MOVIE REVIEW: UNHINGED

Unhinged is a 2020 American thriller film directed by Derrick Borte, from a screenplay by Carl Ellsworth. The film stars Russell Crowe, Caren Pistorius, Gabriel Bateman, Jimmi Simpson and Austin P. McKenzie. The film follows a young woman who is harassed by a seemingly unstable stranger following a road rage incident.

Director: Derrick Borte

Cast: Russell Crowe, Caren Pistorius, Gabriel Bateman, Jimmi Simpson, Austin P. McKenzie

Release Date: August 21, 2019

Genre: Action, Thriller

Rated R for strong violent content, and language throughout.

Runtime: 1 h 30min

Review:

Unhinged is best explained as a good bad movie.  Derrick Borte’s mallet punch to the face of film is thoroughly entertaining for the duration of its runtime.  It’s a brutal trip into madness that makes this film feel more like a horror film than a straightforward thriller.  At its center is Russell Crowe who bulked up considerably around the waist to play an embodiment of white male rage.  His performance is far better than the film deserves, so much so that you’d wish that the script had taken a more nuanced approach to his character.  Instead it’s a grotesque caricature that Crowe makes intriguing as we watch his sweaty terror bear rampage throughout the film.  Caren Pistoruis is saddled with a character that isn’t terribly fleshed out or intelligent.  Pistoruis main goal is to react to the terror unfolding upon her.  There are plenty of ham fisted attempts a social allegory but are about as blunt as they come.  It’s a shame that the story and characters are so simplistic because you get the feeling that there is plenty of themes that cold have been explored to make a truly thought provoking film.    


C+

MOVIE REVIEW: CHILD’S PLAY

After moving to a new city, young Andy Barclay receives a special present from his mother -- a seemingly innocent Buddi doll that becomes his best friend. When the doll suddenly takes on a life of its own, Andy unites with other neighborhood children to stop the sinister toy from wreaking bloody havoc.

Director: Simon Kinberg

Cast: Gabriel Bateman, Aubrey Plaza, Brian Tyree Henry, Mark Hamill

Rated R for bloody horror violence, and language throughout

Release Date: June 21, 2019

Genres: Horror

Runtime: 1h 30 min

Review:

The remake of Child’s Play bears only passing resemblance to 80s original which isn’t a terrible thing.  Sure purist will complain about it but this new version does feel a bit cleaner and more straightforward which is a good and bad.  The film itself it fairly lean and moves at a decent pace although it does feel a tad rushed in spots.  Gabriel Bateman who plays Andy is solid if unimpressive in the lead role while Aubrey Plaza feels miscast and under utilized at the same time.  Brian Tyree Henry sparks up the film when he’s on screen but much like Plaza, the film doesn’t take advantage of their talents.  Mark Hamill’s voice as Chucky is distinctive enough from Brad Dourif’s work in the previous films to leave an impression.  Still, Dourif’s work is so iconic at this point that it’s hard to believe that anyone would choose this new iteration as their favorite.  Simon Kinberg directs the film with an odd sense of humor but it’s never all that edgy or scary.  Even the violence feels somewhat sanitized and bland, not to mention the general silliness of the whole thing.  Still it wasn’t as if the original films where any bastion of high end writing so perhaps the remake is still in line with the older films.

C+