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A general round up.
I watched A Quiet Place 2 because Joseph Quinn will be in the third one, which is currently filming.
It was okay. It was more cohesive, followed it's own rules more, but wasn't very compelling. They went for very slightly-vintagey video game visuals with the color grading and the rotary phone and other stuff in some scenes. It made a lot of the visual choices certain video games make so even if you aren't trying to make TLOU comparisons it's hard not to!
I am curious what the third one will be with with the 'solve' for the monsters in place. It's possible that the film was weak because the original was meant to be a stand alone and this was doing a lot of heavy lifting to set up either the 3rd and final film, or an ongoing series.
The Deep House
A horror film about a haunted house that is underwater. Love the idea. But since neither character is likable and the relationship is not good, it's obvious from 5 minutes in that no one is going to live.
Okay, context on baggage I am bringing into the film. Scuba diving with an unprepared partner and having O2 issues? Been there. Long time ago, but yeah. There is a reason I didn't get PADI certification and it that reason was not me. anywhoosle... at her age not being able to hold her breath for very long means either she didn't fucking train at all or she smokes a lot. I can still hold for longer than her and I haven't scuba'd, snorkled, done synchro or even swam in ages. It's a key plot point that she's lying about how long she can hold her breath, which is why I went on about it.
Bag number 2, I do photography a lot. I've done mid-shoot risk assessments probably hundreds of times, at least hundreds. I know the lure of a good shot. I know that 'oooohhh ooooohh ooooh' feeling on finding something. I have taken measured risks. Ever noticed my complete and utter lack of wildfire, smoke and storm pics? Yeah, it's not worth it. My ability to continue taking the pictures is more valuable than any single picture. But the level of recklessness of that youtuber was next level. Even if the house wasn't haunted, they were toast from going so deep and not keeping exits secure. But there was no tension because they were clearly going to be toast so they could just layer on the dumb choices.
Still, the idea of a haunted house in a flooded valley is compelling and I love it. But it was very 'okay now just wait until they are dead'. So, I thought about how I might tackle the concept.
Beacon Pines
It's a cute, isometric narrative game. I really like the art and the system that lets you timeline hop.
I had some problems with the story feeling incomplete, especially with the random other Traveler character with no hint on how or why they exist. Also the 'right' ending was... not something that felt satisfying. But, if they put out another game I'd take a good look at it. It wasn't bad, just underbaked and a second game might be really solid. Yeah, I would definitely be interested in what they make next.
The game does not directly set up a sequel, a HUGE point in it's favor, but the little anthro-bat reporter is very sure you've got more adventures in your future.
I watched A Quiet Place 2 because Joseph Quinn will be in the third one, which is currently filming.
It was okay. It was more cohesive, followed it's own rules more, but wasn't very compelling. They went for very slightly-vintagey video game visuals with the color grading and the rotary phone and other stuff in some scenes. It made a lot of the visual choices certain video games make so even if you aren't trying to make TLOU comparisons it's hard not to!
I am curious what the third one will be with with the 'solve' for the monsters in place. It's possible that the film was weak because the original was meant to be a stand alone and this was doing a lot of heavy lifting to set up either the 3rd and final film, or an ongoing series.
The Deep House
A horror film about a haunted house that is underwater. Love the idea. But since neither character is likable and the relationship is not good, it's obvious from 5 minutes in that no one is going to live.
Okay, context on baggage I am bringing into the film. Scuba diving with an unprepared partner and having O2 issues? Been there. Long time ago, but yeah. There is a reason I didn't get PADI certification and it that reason was not me. anywhoosle... at her age not being able to hold her breath for very long means either she didn't fucking train at all or she smokes a lot. I can still hold for longer than her and I haven't scuba'd, snorkled, done synchro or even swam in ages. It's a key plot point that she's lying about how long she can hold her breath, which is why I went on about it.
Bag number 2, I do photography a lot. I've done mid-shoot risk assessments probably hundreds of times, at least hundreds. I know the lure of a good shot. I know that 'oooohhh ooooohh ooooh' feeling on finding something. I have taken measured risks. Ever noticed my complete and utter lack of wildfire, smoke and storm pics? Yeah, it's not worth it. My ability to continue taking the pictures is more valuable than any single picture. But the level of recklessness of that youtuber was next level. Even if the house wasn't haunted, they were toast from going so deep and not keeping exits secure. But there was no tension because they were clearly going to be toast so they could just layer on the dumb choices.
Still, the idea of a haunted house in a flooded valley is compelling and I love it. But it was very 'okay now just wait until they are dead'. So, I thought about how I might tackle the concept.
Beacon Pines
It's a cute, isometric narrative game. I really like the art and the system that lets you timeline hop.
I had some problems with the story feeling incomplete, especially with the random other Traveler character with no hint on how or why they exist. Also the 'right' ending was... not something that felt satisfying. But, if they put out another game I'd take a good look at it. It wasn't bad, just underbaked and a second game might be really solid. Yeah, I would definitely be interested in what they make next.
The game does not directly set up a sequel, a HUGE point in it's favor, but the little anthro-bat reporter is very sure you've got more adventures in your future.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-09 05:49 am (UTC)From:I remember having a pretty similar reaction to The Deep House. It's a really cool idea, and some of the visuals were nice. I very much liked the potential setup... but the characters and the actual execution weren't compelling.
I don't mind a horror movie where you know it's inevitable that the characters will die. I think there still can be a sense of tension when you want them to survive, even if you know they won't, or if there's some other thread to it that you want to see the outcome of. BUT. I am SO sick of watching horror movies about people who seem to hate each other that are for some reason going and doing a thing. (The Deep House was by far not the worst culprit on the "people who hate each other" thing, but too many films decide that they need interpersonal conflict to accentuate the horror, but go for really lazy and boring interpersonal conflicts.) And yeah, repeated stupid decisions, lol.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-09 06:10 am (UTC)From:Yeah, it's like they were so worried about killing of characters people got attached to that they made sure that wasn't a problem. They weren't terrible, but the lying, the boundary ignoring... etc.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-11 04:00 am (UTC)From:Yeah, that's probably in the top 10 issues I've got with horror movies. [I don't actually have a top 10 list, but still.] We watch a LOT of horror, and while not every individual film is unforgiveable, the general trends definitely start to become clear. And "make the characters assholes and the relationships shitty and the friendships toxic so no one feels bad about them dying" definitely grates badly after a while. There can be a kind of enjoyment in being glad when the killer (slasher/monster/ghost/evil house/etc) "gets" a character you didn't like... but too many films seem to want their characters to be unlikeable YET also seem to expect you to root for them, and it makes them bland. And yeah, also means you wind up with the "well, I guess we're just waiting for these characters to drop off one by one..." instead of any real question about where it's going.
no subject
Date: 2023-05-11 07:06 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2023-05-12 03:21 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2023-05-12 08:13 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2023-05-13 03:09 am (UTC)From: