still a while to go before this year ends, so who knows what film will actually claim the top spot, but so far this is the story that surprised me the most: terrifying on both an emotional and visual level, sad and creepy, with a great example of genius screenwriting.
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Cast: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, Andy Richter.
Box Office: $427 million (as of today)
Worth a watch?: An amazing horror experience able to deliver scares and twists while also managing to be emotionally disturbing in a way few other films in the genre are capable of. It is the movie surprise of the summer, the horror sensation of the year, and a piece of current pop culture that shouldn't be missed. Creative and unsettling, if you love horror films then this one's for you.
Awards: /
Key word: Necklace.
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Bengi

Film 2473 - What Lies Beneath

Intro: Simon came over to watch a movie at mine, and I suggested this one, which had been on my watchlist for a while (and, of course, he hadn't seen it before as he's younger than me...).

Film 2473: "What Lies Beneath" (2000), Robert Zemeckis
Watched: From the projector
Language: English
Watched with: Simon
Thoughts: 26 years later, I'm still a big fan of this movie. I remember going to the theater with my mom the first time I saw it, so I obviously have a personal connection to it, but I still think it's a great blockbuster film.
I do believe it's insane that this film cost $100 million to produce. I think it's a bit mad, if I'm being honest. Like, yeah, it looks good, but to justify a price tag like that, you'd expect something a bit grander and on a bigger scale. Instead, most of the story is shot indoors, mainly in the gigantic house our main couple lives in, so it's a bit mind-boggling to think that a story like this one cost this much to bring to life. On the flip side, "What Lies Beneath" still looks amazing all these years later.
Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer are amazing leads, and they really exude that A-list Hollywood aura; they're just so hot together. Pfeiffer especially—the real lead of this film—is captivating to watch and gives a great performance. She basically carries almost the whole story by herself, considering Ford is, for the most part, more of a supporting character. They should have co-starred in more films together; I really enjoyed their chemistry on screen.
The only small critique I have of this film is its length: 130 minutes feels a bit too long for this genre, especially because it takes a while to get to the juicy, spooky bits. For a film categorized as a supernatural horror thriller, the supernatural—and especially the horror—elements come quite late into the game. I still enjoyed the build-up and the fact that the screenplay takes its time fleshing out the characters, especially the dynamic between the two leads. Still, a few things here and there could have been shortened—I feel like we really didn't need to go all the way to the couple's daughter's dorm on the day she leaves for college, for example—but considering Robert Zemeckis directed this film, I'm not surprised by the attention to detail ("Forrest Gump", "Contact", and "Cast Away" all run for at least 140 minutes each).
All in all, I really enjoyed rewatching "What Lies Beneath". I think it's very entertaining and fun for what it is, and Pfeiffer and Ford really help elevate the final product thanks to their committed performances. Without them, this would have been just another average, slightly scary film the turn of the millennium.
Cast: Harrison Ford, Michelle Pfeiffer, Diana Scarwid, Joe Morton, James Remar, Miranda Otto, Amber Valletta.
Box Office: $291.4 million
Worth a watch?: "The wife of a university research scientist believes that her lakeside Vermont home is haunted by a ghost—or that she is losing her mind" (IMDb): sounds interesting? Well, if you give it a go, I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy the ride. Especially if you like that late '90s–early 2000s vibe that movies from that era encapsulate so perfectly.
Awards: /
Key word: Braid of hair.
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Bengi

Film 2472 - Obsession

Intro: I've seen this movie three times already since it came out a little more than a month ago. Some might say I am... obsessed.

Film 2472: "Obsession" (2025), Curry Barker
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: I don't think I realized how much I liked this movie the first time I watched it. I mean, it was clear that I liked it, but to be willing to go back an additional two times—and, on top of that, always finding new details and things to appreciate and enjoy—that is definitely a testament to how good this movie is. And I think it's even more remarkable when you factor in that "Obsession" is a horror movie and, usually, once you know the plot and the horrific secret/monster/mystery is revealed, part of the novelty and thrill of the story is gone forever.
It's clear that I'm not the only one who liked Curry Barker's film: $370 million made so far (over a budget of $750,000), many records broken (from Wikipedia: In its third weekend, the film made $27.4 million, becoming the first wide release outside of the Christmas season since E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) to increase its earnings for three consecutive weekends), the One Wish Willow merchandise and, as it happens when movies perform better than expected and connect with audiences, an extremely early potential Oscar campaign (that Focus Features seems to have confirmed). But is the movie really worth all the buzz that it has generated so far?
My personal opinion aside, I think "Obsession" is an incredibly clever movie. Unlike many other horror outings, this one actually presents a solid screenplay with an ending that not only makes perfect sense and surprises with a twist, but also wraps the story in a full-circle moment that is both satisfying and terrifying to watch. Considering there is nothing worse than a horror movie with a bad ending, "Obsession" feels even more refreshing because of this.
Additionally, both lead performances are great. Michael Johnston has the difficult task of portraying Bear, a shy and nerdy guy who has been secretly in love with his friend and co-worker Nikki. At the beginning he seems so nice and you really root for him; you feel sad for what happens to him and what he's going through. I guess everyone can identify with his experience in some capacity: we've all felt lonely, lost someone, or fallen in love with a person who didn't reciprocate our feelings. That said, it doesn't take much time before we realize how shitty of a person Bear is: his bruised ego makes him selfish and deaf to Nikki's cries for help (or mercy). There's really no other way to put it: he's a gigantic piece of shit.
Opposite him, Nikki (played by Inde Navarrette in a breakthrough performance) is, at the beginning of the story, ready to move on with her life, quit her job, and focus on her passion for writing, looking to fall in love with life again. This is obviously cut short by Bear's actions: imprisoned by the One Wish Willow curse, she'll turn into Bear's perfect girlfriend for a while, until things gradually take a crazy turn. Nikki's overall story arc and extremely sad and disturbing fate are perfectly portrayed by Navarrette's hypnotic performance. She's mesmerizing and clearly the star of the movie, and rightfully so. Her character's journey is terrifying, to say the least: trapped in a body that isn't hers anymore, forced to please her jailor in every possible way—mentally and physically—and unable to escape her fate. She's basically turned into an object, stripped of everything that made Nikki herself: her future and her will. I know this is just fiction, but it's scary when you think about it and reflect a bit deeper on this movie's plot and themes. And I do think it's relevant that the character who goes through this journey is the female one: dehumanized, objectified, and sexualized. In this political climate, I cannot help but wonder if Nikki's fate is just an extremified take on the female experience. But I digress.
Navarrette's portrayal is powerful and extremely physical, sometimes so hard to watch that you have to look away. But at the same time, so many iconic moments belong to her Nikki, and I think partly this is where the power of this movie lies: its story is simple and scary, the performances are good, and there are so many memeable moments. Go on TikTok and look for "Obsession" content and see it for yourself.
All in all, Curry Barker's film was such an amazing surprise. It's no secret I love horror films and I feel blessed with the amount of good content we've gotten lately: we've been spoiled with "The Substance", "Weapons", "Sinners", "28 Years Later", "Final Destination: Bloodlines" and "Send Help". With newcomers like this one and "Backrooms", the horror genre seems to find itself in a moment of cultural resurgence and relevance thanks to new, good stories and possibly the current need for escapism and entertainment. And "Obsession" rightfully takes its place in the zeitgeist of it all: it's a crazy, terrifying ride thanks to a smart script and a simple idea behind it all. That once again proves that you don't need a stellar budget and the biggest names in Hollywood to bring people to the theaters: the right ingredients will do that for you.
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Cast: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, Andy Richter.
Box Office: $370 million (as of now)
Worth a watch?: Horror movies are not for everyone, for sure, but if you do enjoy them, this is one for the ages. So far, my favourite movie that I've watched this year.
Awards: /
Key word: One wish.
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Bengi

Film 2461 - Ready or Not

Intro: The second movie was coming out and I'd never seen (or heard of, to be honest) the first one, so, under Niamh's suggestion, I gave it a go.

Film 2461: "Ready or Not" (2019), Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: A fun ride and a very inventive story, I quite enjoyed "Ready or Not".
I really didn't know what to expect and I wasn't sure I would enjoy this one, but I actually really did. I think Samara Weaving is great in the lead role and her physical chops are on full display here, proving to the audience that she not only can carry a whole movie on her shoulders, but that she's actually perfect for the genre and a movie star in the making. I've seen her in a bunch of things ("Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri", "Snake Eyes" and "Scream VI") but never as the lead, so this was really my introduction to her. And what an introduction! She's the star of the show, and deservedly so.
For the rest, "Ready or Not" lives on a simple premise - from the IMDb logline: "A bride's wedding night takes a sinister turn when her eccentric new in-laws force her to take part in a terrifying game." - and goes all in on the execution: a scary cat-and-mouse game, the fight for survival, and a potential curse that seems more like an urban legend than a real thing, until the ending shows the audience whether there was any truth to it.
It's not for the faint of heart, but I had a great time.
Film 2461 - Ready or Not
Film 2463 - Ready or Not 2: Here I Come
Cast: Samara Weaving, Adam Brody, Mark O'Brien, Elyse Levesque, Nicky Guadagni, Kristian Bruun, Henry Czerny, Andie MacDowell.
Box Office: $57.6 million
Worth a watch?: Extremely violent and absolutely not grounded in reality, it's fun to tag along for the ride and let the story lead you where it wants. It stems from a simple idea, but it's great to witness how the plot never takes the easy route and actually takes the time to explore unexpected scenarios until the very end. If you like this kind of comedy horror film, "Ready or Not" - and even more so "Ready or Not 2: Here I Come" - is the cinematic experience for you. Awards: /
Key word: Le Bail.
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Bengi

Film 2453 - O Agente Secreto

Intro: Finally back to the movies—it's still Oscars time, and we decide to go and watch this film before it leaves theaters.

Film 2453: "O Agente Secreto" (2025), Kleber Mendonça Filho
Watched: At the movies
Language: Portuguese, German
Watched with: Niamh, Debbi
Thoughts: I haven't seen many Brazilian movies in my life, so it was inevitable that I would compare this one to the one I watched a year ago, which was also nominated for multiple Oscars. The thing is, "O Agente Secreto" is not "Ainda Estou Aqui".
There are things I really enjoyed about this film: Wagner Moura, for one, is amazing. I think I saw him in previous American endeavours like "Elysium" and "Civil War", but I can't really say I remember his performances there. "The Secret Agent" was my real introduction to his work, and my oh my, I was impressed. I knew he didn't have a shot at winning Best Actor at the Oscars, but his is definitely one of my favourite performances from last year.
Furthermore, this is a very compelling story, especially for someone like me with no prior knowledge of Brazilian history. Once you get into the groove of the plot and how it’s told, once you figure out what the whole hairy leg situation is about, you do get invested. And here’s my biggest problem with this film: it's really hard to follow the story.
I know it might sound contradictory considering what I just said, but I found it really, really hard to follow everything that was going on—the time jumps, events I know nothing about, the number of characters, reading between the lines while also keeping up with subtitles, the three Wagner Moura characters... it’s a lot. Not even Debbi—who was born and raised in Brazil and lived there until 2023—knew about the leg thing and had to google it to understand what it meant (apparently it was a form of satire used in newspapers to call out shady police work back in the day, or at least that’s what she told me). I also had to check the plot on Wikipedia afterwards because I wasn’t sure about some parts (I should disclose that I fell asleep at one point, right at the pivotal moment of the sofa conversation where he's recording testimony about Ghirotti's corrupt activities. So yeah, that didn’t help).
Overall, I think "O Agente Secreto" is a good movie, but too chaotic for a story so complex and rich in detail and historical references that I knew nothing about. A more straightforward plotline would have definitely helped me grasp what I was watching without having to rely on the internet for a recap or further explanation. I'm not saying the story should have been simplified for international audiences, but at least for me, a more linear narration would have made a difference. And I know comparisons aren’t always fair, but the emotional impact that "Ainda Estou Aqui" had on me didn’t quite carry over here.
Cast: Wagner Moura, Carlos Francisco, Tânia Maria, Robério Diógenes, Alice Carvalho, Gabriel Leone, Maria Fernanda Cândido, Udo Kier.
Box Office: $22.5 million
Worth a watch?: Not an easy watch. The plot is dense (from Wikipedia: "It follows Armando (Wagner Moura), a former professor caught in political turmoil during the Brazilian military dictatorship, attempting to flee persecution.") and the screenplay doesn’t make it particularly easy to follow what’s going on—or at least that was my experience. Wagner Moura delivers a performance for the ages and proves he’s a superstar.
Awards: 4 Oscar nominations (Best Picture, Actor, Casting, and International Feature Film). 2 BAFTA nominations (Best Original Screenplay and Film Not in the English Language) and 2 Golden Globe wins (Best Foreign Language Film, Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama) over 3 nominations (Best Motion Picture – Drama). Nominated for Best Foreign Film at the 2026 César Awards. The movie competed for the Palme d'Or at Cannes 2025, where it won 4 awards (FIPRESCI Prize, Prix des Cinémas Art et Essai, Best Director, and Best Actor).
Key word: Hairy leg.
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Bengi

Film 2445 - Send Help

Intro: It came out at the end of January and I couldn't go straight away, but I didn't want to miss it before it left theaters (especially since I was heading to Fuerteventura, Spain). So Niamh and I made an effort to catch it at the cinema before it was too late. And I always find it curious how often I end up watching a movie about a plane crash right before I’m meant to fly somewhere...

Film 2445: "Send Help" (2026), Sam Raimi
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: If anything, I think this movie should've made way more money than it actually did! It's a great ride—hilarious at times, violently unapologetic, and led by a fantastic duo. In particular, Rachel McAdams once again proves what a powerhouse she is, regardless of the genre. Here, we get Regina George on steroids, and it's fantastic!
The movie starts where you'd expect: an underappreciated worker with no social life but a ton of social awkwardness is gunning for a promotion that never materialises. When her old boss is out of the picture and his son (Dylan O'Brien) becomes the new CEO, he chooses to promote his buddy and plans to fire Linda (McAdams) after a business trip to Bangkok. Things quickly shift when the plane crashes, and the only two survivors are Linda and her new boss, leaving them stranded on a deserted island, hoping to eventually be rescued. This is where Linda's passion for the TV show "Survivor" comes in handy, as the power dynamic quickly shifts and she suddenly takes charge, being the only one of the two actually capable of surviving in this unexpected scenario. From here on, you'd expect the story to go in a certain direction—but God, how wrong you'd be! Many twists and turns follow, leading to one of the most unexpected finales I've seen in a while. And look, nobody reinvented the wheel here, but it's nice to see a story that takes risks and goes darker in tone without being afraid of alienating the audience. That's why I think "Send Help" felt so refreshing.
In many ways, this movie reminded me a lot of Ruben Östlund's "Triangle of Sadness", but in a less artsy way, if that makes sense. It's clear that this is a commercial endeavour, and that's absolutely fine—Sam Raimi clearly knows what he's doing, which is why the end result is so satisfying to watch.
What a refreshing watch!
Cast: Rachel McAdams, Dylan O'Brien, Edyll Ismail, Dennis Haysbert, Xavier Samuel.
Box Office: $94 million
Worth a watch?: The horror vibe is undeniable, and there's a lot of blood and violence too—definitely more than I expected. So not a film for everyone, I'm sure, but a very good one for those who can appreciate it nonetheless. I loved it!
Awards: /
Key word: Engagement ring.
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Bengi

Film 2438 - Mulholland Drive

Intro: To celebrate this movie's 25th anniversary, they showed it again in cinemas and Niamh and I went to see it.
I was very excited—I hadn't seen this film in such a long time and, especially after discovering "Twin Peaks" last year, I was really looking forward to rewatching it with fresh eyes, a more evolved film taste, and a different mindset. The reality is, this was a chaotic watch for me and, especially at the beginning, I couldn't focus.
Before entering the cinema, we bumped into my ex and that was the first time we had seen each other after the break-up. This really threw me for a loop and impacted my ability to think straight for a while. I was eventually able to focus on the story and I'm glad I chose to stay, but what happened clearly ruined the vibe for me.

Film 2438: "Mulholland Drive" (2001), David Lynch
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: I'm a big fan of "Twin Peaks" now and I'm glad I watched it last year before giving "Mulholland Drive" another go. Knowing David Lynch's POV a bit better definitely helped me understand this film more this time around. I remember the first time I watched it, I was very confused—extremely. I still had to check a few things online to clarify the ending, but other than that I was good to go.
I think this is such an iconic piece of media and so influential in many ways. There's obviously nothing I can add that hasn't already been said, celebrated, or analysed, so I'll just focus on what impressed me the most, starting with Naomi Watts. As a breakthrough performance, this is one for the ages. Imagine getting your big break working on a David Lynch movie—one this impactful—and delivering a performance like this. Here she shows exactly why she's the star she is. Iconic.
The soundtrack is another huge part of the experience and helps shape the story in a way that makes it impossible to imagine the film without it—or with a different one. I think Angelo Badalamenti deserved more recognition for it. His work, together with Lynch's vision, works hand in hand in shaping not only the "Mulholland Drive" universe, but also the broader world Lynch created, especially considering their collaborations on "Blue Velvet" (1986), "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me" (1992), "The Straight Story" (1999) and, of course, "Twin Peaks" (1990–1991; 2017).
It's strange how much I've been exposed to David Lynch's work lately. I'm grateful to the people who introduced me to it—it really changed my perspective on what a movie is, how we perceive it, and who's entitled to say what's right or wrong when it comes to cinema. I used to think that a film like this, or a TV series like "Twin Peaks", could never work for me because I'm "too pop" or mainstream. Lately, though, I've opened myself up to new things and different types of media and, very recently, I even went back to screenwriting. All of this has genuinely shifted both my perspective and my taste, and even though the journey isn't over, I can already see the changes.
So, thank you for all you did for cinema, Mr Lynch—you'll be greatly missed.
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Film 2438 - Mulholland Drive

@bbottone My boyfriend @gorysparkles introduced me to #TwinPeaks and for his birthday @niamh hassett and I recreated the red room scene to wish him #happybirthday. See you again in 25 years. #redroom #LauraPalmer #AgentCooper ♬ Dance of the Dream Man (Instrumental) - Angelo Badalamenti

Cast: Naomi Watts, Laura Harring, Justin Theroux, Ann Miller, Robert Forster, Michael J. Anderson, Lee Grant, Melissa George.
Box Office: $20.1 million
Worth a watch?: I understand that this is not everyone's cup of tea, but it's definitely a film one should watch at least once. It's a lot to take in at first, especially if you're not familiar with David Lynch, but you might end up really enjoying "Mulholland Drive" and feel inspired to explore more of his work—and who knows, maybe you'll become a fan!
Awards: Nominated for Achievement in Directing at the 74th Academy Awards. 1 win at the BAFTAs for Best Editing over 2 nominations (Best Film Music) and 4 Golden Globes nominations for Best Motion Picture – Drama, Director, Screenplay and Score. It won Best Foreign Film at the César Awards and Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival.
Key word: 6980.
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Bengi

Film 2417 - Black Phone 2

Intro: Once I refreshed my memory on the first film, it was time to go and catch the second one at the movies.

Film 2417: "Black Phone 2" (2025), Scott Derrickson
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Yegor, Niamh
Thoughts: “The Black Phone” — or how to ruin a franchise. I think this is one of the biggest disappointments of 2025, definitely one of the worst films I've watched this year. I was so excited that a sequel to the original "The Black Phone" was coming out, as I loved the first movie. But after seeing what they did with the story and how they decided to continue it, the only question I had in my mind was: “Why?” It's not because this film is so different from the first one — that wouldn't have bothered me too much, although it did because of how bad it was. It's mainly because this is such a departure from the original that it doesn’t even feel like they belong to the same franchise. The cinematography is bad, the whole look is glossy (which doesn't really make sense for a horror movie?), and most of it seems to have been filmed in front of a green screen, whereas The Black Phone felt grounded in reality, even though it belonged to the supernatural horror genre. This one… feels like a fever dream of its own. I know "Black Phone 2" got decent reviews, but it really didn't work for me. Bad.
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Film 2417 - Black Phone 2
Cast: Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, James Ransone, Demián Bichir, Ethan Hawke.
Box Office: $132 million
Worth a watch?: If you liked the first one… you won’t like this one. At least I didn’t. I wish I hadn’t seen it — it really ruined this franchise for me.
Awards: /
Key word: Bad dreams.
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Bengi

Film 2414 - Scream

Intro: And now, finally back from all my travels, the first thing I do is head to the Stella Cinema in Rathmines, Dublin, to watch one of the most iconic horror movies of all time. And yes, you guessed it, this was around Halloween last year.

Film 2414: "Scream" (1996), Wes Craven
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Rachel, Niamh, Sórcha
Thoughts: There's something about watching this movie in an actual theater that made me love it even more. To be fair, apart from being extremely pricey, the Stella Cinema is truly an amazing place to watch a movie: it's cozy, spacious, and painfully beautiful. So that definitely adds to the overall experience.
In general, I'm obviously a big fan of this first outing and of the "Scream" franchise as a whole, considering I’ve watched all of the movies at least once (and I'm definitely going to see the new "Scream 7," which is coming out on February 27). So it comes as no surprise when I say that this one is a cult classic I could watch over and over again.
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Cast: David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Matthew Lillard, Rose McGowan, Skeet Ulrich, Liev Schreiber, Drew Barrymore.
Box Office: $173 million
Worth a watch?: Iconic original film of the "Scream" franchise — if you're a fan of slasher horror movies, this one should definitely be on your list if you haven't seen it already.
Awards: Nominated for 2 MTV Movie + TV Awards for Best Movie and Best Female Performance (Neve Campbell), it won the former.
Key word: Phone call.
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Bengi

Film 2411 - A Deadly American Marriage

Intro: Third documentary in a row, last movie we watched in Corfu, Greece.

Film 2411: "A Deadly American Marriage" (2025), Jessica Burgess, Jenny Popplewell
Watched: From my laptop
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh, Debbi
Thoughts: Another terrifying true story, but this documentary isn't as effective as the previous one we watched. Not a bad movie by any means, yet I didn't find it as compelling or as well told as the previous documentaries we watched. The story is less sensational, in the sense that the facts presented are closer to what you would expect from a typical true crime case. It's obviously a heartbreaking story, and it's devastating to witness what happened to this poor man and his family, but A "Deadly American Marriage" didn't quite glue me to my chair, if that makes sense.
Cast: Jason Corbett, Sarah Corbett Lynch, Jack Corbett Lynch, Molly Martens Corbett, Tom Martens.
Box Office: /
Worth a watch?: For those who appreciate true crime stories, I'm not a big fan of this genre. I don't find pleasure in witnessing other people's suffering or in the slightly voyeuristic component of this kind of piece of media.
Awards: /
Key word: Au pair.
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Bengi

Film 2407 - The Thursday Murder Club

Intro: Before leaving to go on holiday I saw the trailer for this movie and how much they were trying to push it on Netflix. And of course I was intreagued!

Film 2407: "The Thursday Murder Club" (2025), Chris Columbus
Watched: From my laptop
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: I enjoyed this movie although, I'll be honest, I was expecting a bit more. I mean, it's very enjoyable and the cast is great, but yeah, I was hoping for something a bit more thrilling, almost like of the first "Knives Out".
Reality is, "The Thursday Murder Club" is a perfectly fine movie, the actors do their job perfectly and overall it's a fun ride. Also, it's always nice to see Pierce Brosnan back in action.
Side note: Writing about this movie that I watched in early September, I cannot help but think about Celia Imrie in the UK's "The Celebrity Traitors". Who knew that, only a few weeks later, the world would have witnessed Imrie becoming one of the funniest contestant on the celebrity spinoff of "The Traitors" thanks to her exchanges with Alan Carr and, of course, that fart. Icon.
Cast: Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie, Naomi Ackie, Daniel Mays, Jonathan Pryce, Richard E. Grant, David Tennant.
Box Office: /
Worth a watch?: Not groundbreaking, but surely entertaining. The four main leads are a perfect match together and, overall, "The Thursday Murder Club" is one of the latest best additions to the Netflix catalogue. (If only it didn't have that usual glossy and overly perfect look that every Netflix production has...)
Awards: /
Key word: Passport.
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Bengi

Film 2376 - Companion

Intro: I saw the poster and I got really curious about it. Then the red carpet, the press and the good reviews came in, which got me excited. Somehow, tho, I ended up forgetting about this film, until someone mentioned it and I finally decided to give it a go.

Film 2376: "Companion" (2025), Drew Hancock
Watched on: The projector
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: Did I enjoy it? Absolutely. Was it as revolutionary and groundbreaking as some reviews made it out to be? Not really.
"Companion" is a good sci-fi thriller with a little bit of horror and humor in it and it works well, althoigh the idea of a robot lover (the companion) that gains conciousness (or freedom) and turn agains her partner (or captor) isn't necessarily new. To be honest, it gave me "Black Mirror" vibes (which is good).
The cast is great, Sophie Thatcher does an amazing job and is a great lead - and perfect for the part - while Jack Quaid continues to do great work. I was happy to see Harvey Guillén outside his familiar Guillermo clothes ("What We Do in the Shadows").
Overall a good watch.
Cast: Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, Rupert Friend.
Box Office: $36.7 million
Worth a watch?: Not groundbreaking, but an entertaining watch. Definitely not for everybody, but for those who enjoy this kind of movies it worth giving it a go.
Awards: /
Key word: $12 million.
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Bengi

Film 2365 - The Whole Truth

Intro: Another movie from the Netflix catalogue, another dinner at home in Lanzarote.

Film 2365: "The Whole Truth" (2016), Courtney Hunt
Watched on: On the TV of the apartment
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: I love legal drams, so I had high hopes for this one. In the end, tho, "The Whole Truth" isn't as powerul as it promises it to be when watching the trailer.
The movie has a very slow pace and the performances are a bit underwelhming, mostly because the story isn't that exciting. And it's a pity, because the cast is great and this genre of movies I usually really enjoy.
Ps. The screenplay is written by Nicholas Kazan, the son of famous director and 2 times Oscar winner Elia Kazan.
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Renée Zellweger, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Gabriel Basso, Jim Belushi.
Box Office: $1.7 million
Worth a watch?: It's not terrible, but there are other legal drama pictures there are way better and more interesting to watch, like, to name just a few, "12 Angry Men" or "Juror #2".
Awards: /
Key word: Watch.
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Bengi

Film 2363 - Gladiator

Intro: The first week in Lanzarote was all about relaxing and recharging (but also working, because yes, we went there to work from abroad while enjoying more favourable weather than the Irish one). So we watched quite a few movies during our first nights we spent at home.

Film 2363: "Gladiator" (2000), Ridley Scott
Watched on: On the TV of the apartment
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: I mean, talk about an iconic movie.
Not one of my favourite pictures of all time, but definitely one I enjoy watching, we decided to go with this one first between the many options available on Netflix because a) again, it's an iconic film, b) we just saw the sequel at the movies back in November. So to us it just made sense to go with the epic story of Maximus Decimus Meridius (Crowe) on his quest to venge his family brutally murdered by the jealous Commodus (Phoenix) after his father refuses to let him rule the empire and choses Maximus over him.
The drama is all there, Crowe and Phoenix are excellent in their respective roles and "Gladiator" just works: it's entertaining, well produced and acted and has an amazing soundtrack by Hans Zimmer.
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Film 2363 - Gladiator
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Cast: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, Derek Jacobi, Djimon Hounsou, Richard Harris.
Box Office: $465.5 million
Worth a watch?: Interesting movie, it's a good outing for a directorial debut. Zoë Kravitz has a clear point of view and the story has good plot twists, enough to keep the viewer constantly engaged. Not an easy watch.
Awards: "Gladiator" won 5 Oscars (Best Picture, Actor for Russell Crowe, Visual Effects, Sound, and Costume Design) and was nominated for an additional 7 (Best Director, Original Screenplay, Supporting Actor for Joaquin Phoenix, Original Score, Cinematography, Art Direction, and Editing). It won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Original Score – Motion Picture and was nominated for Actor (Crowe), Director, and Supporting Actor (Phoenix). At BAFTA it won Best Film, Cinematography, Production Design, and Editing over 14 overall nominations (including Best Direction, Original Screenplay, Actor in a Leading Role, Actor in a Supporting Role). It was nominated for 1 Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media. 6 nominations at the MTV Movie + TV Awards and 1 win for Best Movie.
Key word: Afterlife.
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Bengi

Film 2341 - Juror #2

Intro: Third movie in a row on my very busy Christmas day, I went for something not a lot of people were talking about (and I heard my parents were going to see at the movies the next day).

Film 2341: "Juror #2" (2024), Clint Eastwood
Watched on: From my laptop
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: Potentially Client Eastwood's last motion picture, there was a lot of controversy surrounding this movie because apparently - and for whatever reason - Warner Brothers, the distributor of the movie, decided not to promote it. It doesn't really make sense to me, as this is a solid movie and the cast is great, but as a result, "Juror #2" wasn't a big success at the box-office (quite the opposite actually: it cost around $35 million just to produce it) nor with award bodies, which is really shamefull.
Although I don't think this is Eastwood's greatest work, I still believe it deserved at least a chance: Nicholas Hoult's and Toni Collette's performances are great, the story is compelling and well narrated, the overall result is well done and entertaining. All of this achieved by a man in his 90s, not to mention that he is literally a movie legend. SO why was this movie snubbed and quietly released in theaters?
To be honest, I can't really tell what happened behind the scenes, but definitely something must have went wrong for the outcome to be so unexpected. "Juror #2" is a perfectly fine and well crafted movie that deserved the attention of the audience, especially the fans of Client Eastwood's body of work. I particularly enjoyed Nicholas Hoult's performance, as it doesn't happen often he is given the chance to be the leading man of a drama movie, especially one that sees him being the actor with the most star-power of all the cast. I think he should be given more opportunities like this one, as he's a capable actor and his performance here is no exeption. Needless to say that Toni Collette is flawless here, always on point (give her more roles too!).
Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, J. K. Simmons, Chris Messina, Zoey Deutch, Cedric Yarbrough, Leslie Bibb, Gabriel Basso, Kiefer Sutherland.
Box Office: $24.8 million
Worth a watch?: A really good movie. The story reveals its unexpected twist pretty soon and the audience is forced to live, together with the main character, the consequences and implications of the choices he makes. This plot device is really interesting and shakes things up narration-wise. For those who still remember it, this movie heavily reminded me of another legal drama from 11 (!) years ago, "The Judge". So, if you liked that one, you'll definitely enjoy "Juror #2".
Awards: /
Key word: Deer.
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Bengi

Film 2333 - Gone Girl

Intro: A few months ago I picked a new book to read after I finished Melanie C's authobiography back in the summer and I decided to take a break from ready for a month or two.
Once I felt going back to reading again, I finally decided to give this book a chance after I've been re-watching the movie it inspired so many times over the years. And while reading in Malta, I started to feel the urge to go back to the movie once again... And here we are again.

Film 2333: "Gone Girl" (2014), David Fincher
Watched on: My computer
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Briefly: I think it's fair to say that I really, really like this movie. I think it's great cinema and that Rosamund Pike gave the performance of a lifetime (that should have gotten rewarded a bit more).
I'm not reading the book yet, tho i felt the urge to go back to what for me was the source material: David Fincher's (crazingly underrrated) adaptation of Gillian Flynn's book.
Now that I have better insight on the story and, especially, on the character of Amy Elliott Dunne (Pike), I have to admit that my feelings towards her have schifted a bit: yes, she's crazy, manipulative, disturbing, yet there was always something there that fascinated me (still there, tbf). Some sort of respect for the guts she has, let's say
This time, tho, it was different. Knowing what she was doing willingly to her husband Nick (Affleck), reading the words coming straight from the character's mind... it was different. I felt disgusted by her and, to a certain degree (case yeah, she's a fictional character at the end of the day and this is just a well told story after all) I hated her.
And I think this says even more how great Rosamund Pike is in this movie. It's like she was born to play this part: she's unsetteling and mysterious, cold and manipulative and... it's impossible not to love her!
And I'll add this: I think Ben Affleck does a realy good job in portraying his character, readying the book gave me a better understanding of Nick and how he behaves and faces certain stressful situation adn I think Affleck should have gotten more praise for his performance.
Anyway, overall great movie, always compelling, beautifully shot and great sound track.
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Cast: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, Carrie Coon, Kim Dickens, Patrick Fugit, Missi Pyle, Emily Ratajkowski, Sela Ward.
Box Office: $370.9 milion
Worth a watch? Not Fincher's best movie, but definitely a great one. It's a gripping thriller wonderfully written adn acted marvellously. If you hadn't watched it yet... what are you waiting for?
Awards: 1 Oscars nomination for Best Actress (Pike). 4 Golden Globes nomination for Best director, Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama (Pike), Best Screenplay and Best Score. At BAFTA, the movie was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Pike) and Best Adapted Screenplay. 1 Grammy Awards nomination for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media. 4 nominations at the MTV Movie + TV Awards: Movie of the Year, Breakthrough Performance (Pike), Best Scared-As-S**t Performance (Pike), Best Villain (Pike)
Key word: Diary.
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