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I finally watched Spree, that Joe Keery film about being a vlogger desperate for clout. When the trailers came out I figured the film would be one of the following:
a) on-point work of art
b) good in theory but would get a lot about the internet and drive me nuts
c) complete out of touch garbage
I wasn't motivated to find out which, but...
It's a, it's totally a. A couple things especially in the last ten minutes had me going 'fuck... that is exactly what would happen'. The people who made this film knew what they were on about.
It's a recent film, but it's also weirdly dated already. Remember 'social' rideshares were the driver would pick up lots of random strangers for you to be squished in with? Save 3 bucks, but then you are hoping the additional passengers aren't completely drunk?
It was unsettling to watch in a few ways. It's a 'horror comedy', but it's the first horror film in a while to really unsettle me and make me think... basically effect me in the way good horror is meant to effect people.
It seems to have gotten mixed reviews, even though Keery's performance was widely praised. Horror's always going to be that way I think. It's hard for horror to be for a broad audience sometimes. Even if people found a realistic look at internet culture to be 'unnecessary' I am surprised they didn't rate it higher just for nailing it so much.
Also, I love Joe Keery but how can he look gorgeous and ethereal in some shoots, cool and good looking in others, and like the ugliest gremlin in others? If I'd only ever seen him in Spree I'd find it completely unbelievable he could ever be attractive under any circumstances.
a) on-point work of art
b) good in theory but would get a lot about the internet and drive me nuts
c) complete out of touch garbage
I wasn't motivated to find out which, but...
It's a, it's totally a. A couple things especially in the last ten minutes had me going 'fuck... that is exactly what would happen'. The people who made this film knew what they were on about.
It's a recent film, but it's also weirdly dated already. Remember 'social' rideshares were the driver would pick up lots of random strangers for you to be squished in with? Save 3 bucks, but then you are hoping the additional passengers aren't completely drunk?
It was unsettling to watch in a few ways. It's a 'horror comedy', but it's the first horror film in a while to really unsettle me and make me think... basically effect me in the way good horror is meant to effect people.
It seems to have gotten mixed reviews, even though Keery's performance was widely praised. Horror's always going to be that way I think. It's hard for horror to be for a broad audience sometimes. Even if people found a realistic look at internet culture to be 'unnecessary' I am surprised they didn't rate it higher just for nailing it so much.
Also, I love Joe Keery but how can he look gorgeous and ethereal in some shoots, cool and good looking in others, and like the ugliest gremlin in others? If I'd only ever seen him in Spree I'd find it completely unbelievable he could ever be attractive under any circumstances.
no subject
Date: 2022-08-11 05:46 pm (UTC)From:> …it's the first horror film in a while to really unsettle me and make me think... basically effect me in the way good horror is meant to effect people
I’m not sure if I’ll watch this but it sounds interesting!
no subject
Date: 2022-08-11 08:35 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2022-08-12 03:28 am (UTC)From:Horror does almost always get mixed reviews. In my experience at least some of them come from people who... didn't want to watch a horror movie. That always frustrates me a bit, when people hate on something because it's clear they just don't like the genre.
But even within the audience that does like horror, different things "work" for different people, different things strike an unsettling tone, or seem over-the-top, or come across as silly rather than scary, etc.
no subject
Date: 2022-08-12 06:03 am (UTC)From:And yeah, a lot of reviews are people who were not there for what they are watching. They are reviewing a diner like fine restaurant. I am still stuck on that one review that didn't like how... exactly realistic it was. Like... what? Just say 'this isn't for me but...'
no subject
Date: 2022-08-13 02:24 am (UTC)From:I remember seeing an action-type movie - the third Pirates of the Caribbean movie, maybe? - given a negative review because "there were too many action scenes." Like... my friend, that is what you have signed up for. If you do not like the trappings of the genre you have shown up for that's fair, but maybe don't complain that it conforms to its genre?
But lmao, what? "This is too realistic!" is a weird criticism. Like, if you don't like it, okay, or if you want to say "I prefer a little more escapism in my fiction" sure, but... "this is realistic and that's bad" certainly is a take.